Cognitive and Neurological Aspects of CFS Flashcards
7 cards from real CFS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
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What term is commonly used to describe the cognitive difficulties in CFS, including problems with memory, concentration, and mental clarity?
Answer: Brain fog
Brain fog is the widely recognized term for the cognitive dysfunction in CFS, encompassing difficulties with memory, concentration, and mental clarity.
Which type of memory is most frequently found to be impaired in objective testing of CFS patients?
Answer: Working memory
Working memory—the ability to hold and process information in the short term—is the most frequently impaired memory type measured in CFS cognitive testing.
Post-exertional cognitive impairment in CFS means that cognitive symptoms tend to:
Answer: Worsen after physical or mental exertion
Post-exertional cognitive impairment refers to the worsening of brain fog and cognitive symptoms following physical or mental exertion, consistent with CFS's overall post-exertional malaise pattern.
Which neuroimaging finding has been reported in multiple studies of CFS patients?
Answer: Reduced gray matter volume in specific brain regions
Multiple neuroimaging studies have found reduced gray matter volume in certain brain regions of CFS patients, providing evidence of structural neurological changes.
How is information processing speed characteristically affected in CFS patients on objective testing?
Answer: Significantly slowed compared to age-matched healthy controls
Standardized cognitive testing consistently shows that information processing speed is significantly slowed in CFS patients compared to healthy controls.
How does unrefreshing sleep relate to cognitive dysfunction in CFS?
Answer: Poor sleep quality contributes to worsening of cognitive symptoms
Unrefreshing sleep in CFS contributes to worsening cognitive symptoms, as poor sleep quality further impairs memory, concentration, and processing speed that are already compromised.
Which cognitive domain is generally LEAST affected in CFS patients according to research findings?
Answer: Language and vocabulary
Language abilities and vocabulary are relatively preserved in CFS, while processing speed, working memory, and sustained attention are the most commonly impaired domains.