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Lee TL, Ding Z, Chan AS. Prefrontal hemodynamic features of older adults with preserved visuospatial working memory function. GeroScience 2023; 45:3513-3527. [PMID: 37501047 PMCID: PMC10643746 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00862-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Memory decline has been observed in the aging population and is a risk factor for the later development of dementia. Understanding how memory is preserved in older adults has been an important topic. The present study examines the hemodynamic features of older adults whose memory is comparable with that of young adults. In the present study, 45 younger and 45 older adults performed the visual memory task with various difficulty levels (i.e., the items to be remembered), and their cerebral hemodynamics at each level were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results showed that older adults exhibited higher activation than younger adults under more difficult but not easier levels. In addition, older adults whose performance is comparable with that of young adults (i.e., being able to remember six items) showed more right-lateralized activation. However, those unable to do so showed more left-lateralized activation. The results suggested that high-performing older adults possess successful compensatory mechanisms by recruiting cognitive resources in a specialized brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz-Lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Zihan Ding
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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2
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Han YM, Chan MM, Shea CK, Mo FY, Yiu KW, Chung RC, Cheung MC, Chan AS. Effects of prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation on social functioning in autism spectrum disorder: A randomized clinical trial. Autism 2023; 27:2465-2482. [PMID: 37151094 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231169547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Currently available pharmacological and behavioral interventions for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) yield only modest effect in alleviating their core behavioral and cognitive symptoms, and some of these treatment options are associated with undesirable side effects. Hence, developing effective treatment protocols is urgently needed. Given emerging evidence shows that the abnormal connections of the frontal brain regions contribute to the manifestations of ASD behavioral and cognitive impairments, noninvasive treatment modalities that are capable in modulating brain connections, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been postulated to be potentially promising for alleviating core symptoms in ASD. However, whether tDCS can reduce behavioral symptoms and enhance cognitive performance in ASD remains unclear. This randomized controlled trial involving 105 adolescents and young adults with ASD showed that multiple sessions of a tDCS protocol, which was paired up with computerized cognitive training, was effective in improving social functioning in adolescents and young adults with ASD. No prolonged and serious side effects were observed. With more future studies conducted in different clinical settings that recruit participants from a wider age range, this tDCS protocol may be potentially beneficial to a broad spectrum of individuals with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melody My Chan
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
- The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Caroline Ks Shea
- Hospital Authority, Hong Kong
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Flora Ym Mo
- Hospital Authority, Hong Kong
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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3
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Lee TL, Chan AS. Photobiomodulation may enhance cognitive efficiency in older adults: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1096361. [PMID: 37547747 PMCID: PMC10397517 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1096361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The relative oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been considered as an index for cognitive loading, with the more difficult the task, the higher the level. A previous study reported that young adults who received transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) showed a reduced HbO of a difficult task, suggesting that tPBM may enhance cognitive efficiency. The present study further investigated the effect of tPBM on cognitive efficiency in older adults. Methods Thirty participants received a single tPBM on the forehead for 350 s. Before and after tPBM, their HbO in the visual span task with various difficulties was measured with fNIRS. Results After tPBM, participants exhibited significantly lower HbO in a harder (span 7) but not an easier level (span 2) of the task, but their behavioral performance remained unchanged. In addition, factors affecting the reduction of HbO were examined, and the results showed that individuals with better memory (as measured by a 30-min delayed recall test) showed more reduction of HbO. Discussion The results suggest that tPBM may enhance cognitive efficiency, with individuals with better memory tend to benefit more.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz-lok Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Ding Z, Leung PY, Lee TL, Chan AS. Effectiveness of lifestyle medicine on cognitive functions in mild cognitive impairments and dementia: A systematic review on randomized controlled trials. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 86:101886. [PMID: 36806378 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia are associated with lifestyle risk factors, making lifestyle medicine a potentially viable intervention for people with MCI and dementia. The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine on cognitive functions among people with MCI and dementia, by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCT). A systematic literature search was conducted to extract RCTs adopting lifestyle interventions of diet, exercise, and stress management or emotional well-being. Results showed that 65 studies were eligible. Exercise was the most promising lifestyle intervention that improved various cognitive functions among people with MCI and dementia, and was more effective in MCI than in dementia. Interventions on stress management or emotional well-being did not show a significant effect on people with MCI, and the evidence for people with dementia was insufficient to conclude. Similarly, due to the lack of RCTs on a healthy dietary pattern, the effectiveness of diet interventions was not examined. In conclusion, the exercise component of lifestyle medicine can be an effective and clinically significant intervention for protecting people with MCI and dementia against cognitive declines, especially when served as an early intervention at the stage of MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Ding
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pui-Ying Leung
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz-Lok Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Cheung MC, Lee TL, Sze SL, Chan AS. Photobiomodulation improves frontal lobe cognitive functions and mental health of older adults with non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment: Case studies. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1095111. [PMID: 36704674 PMCID: PMC9871821 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1095111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study investigated the effects of transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) on improving the frontal lobe cognitive functions and mental health of older adults. Methods Three older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) of the non-amnestic type received 18-session tPBM stimulation for 9 weeks and were assessed with neuropsychological tests of memory and executive functions and standardized questionnaires on depressive and anxiety symptoms, global cognitive functions, and daily functioning abilities before and after tPBM stimulation. Results At baseline, their intrusion and/or perseveration errors in a verbal memory test and a fluency test, as measures of the frontal lobe cognitive functions, were in the borderline to severely impaired range at baseline. After tPBM stimulation, the three older adults showed various levels of improvement in their frontal lobe cognitive functions. One older adult's intrusion and perseveration errors improved from the <1st-2nd percentile (moderately to severely impaired range) to the 41st-69th percentile (average range), another older adult's intrusion errors improved from the 11th percentile to the 83rd percentile, and the third older adult's intrusion errors improved from the 5th percentile to the 56th percentile. Moreover, improvements in their anxiety and/or depressive symptoms were also observed. One older adult's depressive and anxiety symptoms improved from the severe range at baseline to the mild range after the intervention. The other two older adults' depressive symptoms improved from the mild range at baseline to the normal range after the intervention. Discussion These findings provide preliminary support for the potential of tPBM to improve the frontal lobe cognitive functions and mental health of older adults with MCI. Given the small sample size of only three older adults and the absence of a placebo control group, larger randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm its potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China,Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tsz-Lok Lee
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China,Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sophia L. Sze
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China,Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China,Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China,*Correspondence: Agnes S. Chan, ✉
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Lee TL, Ding Z, Chan AS. Can transcranial photobiomodulation improve cognitive function? A systematic review of human studies. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 83:101786. [PMID: 36371017 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has been studied for over a decade as a possible cognitive intervention. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of tPBM for enhancing human cognitive function in healthy adults and remediating impaired cognitive function in adults with cognitive disorders. METHODS A systematic literature search from three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was conducted from 1987 to May 2022. The cognitive function being evaluated included learning and memory, attention, executive function, language, and global cognitive function. RESULTS Of the 35 studies identified, 29 (82.9 %) studies reported positive improvement in cognitive functions after tPBM. All nine studies on participants with subjective memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia, showed positive outcomes. Seven (87.5 %) studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients also showed positive results. A series of clinical trials on stroke patients showed positive trends on improved neurological deficit at first, but was prematurely terminated later at phase III due to the lack of statistical significance. One of the most common protocols for clinical populations employed devices delivering near-infrared light (810 nm), the irradiance of 20-25 mW/cm2, and fluence of 1-10 J/cm2. While this was common, the reviewed protocols also included other wavelengths of light ranging from visible, red (630-635 nm) to invisible near-infrared maximum wavelengths of 1060-1068 nm. CONCLUSIONS tPBM seems to improve cognitive function. However, only half of the reviewed clinical trials were randomized control trials, further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz-Lok Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zihan Ding
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Chan AS, Ding Z, Lee TL, Sze SL, Cheung MC. Temporal processing deficit in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: An online assessment. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231171500. [PMID: 37124327 PMCID: PMC10134192 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231171500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The sensory deficit has been considered as one of the core features in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aimed to examine the temporal processing of simple and more complex auditory inputs in ASD children and adolescents with an online assessment that can be conducted remotely. Methods One hundred fifty-eight children and adolescents aged 5-17 years participated in this study, including 79 ASD participants and 79 typically developing (TD) participants. The online assessment consisted of two temporal-order judgment tasks that required repeating the sequence of two pure tones or consonant-vowel (CV) syllabic pairs at varying interstimulus intervals (ISIs). Results Significantly lower accuracy rates were found in ASD than TD participants in the pure tone and the CV conditions with both short and long ISI. In addition, ASD participants (M = 245.97 ms) showed a significantly higher passing threshold than TD participants (M = 178.84 ms) in the CV task. Receiver operating characteristic analysis found that the age × ISI passing threshold composite yielded a sensitivity of 74.7% and a specificity of 50.6% at the cutoff point of -0.307 in differentiating ASD participants from TD participants. Conclusion In sum, children and adolescents with ASD showed impaired temporal processing of both simple and more complex auditory stimuli, and the online assessment seems to be sensitive in differentiating individuals with ASD from those with TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S. Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department
of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological
Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Agnes S. Chan, Neuropsychology Lab,
Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong
Kong, China.
| | - Zihan Ding
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department
of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz-lok Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department
of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sophia L. Sze
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department
of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological
Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Cui L, Huang L, Pan FF, Wang Y, Huang Q, Guan YH, Lo CYZ, Guo YH, Chan AS, Xie F, Guo QH. Chinese Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Study (C-PAS): Design and Challenge from PET Acceptance. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2023; 10:571-580. [PMID: 37357299 DOI: 10.14283/jpad.2023.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Large-scale preclinical Alzheimer's disease study based on β-amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) has not been conducted in China. OBJECTIVES Establish a cohort on Alzheimer's disease spectrum, especially the preclinical stages, and determine the factors influencing the acceptance of β-amyloid PET scan screening in China. DESIGN Longitudinal. SETTING Shanghai, China. PARTICIPANTS A total of 4386 participants were screened and 2451 participants who met enrollment criteria were eventually included in this report. MEASUREMENTS The multidimensional data was collected, including comprehensive assessments, PET and magnetic resonance imaging scans, genetics, and plasma biomarkers. RESULTS There were 571 participants in the normal cognition group, 625 participants in the subjective cognitive decline group, 155 participants in the objectively defined subtle cognitive decline group, 501 participants in the mild cognitive impairment group, 471 participants in Alzheimer's disease group, and 128 participants with cognitive impairment from other known causes. Significant differences in demographics, florbetapir PET, APOE, and neuropsychological tests were found among the groups. Eight hundred and seventeen participants (33.3%) completed the florbetapir PET scanning. Non-demented individuals with higher age, lower education years, male, with a family history of dementia, and higher self-report depression prefer to undergo PET scans. Acceptance of PET scans did not correlate with objectively assessed cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS The Chinese Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Study was designed to establish a large-scale cohort with comprehensive data collection. Our findings may help to understand the factors affecting the acceptance of β-amyloid PET in urban areas of China and help us address the low acceptance challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cui
- Qihao Guo, Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China, E-mail: ; Fang Xie, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 518 East Wuzhong Road, Shanghai, 200040, China, E-mail: ; Agnes Suiyin Chan, Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, E-mail:
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Chan AS, Sze SL, Cheung MC. Temporal processing tele-intervention improves language, attention, and memory in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231203900. [PMID: 37780065 PMCID: PMC10540611 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231203900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Temporal processing is the brain's ability to process rapid successive stimuli, and children with neurodevelopmental disorders showed temporal processing deficits. Empirical evidence suggests that in-person intervention on temporal processing improves various cognitive functions of these children, and the present study aimed to study the effects of temporal processing tele-intervention (TPT) on the cognitive functions of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Methods Ninety-five children with neurodevelopmental disorders were recruited and randomly assigned to remotely receive either TPT or conventional language remediation (CLR) in 20 parallel group-based intervention sessions once per week. Their cognitive functions were assessed before and after the intervention. Results The TPT group demonstrated a specific and significant improvement in working memory (p < .001). While there was an overall significant improvement in sustained attention in terms of processing speed after both types of intervention (p = .006), the positive effects of TPT might be more prominent than that of CLR given the significant pre-post difference after receiving TPT (p = .012) but not CLR (p = .21). Regarding rapid naming accuracy which had marginally significant improvement after the intervention (p = .03), the trend of improvement in TPT (p = .05) also seemed more apparent than that of CLR (p = .18). Finally, the TPT group had significant improvement in word knowledge (p < .001), rapid naming speed (p < .001), sustained attention in terms of accuracy (p < .001), and verbal learning and memory (p < .01) to an extent similar to that of the CLR group. Conclusions These findings suggest that TPT can be a potential intervention for improving cognitive functions in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Clinical trial registration number: NCT05428657 at ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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10
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Chan AS, Lee TL, Sze SL, Yang NS, Han YMY. Eye-tracking training improves the learning and memory of children with learning difficulty. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13974. [PMID: 35977994 PMCID: PMC9383673 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18286-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Children who experience difficulty in learning at mainstream schools usually are provided with remediation classes after school to facilitate their learning. The present study aims to evaluate an innovative eye-tracking training as possible alternative remediation. Our previous findings showed that children who received eye-tracking training demonstrated improved attention and inhibitory control, and the present randomized controlled study aims to evaluate if eye-tracking training can also enhance the learning and memory of children. Fifty-three primary school students with learning difficulty (including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorder, specific language impairment and borderline intellectual functioning) were recruited and randomly assigned to either the Eye-tracking Training group or the after-school remediation class. They were assessed on their learning and memory using the Hong Kong List Learning Test before and after 8-month training. Twenty weekly parallel sessions of training, 50 min per session, were provided to each group. Children who received the eye-tracking training, not those in the control group, showed a significant improvement in memory as measured by the delayed recall. In addition, the Eye-Tracking Training group showed significantly faster learning than the control group. Also, the two groups showed a significant improvement in their reading abilities. In sum, eye-tracking training may be effective training for enhancing the learning and memory of children with learning difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Tsz-Lok Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Natalie S Yang
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Ding Z, Lee TL, Chan AS. Digital Cognitive Biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairments and Dementia: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11144191. [PMID: 35887956 PMCID: PMC9320101 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11144191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The dementia population is increasing as the world’s population is growing older. The current systematic review aims to identify digital cognitive biomarkers from computerized tests for detecting dementia and its risk state of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of digital cognitive biomarkers. A literature search was performed in three databases, and supplemented by a Google search for names of previously identified computerized tests. Computerized tests were categorized into five types, including memory tests, test batteries, other single/multiple cognitive tests, handwriting/drawing tests, and daily living tasks and serious games. Results showed that 78 studies were eligible. Around 90% of the included studies were rated as high quality based on the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Most of the digital cognitive biomarkers achieved comparable or even better diagnostic performance than traditional paper-and-pencil tests. Moderate to large group differences were consistently observed in cognitive outcomes related to memory and executive functions, as well as some novel outcomes measured by handwriting/drawing tests, daily living tasks, and serious games. These outcomes have the potential to be sensitive digital cognitive biomarkers for MCI and dementia. Therefore, digital cognitive biomarkers can be a sensitive and promising clinical tool for detecting MCI and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Ding
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Z.D.); (T.-l.L.)
| | - Tsz-lok Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Z.D.); (T.-l.L.)
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Z.D.); (T.-l.L.)
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3943-6654
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Yeung MK, Lee TL, Chan AS. Prefrontal Activation During Effortful Processing Differentiates Memory Abilities in Adults with Memory Complaints. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 88:301-310. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Background: Identifying individuals at increased risks for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is crucial for early intervention. Memory complaints are associated with brain abnormalities characteristic of AD in cognitively normal older people. However, the utility of memory complaints for predicting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD onset remains controversial, likely due to the heterogeneous nature of this construct. Objective: We investigated whether prefrontal oxygenation changes measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during an arduous cognitive task, previously shown to be associated with the AD syndrome, could differentiate memory abilities among individuals with memory complaints. Episodic memory performance was adopted as a proxy for MCI/AD risks since it has been shown to predict AD progression across stages. Methods: Thirty-six adults self-reporting memory complaints in the absence of memory impairment completed a verbal list learning test and underwent a digit n-back paradigm with an easy (0-back) and a difficult (2-back) condition. K-means clustering was applied to empirically derive memory complaint subgroups based on fNIRS-based prefrontal oxygenation changes during the effortful 2-back task. Results: Cluster analysis revealed two subgroups characterized by high (n = 12) and low (n = 24) bilateral prefrontal activation during the 2-back but not a 0-back task. The low activation group was significantly less accurate across the n-back task and recalled significantly fewer words on the verbal memory test compared to the high activation group. Conclusion: fNIRS may have the potential to differentiate verbal memory abilities in individuals with self-reported memory complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K. Yeung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz-lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
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Han YMY, Yau SY, Chan MMY, Wong CK, Chan AS. Altered Cytokine and BDNF Levels in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12040460. [PMID: 35447993 PMCID: PMC9026457 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12040460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that immunological factors are involved in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The present study examined whether immunological abnormalities are associated with cognitive and behavioral deficits in children with ASD and whether children with ASD show different immunological biomarkers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF levels than typically developing (TD) children. Sixteen children with TD and 18 children with ASD, aged 6–18 years, voluntarily participated in the study. Participants’ executive functions were measured using neuropsychological tests, and behavioral measures were measured using parent ratings. Immunological measures were assessed by measuring the participants’ blood serum levels of chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5). Children with ASD showed greater deficits in cognitive functions as well as altered levels of immunological measures when compared to TD children, and their cognitive functions and behavioral deficits were significantly associated with increased CCL5 levels and decreased BDNF levels. These results provide evidence to support the notion that altered immune functions and neurotrophin deficiency are involved in the pathogenesis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne M. Y. Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China; (S.-Y.Y.); (M.M.Y.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-2766-7578
| | - Suk-Yu Yau
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China; (S.-Y.Y.); (M.M.Y.C.)
| | - Melody M. Y. Chan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China; (S.-Y.Y.); (M.M.Y.C.)
| | - Chun-Kwok Wong
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
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Han YMY, Chan MMY, Shea CKS, Lai OLH, Krishnamurthy K, Cheung MC, Chan AS. Neurophysiological and behavioral effects of multisession prefrontal tDCS and concurrent cognitive remediation training in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A double-blind, randomized controlled fNIRS study. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:414-425. [PMID: 35181532 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical effects and neurophysiological mechanisms of prefrontal tDCS and concurrent cognitive remediation training in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE This two-armed, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of tDCS combined with concurrent cognitive remediation training on adolescents and young adults with ASD. METHODS Participants were randomly assigned to either active or sham tDCS groups and received 1.5 mA prefrontal tDCS with left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex cathode placement and right supraorbital region anode placement for 20 min over two consecutive weeks. tDCS was delivered concurrently with a computerized cognitive remediation training program. Social functioning and its underlying cognitive processes, as well as prefrontal resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), were measured. RESULTS The results from 41 participants indicated that multisession prefrontal tDCS, compared to sham tDCS, significantly enhanced the social functioning of ASD individuals [F(1,39) = 4.75, p = .035, ηp2 = 0.11]. This improvement was associated with enhanced emotion recognition [F(1,39) = 8.34, p = .006, ηp2 = 0.18] and cognitive flexibility [F(1,39) = 4.91, p = .033, ηp2 = 0.11]. Specifically, this tDCS protocol optimized information processing efficiency [F(1,39) = 4.43, p = .042, ηp2 = 0.10], and the optimization showed a trend to be associated with enhanced rsFC in the right medial prefrontal cortex (ρ = 0.339, pFDR = .083). CONCLUSION Multisession tDCS with left dlPFC cathode placement and right supraorbital region anode placement paired with concurrent cognitive remediation training promoted social functioning in individuals with ASD. This appeared to be associated with the enhancement of the functional connectivity of the right medial PFC, a major hub for flexible social information processing, allowing these individuals to process information more efficiently in response to different social situations. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT03814083).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Melody M Y Chan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Caroline K S Shea
- Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Oscar Long-Hin Lai
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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15
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Han YMY, Chan MC, Chan MMY, Yeung MK, Chan AS. Effects of working memory load on frontal connectivity in children with autism spectrum disorder: a fNIRS study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1522. [PMID: 35087126 PMCID: PMC8795357 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05432-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perform poorly in working memory (WM) tasks, with some literature suggesting that their impaired performance is modulated by WM load. While some neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies have reported altered functional connectivity during WM processing in individuals with autism, it remains largely unclear whether such alterations are moderated by WM load. The present study aimed to examine the effect of WM load on functional connectivity within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in ASD using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty-two children with high-functioning ASD aged 8-12 years and 24 age-, intelligent quotient (IQ)-, sex- and handedness-matched typically developing (TD) children performed a number n-back task with three WM loads (0-back, 1-back, and 2-back). Hemodynamic changes in the bilateral lateral and medial PFC during task performance were monitored using a multichannel NIRS device. Children with ASD demonstrated slower reaction times, specifically during the "low load" condition, than TD children. In addition, the ASD and TD groups exhibited differential load-dependent functional connectivity changes in the lateral and medial PFC of the right but not the left hemisphere. These findings indicate that WM impairment in high-functioning ASD is paralleled by load-dependent alterations in right, but not left, intrahemispheric connectivity during WM processing in children with ASD. A disruption of functional neural connections that support different cognitive processes may underlie poor performance in WM tasks in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
- University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ming-Chung Chan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Melody M Y Chan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Michael K Yeung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
- University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
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16
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Chan AS, Ding Z, Lee TL, Sze SL, Yang NS. Temporal processing deficit in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: An online assessment. Digit Health 2022; 8:20552076221120325. [PMID: 36060612 PMCID: PMC9434659 DOI: 10.1177/20552076221120325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Temporal processing deficits were found among children with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study aims to
develop an online temporal processing assessment that can be conducted
remotely, and the sensitivity of the test was assessed on a group of
children with ADHD. Methods A total of 188 children were recruited, including 94 typically developing
(TD) children, and 94 children with ADHD. The online assessment consists of
two temporal-order judgment (TOJ) tasks. One task used tone pairs presented
with two interstimulus intervals (ISIs) (305ms and 40ms). Another task used
pairs of consonant-vowel (CV) syllables with 20 varying ISI levels.
Participants were asked to determine the sequence of the sound pairs. Results The results showed that ADHD children were less accurate (ISI 305ms:
M = 83.90%; ISI 40ms: M = 66.28%) than TD children (ISI
305ms: M = 89.36%; ISI 40ms: M = 77.16%)
in the tone task. Similarly, ADHD children showed a higher ISI passing
threshold (M = 283.64ms) than TD children
(M = 199.76ms) and higher accuracy in the CV task.
Hierarchical binary logistic regression suggested a model to predict ADHD
children using accuracy in ISI 40ms in the tone task and ISI passing
threshold in the CV task. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis
yielded a sensitivity of 75.58% and a specificity of 51.11%. Conclusion ADHD children showed temporal processing deficits of both tones and CVs. The
online assessment may be a valid tool for differentiating ADHD children from
TD children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zihan Ding
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz-lok Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Natalie S Yang
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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17
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Yeung MK, Lee TL, Chan AS. Depressive and anxiety symptoms are related to decreased lateral prefrontal cortex functioning during cognitive control in older people. Biol Psychol 2021; 166:108224. [PMID: 34785277 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Some studies have found a relationship between negative emotional symptoms and decreased lateral PFC functioning during a cognitive control task in healthy younger adults. Here, we asked whether this relationship is also present in the general older population and across different functional domains of the lateral PFC. Thirty-six older people (13 males) self-reported their recent depressive and anxiety symptoms. They also took two cognitive control tasks known to differentially engage the lateral frontoparietal network (digit n-back task) and the lateral frontotemporal network (Category Fluency Test) while hemodynamic changes in the PFC were monitored by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Both depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with decreased activation in the bilateral lateral PFC during cognitive control performance. Interestingly, these relationships were driven by the n-back task. Our findings suggest that depressive and anxiety symptoms are related to decreased lateral PFC functioning in particular domains of cognitive control among older people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz L Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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18
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Yeung MK, Lee TL, Han YMY, Chan AS. Prefrontal activation and pupil dilation during n-back task performance: A combined fNIRS and pupillometry study. Neuropsychologia 2021; 159:107954. [PMID: 34252415 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The n-back task is one of the most commonly used working memory (WM) paradigms in cognitive neuroscience. Converging evidence suggests activation in the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and pupil dilation [a proxy for locus coeruleus (LC) activation] during this task. However, it remains unclear whether the lateral PFC and the LC are functionally associated during n-back task performance. This study's aim was to examine the relationship between changes in lateral PFC activity and the pupil diameter and to evaluate the effect of WM load on such relationship during the n-back task. Thirty-nine healthy young adults (10 males, 29 females) underwent a number n-back paradigm with 0- and 3-back conditions. Their prefrontal hemodynamics and changes in pupil size during task performance were simultaneously measured using a 16-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device and a wearable eye tracker. Young adults exhibited significant activation in the bilateral lateral PFC and significant increases in pupil size when the WM load was high (i.e., 3-back) but not low (i.e., 0-back) compared with the resting period. Interestingly, significant positive correlations were found between changes in lateral PFC activity and pupil size during the 0-back task only. These correlations tended to be stronger during the 0-back than the 3-back condition. Thus, the functional relationship between the lateral PFC and the LC may vary at different load levels during the n-back task. Our findings have important implications for neuropsychiatric research and support concurrent fNIRS and pupillometric measurements for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying WM processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, SAR, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz L Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, SAR, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, SAR, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, SAR, Hong Kong, China; Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-being, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, SAR, Hong Kong, China.
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19
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Abstract
A positive effect of photoneuromodulation (PNM) has been found on cognitive and emotional functions in healthy populations. However, the hemodynamic changes associated with improved cognitive functions (i.e., memory and executive functions) are unexplored. Therefore, the present study investigated the hemodynamic changes associated with PNM using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In this experiment, 33 young healthy adults were recruited and randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. A single PNM stimulation was applied to the forehead in the experimental group, while a sham stimulation (same procedure without machine activation) was performed for the control group. Before and after the stimulation, all participants performed an n-back task with 0-and 3-back conditions to assess their working memory function, and their hemodynamic responses during the tasks were measured by fNIRS. A significant group (experimental vs. control) × time (before vs. after PNM) interaction in memory-related frontal activation was found. Specifically, only the experimental group had a significant reduction in frontal hemodynamic levels during the difficult task. Additionally, the memory-related frontal activation was significantly correlated with the immediate and delayed recall of the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test assessed at baseline. Therefore, PNM may reduce the cognitive efforts needed to complete tasks with high memory loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China. .,Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Tsz-Lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa.,Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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20
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Chan AS, Lee TL, Hamblin MR, Cheung MC. Photobiomodulation Enhances Memory Processing in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:1471-1480. [PMID: 33998541 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies of photobiomodulation (PBM) in patients with cognitive or psychological disorders (including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and dementia) have yielded some encouraging results. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of a single stimulation on memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS After PBM, hemodynamic changes, as a measure of functional brain activity, were evaluated using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Eighteen subjects who met the criteria of MCI were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. A single real or sham PBM session was administered to the forehead of each patient in the experimental and control groups, respectively. All subjects performed a visual memory span test before and after the stimulation, and their hemodynamic responses during the tasks were measured using fNIRS. RESULTS The results showed that among the MCI subjects, only those who received PBM, but not those who received the sham stimulation, demonstrated significant improvement in the visual memory performance and a reduction in the hemodynamic response during the tasks. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that PBM may reduce the cognitive efforts needed to complete tasks that require high memory loads, and thus improve the cognitive performance of individuals with MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz-Lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
| | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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21
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Yeung MK, Lee TL, Chan AS. Negative mood is associated with decreased prefrontal cortex functioning during working memory in young adults. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13802. [PMID: 33665829 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal-subcortical model of emotion regulation postulates that decreased prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning may underlie the emergence of clinical affective disorders. In addition, accumulated evidence suggests that there is considerable variability in negative affect in the nonclinical population. This study examined whether negative affective symptoms were associated with decreased PFC functioning in nonclinical young adults. Forty college students aged 18-24 years (ten males) underwent an n-back paradigm (i.e., a frontal executive task) with a working memory (WM) load (i.e., 3-back) and a vigilance control condition (i.e., 0-back) while their hemodynamics changes in the lateral and medial PFC on both sides were monitored using a 16-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system. They also filled out the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) to estimate the levels of their negative emotions in the preceding week. Young adults exhibited an increased concentration of oxyhemoglobin and a decreased concentration of deoxyhemoglobin (i.e., activation), primarily in the lateral PFC, in response to the WM load (i.e., 3-back > 0-back). Importantly, higher DASS scores indicating higher levels of recent negative mood, especially depression and stress rather than anxiety symptoms, correlated with lower WM-related activation in the lateral PFC. Thus, recent negative mood is associated with decreased lateral PFC functioning during the executive control of WM in healthy young adults. Our findings suggest that decreased PFC functioning is also present in the nonclinical population with increased levels of negative mood and that fNIRS is a promising tool for elucidating individual differences in negative affective symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz L Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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22
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Lee TL, Yeung MK, Sze SL, Chan AS. Eye-Tracking Training Improves Inhibitory Control in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Brain Sci 2021; 11:314. [PMID: 33801559 PMCID: PMC8002197 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11030314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Disinhibition is a common sign among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examined the effect of computerized eye-tracking training to improve inhibitory control in ADHD children. Thirty-two ADHD children (mean age = 8.4 years) were recruited. Half of the participants underwent 240 min of eye-tracking training over two weeks (i.e., experimental group), while the other half did not receive any training (i.e., control group). After training, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in neuropsychological tests of inhibition, such as faster reaction time in the incongruent condition of the Flanker test, more unique designs in the Category Fluency and Five-Point Tests, and a faster completion time in Trail 2 of the Children's Color Trail Test. The control group did not show significant changes in any of these tests. Our findings support the use of eye-tracking training to improve the inhibitory control of ADHD children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz Lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (T.L.L.); (S.L.S.)
| | - Michael K. Yeung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Sophia L. Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (T.L.L.); (S.L.S.)
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (T.L.L.); (S.L.S.)
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
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23
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Lee TL, Yeung MK, Sze SL, Chan AS. Computerized Eye-Tracking Training Improves the Saccadic Eye Movements of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E1016. [PMID: 33371236 PMCID: PMC7766133 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10121016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal saccadic eye movements, such as longer anti-saccade latency and lower pro-saccade accuracy, are common in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of computerized eye-tracking training on improving saccadic eye movements in children with ADHD. Eighteen children with ADHD (mean age = 8.8 years, 10 males) were recruited and assigned to either the experimental (n = 9) or control group (n = 9). The experimental group underwent an accumulated 240 min of eye-tracking training within two weeks, whereas the control group engaged in web game playing for the same amount of time. Saccadic performances were assessed using the anti- and pro-saccade tasks before and after training. Compared to the baseline, only the children who underwent the eye-tracking training showed significant improvements in saccade latency and accuracy in the anti- and pro-saccade tasks, respectively. In contrast, the control group exhibited no significant changes. These preliminary findings support the use of eye-tracking training as a safe non-pharmacological intervention for improving the saccadic eye movements of children with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz Lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (T.L.L.); (S.L.S.)
| | - Michael K. Yeung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Sophia L. Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (T.L.L.); (S.L.S.)
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (T.L.L.); (S.L.S.)
- Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
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24
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Yeung MK, Chan AS. Executive function, motivation, and emotion recognition in high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Res Dev Disabil 2020; 105:103730. [PMID: 32682219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several neurocognitive theories have been put forward to explain autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the specificity of executive cognitive, motivational (i.e., reward-related), and emotion-recognition impairments in ASD, and the role of early language delay in these impairments remain largely unclear. AIM This study aimed to examine executive cognitive, motivational, and emotion-recognition functions while considering the potential effect of language delay in ASD. METHODS Twenty-two adolescents with high-functioning ASD (20 males) and 22 typically developing (TD) adolescents (16 males) aged 11-18 years were recruited. Each completed seven computerized tasks measuring executive cognitive (i.e., set-shifting, inhibition, updating, and access/generativity), motivational (i.e., flexible reinforcement learning and affective decision-making), and emotion-recognition functions (i.e., facial emotion recognition). RESULTS We found that ASD participants with early language delay (n = 10) had poorer executive cognitive, motivational, and emotion-recognition functioning than TD controls, and had poorer executive cognitive and motivational functioning than ASD participants without language delay (n = 12). ASD participants without language delay only had poorer emotion recognition than TD controls. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These preliminary findings suggest impairments in executive cognitive and motivational functions as well as emotion recognition in ASD with language delay, and impairment only in emotion recognition in ASD without language delay. They implicate a potential partial distinction in mental abilities between ASD with and without early language delay, highlighting the importance of considering language delay when evaluating executive cognitive and motivational functions in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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Yeung MK, Chan AS. A Systematic Review of the Application of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to the Study of Cerebral Hemodynamics in Healthy Aging. Neuropsychol Rev 2020; 31:139-166. [PMID: 32959167 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09455-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown that healthy aging is associated with functional brain deterioration that preferentially affects the prefrontal cortex. This article reviews the application of an alternative method, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), to the study of age-related changes in cerebral hemodynamics and factors that influence cerebral hemodynamics in the elderly population. We conducted literature searches in PudMed and PsycINFO, and selected only English original research articles that used fNIRS to study healthy individuals with a mean age of ≥ 55 years. All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals between 1977 and May 2019. We synthesized 114 fNIRS studies examining hemodynamic changes that occurred in the resting state and during the tasks of sensation and perception, motor control, semantic processing, word retrieval, attentional shifting, inhibitory control, memory, and emotion and motivation in healthy older adults. This review, which was not registered in a registry, reveals an age-related reduction in resting-state cerebral oxygenation and connectivity in the prefrontal cortex. It also shows that aging is associated with a reduction in functional hemispheric asymmetry and increased compensatory activity in the frontal lobe across multiple task domains. In addition, this article describes the beneficial effects of healthy lifestyles and the detrimental effects of cardiovascular disease risk factors on brain functioning among nondemented older adults. Limitations of this review include exclusion of gray and non-English literature and lack of meta-analysis. Altogether, the fNIRS literature provides some support for various neurocognitive aging theories derived from task-based PET and fMRI studies. Because fNIRS is relatively motion-tolerant and environmentally unconstrained, it is a promising tool for fostering the development of aging biomarkers and antiaging interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong, SAR, China. .,Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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Yeung MK, Chan AS. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy reveals decreased resting oxygenation levels and task-related oxygenation changes in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A systematic review. J Psychiatr Res 2020; 124:58-76. [PMID: 32120065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear medicine and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are characterized by changes in cerebral blood flow. This article reviews the application of an alternative method, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), to the study of cerebral oxygenation changes in MCI and dementia. We synthesized 36 fNIRS studies that examined hemodynamic changes during both the resting state and the execution of tasks of word retrieval, memory, motor control, and visuospatial perception in MCI and dementia. This qualitative review reveals that (amnestic) MCI and AD patients have disrupted frontal and long-range connectivity in the resting state compared to individuals with normal cognition (NC). These patients also exhibit reduced frontal oxygenation changes in various cognitive domains. The review also shows that disrupted connectivity and decreased frontal oxygenation levels/changes are more severe in AD than in (amnestic) MCI, confirming that MCI is an intermediate stage between NC and dementia. Thus, there is reduced resting frontal perfusion, which is greater than expected for age, and a lack of frontal compensatory responses to functional decline across cognitive operations (i.e., word retrieval and memory functioning) in MCI and AD. These indices might potentially serve as perfusion- or oxygenation-based biomarkers for MCI/dementia. To expand the utility of fNIRS for MCI and dementia, further studies that measure tissue oxygenation in a wider range of brain regions and cognitive domains, compare different MCI and dementia types, and correlate changes in cerebral oxygenation over time with disease progression are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Brown GG, Anderson V, Bigler ED, Chan AS, Fama R, Grabowski TJ, Zakzanis KK. Celebrating the 125th anniversary of the American Psychological Association: A quarter century of neuropsychology. Neuropsychology 2019; 31:843-845. [PMID: 29376666 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The American Psychological Association (APA) celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2017. As part of this celebration, the APA journal Neuropsychology has published in its November 2017 issue 11 papers describing some of the advances in the field of neuropsychology over the past 25 years. METHOD The papers address three broad topics: assessment and intervention, brain imaging, and theory and methods. RESULTS The papers describe the rise of new assessment and intervention technologies, the impact of evidence for neuroplasticity on neurorehabilitation. Examples of the use of mathematical models of cognition to investigate latent neurobehavioral processes, the development of the field of neuropsychology in select international countries, the increasing sophistication of brain imaging methods, the recent evidence for localizationist and connectionist accounts of neurobehavioral functioning, the advances in neurobehavioral genomics, and descriptions of newly developed statistical models of longitudinal change. CONCLUSION Together the papers convey evidence of the vibrant growth in the field of neuropsychology over the quarter century since APA's 100th anniversary in 1992. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory G Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego
| | - Vicki Anderson
- School of Psychological Sciences and Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute/Royal Children's Hospital
| | | | - Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Rosemary Fama
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
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Yeung MK, Lee TL, Chan AS. Frontal lobe dysfunction underlies the differential word retrieval impairment in adolescents with high-functioning autism. Autism Res 2019; 12:600-613. [PMID: 30758144 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
There is substantial evidence of word retrieval impairment as indicated by poor performance on the category fluency test in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying this impairment. Functional neuroimaging studies have shown that the lateral frontal cortex plays a key role in flexible word retrieval. Thus, we examined whether individuals with ASD exhibited altered frontal processing during the category fluency test using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty-two adolescents with high-functioning ASD (20 males) and 22 typically developing (TD) adolescents (16 males) aged 11-18 years were recruited. All underwent a category fluency paradigm, which required production of animal or means of transportation words for 1 min each although their frontal hemodynamic changes were recorded with fNIRS. We found that adolescents with ASD produced fewer animal but not transportation words (group-by-category interaction: P = 0.003), suggesting differential word retrieval impairment. In addition, unlike TD adolescents who exhibited activation primarily in lateral frontal regions during word production, adolescents with ASD had comparable activation across lateral and medial frontal regions. More importantly, this lack of lateral-medial distinction of activation, which was associated with poor word retrieval, differed significantly between groups only in the animal category (group-by-category interaction: P = 0.018). Thus, our findings implicate frontal lobe dysfunction in the impairment of differential word retrieval in adolescents with ASD. The relatively greater involvement of the medial frontopolar cortex might reflect the use of nonspecialized brain regions to compensate for the category-dependent difficulties with word retrieval in ASD. Autism Res 2019, 12: 600-613. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Using an optical imaging tool, we found that adolescents with autism had difficulties with producing semantically related words and exhibited frontal lobe dysfunction. Nonetheless, poor word production and altered brain processing was only seen when these adolescents were asked to produce words from a category of living things but not nonliving things (i.e., animals but not means of transportation). Category-dependent word retrieval problems and frontal lobe dysfunction might be two features of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tsz L Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
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29
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Chan AS, Lee TL, Yeung MK, Hamblin MR. Photobiomodulation improves the frontal cognitive function of older adults. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019; 34:369-377. [PMID: 30474306 PMCID: PMC6333495 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The frontal lobe hypothesis of age-related cognitive decline suggests that the deterioration of the prefrontal cortical regions that occurs with aging leads to executive function deficits. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a newly developed, noninvasive technique for enhancing brain function, which has shown promising effects on cognitive function in both animals and humans. This randomized, sham-controlled study sought to examine the effects of PBM on the frontal brain function of older adults. METHODS/DESIGNS Thirty older adults without a neuropsychiatric history performed cognitive tests of frontal function (ie, the Eriksen flanker and category fluency tests) before and after a single 7.5-minute session of real or sham PBM. The PBM device consisted of three separate light-emitting diode cluster heads (633 and 870 nm), which were applied to both sides of the forehead and posterior midline, and delivered a total energy of 1349 J. RESULTS Significant group (experimental, control) × time (pre-PBM, post-PBM) interactions were found for the flanker and category fluency test scores. Specifically, only the older adults who received real PBM exhibited significant improvements in their action selection, inhibition ability, and mental flexibility after vs before PBM. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support that PBM may enhance the frontal brain functions of older adults in a safe and cost-effective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
- Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz Lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michael K. Yeung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Chan AS, Cheung WK, Yeung MK, Lee TL. Sustained Effects of Memory and Lifestyle Interventions on Memory Functioning of Older Adults: An 18-Month Follow-Up Study. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:240. [PMID: 30131690 PMCID: PMC6090041 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There has been much research devoted to examining the short-term effects of different interventions for improving memory functioning of older adults with memory complaints. Nevertheless, very few studies have examined the long-term effects of these interventions. Thus, the present study compared the sustained effects of a conventional memory intervention (MI) and a Chinese lifestyle intervention on improving memory functioning in older adults. Methods: Twenty-nine older adults who were aged 60 years and older and had memory complaints were recruited. Each completed 10 weekly sessions of the Dejian Mind-body Intervention (DMBI; n = 11) or MI (n = 18) approximately 18 months ago. Participants’ verbal and visual memory functioning and their subjective impression of the changes of their memory performance and physical and psychological health status were evaluated. Results: Results showed significant improvements in memory in both intervention groups at the follow-up assessments when compared with baseline. In addition, older adults in both intervention groups perceived improved memory performance and physical and psychological wellness at follow-up, with the DMBI group reporting significantly greater improvements in physical health compared to the MI group. Conclusion: Altogether, the present study provides supportive evidence that the DMBI and MI might be two effective remedies for older adults to improve or preserve their memory functioning with relatively sustained effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Winnie K Cheung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michael K Yeung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tsz Lok Lee
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Yeung MK, Lee TL, Cheung WK, Chan AS. Frontal Underactivation During Working Memory Processing in Adults With Acute Partial Sleep Deprivation: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study. Front Psychol 2018; 9:742. [PMID: 29867694 PMCID: PMC5964163 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with partial sleep deprivation may have working memory (WM) impairment, but the underlying neural mechanism of this phenomenon is relatively unknown. The present study examined neural processing during WM performance in individuals with and without partial sleep deprivation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Forty college students (10 males) were equally split into Sufficient Sleep (SS) and Insufficient Sleep (IS) groups based on self-reports of previous night's sleep duration. Participants in the SS group obtained the recommended amounts of sleep according to various sleep organizations (i.e., >7.0 h), whereas those in the IS group obtained amounts of sleep no greater than the lower limit of the recommendation (i.e., ≤7.0 h). All participants underwent an n-back paradigm with a WM load (i.e., 3-back) and a control condition (i.e., 0-back) while their prefrontal hemodynamics were recorded by NIRS. The IS and SS groups performed the tasks comparably well. However, unlike the SS group, which exhibited bilateral frontal activation indicated by increased oxyhemoglobin concentration and decreased deoxyhemoglobin concentration during WM processing (i.e., 3-back > 0-back), the IS group did not exhibit such activation. In addition, levels of WM-related frontal activation, especially those on the left side, correlated with sleep duration the night before, even when habitual sleep duration was controlled for. The findings suggest the presence of frontal lobe dysfunction in the absence of evident WM difficulties in individuals with acute partial sleep deprivation. They also highlight the importance of a good night's sleep to brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tsz L Lee
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Winnie K Cheung
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Yeung MK, Sze SL, Woo J, Kwok T, Shum DHK, Yu R, Chan AS. Reduced Frontal Activations at High Working Memory Load in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2018; 42:278-296. [PMID: 27784013 DOI: 10.1159/000450993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported altered activations in the frontal cortex during working memory (WM) performance in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but the findings have been mixed. The objective of the present study was to utilize near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), an alternative imaging technique, to examine neural processing during WM performance in individuals with MCI. METHODS Twenty-six older adults with MCI (7 males; mean age 69.15 years) were compared with 26 age-, gender-, handedness-, and education-matched older adults with normal cognition (NC; 7 males; mean age 68.87 years). All of the participants undertook an n-back task with a low (i.e., 0-back) and a high (i.e., 2-back) WM load condition while their prefrontal dynamics were recorded by a 16-channel NIRS system. RESULTS Although behavioral results showed that the two groups had comparable task performance, neuroimaging results showed that the MCI group, unlike the NC group, did not exhibit significantly increased frontal activations bilaterally when WM load increased. Compared to the NC group, the MCI group had similar frontal activations at low load (p > 0.05 on all channels) but reduced activations at high load (p < 0.05 on 4 channels), thus failing to demonstrate WM-related frontal activations (p < 0.05 on 9 channels). In addition, we found a positive correlation between the left WM-related frontal activations and WM ability primarily in the NC group (rs = 0.42, p = 0.035), suggesting a relationship between frontal hypoactivation and WM difficulties. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest the presence of frontal dysfunction that is dependent on WM load in individuals with MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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Chan AS, Cheung WK, Yeung MK, Woo J, Kwok T, Shum DHK, Yu R, Cheung MC. A Chinese Chan-based Mind-Body Intervention Improves Memory of Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:190. [PMID: 28659789 PMCID: PMC5466997 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing interest in the adoption of lifestyle interventions to remediate age-related declines in memory functioning and physical and psychological health among older adults. This study aimed to investigate whether a Chinese Chan-based lifestyle intervention, the Dejian Mind-Body Intervention (DMBI), leads to positive benefits for memory functioning in older adults. Fifty-six adults aged 60 years or older with subjective memory complaints (SMC) were randomly assigned to receive the DMBI or a control intervention (i.e., a conventional memory intervention; MI) once a week for 10 weeks; 48 of the adults completed the intervention. Participants’ verbal and visual memory functioning before and after the intervention were compared. In addition, changes in the participants’ subjective feelings about their memory performance and physical and psychological health after the intervention were examined. The results showed that both the DMBI and MI resulted in significant improvements in both verbal and visual memory functioning and that the extent of the improvements was correlated with participants’ level of performance at baseline. In addition, compared to the MI group, the DMBI group had significantly greater improvements in subjective physical and psychological health after the intervention. In summary, the present findings support the potential of the DMBI as an alternative lifestyle intervention for improving memory functioning, subjective physical and psychological health of older adults with SMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong.,Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Winnie K Cheung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michael K Yeung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jean Woo
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Timothy Kwok
- School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - David H K Shum
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, SouthportQLD, Australia
| | - Ruby Yu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
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Cheung MC, Chan AS, Liu Y, Law D, Wong CWY. Music training is associated with cortical synchronization reflected in EEG coherence during verbal memory encoding. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174906. [PMID: 28358852 PMCID: PMC5373634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Music training can improve cognitive functions. Previous studies have shown that children and adults with music training demonstrate better verbal learning and memory performance than those without such training. Although prior studies have shown an association between music training and changes in the structural and functional organization of the brain, there is no concrete evidence of the underlying neural correlates of the verbal memory encoding phase involved in such enhanced memory performance. Therefore, we carried out an electroencephalography (EEG) study to investigate how music training was associated with brain activity during the verbal memory encoding phase. Sixty participants were recruited, 30 of whom had received music training for at least one year (the MT group) and 30 of whom had never received music training (the NMT group). The participants in the two groups were matched for age, education, gender distribution, and cognitive capability. Their verbal and visual memory functions were assessed using standardized neuropsychological tests and EEG was used to record their brain activity during the verbal memory encoding phase. Consistent with previous studies, the MT group demonstrated better verbal memory than the NMT group during both the learning and the delayed recall trials in the paper-and-pencil tests. The MT group also exhibited greater learning capacity during the learning trials. Compared with the NMT group, the MT group showed an increase in long-range left and right intrahemispheric EEG coherence in the theta frequency band during the verbal memory encoding phase. In addition, their event-related left intrahemispheric theta coherence was positively associated with subsequent verbal memory performance as measured by discrimination scores. These results suggest that music training may modulate the cortical synchronization of the neural networks involved in verbal memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
- * E-mail:
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
- Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Public Administration, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Derry Law
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Christina W. Y. Wong
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
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Han YMY, Chan AS. Disordered cortical connectivity underlies the executive function deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders. Res Dev Disabil 2017; 61:19-31. [PMID: 28042973 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined the executive function and cortical connectivity of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and investigated whether the executive function deficits exhibited by these children were differentially affected and associated with the cortical connectivity. The present study compared high-functioning (HFA) and low-functioning (LFA) children with typically developing children (TDC) on their executive functions as measured by the Hong Kong List Learning Test, D2 Test of Concentration, Five Point Test, Children's Color Trail Test, Tower of California Test, and Go/No-Go task and neural connectivity as measured by theta coherence in the distributed fronto-parietal network. Thirty-eight children with ASD (19 HFA and 19 LFA) and 28 TDC children, aged 8-17 years, participated voluntarily in the study. The results on executive function showed that the LFA group demonstrated the poorest performance as exhibited by their Executive Composite and individual executive function scores, while the TDC group exhibited the highest. These results have extended the findings of previous studies in demonstrating that HFA and LFA children have significant differences in their degree of executive function deficits. The results on neural connectivity also showed that children with ASD demonstrated a different pattern of electroencephalography (EEG) coherence from TDC children, as demonstrated by the significantly elevated theta coherence in the fronto-parietal network, and that the severity of executive dysfunction between high- and low-functioning children with ASD was found to be associated with the disordered neural connectivity in these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Han YMY, Cheung WKY, Wong CK, Sze SL, Cheng TWS, Yeung MK, Chan AS. Distinct Cytokine and Chemokine Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Immunol 2017; 8:11. [PMID: 28167942 PMCID: PMC5253384 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that immunological factors are involved in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, this research has been conducted almost exclusively in Western contexts, and only a handful of studies on immune measures have been conducted in Asian populations, such as Chinese populations. The present study examined whether immunological abnormalities are associated with cognitive deficits and problem behaviors in Chinese children with ASD and whether these children show different immunological profiles. Thirteen typically developing (TD) children and 22 children with ASD, aged 6–17 years, participated voluntarily in the study. Executive functions and short-term memory were measured using neuropsychological tests, and behavioral measures were assessed using parent ratings. The children were also assessed on immunological measures, specifically, the levels of cytokines and chemokines in the blood serum. Children with ASD showed greater deficits in cognitive functions, as well as altered levels of immunological measures, including CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL9 levels, compared to TD children, and the cognitive functions and associated behavioral deficits of children with ASD were significantly associated with different immunological measures. The children were further sub-classified into ASD with only autistic features (ASD-only) or ASD comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ASD + ADHD). The comorbidity results showed that there were no differences between the two groups of ASD children in any of the cognitive or behavioral measures. However, the results pertaining to immunological measures showed that the children with ASD-only and ASD + ADHD exhibited distinct cytokine and chemokine profiles and that abnormal immunologic function was associated with cognitive functions and inattention/hyperactivity symptoms. These results support the notion that altered immune functions may play a role in the selective cognitive and behavioral symptoms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong , China
| | - Winnie K Y Cheung
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Chun Kwok Wong
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Timmy W S Cheng
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Michael K Yeung
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Chan AS, Sze SL, Cheung MC, Han YMY. Development and application of neuropsychology in Hong Kong: implications of its value and future advancement. Clin Neuropsychol 2016; 30:1236-1251. [PMID: 27684572 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2016.1196732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review the development, application, and value of neuropsychology, and the standard education and training pathway for neuropsychologists or clinical neuropsychologists in Hong Kong. METHOD The information provided here was gathered via a literature review of the status of neuropsychology and the validity of commonly adopted neuropsychological tests in Hong Kong. Additional details were acquired via the internet about local tertiary education curricula and the related requirements, the availability of professional associations for licensure or board certification, and relevant statistics/surveys conducted by the government. Some information about the clinical practice of neuropsychology was collected through personal communication with local clinical psychologists. RESULTS The development of neuropsychology in Hong Kong over the past 20 years is rapid and productive, given the increasing application of advanced neuroimaging techniques, neuropsychological tests, and opportunities for exchanging up-to-date neuropsychological knowledge and professional training through international conferences, workshops, and seminars. Given that neuropsychology services are often provided by clinical psychologists who are master's degree graduates in clinical psychology, the relatively limited training in neuropsychological knowledge and skills and the lack of division for membership or mandatory registration as a neuropsychologist/clinical neuropsychologist may have an impact on the quality of clinical neuropsychological services and the development of this specialty. CONCLUSIONS These findings signify a need for further improvement or refinement of educational and training pathways for neuropsychologist or clinical neuropsychologist along with the recognition of its value in clinical practice through registration of different disciplines of psychology in Hong Kong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- a Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong SAR, China.,b Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- a Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong SAR, China.,b Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- c Department of Social Work , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yvonne M Y Han
- d Department of Rehabilitation Sciences , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Kowloon , Hong Kong SAR, China
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Yeung MK, Sze SL, Woo J, Kwok T, Shum DHK, Yu R, Chan AS. Altered Frontal Lateralization Underlies the Category Fluency Deficits in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:59. [PMID: 27065857 PMCID: PMC4809883 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have been consistently found to have category fluency deficits. However, little is known about the neural basis of these deficits. A diversity of neuroimaging studies has revealed left-lateralized prefrontal activations due to verbal processing and control functions during the performance of category fluency tasks. Given the reports of structural and functional abnormalities in the prefrontal cortices in individuals with MCI, it is conceivable that these individuals would also exhibit altered prefrontal activation patterns during a category fluency task. The present study aimed to investigate the prefrontal dynamics during the category fluency task in older adults with MCI by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Twenty-six older adults with MCI were compared with 26 older adults with normal cognition (NC) who were matched in age, gender, handedness, and educational level. All participants performed a category fluency task while the prefrontal dynamics were recorded. The results showed that the MCI group generated fewer unique words, made fewer switches between subcategories, and generated fewer new subcategories than did the NC group. Importantly, the NIRS results showed that the NC group exhibited a left lateralization of frontal activations during the category fluency task, while the MCI group did not exhibit such a lateralization. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the category fluency performance and the extent of lateralization, suggesting that the category fluency deficits in the MCI group could be related to frontal dysfunction. That is, the rightward shift of frontal activations in the MCI group may reflect the presence of cortical reorganization in which the contralateral regions (i.e., the right hemisphere) are recruited to take over the function that is declining in the specialized regions (i.e., the left hemisphere). Our lateralization finding may serve as an objective neural marker for distinguishing between normal aging and MCI. Our study highlights that an alteration of neural functioning is already present at the prodromal stage of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong KongNew Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong KongNew Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jean Woo
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Timothy Kwok
- School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - David H K Shum
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Ruby Yu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong KongNew Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong KongNew Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Chan AS, Han YMY, Sze SL, Lau EM. Neuroenhancement of Memory for Children with Autism by a Mind-Body Exercise. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1893. [PMID: 26696946 PMCID: PMC4676196 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The memory deficits found in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be caused by the lack of an effective strategy to aid memory. The executive control of memory processing is mediated largely by the timely coupling between frontal and posterior brain regions. The present study aimed to explore the potential effect of a Chinese mind–body exercise, namely Nei Gong, for enhancing learning and memory in children with ASD, and the possible neural basis of the improvement. Sixty-six children with ASD were randomly assigned to groups receiving Nei Gong training (NGT), progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) training, or no training for 1 month. Before and after training, the participants were tested individually on a computerized visual memory task while EEG signals were acquired during the memory encoding phase. Children in the NGT group demonstrated significantly enhanced memory performance and more effective use of a memory strategy, which was not observed in the other two groups. Furthermore, the improved memory after NGT was consistent with findings of elevated EEG theta coherence between frontal and posterior brain regions, a measure of functional coupling. The scalp EEG signals were localized by the standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography method and found to originate from a neural network that promotes effective memory processing, including the prefrontal cortex, the parietal cortex, and the medial and inferior temporal cortex. This alteration in neural processing was not found in children receiving PMR or in those who received no training. The present findings suggest that the mind–body exercise program may have the potential effect on modulating neural functional connectivity underlying memory processing and hence enhance memory functions in individuals with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China ; Henan Songshan Research Institute for Chanwuyi Henan, China
| | - Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
| | - Eliza M Lau
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
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Yeung MK, Han YMY, Sze SL, Chan AS. Abnormal frontal theta oscillations underlie the cognitive flexibility deficits in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Neuropsychology 2015; 30:281-295. [PMID: 26375380 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Deficits in cognitive flexibility have been suggested to underlie the repetitive and stereotyped behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Because cognitive flexibility is primarily mediated by the frontal lobe, where structural and functional abnormalities have been extensively found in these individuals, it is conceivable that their deficits in cognitive flexibility are related to abnormal activations of the frontal lobe. The present study investigates cognitive flexibility and its underlying neurophysiological activities as indicated by theta oscillations in children with ASD. METHOD Twenty-five children with high-functioning ASD and 25 IQ- and age-matched typically developing (TD) children were subjected to neuropsychological assessments on cognitive flexibility and electroencephalography recordings. RESULTS The children with ASD performed significantly worse than the TD children across the tasks of cognitive flexibility, including the modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). These children also demonstrated a reduced increase of the theta power localized in multiple brain regions, including various sectors of the frontal lobe at the late stage (i.e., 600 ms-900 ms poststimulus interval) but not the early stage (i.e., 250 ms-550 ms poststimulus interval) of the performance of the modified WCST. The suppressed late frontal theta activities were further shown to be significantly correlated with a poorer performance on the cognitive flexibility measures. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that abnormal activations of multiple cortical regions, especially the frontal lobe, form the neural basis of the cognitive flexibility deficits in children with ASD. In addition, we found an EEG marker of cognitive flexibility which could be used to monitor treatment outcomes objectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Yeung
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Yvonne M Y Han
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Hong Kong Institute of Education
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Yu R, Woo J, Chan AS, Sze SL. A Chinese Chan-based mind-body intervention improves psychological well-being and physical health of community-dwelling elderly: a pilot study. Clin Interv Aging 2014; 9:727-36. [PMID: 24790425 PMCID: PMC4003151 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s59985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to explore the potential benefits of the Dejian mind–body intervention (DMBI) for psychological and physical health in older Chinese adults. Methods After confirmation of eligibility, the subjects were invited to receive DMBI once a week for 12 weeks. The intervention involved components of learning self-awareness and self-control, practicing mind–body exercises, and adopting a special vegetarian diet. Intervention-related changes were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Chinese Constipation Questionnaire, and self-report ratings of health. Indicators of metabolic syndrome and walking speed were also measured. Results Of the 44 subjects recruited, 42 (54.8% men) completed the study, giving an adherence rate of 95%. There was a significant reduction in perceived stress (P<0.05). A significant improvement was also found in systolic blood pressure among those who had abnormally high blood pressure at baseline (P<0.05). Physical fitness as reflected by walking speed was also significantly increased after the intervention (P<0.05). Sleep disturbances were reduced (P<0.01). Self-rated health was significantly enhanced, with the percentage rating very good health increasing from 14.3% at baseline to 42.8% after the intervention (P<0.001). No intervention effect was found for waist circumference, lipids and fasting blood glucose levels, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score, and constipation measures. Conclusion The DMBI was feasible and acceptable, and subjects showed some improvements in psychological and physical health. A larger controlled trial is needed to confirm these promising preliminary results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Yu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Jean Woo
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong ; Henan Songshan Research Institute for Chanwuyi, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong
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Abstract
EEG coherence has been widely used to investigate brain activity and learning. However, relatively little is known about the relationship between resting-state EEG coherence and academic performance. The present study investigated this relationship with 140 healthy, normal participants. EEG was recorded during resting periods, with eyes open for 3 min, and the recordings were analyzed for 64 electrode positions in the theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), and beta (12–25 Hz) frequency bands. Coherence, defined as the spectral cross-correlation between two signals normalized by their power spectra, was calculated. Short- and long-range intrahemispheric coherence within each hemisphere and interhemispheric coherence across the left and right hemispheres were then computed and compared for each of the theta, alpha, and beta bands. The results showed that academic performance, as measured by grade point average (GPA), was negatively correlated with short-range intrahemispheric alpha and beta coherences in both hemispheres and with interhemispheric alpha and beta coherences in the temporal cortical regions. Therefore, better academic performers demonstrated more decoupling of brain areas when resting with eyes open. This is consistent with a model that relates decreased coherence to neural efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-chun Cheung
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
- Integrative Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Yvonne M. Han
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Sophia L. Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
- Integrative Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
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Chan AS, Sze SL, Woo J, Yu RH. A Chinese Chan-based lifestyle intervention improves memory of older adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:50. [PMID: 24723885 PMCID: PMC3972479 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to explore the potential benefits of a Chinese Chan-based lifestyle intervention on enhancing memory in older people with lower memory function. Forty-four aged 60–83 adults with various level of memory ability participated in the study. Their memories (including verbal and visual components) were assessed before and after 3 months intervention. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions, with one 90 min session per week. The intervention involved components of adopting a special vegetarian diet, practicing a type of mind–body exercises, and learning self-realization. Elderly with lower memory function at the baseline (i.e., their performance on standardized memory tests was within 25th percentile) showed a significant memory improvement after the intervention. Their verbal and visual memory performance has showed 50 and 49% enhancement, respectively. In addition, their improvement can be considered as a reliable and clinically significant change as reflected by their significant pre–post differences and reliable change indices. Such robust treatment effect was found to be specific to memory functions, but less influencing on the other cognitive functions. These preliminary encouraging results have shed some light on the potential applicability of the Chinese Chan-based lifestyle intervention as a method for enhancing memory in the elderly population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong, China ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong, China ; Henan Songshan Research Institute for Chanwuyi Zheng Zhou, China
| | - Sophia L Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong, China ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jean Woo
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ruby H Yu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories, Hong Kong, China
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Chan AS, Han YMY, Sze SL, Wong QY, Cheung MC. A randomized controlled neurophysiological study of a chinese chan-based mind-body intervention in patients with major depressive disorder. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013; 2013:812096. [PMID: 24489591 PMCID: PMC3892748 DOI: 10.1155/2013/812096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Revised: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Our previous studies have reported the therapeutic effects of 10-session Chinese Chan-based Dejian mind-body interventions (DMBI) in reducing the intake of antidepressants, improving depressive symptoms, and enhancing the attentional abilities of patients with depression. This study aims to explore the possible neuroelectrophysiological mechanisms underlying the previously reported treatment effects of DMBI in comparison with those of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Seventy-five age-, gender-, and education-matched participants with depression were randomly assigned to receive either CBT or DMBI or placed on a waitlist. Eyes-closed resting EEG data were obtained individually before and after 10 weeks. After intervention, the DMBI group demonstrated significantly enhanced frontal alpha asymmetry (an index of positive mood) and intra- and interhemispheric theta coherence in frontoposterior and posterior brain regions (an index of attention). In contrast, neither the CBT nor the waitlist group showed significant changes in EEG activity patterns. Furthermore, the asymmetry and coherence indices of the DMBI group were correlated with self-reported depression severity levels and performance on an attention test, respectively. The present findings provide support for the effects of a Chinese Chan-based mind-body intervention in fostering human brain states that can facilitate positive mood and an attentive mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Henan Songshan Research Institute for Chanwuyi, Henan 452470, China
| | - Yvonne M. Y. Han
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Tai Po, Hong Kong
| | - Sophia L. Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | | | - Mei-chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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Chan AS, Sze SL, Siu NY, Lau EM, Cheung MC. A chinese mind-body exercise improves self-control of children with autism: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68184. [PMID: 23874533 PMCID: PMC3707921 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-control problems commonly manifest as temper outbursts and repetitive/rigid/impulsive behaviors, in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which often contributes to learning difficulties and caregiver burden. The present study aims to compare the effect of a traditional Chinese Chan-based mind-body exercise, Nei Yang Gong, with that of the conventional Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) technique in enhancing the self-control of children with ASD. Forty-six age- and IQ-matched ASD children were randomly assigned to receive group training in Nei Yang Gong (experimental group) or PMR (control group) twice per week for four weeks. The participants' self-control was measured by three neuropsychological tests and parental rating on standardized questionnaires, and the underlying neural mechanism was assessed by the participants' brain EEG activity during an inhibitory-control task before and after intervention. The results show that the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in self-control than the control group, which concurs with the parental reports of reduced autistic symptoms and increased control of temper and behaviors. In addition, the experimental group showed enhanced EEG activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region that mediates self-control, whereas the PMR group did not. The present findings support the potential application of Chinese Chan-based mind-body exercises as a form of neuropsychological rehabilitation for patients with self-control problems. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; Registration No.: ChiCTR-TRC-12002561; URL: www.chictr.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Chan AS, Wong QY, Sze SL, Kwong PPK, Han YMY, Cheung MC. A Chinese Chan-based mind-body intervention for patients with depression. J Affect Disord 2012; 142:283-9. [PMID: 22840618 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Revised: 05/07/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the recent growing interest and encouraging findings in studies of alternative treatments for depression, the present randomized controlled trial study aimed to compare the effect of a newly developed Chinese Chan-based Dejian Mind-Body Intervention (DMBI) with the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on improving depressive symptoms in patients with depression. METHODS Seventy-five participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive either 10-session CBT or DMBI, or placed on a waitlist. Pre-post measurements included record of anti-depressants treatment, ratings by psychiatrists who were blinded to the experimental design and self-report on mood measures, and performance in a cognitive test tapping concentration ability. RESULTS Both the CBT and DMBI groups demonstrated significantly reduced overall depressive syndrome after intervention at large effect size (0.93-1.10). Furthermore, the DMBI group (p<0.05), but not the CBT or waitlist groups, demonstrated significant reduction in intake of anti-depressants, and significant improvement in specific depression-related symptoms including difficulty in concentration (p=0.002), and problems in gastrointestinal health (p=0.02) and overall sleep quality (p<0.001). LIMITATIONS This study has provided some evidence for the short-term effect of the DMBI on Chinese population. Its long-term effect on a larger sample and on Caucasian population warrants further investigation. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that a Chinese Chan-based Mind-Body intervention has positive effects on improving mood and health conditions of individuals with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Chan AS, Wong QY, Sze SL, Kwong PPK, Han YMY, Cheung MC. A Chinese chan-based mind-body intervention improves sleep on patients with depression: a randomized controlled trial. ScientificWorldJournal 2012; 2012:235206. [PMID: 22623888 PMCID: PMC3353275 DOI: 10.1100/2012/235206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2011] [Accepted: 12/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep disturbance is a common problem associated with depression, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a more common behavioral intervention for sleep problems. The present study compares the effect of a newly developed Chinese Chan-based intervention, namely Dejian mind-body intervention (DMBI), with the CBT on improving sleep problems of patients with depression. Seventy-five participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive 10 weekly sessions of CBT or DMBI, or placed on a waitlist. Measurements included ratings by psychiatrists who were blinded to the experimental design, and a standardized questionnaire on sleep quantity and quality was obtained before and after the 10-week intervention. Results indicated that both the CBT and DMBI groups demonstrated significantly reduced sleep onset latency and wake time after sleep onset (effect size range = 0.46-1.0, P ≤ 0.05) as compared to nonsignificant changes in the waitlist group (P > 0.1). Furthermore, the DMBI group, but not the CBT or waitlist groups, demonstrated significantly reduced psychiatrist ratings on overall sleep problems (effect size = 1.0, P = 0.00) and improved total sleep time (effect size = 0.8, P = 0.05) after treatment. The present findings suggest that a Chinese Chan-based mind-body intervention has positive effects on improving sleep in individuals with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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Chan AS, Cheung MC, Tsui WJ, Sze SL, Shi D. Dejian mind-body intervention on depressive mood of community-dwelling adults: a randomized controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011; 2011:473961. [PMID: 19474241 PMCID: PMC3136532 DOI: 10.1093/ecam/nep043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2009] [Accepted: 04/23/2009] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a short-term mind-body intervention program on improving the depressive mood of an adult community sample. Forty adult volunteers with various degrees of depressive mood were randomly assigned to the experimental group (Dejian Mind-Body Intervention, DMBI) and control group (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, CBT). For each group, a total of four 90-min weekly sessions were conducted. Treatment-related changes were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), an electroencephalographic indicator of positive affect (i.e., prefrontal activation asymmetry), and self-report ratings on physical health. Results indicated that both the DMBI and the CBT group demonstrated significant reduction in depressive mood. However, among individuals with moderate to severe depressive mood at baseline, only those in the DMBI but not the CBT group showed significant reduction in depressive mood. Besides, only the DMBI group demonstrated a significant increase in prefrontal activation asymmetry, suggesting increase in positive affect. While most psychological therapies for depressive mood normally take several months to show treatment effect, the present findings provided initial data suggesting that the DMBI was effective in improving depressive mood of community adults after 1 month of training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S. Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Integrative Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Henan Songshan Research Institute for Chanwuyi, Henan 452470, China
| | - Mei-chun Cheung
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Wilson J. Tsui
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Sophia L. Sze
- Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Integrative Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Dejian Shi
- Henan Songshan Research Institute for Chanwuyi, Henan 452470, China
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Hu FK, Samuel AG, Chan AS. Eliminating inhibition of return by changing salient nonspatial attributes in a complex environment. J Exp Psychol Gen 2011; 140:35-50. [PMID: 21171801 DOI: 10.1037/a0021091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of return (IOR) occurs when a target is preceded by an irrelevant stimulus (cue) at the same location: Target detection is slowed, relative to uncued locations. In the present study, we used relatively complex displays to examine the effect of repetition of nonspatial attributes. For both color and shape, attribute repetition produced a robust inhibitory effect that followed a time course similar to that for location-based IOR. However, the effect only occurred when the target shared both the feature (i.e., color or shape) and location with the cue; this constraint implicates a primary role for location. The data are consistent with the idea that the system integrates consecutive stimuli into a single object file when attributes repeat, hindering detection of the second stimulus. The results are also consistent with an interpretation of IOR as a form of habituation, with greater habituation occurring with increasing featural overlap of a repeated stimulus. Critically, both of these interpretations bring the IOR effect within more general approaches to attention and perception, rather than requiring a specialized process with a limited function. In this view, there is no process specifically designed to inhibit return, suggesting that IOR may be the wrong framing of inhibitory repetition effects. Instead, we suggest that repetition of stimulus properties can interfere with the ability to focus attention on the aspects of a complex display that are needed to detect the occurrence of the target stimulus; this is a failure of activation, not an inhibition of processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank K Hu
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Psychology A-240, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, USA
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Chan AS, Cheung MC, Sze SL, Leung WW, Shi D. An herbal nasal drop enhanced frontal and anterior cingulate cortex activity. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011; 2011:543648. [PMID: 19996154 PMCID: PMC3140066 DOI: 10.1093/ecam/nep198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2009] [Accepted: 10/26/2009] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined the neuro-electrophysiological activity of the brain associated with the application of a herbal remedy developed by a Shaolin monk based upon the Chan healing principle of clearing the orifices (i.e., the nasal cavities). A repeated-measures design was used. Fourteen normal adults were administered herbal remedy and saline solution intranasally on separate sessions. Two intervals of eyes-closed resting EEG data were obtained individually before and after each administration. Results showed that only the herbal remedy but not the saline solution induced elevation in cordance, an index correlated with cerebral perfusion, in the anterior brain region. In addition, the activity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), as examined by the LORETA analysis, was also increased after the application of the herbal remedy but not saline solution. The present study provided some preliminary evidence suggesting that the herbal nasal drop enhanced the activity of the frontal lobe and ACC. Implications for the potential clinical application of the herbal remedy to treat patients with frontal lobe disorders were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes S Chan
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
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