Neuropsychological correlates of evocative multimodal speech: The combined roles of fearful prosody, visuospatial attention, cortisol response, and anxiety.

Past research reveals left-hemisphere dominance for linguistic processing and right-hemisphere dominance for emotional prosody processing during auditory language comprehension, a pattern also found in visuospatial attention studies where listeners are presented with a view of the talker's face. Is this lateralization pattern for visuospatial attention and language processing upheld when listeners are experiencing a stress response? To investigate this question, participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) between administrations of a visuospatial attention and language comprehension dual-task paradigm. Subjective anxiety, cardiovascular, and saliva cortisol measures were taken before and after the TSST. Higher language comprehension scores in the post-TSST neutral prosody condition were associated with lower cortisol responses, differences in blood pressure, and less subjective anxiety. In this challenging task, visuospatial attention was most focused at the mouth region, both prior to and after stress induction. Greater visuospatial attention on the left side of the face image, compared to the right side, indicated greater right hemisphere activation. In the Fear, but not the Neutral, prosody condition, greater cortisol response was associated with greater visuospatial attention to the left side of the face image. Results are placed into theoretical context, and can be applied to situations where stressed listeners must interpret emotionally evocative language.

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients with Alcohol Related and Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Related Cirrhosis by Psychometric Hepatic Cephalopathy Score and Critical Flicker Frequency.

BACKGROUND: alcohol may have additional neurotoxic ill-effects in patients with alcohol related cirrhosis apart from hepatic encephalopathy. We aimed to evaluate minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) with Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy (PHES) score and Critical Flicker Frequency (CFF) in alcohol (ALD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis related (NASH) related cirrhosis. METHODS: 398 patients were screened between March 2016 and December 2018; of which 71 patients were included in ALD group and 69 in NASH group. All included patients underwent psychometric tests which included number connection test A and B (NCT-A and NCT-B), serial dot test (SDT), digit symbol test (DST), line tracing test (LTT) and CFF. MHE was diagnosed when their PHES was <-4. RESULTS: the prevalence of MHE was significantly higher in ALD group compared to NASH (69.01% vs 40.58%; P=0.007). The performance of individual psychometric tests was significantly poorer in ALD (P<0.05). Overall sensitivity and specificity of CFF was 76.62% (95%CI 65.59 - 85.52) and 46.03% (95%CI 33.39 - 59.06) respectively. Mean CFF was significantly lower in ALD than NASH (37.07 (SD 2.37) vs 39.05 (SD 2.40), P=0.001); also in presence of MHE (36.95 (SD 2.04) vs 37.96 (SD 1.87), P=0.033) and absence of MHE (37.34 (SD 3.01) vs 39.79 (SD 2.46), P=0.001). CONCLUSION: MHE is significantly more common in patients with ALD cirrhosis than NASH counterparts. Overall CFF values are less in alcohol related cirrhosis than NASH related cirrhosis, even in presence or absence of MHE. We recommend additional caution in managing MHE in ALD cirrhosis.

Amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of spontaneous and induced rumination in major depression: An fNIRS study.

In the current study, we investigated the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) at rest and during a rumination induction. Specifically, we explored the differences of cortical blood oxygenation using fNIRS in subjects with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HC). Rumination was assessed as state and trait measure, as well as with a qualitative semi-structured interview. Qualitative and quantitative measures of rumination indicated that the MDD group showed elevated rumination regarding state and trait measures. Furthermore, rumination differed qualitatively between the groups. The MDD group showed higher levels of general rumination and increased rumination during the rumination induction. However, the MDD group did not show a carry-over effect of elevated rumination after the induction paradigm to the following resting-state measurement. On a neuronal level, we observed a general hypoactivity in the MDD group compared to the HC group. Moreover, both groups showed increased ALFF during the rumination induction compared to the rest phase, especially in temporo-parietal areas. However, no interaction effect of MDD status and rumination induction was found. The current findings are discussed with respect to the literature of paradigms used in the investigation of rumination and suggestions on general improvements in rumination research are given.

Health anxiety and attentional bias toward virus-related stimuli during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the COVID-19 worldwide spread, evidence suggested a vast diffusion of negative consequences on people's mental health. Together with depression and sleep difficulties, anxiety symptoms seem to be the most diffused clinical outcome. The current contribution aimed to examine attentional bias for virus-related stimuli in people varying in their degree of health anxiety (HA). Consistent with previous literature, it was hypothesized that higher HA would predict attentional bias, tested using a visual dot-probe task, to virus-related stimuli. Participants were 132 Italian individuals that participated in the study during the lockdown phase in Italy. Results indicated that the HA level predicts attentional bias toward virus-related objects. This relationship is double mediated by the belief of contagion and by the consequences of contagion as assessed through a recent questionnaire developed to measure the fear for COVID-19. These findings are discussed in the context of cognitive-behavioral conceptualizations of anxiety suggesting a risk for a loop effect. Future research directions are outlined.

Database of virtual objects to be used in psychological research.

Although many visual stimulus databases exist, to our knowledge, none includes 3D virtual objects, that can directly be used in virtual reality (VR). We present 121 objects that have been developed for scientific purposes. The objects were built in Maya, and their textures were created in Substance Painter. Then, the objects were exported to an FBX and OBJ format and rendered online using the Unreal Engine 4 application. Our goal was to develop the first set of high-quality virtual objects with standardized names, familiarity, and visual complexity. The objects were normed based on the input of 83 participants. This set of stimuli was created for use in VR settings and will facilitate research using VR methodology, which is increasingly employed in psychological research.

Searching for the HERO in Youth: Does Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Predict Mental Health Symptoms and Subjective Wellbeing in Australian School-Aged Children and Adolescents?

Psychological capital (PsyCap) comprising the positive psychological resources of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism (HERO) has strong empirical associations with increased wellbeing and reduced mental health symptoms in adult samples. Emerging studies of PsyCap among school-age students have also shown preliminary, positive associations between PsyCap and student wellbeing. The present study is the first to examine PsyCap-HERO constructs and associations with both mental health symptoms and subjective wellbeing in school-aged children and adolescents (aged 9-14 years). A convenience sample of Australian school students (N = 456, Mage = 11.54, SD = 1.20, 47% female) completed an online survey during class time. Measures of hope, efficacy, resilience, optimism, flourishing, anxiety, and depression previously well-validated in school samples were used. Significant associations between each HERO construct and flourishing, anxiety and depression symptoms in the expected direction were found, and importantly, the combination of HERO constructs was shown to be a stronger predictor of increased levels of student flourishing, and decreased levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, than individual HERO constructs. Findings indicate that student PsyCap may be a promising area of further investigation for schools, policymakers, clinicians and researchers looking to identify positive psychological resources in youth that may buffer poor mental health and promote wellbeing.

D-optimal design for the Rasch counts model with multiple binary predictors.

In this paper we derive optimal designs for the Rasch Poisson counts model and its extended version of the (generalized) negative binomial counts model incorporating several binary predictors for the difficulty parameter. To efficiently estimate the regression coefficients of the predictors, locally D-optimal designs are developed. After an introduction to the Rasch Poisson counts model and its extension, we will specify these models as particular generalized linear models. Based on this embedding, optimal designs for both models including several binary explanatory variables will be presented. Therefore, we will derive conditions on the effect sizes for certain designs to be locally D-optimal. Finally, it is pointed out that the results derived for the Rasch Poisson models can be applied for more general Poisson regression models which should receive more attention in future psychological research.

Implementation of a modified multiple mini-interview method to assess non-cognitive qualities during resident candidate interviews.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional onsite interview methods often make comparing applicants difficult. Literature has noted conventional interviews leave room for bias and high interrater variability, making non-cognitive attributes difficult to ascertain. In 2016, the residency committee of a small, multi-site, academic-based postgraduate year one residency program implemented a modified multiple mini-interview (MMI) approach as a component of the residency interview process to better qualify candidate attributes. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: A modified MMI was developed to address the non-cognitive attributes, ethical reasoning, communication, and professionalism. Scenarios, scripts, questions, and rubrics were developed by residency committee members. The author of the case was assigned to role play that scenario with candidates while other committee members silently observed. Candidates and residency committee members were surveyed to explore their perception of the MMI as a component of the residency interview process. FINDINGS: Thirty-one candidates have been interviewed since the incorporation of the modified MMI. Of those, 20 completed the post-interview survey. The majority of resident candidates (55%) completing the survey felt they were able to portray strengths and abilities more effectively vs. a conventional interview. Of the five residency committee members, all (100%) completed the survey and all (100%) perceived implementation of the modified MMI provided increased confidence in determining candidate ranking. SUMMARY: Implementation of a modified MMI approach to an onsite residency interview process assisted residency committee members in assessing non-cognitive attributes and contributed to greater confidence in determining resident candidate ranking.

The effect of the age on outcomes at a cardiac rehabilitation center in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 12-week phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in Turkish patients aged between ≤65 years and >65 years using psychical parameters, echocardiography measurements, lipid profiles, and psychological parameters. METHODS: A total of 68 patients who completed a phase II CR program were enrolled in this retrospective study. The echocardiography measurements, as well as assessment of physical parameters, psychological state, and serum lipid level of the patients were evaluated before the entry into the program and just after the completion. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those aged 65 years and under and those over the age of 65, and the effects of the CR program were compared. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the average heart rate (HR), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) I-II scores of young patients before and after cardiac rehabilitation. The LVEF, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), BDI, STAI-I, and STAI-II parameters of older patients were statistically significant. In the comparison between those who were 65 years and under and those over the age of 65, the change in the mean HR (+11.24±12.62 bpm vs. +3.96±12.50 bpm; p=0.039), LVEF (+21.31±21.37% vs. +9.55±13.50%; p=0.035) and STAI I scores (-11.33±11.51 points vs. -23.25±14.08 points; p=0.025) were significantly different. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study revealed that patients in a Turkish population aged 65 and over benefited from CR as much as younger patients did in terms of physical parameters, echocardiography measurements, lipid profiles, and psychological parameters.

Minimum Distance Estimation of Multidimensional Diffusion-Based Item Response Theory Models.

Diffusion-based item response theory models are models for responses and response times on psychological tests, which can be used as measurement models in the same way as standard item response theory models (Tuerlinckx, Molenaar, & van der Maas, 2016). Their range of application, however, is narrowed by the fact that multidimensional versions of the model are not easy to fit. Marginal maximum likelihood estimation (e.g., Molenaar, Tuerlinckx, & van der Maas, 2015a) is computationally intensive and infeasible for multidimensional versions. The weighted least squares estimator of Ranger, Kuhn, and Szardenings (2016) is inefficient. Here, we propose an alternative estimator that is more efficient than the least squares estimator and less demanding than the maximum likelihood estimator. The estimator is based on minimum distance estimation and consists in modeling the sample quantiles and sample covariances. The performance of the estimator is investigated in a simulation study. The simulation study corroborates that the estimator performs well. The application of the estimator is demonstrated with real data.

Do Parental Interviews for ASD Converge with Clinical Diagnoses? An Empirical Comparison of the 3di and the DISCO in Children with ASD, a Clinically-Referred Group, and Typically Developing Children.

Two semi-structured parental interviews are available with algorithms developed to measure DSM-5 criteria of ASD, namely the Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic Interview (3di) and the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO-11). The main aim of this study was to examine the agreement between classification according to both interviews, and their convergence with the clinical diagnosis. Therefore, the 3di and DISCO-11 were administered from three groups of parents of a 4-18 year old. Results showed 75% agreement between both instruments, but in the ASD group only 16% of the children scored above threshold on both instruments. Exploratory analyses suggested that the 3di failed to detect rigid and repetitive behaviors, whereas the DISCO-11 was insufficiently sensitive in detecting socio-communicative problems.

Sleep Quality and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older People With Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer Disease.

We aimed to investigate sleep quality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer disease (AD). A total of 221 participants were divided into the following five groups: normal controls (NCs), SCD without memory concerns (SCD-0), SCD with memory concerns (SCD-1), MCI, and AD according to their cognitive status. Compared with NC, individuals with SCD-0, SCD-1, MCI, and AD had more sleep problems and reduced HRQOL. Participants with poor sleep quality had an increased risk of cognitive impairment compared with participants with good sleep quality. Within all five subgroups, individuals with poor sleep quality reported more difficulties in HRQOL than individuals with good sleep quality. Future studies employing a longitudinal design, larger samples, and objective evaluation tools are needed.

Validation of the Scale of Basic Psychological Needs towards Physical Exercise, with the Inclusion of Novelty.

The purpose of this study was to validate and adapt to the Spanish context of Physical Education, the Spanish version of the Scale of Basic Psychological Needs in the context of physical exercise, with the incorporation of novelty to the scale. The sample that took part in the study was 2372 people from 16 to 48 years old from the province of Almeria. In order to analyze the psychometric properties of the scale, several analyses have been carried out. The results have offered support both for the eight-factor structure and for the higher-order double model where the eight subscales are joined into two constructs called frustration and satisfaction. The structure of both models was invariant with respect to gender and age. Cronbach's alpha values were above 0.70 in the subscales and scales; and adequate levels of temporal stability. In addition, the subfactors pertaining to the satisfaction of basic psychological needs positively predicted the intrinsic motivation for physical activity, while each of the subfactors of the frustration of psychological needs predicted it negatively. The results of this study provide evidence of the reliability and validity of the BPNS in the Spanish context of physical activity.

Noncoercive human intelligence gathering.

Despite widespread recognition that coercive methods for intelligence gathering are unethical and counterproductive, there is an absence of empirical evidence for effective alternatives. We compared 2 noncoercive methods-the Modified Cognitive Interview (MCI) and Controlled Cognitive Engagement (CCE)-adapted for intelligence gathering by adding a moral frame to encourage interviewees to consciously consider sharing intelligence. Participants from the general population experienced an unexpected live event where equipment was damaged, and an argument ensued. Prior to interview, participants were incentivized to withhold information about a target individual implicated in the event. CCE yielded more target information more frequently than MCI (67% vs. 36%). Similarly, framing yielded target information more often (65% vs. 39%). The effects of interview and framing appear to be additive rather than interactive. Our results indicate combining noncoercive interview methods with moral framing can enhance intelligence gain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Reliability and validity of measures of attentional bias towards threat in unselected student samples: seek, but will you find?

Although attentional bias (AB) is considered a key characteristic of anxiety problems, the psychometric properties of most AB measures are either problematic or unknown. We conducted two experiments in which we addressed the reliability, convergent validity, and concurrent validity of different AB measures in unselected student samples. In Experiment 1 (N = 66), the visual probe task and the emotional flanker task yielded unreliable estimates of AB. Both the relevant and irrelevant feature visual search task yielded better reliability estimates, yet AB scores did not correlate significantly with each other nor with self-reported social anxiety. In Experiment 2 (N = 60), we retained only the visual search tasks. The relevant feature visual search task was again highly reliable, but it did not correlate significantly with anxiety measures. The irrelevant feature visual search task yielded only small reliability estimates, yet one of the scores was significantly correlated with implicit (but not self-reported or physiological) measures of social anxiety. Together, our results advocate the use of variants of visual search tasks to measure AB and they underline the importance of fundamental psychometric testing in AB research.

Cognitive Abilities Explain Wording Effects in the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.

There is consensus that the 10 items of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) reflect wording effects resulting from positively and negatively keyed items. The present study examined the effects of cognitive abilities on the factor structure of the RSES with a novel, nonparametric latent variable technique called local structural equation models. In a nationally representative German large-scale assessment including 12,437 students competing measurement models for the RSES were compared: a bifactor model with a common factor and a specific factor for all negatively worded items had an optimal fit. Local structural equation models showed that the unidimensionality of the scale increased with higher levels of reading competence and reasoning, while the proportion of variance attributed to the negatively keyed items declined. Wording effects on the factor structure of the RSES seem to represent a response style artifact associated with cognitive abilities.

Point-biserial correlation: Interval estimation, hypothesis testing, meta-analysis, and sample size determination.

The point-biserial correlation is a commonly used measure of effect size in two-group designs. New estimators of point-biserial correlation are derived from different forms of a standardized mean difference. Point-biserial correlations are defined for designs with either fixed or random group sample sizes and can accommodate unequal variances. Confidence intervals and standard errors for the point-biserial correlation estimators are derived from the sampling distributions for pooled-variance and separate-variance versions of a standardized mean difference. The proposed point-biserial confidence intervals can be used to conduct directional two-sided tests, equivalence tests, directional non-equivalence tests, and non-inferiority tests. A confidence interval for an average point-biserial correlation in meta-analysis applications performs substantially better than the currently used methods. Sample size formulas for estimating a point-biserial correlation with desired precision and testing a point-biserial correlation with desired power are proposed. R functions are provided that can be used to compute the proposed confidence intervals and sample size formulas.

Psychometrics of the Iowa and Berlin Gambling Tasks: Unresolved Issues With Reliability and Validity for Risk Taking.

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is one of the most prominent paradigms employed for the assessment of risk taking in the laboratory, and it was shown to distinguish between various patient groups and controls. The present study was conducted to test the psychometric characteristics of the original IGT and of a new gambling task variant for assessing individual differences. Two studies were conducted with adults of the general population (n = 220) and with adolescents (n = 389). Participants were also tested on multiple measures of working memory capacity, fluid intelligence, personality traits associated with risk-taking behavior, and self-reported risk taking in various domains. Both gambling tasks had only moderate retest reliability within the same session. Moderate relations were obtained with cognitive ability. However, card selections in the gambling tasks were not correlated with personality or risk taking. These findings point to limitations of IGT type gambling tasks for the assessment of individual differences in risky decision making.

Do left-handers outperform right-handers in paper-and-pencil tests of attention?

The present study investigated the impact of the dominant hand on performance in two paper-and-pencil tests of visual selective attention (d2-R; FAIR-2). We hypothesized that preview benefits (i.e., preprocessing of stimuli located to the right of the currently fixated item) could improve test performance of left-handers as compared to right-handers because using the right hand could prevent preview benefits simply by covering subsequent stimuli. A group of left-handed students (n = 86) and a group of right-handed students (n = 90) completed both the test d2-R and the test FAIR-2 with their dominant (writing) hand. Results showed that left-handed participants outperformed right-handers in both tests. Hence, when the results of left-handers are to be compared to right-handers or to normative data (which are dominated by right-handers), the impact of preview benefits on left-hander performance should be taken into account.