Investigation of Behavioral and Neural Indices of Multisensory Information Processing in Multiple Sclerosis: A Novel Approach
Abstract
The proposed work will address the third focus area of the program announcement, Biology and Measurement of MS Symptoms. The proposal seeks to identify a new approach for understanding cognitive dysfunction, and resiliency to cognitive problems, in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Cognitive problems are common in MS, and these problems can have a major impact on many aspects of an individual s life. However, some patients are more resilient to cognitive problems than others. Determining the reasons that lead to cognitive impairments in MS, and also the factors that make people with MS resilient to cognitive problems, can (1) improve the way that cognitive decline is managed in MS, and (2) improve methods for addressing cognitive difficulties when they do occur. There are standardized methods for identifying and understanding cognitive problems in MS that are used in the clinical setting. Many of these methods involve the use of paper-and-pencil, or computerized cognitive tests. However, individual tests may have limitations in revealing the full extent of cognitive dysfunction in MS. There is also substantial variability in the way that the disease processes in MS impact brain function across different individuals. Some aspects of cognitive function and brain function have also been largely unstudied in MS. Here, we will examine an aspect of cognitive function that, to date, has received very limited investigation in MS. In this proposal, we will focus on multisensory processing. Multisensory processing refers to the ability of the brain to process and integrate information from different senses (like hearing and vision) to build a complete picture of events occurring in the external environment. When we are navigating the world, most of our interactions with the environment are multisensory, so the brain processes information in this way on a regular basis. For example, when you go to the store, talk to friends and family, drive to work, etc., we engage with the information that we hear and see in a way that makes both of those senses important to our overall experience. To do this, different parts of the brain must coordinate their activity. There is evidence that the coordination of activity across different areas of the brain is disrupted in MS, which is suggestive of the idea that multisensory processing could be disturbed. But, as noted above, the brain processes and behavior associated with multisensory processing have received little attention in MS research. We propose that disturbances in multisensory processing could be a fundamental part of the cognitive difficulties that people with MS face. Our study would be the first to examine behavioral performance and brain function associated with multisensory processing (vision and hearing performance, together), in people with MS. In the proposed study, people with MS and healthy control participants will complete a cognitive task, during which they will be presented with visual items on a computer screen, and sounds via headphones. During the task, we will record their brain activity waves using a method called electroencephalography (EEG). This will allow us to identify brain activity that is specifically related to multisensory processing. We will compare behavioral performance measures and brain activity measures between MS and healthy control participants, which will help us understand how multisensory processing is disrupted in MS compared to people without neurological problems. All study participants will also complete standard cognitive tests (paper-and-pencil tests) that are commonly used in the clinical setting, and we will also obtain some additional information about their background and medical history. We will then be able to determine whether the performance and brain activity measures obtained for the multisensory processing task are related to clinical measurement of cognitive ability, as well as the resiliency to cognitive pro
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 05, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2110858
Entities
People
- Thomas Covey
Organizations
- United States Army
- University at Buffalo