Emotions in Multiple Sclerosis

Through the emotion recognition test, the attendees will have to evaluate the emotion's valence conveyed by the stimuli on a scale ranging from 1 (the emotion conveyed is negative) to 10 (the emotion conveyed is positive).

Through the emotion recognition test, the attendees will have to evaluate the emotion's intensity conveyed by the stimuli on a scale ranging from 1 (the emotion conveyed is not very intense) to 10 (the emotion conveyed is very intense).

Comparison of the answers obtained to the recognition question "In your opinion what is the emotion conveyed by this extract/face" in both groupsThrough the emotion recognition test, the attendees will have to evaluate the emotion perceived among 6 basic emotions (anger, disgust, joy, fear, surprise, sadness) and 14 complex emotions (benevolence, disappointment, boredom, enthusiasm, mischief, pride, frustration, shame, hostility, worry, interest, jealousy, sorrow, sneakiness).

Certainty's degree of the attendees answers to the recognition question on a scale from 1 ("I am not at all certain of my answer") to 10 ("I am quite certain of my answer")

Learning test of a 16 words list belonging to 4 distinct semantic categories (flowers, fish, clothes, fruit). The list is presented 5 times to the patient who must remember it immediately after each presentation, after the presentation of a second interfering list and after a 20-minute delay. A main score is extracted determining how many errors are made in each learning task.

Learning test in episodic visuo-spatial memory of 6 simple geometrical drawings. This test presents 3 presentation phases during which the sheet containing the 6 drawings is presented to the participant for 10 seconds, followed by an immediate recall phase (free hand reproduction of the drawings). A delayed recall phase (at 7 minutes) and a delayed recognition phase (among 12 distractors) is also proposed. A main score is extracted.

Coding test in which the patient has 90 seconds to state orally the correspondence of numbers (from 1 to 9) to 9 different symbols (matched according to a matching standard). The correct answers number is measured.

The Stroop test is used to evaluate executive functions, especially inhibition abilities and sensitivity to interference. This test offers 3 situations in which performance is measured by the time taken by the patient for each situation and the number of uncorrected errors.

The Trail Making Test is used to evaluate executive functions especially the cognitive flexibility abilities. The subject's performance is evaluated by the time taken by the subject, the total number of errors and the number of perseveration errors.

The verbal fluency test evaluates executive functions, and more specifically the spontaneous flexibility's abilities. The performance is evaluated by the number of different words cited.

The Beck Depression Inventory is used to assess depressive disorders. It is a 13-items self-questionnaire rated from 0 (no problem) to 3 (maximum severity of this symptom). The depression's severity is assessed by classifying the total score into 3 levels of intensity: <3: Normal; 3-8: Borderline; >8: Depressed.

The STAI Y-A anxiety scale (state anxiety) is used to assess the attendees state anxiety's level. The anxiety's severity is measured by 5 intensity's levels : 35: Very low anxiety; 36-45: Low anxiety; 46-55: Moderate anxiety; 56-65: High anxiety; > 65: Very high anxiety.

The STAI Y-B anxiety scale (trait anxiety) is used to assess the attendees trait anxiety's level. The anxiety's severity is measured by 5 intensity's levels : 35: Very low anxiety; 36-45: Low anxiety; 46-55: Moderate anxiety; 56-65: High anxiety; > 65: Very high anxiety.

The TAS-20 is used to assess the attendees alexithymia's level. The alexithymic syndrome's severity is measured in 4 intensity's levels based on responses to 20 items: 0-51: no alexithymia; 52-60: mild alexithymia; > 60: severe alexithymia.

Through the Dot Probe Task, it is possible to find out whether participants tend to focus their attention on positive or negative information. The reaction time to complete the task and the accuracy of the response are measured.

Before the emotion recognition test a first resting measurement of the electrodermal response is performed. Then, the attendee electrodermal response will be recorded during the test for each emotional stimulus. At the end of the test, a second resting measurement of the electrodermal response will be performed. The signals obtained during the task will be compared with the attendee resting signals.