Department of Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;82(1):5-16. doi: 10.3233/JAD-201125.
The model of executive attention proposes that temporal organization, i.e., the time necessary to bring novel tasks to fruition is an important construct that modulates executive control. Subordinate to temporal organization are the constructs of working memory, preparatory set, and inhibitory control.
The current research operationally-defined the constructs underlying the theory of executive attention using intra-component latencies (i.e., reaction times) from a 5-span backward digit test from patients with suspected mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
An iPad-version of the Backward Digit Span Test (BDT) was administered to memory clinic patients. Patients with (n = 22) and without (n = 36) MCI were classified. Outcome variables included intra-component latencies for all correct 5-span serial order responses.
Average total time did not differ. A significant 2-group by 5-serial order latency interaction revealed the existence of distinct time epochs. Non-MCI patients produced slower latencies on initial (position 2-working memory/preparatory set) and latter (position 4-inhibitory control) correct serial order responses. By contrast, patients with MCI produced a slower latency for middle serial order responses (i.e., position 3-preparatory set). No group differences were obtained for incorrect 5-span test trials.
The analysis of 5-span BDT serial order latencies found distinct epochs regarding how time was allocated in the context of successful test performance. Intra-component latencies obtained from tests assessing mental re-ordering may constitute useful neurocognitive biomarkers for emergent neurodegenerative illness.
执行注意模型提出，时间组织，即完成新任务所需的时间，是调节执行控制的一个重要结构。时间组织的下属结构包括工作记忆、预备设置和抑制控制。
本研究使用疑似轻度认知障碍（MCI）患者的 5 个数字回溯测试的内组件潜伏期（即反应时间），从操作上定义执行注意理论的基础结构。
使用 iPad 版数字回溯测试（BDT）对记忆诊所患者进行测试。将有（n=22）和没有（n=36）MCI 的患者进行分类。结果变量包括所有正确的 5 个数字序列反应的内组件潜伏期。
平均总时间没有差异。2 组与 5 个序列潜伏期的显著交互作用表明存在不同的时间阶段。非 MCI 患者在最初（位置 2-工作记忆/预备设置）和最后（位置 4-抑制控制）正确序列反应中产生较慢的潜伏期。相比之下，MCI 患者在中间序列反应（即位置 3-预备设置）中产生较慢的潜伏期。对于不正确的 5 个数字测试试验，组间没有差异。
5 个数字 BDT 序列潜伏期的分析发现，在成功测试表现的背景下，时间分配存在明显的阶段。从评估心理重新排序的测试中获得的内组件潜伏期可能构成新兴神经退行性疾病有用的神经认知生物标志物。
