Multiple Sclerosis International

Research Article

Repeated Working Memory Training Improves Task Performance and Neural Efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Healthy Controls

Table 1

(a) Demographic and clinical data of all participants.


Results	(n=15) (mean± SD)	(n=14) (mean± SD)	(n=14) (mean± SD)	(n=15) (mean± SD)	Differences

Age	34.13±6.07 (25-45)	31.21±8.72 (24-50)	36.14±5.97 (22-46)	35.80±7.3 (22-46)	Training: F_1,54= 0.762, p= 0.387 Group: F_1,54= 3.115, p=0.083 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.475, p=0.494

Gender (men/women)	9/6	6/8	3/11	7/8	χ²₍₃₎=4.51, p=0.212

Educational level (1-6 levels)	3.73±1.28	4.71±0.83	3.71±1.49	3.73±1.71	Training: F_1,54= 1.925, p= 0.171 Group: F_1,54= 1.925, p=0171 Interaction: F_1,54= 1.781, p=0.188

EDSS	-	-	1.80±1.70	1.67±1.51	t₂₇=0.19, p = 0.848
Mean years disease duration	-	-	7.54±5.12	8.33±5.96	t₂₇= -0.38, p = 0.850
Total lesion volume (mL)	-	-	4.39±4.88	2.36±3.56	t₂₇ = 1.28, p= 0.210

BPF	0.86±0.0	0.85±0.0	0.84±0.02	0.84±0.01	Training: F_1,54= 0.188, p= 0.666 Group: F_1,54= 10.301, p=0.002 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.367, p=0.547

BDI	7.85±5.6	4.50±5.2	14.21±7.98	11.47±8.33	Training: F_1,54= 1.844, p= 0.181 Group: F_1,54= 8.831, p=0.005 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.018, p=0.894

FSS	-	-	47.36±16.01	40.80±17.98	t₂₇=1.03, p=0.310

HCu: HC untrained group; HCt: HC trained group; MSu: MS untrained group; MSt: MS trained group; Educational level: 1= Primary education, 2=Lower secondary education, 3=Upper secondary education, 4=Post-secondary education non-tertiary, 5=First stage of tertiary education, 6=Second stage of tertiary education; EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale; BPF: Brain Parenchymal Fraction; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; FSS: Fatigue Severity Scale. denotes statistically significant different from the HCu group; denotes statistically significant different from the HCt group; denotes statistically significant different from the MSu group; denotes statistically significant different from the MSt group.

(b) Neuropsychological performance data of all participants at baseline


Results	(n=15) (mean± SD)	(n=14) (mean± SD)	(n=14) (mean± SD)	(n=15) (mean± SD)	Differences

BRN-B
PASAT (%)	76.22±8.87	78.33±17.45	74.86±18.18	83.44±13.01	Training: F_1,54= 1.398, p= 0.244 Group: F_1,54= 0.172, p=0.681 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.511, p=0.479
SDMT	59.69±9.09	66.17±6.37	54.93±10.56	60.80±10.13	Training: F_1,54= 3.813, p= 0.056 Group: F_1,54= 3.115, p=0.083 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.475, p=0.494
SRT Long-Term Storage	58.46±8.08	52.67±12.94	52.07±13.53	52.53±10.29	Training: F_1,54= 0.598, p= 0.444 Group: F_1,54= 0.895, p=0.349 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.823, p=0.369
SRT Consistent Long-Term Retrieval	51.31±11.76	47.83±5.71	43.21 ±14.75	42.07±12.32	Training: F_1,54= 0.314, p= 0.578 Group: F_1,54= 2.822, p=0.100 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.080, p=0.779
SRT Delayed Recall	10.23±1.92	10.50±1.98	9.50 ±2.85	10.27±1.98	Training: F_1,54= 0.552, p= 0.462 Group: F_1,54= 0.478, p=0.493 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.127, p=0.723
SPART Long-Term Storage	20.62±6.64	23.33±3.26	20.57±5.06	20.33±5.18	Training: F_1,54= 0.549, p= 0.463 Group: F_1,54= 0.827, p=0.368 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.780, p=0.382
SPART Delayed-Recall	7.08±2.72	8.67±1.75	7.07±2.12	7.27±1.83	Training: F_1,54= 1.748, p= 0.193 Group: F_1,54= 1.084, p=0.304 Interaction: F_1,54= 1.067, p=0.307
WLGT	22.54±3.57	25.17±3.66	21.14±6.29	21.40±5.58	Training: F_1,54= 0.821, p= 0.370 Group: F_1,54= 2.627, p=0.112 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.554, p=0.461
Matrix Subtest (WAIS III)	105.71±14.79	106.43±16.34	111.15 ± 7.95	106.33±12.17	Training: F_1,54= 0.335, p= 0.565 Group: F_1,54= 0.567, p=0.455 Interaction: F_1,54= 0.608, p=0.439

HCu: untrained group; HCt: HC trained group; MSu: MS untrained group; MSt: MS trained group. BRN-B: the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Test; SDMT: Symbol Digit Modalities Test; PASAT: Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test; SRT: Selective Reminding Test; SPART: Spatial Recall Test; WLGT: Word List Generation Test.