Association between ADHD symptoms and inhibition-related brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with deficits in inhibitory functions including interference control, inhibition of prepotent/automatic responses and suppression of already initiated responses. This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the neural basis of these three forms of inhibition assessed by a recently developed behavioral protocol combining the Stroop-matching/stop-signal task in twenty-five young adults with inattention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity symptoms. The severity of ADHD symptoms was measured using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). The concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) was assessed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and temporoparietal regions (TP) during the Stroop-matching/stop-signal task. Correlations yielded significant associations between ASRS scores and HbO concentration in frontal regions during blocks with stop-signal tasks, namely the right IFG, the left DLPFC and the left IFG. This study revealed that different types of inhibition involve unique frontal and temporoparietal activities and linked frontal dysfunction during the suppression of ongoing responses to the severity of ADHD symptoms.

Spatial incompatibility training can prevent the occurrence of the enhanced Simon effect in elderly / Treinamento de incompatibilidade espacial pode prevenir a ocorrência do efeito Simon ampliado em idosos

The Simon effect is typically larger for older people than for young adults, maybe due to age-related decline in inhibitory capabilities. 32 right-handed aged people (5 male, 27 female; mean of 67,1 years ± 5,5) participated in this study. In screening were used the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Center for Epidemiological Study Depression Scale. Then, half of the participants practiced the spatial incompatibility task before the Simon task and the other group was only tested on the Simon task. The analysis of variance considering practice (incompatible, no-practice group) and correspondence (corresponding, non-corresponding) revealed a two-way interaction (F = 7.07; p = 0.012; ηp2 = 0.191) showing that the Simon effect was eliminated in the incompatible practice group, but remained intact in the group with no previous practice. These results indicated that cognitive processes required to the transfer of learning are preserved in elderly, being potentially useful to influence spatial inhibitory capabilities.

O efeito Simon é tipicamente maior em pessoas idosas do que em adultos jovens, talvez devido ao declínio de capacidades inibitórias em função da idade. Participaram deste estudo 32 pessoas idosas e destras (5 homens e 27 mulheres; média de 67,1 anos ± 5,5). Para rastreio, foram usados o Mini Exame do Estado Mental e a escala de depressão do Center for Epidemiological Studies. Metade dos participantes praticou a tarefa de incompatibilidade espacial antes da tarefa de Simon e o outro grupo foi testado apenas na tarefa de Simon. A análise de variância, considerando a prática prévia (incompatível ou sem prática) e correspondência (correspondente, não correspondente), indicou uma interação dupla (F = 7,07; p = 0,012; ηp2 = 0,191), demonstrando que o efeito Simon foi eliminado no grupo de prática incompatível, mas permaneceu ampliado no grupo sem prática anterior. Esses resultados indicaram que os processos cognitivos necessários para transferir a aprendizagem estão preservados em idosos, sendo potencialmente úteis para influenciar as capacidades inibitórias espaciais.

The Stroop-matching task as a tool to study the correspondence effect using images of graspable and non-graspable objects.

The Stroop-matching task is a variation of the Stroop task in which participants have to compare a Stroop stimulus attribute (color or word) to a second stimulus. The Stroop-matching response conflict (SMRC) represents an interference related to the processes involved in selection/execution of manual responses. In the present study, we developed a variation of the Stroop-matching task in which the Stroop stimuli were matched to graspable objects (a cup) with intact or broken handles laterally oriented (Experiment 1) or to colored bars laterally presented (Experiment 2). It allowed testing the presence of the correspondence effect for lateralized handles and bars and its possible influence on SMRC. Two different intervals (100 and 800 ms) were also included to investigate time modulations in behavioral performance (reaction time and accuracy). Fifty-five volunteers participated in the study. In both experiments, significant SMRC was found, but no interaction occurred between SMRC and correspondence effect, supporting that the hypothesis of different and relatively independent psychological mechanisms is at the basis of each effect. Because significant facilitation for ipsilateral motor responses (correspondence effect) occurred for graspable objects but not for lateralized bars, the attentional shift/spatial-coding view was not able to completely explain our data, and therefore, the grasping affordance hypothesis remained as the most plausible explanation. The time course of facilitation observed in the first experiment and by others indicates the importance of further studies to better understand the time dynamic of facilitation/inhibition of motor responses induced by graspable objects.

Accuracy of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Tubal Sterilization Microinsert Positioning: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The current reference standard to check the position of a tubal sterilization microinsert device after its insertion is hysterosalpingography. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography (US) in the positioning of the tubal sterilization microinsert for definitive contraception. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases through October 2017. Selection criteria included studies that analyzed the accuracy of 2D or 3D US, or both, with respect to the positioning of the microinsert. Data were displayed as forest plots and a summary receiver operating characteristic curves. Values for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated. The pooled analysis produced sensitivity and specificity values for 2D US in the positioning of the microinsert of 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-1.0) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.88-0.95), respectively, with positive and negative LRs of 8.68 (95% CI, 1.63-46.1) and 0.35 (95% CI, 0.11-1.11), respectively. Three studies analyzed the performance of 3D US, showing sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative LRs of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.35-0.97), 0.82 (95% CI, 0.77-0.87), 3.65 (95% CI, 2.31-5.75), and 0.46 (95% CI, 0.2-1.09). In conclusion, 2D and 3D US are methods that show good accuracy in tubal sterilization microinsert positioning.

Inhibitory mechanisms involved in Stroop-matching and stop-signal tasks and the role of impulsivity.

Stroop-like and stop-signal tasks are commonly used to evaluate "inhibition", a multifaceted concept fundamental to better understanding of executive functions. Both tasks demand inhibitory processes for their execution; the first requires inhibition of an irrelevant attribute, while the second involves the inhibition of a prepotent motor response. Impulsivity and decision-making represent two other factors that could be associated to executive control and to inhibitory dyscontrol. In this study we developed a behavioral protocol combining the Stroop-matching (a variation of the classic Stroop task) and the stop-signal tasks to investigate possible interactions between the inhibitory mechanisms involved in both tasks. Moreover, we searched for associations between behavioral performance of healthy participants, and self-reported impulsivity and decision-making processes assessed by the BIS-11 scale and IGT, respectively. Our results showed that the primary-task reaction time in the Stroop-matching task influenced the ability to inhibit motor responses in the stop-signal task. Moreover, impulsiveness scores (but not decision-making) were associated to behavioral performance. Importantly, motor and attentional impulsiveness correlated differently to performance depending on the existence of stop-signal trials in the task. Our protocol revealed promising findings concerning the interaction between different inhibitory processes and their association with impulsivity levels.

Vulnerabilidade na adolescência: Um relato decaso de tentativa de aborto e violência sexual / Vulnerability in adolescence: a case report of attempted abortion and sexual violence

INTRODUCTION: Abortion, even when provided by law in cases of sexual violence, continues to be practiced in an insecure way, since women who suffer violence are not reported or guarded by social, institutional or age vulnerability, as in adolescence. OBJECTIVE: Describe the clinical consequences of unsafe abortion, report this experience as well as sexual violence in situations of social and age vulnerability. METHODS: It is a clinical case report, with the consent of the patient, in the year 2016, of a 16-year-old female adolescent with a personal history of sexual violence by an intimate aggressor. Admitted to the health service with diagnosis of acute abdomen and induced abortion using antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: Laboratory tests revealed altered C reactive protein and presence of leukocytosis, ultrasound showed heterogenic mass, computed tomography showed presence of cylindrical foreign body in vaginal cavity, surgical interventions, sepsis, clinical complications (pulmonary thromboembolism) and prolonged hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The history of violence portrayed in this study reveals an attempt of abortion with self harm, revealing negative clinical repercussions and the health problems of the adolescent. This person has committed an abortion that does not fit into the abortion criteria provided by law. It also revealed the need for further discussion on the topic, highlighting health promotion practices against unsafe abortion.

INTRODUÇÃO: O aborto, mesmo quando previsto por lei nos casos de violência sexual, continua a ser praticado de maneira insegura, uma vez que as mulheres que experimentam essa violência não a relatam ou velam por vulnerabilidade social, institucional ou etária, como na adolescência. OBJETIVO: Descrever as consequências clínicas do aborto inseguro e relatar essa experiência vivenciada bem como a violência sexual em situações de vulnerabilidade social e etária MÉTODO: Trata se de relato de caso clínico, com consentimento da paciente, ocorrido no ano de 2016 de uma adolescente, sexo feminino, 16 anos com antecedente pessoal de violência sexual de agressor íntimo. Admitida em serviço de saúde com diagnóstico de abdome agudo e aborto induzido em uso de antibioticoterapia. RESULTADOS: Laboratoriais revelaram proteína C reativa alterada e presença de leucocitose, ultrassonografia apresentou massa heterogênica, tomográfica computadorizada evidenciou presença de corpo estranho cilíndrico em cavidade vaginal, intervenções cirúrgicas, infecções generalizadas, complicações clínicas. CONCLUSÃO: A história de violência retratada nesse estudo revela uma tentativa de aborto com autolesão, desvelando repercussões clínicas negativas e os agravos à saúde da adolescente. Esta que cometeu um aborto que não se insere nos critérios de aborto previsto por lei. Revelou ainda a necessidade de maior discussão sobre o tema, destacando as práticas de promoção da saúde contra o aborto inseguro.

The Perception of Aversiveness of Surgical Procedure Pictures Is Modulated by Personal/Occupational Relevance.

It is well established that emotions are organized around two motivational systems: the defensive and the appetitive. Individual differences are relevant factors in emotional reactions, making them more flexible and less stereotyped. There is evidence that health professionals have lower emotional reactivity when viewing scenes of situations involving pain. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the rating of pictures of surgical procedure depends on their personal/occupational relevance. Fifty-two female Nursing (health discipline) and forty-eight Social Work (social science discipline) students participated in the experiment, which consisted of the presentation of 105 images of different categories (e.g., neutral, food), including 25 images of surgical procedure. Volunteers judged each picture according to its valence (pleasantness) and arousal using the Self-Assessment Manikin scale (dimensional approach). Additionally, the participants chose the word that best described what they felt while viewing each image (discrete emotion perspective). The average valence score for surgical procedure pictures for the Nursing group (M = 4.57; SD = 1.02) was higher than the score for the Social Work group (M = 3.31; SD = 1.05), indicating that Nursing students classified those images as less unpleasant than the Social Work students did. Additionally, the majority of Nursing students (65.4%) chose "neutral" as the word that best described what they felt while viewing the pictures. In the Social Work group, disgust (54.2%) was the emotion that was most frequently chosen. The evaluation of emotional stimuli differed according to the groups' personal/occupational relevance: Nursing students judged pictures of surgical procedure as less unpleasant than the Social Work students did, possibly reflecting an emotional regulation skill or some type of habituation that is critically relevant to their future professional work.

Blind aspiration biopsy versus a guided hysteroscopic technique for investigation of the endometrium in infertile women.

Embryo implantation failure and recurrent abortion are common indications for endometrial evaluation to determine the implantation window and diagnose endometrial anomalies. There are few research studies comparing the efficacy of different techniques used for endometrial sampling in infertile females during the luteal phase. Likewise, morphometric studies of the endometrium through aspiration biopsy are scant. A cross-sectional study of 30 infertile and 10 fertile females was carried out. The study participants underwent hysteroscopic and aspiration biopsies (pipelle) at the midluteal phase. Computer-assisted morphometric and pathological anatomy analyses were conducted independently by two pathologists blinded to the study. The two endometrial sampling biopsy techniques were compared through morphometric and pathological anatomy analyses using three parameters: a) the amount of material collected for the endometrial studies; b) the scope and origin of sampled materials; and c) the quality of the sample. Both biopsy techniques produced sufficient material for analysis. The directed biopsies yielded higher quality samples from targeted segments of the uterine cavity because samples were homogeneous and had no architectural distortion (p<0.05). Blood was present only in the samples obtained through a Pipelle. Endometritis was detected in 10% of the infertile women. Our findings suggest that hysteroscopic biopsies are superior to blinded aspiration biopsies.

Order of stimulus presentation modulates interference in Stroop matching tasks: a reaction time study / Ordem de apresentação de estímulos modula interferências em testes Stroop-pareado: um estudo de tempo de reação / Orden de presentación de estímulos modula interferencias en testes Stroop-pareado: un estudio de tiempo de reacción

In the classic Stroop effect, the time spent to name the color of an incon­gruent stimulus (GREEN in blue) is longer than the time necessary to name the color of a congruent stimulus (BLUE in blue). In the “Stroop matching task”, volunteers are instructed to compare attributes of two stimuli, in which one of them is necessarily a Stroop stimulus. Our aim was to investigate whether the order of stimulus presentation can explain some contradictory results and reveal the imposition of high-order cognitive resources in conflict resolution. Our results confirmed that the strategy adopted in the task depended on the order in which stimuli were presented. In the “Stroop-Bar” order, using the interval between stimuli to solve the conflict inherent to the Stroop stimulus is possible, which is otherwise not possible in the “Bar-Stroop” order. However, these strategies cannot explain the discrepancy in the results reported in the literature.

No teste Stroop clássico, o tempo gasto para nomear a cor de um estímulo incongruente (VERDE em azul) é maior que o necessário para nomear a cor de um estímulo congruente (AZUL em azul). No teste Stroop-Pareado (Stroop matching task), voluntários são instruídos a comparar atributos de dois estímulos, sendo um deles, necessariamente, um estímulo Stroop. Nosso objetivo foi investigar se a ordem de apresentação dos estímulos pode explicar resultados contraditórios e revelar a imposição de recursos de alta ordem na solução de conflitos. Nossos resultados confirmam que a estratégia adotada para desempenhar a tarefa depende da ordem na qual os estímulos foram apresentados. Na ordem “Stroop-Barra”, é possível usar o intervalo entre os estímulos para solucionar o conflito inerente ao estímulo Stroop, o que não é possível na ordem “Barra-Stroop”. No entanto, essas estratégias não conseguem explicar a discrepância de resultados observados na literatura.

En la tarea Stroop clásica, el tiempo utilizado para nombrar el color de un estímulo incongruente (VERDE en azul) es más grande que lo necesario para nombrar el color de un estímulo congruente (AZUL en azul). En una tarea Stroop de comparación (Stroop matching task), voluntarios son instruidos a comparar atributos de dos estímulos, uno de ellos siendo necesariamente un estímulo Stroop. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar si el orden de presentación de los estímulos puede explicar algunos resultados contradictorios y revelar la imposición de recursos de alto orden en la solución­ de conflictos. Nuestros resultados confirman que la estrategia adoptada en la tarea depende del orden en el cual los estímulos fueran presentados. En el orden “Stroop-Barra” es posible utilizar el intervalo entre los estímulos para solucionar el conflicto inherente al estímulo Stroop, lo que no es posible en el orden “Barra-Stroop”. Sin embargo, esas estrategias no consiguen explicar la discrepancia de los resultados observados en la literatura.

Attentional disengagement is modulated by the offset of unpleasant pictures: a saccadic reaction time study.

We studied the influence of passively viewing a picture on saccade latencies to peripheral targets. Thirty-two volunteers were instructed to look at a central picture, wait for the onset of a peripheral target, and execute a saccade toward it as quickly as possible - saccadic reaction time (SRT). The central picture (neutral or unpleasant) could be turned off simultaneously with target onset (the no-gap condition) or 200ms prior to target onset (the gap-200 condition). We found that saccade latencies were influenced by emotional valence and condition. In the no-gap condition, SRTs were longer after viewing unpleasant pictures. In the gap-200 condition, the pattern was reversed, and unpleasant pictures induced shorter SRTs in relation to neutral pictures. Furthermore, the influence of unpleasant pictures gradually decreased when images were re-exposed to the participants - affective habituation. The results are discussed in terms of attentional avoidance and disengagement from unpleasant emotional pictures.

Emotional processing in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there are differences in emotional processing among people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, using Lang's dimensional model of emotions. A total of 22 individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder participated in the study and were compared to a control group (n=25). All participants assessed a set of photographs with emotional content (pleasant, neutral, unpleasant, and with obsessive-compulsive content) using the Self-Assessment Manikin pictorial scales for rating emotional valence (pleasant/unpleasant), arousal (calm/aroused) and dominance (controlling/controlled). The results show significant differences in the processing of emotional images among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder and the high predictive value of dominance for diagnosis.

Stimulus appraisal modulates cardiac reactivity to briefly presented mutilation pictures.

Emotional reactions to threatening situations can be either advantageous for human adaptation or unfavorable for physical and mental health if sustained over prolonged periods of time. These contrasting effects mostly depend on the individual's capacity for emotion regulation. It has been shown, for example, that changing appraisal can alter the course of emotional processing. In the present study, the influence of stimulus appraisal over cardiac reactivity to briefly presented (200ms) mutilation pictures was tested in the context of an affective classification task. Heart rate and reaction time of twenty-four undergraduate students were monitored during the presentation of pictures (neutral or mutilated bodies) in successive blocks. In one condition (real), participants were told that the pictures depicted real events. In the other condition (fictitious), they were told that the pictures were taken from movie scenes. As expected, the results showed a more pronounced bradycardia to mutilation pictures, in comparison to neural pictures, in the real context. In the fictitious context, a significant attenuation of the emotional modulation (defensive bradycardia) was observed. However, this attenuation seemed to be transient because it was only observed in the first presentation block of the fictitious context. Reaction time to classify mutilation pictures, compared to neutral pictures, was slower in both contexts, reflecting the privileged processing of emotionally laden material. The present findings show that even briefly presented mutilation pictures elicit a differential cardiac reactivity and modulate behavioral performance. Importantly, changing stimulus appraisal attenuates the emotional modulation of cardiac reactivity (defensive bradycardia).

[Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy for the diagnosis of fibroepithelial breast tumors]. / Biópsia com agulha grossa guiada por ultrassonografia para o diagnóstico dos tumores fibroepiteliais da mama.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the concordance rate of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy followed by excisional biopsy in palpable breast lumps, suggestive of fibroepithelial tumors. METHOD: a retrospective study included 70 biopsies with a histological diagnosis of fibroepithelial tumor in 67 out of 531 patients with breast lesions submitted to ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy with a high frequency (7.5 MHz) linear transducer, using an automatic Bard-Magnum gun and a 14-gauge needle. Cases with a diagnosis of fibroepithelial tumor by core needle biopsy or excisional biopsy and with a diagnosis of fibrosclerosis were included in the study. The agreement between the two biopsy methods was assessed using the Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: excisional biopsy revealed 40 cases of fibroadenoma (57.1%), 19 cases of phyllodes tumor (27.2%), and 11 cases of fibrosclerosis (15.7%). The concordance rate for fibroadenoma was substantial (k = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.45 - 0.91), almost perfect for the phyllodes tumor (k = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.57 - 1.0), and moderate for fibrosclerosis (k = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.36 - 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: the core needle biopsy is a minimally invasive method that has "substantial" to "almost perfect" concordance rate with excisional biopsy. Fibrosclerosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fibroepithelial tumors.

Biópsia com agulha grossa guiada por ultrassonografia para o diagnóstico dos tumores fibroepiteliais da mama / Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy for the diagnosis of fibroepithelial breast tumors

OBJETIVO: avaliar a taxa de concordância da biópsia percutânea com agulha grossa guiada por ultrassom seguida pela biópsia excisional em nódulos de mama palpáveis, sugestivos de tumores fibroepiteliais. MÉTODO: estudo retrospectivo que selecionou 70 biópsias com diagnóstico histológico de tumor fibroepitelial em 67 dentre 531 pacientes com lesões mamárias submetidas à biópsia percutânea com agulha grossa guiada por ultrassonografia, com transdutor linear de alta frequência (7.5 MHz), utilizando pistola automática Bard-Magnum e agulha 14 gauge. Foram incluídos os casos com diagnóstico de tumor fibroepitelial na biópsia percutânea ou biópsia excisional. Biópsias com diagnóstico histopatológico de fibroesclerose também foram incluídas no estudo. A força da concordância entre o resultado da biópsia percutânea e da biópsia excisional foi medida pelo coeficiente de Kappa. RESULTADOS: a biópsia excisional revelou 40 casos de fibroadenoma (57,1 por cento), 19 de tumor filoide (27,2 por cento) e 11 de fibroesclerose (15,7 por cento). A taxa de concordância para o fibroadenoma foi substancial (k = 0,68; IC95 por cento = 0,45 - 0,91), quase perfeita para o tumor filoide (k = 0,81; IC95 por cento = 0,57 - 1,0) e moderada para a fibroesclerose (k = 0,58; IC95 por cento = 0,36 - 0,90). CONCLUSÕES: a biópsia percutânea com agulha grossa é propedêutica minimamente invasiva que tem taxas de concordância com a biópsia excisional, de "substancial" a "quase perfeita". A fibroesclerose deve ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial dos tumores fibroepiteliais.

PURPOSE: to evaluate the concordance rate of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy followed by excisional biopsy in palpable breast lumps, suggestive of fibroepithelial tumors. METHOD: a retrospective study included 70 biopsies with a histological diagnosis of fibroepithelial tumor in 67 out of 531 patients with breast lesions submitted to ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy with a high frequency (7.5 MHz) linear transducer, using an automatic Bard-Magnum gun and a 14-gauge needle. Cases with a diagnosis of fibroepithelial tumor by core needle biopsy or excisional biopsy and with a diagnosis of fibrosclerosis were included in the study. The agreement between the two biopsy methods was assessed using the Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: excisional biopsy revealed 40 cases of fibroadenoma (57.1 percent), 19 cases of phyllodes tumor (27.2 percent), and 11 cases of fibrosclerosis (15.7 percent). The concordance rate for fibroadenoma was substantial (k = 0.68, 95 percentCI = 0.45 - 0.91), almost perfect for the phyllodes tumor (k = 0.81, 95 percentCI = 0.57 - 1.0), and moderate for fibrosclerosis (k = 0.58, 95 percentCI = 0.36 - 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: the core needle biopsy is a minimally invasive method that has "substantial" to "almost perfect" concordance rate with excisional biopsy. Fibrosclerosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fibroepithelial tumors.

Stroop matching task: role of feature selection and temporal modulation.

We conducted an event-related potential (ERP) study to investigate the electrocortical dynamics of attentional feature-based processing in the Stroop matching task. Participants in the study (n = 37) compared the ink color of a colored word with the meaning of a color-word in white ink. The two task stimuli were presented simultaneously or with SOAs (Stimulus Onset Asynchrony) of 400 and 1,200 ms. The Stroop matching effect was maximal during SOA-0, was reduced at SOA-400, and was inverted at SOA-1200. We focused the ERP analysis on the N1 component. Paralleling the behavioral results, the N1 amplitude was greater for congruent stimuli than incongruent stimuli during SOA-0. This difference was attenuated at SOA-400, and at SOA-1200, an inverse pattern was observed. The results provide evidence that early selection processing participated in the Stroop matching task phenomenon and also suggest that the temporal modulation of early attention is a function of task characteristics such as SOA.

Dynamics of a Stroop matching task: effect of alcohol and reversal with training

Using a Stroop matching task, we evaluated how alcohol affects the time needed to overcome Stroop conflict and whether practice might reverse the effect of alcohol. Participants (n = 16) performed two sessions in which they had to compare the color of a color-word with the meaning of a color-word in neutral color. The two task stimuli were presented simultaneously or with a Stimulus Onset Asynchrony (SOA) of 200, 500, or 800 ms. For half of the subjects, alcohol was administered in the first session, and for the other half, alcohol was administered in the second session. The results showed that the Stroop effect was significant at the 0 and 200 ms intervals in the sober subjects. Moreover, in untrained intoxicated individuals, interference endured until the 500 ms interval, a result that was abolished in trained intoxicated subjects. In conclusion, alcohol increased the time needed for Stroop matching task conflict resolution. However, this deleterious effect was minimized by a previous practice session.(AU)

Alcohol, emotion and attention: revisiting the Alcohol Myopia Theory / Álcool, emoção e atenção: resgatando a Teoria da Miopia Alcoólica

Among the known effects of alcohol on behavior, the modulation of cognitive functions (such as attention and memory), emotion, risk-taking and aggressive behavior are noteworthy. Here, we performed literature review in order to reinterpret alcohol effects on behavior according to the Alcohol Myopia Theory. According to this construct, there is a reduction of attentional resources during alcohol intoxication, which are primarily allocated to the most salient events in a given situation. The consequence is a hyperfocus directed to emotional situations when they are sufficiently relevant to grab attention, or a reduced attentional focus to emotional events in the presence of a relevant demanding task. The understanding of the mechanism mentioned above support the discussion of propositions toward the prevention of problems related to alcohol consumption. Importantly, the attentional allocation model provides inputs for a discussion on the scientifically-supported public health propositions aimed at preventing problems related to acute alcohol intoxication.(AU)

Dentre os efeitos associados ao consumo alcoólico, destaca-se a modulação sobre funções cognitivas, como atenção e memória, bem como sobre as emoções, comportamento de risco e agressividade. No presente estudo apresentamos uma revisão crítica da literatura propondo uma reinterpretação para os efeitos comportamentais do álcool com base na teoria da Miopia Alcoólica. Durante a intoxicação, existiria uma redução de recursos atencionais, os quais seriam direcionados para eventos mais relevantes. A repercussão, então, seria um aumento do foco atencional para situações emocionais, quando estas fossem suficientemente relevantes ou, em contrapartida, uma diminuição para tais situações na presença de uma tarefa-alvo demandante. A reinterpretação dos efeitos do álcool, com base na teoria da Miopia Alcoólica, fornece subsídios para a mudança de paradigma na intervenção clínica.(AU)

Dynamics of a Stroop matching task: effect of alcohol and reversal with training

Using a Stroop matching task, we evaluated how alcohol affects the time needed to overcome Stroop conflict and whether practice might reverse the effect of alcohol. Participants (n = 16) performed two sessions in which they had to compare the color of a color-word with the meaning of a color-word in neutral color. The two task stimuli were presented simultaneously or with a Stimulus Onset Asynchrony (SOA) of 200, 500, or 800 ms. For half of the subjects, alcohol was administered in the first session, and for the other half, alcohol was administered in the second session. The results showed that the Stroop effect was significant at the 0 and 200 ms intervals in the sober subjects. Moreover, in untrained intoxicated individuals, interference endured until the 500 ms interval, a result that was abolished in trained intoxicated subjects. In conclusion, alcohol increased the time needed for Stroop matching task conflict resolution. However, this deleterious effect was minimized by a previous practice session.

Alcohol, emotion and attention: revisiting the Alcohol Myopia Theory / Álcool, emoção e atenção: resgatando a Teoria da Miopia Alcoólica

Among the known effects of alcohol on behavior, the modulation of cognitive functions (such as attention and memory), emotion, risk-taking and aggressive behavior are noteworthy. Here, we performed literature review in order to reinterpret alcohol effects on behavior according to the Alcohol Myopia Theory. According to this construct, there is a reduction of attentional resources during alcohol intoxication, which are primarily allocated to the most salient events in a given situation. The consequence is a hyperfocus directed to emotional situations when they are sufficiently relevant to grab attention, or a reduced attentional focus to emotional events in the presence of a relevant demanding task. The understanding of the mechanism mentioned above support the discussion of propositions toward the prevention of problems related to alcohol consumption. Importantly, the attentional allocation model provides inputs for a discussion on the scientifically-supported public health propositions aimed at preventing problems related to acute alcohol intoxication.

Dentre os efeitos associados ao consumo alcoólico, destaca-se a modulação sobre funções cognitivas, como atenção e memória, bem como sobre as emoções, comportamento de risco e agressividade. No presente estudo apresentamos uma revisão crítica da literatura propondo uma reinterpretação para os efeitos comportamentais do álcool com base na teoria da Miopia Alcoólica. Durante a intoxicação, existiria uma redução de recursos atencionais, os quais seriam direcionados para eventos mais relevantes. A repercussão, então, seria um aumento do foco atencional para situações emocionais, quando estas fossem suficientemente relevantes ou, em contrapartida, uma diminuição para tais situações na presença de uma tarefa-alvo demandante. A reinterpretação dos efeitos do álcool, com base na teoria da Miopia Alcoólica, fornece subsídios para a mudança de paradigma na intervenção clínica.

Role of attention and translation in conflict resolution: implications for Stroop matching task interference

We studied the influence of attention on the timecourse of Stroop-like conflict. Thirty-two volunteers performed a Stroop matching task in which they had to compare either the color (n = 16) or meaning (n = 16) of two stimuli. The first stimulus was always a color-name printed in yellow, red, or blue (i.e., Stroop stimulus), and the second stimulus was either a color-bar (Experiment 1) or color-word in white ink (Experiment 2). Stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was varied parametrically. Interference by incongruent Stroop stimuli was clearly modulated by SOA manipulation in both cases. The results are discussed in terms of interactions between translational and attentional models in which the degree of Stroop-like interference is attributed to time implementation of attentional mechanisms during color-to-color and color-to-word matching contexts.(AU)