Eficácia de uma intervenção online para prevenção da ansiedade: um ensaio clínico / Efectividad de una intervención online para prevención de ansiedad: un ensayo clínico / Efficacy of an online intervention for anxiety prevention: a clinical trial

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness, and the sustained effect (follow-up) of a fourweek mindfulness intervention in reducing anxiety and stress in a group of Brazilian university students, the intervention was adapted to be made available through the application Neurosaúde, created as part of this work to serve as a platform for intervention. The research as a whole took place in a virtual environment, with forty-eight participants recruited who were randomly allocated to the intervention group or to the waiting list control. Measures were used to access the levels of mindfulness, anxiety and stress before, after the intervention and at the 4-week follow-up. Applying the intention-to-treat analysis, we found significant differences between the groups for the measurement of anxiety in the follow-up with a large feat size (F (2.92) = 10.275, p = 0.000, η2 = 0.183). Our results suggest that the 4-week mindfulness intervention through a mobile application was able to act as a protective factor against the anxiety developed by university students during the occurrence of the pandemic caused by Covid-19, whereas while the treatment group maintained levels reduced anxiety the control group demonstrated a continuous increase in anxiety in the post-test and follow-up that coincided with the first wave of Covid-19 in the region where the participants lived.

El propósito de este estudio fue probar la eficacia y el efecto sostenido (seguimiento) de una intervención de atención plena de cuatro semanas para reducir la ansiedad y el estrés en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios brasileños, la intervención se adaptó para estar disponible a través del app. Neurosaúde, creada como parte de este trabajo para servir como plataforma de intervención. La investigación en su conjunto se llevó a cabo en un entorno virtual, siendo reclutados cuarenta y ocho participantes que fueron asignados aleatoriamente al grupo de intervención o al control en lista de espera. Se utilizaron medidas para evaluar los niveles de atención plena, ansiedad y estrés antes, después de la intervención y en el seguimiento a las 4 semanas. Al aplicar el análisis por intención de tratar, encontramos diferencias significativas entre los grupos para la medida de ansiedad en el seguimiento con un tamaño de efecto grande (F (2.92) = 10.275, p = 0.000, η2 = 0.183). Nuestros resultados sugieren que la intervención de mindfulness de 4 semanas a través de una aplicación móvil fue capaz de actuar como factor protector contra la ansiedad desarrollada por estudiantes universitarios durante la ocurrencia de la pandemia de Covid-19, ya que mientras el grupo de tratamiento mantuvo niveles, el grupo control demostró un aumento continuo de la ansiedad en el postest y seguimiento que coincidió con la primera ola de Covid-19 en la región donde residían los participantes.

O propósito deste estudo foi testar a eficácia e o efeito sustentado (follow-up) de uma intervenção de mindfulness de quatro semanas na redução da ansiedade e estresse em um grupo de estudantes universitários brasileiros. A intervenção foi adaptada para ser disponibilizada pelo aplicativo Neurosaúde, criado como parte deste trabalho para servir de plataforma para a intervenção. A pesquisa como um todo ocorreu em ambiente virtual, sendo recrutados 48 participantes que foram alocados randomicamente para o grupo intervenção ou para o controle de lista de espera. Medidas foram utilizadas para acessar os níveis de mindfulness, ansiedade e estresse antes, após a intervenção e no follow-up de quatro semanas. Aplicando a análise por intenção de tratar, encontramos diferenças significativas entre os grupos para a medida de ansiedade no follow-up com um tamanho de efeito grande (F (2.92) = 10.275, p = 0.000, η2 = 0.183). Nossos resultados sugerem que a intervenção de mindfulness de quatro semanas por meio de um aplicativo móvel foi capaz de agir como um fator protetor contra a ansiedade desenvolvida pelos estudantes universitários durante a ocorrência da pandemia causada pelo Covid-19, visto que, enquanto o grupo tratamento manteve níveis reduzidos de ansiedade, o grupo controle demonstrou um contínuo aumento de ansiedade no pós-teste e follow-up que coincidiu com a primeira onda de Covid-19 na região onde os participantes residiam.

Fenótipos digitais para mindfulness e ansiedade encontrados por aplicativo de smartphone / Digital phenotypes for mindfulness and anxiety found by smartphone APP

A pesquisa em telemedicina possibilitou a captação de medidas fisiológicas para encontrar biomarcadores do comportamento humano durante o uso de smartphones chamados fenótipos digitais. A identificação e avaliação desses biomarcadores para diagnóstico da saúde fornece subsídios a uma área afim da telemedicina, a medicina de precisão. Foi desenvolvido um aplicativo para celular chamado Neuropesquisa, que possui recursos voltados a encontrar esses biomarcadores enquanto os usuários preenchem escalas psicológicas para saúde mental. O objetivo foi correlacionar mindfulness, ansiedade e tempo de reação e rastrear possíveis fenótipos digitais dessas pessoas. Realizou-se um estudo observacional, de delineamento correlacional, transversal e remoto com 364 adultos pelo Neuropesquisa. Foram encontradas correlações positivas e significativas entre mindfulness e tempo de reação, e negativas e significativas para ansiedade e tempo de reação. Concluiu-se que Neuropesquisa foi capaz de identificar fenótipos digitais dentre os constructos avaliados, de relevante importância para medicina de precisão e saúde mental.

Research in telemedicine has made it possible to capture regulatory measures to find biomarkers of human behavior during smartphone use called digital phenotypes. The identification and evaluation of these biomarkers for health diagnosis provide gains for an area related to telemedicine, precision medicine. It was developed a mobile application called Neuropesquisa, which has features to find these biomarkers while users complete psychological scales for mental health. The aim was to correlate mindfulness, anxiety and reaction time, and track possible digital phenotypes of users. This was an observational study, with a cross-sectional, correlational, and remote design with 364 adults, through Neuropesquisa. There were positive correlations between mindfulness and reaction time, and negative correlations between anxiety and reaction time. It was concluded that Neuropesquisa was able to identify digital phenotypes among the considered constructs, of relevant importance for precision medicine and mental health.

Assessing factors influencing students' perceptions towards animal species conservation.

Background: The way humans perceive and interact with non-human animals is particular to each person, from antipathetic interactions evidenced by fear, aversion or repulsion, to empathy evidenced by feelings of affection, enchantment and interest in the animal. In this sense, herein we investigated the perception of university students about species belonging to different classes of wild vertebrates and the influence of social and educational factors on that. Methods: Data were obtained through online forms answered by 700 university students from nine Brazilian states, 328 females and 372 males, aged between 18 and 65 years. The form had eight sentences to be answered in relation to 17 species of wild vertebrates. The agreement level for each of these sentences was to be indicated using a five-point Likert scale. The sentences were designed to assess aesthetic, risk, utilitarian, and preservation perceptions attributed to each species by students. Results: We found that species perceived as useful by the students are generally also perceived as beautiful and as those that should be preserved. On the other hand, we found similarity between the species perceived as ugly and those that should not be preserved; and between the species perceived as harmful and those considered dangerous. Female and lower-income students more often agree that animals are harmful. We found that perceptions of danger in relation to animals were predominantly associated with younger respondents. However, this did not lead to less support for conservation among these students, as students of all age groups agree that species should be preserved. Our results show that students' knowledge area was an important predictor associated with empathetic and antipathetic perceptions. Environmental area students showed greater empathy in all analyzed categories (beauty, usefulness, harmlessness, and preservation) than non-environmental areas students. On the other hand, students from the area of the exact sciences showed greater dislike in all analyzed categories than students from other areas. We found a strong relationship between the areas "Environmental" and "Humanities, Languages and Arts" for the attitudinal factors associated with utility and preservation, suggesting a similar empathetic worldview for students in these areas. Conclusions: We found that the perception directed towards wild vertebrates varies according to the gender, age, income and study area of the students, in addition to the taxon considered. Finally, our results indicate that negative perceptions should be taken into account in environmental education efforts, educational policies and in planning fauna conservation plans which should incorporate the most diverse audiences, and not only encompass charismatic species but extend to animals that arouse great aversion from the part of people.

Effects of Synergism of Mindfulness Practice Associated With Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation in Chronic Migraine: Pilot, Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Chronic migraine is a difficult disease to diagnose, and its pathophysiology remains undefined. Its symptoms affect the quality of life and daily living tasks of the affected person, leading to momentary disability. This is a pilot, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial study with female patients between 18 and 65 years old with chronic migraine. The patients underwent twelve mindfulness sessions paired with anodal transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with current intensity of 2 mA applied for 20 min, three times a week for 4 weeks. In addition, 20 min of mindfulness home practices were performed by guided meditation audio files. A total of 30 participants were evaluated after the treatment, and these were subdivided into two groups-active tDCS and sham tDCS, both set to mindfulness practice. The FFMQ-BR (Five Facet of Mindfulness Questionnaire), MIDAS (Migraine Disability Assessment), and HIT-6 (Headache Impact Test) questionnaires were used to evaluate the outcomes. After the treatment, the active mindfulness and tDCS group showed better results in all outcomes. The sham group also showed improvements, but with smaller effect sizes compared to the active group. The only significant difference in the intergroup analysis was the outcome evaluated by HIT-6 in the post treatment result. Our results provide the first therapeutic evidence of mindfulness practices associated with left DLPFC anodal tDCS with a consequent increase in the level of full attention and analgesic benefits in the clinical symptoms of patients with chronic migraine.

Como mulheres avaliam expressões faciais de alegria e dor? / How do women evaluate facial expressions of happiness and pain? / ¿Cómo evalúan las mujeres las expresiones faciales de alegría y dolor?

A expressão facial de dor pode provocar diferentes reações comportamentais. Todavia, ainda não está claro se a face de dor evoca respostas motoras mais lentas ou mais rápidas, quando comparada à expressão com valência positiva, e sua interação com o sexo da pessoa que demonstra a expressão facial. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o padrão de resposta motora de mulheres em uma tarefa de reconhecimento de expressões faciais de alegria e dor em faces femininas e masculinas. Na tarefa experimental, 32 estudantes classificaram emoções faciais dinâmicas de homens e mulheres entre as opções de alegria e dor, sendo registradas as respostas de tempo de reação manual (TRM). A ANOVA indicou uma diferença entre faces masculinas e femininas apenas para a identificação da dor (p = 0,001), mas não da alegria (p = 0,064). Neste caso, a dor foi reconhecida mais rapidamente na face masculina (TRM = 625,1 ms) que na face feminina (TRM = 668,0 ms). Considera-se que este padrão de resposta motora pode estar relacionado à detecção de situações potencialmente ameaçadoras no ambiente, com possibilidade de ser estudado em pessoas com dor crônica.

The facial expression of pain can provoke different behavioral reactions. However, it is not clear whether the face of pain evokes slower or faster motor responses when compared with positive valence expression and its interaction with the gender of the person who demonstrates facial expression. The objective of this work was to evaluate the motor response pattern of women in a task of recognizing facial expressions of happiness and pain in female and male faces. In the experimental task, 32 students classified dynamic facial emotions of men and women among the options of happiness and pain, and manual reaction time (MRT) responses were recorded. The ANOVA indicated a difference between male and female faces only for the identification of pain (p = 0.001), but not happiness (p = 0.064). In this case, the pain was recognized more quickly on the male face (TRM = 625.1 ms) compared to the female face (TRM = 668.0 ms). It is considered that this pattern of motor response may be related to the detection of potentially threatening situations in the environment, with the possibility of being studied in people with chronic pain.

La expresión facial del dolor puede provocar diferentes reacciones conductuales. Sin embargo, aún no está claro si el rostro de dolor evoca respuestas motoras más lentas o más rápidas, en comparación con la expresión con valencia positiva, y su interacción con el sexo de la persona que demuestra expresión facial. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el patrón de respuesta motora de las mujeres en una tarea de reconocimiento de expresiones faciales de alegría y dolor en rostros femeninos y masculinos. En la tarea experimental, 32 estudiantes clasificaron las emociones faciales dinámicas de hombres y mujeres entre las opciones de alegría y dolor, y se registraron las respuestas de tiempo de reacción manual (TRM). El ANOVA indicó una diferencia entre los rostros masculinos y femeninos solo para la identificación del dolor (p = 0.001), pero no alegría (p = 0.064). En este caso, el dolor se reconoció más rápidamente en el rostro masculino (TRM = 625.1 ms) comparado al rostro femenino (TRM = 668.0 ms). Se considera que este patrón de respuesta motora puede estar relacionado con la detección de situaciones potencialmente amenazantes en el entorno, con posibilidad de ser estudiado en personas con dolor crónico.

Bat assemblage of Guaribas Biological Reserve, an Atlantic forest conservation unit in North-eastern Brazil: Results of a two-stage long-term survey / Assembleia de morcegos da Reserva Biológica de Guaribas, uma unidade de conservação da Mata Atlântica no Nordeste do Brasil: resultados de um estudo de longa duração em duas etapas

Inventories are the basis of every work with biodiversity, with increased importance due to the current environmental crisis. Bats are one of the most diverse groups of mammals, with high ecologic versatility and are good bioindicators to monitor environmental impacts. We performed a two-stage survey at an Atlantic Forest reserve in the State of Paraíba, the first stage registering 187 individuals of 24 species and the second stage, 1073 individuals of 11 species; the second stage's richness being a subset of the first as pointed by the Mann-Whitney test. The second stage was more efficient in accumulating individuals, while the first accumulated species more efficiently. The diversity estimation (Chao 1) pointed that the survey was efficient in registering 93.75% of the species richness predicted for the area, and that diversity estimators are more reliable to evaluate sampling efficiency than methods based in number of captures. The inventory survey registered over 42% of the species richness registered for the State of Paraíba, as well as included a new register, Natalus stramineus, pointing that the bat richness for the state is yet to be sufficiently studied.

Inventários são a base de qualquer trabalho com biodiversidade, com sua importância exacerbada dada a crise ambiental atual. Morcegos são um dos grupos de mamíferos mais diversos, com alta versatilidade ecológica, e se apresentam como bons bioindicadores para monitorar impactos ambientais. O presente trabalho é um inventário de morcegos em longo prazo, dividido em duas etapas, numa reserva biológica de Floresta Atlântica no Estado da Paraíba, Brasil. A primeira etapa capturou 187 indivíduos de 24 espécies, o segundo registrou 1073 indivíduos de 11 espécies, sendo a diversidade deste um subgrupo da diversidade do primeiro, como apontado pelo teste de Mann-Whitney. O segundo estágio foi mais eficaz em acumular indivíduos, enquanto o primeiro acumulou espécies mais eficientemente. O estimador de diversidade Chao 1 apontou que o inventário foi eficiente em registrar 93,75% da riqueza de espécies prevista para a área, e que estimadores de diversidade são mais confiáveis para avaliar suficiência amostral que métodos baseados em número mínimo de capturas. O inventário registrou cerca de 42% da riqueza de espécies conhecida para o Estado da Paraíba, assim como incluiu um novo registro, Natalus stramineus, ressaltando que a riqueza de espécies de morcegos no estado está por ser suficientemente estudada.

Effortless Attention as a Biomarker for Experienced Mindfulness Practitioners.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed at comparing frontal beta power between long-term (LTM) and first-time meditators (FTM), before, during and after a meditation session. We hypothesized that LTM would present lower beta power than FTM due to lower effort of attention and awareness. METHODS: Twenty one participants were recruited, eleven of whom were long-term meditators. The subjects were asked to rest for 4 minutes before and after open monitoring (OM) meditation (40 minutes). RESULTS: The two-way ANOVA revealed an interaction between the group and moment factors for the Fp1 (p<0.01), F7 (p = 0.01), F3 (p<0.01), Fz (p<0.01), F4 (p<0.01), F8 (p<0.01) electrodes. CONCLUSION: We found low power frontal beta activity for LTM during the task and this may be associated with the fact that OM is related to bottom-up pathways that are not present in FTM. SIGNIFICANCE: We hypothesized that the frontal beta power pattern may be a biomarker for LTM. It may also be related to improving an attentive state and to the efficiency of cognitive functions, as well as to the long-term experience with meditation (i.e., life-time experience and frequency of practice).