Rapid serial processing in patients with multiple sclerosis: The role of peripheral deficits

This study compared speed of information processing in patients with relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls using the Stroop Test and I Picture Naming Test (PINT). While both tests evaluated processing speed within a format calling for rapid serial processing Of Stimulus information. the PNT included trials designed to impose greater verbal-motor and ocular-motor challenges by using novel rather than repeated Pictures and by presenting the Pictures in distributed locations rather than always centered on the screen. The results confirmed that a decrease in the speed of information processing is a key feature of the cognitive impairment occuring in conjunction with MS. When this feature is evaluated with tests requiring rapid serial processing of stimulus]LIS information, the contribution of peripheral motor deficits appears to be modest.