Evidence of change in brain activity among childhood cancer survivors participating in a cognitive remediation program

Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2012 Dec;27(8):915-29. doi: 10.1093/arclin/acs095. Epub 2012 Oct 18.

Abstract

Increased understanding of the underlying mechanisms of cognitive remediation is needed to facilitate development of intervention strategies for childhood cancer survivors experiencing cognitive late effects. Accordingly, a pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was conducted with 14 cancer survivors (12.02 ± 0.09 years old), who participated in a cognitive remediation clinical trial, and 28 healthy children (12.7 ± 0.6 years old). The ventral visual areas, cerebellum, supplementary motor area, and left inferior frontal cortex were significantly activated in the healthy participants during a continuous performance task. In survivors, brain activation in these regions was diminished at baseline, and increased upon completion of remediation and at a 6-month follow-up. The fMRI activation index for each region of interest was inversely associated with the Conners' Clinical Competence Index (p<.01). The pilot study suggests that fMRI is useful in evaluating neural responses to cognitive remediation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Child
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Neoplasms / psychology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Survivors / psychology*