Brian Fenech, Sarah Chapman, Haritini Tsangari
et al.
The aim of the present study was to identify psychosocial predictors of future breast screening intentions among Maltese women aged 18–49. Women residing in Malta with no history of breast cancer or prior screening (n = 166) were recruited online and through in-person outreach in early 2025. Measures include demographic variables and constructs from the Extended Health Belief Model (EHBM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Hierarchical logistic regression examined predictors of certain versus uncertain intention to attend screening once eligible. Model fit improved across hierarchical blocks, with the full model producing a Nagelkerke pseudo-R2 of 0.566. Behavioural attitudes emerged as the strongest psychological predictor. Higher perceived benefits were linked with increased uncertainty among women with lower self-efficacy, indicating an interaction effect. The TPB-only model produced a Nagelkerke pseudo-R2 of 0.333 and demonstrated greater predictive specificity than the EHBM. Behavioural attitudes, transport access, and perceived benefits (in interaction with self-efficacy) were key predictors of future screening intentions. Combining TPB and EHBM constructs provided the most comprehensive prediction. Supporting intention formation among pre-eligible women may strengthen future screening uptake and enhance early detection efforts in Malta.
Quantum-like (QL) modeling, one of the outcomes of the quantum information revolution, extends quantum theory methods beyond physics to decision theory and cognitive psychology. While effective in explaining paradoxes in decision making and effects in cognitive psychology, such as conjunction, disjunction, order, and response replicability, it lacks a direct link to neural information processing in the brain. This study bridges neurophysiology, neuropsychology, and cognitive psychology, exploring how oscillatory neuronal networks give rise to QL behaviors. Inspired by the computational power of neuronal oscillations and quantum-inspired computation (QIC), we propose a quantum-theoretical framework for coupling of cognition/decision making and neural oscillations - QL oscillatory cognition. This is a step, may be very small, towards clarification of the relation between mind and matter and the nature of perception and cognition. We formulate four conjectures within QL oscillatory cognition and in principle they can be checked experimentally. But such experimental tests need further theoretical and experimental elaboration. One of the conjectures (Conjecture 4) is on resolution of the binding problem by exploring QL states entanglement generated by the oscillations in a few neuronal networks. Our findings suggest that fundamental cognitive processes align with quantum principles, implying that humanoid AI should process information using quantum-theoretic laws. Quantum-Like AI (QLAI) can be efficiently realized via oscillatory networks performing QIC.
OBJECTIVE This scoping review aims to evaluate recent studies that examine the relationship between dyspareunia and neurophysiologic factors, and to synthesize their results as it pertains to the development and treatment of introital/vulvar dyspareunia and deep dyspareunia DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed (NLM), Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Web of Science (Clarivate), Psycinfo (ProQuest), and Cochrane Library (Wiley) to find peer reviewed studies written in English published in 2000 or later that discussed how neurophysiology is related to dyspareunia. Search terms: dyspareunia; painful intercourse; genito-pelvic pain; penetration disorder; neuropsychology; central nervous system sensitization; neur; central sensitization. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION 1101 studies were screened and 108 were included in the review. Abstract and full text screening were performed by 4 authors. Articles were also excluded if they did not include an objective diagnostic tool or objective treatment outcome of dyspareunia. We included original peer reviewed published research in the form of randomized control trials, cohort studies, case control studies, case series of greater than 20 participants, and systematic reviews. INTEGRATION AND RESULTS Multiple study types were noted: 22 randomized control trials, 9 prospective cohort studies, 3 retrospective cohort studies, 30 case control, 16 case series, 17 cross sectional, and 11 systematic reviews. Of these articles, 72 focused on introital/superficial dyspareunia, 23 focused on deep dyspareunia, and 13 on both. Data was synthesized in text and table format, separating by type of dyspareunia (introital vs deep) and either etiology/diagnosis or treatment. CONCLUSION There are complex neurophysiologic mechanisms that influence both introital and deep dyspareunia, highlighting the roles of peripheral and central sensitization, nerve fiber density, and neuroplasticity in this condition. There are several promising treatments, including TENS, botulinum toxin A, physical therapy, and various multimodal approaches; but further research is needed to establish standardized therapeutic guidelines.
A. Al Awadhi, Daniel Kiss-Bodolay, S. Grannò
et al.
Introduction The preservation of the human self—a fundamental yet underexplored aspect of neurosurgical practice—has gained increasing attention in recent years. Research question How can neural correlates of self-consciousness be identified, monitored, and protected during brain tumor surgery, and how might this reshape the concept of “onco-functional balance”? Material and methods This review synthesizes emerging evidence from neuroimaging, neuropsychology, and intraoperative neurophysiology to build a framework for integrating the concept of self into modern neurosurgical practice. Results We describe the anatomical and functional basis of bodily and cognitive self-awareness, highlighting the roles of interoception, multisensory integration, and higher-order cortical networks such as the medial prefrontal cortex, insula and temporoparietal junction. We outline perioperative tools for clinical assessment, including validated scales for anosognosia and disownership, as well as the Self-Other Voice Discrimination (SOVD) paradigm and Heartbeat-Evoked Potentials (HEPs), which offer quantifiable markers of self-processing. Discussion and conclusion We argue for a reconceptualization of “eloquent” cortex to include regions critical for the preservation of self. As neurosurgery advances toward precision-guided, patient-centered care, protecting the self must become an explicit goal alongside motor, sensory, and language preservation. Future directions include real-time intraoperative monitoring of HEPs, development of functional risk maps for self-related structures, and broader implementation of personalized, neurocognitive surgical planning. Ultimately, this work proposes a shift from an “onco-functional” to an “onco-functional-identity” paradigm—where the integrity of the patient's personality, agency, and awareness becomes a measurable, preservable endpoint of neurosurgical care.
F. Hofstätter, M. Niedermeier, L. K. Rausch
et al.
Aerobic exercise and time restricted feeding (TRF) are common lifestyle interventions to improve and maintain physical fitness and psychological health. How these interventions interact with each other regarding longer-term psychological effects remains to be investigated. The study aimed to examine how TRF might influence effects of an aerobic exercise intervention on perceived exertion and affective responses. Fifty-two participants were randomized into three groups1) TRF whereby training sessions were performed in the fasted state (FG); 2) TRF whereby training sessions were performed after consuming a standardized carbohydrate-based snack (FFG); 3) one exercise only control group (CG). For 8 weeks participants trained 3x/week for 60 min at a heart rate that corresponded to their individual maximum rate of fat oxidation. Parameters of interest were ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), affective valence (FS) and felt arousal (FAS). Data were collected after 15 and 60 minutes each session. Multi-level modelling was used for data analyses. Thirty-six participants were included in the analyses. Factor time led to significant changes in all parameters (p < .001). Significant group differences were found in RPE (F2,570 = 38.43, p < .001), in FS (F2,563 = 7.47, p < .001) and FAS (F2,563 = 8.08, p < .001). No group × time interactions were found in any parameters. Our data suggest that combining daily TRF and aerobic exercise might lead to higher overall RPE scores for FFG only, higher overall FS scores and lower FAS for both fasting groups when compared to CG.
Elyse L. Morin, Erin R. Siebert, Brittany R. Howell
et al.
Early life adverse experiences, including childhood maltreatment, are major risk factors for psychopathology, including anxiety disorders with dysregulated fear responses. Consistent with human studies, maltreatment by the mother (MALT) leads to increased emotional reactivity in rhesus monkey infants. Whether this persists and results in altered emotion regulation, due to enhanced fear learning or impaired utilization of safety signals as shown in human stress-related disorders, is unclear. Here we used a rhesus model of MALT to examine long-term effects on state anxiety and threat/safety learning in 25 adolescents, using a fear conditioning paradigm (AX+/BX-) with acoustic startle amplitude as the peripheral measure. The AX+/BX- paradigm measures baseline startle, fear-potentiated startle, threat/safety cue discrimination, startle attenuation by safety signals, and extinction. Baseline startle was higher in MALT animals, suggesting elevated state anxiety. No differences in threat learning, or threat/safety discrimination were detected. However, MALT animals showed generalized blunted responses to the conditioned threat cue, regardless of the safety cue presence in the transfer test, and took longer to extinguish spontaneously recovered threat. These findings suggest adverse caregiving experiences have long-term impacts on adolescent emotion regulation, including elevated state anxiety and blunted fear conditioning responses, consistent with reports in children with maltreatment exposure.
Jun Zhang,1,&ast; Baoyi Chen,1,&ast; Tengyu Chen,1,&ast; Renjie Lai,1 Zhongkang Ye,1 Zhenpeng Liao,1 Yingxiang Xu,1 Shan Zhu,1 Anni Yang,1 Haiyu Hong1– 3 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China; 2Allergy Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China; 3Sleep Medicine Centre, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Haiyu Hong, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Allergy Center, Sleep Medicine Centre, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 52 of Meihua East Road, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, 519000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-07562528832, Email honghy@mail.sysu.edu.cn Anni Yang, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 52 of Meihua East Road, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, 519000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-07562528832, Email yangann@mail.sysu.edu.cnBackground: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects nearly one billion adults globally and significantly increases cardiovascular and metabolic risks, largely due to insulin resistance (IR). The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a validated, cost-effective surrogate for IR. However, studies report conflicting associations between the TyG index and the presence or severity of OSA, possibly due to confounding factors such as age, gender, and obesity (BMI). This study aimed to clarify the independent TyG–OSA relationship by adjusting for confounders using propensity score matching (PSM).Methods: This cross-sectional study included 394 patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 5 events/hour) and 285 controls (AHI < 5 events/hour). PSM (1:1) balanced groups for age, gender, height, weight, and BMI. Differences in the TyG index between groups and across OSA severity (mild, moderate, severe) were analyzed pre- and post-PSM. Predictive performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results: Pre-PSM, the TyG index was significantly higher in patients with OSA than in controls (p < 0.001) and increased with severity (p < 0.001). Post-PSM (185 matched pairs), the TyG index remained significantly higher in moderate or severe OSA versus matched controls (p < 0.05) but not in mild OSA. ROC analysis demonstrated that PSM reduced the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting any OSA (from 0.709 to 0.628; p < 0.001) but substantially increased the AUC for predicting severe OSA (from 0.752 to 0.843; p < 0.001), improving sensitivity (0.754 to 0.796) and specificity (0.796 to 0.843).Conclusion: This PSM analysis provides robust evidence of an independent association between the TyG index and OSA, particularly in moderate-to-severe cases. The TyG index demonstrates strong predictive value for severe OSA, supporting its utility for risk stratification and monitoring in clinical practice.Keywords: triglyceride-glucose index, retrospective study, insulin resistance, cross-sectional study, propensity score matching, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome
Peripersonal space (PPS) refers to the space immediately surrounding the body, and has been shown over the past half century to be represented by a specialised set of neural mechanisms. Research on PPS has used the full range of methods in neuroscience and psychology, incorporating evidence from neurophysiology [1], experimental psychology [2], neuropsychology [3], neuroimaging [4], and as reviewed by Bertoni and colleagues, computational modelling. As the authors note, computational models have important advantages in forcing researchers to explicitly define the functional properties of the systems they are studying. One main problem with proposing theories without a mathematical formalisation is that they are often ambiguous and hard to compare with other theories. This problem can be avoided with computational models, as formalisation is crucial when modelling. In this way it is easier to identify mathematical equivalencies or errors, and explaining underlying mechanisms [5,6]. This review of computational models of PPS is a timely and welcome addition to the field. This is especially true as computational models are often not easily accessible to researchers working on similar topics using other methods. The authors have made a significant effort to establish organisational principles for the models, which is highly useful for a broad range of researchers, not just those focused on PPS. This approach provides a solid approach to computational modelling and offers a concrete application of Marr ’ s [7] levels-of-analysis framework, which often remains abstract. For researchers working on PPS, it will be highly valuable to have a list of models alongside a framework for interpreting them. Here, we wish to raise some issues relating to the relation between modelling and experimentation, which we believe are important to make the relation between computational models and experimentation on PPS productive and mutually beneficial
Bethany Plakke, Katryna Skye Kevelson, Charles Leyens
et al.
BACKGROUND The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a critical node in the working memory (WM) neural circuit, established through neurophysiology, neuropsychology, and neuroimaging studies in humans and nonhuman primates. While most of the neurophysiological evidence for the role of the DLPFC in WM comes from visuospatial WM paradigms, evidence for its role in auditory WM has been suggested by the fact that large lateral prefrontal cortex lesions in nonhuman primates cause auditory discrimination deficits. Moreover, DLPFC neurons demonstrate task-related neuronal responses during auditory WM. In contrast, other studies have proposed that the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) plays a pivotal role in auditory and audiovisual processing, integration, and mnemonic processing, since VLPFC neurons are responsive to complex acoustic stimuli and are robustly active during auditory WM tasks. Furthermore, inactivation of the VLPFC impairs audiovisual and auditory WM. In these inactivation studies the cortical region that was inactivated by cortical cooling included areas 12/47, 45 and 46 ventral. It is possible that inclusion of area 46 ventral may account for the auditory WM performance deficit previously observed while inactivating VLPFC so further experiments are needed. METHODS In the present study we examined whether transient inactivation of the DLPFC, including areas 46v and 46d, and 9, in rhesus macaques would effect auditory WM. The DLPFC was inactivated by cortical cooling while two rhesus macaques performed an auditory working memory task. This was followed by permanent ibotenic acid lesions and assessment of behavioral performance post-lesion. RESULTS Our experiments demonstrated that inactivation of DLPFC by cortical cooling in two macaques did not result in a significant decrease in performance of an auditory WM task. The inactivation resulted in an increase in dropped gaze events during the latter half of the task, in one subject, which could be due to a loss of attention or motivation. The ibotenic acid lesions of the DLPFC did not significantly alter performance on the auditory WM task. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that DLPFC transient inactivation with cortical cooling and ibotenic acid lesions did not significantly alter overall auditory working memory performance, which differs from the impairment seen when the VLPFC is inactivated. Our data suggest that the DLPFC and VLPFC may play different roles in auditory working memory.
We performed a scientometric analysis of the scientific literature on ADHD to evaluate key themes and trends over the past decades, informing future lines of research. We conducted a systematic search in Web of Science Core Collection up to 15 November, 2021 for scientific publications on ADHD. We retrieved 28,381 publications. We identified four major research trends: 1) ADHD treatment, risks factors and evidence synthesis; 2) neurophysiology, neuropsychology and neuroimaging; 3) genetics; 4) comorbidity. In chronological order, identified clusters of themes included: tricyclic antidepressants, ADHD diagnosis/treatment, bipolar disorder, EEG, polymorphisms, sleep, executive functions, pharmacology, genetics, environmental risk factors, emotional dysregulation, neuroimaging, non-pharmacological interventions, default mode network, Tourette, polygenic risk score, sluggish cognitive tempo, evidence-synthesis, toxins/chemicals, psychoneuroimmunology, Covid-19, and physical exercise. In conclusion, research on ADHD over the past decades has been driven mainly by a medical model. Whereas the neurobiological correlates of ADHD are undeniable and crucial, we look forward to further research on relevant psychosocial aspects related to ADHD, such as societal pressure, the concept of neurodiversity, and stigma.
B. Neves, Victória Ávila Martini, Mayúme de Freitas Fantti
et al.
Neuroeducation is characterized as a subarea of neuroscience that involves comprehending the teaching and learning processes and relating them to neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropsychology. The inclusion of some aspects of the neuroscience of learning in teachers' and students' formation, applying them in teaching-learning environments, contributes to the quality of education and impacts students' quality of life and health. Thus, the POPNEURO outreach program performs interventions with students and teachers of low-income schools to disseminate neuroscience concepts, relating them to the students' daily lives. This study reports the impact of these actions, assessed one year after their conclusion. The results showed that the long-term impact of the activities carried out is, in general, positive. Even one year after the activities end, students demonstrate knowledge about the neuroscience themes and satisfaction with participating.
Monica Vanoncini, Stefanie Hoehl, Birgit Elsner
et al.
The ‘social brain’, consisting of areas sensitive to social information, supposedly gates the mechanisms involved in human language learning. Early preverbal interactions are guided by ostensive signals, such as gaze patterns, which are coordinated across body, brain, and environment. However, little is known about how the infant brain processes social gaze in naturalistic interactions and how this relates to infant language development. During free-play of 9-month-olds with their mothers, we recorded hemodynamic cortical activity of ´social brain` areas (prefrontal cortex, temporo-parietal junctions) via fNIRS, and micro-coded mother’s and infant’s social gaze. Infants’ speech processing was assessed with a word segmentation task. Using joint recurrence quantification analysis, we examined the connection between infants’ ´social brain` activity and the temporal dynamics of social gaze at intrapersonal (i.e., infant’s coordination, maternal coordination) and interpersonal (i.e., dyadic coupling) levels. Regression modeling revealed that intrapersonal dynamics in maternal social gaze (but not infant’s coordination or dyadic coupling) coordinated significantly with infant’s cortical activity. Moreover, recurrence quantification analysis revealed that intrapersonal maternal social gaze dynamics (in terms of entropy) were the best predictor of infants’ word segmentation. The findings support the importance of social interaction in language development, particularly highlighting maternal social gaze dynamics.
Nicholas J. Santopetro, C.J. Brush, Elizabeth M. Mulligan
et al.
The P300 event-related potential (ERP) has been extensively studied across the human lifespan. However, many studies examining age-related effects are cross-sectional, and few have considered the unique role that pubertal development may have on P300 developmental trajectories. The current study examined whether age, pubertal maturation or their interaction predicted changes in P300 amplitude over two years among 129 females between the ages of 8 and 15 years at baseline. Participants completed a flanker task while EEG was recorded at a baseline and two-year follow-up visit. Both baseline age and increased pubertal development were associated with smaller P300 amplitude at follow-up. However, the influence of age was qualified by an interaction between age and pubertal maturation: among younger girls only, increased pubertal development predicted decreases in P300, whereas decreased pubertal development predicted increases in P300. These data indicate that pubertal timing impacts neurodevelopmental changes in P300 amplitude – such that high versus low pubertal development among 8- to 10-year-old girls predicted differential trajectories of neural activity. In light of links between reduced P300 and mental health disorders, such as depression, future studies might examine whether neurodevelopmental changes influenced by early-onset pubertal development could account for increases in these mental health problems.
Meriah L. DeJoseph, Max P. Herzberg, Robin D. Sifre
et al.
The variation in experiences between high and low-socioeconomic status contexts are posited to play a crucial role in shaping the developing brain and may explain differences in child outcomes. Yet, examinations of SES and brain development have largely been limited to distal proxies of these experiences (e.g., income comparisons). The current study sought to disentangle the effects of multiple socioeconomic indices and dimensions of more proximal experiences on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in a sample of 7834 youth (aged 9–10 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. We applied moderated nonlinear factor analysis (MNLFA) to establish measurement invariance among three latent environmental dimensions of experience (material/economic deprivation, caregiver social support, and psychosocial threat). Results revealed measurement biases as a function of child age, sex, racial group, family income, and parental education, which were statistically adjusted in the final MNLFA scores. Mixed-effects models demonstrated that socioeconomic indices and psychosocial threat differentially predicted variation in frontolimbic networks, and threat statistically moderated the association between income and connectivity between the dorsal and ventral attention networks. Findings illuminate the importance of reducing measurement biases to gain a more socioculturally-valid understanding of the complex and nuanced links between socioeconomic context, children’s experiences, and neurodevelopment.