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- Title
Untersuchung der Arbeitsgedächtnisleistung als Aspekt exekutiver Funktionen vor und unter CPAP-Therapie.
- Authors
Pramsohler, B.; Wadlegger, S.; Agnoli, C.; Thoma, K.; Senft, B.
- Abstract
Background: Previous research on the association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and impairment of executive functions has shown inhomogeneous results. Disturbed night sleep causes, amongst others, negative effects on the cognitive level. A reduction in attention performance seems to be one of these consequences. Method: In this study 32 patients were measured before and after receiving CPAP therapy. Their working memory performance was assessed using n-back tasks. Results: After receiving CPAP therapy the investigated patient group exhibited a significant increase in working memory performance. Initially, 50% of these patients had performed below average in the area. After successful CPAP ventilation, this group decreased to 19%. Conclusion: Clinically, affected patients mainly suffer from increased daytime sleepiness and concentration difficulty. A connection between sleep apnea and restricted attention performance seems to exist. The working memory as such is essential for coping with everyday life because it acts as an interface between environmental stimuli and other memory processes. Adequate processing of environmental stimuli is deficient in patients exhibiting below average working memory performances. As a possible consequence for public discourse, the increased risk of occupational and traffic accidents that results from decreased attention performance is discussed.
- Subjects
SHORT-term memory; SLEEP apnea syndromes; EXECUTIVE function; CONTINUOUS positive airway pressure; COGNITIVE Levels Test; DROWSINESS
- Publication
Somnologie, 2012, Vol 16, Issue 3, p177
- ISSN
1432-9123
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11818-012-0575-8