Affective Learning and Psychophysiological Reactivity in Dementia Patients

We examined the association of faces with biographical information that varied in emotional content in patients with Alzheimer's disease and a healthy control group. During two experimental sessions, participants rated neutral male faces on dimensions of hedonic valence and emotional arousal, later paired with fictitious biographical information. Both groups changed their ratings of the faces according to the biographical content. Free recall and recognition were tested in the second session. Patients neither recalled the biographical information nor recognized the faces, whereas the controls did. In addition, psychophysiological measures were taken in response to the face stimuli. Patients showed significant heart rate modulation as a function of their emotion ratings, whereas the controls did not. No correlation of rating changes with skin conductance was found in any group. Results suggest that psychophysiological reactions such as heart rate changes may indicate preserved affective associative learning in dementia patients despite impaired explicit memory.

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Accurate Judgment by Dementia Patients of Neutral Faces with Respect to Trustworthiness and Valence

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000001 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 33-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andreas Blessing ◽

Jacqueline Zöllig ◽

Gerhard Dammann ◽

Mike Martin

Keyword(s):

Rating Scales ◽

Verbal Material ◽

Healthy Control Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Dementia Patients ◽

Accurate Judgment ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Face Stimuli ◽

Valence And Arousal ◽

Unfamiliar Faces

The present study investigates whether dementia patients can make accurate social and affective judgments of face stimuli. We used verbal material as a control condition to see whether dementia patients are capable of using the rating scales the same way as controls. We compared the trustworthiness, valence, and arousal ratings of dementia patients with those from a healthy control group. Participants rated pictures of young and old, female and male neutral faces and two fictitious biographies. The results indicate that dementia patients make accurate judgments of unfamiliar faces with respect to trustworthiness and valence. Results concerning arousal ratings suggest that the corresponding scale might be difficult to use for dementia patients and possibly for older participants as well.

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Evaluative Conditioning with Facial Stimuli in Dementia Patients

Journal of Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽

10.1155/2013/854643 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Andreas Blessing ◽

Jacqueline Zöllig ◽

Roland Weierstall ◽

Gerhard Dammann ◽

Mike Martin

Keyword(s):

Random Order ◽

Evaluative Conditioning ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Conditioning Paradigm ◽

Facial Stimuli ◽

Dementia Patients ◽

Before And After ◽

Rating Changes ◽

Unfamiliar Faces

We present results of a study investigating evaluative learning in dementia patients with a classic evaluative conditioning paradigm. Picture pairs of three unfamiliar faces with liked, disliked, or neutral faces, that were rated prior to the presentation, were presented 10 times each to a group of dementia patients (N = 15) and healthy controls (N = 14) in random order. Valence ratings of all faces were assessed before and after presentation. In contrast to controls, dementia patients changed their valence ratings of unfamiliar faces according to their pairing with either a liked or disliked face, although they were not able to explicitly assign the picture pairs after the presentation. Our finding suggests preserved evaluative conditioning in dementia patients. However, the result has to be considered preliminary, as it is unclear which factors prevented the predicted rating changes in the expected direction in the control group.

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Biofeedback as an intervention for persistent post-concussive symptoms: A randomized feasibility trial

Journal of Concussion ◽

10.1177/20597002211046459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 205970022110464

Author(s):

Marquise M Bonn ◽

Liliana Alvarez ◽

Laura Graham ◽

James W Thompson ◽

James P Dickey

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Biofeedback Training ◽

Feasibility Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Low Resolution ◽

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback ◽

Electromagnetic Tomography ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Study Intervention

Background Case reports indicate that low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback and heart rate variability biofeedback may improve physiological functioning in individuals with persistent post-concussive symptoms. However, it is unclear whether larger-scale studies are feasible. Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of a combined low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback and heart rate variability biofeedback intervention for individuals with persistent post-concussive symptoms. Methods Individuals with persistent post-concussive symptoms were randomized into intervention and control groups, and their baseline and post-test assessments were compared to a healthy control group. Outcomes included self-report questionnaires, resting electroencephalograph and electrocardiograph recordings, and a driving simulation task. Participants in the intervention group completed three 20 min low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback sessions per week and at-home heart rate variability biofeedback training every morning and night for 8 weeks. Feasibility was evaluated according to recruitment capability and sample characteristics, data collection procedures, suitability of the intervention and study procedures, management and implementation of the study intervention, and preliminary participant responses to the intervention. Results Thirty-three individuals were recruited and 24 completed this study (seven intervention participants, nine persistent post-concussive symptoms control participants, and eight healthy control participants). One-quarter of participants (four intervention participants and three persistent post-concussive symptoms control participants) experienced simulator sickness during the driving simulator task and had to withdraw from the study. Intervention participants had an 88% and 86% compliance rate for the low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback and heart rate variability biofeedback sessions, respectively. Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback sessions took approximately 1 h to complete per participant. Preliminary analysis indicated that the intervention reduced electroencephalograph z-score deviation with a very large effect size ( d = 1.36) compared to the other study groups. Conclusions Pilot studies evaluating the efficacy of low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback and heart rate variability biofeedback should be performed to confirm these preliminary findings. However, the protocol should be modified to reduce participant fatigue and withdrawal. This trial was registered with Clinicialtrials.gov (NCT03338036; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03338036?term=03338036&draw=2&rank=1 ).

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Sexual preference for prepubescent children is associated with enhanced processing of child faces in juveniles

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1007/s00787-020-01684-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lara Speer ◽

Miriam Schuler ◽

Julian Keil ◽

James K. Moran ◽

Pierre Pantazidis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Interest ◽

Attention Capture ◽

Sexual Preference ◽

Control Group ◽

Neural Responses ◽

Brain Responses ◽

Neuroscience Research ◽

The Face ◽

Socioeconomic Burden ◽

Face Stimuli

AbstractChild sexual abuse offences (CSOs) represent a severe ethical and socioeconomic burden for society. Juveniles with a sexual preference for prepubescent children (PP) commit a large percentage of CSOs, but have been widely neglected in neuroscience research. Aberrant neural responses to face stimuli have been observed in men with pedophilic interest. Thus far, it is unknown whether such aberrations exist already in PP. A passive face-viewing paradigm, including the presentation of child and adult faces, was deployed and high-density electroencephalography data were recorded. The study group comprised 25 PP and the control group involved 22 juveniles with age-adequate sexual preference. Attractiveness ratings and evoked brain responses were obtained for the face stimuli. An aberrant pattern of attractiveness ratings for child vs. adult faces was found in the PP group. Moreover, elevated occipital P1 amplitudes were observed for adult vs. child faces in both groups. At longer latency (340–426 ms), a stronger negative deflection to child vs. adult faces, which was source localized in higher visual, parietal and frontal regions, was specifically observed in the PP group. Our study provides evidence for enhanced neural processing of child face stimuli in PP, which might reflect elevated attention capture of face stimuli depicting members from the sexually preferred age group. This study expands our understanding of the neural foundations underlying sexual interest in prepubescent children and provides a promising path for the uncovering of objective biomarkers of sexual responsiveness to childlike body schemes in juveniles.

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Relationship between Insulin Levels and Nonpsychotic Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2017/1230713 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Qiu-xia Pan ◽

Xiao-juan Li ◽

Yue-yun Liu ◽

Fang-fang Wang ◽

Ya-jing Hou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Random Effects Models ◽

Insulin Levels ◽

Dementia Patients ◽

Registration Number ◽

High Insulin ◽

Healthy Control ◽

The Relationship

Objectives. To explore the relationship between insulin levels and nonpsychotic dementia. Methods. Six electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, SCI, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang) were searched from January 1, 2007, to March 1, 2017. Experimental or observational studies that enrolled people with nonpsychotic dementia or abnormal insulin levels in which insulin levels or MMSE scores (events in nonpsychotic dementia) were the outcome measures. Random-effects models were chosen for this meta-analysis. Sample size, mean, s.d., and events were primarily used to generate effect sizes (with the PRIMA registration number CRD42017069860). Results. 50 articles met the final inclusion criteria. Insulin levels in cerebrospinal fluid were lower (Hedges’ g = 1.196, 95% CI = 0.238 to 2.514, and P=0.014), while the levels in peripheral blood were higher in nonpsychotic dementia patients (Hedges’ g = 0.853 and 95% CI = 0.579 to 1.127), and MMSE scores were significantly lower in the high insulin group than in the healthy control group (Hedges’ g = 0.334, 95% CI = 0.249 to 0.419, and P=0.000). Conclusions. Our comprehensive results indicate that blood insulin levels may increase in patients with nonpsychotic dementia.

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About the Possibilities of Registration of Drug Influence by Means of Radiocardiographic Function Analysis

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1620650 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 20 (05) ◽

pp. 236-240

Author(s):

N. Kleine ◽

G. Hoffmann ◽

E. Lösel

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Heart Muscle ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Ejection Time ◽

Cardiac Dynamics ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Drug Influence ◽

Enddiastolic Volume

Changes in cardiac dynamics were analyzed by means of radiocardiographic function analysis under an infusion of epinephrine using the method of RAB. Typical changes in heart rate, stroke volume and blood pressure were observed after the application of epinephrine. Compared to examinations under physical exercise in case of healthy control subjects there was no typical decrease of enddiastolic volume dependent on the heart rate. Ejection time and ejection velocity were placed within the variation compared to values of a control group under physical exercise but there was a steeper increase of the curve under the effect of epinephrine. Under the influence of SolcoserylR no significant change could be observed in this series of tests compared to the basic values. The effect of epinephrine was changed by SolcoserylR in the way of an essentially smaller rise in heart rate and of a definite prolongation in diastolic time. A change in ejection time under the influence of epinephrine after the application of SolcoserylR could not be found. This allows the conclusion, that under the influence of SolcoserylR and after the administration of epinephrine better conditions for the metabolic restitution of heart muscle are given and consequently a direct effect of SolcoserylR on the heart muscle can be assumed.

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M46. THE STUDY OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AUDIOVISUAL STIMULATION IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia Bulletin ◽

10.1093/schbul/sbaa030.358 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S151-S151

Author(s):

Seung-Ho Jang ◽

Won-Myong Bahk ◽

Young-Joon Kwon ◽

Bo-Hyun Yoon ◽

Kwanghun Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Emotional Response ◽

Chronic Schizophrenia ◽

Control Group ◽

Positive And Negative Affect ◽

Audiovisual Stimulation ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Empathy Scale

Abstract Background This study was to investigate the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and emotional response to positive and negative audiovisual stimulation in patients with chronic schizophrenia and healthy control group. Methods Among 253 chronic schizophrenic patients, 104 patients were informed about this research and consented. 35 healthy control consisted of peoples that did not have past and present history of mental and physical illness. Positive and negative affect and HRV were compared between chronic schizophrenia and healthy control groups, and positive and negative affect and HRV to positive and negative audiovisual stimulation were measured. Positive and negative audiovisual stimulation was defined by an art therapy professionalist and a psychiatrist as 10 positive and negative pictures. 3 positive and negative musics were shown to two groups for 4 minutes simulta¬neously. Positive and negative audiovisual stimulation were shown to two groups during 1-week intermission. HRV was measured with Ubpulse H3, an equipment for autonomic nervous system test made by Laxtha company and also analyzed by frequency domain analysis. Emotional Empathy Scale(EES) and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) of two groups were measured at baseline and after positive and negative audiovisual stimulation. Global Assessment of Functioning Scale(GAF) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) of chronic schizophrenia group were measured by a psychiatrist. Results Positive affect of patients group were significantly lower than control group, negative affect of patients group were significantly higher than control group. Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), and Total Power (TP) of HRV in patients group were significantly lowered than control group at baseline. 7 subscales of emotional empathy scale were lowered in patients group compared to control group. Positive affect of patients group was significantly less increased compared to the control group after positive audiovisual stimulation, negative affect of patients group was significantly less decreased to the control group after positive audiovisual stimulation. Positive affect of patients group was increased after negative audiovisual stimulation, but positive affect of control group was significantly decreased compared to the patients group after negative audiovisual stimulation. There was no significant difference in negative affect between two groups after audiovisual stimulation. LF of patients group was significantly higher than control group after positive audiovisual stimulation, HF and TP of patients group were significantly lowered than control group after positive audiovisual stimulation. LF of patients group was significantly higher than control group after negative audiovisual stimulation, HF and PT of patients were significantly lowered than control group after negative audiovisual stimulation. Discussion Audiovisual stimulation in integrative arts therapy program for schizophrenia might have avoid overactive sympathetic stimulation and recommend activate parasympathetic stimulation. Integrative art therapy for schizophrenia must be sufficiently relaxed, empathetic, and promote positive affect during therapeutic process.

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An evaluation of heart rate variability and its modifying factors in children with type 1 diabetes

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951113001224 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 872-879 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Senem Özgür ◽

Özben Ceylan ◽

Filiz Şenocak ◽

Utku A. Örün ◽

Vehbi Doğan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Healthy Control Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Haemoglobin A1c ◽

Very Low Frequency ◽

Healthy Control

AbstractObjective: To evaluate heart rate variability by Holter monitoring in type 1 diabetic children compared with a healthy control group and determine the factors modifying heart rate variability. Methods: This was designed as a prospective study comparing 28 patients, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and under follow-up, with 27 healthy control group subjects. Results: The patients were aged 9.9 ± 4.2 years in the diabetic group, including 13 (46.5%) girls and 15 (53.5%) boys. The healthy control group comprised 20 (74%) girls and seven boys (26%) with an average age of 8.6 ± 3.7 years. The search for factors modifying heart rate variability yielded the following correlations: for the time-dependent variables, negative between age and both average and maximal heart rate (r = −0.263 and −0.460, respectively), negative between haemoglobin A1c and percentage of differences between adjacent RR intervals >50 ms, positive between diabetes duration and square root of the mean of the sum of squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals. The average heart rate and percentage of differences between adjacent RR intervals >50 ms was significantly higher in the girls than the boys in all groups. With regard to the frequency-dependent factors affecting heart rate variability, correlations were found between haemoglobin A1c level and both total power and very low frequency (r = −0.751 and −0.644) and between very low frequency and diabetes duration. Conclusion: A reduction in heart rate variability parameters was observed in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients who had a long disease duration or were poorly controlled, as compared with healthy controls.

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Internalizing Problems and Attentional Control

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000241 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 110-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tonje Grønning Andersen ◽

Charlotte Fiskum ◽

Per Matti Aslaksen ◽

Magne Arve Flaten ◽

Karl Henry Jacobsen

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Internalizing Problems ◽

Attentional Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Cognitive Avoidance ◽

Film Clip ◽

Significant Interaction Effect ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Valence And Arousal ◽

Experienced Emotion

Abstract. Individuals with internalizing problems differ in levels of attentional control (AC), and this heterogeneity could be associated with differences in autonomic arousal. The present study investigated whether AC moderated the effect of internalizing problems on self-reported experience and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses after the induction of negative affect. Children aged 9–13 years were recruited into a patient group (29) and a healthy control group (25). AC was measured by the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire. Heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV) and pre-ejection period (PEP) were recorded during baseline, a sad film clip and recovery, and analyzed using a marginal linear model. Children reported their experienced emotion, valence, and arousal in response to the film. A significant interaction effect showed increased HRV and longer PEP from baseline to recovery for patients with higher AC. Patients with lower AC showed increased HRV followed by a return to baseline values after the film clip and no significant changes in PEP. Healthy controls showed no significant changes in HRV or PEP independent of level of AC. There were no differences between groups in self-reported experience. The results indicate that AC moderated the effect of internalizing problems on ANS regulation. Increased HRV and longer PEP from baseline to recovery were uniquely associated with higher AC and internalizing problems. This physiological response might indicate a cognitive avoidance strategy. AC could be an important factor explaining heterogeneity in ANS activity among individuals with internalizing problems. Clinical implications of the present findings are discussed.

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Psychobiological Correlates of Aggression in Female Adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder

Psychopathology ◽

10.1159/000520228 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Marialuisa Cavelti ◽

Lena Rinnewitz ◽

Moritz Walter ◽

Patrice van der Venne ◽

Peter Parzer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Aggressive Behavior ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Female Adolescents ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Significant Group ◽

Healthy Control

Introduction: Aggressive behavior in reaction to threats, frustration, or provocation is prevalent in borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study investigated aggressive behavior and its biological correlates in adolescents with BPD. Methods: Twenty-one female adolescents with a DSM-IV BPD diagnosis and 25 sex- and age-matched healthy controls participated in the Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP), a laboratory-based experiment measuring aggressive behavior in the interpersonal context. Heart rate was measured and saliva samples were taken throughout the experiment. Results: Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression analyses revealed no significant group difference in aggressive behavior induced by the TAP. Additionally, the two groups did not differ in cortisol, testosterone, and heart rate responses to the aggression induction. The BPD group showed a significant cortisol increase in the time preceding the start of the TAP in contrast to the healthy control group, in whom a significant heart rate increase from baseline to the first block of the TAP was observed. Discussion: There was no evidence, either at the phenomenological or the biological level, of increased task-induced aggression in adolescents with BPD. The results may indicate that adolescents with BPD experienced fearful stress in anticipation of the experimental task in contrast to healthy controls who showed an adaptive response of the autonomic nervous system necessary to deal with the upcoming demand.

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