Schmidt, Louis A.Poole, Kristie L.Hassan, RahaWilloughby, Teena...
7页
查看更多>>摘要：Although the mean age of onset of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is during adolescence, we know relatively little about the neurodevelopmental correlates of subsyndromal social anxiety in early adolescence before SAD manifests. Here we examined frontal EEG alpha/delta ratio (a putative proxy of brain maturation) in relation social anxiety symptoms across early adolescence. Resting regional EEG spectral power measures were collected continuously for 4 min (2 min eyes-open, 2 min eyes-closed) in slow (i.e., delta) and fast (i.e., alpha) frequencies at Time 1, and self-reported social anxiety measures were collected concurrently at Time 1 and then prospectively approximately one year later (Time 2) in 103 typically developing 12-to 14-year-olds (46.6% female, M-age = 12.91 years, SDage = 0.81 years). Using a latent class growth curve analysis, stable high and stable low social anxiety classes were derived from the two assessments. Controlling for children's age, sex, and pubertal development, we found that youth in the stable high social anxiety class were more likely to exhibit a relatively lower frontal alpha/delta ratio, reflecting ostensibly less brain maturation relative to youth in the stable low social anxiety class. Results were specific to social anxiety and did not extend to symptoms of generalized anxiety. Findings are discussed in terms of the putative functions of less brain maturation in understanding individual differences in complex human social behavior.
查看更多>>摘要：Fear is a phasic state of apprehension to an imminent threat, whereas anxiety is a more sustained state of expecting a potential threat leading to tension and worry. The NPU-threat test is a laboratory startle paradigm allowing a reliable and valid assessment of both, fear-and anxiety-potentiated reactions. It is suggested to differentiate between anxiety disorders, but little is known on associations with everyday life experiences of cognitive-emotional processes regarding anxiety in non-clinical samples. In the present project, the NPU-threat test was applied in three studies with (1) unselected healthy individuals, (2) participants with extreme manifestations of trait anxiety (low vs. high) and (3) individuals preparing for a high-stakes exam. Self-reported states of emotionality and worry were assessed during a four-day ambulatory assessment (AA). Overall, NPU-threat test measures did not significantly differ between studies, while the AA dependent measures were sufficiently sensitive to capture differences between groups. However, there was no significant association between psychophysiological measures of the NPU-threat test and AA state measures across partic-ipants. In participants recruited for low vs. high trait anxiety we found an association with AA worry and emotionality, but no interaction with potentiated startle. The present findings do not support the idea of a link between our laboratory biomarker and adaptive regulation of cognitive-emotional states in everyday life in healthy individuals. We speculate that an association between laboratory physiological measures and everyday experience of anxious states may be detectable in clinical samples.
查看更多>>摘要：The relationship between intelligence and brain electrical activity has long aroused the interest of many researchers. Quantified EEG and event-related potentials have contributed significantly to the development of this topic.Conversely, movement-related potentials have contributed little for both adults and children. This study analyses possible relationships between intelligence and movement-related potentials. One hundred and ten normally developing boys performed a skilled performance task (SPT) that required adaptive programming, learning proper timing and performance improvement by providing real time knowledge of results and feedback. The EEG was recorded with Ag/AgCl electrodes over Fpz, Cz, Pz, right and left precentral (RPC, LPC), P3 and P4. Intelligence was tested using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-III-R). Linear and multiple linear regressions were used to test the association between intelligence quotients (IQ) and readiness potential or Bereitschaftspotential (BP) and skilled performance positivity (SPP). BP onset was significantly and positively related to verbal IQ, and BP amplitude was significantly related to all three IQs (verbal, performance and full) in all cerebral areas. Children with higher IQ had a greater BP amplitude. SPP latency was significantly and negatively related to age but not to IQ, while SPP amplitude was significantly and negatively related to all three IQs and smaller in children with higher IQ. BP and SPP amplitudes seem to reflect the efficiency of cognitive processes associated with the task.
查看更多>>摘要：Background: Psychophysiological measures of arousal are often considered as potential biomarkers for disruptive behavior disorder (DBD). Nevertheless, the evidence is mixed, possibly reflecting the heterogeneity of DBD and different subtypes of aggression. Additionally, arousal measures of the central nervous system (e.g. electroencephalogram: EEG) are underrepresented compared to peripheral ones (heart rate: HR; skin conductance: SC). Methods: We recorded HR, SC, and EEG (frequency band power at three electrodes Fz, Cz, Pz) in 49 participants with DBD, and 15 typically developing peers during two resting state and an emotional task condition. Group differences were assessed by a repeated measure ANOVA and regression analyses were applied to evaluate subtype-specific patterns.Results: Our results showed higher mean HR activity in DBD participants, which was however driven by medicated participants and no significant group differences were found for SC. Interestingly, a significant group x frequency band interaction emerged for the EEG. DBD youth showed lower alpha activity. Regression analyses showed that higher theta and lower alpha band activity were related to more general aggression scores and higher delta and lower beta activity predicted proactive aggression. Conclusions: The lack of robust and significant differences for peripheral measurements (HR and SC) fits with previous mixed findings for externalizing disorders. Our results suggest that EEG measurements might be more sensitive to detect group differences and higher delta and lower beta activity might represent an index of a proactive subtype of aggression.
Di Stasi, Leandro L.Diaz-Piedra, CarolinaGianfranchi, EvelynCatena, Andres...
11页
查看更多>>摘要：The color-word reverse Stroop (RS) effect still represents an interesting puzzle for cognitive researchers as an interference between incongruent ink colors and the meaning of the words is not always found. Here, we examined whether an unfamiliar and complex visuomotor task would produce a RS effect. Forty inexperienced shooters carried out a simulated shooting task. To test if the RS effect is related to the stimuli processing or to a late processing of the color (early and late time-windows), electroencephalographic global field power (GFP) variations were recorded with a high-impedance system (32 channels configuration in a standard monopolar montage, referenced to FCz and grounded to FPz). The color-word RS effect was reflected in the performance of 32 participants, suggesting that the strength of the association between the target and the specific response requested might be central to the RS interference. This behavioral result was paralleled by GFP modulations in 20 participants. A significant increase of the GFP for the congruent trials (e.g., the word "red" written in red ink) was recorded after stimulus presentation (conflict detection), followed by an increase for the incongruent trials (e.g., the word "red" written in green ink) just before the shooting (conflict resolution). Despite the limitations of the study, such as the inclusion of a low number of channels in the GFP analyses, the results suggest that the RS interference is easily elicited in tasks requiring an unfamiliar response, which supports the strength of association hypothesis. Moreover, as implied by the GFP modulations, the interference might occur early in time, but also in a later stage, closer to the response.
查看更多>>摘要：Slow-gamma (35-45 Hz) phase synchronization and the coupling between slow-gamma and low-frequency theta oscillations (4-8 Hz) are closely related to memory retrieval and cognitive functions. In this pilot study, we assess the Phase Amplitude Coupling (PAC) between theta and slow-gamma oscillatory bands and the quality of synchronization in slow-gamma oscillations using Phase Locking Value (PLV) on EEG data from healthy individuals and patients diagnosed with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) during an oddball olfactory task. Our study indicates noticeable differences between the PLV and PAC values corresponding to olfactory stimulation in the three groups of participants. These differences can help explain the underlying processes involved in these cognitive disorders and the differences between aMCI and AD patients in performing cognitive tasks. Our study also proposes a diagnosis method for aMCI through comparing the brain's response characteristics during olfactory stimulation and rest. Early diagnosis of aMCI can potentially lead to its timely treatment and prevention from progression to AD.
Phan, Liem G.Manzler, Charles A.Gorka, Stephanie M.
7页
查看更多>>摘要：Exaggerated reactivity to threats that are uncertain (U-threat) is a risk factor for problem alcohol use. Data suggest that exaggerated reactivity to U-threat is associated with chronic anxiety and motivation for copingoriented drinking. Not all individuals with high U-threat reactivity engage in excessive drinking and theory and research suggest that individual differences in emotion regulation, particularly frequency and effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal, are potential moderators of this well-established link. The aim of the current study was to test this hypothesis using a multimodal laboratory design. A total of 83 volunteers with depression and/or anxiety completed a well-validated threat sensitivity task and two complimentary assessments of cognitive reappraisal. Threat sensitivity was measured using startle eyeblink potentiation during threat-of-electric shock. Cognitive reappraisal was measured using self-report and estimates of prefrontal cortex activation (PFC; i.e., ventrolateral, dorsolateral and dorsomedial) during instructed reappraisal during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results revealed self-reported and PFC indices of reappraisal were correlated within-subjects. Additionally, self-reported and ventrolateral (vlPFC) activation during reappraisal moderated the association between reactivity to U-threat and problem alcohol use. Across both measures, at low engagement in reappraisal, greater startle reactivity to U-threat was associated with greater problem alcohol use. At high engagement in reappraisal, there was no association between U-threat reactivity and problem alcohol use. Together, the findings reveal that exaggerated reactivity to U-threat may be a particularly robust risk factor for problem alcohol use in the context of impaired or ineffective emotion regulation.
Contreras-Merino, Ana M.Davydov, Dmitry M.Galvez-Sanchez, Carmen M.Reyes del Paso, Gustavo A....
10页
查看更多>>摘要：Fibromyalgia is a long-term pain disorder that has been related to autonomic dysfunctions and reduced cardiovascular reactivity. We aimed to assess the dynamic short-term cardiovascular responses to postural changes in fibromyalgia. Thirty-eight women with fibromyalgia and thirty-six healthy women underwent the "Chronic Pain Autonomic Stress Test". Electrocardiogram, blood pressure and impedance cardiography were continuously recorded during active standing and lying down. Second-by-second values were derived over the first 30 s of each posture. Lower reactivity during the beginning of each position was observed in fibromyalgia sufferers compared to healthy women, with smaller responses seen during stand up in heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and pre-ejection period, and smaller changes during lying down in heart rate, cardiac output and total peripheral resistance. The magnitude of the autonomic adjustments to postural changes was inversely associated with the severity of clinical pain. These findings indicate an early impaired autonomic cardiovascular response to orthostatic and clinostatic challenges in fibromyalgia, suggesting less autonomic flexibility and adaptability to situational demands and challenges. Short-term second-by-second cardiovascular measures may be useful in the clinical assessment of fibromyalgia.
NSTL
Elsevier