Non-organic cognitive deficits: A case report of functional disturbance in the production of ordinal information.
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1
Ghent University, Experimental Psychology, Belgium
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2
University of Antwerp, Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Belgium
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3
Revalidatieziekenhuis RevArte, Belgium
For +- 30% of the outpatients who consult a neurologist, no disease is found explaining their symptoms (Stone et al., 2005). A significant amount of them suffers from functional symptoms. These are systematic deficits in the functioning of (parts) of an organically intact nervous system. Several examples exist, including muscle weakness and sensory symptoms. Here we provide first evidence suggesting that such functional symptoms can also manifest as a very specific cognitive disorder with symptoms that are consistent with recent neuro-imaging findings and contemporary cognitive models. We describe a woman suffering from severe problems in the spontaneous production of spoken numbers (with spared number comprehension and calculation, number-word reading and writing). MRI, SPECT and QEEG did not reveal (expected) brain abnormalities, but psychological consults revealed severe emotional trauma. Detailed theory-driven investigations showed additional difficulties when repeating non-words and pointed to a number selective deficit for accessing the phonological output buffer. Subsequently, in line with the idea that the processing of numbers and other ordinal information draws upon the overlapping (functional) networks, we found that her problems extended to the spoken production of other ordinal information. Reevaluation 2 years after the onset of her problems revealed normal performance in the previously affected domains. Implications for theory and clinic are discussed.
References
Stone, J., Carson, A. & Sharpe, M. (2005). Functional symptoms and signs in neurology: assessment and diagnosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry: 76(Suppl I):i2–i12. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.061655
Keywords:
Conversion Disorder,
Functional deficits,
cognitive neuropsychology,
cognitive neuropsychiatry,
serial order production
Conference:
Belgian Brain Council 2014
MODULATING THE BRAIN: FACTS, FICTION, FUTURE, Ghent, Belgium, 4 Oct - 4 Oct, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Basic Neuroscience
Citation:
Van Dijck
J,
Vandeput
K,
Lafosse
C,
Hartsuiker
R and
Fias
W
(2014). Non-organic cognitive deficits: A case report of functional disturbance in the production of ordinal information..
Conference Abstract:
Belgian Brain Council 2014
MODULATING THE BRAIN: FACTS, FICTION, FUTURE.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2014.214.00074
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Received:
01 Jul 2014;
Published Online:
02 Sep 2014.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Jean-Philippe Van Dijck, Ghent University, Experimental Psychology, Ghent, 9000, Belgium, jean-philippe.vandijck@thomasmore.be