Karlsen NR, Reinvang I, Froland SS; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1991 Jun 16-21; 7: 201 (abstract no. M.B.2076).
The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway
OBJECTIVE: To determine if measures of reaction time show indication of subtle performance deficit in asymptomatic HIV-positives. METHODS: 19 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients (CDC II/III) and 33 HIV-negative controls were tested on visuomotor coordination and speed of reaction. The HIV-positive group consisted of 1 female and 18 males, 14 homosexuals, 3 heterosexuals and 2 haemophiliac. Mean age was 35.4 in HIV-positives and 46.1 years in controls. Visuomotor function was measured by Grooved Pegboard Tests. Reaction time was assessed with two computerized tests with different level of cognitive complexity, Simple Reaction Time (SRT) and Continuous Performance Test (CPT), from the NES2-battery. Differences in mean reaction time (RT) and standard deviation of RT were tested with non-parametric methods. Differences in number of false positive responses (FP) and non response to stimuli (NR) on CPT were also tested. RESULTS: The asymptomatic HIV-positive patients showed a significantly longer mean reaction time (SRT p less than 0.001, CPT p less than 0.05), a significantly greater standard deviation (SRT p less than 0.005), whereas no significant differences were observed on Grooved Pegs or FP and NR on the CPT. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic HIV-infected patients are slower and have a greater variability in speed on a simple test for reaction time. The difference is less pronounced on a more demanding cognitive task and not significant on a test of visuomotor coordination. Cognitive strategies affecting speed/accuracy tradeoff do not account for the findings.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hemophilia A
- Homosexuality
- Humans
- Male
- Movement
- Reaction Time
Other ID:
UI: 102182998
From Meeting Abstracts