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Liu F, Zhou Y, Hu J. An attention-based approach for assessing the effectiveness of emotion-evoking in immersive environment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25017. [PMID: 38317941 PMCID: PMC10838792 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Visual stimuli within an immersive virtual environment impact human perception and behavior in notably different ways compared to the real world. Previous studies have presented evidence indicating that individuals in various emotional states exhibit an unconscious attentional bias toward either positive or negative stimuli. However, whether these findings can be replicated within an immersive virtual environment remains uncertain. In this study, we devised an attention-based experiment to explore whether the correlation between participants' emotional states and the valence of visual stimuli influences their attentional bias. Participants (n=28) viewed 360-degree videos with varying valence levels (positive and negative) to evoke emotions. Subsequently, we utilized standard emotional human faces as stimuli to assess how the consistency in video valence and emotional faces affects reaction time (RT) in Go tasks and error rates in No-go tasks. We employed the Ex-Gaussian approach to analyze the RT data. The parameters-mu (μ), sigma (σ), and tau (τ)-were computed to denote response speed and attentional lapses, respectively. Our findings revealed a significant increase in tau (τ) when the valence of the video and emotional faces aligned. This suggests that the Go/No-go paradigm is effective in evaluating the impact of emotion-evoking stimuli within an immersive environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
- New York University Shanghai, No. 567, Yangsi West Road, Pudong District, Shanghai, 200122, China
| | - Yihao Zhou
- School of Computer Science and Technology, East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jingyi Hu
- Faculty of Economics and Management, East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
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Gilo I, Biegert C, Segel-Karpas D, Benz A, Meier M, Palgi Y, Pruessner J. Exploring the efficacy of sense of Okayness (SOK) as an antidote for stress in older adults: the role of SOK elevation intervention, heart rate variability (HRV), and cognitive performance in stressful and relaxing situations. Stress 2024; 27:2371145. [PMID: 38992937 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2371145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Sense of Okayness (SOK) is an emerging concept that describes a person's ability to remain stable and unshaken in the face of life transitions and hardships. This quality enables effective stress regulation and heightened tolerance to uncertainty. To investigate the possible role of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) in mediating the relationship between SOK and stress regulation among older individuals, an analytical sample of N = 69 participants (74% women) with a mean age of 78.75 years (SD age = 6.78) was recruited for a standardized cognitive assessment and stress induction. Baseline heart rate variability (HRV), measured via electrocardiogram (ECG), and SOK assessments were conducted prior to stress induction, along with a baseline cognitive evaluation. Subsequently, participants were subjected to a psychosocial stress paradigm, followed by either a 30-minute SOK elevation intervention (n = 40) or a control condition with nature sounds (n = 29). A second cognitive assessment was administered post-intervention, with continuous HRV measurement through ECG. The results revealed significant HRV changes due to the experimental intervention, though no significant differences were observed between the SOK intervention and control groups. Interestingly, individuals with high trait SOK displayed more stable HRV trajectories, exhibiting a smaller decline during the stress intervention and a milder increase during both the stressor and SOK intervention phases. Overall, these findings do suggest a significant association between SOK, parasympathetic activity, and stress reactivity. These results prompt further investigation into whether personality patterns, such as a strong SOK, may be linked to reduced vagal reactivity and better coping in old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itai Gilo
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Constance, Universitätsstraße 10, Constance, Germany
- Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Carla Biegert
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Constance, Universitätsstraße 10, Constance, Germany
| | - Dikla Segel-Karpas
- Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Annika Benz
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Constance, Universitätsstraße 10, Constance, Germany
| | - Maria Meier
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Constance, Universitätsstraße 10, Constance, Germany
| | - Yuval Palgi
- Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jens Pruessner
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Constance, Universitätsstraße 10, Constance, Germany
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Teckchandani TA, Neary JP, Andrews KL, Maguire KQ, Jamshidi L, Nisbet J, Shields RE, Afifi TO, Sauer-Zavala S, Lix LM, Krakauer RL, Asmundson GJG, Krätzig GP, Carleton RN. Cardioautonomic lability assessed by heart rate variability changes in Royal Canadian Mounted Police cadets during the cadet training program. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1144783. [PMID: 37829079 PMCID: PMC10565660 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1144783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The current study examined variations in cardioautonomic lability during the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Cadet Training Program (CTP) between cadets starting their training who did or did not screen positive for one or more mental health disorders (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], major depressive disorder [MDD], social anxiety disorder [SAD], generalized anxiety disorder [GAD], panic disorder [PD], alcohol use disorder [AUD]). Methods Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals integrated into Hexoskin garments were used to record ECG and heart rate Over the 26-week CTP. There were 31 heart rate variability (HRV) parameters calculated using Kubios Premium HRV analysis software. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to perform groupwise comparisons of participant raw values and HRV during the CTP. Results A total of 157 cadets (79% male) were screened for any mental disorder using self-report surveys and then grouped by positive and negative screening. Analyses indicated a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in low frequency (LF): High Frequency (HF) variability during CTP, but only for cadets who endorsed clinically significant anxiety symptoms on the GAD-7 at the start of their training. There were no other statistically significant groupwise differences. Conclusion The results indicate the participants have excellent cardiac health overall and suggest potentially important differences between groups, such that cadets who endorsed clinically significant anxiety symptoms on the GAD-7 showed less variability in the LF:HF ratio over the course of the CTP. The relatively lower variability suggests decreased parasympathetic tone in those without clinically significant anxiety symptoms. The results also have important implications for future investigations of cardioautonomic dysfunction and chronic hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis deviations in policing populations with anxiety disorders; specifically, cardioautonomic inflexibility related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In any case, the current results provide an important baseline for future cardiac research with cadets and serving officers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor A. Teckchandani
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment-Institut Canadien de Recherche et de Traitement en Sécurité Publique (CIPSRT-ICRTSP), University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - J. Patrick Neary
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Katie L. Andrews
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment-Institut Canadien de Recherche et de Traitement en Sécurité Publique (CIPSRT-ICRTSP), University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Kirby Q. Maguire
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment-Institut Canadien de Recherche et de Traitement en Sécurité Publique (CIPSRT-ICRTSP), University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Laleh Jamshidi
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment-Institut Canadien de Recherche et de Traitement en Sécurité Publique (CIPSRT-ICRTSP), University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Jolan Nisbet
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment-Institut Canadien de Recherche et de Traitement en Sécurité Publique (CIPSRT-ICRTSP), University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Robyn E. Shields
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment-Institut Canadien de Recherche et de Traitement en Sécurité Publique (CIPSRT-ICRTSP), University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
- Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Tracie O. Afifi
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Lisa M. Lix
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Rachel L. Krakauer
- Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | - Gordon J. G. Asmundson
- Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
| | | | - R. Nicholas Carleton
- Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment-Institut Canadien de Recherche et de Traitement en Sécurité Publique (CIPSRT-ICRTSP), University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
- Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
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Alam S, Revi GS, Kerick SE, Yang X, Robucci R, Banerjee N, Spangler DP. Anticipatory cardiac deceleration estimates cognitive performance in virtual reality beyond tonic heart period and heart period variability. Biol Psychol 2023; 181:108602. [PMID: 37295768 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anticipatory cardiac deceleration is the lengthening of heart period before an expected event. It appears to reflect preparation that supports rapid action. The current study sought to bolster anticipatory deceleration as a practical and unique estimator of performance efficiency. To this end, we examined relationships between deceleration and virtual reality performance under low and high time pressure. Importantly, we investigated whether deceleration separately estimates performance beyond basal heart period and basal high-frequency heart rate variability (other vagally influenced metrics related to cognition). Thirty participants completed an immersive virtual reality (VR) cognitive performance task across six longitudinal sessions. Anticipatory deceleration and basal heart period/heart period variability were quantified from electrocardiography collected during pre-task anticipatory countdowns and baseline periods, respectively. At the between-person level, we found that greater anticipatory declaration was related to superior accuracy and faster response times (RT). The relation between deceleration and accuracy was stronger under high relative to low time pressure, when good performance requires greater efficiency. Findings for heart period and heart period variability largely converge with the prior literature, but importantly, were statistically separate from deceleration effects on performance. Lastly, deceleration effects were detected using anticipatory periods that are more practical (shorter and more intermittent) than those typically employed. Taken together, findings suggest that anticipatory deceleration is a unique and practical correlate of cognitive-motor efficiency apart from heart period and heart period variability in virtual reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sazedul Alam
- Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gabriela S Revi
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Ryan Robucci
- Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nilanjan Banerjee
- Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Derek P Spangler
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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Yang X, Spangler DP, Jennings JR, Friedman BH. Cardiac timing and threatening stimuli influence response inhibition and ex-Gaussian parameters of reaction time in a Go/No-go task. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14260. [PMID: 36717691 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Sensorimotor responses vary as a function of the cardiac cycle phase. These effects, known as cardiac cycle time effects, have been explained by the inhibition of cardiac afferent signals on information processing. However, the validity of cardiac cycle time effects is challenged by mixed findings. Factors such as current information processing and affective context may modulate cardiac cycle time effects and account for inconsistencies in the literature. The current study examines the influence of cardiac cycle time and threatening stimuli on two aspects of sensorimotor processing, response speed and inhibition. Thirty-four participants (Mage = 19.35 years; 29 female) completed an auditory Go/No-go task in no face, neutral face, and fearful face conditions. Faces were presented at either cardiac diastole or systole. Participants' reaction times (RTs) during Go trials and failures in response inhibition during No-go trials were recorded. The ex-Gaussian model was fit to RT data in each condition deriving the parameters, mu (μ) and tau (τ), that indicate response speed and attentional lapses, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to analyze behavioral data. Results showed that cardiac systole prolonged μ but decreased τ, and that cardiac diastole reduced inhibition errors in the fearful face condition but not in other conditions. These findings indicate that cardiac timing differentially modulates sensory-perceptual and top-down attentional processes and cardiac timing interacts with threatening contexts to influence response inhibition. These results highlight the specificity of cardiac cycle time effects on sensorimotor processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yang
- Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Derek P Spangler
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - J Richard Jennings
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bruce H Friedman
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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Karthan M, Martin R, Holl F, Swoboda W, Kestler HA, Pryss R, Schobel J. Enhancing mHealth data collection applications with sensing capabilities. Front Public Health 2022; 10:926234. [PMID: 36187627 PMCID: PMC9521646 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.926234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Smart mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets have become an important factor for collecting data in complex health scenarios (e.g., psychological studies, medical trials), and are more and more replacing traditional pen-and-paper instruments. However, simply digitizing such instruments does not yet realize the full potential of mobile devices: most modern smartphones have a variety of different sensor technologies (e.g., microphone, GPS data, camera, ...) that can also provide valuable data and potentially valuable insights for the medical purpose or the researcher. In this context, a significant development effort is required to integrate sensing capabilities into (existing) data collection applications. Developers may have to deal with platform-specific peculiarities (e.g., Android vs. iOS) or proprietary sensor data formats, resulting in unnecessary development effort to support researchers with such digital solutions. Therefore, a cross-platform mobile data collection framework has been developed to extend existing data collection applications with sensor capabilities and address the aforementioned challenges in the process. This framework will enable researchers to collect additional information from participants and environment, increasing the amount of data collected and drawing new insights from existing data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Karthan
- DigiHealth Institute, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Neu-Ulm, Germany,Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany,*Correspondence: Maximilian Karthan
| | - Robin Martin
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Felix Holl
- DigiHealth Institute, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Neu-Ulm, Germany,Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Walter Swoboda
- DigiHealth Institute, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Neu-Ulm, Germany
| | - Hans A. Kestler
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Pryss
- Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Schobel
- DigiHealth Institute, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Neu-Ulm, Germany
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Spangler DP, Yang X, Weidler BJ, Thayer JF, McGinley JJ. Unraveling the cognitive correlates of heart rate variability with the drift diffusion model. Int J Psychophysiol 2022; 181:73-84. [PMID: 36029919 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The Neurovisceral Integration Model posits a link between resting vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) and cognitive control. Empirical support for this link is mixed, potentially due to coarse performance metrics such as mean response time (RT). To clarify this issue, we tested the relationships between resting vmHRV and refined estimates of cognitive control- as revealed by the ex-Gaussian model of RT and, to a greater extent, the drift diffusion model (DDM, a computational model of two-choice performance). Participants (N = 174) completed a five-minute resting baseline while ECG was collected followed by a Simon spatial conflict task. The root mean square of successive differences in interbeat intervals was calculated to index resting vmHRV. Resting vmHRV was unrelated to Simon's mean RT and accuracy rates, but was inversely related to the ex-Gaussian parameter reflecting slow RTs (tau); however, this finding was attenuated after adjustment for covariates. High resting vmHRV was related to faster drift rates and slower non-decision times, DDM parameters reflecting goal-directed cognition and sensorimotor processes, respectively. The DDM effects survived covariate adjustment and were specific to incongruent trials (i.e., when cognitive control demands were high). Findings suggest a link between vmHRV and cognitive control vis-a-vis drift rate, and potentially, a link between vmHRV and motoric inhibition vis-a-vis non-decision time. These cognitive correlates would have been missed with reliance on traditional performance. Findings are discussed with respect to the inhibitory processes that promote effective performance in high vmHRV individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek P Spangler
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, United States of America.
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, United States of America
| | - Blaire J Weidler
- Department of Psychology, Towson University, United States of America
| | - Julian F Thayer
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, United States of America; The Ohio State University, Deparatment of Psychology, United States of America
| | - Jared J McGinley
- Department of Psychology, Towson University, United States of America
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