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Updated: Sep 22, 2025
Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients
Published on: December 16, 2022
Association between carotid atherosclerosis and brain activation patterns during the Stroop task in older adults: An
Sarah A Mason1, Lamia Al Saikhan2, Siana Jones1
1MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at University College London, Department of Population Science and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom.
Insights
Carotid atherosclerosis, a vascular disease, is linked to altered brain activation patterns during cognitive tasks. This occurs even without changes in cognitive performance or central hemodynamics, suggesting a direct impact on brain function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Vascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis, are increasingly implicated in cognitive decline and dementia.
- Atherosclerosis may represent a direct mechanism by which cardiovascular issues affect brain health.
- Understanding the brain's functional response to atherosclerosis is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in brain activation, task performance, and central hemodynamics between individuals with carotid atherosclerosis and healthy controls.
- To utilize functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure brain activity during a cognitive challenge.
Main Methods:
- Compared brain activation (using fNIRS measures of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin) during a Stroop color-word task.
- Assessed task performance (completion time and errors) and central hemodynamics (mean arterial pressure and heart rate).
- Included 33 individuals with bilateral carotid plaques and 33 age-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Healthy controls showed activation in the left prefrontal cortex (LPFC).
- Individuals with atherosclerosis exhibited reduced global brain activation (oxygenated hemoglobin) and decreased activation in LPFC and left sensorimotor cortices (deoxygenated hemoglobin).
- No significant differences were found in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, or Stroop task performance between groups.
Conclusions:
- Carotid atherosclerosis is associated with altered functional brain activation patterns.
- These alterations occur despite preserved cognitive task performance and stable central hemodynamics.
- Findings suggest atherosclerosis directly impacts brain functional networks, independent of overt cognitive deficits or cardiovascular changes.
Abstract:
There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that vascular disease could contribute to cognitive decline and overt dementia. Of particular interest is atherosclerosis, as it is not only associated with dementia, but could be a potential mechanism through which cardiovascular disease directly impacts brain health. In this work, we evaluated the differences in functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based measures of brain activation, task performance, and the change in central hemodynamics (mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR)) during a Stroop color-word task in individuals with atherosclerosis, defined as bilateral carotid plaques (n = 33) and healthy age-matched controls (n = 33). In the healthy control group, the left prefrontal cortex (LPFC) was the only region showing evidence of activation when comparing the incongruous with the nominal Stroop test. A smaller extent of brain activation was observed in the Plaque group compared with the healthy controls (1) globally, as measured by oxygenated hemoglobin (p = 0.036) and (2) in the LPFC (p = 0.02) and left sensorimotor cortices (LMC)(p = 0.008) as measured by deoxygenated hemoglobin. There were no significant differences in HR, MAP, or task performance (both in terms of the time required to complete the task and number of errors made) between Plaque and control groups. These results suggest that carotid atherosclerosis is associated with altered functional brain activation patterns despite no evidence of impaired performance of the Stroop task or central hemodynamic changes.
