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Relationship between Reaction Times and Post-COVID-19 Symptoms Assessed by a Web-Based Visual Detection Task
Natale Vincenzo Maiorana1, Edoardo Nicolò Aiello2, Barbara Poletti2
1Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, International Medical School, University of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy.
Long-COVID patients often experience prolonged physical and cognitive symptoms. This study found that cognitive and physical symptoms, particularly headaches and visual impairments, significantly predict slower reaction times, indicating attention deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Long-COVID, a persistent condition post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, presents diverse physical and cognitive symptoms.
- Assessing neurocognitive sequelae is crucial for understanding long-term COVID-19 impacts.
- Reaction times (RTs) are sensitive indicators of cognitive function and attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-reported long-COVID symptoms and reaction times (RTs).
- To identify specific symptoms predicting attention deficits in individuals with long-COVID.
- To establish the utility of a Visual Detection Task (VDT) for detecting neurological sequelae.
Main Methods:
- A web-based survey collected demographic, disease, and long-COVID symptom data from 362 participants.
- Participants completed a 23-item Likert scale questionnaire on long-COVID symptoms.
- Reaction times were measured using a self-administered Visual Detection Task (VDT).
- Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) identified symptom clusters: cognition, behavior, physical condition, and sensory impairments (anosmia/ageusia).
Main Results:
- Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed four key symptom clusters in long-COVID.
- Cognitive and physical symptom factors were the strongest predictors of slowed reaction times.
- Specific predictors included difficulties with learning, visual impairment, and headaches.
- Long-COVID participants exhibited significantly higher RTs, suggesting attention deficits.
Conclusions:
- Slower reaction times in long-COVID are linked to a complex interplay of physical and cognitive symptoms.
- Headaches, visual impairments, and learning difficulties are key contributors to attention deficits post-COVID-19.
- Visual Detection Task (VDT) performance serves as a reliable measure for detecting neurological sequelae in long-COVID.
