Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
The relationship between perceived and objective cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis
Laura S Middleton1, Douglas R Denney, Sharon G Lynch
1University of Kansas, Department of Psychology, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA.
Abstract:
The relationship between perceived cognitive functioning and objective cognitive functioning was studied in 221 patients with multiple sclerosis. Perceptions of global cognitive functioning as well as perceptions of performance on specific cognitive tests were assessed. Patients' perceptions of global cognitive functioning in their daily lives were unrelated to their objective performance on the full cognitive test battery. However, patients' perceptions of their performance on specific tasks correlated with their objective performance on those tasks, even though they underestimated their performance on these tasks. The present study also evaluated predictors of patients' perceived cognitive functioning. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, and level of disability predicted perceptions of global cognitive functioning, whereas objective cognitive performance did not. These results add to our understanding of patients' expressed concerns regarding their cognitive functioning in the wake of multiple sclerosis, suggesting that such concerns should be interpreted with caution by clinicians.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Language and Cognition
Factors Affecting Perception
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
