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Stroop and practice effects in cognitive dysfunction of Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Research Square, Vol.28 August 2024
Research Square Company
2024
Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection
Abstract
Background. The Stroop task was used to investigate differences in cognitive function between Long COVID (LC), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and healthy control subjects.
Methods. Subjects viewed four color words or neutral (XXXX) stimuli with the same (congruent) or different color ink (incongruent). Cognitive conflict was inferred from response times for pairings of prestimuli and subsequent stimuli. Overall effects were assessed by univariate analysis with time courses determined for binned response times.
Results. LC and ME/CFS had significantly longer response times than controls indicating cognitive dysfunction. Initial response times were ranked LC>ME>HC, and decreased according to power functions. At the end of the task (900s), times were ranked LC=ME>HC. Response times were significantly slower for stimuli following an incongruent prestimulus. Time series for Stroop effect, facilitation, interference, surprise index and practice power law parameters were generally similar in LC, ME/CFS and HC suggesting comparable patterns for recruitment of cognitive resources. The prestimulus data were analyzed and generated positive Stroop and interference effects that were distinct from stimulus effects.
Conclusion. LC and ME/CFS have global slowing of response times that cannot be overcome by practice suggesting slower neurotransmission or white matter conduction between network nodes during problem solving. Analysis of matched prestimulus – stimulus effects adds a new dimension for understanding cognitive conflict.
Brief Summary. Cognitive dysfunction in Long COVID and ME/CFS was demonstrated using the Stroop task which found global slowing of response times and limitations of practice effects.
Details
- Title
- Stroop and practice effects in cognitive dysfunction of Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Authors
- James Baraniuk (Corresponding Author) - Georgetown UniversityKiran Thapaliya (Author) - Griffith UniversityMaira Inderyas (Author) - Griffith UniversityZack Shan (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteLeighton R Barnden (Author) - Griffith University
- Publication details
- Research Square, Vol.28 August 2024
- Publisher
- Research Square Company
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4783876/v1
- ISSN
- 2693-5015
- Copyright note
- This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License.
- Data Availability
- All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.
- Organisation Unit
- Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991064797102621
- Output Type
- Preprint
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