title: Slowing of information processing speed without motor slowing in multiple sclerosis observed during two crossing-off tasks.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Slowing of information processing speed (IPS) is often considered one of the primary deficits seen in multiple sclerosis (MS). IPS is usually measured by tasks that involve many cognitive functions. The aim of this study was to determine whether similar IPS slowing can also be observed during two simple, timed, psychomotor crossing-off tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Crossing-Off Test (COT), a simple psychomotor task, was performed under two conditions (COT1 corresponded to writing habits, COT2 used horizontal sweeping) in 25 relapsing-remitting MS patients (EDSS 0-1) and 25 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MS group compared with the control group was impaired on COT1 (P=0.0043) and not on COT2 (P=0.4), and the COT1 performance of MS patients with EDSS 1 was more impaired than those of patients with EDSS 0 (P=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that only some of the IPS cognitive subcomponents linked with COT1 tasks are initially involved in the slowing of IPS during MS, suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in each tested version of the COT.
authors.affiliation: Tilleroyes Adult Rehabilitation Centre, 46b, chemin du Sanatorium, 25000 Besançon, France; Rapid-Fr Network (Regional Network for Diagnosis Aid and Management of patients with Cognitive Impairment in the Franche-Comté geographical area), 26, rue de Vesoul, 25000 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Binétruy
authors.affiliation: Rapid-Fr Network (Regional Network for Diagnosis Aid and Management of patients with Cognitive Impairment in the Franche-Comté geographical area), 26, rue de Vesoul, 25000 Besançon, France; Department of Psychiatry, Besançon University Hospital, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon cedex, France; Department of Neurology, Memory Center for Research and Resources, Besançon University Hospital, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon cedex, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chopard
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cognitive Psychology, EA 3188, University of Franche-Comté, place Saint-Jacques, 25000 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.affiliation: Rapid-Fr Network (Regional Network for Diagnosis Aid and Management of patients with Cognitive Impairment in the Franche-Comté geographical area), 26, rue de Vesoul, 25000 Besançon, France; Department of Neurology, Memory Center for Research and Resources, Besançon University Hospital, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon cedex, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galmiche
authors.affiliation: Rapid-Fr Network (Regional Network for Diagnosis Aid and Management of patients with Cognitive Impairment in the Franche-Comté geographical area), 26, rue de Vesoul, 25000 Besançon, France; Department of Psychiatry, Besançon University Hospital, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon cedex, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Dijon University Hospital, 3, rue du Faubourg Raines, 21000 Dijon, France; Centre of Epidemiology of the Populations, Burgundy University, EA 4184, 1, boulevard Jeanne-d'Arc, BP 1542, 21079 Dijon, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Memory Center for Research and Resources, Besançon University Hospital, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon cedex, France. Electronic address: eloi.magnin@laposte.net.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magnin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D009068:Movement; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time
keywords: Automatic processes; Cognitive processes; Controlled processes; Crossing-Off Test; Information processing speed; Multiple sclerosis