In majority of schizophrenia patients, from the first episode of psychosis throughout the entire span of the illness, a cognitive deficit is one of the core symptoms. Assessing cognitive performance with empirically based methods is a vital part of clinical practice. Until recently, Czech adaptations of the MATRICS battery (standardly used for assessing cognition in schizophrenia worldwide) and the Tower of London, ToL (a basic test measure of executive planning ability) were absent. The primary aim of this dissertation thesis was to provide these methods for research and clinical use in Czech professional environment. This goal was achieved with both ToL and MATRICS in two basic steps. Firstly, Czech adaptations of both tests were carried out, namely translation of test instructions and establishment of standard administration and scoring. Secondly, complex psychometric analyses were conducted for both tests, including validation of their Czech versions for the purpose of assessing cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. The results suggest that ToL is a suitable tool for recognising executive planning deficit in general as well as in schizophrenia patients specifically. Also, the planning ability in schizophrenia patients, as measured by ToL, is one standard deviation below average when compared...

Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (SZ) show major deficits in cognitive functioning andsleep spindle activity. As much indicates that sleep spindle activity is related to cognitive performance, this literature review intended to investigate the degree of their relationship inpatients with SZ. The eligible criteria for the studies were that they measured sleep spindle activity and cognitive functioning in patients with SZ and included a non-clinical controlgroup. Studies with comorbid diagnoses were excluded. Searches were conducted between the 5th and 6th of March 2023 on PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline databases. Seven studies met the eligibility criteria. The studies were written in English and published between 2007 and 2022. The quality of the studies was assessed using the JBICritical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. The results were synthesized by following a structured narrative and tables. The total number of participants with SZ was 141 and 149 in the non-clinical control group. The age of the participants ranged between 18 and 65 and were mainly men. Patients with SZ showed significantly reduced sleep spindle activity and cognitive performance compared to the control group. Several studies found positive correlations between cognitive performance and spindle density inboth groups. Some correlations were only significant for patients with SZ, indicating thatsleep spindle activity affects cognitive performance up to one point. A suggestion for further studies is to investigate the possibility to assess cognitive impairments in patients with SZ by inducing sleep spindle density. / Patienter diagnostiserade med schizofreni (SZ) uppvisar nedsättning i både kognitiv förmåga och aktiviteten av sömnspindlar. Då mycket tyder på att sömnspindlar är relaterade till kognitiv prestation, så ämnade denna systematiska litteraturstudie att undersöka denna relation hos patienter med SZ. Kriterierna för kvalificering var att studierna utförde mätningar av sömnspindel aktivitet och kognitiv förmåga hos patienter med SZ, samt inkluderade en frisk kontrollgrupp. Studier med komorbida diagnoser exkluderades. Litteratursökningar utfördes mellan den 5e och 6e mars 2023 på databaserna PsycINFO,PubMed, Web of Science, och Medline. Det var 7 studier som uppfyllde kriterierna. Studierna var skrivna på engelska och var publicerade mellan år 2007 och 2022. Kvaliteten av de inkluderade studierna bedömdes med JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. Resultaten syntetiserades med ett strukturerat narrativ och tabeller. Det totala antalet deltagare med SZ var 141 och 149 i kontrollgruppen. Deltagarna var främst män mellan 18 och 65 år. Deltagarna med SZ visade signifikant lägre sömnspindel aktivitet samt kognitiv prestation jämfört med kontrollgruppen. De flesta studierna fann signifikanta positiva korrelationer mellan spindeldensitet och kognitiv förmåga för både SZ och kontrollgruppen. Vissa resultat var endast signifikanta för patienter med SZ vilket tyder på att sömnspindel aktivitet endast påverkar kognitiv prestation upp till en viss nivå. Förslag för framtida studier är att undersöka möjligheten att inducera spindeldensiteten hos patienter medSZ för att förhöja den kognitiva förmågan.

<p dir="ltr">Over 50% of ambulatory older adults administer at least one anticholinergic medication. Older adults may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of anticholinergic medications, and there is evidence showing an association between anticholinergic exposure and increased risk of dementia. The primary objective of this research is to assess the impact of one-year of prescriptions for strong anticholinergics, with a score of 2 or 3 on the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale, on cognitive measures indicative of dementia, followed by a comparative assessment of the relative impact of medication classes with anticholinergic activity.</p><p dir="ltr">The study utilizes a retrospective observational design to evaluate the relationship between anticholinergic medication prescriptions and cognitive measures. We used one-year EMR prescription data gleaned from R2D2 and BrainSafe clinical trials’ participants prior to baseline for the exposure variable along with the cognitive measures captured at the baseline visit. Total Standardized Daily Dose (TSDD) was computed from prescription records to quantify exposure to strong anticholinergics. Generalized Linear Models and Least Square means with Tukey’s adjustment were computed to detect the relationship between anticholinergic TSDD and anticholinergic medication classes and cognitive measures in multiple models.</p>

Bakgrund: Demens är en utbredd sjukdom som påverkar kognitiva funktioner och kan ge beteendemässiga och psykiska symtom (BPSD). Omvårdnadsbehovet ökar i takt med att sjukdomen utvecklas. Tidigare forskning har visat att musik kan vara användbar vid sjukdom för att minska stress, oro och skapa lugn. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva effekten av musik på kognitiva funktioner hos personer med demens samt BPSD. Vidare var syftet att beskriva de ingående studiernas genomförande av interventionen. Metod: Litteraturstudie med beskrivande design, baserad på 15 kvantitativa vetenskapliga artiklar vilka söktes i databaserna Cinahl och PubMed.   Huvudresultat: En positiv effekt av musikinterventioner på kognitiva funktioner som kommunikation, relation och minnesförmåga hos personer med demens påvisades. Musikens effekt på BPSD varierade, men positiv effekt visades på depressions symtom, aggressivitet, oro samt andra beteendemässiga och psykiska symtom. Dock var inte resultaten entydiga. De positiva effekterna var mestadels omedelbara och som högst direkt efter genomförd intervention. På lång sikt påverkades kognitiva funktioner och BPSD vagt av musik. Hälften av de inkluderade studierna genomfördes med musikterapi i grupp och hälften individuellt. Majoriteten hade kontrollgrupper som mottog standard vård, men även andra aktiviteter förekom. I hälften av studierna användes deltagarnas favoritmusik och i flera fall var deltagarna aktiva genom rörelse och med hjälp av instrument.  Slutsats: Resultatet av föreliggande studie beskriver att musik kan främja kognitiva funktioner samt förbättrar BPSD hos personer med demens. Musik som aktivitet kan därför anses lämpligt att använda som en alternativ behandlingsmetod och som en del i omvårdnaden. / Background: Dementia is a widely spread disease that affects cognitive functions and can cause behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD). The need of nursing increases as the disease progresses. Previous research has shown that music can be useful during illness to reduce stress, anxiety and create calm. Aim: The purpose was to describe what effect music has on cognitive functions in people with dementia and BPSD. Furthermore, the aim was to describe the included studies implementation of the intervention. Method: Literature review with descriptive design based on 15 quantitative scientific articles, available in the databases Cinahl and PubMed. Main result: Music interventions was found to have positive effect on cognitive functions for people with dementia, particularly in ability to communicate, create relationships and in the ability to remember. Music's effect on BPSD varied, but positive effect was shown on depressive symptoms, aggression, anxiety and other behavioral and psychological symptoms. However, the results were not conclusive. The positive effects were mostly immediate and highest the time immediately after the intervention. In the long term the impact of music intervention was vaguely on cognitive function and BPSD. Half of the included studies were conducted with music therapy in group and half were performed individually. The majority of the control group received standard care, but also other activities were held. In half of the studies the participants' favorite music were used and in several cases the participants were active through movement and with the help of instruments. Conclusion: The results of the present study describe that music interventions can promote cognitive functions and improves BPSD in people with dementia. Music as an activity can therefore be considered appropriate to use as an alternative therapy and as part of the care.

À tout âge, l’exercice physique peut être bénéfique au fonctionnement cognitif. Étant quotidiennement confrontés à des situations d’apprentissage, l’enfant et l’adolescent constituent une population particulièrement susceptible de profiter de ces bienfaits. Cependant, il importe de préciser et d’étudier les facteurs qui influencent la relation entre l’exercice physique et la cognition. L’objectif général de cette thèse était d’examiner, à l’aide de mesures électrophysiologiques, les effets aigus et chroniques de l’exercice physique sur les mécanismes neurophysiologiques du fonctionnement cognitif de l’enfant. Une première étude a apprécié la durée des effets aigus de l’exercice physique. Les résultats de ces travaux suggèrent qu’une séance ponctuelle d’exercice physique augmente la vigilance pendant au moins 30 min. Toujours dans un contexte d’effets aigus de l’exercice, l’impact de la demande cognitive de la tâche et de l’âge ont été examinés dans une seconde étude. Les résultats ne révèlent aucune interaction avec l’âge, cependant ils indiquent une spécificité pour les processus plus complexes du traitement de l’information. Enfin, une troisième étude a évalué l’effet de l’exercice physique chronique dans le cadre d’un programme d’activités physiques de 12 semaines. Aucun changement n’a été observé quant à l’aptitude cardiovasculaire ou la performance cognitive suite au programme. Une condition physique initialement élevée des participants pourrait expliquer ce résultat. En résumé, peu importe la condition physique de l’enfant, un exercice physique aigu d’intensité moyenne est bénéfique à la vigilance et à certains aspects du traitement cognitif de l’information. Les effets observés semblent suffisamment durables pour avoir un impact positif sur l’apprentissage en classe après une récréation ou un cours d’éducation physique. / Exercise can be beneficial for cognitive functioning throughout lifespan. Children and adolescents may particularly benefit from the effects of exercise on cognition as they continually face learning situations. However, it is important to identify and to study the factors that influence the relationship between exercise and cognition. The general objective of this thesis was to examine, with electrophysiological measures, the acute and chronic effects of exercise on electrophysiological mechanisms of cognitive functioning in children. A first study appreciated the duration of the acute effect of a single session of exercise. The results suggested that a single session of exercise increases vigilance for at least 30 min. Still in a context of acute exercise, the impact of the cognitive demand of the task and age were examined in a second study. Although the results did not reveal any significant interaction with age, they indicated specific benefits for the more complex cognitive processes compare to more automatic processes. Finally, a third study evaluated the effect of a 12-week program of physical activity. Following the 12-week program, no change was observed neither for the cardiovascular function nor the cognitive performance. The fact that participants already demonstrated a high level of fitness at baseline may explain this result. In conclusion, regardless of a child’s fitness level, it appears that an exercise of moderate intensity improves vigilance and some aspects of information processing. The observed effects appear to last long enough to have a positive impact on classroom learning after a recess or a physical education class.

The thesis discusses the psychological test called Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) and focuses on the possibilities of its use in ten-year-old children. The objective of this study was to describe how ten-year-old children process TKF in all its parts (copy, recall, delayed recall) in quantitative and qualitative terms. The thesis is divided into a theoretical part and an empirical part. Theoretical part consists of the psychological characteristics of the developmental period of ten-year-old child giving emphasis to cognitive development, then the test TKF and its utilization in children. Utilization of ROCF in children with specific learning disabilities is also an important component of the theoretical part. In the empirical part itself is presented, which is based on the research process TKF with ten children. Due to the nature of the data obtained were selected quantitative processing. They were designed to approximate the standard for this age group, extended test administration in children and the results were compared with a group of children with specific learning disabilities and psychological test called the Trail Making Test.

This diploma thesis deals with the topic of Subjective memory complaints (SMC) in elderly population in relation to early diagnostics of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The term of SMC describes patients with subjective perception of cognitive impairment which is not objectivized during a complex neuropsychological assessment. The character of their subjective complaints has not been thoroughly examined, despite their increased risk to develop cognitive impairment, most likely due to AD (Reisberg, et al., 2008). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to verify the clinical significance of the concept of SMC and to characterize subjective complaints in SMC in comparison to patients with cognitive deficit at the stage of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and in comparison to cognitively healthy elderly (HE). SMC and aMCI patients did not differ in the amount of subjective complaints, but SMC patients reported significantly more complaints compared to HE. The difference in the amount of complaints reported by the patients themselves and by their informants was found neither in aMCI, nor in SMC patients. There were identified questions which may distinguish between SMC and aMCI patients, and questions which may distinguish between SMC patients and HE; that means questions able to distinguish...

Object permanence is a cognitive ability, which allows individual to realize the existence of an object even it is not directly accessible to its senses. This ability is essential for successful using of complex cognitive operations. Object permanence is qualitatively and gradually change throughout the development of a child. Congruently, it is not developed to the same level in various species of animals. The aim of this study is to study object permanence in naive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), because there is still some uncertainty about the development of this ability in macaques. Our results show that the naive subjects do not have the highest stage of object permanence (and they do not use representative strategy to solve the tasks), however, other results of our team suggest that more experienced individuals are able to achieve the highest stage under certain circumstances. We show that experimental design used to test object permanence can be modified and used also for studying of other cognitive abilities. We test the preferences of macaque monkeys toward novel non-food stimuli. The reactions of different species of animals can vary. The reactions depend on the type of stimuli (food or non-food), but also on the ecology and ethology of the species. Age, sex and personality of the...

5 Abstract The work deals with the development of cognitive skills by the method of the Feuerstein Instrumental enrichment for seniors in a residential care. It should clarify whether the Instrumental Enrichment Program is practicable when working with seniors and how it will affect the development of cognitive abilities of these people. The theoretical part deals with the period of the old age, the cognitive specific of seniors, the contemporary views on the brain functioning, and especially with the Instrumental Enrichment Program.The practical part includes the results of the qualitative research. The main method of data collection was a " dynamic assessment " of the cognitive test and the case studies. The qualitative results evaluation of the Addenbrooke cognitive test showed the improvement in the solution methods almost in all levels ( input , elaboration and output) . The results of the study showed that the Instrumental Enrichment Program is very suitable for the seniors. Its use is meaningful not only for clients with mild cognitive insult but it is also very effective for the people with more severe degrees of dementia.

The thesis addresses Semantic Verbal Fluency test and its potential as a diagnostics of cognitive deficit at schizophrenic population. Deficit of cognitive functions, presently considered as a core symptom of this disorder, substantially impacts daily life functioning. In particular, discriminant validity of Semantic Verbal Fluency test is examined in a mentally and neurologically healthy population as well as patients diagnosed with schizophrenia aged 18 to 40 years (N=339). Furthermore, results of profound analysis using a qualitative scoring system in a selected sample group (N=47) are presented. Moreover, the study investigates the association of selected demographic variables (gender, age, years of education) with results of Semantic Verbal Fluency test. Results of our statistical analysis reveal that patients diagnosed with schizophrenia performed significantly worse than healthy controls in all examined variables (total word count, total number of semantic clusters, total number of switches, mean cluster size, percent words in clusters, ratio of cluster switches) as compared with mentally and neurologically healthy subjects. Comparable results of the two research groups were attained solely in "number of hard switches" variable. Our results further indicate a significant association between...