Development of a real-world simulated instrument for evaluating visuospatial working memory: a preliminary psychometric study on older adults.

BACKGROUND: A prevalent challenge in neuropsychological assessment, particularly when utilizing instruments designed for controlled laboratory environments, is that the outcomes may not correspond to an individual's real-life status. Accordingly, assessments of visuospatial working memory (VSWM) conducted in such settings might fail to capture certain facets of this function, as it operates in real life. On the other hand, entirely ecological assessments may risk compromising internal validity. This study aimed to develop an intermediate mode of assessment that measures VSWM in older adults by employing a setting, a task, and a response format that aligns closely with both laboratory and ecological assessments. Furthermore, a preliminary investigation was carried out to study the variations in spatial cognition among different demographic groups. METHODS: In a two-session study, 77 healthy older adults, eight patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and seven patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were recruited to complete the wayfinding questionnaire (WQ), the Corsi block-tapping task (CBTT), and the Spatial Memory Table (SMT). The SMT is a novel instrument developed specifically for this study, aiming to provide a more accurate measure of VSWM performance in older adults' everyday life. Test-retest and split-half reliabilities, as well as the face, content, concurrent, convergent, and known-groups validities, were analyzed to investigate the psychometric properties of the SMT. RESULTS: The analyses were mainly centered on studying the psychometric properties of the SMT. Test-retest reliability (r = .753, p < .001) and split-half reliability (ρSC = 0.747) were found to be acceptable. Concurrent validity using CBTT (r = .264, p = .021), convergent validity using WQ subscales (navigation and orientation: r = .282, p = .014; distance estimation: r = .261, p = .024), and known-groups validity using the SMT scores among people with MCI and AD (χ2 = 35.194, df = 2, p < .001) were also indicative of the instrument's good validity. Data analysis also revealed acceptable levels of face validity (U = 4.50; p = .095) and content validity (CVR ≥ 0.60). As a result of comparing VSWM and wayfinding variables across genders and education levels, a significant difference was observed for navigation and orientation and spatial anxiety between women and men (p < .05). None of the variables were different among education levels. CONCLUSION: The SMT was found to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring VSWM performance in older adults. Given these findings, the SMT can be regarded as a measure that sufficiently approximates both laboratory and real-life demands for VSWM. Additionally, the instrument demonstrated a preliminary acceptable capacity to differentiate between healthy individuals and those with MCI and AD.

A Comparative Evaluation of Error Processing Performance and its Relationship with Cognitive Function in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease, Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Normal Controls Using the Event-Related Potentials.

Background: Some pathological changes occur in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Objective: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential of event-related potential (ERP) components in error processing performance as a neuromarker of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and transition to AD and their relation with cognitive functions. Methods: We conducted an evaluation of 16 patients diagnosed with AD, 16 patients with MCI, and 15 normal controls using three subtests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery (CANTAB). The ERP components of error processing were extracted and compared among the three groups using a modified version of the Eriksen flanker task. Additionally, we assessed the correlation between the cognitive results and the ERP components. Results: Significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of providing correct responses following errors and the amplitude of error-related negativity (ERN). These differences were also significant between all paired groups. Regarding other ERP components of error processing and the peak latency of ERN, no significant differences were observed among the three groups. The findings revealed that the spatial working memory and new learning were correlated with the amplitude of ERN. Conclusions: In the context of error processing performance, both the accuracy of responses following an error and the amplitude of ERN can be considered as indicators of MCI and its progression to AD. The present findings do not support the use of other error processing components as differential markers in the three groups.

Brain waves and landscape settings: emotional responses to attractiveness.

Neuro-architecture is a specific branch of architecture that studies how the physical environment can change our mental processes and influence our behaviors. One of the main purposes of this field is to use changes in brain activities as a measure to quantify attractiveness of the landscapes. In this study, we investigated how changes in elements of attractiveness influence ones' emotional perception and present the related pattern of changes in brain activities. Therefore, we implied five elements of attractiveness including mystery, visual openness, landscape or greenness, walkability, and social interaction using the Delphi method. Then, we made changes in each element separately to make the landscape more attractive and assessed their effects on a group of young adults. We used the self-assessment manikin questionnaire to measure the participants' emotional perception while the participants' brain activities were recorded using a 32-channel EEG while exposed to the landscape images. The results showed that changes in attractive elements of the landscape could significantly improve ones' emotional perception of the landscape. In addition, these changes are perceived by changing the oscillatory pattern of brain activities. We hope these findings could shed a light to use of neural markers in measurement of place attractiveness.

Dysfunctional feedback processing in male methamphetamine abusers: Evidence from neurophysiological and computational approaches.

Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) as a major public health risk is associated with dysfunctional neural feedback processing. Although dysfunctional feedback processing in people who are substance dependent has been explored in several behavioral, computational, and electrocortical studies, this mechanism in MUDs requires to be well understood. Furthermore, the current understanding of latent components of their behavior such as learning speed and exploration-exploitation dilemma is still limited. In addition, the association between the latent cognitive components and the related neural mechanisms also needs to be explored. Therefore, in this study, the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms of feedback processing of such impairment, and age/gender-matched healthy controls are evaluated within a probabilistic learning task with rewards and punishments. Mathematical modeling results based on the Q-learning paradigm suggested that MUDs show less sensitivity in distinguishing optimal options. Additionally, it may be worth noting that MUDs exhibited a slight decrease in their ability to learn from negative feedback compared to healthy controls. Also through the lens of underlying neural mechanisms, MUDs showed lower theta power at the medial-frontal areas while responding to negative feedback. However, other EEG measures of reinforcement learning including feedback-related negativity, parietal-P300, and activity flow from the medial frontal to lateral prefrontal regions, remained intact in MUDs. On the other hand, the elimination of the linkage between value sensitivity and medial-frontal theta activity in MUDs was observed. The observed dysfunction could be due to the adverse effects of methamphetamine on the cortico-striatal dopamine circuit, which is reflected in the anterior cingulate cortex activity as the most likely region responsible for efficient behavior adjustment. These findings could help us to pave the way toward tailored therapeutic approaches.

Embodying Time in the Brain: A Multi-Dimensional Neuroimaging Meta-Analysis of 95 Duration Processing Studies.

Time is an omnipresent aspect of almost everything we experience internally or in the external world. The experience of time occurs through such an extensive set of contextual factors that, after decades of research, a unified understanding of its neural substrates is still elusive. In this study, following the recent best-practice guidelines, we conducted a coordinate-based meta-analysis of 95 carefully-selected neuroimaging papers of duration processing. We categorized the included papers into 14 classes of temporal features according to six categorical dimensions. Then, using the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) technique we investigated the convergent activation patterns of each class with a cluster-level family-wise error correction at p < 0.05. The regions most consistently activated across the various timing contexts were the pre-SMA and bilateral insula, consistent with an embodied theory of timing in which abstract representations of duration are rooted in sensorimotor and interoceptive experience, respectively. Moreover, class-specific patterns of activation could be roughly divided according to whether participants were timing auditory sequential stimuli, which additionally activated the dorsal striatum and SMA-proper, or visual single interval stimuli, which additionally activated the right middle frontal and inferior parietal cortices. We conclude that temporal cognition is so entangled with our everyday experience that timing stereotypically common combinations of stimulus characteristics reactivates the sensorimotor systems with which they were first experienced.

Variability of Postural Coordination in Dual-Task Paradigm.

Postural control is influenced by cognition. In most studies, variability of motor output has been considered regardless of variability in patterns of joint coordination. Uncontrolled manifold framework has been applied to decompose the joint's variance in two components. The first component leaves position of the center of mass in anterior-posterior direction (CoMAP) unchanged (VUCM) while the second component is in charge of variations of CoM (VORT). In this study, 30 healthy young volunteers were recruited. The experimental protocol consisted of three random conditions: quiet standing on a narrow wooden block without a cognitive task (NB), quiet standing on a narrow wooden block with an easy cognitive task (NBE), and quiet standing on a narrow wooden block with a difficult cognitive task (NBD). Results showed that CoMAP sway in NB condition was higher than both NBE and NBD conditions (p = .001). VORT in NB condition was higher than NBE and NBD conditions (p = .003). VORT in NB condition was higher than NBE and NBD conditions (p = .003). VUCM was unchanged in all conditions (p = 1.00) and synergy index in NB condition was smaller than NBE and NBD conditions (p = .006). These results showed that postural synergies increased under dual-task conditions.

The Role of Cognitive Control in Paranormal Beliefs: A Study Based on Performance in Go/No-go Task.

Introduction: Cognitive control plays a role in human behavior and mental processes and affects paranormal beliefs. This study aims to investigate the role of cognitive control in paranormal beliefs using the go/no-go task. Methods: A total of 92 people were selected based on low, middle, and high scores in the revised paranormal belief scale (R-PBS) and assigned to 3 groups. The groups included 30 severe paranormal believers (13 females with a mean age of 25.3 years), 31 mild paranormal believers (14 females with a mean age of 26.4 years), and 31 skeptics (16 females with a mean age of 25.8 years). All participants were tested on the go/no-go task. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted with the given groups (severe paranormal believers, mild paranormal believers, and skeptics) as the independent variable and the go/no-go subscales scores as dependent variables. Results: The findings showed a significant difference between the mean scores in errors of go (F(2, 89)=7.20, P=0.01), errors of no-go (F(2, 89)=11.81, P=0.01), and reaction time (F(2, 89)=21.46, P=0.01) between the groups. Conclusion: The severe and mild paranormal believers had lower accuracy and slower reaction times than the skeptics group. Therefore, severe paranormal believers and mild paranormal believers had a weakness in all go/no-go subscale scores. This finding suggests that paranormal beliefs may be related to poor cognitive control. Highlights: Believers show weak cognitive control.Skeptics perform better in accuracy and reaction time.Paranormal beliefs linked to poor cognitive control. Plain Language Summary: This study explores why some people strongly believe in paranormal phenomena while others don't. This study investigated the connection between cognitive control (our ability to manage thoughts and behavior) and paranormal beliefs. They found that individuals with stronger paranormal beliefs had poorer cognitive control, as they made more errors and had slower reaction times compared to skeptics. However, it's important to note that this study doesn't prove causation; it only highlights a potential link that needs more research. Understanding this connection is important because it helps us grasp why some people are more prone to believing in paranormal events. It also opens up avenues for studying how cognitive control affects human behavior and thinking. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between cognitive control and paranormal beliefs, contributing to our understanding of human behavior and belief systems. More research can further deepen our knowledge of why people hold different beliefs and how cognitive processes influence those beliefs.

The Brain Networks Basis for Deductive and Inductive Reasoning: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Introduction: Frontoparietal (FPN) and cingulo-opercular network (CON) control cognitive functions needed in deductive and inductive reasoning via different functional frameworks. The FPN is a fast intuitive system while the CON is slow and analytical. The default-interventionist model presents a serial view of the interaction between intuitive and analytic cognitive systems. This study aims to examine the activity pattern of the FPN and CON from the perspective of the default-interventionist model via reasoning. Methods: We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate cingulo-opercular and frontoparietal network activities in 24 healthy university students during Raven and Wason reasoning tasks. Due to the different operation times of the CON and FPN, the reaction time was assessed as a behavioral factor. Results: During Raven's advanced progressive matrices (RAPM) test, both the CON and FPN were activated. Also, with the increase in the difficulty level of the Raven test, a linear increase in response time was observed. In contrast, during the Wason's selection task (WST) test, only the activity of FPN was observed. Conclusion: The results of the study support the hypothesis that the default-interventionist model of dual-process theory provides an accurate explanation of the cognitive mechanisms involved in reasoning. Thus, the response method (intuitive/analytical) determines which cognitive skills and brain regions are involved in responding. Highlights: The cingulo-opercular and fronto-parietal networks (FPNs) control cognitive functions and processes.The frontoparietal network is a fast intuitive system that utilizes short-time attention which is compatible with type 1 processing. In contrast, the cingulo-opercular network (CON) is an analytical time-consuming system that utilizes attention and working memory for a longer time, compatible with type 2 processing.The default-interventionist model of a dual-process theory states that our behaviors are controlled by type 1 processing unless we are confronted with novel and complex problems in which we have no prior experiences. Plain Language Summary: The present study examined the activity of two task-based brain networks through performing diffrent type of reasoning tasks. Fronto-parietal and Cingulo-opercular are the two task-based brain networks that are responsible for cognitive control. These two brain networks direct the way to use cognitive skills and executive functions which are necessary to perform cognitive tasks especially higher-order ones as reasoning tasks. Since the two types of inductive and deductive reasoning tasks requier two different bottom-up and top-down cognitive control respectively, different cognitive skills would be needed which affect the activity of fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular brain networks. Our results showed that through inductive reasoning task which examined by RAVEN, both of the fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular brain networks were activated but deductive reasoning task which examined by Wason Selection Card test, just the fronto-parietal brain network was activated. It seems that in the case of deductive reasoninf task, there is a higher probability of errors which lead to giving less correct responses. Based on our results, subjects paid not enough attention to details, so had failure to update informations that leaded to responding with errors. Inactivity of cingulo-opercular network through dedeuctive reasoning task clearly showed that the bottom-up cognitive control did not happen successfully. As a result of that, information processing did not proceed properly.

Differential Cortical Oscillatory Patterns in Amputees With and Without Phantom Limb Pain.

Introduction: Phantom limb pain (PLP) as neuropathic pain affects the life of amputees. It is believed an efficient PLP treatment should consider the underlying neurological mechanisms. Hereby, we investigated brain activity in PLP and its relationships to the psychological and cognitive dimensions of chronic pain. We investigate differences in resting brain activities between amputees with and without pain. We hypothesize significant differences in the motor cortex and parietal cortex activity that are related to pain perception. Also, we hypothesize two groups have significant differences in cognitive and psychological components. Methods: Behavioral assessment (psychological status, life satisfaction, and pain level) and EEG signals of 19 amputees (12 without pain and 7 with pain) were recorded. Data were statistically compared between the two groups. Also, the association between behavioral and neurophysiological data was computed. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in the pain group for the beta and gamma waves, as well as, for the theta and delta waves in the posterior temporal on both sides, during the eye-open condition. The eyes-closed condition showed that the delta waves were decreased on the right side of the cortex. Also, data showed a significant difference in the correlation of pain features with brain waves between the two groups. Conclusion: Significant differences were mostly observed in regions related to pain perception rather than the motor cortex. This can be due to the learned strategies to deal with pain and the degree of pain. Results showed maladaptive cognitive processes had a relationship with brain wave activities. According to the result of brain wave activities, it seems that cognitive factors have a role in the experience of PLP rather than neuroplasticity through amputation. Highlights: Differences found in the parietal and temporal regions of phantom limb pain's (PLP's) suggests cognition's role in the persistence of PLP.Decreased delta power at the posterior temporal cortex in PLP's could be the focus of treatments.Increased activity of the parietal cortex could be helpful in the treatment of PLP's. Plain Language Summary: PLP is an annoying neurologic pain. A wide range of treatments have focused on this type of pain but couldn't be effective. Recently, researchers suggest BCI-based treatments for better treatment. For this type of treatment, we should know the neurological aspect of PLP. In most studies to investigate or treatment of neurological aspects of PLP, researchers induced pain experimentally or studied acute phantom limb pain. We believed for a better understanding of PLP, should investigate it in a natural and stabilized position. Therefore we studied brain activities in amputees with and without PLP in a resting state to find out differences. Trends in this field express the alpha band differences in the motor cortex. On the contrary, our results showed the most significant difference in high-frequency bandpasses such as beta and gamma. Also, in our study, it seems the parietal and temporal cortex that are related to pain perception is the more relevant to PLP. This study showed a psycho-cognitive aspect of pain such as pain exaggeration has a relation with PLP's brain wave activities. So, we can suggest rather than neuroplasticity through amputation, cognitive factors have a role in the experience of PLP.

Impact of negative links on the structural balance of brain functional network during emotion processing.

Activation of specific brain areas and synchrony between them has a major role in process of emotions. Nevertheless, impact of anti-synchrony (negative links) in this process still requires to be understood. In this study, we hypothesized that quantity and topology of negative links could influence a network stability by changing of quality of its triadic associations. Therefore, a group of healthy participants were exposed to pleasant and unpleasant images while their brain responses were recorded. Subsequently, functional connectivity networks were estimated and quantity of negative links, balanced and imbalanced triads, tendency to make negative hubs, and balance energy levels of two conditions were compared. The findings indicated that perception of pleasant stimuli was associated with higher amount of negative links with a lower tendency to make a hub in theta band; while the opposite scenario was observed in beta band. It was accompanied with smaller number of imbalanced triads and more stable network in theta band, and smaller number of balanced triads and less stable network in beta band. The findings highlighted that inter regional communications require less changes to receive new information from unpleasant stimuli, although by decrement in beta band stability prepares the network for the upcoming events.

Balance-energy of resting state network in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Stability of the brain functional network is directly linked to organization of synchronous and anti-synchronous activities. Nevertheless, impact of arrangement of positive and negative links called links topology requires to be well understood. In this study, we investigated how topology of the functional links reduce balance-energy of the brain network in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and push the network to a more stable state as compared to healthy controls. Therefore, functional associations between the regions were measured using the phase synchrony between the EEG activities. Subsequently, balance-energy of the brain functional network was estimated based on the quality of triadic interactions. Occurrence rates of four different types of triadic interactions including weak and strong balanced, and unbalanced interactions were compared. In addition, impact of the links topology was also investigated by looking at the tendency of positive and negative links to making hubs. Our results showed although the number of positive and negative links were not statistically different between OCD and healthy controls, but positive links in OCDs' brain networks have more tendency to make hub. Moreover, lower number of unbalanced triads and higher number of strongly balanced triad reduced the balance-energy in OCDs' brain networks that conceptually has less requirement to change. We hope these findings could shed a light on better understanding of brain functional network in OCD.

Sleep Micro-Macro-structures in Psychophysiological Insomnia. PSG Study.

Study Objectives: To address sleep micro-macro-structures in psychophysiological insomnia (PPI) as denoted by cyclic alternating pattern (CAP), Sleep spindles, and hyperarousal as microstructures and sleep characteristics such as sleep stages' variables, and heart rate as macrostructures. Methods: Two statistical populations, with 20 participants in each, are addressed: good sleepers (GS) and patients with psychophysiological insomnia (PPI). The sleep polysomnography (PSG) for one night was performed and sleep macro-micro-structures extraction was implemented for each participant. Cyclic alternating patterns were scored manually and other structures were monitored by the original PSG's device software. Analytical methods are used to dissect the results. Result: The findings imply: (a) psychophysiological insomnia is characterized by CAP differences from good sleepers which are associated with hyperarousal; (b) Regarding microstructure, more microarousals in sleep stages caused more number of wake index. (c) The ratio of sleep stages, sleep latency and heart rate as sleep macrostructure are significantly changed. (d) There is no significant difference between PPI and GS groups on spindles length in our research. Conclusion: Regarding all sleep disorders and especially PPI, CAP variables, EEG arousals, and sleep spindles as microstructures and Total Sleep Time, Sleep Latency, number of waking, REM duration, and Heart Rate as macrostructures were found to be critical for the diagnosis of psychophysiological insomnia The analysis contributes to understanding better approaches in the quantitative specification of psychophysiological insomnia compare to good sleepers.

Distinct suppressing effects of deep brain stimulation in the orbitofrontal cortex on the development, extinction, and reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behaviors.

AIMS: The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is implicated in compulsive drug-seeking and relapse, the characteristics that result in addiction treatment failure. Structural and functional impairments within the OFC have been detected in many substance use disorders (SUDs). Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is proposed as a promising therapeutic option in treating SUDs. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of DBS application on the various stages of the methamphetamine-conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm in rats. MAIN METHODS: Electrodes were implanted unilaterally in the rat's right OFC. DBS in the form of high- or low-frequency stimulation (HFS: 130 Hz, LFS: 13 Hz) was applied during the 5-day conditioning phase (a daily 30-min session) or extinction period (30-min session, daily, ten days) of methamphetamine-induced CPP in two separate sets of experiments. Following extinction, place preference was reinstated by injecting a priming dose of methamphetamine (0.25 mg/kg). KEY FINDINGS: The HFS and LFS significantly decreased the methamphetamine place preference when applied over the conditioning period. In the extinction experiment, only HFS could remarkably accelerate the extinction of reward-context associations and even reduce the methamphetamine-induced reinstatement of seeking behaviors. SIGNIFICANCE: Conclusively, DBS administration in the OFC demonstrated some positive results, including suppressing effects on the development, maintenance, and relapse of methamphetamine-seeking behavior. These findings encourage conducting more preclinical studies to strongly suggest a wide range of DBS applications in cortical areas such as OFC as an efficient treatment modality for psychostimulant use disorder.

Paranormal believers show reduced resting EEG beta band oscillations and inhibitory control than skeptics.

Paranormal believers' thinking is frequently biased by intuitive beliefs. Lack of inhibition of these tempting beliefs is considered a key element in paranormal believers' thinking. However, the brain activity related to inhibitory control in paranormal believers is poorly understood. We examined EEG activities at resting state in alpha, beta, and gamma bands with inhibitory control in paranormal believers and skeptics. The present study shows that paranormal belief is related to the reduced power of the alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands, and reduced inhibitory control. This study may contribute to understanding the differences between believers and skeptics in brain activity related to inhibitory control in paranormal believers.

A wide range of Deep Brain Stimulation of the nucleus accumbens shell time independently reduces the extinction period and prevents the reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behavior in rats.

Methamphetamine (METH) addiction is a significant public health issue, and standard medical therapies are often not curative. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has recently shown the potential to cure addiction by modulating neural activity in specific brain circuits. Recent studies have revealed that the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) could serve as a promising target in treating addiction. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of NAcSh high- or low-frequency stimulation (HFS or LFS) in the different time points of application on the extinction and reinstatement of the METH-conditioned place preference (CPP). LFS or HFS (10 or 130 Hz, 150-200 µA, 100 µs) was delivered to the NAcSh for 30 min non-simultaneous (in a distinct non-drug environment) or simultaneous (in a drug-paired context) of the drug-free extinction sessions. The obtained results showed that both non-simultaneous and simultaneous treatments by HFS and LFS notably reduced the extinction period of METH-induced CPP. Furthermore, the data indicated that both non-synchronous and synchronous HFS prevented METH-primed reinstatement, while only the LFS synchronized group could block the reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior. The results also demonstrated that HFS was more effective than LFS in attenuating METH-primed reinstatement, and applying HFS synchronous was significantly more effective than HFS non-synchronous in reducing the relapse of drug-seeking. In conclusion, the current study's results suggest that DBS of the NAcSh in a wide range of frequencies (LFS and HFS) could affect addiction-related behaviors. However, it should be considered that the frequency and timing of DBS administration are among the critical determining factors.

The Effect of Modeling Methods on Mirror Neuron Activity and a Motor Skill Acquisition and Retention.

Introduction: Mirror neurons have been suggested as a potential neural mechanism of observational learning. This study aims to investigate the effect of self-modeling, skilled model, and learning model on mu rhythm suppression and golf putting acquisition and retention. Methods: The study was conducted on 45 male volunteer students (aged 19.4±0.37 years) in three experimental groups, self-modeling, skilled, and learning models with six sessions of physical and observational training in three periods of pre-test, acquisition, and retention. In the pre-test, after the initial familiarity with the skill, participants performed 10 golf putting actions while scores were recorded. Then, electrical brain waves in C3, C4, and Cz regions were recorded during the observation of 10 golf putting actions by their group-related models. The acquisition period consisted of golf putting training during six sessions, each consisting of six blocks of 10 trials. Before each training block, participants observed golf putting related to their group 10 times in the form of a video. Acquisition and delayed retention tests were also performed by recording scores of 10 golf putting actions, as well as recording electrical brain waves while observing the skill performed by the related model. Results: Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the mu rhythm suppression in the pre-test was more in the self-modeling group compared to the skilled model and learning model groups, but this suppression was not significantly different in all three groups in the acquisition and retention tests. In putting task variables, all three groups that had no significant difference in the pre-test period made considerable progress in learning the desired skill from the pre-test to the acquisition test, and this progress was somewhat stable until the retention test. Also, both in the acquisition and retention periods, the self-modeling group showed better performance than the other two groups; however, no significant difference was observed between these groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that the model-observer similarity is a crucial factor in modeling interventions and can affect the rate of mu rhythm suppression.

Comparing Autobiographical Brand Images and Neutral Images Regarding False Memory Formation.

Introduction: Consumers' prior experiences form an episodic memory that largely influences their decision-making process. This episodic memory is mainly linked to cognitive and emotional perception and we know that brand image influences our cognitive and emotional perception. Nevertheless, it has not been well described how autobiographical memories of brand images differ from other types of images. Methods: In this study, we hypothesized that brand pictures have a higher chance to create false memories as compared to neutral ones. Results: We investigated this hypothesis using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm with lists of brand pictures from the local market and associated neutral images from the international affective picture system. Thirty graduate students were exposed to image stimuli, followed by a distractor task and a recognition task. After the normality test, reaction times (RT), and false recognition rate of brands and neutral images were statistically compared using a pairwise t-test. Conclusion: The results showed a significant decrease in reaction time (RT) and an increase in the false recognition rate of brand pictures compared to neutral images. Interestingly, the effect of gender on the creation of false memory by autobiographical brand images was not significant. We hope these findings can pave the way for a better understanding of the false memory mechanism. Highlights: Autobiographical brand images give a higher chance of false memory as compared to neutral imagesMen and women do not differ in the formation of false memoryReaction time in false memory is longer than in true memory.False positives create more cognitive load. Plain Language Summary: We see many images around us every day, such as the image of different brands in our daily shopping, which puts us in front of different types of images, many of which are old, these brands become part of our life memories, and their images are aspects of autobiography. Therefore, these brands can form false memories for people. The image stimuli of this study are to investigate whether these images can form false memories or not. The results showed that the images that we see every day in the street of the supermarket and can change our memories.

Brain Structural Correlates of Intelligence in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Individuals.

Introduction: Neuroimaging evidence has shown the relationship of intelligence with several structural brain properties in normal individuals. However, this relationship with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) needs to be investigated. Methods: We estimated grey matter (GM) density of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan on 56 ADHD individuals, including 30 combined individuals (Mean±SD age: 10.44±2.41, intelligence quotient: [IQ]=112.13±13.15, male, 24 right hands) and 26 inattentive individuals (mean age =11.39±2.1, IQ=107.44±13.98, male, 28 right hands) as well as 30 IQ matched healthy control group (mean age=11.08±2.15, IQ=115±13.56, male, 23 right hands). Results: In this study, two statistical approaches were used. In the first approach, region-based as well as the whole association patterns between full-scale IQ and GM were computed and compared between groups. The second approach was to examine the differential pattern of GM density without considering IQ in three groups. Conclusion: Results showed significant differences between the ADHD group and the control. This finding could indicate that intelligence is not purely based on the density of GM in certain brain regions; it is a dynamic phenomenon and drastically changes neurodevelopmental disorders. Highlights: In ADHDs as compared to healthy controls the relation between GM and IQ was decreased at right hemisphere;In ADHDs as compared to healthy controls the relation between GM and IQ was increased at left hemisphere;Differenceses of the observed relation between control group and IQ matched ADHDs suggest a compensatory mechanism in ADHDs to maintaine an adequate cognitive performance;GM is not the only determiner of intelligence. IQ score may be affected by neural dynamic of the brain; therefore, the structural covariate could be a better alternative for GM density. Plain Language Summary: In this study, we estimated the relation between GM density and IQ score in 2 subtypes of ADHD (combined and inattentive) and IQ matched healthy control group. We compared the association between groups and found that the pattern of association in ADHDs were different from controls. In the other words, the decreased association at right hemisphere, were compensated by increased association at left hemisphere in ADHDs to maintaine adequate performance. We conclude that, the brain structure is not the single determiner of intelligence, rather intelligence may underpine by neural dynamics of the brain. Therefore, the structural covariate may be a better alternative for GM density.

Resting-State Electroencephalogram (EEG) Coherence Over Frontal Regions in Paranormal Beliefs.

Introduction: Paranormal beliefs are defined as the belief in extrasensory perception, precognition, witchcraft, and telekinesis, magical thinking, psychokinesis, superstitions. Previous studies corroborate that executive brain functions underpin paranormal beliefs. To test this hypotheses, neurophysiological studies of brain activity are required. Methods: A sample of 20 students (10 girls, Mean±SD age: 22.50±4.07 years) were included in the current study. The absolute power of resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) was analyzed in intra-hemispheric and inter-hemispheric coherence with eyes open. The paranormal beliefs were determined based on the total score of the revised paranormal belief scale (RPBS). Results: The results of this study demonstrated a significant negative relationship between paranormal beliefs and resting-state EEG in alpha band activity in the frontal lobe (left hemisphere), EEG coherence of alpha and ß1, ß2, and gamma band activities in the frontal lobe (right hemisphere) and coherence of alpha and ß1, ß2 and gamma band activities between frontal regions (two hemispheres). In addition, the results showed that coherence of α, α1, ß, and ß2 band activities between the frontal lobe (right hemispheres) and the EEG coherence of Δ, α1, and beta band activities in the frontal lobe (two hemispheres) predict paranormal beliefs. Conclusion: This study confirms the connection of executive brain functions to paranormal beliefs and determines that frontal brain function may contribute to paranormal beliefs. Highlights: Paranormal beliefs were negatively related to the EEG coherence.Paranormal beliefs were associated with EEG coherence in the right frontal lobe.We found a negative correlation between paranormal beliefs and the EEG coherence in the frontal lobes.EEG coherence the frontal lobes predicted paranormal beliefs. Plain Language Summary: Paranormal beliefs were negatively related to the EEG coherence. They were associated with EEG coherence in the right frontal lobe. In this study, we found a negative correlation between paranormal beliefs and the EEG coherence in the frontal lobes. EEG coherence the frontal lobes predicted paranormal beliefs.