Annals of Neurosciences最新文献

Background: Meditation and Yoga practices are being adopted and gaining considerable interest as a tool that prevents the occurrence of numerous ailments. Meditation is well prescribed in several old religious manuscripts and has origins in past Indian practices that encourage emotional and personal well-being. Two different classification tasks were performed. One way to identify the mind state allied with Vipassana meditation and another was to identify the mind state allied with Himalayan Yoga meditation. The tasks were performed for classifying non-meditative and meditative states with varying cut-off frequencies to obtain the best results.

Purpose: This study is mainly focused on how the high-pass cut-off influences the single-trial accuracy of the model. The performance of the model depends on appropriate pre-processing. The results of High-pass Filter (HPF) at different settings were methodically assessed. Although there are many factors on which the accuracy of the model depends, like the HPF, Independent Components Analysis (ICA), model building and the hyperparameter tuning. One important preprocessing step is to effectively choose the filter to improve the classification results.

Methods: Inception Convolutional Gated Recurrent Neural Network (IC-RNN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models were designed and compared to examine the varying effects of HPF.

Results and conclusion: The highest accuracy of 86.19% was attained for IC-RNN, and 99.45% was achieved for CNN model with filter setting at 1 Hz for the Vipassana meditation classification task. The highest accuracy of 88.15% was attained for IC-RNN, and 100% was achieved for CNN model with the same filter setting at 1 Hz for the Himalayan Yoga meditation classification task. HPF at 1 Hz steadily produced good results. Based on the outcomes, the guidelines are suggested for filter settings to increase the performance of the model.

Background: Perinatal mood disorders are being increasingly recognised and may have deleterious outcomes for the mother and offspring, underlining the importance of understanding their pathophysiology. Neurosteroids can alter the excitability of neurons through rapid non-genomic actions. Here, we review the changes in neurosteroids across pregnancy and their impact on maternal mental health.

Summary: Among the neurosteroids, the most studied is allopregnanolone, followed by 5-DHP in pregnancy. Predominantly, allopregnanolone is shown to be increased across pregnancy with a drop in the post-partum levels. With respect to the mood changes in pregnancy and the role of neurosteroids, there are conflicting reports about pregnanolone and its isomers. However, a few studies reported that lower allopregnanolone levels during mid-pregnancy seem to be associated with an increased risk for postpartum depression (PPD).

Key message: Thus, while there are reports that have examined individual neurosteroids across pregnancy, studies with serial measurements that include comprehensively all neurosteroids throughout pregnancy and their temporal relationship to mood are needed. Such studies will pave the way for a better understanding of the neurobiology of mood disorders in pregnancy. Additionally, it will facilitate the development of novel antenatal tests for potential predictive biomarkers, thus improving clinical decision-making, patient management and evolving appropriate preventive lifestyle interventions/therapeutic measures.

Background: Emotional dysregulation is a multidimensional construct, understood as frequent and intense experience of emotions combined with a lack of ability to cope with their occurrence. Adolescence represents a crucial developmental period where emotional dysregulation is being increasingly addressed as an emerging mental health issue, with implications on overall well-being, as well as a potential cause of psychopathology. Mindfulness is the awareness that surfaces through purposefully paying attention to the present moment and nonjudgmentally, exploring the layers of moment-to-moment experiences; Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) emphasise increasing the awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and actions through therapeutic application of Mindfulness techniques. The application of MBIs is conducive to reducing emotional regulation difficulties and has further led to the enhancement of self-regulation of emotions and behaviour.

Summary: This study aims to understand the role of MBIs on emotional dysregulation among adolescents.The methodology comprised of a systematic review of literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The analysis of the literature highlighted that MBIs effectively reduce emotional dysregulation and improve emotional regulation. The findings suggest that MBIs have been found to reduce adolescents' emotional dysregulation and improve emotional regulation, coping skills, as well as neurological functioning, leading to positive outcomes as well as an enhancement of self-regulation of emotions.

Key messages: Emotional dysregulation is a critical concern during adolescence and can lead to mental health challenges.Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) help enhance emotional awareness and self-regulation.Systematic review findings suggest MBIs effectively reduce emotional dysregulation among adolescents.MBIs can serve as a preventative and therapeutic strategy for adolescent mental health.

Background: Suicidal behaviour (SB) is one of the most complex neuropsychiatric conditions, with an etiopathogenesis that remains elusive despite a myriad of studies revealing its multifaceted nature, influenced by various biological, psychological, socioeconomic and cultural factors, usually with complex reciprocal and synergistic interactions. Emerging evidence has recently suggested a potential involvement of pathogens and host-tissue derived microbial species in contributing to SB. This review aims to provide a concise synthesis of clinical evidence focusing on the presence of microbial alterations in subjects with SB and in those exhibiting risk factors for SB, thereby exploring a possible new perspective in suicidology.

Summary: We conducted a surveillance of the literature in the PUBMED database, from its inception to 10 May 2025, to identify associations between infection/microbial alterations with SB and some of its risk factors (by focusing on two pathologic examples of psychiatric and somatic origins, respectively: depression and chronic pain, two often closely related conditions). Major clinical findings were selected and synthesised into a hypothetical framework to support the presence of a microbe-related origin of SB. We found that SB was associated with selected infections, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus. Dysbiosis, including changes in diversity and/or abundance of selected microbial species, in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and other mucosal tissues, was observed in subjects with SB and individuals with psychiatric (depression) and somatic (chronic pain) risk factors of SB.

Key message: Microbial dysbiosis might contribute to SB etiopathogenesis. Further studies in this emerging field of research are expected to provide additional mechanistic insights for an improved understanding, prevention, and therapeutic management of this neuropsychiatric condition.

Background: The phenomenon of anxiety stemming from the absence of a smartphone or mobile device, known as nomophobia, has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary society. This condition is particularly pronounced among young adults and is associated with several adverse psychological outcomes, including depression, anxiety, stress, somatic complaints and anxiety- related disorders.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the prevalence of nomophobia and its psychopathological correlations.

Methods: The study sample comprised N = 200 college/university students and working adults in the age group of 18-25 years. The Nomophobia Scale, developed by Yildirim and Correia (2015), and the short version of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) by Morey (1991) were employed. The research utilised SPSS-26, a quantitative analysis software, and applied descriptive statistics along with Pearson Product-Moment correlation and simple linear regression.

Findings: The results indicated a significant positive correlation between nomophobia and certain subscales of psychological symptoms, such as depression, somatic complaints, anxiety, and anxiety- related disorders. And Nomophobia significantly predicted psychopathologies among young adults.

Background: Adversities during perinatal critical windows act as a major risk factor for several psychopathologies during adolescence and adulthood. Protein malnutrition, infections, neurotoxicant exposure and social stressors are significant adverse factors encountered by neonates born to socio-economically compromised societies.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how the cumulative exposure to multiple perinatal stressors can result in conditions that mimic various neurological disorders in affected individuals later in life. The present study aimed to understand the involvement of microglia, their activation, priming and dystrophy due to multi-hit exposure in severe spatial learning and memory impairments.

Methods: Naïve female Wistar rats (n = 32; 140-150 gm) were divided into control and low protein (LP) groups and fed with 20% and 8% protein diets, respectively, starting from 15 days prior to breeding, followed by mating with healthy males. Pups from both control and LP groups, with their respective mothers, were maintained on their respective diets throughout the experimental regime. Both control and LP F1 Pups were injected intraperitoneally either with deltamethrin (DLT; 0.7 mg/kg body weight) from postnatal day (PND) 1-7 or lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0.3 mg/kg body weight) at PND3 then a booster on PND5 or both in combination on specified days, forming eight groups: Control, Control+DLT, Control+LPS, Control+DLT+LPS, LP, LP+LPS, LP+DLT and LP+DLT+LPS (Multi-hit). Microglial priming was studied using immunohistochemical procedures, and spatial learning and memory were estimated by the Morris water maze test in F1 rats (1, 3, 6 months).

Results: Results revealed that LP F1-treated rats were more susceptible to stressors with reduced brain weight, long-term microglial activation specifying primed states with enhanced expression of CD11b/CR3, MHC-II/OX-6 and ED2.

Conclusion: Multi-hit exposure induced dystrophic changes in a large population of microglia, causing severe learning and memory impairments, suggesting that perinatal multi-hit exposure might become a significant risk factor for developmental disorders in adulthood.

Background: Obesity is a significant global health issue, leading to various physical and psychological complications. Bariatric surgery is considered to be an efficient treatment for obesity, contributing to weight loss and metabolic improvements. While the physical benefits of bariatric procedures are well documented, the psychological effects, particularly gender differences in quality of life and depression post-surgery, remain an area of interest in the Indian context.

Purpose: The study aims to examine the gender changes in QoL and depression among individuals experienced the Surgery BS. It focuses on three surgical procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric Bypass (RYGB), One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). The study hypothesised that gender differences exist in post-surgical QoL outcomes and depression levels.

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional research design is employed to assess the gender differences among 200 post-bariatric surgery patients (100 males, 100 females) who had undergone surgery between 3 and 6 months. The equipment that is utilised is the WHOQoL-BREF and even the BDI-II. Hence, the ANOVA and t-tests are even conducted to examine the differences in gender and variations across the process of surgeries.

Results: The results outlined that there is no significant difference in depression and Qol among the patients of post-bariatric surgery. The findings even demonstrated that no differences in QoL scores among distinct processes of surgeries among both genders. However, the core trend in depression stages is observed in males based on their surgery type, recommending the possible changes in the outcomes across distinct processes.

Conclusion: The results identified no gender-based disparities in QoL and depression following surgery. While RYGB showed slightly higher QoL scores in males while SG exhibited greater levels of depression, these distinctions were not significant. The findings outline the significance of post-operative support for individuals, regardless of type, to enhance mental well-being and QoL.

Background: North Indian classical music ragas evoke distinct emotional responses, shaped by their tonal structures. Prior studies on Western music have shown that minor and major intervals influence affective valence and neural activity, but similar research in the Indian context is limited.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate how increasing minor-to-major intervals (m/M tonal ratios) in North Indian classical music affect cortical sources and emotional responses.

Methods: Thirty healthy participants listened to four ragas-Bilawal (M1), Yaman (M2), Puriya Kalyan (M3), and Todi (M4)-while undergoing EEG recording. Emotional responses were assessed using the GEMS-25 and self-assessment manikin (SAM) scales. The ragas were selected to represent ascending m/M tonal ratios.

Results: Ragas with higher proportions of major intervals (e.g., Bilawal) elicited positive emotions such as joy and calmness, accompanied by widespread cortical activation, particularly in areas associated with emotional processing and musical familiarity. In contrast, ragas with increasing minor intervals (e.g., Todi) induced negative affect such as sadness and tension, with reduced cortical engagement. Raga Todi showed minimal deviation from resting-state EEG, correlating with low arousal and negative valence. EEG analysis revealed heightened activation in areas involved in acoustic processing and the Default Mode Network during Bilawal, which progressively declined across Yaman, Puriya Kalyan, and Todi as the m/M ratio increased.

Conclusion: The minor-to-major tonal ratio significantly modulates emotional and cortical responses in Indian classical music. Increasing minor intervals reduces cortical engagement and evokes negative affective states. These findings not only mirror trends observed in Western music but also highlight the cultural and therapeutic potential of ragas in emotional regulation and mental well-being.

Background: Domestic violence includes pattern of abusive or coercive behaviours that occur over time and typically escalate in severity. These patterns of behaviour are directed to assert power, dominance, control and/or coercion over women in line with patriarchal notions of marriage. Prior literature had profoundly addressed the multi-factor implications of encounters with domestic violence, but the gap persists in the areas of societal victim-blaming and re-victimisation that occur during legal procedures.

Purpose: This research aimed at exploring the psychological impact of societal victim blaming and re-victimisation through legal procedures among domestic violence victims.

Methods: The current study adopted quantitative approach to address the research question. Ex-Post Facto research design was used. A representative sample of 100 women victims was selected through a purposive sampling technique. The dataset was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to arrive at a meaningful conclusion.

Result: Findings of the study reported that significant differences were observed in the victim-blaming attitudes, psychological distress and legal re-victimisation assessed across the age groups and type of abuse endured. Findings also suggested that victim-blaming attitudes legal re-victimisation significantly predicted psychological distress among participants with R ² = 0.117, suggesting a 11.7% variability.

Conclusion: Findings of the study highlighted the catastrophic impact of victim-blaming attitudes and re-victimisation through legal procedures on various mental and psychological outcomes. Hence, this study presses on the importance of addressing the hurdles and psychological repercussions of legal procedures that victim had to encounter.

Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) represent a significant public health concern globally, yet comprehensive prevalence data in India, a nation with 1.4 billion inhabitants, remains scarce. Limited systematic investigations have hindered effective public health planning.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of NDDs within a local Panchayath population in Kottayam, Kerala, employing a community-based methodology.

Methods: A two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted. Phase I involved a door-to-door survey to screen for NDDs, targeting the entire Panchayath population. In Phase II, individuals screened as at-risk underwent detailed clinical assessments. The collected data were analysed to determine the overall and specific prevalence of various NDDs.

Results: The overall prevalence of NDDs in the surveyed population (n = 26,465) after Phase II was 0.80% (1 in 125), with a significantly higher prevalence of 1.38% (1 in 72) in children under 12 years. The prevalence rates of specific disorders included epilepsy (0.38%, 0.50% in children), specific learning disability (0.10%, 0.29% in children), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (0.05%, 0.32% in children), developmental language disorder (0.026%, 0.029% in children), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (0.02%, 0.06% in children).

Conclusion: A key strength of the study was its inclusion of the entire Panchayath population in Phase I, filling a significant gap in the literature on NDD prevalence at the community level in India. As one of the first community-level estimates, it underscores the need for targeted public health strategies, particularly for children. The findings offer crucial data to guide policymakers and public health officials in planning interventions to reduce the burden of NDDs in the region.