Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based Videogame
Slowing in information processing speed (IPS) is the key cognitive deficit in multiple sclerosis (MS). Testing IPS in different cognitive load conditions by using computerized tools might reveal initial IPS slowness underestimated by classic paper-and-pencil tests. To investigate the extent to which...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/11/871 |
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| author | Marco Pitteri Caterina Dapor Stefano Ziccardi Maddalena Guandalini Riccardo Meggiato Massimiliano Calabrese |
| author_facet | Marco Pitteri Caterina Dapor Stefano Ziccardi Maddalena Guandalini Riccardo Meggiato Massimiliano Calabrese |
| author_sort | Marco Pitteri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Slowing in information processing speed (IPS) is the key cognitive deficit in multiple sclerosis (MS). Testing IPS in different cognitive load conditions by using computerized tools might reveal initial IPS slowness underestimated by classic paper-and-pencil tests. To investigate the extent to which IPS can be affected by increased task demands, we developed three tasks based on the manipulation of the visual-attentional load, delivered with a home-made, tablet-based videogame. Fifty-one patients with MS (pwMS), classified as having no cognitive impairment in classic paper-and-pencil tests, and 20 healthy controls (HC) underwent the videogame tasks; reaction times (RTs) and accuracy were recorded. A significant reduced performance of pwMS as compared with HC was found on the videogame tasks, with pwMS being on average slower and less accurate than HC. Furthermore, pwMS showed a significantly more pronounced decrement in accuracy as a function of the visual-attentional load, suggesting a higher susceptibility to increased task demands. Significant correlations among the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the videogame mean RTs and accuracy were found, providing evidence for the concurrent validity of the videogame as a valid tool to test IPS in pwMS. The high potential that might derive from the adoption of computerized assessment tools in clinical practice should be taken into consideration and investigated further. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:44:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97675c6a125e438ab4cb3f4219d693f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:44:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-97675c6a125e438ab4cb3f4219d693f62023-11-20T21:27:53ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252020-11-01101187110.3390/brainsci10110871Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based VideogameMarco Pitteri0Caterina Dapor1Stefano Ziccardi2Maddalena Guandalini3Riccardo Meggiato4Massimiliano Calabrese5Neurology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyNeurology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyNeurology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyNeurology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyNeurology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyNeurology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalySlowing in information processing speed (IPS) is the key cognitive deficit in multiple sclerosis (MS). Testing IPS in different cognitive load conditions by using computerized tools might reveal initial IPS slowness underestimated by classic paper-and-pencil tests. To investigate the extent to which IPS can be affected by increased task demands, we developed three tasks based on the manipulation of the visual-attentional load, delivered with a home-made, tablet-based videogame. Fifty-one patients with MS (pwMS), classified as having no cognitive impairment in classic paper-and-pencil tests, and 20 healthy controls (HC) underwent the videogame tasks; reaction times (RTs) and accuracy were recorded. A significant reduced performance of pwMS as compared with HC was found on the videogame tasks, with pwMS being on average slower and less accurate than HC. Furthermore, pwMS showed a significantly more pronounced decrement in accuracy as a function of the visual-attentional load, suggesting a higher susceptibility to increased task demands. Significant correlations among the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the videogame mean RTs and accuracy were found, providing evidence for the concurrent validity of the videogame as a valid tool to test IPS in pwMS. The high potential that might derive from the adoption of computerized assessment tools in clinical practice should be taken into consideration and investigated further.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/11/871multiple sclerosisspeed of processingvisual-attentional loadvideogamecomputerized assessment |
| spellingShingle | Marco Pitteri Caterina Dapor Stefano Ziccardi Maddalena Guandalini Riccardo Meggiato Massimiliano Calabrese Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based Videogame Brain Sciences multiple sclerosis speed of processing visual-attentional load videogame computerized assessment |
| title | Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based Videogame |
| title_full | Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based Videogame |
| title_fullStr | Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based Videogame |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based Videogame |
| title_short | Visual-Attentional Load Unveils Slowed Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study with a Tablet-Based Videogame |
| title_sort | visual attentional load unveils slowed processing speed in multiple sclerosis patients a pilot study with a tablet based videogame |
| topic | multiple sclerosis speed of processing visual-attentional load videogame computerized assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/11/871 |
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