Quantitative EEG correlates of 'Kriya yoga' benefits for mental health among health care providers.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) experience abounding physical and mental exhaustion mandating a deliverable solution for their mental health care. Kriya yoga (KY) includes several relaxation techniques and offers a stress-alleviating experience. The objective signature of KY benefits needs to be investigated. Aim: To study the effects of KY practice on brain oscillations and perceived stress in health care providers. Methods: This prospective interventional study was conducted during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. HCWs were enrolled to the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG) after obtaining an informed consent. IG visited the yoga center for learning the KY technique. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded in both the groups, at baseline, and at the end of 6 weeks in the EEG Laboratory. Perceived stress scale (PSS) scores and participants' subjective response to KY practice were also collected. Paired t-test and independent t-test were used for statistical comparison wherever applicable. Results: Age and baseline EEG powers among the IG and CG (N = 25) were statistically comparable. Absolute power analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in alpha and delta powers after 6 weeks of KY practice. The PSS scores revealed a statistically significant decrease in perceived stress after KY practice. Furthermore, 83% of the participants reported the subjective calming effects of KY practice. Conclusion: KY practice ensues relaxing effects on the brain, as evident from the EEG absolute power analysis, PSS scores, and participants' subjective response. As KY is a brief technique, it may be encouraged during short break session among the HCWs for promotive health.

Berger and the Breakthrough: A Centennial Celebration of the Human Electroencephalogram.

A century ago, it was a challenge for neuroscientists to decipher the mysteries of human brain functioning until German psychiatrist Hans Berger discovered what is now one of the most well-known electrophysiological recording techniques to examine brain function, EEG. He is rightly regarded as the Father of The Electroencephalogram (EEG), since he performed the first human electroencephalogram in 1924. Berger attempted to investigate the connection between psychology and physiology and to solve the "psychic energy" enigma. Despite turbulence in his professional life and slow progress in his research, he persevered and succeeded in giving humankind an indispensable technique that is now widely used in clinical and research practice. His publications on EEG provide valuable insight into our current understanding of several of the brain's responses to physiological and pathological phenomena. In July 2024, it will be 100 years since Berger recorded the first human EEG, and that calls for a celebration among EEG researchers, neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and neurologists. This article presents a brief account of his journey and commemorates Hans Berger's contributions to the field of neurodiagnostics.

Attentional Correlates of Colored Lights: Considerations for Cognitive Testing.

Attention, an important index of cognitive function, can be affected amidst colored lights. This work investigated the effects of colored lights on the performance in attention task. Participants (N = 42) performed in one, two, and three letter cancellation task (LCT) during four lighting conditions. The order of LCT and the colored light sessions were randomized. The performance in LCT was evaluated through % accuracy, % omission, and % error. A repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant difference in % accuracy in one LCT (F(2.46, 100.8) = 24.45, p < 0.001), two LCT (F(2.57, 105.4) = 20.53, p < 0.001), and three LCT (F(2.66, 109.22) = 17.96, p < 0.001) among the four colored lights. In addition, % omission revealed a statistically significant difference in one LCT (F(2.46, 100.8) = 24.43, p < 0.001), two LCT (F(2.57, 105.4) = 20.57, p < 0.001), and three LCT (F(2.66, 109.16) = 18.21, p < 0.001) among the four lights. There was no statistically significant difference in % error in one LCT (F(2.05, 84.1) = 1.23, p = 0.3), two LCT (F(2.66, 109.06) = 0.62, p = 0.971), three LCT (F(2.62, 107.53) = 0.97, p = 0.4) among the four lighting conditions. Colored lights affect attention-related cognitive processing. The attentional correlates of white and red lights are more compared to green, and blue lights. Lighting condition should be an important consideration for cognitive testing, for designing workspaces, educational settings, and other environments where attention plays a crucial role.

Design and evaluation of an electronic prospective medication order review system for medication orders in the inpatient setting.

Objectives: Since the 1970s, a plethora of tools have been introduced to support the medication use process. However, automation initiatives to assist pharmacists in prospectively reviewing medication orders are lacking. The review of many medications may be protocolized and implemented in an algorithmic fashion utilizing discrete data from the electronic health record (EHR). This research serves as a proof of concept to evaluate the capability and effectiveness of an electronic prospective medication order review (EPMOR) system compared to pharmacists' review. Materials and methods: A subset of the most frequently verified medication orders were identified for inclusion. A team of clinical pharmacist experts developed best-practice EPMOR criteria. The established criteria were incorporated into conditional logic built within the EHR. Verification outcomes from the pharmacist (human) and EPMOR (automation) were compared. Results: Overall, 13 404 medication orders were included. Of those orders, 13 133 passed pharmacist review, 7388 of which passed EPMOR. A total of 271 medication orders failed pharmacist review due to order modification or discontinuation, 105 of which passed EPMOR. Of the 105 orders, 19 were duplicate orders correctly caught by both EPMOR and pharmacists, but the opposite duplicate order was rejected, 51 orders failed due to scheduling changes. Discussion: This simulation was capable of effectively discriminating and triaging orders. Protocolization and automation of the prospective medication order review process in the EHR appear possible using clinically driven algorithms. Conclusion: Further research is necessary to refine such algorithms to maximize value, improve efficiency, and minimize safety risks in preparation for the implementation of fully automated systems.

Autonomic Correlates of Letter Cancelation Task: What the Attention Load May Evoke?

OBJECTIVE: Attention can be assessed through Letter cancelation tasks (LCT) that employ visuospatial selection and appropriate motor responses. We examined the performance in the LCT with increasing attention load, and determined the related autonomic changes. METHODS: Autonomic parameters were estimated in healthy males at baseline and during three different cognitive load conditions using the LCT. RESULTS: Results revealed a statistically significant difference (n = 30) in the percent accuracy (χ2(2) = 15.2, p < .001) and percent omission (χ2(2) = 13.3, p = 0.001) with the increasing challenge in the LCT. The vagally-mediated measures of heart rate variability were significantly decreased with the commencement of the task revealing a parasympathetic withdrawal. The respiratory sinus arrythmia was decreased, and the photoplethysmography amplitude was significantly reduced (χ2(3) = 14.2, p = 0.003) as the attention demand increased. CONCLUSION: The performance declined with the increasing attention load. LCT evokes autonomic perturbations though overall autonomic variability does not change remarkably.

Resting-state Quantitative EEG Spectral Patterns in Migraine During Ictal Phase Reveal Deviant Brain Oscillations: Potential Role of Density Spectral Array.

Background. Migraine headache may have a substantial bearing on the brain functions and rhythms. Electrophysiological methods can detect changes in brain oscillation. The present work examined the frequency band power through quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) and density spectral array (DSA) to elucidate the resting state neuronal oscillations in migraine. Methods. Clinical details were inquired, and EEG was recorded in migraineurs and healthy controls. The acquired data were analyzed to determine power spectral density values and obtain DSA graphs. The absolute and relative powers for the alpha, theta, and delta frequencies in frontocentral, parieto-occipital, and temporal regions were determined. A correlation of significant EEG findings with clinical features of migraine was sought. Results. Forty-five participants were enrolled in the study. The spectrum analysis revealed an increase in the relative theta power (P < .001) and a reduction in relative alpha power (P < .001) in the observed cortical areas among the migraineurs as compared to the healthy controls. Relative delta power was increased over the frontocentral region (P = .001), slightly more on the symptomatic side of the head. In addition, frontocentral delta power had a moderate positive correlation (r = .697, n = 22, P = .000) with migraine severity. Conclusion. The study supports the evidence of a neuronal dysfunction existing in the resting state during the ictal phase of migraine. qEEG can reveal these aberrant oscillations. Utility of DSA to depict the changes in brain activity in migraine is a potential area for research. The information can help formulate new therapeutic strategies towards alteration in cortical excitability using brain stimulation techniques.

Implication of High Body Fat Percentage on Migraine Chronification in Premenopausal Females.

Background: Chronic migraine, being a debilitating headache disorder, needs assessment of the risk factors implicated in its occurrence. We investigated the potential role of obesity as a risk for chronic migraine in premenopausal females with episodic migraine. Methods: In this analytical study, body fat% was compared between episodic and chronic migraine patient groups. The standard criteria of the international classification of headache disorder were used for the diagnosis. Demographic data, clinical details of migraine, and anthropometric measurements were collected using structured questions and standardized techniques. Pearson's correlation (r) was estimated to assess the concordance between body fat% and migraine frequency. High body fat%'s implication on chronic migraine which was adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and the use of oral contraceptives was determined using logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 168 premenopausal female migraineurs, with a mean (Standard deviation) age of 33.0 (±9.0) years, were enrolled in the study. BMI and high body fat% were significantly associated with chronic migraine (p < 0.05). There was a weak positive, but significant, correlation between body fat% and migraine frequency (r = 0.185, p < 0.017). The presence of high body fat was found to increase the risk of chronic migraine by 2.8 times (confidence interval 1.4-5.6; p < 0.003). Conclusion: The amount of fat mass in the body relates to the clinical characteristics of migraine. There is an increased risk of developing chronic migraine in patients having high body fat. Weight control measures can be targeted for the prevention of migraine worsening.

Critical Self-Appraisal Towards the Better Use of a Webinar Series as an Online Tool for Postgraduate Teaching.

INTRODUCTION: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic adversely affected the conventional teaching mode, resulting in an exponential rise in online modalities such as webinars. Simultaneously, the lockdown provided substantial time to pursue potential academic content on the web. It is known that newly admitted postgraduate students of Physiology require a structured program that can guide them to conduct research for the completion of the course. METHODS: Gauging the opportunity, a webinar series was conducted on basic research methodology and thesis writing in Physiology. The series comprised hourly lectures delivered between 4:00 and 5:00 pm for seven consecutive days. Suggestions for future topics for webinars were sought through open-ended questions. Additionally, feedback for increment in students' knowledge at the end of the webinar was also inquired on a Likert scale. Open-ended answers were pooled into fields, and Likert scale scores were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 364 (35.8%) postgraduate students who registered for the webinar. The remaining were faculty (51.6%), research scholars (8.8%), and senior residents (3.8%). Among the postgraduate students who submitted the feedback, a majority (98.4%) of them agreed that their knowledge was enhanced at the end of the series. Most of the postgraduate students (31%) chose Biostatistics for future webinars. CONCLUSION: Webinars are a useful tool for postgraduate teaching. They should be constructed with engaging infrastructure and relevant examples. The availability of recorded content on the online forum is beneficial for asynchronous learners. Having an idea about students' choice for essential topics helps in the advanced planning of a demanding webinar.

Olfactory training for olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19: A promising mitigation amidst looming neurocognitive sequelae of the pandemic.

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a recognized symptom of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is independently associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, the central nervous system manifestations in patients infected with the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) have demonstrated cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Hence, OD in COVID-19 necessitates perusal of its mechanism and available treatment options to avert possible development of neurocognitive sequelae of the pandemic. The article presents a literature review organized from the published information about olfactory training (OT) for OD during COVID-19. The methodology comprised retrieval of available literature from database searches and subsequent scrutinization of relevant information. Inferentially, injury to the sustentacular cells, possessing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors, is an important mechanism causing OD in COVID-19. Olfactory dysfunction may be prolonged in severe cases of anosmia predisposing to neurodegenerative and cognitive impairment in COVID-19 infection. Olfactory training demonstrates an effective treatment for OD based on human and animal-derived evidence through recent studies. It curtails the progression of OD, besides inducing neural rearrangement and changes in functional connectivity in patients receiving OT. Additionally, contemporary reports support that the administration of OT for COVID-induced anosmia is effective and encompasses no significant adverse effects. The present review highlights the prominence of olfactory training as a recommended intervention for OD in COVID-19. This review can guide the clinicians in curbing neurological repercussions of COVID besides enhancing cognitive rehabilitation through olfactory training.

An inspirational reflection on Nobel Prize-winning researches in nerve signaling from over a century: some lessons for inquisitive minds.

The fascinating field of Neuroscience is burgeoning with extensive research, and some have been remarkable in making breakthrough findings, worth a Nobel Prize. The discoveries in neuroscience unveiling the anatomical and physiological conundrums of nerve and the advancement of neurophysiological techniques for recording nerve signals are owed to some great minds who thought beyond the normal. Such studies are foundational and exemplar for the young generations, often inciting an unconventional perspective toward a problem. This article presents a motivational account of some Nobel Prize-winning researches in nerve signaling from Camillo Golgi and Santiago Ramón y Cajal describing the structure of nervous tissue in 1906 to Arvid Carlsson, Paul Greengard, and Eric R. Kandel unfolding the mechanisms of signaling pathways involved in brain function in the year 2000. This may sensitize the young researcher to take an interest in the historical work and understand that allegiance to investigate an idea may be driven by some striking past acquaintance or thoughtful insights. One may derive substantial inspiration to unravel further inscrutabilities and explore future avenues in translational research in nerve mechanisms.