Conflict monitoring in early frontotemporal dementia

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181b04b24
• Publication Date: 2009-08-03T20:30:57Z
• Authors: C. E. Krueger; A. C. Bird; M. E. Growdon; J. Y. Jang; B. L. Miller; J. H. Kramer
• Keywords: Disinhibition; Orbitofrontal cortex; Ventromedial prefrontal cortex

Despite the extensive frontal atrophy and behavioral disinhibition that characterizes variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), many studies of early bvFTD suggest normal executive functioning (EF). The current study examined cognitive control in patients with who otherwise seemed cognitively normal.Subjects included 7 neuropsychological test scores, matched for Mini-Mental State Examination score but impaired 14 controls. A flanker paradigm other measures EF were administered to participants. semiautomated parcellation program was used analyze structural MRI scans.On task, multivariate analysis variance revealed a significant condition X diagnosis interaction. Both groups showed larger congruency effect than controls, i.e., they displayed disproportionately reduced speed accuracy on incongruent trials relative congruent trials. Imaging data illustrated orbitofrontal as compared controls.Patients (bvFTD) performed within limits clinical tests demonstrated select impairment an experimental control, suggesting subtle inhibiting attention or response irrelevant stimuli. Measures sensitive ventromedial prefrontal cortex may be useful bvFTD. Our understanding this syndrome increased by considering efficiency selective inhibition, fundamental component control.