title: Evidence of a perceptual-encoding deficit in narcolepsy?
abstract: Body temperature, vigilance, memory, information processing and motor function were examined in 10 unmedicated narcoleptics and 10 matched controls at four different times of day. Time of day and body temperature were not related to performance. Narcoleptics displayed selective cognitive deficits in response latency, word recall, and estimation of frequency. Narcoleptics did not differ from controls in motor speed, vigilance, information processing speed or decision-making accuracy. We propose that a perceptual-encoding deficit may underlie the problems in memory and complex reaction time associated with narcolepsy.
authors.affiliation: University of California Los Angeles, Department of Neuropsychology 90024.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Satz
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Heilbronner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology