Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Conners' Continuous Performance Test'

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Introdução: O Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) é um transtorno neuropsiquiátrico de início precoce que afeta diversos domínios cognitivos, no entanto estudos que investigam na adolescência como o transtorno afeta esses domínios ainda são escassos. Objetivo: O presente estudo investigou o desempenho de uma amostra clínica de adolescentes com TDAH no Conners` Continuous Performance Test (CCPT). Métodos: 28 sujeitos com TDAH (17 masculino) de idade entre 12 e 18 anos participaram do estudo. Análises estatísticas das 15 medidas do CCPT foram realizadas entre o grupo TDAH e controle, além da análise fatorial proposta por Egeland e Kovalick-Gran (2009) entre os subtipos TDAH combinado (n=15) e TDAH desatento (n=13), nas quais as 15 medidas são reduzidas a 5 fatores: atenção focada, hiperatividade/impulsividade, atenção sustentada, vigilância e mudança no controle. Foi realizada ainda uma análise de correlação entre os 5 fatores e medidas cognitivas de memória operacional, função executiva, praxia visuo-construtiva, QI, entre outras. Resultados: O grupo TDAH apresentou déficit em treze das quinze medidas avaliadas pelo CCPT quando comparado ao grupo controle. Na avaliação dos cinco fatores, ambos os subtipos de TDAH apresentaram prejuízos em atenção focada, sustentada e vigilância quando comparados ao grupo controle. Não houve diferenças estatísticas entre os subtipos de TDAH em nenhum dos fatores. Foram encontradas correlações significativas entre medidas cognitivas de memória operacional visuo-espacial, visuo-construção e comportamento aferido pelo professor em todos os cinco fatores. Conclusões: A análise das 15 medidas no grupo TDAH corroborou estudos anteriores. Já a análise dos cinco fatores, proposta recente da literatura, mostrou relevância quanto à diferenciação entre grupo clínico e controle, entretanto sem resultados significativos para dissociação entre subtipos combinado e desatento.
TEDE
BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

The reticular-activating hypofrontality model of acute exercise (RAH) predicts exercise-induced hypoactivity in frontal cortex which mediates executive function. Connors Continuous Performance Test (CCPT) was used to investigate changes in executive function during- and post treadmill running in healthy volunteers (n=30, 15 male). In a randomized order, subjects performed the CCPT at rest, during low- (LI; 63% maximal heart rate; MHR) and moderate intensity (MI; 75% MHR). Separately, subjects then performed isocalorifically matched exercise bouts of LI, MI and high intensity interval training (HIT) consisting of 4x4 min with 90% MHR and 3 min recovery at 60-70% MHR. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed main effects of exercise intensity for reaction time RT during- (p≤0.001) and post exercise (p≤0.0001). Subsequent analyses showed an overall increase of RT during exercise compared to rest (p≤0.005). RT decreased significantly from rest to post exercise levels in an exercise intensity dependent, linear fashion (p≤0.0001). Commission errors showed a non significant linear trend to increase both during (p=0.057), and post exercise (p=0.052) as a function of intensity. In a follow up study, we sought to relate observed exercise effects to frontal cortex activity through the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (n=4) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Prior to TMS stimulation cortical excitability was estimated post running through motor-evoked potentials (MEP) elicited from the primary motor cortex (M1) induced by single burst TMS and measured in the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle using electromyography. At rest, inhibitory cathodal tDCS with left DLPFC cathode and right supraorbital anode led to improved reaction time and increased amount of commission errors, whereas anodal stimulatory tDCS in the immediate post exercise period was unable to recover the post exercise effect. Continuous theta burst stimulation over the left DLPFC post running further impaired inhibitory control and facilitated reaction time. Different findings during- and after- exercise suggests that potential contributing mechanisms such as computational and metabolic factors may be differentially active during these respective conditions. Furthermore, the fact that an inhibitory TMS protocol pronounced the post running effects even more and that we were able to mimic the reported RAH effects at rest with inhibitory frontal tDCS, but observed different patterns during exercise, suggests that the latter state cannot be fully explained by reducing activity in the left frontal cortex alone. Failure to modify the after exercise effect with stimulatory tDCS also supports an interplay of different factors and might emphasize the strong, robust effects of exercise that cannot simply be attenuated by current application. Increases in MEP post running for 35min paired with the observed performance decrements imply an excited state of M1 and might serve as an explanatory cross-link to central fatigue suggesting that a hypofrontal state might enhance the motor cortical drive to activate muscles.

Continuous delivery is a software development methodology that aims to reduce development cycle time by putting a strong emphasis on automation, quality and rapid feedback. This thesis develops an automated method for detecting performance regressions as part of a continuous delivery deployment pipeline. The chosen method is based on control charts, a tool commonly used within statistical process control. This method is implemented as part of a continuous delivery deployment pipeline and its ability to detect performance regressions is then evaluated by injecting various performance bottlenecks in a sample application. The results from this thesis show that using a control chart based approach is a viable option when trying to automate verification of load test results in the context of continuous delivery.
Kontinuerlig leverans är en utvecklingsmetodik för mjukvara med målet att reducera ledtid genom att fokusera på automatisering, kvalitet och snabb återkoppling. I det här examensarbetet utvecklas en automatiserad metod för att upptäcka försämringar i prestanda i en deployment pipeline för kontinuerlig leverans. Den valda metoden baseras på kontrolldiagram, ett verktyg som ofta används inom statistisk processkontroll. Metoden implementeras som en del av en deployment pipeline för kontinuerlig leverans och dess förmåga att upptäcka prestandaförsämringar utvärderas genom att olika prestandarelaterade flaskhalsar implementeras i en testapplikation. Resultaten från arbetet visar att en metod baserad på kontrolldiagram är ett tänkbart alternativ för att automatisera verifiering lasttestresultat inom kontinuerlig leverans.

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the relationship between a continuous performance test (CPT) and teachers' ratings of behavior. Assessment data were archival in nature. One hundred-one children from one rural, middle-class, predominately Caucasian school district in a Midwestern state were selected who had taken the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and whose teachers had completed the Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluation ScaleSchool Version (ADDES) and the Child Behavior ChecklistTeacher Report Form (TRF). Of this group 46 had been referred for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or learning difficulties and 55 had participated in a local norming project for the TOVA.Descriptive statistics were found for CPT variables and teachers' ratings of behavior for all participants, boys and girls separately, and referred and nonreferred separately. The research question was investigated using a matrix of partial correlations controlled for age. TOVA variables included Omissions, Commissions, Response Time, Response Time Variability, Anticipatory Responses, and Multiple Responses. Teacher's rating scale variables included the ADDES Total and subscales Inattention, Impulsive, and Hyperactive as well as the TRF Attention Problems, and Aggressive Behavior.Research provided support that TOVA Omissions and Commissions are valid indicators of ADHD as measured by teachers' ratings of behavior. Response Time Variability and Multiple Responses may be valid indicators of generalized behavior dysfunction as measured by teachers' ratings of behavior. Anticipatory Responses and Response Time may aid in distinguishing ADHD with and without hyperactivity but further research is recommended.
Department of Educational Psychology

This thesis consisted of experiments designed to explore the construct of attention and investigate the disruptive effects of psychotomimetics, with a specific focus on NMDA antagonists. Phencyclidine (PCP) was administered through a variety of treatment regimens in order to to determine the ability of inducing cognitive-specific disruptions in attentional functioning. The hypothesis that sub-chronic exposure to PCP would result in persistent attentional impairment was tested, using the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). The 5-CSRTT assesses not only visuospatial attention, but also components of impulsivity, compulsivity, speed of processing and motivation. It was determined that an additional task-related intervention that increased the attentional load was required to elucidate attentional impairment following sub-chronic PCP treatment. The ability of rats to perform the modified version of the 5-CSRTT, known as the 5-choice continuous performance test (5C-CPT), was investigated. The 5C-CPT was implemented to provide a task that may have greater analogy to the human CPT, than the original 5-CSRTT. The consequence of dopaminergic D1 system activation was investigated. It was revealed that D1 partial agonism improved attentional performance in a baseline-dependent manner. Following successful acquisition of the task, it was shown that repeated PCP treatment induced cognitive disruption that was cognitive-specific, and not confounded by generalised response disruption. Furthermore, a partial attenuation of the PCP-induced performance disruption was achieved following administration of the D1 partial agonist, SKF 38393. Moreover, sub-chronic PCP treatment was shown to impair 5C-CPT performance in the drug-free state. However, an additional challenge that further increased the attentional load was needed to elucidate a performance deficit. This highlighted that sustained attention/vigilance is sensitive to persistent impairment following sub-chronic PCP administration in a manner consistent with deficits observed in schizophrenia patients. This prompted the investigation that tested the hypothesis that sub-chronic PCP treatment could induce enduring structural deficits in regions associated with attentional performance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was conducted, in conjunction with 5-CSRTT and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). It was revealed that sub-chronic PCP treatment resulted in morphological brain abnormalities in brain regions associated with 5-CSRTT performance. This was coupled with deficits in sustained attentional performance following an increase in attentional load, yet PPI was unaffected. Taken together, these findings suggested sub-chronic PCP treatment impairs attentional functionality, an effect that dissociates between effortful and passive attentional processes.

Research on the Berard Auditory Integration Training method has shown improvement in the regulation of attention, activity and impulsivity of children whose auditory system have been re-trained. Anecdotal reports have found improvements in sleeping patterns, balance, allergies, eyesight, eating patterns, depression and other seemingly unrelated physiological states. During the Auditory Integration Training (AIT) procedure dynamic music, with a wide range of frequencies, is processed through a system of filters in the AIT device. The volume and tone of the music is constantly and randomly modulated. The researcher explored Berard AIT as a possible intervention for learners between the ages of six and twelve years, who experienced problems with sustained attention and who have difficulty in shifting their attention from task to task. The aim was to investigate if Berard AIT method would enable the learner to stay calm, relaxed yet alert, with focused attention and thus concentration with appropriate reflection before action. An experimental quantative study, with a pretest-posttest control group design, was conducted to investigate the effect that Berard Auditory Integration Training has on learners with attention problems. Checklists and different measurements were conducted before the training started and repeated three months after the training was completed, to monitor if any change in the way that the learners pay attention, occurred the case group of ten learners was compared with ten learners in a control group who did not initially receive the intervention. Although the results of the post-tests varied amongst the learners, most learners in the experimental group experienced a statistical significant increase in attention control and a reduction in behavioural problems by the third month following the listening sessions.
Thesis (M.Ed.), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

La maladie de Parkinson (MP) est la deuxième affection neurodégénérative la plus fréquente après la maladie d’Alzheimer. Elle se caractérise par un dysfonctionnement du système des ganglions de la base, en rapport avec une dégénérescence des neurones dopaminergiques de la substance noire compacte. A côté des symptômes moteurs, la MP s’accompagne de troubles cognitifs, en particulier une altération des capacités de sélectivité attentionnelle. Ce déficit attentionnel se traduit par des difficultés à sélectionner les informations pertinentes pour la conduite en cours et peut entraîner des troubles cognitifs légers. L’origine des troubles attentionnels reste imprécise : on ignore s'ils résultent d’une défaillance des mécanismes volontaires d’orientation de l’attention ou d'une perturbation des processus automatiques de capture attentionnelle. Le filtrage sensoriel permet de focaliser notre attention grâce à une sélection des informations pertinentes pour l’action en cours et une inhibition des informations non pertinentes. Il peut être exploré en neurophysiologie par le paradigme d’inhibition par le prepulse (PPI). Ce dernier correspond à l’atténuation de la réponse motrice et corticale suite à la présentation d’un stimulus sursautant (pulse) lorsque celui-ci est précédé de quelques millisecondes d’un stimulus non sursautant (prepulse). Le PPI est influencé par l’attention, son amplitude étant majorée lorsque l’attention est portée volontairement sur le prepulse. L’objectif général était donc de mieux identifier la nature des troubles de la sélectivité attentionnelle dans la MP par un paradigme actif de PPI au cours duquel la réponse corticale au pulse est enregistrée. Nous faisions l’hypothèse que les parkinsoniens présenteraient une inhibition plus faible que les témoins sains. En cas de défaillance de mobilisation volontaire des ressources attentionnelles, l'inhibition de la réponse corticale au pulse devrait être moins importante lorsque les ressources attentionnelles allouées au traitement du prepulse mettent en jeu la mobilisation volontaire de l’attention. A l’inverse, en cas de défaut de capture attentionnelle, l’inhibition de la réponse serait moins importante lorsque le traitement du prepulse implique les processus automatiques de capture.Pour répondre à cet objectif, nous avons dans un premier temps développé et validé un paradigme actif de PPI au cours duquel l’effet de la mobilisation volontaire de l’attention et de la capture attentionnelle sur le processus de filtrage sensoriel a été évalué. Pour ce faire, 26 témoins sains jeunes ont bénéficié d’un électroencéphalogramme à haute résolution tout en réalisant une tâche attentionnelle sur laquelle a été greffé un paradigme actif de PPI. Nous avons recueilli la réponse corticale évoquée et induite par la présentation du pulse. 16 témoins sains âgés, 16 patients parkinsoniens sans trouble cognitif et 16 patients avec troubles cognitifs légers ont bénéficié du même enregistrement au cours de la même tâche attentionnelle. Chez les témoins sains jeunes, nous avons montré que les processus de mobilisation volontaire de l’attention et de capture attentionnelle modulaient de façon différentielle la réponse évoquée et induite par la présentation du pulse. Au cours du vieillissement, nous avons observé une meilleure sensibilité de la réponse corticale induite, ce qui nous a conduit à choisir ce marqueur cortical pour évaluer le filtrage sensoriel dans la MP. Nos résultats montrent une réduction de l’inhibition de la réponse induite chez les parkinsoniens avec troubles cognitifs légers, confirmant la distractibilité. La MP s’accompagne aussi d’une altération dans la génération des oscillations corticales dans la bande de fréquence thêta quand la focalisation de l’attention est engagée
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, causing a progressive loss of dopamine neurotransmission within the basal ganglia. Apart from motor symptoms, PD patients have cognitive disorders. Namely, focused attention is impaired and PD patients fail to select task-relevant information, leading sometimes to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The origin of this impairment is still debated: PD-related selective attention deficit may be due either to a failure of goal-directed or stimulus-driven attention. Sensory gating helps the individuals to selectively allocate their attentional resources to salient stimuli and to inhibit irrelevant information. One of the physiological marker of this process is referred to as prepulse inhibition (PPI). It corresponds to the attenuation of the motor and cortical responses to a startling stimulus (pulse) when a non-startling stimulus (the prepulse) precedes the pulse by few milliseconds. PPI can be modulated by attention, its magnitude being greater after a to-be attended prepulse. Moreover, PPI is mediated by basal ganglia.The main aim of this work was to better identify the mechanisms involved in selective attention deficits in PD. We used an active PPI paradigm and recorded the cortical response to the pulse. We assumed that PD patients would exhibit a lower inhibition of the cortical response than healthy controls. If attention deficits in PD are related to an impairment of goal-directed attention, PD patients would exhibit lower inhibition after a to-be attended prepulse than in the other conditions. At the opposite, if it is due to a failure of stimulus-driven attention, inhibition would be lower after a prepulse which involuntarily captures attention than in the other conditions.In order to reach this objective, we have first developed and validated a new active PPI paradigm in order to investigate the role of goal-directed and stimulus-driven attention on sensory-cognitive gating. To this end, high resolution electroencephalogram was recorded in 26 young healthy subjects. They performed a selective attention task combined with an active PPI paradigm and the auditory-evoked and induced cortical response to the pulse was recorded. Then, the same procedure was administered in 16 elderly healthy subjects, 16 PD patients without MCI and 16 PD patients with MCI. In young healthy subjects, we found that stimulus-driven and goal-directed attention each had specific effects on the inhibition of the evoked and induced response to the pulse. The investigation of age-related changes on sensory gating revealed that the induced cortical response was more sensitive for assessing age-related changes than the evoked response. Then, we chose this cortical marker to investigate sensory gating in PD. Our results showed that PD patients with MCI exhibit lower inhibition of induced cortical response to the pulse than healthy controls. This finding confirms previous results showing a high distractibility in these patients. Moreover, PD patients exhibit impaired theta synchronization when focused attention was engaged

碩士
長庚大學
職能治療學系
104
Lots of neuropsychological literature found that while taking cognitive tasks, individuals with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present longer reaction time (RT) and higher variance of RT than control group. Besides, studies showed that RT does not present normal distribution but positively skewed distribution in both group. Therefore many studies using ex-Gaussian distribution to illustrate the difference and characteristic of RT distribution of individuals with ADHD, including school-aged, adolescence, adulthood but preschool-aged. However, ADHD deficient symptoms were certainly found from individuals of preschool-aged ADHD in past studies. Above all, this study aimed to discuss two issues between control group and ADHD risk group of preschool-aged children：(1) After evaluating distractibility of preschool-aged children by Conners’ Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (KCPT), the neuropsychological task, if there’re significance difference between risk group and control group, we compared preschool-aged samples to school-aged, adolescence and adulthood in past studies with ex-Gaussian distribution parameters (μ、σ、τ) and variables (omission error, commission error, mean reaction time and reaction time variability) of KCPT. (2) Unlike the first issue that we used categorical perspective to discuss the difference of performance between ADHD risk group and control group, we used dimensional perspective to discuss the association among the behavioral severity of preschool ADHD core symptoms, variables of K-CPT and ex-Gaussian distribution parameters. Thereby to understand the relation between preschool ADHD child external behavior and neuropsychological task performance. Method: According to the result of ADHDT scale, 90 at high risk ADHD individuals (average age: 4.76) and 133 controls (average age: 4.72). The tools including：SNAP IV- Parent and Teacher Form, ADHDT scale, KCPT and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence short-form. Result：(1) The difference in some variables, including omission error, commission error, reaction time variability, μ and τ in the preschool ADHD at high risk group compared to control group is remarkable, especially τ. (2) The result shows that as ISI increased, τ and reaction time variability increased dramatically in ADHD high risk group. (3) Study shows that parameters τ and commission error can reflect ADHD core symptoms. Especially the parameters τ has more effect size than commission error. This research supports the Cognitive-Energetic Model of RT for preschool ADHD. In addition, behavioral symptom such as distractibility may show in preschool-aged ADHD risk group. Furthermore, path analysis shows that parameter τ is the best variable to reflect the core symptoms of preschool ADHD among other variables in this study. In other words, the result supports that even the preschool children present more hyperactivity and impulsive behavior due to developmental process, the core problem is still attention lapses for preschool ADHD at risk children.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
流行病學研究所
87
Objectives: To evaluate whether the deficit on sustained attention as measured by the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and deficits on abstraction ability and flexibility in thinking Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) are specific to schizophrenic patients. Methods: Participants included patients with bipolar disorder with mood-congruent psychotic features (N=32), bipolar disorder with mood-incongruent psychotic features (N=16), bipolar disorder without psychosis (N=24), major depression without psychotic features (N=22) and schizophrenia (N=43); all of them completed both CPT and WCST. Part of inpatients 41 schizophrenia patients and 13 bipolar patients were retested for the two tests at discharge. Patients were directly interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies and their diagnoses were made by experts, consensus according to DSM-IV. The normal controls were a community-based sample of 245 persons for the CPT and a hospital-based sample of 211persons for the WCST. Results: The CPT scores of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with mood-incongruent psychotic features were significantly worse then those of patients with bipolar disorder with mood-congruent psychotic features, bipolar disorder without psychotic features, major depression without psychotic features. The WCST scores of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with mood-congruent psychotic were significantly worse then normal controls. Comparing discharge with admission, patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder did not improve on the CPT and WCST scores except bipolar patients on the degraded CPT score. Conclusions: These findings suggest that performance on both the CPT and WCST may be affected by psychotic symptoms. When the psychotic symptoms improved, the degraded CPT of patients with bipolar disorder would improve, while schizophrenic patients would not.

Bei dem Deletionssyndroms 22q11.2 (DS 22q11.2) als eines der häufigsten menschlichen Mikrodeletionssyndrome wurde in den letzten Jahren zunehmend über Symptome aus dem neuropsychiatrischen Spektrum berichtet, insbesondere Schizophrenie und die Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/ Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS). Eine gestörte Inhibitionsfähigkeit und Aufmerksamkeitsdefizite, wie sie bei ADHS anzutreffen sind, wurden mit einer Funktionsstörung des Anterioren Cingulären Cortex (ACC) in Zusammenhang gebracht. Mit einer einfachen und nebenwirkungsfreien computergestützten neurophysiologischen Methode ist es möglich, ein elektrophysiologisches Korrelat der ACC-Funktion, die sogenannte NoGo-Anteriorisierung (NGA) zu messen. Eine reduzierte NGA wurde in früheren Untersuchungen u.a. bei Patienten mit ADHS und Schizophrenie als auch DS 22q11.2 als Hinweis auf eine verminderte Aktivität des ACC gefunden. Basierend auf erhobenen Vorbefunden stellten wir die Hypothese auf, dass bei Patienten mit DS 22q11.2 eine präfrontale Dysfunktion, untersucht mittels computergestützter elektrophysiologischer CPT-Testung, im Sinne einer verminderten Fähigkeit zur Antwortinhibition durch den neurophysiologischen Parameter NGA nachzuweisen ist. Zusätzlich wurde eine Kontrollgruppe gesunder parallelisierter Probanden sowie eine klinische Kontrollgruppe mit ADHS untersucht. Zum Anderen sollte in dieser Doktorarbeit explorativ der Frage nachgegangen werden, inwiefern die NGA die Suszeptibilität für psychische Störungen widerspiegelt und langfristig als potentieller Surrogatmarker für die erhöhte psychiatrische Komorbidität dienen könnte. Obwohl eine hypothesenkonforme NGA-Reduktion bei den Patienten mit DS 22q11.2 nachgewiesen werden konnte, war diese nicht auf eine verminderte Antwortinhibition zurückzuführen. Im Gegensatz zu früheren Befunden bei Schizophrenie und ADHS beruhte die NGA-Reduktion nicht auf einer verminderten Anteriorisierung des NoGo-Centroids, sondern auf einer isolierten Anteriorisierung des Go-Centroids. Die Topographie der Centroide ist bislang als spezifisch für DS 22q11.2 anzusehen und sollte im Weiteren hinsichtlich seiner Relevanz bei der psychiatrischen Disposition untersucht werden. Des Weiteren zeigte sich in der Quellenlokalisation LORETA bei DS 22q11.2 eine unveränderte Aktivität des ACC während der Antwortinhibition, jedoch eine verminderte linkstemporale Aktivität während der Go-Bedingung. Die klinische Kontrollgruppe von ADHS-Patienten, die aufgrund der hohen Komorbidität mit ADHS untersucht wurde, zeigte dieses Aktivierungsmuster nicht. Unterschiedliche Aktivierungsmuster unterstützen die Annahme, dass die beobachteten Veränderungen bei DS 22q11.2 nicht auf das komorbide Vorliegen von ADHS zurückzuführen sind, sondern vielmehr spezifische Defizite widerspiegeln könnten
Apart from a wide range of clinical features the Deletion syndrom 22q11.2 (DS 22q11.2) is characterized by a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly attentiondeficit-/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia. We assessed response-inhibition in patients with DS 22q11.2 (n=14), healthy controls (n=13) and a sample of patients with ADHD (n=13) matched for age, gender and handedness by means of a response-inhibition task (Go-NoGo-Task; Continuous Perforance Test-OX) during recording of a multi-channel EEG. Analysis of event-related potentials (P300) displayed a unique aberrant topographical pattern resulting in a significantly diminished NoGo-Anteriorisation that is generally attributed to medial prefrontal brain function. However, source localization analysis (LORETA) revealed that DS 22q11.2 compared to healthy controls strongly activated the Anterior Cingulate Cortex during the NoGo-condition, suggesting that response-inhibition in DS 22q11.2 is not impaired. Instead, we found a disturbed left temporal brain function during tasks requiring attention and monitoring of visual stimuli and execution of motor response. Confirming our hypothesis we detected a reduced NGA in DS22q11 compared to controls. In fact, the NGA was almost reduced to null. Although in other samples NGA reduction was attributable to deficient activation of the ACC during the NoGo-condition reflecting medial prefrontal response-inhibition deficits. Interestingly, the reduction was not caused by altered topography of the NoGo-centroid, but rather by an anteriorized localization of the Go-centroid. This activation pattern to our knowledge has previously never been described in other samples

Most contemporary schizophrenia research indicates that a heritable neurointegrative deficit may be a vulnerability marker for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Researchers often measure this deficit in terms of impaired attention on a vigilance task, the Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Impaired attention is found not only in floridly psychotic schizophrenics, but also in remitted schizophrenics, children biologically at risk for schizophrenia, and young adults psychometrically identified as at risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Findings from these investigations provide a possible link in the diathesis-stress model of schizophrenia genesis. However, little research attention has been paid to the potential interactive effects that attentional impairments and interpersonal relations may have in determining susceptibility to active schizophrenic symptomatology. In this study, 703 undergraduates completed measures of interpersonal attachment, perceived relations with parents and peers in childhood, positive schizotypy (schizophrenism) and negative schizotypy (anhedonia). Based upon their schizotypy scores, 191 of these participants were selected to complete a version of the CPT that, by degrading visual stimuli and presenting them very briefly, rapidly produces decrements in vigilance. In a staggered random design, CPT participants were assigned to one of three motivational induction conditions designed either to increase intrinsic motivation, decrease intrinsic motivation, or to replicate the standard CPT protocol. Path modelling supported a bidirectional relationship between adult attachment and schizophrenism. For female participants, recalled relations with fathers and childhood peers, but not with mothers, predicted adult attachment: for males, recalled relations with mothers, fathers, and childhood peers all predicted adult attachment. Maternal and paternal relations had no direct relationship to schizophrenism, while childhood peer relations and adult attachment were substantially related to schizophrenism for both sexes. Using signal detection indices and growth curve analysis across six blocks of CPT performance, the motivational induction designed to increase intrinsic motivation was found to attenuate the decrement in vigilance across time, while the motivational induction designed to decrease intrinsic motivation was found to augment the vigilance decrement, compared to the standard CPT protocol. Perceptual sensitivity scores were lower for high schizotypy participants than for low schizotypy participants, such that anhedonic (negative) and schizophrenism (positive) schizotypy interacted to predict the most impaired performance. High schizotypy participants had lowered perceptual sensitivity scores throughout the CPT protocol, but did not show a more rapid decrement in vigilance compared to others. Participants who reported low levels of intrinsic motivation or positive emotion, or who demonstrated diminished persistence in a hand held dynometer task, also had lowered perceptual sensitivity scores. This relationship was most strong for self-reported intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation was unrelated to schizotypy, and there were no interactions between self-reported intrinsic motivation, schizotypy, and the experimental motivational inductions. High levels of motivation appeared to compensate partially for the impaired attentional performance associated with schizotypy. Contrary to expectations, no interactions between interpersonal attachment and attentional performance were predictive of schizotypal tendencies. Results indicate the importance of the experimental setting as an interpersonal occasion that can either support or undermine attentional performance. The substantial relationship between motivation and attentional performance indicates that future CPT research should include measures of motivation, and that schizophrenia-related deficits in attention may be at least partially eliminated by increasing intrinsic motivation.
This thesis was digitized as part of a project begun in 2014 to increase the number of Duke psychology theses available online. The digitization project was spearheaded by Ciara Healy.

碩士
國立臺北科技大學
機械工程系機電整合碩士班
107
As we know, attention is the main factor in learning or working efficient. In the pervious research, has widely used EEG features to quantify the level of attention, but most of them only for offline analysis. Therefore, this paper is aim to develop an online attention assessment system based on EEG. In order to implement this system, we choose Fp1 and Fz two electrodes and used CPT as the task. According to the average results of 20 subjects, as the number of experiments increased, not only the rate of correctness decreased, but also the band power θ-BP decreased. From the statistical analysis, the θ-BP of the first round of 20 subjects has a significant difference from the second and third rounds of experimental θ-BP. Therefore, this paper presents the results as scores by quantifying θ-BP. The lower the score, the less focused the user is. Based on those results, EEG attention assessment system can be easy implement on the life.