Comprehensive verbal fluency features predict executive function performance

Scientific Reports, vol. 11, pp. 6929

Abstract

Semantic verbal fluency (sVF) tasks are commonly used in clinical diagnostic batteries as well as in a research context. When performing sVF tasks to assess executive functions (EFs) the sum of correctly produced words is the main measure. Although previous research indicates potentially better insights into EF performance by the use of finer grained sVF information, this has not yet been objectively evaluated. To investigate the potential of employing a finer grained sVF feature set to predict EF performance, healthy monolingual German speaking participants (n = 230) were tested with a comprehensive EF test battery and sVF tasks, from which features including sum scores, error types, speech breaks and semantic relatedness were extracted. A machine learning method was applied to predict EF scores from sVF features in previously unseen subjects. To investigate the predictive power of the advanced sVF feature set, we compared it to the commonly used sum score analysis. Results revealed that 8 / 14 EF tests were predicted significantly using the comprehensive sVF feature set, which outperformed sum scores particularly in predicting cognitive flexibility and inhibitory processes. These findings highlight the predictive potential of a comprehensive evaluation of sVF tasks which might be used as diagnostic screening of EFs.

Authors 7

1. Julia Amunts corresponding

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany. j.amunts@fz-juelich.de

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany. j.amunts@fz-juelich.de

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany

2. Julia A. Camilleri

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

3. Simon Bodo Eickhoff

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

4. Kaustubh R. Patil

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

5. Stefan Heim Aachen Medical Faculty Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy und Psychosomatics

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy und Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1 Structural and functional organization of the brain), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany

6. Georg G. von Polier Aachen Medical Faculty Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich · Goethe University Frankfurt

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Deutschordenstraße 50, 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Neuenhofer Weg 21, 52074, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany

7. Susanne Weis

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7 Brain and Behaviour), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str, 52428, Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich-Heine University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany