Paired Associated learning (PAL) as part of the Cambridge Neurological Test Battery (CANTAB) is a task of great potential for disease research. The initial interest in this task was sparked by studies of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often viewed as a prodromal form of AD. AD patients were highly impaired on PAL, more importantly, so were a sub-popul...

OBJECTIVE Catecholamine stimulant drugs are highly efficacious treatments for attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorders (AD/HD). Catecholamine modulation in humans influences performance of numerous cognitive tasks, including tests of attention and working memory (WM). Clear delineation of the effects of methylphenidate upon such cognitive functions in AD/HD would enhance understanding of the ...

Submitted: July 20, 2007; Revised: September 2, 2007; Accepted: September 5, 2007 Background: Cognitive deficits are fundamental features in schizophrenia (SZ) and major determinants of psychosocial functioning. Cognitive deficits in bipolar disorder (BD) were only recently recognized, and research on them is limited, especially in the euthymic stage. Earlier attempts to establish and compare t...

The Mediterranean diet has demonstrated efficacy for improving cardiovascular and cognitive health. However, a traditional Mediterranean diet delivers fewer serves of dairy and less dietary calcium than is currently recommended in Australia, which may limit long-term sustainability. The present study aims to evaluate whether a Mediterranean diet with adequate dairy and calcium can improve cardi...

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) are complex Eating Disorders (EDs). Even if are considered two different diagnostic categories, they share clinical relevant characteristics. The evaluation of neurocognitive functions, using standardized neuropsychological assessment, could be a interesting approach to better understand differences and similarities between diagnostic categories an...

Participants (N = 34) undertook a CANTAB battery on two separate occasions after fasting and abstaining from fluid intake since the previous evening. On one occasion they were offered 500 ml water shortly before testing, and on the other occasion no water was consumed prior to testing. Reaction times, as measured by Simple Reaction Time (SRT), were faster on the occasion on which they consumed ...

BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested that subjects with depression suffer a diagnosis-specific motivational deficit, characterized by an abnormal response to negative feedback that endures beyond clinical recovery. Furthermore, it has been suggested that negative feedback may motivate non-depressed controls, but not depressed patients, to improve their performance in neuropsychological test...

Several studies have indicated a chronic cognitive enhancing effect of Bacopa monnieri across different ages and cognitive impairment associated with vitamin and mineral deficiencies in children. Therefore, we investigated the effects of 4-month supplementation with a combination of B. monnieri extract and multiple micronutrients on cognitive functions in Indian school children aged 7-12 years....

M.D., F.R.C.P.(Ed.), F.R.C.P.(Lond.), Sir Stanley Davidson, B.A.(Cantab.), M.D., F.R.C.P.(Ed.), F.R.C.P.(Lond.), M.D.(Oslo), and S. Allstead, M.D., F.R.C.P.(Ed.), F.R.C.P.(Lond.). Seventh Edition. (Pp. xix + 924; figs. 33. 55s.) Edinburgh and London: E. & S. Livingstone, 1958. THE first edition of this book appeared in 1939 and it is pleasing to be able to report that although its girth has bee...

Executive dysfunction appears to be related to increased Background: recidivism. Of note is that sleep disturbances, which are highly prevalent in prisons, may attenuate executive functions. Thus, improving executive functions, either directly or indirectly through the improvement of sleep, may reduce recidivism. It is hypothesised that physical exercise, in the form of Running Therapy, has a d...