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Stevens M, Ní Mhurchú S, Corley E, Egan C, Hallahan B, McDonald C, Donohoe G, Burke T. Uncinate fasciculus microstructural organisation and emotion recognition in schizophrenia: controlling for hit rate bias. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1302916. [PMID: 38566859 PMCID: PMC10985192 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1302916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by functional and structural brain dysconnectivity and disturbances in perception, cognition, emotion, and social functioning. In the present study, we investigated whether the microstructural organisation of the uncinate fasciculus (UF) was associated with emotion recognition (ER) performance. Additionally, we investigated the usefulness of an unbiased hit rate (UHR) score to control for response biases (i.e., participant guessing) during an emotion recognition task (ERT). Methods Fifty-eight individuals diagnosed with SCZ were included. The CANTAB ERT was used to measure social cognition. Specific ROI manual tract segmentation was completed using ExploreDTI and followed the protocol previously outlined by Coad et al. (2020). Results We found that the microstructural organisation of the UF was significantly correlated with physical neglect and ER outcomes. Furthermore, we found that the UHR score was more sensitive to ERT subscale emotion items than the standard HR score. Finally, given the association between childhood trauma (in particular childhood neglect) and social cognition in SCZ, a mediation analysis found evidence that microstructural alterations of the UF mediated an association between childhood trauma and social cognitive performance. Discussion The mediating role of microstructural alterations in the UF on the association between childhood trauma and social cognitive performance suggests that early life adversity impacts both brain development and social cognitive outcomes for people with SCZ. Limitations of the present study include the restricted ability of the tensor model to correctly assess multi-directionality at regions where fibre populations intersect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Stevens
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Síle Ní Mhurchú
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Emma Corley
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ciara Egan
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Brian Hallahan
- Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Galway Neuroscience Centre, College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Colm McDonald
- Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Galway Neuroscience Centre, College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Tom Burke
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging Cognition and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Samson JA, Newkirk TR, Teicher MH. Practitioner Review: Neurobiological consequences of childhood maltreatment - clinical and therapeutic implications for practitioners. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:369-380. [PMID: 37609790 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13883] [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] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment is one of the most important preventable risk factors for a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. Further, when psychiatric disorders emerge in maltreated individuals they typically do so at younger ages, with greater severity, more psychiatric comorbid conditions, and poorer response to established treatments, resulting in a more pernicious course with an increased risk for suicide. Practitioners treating children, adolescents, and young adults with psychiatric disorders will likely encounter the highest prevalence of clients with early-onset maltreatment-associated psychiatric disorders. These may be some of their most challenging cases. METHOD In this report, we explore key validated alterations in brain structure, function, and connectivity associated with exposure to childhood maltreatment as potential mechanisms behind their patients' clinical presentations. RESULTS We then summarize key behavioral presentations likely associated with neurobiological alterations and propose a toolkit of established trauma and skills-based strategies that may help diminish symptoms and foster recovery. We also discuss how some of these alterations may serve as latent vulnerability factors for the possible development of future psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS Research on the neurobiological consequences of childhood adversity provides a vastly enriched biopsychosocial understanding of the developmental origins of health and pathology that will hopefully lead to fundamental advances in clinical psychology and psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A Samson
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Thatcher R Newkirk
- Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Martin H Teicher
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
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Mora Álvarez MG, Hölzel BK, Bremer B, Wilhelm M, Hell E, Tavacioglu EE, Koch K, Torske A. Effects of web-based mindfulness training on psychological outcomes, attention, and neuroplasticity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22635. [PMID: 38114554 PMCID: PMC10730881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48706-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation training (MMT) reliably reduces stress and anxiety while also improving attention. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MMT, stress and anxiety reduction, and its impact upon improvements in attention on the behavioral and neuronal levels. As a second aim, we sought to explore any relationship between MMT, attention, and modified states of mind such as flow. 118 healthy, meditation-naïve, participants were either assigned to a 31-day, web-based, MMT or an active control, health training (HT). Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing the attention network test (ANT) to assess functional and behavioural attentional changes, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess microstructural neuronal changes and completed relevant questionnaires to explore changes in psychological outcomes. Results confirmed a reduction in perceived stress and anxiety levels in the MMT group and significant improvements in the overall reaction time during the ANT, albeit no specific effects on the attentional components were observed. No statistically significant changes were found in the HT group. Interestingly, a significant group-by-time interaction was seen in flow experience. Functional data exhibited an increased activity in the superior frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, and right hippocampus during the alerting condition of the ANT after the MMT; decreased stress and trait anxiety were significantly correlated with the activation in the right hippocampus, and increased flow was also significantly correlated with all the aforementioned areas. DTI data showed increased fractional anisotropy values in the right uncinate fasciculus indicating white matter microarchitecture improvement between the right hippocampus and frontal areas of the brain. This study, therefore, demonstrates the effectiveness of web-based MMT on overall well-being and attentional performance, while also providing insight into the relationship between psychological outcomes, attention, and neuroplastic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Guadalupe Mora Álvarez
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Britta Karen Hölzel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benno Bremer
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Wilhelm
- Center for Psychotherapy Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elena Hell
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ebru Ecem Tavacioglu
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Koch
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Alyssa Torske
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
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Paoletti P, Pellegrino M, Ben-Soussan TD. A Three-Fold Integrated Perspective on Healthy Development: An Opinion Paper. Brain Sci 2023; 13:857. [PMID: 37371337 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060857] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental health and wellbeing are increasingly threatened in the current post-pandemic times, with stress, especially in students, reaching preoccupying levels. In addition, while many educational programs are unidimensional (i.e., lacking integration between physical, emotional and cognitive elements), there are ways to promote physical, social and mental health in children and adolescents. In this opinion paper, we will discuss the importance of an integrative approach for health development and examine relevant factors, such as awareness and emotional intelligence. We will highlight evidence ranging from behavioral to electrophysiological, structural and molecular, and report several recent studies supporting the effectiveness of a holistic approach in supporting wellbeing and creativity in children and adults, and detailing a specific paradigm named the Quadrato Motor Training (QMT). QMT is a specifically structured movement meditation, involving cognitive, motor and affective components. Finally, we will support a holistic view on education, integrating motion, emotion and cognition to develop a person-centered, or in this case student-centered, approach to wellbeing and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizio Paoletti
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation for Development and Communication, 06081 Assisi, Italy
| | - Michele Pellegrino
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation for Development and Communication, 06081 Assisi, Italy
| | - Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation for Development and Communication, 06081 Assisi, Italy
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The cloud of unknowing: Cognitive dedifferentiation in whole-body perceptual deprivation. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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Adinolfi P, Loia F. Intuition as Emergence: Bridging Psychology, Philosophy and Organizational Science. Front Psychol 2022; 12:787428. [PMID: 35185690 PMCID: PMC8850267 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.787428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Accelerating environmental uncertainty and the need to cope with increasingly complex market and social demands, combine to create high value for the intuitive approach to decision-making at the strategic level. Research on intuition suffers from marked fragmentation, due to the existence of disciplinary silos based on diverse, apparently irreconcilable, ontological and epistemological assumptions. Not surprisingly, there is no integrated interdisciplinary framework suitable for a rich account of intuition, contemplating how affect and cognition intertwine in the intuitive process, and how intuition scales up from the individual to collective decision-making. This study contributes to the construction of a broad conceptual framework, suitable for a multi-level account of intuition and for a fruitful dialogue with distant research areas. It critically discusses two mainstream conceptualizations of intuition which claim to be grounded in a cross-disciplinary consensus. Drawing on the complexity paradigm, it then proposes a conceptualization of intuition as emergence. Finally, it explores the theoretical and practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Adinolfi
- Department of Management and Innovation Systems, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Francesca Loia
- Department of Economics, Management and Institutions, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
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