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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 08:52PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Good timing: Study unravels how our brains track time

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718205236.htm

Ever hear the old adage that time flies when you're having fun? A new study suggests that there's a lot of truth to the trope.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718205236.htm

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DATE: July 19, 2024 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: Echolocation training leads to brain adaptations in both sighted and blind individuals

URL: https://www.psypost.org/echolocation-training-leads-to-brain-adaptations-in-both-sighted-and-blind-individuals/

New research reveals that the brains of both sighted and blind individuals adapt similarly when learning to use sound echoes for navigating the world without vision. This groundbreaking study, published in Cerebral Cortex, is the first to use MRI scans to examine brain activity in sighted and blind participants before and after training in echolocation. The findings suggest that the human brain has a remarkable capacity for adaptation, regardless of visual ability.

The human brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt in response to new experiences, known as neuroplasticity, has been a topic of interest in neuroscience for decades. However, most studies have focused on how higher-order sensory areas adapt, leaving questions about primary sensory areas like the visual cortex and auditory cortex unanswered. The scientists behind the new study sought to understand whether the same neuroplastic changes could be observed in both sighted and blind individuals when learning a new sensory skill, such as echolocation, within a short period

“Echolocation is a fascinating skill that can be learned and that allows us to understand the human brain’s capacity to adapt to learning new skills. It also has real life benefits for people with vision impairments,” said study author Lore Thaler, an associate professor at Durham University and head of the Human Echolocation Lab.

The study involved 26 participants, including 12 blind and 14 sighted individuals, who had no prior experience with click-based echolocation. The blind participants had varying degrees of vision loss, most of which occurred at birth or shortly after. The sighted participants had normal or corrected-to-normal vision.

Participants underwent a 10-week echolocation training program consisting of 20 sessions. Each session lasted 2 to 3 hours and included practical tasks such as size discrimination, orientation perception, and virtual maze navigation using echolocation. Participants also practiced navigating real environments using click-based echolocation under the guidance of an experimenter.

To measure brain activity and structure, all participants had MRI scans before and after the training program. The scans focused on two primary sensory areas: the visual cortex (V1) and the auditory cortex (A1). Researchers used an echo-acoustic spatial navigation task during the scans, which involved listening to prerecorded binaural echolocation sounds and making perceptual judgments about them.

The researchers found that both sighted and blind participants showed significant improvements in echolocation ability across all tasks. For example, the average time taken to navigate virtual mazes decreased from 104.1 seconds to 40.9 seconds for sighted participants and from 137.0 seconds to 57.23 seconds for blind participants. This improvement highlighted the effectiveness of the training program.

MRI scans revealed significant changes in brain activity and structure following the training. In the visual cortex (V1), both sighted and blind participants showed increased activity in response to echo sounds after training. This increase was significant in both the left and right V1 for the echo versus no-echo contrasts.

Specifically, the percentage signal change (PSC) in left V1 increased from -0.009 to 0.089, and in right V1 from -0.007 to 0.072. These findings suggest that V1, typically associated with processing visual information, can also process auditory echoes, demonstrating a form of cross-modal neuroplasticity.

Thaler told PsyPost she was particularly surprised by the fact “that the part of the brain that is considered primary visual cortex learns to respond to sound, and that it does so both in people who are typically sighted and in people who are blind.”

In the auditory cortex (A1), the right A1 showed increased activity for sound versus silence contrasts, with PSC increasing from 0.187 to 0.254 after training. Additionally, blind participants exhibited an increase in gray matter density in the right A1, whereas sighted participants did not show significant changes in this area. This indicates that the auditory cortex can undergo structural changes following echolocation training, particularly in individuals who are blind.

Whole-brain analysis revealed additional training-induced increases in activation in areas such as the superior parietal lobules, frontal cortex, and inferior parietal lobules. These regions are associated with enhanced attention and spatial processing abilities, suggesting that echolocation training not only affects primary sensory areas but also higher-order cognitive processes involved in spatial navigation and attention.

“Our research shows that there are remarkable neuroplastic changes in sighted and blind people’s brains in response to relatively short-term echolocation training,” Thaler said in a news release. “It shows how adaptable the brain really is, regardless of what sensory repertoire you have.”

“So rather than the primary visual cortex of blind people being different to that of sighted people, we’ve demonstrated that our brains actually respond in a similar way when echolocation is learned. It shows that no matter how old you are, if you experience sensory deprivation such as the loss of sight, if you practice, the brain will adapt to learning echolocation.”

While the study provides compelling evidence of the brain’s adaptability, there are several limitations to consider. The sample size was relatively small, and the study’s duration was limited to 10 weeks. It is possible that more extended training periods could yield different results, especially regarding the involvement of higher-order sensory areas.

Future research could aim to address these limitations by including larger, more diverse samples and exploring the effects of longer training periods. Investigating the neural mechanisms in congenitally totally blind individuals would provide deeper insights into the role of early visual experience in shaping brain plasticity.

Thaler hopes to “to raise awareness for issues related to vision impairment and to make echolocation accessible to everyone who wishes to learn it. At this point still very few people know about it or use it, and there are barriers to using as well as to accessing it.”

“For example, people often do not understand it, which results in lack of support for people using it or wishing to use it. There is also insufficient support and/or resource for people who want help learning this skill, or people who want help teaching this skill (e.g. vision impairment rehabilitation or habilitation workers).”

“You can see on my website that we also provide resources for training and we offer workshops that are free to attend: https://sites.google.com/view/humanecholocationlab/home/training-and-education.”

The study, “Changes in primary visual and auditory cortex of blind and sighted adults following 10 weeks of click-based echolocation training,” was authored by Liam J. Norman, Tom Hartley, and Lore Thaler.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/echolocation-training-leads-to-brain-adaptations-in-both-sighted-and-blind-individuals/

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DATE: July 19, 2024 at 07:00AM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMES

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DATE: July 19, 2024 at 01:35PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORG

TITLE: South Korea's Top Court Upholds Same-Sex Ruling in Landmark Case

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=181341&url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/landmark-verdict-south-koreas-top-court-recognizes-rights-112057356

Source: ABC News - International

South Korea's top court ruled Thursday that same-sex couples are eligible to receive the same health insurance benefits as heterosexual couples, a landmark verdict hailed by human rights groups. The Supreme Court said it ruled that the state health insurance agency's refusal to provide spousal insurance coverage for gay couples was an act of discrimination that violates the constitutional principle of equality.

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DATE: July 16, 2024 at 12:27PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Food aroma study may help explain why meals taste bad in space

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240716122728.htm

A new study on common food aromas may help explain why astronauts report that meals taste bland in space and struggle to eat their normal nutritional intake. This research has broader implications for improving the diets of isolated people, including nursing home residents, by personalizing aromas to enhance the flavor of their food.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240716122728.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: Daydream a lot? Feel sluggish? You might have cognitive disengagement syndrome

URL: https://www.psypost.org/daydream-a-lot-feel-sluggish-you-might-have-cognitive-disengagement-syndrome/

Do you find that you daydream a lot? Are you often sluggish and tend to disengage easily when doing a task? You might have cognitive disengagement syndrome, or CDS.

CDS was first described by psychologists in the 1960s and 1970s when they noticed that some people display these traits more persistently than others. But why is it considered a syndrome rather than just a quirky personality trait?

The distinction lies in the effect. For people with CDS, their behaviour significantly interferes with their daily lives, academic performance and social interactions.

While everyone daydreams occasionally, those with CDS find it hard to stay focused on tasks for extended periods. This isn’t just about being inattentive or lazy, CDS is a persistent pattern that can disrupt a person’s ability to succeed in various areas of life.

Unlike attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which includes hyperactivity and impulsivity, CDS is characterised by its “sluggish cognitive tempo” – an earlier name for the condition.

The condition is not recognised as a distinct “attention disorder” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the standard classification of mental disorders used by professionals in the US. However, the growing body of research suggests that it deserves more attention and should be looked at separately from ADHD.

A way to look at the two is, if a person has ADHD, they are able to focus on something but they will probably become distracted and switch their focus to something else. If a person has CDS, they are unable to focus in the first place.

How do we identify CDS?

Diagnosis is tricky because there are no official criteria. However, some psychologists use a combination of questionnaires and behavioural observations to assess symptoms like frequent daydreaming, mental fogginess and slow processing speed.

Parents and teachers often report this behaviour in children who seem “out of it” or who take longer to respond to questions and complete tasks.

Slow processing speed means that people take longer to take in information, make sense of it and respond. For example, at school a student with slow processing speed may take longer to answer a question or complete an assignment because they need more time to understand the material and think through their response. This isn’t due to lack of intelligence or effort – their brain simply processes information at a slower pace.

Support and treatment for CDS are still evolving. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is commonly used to help people develop better ways of coping and improve their focus.

Some researchers are exploring the use of stimulant drugs, similar to those used for ADHD, but the evidence is still inconclusive.

Lifestyle changes, such as having a more stable sleep routine and incorporating regular exercise, are also recommended to help manage symptoms.

Lack of awareness

One of the biggest difficulties is the lack of awareness. Many people, including some healthcare professionals, may dismiss CDS as mere laziness or lack of effort. This stigma can prevent people from seeking help and receiving the support they need.

Despite the lack of official recognition, it’s estimated that CDS may affect a significant portion of the population. Studies suggest that it could be as common as ADHD, which affects around 5%-7% of children. This indicates a substantial number of people might be struggling with the symptoms of CDS without even knowing it.

Understanding CDS is crucial because it can help those affected to get the support they need. By recognising that CDS behaviour is not just quirks – or an attempt to show that you are too cool to care – but potential indicators of a broader issue, we can better support people in managing their symptoms and improving their quality of life.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/daydream-a-lot-feel-sluggish-you-might-have-cognitive-disengagement-syndrome/

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:09PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Irregular sleep patterns lead to increased risk of type 2 diabetes, study finds

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120917.htm

Researchers have found that middle-aged to older adults with inconsistent sleep duration had a heightened risk of developing diabetes compared to those with more consistent sleep patterns.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120917.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 05:12PM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMES

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:47PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Can doomscrolling trigger an existential crisis?

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124709.htm

In a new study on the impact of doomscrolling from an existential perspective, researchers warn that habitual checking of disturbing stories on social media is linked with changes to how we view humankind and the meaning of life.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124709.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:47PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Can doomscrolling trigger an existential crisis?

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124709.htm

In a new study on the impact of doomscrolling from an existential perspective, researchers warn that habitual checking of disturbing stories on social media is linked with changes to how we view humankind and the meaning of life.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124709.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:47PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEED

TITLE: Can doomscrolling trigger an existential crisis?

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124709.htm

In a new study on the impact of doomscrolling from an existential perspective, researchers warn that habitual checking of disturbing stories on social media is linked with changes to how we view humankind and the meaning of life.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124709.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:49PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Unhealthy sleep linked to diabetes in a diverse population

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124926.htm

Persistently unhealthy sleep, either not enough or too much, is associated with a significantly increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in a racially and economically diverse adult population, an international team of researchers has reported.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124926.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: Pornography triggers stronger brain reward responses than gaming or money

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscience-pornography-triggers-stronger-brain-reward-responses-than-gaming-or-money/

Recent research published in Human Brain Mapping sheds light on the neural mechanisms of associative learning related to internet-use behaviors, specifically focusing on online gaming and pornography. The study found that pornographic stimuli are more strongly associated with reward responses in the brain compared to monetary and gaming stimuli in healthy men.

While appetitive conditioning — a process where neutral stimuli become associated with rewards — has been extensively studied with traditional rewards like money and food, there is limited research on how it operates with internet-related stimuli.

Appetitive conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a rewarding unconditioned stimulus, leading to conditioned responses such as increased pleasure and arousal. For example, a neutral sound (conditioned stimulus) can be repeatedly paired with food (unconditioned stimulus) until the sound alone elicits salivation (conditioned response).

Pornography and gaming are two of the most common activities linked to internet addiction, yet the neural mechanisms underlying their conditioning processes are not well understood. Previous research has shown that specific brain areas, including the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and thalamus, are involved in reward processing.

However, how these areas respond to internet-related rewards compared to traditional ones remains unclear. In their new study, researchers aimed to fill this gap by investigating how the brain learns to associate rewards with these stimuli in a healthy, non-pathological context.

The study involved 31 healthy, right-handed male participants aged between 19 and 38 years, specifically selected to control for sex differences in reward processing. Before the main experiment, participants were asked to choose their preferred images from three categories: pornographic photographs, gaming screenshots, and pictures of money. This personalized selection process ensured that the stimuli were genuinely rewarding for each participant.

The experimental procedure was conducted using a classical conditioning paradigm within an MRI scanner. The conditioning involved repeatedly pairing geometric figures (conditioned stimuli, or CS) with the chosen rewarding images (unconditioned stimuli, or UCS).

Four types of CS were used: one for each type of reward (pornography, gaming, and money) and one control. Over 68 trials, the CS+ (the conditioned stimuli paired with rewards) was followed by the UCS 62.5% of the time, while the control CS- was never followed by a reward. This setup allowed researchers to observe how the brain learns to associate neutral stimuli with rewarding outcomes.

To measure the responses, the researchers employed three different methods. Subjective ratings were collected to gauge the pleasantness and arousal of each CS before and after the conditioning process. Skin conductance responses (SCR) were recorded to measure physiological arousal by tracking changes in sweat gland activity, providing an objective measure of the participants’ autonomic nervous system responses. Finally, functional MRI (fMRI) scans were used to record brain activity, allowing the researchers to observe how different brain regions responded to the stimuli and to map the neural correlates of reward processing.

The study revealed significant differences in how participants responded to the various stimuli. In terms of subjective ratings, all three types of CS+ (porn, money, and game) were rated as more pleasant and arousing than the control CS- after the conditioning process.

Notably, pornographic stimuli were rated as significantly more arousing than gaming stimuli, indicating a stronger affective response to pornography. The SCR data supported these findings, showing higher physiological arousal levels during the presentation of CS+ for porn, money, and games compared to the control, which demonstrates successful conditioning.

The fMRI results provided further insights into the brain’s response to these stimuli. Anticipation of pornographic rewards led to increased activity in key brain areas associated with reward processing, including the bilateral nucleus accumbens, right medial orbitofrontal cortex, and right ventral anterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that pornographic stimuli have a strong reward value and can significantly activate the brain’s reward circuitry.

On the other hand, despite the increased subjective ratings and SCR, monetary stimuli did not elicit significant brain activity compared to the control, indicating a weaker neural response. Similarly, gaming stimuli did not significantly activate reward-related brain areas in the fMRI scans, even though subjective ratings and SCR data indicated successful conditioning.

The study’s findings suggest that pornographic stimuli have a higher reward value and stronger conditioning effects compared to monetary and gaming stimuli. This is evidenced by the significant neural activation observed during the anticipation of pornographic rewards, as well as the increased subjective ratings and physiological responses. These results align with previous research indicating that pornography has a high addictive potential due to its strong affective and arousal properties.

In contrast, the weaker neural responses to monetary and gaming stimuli, despite successful conditioning in subjective and physiological measures, suggest that these rewards may be less potent in activating the brain’s reward systems in non-pathological users. This highlights the complexity of reward processing and suggests that different types of rewards may engage distinct neural mechanisms.

The study, “Appetitive conditioning with pornographic stimuli elicits stronger activation in reward regions than monetary and gaming-related stimuli,” was authored by Kseniya Krikova, Sanja Klein, Miriam Kampa, Bertram Walter, Rudolf Stark, and Tim Klucken.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/neuroscience-pornography-triggers-stronger-brain-reward-responses-than-gaming-or-money/

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:48PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Analyzing internal world models of humans, animals and AI

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124848.htm

Researchers have developed a new formal description of internal world models, thereby enabling interdisciplinary research. Internal world models help to make predictions about new situations based on previous experience and to help find one's bearings. The new formalized view helps to compare world models of humans, animals and AI and to eliminate deficits.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124848.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:49PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Your therapist wants you to go outside

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124924.htm

A meta-analysis of existing research shows exposure to nature, even as little as 10 minutes, could benefit those with diagnosed mental illness.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124924.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:48PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Analyzing internal world models of humans, animals and AI

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240718124848.htm

Researchers have developed a new formal description of internal world models, thereby enabling interdisciplinary research. Internal world models help to make predictions about new situations based on previous experience and to help find one's bearings. The new formalized view helps to compare world models of humans, animals and AI and to eliminate deficits.

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 08:40PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Singing the science: Using karaoke to examine blushing

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717204050.htm

A new collaboration explores the neural substrates of blushing in a MRI scanner.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717204050.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 08:40PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Singing the science: Using karaoke to examine blushing

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717204050.htm

A new collaboration explores the neural substrates of blushing in a MRI scanner.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717204050.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: New study suggests novel syndrome in babies born to mothers who used fentanyl

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-suggests-novel-syndrome-in-babies-born-to-mothers-who-used-fentanyl/

A recent study published in the journal Genetics in Medicine Open has identified a potential new syndrome in babies born to mothers who used fentanyl during pregnancy. The research, conducted by a team of genetic counselors and physicians at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware, found that these infants exhibited distinct facial and musculoskeletal abnormalities, hinting at a new pattern of birth defects.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used medically to treat severe pain, often in cases of surgery or chronic pain management for conditions like cancer. It is significantly more potent than morphine, making it effective in small doses. However, fentanyl is also widely known for its role in the opioid crisis due to its high potential for addiction and overdose, especially when used illicitly.

The study was initiated after healthcare professionals at Nemours Children’s Hospital observed several infants with similar physical anomalies who were referred to the hospital for feeding difficulties shortly after birth. Karen W. Gripp, Chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley, explained that the team wanted to investigate these recurring features and determine if they pointed to a previously unrecognized syndrome.

Given the increasing prevalence of fentanyl use and its known ability to cross the placenta, the researchers aimed to explore whether prenatal exposure to this potent opioid might be responsible for these observed abnormalities.

The researchers enrolled six infants from Nemours Children’s Hospital and later included four more from other institutions, bringing the total number of participants to ten. All infants had been exposed to fentanyl in utero. The study involved a comprehensive assessment of their physical characteristics and genetic testing to rule out other potential diagnoses.

The infants displayed a range of physical abnormalities, including small heads, short stature, and distinct facial features. Genetic tests were conducted to rule out Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome, both of which can cause similar symptoms. These tests confirmed that the infants did not have these conditions, strengthening the hypothesis that the anomalies might be linked to fentanyl exposure.

The team used the GestaltMatcher algorithm, a facial recognition tool developed by FDNA Inc., to analyze the facial features of the infants. This analysis supported the distinctiveness of the features seen in these infants compared to those with other syndromes and typical individuals.

The study found that all ten infants shared several physical characteristics, suggesting a possible link to prenatal fentanyl exposure. The researchers observed:

•Small head size and short stature in all infants.

•

•Distinctive facial features, including abnormalities in the shape and structure of the face.

•

•High prevalence of cleft palate, observed in five out of six infants.

•

•Genital anomalies in four out of five male infants.

•

•Foot abnormalities, such as “rocker bottom” feet in two infants and talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) in three.

•

•Other common features included short, broad thumbs, a single palmar crease, and fused toes.

•

One infant out of the ten had died, while six continued to receive care through the Nemours system. Three others were being monitored by physicians in different states.

While the study presents compelling evidence of a potential new syndrome, it has several limitations. One major limitation is the small sample size of just ten infants, which makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.

Another limitation is that the findings were based on clinical observations and genetic testing, without experimental data to support a causal relationship. Further research is necessary to confirm whether fentanyl directly causes these abnormalities and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Future research is needed to establish whether prenatal fentanyl exposure indeed causes the observed abnormalities. This could involve laboratory experiments to study the effects of fentanyl on fetal development and cholesterol metabolism. Additionally, larger epidemiological studies are required to determine the prevalence of this potential syndrome and to identify any genetic or environmental factors that might influence its development.

Long-term follow-up studies on affected infants are also crucial to understand the full range of physical, cognitive, and developmental outcomes associated with this condition. These studies will help determine whether the syndrome exists on a spectrum, with some infants exhibiting milder forms of the condition.

Gripp and her colleagues are actively seeking to identify more patients with similar features to expand their research and provide further evaluation and care. Given the widespread use of fentanyl and its significant impact on public health, recognizing and understanding this potential new syndrome is of utmost importance.

“Given the fentanyl use epidemic, it is important to recognize this condition,” Gripp said. “Analogous to prenatal alcohol exposure causing fetal alcohol syndrome with long-term physical and developmental consequences, this novel condition may impact many infants in life-changing ways.”

The study, “A novel syndrome associated with prenatal fentanyl exposure,” was authored by Erin Wadman, Erica Fernandes, Candace Muss, Nina Powell-Hamilton, Monica H. Wojcik, Jill A. Madden, Chrystalle Katte Carreon, Robin D. Clark, Annie Stenftenagel, Kamal Chikalard, Virginia Kimonis, William Brucker, Carolina Alves, and Karen W. Gripp.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-suggests-novel-syndrome-in-babies-born-to-mothers-who-used-fentanyl/

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 02:01PM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMES

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: Children and teens with ADHD struggle with object recognition memory

URL: https://www.psypost.org/children-and-teens-with-adhd-struggle-with-object-recognition-memory/

A new study published in Neuropsychology Review has revealed that children and adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit significantly poorer object recognition memory compared to their peers without ADHD. This meta-analysis of 28 studies sheds light on the cognitive challenges faced by this population.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development. Children with ADHD often struggle with maintaining focus, following through on tasks, and controlling their impulses. These symptoms can significantly impact academic performance, social interactions, and daily activities. ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders in children, but it also affects adults.

Object recognition memory refers to the ability to recognize previously encountered objects and distinguish them from new ones. This type of memory is an important component of declarative memory, which encompasses facts and events that can be consciously recalled. Object recognition memory involves two primary processes: familiarity discrimination, which allows one to recognize something as familiar, and recollection, which involves retrieving details about the encounter.

While previous research has extensively explored verbal memory deficits in ADHD, object recognition memory has received less attention, and findings have been inconsistent. By conducting a meta-analysis of existing studies, the researchers aimed to clarify whether children with ADHD exhibit significant impairments in this type of memory.

“My interest in the topic derives from my doctoral thesis on the long-term effects of stimulant treatment on memory in people diagnosed with ADHD, especially in children and adolescents,” said study author Francisco José Lobato-Camacho, a PhD student at the University of Seville.

The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 28 studies involving 1,619 participants diagnosed with ADHD and 1,567 control participants without ADHD. The participants were between the ages of 6 and 18, covering a critical developmental period for memory and learning.

To assess object recognition memory, the studies used tasks similar to the delayed matching-to-sample (DMS) task. This task involves an encoding phase, where participants are shown a target stimulus, followed by a recognition phase, where they must identify the previously seen stimulus among distractors after a delay. The DMS task can be divided into two types:

Type A: A single stimulus is shown, and after a short delay, participants choose the previously seen stimulus from several options.
Type B: Multiple target stimuli are shown sequentially, followed by a recognition phase where participants identify old and new stimuli.

The studies included in the meta-analysis used various versions of these tasks, presented on computer screens or as part of neuropsychological assessment batteries.

The results showed a moderate but consistent deficit in object recognition memory among the ADHD group, indicating that these children struggle more with recognizing previously seen objects.

One of the key insights from the study is the influence of task type on the extent of memory impairment. The researchers found that the deficits were more pronounced when children with ADHD were tested using Type A tasks. The need to distinguish the target stimulus from distractors may exacerbate the memory difficulties experienced by children with ADHD, possibly due to their known issues with inhibitory control and attention.

“People diagnosed with ADHD usually have learning problems,” Lobato-Camacho told PsyPost. “These are generally related to behavioral issues or attention problems. However, without excluding the above problems, a deficit in recognition memory can negatively influence your learning. Bearing in mind that recognition memory tests are an important part of the curriculum, it is logical to deduce that these people start at a disadvantage both in their learning and in their evaluation.”

Additionally, the study explored the impact of medication on memory performance. Both medicated and non-medicated children with ADHD showed poorer recognition memory compared to their control counterparts, but there was greater variability in performance among the medicated group. This suggests that while medication can help manage ADHD symptoms, its effects on memory might be influenced by factors such as the duration and consistency of treatment.

“I was surprised that there was greater intra-group variability in people on stimulant treatment compared to the group of people not receiving treatment,” Lobato-Camacho said. “This may be due to intragroup differences in times under treatment.”

This meta-analysis highlights that children and adolescents with ADHD face specific challenges in object recognition memory, adding to the broader understanding of memory deficits associated with the disorder. These findings underscore the importance of addressing memory difficulties in interventions for ADHD to improve educational and daily functioning outcomes for affected children.

“In the long term, it would be interesting to conduct a study that relates the deficit in object recognition memory and learning problems in this population,” Lobato-Camacho said said.

The study, “Object Recognition Memory Deficits in ADHD: A Meta‑analysis,” was authored by Francisco José Lobato‑Camacho and Luís Faísca.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/children-and-teens-with-adhd-struggle-with-object-recognition-memory/

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 10:02AM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMES

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

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TITLE: Stress weakens cognitive reserve’s protective effects in Alzheimer’s patients

URL: https://www.psypost.org/stress-weakens-cognitive-reserves-protective-effects-in-alzheimers-patients/

A study of memory clinic patients in Sweden found that individuals with higher cognitive reserve tend to have better cognitive functioning. However, physiological stress, indicated by levels of the hormone cortisol, weakened this association. The research was published in the Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and find alternative ways to complete tasks despite damage or aging. This concept suggests that individuals with a higher cognitive reserve can better cope with neurological challenges due to a more robust and adaptable neural network. Factors such as education, occupation, and engaging in stimulating activities throughout one’s lifetime contribute to building cognitive reserve.

Cognitive reserve is particularly important as individuals reach advanced age, when age-related cognitive decline becomes more apparent. In this situation, people with higher cognitive reserve tend to experience a delayed onset of cognitive decline and are better able to maintain their cognitive functioning as they age. Cognitive reserve might be especially crucial for individuals suffering from conditions that lead to accelerated cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Study author Manasa Shanta Yerramalla and her colleagues aimed to explore the associations between cognitive reserve and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in patients at a memory clinic. They also wanted to determine whether the strength of this association is affected by stress.

Study participants were 113 patients at the memory clinic at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden. They were aged 45 years and above and had their first visit to the memory clinic between 2014 and 2017. These individuals agreed to participate in the Cortisol and Stress in Alzheimer’s Disease (Co-STAR) study. On average, researchers followed them for 32 months since their inclusion in the study. Of the initial group, 43-45 provided sufficient data on cognitive functioning at the end of the study period.

During their regular visits to the hospital memory clinic, participants completed neuropsychological tests assessing four cognitive domains (memory, processing speed, working memory, and perceptual reasoning) as well as global cognition. They also underwent magnetic resonance imaging and gave samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid. From cerebrospinal fluid, study authors derived data on biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease Aβ42, phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181), and total tau (t-tau).

Additionally, study participants received saliva sampling kits for home use, allowing researchers to assess participants’ cortisol levels. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands that plays a crucial role in regulating the body’s stress response. Its levels are used as an indicator of stress.

The study authors created an index of participants’ cognitive reserve by combining data on their education, complexity of their occupations, quality of social connections (marital status, contact with family, friends, relatives, social network size, and social support), and participation in leisure activities (from a list of 28).

Results showed that participants with higher cognitive reserve tended to have better cognitive functioning in all domains except memory. Their scores on memory functioning were better, but the average difference between individuals with high and low cognitive reserve in memory functioning was very small, making it uncertain whether the difference was truly associated with cognitive reserve or due to random variations.

Individuals with higher cognitive reserve also reported experiencing lower stress. They tended to have more pronounced differences between cortisol levels in the morning and evening. The two groups (high and low cognitive reserve) did not differ in levels of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers.

Further analysis revealed that stress reduced the strength of the association between cognitive reserve and cognitive functioning.

“Our findings suggest that cognitive reserve might confer neurocognitive benefits for memory clinic patients. It also appears that markers of stress dysregulation may reduce the neurocognitive advantages accumulated via cognitively stimulating and enriching experiences and late-life lifestyles in individuals with cognitive impairments,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the interplay between cognitive reserve, stress, and cognitive functioning among adults in advanced age. However, it should be noted that the study used a proxy measure of cognitive reserve and that many participants dropped out during the course of the study.

The paper, “Cognitive reserve, cortisol, and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers: A memory clinic study”, was authored by Manasa Shanta Yerramalla, Alexander Darin-Mattsson, Chinedu T Udeh-Momoh, Jasper Holleman, Ingemar Kåreholt, Malin Aspö, Göran Hagman, Miia Kivipelto, Alina Solomon, Anna Marseglia, and Shireen Sindi.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/stress-weakens-cognitive-reserves-protective-effects-in-alzheimers-patients/

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 09:00AM
SOURCE: NIH DIRECTORS BLOG

TITLE: Study of Protective Gene Variant Provides Insight into Delaying Onset of Alzheimer’s Dementia

URL: https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2024/07/18/study-of-protective-gene-variant-provides-insight-into-delaying-onset-of-alzheimers-dementia/

Credit: Donny Bliss/NIH

Alzheimer’s disease is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. While your likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s-related cognitive impairment increases with age, risk for this disease and age of its onset depend on many factors, including the genes you carry. An intriguing new study suggests that having just one copy of a protective gene variant may be enough to delay cognitive impairment from this devastating disease in individuals who are otherwise genetically predisposed to developing early-onset Alzheimer’s dementia.

The findings, from a study supported in part by NIH and reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, offer important insights into the genetic factors and underlying pathways involved in Alzheimer’s dementia.1 While much more study is needed, the findings have potential implications for treatments that could one day work like this gene variant does to delay or perhaps even prevent Alzheimer’s dementia.

This research comes from an international team including Yakeel Quiroz, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez, Mass Eye and Ear, Boston; and Francisco Lopera, University of Antioquia, Colombia. For the last 40 years, Lopera has been studying a Colombian family of about 6,000 blood relatives, 1,200 of whom carry a mutation known as Paisa (or Presenilin-1 E280A) that predisposes them to developing early-onset Alzheimer’s dementia. Those who carry a single copy of this gene variant typically show signs of cognitive decline in their early 40s, progressing to dementia by age 50. They frequently die from dementia-related complications in their 60s.

In 2019, the researchers reported on an extraordinary individual who was an exception to this prognosis.2 Even though she carried the Paisa mutation, she didn’t develop any notable cognitive decline until her late 70s—30 years later than expected. The researchers traced her protection against dementia to two copies of a rare variant of the APOE gene dubbed Christchurch. Further study of her brain after death also found lower levels of inflammation and tau protein, which forms damaging tangles inside neurons in the Alzheimer’s brain.

Christchurch is a rare variant, and it’s far more common for people to carry one copy of the protective variant versus two. Would a single copy of the Christchurch variant offer some protection against Alzheimer’s dementia, too? To find out in the new study, the researchers analyzed data from 27 members of this family carrying a single copy of the Christchurch variant among 1,077 carriers of the Paisa mutation.

The researchers compared Christchurch carriers to those without the protective variant and found the variant did delay the age of onset of Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline and dementia. The median age at the onset of mild cognitive impairment was 52 in family members with the Christchurch variant, compared to approximately age 47 in a matched group without the variant. Similarly, the median age at the onset of dementia was 54, compared to the median age of 50 in noncarriers.

To learn more, the researchers imaged the brains of two of the individuals who had one copy of Christchurch. The brain scans showed lower levels of tau and more normal metabolic activity in brain areas that are known to play a role in Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, their brains still showed accumulations of amyloid proteins, which form plaques that are another hallmark of Alzheimer’s. The team also analyzed autopsy samples from four deceased individuals with one copy of the Christchurch variant and found that blood vessels in their brains appeared healthier, which may help to explain the protective effects of Christchurch. The findings suggest a significant role for blood vessel health in protecting the brain from cognitive decline, as well as a role for disease of the brain blood vessels in contributing to cognitive decline and dementia.

The researchers note this study is limited to a relatively small number of people with both the Paisa and Christchurch variants in one group of related individuals. Further studies involving larger and more diverse samples are needed to learn more about this protective gene variant and its effects on the brain in the general population. The hope is these findings may one day yield new approaches to delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s or slowing its progression in millions more people around the world at risk of developing this devastating disease.

References:

[1] Quiroz YT, et al. APOE3 Christchurch Heterozygosity and Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’s Disease. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2308583 (2024).

[2] Arboleda-Velasquez JF, et al. Resistance to autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease in an APOE3 Christchurch homozygote: a case report. Nature Medicine. DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0611-3 (2019).

NIH Support: National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

URL: https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2024/07/18/study-of-protective-gene-variant-provides-insight-into-delaying-onset-of-alzheimers-dementia/

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 04:23PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Mindfulness training may lead to altered states of consciousness

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162359.htm

Mindfulness training may lead participants to experience disembodiment and unity -- so-called altered states of consciousness -- according to a new study.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162359.htm

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: New psychology research highlights the remarkable power of intimacy

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-psychology-research-highlights-the-remarkable-power-of-intimacy/

Sexual well-being is known to enhance both physical and mental health, as well as overall relationship quality. However, over half of the population reports dissatisfaction with the sexual aspects of their relationships, which often declines over time.

A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has found that daily experiences of intimacy are closely linked to positive sexual outcomes, including increased sexual desire, satisfaction, and reduced sexual distress. These benefits are observed both in the short term and up to 12 months later, suggesting a lasting impact of intimacy on sexual well-being.

“I’m interested in factors that can hinder or promote sexual wellbeing for individuals and couples,” said study author Sophie Bergeron, a professor, at the University of Montreal, director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, and Tier I Canada Research Chair in Intimate Relationships and Sexual Wellbeing.

“In prior research, we had found that intimacy acted as a protective factor in couples coping with sexual dysfunction. However, in that work we had not looked at sexual desire nor at whether the gains associated with intimacy were maintained over time. Lastly, we wanted to see whether intimacy was also beneficial for couples not currently experiencing any sexual difficulties, among a diverse sample, where a third identified as a sexual and/or gender minority.”

The researchers recruited 211 couples from two large metropolitan areas in Canada. The sample included a diverse range of sexual and gender identities, encompassing both heterosexual and same-sex/gender couples. Participants were required to have been cohabiting for at least a year and sexually active at least once a month.

Initially, couples completed an extensive baseline survey that gathered demographic information and assessed various aspects of their relationship and sexual well-being. Following this, participants were asked to fill out daily diaries for 35 consecutive days.

Each evening, both partners independently reported their experiences of intimacy, which was measured using items that assessed perceived empathic responses, partner disclosure, and self-disclosure between partners. They also reported positive feelings and thoughts during sex (positive sexual cues) and sexual well-being measures (including sexual desire, satisfaction, and distress).

After 12 months, participants completed a follow-up survey to measure the long-term effects of daily intimacy on sexual well-being. The longitudinal design allowed the researchers to investigate both immediate (daily) and delayed (12-month) impacts of intimacy on sexual outcomes.

On days when participants reported higher levels of intimacy, they also noted greater attention to positive sexual cues. This increased focus on positive aspects of sexual activity was linked to higher sexual desire and satisfaction and lower sexual distress for both partners. In other words, feeling closer and more connected to one’s partner led individuals to experience more positive thoughts and feelings during sex, which enhanced their overall sexual well-being.

The researchers also found that the benefits of intimacy were not confined to the individual alone. A person’s higher intimacy also positively influenced their partner’s sexual well-being. When one partner felt more intimate, it boosted the partner’s attention to positive sexual cues, which in turn improved the partner’s sexual satisfaction and reduced their sexual distress. These cross-partner effects highlight the reciprocal nature of intimacy and its role in enhancing sexual well-being within relationships.

“Intimacy, i.e., being understanding, caring, and validating toward your partner and self-disclosing personal thoughts and feelings to them – fosters greater sexual desire and sexual satisfaction and lower sexual distress on a day-to-day basis for you and your partner,” Bergeron told PsyPost. “It does this in part by facilitating greater attention to the positive aspects of sexual activity for both of you.”

The longitudinal results offered further insights. Individuals who reported higher levels of daily intimacy during the study period showed increased sexual desire and satisfaction 12 months later. This long-term benefit was mediated by their own attention to positive sexual cues during daily sexual activities.

“We were happily surprised to see that daily intimacy was linked to greater sexual desire and sexual satisfaction one year later,” Bergeron said. “In sum, cultivating intimacy in your daily life with your partner is beneficial for your sexual wellbeing and theirs too!

However, the study also had limitations. The requirement for regular sexual activity may have excluded couples experiencing significant sexual or relationship difficulties, limiting the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the sample lacked cultural and ethnic diversity, which could affect the applicability of the findings to non-Western populations.

“Ideally we would need to replicate these findings with people from non-WEIRD countries,” Bergeron noted. “Does intimacy work the same way in different cultures? We do not know this yet. We are examining similar questions among adolescents transitioning to adulthood as well as couples coping with low sexual desire. We are also looking at how couples interact in the laboratory to examine not just their self-reports of intimacy but also their behaviors.”

The study, “Intimacy Promotes Couples’ Sexual Well‑Being on a Daily Basis and Over One Year: The Role of Positive Sexual Cues,” was authored by Sophie Bergeron, Marie‑Pier Vaillancourt‑Morel, Katherine Péloquin, and Natalie O. Rosen.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-psychology-research-highlights-the-remarkable-power-of-intimacy/

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DATE: July 18, 2024 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

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TITLE: Election fraud claims heighten support for violence among Republicans but not Democrats

URL: https://www.psypost.org/election-fraud-claims-heighten-support-for-violence-among-republicans-but-not-democrats/

A recent study published in American Politics Research has uncovered a significant relationship between allegations of election fraud by politicians and increased support for political violence among Republican partisans. The findings suggest that such allegations, particularly when made by political elites, can erode democratic stability by making political violence more acceptable to certain groups.

The study aimed to scientifically test whether partisans are more likely to justify political violence when their political rivals are accused of election fraud. This question is critical given the increasing instances of political elites in the U.S. questioning the legitimacy of election outcomes without evidence. Democracies rely on the concept of “loser’s consent,” where those who lose elections accept the results and continue to participate peacefully in the democratic process.

“The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6, 2021 sparked my interest in learning more about what prompts ordinary people to endorse, tolerate, or otherwise support the use of political violence. Of course, the threat of political violence is very salient today in the United States,” said study author James A. Piazza, a professor of political science at The Pennsylvania State University.

Between September 6 and 16, 2021, Piazza conducted an online experiment involving 139 self-identified Republican participants. These participants were recruited through the Lucid Theorem panel and ranged in age from 18 to over 65, with a median age of 52. The sample was predominantly white and Christian, reflecting the demographic characteristics of many Republican voters. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control group and a treatment group.

In the control group, the participants read a letter from a fictitious congressional candidate discussing bipartisan issues like protecting Social Security and Medicare, expanding prescription drug coverage, and investing in infrastructure.

In the treatment group, participants read the same letter but with an additional paragraph alleging that Democratic politicians engage in election fraud. This paragraph claimed that Democrats conspire to commit election fraud and question their commitment to the American system of government.

After reading the letters, participants reported the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with five statements about political violence (e.g., “Some of the problems citizens have with the government could be fixed with a few well-aimed bullets”).

About 33.1 percent of the Republican participants rejected all forms of political violence, while fewer than nine percent of the sample exhibited a moderately high or high level of support for all forms of political violence.

But Republican participants exposed to allegations of Democratic election fraud were significantly more likely to express support for political violence. Specifically, the exposure to such allegations increased their support for political violence by approximately 18.6 percent. This finding was consistent across various models and statistical tests.

Increased mistrust of racial and religious outgroups mediated the relationship between exposure to fraud allegations and support for political violence. About 25 percent of the effect of fraud allegations on support for political violence was explained by heightened mistrust of racial and religious “others.” This suggests that allegations of election fraud activate underlying prejudices, making political violence more acceptable to those who harbor such distrust.

The findings indicate that “the words and behaviors of politicians have a significant impact on democratic stability and the peaceful conduct of politics in the United States,” Piazza told PsyPost. “When politicians allege that rivals have engaged in election fraud, without evidence, they are normalizing political violence by eroding partisan trust in democratic institutions and, in the case of Republicans, tapping into volatile racial and religious resentments that further normalize political violence.”

In a separate but similar study, Democratic participants were exposed to a letter that included allegations of Republican election suppression, manipulation, and disenfranchisement. This treatment letter claimed Republicans would “stop at nothing to win,” engaged in voter suppression, excluded legal ballots, and enacted legislation to restrict voting rights.

Interestingly, Piazza found an asymmetrical effect when comparing responses from Republican and Democratic partisans. While allegations of election fraud by Democrats increased support for political violence among Republicans, similar allegations against Republicans did not have the same effect on Democratic partisans.

“I was a bit surprised that the main effect – that allegations of election fraud by politicians prompt co-partisans to express more support for political violence – was not reciprocal across the parties,” Piazza said. “This effect is only found for Republicans. Not Democrats.”

Piazza controlled for gender, age, racial identification, religion, household income, education, level of political engagement, media consumption habits, social media consumption, and political ideology. But, as with all research, there are some caveats to consider.

For instance, the study relied on self-reported attitudes, which may not always translate into actual behavior. Future research could explore the real-world implications of these findings by examining whether exposure to fraud allegations leads to actual instances of political violence.

The study was conducted before several significant events, such as the hearings and release of the final report of the U.S. House of Representatives select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol and the 2022 elections. These events may have further shaped partisan attitudes toward election fraud and political violence, warranting updated research to assess current trends.

“I would like to rerun the study after the 2024 election to see if the results still hold and whether or not the non-reciprocal finding discussed above is still evident,” Piazza said. “In my ongoing research, I am still investigating predictors of individual support for political violence in the U.S., including democracy skepticism, resistance to social and demographic change, sexism and masculinity, etc.”

The study, “Allegations of Democratic Election Fraud and Support for Political Violence Among Republicans,” was published June 23, 2024.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/election-fraud-claims-heighten-support-for-violence-among-republicans-but-not-democrats/

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 04:24PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: New technique could help treat aggressive brain tumors

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162443.htm

Burst sine wave electroporation was found to cause less damage to cells and tissue but more disruption to the blood-brain barrier.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162443.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 04:24PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: New technique could help treat aggressive brain tumors

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162443.htm

Burst sine wave electroporation was found to cause less damage to cells and tissue but more disruption to the blood-brain barrier.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162443.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:10PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: New analgesic could replace opioids over the long term

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121049.htm

Opioids have long been known as natural substances with substantial pharmacological effect. They have been used as effective painkillers. Researchers have now identified a natural active substance that may prove to be an effective alternative to opioids in the long run and could also help mitigate the opioid crisis.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121049.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 04:24PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Soft, stretchy 'jelly batteries' inspired by electric eels

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162405.htm

Researchers have developed soft, stretchable 'jelly batteries' that could be used for wearable devices or soft robotics, or even implanted in the brain to deliver drugs or treat conditions such as epilepsy.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162405.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:09PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Multiple moves during childhood can increase the risks of depression in later life

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120958.htm

A new study has shown that experiences of moving during childhood -- whether between or within deprived or non-deprived neighborhoods -- is associated with significantly higher rates of depression in adulthood. The research analyzed the residential locations of almost 1.1 million people born in Denmark between 1981 and 2001 and who stayed in the country during the first 15 years of their lives. It then tracked those same individuals into adulthood, and found at least 35,000 of those still living within Denmark had subsequently received a medical diagnosis of depression.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120958.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:10PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Patients with Alzheimer's disease have higher frequency of mental health symptoms which can precede memory problems, study finds

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121022.htm

Decline in memory and other thinking abilities is the most well-known result of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, many individuals with this condition also experience mental health symptoms such as agitation, depression, apathy, and trouble with sleep. A new study has found that the pathology behind AD may be a direct reason for emotional and behavioral symptoms. Additionally, they discovered when individuals with AD experience decline in memory and thinking abilities, their mental health tends to be worse.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121022.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

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TITLE: New study reveals a surprising fact about aging and touch sensitivity

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-reveals-a-surprising-fact-about-aging-and-touch-sensitivity/

Our sense of touch is generally thought to decline with age, just like the other senses. However, a study has now shown for the first time that age-related decline in sensitivity only happens in hairless skin like the tip of the index finger, but not in the hairy cheeks and forearms. The authors speculate that the exceptional sensitivity of the cheeks throughout life is due to our evolutionary history as social primates, for whom touch is an important method of communication.

Like most primates, humans are remarkably touchy-feely. Starved of touch, we release more of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes the immune system to be down-regulated and the heart rate and blood pressure to go up. On the other hand, touch causes the brain to be flooded by natural opioids, the ‘bonding hormone’ oxytocin, and the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.

It is generally assumed that our sense of touch worsens with age, just like our vision and sense of hearing. However, new results are good news for those who wished they could stave off age-related decline forever: they show for the first time that a deterioration in touch sensitivity only happens in regions of the body with hairless skin, but not in more hairy regions. The results are published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

“Touch gets worse on the hands with age, but not on our hairy arms and cheeks, of which the cheek is especially sensitive to touch,” said Dr Jean-Marc Aimonetti, a researcher at the Research Center in Psychology and Neurosciences, in Marseille, France, and one of the corresponding authors.

Testing sensitivity

The authors recruited 96 left-handed female volunteers between 20 and 75 years old and tested the sensitivity of their skin in three regions: the hairless tip of the right index finger, and the right forearm and cheek, which are typically both covered in a downy layer of hair. The women sat down in a quiet room, closing their eyes and wearing noise-canceling headphones to avoid distractions.

In the first experiment, the subjects had to blindly move the tip of their right index finger over a series of 11 plates with differently spaced grooves, between 3.6mm and 6mm wide. They had to indicate whether the grooves felt wider or narrower than those on a reference plate, 4.8mm wide. Each subject was tested 132 times, and received a score for correct responses. The results confirmed that the index finger’s sensitivity for spatial exploration through touch decreases with age.

In a similar, second experiment, the researchers applied 13 classes of monofilaments (each with a unique calibrated force between 0.08 and 75 millinewton) to the women’s skin in a randomized, dose de-escalating pattern. The subjects had to indicate whenever they sensed a touch. This experiment ended when a subject made two successive errors, indicating that she could no longer accurately detect the stimulus. This is a widely used, proven method for measuring touch sensitivity, for example in people with neuropathy from diabetes.

The results again confirmed that the detection threshold increased linearly with age for the index finger, thus showing a deterioration of touch sensitivity over the lifespan.

Staying in touch

However, unexpectedly, no such deterioration was found for the cheek and forearm. For example, the ten youngest women had a mean detection threshold of 5.6 millinewton on the forearm, compared to a mean of 5.6 millinewton for the ten oldest women – a difference that was not statistically significant. Likewise, the mean threshold on the cheek was 0.9 millinewton for the 10 youngest women, not significantly lower than the mean of 1.1 millinewton for the ten oldest.

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These results imply that the cheek remains especially responsive throughout the lifespan. This was a surprise, as hairless skin generally has a higher density of mechanoreceptors– that determine our sensitivity to touch – than hairy skin.

“Although our hands are very important for touch, we receive caresses from others more on our hairy skin. This so-called affective touch actually increases with age and preserving this sensitivity would make sense, as we are social animals,” said Aimonetti’s colleague Dr Rochelle Ackerley, the second corresponding author.

Hair is our friend

The researchers speculate that the preservation of touch sensitivity in the forearm and cheek is directly due to the presence of hairs. Hair doesn’t only protect the skin, but also acts as an antenna to transmit mechanical stimuli, including at very low forces.

“Hair is our friend. It protects us from bacteria and tell us which way the wind is blowing. It’s not for nothing that we have hair in the most sensitive areas” explained Aimonetti.

But what can we do ourselves to keep our skin sensitive?

“Studies show that people exposed throughout their lives to thermal environmental extremes, such as the cold for soldiers or the heat for bakers, lose more tactile sensitivity. We can also avoid negative lifestyle factors such as alcohol, tobacco, and sun bathing, which damage the skin, as well as other factors, such as pollution,” said Ackerley.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-reveals-a-surprising-fact-about-aging-and-touch-sensitivity/

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 04:24PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Mental health training for line managers linked to better business performance in England

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162432.htm

In a study of several thousand companies in England, mental health training for line managers was associated with organizational-level benefits, including lower levels of long-term mental health-related sickness absence and better business performance, customer service, and staff recruitment and retention.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717162432.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:10PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Designing safer opioids

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121032.htm

Opioid medications offer people relief from debilitating pain, but these drugs come with dangers: the risk for addiction, miserable withdrawal symptoms and the potential for fatal overdose. Researchers have now identified a strategy to design safer opioids. They showed that an experimental opioid, which binds to an unconventional spot in the receptor, suppresses pain in animal models with fewer side effects -- most notably those linked to fatal overdoses.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121032.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:09PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Psilocybin generates psychedelic experience by disrupting brain network

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120949.htm

Researchers report that psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, destabilizes a critical network of brain areas involved in introspective thinking. The findings provide a neurobiological explanation for the drug's mind-bending effects.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120949.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:10PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Scientists define new type of memory loss in older adults

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121007.htm

Researchers have established new criteria for a memory-loss syndrome in older adults that specifically impacts the brain's limbic system. It can often be mistaken for Alzheimer's disease.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121007.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Chatbot Iris offers students individual support

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120057.htm

Researchers have developed the chatbot Iris, which offers informatics students personalized assistance with programming assignments. A study has now confirmed the chatbot's success: Iris improves the understanding of programming concepts and represents a valuable complement to human tutors.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120057.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:09PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Psilocybin generates psychedelic experience by disrupting brain network

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120949.htm

Researchers report that psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, destabilizes a critical network of brain areas involved in introspective thinking. The findings provide a neurobiological explanation for the drug's mind-bending effects.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120949.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:11PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: The eyes have it: Visual inspection experience essential for airport security screening

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121100.htm

Researchers have used eye-tracking to study airport security screeners' performance during different visual inspection phases of a screening task.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121100.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:10PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Stress-related cell damage linked to negative mental and physical health effects among caregivers

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121028.htm

Researchers have found that intense stress can be felt at the cellular level and is linked to negative physical and mental health effects.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717121028.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: Mediterranean diet linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline in elderly women

URL: https://www.psypost.org/mediterranean-diet-linked-to-reduced-risk-of-cognitive-decline-in-elderly-women/

A recent study published in Nutritional Neuroscience has found that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline among elderly individuals. Conducted over a three-year period, the research highlights that this association is particularly significant for women aged 65 and older. The findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that diet can play a crucial role in maintaining cognitive health.

The Mediterranean diet is characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil, moderate intake of fish and poultry, and low intake of dairy products, red meat, and sweets. This diet is known for its rich antioxidant content, which helps combat oxidative stress—a harmful process that can lead to brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The researchers conducted this study to investigate whether the Mediterranean diet could help prevent cognitive decline in elderly people. With the global rise in dementia and no effective medications to prevent or treat it, exploring modifiable lifestyle factors like diet is crucial.

Previous studies have shown mixed results on the impact of the Mediterranean diet on cognitive health, with some suggesting significant benefits while others found no effect. This study aimed to provide more definitive answers by focusing on a rural Chinese population, a group that has not been extensively studied in this context.

The study was conducted in Gansu Province, China, from January 2019 to March 2022. The researchers used a multi-stage stratified sampling technique to select participants from various administrative divisions, including prefectures, counties, townships, and villages. Participants had to be over 60 years old, live in a village for more than a year, and be cognitively normal at the beginning of the study. They excluded individuals with a history of stroke, severe psychiatric disorders, or major organ dysfunction.

At the start, 3241 individuals were assessed, but only 2313 who met all criteria were included in the study. After three years, 1648 participants completed the follow-up assessments. The study involved face-to-face interviews to gather information on participants’ demographics, lifestyle, medical history, and psychological factors.

Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination, a widely used test that assesses various cognitive abilities including memory, attention, and language skills. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, which asks about dietary habits related to key components of the diet.

Over the three-year follow-up, 23.8% of participants experienced cognitive decline. The study found that those with higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of cognitive decline. Specifically, 20.6% of participants with low adherence to the diet experienced cognitive decline, compared to 20.4% of those with high adherence. This difference, while small, was statistically significant.

Further analysis showed that the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet was particularly pronounced in women aged 65 and older. In this group, higher adherence to the diet was associated with a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline.

The study also examined which components of the Mediterranean diet were most strongly linked to cognitive health. It found that higher consumption of beans, fish, and cooked vegetables with tomato-based sauces were particularly protective against cognitive decline. These foods are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances, which may help protect the brain from damage.

However, the study also has some limitations. The researchers only measured diet adherence at the beginning of the study and did not account for changes over time. Additionally, the study focused on a rural Chinese population, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other groups. Future research should include longer follow-up periods and multiple measurements of diet adherence to better understand how dietary habits impact cognitive health over time.

The study, “Mediterranean diet related to 3-year incidence of cognitive decline: results from a cohort study in Chinese rural elders,” was authored by Yuping Feng, Jiancheng Wang, Rong Zhang, Yunhua Wang, Jing Wang, Hongyan Meng, Hu Cheng, and Juxia Zhang.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/mediterranean-diet-linked-to-reduced-risk-of-cognitive-decline-in-elderly-women/

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 03:53PM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMES

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 12:09PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Cuttlefish can form false memories, too

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120956.htm

During an event, details like what you saw, smelled, and felt aren't stored as a single memory. Rather, they are encoded and stored in your brain separately. To retrieve that memory, those pieces must get put back together. When that doesn't happen in the right way or details are distorted, it can lead to the creation of false memories. Now researchers have evidence that the common cuttlefish may create false memories, too.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240717120956.htm

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DATE: July 17, 2024 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **

TITLE: Scientists observe lasting cognitive deficits in long COVID patients

URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-observe-lasting-cognitive-deficits-in-long-covid-patients/

A recent study by neurology researchers at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona has shed light on the cognitive impairments experienced by individuals suffering from post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Their findings reveal significant cognitive deficits, particularly in attention, executive function, and verbal memory, persisting for at least six months. These cognitive impairments are accompanied by depressive symptoms, apathy, anxiety, fatigue, and a generally low health status. The research was published in Scientific Reports.

COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in late 2019 and swiftly led to a global pandemic. It primarily affects the respiratory system, but its impact extends to various bodily systems, causing a wide range of symptoms from mild respiratory issues to severe pneumonia and even death.

The initial phase of COVID-19 is characterized by acute symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, which can escalate to more severe complications like acute respiratory distress syndrome, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID, refers to the persistence or emergence of symptoms well after the initial infection has resolved. Typically, long COVID is identified when symptoms continue for more than three months and last for at least two months with no other clear cause.

This condition can affect anyone who has had COVID-19, regardless of the severity of their initial illness. Previous studies have highlighted the prevalence of neurological complications during the acute phase of COVID-19, but the long-term cognitive repercussions of long COVID remain underexplored.

“We were interested in cognitive symptoms following COVID-19 infection because, working in a cognitive unit of a neurology department, we encountered numerous patients reporting such issues. This prompted us to investigate it to provide accurate information to both patients and doctors, including the duration of these symptoms and whether they were associated with changes in neuroimaging or fluid biomarkers,” explained study authors Núria Guillén, Agnès Pérez-Millan, and Raquel Sánchez-Valle in a joint statement.

The study involved 53 participants who were referred to the Alzheimer’s Disease and other Cognitive Disorders Unit at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona between March and November 2021. The inclusion criteria were a COVID-19 diagnosis, cognitive symptoms reported by the participant or an observer, presence of cognitive symptoms for at least eight weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms, fluency in Spanish, at least six years of formal education, and age between 35 and 65 years. Participants with previous diagnoses of neurological, psychiatric, or medical conditions that could affect cognitive performance were excluded.

Participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations at baseline, one month, three months, and six months. These evaluations included tests for verbal and visual memory, language, visuospatial abilities, attention, and executive functions. Additionally, they completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, apathy, subjective cognitive decline, fatigue, and overall health status. Neuroimaging studies using MRI and fluid biomarker analyses were also conducted at baseline and six months.

The study found that 75.5% of participants exhibited cognitive impairments, primarily affecting executive functions and verbal memory. Notably, only 24.5% of participants had normal cognitive evaluations. Participants also reported significant mental health issues, with 19% exhibiting moderate to severe depression, 57% experiencing moderate to severe anxiety, 64% showing clinically significant apathy, and 35.4% suffering from severe fatigue. The quality of life was notably low across all measured domains.

Interestingly, at the six-month follow-up, cognitive test scores generally remained stable, with only the verbal memory test showing significant improvement. The proportion of participants with normal cognitive evaluations increased from 24% at baseline to 50% at follow-up. Despite these improvements, mental health symptoms such as anxiety, apathy, and fatigue did not show significant changes over time.

Neuroimaging studies revealed correlations between cognitive impairments and brain structure changes. Specifically, visual memory scores were positively correlated with total gray matter volume, subcortical gray matter volume, and left cerebral white matter volume. Additionally, reductions in gray matter volume were observed in the left hippocampus, right hippocampus, and right thalamus. However, no significant longitudinal changes in global or regional brain structures were detected.

Biochemical analyses showed no significant differences in serum levels of neurofilament-light and glial fibrillary acidic protein between PACS patients and controls. However, certain cytokines differed significantly, with some elevated and others reduced in long COVID patients. Despite these variations, all values were within normal limits, and no significant changes were observed over time.

“Our study found that post-acute COVID-19 syndrome primarily affects memory, attention, and executive function. Elevated levels of anxiety, depression, apathy, fatigue, and a lower perceived quality of life often accompany these cognitive symptoms. However, they are not associated with changes in neuroimaging or fluid biomarkers of inflammation or neuronal damage. Notably, we observed a slight improvement in cognitive function, particularly in memory, over six months,” the researchers told PsyPost.

The study’s limitations include a small sample size, particularly for cerebrospinal fluid samples, and the absence of cognitive assessments before COVID-19 infection. Additionally, the study did not include healthy controls or participants with COVID-19 infection without cognitive complaints for neuropsychological or neuroimaging analyses. The short follow-up duration and the unicentric nature of the study also limit the generalizability of the findings.

Future research should aim to include larger, more diverse samples and longer follow-up periods to better understand the cognitive and mental health impacts of long COVID. Additionally, exploring the potential mechanisms underlying these symptoms, such as ongoing inflammation or immune dysregulation, could provide valuable insights. Integrating functional neuroimaging studies could also help uncover the neural mechanisms contributing to long COVID symptoms.

The study, “Cognitive profile, neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome,” was authored by Núria Guillén, Agnès Pérez-Millan, Neus Falgàs, Gema M. Lledó-Ibáñez, Lorena Rami, Jordi Sarto, Maria A. Botí, Cristina Arnaldos-Pérez, Raquel Ruiz-García, Laura Naranjo, Bàrbara Segura, Mircea Balasa, Roser Sala-Llonch, Albert Lladó, Sarah M. Gray, Jason K. Johannesen, Madeline M. Pantoni, Grant A. Rutledge, Ruta Sawant, Yi Wang, Luke S. Watson, Josep Dalmau, and Raquel Sanchez-Valle.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-observe-lasting-cognitive-deficits-in-long-covid-patients/

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DATE: July 16, 2024 at 05:35PM
SOURCE:
NEW YORK TIMES PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGISTS FEED

TITLE: Readers Remember Dr. Ruth and Her Legacy

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/16/well/family/dr-ruth-death-memories.html

When our parents were silent, unsure or sexually repressed, there was always Dr. Ruth.

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/16/well/family/dr-ruth-death-memories.html

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DATE: July 16, 2024 at 08:22PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Youth with conduct disorder show widespread differences in brain structure

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240716202252.htm

The largest neuroimaging study of conduct disorder to date has revealed extensive changes in brain structure among young people with the disorder. The largest difference was a smaller area of the brain's outer layer, known as the cerebral cortex, which is critical for many aspects of behavior, cognition and emotion.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240716202252.htm

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