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

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

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

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

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

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

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

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

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

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

Supplementary Information

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

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

INTRODUCTION

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

MATERIALS AND METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

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

BACKGROUND

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

MATERIALS AND METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PURPOSE

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

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

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

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

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

Does desire thinking mediate the influence of in-group identity as an Instagram user on components of problematic Instagram use?

Desire-based thinking is associated with the magnitude and severity of problematic social media use. One's ingroup identity has also been shown to be related to problematic behaviour including excessive social media use. Recent work showed that different factors predicted either compulsivity or withdrawal-based aspects of problematic Instagram. For compulsivity symptoms, negative metacognitions and the verbal perseveration component of desire thinking (i.e., persistent repetition of self-talk about the need to achieve a desired goal) were essential. In contrast, for withdrawal symptoms identity centrality (and no other dimensions of identity) and imaginal prefiguration (i.e., thoughts related to the mental images of a desired target or of its context for consumption) were the only predictors. The current study extended this work by testing whether the direct effects of components of ingroup identity as an Instagram user (N = 200) on increasing problematic use was also accounted for indirectly as a function of increasing desire-based thoughts as an active mediator, and whether these effects differed as a function of desire thinking component (i.e., imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration). Results showed that for overall problematic Instagram use desire thinking and the imaginal prefiguration component were found to fully mediate the influence of one ingroup self-investment aspect of identity, namely centrality i.e., chronicity of being an Instagram ingroup member for one's experienced identity. Total desire thinking was also shown to fully mediate the effects of identity centrality only for that component of problematic Instagram use that reflected compulsivity-type symptoms and to be a partial mediator for withdrawal-type symptoms. Imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration desire thinking components were both shown to partially mediate the effect of identity centrality on withdrawal symptoms but not show any mediating influence for compulsivity. These results reemphasise the primary significance of identity centrality (and ingroup self-investment processes) in accounting for variability in problematic Instagram use but also detail the importance of desire thinking factors as mediating its expression.

Children's evaluations of direct and indirect bias justifications for same-race inclusion

Different forms of prejudice emerge in childhood, often referred to as direct and indirect bias. Little is known about children's evaluations of whether certain forms of bias are more okay than others, particularly in the context of peer and parental messages about interracial social inclusion. To address this gap, the current study investigated how Black and White American children aged 6 to 12 years (N = 219; Mage = 9.18 years, SD = 1.90; 51% female) evaluate vignettes in which a Black or White peer opted to include a same-race peer due to indirect bias (preferences for in-group similarity) or direct bias (expressions of out-group dislike). Data were collected in 2021 and 2022. Children evaluated same-race inclusion due to expressions of out-group dislike more negatively than same-race inclusion due to in-group similarity preference. They also evaluated same-race inclusion due to a preference for in-group similarity stated by peers more negatively than when stated by parents. Children evaluated same-race inclusion due to parental preference more positively when the child who included a same-race peer was Black than when the child who included a same-race peer was White. Participants who negatively evaluated same-race inclusion due to parental preference were more likely to use moral reasoning to justify their evaluations, whereas participants who positively evaluated this inclusion were more likely to use non-moral reasoning. This study revealed novel insights about how Black and White American children evaluate forms of direct and indirect bias as justifications for same-race inclusion and how their reasoning relates to their evaluations.

Predictive evidence for the impact of personality styles on depression and functioning in two bipolar disorder cohorts

Predictors for course of illness in bipolar disorder (BD) with replicable effect are difficult to identify. Potential predictors of outcomes for BD that could inform practice include personality traits, particularly Neuroticism. However, models typically fail to consider the joint effect of multiple personality traits. We examine whether personality trait combinations (styles) enhance our ability to prospectively predict symptoms and functioning across time in two independent longitudinal research cohorts. In a discovery sample of 489 and replication sample of 2072 individuals with BD, we assessed impact of personality styles using the NEO PI-R and NEO-FFI on depression and functioning up to 14 years. Using a model considering all ten possible personality style combinations, the number of risk-related personality styles (styles associated with poor outcomes) relative to number of protective-related personality styles (styles associated with better outcomes) showed that for every additional risk relative to protective style count, the incident rate of depression increased by 11.8-15.0 % and the incident rate for poor life functioning increased by 11.1 %. This similar pattern of increased risk styles being associated with significant increases in depression and functioning was replicated in the independent STEP-BD dataset, although with slightly lower incident rate (5 % and 2.9 %). Cross validation of performance from both cohorts showed similar predictive patterns (5-11.2 % increases). The ability to predict future depression and poor functioning from the combined effects of personality traits can be clinically useful for identifying individuals at risk for poorer outcomes. Personality styles should be evaluated when planning long-term care and developing interventions.

Mediation of executive functions in the relationship between motor skills and psychosocial health in preschool children

Purpose

Early motor skills develop alongside executive functions and psychosocial health. However, the interaction between these elements in early childhood is not well-studied. This study aimed to examine whether executive functions mediate the relationship between motor skills and psychosocial health.

Methods

A total of 452 children (mean age = 6.14 ± 0.29 years, 48.9 % female) were included in this cross-sectional study. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2) was used to assess motor skills. Executive functions were measured using the Go/No-Go Test, Dimensional Change Card Sort Test, and List Sorting Working Memory Test from the Early Years Toolbox (ages 3-7). Social skills and problem behaviors were assessed using the preschool version of the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scale (SSIS-RS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation was employed to examine the mediating role of executive functions.

Results

Gross motor skills were positively associated with inhibition (β = 0.41, p < 0.01), shifting (β = 0.20, p < 0.01), working memory (β = 0.30, p < 0.01), social skills (β = 0.50, p < 0.05), and negatively associated with problem behaviors (β = -0.23, p < 0.05). Inhibition (β = 0.107, p < 0.001) and shifting (β = -0.018, p < 0.05) mediated the relationship between gross motor skills and social skills. Additionally, inhibition (β = -0.086, p < 0.001) and shifting (β = 0.019, p < 0.05) mediated the relationship between gross motor skills and problem behaviors. Fine motor skills were positively associated with inhibition (β = 0.35, p < 0.01), shifting (β = 0.16, p < 0.01), and working memory (β = 0.21, p < 0.01), but not significantly related to social skills (β = 0.08, p > 0.05) or problem behaviors (β = 0, p > 0.05). Inhibition (β = 0.144, p = 0.001) mediated the relationship between fine motor skills and social skills, while both inhibition (β = -0.102, p = 0.001) and shifting (β = 0.014, p = 0.041) mediated the relationship between fine motor skills and problem behaviors.

Conclusion

Executive functions significantly mediate the association between motor skills and psychosocial health in preschool children. Future experimental studies are required to examine causality in young children.

Day-to-day dynamics of facial emotion expressions in posttraumatic stress disorder

Facial expressions are an essential component of emotions that may reveal mechanisms maintaining posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most research on emotions in PTSD has relied on self-reports, which only capture subjective affect. The few studies on outward emotion expressions have been hampered by methodological limitations, including low ecological validity and failure to capture the dynamic nature of emotions and symptoms. Our study addresses these limitations with an approach that has not been applied to psychopathology: person-specific models of day-to-day facial emotion expression and PTSD symptom dynamics. We studied a sample of World Trade Center responders (N = 112) with elevated PTSD pathology who recorded a daily video diary and self-reported symptoms for 90 days (8953 videos altogether). Facial expressions were detected from video recordings with a facial emotion recognition model. In data-driven, idiographic network models, most participants (80 %) had at least one, reliable expression-symptom link. Six expression-symptom dynamics were significant for >10 % of the sample. Each of these dynamics had statistically meaningful heterogeneity, with some people's symptoms related to over-expressivity and others to under-expressivity. Our results provide the foundation for a more complete understanding of emotions in PTSD that not only includes subjective feelings but also outward emotion expressions.

The rapid automatized naming of quantities and its associations with the other RAN tasks and arithmetic and reading fluency in grades 3 to 6

This study focused on the numerical serial naming task-rapid automatized naming of quantities (RAN quantities). The first aim was to evaluate the reliability and validity of RAN quantities in the context of the four standard RAN tasks (objects, letters, digits, and colors). The second aim was to examine to what extent RAN quantities is associated with arithmetic and reading fluency. The participants were 713 Finnish children in Grades 3 to 6. The results showed a two-factor structure with alphanumeric and non-alphanumeric factors, suggesting that RAN quantities covers components of both symbolic and semantic aspects of RAN. In addition, RAN quantities was uniquely associated with arithmetic fluency above and beyond RAN digits. Interestingly, an association was also found with reading fluency, even when controlling for RAN digits and objects. The findings suggest that the inclusion of RAN quantities extends the RAN assessment instrument in a meaningful way.

Association of childhood emotional neglect, circulating protein biomarkers, with gastrointestinal disorders among UK biobank participants

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between CEN and GIDs, and elucidated the potential role of circulating protein biomarkers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study utilized UK Biobank data from 156,686 participants, with data collection occurring between March 13, 2006 and October 1, 2010. Participants with GIDs at baseline were excluded from further analysis. CEN data were obtained from the baseline assessments. Differential protein analyses were conducted using OLINK data. GIDs and their subclasses were identified through electronic health records. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to assess the association between CEN and the risk of GIDs, along with sensitivity and multidimensional stratification analyses. Additionally, mediation analysis was performed to explore the role of differential protein biomarkers.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the mild CEN (CENmild) group was associated with a significantly lower risk of various GIDs than the severe CEN (CENsevere) group, including overall GIDs (HR = 0.78,95%CI:0.74-0.81) and peptic ulcers (HR = 0.37,95%CI:0.20-0.68). OLINK differential analysis revealed that APOF expression was significantly higher in the CENmild group compared to the CENsevere group (PAPOF = 7.09E-08,FC = 0.048), whereas other differential protein expression (PBPIFB2 = 8.93E-06,FC = -0.122;PFABP4 = 3.19E-06,FC = -0.101;PGGH = 4.58E-07,FC = -0.054;PLEP = 5.39E-08,FC = -0.195) was significantly lower in the CENsevere group. Cox regression analysis showed that higher APOF expression was associated with a reduced risk of multiple GIDs, while the expression of other differential proteins increased the risk of corresponding GIDs. Mediation analysis indicated that these proteins mediated 0.5 % to 6.7 % of the CEN-GIDs association.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort study, CEN was significantly associated with a higher risk of GIDs in the adulthood, and circulating protein biomarkers partially mediated the associations.

The longitudinal association between family functioning and problematic social media use among Chinese university students: Mediation via loneliness and a subgroup analysis by sex

Globally, problematic social media use (PSMU) is becoming increasingly common among university students. There is, however, a dearth of longitudinal studies investigating family functioning, loneliness, and PSMU. Based on the model of compensatory internet use, this study investigated the hypothesis that loneliness would mediate the longitudinal association between family functioning and PSMU among Chinese university students. It also explored whether there were sex differences in the associations between family functioning, loneliness, and PSMU. A total of 928 university students (45.7% male and 54.3% female; Mage = 20.71 years, SD = 1.21) completed the two-wave surveys. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Chinese 6-item short version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Family APGAR Index were employed to evaluate PSMU, loneliness, and family functioning, respectively. Cross-lagged panel model analysis and multi-group analysis by sex were conducted. The study found that family functioning at T1 negatively predicted loneliness at T2 (β = -0.10, p = 0.001) and PSMU at T2 (β = -0.12, p < 0.001). Loneliness at T1 positively predicted PSMU at T2 (β = 0.13, p < 0.001). Loneliness significantly mediated the longitudinal association between family functioning and PSMU. Significant sex differences were found in the paths from loneliness at T1 to PSMU at T2 and from family functioning at T1 to PSMU at T2, with these associations being stronger in males than in females. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing family communication and emotional cohesion could be effective in reducing both loneliness and PSMU among university students.

Observed relationships between nap practices, executive function, and developmental outcomes in Tunisian childcare centers

The objective of this design was to conduct an observational study comparing anthropometric characteristics, cognitive functions, as well as gross and fine motor skills. The study included 118 preschool-aged children (47 boys, 71 girls) enrolled in childcare centers. They were categorized into two groups based on their nap habits. The nap group comprised 59 children (23 boys, 36 girls), age (mean ​± ​standard deviation) ([3.96 ​± ​0.54] years) who took naps after lunch, while the no-nap group included 59 children (24 boys, 35 girls) age (mean ​± ​standard deviation) ([4.18 ​± ​0.61] years) who remained awake during this period. The results showed that the napping group had significantly higher scores for body mass index (BMI) (p ​< ​0.000 1), height-for-age z score (HAZ) (p ​= ​0.003), and higher BAZ (BMI-for-age z score) scores (p ​< ​0.000 1), compared to the No-nap group. In terms of cognitive function, the study revealed that the napping group had better working memory performance compared to the No-nap group (p ​= ​0.002), but no significant impact on inhibition was observed. The results also showed that taking a nap may improve functional mobility (p ​= ​0.003) and upper body strength (p ​= ​0.026) especially in boys. Future research could investigate the long-term effects of inadequate nap time on children's health and development and also develop and evaluate interventions to improve nap time habits in preschool children.

Burden, stress and depression in caregivers of cirrhosis patients before and after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Family caregivers of cirrhosis patients (CPs) often experience burden, stress, and depression. Investigating whether these conditions improve following the patient undergoing liver transplantation (LT) is crucial, as it would elucidate the comprehensive benefits of the procedure and demonstrate the positive impacts not only on the patients but also on their caregivers and society.

AIM

To compare the levels of burden, stress and depression among family caregivers of cirrhotic and liver transplant patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study evaluated caregivers of CPs and LT recipients at a quaternary Brazilian hospital. Instruments included identification cards, interview scripts, the caregiver burden scale Inventory, Lipp’s Stress Symptom Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition. Psychometric analyses involved confirmatory factor analysis and calculation of McDonald’s omega and composite reliability. Factor scores were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test, with effect size as the rank-biserial correlation coefficient (r). Statistical analysis was performed with R software (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

Seventy-seven CP caregivers and 65 LT recipient caregivers were included. Most were female (CP: 85.7% vs LT: 84.6%) and the patients’ spouses (76.6% vs 63.1%). The median age and caregiving duration were 55.4 (23.3-76.3) vs 54.6 (25.7-82.1) and 3.9 (1-20) vs 8 (1.5-24) years, respectively (P = 0.001). LT caregivers were less likely to be at risk of overload (21.5% vs 49.4%), to be under stress (33.8% vs 36.4%) and to show symptoms of depression (15.4% vs 35.1%). Compared with LT caregivers, CP caregivers had greater median factor scores for burden (general tension, P = 0.012; isolation, P = 0.014; disappointment, P = 0.004), depression (P = 0.008), and stress (P = 0.047), with small to moderate effect sizes. The disappointment (r = 0.240) and depression (r = 0.225) dimensions had the largest effect sizes.

CONCLUSION

Family caregivers of LT recipients are less likely to exhibit symptoms of burden, stress, and depression, suggesting that the benefits of LT extend to the patients’ family members.

Inhibitory control in Bipolar Disorder disclosed by theta band modulation

BACKGROUND

Cognitive inhibition is key to cognitive control in healthy and psychiatric conditions. Bipolar Disorder (BD) individuals display a range of inhibitory deficits and high levels of impulsivity across all stages of the disease, including euthymia.

METHODS

We tested how the inhibition of heuristics in favor of analytical strategies influences the elaboration of sentences with logical quantifiers by means of a sentence-picture matching task in which the processing of quantified sentences containing the logical universal and particular quantifiers was required. Behavioral and brain oscillatory responses were assessed employing EEG recordings.

RESULTS

In Experiment 1, in a group of healthy volunteers, we demonstrated how the presence of a universal quantifier generates an inhibition, characterized by a high cognitive load, which is resolved at the expense of a poorer behavioral performance compared to a lower cognitive load and neutral control task. In Experiment 2, comparing healthy adults and BD patients, EEG time-frequency analysis showed a different modulation of the theta frequency band localized centrally in the medial frontal areas and representative of the different degrees of cognitive control between groups.

LIMITATIONS

Electrophysiological description should be interpreted with caution in light of the high signal-to-noise ratio determined by the complexity of the task.

CONCLUSIONS

Even in euthymia, BD limited availability of resources for cognitive inhibition impacts the functionality of a fronto-parietal cortical network, responsible for cognitive control, and orchestrated by the activity of frontal areas synchronized in theta and beta frequency.

Relationship between anhedonia, separation anxiety, attachment style and suicidality in a large cohort of individuals with mood and anxiety disorders

BACKGROUND

Anhedonia is psychopathological dimension conceptualized as loss of pleasure in several activities. Although typically viewed as a characteristic feature of depressive episodes, anhedonic experience is also seen in other mental disorders. We aimed to investigate the relationship between anhedonia, separation anxiety, and attachment style in a large cohort of outpatients with mood and anxiety disorders, also considering its ties to suicidality.

METHODS

384 consecutively recruited outpatients with mood or anxiety disorders were recruited and assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum-Self Report (MOODS-SR) for anhedonia and suicidality, the Adult Separation Anxiety-Checklist (ASA-27), the Assessment of Adult Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and for Anxiety (HAM-A). Anhedonia score was calculated using eight items of the MOODS-SR encompassing the definition of anhedonia.

RESULTS

84 patients were diagnosed with adult separation anxiety disorder only (A-SAD), 32 patients had separation anxiety disorder only during childhood (C-SAD), 77 had both A-SAD and C-SAD, and 191 had no A-SAD/C-SAD. No differences were found in HAM-A and HAM-D scores between the diagnostic groups. Anhedonia score was significantly worse in the two groups with A-SAD. Regression analyses showed that HAM-D (p < .024), ASA-27 (p < .002) total scores and the ASQ domains of Confidence (p < .001) and Discomfort with Closeness (p < .002) were significant predictors of anhedonia. Anhedonia score (p < .001) and ASA-27 (p < .041) total score were significant predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult separation anxiety is associated with anhedonia and suicide risk in outpatients with mood and anxiety disorders.

Why is rumination unhelpful in adolescents? Two studies examining the causal role of abstract processing

Rumination is a common feature of depression in adolescents and adults and it is implicated in the maintenance of depression symptoms. In adults, the maladaptive consequences of rumination have been attributed to the abstract processing mode that characterises this thinking style. The question of whether the same is true in adolescents remains unanswered. Here we describe two experimental studies in which adolescents were trained to think in a mode either characteristic of or inconsistent with the abstract processing style observed in depressive rumination, and the effect on social problem-solving and negative future thinking was examined. The two experiments employed a similar design. 11-14 year olds scoring in the upper and lower quartile on a measure of depression were trained to engage in an abstract or concrete processing style and then carry out a social problem-solving (Study 1) or future thinking (Study 2) task. Adolescents were worse at social problem-solving and had more negative (but not fewer positive) future thoughts when engaging in abstract processing compared to concrete processing, regardless of their current level of depressive symptoms. The finding remained when controlling for state mood. Our findings suggest there may be value in targeting abstract ruminative processing as an early treatment for depression.

Unique relations of avoidant, emotion, and problem focused coping and suicidality in a sample of sexual and gender minorities

Individuals who identify as a sexual or gender minority experience health related disparities in suicidal ideation, behavior, and attempts. Although past research has demonstrated that specific stressors may be unique to sexual or gender minorities contributing to suicidal ideation (e.g., minority stress), little work has been dedicated to understanding the role specific coping styles play in their associations with suicidal ideation among individuals who identify as a sexual or gender minority. The present study sought to address this gap in research and evaluate the unique associations of avoidant, emotional, and problem focused coping on suicidal ideation after accounting for theoretically relevant covariates. Participants included 372 individuals who identified as either a sexual or gender minority (Mage = 20.76, 83.3 % identified as female, 47.8 % White or Caucasian, 16.1 % Southeast Asian, 7.8 % Black or African American, 7.8 % multi-racial, 7 % other, 4.6 % East Asian, 2.7 % American Indian/ Alaska Native, 0.5 % Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander). Results indicated that avoidant and emotional coping were associated with severity in suicidal ideation and suicidal cognitions, but avoidant coping was the only coping style that statistically significantly predicted greater likelihood of non-zero suicidal ideation/ cognition endorsement. Moreover, problem focused coping was the only style associated with less severe suicidal ideation and cognition. Overall, the present findings are the first to demonstrate unique associations of coping styles with suicidal ideation in the context of individuals who identify as a sexual or gender minority.

Decoding depression: How DLPFC and SMA mediate stress perception's role in mental health?

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common mental disorder that significantly impacts global well-being. Although stress is a major contributor to depression, not all stress leads to depressive outcomes due to differences in stress perception. Understanding the neural mechanisms of stress perception may help identify biomarkers for targeted interventions to alleviate stress-related depression.

METHODS

This study included 113 participants. Each participant completed a Verbal Fluency Task (VFT) while undergoing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor brain activity. Oxyhemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration data were analyzed using Matlab, and PROCESS v4.1 to examine neural mechanisms connecting stress perception and depression.

RESULTS

Correlation analysis showed a significant negative association between depression severity and Oxy-Hb concentration in several brain regions, including the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), bilateral Broca's area (BA), right frontal pole (FP), and right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Mediation and moderation analyses revealed that the bilateral DLPFC serves as a key mediator in the relationship between stress perception and depression, with the supplementary motor area (SMA) acts as a moderator. Functional differentiation was observed, with the left DLPFC and left SMA influencing the effect of nervous on depression, and the right DLPFC and right SMA influencing the effect of uncontrolled on depression.

CONCLUSION

The bilateral DLPFC and SMA play critical roles in mediating and moderating stress perception's impact on depression, suggesting these regions as potential targets for interventions in stress-related depressive disorders.

Associations of family socioeconomic status during childhood with cognitive development in later life in China: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Childhood is a critical period for brain growth and cognitive development, most of the previous research examined the impact of family socioeconomic status (SES) on cognitive functioning primarily focused on middle-aged and older adults. We aimed to examine the association between family SES in childhood and offspring's cognitive performance in later life, and whether the relationship was mediated by parental healthy lifestyle.

METHODS

A total of 5467 children aged 6-15 years were included in 2010 as baseline and 1789 offspring aged 14-23 years who had valid cognitive test scores were investigated in 2018. Multivariable linear regressions were utilized to estimate coefficients and 95 % CI for the association between family SES during childhood and children's cognitive performance in later life. The mediating effects of parental health lifestyle factors were calculated by the mediating model.

RESULTS

Family SES during childhood was significantly associated with offspring's cognitive performance (p < 0.05). Parental partially mediated the association between family SES and cognitive performance (p < 0.05). Girls from upper medium household yearly income families had better cognitive performance (β = 2.64, 95%CI: 0.49-3.36). In the 14-17 years group, household yearly income was positively associated with cognitive performance (β = 1.60, 95%CI: 0.15-3.04).

LIMITATION

The data was obtained through participants' retrospective self-reporting.

CONCLUSION

Higher family SES during childhood may promote offspring's cognitive development in later life. The negative impact of low family SES could be mitigated through interventions and by encouraging parents to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Breaking the cycle: Psychological and social dimensions of pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders

BACKGROUND

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children present with chronic symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation without identifiable structural abnormalities. These disorders are closely linked to gut-brain axis dysfunction, altered gut microbiota, and psychosocial stress, leading to psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues. Understanding this bidirectional relationship is crucial for developing effective, holistic management strategies that address physical and mental health.

AIM

To examine the psychiatric impacts of FGIDs in children, focusing on anxiety and depression and their association with other neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, emphasizing the role of the gut-brain axis, emotional dysregulation, and psychosocial stress. Key mechanisms explored include neurotransmitter dysregulation, microbiota imbalance, central sensitization, heightening stress reactivity, emotional dysregulation, and symptom perception. The review also evaluates the role of family dynamics and coping strategies in exacerbating FGID symptoms and contributing to psychiatric conditions.

METHODS

A narrative review was conducted using 328 studies sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, covering research published over the past 20 years. Inclusion criteria focused on studies examining FGID diagnosis, gut-brain mechanisms, psychiatric comorbidities, and psychosocial factors in pediatric populations. FGIDs commonly affecting children, including functional constipation, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, and cyclic vomiting syndrome, were analyzed concerning their psychological impacts.

RESULTS

The review highlights a strong connection between FGIDs and psychiatric symptoms, mediated by gut-brain axis dysfunction, dysregulated microbiota, and central sensitization. These physiological disruptions increase children’s vulnerability to anxiety and depression, while psychosocial factors - such as chronic stress, early-life trauma, maladaptive family dynamics, and ineffective coping strategies - intensify the cycle of gastrointestinal and emotional distress.

CONCLUSION

Effective management of FGIDs requires a biopsychosocial approach integrating medical, psychological, and dietary interventions. Parental education, early intervention, and multidisciplinary care coordination are critical in mitigating long-term psychological impacts and improving both gastrointestinal and mental health outcomes in children with FGIDs.

Who's Keeping an Eye on the Kids? Changes in Monitoring During Emerging Adulthood

Previous research indicates that parental monitoring protects adolescents from delinquency. While, emerging adults spend increasing amounts of time outside the family setting, they often remain in or return to reside in the parental home, possibly prolonging the period of parental monitoring. We examine whether parental monitoring, differentiating between child disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control, is a protective factor for delinquency for emerging adults. We also examine whether monitoring occurs in educational settings, by the partner or in employment settings, and whether this monitoring is associated with delinquency. We use data from a longitudinal survey of 970 Dutch emerging adults (18-24 years), to examine monitoring, using instruments based on Stattin and Kerr's parental monitoring scale. Results indicate that parental monitoring is not associated with delinquency in emerging adulthood. Furthermore, we find no evidence of the protective role of monitoring in educational settings, by the partner or in employment settings. However, the negative relationship between monitoring of the self, self-control, delinquency during emerging adulthood increases in strength.

Reliable imputation of incomplete crash data for predicting driver injury severity

Traffic crash analyses are frequently challenged by incomplete documentation, particularly in standardised multi-party crash full records. Traditional imputation methods like MICE and KNN, while effective for single-category analyses, fail to address the complex interdependencies inherent in standardised crash records where different types of road user are present. This study introduces a novel graph-based imputation framework that integrates an Inexact Match Bipartite-Graph with Contrastive Learning in a Transformer-GNN architecture, providing a unified solution to handle missing data of various crash types in a complete crash record database. Testing on UK traffic crash records (2018-2022) demonstrates the robust performance of the imputation model, achieving imputation accuracy between 99.24% and 94.74% across missing data rates from 10% to 70%. In the downstream task of classifying the severity of the injury, our imputed data set proved to be highly reliable, achieving a Gmean score of 62.19% to identify levels of imbalanced severity, even under severe missing with a missing rate of 70%. Furthermore, explainable SHAP values demonstrated that data imputation preserved the most important contributing factors. These results validate our framework's effectiveness in maintaining both data integrity and essential relationship structures in standardised crash records, advancing the field of traffic safety analysis through improved imputation methodology.

Intact habit learning in work addiction: Evidence from a probabilistic sequence learning task

Work addiction (WA) is characterized by excessive and compulsive working patterns that detrimentally affect the individual's health and functioning. While prior studies have indicated an overreliance on habit learning in various addictions, this study is the first to examine its role in WA. 104 adults were categorized into low-risk and high-risk groups for WA based on their scores on the Work Addiction Risk Test. We used a probabilistic sequence learning task designed to assess habit learning through the implicit acquisition of structured patterns characterized by alternating sequences. No significant differences were observed between the groups, both in terms of accuracy and reaction time. These findings suggest that individuals with WA exhibit intact habit learning, indicating that the addictive nature of work behavior may not solely stem from habitual processes. This highlights the unique features of WA compared to other addictions, potentially contributing to the relatively better overall functioning observed in affected individuals.

High-level visual processing in the lateral geniculate nucleus revealed using goal-driven deep learning

BACKGROUND

The Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) is an essential contributor to high-level visual processing despite being an early subcortical area in the visual system. Current LGN computational models focus on its basic properties, with less emphasis on its role in high-level vision.

NEW METHOD

We propose a high-level approach for encoding mouse LGN neural responses to natural scenes. This approach employs two deep neural networks (DNNs); namely VGG16 and ResNet50, as goal-driven models. We use these models as tools to better understand visual features encoded in the LGN.

RESULTS

Early layers of the DNNs represent the best LGN models. We also demonstrate that numerosity, as a high-level visual feature, is encoded, along with other visual features, in LGN neural activity. Results demonstrate that intermediate layers are better in representing numerosity compared to early layers. Early layers are better at predicting simple visual features, while intermediate layers are better at predicting more complex features. Finally, we show that an ensemble model of an early and an intermediate layer achieves high neural prediction accuracy and numerosity representation.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S)

Our approach emphasizes the role of analyzing the inner workings of DNNs to demonstrate the representation of a high-level feature such as numerosity in the LGN, as opposed to the common belief about the simplicity of the LGN.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that goal-driven DNNs can be used as high-level vision models of the LGN for neural prediction and as an exploration tool to better understand the role of the LGN.

Outdoor physical activity is more beneficial than indoor physical activity for cognition in young people

BACKGROUND

Substantial evidence demonstrates the beneficial acute effect of physical activity and the outdoor environment independently on cognitive function. However, evidence for their potential synergistic effects remain unknown.

METHODS

Following familiarisation, forty-five children (aged 11-13 years) took part in an identical physical activity session outdoors and indoors; and completed a battery of cognitive tests (Stroop test, Sternberg paradigm, and Flanker task) before, immediately post-, and 45 min post-physical activity.

RESULTS

Following outdoor, compared to indoor, physical activity response time was improved more immediately post-physical activity on the 3-item level of the Sternberg Paradigm (-34 ms vs +14 ms; P = 0.001), at 45 min post-physical activity on the complex level of the Stroop test (-94 ms vs -20 ms; P = 0.002), the 1-item (-9 ms vs +71 ms; P = 0.026) and 3-item level of the Sternberg paradigm (-37 ms vs +69 ms; P < 0.001), and the congruent level of the Flanker test (-44 ms vs -14 ms; P = 0.001). Accuracy was also improved more outdoors (compared to indoors) immediately post-physical activity (+2.0 % vs +0.4 %; P = 0.036) and 45 min post-physical activity (+2.0 % vs +0.1 %; P = 0.043) on the complex level of the Stroop test and on the incongruent level of the Flanker test (no change vs -3 %; P = 0.008).

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to demonstrate superior cognitive benefits of outdoor, compared to indoor, physical activity. The overarching finding of this investigation is that physical activity performed outdoors significantly improves cognitive function more than when performed indoors, suggesting a synergistic effect between physical activity and the outdoor environment.

Cognitive function in physically healthy, unmedicated individuals with major depression: Relationship with depressive symptoms and antidepressant response

We studied cognitive dysfunction in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a sample of healthy, unmedicated individuals without comorbidities. Additionally, we studied the association of cognitive function with response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Our sample consisted of 113 adult MDD participants and 88 matched healthy controls (HC). Sixty-nine of the MDD participants completed 8 weeks of SSRI treatment. All participants completed a cognitive battery assessing processing speed, executive function, and learning and memory at baseline. This was repeated at week 8 for MDD participants. MDD "Responders" were defined as having ≥50 % improvement on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score at week 8 compared to baseline. At baseline, MDD participants performed significantly worse than HC participants on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (p < .001), Stroop color naming (p = .005) and color-word naming (p = .047), and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT) total recall (p = .02), delayed recall (p < .001), and percent retention (p = .01). MDD participants improved significantly on 6 of the cognitive assessments over 8 weeks. However, there were no significant baseline differences between Responders and Non-responders. SSRI Response was associated with improvement only in the HVLT total recall (p = .02). Our results suggest: 1) a differentiated pattern of cognitive dysfunction exists in healthy, unmedicated MDD compared to HCs; 2) baseline cognition does not delineate an SSRI-responsive/-nonresponsive subgroup, and 3) SSRI response is not associated with broad cognitive improvement after 8 weeks when compared to Non-responders, emphasizing unmet therapeutic challenges.

Events-Affect-Personality: A Daily Diary Investigation of the Mediating Effects of Affect on the Events-Personality Relationship

Our 10-day diary investigation anchored in dynamic personality theories, such as Whole Trait Theory examined (a) whether within-person variability in two broad personality traits Extraversion and Neuroticism is consistently predicted by daily events, (b) whether positive and negative affect, respectively partly mediate this relationship and (c) the lagged relationships between events, and next day variations in affect and personality. Results revealed that personality exhibited significant within-person variability, that positive and negative affect partly mediate the relationship between events and personality, affect accounting for up to 60% of the effects of events on personality. Additionally, we identified that event-affect congruency was accountable for larger effects compared to event-affect non-congruency.

Gaze dynamics during natural scene memorization and recognition

Humans can rapidly memorize numerous images, which is surprising considering the limited visual sampling of each image. To enhance the probability of recognition, it is crucial to focus on previously sampled locations most likely to support memory. How does the visuomotor system achieve this? To study this, we analyzed the eye movements of a group of neurotypical observers while they performed a natural scene memorization task. Using comprehensive gaze analysis and computational modeling, we show that observers traded off visual exploration for exploiting information at the most memorable scene locations with repeated viewing. Furthermore, both the explore-exploit trade-off and gaze consistency predicted accurate recognition memory. Finally, false alarms were predicted by confusion of the incoming visual information at fixated locations with previously sampled information from other images. Together, our findings shed light on the symbiotic relationship between attention and memory in facilitating accurate natural scene memory.

Object persistence explains event completion

Our minds consistently distort memories of objects and events. Oftentimes, these distortions serve to transform incoherent memories into coherent ones, as when we misremember partial events as whole ("event completion"). What mechanisms drive these distortions? Whereas extant work shows that representations of causality, continuity, familiarity, physical coherence, or event coherence create memory distortions, we suggest that a simpler and more fundamental mechanism may be at play: object persistence. Merely seeing an object take part in an event can create a persisting memory of its presence throughout that event. In 8 pre-registered experiments (N = 317 adults), participants performed a simple task where they watched an animation, then chose whether or not a frame from the animation contained an object. Participants falsely remembered seeing an object when it was not there (E1). These effects persisted in the absence of causality (E2), continuity (E3), event familiarity (E4), object familiarity (E5), even when the events violated physical laws (E6), and when the events themselves were not coherent (E7). However, the effect disappeared when we abolished object persistence (E8). Thus, object persistence alone creates rich, enduring, and coherent representations of objects and events.

Chronic pain and its association with cognitive decline and brain function abnormalities in older adults: Insights from EEG and neuropsychological assessment

Studies examining the interplay between chronic pain, cognitive function, and functional brain abnormalities in older adults are scarce. To address this gap, we administered a series of neuropsychological tests and recorded electroencephalography (EEG) data during resting-state conditions in 26 older adults with chronic pain (CPOA), 30 pain-free older adults (OA), and 31 younger adults (YA). CPOA demonstrated poorer performance compared to OA on the Stroop test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Digit Span. Both groups of older adults exhibited higher beta activity compared to younger adults, with CPOA displaying particularly elevated beta-2 activity localized in the posterior cingulate cortex compared to OA. Correlational analyses indicated that in CPOA participants, heightened beta activity was linked to decreased performance on the WCST. Conversely, in OA, we observed a positive correlation between beta activity and performance on the WCST. Overall, our findings suggest that the cumulative impact of pain in aging would diminish the effectiveness of the functional compensatory mechanisms that occur during healthy aging, exacerbating cognitive decline.

Influence of binge drinking on the resting state functional connectivity of university Students: A follow-up study

Binge Drinking (BD) is characterized by consuming large amounts of alcohol on one occasion, posing risks to brain function. Nonetheless, it remains the most prevalent consumption pattern among students. Cross-sectional studies have explored the relationship between BD and anomalies in resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC), but the medium/long-term consequences of BD on RS-FC during developmental periods remain relatively unexplored. In this two-year follow-up study, the impact of sustained BD on RS-FC was investigated in 44 college students (16 binge-drinkers) via two fMRI sessions at ages 18-19 and 20-21. Using a seed-to-voxel approach, RS-FC differences were examined in nodes of the main brain functional networks vulnerable to alcohol misuse, according to previous studies. Group differences in RS-FC were observed in four of the explored brain regions. Binge drinkers, compared to the control group, exhibited, at the second assessment, decreased connectivity between the right SFG (executive control network) and right precentral gyrus, the ACC (salience network) and right postcentral gyrus, and the left amygdala (emotional network) and medial frontal gyrus/dorsal ACC. Conversely, binge drinkers showed increased connectivity between the right Nacc (reward network) and four clusters comprising bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG), right middle cingulate cortex, and right MFG extending to SFG. Maintaining a BD pattern during critical neurodevelopmental years impacts RS-FC, indicating mid-to-long-term alterations in functional brain organization. This study provides new insights into the neurotoxic effects of adolescent alcohol misuse, emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies addressing the lasting consequences on brain functional connectivity.

Parental apologies as a potential determinant of adolescents' basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration

Parenting research has documented positive associations between parents' tendency to apologize following their mishaps and indicators of adolescents' healthy development. One mechanism that may account for these benefits is apologies' potential role in restoring the satisfaction of adolescents' basic psychological needs, which may have been frustrated by parents' mishaps. Yet the associations between parental apologies, adolescents' basic needs, and ensuing developmental outcomes have never been studied. Furthermore, how parents phrase their apologies may differently relate to adolescents' basic needs, with victim-centered apologies being more likely to be need-supportive and defensive apologies more likely to be need-thwarting. To address these issues, we recruited 347 mid- to late adolescents and assessed parental apologies as well as adolescents' perceptions of their basic needs at three levels of abstraction (global, situational, and hypothetical) using correlational and experimental methods. At the global level, we also assessed indicators of adolescents' healthy development that were previously linked to parental apologies (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems and prosocial behaviors). Across abstraction levels, parental apologies-whether perceived, coded, or manipulated as presenting more victim-centered elements and fewer defensive elements-tended to be associated with higher needs satisfaction and lower needs frustration. Furthermore, path analysis showed that the relation between parental apologies and adolescents' externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and prosocial behaviors could be fully accounted for by adolescents' perceptions of their basic needs. These results suggest that parental apologies may play a role in adolescents' basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration and, in turn, in their development.

A decade on: Reflecting on the limitations of the first meta-analysis of the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure's (IRAP) criterion validity in the clinical domain

Hussey (in press) recently conducted a detailed critical reanalysis of Vahey, Nicholson and Barnes-Holmes' (2015) meta-analysis. Its stated purpose was to (a) examine the extent to which Vahey et al.'s (2015) meta-analysis contains errors; and (b) to test how computationally reproducible it is by current standards of best practice. Hussey identified a small number of minor numerical errors, but crucially was unable to exactly replicate the original meta-effect of r‾ = .45. Six different variations of the meta-analysis reported by Vahey et al. were used and obtained meta-effects that deviated from the original by Δr‾ = .01-.02. Hussey also reported corresponding 95% credibility intervals that were all of zero width. These discrepancies prompted the present authors to conduct a detailed audit of the original meta-analysis. This revealed one minor transposing error in addition to three identified by Hussey. Once corrected this resulted in a marginally increased Hunter and Schmidt meta-analytic effect of r‾ = .46 without a credibility interval, and a Hedges-Vevea meta-effect of r‾ = .47 with 95% confidence interval (.40, .54). This correction was too small to have any bearing on Vahey et al.'s supplementary analyses regarding publication bias or statistical power. Vahey et al. contained a much lower proportion of transposing errors than is typical of meta-analyses even still (cf. Kadlec, Sainani, & Nimphius, 2023; Lakens et al., 2016; Lakens et al., 2017). Nonetheless, Hussey highlighted important ambiguities about the theoretical and practical meaning of the meta-effect reported by Vahey et al. We clarify our position on these matters in summary, and in so doing explain why we believe that the wider IRAP literature would undoubtedly benefit from increased adoption of contemporary open science standards.

Unique associations among multiple facets of greenspace exposure and emotional and behavioral adjustment in preadolescence: A daily diary study

Research has shown that the frequency, duration, and intensity of greenspace exposure are significantly associated with children's adjustment. However, most studies have examined these facets separately. There is a lack of research that integrates them to offer a more comprehensive understanding of their unique associations with adjustment. This study investigates the unique associations between various facets of greenspace exposure and children's emotional (happiness and emotional problems) and behavioral (helping behavior and direct aggression) adjustment at both the daily and individual levels. The sample included 509 children (235 boys; Mage = 10.58 years, SD = 0.85 years) who completed a 14 days diary on greenspace exposure and adjustment. Multilevel analyses revealed that greenspace exposure (versus nonexposure) was associated with adjustment, and the various facets showed unique associations with adjustment. Specifically, on days when children were exposed to greenspace with more attributes than usual, they reported greater same-day happiness and fewer emotional problems. Compared with children who were exposed to greenspace with fewer attributes, children who were exposed to greenspace with more attributes on average presented greater happiness and more helping behaviors. With respect to duration, on days when children spent more time in greenspace than usual, they reported greater same-day happiness and more helping behaviors. However, frequency was not significantly associated with adjustment at either level. Our findings underscore the importance of enhancing the attributes of greenspace in the construction of child-friendly cities. Practitioners may consider increasing the number of opportunities for children to be exposed to greenspace with rich attributes in greenspace-based intervention programs.

Obesity management in primary care: A joint clinical perspective and expert review from the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) - 2025

Background

This collaboration from the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) examines obesity management from a primary care perspective.

Methods

This joint perspective is based upon scientific evidence, clinical experience of the authors, and peer review by the OMA and ACOFP leadership. The goal is to identify and answer sentinel questions about obesity management from a primary care perspective, utilizing evidence-based publications, and guided by expert clinical experience.

Results

Obesity is a disease that contributes to both biomechanical complications and the most common cardiometabolic abnormalities encountered in primary care. Barriers that impede optimal care of patients with obesity in primary care include failure to recognize obesity as a disease, lack of accurate diagnosis, insufficient access to obesity treatment resources, inadequate training, insufficient time, lack of adequate reimbursement and the adverse impact of bias, stigma, and discrimination.

Conclusions

Family physicians are often the first line of treatment in the healthcare setting. This affords early intervention opportunities to prevent and/or treat overweight and/or obesity. Patient care is enhanced when primary care clinicians recognize the risks and benefits of anti-obesity medications and bariatric procedures, as well as long-term follow-up. Practical tools regarding the 4 pillars of nutrition therapy, physical activity, behavior modification, and medical interventions (anti-obesity medications and bariatric surgery) may assist primary care clinicians improve the health and lives of patients living with obesity.