Informationsverarbeitung bei Patienten mit mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Zusammenfassung

Anliegen Die vorliegende Studie untersucht den Einfluss emotionaler Stimuli auf die Informationsverarbeitung bei Patienten mit mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methode Untersucht wurden 10 Patienten mit MCI und 10 gesunde, altersgematchte Kontrollprobanden. Die Probanden bearbeiteten eine emotionale Arbeitsgedächtnisaufgabe (2-back). Ergebnisse In der Patientengruppe wurden negative Stimuli signifikant besser erinnert als neutrale und positive Stimuli. Schlussfolgerung Die Befunde deuten auf einen Kompensationsmechanismus bei MCI durch emotionale Stimuli hin.

Abstract

Objective Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as a selective decline in memory performance in the content of otherwise normal cognitive and daily functioning. While most studies have addressed memory deterioration in MCI, the present study explores enhancing effects. Research on the negativity bias, a robust psychological phenomenom, has shown that stimuli with negative valence have enhancing effects on information processing. Methods Ten patients with MCI and ten healthy elderly were included in the study. The subjects executed an emotional 2-back working memory task with IAPS stimuli (neutral, positive, negative). Results An effect was only observed in the patient group: negative stimuli significantly improved memory performance compared to neutral and positive stimuli. The overall memory performance did not differ between the groups. Conclusions The results indicate that negative stimuli have enhancing effects on information processing in patients with MCI. These results are coherent with research on the negativity bias and implicate the development of cognitive-emotional training programs for patients with MCI.

Schlüsselwörter

Mild cognitive impairment - Emotion - Gedächtnis

Key words

mild cognitive impairment - emotion - memory