In:
Multiple Sclerosis Journal, SAGE Publications, Vol. 27, No. 9 ( 2021-08), p. 1341-1349
Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis may damage cognitive performance in several domains, including attention. Although attention network deficits were described during rest, studies that investigate their function during task performance are scarce. Objective: To investigate connectivity within and between task-related networks in multiple sclerosis during a visual attention task as a function of cognitive performance. Methods: A total of 23 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and 29 healthy controls underwent task-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans using a visual attention paradigm on a 3T scanner. Scans were analysed using tensor-independent component analysis (TICA). Functional connectivity was calculated within and between components. We assessed cognitive function with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) battery. Results: TICA extracted components related to visual processing, attention, executive function and the default-mode network. Subject scores of visual/attention-related and executive components were greater in healthy controls ( p 〈 0.032, p 〈 0.023). Connectivity between visual/attention-related and default-mode components was higher in patients ( p 〈 0.043), correlating with Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised (BVMT-R) scores ( R = −0.48, p 〈 0.036). Patients showed reduced connectivity between the right intraparietal sulcus (rIPS) and frontal eye field (rFEF), and bilateral frontal eye fields ( p 〈 0.012, p 〈 0.003). Reduced rIPS-rFEF connectivity came with lower Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)/BVMT-R scores in patients ( R = 0.53, p 〈 0.02, R = 0.46, p 〈 0.049). Conclusion: Attention-related networks show altered connectivity during task performance in RRMS patients, scaling with cognitive disability.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1352-4585
,
1477-0970
DOI:
10.1177/1352458520958360
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2008225-3
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