INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 04 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 12:00 pm - 01:15 pm Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging \| Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation \| Teleneuropsychology/Technology Final Abstract #114 Measurement of Cognitive Flexibility Matters to the Heart Stephanie Whitney, University of Miami, CORAL GABLES, United States Anna Ceccarelli, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Safia Zaman, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Ryan Busch, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Cassidy Martens, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Elyse Hoffman, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Grace Sigwanz, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Mia Booth, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Jennifer Britton, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States Category: Cognitive Neuroscience Keyword 1: executive functions Keyword 2: neurophysiology Keyword 3: reaction time Objective: Previous research proposes that difficulties with cognitive and behavioral flexibility observed in neuropsychiatric disorders are related to aberrant autonomic nervous system function. While higher heart rate variability (HRV), an index of parasympathetic function, is often related to better cognitive flexibility, findings are inconsistent (Magnon et al. 2020). Cognitive flexibility is often examined in isolation, without accounting for other executive functions. Additionally, studies use accuracy of performance to quantify flexibility. However, the efficiency with which flexibility is accurately exerted may be important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to first examine the relationship between resting HRV and standardized measure (t-score) of cognitive flexibility accuracy controlling for other domains of executive function. We also examined the relationship between resting HRV and flexibility using a metric of inefficiency (i.e., switch cost) in a sample of young adults. Participants and Methods: Forty unselected 18–21-year-olds, 23 females, completed a battery of executive function tasks from the NIHtoolbox: Flanker (inhibition), List-Sorting (working memory), Dimension Change Card Sort (DCCS; flexibility), Pattern Comparison (processing speed). Heart rate and respiration were recorded during a 5 minute-resting baseline, from which High-Frequency HRV (HF-HRV) was extracted. Switch cost during DCCS was calculated as the difference in mean reaction time (RT) between accurate category switch and category repeat trials. Standardized T-Scores were also extracted for each task. HF-HRV values were natural log transformed (lnHF-HRV) to correct for non-normality. Results: All standardized scores (T-scores) of EF and processing speed tasks were not associated with lnHF-HRV (all p’s > 0.05). However, DCCS T-Score was related to lnHF-HRV after controlling for all other measures of EF and processing speed, partial r (35) = -0.39, p < 0.05. Unlike T-scores, flexibility inefficiency (DCCS switch cost measured by reaction time differences) was positively correlated with lnHF-HRV, r(38) = 0.33, p < 0.05. When controlling for EF and processing speed, lnHF-HRV remained positively associated with DCCS switch cost, partial r (35) = 0.40, p < 0.05. Lastly, a RT-based measure of inhibition (difference in RT between incongruent and congruent flanker trials) was not significantly related to lnHF-HRV, indicating relationship between HRV and RT is specific to flexibility. Conclusions: Results confirm that standard scores (t-scores) of flexibility are only associated with HRV when accounting for working memory, inhibition and processing speed. However, flexibility inefficiency (RT switch cost) is robustly associated with HRV, such that lower HRV (i.e., less parasympathetic control) is associated with more efficient task switching. These findings are in line with previous studies using more complex tasks of flexibility, which show that higher levels of sympathetic arousal may be beneficial for efficient executive control. Results contribute to the growing literature that the relationship between autonomic nervous system activity and cognitive flexibility, which share similar neural networks described by the neurovisceral integration model (Thayer et al. 2009) is complex. Additionally, when examining cognitive function in relation to HRV, tasks of flexibility may be uniquely related to autonomic function. Future directions and implications for patient populations presenting with aberrant autonomic nervous system activity and executive dysfunction (e.g., mood disorders, dementias) will be discussed.

Poster

02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology

Final Abstract #114

Measurement of Cognitive Flexibility Matters to the Heart

Stephanie Whitney, University of Miami, CORAL GABLES, United States
Anna Ceccarelli, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States
Safia Zaman, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States
Ryan Busch, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States
Cassidy Martens, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States
Elyse Hoffman, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States
Grace Sigwanz, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States
Mia Booth, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States
Jennifer Britton, University of Miami, Coral Gables, United States

Category: Cognitive Neuroscience

Keyword 1: executive functions
Keyword 2: neurophysiology
Keyword 3: reaction time

Objective:

Previous research proposes that difficulties with cognitive and behavioral flexibility observed in neuropsychiatric disorders are related to aberrant autonomic nervous system function. While higher heart rate variability (HRV), an index of parasympathetic function, is often related to better cognitive flexibility, findings are inconsistent (Magnon et al. 2020). Cognitive flexibility is often examined in isolation, without accounting for other executive functions. Additionally, studies use accuracy of performance to quantify flexibility. However, the efficiency with which flexibility is accurately exerted may be important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to first examine the relationship between resting HRV and standardized measure (t-score) of cognitive flexibility accuracy controlling for other domains of executive function. We also examined the relationship between resting HRV and flexibility using a metric of inefficiency (i.e., switch cost) in a sample of young adults.

Participants and Methods:

Forty unselected 18–21-year-olds, 23 females, completed a battery of executive function tasks from the NIHtoolbox: Flanker (inhibition), List-Sorting (working memory), Dimension Change Card Sort (DCCS; flexibility), Pattern Comparison (processing speed). Heart rate and respiration were recorded during a 5 minute-resting baseline, from which High-Frequency HRV (HF-HRV) was extracted. Switch cost during DCCS was calculated as the difference in mean reaction time (RT) between accurate category switch and category repeat trials. Standardized T-Scores were also extracted for each task. HF-HRV values were natural log transformed (lnHF-HRV) to correct for non-normality.

Results:

All standardized scores (T-scores) of EF and processing speed tasks were not associated with lnHF-HRV (all p’s > 0.05). However, DCCS T-Score was related to lnHF-HRV after controlling for all other measures of EF and processing speed, partial r (35) = -0.39, p < 0.05. Unlike T-scores, flexibility inefficiency (DCCS switch cost measured by reaction time differences) was positively correlated with lnHF-HRV, r(38) = 0.33, p < 0.05. When controlling for EF and processing speed, lnHF-HRV remained positively associated with DCCS switch cost, partial r (35) = 0.40, p < 0.05. Lastly, a RT-based measure of inhibition (difference in RT between incongruent and congruent flanker trials) was not significantly related to lnHF-HRV, indicating relationship between HRV and RT is specific to flexibility.

Conclusions:

Results confirm that standard scores (t-scores) of flexibility are only associated with HRV when accounting for working memory, inhibition and processing speed. However, flexibility inefficiency (RT switch cost) is robustly associated with HRV, such that lower HRV (i.e., less parasympathetic control) is associated with more efficient task switching. These findings are in line with previous studies using more complex tasks of flexibility, which show that higher levels of sympathetic arousal may be beneficial for efficient executive control. Results contribute to the growing literature that the relationship between autonomic nervous system activity and cognitive flexibility, which share similar neural networks described by the neurovisceral integration model (Thayer et al. 2009) is complex. Additionally, when examining cognitive function in relation to HRV, tasks of flexibility may be uniquely related to autonomic function. Future directions and implications for patient populations presenting with aberrant autonomic nervous system activity and executive dysfunction (e.g., mood disorders, dementias) will be discussed.