Restoration of Attention by Rest in a Multitasking World: Theory, Methodology, and Empirical Evidence

Effect of traditional Chinese exercise on older patients with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) on blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), and health-related quality of life in older patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

Database searches were systematically conducted across multiple platforms. The review adhered to PRISMA guidelines, utilizing the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool to gauge literature quality. Review Manager 5.3 was employed for data evaluation, calculating mean differences to ascertain pooled effect sizes.

Results

This study encompassed 11 randomized controlled trials involving 944 individuals. The results showed that TCEs reduced fasting blood glucose (-0.76, 95% CI [-1.14, -0.38], P = 0.0001), HbA1c (-2.64, 95% CI [-4.81, -0.47], P = 0.02), and BMI (-0.83, 95% CI [-1.42, -0.24], P = 0.006), and improved health-related quality of life. Among the various forms of TCEs, Baduanjin (BDJ) appeared particularly beneficial.

Conclusions

Traditional Chinese exercises can improve blood glucose levels, BMI and quality of life-related indicators to varying degrees in older diabetes patients, and may be a useful complementary therapy for this population.

The intervention effect of exercise on the attention of patients with depression: a systematic review

Objective

This paper aims to systematically evaluate the intervention effect of exercise on the attention of patients with depression.

Methods

The randomized controlled trials of exercise intervention on the attention of patients with depression in six databases were retrieved by computer, and the quality of the included literature was evaluated by the PEDro scale. The meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, publication bias test, and sensitivity analysis were performed by Stata 17.0, and the quality of evidence was evaluated by GRADEpro.

Results

A total of 11 literature involving 924 patients with depression were included. The results showed that exercise could improve the attention of patients with depression (Hedge's g = 0.17, p = 0.01), exercise intensity (p = 0.00) had a regulatory effect on the intervention effect, and exercise form (p = 0.77), exercise duration (p = 0.58) and exercise cycle (p = 0.66) had no regulatory effect on the intervention effect.

Conclusion

Exercise can improve the attention of patients with depression, among which moderate intensity has the best effect. This study has been registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews Prospero (CRD4202477699).

Age and weekly physical activity are correlated with ballistic VR decision making and reaction time shooting performance at rest

Ballistic virtual reality (VR) can measure shooting performance reliably in trained and untrained subjects. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether baseline traits such as age, habitual physical activity, and prior experience are correlated with VR decision-making and reaction time performance. Thirty participants completed a series of VR tests-Color Shapes and Steel Plates-while shooting a laser-guided and CO2-recoil fitted rifle at digitally-projected targets. The first test measured decision-making as a function of shooting a series of correct shapes (squares/triangles/circles) and colors (green/red/blue), twice, in under 2 s. The second test measured left-to-right target transition shooting skills on six, equidistant metal plates placed 7 m away from the shooting line. Age was correlated with (1) lower decision-making scores during the Color Shapes array identification test and (2) slower target transition time, smaller throughput (time/accuracy) and Hit Factor [(correct hits-misses)/time] on the Steel Plates test. Weekly physical activity had an inverse effect. A multiple regression model revealed that age and weekly activity combined predicted the Hit Factor, the most relevant shooting proficiency metric. Tactical populations scored significantly better than non-tactical in the decision-making task. Age and physical activity may plausibly predict ballistic performance, whereas tactical experience positively modulates better decision-making.

Regional differences in the disease burden and attributable risk factors of female cancers

The aim was to assess the differences in the burden and risk factors of female cancers among women aged 20-94 years across regions and countries, in order to provide a reference for formulating tailored interventions. The study analyzed the incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study. Age-period-cohort model evaluated the effects of the age, period, and cohort on the burden, and negative binomial regression explored the association of the socio-demographic index (SDI) with the burden. From 1990 to 2021, regional and national incidence, deaths, and DALYs of female cancers varied markedly. Overall, SDI was significantly positively associated with the incidence of female cancers, except for cervical cancer (with a negative relationship). High body-mass index as the leading risk factor of uterine cancer contributed to the higher burden, such as in the USA and higher SDI regions. Diet high in red meat, unsafe sex, and high body-mass index were the leading risk factors for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and uterine cancer, respectively; however, other socioeconomic and cultural factors should be considered, such as in the rural areas of China and lower SDI regions. A slightly increasing trend in the burden of breast cancer in the recent birth cohorts indicated the effect of generational experiences. The disease burden of female cancers has increased and varies with SDI levels and regions. The findings provide new insights into the development of targeted preventive measures for the specific region from the perspective of social and cultural context.

Pause before action: Waiting short time as a simple and resource-rational boost

Many workers today engage in straightforward judgment tasks, increasing the need for interventions to improve accuracy. We propose a resource-rational and psychohygienic intervention, "wait short time", which introduces a brief pause before displaying alternatives. This pause works as a harmonious triad: it clears the mind of prior judgment bias, restores present attention, and prepares the mind for future judgments; and all this without additional instructions. Based on a resource rationality framework, cognitive costs (e.g., irritation, cognitive conflict) are associated with prolonged thinking because of humans limited cognitive resources. Therefore, there should be an appropriately short thinking time to achieve higher accuracy with minimal workload. We investigated the effectiveness of the proposed intervention both theoretically and empirically. The computer simulations demonstrated that, under assumptions of limited cognitive resources, there was an optimal time at the early stages for maximizing total benefits. The results of behavioral experiment was consistent with the theoretical findings: Providing a waiting time (1 s or 2.5 s) improved judgment accuracy, but cognitive conflicts increased over time and an unnecessarily long time (2.5 s) induced more subjective irritation. Consequently, an appropriate time (1 s) could enhance judgment accuracy with less workload. We discuss the implications and limitations of the proposed intervention.

Three-dimensional (3D) stimuli are always better than two-dimensional (2D) multi-tasking? A high cognitive load in 3D-MATB-II

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to investigate the whether multi-tasking performance in (three-dimensional) 3D aid or impede cognition compare to (two-dimensional) 2D environments, as reflected by cognitive load. Specifically, we aim to examine the mechanism of multi-tasking under 3D (virtual reality [VR]) and 2D (PC monitor) conditions using the widely used Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB) II paradigm.

METHODOLOGY

The MATB-II sub-tasks, namely "Tracking" and "System Monitoring," were conducted with varying task demands in both 3D conditions (Tracking Far - System Monitoring Near [TF-SN], Tracking Near - System Monitoring Far [TN-SF]) and a 2D condition with no depth perception (No Depth [ND]). Participants' cognitive load was assessed using subjective reporting (NASA-TLX) and physiological measure (root mean square of successive difference (RMSSD) of heart rate variability (HRV)).

RESULTS

The study found that performance was significantly better in the ND condition compared to the TF-SN and TN-SF conditions. Furthermore, higher NASA-TLX scores and lower RMSSD values were observed in the TF-SN and TN-SN conditions compared to the ND condition, providing additional support for the overall findings of the MATB-II paradigm.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that processing multiple tasks in different depth planes may lead to poorer performance and increased subjective and physiological cognitive load.

Sleep deprivation alters utilization of negative feedback in risky decision-making

Background

Sleep loss has sometimes catastrophic effects on risky decision-making. However, it is unknown to what extent such deficits are exacerbated with increasing duration of sleep deprivation (SD) and whether sustained vigilant attention mediates this sleep deprivation-induced deficit.

Methods

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of 36 hours of SD on 37 male college students' arousal, emotion, vigilant attention, and risky decision-making, using the Psychomotor Vigilance Test, the Game of Dice Task, and scales assessing fatigue, sleep, and emotions.

Results

Compared to baseline, SD significantly increased sleepiness, fatigue, and negative emotions, decreased positive emotions and vigilant attention, and led to a shift toward risky decision-making, and these effects often appeared 15 or 20 hours after SD. Interestingly, participants' ability to employ positive feedback was maintained, whereas their performance to utilize negative feedback was impaired even after 8 hours of sleep deprivation. Meanwhile, vigilant attention acted as a mediator between SD and risky decision-making (z = -1.97, 95% [-6.00, -0.30]).

Discussion

These results suggest that sleep-deprived individuals are unable to use negative feedback to optimize their judgments, which may account for their poor decision-making under risk.

Effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise on balance, falls, and motor function in older adults: a meta-analysis

Objective

This study systematically evaluated Tai Chi's effects on balance, fall prevention, and physical function in older adults.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and EMbase databases included randomized controlled trials published up to August 2024. The meta-analysis used RevMan 5.4 and applied the GRADE framework to assess evidence quality.

Results

Twenty-two studies met the criteria. Tai Chi significantly improved balance and physical function, particularly in the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), one-leg standing with eyes closed (OLS-C), and Timed up-and-go test (TUG). Fear of falling (FOF) also reduced, though changes in Tinetti Balance Test (TBT) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Tai Chi effectively enhances balance and physical function in older adults, with notable potential for fall risk reduction. While some tests showed no significant effect, overall results support Tai Chi as a valuable intervention to promote older adults' health.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-8-0082/.

The effects of Tai Chi and Baduanjin on breast cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Tai Chi and Baduanjin are nonpharmacological interventions that are widely applied among cancer patients.

Objective

This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of Tai Chi and Baduanjin on breast cancer patients by summarizing and pooling the results of previous studies.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library and several databases were searched up to December 1, 2023, to identify high-quality RCTs. Relevant terms such as Tai Chi and Baduanjin were used as keywords. Stata 15.0 software and Review Manager (version 5.3; Cochrane Training) were used to screen the studies, extract the data, code the data, and perform the meta-analysis. The mean differences (MDs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% CIs were used to calculate continuous variables. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The PICOS framework was used to develop the following eligibility criteria: (i) population - breast cancer patients; (ii) intervention - Tai Chi and Baduanjin intervention; (iii) comparison - Tai Chi and Baduanjin group and different intervention (e.g., regular intervention, routine rehabilitation training, waiting list, sham Qigong, usual care, no intervention); (iv) outcomes - cognitive ability, shoulder joint function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep quality, quality of life; and (v) study design - randomized controlled trial.

Results

From January 2013 to December 2023, we included a total of 16 RCTs involving 1247 patients. A total of 647 patients were in the experimental group and were treated with Tai Chi and Baduanjin, while 600 patients were in the control group and were treated with traditional methods. The results of our meta-analysis indicate that Tai Chi and Baduanjin yield outcomes that are comparable to those of traditional treatment methods. Specifically, Tai Chi and Baduanjin significantly increased cognitive function, increased shoulder joint function, improved sleep quality indicators and improved quality of life indicators. Furthermore, Tai Chi and Baduanjin significantly reduced anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and fatigue symptoms among breast cancer patients. Sensitivity analysis was performed, a funnel plot was constructed. No publication bias was indicated by Egger's or Begg's test.

Conclusion

Overall, Tai Chi and Baduanjin are viable and effective nonpharmacological approaches for treating breast cancer patients, as they yield better results than traditional treatment methods. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of controlled trials, small sample sizes, and low quality of the evidence.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023469301.

The Effect of Tai Chi (Bafa Wubu) Training and Artificial Intelligence-Based Movement-Precision Feedback on the Mental and Physical Outcomes of Elderly

(1) Background: This study aims to compare the effects of AI-based exercise feedback and standard training on the physical and mental health outcomes of older adults participating in a 4-week tai chi training program. (2) Methods: Participants were divided into three groups: an AI feedback group received real-time movement accuracy feedback based on AI and inertial measurement units (IMUs), a conventional feedback group received verbal feedback from supervisors, and a control group received no feedback. All groups trained three times per week for 8 weeks. Outcome measures, including movement accuracy, balance, grip strength, quality of life, and depression, were assessed before and after the training period. (3) Results: Compared to pre-training, all three groups showed significant improvements in movement accuracy, grip strength, quality of life, and depression. Only the AI feedback group showed significant improvements in balance. In terms of movement accuracy and balance, the AI feedback group showed significantly greater improvement compared to the conventional feedback group and the control group. (4) Conclusions: Providing real-time AI-based movement feedback during tai chi training offers greater health benefits for older adults compared to standard training without feedback.

Feeling tired versus feeling relaxed: Two faces of low physiological arousal

Human well-being and functioning depend on two fundamental mental states: Relaxation and sleepiness. Relaxation and sleepiness are both assumed to be states of low physiological arousal and negatively correlated. However, it is still unclear how consistent this negative relationship is across different settings and whether it changes before and after an intervention. Here we investigated this intricate relationship between subjective momentary sleepiness and relaxation states by meta-analytically analyzing several data sets from studies using the Relaxation State Questionnaire. We discovered that subjective sleepiness and relaxation were in fact anti-correlated pre-intervention. This anti-correlation provides a quantitative dissociation between sleepiness and relaxation. Thus, even though sleepiness and relaxation both implicate a low arousal level, the two mental states are subjectively experienced in a qualitatively different fashion, and thus reflect distinct underlying constructs. For the post-intervention relationship, this negative correlation could not be consistently found. This indicates that there are aspects of the experimental setting or intervention that introduce changes in the dynamics of the relationship of the two constructs.

Reexamining the Kuleshov effect: Behavioral and neural evidence from authentic film experiments

Film cognition explores the influence of cinematic elements, such as editing and film color, on viewers' perception. The Kuleshov effect, a famous example of how editing influences viewers' emotional perception, was initially proposed to support montage theory through the Kuleshov experiment. This effect, which has since been recognized as a manifestation of point-of-view (POV) editing practices, posits that the emotional interpretation of neutral facial expressions is influenced by the accompanying emotional scene in a face-scene-face sequence. However, concerns persist regarding the validity of previous studies, often employing inauthentic film materials like static images, leaving the question of its existence in authentic films unanswered. This study addresses these concerns by utilizing authentic films in two experiments. In Experiment 1, multiple film clips were captured under the guidance of a professional film director and seamlessly integrated into authentic film sequences. 59 participants viewed these face-scene-face film sequences and were tasked with rating the valence and emotional intensity of neutral faces. The findings revealed that the accompanying fearful or happy scenes significantly influence the interpretation of emotion on neutral faces, eliciting perceptions of negative or positive emotions from the neutral face. These results affirm the existence of the Kuleshov effect within authentic films. In Experiment 2, 31 participants rated the valence and arousal of neutral faces while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The behavioral results confirm the Kuleshov effect in the MRI scanner, while the neural data identify neural correlates that support its existence at the neural level. These correlates include the cuneus, precuneus, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, post cingulate gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, and insula. These findings also underscore the contextual framing inherent in the Kuleshov effect. Overall, the study integrates film theory and cognitive neuroscience experiments, providing robust evidence supporting the existence of the Kuleshov effect through both subjective ratings and objective neuroimaging measurements. This research also contributes to a deeper understanding of the impact of film editing on viewers' emotional perception from the contemporary POV editing practices and neurocinematic perspective, advancing the knowledge of film cognition.

Individual differences in working memory capacity and temporal preparation: A secondary reanalysis

The ability to prepare and maintain an optimal level of preparedness for action, across some unknown duration, is critical for human behavior. Temporal preparation has historically been analyzed in the context of reaction time (RT) experiments where the interval varies between the start of the trial, or foreperiod (FP), and the required response. Two main findings have come out of such paradigms: the variable FP effect (longer RTs to shorter vs. longer FPs) and the sequential FP effect (longer RTs when shorter FPs follow longer FPs). Several theoretical views of these FP effects have been proposed with some suggesting a dissociation while others argue for an implicit process driven by memory traces. One possible method to test these views of FP effects is to examine how individual differences in working memory capacity (WMC) moderate such effects. To this end, I reanalyzed data from three studies in which participants completed measures of WMC and a simple RT task with a variable FP. Results suggest that individual differences in WMC were related to the magnitude of the variable FP and the sequential FP effect in two of three individual studies. A "mega-analysis" provided supportive evidence for a relationship between WMC and both forms of FP effects. The present combined experimental-individual differences study provides a novel approach to better understand how and why individuals vary in temporal preparation ability. Through leveraging several large-scale databases unseen in FP research, I provide a new way of understanding FP effects and response timing more generally.

Sustained attention can be measured using a brief computerized attention task

The Continuous Visual Attention Test (CVAT) is a test that detects visuomotor reaction time (RT, alertness), variability of reaction time (VRT, sustained attention), omission errors (OE, focused attention), and commission errors (CE, response inhibition). The standard test takes 15 min, while the ultrafast version only 90 s. Besides overall task length, the two versions differ by target probability (20% and 80% in the 15-min vs. only 80% in the 90-s test) and stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) (1, 2, and 4 s in the 15-min vs. only 1 s in the 90-s test. We aimed to analyze the effect of target probability, SOA, and time length on the CVAT variables across the 15-min task and to verify correlations and agreements between the 15-min and the 90-s CVATs. 205 healthy participants performed the two CVATs on the same day. Considering the 15-min task, RT and CE were strongly affected by target probability. Conversely, VRT was not affected. When the 15-min task was compared to the 90-s task, we found no significant difference in the VRT variable. Additionally, a significant agreement between the two tasks was found for the VRT variable. We concluded that sustained attention can be measured with the 90-s CVAT.

Effects of goal-setting on sustained attention and attention lapses

In three experiments, we examined the effects of goal-setting on sustained attention and attention lapses. We measured both behavioral task performance and subjective attentional states during a four -choice reaction time task (Experiments 1 and 2 administered online; Experiment 3 conducted in-person). Experiment 1 compared a vague goal versus a specific goal. The specific goal reduced lapses in the form of long response times (RTs) but did not impact task-unrelated thoughts. Experiment 2 expanded on E1 by making the specific goal progressively harder. Behavioral lapses (i.e., long RTs) were reduced in the harder-over-time goal condition compared to the control condition. Additionally, while RTs increased with time-on-task in the control condition, RTs in the harder-over-time goal condition remained stable with time-on-task. Experiment 3 aimed to replicate the results of E2 in-person and adjusted the difficulty of the harder-over-time goals to be slightly harder. The results largely replicated E2. Overall, setting specific and difficult task goals led to a reduction in lapses of attention and increased sustained attention performance.

Controlling response order without relying on stimulus order - evidence for flexible representations of task order

In dual-task situations, both component tasks are typically not executed simultaneously but rather one after another. Task order is usually determined based on bottom-up information provided by stimulus presentation order, but also affected by top-down factors such as instructions and/or differentially dominant component tasks (e.g., oculomotor task prioritization). Recent research demonstrated that in the context of a randomly switching stimulus order, task order representations can be integrated with specific component task information rather than being coded in a purely abstract fashion (i.e., by containing only generic order information). This conclusion was derived from observing consistently smaller task-order switch costs for a preferred (e.g., oculomotor-manual) versus a non-preferred (e.g., manual-oculomotor) task order (i.e., order-switch cost asymmetries). Since such a representational format might have been especially promoted by the sequential stimulus presentation employed, we investigated task-order representations in situations without any bottom-up influence of stimulus order. To this end, we presented task stimuli simultaneously and cued the required task-order in advance. Experiment 1 employed abstract order transition cues that only indicated a task-order repetition (vs. switch) relative to the previous trial, while Experiment 2 used explicit cues that unambiguously indicated the task-order. Experiment 1 revealed significant task-order switch costs only for the second task (of either task order) and no order-switch cost asymmetries, indicating a rather generic representation of task order. Experiment 2 revealed task-order switch costs in both component tasks with a trend toward order-switch cost asymmetries, indicating an integration of task order representations with component task information. These findings highlight an astonishing flexibility of mental task-order representations during task-order control.

Hybrid framework of fatigue: connecting motivational control and computational moderators to gamma oscillations

Introduction

There is a need to develop a comprehensive account of time-on-task fatigue effects on performance (i.e., the vigilance decrement) to increase predictive accuracy. We address this need by integrating three independent accounts into a novel hybrid framework. This framework unites (1) a motivational system balancing goal and comfort drives as described by an influential cognitive-energetic theory with (2) accumulating microlapses from a recent computational model of fatigue, and (3) frontal gamma oscillations indexing fluctuations in motivational control. Moreover, the hybrid framework formally links brief lapses (occurring over milliseconds) to the dynamics of the motivational system at a temporal scale not otherwise described in the fatigue literature.

Methods

EEG and behavioral data was collected from a brief vigilance task. High frequency gamma oscillations were assayed, indexing effortful controlled processes with motivation as a latent factor. Binned and single-trial gamma power was evaluated for changes in real- and lagged-time and correlated with behavior. Functional connectivity analyses assessed the directionality of gamma power in frontal-parietal communication across time-on-task. As a high-resolution representation of latent motivation, gamma power was scaled by fatigue moderators in two computational models. Microlapses modulated transitions from an effortful controlled state to a minimal-effort default state. The hybrid models were compared to a computational microlapse-only model for goodness-of-fit with simulated data.

Results

Findings suggested real-time high gamma power exhibited properties consistent with effortful motivational control. However, gamma power failed to correlate with increases in response times over time, indicating electrophysiology and behavior relations are insufficient in capturing the full range of fatigue effects. Directional connectivity affirmed the dominance of frontal gamma activity in controlled processes in the frontal-parietal network. Parameterizing high frontal gamma power, as an index of fluctuating relative motivational control, produced results that are as accurate or superior to a previous microlapse-only computational model.

Discussion

The hybrid framework views fatigue as a function of a energetical motivational system, managing the trade-space between controlled processes and competing wellbeing needs. Two gamma computational models provided compelling and parsimonious support for this framework, which can potentially be applied to fatigue intervention technologies and related effectiveness measures.

Rational or altruistic: the impact of social media information exposure on Chinese youth's willingness to donate blood

Background

Non-remunerated blood donation is the main approach for various medical institutions to get the source of blood supply, but the blood supply shortage is still a problem in today's society. Social media has become the main approach of information acquisition for youth groups nowadays, and the information on social media will have an impact on people's behavioral decisions. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the correlation between social media exposure to relevant information about blood donation and the willingness of youths to donate blood.

Methods

We collected data from 455 questionnaires through an online questionnaire and structural equation modeling was constructed for validation. Data were analyzed for reliability, validity, and demographic differences using IBM-SPSS 26.0, and IBM-SPSS-AMOS 26.0 was used for model fit analysis and path analysis.

Results

The results of the study showed that there was a positive correlation between social media exposure to relevant blood donation information and willingness to donate blood (β = 0.262, p < 0.001), altruism (β = 0.203, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (β = 0.170, p < 0.001). While there was also a positive correlation between attitude toward blood donation and self-efficacy (β = 0.560, p < 0.001), there was no positive correlation between it and willingness to donate blood (β = -0.180, p = 0.786). There was also a positive correlation between altruism and willingness to donate blood (β = 0.150, p < 0.05) and attitude toward blood donation (β = 0.150, p < 0.001). Similarly, there was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and willingness to donate blood (β = 0.371, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Exposure to more information related to blood donation on social media can increase the willingness of the youth population to donate blood, while exposure to information related to altruism and self-efficacy on social media can also enhance young people's attitudes toward blood donation, while further strengthening their willingness to donate.

The effects of work on cognitive functions: a systematic review

Introduction

Cognitive functions play a crucial role in individual's life since they represent the mental abilities necessary to perform any activity. During working life, having healthy cognitive functioning is essential for the proper performance of work, but it is especially crucial for preserving cognitive abilities and thus ensuring healthy cognitive aging after retirement. The aim of this paper was to systematically review the scientific literature related to the effects of work on cognitive functions to assess which work-related factors most adversely affect them.

Method

We queried the PubMed and Scopus electronic databases, in February 2023, according to the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID number = CRD42023439172), and articles were included if they met all the inclusion criteria and survived a quality assessment. From an initial pool of 61,781 papers, we retained a final sample of 64 articles, which were divided into 5 categories based on work-related factors: shift work (n = 39), sedentary work (n = 7), occupational stress (n = 12), prolonged working hours (n = 3), and expertise (n = 3).

Results

The results showed that shift work, occupational stress, and, probably, prolonged working hours have detrimental effects on cognitive functioning; instead, results related to sedentary work and expertise on cognitive functions are inconclusive and extremely miscellaneous.

Discussion

Therefore, workplace health and well-being promotion should consider reducing or rescheduling night shift, the creation of less demanding and more resourceful work environments and the use of micro-breaks to preserve workers' cognitive functioning both before and after retirement.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023439172, identifier CRD42023439172.

Side effects of monaural beat stimulation during sustained mental work on mind wandering and performance measures

Excessive mind wandering (MW) contributes to the development and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have suggested that auditory beat stimulation may represent a method enabling a reduction of MW. However, little is known about how different auditory stimulation conditions are subjectively perceived and whether this perception is in turn related to changes in subjective states, behavioral measures of attention and MW. In the present study, we therefore investigated MW under auditory beat stimulation and control conditions using experience sampling during a sustained attention to response task (SART). The subjective perception of the stimulation conditions, as well as changes in anxiety, stress and negative mood after versus before stimulation were assessed via visual-analog scales. Results showed that any auditory stimulation applied during the SART was perceived as more distracting, disturbing, uncomfortable and tiring than silence and was related to more pronounced increases of stress and negative mood. Importantly, the perception of the auditory conditions as disturbing was directly correlated with MW propensity. Additionally, distracting, disturbing and uncomfortable perceptions predicted negative mood. In turn, negative mood was inversely correlated with response accuracy for target stimuli, a behavioral indicator of MW. In summary, our data show that MW and attentional performance are affected by the adverse perception of auditory stimulation, and that this influence may be mediated by changes in mood.

Behavioral impulse and time pressure jointly influence intentional inhibition: evidence from the Free Two-Choice Oddball task

Intentional inhibition is a crucial component of self-regulation, yet it is under-researched, because it is difficult to study without external stimuli or overt behaviors. Although Free-Choice tasks have been developed, it remains unclear how two key design features (i.e., behavioral impulse and time pressure) affect their sensitivity to intentional inhibition. To investigate this, the present study developed a Free Two-Choice Oddball task, which generated both an inhibition rate index and a response time (RT) index. Two experiments were conducted to systematically manipulate the ratio of the reactive standard to oddball trials and reaction time limit, inducing diverse behavioral impulses and different time pressures. The following findings were obtained from the critical Free-Choice trials. In the equal ratio condition, participants demonstrated comparable RTs for both the standard and oddball responses. In the moderate-ratio condition, participants exhibited longer RTs for the oddball than standard responses under low- but not high-time pressure. In the high-ratio condition, while RTs for the oddball responses were longer than those for the standard responses under both the high- and low-time pressures, participants displayed a decreased inhibition rate under the high-time pressure compared to the low-time pressure. Finally, participants exhibited a reduced inhibition rate in the high-ratio condition compared to the moderate-ratio condition. Together, these findings suggest that Free-Choice tasks can reflect intentional inhibition under specific conditions, and intentional inhibition is susceptible to both behavioral impulse and time pressure, while also establishing the theoretical and methodological foundations for subsequent research.

Human Attention Restoration, Flow, and Creativity: A Conceptual Integration

In today's fast paced, attention-demanding society, executive functions and attentional resources are often taxed. Individuals need ways to sustain and restore these resources. We first review the concepts of attention and restoration, as instantiated in Attention Restoration Theory (ART). ART emphasizes the role of nature in restoring attention. We then discuss the essentials of experiments on the causal influences of nature. Next, we expand the concept of ART to include modern, designed environments. We outline a wider perspective termed attentional ecology, in which attention behavior is viewed within a larger system involving the human and their interactions with environmental demands over time. When the ecology is optimal, mental functioning can be a positive "flow" that is productive, sustainable for the individual, and sometimes creative.

Analyzing the effects of physical activity levels on aggressive behavior in college students using a chain-mediated model

This study aims to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy (SE) and self-control (SC) in the relationship between physical activity (PA) and aggressive behaviors (AB) among college students. It provides a basis for the prevention and control of AB among college students. This study employed a survey research methodology, including the PA Level Scale, the General Self-efficacy Scale, the Self-control Scale, and the Chinese Aggressive Behaviors Scale on 950 college students. The chain mediating effect test and Bootstrap analysis were applied. The results were as follows: (1) There was a main effect of PA on SE, SC, and AB as well as all sub-indicators (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, hostility, self-directed aggression), i.e., PA had a direct effect on the control of all three; (2) PA level was significantly negatively correlated with AB and significantly positively correlated with SE and SC. That is, the higher the level of PA, the better the SE and SC, and the lower the probability of AB; (3) The three pathways had mediating effects: PA → SE → AB, PA → SC → AB, PA → SE → SC → AB, with effect sizes of 8.78%, 28.63%, and 19.08%, respectively. It is concluded that regular PA is a potent method for decreasing aggressive behavior and psychological issues in university students while additionally promoting self-efficacy and self-control. Increasing the intensity of PA may enhance the effectiveness of these chain benefits.

Effect of 24-form simplified Tai Chi on executive inhibitory control of college students: a randomized controlled trial of EEG

BACKGROUND

College students, undergoing crucial cognitive development, face challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic that impact their executive functions. While existing research indicates positive effects of Tai Chi (TC) on college students' cognitive abilities, there is a scarcity of studies investigating its impact on executive functions and frontal brain activity.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the effects of 24-form simplified TC training on college students' executive functions and frontal brain electrical activity. The hypothesis posited that the TC group would exhibit superior performance compared to the control group during COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

Seventy college students were randomly assigned to either TC group or control group, engaging in 36 sessions (3 sessions per week, 45 min each) over 12 weeks. Executive inhibitory control was assessed using the Stroop Color and Word Test, and resting brain electrical activity in the frontal area was recorded through Electroencephalography.

RESULT

ACC was influenced by group, group-time interaction, and Stroop task-time interaction. RT was affected by time, task condition, task condition-time interaction, and task condition-group interaction. Notably, the TC group showed improved ACC (from 96.54 ± 3.27% to 98.90 ± 1.32%) and decreased RT (from 0.73 ± 0.12 to 0.66 ± 0.07 s), particularly in the inconsistent task. Regarding EEG band power, significant Group and Time interaction effects were found in F3-θ, F3-α, F3-β, F4-θ, and F4-α. Moreover, within the TC group, significant increases in F3-θ band power (from 4.66 ± 3.55 to 7.71 ± 8.44) and F4-θ band power (from 4.41 ± 2.82 to 8.61 ± 9.51) (10-3·μV·Hz) were noted pre-and post-tests. In the control group, significant decreases were observed in F3-α band power (from 5.18 ± 4.61 to 2.79 ± 2.11) and F4-α band power (from 5.57 ± 6.58 to 2.48 ± 1.95) (10-3·μV·Hz).

CONCLUSION

The pandemic-induced panic may impact frontal lobe brain activity in college students. TC training not only improves executive inhibitory control but may also enhance localized brain activity, suggesting its potential as a holistic intervention for cognitive and neurological well-being during stressful periods.

Penumbral thoughts: Contents of consciousness upon waking

Thoughts shape our experience, choice, and behaviour throughout the day. Yet the content of 'penumbral thoughts'-first thoughts upon waking-has received very little research attention. Across seven independent samples (total N = 829), we used recall and reflection methods, solicited the same day, to understand what individuals think as they regain consciousness. These penumbral thoughts show remarkable thematic consistency: individuals were most likely to reflect on their somatic or psychological state, focus on temporal orientation, and prioritise waking actions. Survey results demonstrate that temporal and spatial orientation are dominated by the current time and the day ahead, rather than the past or other future timescales. Our results provide some insight into the order of priority in consciousness. We conclude that establishing one's temporal position is important to the daily process of 'rebooting' conscious awareness.

Eating versus sleeping: Lunchtime meals and naps relation to afternoon creativity at work

Based on the Conservation of Resources theory, we develop dual mechanisms by which lunchtime recovery activities predict creativity. Specifically, by conceptualizing the quality of lunchtime naps and meals as examples of recovery activities, we expect these recovery activities help individuals replenish their psychological resources in the form of more work engagement (affective process) and less cognitive depletion (cognitive process). Further, individuals are expected to utilize these available psychological resources to generate creative ideas. To test our model, we used a group-mean centering approach to focus on within-person effects by recruiting 230 employees working at construction sites in South Korea. Overall, after removing 242 invalid observations (omitting at least two items and not reporting the duration of a nap), we finalized a total of two-wave 1598 daily questionnaires. A high quality of lunchtime naps and meals helps individuals recover their emotional resources (more work engagement) and cognitive resources (less cognitive depletion), which predict individuals' creativity. Finally, although indirect effects of the two recovery activities on creativity via affective and cognitive processes were generally supported, the indirect effect of lunch nap quality on creativity via work engagement was not significant, suggesting most of the effect is due to meal quality rather than nap quality.

Subjective and objective measures of visual awareness converge

Within consciousness research, the most appropriate assessment of visual awareness is matter of a controversial debate: Subjective measures rely on introspections of the observer related to perceptual experiences, whereas objective measures are based on performance of the observer to accurately detect or discriminate the stimulus in question across a series of trials. In the present study, we compared subjective and objective awareness measurements across different stimulus feature and contrast levels using a temporal two-alternative forced choice task. This task has the advantage to provide an objective psychophysical performance measurement, while minimizing biases from unconscious processing. Thresholds based on subjective ratings with the Perceptual Awareness Scale (PAS) and on performance accuracy were determined for detection (stimulus presence) and discrimination (letter case) tasks at high and low stimulus contrast. We found a comparable pattern of thresholds across tasks and contrasts for objective and subjective measurements of awareness. These findings suggest that objective performance measures based on accuracy and subjective ratings of the visual experience can provide similar information on the feature-content of a percept. The observed similarity of thresholds validates psychophysical and subjective approaches to awareness as providing converging and thus most likely veridical measures of awareness.

Warning signals only support the first action in a sequence

Acting upon target stimuli from the environment becomes faster when the targets are preceded by a warning (alerting) cue. Accordingly, alerting is often used to support action in safety-critical contexts (e.g., honking to alert others of a traffic situation). Crucially, however, the benefits of alerting for action have been established using laboratory tasks assessing only simple choice reactions. Real-world actions are considerably more complex and mainly consist of sensorimotor sequences of several sub-actions. Therefore, it is still unknown if the benefits of alerting for action transfer from simple choice reactions to such sensorimotor sequences. Here, we investigated how alerting affected performance in a sequential action task derived from the Trail-Making-Test, a well-established neuropsychological test of cognitive action control (Experiment 1). In addition to this task, participants performed a classic alerting paradigm including a simple choice reaction task (Experiment 2). Results showed that alerting sped up responding in both tasks, but in the sequential action task, this benefit was restricted to the first action of a sequence. This was the case, even when multiple actions were performed within a short time (Experiment 3), ruling out that the restriction of alerting to the first action was due to its short-lived nature. Taken together, these findings reveal the existence of an interface between phasic alertness and action control that supports the next action.

The effect of mind wandering on cognitive flexibility is mediated by boredom

Cognitive theory of boredom presumes that boredom, an important potential indicator for self-dysregulation, represents to be the result of attention failure. And lapses of attention have been shown to act as a key signal in mind wandering (especially spontaneous mind wandering), which has been found to be positively associated with boredom. If both mind wandering and boredom concurrently occupy individuals' on-task processing resources, it would definitely influence their cognitive flexibility, which is an essential component for self-regulation. Until now, however, there has been little discussion about mind wandering, boredom, and cognitive flexibility at the same time. The present study investigated the hypothesis that boredom can mediate the effect of mind wandering on cognitive flexibility at trait-level by adopting a cross-sectional exploratory study design and anonymous structured questionnaires in three studies (N = 449,182 and 190 for Studies 1, 2 and 3, respectively). Correlation analysis demonstrated that mind wandering (especially spontaneous mind wandering) was positively related to boredom, and that cognitive flexibility was negatively related to mind wandering and boredom, respectively. Mediation analysis revealed an indirect effect of mind wandering (especially spontaneous mind wandering) on cognitive flexibility through boredom. In conclusion, these findings are useful to build a theoretical framework for future clinical practice. An implication of these findings is the possibility that efficacious strategies targeting at reducing boredom are needed to decrease the detriment effect of spontaneous mind wandering on cognitive flexibility.

"Give me a break!" A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance

Recovery activities during short breaks taken between work tasks are solutions for preventing the impairing effects of accumulated strain. No wonder then that a growing body of scientific literature from various perspectives emerged on this topic. The present meta-analysis is aimed at estimating the efficacy of micro-breaks in enhancing well-being (vigor and fatigue) and performance, as well as in which conditions and for whom are the micro-breaks most effective. We searched the existent literature on this topic and aggregated the existing data from experimental and quasi-experimental studies. The systematic search revealed 19 records, which resulted in 22 independent study samples (N = 2335). Random-effects meta-analyses shown statistically significant but small effects of micro-breaks in boosting vigor (d = .36, p < .001; k = 9, n = 913), reducing fatigue (d = .35, p < .001; k = 9, n = 803), and a non-significant effect on increasing overall performance (d = .16, p = .116; k = 15, n = 1132). Sub-groups analyses on performance types revealed significant effects only for tasks with less cognitive demands. A meta-regression showed that the longer the break, the greater the boost was on performance. Overall, the data support the role of micro-breaks for well-being, while for performance, recovering from highly depleting tasks may need more than 10-minute breaks. Therefore, future studies should focus on this issue.

On doing multi-act arithmetic: A multitrait-multimethod approach of performance dimensions in integrated multitasking

Here we present a systematic plan to the experimental study of test-retest reliability in the multitasking domain, adopting the multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) approach to evaluate the psychometric properties of performance in Düker-type speeded multiple-act mental arithmetic. These form of tasks capacitate the experimental analysis of integrated multi-step processing by combining multiple mental operations in flexible ways in the service of the overarching goal of completing the task. A particular focus was on scoring methodology, particularly measures of response speed variability. To this end, we present data of two experiments with regard to (a) test-retest reliability, (b) between-measures correlational structure, (c) and stability (test-retest practice effects). Finally, we compared participants with high versus low performance variability to assess ability-related differences in measurement precision (typically used as proxy to "simulate" patient populations), which is especially relevant in the applied fields of clinical neuropsychology. The participants performed two classic integrated multi-act arithmetic tasks, combining addition and verification (Exp. 1) and addition and comparison (Exp. 2). The results revealed excellent test-retest reliability for the standard and the variability measures. The analysis of between-measures correlational structure revealed the typical pattern of convergent and discriminant relationships, and also, that absolute response speed variability was highly correlated with average speed (r > 0.85), indicating that these measures mainly deliver redundant information. In contrast, speed-adjusted (relativized) variability revealed discriminant validity being correlated to a much lesser degree with average speed, indicating that this measure delivers additional information not already provided by the speed measure. Furthermore, speed-adjusted variability was virtually unaffected by test-retest practice, which makes this measure interesting in situations with repeated testing.