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Aspects of Frontal and Medial Temporal Brain Functions : Neuropsychological and functional imaging studies in normals and in frontotemporal dementia

Elfgren, Christina LU orcid (1997)
Abstract
The thesis is based on five investigations.



In the first study the nature and the degree of cognitive impairment of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is explored. The results from neuropsychological assessment are described as three levels of cognitive impairment. These levels of functional disturbance corresponded to increased severity of abnormality of the regional cerebral blood flow measurements (rCBF).



In the second study a close coupling between reduced rCBF and specific neuropsychological deficits in FTD is demonstrated. Significant correlations were found between a global impairment score and relative blood flow in frontal areas. The global impairment scale might be useful in... (More)
The thesis is based on five investigations.



In the first study the nature and the degree of cognitive impairment of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is explored. The results from neuropsychological assessment are described as three levels of cognitive impairment. These levels of functional disturbance corresponded to increased severity of abnormality of the regional cerebral blood flow measurements (rCBF).



In the second study a close coupling between reduced rCBF and specific neuropsychological deficits in FTD is demonstrated. Significant correlations were found between a global impairment score and relative blood flow in frontal areas. The global impairment scale might be useful in detecting and following the progress of frontal deficiencies in FTD patients.



The results of the third investigation indicate that for differential diagnosis of FTD versus dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) the scores on cognitive tests measuring verbal ability, visuospatial ability and verbal episodic memory are of value, especially when evaluated in combination.



The fourth study investigates the functional involvement of the frontal lobes during performance of verbal (VFT) and design fluency tasks (DFT), and the influence of different strategies utilised when solving the fluency tasks. The results from measurements of rCBF in normal subjects demonstrate a left-sided frontal activation during the VFT and bilateral flow augmentations during the DFT. Furthermore, the findings suggest that patterns of cortical activity vary according to the chosen cognitive strategy when performing a task.



In the fifth investigation the involvement of the medial temporal lobes (MTL) in retrieval of declarative memories (abstract visuospatial designs) is studied by measuring rCBF with positron emission tomography (PET). In the recall of abstract designs a less practised memory state (novel recall) was compared to a well practised (trained recall) memory state. The MTL was more activated during retrieval in the less practised memory state compared to the well practised memory state, indicating a changing role of the MTL during recall in the earlier stages of acquisition of declarative knowledge compared to the well encoded declarative memory state. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Nilsson, Lars-Göran, the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
neurophysiology, regional cerebral blood flow, Neuropsychological assessment, frontotemporal dementia, normal subjects, frontal lobes, medial temporal lobes, neuropsychology, Neurology, Neurologi, neuropsykologi, neurofysiologi
pages
148 pages
publisher
Department of Psychology, Lund University
defense location
Segerfalksalen, Wallenberg Neurocentrum, Lund.
defense date
1997-06-03 13:15:00
external identifiers
  • other:ISRN: LUSADG/SAPS--97/1075--SE
ISBN
91-630-5378-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
16de1eb1-3d76-424e-99a6-f8927daf276c (old id 29406)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:56:53
date last changed
2021-11-17 11:24:50
@phdthesis{16de1eb1-3d76-424e-99a6-f8927daf276c,
  abstract     = {{The thesis is based on five investigations.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
In the first study the nature and the degree of cognitive impairment of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is explored. The results from neuropsychological assessment are described as three levels of cognitive impairment. These levels of functional disturbance corresponded to increased severity of abnormality of the regional cerebral blood flow measurements (rCBF).<br/><br>
<br/><br>
In the second study a close coupling between reduced rCBF and specific neuropsychological deficits in FTD is demonstrated. Significant correlations were found between a global impairment score and relative blood flow in frontal areas. The global impairment scale might be useful in detecting and following the progress of frontal deficiencies in FTD patients.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The results of the third investigation indicate that for differential diagnosis of FTD versus dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) the scores on cognitive tests measuring verbal ability, visuospatial ability and verbal episodic memory are of value, especially when evaluated in combination.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The fourth study investigates the functional involvement of the frontal lobes during performance of verbal (VFT) and design fluency tasks (DFT), and the influence of different strategies utilised when solving the fluency tasks. The results from measurements of rCBF in normal subjects demonstrate a left-sided frontal activation during the VFT and bilateral flow augmentations during the DFT. Furthermore, the findings suggest that patterns of cortical activity vary according to the chosen cognitive strategy when performing a task.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
In the fifth investigation the involvement of the medial temporal lobes (MTL) in retrieval of declarative memories (abstract visuospatial designs) is studied by measuring rCBF with positron emission tomography (PET). In the recall of abstract designs a less practised memory state (novel recall) was compared to a well practised (trained recall) memory state. The MTL was more activated during retrieval in the less practised memory state compared to the well practised memory state, indicating a changing role of the MTL during recall in the earlier stages of acquisition of declarative knowledge compared to the well encoded declarative memory state.}},
  author       = {{Elfgren, Christina}},
  isbn         = {{91-630-5378-0}},
  keywords     = {{neurophysiology; regional cerebral blood flow; Neuropsychological assessment; frontotemporal dementia; normal subjects; frontal lobes; medial temporal lobes; neuropsychology; Neurology; Neurologi; neuropsykologi; neurofysiologi}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Psychology, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Aspects of Frontal and Medial Temporal Brain Functions : Neuropsychological and functional imaging studies in normals and in frontotemporal dementia}},
  year         = {{1997}},
}