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Within-session practice effect on paced auditory serial addition test in multiple sclerosis

Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Middelheim General Hospital, Lindendreef 1, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium, National Multiple Sclerosis Center, Vanheylenstraat 16, 1820 Melsbroek, Belgium

M.B. D'hooghe

National Multiple Sclerosis Center, Vanheylenstraat 16, 1820 Melsbroek, Belgium

D. Kos

National Multiple Sclerosis Center, Vanheylenstraat 16, 1820 Melsbroek, Belgium, Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

S. Engelborghs

Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Middelheim General Hospital, Lindendreef 1, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium

P.P. De Deyn

Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Middelheim General Hospital, Lindendreef 1, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium, peter.dedeyn{at}ua.ac.be

The paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT) is increasingly used in multiple sclerosis (MS) studies. Since these studies rely on repeated assessments with relatively short inter-test intervals, practice effects can be a confounding factor. We examined intra-session PASAT practice effects in 70 relapsing remitting (RR) and 40 secondary progressive (SP) patients. The average number of correct answers increased from 39.6 ± 11.7 in the first PASAT run to 43.8 ± 11.4 in the second run for the RR group, and from 39.1 ± 11.6 to 41.8 ± 13.3 in the SP group. PASAT scores showed a consistent decrease when comparing the second half of each test to the first half for both patient groups, and for both runs. Items for which the answer was a number greater than 9 had the same discrimination ability as other test items, but were significantly more difficult. A simulation of `single-button' responses supported the use of the simplified scoring method which is currently used in fMRI studies. Our results demonstrate a within-session PASAT practice effect in MS, as well as a fatigability effect for both patient groups.

Key Words: cognition • methodology • MS • PASAT • practice effect

This version was published on January 1, 2008

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 14, No. 1, 106-111 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458507080062


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