| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: HIV associated deficits in visuospatial temporal order memory. | | Authors: Hoebel C, Pirogovsky E, Collazo A, Cameron MV, Rooney A, Woods SP, Gilbert P, and the HNRP Group | | Year: 2011 | | Publication: International Neuropsychological Society 39th Annual Meeting, Boston, Mass | | Volume: Issue: Pages: | | Abstract:The frontal lobes have been shown to be important for accurate temporal order memory. Since frontal-striatal loop dysfunction and episodic memory deficits are characteristic of HIV infection, temporal order memory may be sensitive to neuropathological changes in individuals living with HIV. Disruption of temporal order memory may impair cognitive processes that are critical to the execution of daily living skills. In the present study, 18 individuals with HIV and 18 demographically similar seronegative persons were administered a visuospatial temporal order memory task on a computerized radial 8-arm maze. On the study phase of each trial, the participant was shown a random sequence of circles presented one at a time at the end of each of the eight arms. On the choice phase, the participant was presented with a circle at the end of two of the study phase arms and was asked to choose the circle that came earlier in the sequence. Manipulations of temporal interference were carried out by systematically changing the temporal separation lag between the two choice phase circles across trials. The performance of both groups increased as a function of increased temporal separation lag. However, individuals with HIV demonstrated significant impairments relative to seronegative persons across lags. These results suggest that temporal order memory may be impaired in individuals with HIV. Research examining the cognitive and neural mechanisms of HIV-associated impairment in temporal order memory may elucidate a fundamental deficit that could potentially inform behavioral interventions that structure daily living tasks to mitigate temporal interference. |
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