View clinical trials related to Executive Function.
Filter by:The goal of this basic experimental clinical trial is to understand the effect of multitasking practice on the structure of neural representations of tasks in the human lateral prefrontal cortex and control brain regions. The main question it aims to answer is: What changes in neural representational structure predict improvements in multitasking behavior due to multitasking practice? Healthy human participants will learn two independent tasks, each mapping a set of stimuli to motor responses based on different rules. Participants will be randomized to one of two interventions. Participants assigned to the multitask practice intervention (MPI) will practice multitasking the two tasks over multiple days. Those assigned to the single-task practice intervention (SPI) will instead practice each task separately while controlling for the total number of practice opportunities associated with each task across the interventions. Both before and after the practice, the ability of all participants to perform both tasks simultaneously will be behaviorally measured using a well-established psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm, and their neural representations will be measured using functional MRI while they perform the two tasks. Researchers will then compare improvements in multitasking behavior across the two groups, as well as changes in neural representational geometry of the tasks in the lateral prefrontal cortex and control brain regions, and test whether multitasking training is associated with specific changes in neural representations in the lateral prefrontal cortex.
Deficits in executive functioning (EF) disproportionately impact children living in poverty and increase risk for psychopathology, particularly disruptive behavior disorders. This randomized clinical trial seeks to determine whether childhood EF, assessed across neural and behavioral units of analysis, is an experimental therapeutic target that can be directly modified through caregiver participation in the Chicago Parent Program (CPP), if increases in EF predict reduced disruptive behavior trajectories in low-income children over a short-term follow-up period, and identify which CPP-driven parenting skill improvements are the most influential in modifying EF. This work will contribute new knowledge as to whether a cost-efficient parenting intervention, developed for and with low-income families raising young children in poverty, can modify EF, a neural behavioral mechanism implicated in risk for childhood disruptive behavior problems.
In recent years, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become the primary treatment for patients with medically uncontrolled Parkinson's disease (PD). Nevertheless, previous studies have shown that it has been controversial whether DBS-subthal amic nucleus (STN) has facilitated or impaired cognitive function in patients with PD. The etiology of the effect of DBS on the single cognitive domain, executive function, has yet to be clarified. Previous clinical studies in which DBS was performed in patients with PD have been performed under the Stroop effect. TMT (Trail Making Test A and B) cognitive tests and simultaneous acquisition of brain function data by electroencephalograph-functional near-infrared spectroscopy (EEG-fNIRS) have yet to be reported. To investigate the effect of DBS-STN on executive function in PD patients and whether there are differences at baseline, 1-month postoperative (DBS-on), 6 months postoperative follow-up, and 12 months postoperative follow-up. Under the condition of electroencephalograph-functional near-infrared spectroscopy (EEG-fNIRS) bimodal technology fusion, The investigators allow PD patients to operate the test of executive function (Stroop/TMT), real-time monitoring of cranial neurophysiology-oxygenation signals, and explore the changes of the brain function network of PD patients, and hope to achieve the following objectives through objective and scientific-technological means: (1) quantify the cognitive function of PD patients through EEG-fNIRS technology and possible trends of changes; (2) explain whether executive functions differ at the level of brain functional network connectivity between surgical and conservative treatments and whether the differences have interaction effects with treatment duration and treatment modalities, as well as analyze their simple effects; (3) To minimize artificial confounders of short-term learning effects and testers common to previous neurocognitive psychobehavioral tests; (4) To explore the mechanism of DBS on the changes of cortical brain networks in PD patients, to avoid or reduce the interference of surgery on cognitive functions, and to provide a theoretical basis for treating personalized surgical plans.
This study aims to investigate whether consuming a drink containing powdered blueberries (equivalent to 150 g of fresh fruit) can improve mood and executive function in healthy emerging adults.
The participants will perform a cognitive control task. During the task, rhythmic trains of transcranial magnetic stimulation will be delivered to the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex. Participants will be screened for their ability to perform the task. Magnetic resonance imaging will be used to localize regions of interest to be targeted. Electroencephalography will be collected concurrent with stimulation.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic, complex and disabling clinical entity that has an average global prevalence of 2.7%. It occurs mainly in women in a 3: 1 ratio. It is characterized by persistent generalized pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive dysfunction and numerous systemic symptoms such as dizziness, migraine, digestive alterations or sensory intolerances. At present there is no pharmacological treatment with specific indication for FM. Usually, non-curative treatments are recommended that alleviate the symptoms of the patients and improve their quality of life and functionality. Many studies have shown cognitive impairment in FM patients compared to control groups, and FM patients mainly show problems with working memory processes and / or in their attentional and executive domains, as well as in speed of speech. processing (BD Dick, Verrier, Harker, & Rashiq, 2008; Glass, 2009; Tesio et al., 2015; Williams, Clauw, & Glass, 2011). Many patients with FM have little understanding of their condition, leading to maladaptive pain cognitions and coping strategies. Current research has suggested the use of physiotherapy and rehabilitation in addition to cognitive patient education in the treatment of fibromyalgia. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of pain neuroscience education in patients with FM. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the effectiveness of the neuroscience education program on pain in executive functions and the intensity of pain in patients with FM.
The current project utilizes a single-blinded, double arm, 6-month randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of a multi-domain exercise program on memory performance, as well as cortical activities during the memory tasks in cognitively intact adults (i.e., 45-70 years). In addition, the potential moderator role of apolipoprotein epsilon-4 (ApoE e4) status and the mediator role of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) will be explored.
To measure the effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with brief standing physical activity interventions on physical and cognitive performance, health and wellbeing in young people.
This study will investigate the effect of agility training on executive function, dual task walking and brain activation in healthy adults. Participants (N=70) will be randomly assigned to resistance+aerobic training group (RAeT) or agility training group (AT). Participants in RAeT (n=35) will receive 15-minute lower extremity workout first and then 25-minute moderate intensity (60-75% predicted maximal heart rate) aerobic training. Participants in AT (n=35) will do the agility exercise program consisting of technical drills, pattern running and reactive agility training. The intervention will be twelve-time group intervention (3-5persons) in four weeks, 50 minutes per session (5-minute warmup, 40- minute main training, 5-minute cool-down). Participants will undergo three measurement time points (pre-, post-intervention and one month follow-up). Outcome measures will include executive function (N-back test, stroop test and Wisconsin card sort test), single and dual task walking performance and brain activity (fNIRS on prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area and premotor cortex). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey post-hoc test will be used to examine the group x time interaction on three outcome measures.
The purpose of this study is to estimate the effects of diet and exercise interventions on body weight, cardiovascular metabolic markers, executive function, and intestinal flora among undergraduate students, as well as the underlying mechanisms.