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Righi S, Gavazzi G, Benedetti V, Raineri G, Viggiano MP. How the Effect of Virtual Reality on Cognitive Functioning Is Modulated by Gender Differences. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:408. [PMID: 38671829 PMCID: PMC11048133 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11040408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) can be a promising tool to simulate reality in various settings but the real impact of this technology on the human mental system is still unclear as to how VR might (if at all) interfere with cognitive functioning. Using a computer, we can concentrate, enter a state of flow, and still maintain control over our surrounding world. Differently, VR is a very immersive experience which could be a challenge for our ability to allocate divided attention to the environment to perform executive functioning tasks. This may also have a different impact on women and men since gender differences in both executive functioning and the immersivity experience have been referred to by the literature. The present study aims to investigate cognitive multitasking performance as a function of (1) virtual reality and computer administration and (2) gender differences. To explore this issue, subjects were asked to perform simultaneous tasks (span forward and backward, logical-arithmetic reasoning, and visuospatial reasoning) in virtual reality via a head-mounted display system (HDMS) and on a personal computer (PC). Our results showed in virtual reality an overall impairment of executive functioning but a better performance of women, compared to men, in visuospatial reasoning. These findings are consistent with previous studies showing a detrimental effect of virtual reality on cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Righi
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, 50135 Florence, Italy; (G.G.); (V.B.); (G.R.); (M.P.V.)
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Benedetti V, Giganti F, Cotugno M, Noferini C, Gavazzi G, Gronchi G, Righi S, Meneguzzo F, Becheri FR, Li Q, Viggiano MP. Interplay among Anxiety, Digital Environmental Exposure, and Cognitive Control: Implications of Natural Settings. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:323. [PMID: 38667119 PMCID: PMC11047410 DOI: 10.3390/bs14040323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhibitory control performance may differ greatly as a function of individual differences such as anxiety. Nonetheless, how cognitive control proficiency might be influenced by exposure to various environments and how anxiety traits might impact these effects remain unexplored. A cohort of thirty healthy volunteers participated in the study. Participants performed a Go/No-Go task before exposure to a 'forest' and 'urban' virtual environment, in a counterbalanced design, before repeating the GNG task. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was finally filled-in. Our findings unveiled an initial negative correlation between anxiety trait levels and GNG task performance, consistent with the established literature attributing difficulties in inhibitory functionality to anxiety. Additionally, different environmental exposures reported opposite trends. Exposure to the 'forest' environment distinctly improved the GNG performance in relation to anxiety traits, while the 'urban' setting demonstrated adverse effects on task performance. These results underscore the intricate relationship among cognitive control, environmental exposure, and trait anxiety. In particular, our findings highlight the potential of natural settings, such as forests, to mitigate the impact of anxiety on inhibition. This might have implications for interventions aimed at improving cognitive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Benedetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Maria Cotugno
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Chiara Noferini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Giorgio Gronchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Stefania Righi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
| | - Francesco Meneguzzo
- Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy;
- Central Scientific Committee, Italian Alpine Club, 19 Via E. Petrella, 20124 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Qing Li
- Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine—Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan;
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (C.N.); (G.G.); (G.G.); (S.R.)
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Gronchi G, Gavazzi G, Viggiano MP, Giovannelli F. Dual-Process Theory of Thought and Inhibitory Control: An ALE Meta-Analysis. Brain Sci 2024; 14:101. [PMID: 38275521 PMCID: PMC10813498 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The dual-process theory of thought rests on the co-existence of two different thinking modalities: a quick, automatic, and associative process opposed to a slow, thoughtful, and deliberative process. The increasing interest in determining the neural foundation of the dual-process distinction has yielded mixed results, also given the difficulty of applying the fMRI standard approach to tasks usually employed in the cognitive literature. We report an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis to investigate the neural foundation of the dual-process theory of thought. Eligible studies allowed for the identification of cerebral areas associated with dual-process theory-based tasks without differentiating between fast and slow thinking. The ALE algorithm converged on the medial frontal cortex, superior frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and left inferior frontal gyrus. These structures partially overlap with the cerebral areas recurrently reported in the literature about the neural basis of the dual-process distinction, where the PARCS theory-based interpretation emphasizes the role of the right inferior gyrus. The results confirm the potential (but still almost unexplored) common ground between the dual-process literature and the cognitive control literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (G.G.); (G.G.); (F.G.)
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Basagni B, Malloggi S, Polito C, Pellicciari L, Campagnini S, Pancani S, Mannini A, Gemignani P, Salvadori E, Marignani S, Giovannelli F, Viggiano MP, Hakiki B, Grippo A, Macchi C, Cecchi F. MoCA Domain-Specific Pattern of Cognitive Impairment in Stroke Patients Attending Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Prospective Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:42. [PMID: 38247694 PMCID: PMC10813017 DOI: 10.3390/bs14010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A domain-specific perspective to cognitive functioning in stroke patients may predict their cognitive recovery over time and target stroke rehabilitation intervention. However, data about domain-specific cognitive impairment after stroke are still scarce. This study prospectively investigated the domain-specific pattern of cognitive impairments, using the classification proposed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), in a cohort of 49 stroke patients at admission (T0), discharge (T1), and six-month follow-up (T2) from subacute intensive rehabilitation. The predictive value of T0 cognitive domains cognitive impairment at T1 and T2 was also investigated. Patients' cognitive functioning at T0, T1, and T2 was assessed through the MoCA domains for executive functioning, attention, language, visuospatial, orientation, and memory. Different evolutionary trends of cognitive domain impairments emerged across time-points. Patients' impairments in all domains decreased from T0 to T1. Attention and executive impairments decreased from T0 to T2 (42.9% and 26.5% to 10.2% and 18.4%, respectively). Conversely, altered visuospatial, language, and orientation increased between T1 and T2 (16.3%, 36.7%, and 40.8%, respectively). Additionally, patients' global cognitive functioning at T1 was predicted by the language and executive domains in a subacute phase (p = 0.031 and p = 0.001, respectively), while in the long term, only attention (p = 0.043) and executive (p = 0.019) domains intervened. Overall, these results confirm the importance of a domain-specific approach to target cognitive recovery across time in stroke patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Basagni
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Serena Malloggi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Cristina Polito
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Leonardo Pellicciari
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Silvia Campagnini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Silvia Pancani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Andrea Mannini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Paola Gemignani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Emilia Salvadori
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Sara Marignani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (F.G.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (F.G.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Bahia Hakiki
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Antonello Grippo
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Claudio Macchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesca Cecchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Firenze, Italy; (B.B.); (S.M.); (C.P.); (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (P.G.); (E.S.); (S.M.); (B.H.); (A.G.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50143 Firenze, Italy
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Giovannelli F, Gavazzi G, Noferini C, Palumbo P, Viggiano MP, Cincotta M. Impulsivity Traits in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2023; 10:1448-1458. [PMID: 37868926 PMCID: PMC10585972 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In Parkinson's disease (PD), impulsivity as a personality trait may be linked to the risk of developing impulse control disorders (ICDs) during dopaminergic therapy. However, studies evaluating differences in trait impulsivity between patients with PD and healthy controls or between patients with PD with and without ICDs reported partly inconsistent findings. Objectives We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) of studies comparing Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) scores between patients with PD and healthy controls and between patients with PD with and without ICDs. Methods Eligible studies were identified through a systematic search in 3 databases. Mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for BIS-11 total and subscale scores were separately calculated for studies comparing patients with PD and healthy controls and patients with PD with and without ICDs. Meta-regressions were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity (percentage of men, age, disease duration, and levodopa equivalent daily dose). Results A total of 40 studies were included in the quantitative analyses. BIS-11 total scores were significantly higher in patients with PD compared with healthy controls (mean difference 2.43; 95% CI, 1.03, 3.83), and in patients with PD with active ICDs compared with patients without ICDs (6.62; 95% CI, 5.01, 8.23). No significant moderators emerged by meta-regression analyses. Conclusions The present meta-analysis supports that impulsivity, as a personality trait, may characterize patients with PD, even in the absence of ICDs. Moreover, these data corroborate findings of clinical studies reporting higher levels of trait impulsivity in PD patients with ICDs compared with patients without ICDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of PsychologyUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of PsychologyUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Chiara Noferini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of PsychologyUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
- European Laboratory for Non‐Linear Spectroscopy (LENS)Sesto FiorentinoItaly
| | - Pasquale Palumbo
- Unit of Neurology of Prato, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical SpecialtiesCentral Tuscany Local Health AuthorityPratoItaly
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of PsychologyUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Massimo Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical SpecialtiesCentral Tuscany Local Health AuthorityFlorenceItaly
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Gronchi G, Righi S, Gavazzi G, Giganti F, Viggiano MP. Intuitive thinking predicts false memory formation due to a decrease in inhibitory efficiency. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1195668. [PMID: 37809292 PMCID: PMC10556870 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1195668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
False memory formation is usually studied using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm (DRM), in which individuals incorrectly remember words that were not originally presented. In this paper, we systematically investigated how two modes of thinking (analytical vs. intuitive) can influence the tendency to create false memories. The increased propensity of intuitive thinkers to generate more false memories can be explained by one or both of the following hypotheses: a decrease in the inhibition of the lure words that come to mind, or an increased reliance on the familiarity heuristic to determine if the word has been previously studied. In two studies, we conducted tests of both recognition and recall using the DRM paradigm. Our observations indicate that a decrease in inhibitory efficiency plays a larger role in false memory formation compared to the use of the familiarity heuristic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Gavazzi G, Giovannelli F, Noferini C, Cincotta M, Cavaliere C, Salvatore M, Mascalchi M, Viggiano MP. Subregional prefrontal cortex recruitment as a function of inhibitory demand: an fMRI metanalysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105285. [PMID: 37327836 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Convergent studies corroborated the idea that the right prefrontal cortex is the crucial brain region responsible for inhibiting our actions. However, which sub-regions of the right prefrontal cortex are involved is still a matter of debate. To map the inhibitory function of the sub-regions of the right prefrontal cortex, we performed Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analyses and meta-regressions (ES-SDM) of fMRI studies exploring inhibitory control. Sixty-eight studies (1684 subjects, 912 foci) were identified and divided in three groups depending on the incremental demand. Overall, our results showed that higher was the inhibitory demand based on the individual differences in performances, more the upper portion of the right prefrontal cortex was activated to achieve a successful inhibition. Conversely, a lower demand of the inhibitory function, was associated with the inferior portions of the right prefrontal cortex recruitment. Notably, in the latter case, we also observed activation of areas associated with working memory and responsible for cognitive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Noferini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Firenze, Italy
| | | | | | - Mario Mascalchi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy; Division of Epidemiology, Institute for Study, Prevention and network in Oncology (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Righi S, Benedetti V, Giganti F, Turano MT, Raduazzo G, Viggiano MP. Anxiety is not the right choice! Individual differences in trait anxiety modulate biases in pseudoneglect. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1201898. [PMID: 37600557 PMCID: PMC10434218 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1201898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudoneglect, the tendency to display a leftward perceptual bias, is consistently observed in line bisection tasks. Some studies have shown that pseudoneglect is sensitive to emotions. This emotion-related modulation is likely related to valence-dependent hemispheric lateralization, although the results do not converge. A possible explanation for these inconsistencies could be individual differences in emotional tone. Considering that negative and positive emotions produce different basic activations of the two hemispheres, emotional characteristics of the subjects, such as trait anxiety, could in fact modulate the pseudoneglect phenomenon. To verify this, high- and low-anxiety participants were asked to centrally bisect horizontal lines delimited by neutral or emotional (happy and sad) faces. In line with previous studies, results here showed a decrease in the leftward bisection error in the presence of happy faces, indicating a greater involvement of the left hemisphere in processing positive emotional stimuli. In addition, trait anxiety influenced the magnitude of the visual bias. High-anxiety subjects, compared to low-anxiety subjects, showed a general bias in visual attention toward the left space as a function of emotional valence. Results are discussed within the framework of valence-dependent hemispheric specialization and the relative degree of activation. In sum, our data highlight the relevance of considering emotional individual differences in studying the pseudoneglect phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Righi
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Viola Benedetti
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Greta Raduazzo
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Gavazzi G, Noferini C, Benedetti V, Cotugno M, Giovannelli F, Caldara R, Mascalchi M, Viggiano MP. Cultural Differences in Inhibitory Control: An ALE Meta-Analysis. Brain Sci 2023; 13:907. [PMID: 37371385 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Culture greatly influences our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, affecting how we communicate and make decisions. There is an ongoing debate regarding the belief that people from Eastern cultures possess greater self-control abilities when compared to people from Western cultures. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis using the Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) algorithm to compare 30 studies (719 subjects, 373 foci) that used fMRI to investigate the performance in Go-Nogo and Stop Signal Tasks of participants from Western and/or Eastern countries. Our meta-analysis found differences between the networks activated in Eastern and Western culture participants. The right prefrontal cortex showed distinct patterns, with the Inferior Frontal gyrus more active in the Eastern group and the middle and superior frontal gyri more active in the Western group. Our findings suggest that Eastern culture subjects have a higher tendency to activate brain regions involved in proactive inhibitory control, while Western culture subjects rely more on reactive inhibitory brain regions during cognitive control tasks. This implies that proactive inhibition may play a crucial role in promoting the collective and interdependent behavior typical of Eastern cultures, while reactive inhibition may be more important for efficient cognitive control in subjects of Western cultures that prioritize individualism and independence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Noferini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Viola Benedetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Cotugno
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberto Caldara
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
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10
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Giovannelli F, Borgheresi A, Lucidi G, Squitieri M, Gavazzi G, Suppa A, Berardelli A, Viggiano MP, Cincotta M. Language-related motor facilitation in Italian Sign Language signers. Cereb Cortex 2023:6988100. [PMID: 36646456 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Linguistic tasks facilitate corticospinal excitability as revealed by increased motor evoked potential (MEP) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the dominant hand. This modulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) excitability may reflect the relationship between speech and gestures. It is conceivable that in healthy individuals who use a sign language this cortical excitability modulation could be rearranged. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spoken language tasks on M1 excitability in a group of hearing signers. Ten hearing Italian Sign Language (LIS) signers and 16 non-signer healthy controls participated. Single-pulse TMS was applied to either M1 hand area at the baseline and during different tasks: (i) reading aloud, (ii) silent reading, (iii) oral movements, (iv) syllabic phonation and (v) looking at meaningless non-letter strings. Overall, M1 excitability during the linguistic and non-linguistic tasks was higher in LIS group compared to the control group. In LIS group, MEPs were significantly larger during reading aloud, silent reading and non-verbal oral movements, regardless the hemisphere. These results suggest that in hearing signers there is a different modulation of the functional connectivity between the speech-related brain network and the motor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence 50135, Italy
| | - Alessandra Borgheresi
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence 50143, Italy
| | - Giulia Lucidi
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence 50143, Italy
| | - Martina Squitieri
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence 50143, Italy
| | - Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence 50135, Italy
| | - Antonio Suppa
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS) 86077, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS) 86077, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence 50135, Italy
| | - Massimo Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence 50143, Italy
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11
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Bravi R, Gavazzi G, Benedetti V, Giovannelli F, Grasso S, Panconi G, Viggiano MP, Minciacchi D. Effect of different sport environments on proactive and reactive motor inhibition: A study on open- and closed-skilled athletes via mouse-tracking procedure. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1042705. [PMID: 36578693 PMCID: PMC9791124 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1042705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of different sport environments (open-and closed-skill sports) on proactive and reactive inhibitory processes as two distinct components of motor inhibition. A mouse-tracking procedure was employed to compare behavioral performance among three groups of participants (tennis players, swimmers and non-athletes) in non-sport-specific cued Go/No-Go (GNG) and Stop Signal Task (SST), which mainly engage proactive and reactive inhibitory control, respectively. Reaction times (RTs), inhibitory failures, and Stop Signal Reaction Times (SSRTs) were measured. To investigate dynamic aspects of inhibitory control, movement trajectories classified as one-shot (absence of trajectory alteration reflected in a steep slope) or non-one-shot (non-linear/multipeaked trajectory, with one or multiple corrections) were analyzed and compared among groups. Results showed no group differences in RTs in Go/No-Go and Stop conditions. SSRTs were significant shorter for the athletes than non-athletes in SST, but no differences emerged for inhibitory failures in cued GNG. During inhibitory failures athletes showed higher proportion of non-one-shot movements than non-athletes. Higher proportion of non-one-shot profiles was observed in cued GNG compared to SST. Finally, no differences between open-and closed-skilled athletes were found in both tasks. Our findings suggest that both proactive and reactive inhibitory controls do benefit from sport practice, but open-and closed-skill sports do not differ in influencing inhibitory processes. Movement profile analysis could be a promising, complementary behavioral analysis to integrate for more fine-grained evaluation and differentiation of inhibitory motor control in athletes, specifically when using GNG tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Bravi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy
| | - Viola Benedetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Grasso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Panconi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Diego Minciacchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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12
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Benedetti V, De Lissa P, Giovannelli F, Gavazzi G, Viggiano MP, Caldara R. Other-Race Faces Are Not Homogeneous: Evidence from Action Inhibition. J Vis 2022. [DOI: 10.1167/jov.22.14.3938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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13
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Gavazzi G, Fisher AD, Orsolini S, Bianchi A, Romani A, Giganti F, Giovannelli F, Ristori J, Mazzoli F, Maggi M, Viggiano MP, Mascalchi M. The fMRI correlates of visuo-spatial abilities: sex differences and gender dysphoria. Brain Imaging Behav 2022; 16:955-964. [PMID: 35384549 PMCID: PMC9010387 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-022-00638-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The contribution of brain regions to visuospatial abilities according to sex differences and gender identity is inconsistently described. One potential explaining factor may be the different tasks employed requiring a variable load of working memory and other cognitive resources. Here we asked to 20 cis and 20 transgender participants to undergo functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging during performance of a judgement line of orientation test that was adapted to explore the basic visuospatial processing while minimizing the working memory load. We show that V1 activation may be viewed as a brain area with enhanced activation in males, regardless of participants’ gender identity. On its turn, gender identity exclusively influences the visuospatial processing of extrastriate visual areas (V5) in women with gender dysphoria. They showed enhanced V5 activation and an increased functional connectivity between V5 and V1. Overall our neuroimaging results suggest that the basic visuospatial abilities are associated with different activations pattern of cortical visual areas depending on the sex assigned at birth and gender identity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessandra Daphne Fisher
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Orsolini
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Andrea Bianchi
- Neuroradiology Unit, "Careggi" University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessia Romani
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Via San Salvi, 12, 50135, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Via San Salvi, 12, 50135, Florence, Italy
| | - Jiska Ristori
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Mazzoli
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Via San Salvi, 12, 50135, Florence, Italy.
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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14
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Agovi H, Pierguidi L, Dinnella C, Viggiano MP, Monteleone E, Spinelli S. Attentional bias for vegetables is negatively associated with acceptability and is related to sensory properties. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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15
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Benedetti V, Gavazzi G, Giovannelli F, Bravi R, Grasso S, Giganti F, Minciacchi D, Mascalchi M, Cincotta M, Viggiano MP. Motor inhibition processes in Go/No-Go and Stop Signal Tasks: New insight from mouse tracking. J Vis 2021. [DOI: 10.1167/jov.21.9.2146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gioele Gavazzi
- University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy
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16
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Giovannelli F, Menichetti C, Kiferle L, Raglione LM, Brotini S, Vanni P, Bacci D, Baldini M, Borgheresi A, Del Bene A, Grassi E, Guidi L, Toscani L, Volpi G, Palumbo P, Viggiano MP, Cincotta M. Impulsivity traits and awareness of motor intention in Parkinson's disease: a proof-of-concept study. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:335-340. [PMID: 34050422 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), impulsivity is still a matter of investigation. It has been hypothesized that impulsive personality traits may favour impulse control disorder (ICD) onset during dopaminergic therapy. In healthy subjects, a relationship between the awareness of motor intention and impulsive personality traits assessed by the Barratt impulsivity scale (BIS-11) has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the awareness of voluntary action and impulsivity traits in PD. METHODS Twenty-eight PD patients (stages I-III on the Hoehn and Yahr scale) underwent an impulsivity trait assessment by the BIS-11 scale and a task based on the Libet's clock. Participants were requested to perform a self-initiated movement and report the time they first feel their intention to move (W-judgement) or the time of the actual movement (M-judgement). RESULTS In patients with higher BIS-11 scores, the time lag between the W-judgement and the actual movement was significantly lower than in patients with lower BIS-11. No difference emerged in the M-judgement. CONCLUSION Data suggest that also in PD patients, the impulsive personality trait is related to a "delayed" awareness of motor intention and therefore to a shorter interval to allow a conscious "veto" of the impending action. Characterization of the temporal profile of awareness of motor intention could prove useful in identifying PD patients at risk of developing ICDs during dopaminergic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Giovannelli
- Section of Psychology - Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Unit of Neurology of Florence, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Menichetti
- Unit of Neurology of Pistoia, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Kiferle
- Unit of Neurology of Prato, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Maria Raglione
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Brotini
- Unit of Neurology of Empoli, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Vanni
- Unit of Neurology of Florence-OSMA, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Duccio Bacci
- Unit of Neurology of Florence-OSMA, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Mariella Baldini
- Unit of Neurology of Empoli, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Borgheresi
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Del Bene
- Unit of Neurology of Pistoia, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Grassi
- Unit of Neurology of Prato, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Leonello Guidi
- Unit of Neurology of Empoli, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Toscani
- Unit of Neurology of Florence-OSMA, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Gino Volpi
- Unit of Neurology of Pistoia, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Pasquale Palumbo
- Unit of Neurology of Prato, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Section of Psychology - Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Disease Area of the Department of Medical Specialties, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Florence, Italy.
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17
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Marzi T, Gronchi G, Turano MT, Giovannelli F, Giganti F, Rebai M, Viggiano MP. Mapping the Featural and Holistic Face Processing of Bad and Good Face Recognizers. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:bs11050075. [PMID: 34068256 PMCID: PMC8153130 DOI: 10.3390/bs11050075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual abilities in face recognition (good versus bad recognizers) were explored by means of event-related potentials (ERPs). The adaptation response profile of the N170 component to whole faces, eyes and mouths was used in order to highlight the crucial role of individual abilities in identity repetition processes for unfamiliar faces. The main point of this study is to underline the importance of characterizing the performance (bad or good) of the participants and to show that behaviorally selected groups might reveal neural differences. Good recognizers showed selective right hemisphere N170 repetition effects for whole faces and not for features. On the contrary, bad recognizers showed a general repetition effect not specifically related to faces and more pronounced processing for features. These findings suggest a different contribution of holistic and featural analysis in bad and good performers. In conclusion, we propose that the N170 might be used as a tool to tease apart face encoding processes as a function of individual differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Marzi
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, 50135 Firenze, Italy; (T.M.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
| | - Giorgio Gronchi
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, 50135 Firenze, Italy; (T.M.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
| | | | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, 50135 Firenze, Italy; (T.M.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, 50135 Firenze, Italy; (T.M.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
| | - Mohamed Rebai
- Department of Psychology, University of Rouen, 76130 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France;
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, 50135 Firenze, Italy; (T.M.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence:
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18
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Turano MT, Giganti F, Gavazzi G, Lamberto S, Gronchi G, Giovannelli F, Peru A, Viggiano MP. Spatially Filtered Emotional Faces Dominate during Binocular Rivalry. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120998. [PMID: 33348612 PMCID: PMC7767193 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present investigation explores the role of bottom-up and top-down factors in the recognition of emotional facial expressions during binocular rivalry. We manipulated spatial frequencies (SF) and emotive features and asked subjects to indicate whether the emotional or the neutral expression was dominant during binocular rivalry. Controlling the bottom-up saliency with a computational model, physically comparable happy and fearful faces were presented dichoptically with neutral faces. The results showed the dominance of emotional faces over neutral ones. In particular, happy faces were reported more frequently as the first dominant percept even in the presence of coarse information (at a low SF level: 2-6 cycle/degree). Following current theories of emotion processing, the results provide further support for the influence of positive compared to negative meaning on binocular rivalry and, for the first time, showed that individuals perceive the affective quality of happiness even in the absence of details in the visual display. Furthermore, our findings represent an advance in knowledge regarding the association between the high- and low-level mechanisms behind binocular rivalry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Turano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child’s Health, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; (M.T.T.); (F.G.); (S.L.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (A.P.)
- Fondazione Turano Onlus, 00195 Roma, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child’s Health, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; (M.T.T.); (F.G.); (S.L.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Gioele Gavazzi
- Diagnostic and Nuclear Research Institute, IRCCS SDN, 80121 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Simone Lamberto
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child’s Health, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; (M.T.T.); (F.G.); (S.L.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Giorgio Gronchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child’s Health, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; (M.T.T.); (F.G.); (S.L.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child’s Health, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; (M.T.T.); (F.G.); (S.L.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Andrea Peru
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child’s Health, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; (M.T.T.); (F.G.); (S.L.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child’s Health, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy; (M.T.T.); (F.G.); (S.L.); (G.G.); (F.G.); (A.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0552755053
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19
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Zabini F, Albanese L, Becheri FR, Gavazzi G, Giganti F, Giovanelli F, Gronchi G, Guazzini A, Laurino M, Li Q, Marzi T, Mastorci F, Meneguzzo F, Righi S, Viggiano MP. Comparative Study of the Restorative Effects of Forest and Urban Videos during COVID-19 Lockdown: Intrinsic and Benchmark Values. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17218011. [PMID: 33143327 PMCID: PMC7672570 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The prolonged lockdown imposed to contain the COrona VIrus Disease 19 COVID-19 pandemic prevented many people from direct contact with nature and greenspaces, raising alarms for a possible worsening of mental health. This study investigated the effectiveness of a simple and affordable remedy for improving psychological well-being, based on audio-visual stimuli brought by a short computer video showing forest environments, with an urban video as a control. Randomly selected participants were assigned the forest or urban video, to look at and listen to early in the morning, and questionnaires to fill out. In particular, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y collected in baseline condition and at the end of the study and the Part II of the Sheehan Patient Rated Anxiety Scale (SPRAS) collected every day immediately before and after watching the video. The virtual exposure to forest environments showed effective to reduce perceived anxiety levels in people forced by lockdown in limited spaces and environmental deprivation. Although significant, the effects were observed only in the short term, highlighting the limitation of the virtual experiences. The reported effects might also represent a benchmark to disentangle the determinants of health effects due to real forest experiences, for example, the inhalation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Zabini
- Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy;
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (F.M.); Tel.: +39-333-379-2947 (F.Z.); +39-392-985-0002 (F.M.)
| | - Lorenzo Albanese
- Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy;
| | | | - Gioele Gavazzi
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy; (G.G.); (F.G); (F.G.); (G.G.); (T.M.); (S.R.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy; (G.G.); (F.G); (F.G.); (G.G.); (T.M.); (S.R.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Fabio Giovanelli
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy; (G.G.); (F.G); (F.G.); (G.G.); (T.M.); (S.R.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Giorgio Gronchi
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy; (G.G.); (F.G); (F.G.); (G.G.); (T.M.); (S.R.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Andrea Guazzini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultural Studies, Literatures, and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Marco Laurino
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 1 Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (M.L.); (F.M.)
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine—Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan;
| | - Tessa Marzi
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy; (G.G.); (F.G); (F.G.); (G.G.); (T.M.); (S.R.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Francesca Mastorci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 1 Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, I-56124 Pisa, Italy; (M.L.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesco Meneguzzo
- Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy;
- Central Scientific Committee, Italian Alpine Club, 19 Via E. Petrella, I-20124 Milano, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (F.M.); Tel.: +39-333-379-2947 (F.Z.); +39-392-985-0002 (F.M.)
| | - Stefania Righi
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy; (G.G.); (F.G); (F.G.); (G.G.); (T.M.); (S.R.); (M.P.V.)
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy; (G.G.); (F.G); (F.G.); (G.G.); (T.M.); (S.R.); (M.P.V.)
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Benedetti V, Gavazzi G, Giovannelli F, Bravi R, Giganti F, Minciacchi D, Mascalchi M, Cincotta M, Viggiano MP. Mouse Tracking to Explore Motor Inhibition Processes in Go/No-Go and Stop Signal Tasks. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10070464. [PMID: 32698348 PMCID: PMC7408439 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10070464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Response inhibition relies on both proactive and reactive mechanisms that exert a synergic control on goal-directed actions. It is typically evaluated by the go/no-go (GNG) and the stop signal task (SST) with response recording based on the key-press method. However, the analysis of discrete variables (i.e., present or absent responses) registered by key-press could be insufficient to capture dynamic aspects of inhibitory control. Trying to overcome this limitation, in the present study we used a mouse tracking procedure to characterize movement profiles related to proactive and reactive inhibition. A total of fifty-three participants performed a cued GNG and an SST. The cued GNG mainly involves proactive control whereas the reactive component is mainly engaged in the SST. We evaluated the velocity profile from mouse trajectories both for responses obtained in the Go conditions and for inhibitory failures. Movements were classified as one-shot when no corrections were observed. Multi-peaked velocity profiles were classified as non-one-shot. A higher proportion of one-shot movements was found in the SST compared to the cued GNG when subjects failed to inhibit responses. This result suggests that proactive control may be responsible for unsmooth profiles in inhibition failures, supporting a differentiation between these tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Benedetti
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
| | | | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
| | - Riccardo Bravi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (R.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
| | - Diego Minciacchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (R.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Massimo Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, 50143 Florence, Italy;
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy; (V.B.); (F.G.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence:
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21
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Giovannelli F, Rossi S, Borgheresi A, Gavazzi G, Zaccara G, Viggiano MP, Cincotta M. Effects of Music Reading on Motor Cortex Excitability in Pianists: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study. Neuroscience 2020; 437:45-53. [PMID: 32335216 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurophysiological studies suggest that music reading facilitates sensorimotor cortex. The aim of this study was to evaluate (1) whether in pianists, reading notes in bass and treble clef selectively enhances right and left primary motor cortex (M1) excitability; and (2) whether reading notes played with the thumb or little finger selectively modulates the excitability of specific muscles. Twenty musicians (11 pianists, 9 non-pianists) participated. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied while subjects read the bass or the treble clef of sheets music and during the observation of a blank staff (baseline). When pianists read the treble clef, the excitability of the left M1 was higher compared to that recorded in the right M1. Moreover, in the treble clef condition motor evoked potentials (MEPs) induced by TMS of the left M1 were higher when pianists read notes to be played with the 5° finger (little finger) with respect to 1° finger (thumb) notes, whereas in the bass clef condition TMS of the right M1 induced higher MEPs for 1° finger note compared to 5° finger notes. No significant modulation was observed in non-pianists. These data support the view that music reading may induce specific inter- and intra-hemispheric modulation of the motor cortex excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Giovannelli
- Section of Psychology - Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy; Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Firenze, Italy
| | - Simone Rossi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Siena Brain Investigation and Neuromodulation Lab (Si-BIN Lab), University of Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Borgheresi
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Firenze, Italy
| | | | - Gaetano Zaccara
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Firenze, Italy; Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Firenze, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Section of Psychology - Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Massimo Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology of Florence, Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, Firenze, Italy.
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22
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Giganti F, Gavazzi G, Righi S, Rossi A, Caprilli S, Giovannelli F, Toni S, Rebai M, Viggiano MP. Priming effect in children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Child Neuropsychol 2019; 26:100-112. [PMID: 31111792 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2019.1617260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have evidenced cognitive difficulties across various domains in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) children, but the implicit memory system has not yet been systematically explored.Taking into account that the interplay between memory and perception may be modulated by the semantic category of the stimuli and their salience, we explored explicit and implicit memory using both object and food stimuli to verify whether for T1DM children there is a feebleness in performing the function of memory as a function of the stimuli used.Eighteen T1DM children and 47 healthy children performed an explicit recognition task in which they were requested to judge whether the presented image had already been shown ("old") or not ("new") and an identification priming task in which they were asked to name new and old pictures presented at nine ascending levels of spatial filtering.Results did not reveal any differences between controls and T1DM children in the explicit memory recognition task, whereas some differences between the two groups were found in the identification priming task. In T1DM children, the priming effect was observed only for food images.The dissociation between implicit and explicit memory observed in children with diabetes seems to be modulated by the category of the stimuli, and these results underscore the relevance of taking into account this variable when exploring cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - G Gavazzi
- Diagnostic and Nuclear Research Institute, IRCCS SDN, Napoli, Italy
| | - S Righi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - A Rossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - S Caprilli
- Istituto di Psicoanalisi - ISIPSE, Rome, Italy
| | - F Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - S Toni
- Pediatric Diabetologic Unit, AOU Meyer, Florence, Italy
| | - M Rebai
- CRFDP, Normandie Université, Rouen, France
| | - M P Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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23
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Gavazzi G, Rossi A, Orsolini S, Diciotti S, Giovannelli F, Salvadori E, Pantoni L, Mascalchi M, Viggiano MP. Impulsivity trait and proactive cognitive control: An fMRI study. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 49:1171-1179. [PMID: 30549328 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ability to flexibly regulate our behavior is a fundamental feature of human cognition and requires efficient functioning of cognitive control. During movement preparation, proactive inhibitory control plays a crucial role in regulating the excitatory activity carried out by alertness. The balance between alertness and proactive inhibition could be altered in people with motor impulsivity trait, determining the typical failure in the inhibition of prepotent motor responses. To test this hypothesis, 36 young adults were administered the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale to assess motor impulsivity trait and underwent fMRI acquisition during the execution of an event-related Go/Nogo task. To investigate motor preparation processes, we analyzed the "readiness" period, in which subjects were waiting and preparing for the upcoming stimulus (Go or Nogo). We found a positive significant correlation between motor impulsivity scores and the activation of left sensorimotor cortices. This result indicates that motor impulsivity trait might be associated with a disinhibition of the motor system, characterized by a diminished reactivity threshold and a reduced control over covert urges. Furthermore, we observed a positive significant correlation between motor impulsivity scores and the activation in left inferior and superior parietal lobule, which might be related to a more pronounced proactive control, probably reflecting a compensatory mechanism implemented by participants with a higher degree of motor impulsivity trait to reach a correct inhibition. Current findings provide a rationale for further studies aiming to better understand proactive control functioning in healthy impulsive subjects and under clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Rossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Orsolini
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Stefano Diciotti
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Emilia Salvadori
- Neuroscience Section, NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Pantoni
- "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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24
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Gavazzi G, Orsolini S, Salvadori E, Bianchi A, Rossi A, Donnini I, Rinnoci V, Pescini F, Diciotti S, Viggiano MP, Mascalchi M, Pantoni L. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Inhibitory Control Reveals Decreased Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Effect in Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy. Stroke 2019; 50:69-75. [PMID: 30580728 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.118.022923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background and Purpose- Small-vessel damage in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is associated with impaired vascular constriction and dilation. We used a functional magnetic resonance imaging task with an event-related design of stimulus to explore the anticipated abnormally decreased blood oxygen level dependent effect in CADASIL. Methods- Twenty-one CADASIL patients and 16 healthy controls performed a Go/No-go task exploring reactive and proactive phases of inhibition control in a 3-T magnet. Results- Error number and reaction times were not different between patients and controls. Analysis of the reactive inhibition (No-go/baseline contrast) did not show clusters of lower or higher blood oxygen level dependent effect in patients or controls. Analysis of the proactive inhibition (alertness contrast) in CADASIL patients revealed a lower blood oxygen level dependent effect in the alerting network (anterior cingulate cortex and insula, thalamus), lower brain stem and left cerebellar hemisphere (crus I) that is involved in executive functions. Conclusions- In CADASIL patients, an event-related Go/No-go task reveals a lower blood oxygen level dependent effect in the alerting network and areas involved in executive functions possibly reflecting the altered hemodynamic response secondary to small-vessel changes. Our observation extends the role of MR in demonstrating one of the fundamental pathophysiological changes of CADASIL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefano Orsolini
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy (S.O., S.D.)
| | - Emilia Salvadori
- NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience Section (E.S., I.D., V.R.), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Bianchi
- Neuroradiology Unit (A.B.), Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Arianna Rossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health (A.R., M.P.V.), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Ida Donnini
- NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience Section (E.S., I.D., V.R.), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Rinnoci
- NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience Section (E.S., I.D., V.R.), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Pescini
- Stroke Unit (F.P.), Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Diciotti
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy (S.O., S.D.)
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health (A.R., M.P.V.), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- 'Mario Serio' Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences (M.M.), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Pantoni
- 'Luigi Sacco' Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Italy (L.P.)
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Gavazzi G, Lenge M, Bartolini E, Bianchi A, Agovi H, Mugnai F, Guerrini R, Giordano F, Viggiano MP, Mascalchi M. Left inferior frontal cortex can compensate the inhibitory functions of right inferior frontal cortex and pre-supplementary motor area. J Neuropsychol 2018; 13:503-508. [PMID: 30156753 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Right-IFG and pre-SMA are associated with inhibitory responses. We used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to explore whether the contralateral homotopic regions can functionally replace them. An adolescent, with an extensive traumatic lesion of the right cerebral hemisphere having occurred 5 years earlier, performed a motor response inhibition task (Go/Nogo), which was properly accomplished and associated to activations in the left-IFC, precuneus and occipital cortex. Such functional remodelling is in line with the theory of 'near equipotentiality' of the cerebral hemispheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Integrated Imaging, IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy
| | - Matteo Lenge
- Neurology Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Bianchi
- Neuroimaging Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Herdis Agovi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology Drug Research & Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Mugnai
- Neuroimaging Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Neurology Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Flavio Giordano
- Pediatric Neurosurgery Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology Drug Research & Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- Neuroimaging Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
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26
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Fiori G, Marzi T, Bartoli F, Bruni C, Ciceroni C, Palomba M, Zolferino M, Corsi E, Galimberti M, Moggi Pignone A, Viggiano MP, Guiducci S, Calamai M, Matucci-Cerinic M. The challenge of pet therapy in systemic sclerosis: evidence for an impact on pain, anxiety, neuroticism and social interaction. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2018; 36 Suppl 113:135-141. [PMID: 30277859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of animal-assisted intervention (AAI), a complementary support to traditional therapies focused on the interaction between animals and human beings, in improving psychological trait, anxiety and pain in a cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. METHODS 42 SSc patients, undergoing iloprost intravenous infusion, were divided in three groups: 1) 14 patients submitted to 20 AAI sessions; 2) 14 patients engaged in alternative social activity (control group 1 - C1); and 3) 14 patients without any alternative activity (control group 2 - C2). All patients underwent Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the State-anxiety (STAI-S) and emotional faces at the beginning (s0) and at the end (s1) of each single session, while General Anxiety State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R), the Social Phobia Scale (SPS), the Toronto Alexythymia Scale (TAS-20), the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ) were administered at baseline (t0) and at the end of the project (t1). RESULTS AAI group showed a significant decrease of the anxiety state level in respect to the two control groups (p<0.001). VAS scale resulted lower both in AAI (p < 0.001) and C1 group (p<0.01). Moreover, STAI-T and TAS scores were significantly reduced in AAI group (p<0.001). TCQ scale showed that patients treated with AAI, compared to control group C2, had greater capacity to avoid unpleasant and unwanted thoughts (p<0.05). In AAI group, the EPQ-R test revealed an enhancement of extroversion trait compared to both control groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our data show that AAI significantly reduces pain perception, anxiety, neuroticism and ameliorates patients' social interaction, therefore it may be a useful to allow a better compliance to traditional therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginevra Fiori
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Scleroderma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
| | - Tessa Marzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Bartoli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Scleroderma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Cosimo Bruni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Scleroderma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Carlo Ciceroni
- Veterinary Service of Azienda Sanitaria Locale 10, Florence, Italy
| | - Michela Palomba
- Italian Association "Utilizzo Cani D'Assistenza" (AIUCA society), Italy
| | - Michela Zolferino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Scleroderma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Corsi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Scleroderma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Moggi Pignone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Serena Guiducci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Scleroderma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Calamai
- General Director of the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Matucci-Cerinic
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology & Scleroderma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
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27
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Gronchi G, Righi S, Pierguidi L, Giovannelli F, Murasecco I, Viggiano MP. Automatic and controlled attentional orienting in the elderly: A dual-process view of the positivity effect. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2018; 185:229-234. [PMID: 29550693 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The positivity effect in the elderly consists of an attentional preference for positive information as well as avoidance of negative information. Extant theories predict either that the positivity effect depends on controlled attentional processes (socio-emotional selectivity theory), or on an automatic gating selection mechanism (dynamic integration theory). This study examined the role of automatic and controlled attention in the positivity effect. Two dot-probe tasks (with the duration of the stimuli lasting 100 ms and 500 ms, respectively) were employed to compare the attentional bias of 35 elderly people to that of 35 young adults. The stimuli used were expressive faces displaying neutral, disgusted, fearful, and happy expressions. In comparison to young people, the elderly allocated more attention to happy faces at 100 ms and they tended to avoid fearful faces at 500 ms. The findings are not predicted by either theory taken alone, but support the hypothesis that the positivity effect in the elderly is driven by two different processes: an automatic attention bias toward positive stimuli, and a controlled mechanism that diverts attention away from negative stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Gronchi
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - S Righi
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy.
| | - L Pierguidi
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - F Giovannelli
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - I Murasecco
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - M P Viggiano
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
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28
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Turano MT, Lao J, Richoz AR, Lissa PD, Degosciu SBA, Viggiano MP, Caldara R. Corrigendum to: Fear boosts the early neural coding of faces. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2017; 12:1993. [PMID: 29182719 PMCID: PMC5716158 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Turano
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Junpeng Lao
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Raphaëlle Richoz
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Peter de Lissa
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Sarah B A Degosciu
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberto Caldara
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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29
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Turano MT, Lao J, Richoz AR, de Lissa P, Degosciu SBA, Viggiano MP, Caldara R. Fear boosts the early neural coding of faces. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2017; 12:1959-1971. [PMID: 29040780 PMCID: PMC5716185 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid extraction of facial identity and emotional expressions is critical for adapted social interactions. These biologically relevant abilities have been associated with early neural responses on the face sensitive N170 component. However, whether all facial expressions uniformly modulate the N170, and whether this effect occurs only when emotion categorization is task-relevant, is still unclear. To clarify this issue, we recorded high-resolution electrophysiological signals while 22 observers perceived the six basic expressions plus neutral. We used a repetition suppression paradigm, with an adaptor followed by a target face displaying the same identity and expression (trials of interest). We also included catch trials to which participants had to react, by varying identity (identity-task), expression (expression-task) or both (dual-task) on the target face. We extracted single-trial Repetition Suppression (stRS) responses using a data-driven spatiotemporal approach with a robust hierarchical linear model to isolate adaptation effects on the trials of interest. Regardless of the task, fear was the only expression modulating the N170, eliciting the strongest stRS responses. This observation was corroborated by distinct behavioral performance during the catch trials for this facial expression. Altogether, our data reinforce the view that fear elicits distinct neural processes in the brain, enhancing attention and facilitating the early coding of faces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Turano
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Junpeng Lao
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Raphaëlle Richoz
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Peter de Lissa
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Sarah B A Degosciu
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberto Caldara
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Gavazzi G, Orsolini S, Rossi A, Bianchi A, Bartolini E, Nicolai E, Soricelli A, Aiello M, Diciotti S, Viggiano MP, Mascalchi M. Alexithymic trait is associated with right IFG and pre-SMA activation in non-emotional response inhibition in healthy subjects. Neurosci Lett 2017; 658:150-154. [PMID: 28827128 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Event-related fMRI studies have explored emotion inhibitory processes in alexithymic individuals and have demonstrated abnormal BOLD activations in the processing of emotional stimuli. So far, no study has explored the relationship between the alexithymic trait and the general inhibition process, namely utilizing stimuli devoid of emotional valence. In this study 26 healthy subjects were administered the Toronto Alexithymic Scale (TAS-20) questionnaire to measure the alexithymic trait and performed an event related Go/Nogo task build up with letters during fMRI acquisition. We found no correlation between the TAS-20 z-score and the reaction times during the Go/Nogo task. Conversely, we observed a positive correlation between the degree of alexithymic trait -measured with the TAS-20 and the Nogo-Go activation of the right Inferior Frontal Gyrus and the right pre-Supplementary Motor Area. These data suggest that the general process of response inhibition may be modulated by the individual degree of alexithymic trait. We propose that such a relationship could reflect a compensatory mechanism implemented by participants with higher degree of alexithymic trait to reach a correct inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioele Gavazzi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Orsolini
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Arianna Rossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Bianchi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy; Neuroradiology Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Marco Aiello
- Department of Integrated Imaging, IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Diciotti
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy; Neuroradiology Unit, "A. Meyer" Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
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Giganti F, Aisa B, Arzilli C, Viggiano MP, Cerasuolo M, Conte F, Ficca G. Priming recognition in good sleepers and in insomniacs. J Sleep Res 2017; 26:345-352. [PMID: 28251718 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Insomniacs often report memory and concentration problems, but these complaints have not been consistently supported by performance measurements. Furthermore, while the majority of studies have addressed explicit memory, few have investigated the implicit domain, and very little is known concerning other types of implicit memory besides procedural memory, such as priming. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate priming effect for visual stimuli in insomniacs and good sleepers. Twenty-three insomniacs and 20 good sleepers performed a visual priming task in which they were asked to name new and old pictures presented at nine ascending levels of spatial filtering. Both neutral and sleep-related stimuli were used, as previous research evidenced an attentional bias for sleep-related stimuli. Visual priming effect was observed in both groups, suggesting that poor sleep quality does not affect this type of implicit memory. However, the identification process in insomniacs is influenced by the nature of the stimulus to identify: insomniacs recognized both new and old sleep-related stimuli at lower spatial frequencies compared with good sleepers. The tendency to selectively attend to sleep-related stimuli may influence top-down processes occurring during identification of filtering stimuli, by determining a pre-allocation of attentional resources and facilitating identification processes even when sensorial information is scant. Differences in the identification processes of sleep-related stimuli compared with neutral ones should be carefully taken into account as possible pre-clinical markers of insomnia in poor sleepers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Beatrice Aisa
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cinzia Arzilli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Conte
- Department of Psychology, University of Naples II, Caserta, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ficca
- Department of Psychology, University of Naples II, Caserta, Italy
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Turano MT, Viggiano MP. The relationship between face recognition ability and socioemotional functioning throughout adulthood. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 2016; 24:613-630. [PMID: 27754777 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2016.1244247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between face recognition ability and socioemotional functioning has been widely explored. However, how aging modulates this association regarding both objective performance and subjective-perception is still neglected. Participants, aged between 18 and 81 years, performed a face memory test and completed subjective face recognition and socioemotional questionnaires. General and social anxiety, and neuroticism traits account for the individual variation in face recognition abilities during adulthood. Aging modulates these relationships because as they age, individuals that present a higher level of these traits also show low-level face recognition ability. Intriguingly, the association between depression and face recognition abilities is evident with increasing age. Overall, the present results emphasize the importance of embedding face metacognition measurement into the context of these studies and suggest that aging is an important factor to be considered, which seems to contribute to the relationship between socioemotional and face-cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Turano
- a Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child's Health , University of Florence , Firenze , Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- a Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research & Child's Health , University of Florence , Firenze , Italy
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Giovannelli F, Simoni D, Gavazzi G, Giganti F, Olivotto I, Cincotta M, Pratesi A, Baldasseroni S, Viggiano MP. Electrophysiological correlates of word recognition memory process in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. Clin Neurophysiol 2016; 127:3007-3013. [PMID: 27469528 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cognitive performance in patients with coronary artery disease without overt heart failure is still under debate. In this study we combine behavioral measures and event-related potentials (ERPs) to verify whether electrophysiological correlates of recognition memory (old/new effect) are modulated differently as a function of LVEF. METHODS Twenty-three male patients (12 without [LVEF>55%] and 11 with [LVEF<40%] left ventricular dysfunction), and a Mini Mental State Examination score >25 were enrolled. ERPs were recorded while participants performed an old/new visual word recognition task. RESULTS A late positive ERP component between 350 and 550ms was differentially modulated in the two groups: a clear old/new effect (enhanced mean amplitude for old respect to new items) was observed in patients without LVEF dysfunction; whereas patients with overt LVEF dysfunction did not show such effect. In contrast, no significant differences emerged for behavioral performance and neuropsychological evaluations. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that ERPs may reveal functional brain abnormalities that are not observed at behavioral level. SIGNIFICANCE Detecting sub-clinical measures of cognitive decline may contribute to set appropriate treatments and to monitor asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with LVEF dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Unit of Neurology, Florence Health Authority, Florence, Italy
| | - David Simoni
- Department of Heart and Vessels, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Unit University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandra Pratesi
- Department of Heart and Vessels, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Unit University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - Samuele Baldasseroni
- Department of Heart and Vessels, Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Unit University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Cincotta M, Giovannelli F, Chiaramonti R, Bianco G, Godone M, Battista D, Cardinali C, Borgheresi A, Sighinolfi A, D'Avanzo AM, Breschi M, Dine Y, Lino M, Zaccara G, Viggiano MP, Rossi S. No effects of 20 Hz-rTMS of the primary motor cortex in vegetative state: A randomised, sham-controlled study. Cortex 2015; 71:368-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2015.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Righi S, Gronchi G, Marzi T, Rebai M, Viggiano MP. You are that smiling guy I met at the party! Socially positive signals foster memory for identities and contexts. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2015; 159:1-7. [PMID: 26000956 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The emotional influence of facial expressions on memory is well-known whereas the influence of emotional contextual information on memory for emotional faces is yet to be extensively explored. This study investigated the interplay between facial expression and the emotional surrounding context in affecting both memory for identities (item memory) and memory for associative backgrounds (source memory). At the encoding fearful and happy faces were presented embedded in fear or happy scenes (i.e.: fearful faces in fear-scenes, happy faces in happy-scenes, fearful faces in happy-scenes and happy faces in fear-scenes) and participants were asked to judge the emotional congruency of the face-scene compounds (i.e. fearful faces in fear-scenes and happy faces in happy-scenes were congruent compounds). In the recognition phase, the old faces were intermixed with the new ones: all the faces were presented isolated with a neutral expression. Participants were requested to indicate whether each face had been previously presented (item memory). Then, for each old face the memory for the scene originally compounded with the face was tested by a three alternative forced choice recognition task (source memory). The results evidenced that face identity memory is differently modulated by the valence in congruent face-context compounds with better identity recognition (item memory) for happy faces encoded in happy-scenarios. Moreover, also the memory for the surrounding context (source memory) benefits from the association with a smiling face. Our findings highlight that socially positive signals conveyed by smiling faces may prompt memory for identity and context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Righi
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Gronchi
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Tessa Marzi
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Mohamed Rebai
- Department of Psychology, University of Rouen, France
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Psychology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health, University of Florence, Italy
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Cincotta M, Giovannelli F, Borgheresi A, Tramacere L, Viggiano MP, Zaccara G. A Meta-analysis of the Cortical Silent Period in Epilepsies. Brain Stimul 2015; 8:693-701. [PMID: 25981158 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2015.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The cortical silent period (CSP) following transcranial magnetic stimulation reflects GABAB-mediated inhibition in the primary motor cortex (M1) and could contribute to understand the pathophysiological substrates of epileptic conditions. Increased CSP duration has been reported in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and in partial epilepsy (PE) involving the M1, although other studies yielded discordant findings. We used meta-analysis to systematically assess the consistency of CSP changes in untreated patients with epilepsies. METHODS Databases were searched for controlled studies evaluating the CSP in drug-naïve or drug-free patients with IGE or PE. For each study, the mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between CSP duration obtained in patients and controls was calculated. The effect of motor threshold (MT) on the CSP duration has also been explored by meta-analysis and meta-regression. RESULTS Fourteen studies (267 patients and 234 controls) were included. A significant mean difference (14.16 ms, 95% CI, 1.20, 27.11 ms) was found, with longer CSP in patients than in controls. The mean difference was still greater (18.05 ms) if only the 202 IGE patients were analyzed. No MT difference emerged between patients and controls. Meta-regression showed no relationship between MT and CSP duration. CONCLUSION Meta-analysis confirms CSP modifications in epilepsies, with enhancement of this cortical inhibitory measure at least in most IGE patients. This provides rationale for further investigations aiming to verify the hypotheses that increased CSP reflects compensatory neural phenomena counteracting transition from the interictal to ictal state and that CSP variability reflects the pathophysiological heterogeneity of epileptic syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Cincotta
- Unit of Neurology, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Unit of Neurology, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Florence, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gaetano Zaccara
- Unit of Neurology, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Florence, Italy
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Viggiano MP, Giganti F, Rossi A, Di Feo D, Vagnoli L, Calcagno G, Defilippi C. Impact of psychological interventions on reducing anxiety, fear and the need for sedation in children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. Pediatr Rep 2015; 7:5682. [PMID: 25918624 PMCID: PMC4387329 DOI: 10.4081/pr.2015.5682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging examination frequently experience anxiety and fear before and during the scanning. The aim of the present study was to assess: i) whether and to what extent psychological interventions might reduce anxiety and fear levels; ii) whether the intervention is related to a decrease in the need for sedation. The interventions consisted of three activities: a clown show, dog interaction and live music. The emotional status (anxiety and fear) of the children was evaluated before and after the activities through a rating scale questionnaire. The results showed that the activities had high effectiveness in reducing the level of anxiety and fear and decreased the need for sedation in the experimental group compared to the control group. This approach proved to be a positive patient experience, helping to alleviate children's anxiety and fear, decreasing the need for sedation, and was cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence ; Florence, Italy ; Pediatric Psychology Service, Children's Hospital A. Meyer , Florence, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence ; Florence, Italy
| | - Arianna Rossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence ; Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Di Feo
- Radiology Department, Children's Hospital A. Meyer , Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Vagnoli
- Pediatric Psychology Service, Children's Hospital A. Meyer , Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanna Calcagno
- Radiology Department, Children's Hospital A. Meyer , Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Defilippi
- Radiology Department, Children's Hospital A. Meyer , Florence, Italy
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Abstract
The dynamic interplay between perception and memory has been explored in preschool children by presenting filtered stimuli regarding animals and artifacts. The identification of filtered images was markedly influenced by both prior exposure and the semantic nature of the stimuli. The identification of animals required less physical information than artifacts did. Our results corroborate the notion that the human attention system evolves to reliably develop definite category-specific selection criteria by which living entities are monitored in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenza Giganti
- a Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research , Child Health University of Florence , Florence , Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- a Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research , Child Health University of Florence , Florence , Italy.,b Pediatric Psychology Service , Children's Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence , Florence , Italy
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Giganti F, Arzilli C, Conte F, Toselli M, Viggiano MP, Ficca G. The effect of a daytime nap on priming and recognition tasks in preschool children. Sleep 2014; 37:1087-93. [PMID: 24882903 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.3766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES The beneficial effect of sleep on memory consolidation is widely accepted in the adult population and has recently been shown in children. However, the few available data almost exclusively refer to school-aged children. Here we explore the effect of a daytime nap on memory consolidation in a sample of preschool children. DESIGN Subjects performed both a figures recognition task and a priming task, in order to differentiate effects on explicit and implicit memory. SETTING Nursery school. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-three children (mean age: 52.6 ± 8 mo; 13 males) participated in the study. INTERVENTION After a study phase in which children had to name 40 pictures of objects and animals, each subject either took an actigraphically monitored nap or stayed awake. At retest, children were administered both an implicit and an explicit memory task. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The implicit memory task consisted of naming 40 pictures presented at eight ascending levels of spatial filtering. The explicit memory task consisted of judging 40 pictures as old or new. The number of correct answers at the explicit recognition task was significantly higher in the nap compared to the wake condition, whereas priming effects did not differ between conditions. CONCLUSIONS A positive role of sleep in explicit memory consolidation, similar to the one observed in the adult, was detected in our sample of preschool children. In contrast, our data suggest that implicit perceptual learning, involved in priming tasks, does not benefit from sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenza Giganti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Cinzia Arzilli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | | | - Monica Toselli
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ficca
- Department of Psychology, University of Naples II, Italy
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Giovannelli F, Banfi C, Borgheresi A, Fiori E, Innocenti I, Rossi S, Zaccara G, Viggiano MP, Cincotta M. The effect of music on corticospinal excitability is related to the perceived emotion: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Cortex 2013; 49:702-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2012.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2011] [Revised: 12/31/2011] [Accepted: 01/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Giovannelli F, Innocenti I, Rossi S, Borgheresi A, Ragazzoni A, Zaccara G, Viggiano MP, Cincotta M. Role of the dorsal premotor cortex in rhythmic auditory-motor entrainment: a perturbational approach by rTMS. Cereb Cortex 2012; 24:1009-16. [PMID: 23236203 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synchronization of body movements to an external beat is a universal human ability, which has also been recently documented in nonhuman species. The neural substrates of this rhythmic motor entrainment are still under investigation. Correlational neuroimaging data suggest an involvement of the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC) and the supplementary motor area (SMA). In 14 healthy volunteers, we more specifically investigated the neural network underlying this phenomenon using a causal approach by an established 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocol, which produces a focal suppression of cortical excitability outlasting the stimulation period. Synchronization accuracy between rhythmic cues and right index finger tapping, as measured by the mean time lag (asynchrony) between motor and auditory events, was significantly affected when the right dPMC function was transiently perturbed by "off-line" focal rTMS, whereas the reproduction of the rhythmic sequence per se (inter-tap-interval) was spared. This approach affected metrical rhythms of different complexity, but not non-metrical or isochronous sequences. Conversely, no change in auditory-motor synchronization was observed with rTMS of the SMA, of the left dPMC or over a control site (midline occipital area). Our data strongly support the view that the right dPMC is crucial for rhythmic auditory-motor synchronization in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Giovannelli
- Unità Operativa di Neurologia, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Ospedale San Giovanni di Dio,Firenze, Italy
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Abstract
We used event-related potentials (ERPs) to tap the temporal dynamics of first impressions based on face appearance. Participants were asked to evaluate briefly presented faces for trustworthiness and political choice. Behaviorally, participants were better at discriminating faces that were pre-rated as untrustworthy. The ERP results showed that the P100 component was enhanced for untrustworthy faces, consistently with the view that signals of potential threat are given precedence in neural processing. The enhanced ERP responses to untrustworthy faces persisted throughout the processing sequence and the amplitude of early posterior negativity (EPN), and subsequent late positive potential (LPP) was increased with respect to trustworthy faces which, in contrast, elicited an enhanced positivity around 150 ms on frontal sites. These ERP patterns were found specifically for the trustworthiness evaluation and not for the political decision task. Political decision yielded an increase in the N170 amplitude, reflecting a more demanding and taxing structural encoding. Similar ERP responses, as previously reported in the literature for facial expressions processing, were found throughout the entire time course specifically elicited by faces explicitly judged as untrustworthy. One possibility might be that evolution has provided the brain with a 'special toolkit' for trust evaluation that is fast and triggers ERPs related to emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Marzi
- Department of Psychology, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi, 12. Complesso di San Salvi, Padiglione 26, 50135 Firenze, Italy.
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Brancati C, Barba C, Metitieri T, Melani F, Pellacani S, Viggiano MP, Guerrini R. Impaired object identification in idiopathic childhood occipital epilepsy. Epilepsia 2012; 53:686-94. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03410.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Marzi T, Viggiano MP. Temporal dynamics of face inversion at encoding and retrieval. Clin Neurophysiol 2011; 122:1360-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2010.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2010] [Revised: 11/12/2010] [Accepted: 11/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Marzi T, Viggiano MP. Deep and shallow encoding effects on face recognition: An ERP study. Int J Psychophysiol 2010; 78:239-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2010] [Revised: 08/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Toscani M, Marzi T, Righi S, Viggiano MP, Baldassi S. Alpha waves: a neural signature of visual suppression. Exp Brain Res 2010; 207:213-9. [PMID: 20972777 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-010-2444-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2010] [Accepted: 09/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Alpha waves are traditionally considered a passive consequence of the lack of stimulation of sensory areas. However, recent results have challenged this view by showing a modulation of alpha activity in cortical areas representing unattended information during active tasks. These data have led us to think that alpha waves would support a 'gating function' on sensorial stimulation that actively inhibits unattended information in attentional tasks. Visual suppression occurring during a saccade and blink entails an inhibition of incoming visual information, and it seems to occur at an early processing stage. In this study, we hypothesized that the neural mechanism through which the visual system exerts this inhibition is the active imposition of alpha oscillations in the occipital cortex, which in turn predicts an increment of alpha amplitude during a visual suppression phenomena. We measured visual suppression occurring during short closures of the eyelids, a situation well suited for EEG recordings and stimulated the retinae with an intra-oral light administered through the palate. In the behavioral experiment, detection thresholds were measured with eyes steady open and steady closed, showing a reduction of sensitivity in the latter case. In the EEG recordings performed under identical conditions we found stronger alpha activity with closed eyes. Since the stimulation does not depend on whether the eyes were open or closed, we reasoned that this should be a central effect, probably due to a functional role of alpha oscillation in agreement with the 'gating function' theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Toscani
- Abteilung Allgemeine Psychologie, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10, 35394, Giessen, Germany
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47
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Galli G, Ragazzoni A, Viggiano MP. Atypical event‐related potentials in patients with mild cognitive impairment: An identification‐priming study. Alzheimers Dement 2010; 6:351-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2009.05.664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2008] [Revised: 03/07/2009] [Accepted: 05/12/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Galli
- Dipartimento di PsicologiaUniversità degli Studi di FirenzeFirenzeItaly
| | - Aldo Ragazzoni
- Unita Operativa di Neurologia Azienda Sanitaria di FirenzeOspedale Nuovo San Giovanni di DioFirenzeItaly
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48
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Viggiano MP, Galli G, La Corte V, Ragazzoni A. Temporal dynamics of memory-related effects in older and young adults: an event-related potential study. Exp Aging Res 2010; 36:206-29. [PMID: 20209422 DOI: 10.1080/03610731003613821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Priming effects on the identification process were examined in young and older adults by using event-related potentials (ERPs). Animals and artifacts were presented in an ascending sequence of filtered images, half of which had been shown in their complete versions in a previous study phase. Each stimulus was represented by a progressively less filtered image (i.e., more complete) until the whole version was revealed in a sequence of frames. Such a paradigm allowed us to record ERPs prior to, and during, the identification of stimuli. Results showed a dynamic interplay between memory, category, and aging effects. At the moment of identification, young adults elicited larger positivity at parietal sites for previously studied stimuli and this effect was not observed for older adults. For stimuli previously studied, a striking effect was observed in both groups at the level just prior to overt identification. In addition, a frontally distributed priming effect was evident in the elderly. Category-related ERP differences emerged between the two age groups. In particular, younger participants elicited an early positive activation at anterior sites upon seeing stimuli of animals. These results are discussed in relation to current models of recognition memory, categorization, and age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Psychology, University of Florence, via di San Salvi 12, Florence, Italy.
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Cincotta M, Giovannelli F, Borgheresi A, Balestrieri F, Toscani L, Zaccara G, Carducci F, Viggiano MP, Rossi S. Optically tracked neuronavigation increases the stability of hand-held focal coil positioning: evidence from "transcranial" magnetic stimulation-induced electrical field measurements. Brain Stimul 2010; 3:119-23. [PMID: 20633439 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2010.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2009] [Revised: 12/23/2009] [Accepted: 01/03/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The stability of hand-held coil positioning with neuronavigated versus conventional transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is still underinvestigated. Eleven operators naïve for neuronavigation were asked to position and maintain a figure-of-eight-shaped coil over a dipole probe placed within of a polystyrene reproduction of the human head and scalp, in correspondence of the right primary motor cortex. Ten monophasic magnetic pulses were delivered at 46% maximal stimulator output (MSO) in two different experimental conditions: (1) assisted by an optically tracked neuronavigational system; and (2) without neuronavigation. With neuronavigated stimulation, both standard deviation and coefficient of variation of the voltages induced in the dipole probe were significantly lower than without neuronavigation. Results were confirmed in four operators performing a longer-lasting experiment using 50 magnetic pulses in each condition, at an intensity of at 40% MSO. Findings show that optically tracked neuronavigation improves the stability of focal coil positioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Cincotta
- Unità Operativa di Neurologia dell'Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Ospedale Piero Palagi, Firenze, Italy.
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Righi S, Mecacci L, Viggiano MP. Anxiety, cognitive self-evaluation and performance: ERP correlates. J Anxiety Disord 2009; 23:1132-8. [PMID: 19695828 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2008] [Revised: 07/13/2009] [Accepted: 07/14/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The relation between anxiety, cognitive self-evaluation, performance, and electrical brain activity (event-related potentials, ERPs) in a sustained attention task (Go/NoGo; SART) was investigated in 18 participants. No significant correlation was found between reaction times and anxiety (assessed by State and Trait Anxiety Inventory or STAI), and cognitive self-evaluation (assessed by Cognitive Failures Questionnaire or CFQ). N2 (ERP time-window 250-350ms) and P3 (350-650ms) amplitudes were found to be related to anxiety and cognitive self-evaluation. N2 amplitude increased in trait and state high anxious participants, whereas P3 decreased in participants who reported a higher frequency of cognitive failures. Electrophysiological responses revealed that cognitive strategies were probably activated by more anxious and less self-confident individuals in order to be efficient in their performance. As shown by current research, frontal areas and anterior cingulated cortex appear to be particularly involved in this affective-cognitive interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Righi
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
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