Neurocognitive impairment in non-central nervous system cancer survivors: Exploratory study of attention and executive functioning assessments using event-related potentials.

Journal of Psychophysiology, Vol 38(1), 2024, 11-27; doi:10.1027/0269-8803/a000326Cancer and its treatments entail a profound inflammatory response of the central nervous system (CNS). This intense neurotoxic process can lead to significant neurocognitive impairment even in non-CNS cancers. Few studies have examined this domain, and data available is based on limited designs using neuropsychological assessments comprising self-report or traditional testing batteries that capture basic response data. Here, we leverage cognitive electrophysiology, specifically Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), to examine and delineate neurocognitive impairments in non-CNS cancer survivors. Eleven survivors, who were on average 4.6 years in remission from head and neck cancer and 10 matched healthy controls underwent standardized cognitive and emotional “Go-Nogo” paradigms concomitant to EEG recording. Significant differences in amplitude morphology in the very early ERP components (C1, N1, P1) and middle ERP component (N2), were apparent between non-CNS cancer survivors and controls. Later ERP components (P3, N4) did not show amplitude differences. Non-CNS cancer survivors yielded faster latencies in the early components for pain-related stimuli during the emotional paradigm, albeit tended to yield slower ERP latencies overall across both experiments. These findings suggest that early gating and inhibitory control are dysregulated in non-CNS cancer survivors, which can impact executive funct...
Source: Journal of Psychophysiology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research