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Examination of processing speed deficits in multiple sclerosis using functional magnetic resonance imaging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

HELEN M. GENOVA ,
FRANK G. HILLARY ,
GLENN WYLIE ,
BART RYPMA  and
JOHN DELUCA
HELEN M. GENOVA*
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey Kessler Foundation Research Center, West Orange, New Jersey
FRANK G. HILLARY
Affiliation:
Kessler Foundation Research Center, West Orange, New Jersey
GLENN WYLIE
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
BART RYPMA
Affiliation:
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas—Dallas, Dallas, Texas Department of Psychiatry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
JOHN DELUCA
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey Kessler Foundation Research Center, West Orange, New Jersey
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Helen M. Genova, Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Foundation Research Center, 300 Executive Drive, Suite 010, West Orange, New Jersey 07052. E-mail: hgenova@kmrrec.org
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Abstract

Although it is known that processing speed deficits are one of the primary cognitive impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS), the underlying neural mechanisms responsible for impaired processing speed remain undetermined. Using BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging, the current study compared the brain activity of 16 individuals with MS to 17 healthy controls (HCs) during performance of a processing speed task, a modified version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Task. Although there were no differences in performance accuracy, the MS group was significantly slower than HCs. Although both groups showed similar activation involving the precentral gyrus and occipital cortex, the MS showed significantly less cerebral activity than HCs in bilateral frontal and parietal regions, similar to what has been reported in aging samples during speeded tasks. In the HC group, processing speed was mediated by frontal and parietal regions, as well as the cerebellum and thalamus. In the MS group, processing speed was mediated by insula, thalamus and anterior cingulate. It therefore appears that neural networks involved in processing speed differ between MS and HCs, and our findings are similar to what has been reported in aging, where damage to both white and gray matter is linked to processing speed impairments (JINS, 2009, 15, 383–393).

Keywords

Multiple sclerosisProcessing speedfMRISymbol Digit Modalities TaskBrain mappingCognition
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , May 2009 , pp. 383 - 393
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2009

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