Subjective memory complaints in young people; their relationship withobjective cognitive performance and the role of neuroticism / Quejas subjetivas de memoria en jóvenes; su relación con el rendimiento cognitivo objetivo y el papel del neuroticismo

Las percepciones de olvidos recurrentes o episodios de distracción en la vida diaria se denominan quejas subjetivas de memoria (QSM). Su naturaleza se ha estudiado ampliamente en adultos mayores, pero su importancia y relación con el rendimiento neurocognitivo no se han abordado por completo en adultos más jóvenes. Se han sugerido algunos rasgos psicológicos como posibles moderadores de la asociación entre el rendimiento de la memoria objetiva y subjetiva. El primer objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la correspondencia entre la percepción objetiva y subjetiva de los fallos de memoria en jóvenes. En segundo lugar, estudiamos si el rasgo psicológico del neuroticismo podría estar influyendo en esta relación. Para ello, medimos QSM, diferentes dominios cognitivos (memoria episódica y de trabajo y funciones ejecutivas) y neuroticismo en 80 hombres y mujeres jóvenes. Los resultados mostraron que solo la memoria episódica inmediata estaba estadísticamente relacionada con los QSM. Curiosamente, las relaciones negativas entre el rendimiento de la memoria objetiva y subjetiva solo aparecieron en participantes con mayor neuroticismo. Por lo tanto, las quejas de memoria reportadas por los jóvenes podrían reflejar un peor rendimiento de la memoria episódica inmediata, mientras que el neuroticismo jugaría un papel principal en la asociación entre los déficits de memoria y las QSM. Este estudio proporciona datos que pueden ayudar a comprender mejor las QSM en los jóvenes.(AU)

Perceptions of recurrent forgetfulness or episodes of distraction in daily life are referred to as subjective memory complaints (SMCs). Their nature has been extensively studied in older adults, but their significance and relationship with neurocognitive performance have not been fully ad-dressed in younger adults. Some psychological traits have been suggested as possible moderators of the association between objective and subjective memory performance. The first aim of this study was to analyze the corre-spondence between the objective and subjective perception of memory failures in young people. Second, we studied whether the psychological trait of neuroticism could be influencing this relationship. Todo this, we measured SMCs, different cognitive domains (episodic and working memory and executive functions), and neuroticism in 80 young men and women. Results showed that only immediate episodic memory was statisti-cally related to SMCs. Interestingly, the negative relationships between ob-jective and subjective memory performance only appeared in participants with higher neuroticism. Thus, memory complaints reported by young people could reflect poorer immediate episodic memory performance, whereas neuroticism would play a main role in the association between memory deficits and SMCs. This study provides data that can help to bet-ter understand SMCs in young people.(AU)

Increased Sensitivity to Effort and Perception of Effort in People with Schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Motivational deficits in schizophrenia are proposed to be attributable in part to abnormal effort-cost computations, calculations weighing the costs vs. the benefits of actions. Several reports have shown that people with schizophrenia display a reduced willingness to exert effort for monetary rewards when compared to controls. The primary goal of the current study was to further characterize reduced willingness to exert effort in schizophrenia by determining whether reduced willingness reflects (1) reduced sensitivity to reward, (2) increased sensitivity to effort, or (3) a combination of both. DESIGN: We assessed effort-cost decision-making in 30 controls and 30 people with schizophrenia, using 2 separate experimental tasks. Critically, one paradigm allowed for independent estimation of effects of reward and effort sensitivity on choice behavior. The other task isolated effort sensitivity by measuring effort in the absence of reward. Clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires were administered to people with schizophrenia to determine negative symptom severity. RESULTS: Across both tasks, we found evidence for reduced willingness to exert effort in people with schizophrenia compared to controls. Further, in both paradigms reduced willingness to exert effort was driven by increased sensitivity to effort in people with schizophrenia compared to controls. In contrast, measures of reward sensitivity did not significantly differ between groups. Surprisingly, we did not find correlations between task variables and measures of negative symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings further specify prior work by identifying a specific contributory role for increased effort sensitivity in effort-cost decision-making deficits in schizophrenia.

Highlighting the Neuropsychological Consequences of COVID-19: Evidence From a Narrative Review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, although largely affecting the respiratory system, commonly presents with numerous clinical symptoms from other systems. COVID-19 has been associated with both acute and persistent neurological abnormalities in a substantial proportion of patients. Notably, post-COVID-19 neuropsychological abnormalities have garnered attention, highlighting a high prevalence of neurocognitive issues in affected individuals. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the neuropsychological impact of COVID-19, drawing insights from an extensive online search of published literature conducted in the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus databases. The findings underscore significant neuropsychological effects of COVID-19 observed at both individual and societal levels during the ongoing pandemic. Neuropsychological deficits such as memory difficulties, attention problems, and executive dysfunction, alongside physical symptoms like headaches and fatigue were commonly reported. Additionally, psychological challenges, including fear, anxiety, and depression, emerged as prevalent issues arising from the uncertainties surrounding the situation, social isolation, and employment insecurities. The identified neuropsychological manifestations of COVID-19 can significantly impede normal cognitive and emotional functioning, potentially resulting in decreased productivity and an overall decline in mental health and quality of life. Early identification of signs indicative of neurological or psychological decline becomes imperative, offering a crucial opportunity to mitigate the risk of long-term neuropsychological dysfunction through the development of targeted interventions.

The effect of consuming nuts on cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Results from clinical trials investigating the effect of nuts consumption on cognition are conflicting. We decided to conduct the current meta-analysis to summarize all available evidence on the effect of consuming nuts on cognition scores. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search in the online databases using relevant keywords up to June 2024. We included all the published Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of nuts, compared to control, on cognition scores. Results: Overall, 5 trials were included with a total sample size of 928 adults. Based on 6 effect sizes from these 5 trials, we did not find a significant effect of nuts on cognition function [Standardized Mean Difference (SMD): 0.27, 95% CI: -0.65 to 1.19, p = 0.57]. Conclusion: Our review could not find a significant effect of nuts on cognition function. Future high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes should be conducted to shed light on the impact of nuts on cognition.

Neuropsychological outcomes of patients with haematological malignancies undergoing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: protocol for a prospective study.

Introduction: Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) is a common side-effect of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, with symptoms ranging from mild to occasionally life-threatening. The neurological, cognitive, psychiatric and psychosocial sequelae of ICANS are diverse and not well defined, posing a challenge for diagnosis and management. The recovery trajectory of the syndrome is uncertain. Patients are rarely examined in this population pretherapy, adding a layer of complexity to specifying symptoms pertinent solely to CAR-T treatment. We present a protocol of a prospective longitudinal research study of adult patients in a single Australian haematology service undergoing CAR-T therapy. The study will describe neurocognitive features specific to ICANS, characterise the underlying syndrome, capture recovery, identify predictors of differential postinfusion outcomes and determine a set of cognitive instruments necessary to monitor patients acutely. Methods and analysis: This is a prospective longitudinal study that comprises neuropsychological and neurological examinations occurring prior to CAR-T, during the acute post-treatment period, 28 days, 6 months and 12 months post infusion. Data will be sourced from objective psychometric measures, clinical examinations, self-report questionnaires of psychopathology and accounts of subjective cognitive complaint. Ethics and dissemination: This study aims to guide diagnosis, management and monitoring of neurocognitive features of CAR-T cell therapy. Results of this study will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences. All procedures involving human subjects/patients were approved by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Human Research Ethics Committee (21/145).

The prospective associations of 24-hour movement behaviors and domain-specific activities with executive function and academic achievement among school-aged children in Singapore.

Background: Physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep are collectively referred to as 24-h movement behaviors, which may be linked to cognitive development in children. However, most of the evidence was based on cross-sectional studies and/or solely relied on parent-reported information on children's behaviors, and it remains uncertain whether all domains/contexts of PA and SB are similarly associated with executive function and academic achievement. Objective: We investigated the prospective associations of accelerometer-measured 24 h-movement behaviors and domain-specific PA and SB with executive function and academic achievement among school-aged children in Singapore. Methods: The Growing Up in Singapore Toward healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort used a wrist-worn accelerometer (Actigraph-GT3x+) to measure 24 h-movement behaviors data at ages 5.5 and 8 years. Executive function and academic achievement were assessed using NEuroPSYchology (NEPSY) and Wechsler Individual Achievement Tests at ages 8.5 and 9-years, respectively. Compositional data analyses were conducted to explore the associations of 24 h-movement behavior with outcomes, and multiple linear regression models to examine the associations of domain-specific PA and SB with outcomes (n = 432). Results: Among 432 children whose parents agreed to cognitive assessments (47% girls and 58% Chinese), the composition of 24 h-movement behaviors at ages 5.5 and 8 years was not associated with executive function and academic achievement. However, higher moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) relative to remaining movement behaviors at age 5.5 years was associated with lower academic achievement [Mean difference (95% confidence interval): -0.367 (-0.726, -0.009) z-score], and reallocating MVPA time to sleep showed higher academic achievement scores [30 min from MVPA to sleep: 0.214 (0.023, 0.404) z-score]. Certain domains of PA and SB, notably organized PA/sports, outdoor play, and reading books were favorably associated with outcomes of interest, while indoor play and screen-viewing were unfavorably associated. Conclusion: The associations between movement behaviors and cognitive outcomes are multifaceted, influenced by specific domains of PA and SB. This study underscores the importance of participation in organized PA/sports, outdoor active play, and reading books, while ensuring adequate sleep and limiting screen viewing, to enhance cognitive outcomes. These findings underscore the need for further research into time-use trade-offs. Such studies could have major implications for revising current guidelines or strategies aimed at promoting healthier 24 h-movement behaviors in children. Study registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT01174875.

Structural Modeling of Early Ambulation Progression in Patients with Acute Stroke: A Covariance Structure Analysis Approach.

Objectives: This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to elucidate the causal relationships between Functional Independence Measure (FIM) items and consciousness levels in patients with stroke and low consciousness levels 2 weeks after initiating occupational therapy (OT). This modeling sought to identify the factors influencing the number of days required to get out of bed. Methods: SEM was used for multifactorial simultaneous analysis in a study of 22 patients with a Japan Coma Scale score of 20 after stroke. The Glasgow Coma Scale was used to evaluate patients' consciousness level; FIMs were used to evaluate activities of daily living in the ward. Influencing factors, including "bed/chair transfers" and "toilet transfers," were defined as "transfer functions," while factors involving "social interactions," "comprehension," "memory," "problem solving," and "expression" were defined as "cognitive decline." Results: After 2 weeks, standardized coefficients showed that "transfer functions" and "cognitive decline" had effects of -0.33 and -0.25, respectively, on "early ambulation days." Further analysis revealed that improvements in "consciousness level" impacted "early ambulation days," with coefficients of -0.35 for "transfer functions" and 0.14 for "cognitive decline." Through the "consciousness level" observation variable, the coefficients of indirect effects were -0.27 for "transfer function" on "days to get out of bed," 0.38 for "cognitive decline," and -0.06 for "self-care" on "early ambulation days." Conclusions: Improvement in transfer movements and cognitive decline influenced the number of days required to get out of bed without improving consciousness or affecting early ambulation.

Impact of sleep disturbance on longitudinal cognitive performance in patients with transient ischemic attack or mild stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disturbances including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and poor sleep quality are common after stroke, while its association with cognitive changes following transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke remains unclear. We aim to determine whether sleep duration, OSA parameters, or nocturnal hypoxemia is associated with a greater cognitive decline after stroke. METHODS: We prospectively followed-up patients with acute TIA/mild stroke [National Institute Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) < 7] who underwent baseline sleep questionnaire [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)], and serial cognitive assessments [Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 5-min, Stroop Test] at baseline and one-year. We also evaluated apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and nocturnal hypoxemia by Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) at one-year. Primary outcome was one-year change in MoCA 5-min score. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients with TIA/mild stroke (mean age 63 years, 65 % male) were included. Baseline short sleep (< 6 hour/night) and AHI ≥ 20/hour at one-year were independently associated with a decline in the MoCA 5-min total score after covariates adjustment [short sleep: ß = -2.36 95 % confidence interval (CI) (-4.13, -0.59), p = 0.009; AHI ≥ 20/hour: ß = -1.79 (-3.26, -0.32), p = 0.017; remained significant after multiple comparisons correction]. A lower mean MinSpO2 was associated with a decline in executive function [Stroop interference index: ß = 0.29 (0.04, 0.53), p = 0.021], but not with MoCA 5-min score at one-year. Moderation analysis indicated AHI ≥ 20/hour was associated with a pronounced decline in executive function only in men. CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep after stroke onset, AHI ≥ 20/hour and nocturnal hypoxemia at one-year contributed to an impaired cognitive trajectory at one-year following stroke in patients with TIA/mild stroke.

Comparing third-party responsibility with intention attribution: An fMRI investigation of moral judgment.

Neuroimaging studies demonstrate that moral responsibility judgments activate the social cognition network, presumably reflecting mentalising processes. Conceptually, establishing an agent's intention is a sub-process of responsibility judgment. However, the relationship between both processes on a neural level is poorly understood. To date, neural correlates of responsibility and intention judgments have not been compared directly. The present fMRI study compares neural activation elicited by third-party judgments of responsibility and intention in response to animated pictorial stimuli showing harm events. Our results show that the social cognition network, in particular Angular Gyrus (AG) and right Temporo-Parietal Junction (RTPJ), showed stronger activation during responsibility vs. intention evaluation. No greater activations for the reverse contrast were observed. Our imaging results are consistent with conceptualisations of intention attribution as a sub-process of responsibility judgment. However, they question whether the activation of the social cognition network, particularly AG/RTPJ, during responsibility judgment is limited to intention evaluation.

Is severe alcohol use disorder really associated with increased utilitarian moral judgment? Exploration using the CNI model.

OBJECTIVES: The psychology of moral decision-making classically contrasts utilitarianism (based on consequences) and deontology (based on moral norms). Previous studies capitalizing on this dichotomy have suggested the presence of a utilitarian bias among patients with severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD). We aimed to further disentangle the processes involved in such bias through a more validated approach, the CNI model of moral decision-making. This model allows to go further than the classical approach by distinguishing sensitivity to consequences (C), to moral norms (N), and general preference for inaction over action (I) in response to moral dilemmas. METHODS: Thirty-four recently detoxified patients with SAUD and 34 matched control participants completed a battery of 48 dilemmas derived from the CNI model, as well as social cognition tasks. RESULTS: In contrast with the utilitarian bias suggested in previous studies based on the classical approach, patients with SAUD did not show an increased sensitivity to consequences in comparison with control participants. However, they showed a reduced sensitivity to moral norms, as well as a greater action tendency. These biases were not related to social cognition deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SAUD are not more utilitarian than healthy controls, this previously reported bias being artificially generated by the methodological limits of the classical approach. Instead, they present a reduced sensitivity to moral norms and an action bias, which might impact their interpersonal relations and contribute to the social isolation frequently reported in this population, thus identifying moral decision-making as a new therapeutic lever in SAUD.

Effects of acute estradiol administration on perimenstrual worsening of working memory, verbal fluency, and inhibition in patients with suicidal ideation: A randomized, crossover clinical trial.

Accumulating evidence indicates that most female patients with suicidal ideation (SI) experience a dimensional worsening of depressive symptoms and SI in the perimenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. Experimental trials demonstrate that acute perimenstrual administration of estradiol (E2; with or without progesterone/P4), can prevent these recurring episodes of increased risk. In this archival sample drawn from one of these clinical trials, we examined whether these beneficial E2 effects extend to specific types of cognition. For a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment, we recruited transdiagnostic psychiatric outpatients with natural menstrual cycles who experienced past-month SI (N(per-protocol sample)=23; N(intent-to-treat sample)=44). In each of two counterbalanced conditions (perimenstrual administration of 0.1mg/d transdermal E2 vs. placebo), participants completed three cognitive tasks in three menstrual cycle phases (mid-luteal, perimenstrual, mid-follicular). Multilevel models revealed a significant interaction of condition and phase: E2 administration prevented mid-luteal-to-perimenstrual drops in working memory (p=.006) and verbal fluency (p=.005) observed under placebo. No effects were found for inhibitory control. In conclusion, we find perimenstrual declines in working memory and verbal fluency in patients with SI, which can be prevented by administering E2. This study contributes to our understanding of the hormone-brain pathways involved in the cyclical worsening of suicidality.

Regulatory adverse drug reaction analyses support a temporal increase in psychiatric reactions after initiation of cystic fibrosis combination modulator therapies.

INTRODUCTION: Despite improved outcomes for many people with cystic fibrosis, there have been reports of adverse neuropsychiatric effects of modulator therapy. The aim of this research is to define temporal associations in adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports for available CFTR modulators. METHODS: Methods include an analysis of the UK Yellow Card Scheme data for ADRs through accessing interactive Drug Analysis Profiles (iDAPs) to define temporal trends in absolute and proportional counts. RESULTS: Since the introduction of ETI, there has been an increase in the absolute number of psychiatric ADRs reported as well as a statistically significant increase in the proportion of psychiatric ADRs in the pre-ETI and post-ETI periods. CONCLUSION: In the post-ETI period, psychiatric ADRs are the most prevalent ADR reported via the Yellow Card scheme. Despite an unclear mechanism, there is significant clinical relevance in counselling and monitoring regarding psychiatric effects of CFTR modulator therapy.

Effects of mindfulness-based music listening on conflict control in young adults with insomnia disorder: behavioral and event-related potential evidence.

Introduction: Insomnia Disorder (ID) has become the second most prevalent mental disorder, with significant negative effects on daytime cognitive functions. Previous studies suggested that mindfulness-based music listening (MBML) can effectively improve conflict control and attentional processing in healthy adults. However, the behavioral and neurophysiological characteristics of MBML in young adults with ID remain unclear. Methods: To explore the behavioral and neurophysiological characteristics of MBML in regulating negative emotions among young Chinese adults with ID, 60 young adults with ID were asked to complete an emotion-word Stroop task under three mood states while recording event-related potentials (ERPs). Results: Task and questionnaire results showed that (1) negative emotion induced by the negative simulated video significantly suppressed the attentional processing of emotional faces and words in the conflict control task among young people with ID, (2) MBML reduced cognitive and physical arousal levels, enhanced positive mood, and improved attentional control abilities in young adults with ID. The ERP results showed that a greater N3 effect and the smaller P3 and late positive component (LPC) effects reflected that MBML effectively regulated negative emotions induced by the negative simulated video and attentional processing abilities for conflict control in young adults with ID. Discussion: Maintaining mindfulness while listening to music may enhance positive emotional experiences and improve cognitive ability, and exhibit larger N3 effects and smaller P3 and LPC effects in the electrophysiology mechanism, with a reduction in the hyperarousal level in young adults with insomnia disorders.

Physiology-inspired bifocal fronto-parietal tACS for working memory enhancement.

Aging populations face significant cognitive challenges, particularly in working memory (WM). Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) offer promising avenues for cognitive enhancement, especially when inspired by brain physiology. This study (NCT04986787) explores the effect of multifocal tACS on WM performance in healthy older adults, focusing on fronto-parietal network modulation. Individualized physiology-inspired tACS applied to the fronto-parietal network was investigated in two blinded cross-over experiments. The first experiment involved monofocal/bifocal theta-tACS to the fronto-parietal network, while in the second experiment cross-frequency theta-gamma interactions between these regions were explored. Participants have done online WM tasks under the stimulation conditions. Network connectivity was assessed via rs-fMRI and multichannel electroencephalography. Prefrontal monofocal theta tACS modestly improved WM accuracy over sham (d = 0.30). Fronto-parietal stimulation enhanced WM task processing speed, with the strongest effects for bifocal in-phase theta tACS (d = 0.41). Cross-frequency stimulations modestly boosted processing speed with or without impairing task accuracy depending on the stimulation protocol. This research adds to the understanding of physiology-inspired brain stimulation for cognitive enhancement in older subjects.

The effect of temporal predictability on sensory gating: Cortical responses inform perception.

Prepulse inhibition of perceived stimulus intensity (PPIPSI) is a phenomenon where a weak stimulus preceding a stronger one reduces the perceived intensity of the latter. Previous studies have shown that PPIPSI relies on attention and is sensitive to stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). Longer SOAs may increase conscious awareness of the impact of gating mechanisms on perception by allowing more time for attention to be directed toward relevant processing channels. In other psychophysiological paradigms, temporal predictability improves attention to task relevant stimuli and processes. We hypothesized that temporal predictability may similarly facilitate attention being directed toward the pulse and its processing in PPIPSI. To examine this, we conducted a 2 (SOA: 90 ms, 150 ms) × 2 (predictability: low, high) experiment, where participants were tasked with comparing the perceived intensity of an acoustic pulse-alone against one preceded by a prepulse. The relationship between PPIPSI and cortical PPI (N1-P2 inhibition) was also investigated. Significant main effects of temporal predictability, SOA, and cortical PPI were revealed. Under high temporal predictability, both SOAs (90 and 150 ms) elicited greater PPIPSI. The findings indicate that temporal predictability enhances the timely allocation of finite attentional resources, increasing PPIPSI observations by facilitating perceptual access to the gated pulse signal. Moreover, the finding that reductions in N1-P2 magnitude by a prepulse are associated with increased probability of the participants perceiving the pulse "with prepulse" as less intense, suggests that under various experimental conditions, the link between these cortical processes and perception is similarly engaged.

Neuronal oscillations in cognition: Down syndrome as a model of mouse to human translation.

Down syndrome (DS), a prevalent cognitive disorder resulting from trisomy of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21), poses a significant global health concern. Affecting approximately 1 in 800 live births worldwide, DS is the leading genetic cause of intellectual disability and a major predisposing factor for early-onset Alzheimer's dementia. The estimated global population of individuals with DS is 6 million, with increasing prevalence due to advances in DS health care. Global efforts are dedicated to unraveling the mechanisms behind the varied clinical outcomes in DS. Recent studies on DS mouse models reveal disrupted neuronal circuits, providing insights into DS pathologies. Yet, translating these findings to humans faces challenges due to limited systematic electrophysiological analyses directly comparing human and mouse. Additionally, disparities in experimental procedures between the two species pose hurdles to successful translation. This review provides a concise overview of neuronal oscillations in human and rodent cognition. Focusing on recent DS mouse model studies, we highlight disruptions in associated brain function. We discuss various electrophysiological paradigms and suggest avenues for exploring molecular dysfunctions contributing to DS-related cognitive impairments. Deciphering neuronal oscillation intricacies holds promise for targeted therapies to alleviate cognitive disabilities in DS individuals.

Group Dissociation-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (DF-CBT) in Patients Suffering from a Dissociative Subtype of PTSD: An Exploratory Study.

Dissociation is a widespread difficulty among patients suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, there is no gold standard treatment for dissociative symptoms. Recent studies propose a cognitive and behavioral conceptualization for dissociation. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of a group program of Dissociation-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (DF-CBT) on dissociative symptoms. We recruited 27 patients suffering from a dissociative subtype of PTSD in a university hospital trauma center. Participants completed questionnaires evaluating dissociation, PTSD, mindfulness abilities, beliefs about emotions, beliefs about dissociation, emotion regulation difficulties, anxiety and depression. Following an initial evaluation, participants undertook 7 sessions of DF-CBT, and were reevaluated after the last session using the same questionnaires. We found a significant reduction of dissociative, PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms following DF-CBT. The effect size was noticeable for all variables (.61

Inbreeding and high developmental temperatures affect cognition and boldness in guppies (Poecilia reticulata).

Inbreeding impairs the cognitive abilities of humans, but its impact on cognition in other animals is poorly studied. For example, environmental stress (e.g. food limitation and extreme temperatures) often amplifies inbreeding depression in morphological traits, but whether cognition is similarly affected is unclear. We, therefore, tested if a higher temperature (30°C versus 26°C) during development exacerbates any difference in inhibitory control between inbred (f = 0.25) and outbred guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Inhibitory control is an aspect of cognition that is often measured in vertebrates using a detour test, in which animals have to navigate around a transparent barrier to reach a reward. We also tested if inbreeding and temperature affect 'boldness', which is a putative personality trait in guppies. Inbreeding lowered inhibitory control of guppies raised at the higher temperature but not those raised at the control temperature. Inbred fish were significantly less bold than outbred fish. In addition, males, but not females, raised at the higher temperature had significantly lower inhibitory control. There was no effect of temperature on the boldness of either sex. Our study is among the first to test if experimentally induced inbreeding impairs cognition in a non-domesticated vertebrate. We show that both inbreeding and higher temperatures during development can affect the behaviour and cognitive abilities of fish. These findings are noteworthy given the twin threats of rising global temperatures and more frequent inbreeding as habitat fragmentation reduces population sizes.

The Association Between Respiratory Functions, Pain Tolerance and Body Awareness in Obstructive Lung Diseases.

PURPOSE: There are only a limited number of studies in the literature evaluating body awareness, pain perception, and the relationship between clinical parameters and respiratory functions in patients with obstructive lung disease (OLD) and compared with healthy individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate respiratory functions, pain tolerance, and body awareness in patients with OLD and compare these findings with those of healthy individuals. METHODS: The study included 33 patients and 30 healthy individuals. The respiratory function (spirometer), respiratory muscle strength (mouth pressure device), endurance (threshold loading device), pain level and tolerance (short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire and algometer), posture, and body awareness (Body Awareness Questionnaire-BAQ) were evaluated. RESULTS: The pain threshold and tolerance of the biceps, triceps, trapezius, and quadriceps muscles were significantly lower and BAQ scores were higher in patients with OLD compared with healthy individuals (p < .05). There was a significant relationship between FEV1 (%) and pain tolerance of the triceps (r = 0.371, p = .047) and gastrocnemius muscles (r = 0.419, p = .024); FVC (%) and pain threshold of the gastrocnemius (r = 0.413, p = .023), triceps muscles (r = 0.394, p = .034), and pain tolerance of the gastrocnemius muscle (r = 0.549, p = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OLD have a marked increase in pain perception and body awareness levels and a decrease in pain threshold and tolerance compared with healthy controls. Future studies should assess the effectiveness of pain management interventions as a part of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic respiratory diseases. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Pain management is important for planning pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.