Abstract

HERNANDEZ JARAMILLO, Janeth  and  AMORTEGUI OSORIO, Diana. Processing of words with emotional content in adults seniors with mild cognitive impairment. Acta Neurol Colomb. [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.2, pp.115-121. ISSN 0120-8748.

Introduction: The processing of the emotional content of stimuli has led to changes in aging, both normal and pathological. Onjetive: The aim of this study was to compare the processing of emotional words versus no emotional in people with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a lexical decision task. Meterials and Methods: For this presen¬taron 30 words corresponding to 10 words with positive emotional valence, 10 words with negative emotional valence and 10 neutral or without emotional valence words, compared to the same number pseudoword for lexical decision task, which participants had to indicate by using a response device adapted to a computer, if what appeared on screen was or was not a word. In total he had 34 participants, aged between 47 and 78 years; 16 of them diagnosed with DLB and 18 with no neurological history and cognitive skills, language and typical behavior, matched variables of age, education and socioeconomic status. Results: Lexicality differences with longer reaction times and error rates for pseudoword that words, as predicted by the lexical decision paradigm were found. There was a facilitation effect in both groups of participants regarding the emotional burden (less reaction time and error rates for emotional words). Positive words were correctly recognized faster and compared to negative and neutral for both types of participants. There were no statistically significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Lexicality and emotional valence variables have an effect on the visual recognition of words in people with and without DCL. Changes in emotional processing may contribute to the differential diagnosis, estimation of the severity and prognosis of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Keywords : Mild cognitive impairment; dementia; language; lexical decision.

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