scholarly journals The Psychotomimetic Nature of Dreams: An Experimental Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Mason ◽  
Dominic Wakerley
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Cortical Activity ◽  
Prefrontal Cortical ◽  
Drug Studies ◽  
Cognition And Affect

Several theories promote the similarities between dreaming and psychosis, but this has rarely been tested empirically. We assessed dreaming and waking reality using the Psychotomimetic States Inventory, a measure of psychotic-like experience originally designed for drug studies. Twenty participants completed the measure in each of two dream conditions and one waking condition. Dreams were assessed upon waking naturally and also using a movement-activated (actigraph) alarm during the night. Overall, participants reported more quasipsychotic characteristics during dreams (in both conditions) than when awake. This was most marked for paranoia and delusional thinking, but differences were also seen for perceptual abnormalities, mania, and anhedonia. The quality of dream experience seems particularly similar to psychosis in sometimes being highly self-referential and having a paranoid content. Subjective changes to cognition and affect are consistent with alterations in prefrontal cortical activity during REM sleep that mirror those of schizophrenia.

scholarly journals The Neural Sociometer: Brain Mechanisms Underlying State Self-esteem

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 3448-3455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi I. Eisenberger ◽  
Tristen K. Inagaki ◽  
Keely A. Muscatell ◽  
Kate E. Byrne Haltom ◽  
Mark R. Leary
Keyword(s):  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Cortical Activity ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Anterior Insula ◽  
Lower State ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Prefrontal Cortical ◽  
Referential Processing ◽  
Neural Underpinnings ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortical

On the basis of the importance of social connection for survival, humans may have evolved a “sociometer”—a mechanism that translates perceptions of rejection or acceptance into state self-esteem. Here, we explored the neural underpinnings of the sociometer by examining whether neural regions responsive to rejection or acceptance were associated with state self-esteem. Participants underwent fMRI while viewing feedback words (“interesting,” “boring“) ostensibly chosen by another individual (confederate) to describe the participant's previously recorded interview. Participants rated their state self-esteem in response to each feedback word. Results demonstrated that greater activity in rejection-related neural regions (dorsal ACC, anterior insula) and mentalizing regions was associated with lower-state self-esteem. Additionally, participants whose self-esteem decreased from prescan to postscan versus those whose self-esteem did not showed greater medial prefrontal cortical activity, previously associated with self-referential processing, in response to negative feedback. Together, the results inform our understanding of the origin and nature of our feelings about ourselves.

The Potential Effect of Mucuna pruriens Seed Extract on Sperm Quality experimental study on mice exposed to cigarette smoke

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 768-773
Author(s):  
Meidona Nurul Milla ◽  
Yani Istadi ◽  
Vania Shaula ◽  
Deastri Anjeas Wari ◽  
Chntyia Dwi Cahyani Puspitasari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Cigarette Smoke ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Seed Extract ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Testicular Atrophy ◽  
Mucuna Pruriens ◽  
Control Group

Background: Infertility has been more common problems among couple of reproductive age. One of the factors causing this disorder is unhealthy environmental factors including exposure to cigarette smoke. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cigarette smoke can cause testicular atrophy, while the free radicals can inhibit the stages of spermatogenesis, and nicotine in cigarettes affects the brain dopamine levels affecting the levels of GnRH, and subsequently affect the levels of FSH and LH needed in spermatogenesis. The use of Mucuna pruriens seed extract containing antioxidants and L-dopa is expected to improve the quality of sperm after exposure to cigarette smoke. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract on the sperm quality in mice exposed to cigarette smoke. Methods: This study was an experimental study with a post test only control group design. A total of 20 mice were divided into 4 groups of five mice each. All groups were exposed to cigarette smoke. Group 1 was the negative control exposed to cigarette smoke. Groups 2, 3, 4 were exposed to cigarettes smoke and given Mucuna pruriens seed extracts at the dose of 250; 300; and 350 mg/Kg BW/day. Parameters of sperm quality included concentration, morphology, motility and viability. Results: Post hoc tests showed there were significant differences among treatment groups. Conclusion: the administration of Mucuna pruriens seed extract affects the sperm quality of BALB/c mice exposed to cigarettes smoke. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(4) 2021 p.768-773

Experimental study on surface quality of silicon ingots prepared by electromagnetic continuous casting

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Huang ◽  
Ruirun Chen ◽  
Jingjie Guo ◽  
Hongsheng Ding ◽  
Yanqing Su ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Continuous Casting ◽  
Surface Quality ◽  
Electromagnetic Continuous Casting

Characterizing prefrontal cortical activity during inhibition task in methamphetamine-associated psychosis versus schizophrenia: a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy study

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 489-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naohiro Okada ◽  
Katsuyoshi Takahashi ◽  
Yukika Nishimura ◽  
Shinsuke Koike ◽  
Ayaka Ishii-Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Cortical Activity ◽  
Spectroscopy Study ◽  
Prefrontal Cortical

scholarly journals Experimental study of cooling tower performance using ceramic tile packing

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramkumar Ramkrishnan ◽  
Ragupathy Arumugam
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Cooling Tower ◽  
Packing Material ◽  
Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Ceramic Tiles ◽  
Burnt Clay ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Roofing Material ◽  
Forced Draft

Deterioration of the packing material is a major problem in cooling towers. In this experimental study ceramic tiles were used as a packing material. The packing material is a long life burnt clay, which is normally used as a roofing material. It prevents a common problem of the cooling tower resulting from corrosion and water quality of the tower. In this study, we investigate the use of three different types of ceramic packings and evaluate their heat and mass transfer coefficients. A simple comparison of packing behaviour is performed with all three types of packing materials. The experimental study was conducted in a forced draft cooling tower. The variations in many variables, which affect the tower efficiency, are described.

scholarly journals Experimental evaluation of the light sword lens performance with a variable pupil size

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Torres-Sepúlveda ◽  
Alejandro Mira-Agudelo ◽  
John Fredy Barrera ◽  
Andrzej Kolodziejczyk
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
Pupil Size ◽  
Focal Depth ◽  
Optical Element ◽  
Depth Of Focus ◽  
Variable Diameter ◽  
Diffraction Structure ◽  
Do So

This paper presents an experimental study designed to test the performance of the light sword lens (LSL) with different pupil sizes. To do so, Snellen optotype images obtained by a monofocal lens either with or without an LSL, were compared. Images were obtained for three different pupil sizes at several target vergences. The correlation coefficient and through-focus curves were obtained and compared. The experimental results show differences in the contrast and the depth of focus with different pupil sizes using the monofocal lens without an LSL. In contrast, when using the monofocal lens in combination with the LSL, the quality of the images is similar for all pupils and target vergences used, with slight differences only in halos and contrast. Full Text: PDF ReferencesG. Mikula, Z. Jaroszewicz, A. Kolodziejczyk, K. Petelczyc, M. Sypek, G. P. Agrawal, "Imaging with extended focal depth by means of lenses with radial and angular modulation", Opt Express 15, 9184, (2007). CrossRef A. Kolodziejczyk, S. Bará, Z. Jaroszewicz, M. Sypek, "The Light Sword Optical Element—a New Diffraction Structure with Extended Depth of Focus", J. Mod Opt. 37, 1283, (1990). CrossRef K. Petelczyc et al, "Presbyopia compensation with a light sword optical element of a variable diameter", Photonics Lett. Pol. 1, 55 (2009). DirectLink A. Mira-Agudelo et al, "Compensation of Presbyopia With the Light Sword Lens", Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57, 6871, (2016). CrossRef R.A. Fisher, Statistical Methods for Research Workers (New York, Hafner, 13th Ed., 1958) CrossRef

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