EEG Network Analysis of Depressive Emotion Interference Spatial Cognition Based on a Simulated Robotic Arm Docking Task

Depressive emotion (DE) refers to clinically relevant depressive symptoms without meeting the diagnostic criteria for depression. Studies have demonstrated that DE can cause spatial cognition impairment. However, the brain network mechanisms underlying DE interference spatial cognition remain unclear. This study aimed to reveal the differences in brain network connections between DE and healthy control (HC) groups during resting state and a spatial cognition task. The longer operation time of the DE group during spatial cognition task indicated DE interference spatial cognition. In the resting state stage, the DE group had weaker network connections in theta and alpha bands than the HC group had. Specifically, the electrodes in parietal regions were hubs of the differential networks, which are related to spatial attention. Moreover, in docking task stages, the left frontoparietal network connections in delta, beta, and gamma bands were stronger in the DE group than those of the HC group. The enhanced left frontoparietal connections in the DE group may be related to brain resource reorganization to compensate for spatial cognition decline and ensure the completion of spatial cognition tasks. Thus, these findings might provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of depressive emotion interference spatial cognition.

[The Effects of Supportive Caring on Symptoms Distress, Nursing Needs, and Depression in Patients With Brain Tumor After Surgery: A Preliminary Study]

BACKGROUND

Brain tumors are mainly treated with surgery. However, patients still experience many symptoms and nursing needs due to disease and treatment-related factors that, if not improved in a timely manner, may result in depression.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of supportive caring on symptom distress, nursing needs, and depressive symptoms in patients with brain tumor after surgery.

METHODS

This study adopted a two-group, pre- and post-test experimental design. The enrolled participants were randomized into two groups. Those in the experimental group received a phone-based supportive caring intervention twice at 1 and 3 months after surgery. Those in the control group received usual discharge care. The measurement outcomes included a supportive care needs survey, symptom distress scales, and the center for epidemiological studies of depression. Baseline data was collected prior to hospital discharge (T0), with follow-up data collected at one month (T1), three months (T2), and six months (T3) after surgery.

RESULTS

The results of the generalized estimating equation analysis showed that nursing needs in the experimental group at T1 (β = -23.61, p < .001), T2 (β = -22.51, p < .001), and T3 (β = -22.26, p < .001) were significant lower than in the control group. Also, symptom distress in the experimental group at T1 (β = -7.03, p = .019) and T2 (β = -8.39, p = .003) was significantly lower than in the control group. However, depressive symptoms in the experimental group were lower than in the control group only at T2 (β = -8.55, p = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study confirm that supportive care helps improve nursing needs, symptoms distress, and depressive symptoms in patients with brain tumor after surgery. Medical team members should pay attention to these issues following surgery.