Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on motor planning: a multimodal signal study

Motor planning plays a pivotal role in daily life. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been demonstrated to enhance decision-making efficiency, illustrating its potential use in cognitive modulation. However, current research primarily focuses on behavioral and single-modal electrophysiological signal, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG). To investigate the effect of taVNS on motor planning, a total of 21 subjects were recruited for this study and were divided into two groups: active group (n = 10) and sham group (n = 11). Each subject was required to be involved in a single-blind, sham-controlled, between-subject end-state comfort (ESC) experiment. The study compared behavioral indicators and electrophysiological features before and following taVNS. The results indicated a notable reduction in reaction time and an appreciable increase in the proportion of end-state comfort among the participants following taVNS, accompanied by notable alterations in motor-related cortical potential (MRCP) amplitude, low-frequency power of HRV (LF), and cortico-cardiac coherence, particularly in the parietal and occipital regions. These findings show that taVNS may impact the brain and heart, potentially enhancing their interaction, and improve participants' ability of motor planning.

The lived experiences of childhood trauma in war: has post-traumatic growth occurred?

Background: This study seeks to explore the Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) condition, a transformative psychological process that promotes improved cognitive functioning and resilience in individuals who suffered childhood trauma, including those affected by the Iran-Iraq war. PTG denotes positive psychological changes, such as enhanced reasoning abilities and emotional strength (Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18)).Method: This study views trauma responses as complex and multidimensional, including not only negative outcomes but also coping strategies and psychological growth. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 participants who witnessed the Iran-Iraq war during childhood. Participants were from a broad spectrum of ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the multiethnic diversity of the war-affected areas. This is significant as their cultural background could affect how they process and heal from trauma due to the multiplicity of values, beliefs, and behaviours. Also, participants' socio-economic backgrounds ranged from low to middle-income, allowing for an investigation of how trauma and growth are impacted by financial resources and constraints. Data were analyzed using Moustakas's phenomenological analysis approach.Results: The findings revealed eight primary and twelve secondary themes ranging from psychological effects and long-term coping mechanisms and wartime recollections. The analysis also revealed distinct patterns of trauma symptoms and growth in adults approaching middle age. The available evidence points to the fact that, although the war-afflicted participants had to contantly live with the lingering effects of trauma across different stages of their lives, they continued to flourish and remain resilient with efficient stress management.Conclusions: The study emphasizes that, in theoretical terms, unexpected developmental steps are crucial, suggesting that childhood trauma, while commonly associated with negative outcomes, can also lead to growth and resilience in certain circumstances.

Is lean mass quantity or quality the determinant of maximal fat oxidation capacity? The potential mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness

BACKGROUND

Impaired fat oxidation is linked to cardiometabolic risk. Maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) reflects metabolic flexibility and is influenced by lean mass, muscle strength, muscle quality - defined as the ratio of strength to mass - and cardiorespiratory fitness. The relationship between these factors and fat oxidation is not fully understood. The aim is to analyze the associations of lean-mass, muscle strength and quality with fat oxidation parameters in young adults, considering the mediating role of VO2max.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study. Eighty-one adults (50 males, 31 females; age 22.8 ± 4.4, BMI 25.70 ± 5.75, lean-mass 54.19 ± 8.78, fat-mass 18.66 ± 11.32) Body composition assessment by bioimpedance determine fat and lean-mass. Indirect calorimetry at rest and exercise was used for the calculation of fat oxidation. An incremental exercise protocol in a cycle ergometer with two consecutive phases was performed. The first to determine MFO consisted of 3 min steps of 15W increments with a cadence of 60rpm. The test was stopped when RQ ≥ 1. After 5 min rest, a phase to detect VO2max began with steps of 15W/min until exhaustion. Muscular strength was assessed by handgrip dynamometry and the standing longitudinal jump test. A strength cluster was calculated with handgrip and long jump adjusted by sex and age. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and mediation analyses.

RESULTS

Total lean-mass and leg lean-mass were not associated with MFO. Long jump, relativized by lean-mass and by leg lean-mass have a standardized indirect effect on MFO of 0.50, CI: 0.32-0.70, on MFO/lean-mass 0.43, CI:0.27-0.60 and MFO/leg lean-mass 0.44, CI: 0.30-0.06, which VO2max mediated, VO2max/lean-mass and VO2max/leg lean-mass, respectively (all p < 0.01). The handgrip/arm lean-mass had an indirect effect of 0.25 (CI: 0.12-0.38) on MFO/leg lean-mass, with VO2max/leg lean-mass as the mediator (p < 0.01). The Cluster/lean-mass and Cluster/Extremities lean-mass have a standardized indirect effect on MFO/lean-mass (0.34, CI: 0.20-0.48) and MFO/leg lean-mass (0.44, CI: 0.28-0.60), mediated by VO2max/lean-mass and VO2max/leg lean-mass (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Muscular strength and quality have an indirect effect on MFO mediated by VO2max. These findings suggest the importance of muscle quality on MFO.

Neural dynamics of deception: insights from fMRI studies of brain states

Deception is a complex behavior that requires greater cognitive effort than truth-telling, with brain states dynamically adapting to external stimuli and cognitive demands. Investigating these brain states provides valuable insights into the brain's temporal and spatial dynamics. In this study, we designed an experiment paradigm to efficiently simulate lying and constructed a temporal network of brain states. We applied the Louvain community clustering algorithm to identify characteristic brain states associated with lie-telling, inverse-telling, and truth-telling. Our analysis revealed six representative brain states with unique spatial characteristics. Notably, two distinct states-termed truth-preferred and lie-preferred-exhibited significant differences in fractional occupancy and average dwelling time. The truth-preferred state showed higher occupancy and dwelling time during truth-telling, while the lie-preferred state demonstrated these characteristics during lie-telling. Using the average z-score BOLD signals of these two states, we applied generalized linear models with elastic net regularization, achieving a classification accuracy of 88.46%, with a sensitivity of 92.31% and a specificity of 84.62% in distinguishing deception from truth-telling. These findings revealed representative brain states for lie-telling, inverse-telling, and truth-telling, highlighting two states specifically associated with truthful and deceptive behaviors. The spatial characteristics and dynamic attributes of these brain states indicate their potential as biomarkers of cognitive engagement in deception.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-025-10222-4.

Impact of PM2.5, relative humidity, and temperature on sleep quality: a cross-sectional study in Taipei

INTRODUCTION

TWe investigated impacts of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), relative humidity (RH), and temperature on sleep stages and arousal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis involving 8,611 participants was conducted at a sleep center in Taipei. We estimated individual-level exposure to RH, temperature, and PM2.5 over 1-day, 7-day, and 30-day periods. Linear regression models assessed the relationship between these environmental factors and sleep parameters across different seasons. Mediation analysis was used to explore PM2.5, RH, and temperature roles in these relationships.

RESULTS

A 1% increase in RH over 1 and 7 days was associated with changes in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stages and increases in the arousal index across all seasons. A 1°C increase in temperature over similar periods led to increases in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During cold season, changes in RH and temperature were linked to variations in arousal and NREM sleep stages. In hot season, RH and temperature increases were correlated with changes in NREM sleep stages and arousal. Across all groups, a 1-μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 levels was associated with alterations in NREM and REM sleep stages and increases in the arousal index. We found PM2.5 levels mediated relationships between RH, temperature, and various sleep stages, particularly in cold season.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower RH and temperature, contributing to deep sleep reduction and increased arousal, were influenced by elevated PM2.5 exposure, especially during colder months. Enhancing environmental quality and reducing PM2.5 levels may lead to improved sleep quality.

Exposure to warfare and demoralization: acute stress symptoms and disengaged coping as a mediators

Background: Demoralization in the face of adversity is a common existential state. However, it has not been examined in reaction to warfare, and the mediators between the extent of exposure to war and demoralization in this context are also unknown.Objective: This study explored the associations of indirect exposure to war, acute stress symptoms, disengaged coping, and demoralization. Additionally, it examined the serial mediation of acute stress symptoms and disengaged coping in the relationship between indirect exposure to war and demoralization.Method: The survey was conducted 4 weeks after the 7 October war broke out and included 393 Israeli citizens (women and men, Jews and Arabs) indirectly affected by the threatening situation in Israel. Questionnaires measured acute stress symptoms, disengaged coping, and demoralization. War-related exposure and demographic data were collected.Results: The analysis revealed that the higher the indirect exposure to war, the higher the acute stress symptoms, use of disengaged coping, and demoralization. Additionally, individuals with acute stress disorder had higher demoralization. The serial mediation model showed partial mediation: acute stress symptoms and the use of disengaged coping mediated the relationships between indirect exposure to war and demoralization (although the direct association between the extent of exposure and demoralization remained significant).Conclusions: In the face of traumatic events, such as warfare, professionals should identify individuals with high levels of acute stress symptoms and provide help to reduce the use of disengaged coping and long-term negative consequences such as demoralization.

C-METTA reduces PTSD-related guilt and shame following interpersonal violence

Background: PTSD patients who experienced interpersonal violence are susceptible to trauma-related guilt and shame and often show unsatisfactory treatment response. C-METTA combines cognitive techniques and loving-kindness meditation. It has shown promising effects in reducing trauma-related guilt and shame.Objective: We examined the effectiveness of C-METTA within a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest trial focusing on survivors of interpersonal violence, who suffered from trauma-related guilt and shame. An additional objective was to examine variables potentially associated with lower treatment response (childhood trauma, cumulative trauma, and PTSD chronicity).Method: We treated 25 individuals (age = 19-61, 96% women) with PTSD following interpersonal violence. We predicted that C-METTA would significantly reduce (a) PTSD symptoms (measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, the PTSD Symptom-Checklist Version 5, and the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory), (b) feelings of guilt (measured by the Trauma Related Guilt Inventory) and (c) feelings of shame (measured by the Trauma Related Shame Inventory). To analyse treatment effects, we conducted repeated-measures MANOVAs. Further, we investigated the impact of childhood trauma, cumulative trauma and PTSD chronicity symptoms on treatment effectiveness exploratively via additional MANCOVAs.Results: Analyses showed significant and large effects of C-METTA on reducing PTSD symptoms (ranging from d = 1.12 to d = 1.67), feelings of guilt (d = 1.54) and shame (d = 1.26). Childhood trauma, cumulative trauma and PTSD chronicity did not affect treatment effectiveness.Conclusion: Our findings support previous research concerning the effectiveness of C-METTA and add promising evidence for the effectiveness of C-METTA to reduce PTSD following interpersonal violence. Effectiveness was independent of childhood trauma, trauma-duration and PTSD chronicity. Regression to the mean should be considered as a confounding factor. We suggest more research to support the results. C-METTA might increase PTSD treatment diversity and offer patients a greater bandwidth of options according to their preferences and the respective symptomatology.

Deep neural networks and stochastic methods for cognitive modeling of rat behavioral dynamics in T -mazes

Modeling animal decision-making requires mathematical rigor and computational analysis to capture underlying cognitive mechanisms. This study presents a cognitive model for rat decision-making behavior in T -mazes by combining stochastic methods with deep neural architectures. The model adapts Wyckoff's stochastic framework, originally grounded in Bush's discrimination learning theory, to describe probabilistic transitions between directional choices under reinforcement contingencies. The existence and uniqueness of solutions are demonstrated via fixed-point theorems, ensuring the formulation is well-posed. The asymptotic properties of the system are examined under boundary conditions to understand the convergence behavior of decision probabilities across trials. Empirical validation is performed using Monte Carlo simulations to compare expected trajectories with the model's predictive output. The dataset comprises spatial trajectory recordings of rats navigating toward food rewards under controlled experimental protocols. Trajectories are preprocessed through statistical filtering, augmented to address data imbalance, and embedded using t-SNE to visualize separability across behavioral states. A hybrid convolutional-recurrent neural network (CNN-LSTM) is trained on these representations and achieves a classification accuracy of 82.24%, outperforming conventional machine learning models, including support vector machines and random forests. In addition to discrete choice prediction, the network reconstructs continuous paths, enabling full behavioral sequence modeling from partial observations. The integration of stochastic dynamics and deep learning develops a computational basis for analyzing spatial decision-making in animal behavior. The proposed approach contributes to computational models of cognition by linking observable behavior to internal processes in navigational tasks.

Self-compassion, self-coldness, and social support and their relationship with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms following a massive terror attack: a prospective study

Background: On 7 October 2023, Israel suffered a massive deadly terror attack with 1400 civilians murdered and 240 kidnapped. Recent studies have documented an increase in depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic symptoms in the aftermath of the attack. In the area of trauma, it has been shown that while some individuals are vulnerable to developing psychopathology following exposure to a traumatic event, the majority are not.Objective: In the present prospective study, we examined the contributions of internal (self-compassion and self-coldness) and external (social support) resources to depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic symptoms among civilians following a massive terror attack.Method: A total of 250 participants - 126 females (50.4%) and 124 males (49.6%); 156 Jews (62.4%) and 94 Arabs (37.6%) - aged 21-60 (M  = 41.7, SD = 10.63) completed questionnaires at two time points: T1 was in September 2023 (3-4 weeks before the attack) and T2 was in February-March 2024 (19-20 weeks after the attack). Participants were assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form (SCS-SF), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21), and International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ).Results: Self-compassion and social support were negatively associated with depression and anxiety, while self-coldness was positively associated with depression and anxiety. In addition, self-coldness uniquely contributed to the prediction of psychopathological outcomes, including the sense of threat symptoms cluster of posttraumatic stress disorder, beyond known risk factors.Conclusions: Our study highlights the role of self-coldness as a vulnerability factor for civilians following a terror attack. It is important to view the distinct facets of self-compassion as a therapeutic target when building both intervention and prevention programs for people exposed directly and indirectly to trauma.

The dynamics of stress experiences of students with relatives with addiction problems: a longitudinal qualitative study

Background: Family members of relatives with addiction (often referred to as Affected Family Members [AFMs]) experience potentially traumatic events, including psychological violence, physical violence, sexual violence, death, or accidents of relatives due to addiction.Objective: This study explores the development of stress in young adult AFMs over several years and why their stress increases or decreases.Method: A three-year longitudinal qualitative study. Four rounds of in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. Twenty-four students drew a stress graph. They scored their stress levels from the first interview in 2019/2020 to the last two years later on a 10-point scale and explained why their stress increased or decreased. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was applied.Results: We distinguished four patterns of stress: stress remained stable (high or low; n = 3), stress increased over time (n = 5), stress decreased over time (n = 10), and stress had erratic highs and lows (n = 6). For most participants, stress related to their relatives' addiction problems was high and highly dynamic. We found factors associated with the direct stress of life with relatives with addiction problems, such as recovery, relapse, aggression, incidents, and accidents. We also found indirect effects, such as trust, intimacy issues, stressors related to education, work, coping strategies, and support. AFMs' stress persisted often over the long term, even after a relative died or contact was broken.Conclusions: Identifying reasons for stress increase or decrease might help AFMs, healthcare professionals, and educational professionals who want to support AFMs in managing their stress.

The effects of stress on working-memory-related prefrontal processing: an fNIRS study

Acute stress causes a shift from executive to automated behavior. A key executive function suffering from this shift is working memory. Working memory is mainly negatively affected in the first 10 and more than 25 minutes after acute stress. These phases coincide with increased central levels of noradrenaline and cortisol. Increased levels of both hormones can cause a relative deactivation in prefrontal areas related to working memory processing. However, so far, there is little research that investigates the complete relationship between acute stress and resulting changes in stress hormones, neural activation, and working memory processing, over time. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure prefrontal activity during an nback task in a stress (28 subjects, 7 female/21 male) and a control group (28 subjects, 10 female/18 male) once (20 minutes) before and twice (4 and 24 minutes) after a socially evaluated cold pressor test or a warm water control condition. Additionally, we regularly measured changes in salivary cortisol and α-amylase (a correlate of central noradrenaline) during the experiment. While salivary cortisol was increased starting 14 minutes after acute stress, no effect of stress on salivary α-amylase or working memory performance was found. On a neural level, we found a marginally stronger decline in 3-back-related prefrontal activity from the first to the third measurement point in the stress than in the control group. These results present tentative evidence for a negative effect of acute stress on working-memory-related prefrontal processing mediated by central cortisol levels.

Intergenerational effects of climate disasters: trimester of pregnancy when a hurricane hits predicts neonate body size

CONTEXT

Climate disasters have been tied to prenatal stress and pregnancy outcomes. However, it is unclear if these outcomes are influenced by the stage of foetal development when the disaster hits.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the birth outcomes by trimester for those pregnant during Hurricane Florence and those in the same community 1-2 years earlier. We further assessed the role of marital status and race.

METHODS

We included people who gave birth between 2016-2019 in one of the coastal communities impacted by Hurricane Florence (n = 7,240). We used multiple logistic regression to determine the effects of period (hurricane or pre-hurricane) and trimester and their respective interactions on birth outcomes controlling for key demographic variables.

RESULTS

Individuals in their first trimester during the hurricane had a greater likelihood of having low-birthweight, low-APGAR, or preterm babies compared to those in the same community a year earlier and those in later trimesters during the hurricane. Unmarried individuals in their first trimester during the hurricane were particularly at risk for low-birthweight neonates.

CONCLUSION

Increased prenatal stress associated with disasters disrupts first trimester foetal development across all groups but is most pronounced in unmarried individuals. Differences in birthweight reflect intergenerational impacts in disaster events.

Educational attainment, body mass index, and smoking as mediators in kidney disease risk: a two-step Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Educational attainment (EA) has been linked to various health outcomes, including kidney disease (KD). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to assess the causal relationship between EA and KD and quantify the mediation effects of modifiable risk factors using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

METHODS

We performed a two-sample MR analysis utilizing summary statistics from large-scale European genome-wide association studies (GWAS). EA (NGWAS = 766,345) was used as the exposure, and KD (Ncase/Ncontrol= 5,951/212,871) was the outcome. A two-step MR method was applied to identify and quantify the mediation effects of 24 candidate risk factors.

RESULTS

Each additional 4.2 years of genetically predicted EA was associated with a 32% reduced risk of KD (odds ratio [OR] 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56, 0.83). Among the 24 candidate risk factors, body mass index (BMI) mediated 21.8% of this protective effect, while smoking heaviness mediated 18.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides robust evidence that EA exerts a protective effect against KD, partially mediated by BMI and smoking. These findings highlight the potential for targeted public health interventions aimed at mitigating obesity and smoking-related risks to reduce KD incidence, particularly among individuals with lower educational attainment.

Cumulative associations between health behaviours, mental well-being, and health over 30 years

BACKGROUND

Both the number of risky health behaviours and the duration of exposure to these behaviours over time may increase the risk of later adverse outcomes. This study examined cumulative associations of risky health behaviours with both positive and negative aspects of mental well-being and health. It has a uniquely long follow-up period of over 30 years, from early adulthood to the beginning of late adulthood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data were from the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development. The participants represent the Finnish age cohort born in 1959. This study utilized data collected at ages 27 (1986), 36 (1995), 42 (2001), 50 (2009), and 61 (2020-2021) (n = 206-326). Risk scores indicating the current number of risky behaviours of smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity and their temporal accumulation over time were calculated. The associations of risk scores with mental well-being (depressive symptoms, psychological well-being) and health (self-rated health, number of metabolic risk factors) from age 36 onwards were analyzed with linear multilevel models adjusted for gender and education.

RESULTS

More current risky behaviours were associated with more depressive symptoms (B = 0.10, p = 0.032), lower psychological well-being (B = -0.10, p = 0.010), lower self-rated health (B = -0.45, p < 0.001), and more metabolic risk factors (B = 0.53, p = 0.013). The associations of temporal risk scores with the outcomes were even stronger (depressive symptoms: B = 0.38, p < 0.001; psychological well-being: B = -0.15, p = 0.046; self-rated health: B = -0.82, p < 0.001; metabolic risk factors: B = 1.49, p < 0.001). Among individual behaviours, the temporal risk score of alcohol consumption was negatively associated with most outcomes, while smoking was associated with poorer mental well-being and physical inactivity with poorer health.

CONCLUSIONS

The current and temporal accumulation of multiple risky health behaviours were associated with poorer mental well-being and health. Preventing these behaviours early in adulthood and midlife is crucial to avoid their accumulation and subsequent health risks.

Attenuated heterogeneity of hippocampal neuron subsets in response to novelty induced by amyloid-β

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients exhibited episodic memory impairments including location-object recognition in a spatial environment, which was also presented in animal models with amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. A potential cellular mechanism was the unstable representation of spatial information and lack of discrimination ability of novel stimulus in the hippocampal place cells. However, how the firing characteristics of different hippocampal subsets responding to diverse spatial information were interrupted by Aβ accumulation remains unclear. In this study, we observed impaired novel object-location recognition in Aβ-treated Long-Evans rats, with larger receptive fields of place cells in hippocampal CA1, compared with those in the saline-treated group. We identified two subsets of place cells coding object information (ObjCell) and global environment (EnvCell) during the task, with firing heterogeneity in response to introduced novel information. ObjCells displayed a dynamic representation responding to the introduction of novel information, while EnvCells exhibited a stable representation to support the recognition of the familiar environment. However, the dynamic firing patterns of these two subsets of cells were disrupted to present attenuated heterogeneity under Aβ accumulation. The impaired spatial representation novelty information could be due to the disturbed gamma modulation of neural activities. Taken together, these findings provide new evidence for novelty recognition impairments of AD rats with spatial representation dysfunctions of hippocampal subsets.

Mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic - a longitudinal study over 42 months in five European countries

Background: The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is well documented. However, only a few studies investigated mental health in later phases of the pandemic and after its official end. Moreover, little is known about people's psychological burden related to the pandemic and other global crises post-pandemic.Objective: Study's first objective was to compare mental health outcomes in the general population over the course of the pandemic and ten months post-pandemic. The second objective was to explore people's psychological burden regarding the pandemic, in comparison to current wars, climate crises, inflation, and poor government management and/or corruption in the post-pandemic era.Method: Participants from the general population of Austria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, and Portugal (68.8% female, Mage = 41.55) were assessed online up to four times between June 2020 and March 2024 (baseline sample: N = 7913). Adjustment Disorder New Module - 8 (ADNM-8), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) were used to measure adjustment disorder, depression, and well-being. Prevalence rates were calculated and repeated measures ANOVAs applied to assess mental health at four time points. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was run to explore how the different global crises were related to participants' burden.Results: Temporal variations in mental health were evident across four assessment waves, with highest levels of probable adjustment disorder and depression in winter 2020/2021 (T2). A slight improvement of mental health was found at later time points. Current wars and inflation were the greatest sources of psychological burden at the post-pandemic assessment, revealing some cross-country differences.Conclusion: Although mental health differences in the general population were not as pronounced as in the acute phase of the pandemic, psychosocial support is still needed post-pandemic. This is likely to be due to other global crises that take a toll on people's mental health.

Association of fertility-related attitudes and norms among adolescent wives, husbands, and mothers-in-law with wives' fertility desires in rural Niger

Niger has the world's highest fertility rate, with about seven children per woman, significantly impacting maternal and child health. This study examines how fertility-related attitudes and social norms affect adolescent wives' (AWs) fertility desires in rural Niger. Using data from 768 AWs (ages 15-19), their husbands, and mothers-in-law, the study employed multilevel linear regression models to analyse associations between birth spacing attitudes, social norms, and AWs' fertility desires. Results show a significant link between social norms and wives' fertility desires. Wives with pro-natalist descriptive and injunctive norms and those whose husband has pro-natalist injunctive norms have higher fertility desire. Interestingly, individual attitudes weren't directly correlated with fertility desires, suggesting social norms predominate over personal attitudes. The study further highlights that village-level descriptive norms are significantly associated with fertility desires. It underscores the need for interventions that address social contexts within communities, not just individual-level activities. The research emphasises the complexity of these norms, considering multiple perspectives, and highlights husbands' influence on wives' fertility intentions. Recommendations include community-based programs engaging various stakeholders and policy initiatives promoting women's agency and rights.

Using explainable machine learning to investigate the relationship between childhood maltreatment, positive psychological traits, and CPTSD symptoms

Background: The functional impairment resulting from CPTSD symptoms is enduring and far-reaching. Existing research has found that CPTSD symptoms are closely associated with childhood maltreatment; however, researchers debate whether CPTSD symptoms are predominantly influenced by a specific type of childhood maltreatment or the combined influence of multiple maltreatment types.Objective: (1) Examines the impact of childhood maltreatment on CPTSD symptoms, specifically exploring whether specific types of maltreatment or the cumulative exposure to multiple types of maltreatment play a predominant role. (2) Investigates the role of positive psychological traits in this relationship, assessing whether these traits serve as protective factors or are outcomes of the negative psychological consequences of maltreatment.Methods: A sample of 1894 adolescents (Mage = 13.88; SD = 1.00) from a chronically impoverished rural area in China completed the International Trauma Questionnaire - Child and Adolescent Version for CPTSD symptoms, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form for childhood maltreatment types. Positive psychological traits, including mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude, were measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form, and the Gratitude Questionnaire. We addressed the research question using explainable machine learning methods, with SHAP enhancing model interpretability.Results: The findings indicate that emotional abuse is the most effective predictor of CPTSD symptoms, with individuals who experienced emotional abuse showing higher rates of other forms of maltreatment. Among positive psychological traits, mindfulness contributes the most, followed by self-compassion, while gratitude shows no significant association with CPTSD symptoms. Additionally, individuals with poor positive psychological traits are more likely to have experienced maltreatment, whereas those with higher positive traits are less exposed to abuse.Conclusions: Emotional abuse and low levels of positive psychological traits are strongly associated with CPTSD symptoms in adolescents from impoverished areas, with positive traits showing limited buffering effects against maltreatment.

The role of prenatal stress and maternal trauma responses in predicting children's mental health during war

Background: The negative effects of prenatal stress on children's development and the buffering effects of maternal behaviour are well documented. However, specific maternal responses to trauma, particularly among families experiencing cumulative stressors during pregnancy and early childhood, remain less understood.Objective: This study investigated the interplay between prenatal stress in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and consequent maternal trauma responses and children's difficulties in the context of war-related trauma.Methods: We recruited 318 pregnant women in Israel during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (Time 1). Prenatal depression, anxiety, and COVID-related stress symptoms were assessed. When children were approximately 3.5 years old (SD = 0.02), the mothers were asked to report on parental responses related to the ongoing war and their child's emotional and behavioural difficulties (Time 2). Structural equation modelling was used to examine how maternal trauma responses mediate the association between prenatal stress-related mental health symptoms and children's difficulties during war.Results: Maternal prenatal depressive, anxious, and COVID-19-related stress symptoms predicted maladaptive maternal trauma responses during the war, which in turn were associated with increased emotional and behavioural problems in their children. Among the specific maternal trauma-related responses examined, cognitive avoidance and overprotectiveness were the only behavioural responses during the war significantly associated with children's difficulties.Conclusions: Our study highlights the impact of pandemic-related prenatal stress on maternal responses and children's difficulties during war, emphasizing the importance of identifying at-risk families as well as developing targeted interventions that mitigate negative parenting responses, particularly avoidance and overprotection.

Advancing virtual and hybrid team well-being through a job demand-resources lens

As the modern workplace evolves, the shift to virtual and hybrid team working necessitates a re-evaluation of well-being. While workplace well-being research has predominantly focused on the individual level, understanding team-level well-being is critical, as its underlying psychological and social processes differ. This study applies the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework to virtual and hybrid contexts globally, demonstrating the dual nature of demands and resources at the team level, where the same constructs may contribute to driving positive gain cycles or negative loss cycles of well-being. Through reflexive thematic analysis, we analysed thirty semi-structured interviews with leaders and twenty-nine focus groups with 3-6 team members each (n = 110) across more than twelve industries and geographies. Our findings revealed three candidate themes: "Choice Matters", "It's Business and It's Personal" and "Leader as Social Influencer". This research extends JD-R theory by advancing its applicability to team-level well-being in virtual and hybrid contexts. Practical insights include empowering teams through redesigning work practices to establish sustainable boundaries, aligning communication norms, and fostering inclusive connections that accommodate diverse needs in the modern workplace.

Insecurity and psychological well-being among faculty in academia: exploring the constraints and conduits of positive psychological functioning

PURPOSE

Job insecurity characterizes academic work, with potential risks for the health, well-being, and personal lives of faculty. Notwithstanding, faculty with job insecurity experiences may still find academia conducive to pursuing personal fulfilment. As faculty experiences of psychological well-being may be coloured by insecurity, this study sought to qualitatively investigate the ways in which experiences of insecurity and psychological well-being co-occur.

METHODS

This study followed a questionnaire study of a representative sample of faculty in Swedish academia and their job insecurity perceptions, inviting the most insecure to participate. The participant group included 19 faculty from nine public Swedish higher education institutions. Transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, guided by the six theoretical dimensions of psychological well-being.

RESULTS

Two themes were developed: 1) Staying afloat?, and 2) I'm not yet where I'm supposed to be. These themes elucidate faculty experiences of managing their current work (and personal) situations, and reveal how faculty orient themselves in relation to their futures, pasts and presents.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings demonstrate how experiences of insecurity co-exist with psychological well-being in constraining and enhancing faculty well-being. This reveals how psychological well-being involves a dynamic process of negotiation, especially during transitional periods.

The impact of gut microbial short-chain fatty acids on colorectal cancer development and prevention

Cancer is a long-term illness that involves an imbalance in cellular and immune functions. It can be caused by a range of factors, including exposure to environmental carcinogens, poor diet, infections, and genetic alterations. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is crucial for overall health, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut microbiota play a vital role in this process. Recent research has established that alterations in the gut microbiome led to decreased production of SCFA's in lumen of the colon, which associated with changes in the intestinal epithelial barrier function, and immunity, are closely linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) development and its progression. SCFAs influence cancer progression by modifying epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA functions thereby affecting tumor initiation and metastasis. This suggests that restoring SCFA levels in colon through microbiota modulation could serve as an innovative strategy for CRC prevention and treatment. This review highlights the critical relationship between gut microbiota and CRC, emphasizing the potential of targeting SCFAs to enhance gut health and reduce CRC risk.

A robot's efficient demonstration cannot reduce 5- to 6-year-old children's over-imitation

Children tend to imitate inefficient behaviors containing causally irrelevant actions-they over-imitate. Out-group members' efficient demonstration cannot reduce children's over-imitation of in-group members, due to their interpretation of irrelevant actions as norms which in-group members should follow. Children may perceive robots as culture-specific behavior transmitters since they also over-imitate robots. This study explores whether a robot's efficient demonstration can reduce 5- to 6-year-old children's over-imitation. In Experiment 1, most of 64 children imitated a human's irrelevant actions in Phase 1, then reduced over-imitation after watching an efficient demonstration modeled by a robot or a human in Phase 2, but the rate of over-imitation decreased more when the model was a human. In Experiment 2, 64 children only had one chance to imitate after watching two demonstrations (an efficient one demonstrated by a human and an inefficient one demonstrated by a robot or another human), the over-imitation occurred more when the efficient model was a robot than a human. Compared with over-imitation rate of Phase 1 in Experiment 1, that was significantly decreased only when the efficient model was a human. The results indicate that children don't perceive robots as social learning models, at least in the presence of alternative human models.

Association of uric acid/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) with depression risk in US adults: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The uric acid/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) is a new indicator of inflammation and metabolism that has been found to be strongly associated with several chronic diseases. However, the relationship between the UHR and depression has not been studied to date.

METHODS

The study included a total of 16,920 participants aged 20 years and older from NHANES 2005-2018. Logistic regression models with weights were used to evaluate the association between quintile levels of UHR and depression risk.

RESULTS

Elevated UHR levels were significantly associated with a 52 % increased risk of depression after multivariable adjustment (Q5 OR: 1.52, 95 % CI: 1.26, 1.83, P-trend <0.001). We found a significant interaction between UHR level and sex (P = 0.018), but no significant interaction between UHR and other factors, including age, smoking, alcohol consumption, education level, marital status, household income poverty ratio and physical activity. Stratified analyses of these factors showed that high levels of UHR were significantly associated with risk of depression in groups who were female, younger, had never smoked, were alcohol drinkers, had higher levels of education, were cohabiters, had the highest and lowest household incomes, and were physically active.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, UHR was positively associated with an increased risk of depression, suggesting that UHR levels can be used as a comprehensive indicator for the early identification of depression risk.

Association of social isolation and loneliness with incident rheumatoid arthritis in a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

This study endeavors to reveal the link between social isolation, loneliness, and the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to explore whether genetic factors may receive interference.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study supported by the UK Biobank database. Social isolation and loneliness were considered major exposures, which were captured through self-report questionnaires. The primary endpoint was incident RA. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was utilized to explore the connection between social isolation and loneliness and RA events. Conjoint and interaction analyses were conducted to determine whether social independence and loneliness were independent predictors of RA. Additional sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were carried out to evaluate the stability of the results.

RESULTS

A total of 3949 RA cases were documented during a median follow-up of 12.39 years eventually among the 345,324 subjects. Social isolation (Moderately isolated: HR: 1.080, 95 % CI: 1.009-1.156; most isolated: HR: 1.121, 95 % CI: 1.018-1.234) was markedly related to an increased risk of RA, and these associations were not modified by genetic risk for RA. Cumulative risk map results observed that social isolation and loneliness and their subcomponents increase the cumulative incidence of RA over time.

CONCLUSION

Social isolation is independently associated with an enhanced prevalence of RA, and the correlation remained significant after accounting for genetic susceptibility to RA. Further exploration of the association between social isolation and RA may help to refine the etiology of RA and provide scientific evidence for primary health care of RA.

From error to insight: Removing non-systematic responding data in the delay discounting task may introduce systematic bias

Delay discounting (DD), which reflects a tendency to devalue rewards as the time to their receipt increases, is associated with health behaviors such as sleep disturbances, obesity, and externalizing behavior among adolescents. Response patterns characterized by inconsistent or unexpected reward valuation, called non-systematic responding (NSR), may also predict health outcomes. Many researchers flag and exclude NSR trials prior to analysis, which could lead to systematic bias if NSR (a) varies by demographic characteristics or (b) predicts health outcomes. Thus, in this study we characterized NSR and examined its potential beyond error by comparing it against DD with a secondary data analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study-a population-based study that tracked youths (N = 11,948) annually from 8 to 11 years of age over 4 years. We assessed DD and NSR using the Adjusting Delay Discounting Task when youths were approximately 9.48 years old (SD = 0.51). We also examined three maladaptive health outcomes annually: sleep disturbances, obesity, and externalizing psychopathology. Our analysis revealed variations in NSR across races, ethnicities, and body mass index categories, with no significant differences observed by sex or gender. Notably, NSR was a stronger predictor of obesity and externalizing psychopathology than DD and inversely predicted the growth trajectory of obesity. These findings suggest that removing NSR patterns could systematically bias analyses given that NSR may capture unexplored response variability. This study demonstrates the significance of NSR and underscores the necessity for further research on how to manage NSR in future DD studies.

Spatial associations of number and pitch in human newborns

Humans use space to think, reason about, externally represent, and even talk about many dimensions (e.g., time, pitch height). One dimension that appears to exploit spatial resources is the mental representation of the numerosity of a set in the form of a mental number line. Although the horizontal number-space mapping is present from birth (small-left vs. large-right), it is unknown whether it extends to other spatial axes from birth or whether it is later acquired through development/experience. Moreover, newborns map changes in pitch height onto a vertical axis (low pitch-bottom vs. high pitch-top), but it is an open question whether it extends to other spatial axes. We presented newborns (N = 64 total, n = 16 per experiment, 0-4 days) with an auditory increase/decrease in magnitude along with a visual figure on a vertically oriented screen (bottom vs. top, change in number: Experiments 1 and 2; change in pitch: Experiment 3) or on a horizontally oriented screen (left vs. right, change in pitch: Experiment 4). Newborns associated changes in magnitude with a vertical axis only when experiencing an increase in magnitude (increase/up); however, the possibility that visuospatial biases could account for this asymmetric pattern are discussed. Newborns did not map changes in pitch horizontally (Experiment 4), in line with previous work showing that the horizontal mapping of number at birth does not generalize to other dimensions. These findings suggest that the flexible use of different spatial axes to map magnitude is not functional at birth and that the horizontal mapping of number might be privileged.

Mediating roles of psychological entitlement and presence of meaning in the associations between parental measures (rejection and overprotection) and adolescent internet addiction

BACKGROUND

Although internet addiction has been related to negative parenting, few studies have investigated relationships involving parental rejection and parental overprotection and adolescent internet addiction. The present study examined the role of psychological entitlement and the presence of meaning in mediating relationships between parental rejection and overprotection and adolescent internet addiction.

METHODS

Self-reported data were drawn from a cross-sectional study involving a large-scale sample of 4091 secondary vocational schools students (45.9 % girls; Mage = 16.77 years, SD = 0.75) in China.

RESULTS

Both parental rejection and overprotection were positively related to internet addiction among vocational school students. Moreover, psychological entitlement and presence of meaning mediated the relationship between parental rejection and internet addiction, while psychological entitlement mediated the link between parental overprotection and internet addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that parental rejection and overprotection may put adolescents at greater risk of social networking and internet game addictions by elevating their level of psychological entitlement and reducing the level of presence of meaning. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

The specificity of sequential statistical learning: Statistical learning accumulates predictive information from unstructured input but is dissociable from (declarative) memory for words

Learning statistical regularities from the environment is ubiquitous across domains and species. It might support the earliest stages of language acquisition, especially identifying and learning words from fluent speech (i.e., word-segmentation). But how do the statistical learning mechanisms involved in word-segmentation interact with the memory mechanisms needed to remember words - and with the learning situations where words need to be learned? Through computational modeling, we first show that earlier results purportedly supporting memory-based theories of statistical learning can be reproduced by memory-less Hebbian learning mechanisms. We then show that, in a memory recall task after exposure to continuous, statistically structured speech sequences, participants track the statistical structure of the speech sequences and are thus sensitive to probable syllable transitions. However, they hardly remember any items at all, with 82% producing no high-probability items. Among the 30% of participants producing (correct) high- or (incorrect) low-probability items, half produced high-probability items and half low-probability items - even while preferring high-probability items in a recognition test. Only discrete familiarization sequences with isolated words yield memories of actual items. Turning to how specific learning situations affect statistical learning, we show that it predominantly operates in continuous speech sequences like those used in earlier experiments, but not in discrete chunk sequences likely more characteristic of early language acquisition. Taken together, these results suggest that statistical learning might be specialized to accumulate distributional information, but that it is dissociable from the (declarative) memory mechanisms needed to acquire words and does not allow learners to identify probable word boundaries.

Common and distinct neural substrates of rule- and similarity-based category learning

Categorization is a fundamental ability in human cognition that enables generalization and promotes decision-making. A categorization problem can be solved by employing a rule-based or a similarity-based strategy. The current study aims to elucidate the brain mechanism for category learning by investigating whether the use of the two strategies is supported by common or distinct neural substrates. We conducted three experiments using stimuli with a rule-plus-similarity category structure and applying an EEG-fNIRS fusion methodology. In Experiment 1, participants were explicitly instructed to use either a rule-based (single feature) or a similarity-based strategy, while in Experiment 3, they were instructed to use a rule-based (multi-feature) or a similarity-based strategy. In contrast, in Experiment 2, participants were required to self-discover categorization strategies. After learning, categorization was tested. The results of the three experiments were largely consistent, revealing distinct decision-making processes associated with each strategy. The results revealed that hypothesis testing and semantic processing, as reflected by the larger P300 and N400 components and increased activation in Wernicke's area, were critical for rule-based category learning, suggesting the role of an explicit system. In contrast, complex visual processing and the integration of multiple features, as indicated by a larger P1 component and the heightened activation in the frontopolar cortex, were critical for similarity-based category learning, suggesting the role of an implicit system. These distinct cognitive processes challenge single-system accounts suggesting a unified neural mechanism for both forms of category learning. Instead, our findings are consistent with the COVIS theory, which implies an explicit system for rule-based category learning and an implicit system for similarity-based category learning.

Executive functions and mathematical ability in early elementary school children: The moderating role of family socioeconomic status

Children's executive functions (EFs) and family socioeconomic status (SES) play critical roles in the development of mathematical ability in early elementary education. However, the potential interplay between EFs and SES remains underexplored. This study addressed this gap by comprehensively investigating the moderating role of SES in the relationship between EF subcomponents (i.e., interference inhibition, response inhibition, and working memory) and children's concurrent and future mathematical abilities (i.e., arithmetic operations and logical-visuospatial skills). A total of 172 participants (Mage = 6.78 years; 107 boys) took part in the study at the beginning of first grade in elementary school (T1) and 20 months later (T2). We measured EFs, SES, and mathematical ability at T1 and mathematical ability at T2. Results from hierarchical linear regression models indicated that working memory was positively associated with T1 arithmetic operations and logical-visuospatial skills as well as with T2 arithmetic operations. Furthermore, family SES was positively associated with arithmetic operations at both T1 and T2. Notably, we found a significant interaction effect between interference inhibition and SES on T1 arithmetic operations and logical-visuospatial skills. Specifically, interference inhibition was positively related to T1 arithmetic operations and logical-visuospatial skills for children from low- and middle-SES families, but not for children from high-SES families. Our findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of how cognitive and environmental factors jointly influence mathematical development, underscoring the need for targeted interventions for children from different SES backgrounds to support their mathematical ability development.

Mobile app-based intervention for paternal perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress: A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Paternal perinatal mental health significantly impacts family outcomes, yet fathers are often overlooked and underserved in mental health services. This study evaluates the efficacy of a mindfulness-based cognitive behaviour therapy intervention delivered via mobile app to address paternal perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.

METHOD

A randomised controlled trial was conducted with perinatal fathers experiencing moderate depression, anxiety, or stress symptoms. Participants were assigned to either the Rover app mindfulness-based CBT intervention (n = 81) or an active control app, moodmonitor (n = 75). Primary outcomes were depression (EPDS), anxiety, and stress (DASS21); secondary outcomes included social support, parenting self-efficacy, and couple relationship quality. Post-test analysis occurred at four weeks, with an additional eight-week follow-up for the intervention group.

RESULTS

Contrary to hypotheses, no differences were found between groups for depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Both groups showed significant reductions in anxiety (intervention d = -1.7, control d = -1.94) and stress (intervention d = -2.9, control d = -2.8) and improved couple relationship quality. Rover users maintained improvements at 8-week follow-up. Fathers with severe baseline depression experienced greater reductions in depression using the Rover app (b = 5.36, p < 0.01).

LIMITATIONS

Low adherence to the intervention and moderate attrition over the study duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the intervention was acceptable to fathers, treatment adherence was low, highlighting the need for more engaging content. App-based interventions show potential benefits for paternal mental health, but user engagement must be improved. This study contributes to the growing literature on digital interventions for fathers' mental health and emphasizes the importance of including fathers in perinatal mental health research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12621000275864.

Stress sensitization to psychological adjustment following childhood adversity: Moderation by serotonergic multilocus genetic variation

BACKGROUND

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences may heighten adolescents' sensitivity to stress, which influences their psychological adjustment over their lifetimes. Some research indicates that serotonergic genetic variation moderates how environmental stressors impact psychological adjustment. However, there are recognized limitations in examining gene-environment interactions using only single polymorphisms.

METHODS

The present study employed a multilocus genetic profile score (MGPS) approach to measure serotonergic genetic variations and examines their interaction with childhood abuse and friendship quality as predictors of the outcomes of psychological adjustment (depressive symptoms and sleep problems) in an adolescent sample (14.15 ± 0.63 years; N = 525).

RESULTS

Serotonergic genetic factors moderated stress sensitivity induced by adverse childhood experiences. Adolescent psychological adjustment appeared to result from interactions between genetics and the environments. These findings were further supported by rigorous significance testing and sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

The results highlight the strong utility of using MGPS to investigate gene-environment-environment interactions related to adolescent psychological adjustment.

Refining the self-congruency hypothesis of state authenticity: A self-threat model

The self-congruency hypothesis predicts that experienced authenticity (i.e., state authenticity) depends on behaving in alignment with one's self. While this idea is linked to extensive research on the effects of self-confirming and self-threatening information, empirical findings on the self-congruency hypothesis have been mixed. To address this inconsistency in the literature, we argue that the self-congruency hypothesis holds only when a number of preconditions are simultaneously met. We introduce a new theoretical model of state authenticity that outlines these hypothesized preconditions and integrates them into a comprehensive theoretical framework. Specifically, we argue that self-congruency only affects state authenticity when (a) the (in)congruent behavior refers to the individual's subjective true self-concept, (b) the relevant attributes are cognitively activated, and (c) the (in)congruent behavior is perceived as a diagnostic indicator of the attributes in question. Furthermore, we argue that biased processing critically affects the likelihood of these three preconditions being met. To amplify authenticity and protect against inauthenticity, biased processing increases the likelihood of these preconditions being met in the case of self-congruent behavior while decreasing it in the case of self-incongruent behavior. Consequently, biased processing significantly distorts self-congruency effects. As the three preconditions and the influence of biased processing have not been systematically considered in previous research on state authenticity, previous studies have sometimes failed to support the self-congruency hypothesis.

Predictable object motion is extrapolated to support visual working memory for surface features

Space and time support visual working memory (VWM) by providing incidental reference frames for task-relevant information. While this has been studied with stationary items, natural scenes also contain moving objects, whose positions change over time, often in a predictable manner. We investigated if predictable item motion is leveraged to facilitate VWM for surface features. In a dynamic change-detection task, participants memorised the colours of three disks moving at constant speed in different directions before disappearing. After a retention interval, the disks reappeared (a) at the movement endpoint locations where they had disappeared (b) at positions spatiotemporally congruent with their previous motion (where they would have been had they continued their movement), (c) at positions with a temporal offset (consistent with a change in speed while out of view) or (d) at positions with a spatial offset (consistent with a change in movement direction). Performance decreased with increasing temporal or spatial offsets relative to congruent positions, indicating that the memorised items' positions were remapped to their anticipated future locations. This updating of positions in spatiotemporal reference frames, however, only occurs if motion extrapolation allows for reliable predictions of where occluded items will reappear. In a task context with unreliable motion patterns, the congruency effect diminished over time and performance instead increased at the movement endpoints. A second experiment confirmed this influence of motion reliability. Thus, predictable motion is extrapolated to update spatiotemporal reference frames in VWM, supporting memory for surface features and thereby contributing to visually guided behavior in dynamic environments.

The serial mediation effect of parents' metamemory repertoire and metacognitive talk on children's associative memory

Recently, studies have revealed that parent-child interactions are one of the key drivers of children's memory development. Here, we investigated whether some specific parental behaviors and characteristics-the richness of parents' metamemory repertoire and their propensity to use metacognitive talk when interacting with their children-could mediate the well-known influence of parental education level on children's memory performance. To do so, 54 parent-child dyads with children aged 24 to 46 months were recruited and tested at two time points. Parents' metamemory repertoire was estimated using a questionnaire requiring the generation of as many different strategies as possible to solve various memory scenarios. The frequency of parents' metacognitive comments during a standardized discussion about a past event with their children was used as a measure of metacognitive talk. An associative recognition memory task was used to assess children's memory performance. Our results revealed that the effect of parental education level on children's memory was serially mediated by children's exposure to metacognitive talk via the richness of parents' strategic memory repertoire. Specifically, parents with higher educational attainment were likely to nominate more memory strategies than parents with a lower level of education. In turn, having a rich metamemory repertoire increased the likelihood of being metacognitive when interacting with children, which has a positive effect on children's memory performance. The importance of these findings for the sociocultural models of memory development is discussed.

Children's and adults' social partner choices are differently affected by statistical information

The current study investigated how U.S. adults (N = 99) and 5- and 6-year-old children (N = 112) use statistical information in their social partner choices. We found that children integrated base rate information (the distribution of traits within groups) and individual-level statistical information (the frequency of an individual's past behaviors) in their partner choices, but adults only relied on the individual-level statistical information and neglected base rate information. In addition, adults and children were affected by non-statistical information: Adults showed risk-seeking and risk-averse tendencies, and children showed only risk-seeking tendencies in their partner choices. These findings provide evidence that both statistical and non-statistical information affect social decisions, and adults and children are influenced by each type of information in distinct ways. The current study suggests future directions to further investigate the role of statistical learning in our social cognition and to develop a unifying account of how non-statistical information interacts with statistical information in our social decisions.

Self-guided virtual reality therapy for anxiety: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Virtual reality (VR) technology can be used to treat anxiety symptoms and disorders. However, most VR interventions for anxiety have been therapist guided rather than self-guided.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to examine the effectiveness and user experience (i.e., usability, acceptability, safety, and attrition rates) of self-guided VR therapy interventions in people with any anxiety condition as well as provide future research directions.

METHOD

Peer-reviewed journal articles reporting on self-guided VR interventions for anxiety were sought from the Cochrane Library, IEEE Explore Digital Library, PsycINFO, PubMED, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Study data from the eligible articles were extracted, tabulated, and addressed with a narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings revealed that self-guided VR interventions for anxiety can provide an effective treatment of social anxiety disorder, public speaking anxiety, and specific phobias. User experience outcomes of safety, usability, and acceptability were generally positive, and the average attrition rate was low. However, there was a lack of standardised assessments to measure user experiences.

CONCLUSION

Self-guided VR for anxiety can provide an engaging approach for effectively and safely treating common anxiety conditions. Nevertheless, more experimental studies are required to examine their use in underrepresented anxiety populations, assess their long-term treatment effects beyond 12 months, and compare their effectiveness against other self-help interventions for anxiety (e.g., internet interventions and bibliotherapy).

E-health intervention for co-occurring at-risk alcohol use and depressive symptoms: Reach, adherence, and two-year effects of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

This randomized controlled trial explored reach, adherence, and two-year effects of a proactive e-health intervention for co-occurring at-risk alcohol use and depressive symptoms (ITE).

METHODS

German medical care patients were screened for at-risk alcohol use and subthreshold depression. Over 6 months, ITE participants received 6 individualized feedback letters and weekly text messages. Primary outcome was change in a composite measure including problematic alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test consumption questions) and depressive symptoms (two subscales of the Patient-Health-Questionnaire-8) from baseline to 6, 12, and 24 months. Analyses were adjusted for education, setting, major depression, and baseline differences.

RESULTS

Among eligible patients invited, 51 % agreed to participate; 40 % completed the baseline interview and were randomized to ITE (n = 64) or assessment only (n = 68). Within ITE participants, 73 % received all intervention components. A latent change model revealed a small, insignificant impact of study group on the composite measure at 6 (d = -0.49, β = -0.41, p = 0.06) and 12 months (d = -0.26, β = -0.22, p = 0.35), diminishing at 24 months (d = -0.06, β = -0.04, p = 0.88). Secondary analyses showed a non-significant trend at 6 months, suggesting possible effect modification by baseline major depression (β = 0.80, p = 0.098), with larger effects in those without major depression.

LIMITATIONS

Self-reported outcomes; psychotherapy status unknown.

DISCUSSION

ITE showed high adherence and overall small, although non-significant, intervention effects up to month 12. The potential effect moderation warrants further investigation in larger samples.

Imaging probes for the detection of brain microenvironment

The brain microenvironment (BME) is a highly dynamic system that plays a critical role in neural excitation, signal transmission, development, aging, and neurological disorders. BME consists of three key components: neural cells, extracellular spaces, and physical fields, which provide structures and physicochemical properties to synergistically and antagonistically regulate cell behaviors and functions such as nutrient transport, waste metabolism and intercellular communication. Consequently, monitoring the BME is vital to acquire a better understanding of the maintenance of neural homeostasis and the mechanisms underlying neurological diseases. In recent years, researchers have developed a range of imaging probes designed to detect changes in the microenvironment, enabling precise measurements of structural and biophysical parameters in the brain. This advancement aids in the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for brain disorders and in the exploration of cutting-edge mechanisms in neuroscience. This review summarizes and highlights recent advances in the probes for sensing and imaging BME. Also, we discuss the design principles, types, applications, challenges, and future directions of probes.

Peer problems and prosocial behaviours across development: Associations with anxiety and depression in emerging adulthood

Peer problems in childhood and adolescence are associated with anxiety and depression in emerging adulthood. However, it remains unclear whether prosocial behaviours reduce this risk and whether these associations remain after adjusting for familial factors, including genetics. The present study examined how the development of peer problems and prosocial behaviours across childhood and adolescence were associated with anxiety and depression in emerging adulthood, and whether these associations remained when using a monozygotic twin difference design. The study included up to 31,016 participants (50.4 % female) from the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS; N = 19,758) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC; N = 11,258), with sample sizes varying across analyses based on data availability. Repeated data were collected from ages 4 to 26/28 (TEDS/ALSPAC). Results from latent growth curve and path analyses showed that higher initial levels of peer problems and prosocial behaviours in childhood, as well as more persistent peer problems and prosocial behaviours during childhood, increased risk for anxiety and depression in emerging adulthood. Associations with peer problems remained significant after adjusting for familial factors using monozygotic twin difference scores, suggesting that individual-specific experiences, like children's responses to peer problems, may explain why peer problems increase risk for later anxiety and depression. In contrast, associations with prosocial behaviours did not remain significant after adjusting for familial factors, indicating that whilst prosocial behaviours in childhood were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression in emerging adulthood, this was largely explained by genetic or environmental factors shared within the family.

The prevalence of common mental disorders, stress, and sleep disturbance among international migrant workers: A meta-analysis with subgroup analysis

International migrant workers face an elevated risk of common mental disorders (CMDs), stress, and sleep disturbances due to various individual, psychosocial, and occupational factors. This meta-analysis systematically evaluated the prevalence of CMDs, stress, and sleep disturbance among international migrant workers. Two independent reviewers systematically searched the literature on five electronic databases from inception to June 2022. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate the pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, stress, and sleep disturbance among international migrant workers. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to examine potential modifiers for the prevalence rates. Of 8461 records, 57 studies (n = 29,481) were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence rates of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, stress, and sleep disturbance were 20.3 %, 17.8 %, 17.3 %, and 25.3 %, respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed that the prevalence of CMDs and stress was statistically significantly modified by country of destination and type of work, stress by gender and country of origin, and anxiety by migration type. Potential publication bias was observed only in the meta-analysis of stress. Most of the studies included were of moderate to high methodological quality. However, given that the included studies were predominantly cross-sectional and used non-probability sampling, the results should be interpreted with caution. This meta-analysis highlights that CMDs, stress, and sleep disturbances are prevalent among international migrant workers, posing a significant public health concern for host countries. These findings underscore the urgent need for tailored mental health interventions for specific subgroups within this population.

Aberrant white matter structural connectivity of nucleus accumbens in patients with major depressive disorder: A probabilistic fibre tracing study

BACKGROUND

Extensive neuroimaging studies have established that functional abnormalities and morphological alterations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD), but changes in its white matter structural connectivity (SC) remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the changes in the white matter fibre connectivity of the NAc in MDD patients.

METHODS

This study used probabilistic fibre tracking to analyze the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data of 125 MDD patients and 129 healthy controls (HCs), calculating the strength of SC (sSC) from bilateral NAc to the entire brain and its correlation with depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Compared to HCs, MDD exhibited increased sSC between the left NAc (L.NAc) and regions involving the left middle frontal gyrus, bilateral cingulate gyrus (CG), bilateral hippocampus, left caudate, left medial superior occipital gyrus, right globus pallidus, right superior and middle temporal gyrus, right precuneus, right insula, and right posterior parietal thalamus. Enhanced sSC was also observed between the right NAc (R.NAc) and the left temporal lobe, left posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), bilateral lateral occipital cortex, left hippocampus, right putamen and right ventral occipital cortex. The sSC of L.NAc-left CG and R.NAc-left pSTS was positively correlated with HAMD scores in MDD.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal white matter connectivity of the NAc primarily affects the cortico-limbic circuit, cortico-basal ganglia circuit, and the temporal-occipital cortical regions in patients with MDD, along with the asymmetrical features of the inter-hemispheric SC related to NAc. These alteration may underlie the dysfunction of reward processing and emotion regulation in MDD.

Transdiagnostic relationships between childhood adversity and cortical thickness of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex

Childhood adversity (CA) is the leading preventable risk factor for mental illness. While CA can exacerbate affective symptoms across various psychiatric disorders, its impact on brain morphology, particularly the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), has mainly been studied in specific stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Therefore, we set out to disentangle the relationships between CA, psychopathology and brain structure across a broader range of psychiatric disorders. We studied 227 patients with stress-related and/or neurodevelopmental disorders and 95 healthy controls. We focused on the rACC, as this region is highly impacted by CA and has a pivotal role in affective functions across psychiatric disorders. The presence of CA was associated with decreased left rACC thickness across the whole sample, independent of psychopathology. Additionally, the contralateral right rACC was associated with psychopathology, with psychiatric patients having a thinner rACC compared to healthy controls, which was most pronounced in the stress-related disorders group. While left rACC thickness negatively correlated with social anxiety-related concerns, right rACC thickness negatively correlated with various core symptoms of stress-related and neurodevelopmental disorders. Finally, our exploratory analyses across cortical regions did not reveal any robust effects that survived multiple comparison correction. Taken together, our results suggest that within the stress-related disorders group, the CA-related thinning of the left rACC may compound the effects of the affected right rACC. This 'double hit' in stress-related disorders may contribute to the well-established phenomenon that CA leads to a worse illness trajectory in these disorders.

Depressive symptoms and work in Indigenous people

BACKGROUND

Adverse social and environmental factors outside of the health system play an important role in disparate mental health (MH) outcomes, including access to quality employment. American Indian/Alaskan Native (AIAN) workers are at risk but have been left out of research.

AIM

To describe the characteristics of AIAN adults with depressive symptoms and to examine their sociodemographic, health, functional and disability characteristics by work status.

METHODS

Utilizing the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for years 2020 and 2022, we evaluated differences in MH symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment between working and non-working AIAN adults. We undertook a descriptive analysis of socio-demographic and health characteristics. Three sets of multivariable logistic regression models were undertaken to (1) evaluate the association between employment status and MH outcomes, (2) associations with MH outcomes in working AIAN adults, (3) associations with mental health outcomes in non-working AIAN adults.

RESULTS

AIAN adults not currently employed had higher odds (1.55, 95%CI:1.03-2.33) of reporting weekly/daily depressive symptoms and ever being diagnosed with depression (1.50, 95%CI:1.02-2.21) compared to employed AIAN adults. Predictors of MH health outcomes differed between working and non-working AIAN adults, including age, education level, location, health care usage and delay of MH treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

There is evidence of the impact of work on the MH of indigenous people. An occupational health agenda should include better survey tools, and engagement with AIAN communities, workers, employers and health services to build on the evidence and support local level strategies.

Emotional problems and urinary incontinence in children from a UK cohort

BACKGROUND

Emotional problems are more common in children with urinary incontinence (UI). This study examines (i) if UI is related to changes in emotional problems over time and (ii) if changes in emotional problems over time are related to the subsequent risk of UI.

METHODS

The study is based on data from 8188 children aged 6¾-9 years (50.7 % females) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Parents reported on their child's UI (bedwetting and daytime wetting) at 7½ and 9½ years and emotional problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) at 6¾ and 9½ years. We used a latent difference score model to examine (i) if presence of UI at 7½ years is related to the magnitude of change in emotional problems from 6¾-9½ years and (ii) if a change in emotional problems from 6¾-9½ years is related to the probability of UI at 9½ years.

RESULTS

UI at age 7½ was associated with a change (increase) in emotional problems over time (e.g. daytime wetting: unadjusted β = 0.205 (SE = 0.085), p < 0.001). The change was greater in children with both bedwetting and daytime wetting (unadjusted β = 0.535 (SE = 0.103), p < 0.001). A change in emotional problems from 6¾-9½ years was related to the probability of UI at age 9½ (probit coefficient estimate = 0.145 (SE = 0.03), p < 0.001). Findings were robust to the inclusion of confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with UI experience increased emotional problems over time and changes in emotional problems were associated with subsequent UI. Emotional problems should be evaluated in children treated for incontinence.

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol but not statins is the direct cause of intracerebral hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the direct and indirect relationships between statin use, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), providing new insights into this complex scientific question.

METHODS

In this cohort study, UK Biobank data from 2006 to 2010 were used to construct Structural Equation Models of statin use, LDL-C, and ICH, including 414,253 participants with LDL-C data. Published Genome-Wide Association Studies data were used for drug-target Mendelian Randomization analysis.

RESULTS

The study included 414,253 participants, comprising 225,454 women (54.4%) with a mean age of 56.07 (8.11) years. During a median follow-up of 14.01 years, 2973 patients experienced ICH. Structural Equation Modelling showed the indirect effect (path a∗b) of statin on ICH was 0.003 (P < 0.001), the direct effect (path c') was -0.001 (P = 0.568), the total effect (path c) was 0.002 (P = 0.391), and the mediation proportion of LDL-C (a∗b/c) was 150.0%. Mendelian Randomization showed a negative association between LDL-C levels and ICH (β: -0.663, SE: 0.229, P = 0.004), with no causal relationship between statin use and ICH (β: -1.454, SE: 3.133, P = 0.643). Drug-targeted Mendelian Randomization revealed LDL-C levels, predicted by variants in or near HMGCR, PCSK9, CETP, ABCG8/5, and LAP, were negatively associated with ICH risk.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that statins increase the risk of ICH primarily through their LDL-C-lowering effects, rather than the direct effects of the statins themselves. LDL-C is negatively associated with ICH, an association not confined to the effects of the HMGCR loci. This advance provides evidence for the controversy between statin use, LDL-C levels, and ICH risk.

Effects of postural loading during static posture holding on concurrent executive function task performance

This study investigated the effects of postural loading during static posture holding on the performance of concurrent executive function tasks. Three executive function tasks, the letter memory, number-letter, and Stroop tasks, were employed for updating, shifting, and inhibition, respectively. Static posture holding involved three levels of postural loading (PL1, PL2, and PL3), corresponding to OWAS classes 1, 2, and 4, respectively. Increased postural loading resulted in decreased performance across tasks. At PL2 and PL3, compared to PL1, total score in the letter memory task decreased by 4.56% and 13.68%, switch trial reaction time in the number-letter task increased by 1.47% and 15.63%, and incongruent trial reaction time in the Stroop task increased by 4.15% and 13.44%. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between postural loading and executive functions, and offer valuable insights into how managing postural demands may enhance cognitive task performance.

The interpersonal effect of hunger: How others' hunger shapes consumer expected taste perceptions of advertised foods

Expected taste perceptions of advertised foods play a crucial role in consumer purchase decisions, yet these perceptions are heavily influenced by external food cues. While extensive research has examined various external factors affecting taste expectations, the impact of others' hunger has remained unexplored. The current research investigates how exposure to others' hunger in advertising contexts shapes consumers' expected taste perceptions of advertised foods. Through three studies, our findings show that consumers expect food to taste better when exposed to others' hunger, with this effect being serially mediated by self-hunger perception and mental simulation. This work contributes to the literature by addressing a significant gap in understanding how others' hunger influences individuals' expected taste perceptions, and by identifying a novel external cue that enhances these perceptions. Additionally, this research offers practical implications for food marketers on effectively incorporating social cues into their advertising strategies.