Hot and cold executive functions in the brain: A prefrontal-cingular network

Investigating the role of top-down regulation and bottom-up cues in eating styles transitions: a one-year cohort study with young adults

Young adults often experience deterioration in eating habits during transition periods. However, longitudinal evidence on the changes of eating styles and associated determinants remains limited. This study aimed to explore the eating styles transitions among young adults in their graduate transitions and investigate the influences of top-down regulatory factors and bottom-up environmental cues on their eating styles transitions. This is a two-wave cohort study involving 594 Hong Kong young adults completing the baseline assessment during their post-secondary graduation year, of whom, 424 completed the one-year follow-up survey. Eating behaviours were measured at both points. Executive function (EF), coping style, exposure to digital food environments, responsiveness to food cues, perceived stress and demographics were also measured. Latent profile analysis was used to explore main eating styles among participants while multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess determinants of eating styles transitions. In follow-up assessment, 5.9% of participants were consistently approaching eaters (APE) across two time points, while 28.8% have transitioned from moderate eaters (MOE) or APE to mixed eaters (MIE). The multinominal logistic regression model revealed that although EF and coping style were no longer significantly associated with participants' eating styles transitions outcomes, greater exposure to digital food environments (OR= 2.60, p= 0.028) and higher responsiveness to food cues (OR= 5.86, p= 0.005) were associated with Persistent APE. Higher responsiveness to food cues (OR= 2.36, p= 0.009) and higher perceived stress (OR= 1.05, p= 0.046) were associated with Converted MIE. Bottom-up cues may dominate eating styles transitions compared to top-down regulations. Future interventions should leverage environmental cues, thereby targeting the automatic decision-making process and supporting healthy eating habits during stressful life stages.

Effects of Physical Exercise on Executive Function in Schizophrenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Executive functions are often impaired in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Understanding the impact of physical exercise on these cognitive domains is essential for developing effective interventions. The aim of this review is to assess the effect of physical exercise on executive functions in adults diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO, initially from inception through January 2024, followed by an update through January 2025. Studies involved adults diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, employed physical exercise as an intervention, and measured executive functions as outcomes. The selection followed PRISMA guidelines, with inclusion determined by consensus among multiple reviewers. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool and GRADE approach for certainty of evidence. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models, with effect sizes (ES) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated for each outcome. From 1517 records, 9 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis revealed a small but significant effect of physical exercise on working memory (ES = 0.300, 95% CI = 0.060-0.539, p = 0.014; I2 = 0.0%, Q = 2.2, p = 0.951) and a non-significant effect on emotion recognition (ES = 0.51, 95% CI = -0.291-1.303, p = 0.213; I2 = 83%), inhibition (ES = 0.156, 95% CI = -0.173 to 0.484, p = 0.353; I2 = 0.0%, Q = 1.1, p = 0.781), and cognitive flexibility (ES = 0.240, 95% CI = -0.270 to 0.749, 95% PI = -1.706 to 2.185; p = 0.356; I2 = 53.2%, Q = 3.0, p = 0.094). Physical exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, appears to have a small beneficial effect on working memory in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, the evidence for its effect on emotion recognition is less clear and may be influenced by the type of exercise, such as yoga. Further research is needed to provide more robust conclusions. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023392295.

Non-invasive brain stimulation for borderline personality disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex neuropsychiatric condition characterized by four main symptom domains: emotion dysregulation, behavioral dysregulation, self-image disturbances, and interpersonal instability. While psychotherapy remains the primary treatment, there is a need for additional effective interventions. Given the neuromodulatory effects of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), these methods may hold potential for addressing BPD symptoms.

METHODS

A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A literature search (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL) identified comparative studies assessing the effects of NIBS in BPD. The primary outcome was impulsivity, measured by the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11). Secondary outcomes included Depressive symptoms, which were evaluated using different scales such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Beck depression Inventory (BDI) scale, and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA).

RESULTS

Five studies with a total of 103 patients were included. Regarding impulsivity, tDCS 2 mA showed a significant reduction compared to the control group (MD = -11.67, 95% CI [-21.44, -1.90]). For depressive symptoms, TMS 20 Hz ranked highest (SMD = -1.97, 95% CI [-3.51, -0.43]), followed by tDCS 2 mA (SMD = -1.65, 95% CI [-2.97, -0.34]). In terms of anxiety, both TMS 5 Hz (MD = -12.29, 95% CI [-24.57, -0.01]) and tDCS 2 mA (MD = -11.81, 95% CI [-17.39, -6.23]) showed significant differences.

CONCLUSION

Preliminary evidence suggests potential efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation for BPD, with well-tolerated side effects with well-tolerated side effects. Although there are noticeable statistically significant differences between the interventions and control groups, the results are inconclusive due to the small sample.

Glucocorticoids and HPA axis regulation in the stress-obesity connection: A comprehensive overview of biological, physiological and behavioural dimensions

Chronic stress, characterized by increased long-term exposure to the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol, is increasingly linked to obesity development. Still, various knowledge gaps persist, including on underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The aim of the current review is to provide the latest insights on the connection between stress and obesity. We discuss three biological stress systems-the autonomic nervous system, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the immune system-and their link with obesity, with a particular focus on the HPA axis. The role of cortisol and its regulatory variations (including glucocorticoid rhythmicity and altered sensitivity) in adipose tissue biology and obesity development is discussed. Moreover, we highlight the physiological, affective, cognitive and behavioural dimensions of the stress response offering a deeper understanding of how stress contributes to obesity development and vice versa. Finally, stress as a treatment target for obesity is discussed. We conclude that the link between stress and obesity is complex and multifaceted, influenced by physiological, affective, cognitive and behavioural stress response mechanisms, which especially when chronically present, play a key role in the development of obesity and associated cardiometabolic diseases. This necessitates integrated approaches tailored to individual needs, including lifestyle modifications, behavioural interventions, psychosocial support and possible additional pharmacological interventions.

Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial to Enhance Executive Function via Brief Mindfulness Training in Individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder

BACKGROUND

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is characterized by uncontrolled gaming behavior, leading to emotional distress, neglect of academic or life responsibilities, and damage to interpersonal relationships, all of which have serious negative impacts on individuals and society. IGD has been associated with neuropsychological impairments, especially executive function deficits, and emotional difficulties. Mindfulness interventions have been indicated to improve executive functions to varying degrees in individuals with IGD. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the three subcomponents of executive function (i.e., inhibition, updating, and shifting) are impaired in individuals with internet gaming disorder, as well as to examine the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness intervention on executive function.

METHODS

A total of 82 individuals diagnosed with IGD and 40 non-addicted gamers will be recruited for this study. These participants will be evenly divided into an intervention group and a control group at a ratio of 1:1. The intervention group will undergo a 7-day mindfulness training program focusing on breathing meditation, while the control group will receive progressive muscle relaxation training. Both groups' outcomes will be assessed at seven different time points. Primary outcome measures will include electroencephalography (EEG) data (band power, functional connectivity, source localization, and N2/P3 amplitudes), behavioral metrics (response times and accuracy from psychological experimental paradigms), physiological indices (specifically heart rate variability), self-reported measures (game craving and mindfulness levels, executive function performance, and impulsivity emphasizing inhibitory control). Secondary outcome measures will encompass anxiety, stress, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, and other indicators such as demographic information, physical and mental health status, and the Big Five personality traits.

DISCUSSION

This study aims to explore the efficacy of a brief mindfulness intervention on executive function impairments in IGD individuals and to elucidate its underlying neural mechanisms. It is anticipated that the findings will contribute to more targeted intervention strategies for executive function research, offering novel insights into the treatment of IGD and related cognitive dysfunctions. This study is expected to explore the effectiveness of brief mindfulness intervention on IGD and its underlying brain functional mechanisms, particularly providing more targeted intervention strategies for improving executive functions in this population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial registration number: ChiCTR2400081509, registered on March 4th 2024. Protocol Version1.0.

Null cross-modal effects of olfactory training on visual, auditory or olfactory working memory in 6- to 9-year-old children

Systematic exposure to odours (olfactory training, OT) is a method of smell loss treatment. Due to olfactory system projections to prefrontal brain areas, OT has been hypothesized to enhance cognitive functions, but its effects have been studied predominantly in adults. This study tested OT effects on working memory (WM), i.e., the ability to store and manipulate information for a short time, in healthy children aged 6-9 years. We expected OT to improve olfactory WM and establish cross-modal transfer to visual and auditory WM. Participants performed 12 weeks of bi-daily OT with either 4 odours (lemon, eucalyptus, rose, cloves; OT group) or odourless propylene glycol (placebo group). Pre- and post-training, participants' WM was measured utilizing odours (olfactory WM) or pictures (visual WM) and a word-span task (auditory WM). 84 children (40 girls) completed the study. The analyses revealed no changes in the WM performance following OT. The olfactory WM task was the most difficult for children, highlighting the need to include olfactory-related tasks in educational programmes to improve children's odour knowledge and memory, just as they learn about sounds and pictures. Further neuroimaging research is needed to fully understand the impact of OT on cognitive functions in children.

Negative Affect and Planning Ability in Preschool Children: A Mediation Model of Working Memory, Inhibition, and Cognitive Flexibility

Past research in developmental psychology has revealed close links between affect and planning ability over the life-span. However, such links have rarely been studied in children from non-clinical samples. To address this gap, the present study investigates whether negative affect, understood as a temperamental trait, affects planning ability in 5-year-old children. Moreover, it examines whether selected cognitive processes, that is inhibition, verbal working memory, and cognitive flexibility, mediate this relationship. A total of 103 children aged M = 5 years 4 months, SD = 2.7 months, and their parents participated in the study. The analyses, which employed a path mediation model, revealed that negative affect's influence on planning was entirely mediated by flexibility. Moreover, flexibility partially mediated the relationship between inhibition and planning, and verbal working memory had a direct effect on planning. The results provide a new insight into the relationship between negative affect and planning ability in non-clinical preschool children.

Potential locations for non-invasive brain stimulation in treating ADHD: Results from a cross-dataset validation of functional connectivity analysis

Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet the inaccurate selection of stimulation sites may constrain its efficacy. This study aimed to identify novel NIBS targets for ADHD by integrating meta-analytic findings with cross-dataset validation of functional connectivity patterns. A meta-analysis including 124 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies was first conducted to delineate critical brain regions associated with ADHD, which were defined as regions of interest (ROIs). Subsequently, functional connectivity (FC) analysis was performed using resting-state fMRI data from two independent databases comprising 116 patients with ADHD. Surface brain regions exhibiting consistent FC patterns with the ADHD-related ROIs across both datasets were identified as candidate NIBS targets. These targets were then translated to scalp-level stimulation sites using the 10-20 system and continuous proportional coordinates (CPC). Key regions mapped to the scalp included the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, right inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral inferior parietal lobule, supplementary motor area (SMA), and pre-SMA. These findings propose a set of precise stimulation location for NIBS interventions in ADHD, potentially broadening the scope of neuromodulation strategies for this disorder. The study emphasized the utility of cross-dataset functional connectivity analysis in refining NIBS target selection and highlights novel brain targets that warrant further investigation in clinical trials.

Rhythms of relief: perspectives on neurocognitive mechanisms of music interventions in ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple neurocognitive deficits. Research suggests that music interventions, both active and passive, may be an effective complementary method of addressing ADHD challenges. This narrative review discusses seven potential neurocognitive mechanisms through which music interventions may help mitigate or alleviate ADHD symptoms, including executive function enhancement, timing improvement, arousal regulation, default mode network modulation, neural entrainment, affective management, and social bonding facilitation. Our study synthesized evidence from ADHD-specific studies and examined parallels to other populations to identify possible pathways through which music therapy could exert its effect. The paper also discusses the implications of individualized music interventions tailored to specific neurocognitive profiles in ADHD, advocating additional research to refine and optimize these approaches. Overall, music therapy has substantial potential as a complementary treatment for ADHD, offering new avenues for addressing the psychosocial and cognitive aspects of this condition.

Childhood Pb-induced cognitive dysfunction: structural equation modeling of hot and cold executive functions

BACKGROUND

Childhood lead [Pb] exposure has been consistently linked to neurotoxic effects related to the prefrontal cortex, a critical mediating structure involved in decision-making, planning, problem-solving, and specific aspects of short-term memory, i.e., the components of executive functions [EFs]. Limited studies have taken a deeper phenotyping approach that assess Pb's effects across multiple EF dimensions simultaneously, which can be organized into hot [e.g., reward, motivation] and cold [e.g., primary cognitive processing] dimensions.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether childhood Pb exposure affects hot and cold EF dimensions and assessed any sexually dimorphic effects.

METHODS

Leveraging a longitudinal birth cohort based in Mexico City, children's (n = 602) whole blood Pb levels (mean 23.66 μg/L) were measured at ages 4-6 and they were administered several EF tasks at ages 6-9. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that six EF tests estimated two latent variables representing hot and cold EF dimensions. Structural equation modeling [SEM] estimated the neurotoxic effect of childhood Pb exposure on latent variables of hot [higher scores indicate improved performance] and cold [higher scores indicate poorer performance] EFs. Subsequently, a multi-group SEM explored potential effect modifications by child sex.

RESULTS

Pb exposure was significantly associated with negative impacts on hot EF performance [b = -0.129, p = 0.004]. In both males (b = -0.128, p = 0.032) and females (b = -0.132, p = 0.027), childhood Pb exposure was significantly associated with a reduction in hot EF performance, with no evidence of an interaction with sex. Additionally, we found no association between Pb exposure and cold EF performance [b = 0.063, p = 0.392] and no notable sex differences.

IMPACT

The present study leverages a sophisticated SEM framework as an exploratory tool and a neurotoxic framework to analyze multidimensional cognitive data, aiming to delineate hot and cold EFs. Our findings are consistent with neurotoxicity secondary to childhood Pb exposure impacting hot EF performance more than cold EF, though comparable trends were noted in cold EF performance for both sexes. Our approach uniquely captures hot EF, the more emotional and self-regulatory aspect of EF, adding a novel dimension to the literature on Pb exposure and cognitive development.

Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Risky Decision Making and Reward Processing in Young Adults

Acute exercise is suggested to elicit benefits for cool executive function, but the sensitivity of its hot components, such as risky decision making, to exercise remains unclear. However, improvements in risky decision making are relevant due to its predictive value for engagement in unhealthy behaviors in young adults in particular. We investigated the acute effects of aerobic exercise on risky decision making, its underlying neurocognitive processes (i.e., reward processing) and response inhibition. 33 female and 27 male participants (aged 24.0 ± 2.9 years) were randomly allocated to an intervention group, who performed 20 min of moderately-intense running on a treadmill, and a control group, who watched a video. Before and after these sessions, a Go/NoGo task and an Iowa Gambling task were administered. The feedback-related negativity (FRN) and P300 elicited by wins and losses during gambling were recorded with electroencephalography. We found no group differences in pre- to posttest changes in performance on the Go/NoGo task and Iowa Gambling task. However, there was a greater increase in the bias for infrequent losses in the intervention compared to the control group, accompanied by a change towards higher P300 amplitude and lower negativity of the FRN. In conclusion, an exercise session did not affect performance on cool and hot executive function tasks but altered the strategic approach in decision making. Exercise led to a better anticipation of outcomes of decisions and a higher maintenance of the feedback significance, which both contributed to a change towards choices that yield less frequent, larger losses.

A developmental perspective on mind wandering and its relation to goal-directed thought

Mind wandering (i.e., thoughts drifting from one topic to another, with no immediate connection to the perceptual field or the ongoing task) is a widespread cognitive phenomenon. There has been increasing research interest in mind wandering in children and adolescents. However, the developmental origins of this phenomenon remain largely unknown. In the present article, I summarize the purported cognitive mechanisms of mind wandering in adults and review the empirical findings on mind wandering and automatic memory retrieval in children and adolescents. I propose a comprehensive account of the emergence of mind wandering in early and middle childhood, covering the development of its central components identified in the adult literature: motivational and emotional processes, episodic and semantic processes, perceptual decoupling, and meta-awareness. Paying special attention to the roles of developing motivation and executive control, I then address the relationship between mind wandering and goal-directed thought in children.

Reduced gray matter volume in limbic and cortical areas is associated with anxiety and depression in alcohol use disorder patients

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a multifactorial disease closely related to neurodevelopment and environmental factors that influence behavior. This study explored the relationships between brain volume and behavior from an Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) based on the Research Domain Criteria. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from recent patients with AUD (n = 50) and healthy controls (HC=50). Group differences were assessed by means of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and regions of interest (ROIs). Participants completed a battery of neurocognitive tasks and emotional tests. When controlling for age, education levels, and total intracranial volume, we found lower gray matter volume in cortical and limbic areas, as well as significant impairments in the AUD group on cognition and affective status. This study demonstrated the importance of multifactorial analysis and complex models in order to better understand substance use disorders. The brain losses may have been the result of neurodevelopmental impairments due to biological and environmental factors that predisposed to AUD or the result of drug abuse. The ESEM indicated that limbic areas indirectly affected the alcohol severity through emotional dysfunction. These results suggest a more relevant involvement of limbic regions for the severity of alcohol use, showing a more significant association between AUD and mood disorders.

The Iowa Gambling Task: Men and Women Perform Differently. A Meta-analysis

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was designed to assess decision-making under conditions of complexity and uncertainty; it is currently one of the most widely used tests to assess decision-making in both experimental and clinical settings. In the original version of the task, participants are given a loan of play money and four decks of cards and are asked to maximize profits. Although any single card unpredictably yields wins/losses, variations in frequency and size of gains/losses ultimately make two decks more advantageous in the long term. Several studies have previously suggested that there may be a sex-related difference in IGT performance. Thus, the present study aimed to explore and quantify sex differences in IGT performance by pooling the results of 110 studies. The meta-analysis revealed that males tend to perform better than females on the classic 100-trial IGT (UMD = 3.381; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the significant heterogeneity observed suggests high variability in the results obtained by individual studies. Results were not affected by publication bias or other moderators. Factors that may contribute to differences in male and female performance are discussed, such as functional sex-related asymmetries in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, as well as differences in sensitivity to wins/losses.

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Diet Quality and Executive Functioning Development of Hispanic Preschoolers in Houston, Texas

BACKGROUND

Diet quality has been found to be related to cognitive health in school-aged children. However, this relationship remains understudied among Hispanic preschool-aged children, who are vulnerable to poor dietary habits and low cognitive development due to socioeconomic, cultural, and structural disparities.

OBJECTIVE

This longitudinal study evaluated whether the diet quality of preschool-aged children would be associated with executive functions (EFs) in later childhood.

DESIGN

This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal study of Hispanic preschool-aged children (age 4 and 5 years) at baseline (Time 1) and 18 months (Time 2).

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

This study included 185 mother-child dyads with complete data at Time 1, recruited through Head Start centers in Houston, TX, beginning in 2011.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mothers reported on their child's dietary intake via 3 24-hour recalls, which was used to calculate Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 component and total scores. Laboratory tasks assessed cold EFs (tapping and Flexible Item Selection Tasks) and hot EFs (delay of gratification and gift-wrapping tasks). Whereas higher scores on tapping, Flexible Item Selection Task, and delay of gratification tasks represent a high EF, higher scores in gift-wrapping task represent a low EF.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Hierarchical linear regression analyses assessed the relationship between diet quality, as measured by HEI-2010 total and component scores, at Time 1 (independent variables) and EF outcomes (dependent variables) at Time 2, controlling for child sex, age, body mass index z score, and EF at Time 1.

RESULTS

HEI-2010 component score for fatty acids (b = -.13; P = .04) and seafood and plant proteins (b = .09; P = .05), were respectively related to later cold and hot EFs of Hispanic preschool-aged children. Other HEI components or the overall score did not predict EFs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that specific HEI components support cold and hot EFs development among Hispanic preschool-aged children, but total HEI-2010 score does not. Experimental research is needed to assess the influence of dietary interventions on cognitive development of Hispanic preschool-aged children.

A new method for identifying and evaluating depressive disorders in young people based on cognitive neurocomputing: an exploratory study

Background

Depressive disorders are one of the most common mental disorders among young people. However, there is still a lack of objective means to identify and evaluate young people with depressive disorders quickly. Cognitive impairment is one of the core characteristics of depressive disorders, which is of great value in the identification and evaluation of young people with depressive disorders.

Methods

This study proposes a new method for identifying and evaluating depressive disorders in young people based on cognitive neurocomputing. The method evaluates cognitive impairments such as reduced attention, executive dysfunction, and slowed information processing speed that may exist in the youth depressive disorder population through an independently designed digital evaluation paradigm. It also mines digital biomarkers that can effectively identify these cognitive impairments. A total of 50 young patients with depressive disorders and 47 healthy controls were included in this study to validate the method's identification and evaluation capability.

Results

The differences analysis results showed that the digital biomarkers of cognitive function on attention, executive function, and information processing speed extracted in this study were significantly different between young depressive disorder patients and healthy controls. Through stepwise regression analysis, four digital biomarkers of cognitive function were finally screened. The area under the curve for them to jointly distinguish patients with depressive disorders from healthy controls was 0.927.

Conclusion

This new method rapidly characterizes and quantifies cognitive impairment in young people with depressive disorders. It provides a new way for organizations, such as schools, to quickly identify and evaluate the population of young people with depressive disorders based on human-computer interaction.

Executive functions in adolescence: A longitudinal study comparing evaluations before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

The change in the educational model derived from the COVID-19 pandemic might have an impact on cognitive development, particularly on Executive Functions (EFs). The aim of this study was to explore cognitive performance in adolescents at two time points (12 and 14 years of age), before and after the pandemic restrictions. We also analyzed possible sex differences in the results. We evaluated EFs using the Neuropsychological Battery of Executive Functions and Frontal Lobes (BANFE-2), which includes four cognitive indices corresponding to specific cognitive functions and associated prefrontal areas: Orbitofrontal Cortex (OC index -OCI-), Anterior Prefrontal Cortex (APCI), Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DCI), and Prefrontal cortex as an index of global EFs (EFI). The ANOVA conducted to compare the evaluations before and after the pandemic revealed no significant pre-post-pandemic differences in any sex and in any BANFE-2 index, except for the OCI, in which post-pandemic performance was impaired in boys (pre and post mean score = 96.61 vs. 66.53), but not in girls (pre and post mean score = 93.55 vs. 95.0). Our findings are thus compatible with the idea of a different vulnerability to change in the educational model between sexes, and they also reveal which specific EFs may have been affected during the pandemic.

A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Investigation of Hot and Cool Executive Functions in Reward and Competition

Social and environmental influences are important for learning. However, the influence of reward and competition during social learning is less understood. The literature suggests that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is implicated in hot executive functioning (EF), while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is related to cool EF. In addition, reward processing deficits are associated with atypical connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and the dorsofrontal regions. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine the role of hot and cool EF in reward processing and their relationship to performance under social competition. We adapted a reward-based n-back task to examine the neural correlates of hot and cool EF and the reward influence on performance during competition. A total of 29 healthy adults showed cortical activation associated with individual differences in EF abilities during fMRI scans. Hot and cool EF activated distinct networks in the right insula, hippocampus, left caudate nucleus, and superior parietal gyrus during the no-competition task, while they differentially activated the right precuneus and caudate nucleus in the competition condition. Further analysis revealed correlations between the Hot-Cool network and reward sensitivity and risk-taking behaviour. The findings provided further insights into the neural basis of hot and cool EF engagement in the socio-emotional regulation for learning.

A systematic review on executive functions in female adolescents with eating disorders: Implications on daily life and relevance to rehabilitation

Background: Eating Disorders (ED) are prevalent in female adolescents and have far-reaching effects on daily participation and quality of life (QoL). Daily participation highly depends on Executive Functions (EF). Existing knowledge about EF in ED, as expressed in real life, is not fully documented or clear.Aim: We aimed to (i) characterise literature on EF deficits in ED among female adolescents; (ii) examine common methodologies of evaluating EED difficulties; (iii) identify literature gaps regarding EF implications on daily participation and QoL; and (iv) clarify concepts pertaining EF's role in ED to optimise rehabilitation.Methods: A systematic review was conducted using thematic synthesis to analyse relevant studies from four databases, covering the period between January 2000 and December 2023. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Qualitative Research Checklist tool. We followed the guidelines of the PRISMA statement.Results: Forty-four articles met the inclusion criteria, 79.5% showed significant evidence of EF deficits in female adolescents with ED. Up to 19% of adolescents with ED showed EF deficits that explained ED symptomatology, reduced daily participation, and deteriorated QoL. Most studies used neuropsychological tools to measure EF. Ecological measurements that reflect EF implications on daily life were rarely used.Conclusion: ED rehabilitation should integrate ecological measures to evaluate EF implications on daily life. This approach is specifically relevant during adolescence to optimise development, daily participation, and QoL.

Elucidating distinct and common fMRI-complexity patterns in pre-adolescent children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder diagnoses

Importance

The pathophysiology of ADHD is complicated by high rates of psychiatric comorbidities, thus delineating unique versus shared functional brain perturbations is critical in elucidating illness pathophysiology.

Objective

To investigate resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI)-complexity alterations among children with ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), respectively, and comorbid ADHD, ODD, and OCD, within the cool and hot executive function (EF) networks.

Design

We leveraged baseline data (wave 0) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.

Setting

The data was collected between September 2016 and September 2019 from 21 sites in the USA.

Participants

Children who singularly met all DSM-5 behavioral criteria for ADHD (N = 61), ODD (N = 38), and OCD (N = 48), respectively, were extracted, alongside children with comorbid ADHD, ODD, OCD, and/or other psychiatric diagnoses (N = 833). A control sample of age-, sex-, and developmentally-matched children was also extracted (N = 269).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Voxel-wise sample entropy (SampEn) was computed using the LOFT Complexity Toolbox. Mean SampEn within all regions of the EF networks was calculated for each participant and hierarchical models with Generalized Estimating Equations compared SampEn of comorbid-free and comorbid ADHD, ODD, and OCD within the EF networks.

Results

SampEn was reduced in comorbid-free ADHD and ODD in overlapping regions of both EF networks, including the bilateral superior frontal gyrus, anterior/posterior cingulate gyrus, and bilateral caudate (Wald statistic = 5.682 to 10.798, p < 0.05 & BH corrected), with ADHD additionally affected in the right inferior/middle frontal gyrus and bilateral frontal orbital cortex (Wald statistic = 7.231 to 9.420, p < 0.05 & BH corrected). Among comorbid presentations, the additional presence of ADHD symptomatology was associated with significantly lower SampEn in every region of interest (z = -3.973 to -2.235, p < 0.05 & BH corrected).

Conclusions and Relevance

ADHD and ODD shared common impairments underlying the EF networks in the comorbid-free presentations, with ADHD showing more widespread complexity reduction. When ADHD co-occurred with other psychiatric disorders, the reduction in SampEn extended beyond the regions affected in comorbid-free ADHD, indicating that comorbidities amplify neural complexity deficits.

Effects of Resistance Training on Executive Functions of Cognitively Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol

Background/Objectives: Aging involves a series of changes in non-pathological age-related conditions, some of which impact the cognitive functioning of older adults. Executive functions are cognitive skills that are often affected in this process, although they have been shown to improve after physical exercise interventions. This protocol aims to describe the procedures that will be carried out in a systematic literature review, including a meta-analysis of the effects of resistance interventions on the main dimensions of executive function in cognitively healthy older adults compared to active or passive control groups. Methods: The PRISMA-P guidelines will be followed. Eligibility criteria will be organized based on the PICOS strategy (older adults with normal cognition ≥60 years; chronic resistance interventions ≥4 weeks; active or passive control group; direct measures of executive function). The PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases will be used. The risk of bias and quality of evidence will be measured using RoB2 and GRADE, respectively. The DerSimonian-Laird random effects model will be used for the meta-analysis. The effect size will be calculated using Hedges' g with a 95% confidence interval and p < 0.05 to indicate statistical significance. Discussion: The results of the proposed review may be useful to justify the design and implementation of treatment plans based on resistance training for the prevention and management of cognitive changes typical of aging among older adults. PROSPERO registry: CRD42024571127.

Neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in depression and cognitive benefits of exercise intervention

Depression is associated with functional brain impairments, although comprehensive studies remain limited. This study reviews neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in depression and identifies associated activation abnormalities in brain regions. The study also explores the underlying neural processes of cognitive benefits of exercise intervention for depression. Executive function impairments, including working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility are associated with frontal cortex and anterior cingulate areas, especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Depression is associated with certain neural impairments of reward processing, especially orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and other striatal regions. Depressed patients exhibit decreased activity in the hippocampus during memory function. Physical exercise has been found to enhance memory function, executive function, and reward processing in depression patients by increasing functional brain regions and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a nutritional factor also plays a key role in exercise intervention. The study documents neurophysiological mechanisms behind exercise intervention's improved functions. In summary, the study provides insights into neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments in depression and the effectiveness of exercise as a treatment.

Cognitive flexibility and resilience measured through a residual approach

Background and Objectives: Resilience refers to the process through which individuals show better outcomes than what would be expected based on the adversity they experienced. Several theories have proposed that variation in resilience is underpinned by cognitive flexibility, however, no study has investigated this using an outcome-based measure of resilience.Design: We used a residual-based approach to index resilience, which regresses a measure of mental health difficulties onto a measure of adversity experienced. The residuals obtained from this regression constitute how much better or worse someone is functioning relative to what is predicted by the adversity they have experienced.Methods: A total of 463 undergraduate participants completed questionnaires of mental health difficulties and adversity, as well as a number-letter task-switching task to assess cognitive flexibility.Results: Multiple regression analyses showed that better cognitive flexibility was not associated with greater resilience.Conclusions: Our findings do not support theoretical models that propose the existence of a relationship between cognitive flexibility and resilience. Future research may serve to refine the residual-based approach to measure resilience, as well as investigate the contribution of "hot" rather than "cold" cognitive flexibility to individual differences in resilience.

Sleep Fragmentation Results in Novel Set-shifting Decrements in GCR-exposed Male and Female Rats

The prolonged exposure to multiple spaceflight stressors during long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars will be challenging to the physical and mental health of the astronauts. Ground-based studies have reported that attentional set-shifting task (ATSET) performance is impaired after space radiation (SR) exposure. At certain times during deep-space missions, astronauts will likely have to contend with the combined impacts of SR and sleep perturbation. In rats, poor quality, fragmented sleep adversely impacts performance in multiple cognitive tasks, including the ATSET task. While both SR and sleep perturbations independently cause cognitive performance deficits, the incidence, severity and exact nature of those decrements following combined exposure to these flight stressors is largely unknown. This study established the impact that a single night of fragmented sleep has on ATSET performance in both male and female rats exposed to 10 cGy of galactic cosmic ray simulation (GCRsim). The GCRsim beam is a complex beam that mimics the mass and energy spectra of the SR particles that an astronaut will be exposed to within the spacecraft. Rats that had no obvious ATSET performance decrements when normally rested were subjected to fragmented sleep and their ATSET performance reassessed. Sleep fragmentation resulted in significant ATSET performance decrements in GCRsim-exposed rats, with specific performance decrements being observed in stages where attention or cue shifting is extensively used. Performance decrements in these stages are rarely observed after SR exposure. While both male and female rats exhibited latent sleep-related performance decrements, these were sex dependent, with male and female rats exhibiting different types of performance decrements (either reduced processing speed or task completion efficiency) in different stages of the ATSET task. This study suggests that SR-induced cognitive impairment may not be fully evident in normally rested rats, with an underestimation of both the incidence and nature of performance decrements that could occur when multiple space flight stressors are present. These data suggest that that there may be synergistic interactions between multiple space flight stressors that may not be easily predicted from their independent actions.

The effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Iowa Gambling Task: a scoping review

Introduction

Among the tasks employed to investigate decisional processes, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) appears to be the most effective since it allows for deepening the progressive learning process based on feedback on previous choices. Recently, the study of decision making through the IGT has been combined with the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to understand the cognitive mechanisms and the neural structures involved. However, to date no review regarding the effects of tDCS on decisional processes assessed through the IGT is available. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the potential effects of tDCS in enhancing decisional processes, assessed with the IGT, through the evaluation of the complete range of target cases.

Methods

The existing literature was analyzed through the PRISMA approach.

Results

Results reported that tDCS can enhance performance in the IGT and highlighted a pivotal role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex in risky and ambiguous decisions.

Discussion

Thus, tDCS over the brain regions identified improves the decisional processes in healthy subjects and patients, confirming its potential to enhance decision making in everyday contexts and deepen the neural correlates. Suggestions for further studies are provided to delve into decisional mechanisms and how to better support them.

Locus coeruleus signal intensity and emotion regulation in agitation in Alzheimer's disease

Hyperphosphorylated tau accumulation is seen in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus from the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease onwards and has been associated with symptoms of agitation. It is hypothesized that compensatory locus coeruleus-noradrenaline system overactivity and impaired emotion regulation could underlie agitation propensity, but to our knowledge this has not previously been investigated. A better understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of agitation would help the development of targeted prevention and treatment strategies. Using a sample of individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and probable mild Alzheimer's disease dementia from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (DELCODE) study cohort (N = 309, aged 67-96 years, 51% female), we assessed cross-sectional relationships between a latent factor representing the functional integrity of an affect-related executive regulation network and agitation point prevalence and severity scores. In a subsample of individuals with locus coeruleus MRI imaging data (N = 37, aged 68-93 years, 49% female), we also investigated preliminary associations between locus coeruleus MRI contrast ratios (a measure of structural integrity, whole or divided into rostral, middle, and caudal thirds) and individual affect-related regulation network factor scores and agitation measures. Regression models controlled for effects of age and clinical disease severity and, for models including resting-state functional MRI connectivity variables, grey matter volume and education years. Agitation point prevalence showed a positive relationship with a latent factor representing the functional integrity (and a negative relationship with a corresponding structural measure) of the affect-related executive regulation network. Locus coeruleus MRI contrast ratios were positively associated with agitation severity (but only for the rostral third, in N = 13) and negatively associated with the functional affect-related executive regulation latent factor scores. Resting-state functional connectivity between a medial prefrontal cortex region and the left amygdala was related to locus coeruleus MRI contrast ratios. These findings implicate the involvement of locus coeruleus integrity and emotion dysregulation in agitation in Alzheimer's disease and support the presence of potential compensatory processes. At the neural level, there may be a dissociation between mechanisms underlying agitation risk per se and symptom severity. Further studies are needed to replicate and extend these findings, incorporating longitudinal designs, measures of autonomic function and non-linear modelling approaches to explore potential causal and context-dependent relationships across Alzheimer's disease stages.

Working memory load increases movement-related alpha and beta desynchronization

Working memory (WM) load has been well-documented to impair selective attention and inhibitory control. However, its effects on motor function remain insufficiently explored. To extend the existing literature, we investigated the impact of WM load on force control and movement-related brain activity. Sixteen healthy young participants performed a visual static force matching task using a pinch grip under varying WM loads. The task included low and high WM load conditions (memorizing one digit or six digits), and the precision level required to control force was adjusted by manipulating visual gain (low vs. high visual gains), with higher visual gain necessitating more precise force control. Peri-movement alpha and beta event-related desynchronization (ERD), along with force accuracy and steadiness, were measured using electroencephalography recorded over the central areas during the force control task. Results indicated that while force accuracy and steadiness significantly improved with higher visual gain, there was no significant effect of WM load on these measures. Alpha and beta ERD were greater under high than low visual gain, and also greater under high than low WM load. These findings suggest that in young adults, increased WM load leads to compensatory increases in sensorimotor cortical activity to mitigate potential declines in static force control performance that may result from the depletion of neural resources caused by WM load. Our findings extend current understanding of the interaction between WM and sensorimotor processes by offering new insights into how movement-related brain activity is influenced by heightened WM load.

Effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on emotion regulation in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review

Background and objective

A growing body of research evidence suggests that many patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have difficulties with emotion regulation. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), which mainly includes transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), has been considered a potential new direction in the treatment of emotion dysregulation in ADHD patients. The key components of tES are transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). However, there is no systematic evaluation exploring the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on emotion regulation in ADHD patients. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to summarize the effects of NIBS on emotion regulation in ADHD patients.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library electronic databases up to 1 July 2024. We also hand-searched the reference lists of retrieved articles and reviews. Assessing risk of bias using the Cochrane Assessment Tool.

Results

Through database search, we obtained a total of 1134 studies, of which 5 met the inclusion criteria. Statistically significant improvements in emotion regulation in children with ADHD were observed in 1 study after treatment with tDCS. In the remaining 4 studies (2 with tDCS and 2 with rTMS), there were no statistically significant changes in emotion regulation in ADHD patients after treatment with either tDCS or rTMS.

Conclusions

The data from our preliminary study do not allow us to draw definitive conclusions that non-invasive brain stimulation improves emotion regulation in ADHD patients. This is because there is a paucity of literature on the effects of tES or rTMS on emotion regulation in ADHD patients and a limited number of randomized controlled trials. More high-quality multicenter randomized controlled trials exploring the efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation on emotion regulation in ADHD patients are needed in the future to provide strong evidence for definitive conclusions before it can be considered as a potential treatment option.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024569041.

Effects of Low-Intensity Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Neuropsychological Development of Pediatric Subjects With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Longitudinal Retrospective Approach

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurobiological condition characterized by behavioral problems and delayed neurodevelopment. Although transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been proposed as an alternative treatment for patients with ASD because of its promising benefits in reducing repetitive behaviors and enhancing executive functions, the use of high-intensity pulses (Hi-TMS) appears to be related to the side effects of the therapy. Low-intensity TMS (Li-TMS) has been partially investigated, but it may have clinical effects on ASD and simultaneously increase treatment safety.

METHODS

In this study, the effects of combined intervention with Li-TMS and conventional therapies were evaluated in 35 patients from Ecuador (six female and 29 male), aged between three and seven years, with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD. Each subject received conventional therapies twice a week (for four weeks) provided at the research center (psychological, occupational, speech, and neuro-psychomotor therapies) alongside daily Li-TMS sessions at 1 Hz and 9 mT of intensity targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) for 45 min for four weeks (16 sessions in total). The Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI), first edition, was applied before and after Li-TMS therapy to evaluate its clinical effects in subjects with ASD. Weekly follow-up assessments and parent questionnaires were administered to identify any adverse events.

RESULTS

In all BDI domains, a significant statistical difference was observed between the pre- and post-intervention averages, supported by extremely low p-values (less than 0.001 in all cases). The personal, social, motor, cognitive, and communicative skills of all the study participants increased after Li-TMS therapy. At the same time, the calculated maturational delay had a significant decrease, suggesting an improvement of ~7.78 months in the neurodevelopment of the ASD subjects. However, age was also found to be a possible cause for these changes in development and maturation. No adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Both variants of TMS, Hi-TMS and Li-TMS, have proven to be promising treatments for subjects with ASD, improving social and cognitive abilities. This investigation suggests that the combination of conventional therapies and 16 sessions of Li-TMS as a treatment for individuals with ASD had significant clinical progress, specifically in maturation development according to BDI. In addition, the use of low-intensity magnetic fields may allow for safer pulse delivery in pediatric subjects, as no side effects were reported in this study.

Distinct Patterns of Socioemotional Dysfunction Relate to Aggressive Versus Nonaggressive Rule-breaking Antisocial Behaviors in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

BACKGROUND

Antisocial behaviors occur in up to 91% of individuals with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Prior work has shown that antisocial behaviors can be differentiated into aggressive and nonaggressive rule-breaking behavioral subtypes. Socioemotional dysfunction is common in bvFTD and unique compared to other types of dementia.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether socioemotional dysfunction relates to general antisocial behaviors in individuals with bvFTD, or whether different types of socioemotional dysfunction relate to aggressive versus rule-breaking behaviors.

METHODS

Informants for 28 participants with bvFTD and 21 participants with Alzheimer disease (AD) completed the Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The SBQ measures the presence and severity of 26 antisocial behaviors, including subscales for aggressive behaviors (SBQ-AGG) and nonaggressive rule-breaking behaviors (SBQ-RB). The IRI measures cognitive and emotional empathy capabilities, including subscales for Empathic Concern (IRI-EC) and Perspective-taking (IRI-PT).

RESULTS

As expected, participants with bvFTD had higher scores on the SBQ in total than participants with AD, as well as on the SBQ-AGG and SBQ-RB separately. Participants with bvFTD had lower scores on the IRI-EC and IRI-PT than participants with AD (P < 0.0001 for all measures). Lower scores on the IRI-PT correlated with higher scores on the SBQ-AGG-but not with higher scores on the SBQ-RB-across the combined group of participants (P = 0.007), and within participants in the bvFTD group (P = 0.01) specifically, after controlling for covariates of age, sex, dementia severity, and IRI-EC scores. Lower scores on the IRI-EC correlated with higher scores on the SBQ-AGG-but not with higher scores on the SBQ-RB-across the combined group of participants (P = 0.02) after controlling for covariates of age, sex, dementia severity, and IRI-PT scores.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that socioemotional dysfunction relates to antisocial behaviors in individuals with bvFTD, but that the mechanisms leading to aggressive and rule-breaking behaviors are differentiable, providing meaningful implications for distinct approaches to treatment and prevention.

Cortical oscillations and event-related brain potentials during the preparation and execution of deceptive behavior

Deception often occurs in response to a preceding cue (e.g., a precarious question) alerting us about the need to subsequently lie. Here, we simulate this process by adapting a previously established paradigm of intentionally false responding, now instructing participants about the need for deception (vs. truthful responses) by means of a simple cue occurring before each response-relevant target. We analyzed event-related brain potentials (ERPs) as well as cortical oscillations recorded from the scalp. In an experimental study (N = 44), we show that a cue signaling the need for deception involves increased attentional selection (P2, P3a, P3b). Moreover, in the period following the cue and leading up to the target, ERP and oscillatory signatures of anticipation and preparation (Contingent Negative Variation, alpha suppression) were found to be increased during trials requiring a deceptive as compared to a truthful response. Additionally, we replicated earlier findings that target processing involves enhanced motivated attention toward words requiring a deceptive response (LPC). Moreover, a signature of integration effort and semantic inhibition (N400) was observed to be larger for words to which responses have to be intentionally false as compared to those to which responses must be truthful. Our findings support the view of the involvement of a series of basic cognitive processes (especially attention and cognitive control) when responses are deliberately wrong instead of right. Moreover, preceding cues signaling the subsequent need for lying already elicit attentional and preparatory mechanisms facilitating the cognitive operations necessary for later successful lying.

Control your emotions: evidence for a shared mechanism of cognitive and emotional control

The current investigation examined the bidirectional effects of cognitive control and emotional control and the overlap between these two systems in regulating emotions. Based on recent neural and cognitive findings, we hypothesised that two control systems largely overlap as control recruited for one system (either emotional or cognitive) can be used by the other system. In two experiments, participants completed novel versions of either the Stroop task (Experiment 1) or the Flanker task (Experiment 2) in which the emotional and cognitive control systems were actively manipulated into either a high or low emotional-load condition (achieved by varying the proportions of negative-valence emotional cues) and a high and a low cognitive control condition (achieved through varying the proportion of conflict-laden trials). In both experiments, participants' performance was impaired when both emotional and cognitive control were low, but significantly and similarly improved when one of the two control mechanisms were activated - the emotional or the cognitive. In Experiment 2, performance was further improved when both systems were activated. Our results give further support for a more integrative notion of control in which the two systems (emotional and cognitive control) not only influence each other, but rather extensively overlap.

Variable Presence of an Evolutionarily New Brain Structure Is Related to Trait Impulsivity

BACKGROUND

Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct reflecting poor constraint over one's behaviors. Clinical psychology research has identified separable impulsivity dimensions that are each unique transdiagnostic indicators for psychopathology. However, despite this apparent clinical importance, the shared and unique neuroanatomical correlates of these factors remain largely unknown. Concomitantly, neuroimaging research has identified variably present human brain structures implicated in cognition and disorder: the folds (sulci) of the cerebral cortex located in the latest-developing and most evolutionarily expanded hominoid-specific association cortices.

METHODS

We tethered these 2 fields to test whether variability in one such structure in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)-the paracingulate sulcus (PCGS)-was related to individual differences in trait impulsivity. A total of 120 adult participants with internalizing or externalizing psychopathology completed a magnetic resonance imaging scan and the Three-Factor Impulsivity Index. Using precision imaging techniques, we manually identified the PCGS, when present, and acquired quantitative folding metrics (PCGS length and ACC local gyrification index).

RESULTS

Neuroanatomical-behavioral analyses revealed that participants with leftward or symmetrical PCGS patterns had greater severity of Lack of Follow Through (LFT)-which captures inattention and lack of perseverance-than those with rightward asymmetry. Neuroanatomical-functional analyses identified that the PCGS colocalized with a focal locus found in a neuroimaging meta-analysis on a feature underlying LFT. Neither quantitative folding metric related to any impulsivity dimension.

CONCLUSIONS

This study advances understanding of the neuroanatomical correlates of impulsivity and establishes the notion that the topographical organization of distinct, hominoid-specific cortical expanses underlies separable impulsivity dimensions with robust, transdiagnostic implications for psychopathology.

Associations between ADHD symptoms, executive function and frontal EEG in college students

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to assess whether electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power change scores (e.g. task spectral power subtracted from resting state spectral power) across three different frequency bands, alpha (8-12 Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), and beta (13-30 Hz), predicts self-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) over and above self-reported executive function (EF) abilities using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-A) Global Executive Composite (GEC) T-scores for adults.

METHODS

Data were collected at a rural, mid-sized southeastern university (N = 52) and participants received course credit for participation. Participants self-reported ADHD symptoms and EF abilities before completing eyes open resting state and the attention network test (ANT), a common flanker task that measures ability to orient attention, stay alert, and resolve conflict (i.e. distractor arrows) while recording EEG spectral power at electrodes F3 and F4. Bivariate correlations determine associations between EEG measures and self-reported ADHD symptoms and EF abilities. Linear regressions were used to assess whether EEG change scores were predictive of ADHD symptoms over and above EF abilities.

RESULTS

High correlation coefficients were found only when comparing the ASRS and BRIEF-A GEC T-scores (r = .822, p <.001). Regression analyses produced significant results indicating EEG spectral change scores were predictive of ADHD symptoms, over and above GEC T-Scores, for the alpha band but not the theta and beta bands. Additionally, we found an inverse relationship when comparing change scores in the alpha band across the right (F4) and left (F3) hemispheres supporting the theory of frontal asymmetry for individuals with increased ADHD symptoms.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to assess the predictive ability of EEG spectral power change scores in predicting ADHD symptoms, which are not solely explained by deficits in executive control. Past research has indicated significant differences when comparing task and resting state spectral power indicating change scores might have some utility in measuring cognitive load, specifically in the alpha band, which has been associated with inhibition, working memory, and anticipation of stimuli. Further research should be conducted to assess the utility change scores might have in providing an objective measure related to a clinical population with ADHD.

Differential association between childhood trauma subtypes and neurocognitive performance in adults with major depression

BACKGROUND

Neurocognitive impairment is one of the prominent manifestations of major depressive disorder (MDD). Childhood trauma enhances vulnerability to developing MDD and contributes to neurocognitive dysfunctions. However, the distinct impacts of different types of childhood trauma on neurocognitive processes in MDD remain unclear.

METHODS

This study comprised 186 individuals diagnosed with MDD and 268 healthy controls. Childhood trauma was evaluated using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. Neurocognitive abilities, encompassing sustained attention, vigilance, visual memory, and executive functioning, were measured by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery.

RESULTS

Multivariable linear regressions revealed that childhood trauma and MDD diagnosis were independently associated with neurocognitive impairment. Physical neglect was associated with impaired visual memory and working memory. MDD diagnosis is associated with working memory and planning. Interactive analysis revealed that physical/sexual abuse was associated with a high level of vigilance and that emotional neglect was linked with better performance on cognitive flexibility in MDD patients. Furthermore, childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, and emotional neglect were revealed to be risk factors for developing early-onset, chronic depressive episodes.

CONCLUSION

Thus, specific associations between various childhood traumas and cognitive development in depression are complex phenomena that need further study.

Response inhibition as a critical executive function in differentiating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from autism spectrum disorder: a comprehensive attention test study

Background

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both associated with impairment in executive function, particularly in complex attention. Although previous studies using clinical assessments have attempted to delineate differences between these disorders, the findings have been inconclusive. Our study aims to elucidate the differences of endophenotype between ASD, ADHD, and their co-occurring condition utilizing a uniform computerized test.

Methods

The study included children diagnosed with ASD, ASD co-occurring with ADHD (ASD+ADHD), or ADHD who completed the comprehensive attention test (CAT) at Severance Hospital between October 2013 to May 2023. We excluded children with intellectual disability and comorbid major psychiatric or neurologic disorders possibly affecting attention measurement. The participants were categorized into three groups for the comparative analysis of CAT measures: (a) ASD (n=112), (b) ASD+ADHD (n=155), and (c) ADHD (n=104). The study also conducted an exploratory analysis utilizing multivariate linear regression analysis to examine the association between the CAT measures and parent-reported scales.

Results

Notably, the ASD+ADHD and ADHD groups exhibited higher frequency of commission errors (CE) and perseveration errors (PE) compared to the ASD group. In the exploratory analysis, a significant negative association was observed between reaction time (RT) and both the social communication questionnaire (SCQ) and the child behavior checklist (CBCL) externalization scores in the ASD+ADHD and ADHD groups. The ASD+ADHD group tended to show higher standard deviation of reaction time (RTSD) compared to the ASD group.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that impaired response inhibition is more pronounced in ADHD compared to ASD. We propose altered visual attention, reflecting response inhibition, may serve as potential endophenotypic markers differentiating ADHD from ASD in attentional assessment. Elevated RTSD in the ASD+ADHD group demonstrates additive pathology, suggesting that the neurological mechanisms underpinning impaired sustained attention may differ between the two conditions.

Different spectrum of space radiation induced cognitive impairments in radiation-naïve and adapted rats

NASA's decision to resume manned deep space mission, first to the Moon and then Mars, necessitated a detailed assessment of the potential health effects that astronauts may experience on long-duration missions. Multiple studies suggest that there may be significant space radiation (SR)-induced impairment of neurocognitive processes, including advanced executive functions. However, given the multitude of SR-induced changes in the CNS, it is possible that completely different SR-induced sequelae will be induced in previously exposed individuals. Thus, current risk estimates are likely to be pertinent only for the early stages of a deep space mission, and even then only for astronauts that have no previous experience in space. In this study, rats that maintained high attentional set shifting (ATSET) performance after an initial exposure to 10 cGy of SR (either 250 MeV/n He or GCRsim), were exposed to an additional dose of 10 cGy GCRsim and their ATSET performance reassessed. The re-irradiated rats exhibited significant impairment of ATSET performance, however, the performance decrements differed in two important aspects from those typically observed after single exposures. First, the decrements were manifested when the rats were required to perform set shifting, specifically in the IDR and EDS stages of the ATSET test. Secondly, the main performance decrement was in a loss of processing speed, which in the IDR stage resulted in the re-irradiated rats taking 2-fold more time to solve the problem than did Sham rats. The functional consequence of this decrement was that compared to Sham rats, 20 % fewer SR-exposed rats solved the IDS and EDR problems within 20 s. These data suggests that prior SR exposure alters nature of ATSET impairments from that observed in radiation-naïve individuals. Risk estimates derived from studies that use radiation naïve rats may thus not fully reflect the incidence and nature of ATSET performance deficits that could occur over the entire duration of a mission to Mars, or in astronauts who return to deep space on multiple occasions. It would thus be germane to conduct in-flight monitoring for cognitive performance decrements observed in both radiation naïve and exposed rats during the mission, and ensure that the crew has sufficient overlapping skill sets to minimize the operational impact of these additional cognitive impairments.

Prefrontal cortex activation and working memory performance in individuals with non-clinical depression: Insights from fNIRS

Previous research has extensively explored cognitive and neural deficits in clinically diagnosed depression, but the early stages of depression, where symptoms do not meet clinical thresholds, are less explored. This study investigated neurocognitive markers in individuals with non-clinical depression. The study assessed working memory (WM) performance and hemodynamic responses of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in 30 individuals with non-clinical depression and 41 healthy controls using two-back tasks with four stimulus types: numbers, letters, shapes, and emotional facial expressions. Hemodynamic responses were measured via oxyhemoglobin (HbO) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that individuals with non-clinical depression have significantly lower WM performance compare to healthy controls, particularly for shape- and emotional facial expression-based tasks. No differences were observed for the number- and letter- based tasks. Additionally, individual with non-clinical depression exhibited elevated HbO levels, indicating increased PFC activation. Specifically, significant HbO differences observed in the bilateral ventrolateral PFC during shape-based tasks, and in the left medial, bilateral orbital, and bilateral ventrolateral PFCs during emotional facial expression-based tasks. In conclusion, individuals with non-clinical depression may experience WM deficits and PFC dysregulation, even without a clinical diagnosis. This study highlights the role of stimulus type in understanding WM performance and PFC activation in depression.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Applications in the Study of Executive Functions: A Review

PURPOSE

Executive functions (EFs) are a set of advanced cognitive functions essential for human survival and behavioral regulation. Understanding neurophysiological mechanisms of EFs as well as exploring methods to enhance them are still challenging problems in cognitive neuroscience. In recent years, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been widely used in the field of EF research and has made notable progress. This article aimed to discuss the impact of TMS technology on EF research from both basic and applied research perspectives.

METHODS

We searched for literature on TMS and EFs published in the last decade (2013-2023) and reviewed how TMS has been applied in the field of EF.

FINDINGS

We found that the combination of TMS with neuroimaging techniques was helpful in exploring the brain mechanisms of EFs and investigating the executive dysfunctions caused by other neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, TMS could be considered as one of the most important techniques to enhance EFs among patient populations, even healthy people, with high safety and credibility. Meanwhile, we discussed the application of TMS in the research of EFs and made suggestions for future research directions. We suggested that a multidisciplinary structure of methods such as epigenetics and endocrinology could be integrated with TMS for investigating deeper in EF domains, and a substantial number of high-quality clinical studies are required to further elucidate the effects of TMS on EFs.

CONCLUSIONS

TMS holds great promise for gaining insight into investigating the neural mechanisms of EFs and improving executive functions among different populations.

Variable Presence of an Evolutionarily New Brain Structure is Related to Trait Impulsivity

Background

Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct reflecting poor constraint over one's behaviors. Clinical psychology research identifies separable impulsivity dimensions that are each unique transdiagnostic indicators for psychopathology. Yet, despite this apparent clinical importance, the shared and unique neuroanatomical correlates of these factors remain largely unknown. Concomitantly, neuroimaging research identifies variably present human brain structures implicated in cognition and disorder: the folds (sulci) of the cerebral cortex located in the latest developing and most evolutionarily expanded hominoid-specific association cortices.

Methods

We tethered these two fields to test whether variability in one such structure in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)-the paracingulate sulcus (PCGS)-was related to individual differences in trait impulsivity. 120 adult participants with internalizing or externalizing psychopathology completed a magnetic resonance imaging scan and the Three-Factor Impulsivity Index. Using precision imaging techniques, we manually identified the PCGS, when present, and acquired quantitative folding metrics (PCGS length and ACC local gyrification index).

Results

Neuroanatomical-behavioral analyses revealed that participants with leftward or symmetrical PCGS patterns had greater severity of Lack of Follow Through (LFT)-which captures inattention and lack of perseverance-than those with rightward asymmetry. Neuroanatomical-functional analyses identified that the PCGS co-localized with a focal locus found in a neuroimaging meta-analysis on a feature underlying LFT. Both quantitative folding metrics did not relate to any impulsivity dimension.

Conclusions

This study advances understanding of the neuroanatomical correlates of impulsivity and establishes the notion that the topographical organization of distinct, hominoid-specific cortical expanses underlie separable impulsivity dimensions with robust, transdiagnostic implications for psychopathology.

Components of hot and cold executive functions and their relations to different forms of stress resilience: A systematic review

Increasing evidence points out that Executive Functions (i.e., EFs) may be core mechanisms for the generation of resilient responses to adversity. A systematic review testing the relations between either affective (hot) and/or non-affective (cold) EFs (i.e., inhibition, flexibility and working memory updating) and resilience was conducted. A total of 449 articles were initially identified. After two steps of title-and-abstract (k = 449), and full-text reading filtering (k = 67), 11 studies were reviewed. Three studies included cold measures of working memory and supported significant positive relations between higher working memory functioning and higher trait resilience levels. One study included cold measures of inhibition and another one both hot and cold measures, with only the first one supporting a positive relation between more efficient inhibition and higher trait resilience levels. Finally, 7 studies measured flexibility in its cold and/or hot dimensions and overall supported significant relations between higher flexibility and higher levels of trait, process and outcome resilience measures. These results support the role of EFs performance to promote different forms of resilience. This review allows to identify different issues that need to be addressed in future research and highlight the need to integrate the analysis of all hot and cold EFs components to understand their role in the generation of resilience.

Cortico-striatal beta oscillations as a reward-related signal

The value associated with reward is sensitive to external factors, such as the time between the choice and reward delivery as classically manipulated in temporal discounting tasks. Subjective preference for two reward options is dependent on objective variables of reward magnitude and reward delay. Single neuron correlates of reward value have been observed in regions, including ventral striatum, orbital, and medial prefrontal cortex. Brain imaging studies show cortico-striatal-limbic network activity related to subjective preferences. To explore how oscillatory dynamics represent reward processing across brain regions, we measured local field potentials of rats performing a temporal discounting task. Our goal was to use a data-driven approach to identify an electrophysiological marker that correlates with reward preference. We found that reward-locked oscillations at beta frequencies signaled the magnitude of reward and decayed with longer temporal delays. Electrodes in orbitofrontal/medial prefrontal cortex, anterior insula, ventral striatum, and amygdala individually increased power and were functionally connected at beta frequencies during reward outcome. Beta power during reward outcome correlated with subjective value as defined by a computational model fit to the discounting behavior. These data suggest that cortico-striatal beta oscillations are a reward signal correlated, which may represent subjective value and hold potential to serve as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target.

Repeated prefrontal tDCS for improving mental health and cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease associated with physical disability, psychological impairment, and cognitive dysfunctions. Consequently, the disease burden is substantial, and treatment choices are limited. In this randomized, double-blind study, we conducted repeated prefrontal electrical stimulation in 40 patients with MS to evaluate mental health variables (quality of life, sleep difficulties, psychological distress) and cognitive dysfunctions (psychomotor speed, working memory, attention/vigilance), marking it as the third largest sample size tDCS research conducted in MS to date.

METHODS

The patients were randomly assigned (block randomization method) to two groups of sham (n = 20), or 1.5-mA (n = 20) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3) and right frontopolar cortex (Fp2) with anodal and cathodal stimulation respectively (electrode size: 25 cm2). The treatment included 10 sessions of 20 min of stimulation delivered every other day. Outcome measures were MS quality of life, sleep quality, psychological distress, and performance on a neuropsychological test battery dedicated to cognitive dysfunctions in MS (psychomotor speed, working memory, and attention). All outcome measures were evaluated at the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments. Both patients and technicians delivering the stimulation were unaware of the type of stimulation being used.

RESULTS

Repeated prefrontal real tDCS significantly improved quality of life and reduced sleep difficulties and psychological distress compared to the sham group. It, furthermore, improved psychomotor speed, attention, and vigilance compared to the sham protocol. Improvement in mental health outcome variables and cognitive outperformance were interrelated and could predict each other.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated prefrontal and frontopolar tDCS ameliorates secondary clinical symptoms related to mental health and results in beneficial cognitive effects in patients with MS. These results support applying prefrontal tDCS in larger trials for improving mental health and cognitive dysfunctions in MS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06401928.

Metaanalysis of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Efficacy for OCD Treatment: The Impact of Stimulation Parameters, Symptom Subtype and rTMS-Induced Electrical Field

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has recently demonstrated significant potential in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, its effectiveness depends on various parameters, including stimulation parameters, OCD subtypes and electrical fields (EFs) induced by rTMS in targeted brain regions that are less studied. Methods: Using the PRISMA approach, we examined 27 randomized control trials (RCTs) conducted from 1985 to 2024 using rTMS for the treatment of OCD and conducted several meta-analyses to investigate the role of rTMS parameters, including the EFs induced by each rTMS protocol, and OCD subtypes on treatment efficacy. Results: A significant, medium effect size was found, favoring active rTMS (gPPC = 0.59, p < 0.0001), which was larger for the obsession subscale. Both supplementary motor area (SMA) rTMS (gPPC = 0.82, p = 0.048) and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) rTMS (gPPC = 1.14, p = 0.04) demonstrated large effect sizes, while the right DLPFC showed a significant moderate effect size for reducing OCD severity (gPPC = 0.63, p = 0.012). These protocols induced the largest EFs in dorsal cognitive, ventral cognitive and sensorimotor circuits. rTMS protocols targeting DLPFC produced the strongest electrical fields in cognitive circuits, while pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) rTMS protocols induced larger fields in regions linked to emotional and affective processing in addition to cognitive circuits. The pre-SMA rTMS modulated more circuits involved in OCD pathophysiology-sensorimotor, cognitive, affective, and frontolimbic-with larger electrical fields than the other protocols. Conclusions: While rTMS shows moderate overall clinical efficacy, protocols targeting ventral and dorsal cognitive and sensorimotor circuits demonstrate the highest potential. The pre-SMA rTMS appears to induce electrical fields in more circuits relevant to OCD pathophysiology.

Executive functions and addictions: a Structural Equation Modeling Approach and the Italian validation of the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI)

INTRODUCTION

the work aims to observe the associations between psychoactive substance use and gambling and executive functioning as well as to validate the Italian version of the "Adult Executive Functioning Inventory" (ADEXI) scale.

METHODS

data were collected through a representative cross-sectional study among 5,160 people (18-84 years old) called IPSAD® (Italian Population Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed to explore the associations between ADEXI and other behaviors measured with standardized questionnaires. Cronbach α has been performed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the ADEXI scale.

RESULTS

SEM showed that both WM and INH were correlated with problematic cannabis use (WM r = 0.112; INH r = 0.251) and gambling (WM r = 0.101; INH r = 0.168), while problematic alcohol use was correlated only with INH (r = 0.233). Cronbach α for the WM subscale was 0.833 (CI 0.826-0.840), while for INH was 0.694 (CI 0.680-0.708).

CONCLUSION

results pointed out a strong correlation between addictions (substance-related and non-substance-related) and WM and INH impairments among the adult general population. Moreover, the ADEXI scale could be considered a valuable tool for general population surveys to detect working memory and inhibition characteristics.

Concurrent behavioral modeling and multimodal neuroimaging reveals how feedback affects the performance of decision making in internet gaming disorder

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) prompts inquiry into how feedback from prior gaming rounds influences subsequent risk-taking behavior and potential neural mechanisms. Forty-two participants, including 15 with IGD and 27 health controls (HCs), underwent a sequential risk-taking task. Hierarchy Bayesian modeling was adopted to measure risky propensity, behavioral consistence, and affection by emotion ratings from last trial. Concurrent electroencephalogram and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (EEG-fNIRS) recordings were performed to demonstrate when, where and how the previous-round feedback affects the decision making to the next round. We discovered that the IGD illustrated heightened risk-taking propensity as compared to the HCs, indicating by the computational modeling (p = 0.028). EEG results also showed significant time window differences in univariate and multivariate pattern analysis between the IGD and HCs after the loss of the game. Further, reduced brain activation in the prefrontal cortex during the task was detected in IGD as compared to that of the control group. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the aberrant decision-making processes in IGD and suggest potential implications for future interventions and treatments aimed at addressing this behavioral addiction.

Frequency-specific static and dynamic neural activity indices in children with different attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subtypes: a resting-state fMRI study

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. Numerous resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) studies in ADHD have been performed using traditional low-frequency bands (0.01-0.08 Hz). However, the neural activity patterns of frequency subbands in ADHD still require further investigation. The purpose of this study is to explore the frequency-dependent characteristics and neural activity patterns of ADHD subtypes. We selected the ADHD combined type (ADHD-C, N = 25), ADHD inattentive type (ADHD-I, N = 26) and typically developing (TD, N = 28) children from the ADHD-200 Consortium. Based on the slow-5 band (0.01-0.027 Hz) and slow-4 band (0.027-0.073 Hz), we generated static and dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) maps for each participant. A flexible-factorial analysis of variance model was performed on static and temporal dynamic rs-fMRI measurements within two subbands. Results revealed that the orbital-frontal gyrus, precuneus, superior temporal gyrus and angular gyrus were found to have obvious frequency band and group interaction effects. The intrinsic neural activity differences among three groups were more prominent in the slow-5 frequency band compared to the slow-4 band. In addition, the indices of significant interaction regions showed correlations with the progression of the disease and the features in slow-5 showed an advantageous diagnostic performance compared with those in slow-4. The results suggested the intrinsic neural activities of ADHD subtypes were frequency-dependent. The frequency-specific analysis of static and dynamic brain activity may provide a deeper understanding of neurophysiological dysfunction patterns in ADHD subtypes and provide supplementary information for assessing ADHD subtypes.

How hypnotic suggestions work - A systematic review of prominent theories of hypnosis

In recent decades, hypnosis has increasingly moved into the mainstream of scientific inquiry. Hypnotic suggestions are frequently implemented in behavioral, neurocognitive, and clinical investigations and interventions. Despite abundant reports about the effectiveness of suggestions in altering behavior, perception, cognition, and agency, no consensus exists regarding the mechanisms driving these changes. This article reviews competing theoretical accounts that address the genesis of subjective, behavioral, and neurophysiological responses to hypnotic suggestions. We systematically analyze the broad landscape of hypnosis theories that best represent our estimation of the current status and future avenues of scientific thinking. We start with procedural descriptions of hypnosis, suggestions, and hypnotizability, followed by a comparative analysis of systematically selected theories. Considering that prominent theoretical perspectives emphasize different aspects of hypnosis, our review reveals that each perspective possesses salient strengths, limitations, and heuristic values. We highlight the necessity of revisiting extant theories and formulating novel evidence-based accounts of hypnosis.

Executive functions in psychopathy: a meta-analysis of inhibition, planning, shifting, and working memory performance

Much research has focused on executive function (EF) impairments in psychopathy, a severe personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, antisocial behavior, and a disregard for social norms and moral values. However, it is still unclear to what extent EF deficits are present across psychopathy factors and, more importantly, which EF domains are impaired. The current meta-analysis answers these questions by synthesizing the results of 50 studies involving 5,694 participants from 12 different countries. Using multilevel random-effects models, we pooled effect sizes (Cohen's d) for five different EF domains: overall EF, inhibition, planning, shifting, and working memory. Moreover, differences between psychopathy factors were evaluated. Our analyses revealed small deficits in overall EF, inhibition, and planning performance. However, a closer inspection of psychopathy factors indicated that EF deficits were specific to lifestyle/antisocial traits, such as disinhibition. Conversely, interpersonal/affective traits, such as boldness, showed no deficits and in some cases even improved EF performance. These findings suggest that EF deficits are not a key feature of psychopathy per se, but rather are related to antisociality and disinhibitory traits. Potential brain correlates of these findings as well as implications for future research and treatment are discussed.

Genes associated with cortical thickness alterations in behavioral addiction

Behavioral addiction (BA) is a conceptually new addictive phenotype characterized by compulsive reward-seeking behaviors despite adverse consequences. Currently, its underlying neurogenetic mechanism remains unclear. Here, this study aimed to investigate the association between cortical thickness (CTh) and genetic phenotypes in BA. We conducted a systematic search in five databases and extracted gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Meta-analysis of 10 studies (343 addicted individuals and 355 controls) revealed that the BA group showed thinner CTh in the precuneus, postcentral gyrus, orbital-frontal cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (P < 0.005). Meta-regression showed that the CTh in the precuneus and postcentral gyrus were negatively associated with the addiction severity (P < 0.0005). More importantly, the CTh phenotype of BA was spatially correlated with the expression of 12 genes (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05), and the dopamine D2 receptor had the highest correlation (rho = 0.55). Gene enrichment analysis further revealed that the 12 genes were involved in the biological processes of behavior regulation and response to stimulus (FDR < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings demonstrated the thinner CTh in cognitive control-related brain areas in BA, which could be associated with the expression of genes involving dopamine metabolism and behavior regulation.