Dopamine in the prefrontal cortex plays multiple roles in the executive function of patients with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease can affect not only motor functions but also cognitive abilities,leading to cognitive impairment.One common issue in Parkinson’s disease with cognitive dysfunction is the difficulty in executive functioning.Executive functions help us plan,organize,and control our actions based on our goals.The brain area responsible for executive functions is called the prefrontal co rtex.It acts as the command center for the brain,especially when it comes to regulating executive functions.The role of the prefrontal cortex in cognitive processes is influenced by a chemical messenger called dopamine.However,little is known about how dopamine affects the cognitive functions of patients with Parkinson’s disease.In this article,the authors review the latest research on this topic.They start by looking at how the dopaminergic syste m,is alte red in Parkinson’s disease with executive dysfunction.Then,they explore how these changes in dopamine impact the synaptic structure,electrical activity,and connection components of the prefrontal cortex.The authors also summarize the relationship between Parkinson’s disease and dopamine-related cognitive issues.This information may offer valuable insights and directions for further research and improvement in the clinical treatment of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease.

Bibliographical Review on Rehabilitation of Executive Functions in Patients With Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD)

The present study aims to establish a literature review on intervention programs for executive functions(EFs)through the use of fundamental motor skills,from a neuropsychopedagogical perspective in subjects with Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD).An exploratory study was carried out through an integrative literature review.The research was carried out in the Scientific databases Electronic Library Online(SciELO),Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences(LILACS),Virtual Health Library-Psychology Brazil(BVSPSI),Electronic Journals of Psychology(PePSIC),in the periodicals available in the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations(BDTD)and on the website of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel(CAPES).The covering publications took place from 2018 to 2023,14 articles were selected for analysis.This literature review made it possible to create strategies for stimulating EF and Visuomotor Functions so that educators and other professionals can better deal with students with DCD.It was perceived the need to carry out and develop more empirical research regarding the intervention of EFs and Visuomotor Functions by educators and professionals,with a greater sampling amplitude,to increase the number of studies that enable interventions both in children and in teenagers with DCD.

Perspectives and Experiences of Education Stakeholders: A Quantitative Study on the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Executive Training Using Structural Equation Modeling

The recent increase in the use of artificial intelligence has led to fundamental changes in the development of training and teaching methods for executive education. However, the success of artificial intelligence in regional centers for teaching and training professions will depend on the acceptance of this technology by young executive trainees. This article discusses the potential benefits of adopting AI in executive training institutions in Morocco, specifically focusing on CRMEF Casablanca Settat. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al., 2003), this study proposes a model to identify the factors influencing the acceptance of artificial intelligence in regional centers for teaching professions and training in Morocco. To achieve this, a structural equation modeling approach was used to quantitatively describe the impact of each factor on AI adoption, utilizing data collected from 173 young executive trainees. The results indicate that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, trainer influence, and personal innovativeness influence the intention to use artificial intelligence. Our research provides managers of CRMEFs with a set of practical recommendations to enhance the implementation conditions of an artificial intelligence system. It aims to understand which factors should be considered in designing an artificial intelligence system within regional centers for teaching professions and training (CRMEFs).

Cerebral arterial blood flow,attention,and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Intracerebral hemorrhage mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension,and surgery is currently the main treatment for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage,but the bleeding caused by surgery will cause damage to the patient's nerve cells,resulting in cognitive and motor dysfunction,resulting in a decline in the patient's quality of life.AIM To investigate associations between cerebral arterial blood flow and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.METHODS Eighty-nine patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who were admitted to our hospital between January 2019 and July 2021 were selected as the observation group,while 100 patients without depression who had acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were selected as the control group.The attention span of the patients was assessed using the Paddle Pin Test while executive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST)and cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA).The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24)was used to evaluate the severity of depression of involved patients.Cerebral arterial blood flow was measured in both groups.RESULTS The MoCA score,net scores I,II,III,IV,and the total net score of the scratch test in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Concurrently,the total number of responses,number of incorrect responses,number of persistent errors,and number of completed responses of the first classification in the WCST test were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).Blood flow in the basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery were positively correlated with the net and total net scores of each part of the Paddle Pin test and the MoCA score(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with each part of the WCST test(P<0.05).In the observation group,the post-treatment improvement was more prominent in the Paddle Pin test,WCST test,HAMD-24 score,and MoCA score compared with those in the pre-treatment period(P<0.05).Blood flow in the basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery significantly improved in the observation group after treatment(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Impaired attention,and executive and cognitive functions are correlated with cerebral artery blood flow in patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage and warrant further study.

Clinical study of different modes of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of post‑stroke executive dysfunction

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of intermittent theta burst stimulation(iTBS)and high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)on post‑stroke executive impairment(PSEI).Methods:Ninety patients with PSEI who were hospitalized in the rehabilitation department of Xuzhou Central Hospital and Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital from April 2021 to June 2022 were selected and divided into iTBS group,high‑frequency group and control group.All three groups of patients received routine rehabilitation training,given rTMS treatment with iTBS,10 Hz and shame stimulation for 4 weeks.Before and after treatment,all the patients were evaluated with the Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA),the frontal assessment battery(FAB),troop color‑word test(SCWT),shape trails test(STT),digit span test(DST)and event related potential P300.Results:After treatment,MoCA,FAB,SCWT,STT,DST scores,P300 latency and amplitude were significantly better in the three groups than before treatment(P<0.05).MoCA,FAB,SCWT,STT‑B,DST scores,P300 latency and amplitude in the iTBS group and high‑frequency group were better than in the control group,with significant differences(P<0.05).The difference between iTBS group and high‑frequency group was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:iTBS can improve PSEI,and the efficacy is comparable to 10Hz rTMS.iTBS takes less time with better efficiency,and it is worth popularizing and applying in clinic.

Robust Malicious Executable Detection Using Host-Based Machine Learning Classifier

The continuous development of cyberattacks is threatening digital transformation endeavors worldwide and leadsto wide losses for various organizations. These dangers have proven that signature-based approaches are insufficientto prevent emerging and polymorphic attacks. Therefore, this paper is proposing a Robust Malicious ExecutableDetection (RMED) using Host-based Machine Learning Classifier to discover malicious Portable Executable (PE)files in hosts using Windows operating systems through collecting PE headers and applying machine learningmechanisms to detect unknown infected files. The authors have collected a novel reliable dataset containing 116,031benign files and 179,071 malware samples from diverse sources to ensure the efficiency of RMED approach.The most effective PE headers that can highly differentiate between benign and malware files were selected totrain the model on 15 PE features to speed up the classification process and achieve real-time detection formalicious executables. The evaluation results showed that RMED succeeded in shrinking the classification timeto 91 milliseconds for each file while reaching an accuracy of 98.42% with a false positive rate equal to 1.58. Inconclusion, this paper contributes to the field of cybersecurity by presenting a comprehensive framework thatleverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to proactively detect and prevent cyber-attacks.

从“executive”一词看香港行政长官的法律地位

executive一词作为一个重要的法政术语,具有执政权与执行权的双重意涵。在一国的法律及政治体系中,执政权直接与主权意志的实现及主权权力的行使紧密联系,是一种比行政权更为全面和核心的权力。明确执政权的地位与内涵,首先有助于重新认识现代政治框架中的权力关系,其次有助于认清现实问题的症结所在并提出具有针对性的回应。现代政治框架中的权力关系是一个三维立体结构,处于权力关系中的主体之地位和功能只有在政治体的立体结构中才能得到整全理解。在我国的上述立体结构中,香港特区行政长官具有类似于执政者的某种地位和功能,而绝非仅是传统权力分立理念下的行政分支首脑。

Processing Environmental Stimuli in Paranoid Schizophrenia:Recognizing Facial Emotions and Performing Executive Functions

Objective To study the contribution of executive function to abnormal recognition of facia expressions of emotion in schizophrenia patients. Methods Abnormal recognition of facial expressions of emotion was assayed according to Japanese and Caucasian facial expressions of emotion （JACFEE）, Wisconsin card sorting test {WCST）, positive and negative symptom scale, and Hamilton anxiety and depression scale, respectively, in 88 paranoid schizophrenia patients and 75 healthy volunteers. Results Patients scored higher on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales, displayed lower JACFEE recognition accuracies and poorer WCST performances. The JACFEE recognition accuracy of contempt and disgust was negatively correlated with the negative symptom scale score while the recognition accuracy of fear was positively with the positive symptom scale score and the recognition accuracy of surprise was negatively with the general psychopathology score in patients. Moreover, the WCST could predict the JACFEE recognition accuracy of contempt, disgust, and sadness in patients, and the perseverative errors negatively predicted the recognition accuracy of sadness in healthy volunteers. The JACFEE recognition accuracy of sadness could predict the WCST categories in paranoid schizophrenia patients. Conclusion Recognition accuracy of social-/moral emotions, such as contempt, disgust and sadness is related to the executive function in paranoid schizophrenia patients, especially when regarding sadness.

Executive function impairments in high IQ children and adolescents with ADHD

Objective: To demonstrate that high IQ children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD tend to suffer from executive function (EF) impairments that: a) can be identified with a combination of standardized measures and normed self-report data;and b) occur more frequently in this group than in the general population. Method: From charts of 117 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years with high IQ ( ≥ 120) who fully met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD, data on 8 normed measures of executive function (EF) were extracted: IQ index scores for working memory and processing speed, a standardized measure of auditory verbal memory, and 5 clusters of the Brown ADD Scale, a normed, age-graded rating scale for ADHD-related executive function impairments in daily life. Significant impairment was computed for each individual relative to age-appropriate norms for each measure and comparisons were made to base-line rates in the general population. Results: Sixty-two percent of participants were significantly impaired on at least 5 of these 8 markers of EF. Chi-square comparisons of scores from these high IQ participants were significantly different (p < 0.001) from standardization norms for each of the eight EF measures. Conclusions: High IQ children and adolescents with ADHD, despite their cognitive strengths, tend to suffer from significant impairments of executive functions that can be assessed with these measures;incidence of these impairments is significantly greater than in the general population. These results are fully consistent with data on high IQ adults diagnosed with ADHD.

Executive functioning in TBI from rehabilitation to social reintegration: COMPASS^(goal), a randomized controlled trial(grant: 1I01RX000637-01A3 by the VA ORD RR&D, 2013–2016)

Background: Traumatic brain injury is a major health problem that frequently leads to deficits in executive function. Self-regulation processes, such as goal-setting, may become disordered after traumatic brain injury, particularly when the frontal regions of the brain and their connections are involved. Such impairments reduce injured veterans' ability to return to work or school and to regain satisfactory personal lives. Understanding the neurologically disabling effects of brain injury on executive function is necessary for both the accurate diagnosis of impairment and the individual tailoring of rehabilitation processes to help returning service members recover independent function.Methods/design: The COMPASSgoal(Community Participation through Self-Efficacy Skills Development) program develops and tests a novel patient-centered intervention framework for community reintegration psychosocial research in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury. COMPASSgoal integrates the principles and best practices of goal self-management. Goal setting is a core skill in self-management training by which persons with chronic health conditions learn to improve their status and decrease symptom effects. Over a three-year period, COMPASSgoal will recruit 110 participants with residual executive dysfunction three months or more post-injury. Inclusion criteria combine both clinical diagnosis and standardized scores that are >1 SD from the normative score on the Frontal Systems Rating Scale. Participants are randomized into two groups: goal-management(intervention) and supported discharge(control). The intervention is administered in eight consecutive, weekly sessions. Assessments occur at enrollment, post-intervention/supported discharge, and three months post-treatment follow-up.Discussion: Goal management is part of the "natural language" of rehabilitation. However, collaborative goal-setting between clinicians/case managers and clients can be hindered by the cognitive deficits that follow brain injury. Re-training returning veterans with brain injury in goal management, with appropriate help and support, would essentially treat deficits in executive function. A structured approach to goal self-management may foster greater independence and self-efficacy, help veterans gain insight into goals that are realistic for them at a given time, and help clinicians and veterans to work more effectively as true collaborators.

Language, executive functioning and symptomatology—Is fluency a transversal tool in schizophrenia?

Despite a large number of studies on fluency disorders in schizophrenia, it is still not clear whether executive functioning and fluency tasks are empirically linked and how symptomatology could specifically get involved on these influences. We carried out analyses of performances in several verbal fluency tasks, a non-verbal fluency task and an executive test (FAB) in 25 schizophrenics and 25 healthy subjects matched in terms demographic data. Patients also completed the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale in order to control for their clinical profile. Our results suggest that schizophrenic patients show both category and letter fluency deficits with a greater impairment for letter fluency. They also display poorer performances for the non-verbal fluency task. In patients, all the verbal and non-verbal fluencies are significantly correlated with the FAB total score. By contrast, in controls, only letter fluency correlates with the FAB total score, which is congruent with previous literature on the healthy mechanisms of verbal fluency. Besides, factorial analyses show that symptomatology is specifically related to particular indexes of fluency tasks. Taken together, these data lead to support the hypothesis of retrieval rather than semantic difficulties and alargest involvement of executive functioning in schizophrenics during tasks that require a certain degree of efficiency, with performance being influenced by the clinical profile. Yet, the relation between fluency scores and executive functioning has to be more intensively explored and further studies should include semantic memory measures that fit with pathology’s constraints and characteristics.

Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training in Enhancing Executive Function and Decreasing Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness training in enhancing executive function and decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis patients. The population in this study consisted of people with MS who referred to Karaj city MS society in 1394. These people didn’t experience medicinal changes during the study period and their expanded disability status score (EDSS) was between 0 and 5.5. 40 of them were randomly selected and placed into two experimental and control groups (20 for the experimental and the other for the control group). The treatment of mindfulness training was held in 8 sessions of group training, once a week and for 2 hours. The statistical method of multivariate analysis of covariance was used. The measurement tools were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). After all, the results in both groups were compared and evaluated by the use of analysis of covariance. The results showed significant differences in symptoms of anxiety and depression between the two groups (p 0.05). Generally, the results of this research showed positive effects of mindfulness training on reducing anxiety and depression among patients with MS and ineffectiveness of mindfulness training on their executive function. Therefore, considering that there is no certain treatment for MS plus results of this study, the application of mindfulness training can be quite useful to reduce levels of anxiety and depression in patients with MS.

Association between central obesity and executive function as assessed by stroop task performance:A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Recent studies have suggested a link between executive function(EF)and obesity.Studies oftenadopt body mass index(BM),which reflects the distribution of subcutaneous fat,as the solemarker of obesity;however,BMI is inappropriate to distinguish central obesity,which indicatesthe centralized distribution of visceral fat.Visceral fat compared with subcutaneous fat repre-sents greater relative lipid turnover and may increase the risk of cognitive decline in older adults.However,the relationship between EF and central obesity is largely unknown,particularly inyoung adults.Therefore,we used waist circumference(WC)as a marker of central obesity andinvestigated diferent sensitivities between BMI and WC in the brain function.A total of 26healthy young adults(aged 18-25 years;42%female)underwent functional near-infrared spec-troscopy assessments.EF was assessed using the Stroop task,which is a classical measurementof EF.A significant Stroop effect was observed in the behavioral and hemodynamic data.Inaddition,we observed that behavioral interference on the Stroop task varied much more insubjects with higher BMI and WC than those subjects with lower.Elevated BMI and WC wereassociated with a decreased hemodynamic response during the Stroop task specifically in the pre-frontal cortex(PFC).Compared to BMI,WC was more closely connected with inhibitory controland revealed right lateralized PFC activation.Our findings suggest that WC is a reliable indicatorof brain function in young adults and propose a relationship bet ween EF and central obesity.

Executive Summary中译探微

Executive summary是英文文件中使用频率很高的一个术语,而它的中文译法却多达十几种。本文对此进行了资料收集、分析和对比,并在深入研究和思考的基础上提出了新的译法,旨在促其术语规范化。

Assessment of Stress Cognitive Control and Executive Function with Stress Control Rating Scale (ECOSTRESS) and Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) (In Portuguese People in Situations of Unemployment and Economic Insufficiency)

This article reviews the constructs of stress, appraisal, coping, according to a transactional perspective, and executive function, and presents a stress control rating scale (ECOSTRESS), which design is founded in these constructs. This psychometric tool is useful in the assessment of cognitive control of stress, correlated with the function of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. It has been validated for its use in the assessment of Portuguese people in situations of stress related to unemployment and economic insufficiency. Also, within the context of the cognitive control of stress, it is highlighted the usefulness of low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA).

Executive and Non-Executive Functions in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder of the Inattentive Type (ADHD-I): A Cognitive Profile

Objective: This study examined the hypothesis that individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-I), show both executive function (EF) deficits and non-EF deficits. Method: A group with ADHD-I (n = 16) and a paired control group (n = 21) completed a battery of tasks covering the major domains of EF (planning, working memory, flexibility and inhibition) and non-EF (alertness, divided attention, flexibility, sustained attention, visual field and visual scanning). Results: EF impairments in planning, spatial working memory, flexibility, and inhibition as well as non-EF impairments in divided attention, flexibility, sustained attention and visual scanning were observed in the ADHD-I group. Conclusion: Our results do not support the traditional model of ADHD. Given that neither EF nor non-EF tests typically distinguish ADHD-I from ADHD-C, alternative methodologies are required to confirm the validity of ADHD subtypes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.

Strategy Analysis of Improving Executive Ability of Subject and Object in Landscape Design Teaching

In view of the relationship between executive ability and landscape design teaching, the paper put forward that the executive ability is a key factor restricting teaching effects of landscape design, and then analyzed factors influencing executive ability of subject-object (teachers and students) in the teaching. Aiming at these factors, executive ability of teachers and students in landscape design teaching could be improved by modifying teaching management system, teacher training, developing the role of "project-oriented learning" in shaping the executive ability, and cultivating students' self-study ability, so as to improve the teaching effect of landscape design.

Executive Functions Assessment in Adult Patients with Idiopathic Epilepsy

Objective: Cognitive impairments are common complaints among people with epilepsy with its occurrence to emanate a great topic in the course of the illness, so our study aimed to examine the executive functions in adult patients with idiopathic epilepsy. Methods: Forty consecutive adult patients with idiopathic epilepsy (either generalized or focal) with age range from 18 - 45 years old, IQ > 85, treated with either monotherapy or polytherapy, matched with forty healthy adult volunteers by age, sex and educational level. They were examined in executive functions tests: cognitive flexibility and set shifting (Wisconsin Card sorting Test), Planning (Tower of London), response inhibition (Continuous Performance Test) and working memory (verbal and visuospatial). Results: Patients with epilepsy showed deficits in all executive functions tests, with no difference between patients with generalized and focal epilepsy except for correct response time mean in CPT. There was significant positive correlation between frequency of seizures and mean total time, mean number of extra movies in TOL, in verbal working memory (digit back word), and omission errors in CPT;at the same time there was significant negative correlation between target accuracy rate and frequency of seizures in CPT, and in visuo-spatial part of working memory (Corsi Block-Tapping Test). Conclusion: Adult patients with idiopathic epilepsy had executive dysfunctions than healthy control, with no difference between generalized and focal epilepsy except for correct response time mean in CPT;the increase of the frequency of seizure is associated with impairment in planning, attention and working memory (either verbal or viuso-spatial).