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Forte G, Troisi G, Favieri F, Casagrande M. Inhibition changes across the lifespan: experimental evidence from the Stroop task. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:336. [PMID: 38849952 PMCID: PMC11162033 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01844-0] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals constantly exert inhibitory control over their thoughts and behaviors to plan actions that compete with habits and impulses. Cognitive inhibition enhances the selection of task-relevant stimuli and is closely related to neural changes that occur across the lifespan. Since few studies have focused on the entire lifespan, this study aimed to assess cognitive inhibition abilities in a sample of 425 healthy participants (age range: 7-88 years) using the Stroop task. The participants were grouped according to age into children, adolescents, young adults, adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. A series of ANOVAs considered Group as the independent variable and Performance indices as the dependent variables. The children did not show an interference effect (Stroop effect), likely due to the lack of an automated reading process as a consequence of ongoing brain maturation. Adolescents and young adults performed significantly faster than older adults did. The results indicate that response speed reaches its peak during adolescence and young adulthood and then slightly decreases until older age. Nevertheless, when compared with the other groups, only older adults showed significant differences in the Stroop effect, suggesting that inhibitory abilities remain relatively consistent throughout adulthood but rapidly worsen in recent years due to the physiological decline in cognitive and brain functioning associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Forte
- Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Troisi
- Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Favieri
- Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Casagrande
- Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Caamaño-Navarrete F, Arriagada-Hernández C, Fuentes-Vilugrón G, Jara-Tomckowiack L, Levin-Catrilao A, del Val Martín P, Muñoz-Troncoso F, Delgado-Floody P. Healthy Lifestyle Related to Executive Functions in Chilean University Students: A Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1022. [PMID: 38786435 PMCID: PMC11121206 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12101022] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A negative lifestyle is reported to be related to cognitive problems. However, there is little information about this in relation to university students. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between executive functions (EFs) and lifestyle parameters (i.e., physical activity (PA), sleep duration, screen time (ST), and food habits) among Chilean university students. METHODS This cross-sectional study included a total of 150 university students (94 females and 56 males, aged 21.28 ± 3.15 and 22.18 ± 2.90 years, respectively). Cognitive outcomes were measured using the CogniFit assessment battery. Lifestyle was measured through validated questionnaires. RESULTS Across the total sample, attention exhibited a positive association with PA h/week (β: 24.34 95% CI: 12.46 to 36.22, p = 0.001). Additionally, coordination was positively associated with PA h/week (β: 15.06 95% CI: 0.62 to 29.50, p < 0.041). PA h/week was positively linked with reasoning (β: 20.34 95% CI: 4.52 to 36.17, p = 0.012) and perception (β: 13.81 95% CI: 4.14 to 23.49, p = 0.005). Moreover, PA h/week was significantly linked to memory (β: 23.01 95% CI: 7.62 to 38.40, p = 0.004). In terms of the EFs, PA h/week showed a positive association with cognitive flexibility (β: 45.60 95% CI: 23.22 to 67.69, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, lifestyle (PA h/week) was positively associated with EFs. Therefore, an increase in PA levels among these students should be a target for community- and university-based interventions in order to promote cognitive development such as attention, coordination, reasoning, perception, memory, and cognitive flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.); (G.F.-V.)
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
| | - Carlos Arriagada-Hernández
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.); (G.F.-V.)
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
| | - Gerardo Fuentes-Vilugrón
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.); (G.F.-V.)
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
| | - Lorena Jara-Tomckowiack
- Collaborative Research Group for School Development (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile;
- Faculty of Education, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Alvaro Levin-Catrilao
- Doctoral Programme in Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Pablo del Val Martín
- Chilean Observatory of Physical Education and School Sport, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Las Condes, Santiago 7550000, Chile;
| | - Flavio Muñoz-Troncoso
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Arts, Universidad Mayor, Temuco 4780000, Chile;
- Department of Psychology and Anthropology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Pedro Delgado-Floody
- Department of Physical Education, Sport and Recreation, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
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Zanini L, Picano C, Spitoni GF. The Iowa Gambling Task: Men and Women Perform Differently. A Meta-analysis. Neuropsychol Rev 2024:10.1007/s11065-024-09637-3. [PMID: 38462590 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-024-09637-3] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was designed to assess decision-making under conditions of complexity and uncertainty; it is currently one of the most widely used tests to assess decision-making in both experimental and clinical settings. In the original version of the task, participants are given a loan of play money and four decks of cards and are asked to maximize profits. Although any single card unpredictably yields wins/losses, variations in frequency and size of gains/losses ultimately make two decks more advantageous in the long term. Several studies have previously suggested that there may be a sex-related difference in IGT performance. Thus, the present study aimed to explore and quantify sex differences in IGT performance by pooling the results of 110 studies. The meta-analysis revealed that males tend to perform better than females on the classic 100-trial IGT (UMD = 3.381; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the significant heterogeneity observed suggests high variability in the results obtained by individual studies. Results were not affected by publication bias or other moderators. Factors that may contribute to differences in male and female performance are discussed, such as functional sex-related asymmetries in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, as well as differences in sensitivity to wins/losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Zanini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 1, Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Picano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Grazia Fernanda Spitoni
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli, 1, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Forte G, Troisi G, Favieri F, De Pascalis V, Langher V, Casagrande M. Inhibition and Heart Rate Variability in Experimentally Induced Pain. J Pain Res 2023; 16:3239-3249. [PMID: 37790193 PMCID: PMC10542212 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s418238] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pain is a complex experience that requires executive functions (EFs) to be processed. The autonomic outcome of the neural networks involved in the cognitive evaluation of pain is reflected by heart rate variability (HRV), an index of self-regulation abilities. Although some results suggest a relationship between HRV, EFs, and pain, studies focusing on this three-way relationship are still scarce. Objective This study aims to investigate the relationship between pain, cognitive, and autonomic mechanisms, hypothesizing an association between resting HRV and both cognitive and motor inhibition as indices of executive functioning. This relationship was investigated after an experimental-induced pain. Methods Seventy-six young adults were exposed to the Cold Pressure Arm Warp to induce experimental pain. HRV was collected, and cognitive tasks were administered to assess executive performance. Results The results showed that (1) HRV indices significantly increased during pain stimulation, (2) cognitive inhibition was positively correlated with vagal indices and with pain parameters, (3) both inhibition tasks significantly predicted pain threshold while the performance on the Stroop Task predicted pain tolerance. Conclusion Results suggest a three-way relationship. Further research would focus on the role of HRV and cognitive strategies in pain management in chronic pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Forte
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Giovanna Troisi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Francesca Favieri
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Viviana Langher
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Maria Casagrande
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
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Zahar S, De Longis E, Hudry J. Revealing the Acute Effects of Dietary Components on Mood and Cognition: The Role of Autonomic Nervous System Responses. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1177. [PMID: 37626533 PMCID: PMC10452653 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13081177] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing body of literature suggests dietary components can support mood and cognitive function through the impact of their bioactive or sensorial properties on neural pathways. Of interest, objective measures of the autonomic nervous system-such as those regulating bodily functions related to heartbeat and sweating-can be used to assess the acute effects of dietary components on mood and cognitive function. Technological advancements in the development of portable and wearable devices have made it possible to collect autonomic responses in real-world settings, creating an opportunity to study how the intake of dietary components impacts mood and cognitive function at an individual level, day-to-day. In this paper, we aimed to review the use of autonomic nervous system responses such as heart rate or skin galvanic response to investigate the acute effects of dietary components on mood and cognitive performance in healthy adult populations. In addition to examining the existing methodologies, we also propose new state-of-the-art techniques that use autonomic nervous system responses to detect changes in proxy patterns for the automatic detection of stress, alertness, and cognitive performance. These methodologies have potential applications for home-based nutrition interventions and personalized nutrition, enabling individuals to recognize the specific dietary components that impact their mental and cognitive health and tailor their nutrition accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sélima Zahar
- Brain Health Department, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland; (E.D.L.); (J.H.)
- Center for Neuroprosthetics, Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne (EPFL), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Evelina De Longis
- Brain Health Department, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland; (E.D.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Julie Hudry
- Brain Health Department, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland; (E.D.L.); (J.H.)
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Souissi S, Chamari K, Bellaj T. Assessment of executive functions in school-aged children: A narrative review. Front Psychol 2022; 13:991699. [PMID: 36405195 PMCID: PMC9674032 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.991699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In the past three decades, there has been increasing interest in assessing children's Executive Functions (EF). However, studies on the conceptualization and operationalization of this construct are incongruent and guidance for clinicians and researchers aiming to assess EF is insufficient due to measurement variability. Aims The purpose of this article was to examine current theories and models of EF in children, identify their assessment instruments, issues, and challenges, and discuss their impact on children's cognitive, behavioral, social and/or emotional development. Methods This narrative review reflected on English and French scholarly articles on EF assessment in children. References were identified through searches of PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and APA PsychNet throughout the last two decades up to June 2022. Results There are commonalities despite divergence in the definition and operationalization of EF. Assessment of EF requires psychometric tests as well as rating scales that must be integrated and interpreted considering the child's biological makeup, environmental background, and cultural specificities. Conclusion Current EF theories, assessment tools, issues, and challenges were discussed in addition to the impact of their components' dysfunctions on children's development. Further studies should be conducted to develop new measurement methods and technologies to improve the ecological and ethological validity of youth assessment, treatment, and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofiane Souissi
- Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Doha, Qatar
- Psychology Laboratory, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tunis, Tunis University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Karim Chamari
- Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Biological Sciences, ISSEP Ksar-Said, La Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Tarek Bellaj
- Psychology Program, Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Muacevic A, Adler JR. Prevalence of Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2022; 14:e30539. [PMID: 36415391 PMCID: PMC9675942 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of obesity has grown significantly worldwide. It is considered a major cardiovascular risk factor among type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. OBJECTIVES The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of obesity in patients with T2DM at King Fahd University Hospital (KFUH), Al-Khobar, and to assess the relationship between T2DM and cardiovascular risk factors with body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR). METHODS A retrospective, cross-sectional study, included T2DM patients from the Internal Medicine department at KFHU. The investigators recorded patient demographics (age and gender), weight (kg), height (cm), body mass index (Kg/m2), waist and hip circumference (cm), smoking status, physical activity, blood pressure measurements (mmHg) and laboratory results of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile. RESULTS Among 346 patients, the prevalence of obesity and overweight was 62.4% and 27.2%, respectively. The relationship between BMI and demographic data including age and gender was statistically significant (P<0.05). The correlation between the BMI with cardiovascular risk factors including smoking, physical activity and WHR found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Our study showed that obesity and overweight affect 89.6% of patients with T2DM. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration weight control strategies to effectively manage diabetic patients.
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