Highlights
- •Cognitive workload reflects the amount of energy expenditure to complete a cognitive task.
- •Cognitive workload can be assessed either through self-report or pupillary response.
- •Individuals with MS who exhibit cognitive impairments do not show increased cognitive workload.
- •Individuals with MS may not show adequate compensation mechanisms for their cognitive impairments.
- •Cognitive workload and cognitive performance may reflect two distinct constructs of cognitive functioning.
Abstract
Background
Cognitive impairment in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (iwMS) is traditionally
diagnosed using performance measures on cognitive tests. Yet, performance on cognitive
tests does not convey the amount of mental effort or cognitive workload it takes to
complete the task. The main aim was to evaluate whether cognitive performance and
cognitive workload are two different constructs of cognitive functioning in iwMS.
Methods
IwMS were categorized into cognitive impairments (iwMS+, n = 10) and no cognitive impairments (iwMS-, n = 12) using their performance on Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple
Sclerosis (BICAMS). Their scores on BICAMS, Stroop, and trail making tests were compared
to age- and education-matched controls (n = 22). Cognitive workload was assessed using the self-reported NASA Task Load Index
and the Index of Cognitive Activity, derived from pupillary response.
Results
IwMS+ performed worse on most cognitive tests compared to iwMS- and controls. However,
iwMS+ did not report or exhibit greater cognitive workload compared to the other groups.
Potential confounding variables, such as sex, use of antidepressants, and symptoms
of depression, fatigue, and dysautonomia did not influence the lack of correlation
between cognitive performance and cognitive workload in all three groups.
Conclusion
Cognitive performance and cognitive workload seem to measure different cognitive constructs
of cognitive functioning in MS. Our results suggest that iwMS+ do not show effective
allocation of cognitive resources to compensate for deteriorated performance in cognitive
tests.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 05, 2019
Accepted:
November 4,
2019
Received in revised form:
September 24,
2019
Received:
July 3,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
