Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Psychological Refractory Period in Parkinson Disease (PD): Effects of Response Modality and Cognitive Complexity

Reif, Angela Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522078932177221

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Communication Disorders.
In addition to motor deficits, it is widely accepted that individuals with Parkinson Disease (PD) experience impairments in cognitive functions including central processing (e.g., Wichmann & DeLong, 2013). Previous research has found that the psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm is a useful method to examine response time delays attributed to limitations in central processing capacity (e.g., Pashler, 1990). This paradigm allows for the study of an individual’s ability to perform two tasks as they increasingly overlap in time. The current study used the psychological refractory period paradigm to examine the effects of cognitive complexity and response modality in two overlapping tasks in 8 individuals with PD compared to 11 individuals without PD. Specifically, the study aimed to determine how the central process of decision-making affects response times in three different experimental conditions with increasing cognitive complexity (no choice, choice, and overlapping choice conditions) and how vocal versus manual responses are affected by these conditions. Results revealed no significant group (PD vs. Controls) differences for simple reaction or 2-choice response time. Additionally, task overlap did not affect groups differently. A significant task by group interaction was found with participants with PD having significantly longer response times compared to controls only in the more complex task with 3 response options. Overall, results revealed significantly longer response times in PD only in the more complex task but no difference in how task overlap affected groups. These results suggest that delays in response time in PD are related to more central decision or response selection processes in response tasks and not to motor execution. Furthermore, results suggest that there is no slowing of central processes due to task overlap in PD relative to control participants.
Alexander Goberman (Advisor)
Ronald Scherer (Committee Member)
Howard Casey Cromwell (Committee Member)
Jason Whitfield (Committee Member)
Andrea Cripps (Committee Member)
180 p.
Speech Therapy
Speech; Cognition; Parkinson Disease; Psychological Refractory Period; Response slowing; Speech therapy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Reif, A. E. (2018). The Psychological Refractory Period in Parkinson Disease (PD): Effects of Response Modality and Cognitive Complexity [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522078932177221

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Reif, Angela. The Psychological Refractory Period in Parkinson Disease (PD): Effects of Response Modality and Cognitive Complexity . 2018. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522078932177221.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Reif, Angela. "The Psychological Refractory Period in Parkinson Disease (PD): Effects of Response Modality and Cognitive Complexity ." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522078932177221

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1522078932177221
915
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.