Predictors of stress in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: College students experience high stress levels during emergency remote classes in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is not clear whether this is due to the summation effect of both stressors (classes and pandemic). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate predictors of stress in college students before and during remote classes five months after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was conducted before (BRC, July-August 2020) and during remote classes (DRC, October-November 2020). The sample consisted of 177 individuals (80 in BRC, 97 in DRC). Students were asked to self-collect saliva for cortisol analysis at each moment of the study, and to fill out a form to characterize the individual and assess the chronotype (Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and the stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10). Results: There was no difference between the evaluated periods for cortisol, perceived stress or sleep quality. Predictors for cortisol levels were gender, academic semester, chronotype, sleep quality and sadness due to pandemic (p<0.001). Limitations: Short interval between BRC and DRC assessments of perceived stress and salivary cortisol. Conclusions: Age, sex, income, academic semester, chronotype, and the impact of the pandemic on mood are predictors of stress among college students. In addition, emergency remote classes and sleep quality contribute to less stress.

Neuroimaging investigation of memory changes in migraine: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with migraine usually complain about lower memory performance. Diagnostic methods such as neuroimaging may help in the understanding of possible morphologic and functional changes related to the memory of those individuals. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze the available literature on neuroimaging changes related to memory processing in migraine. METHODS: We searched the following databases: Pubmed/Medline, Psycinfo, Science Direct, Cochrane and Web of Science. We used articles without restriction of year of publication. The combination of descriptors used for this systematic review of literature were Neuroimaging OR Imaging OR Brain AND Migraine OR Chronic Migraine AND Memory. RESULTS: Of the 306 articles found, nine were selected and all used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The studies used structural and functional MRI techniques with a predominance of 3 Tesla equipment and T1-weighted images. According to the results obtained reported by these studies, migraine would alter the activity of memory-related structures, such as the hippocampus, insula and frontal, parietal and temporal cortices, thereby suggesting a possible mechanism by which migraine would influence memory, especially in relation to the memory of pain. CONCLUSIONS: Migraine is associated to global dysfunction of multisensory integration and memory processing. This condition changes the activity of structures in various regions related to memory of pain, prospective memory, as well as in short- and long-term verbal and visuospatial memories. However, it is necessary to perform studies with larger samples in association with cognitive tests, and without the interference of medications to verify possible alterations and to draw more concrete conclusions.

Neuroimaging investigation of memory changes in migraine: a systematic review / Investigação por neuroimagem das alterações de memória na enxaqueca: uma revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT Background: Individuals with migraine usually complain about lower memory performance. Diagnostic methods such as neuroimaging may help in the understanding of possible morphologic and functional changes related to the memory of those individuals. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze the available literature on neuroimaging changes related to memory processing in migraine. Methods: We searched the following databases: Pubmed/Medline, Psycinfo, Science Direct, Cochrane and Web of Science. We used articles without restriction of year of publication. The combination of descriptors used for this systematic review of literature were Neuroimaging OR Imaging OR Brain AND Migraine OR Chronic Migraine AND Memory. Results: Of the 306 articles found, nine were selected and all used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The studies used structural and functional MRI techniques with a predominance of 3 Tesla equipment and T1-weighted images. According to the results obtained reported by these studies, migraine would alter the activity of memory-related structures, such as the hippocampus, insula and frontal, parietal and temporal cortices, thereby suggesting a possible mechanism by which migraine would influence memory, especially in relation to the memory of pain. Conclusions: Migraine is associated to global dysfunction of multisensory integration and memory processing. This condition changes the activity of structures in various regions related to memory of pain, prospective memory, as well as in short- and long-term verbal and visuospatial memories. However, it is necessary to perform studies with larger samples in association with cognitive tests, and without the interference of medications to verify possible alterations and to draw more concrete conclusions.

RESUMO Introdução: Indivíduos com enxaqueca geralmente se queixam de menor desempenho de memória. Métodos de diagnóstico como a neuroimagem podem auxiliar no entendimento de possíveis alterações morfológicas e funcionais relacionadas à memória desses indivíduos. Portanto, o objetivo desta revisão é analisar a literatura disponível sobre alterações de neuroimagem relacionadas a alterações de memória na enxaqueca. Métodos: Pesquisou-se nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed/MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Science Direct, Cochrane e Web of Science. Foram utilizados artigos sem restrição de ano de publicação. A combinação dos descritores utilizados para esta revisão sistemática da literatura foram Neuroimaging OR Imaging OR Brain AND Migraine OR Chronic Migraine AND Memory. Resultados: Dos 306 artigos encontrados, nove foram selecionados e todos utilizaram ressonância magnética (RM). Os estudos utilizaram as técnicas de RM estrutural e funcional com predomínio de equipamentos de 3 Tesla e imagens ponderadas em T1. De acordo com os resultados obtidos nos estudos, a enxaqueca alteraria a atividade de estruturas relacionadas à memória, como o hipocampo, a ínsula e os córtices frontal, parietal e temporal, sugerindo um possível mecanismo pelo qual a enxaqueca influenciaria a memória, especialmente em relação à memória da dor. Conclusões: A enxaqueca está associada à disfunção global da integração multissensorial e processamento de memória. Essa condição altera a atividade de estruturas em várias regiões relacionadas à memória da dor, à memória prospectiva, bem como às memórias verbais e visuais-espaciais de curto e longo prazo. No entanto, é necessário realizar estudos com amostras maiores em associação com testes cognitivos, e sem a interferência de medicamentos para verificar possíveis alterações e tecer conclusões mais concretas.