scholarly journals Psychedelics and virtual reality: parallels and applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 204512532094835
Author(s):  
Jacob S. Aday ◽  
Christopher C. Davoli ◽  
Emily K. Bloesch
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Conscious Experience ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Therapeutic Uses ◽  
Mental Experience ◽  
Psychedelic Drugs ◽  
Traditional Therapies

Psychedelic drugs and virtual reality (VR) each have the capacity to disrupt the rigidity and limitations of typical conscious experience. This article delineates the parallels among psychedelic and VR states as well as their potential synergistic applications in clinical and recreational settings. Findings indicate that, individually, psychedelics and VR are used in analogous ways to alter sensory experience and evoke awe. They are also both used in tandem with traditional therapies to treat a variety of mood disorders; their shared capacity to transiently alter perspective and disrupt rigid patterns of mental experience may underly their analogous and transdiagnostic therapeutic uses. In terms of their combined applications, a number of recreational users currently utilize psychedelics and VR together to enhance their experience. We propose that VR may be a useful tool for preparing hallucinogen-naïve participants in clinical trials for the sensory distortions experienced in psychedelic states. Given the critical role of “setting” in psychedelic treatment outcomes, we also detail how VR could be used to optimize the environment in psychedelic sessions. Finally, we provide considerations for future studies and detail how advancements in psychedelic and VR research can inform one another. Collectively, this article outlines a number of connections between psychedelics and VR, and, more broadly, is representative of growing scientific interest into the interactions among technology, psychopharmacology, and mental health.

Autophagy Modulators and Neuroinflammation

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 955-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung Sang Cho ◽  
Jang Ho Lee ◽  
Jeiwon Cho ◽  
Guang-Ho Cha ◽  
Gyun Jee Song
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Therapeutic Tools ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the development and progression of various neurological disorders. Therefore, various studies have focused on the development of neuroinflammation inhibitors as potential therapeutic tools. Recently, the involvement of autophagy in the regulation of neuroinflammation has drawn substantial scientific interest, and a growing number of studies support the role of impaired autophagy in the pathogenesis of common neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: The purpose of this article is to review recent research on the role of autophagy in controlling neuroinflammation. We focus on studies employing both mammalian cells and animal models to evaluate the ability of different autophagic modulators to regulate neuroinflammation. Methods: We have mostly reviewed recent studies reporting anti-neuroinflammatory properties of autophagy. We also briefly discussed a few studies showing that autophagy modulators activate neuroinflammation in certain conditions. Results: Recent studies report neuroprotective as well as anti-neuroinflammatory effects of autophagic modulators. We discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of action of these drugs and their potential limitations as therapeutic agents against neurological disorders. Conclusion: Autophagy activators are promising compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders involving neuroinflammation.

scholarly journals PSYCHOGEOGRAPHICAL EXPERIENCE BETWEEN THE SELF AND THE PLACE

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-263
Author(s):  
Mohd Fadhli Shah Khaidzir ◽  
Ruzy Suliza Hashim ◽  
Noraini Md. Yusof
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Place Meaning ◽  
Solid Foundation ◽  
Self Discovery ◽  
Attachment Place

Background and Purpose: The absence of psychogeographical awareness is a critical factor contributing to the lackadaisical attitudes towards the place and its environment. As a result, it enables an individual to fully experience a location, both physically and intellectually, while also gaining a feeling of self-discovery and self-realisation.   Methodology: The purpose of this study was to examine the responses of a group of individuals who participated in a field observation. 40 participants from a Malaysian university's foundation level were brought to Malacca to experience the environment's geographical scenery at their own leisure. The survey data was then manually transcribed and analysed in accordance with the study's aim.   Findings: Interactions with individuals and observation of features in the countryside and urban surroundings enabled participants to go on a psychogeographical journey that influenced their way of thinking and behaving. All participants felt that the journey had influenced their experiences and perspectives on their thinking and behaviour, highlighting the critical role of this notion in establishing the connection between place and self.   Contributions:  The findings of this study provide a solid foundation for future research in the field of psychogeography. The data may be used as a baseline for future studies to determine whether a comparable impact exists in other locations, with or without significant features like those found in Malacca.   Keywords: Psychogeography, place attachment, place meaning, self-discovery, Malacca.   Cite as: Khaidzir, M. F. S., Hashim, R. S., & Md. Yusof, N. (2022). Psychogeographical experience between the self and the place.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(1), 243-263. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp243-263

scholarly journals The Critical Role of Self-Contact for Embodiment in Virtual Reality

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1428-1436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidney Bovet ◽  
Henrique Galvan Debarba ◽  
Bruno Herbelin ◽  
Eray Molla ◽  
Ronan Boulic
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Critical Role

scholarly journals Attentional Skills in Soccer: Evaluating the Involvement of Attention in Executing a Goalkeeping Task in Virtual Reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 9341
Author(s):  
Andria Shimi ◽  
Vanessa Tsestou ◽  
Marios Hadjiaros ◽  
Kleanthis Neokleous ◽  
Marios Avraamides
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Physical Abilities

Physical abilities are essential to goalkeepers in soccer but the involved cognitive abilities for these players have only recently become the focus of extensive research. In this study, we investigated the role of different aspects of attention in a basic goalkeeping task in soccer. One hundred participants assumed the role of a goalkeeper in immersive virtual reality (VR) and carried out a task that entailed blocking balls shot towards their goal. In addition, they carried out two computerized tasks each assessing different attentional abilities: the Attention Network Test provided scores for three well-established networks of attention, namely the alerting, the orienting, and the executive control. The Whack-a-Mole task evaluated inhibitory control, by measuring performance in a classic Go/No-Go task and tapping on response inhibition. A regression analysis revealed that all three attention network scores contributed to performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Furthermore, performance in the Whack-a-Mole task correlated significantly with performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Overall, findings confirm that cognitive skills relating to attention play a critical role in the efficient execution of soccer-specific tasks. These findings have important implications for the training of cognitive skills in sports.

How Commercially Available Virtual Reality–Based Interventions Are Delivered and Reported in Gait, Posture, and Balance Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (10) ◽  
pp. 1805-1815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Weber ◽  
Christopher Barr ◽  
Claire Gough ◽  
Maayken van den Berg
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Physical Therapist ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Intervention Design ◽  
Mobility Limitations ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Balance Rehabilitation ◽  
Gait Posture

Abstract Objective Virtual reality (VR) technologies are increasingly used in physical rehabilitation; however, it is unclear how VR interventions are being delivered, and, in particular, the role of the therapist remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate how commercially available VR technologies are being implemented in gait, posture, and balance rehabilitation, including justification, content, procedures, and dosage of the intervention and details of the therapist role. Methods Five databases were searched between 2008 and 2018. Supervised interventional trials with >10 adult participants using commercially available VR technologies to address mobility limitations were independently selected by 2 authors. One author extracted reported intervention characteristics into a predesigned table and assessed methodological quality, which was independently verified by a second author. A total of 29 studies were included. Results Generally, minimal clinical reasoning was provided to justify technology or activity selection, with recreational systems and games used most commonly (n = 25). All but 1 study used a single interventional technology. When explicitly described, the intervention was delivered by a physical therapist (n = 14), a therapist assistant (n = 2), both (n = 1), or an occupational therapist (n = 1). Most studies reported supervision (n = 12) and safeguarding (n = 8) as key therapist roles, with detail of therapist feedback less frequently reported (n = 4). Therapist involvement in program selection, tailoring, and progression was poorly described. Conclusion Intervention protocols of VR rehabilitation studies are incompletely described and generally lack detail on clinical rationale for technology and activity selection and on the therapist role in intervention design and delivery, hindering replication and translation of research into clinical practice. Future studies utilizing commercially available VR technologies should report all aspects of intervention design and delivery and consider protocols that allow therapists to exercise clinical autonomy in intervention delivery. Impact Statement The findings of this systematic review have highlighted that VR rehabilitation interventions targeting gait, posture, and balance are primarily delivered by physical therapists, whose most reported role was supervision and safeguarding. There was an absence of detail regarding complex clinical skills, such as tailoring of the intervention and reasoning for the choice of technology and activity. This uncertainty around the role of the therapist as an active ingredient in VR-based rehabilitation hinders the development of implementation guidelines. To inform the optimal involvement of therapists in VR rehabilitation, it is essential that future studies report on all aspects of VR intervention design and delivery.

scholarly journals Shimi et al_GKVR1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andria Shimi ◽  
Vanessa Tsestou ◽  
Marios Hatziaros ◽  
Kleanthis Neokleous ◽  
Marios N Avraamides
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Physical Abilities

Soccer is one of the most popular sports and goalkeepers are central to a team’s winning. Physical abilities are essential to goalkeepers but the involved cognitive abilities for these players are understudied and not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of different aspects of attention in a goalkeeping task in soccer. Participants assumed the role of a goalkeeper in immersive Virtual Reality and carried out a task that entailed blocking balls shot towards their goal. In addition, they carried out two computerized tasks each assessing different attentional abilities: the Attention Network Test provided scores for three well-established networks of attention, namely the alerting, the orienting, and the executive control. The Whack-a-Mole task evaluated inhibitory control, by measuring performance in a classic Go/No-Go task and tapping on response inhibition. Results revealed that all three attention network scores predicted performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Furthermore, performance in the Whack-a-Mole task correlated significantly with performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Overall, findings confirm that cognitive skills relating to attention play a critical role in the efficient execution of soccer-specific tasks. These findings have important implications for the training of cognitive skills in sports.

scholarly journals Recent advances in understanding the role of leptin in energy homeostasis

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
Heike Münzberg ◽  
Prachi Singh ◽  
Steven B. Heymsfield ◽  
Sangho Yu ◽  
Christopher D. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Early Data ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Leptin Signaling ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Physiological Adaptations

The hormone leptin plays a critical role in energy homeostasis, although our overall understanding of acutely changing leptin levels still needs improvement. Several developments allow a fresh look at recent and early data on leptin action. This review highlights select recent publications that are relevant for understanding the role played by dynamic changes in circulating leptin levels. We further discuss the relevance for our current understanding of leptin signaling in central neuronal feeding and energy expenditure circuits and highlight cohesive and discrepant findings that need to be addressed in future studies to understand how leptin couples with physiological adaptations of food intake and energy expenditure.

scholarly journals Do miRNAs Play a Role in Fetal Growth Restriction? A Fresh Look to a Busy Corner

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benito Chiofalo ◽  
Antonio Simone Laganà ◽  
Alberto Vaiarelli ◽  
Valentina Lucia La Rosa ◽  
Diego Rossetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Fetal Growth Restriction ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Maternal Peripheral Blood

Placenta is the crucial organ for embryo and fetus development and plays a critical role in the development of fetal growth restriction (FGR). There are increasing evidences on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a variety of pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia and FGR. More than 1880 miRNAs have been reported in humans and most of them are expressed in placenta. In this paper, we aimed to review the current evidence about the topic. According to retrieved data, controversial results about placental expression of miRNAs could be due (at least in part) to the different experimental methods used by different groups. Despite the fact that several authors have demonstrated a relatively easy and feasible detection of some miRNAs in maternal whole peripheral blood, costs of these tests should be reduced in order to increase cohorts and have stronger evidence. In this regard, we take the opportunity to solicit future studies on large cohort and adequate statistical power, in order to identify a panel of biomarkers on maternal peripheral blood for early diagnosis of FGR.

Validating a Seated Virtual Reality Threat Paradigm for Inducing Anxiety and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Dione Y. L. Quek ◽  
Kristin Economou ◽  
Hamish MacDougall ◽  
Simon J.G. Lewis ◽  
Kaylena A. Ehgoetz Martens
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Functional Mri ◽  
Freezing Of Gait ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Ground Condition

Background: Although prior research has established that freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with anxiety, only one study to date has directly manipulated anxiety levels to induce FOG. Objective: The current study aimed to replicate these previous findings and evaluate whether a seated version of a ‘threat’ virtual reality (VR) paradigm could induce anxiety and provoke FOG. Methods: Twenty-four PD patients with FOG were assessed across various threat conditions in both a walking VR paradigm (Experiment 1) and a seated VR paradigm (Experiment 2). Both paradigms manipulated the height (i.e., elevated vs ground) and width (wide vs narrow) of the planks participants were instructed to walk across. Results: Across both experiments, the Elevated + Narrow condition provoked significantly greater number of freezing episodes compared to all other conditions. Higher levels of self-reported anxiety were reported during the Elevated+Narrow condition compared to all other conditions in Experiment 1, and compared to the Ground condition in Experiment 2. Conclusion: These findings confirm that anxiety contributes to FOG and validates the use of a seated VR threat paradigm for provoking anxiety-related freezing. This enables future studies to combine this paradigm with functional MRI to explore the neural correlates underlying the role of anxiety in FOG.

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