ICBrainDB: An Integrated Database for Finding Associations between Genetic Factors and EEG Markers of Depressive Disorders

In this study, we collected and systemized diverse information related to depressive and anxiety disorders as the first step on the way to investigate the associations between molecular genetics, electrophysiological, behavioral, and psychological characteristics of people. Keeping that in mind, we developed an internet resource including a database and tools for primary presentation of the collected data of genetic factors, the results of electroencephalography (EEG) tests, and psychological questionnaires. The sample of our study was 1010 people from different regions of Russia. We created the integrated ICBrainDB database that enables users to easily access, download, and further process information about individual behavioral characteristics and psychophysiological responses along with inherited trait data. The data obtained can be useful in training neural networks and in machine learning construction processes in Big Data analysis. We believe that the existence of such a resource will play an important role in the further search for associations of genetic factors and EEG markers of depression.

Effects of an incremental theory of the personality intervention on psychophysiological responses to social stress during the transition to college

This randomized controlled trial (NCT04786496) examined the effects of a preventive intervention based on Incremental Theory of the Personality (ITP) on psychophysiological responses to social stress and evaluated whether levels of depression moderate the intervention effects. The participants, 107 first-year university students, were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: ITP intervention, ITP + a self-affirmation intervention (SA), and a control condition (CC). Indicators of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system, and subjective mood were assessed with the Trier Social Stress Task. Participants in the ITP condition displayed a lower decline in respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA) compared to those in the CC during the first phases of the task [Slopes: -0.08 (0.09) vs -0.21 (0.09), z = 2.86, p = .004] and a higher decrease in cortisol at recovery [β = -0.18 (0.08), z = -2.37, p = .018]. Depressive symptoms moderated the effect of ITP [β = -0.10 (0.05), z = -2.15, p =.032] and ITP+SA [β = -0.09 (0.04), z = -2.06, p =.039] in the decline during stress and recovery in RSA. In participants with low/medium levels of depressive symptoms, both interventions predicted a lower decline during stress [Slopes: -0.06 (0.09) for ITP, -0.17 (.09) for ITP+SA, and -0.26 (0.09) for CC] and higher recovery in RSA [Slopes: 0.18 (0.01) for ITP, 0.24 (0.01) for ITP+SA, and 0.30 (0.01) for CC]. The findings suggest that the ITP intervention has the potential to be an effective preventive intervention to reduce the stress response.

Effects of Hypoxia on Selected Psychophysiological Stress Responses of Military Aircrew

There is a lack of information on the psychophysiological response of pilots under hypoxic conditions. The study of the physiological, psychological, cardiorespiratory, neurological, behavioural, sensory, and cognitive symptoms that may appear during training in hypobaric chambers is essential to optimize the training processes of aircrew members. Thus, the present study is aimed at analyzing the psychophysiological responses of aircrew members in an incremental hypoxia training protocol. Psychophysiological responses of 44 aircrew members (34 males and 10 females) in an incremental hypoxia training protocol (3 minutes at 0 meters, 8 minutes at 5,000 meters, and maximum time at 7500 meters) were measured. Results suggested that the incremental hypoxia training protocol did not affect cortical arousal and handgrip strength; however, it increased the sympathetic tone, perceived stress, perceived effort, and heart rate and decreased forced expiratory volume and blood oxygen saturation. Thus, we concluded that acute hypoxic hypobaric exposure leads to decreased parasympathetic tone, blood oxygen saturation, and maximal spirometry values, without negatively affecting handgrip strength and cortical arousal. This information will lead to find specific training systems that meet the real needs of aircrew.

The Effects of Exercise Order on the Psychophysiological Responses, Physical and Technical Performances of Young Soccer Players: Combined Small-Sided Games and High-Intensity Interval Training

This study aimed to compare the order effects of combined small-sided games (SSGs) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the psychophysiological responses and physical and technical performances of young soccer players. Twenty-four soccer players (aged 14.63 ± 0.71 years) were randomly divided into SSGs + HIIT (n = 12) and HIIT + SSGs (n = 12) for 6 weeks. The SSGs consisted of two 4–16 min rounds of 2, 3, and four-a-side games with 2 min of passive resting, whereas the HIIT consisted of 6–10 min of high-intensity runs at varying intensities (from 90 to 100%). Pre-test and post-test elements included a 5–30 m sprint test, countermovement jump test, zigzag agility test with the ball and without the ball, repeated sprint ability test, speed dribbling ability test, three-corner run test, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1. Both combined training interventions produced similar improvements in physical performance and technical responses (p ≥ 0.05, d values ranging from 0.40 to 1.10). However, the combined HIIT + SSGs training produced meaningfully lower perceived exertion (p = 0.00, d = 2.98) and greater physical enjoyment (p = 0.00, d = 4.28) compared with the SSGs + HIIT intervention. Furthermore, the SSGs + HIIT group showed a higher training load than those from the HIIT + SSGs group for all weeks (p ≤ 0.05, d values ranging from 1.36 to 2.05). The present study’s results might be used by coaches and practitioners to design training programmes for youth soccer players.

The Paradox of Fiction Revisited—Improvised Fictional and Real-Life Social Rejections Evoke Associated and Relatively Similar Psychophysiological Responses

Theatre-based practices, such as improvisation, are frequently applied to simulate everyday social interactions. Although the improvisational context is acknowledged as fictional, realistic emotions may emerge, a phenomenon labelled the ‘paradox of fiction’. This study investigated how manipulating the context (real-life versus fictional) modulates psychophysiological reactivity to social rejection during dyadic interactions. We measured psychophysiological responses elicited during real-life (interview) and fictional (improvisation exercises) social rejections. We analysed the heart rate (HR), skin conductance, facial muscle activity, and electrocortical activity (electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha asymmetry) of student teachers (N = 39) during various social rejections (devaluing, interrupting, nonverbal rejection). All social rejections evoked negative EEG alpha asymmetry, a measure reflecting behavioural withdrawal motivation. Psychophysiological responses during real-life and fictional rejections correlated, and rejection type modified the responses. When comparing responses across all rejection types, facial muscle activity and EEG alpha asymmetry did not differ between real-life and fictional rejections, whereas HR decelerated and skin conductance increased during fictional rejections. These findings demonstrate that regardless of cognitive awareness of fictionality, relatively subtle social rejections elicited psychophysiological reactivity indicating emotional arousal and negative valence. These findings provide novel, biological evidence for the application of theatre-based improvisation to studying experientially everyday social encounters.

Psychological and Psychophysiological Responses to Challenge Variations for Virtual Hand Training in Game-based Smart Rehabilitation System

Background: Maintaining motivation is one of the most important characteristics of rehabilitation strategies for successful treatment. Understanding the underlying mechanism of mental state is helpful for developing new therapeutic methods based on virtual reality and serious game technologies. Objective: The present study aims to develop a cost-benefit game-based hand rehabilitation system and assess the influence on the psychological state of subjects when they interact with a virtual reality environment in different task difficulty levels. Methods: First, we introduced a low-cost smart hand rehabilitation system based on the Leap Motion tracker; then, the experimental study was performed with 20 healthy participants. Their mental states were evoked using interaction with two separate games in four different difficulty levels. Three measures from the SAM self-reported test described as a psychological response to this condition, and also four features were extracted from Photoplethysmogram signal in order to quantify psychophysiological responses of Autonomic Nervous System. Results: Comparison of the different difficulty levels revealed significant changes in arousal and dominance correspond to under challenging and over the challenging condition, respectively. The results of psychophysiological feature analysis showed significant differences only for the standard deviation of intervals between consecutive heartbeats. Conclusion: The developed system is a low-cost smart solution that can be useful for upper limb neurological rehabilitation. Regulating difficulty parameters of the implemented game can be used to influence the motivation of users through rehabilitation procedures. It seems Photoplethysmogram is an appropriate psychophysiological indicator of mental states, but further studies are required.

Reliving emotional memories: Episodic recollection elicits affective psychophysiological responses

Episodic recollection allows people to vividly re-experience past events. The remembered information can then inform and guide behavior in the present, especially in the case of emotional events. One way to fulfill this adaptive memory function might be through psychophysiological responses that signal desirable and undesirable outcomes and thereby motivate behavior. However, it remains unknown whether the recollection of past emotional experiences can indeed re-elicit corresponding affective psychophysiological responses. We addressed this question in two experiments (N1 = 48, N2 = 41). Young adults watched positive, negative, and neutral movie clips. One day later, they were instructed to remember these episodes. To index the psychophysiological expression of positive and negative affect, we measured smiling (zygomaticus major) and frowning (corrugator supercilii) responses, respectively. Results revealed that participants smiled more when remembering positive compared to neutral and negative memories. Moreover, they frowned more when remembering negative compared to positive but not neutral memories. Interestingly, the intensity of smiling or frowning during remembering was not related to the intensity during the original experience. Our results suggest that affective psychophysiological responses might play a crucial role in the adaptive function of episodic memories. Therefore, future studies on emotional episodic memory could benefit from incorporating psychophysiological indices.