Table 1.
Combination Training.
Table 2.
Genotyping.
Figure 1.
CT positively affects neuropsychological and occupational performances.
Bar graphs depict results of neuropsychological evaluation in control (white bars) and trained (grey bars) groups at the beginning of the study (T0) and after six months (T6). Graphs show results, expressed as means ± SEM, of: (A) global prose memory test and (B) delayed recall subtest. The trained group shows, at T6, a statistically significant improvement in long-term memory compared to control individuals. In the bottom panel, graphs depict results, always expressed as mean ± SEM, of: (C) OT-E Process Skills and (D) OT-E Time. The training group shows, at T6, a statistically significant improvement in process skills compared to control group for the OT-E.
Figure 2.
CT improves neuronal connectivity: effects on the Default Mode Network (DMN).
Panel (A) depicts the DMN obtained from functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) data pooled from both groups [map threshold is t>4.08 and processed with independent component analysis (ICA)]. Panel (B) shows t-maps obtained by extrapolating the T6–T0 difference for the trained group. The procedure shows significant changes in the Precuneus (PrC, cluster size: 575 mm3), the Right Angular Gyrus (rAg, cluster size: 201 mm3), and the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC, cluster size: 3081 mm3). Note that the trained group shows significantly increased activation in the PCC, an area that plays a crucial role in memory functioning. Functional maps are overlaid on a conventional inflated cortex with threshold of t>2.1. Graphs (C) show means ± SEM of z-scores of specific DMN areas (PrC, rAg and PCC).
Figure 3.
CT improves neuronal connectivity: effects on the Dorsal Attention Network (DAN).
Panel (A) depicts the DAN obtained from functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) data pooled from both groups [map threshold is t>4.08 and processed with independent component analysis (ICA)]. Panel (B) shows t-maps obtained by extrapolating the T6-T0 difference for the trained group. The procedure shows significant changes in the Left Frontal Eye Field (lFEF, cluster size: 1381 mm3) an area that plays a critical role in the control of attention. Functional maps are overlaid on a conventional inflated cortex with threshold of t>2.1. Graph (C) shows means ± SEM of z-scores of lFEF.
Figure 4.
CT positively affects cortical thickness.
Statistical p-maps, employing a threshold ranging from ±0.05 to ±0.005 (uncorrected), depict brain areas that showed a significant change in cortical thickness. In the right hemisphere, these areas are located in the middle temporal, rostral anterior cingulated, pars orbitalis, superior frontal, supramarginal, lateral occipital, isthmus cingulate, superior temporal, and lateral orbitofrontal. In the left hemisphere, these areas are located in the inferior parietal, precuneus, inferior temporal, superior frontal, caudal middle frontal, middle temporal, supramarginal, insula, lateral occipital, pars orbitalis, and inferior parietal. The plot is the graphical distribution of the average thickness for all subjects at the point indicated with a star in the lower left panel. Each red square represents a subject in the control group and the blue square a subject in the training group. The heavy dashed lines are the group means and the lighter dashed lines standard deviations. The pseudocolor bar graphically shows the extension of differences in cortical thickness scores.
Figure 5.
Influence of dopaminergic gene functional polymorphisms on OT-E process skills performance.
Bar graphs show the results of the OT-E Process Skills performance in study participants expressing different dopamine-related gene polymorphisms. No differences were found among carriers of different DRD1 (A), DRD2 (B), DRD4 (D), DRD5 (E), and DAT1 (G) polymorphisms in the trained group. Compared to individuals carrying the DRD3 A1/A1(Ser/Ser) genotype, DRD3 A1/A2(Ser/Gly) carriers showed an increased response to CT (C). COMT L/L-H/L (Val/Val-Val/Met) carriers also benefitted the most from CT (F). Table (H) shows sample size.