Brain Sciences最新文献

Background/objectives: Supporting the mental well-being of students through their educational journey is of vital importance. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between metacognition, personality traits, and various factors affecting mental health in a cohort of physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) students.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved a self-administered questionnaire (distributed in October to November 2020) that gathered demographic information and included six scales measuring personality characteristics, health literacy, self-management skills, exercise habits (benefits and barriers), cognitive thinking, and cognitive deliberateness and impulsivity.

Results: A cohort of 195 PT and OT students participated in the study. The findings revealed significant associations between metacognition and personality, particularly the association between low cognitive self-confidence and high emotional instability. This link suggests that students who struggle with cognitive self-confidence may also experience greater emotional instability, highlighting a need for targeted mental health support. Additionally, health literacy was negatively correlated with anxiety, while metacognition was positively correlated with perceived exercise benefits.

Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of individualized metacognitive approaches to support students' mental well-being. Interventions should focus on strengthening cognitive self-confidence through methods such as resilience training, cognitive restructuring, and mindfulness practices to help manage emotional instability. Furthermore, promoting physical activity, particularly among female students, and incorporating gender-specific strategies could enhance mental health outcomes.

Background/objectives: One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the accumulation of aggregated beta-amyloid (Aβ) protein in the form of senile plaques within brain tissue. Senile plaques contain various post-translational modifications of Aβ, including prevalent isomerization of Asp7 residue. The Asp7 isomer has been shown to exhibit increased neurotoxicity and induce amyloidogenesis in brain tissue of transgenic mice. The toxicity of Aβ peptides may be partly mediated by their structure and morphology. In this respect, in this study we analyzed the structural and aggregation characteristics of the Asp7 isoform of Aβ₄₂ and compared them to those of synthetic Aβ₄₂. We also investigated the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of these peptides, a method often used to induce AD-like symptoms in rodent models.

Methods: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was conducted to compare the morphological and aggregation properties of Aβ₄₂ and Asp7 iso-Aβ₄₂. The effects of i.c.v. stereotaxic administration of the proteins were assessed via behavioral analysis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) estimation in vivo using a scanning ion-conductance microscope with a confocal module.

Results: AFM measurements revealed structural differences between the two peptides, most notably in their soluble toxic oligomeric forms. The i.c.v. administration of Asp7 iso-Aβ₄₂ induced spatial memory deficits in rats and elevated oxidative stress levels in vivo, suggesting a potential of ROS in the pathogenic mechanism of the peptide.

Conclusions: The findings support the further investigation of Asp7 iso-Aβ₄₂ in translational research on AD and suggest its involvement in neurodegenerative processes.

Background/objectives: The dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been associated with various mental disorders. One of the most commonly described parameters of HPA axis functioning is the cortisol awakening response (CAR). To date, few studies have been conducted on the relationship between personality disorders and CAR. The present study aimed to compare the CAR between individuals with personality disorders and healthy controls. Moreover, the study aimed to assess the association of CAR with cognitive biases and psychopathological symptoms in people with personality disorders.

Methods: A total of 43 individuals with personality disorders and 45 healthy controls were enrolled. Participants completed questionnaires measuring the severity of depressive symptoms, anxiety, cognitive biases, and psychotic-like experiences. Cortisol levels were measured in four morning saliva samples: immediately after awakening, and after 15, 30, and 45 min.

Results: A significantly lower CAR was found among individuals with personality disorders, even after adjustment for age, sex, and the level of education. However, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed a relatively low area under the curve (AUC = 0.362). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between the CAR and the level of external attribution bias among individuals with personality disorders. No significant associations of the CAR with psychopathological symptoms and other cognitive biases were observed.

Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate that the HPA axis activity might be altered in personality disorders. However, the clinical utility of this observation needs further studies in larger samples. External attribution might be related to the HPA axis alterations in this population.

Background/objectives: Changes in nuclear morphology, alterations to the nuclear pore complex (NPC), including loss, aggregation, and dysfunction of nucleoporins (Nups), and nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) abnormalities have become hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous RNA sequencing data utilizing knockdown of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) identified enrichment for pathways and changes in RNAs related to nuclear morphology and showed differential expression of key nuclear targets. This suggests that dysfunction of hnRNP A1, which is observed in neurodegenerative diseases, may contribute to abnormalities in nuclear morphology, NPC, and NCT.

Methods: We performed knockdown of hnRNP A1 in Neuro-2A cells, a neuronal cell line, to examine nuclear morphology, NPC, and NCT.

Results: First, we examined nuclear morphology using Lamin B, wherein we observed increased nuclear envelope abnormalities in cells with hnRNP A1 knockdown as compared to control. To quantify changes in Lamin B, we designed and validated an automated computer-based model, which quantitatively confirmed our observations. Next, we investigated the impact of hnRNP A1 knockdown on components of the NPC and NCT. In line with the previous literature, we found changes in Nups, including altered distribution and reduced protein expression, as well as disrupted NCT. Finally, we validated our findings in multiple sclerosis (MS) brains, a disease with a significant neurodegenerative component caused by hnRNP A1 dysfunction, where neuronal nuclear envelope alterations were significantly increased as compared to controls.

Conclusions: Together, these data implicate hnRNP A1 as an important contributor to nuclear morphology, Nup expression and distribution, and NCT and suggest that hnRNP A1 dysfunction may lead to defects in these processes in neurodegenerative diseases.

Background/objectives: Cranioplasty (CP) is the main surgical procedure aiming to repair a morphological defect in the skull. It has been shown that early CP is useful for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to achieve functional recovery, whereas few studies have investigated the clinical effects of ultra-late CP on TBI outcomes.

Methods: Here, we describe the clinical course over 2 years of a TBI patient who underwent CP 19 months after fronto-parietal decompressive craniectomy (DC) of a limited size.

Results: We found that after ultra-late CP, a meaningful functional recovery (cognitive and motor), with emergence from a minimally conscious state and recovery of functional communication, was revealed.

Conclusions: Our preliminary findings contribute to the actual debate on the timing of CP for this neurosurgical procedure's therapeutic success, as early CP has already been shown.

Background/objectives: Internet addiction (IA) and related behaviors, such as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and social media addiction (SMA), have gained increasing research attention. Studies show gender differences, with males more likely to develop gaming-related addictions and females more prone to social media and phubbing behaviors. This study aimed to explore gender differences in Internet addiction and related behaviors in a Spanish sample, with the goal of identifying predictors and gender-specific patterns of IA.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 585 participants (265 male, 320 female) aged 18 to 35 years (M = 22.11, SD = 3.08). Data were collected using standardized questionnaires to assess IA, IGD, SMA, phubbing, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), emotional dysregulation, personality traits, and prosociality. Correlation and regression analyses were used to identify gender-specific predictors of IA.

Results: Males exhibited significantly higher scores for IA and IGD, while females showed higher scores for SMA and the "phone obsession" dimension of phubbing. No significant gender differences were found in the "communication disturbance" dimension of phubbing or in FoMO. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between IA and psychological as well as technological variables. Gender-specific predictors of IA included social media engagement and emotional regulation for females, while gaming behaviors and communication patterns were more relevant for males.

Conclusions: These findings highlight gender differences in IA, suggesting that tailored interventions should address unique online behaviors and emotional regulation challenges in males and females. Future research should refine gender-specific patterns to develop more effective, targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

(1) Background. Neurofeedback has been used in sports since the 1990s, frequently showing positive outcomes in enhancing athletic performance. This systematic review provides an updated analysis of neurofeedback training in sports, evaluating reaction time, cognitive performance, and emotional regulation to address literature gaps and suggest future research directions. (2) Methods. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases for articles published from January 2016 to April 2023. The search included only original articles written in English, resulting in 24 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. (3) Results. The reviewed studies cover a wide range of sports, including golf, basketball, swimming, rifle shooting, football, volleyball, athletics, judo, ice hockey, triathlon, handball, fencing, taekwondo, and darts. They involved athletes of varying experience levels (beginners, professionals, and experts) and utilized neurofeedback training targeting different frequency bands (alpha, beta, theta, and SMR), either individually or in mixed protocols. Findings show improvements in sports and cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and anxiety management. (4) Conclusions. This systematic review supports the effectiveness of neurofeedback in enhancing sports and cognitive performance across various disciplines and experience levels. Notable improvements were observed in technical skills, physical performance parameters, scoring, attention, concentration, reaction time, short-term and working memory, self-regulation, and cognitive anxiety. Future research should standardize protocols, include more diverse samples, and explore long-term effects to further validate these findings.

Objectives: To provide a basis for further research on the molecular mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes-associated mild cognitive impairment (DCI) using two bioinformatics methods to screen key genes involved in the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and type 2 diabetes.

Methods: RNA sequencing data of MCI and normal cognition groups, as well as expression profile and sample information data of clinical characteristic data of GSE63060, which contains 160 MCI samples and 104 normal samples, were downloaded from the GEO database. Hub genes were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, combined with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, was used to verify the genes. Moreover, RNA sequencing and clinical characteristic data for GSE166502 of 13 type 2 diabetes samples and 13 normal controls were downloaded from the GEO database, and the correlation between the screened genes and type 2 diabetes was verified by difference and ROC curve analyses. In addition, we collected clinical biopsies to validate the results.

Results: Based on WGCNA, 10 modules were integrated, and six were correlated with MCI. Six hub genes associated with MCI (TOMM7, SNRPG, COX7C, UQCRQ, RPL31, and RPS24) were identified using the LASSO algorithm. The ROC curve was screened by integrating the GEO database, and revealed COX7C, SNRPG, TOMM7, and RPS24 as key genes in the progression of type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions: COX7C, SNRPG, TOMM7, and RPS24 are involved in MCI and type 2 diabetes progression. Therefore, the molecular mechanisms of these four genes in the development of type 2 diabetes-associated MCI should be studied.

Background/Objectives: Figurative language is a central tool for enriching spoken and written languages, and it is important for building social relationships. Difficulties in figurative language understanding may impair social adjustment. Some studies have found more gaps in the understanding of irony and idioms among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to those of their peers with typical development (TD). To date, no studies have examined the relationship between the ability to understand social situations (as a separate ability) and the ability to understand irony and idioms. The present study examined the roles of theory of mind (ToM) and social situation understanding in the comprehension of idioms and ironic criticism. Methods: The current study included 58 participants aged 8-11, including 28 children with high-functioning ASD and 30 children with TD matched by age, gender, and nonverbal intelligence. All the participants completed a ToM questionnaire that assesses their understanding of others' intentions, as well as a questionnaire pertaining to their comprehension of social situations, ironic criticism, and idioms. Results: TD children outperformed the autistic children in idiom and irony understanding, as well as in ToM and social situation understanding. Understanding social situations and ToM contributed to idiom and irony understanding, with ToM ability uniquely contributing to irony (but not to idiom) understanding. Path analysis revealed that social cognitive abilities mediated the link between group affiliation and vocabulary, affecting figurative language comprehension. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that social cognition skills influence the ability to understand ironic criticism and idioms, mediating the association between vocabulary and figurative language comprehension.

Background/objectives: Co-occurring mental health conditions affect autistic individuals at high rates, impacting their well-being and quality of life. Mental health conditions are often appropriate treatment targets that can improve the lives of autistic individuals. Because of this, there is growing interest in predictors of mental health and behavioral outcomes. Given the rapidly evolving evidence base and growing literature using longitudinal cohorts, it is unclear which predictors of symptoms of anxiety and depression are consistent, and which are not. Additionally, it is difficult to deduce which predictors of mental health symptoms at a given time also predict change over time. This can be partially due to the different statistical approaches that are implemented, including trajectory vs. non-trajectory methodologies.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate how non-trajectory and trajectory analyses inform our knowledge of how symptoms of anxiety and depression change over time. Additionally, we aimed to identify important predictors of change and later anxiety and depressive symptoms in autistic individuals.

Results: There is variability in symptoms of anxiety and depression in autistic individuals. Adaptive skills arose as significant predictors of change and of later symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Peer relationships in school age seem to be particularly important in predicting later symptoms of depression.

Conclusions: This review provides evidence that there are different trajectories and different patterns of mental health symptoms over the lifespan, providing further evidence that autism is a developmental condition that changes over time in different ways for different people. Implications and future directions are further discussed.