• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-44
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Gastrodia elata Blume on the improvement of memory. Methods : This study was a 12 week, double blind, comparative clinical study. There were eligible who worked with a group of healthy seniors, all 60 years of age or older. 50 subjects were randomized either to Gastrodia elata Blume in powder form and steep in hot water or placebo. We measured the faculty of memory by using K-DRS, MMSE-K, Digit Span, Letter Fluency Test, Word List Memory Test, and the Trail Making Test, and after 12 weeks we measured the faculty of memory again using the same methods. Results : Gastrodia elata Blume steeps in the hot water group significantly increased. Initiation, perseveration level, and Memory level of K-DRS and MMSE-K score. There were no considerable differences between three groups in Digit Span and Trail Making Test score. Gastrodia elata Blume group showed significant advances in Letter Fluency Test and recognition of Word List Memory Test. Conclusions : The results suggest that Gastrodia elata Blume may have positive effects on memory improvement and function of the frontal lobe activation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.692-707
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• 1998

Aim. A neurobehavioral test for workers exposed to organic solvents in the workplace can be affected by many factors : age, education, motivation, ethnicity, etc. To apply more suitable neurobehavioral test for Korean workers, we evaluated the validity of several items of computerized and traditional neurobehavioral tests. Methods. We have applied eleven tests : four items of computerized neurobehavioral test(Swedish Performance Evaluation System) including Addition, Symbol-Digit, Dig-it Span, and Finger tapping speed, and seven items of traditional neurobehavioral test consisting of Addition, Digit-Symbol, Digit Span, Benton visual retention test, Pursuit aiming, Pegboard, and Tapping. These tests were performed on 96 workers exposed to solvents, and 100 reference workers. The concurrent and construct validities were evaluated by group difference, correlation with age, educational level, hippuric acid level, neurotoxic symptom, current exposure level, multitrait-multimethod matrix, fator analysis, and discriminant analysis. Results. Statistically significant differences were observed between the workers exposed to solvents and referents in computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, traditional Digit-Symbol and Pegboard. The computerized Symbol-Digit, traditional Digit-Symbol, Addition, Benton visual retention test, and Pegboard were found to be related to the age. The performance of computerized Symbol-Digit, Addition, and traditional Digit-Symbol were found to be related to the educational level significantly. The computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, and traditional Digit-Symbol were found to be related to hippuric acid, and neurotoxic symptom. The discriminability of Finger tapping speed, and Pegboard was better than the other tests. In discriminant analysis, the model with two variables, the computerized Symbol-Digit and Pegboard, classified almost 70 percent of the workers correctly. Conclusions. These results suggest that the computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, and Pegboard are more satisfactory for our purpose, and the Addition, Tapping, Benton visual retention test, and Pursuit aiming are less valid than other items. These may allow the reasonable selection of core neurobehavioral tests for workers exposed to solvents in Korea.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.314-328
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• 1997

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to low-dose solvent on neurobehavioral performance of 48 male workers exposed to organic solvents. A control group of 50 workers was selected from same factories. Each worker completed a medical and occupational questionnaire and four tests of Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery. These included Benton visual retention test, digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. Comparison of mean performance showed a significantly poorer performance on digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. In univariate analysis, age contributed to poor performance on Benton visual retention test and educational level was found to reduce the performance on symbol digit in both groups. Amount of alcohol intake was found to reduce the performance on digit symbol and smoking appeared to slow pursuit aiming in the exposure group. In multiple regression analysis, controlling for age, educational level, alcohol, and smoking, Solvent exposure was found to be associated with performance of digit span, and number of correct dot of pursuit aiming. Age on Benton visual retention, educational level on digit symbol, arid smoking on pursuit aiming were found to be a significant factors on each test items. This study suggest that short-term memory, and perception can be affected easily by chronic exposure of organic solvents which air concentration levels were under the Threshold Limit Value.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.25-32
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of computerized neurocognitive function program on cognitive function about memory and attention with stroke. Methods: 24subjects with stroke were recruited. Twelve of subjects received conventional therapy including physical therapy, occupational therapy and language therapy. Another subjects received additional computer assisted cognitive training using Computer-aided Cognitive rehabilitation training system(COMCOG, MaxMedica Inc., 2004). All patients were assessed their cognitive function of memory and attention using Computerized Neurocognitive Function Test(CNT, MaxMedica Inc., 2004) before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment. Results: Before the treatment, two groups showed no difference in cognitive function(p>0.05). After 6 weeks, two groups showed significantly difference in digit span (forward, backward), verbal learning(A5, $A1{\sim}A5$), auditory CPT(n), visual CPT(n)(p<0.05). After treatment, the experimental group showed a significant improvement of digit span(forward, backward), verbal learning(A5, $A1{\sim}A5$), visual span (forward, backward), auditory CPT(n, sec), visual CPT(n, sec), and trail-making (A, B)(p<0.05). Conclusion: Computerized neurocognitive function program would be improved cognitive function of memory and attention in patients with stoke.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.171-179
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• 1997

This study was performed to see whether neurobehavioral tests was affected by the exposure-free time in the workers chronically exposed to organic solvents. Thirty-four female workers were participated and four items among neurobehavioral core test battery of World Health Organization, including digit span, Santa Ana Dexterity, digit symbol and Benton Visual Retention, were administered to the workers. Test was conducted three times-preshift on Monday, preshift on Weekday and during shift on Weekday-per person and the interval of tests was 2 weeks. Digit span forward, Santa Ana Dexterity, digit symbol, and Benton Visual Retention showed significant decrements by performing time, especially during shift on Week-day versus preshift on Monday and preshift on Weekday. In addition, the score at preshift on Weekday was significantly lower than preshift on Monday, in preferred Santa Ana Dexterity and digit symbol. Generally, those who were exposed to high concentration, over 50 years and under 6 years of education showed marked decrease of score at during shift. So, it would be desirable that neurobehavioral test is conducted at preshift on Monday and items related to short term memory could be considerable to be done at preshift on Weekday.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2010

Objective : This study is planned to determine the neurocognitive difficulties of hydrocephalic adults. Methods : The research group contained healthy adults (control group, n : 15), and hydrocephalic adults (n : 15). Hydrocephalic group consisted of patients with idiopathic aquaduct stenosis and post-meningitis hydrocephalus. All patients were followed with shunted hydrocephalus and not gone to shunt revision during last two years. They were chosen from either asymptomatic or had only minor symptoms without motor and sensorineural deficit. A neuropsychological test battery (Raven Standart Progressive Matrices, Bender-Gestalt Test, Cancellation Test, Clock Drawing Test, Facial Recognition Test, Line Orientation Test, Serial Digit Learning Test, Stroop Color Word Interference Test-TBAG Form, Verbal Fluency Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Visual-Aural Digit Span Test-B) was applied to all groups. Results : Neuropsychological assessment of hydrocephalic patients demonstrated that they had poor performance on visual, semantic and working memory, visuoconstructive and frontal functions, reading, attention, motor coordination and executive function of parietal lobe which related with complex and perseverative behaviour. Eventually, these patients had significant impairment on the neurocognitive functions of their frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. On the other hand, the statistical analyses performed on demographic data showed that the aetiology of the hydrocephalus, age, sex and localization of the shunt (frontal or posterior parietal) did not affect the test results. Conclusion : This prospective study showed that adult patients with hydrocephalus have serious neuropsychological problems which might be directly caused by the hydrocephalus; and these problems may cause serious adaptive difficulties in their social, cultural, behavioral and academic life.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.243-252
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the dose-dependent effects of Gastrodia elata Blume for memory improvement. Methods: This study was a 12-weeks, double blind, and comparative clinical study. Those who were eligible worked with a group of healthy seniors, all 60 years of age or older. 22 subjects were randomized either to Gastrodia elata Blume powder form that was steeped in hot water or placebo. We measured the faculty of memory by using MMSE-K, Digit Span, Letter Fluency Test, Word List Memory Test, and Trail Making Test, and again after 12 weeks. Results: 1) Neither Gastrodia elata Blume groups nor control have a difference in MMSE-K, Digit Span, Letter Fluency Test, and Trail Making Test. 2) Gastrodia elata Blume group showed significant advances in immediate recall 1 and 2 of Word List Memory Test, and 3 g group show better results than the 4 g group. 3) 4 g Gastrodia elata Blume group showed significant advances in the recognition of Word List Memory Test. Conclusions: The results suggest that positive effects on memory improvement due to Gastrodia elata Blume depend on the amount.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2329-2337
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• 2013

This study was done objected to the chronic stroke patients in order to evaluate change in brain wave activity and cognitive performance when Neurofeedback training. The subjects were over 6 months ago in chronic stroke patients screened-test through the 20 patients, 10 persons in each group were randomly placed. This was carried out in 4 weeks in total, with control group(n=10) on general physical therapy and experimental group(n=10) on general physical therapy along with Neurofeedback training. The general physical therapy was applied 5 times a week, 30 minutes at once, Neurofeedback training was applied as equally as the general physical therapy, which makes 20 times in total. To learn about the effect before the training, after training, and 2 weeks after the training in electric physiological measurement method of the brain, electroencephalogram(EEG) to examine challenges by calculating the absolute spectrum power for standard EEG change(%), followed by evaluation with clinical assessment tool MMSE-K, Stroop Test, Digit Span Test. As a result of comparing the change in brain wave through EEG, after training and 2 weeks after training showed that absolute ${\alpha}$-power and absolute ${\beta}$-SMR power of experimental group have increased and absolute ${\theta}$-power decreased significantly compared to experimental group I. Moreover, the MMSE-K score in trial appraisal has increased significantly, and the error in Stroop Test and Digit Span Test has decreased significantly. such results, with the chronic stroke patient's brain wave control, Neurofeedback training was determined to improve the cognitive performance. this study suggests a new training possibility of stroke patients by identifying the training effects of Neurofeedback training that trains the brain directly with brain wave control.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to determine whether children with Tourette disorder (TD) have functional impairment and executive dysfunction in comparison to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and non-affected controls. Methods : From January 2006 to December 2013, 45 children and adolescents with TD and 50 children and adolescents with ADHD diagnosed at the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital and 50 non-affected controls were enrolled in this study. Functional impairment of the subjects was assessed using the Child and Adolescents Functioning Impairment Scale (CAFIS), parent and teacher versions. In addition, neuropsychological tests including Stroop color-word Test, Finger windows Test (FWT), and Digit span were administered. Outcomes were compared across the TD, ADHD, and non-affected controls. Results : No difference in CAFIS-parent and CAFIS-teacher results was observed between children with TD and non-affected controls, whereas, children with ADHD showed more impairments relative to non-affected controls in the CAFIS-parent. According to the Stroop color-word Test, FWT, and Digit span, executive function in children with TD did not differ from non-affected controls. Children with ADHD had poorer performance in measures of the Stroop color-word Test compared to children with TD. Conclusion : Children and adolescents with TD but not ADHD were not significantly different from non-affected controls on most measures of functional impairment and executive function. These findings suggest that an education program and intervention for children with TD would be important to reducing the stigma of TD.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.339-349
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between the Korean version of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) and the Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral Test (KCNT) and the usefulness of KCNT for discriminating the patients with suspected dementia from normal persons in patients with a brain injury. The results of each items of KCNT had passed the test for normality. T test for group comparison and bivariate correlation analysis for correlation between two tests were used. There were no significant differences in characteristics of two groups. The differences in results of eight tests of KCNT between two groups were statistically significant (p<.05) and the Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between two tests were statistically significant (p<.05) : simple reaction time (-.580), choice reaction time (-.341), color word vigilance (-.661), digit classification (-.703), 2-digit addition (-.582), 3-digit addition (-.610), symbol digit substitution (-.642), and digit span (.807). These results suggested that simple reaction time and 2-digit addition were useful in discriminating the patients with suspected dementia from normal persons because the Pearson correlation coefficients of the two items of KCNT showed anticlastic association between two groups. And each items of KCNT may use in follow up cognitive function for patients in two groups.