scholarly journals Psychedelics and creativity: a review of the quantitative literature

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J Baggott
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Inference ◽  
Mental Representations ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Raw Data ◽  
Inconsistent Result ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Study Results

After a 40-year hiatus, the question of whether psychedelics can increase creativity is being asked with renewed vigor. This article critically reviews the conceptual issues of studying psychedelic-induced creativity by summarizing the limited evidence on the question and suggesting two broader frameworks. There are two important challenges to researchers on this topic. One is to separate creativity from other effects of the drug that may be mistaken for creativity. The second is to develop operational measures to quantify it. This article reviews the major studies assessing creativity (or related constructs) induced by psychedelics, including a reanalysis of raw data from one study. Results are modest and inconclusive but are consistent with reports that psychedelics give rise to unusual or novel thoughts. Given the lack of robust changes in creativity measures, I suggest creativity may be too specific of a construct to accurately and fully characterize the putatively beneficial cognitive changes that psychedelic users report. Feelings of creativity may be an inconsistent result of a more general effect of these drugs, such as alterations in availability of mental representations or changes in Bayesian inference. Ultimately, creativity may not be a sufficiently creative construct to capture the beneficial effects of psychedelics.

scholarly journals Psychedelics and creativity: a review of the quantitative literature

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J Baggott
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Inference ◽  
Mental Representations ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Raw Data ◽  
Inconsistent Result ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Study Results

After a 40-year hiatus, the question of whether psychedelics can increase creativity is being asked with renewed vigor. This article critically reviews the conceptual issues of studying psychedelic-induced creativity by summarizing the limited evidence on the question and suggesting two broader frameworks. There are two important challenges to researchers on this topic. One is to separate creativity from other effects of the drug that may be mistaken for creativity. The second is to develop operational measures to quantify it. This article reviews the major studies assessing creativity (or related constructs) induced by psychedelics, including a reanalysis of raw data from one study. Results are modest and inconclusive but are consistent with reports that psychedelics give rise to unusual or novel thoughts. Given the lack of robust changes in creativity measures, I suggest creativity may be too specific of a construct to accurately and fully characterize the putatively beneficial cognitive changes that psychedelic users report. Feelings of creativity may be an inconsistent result of a more general effect of these drugs, such as alterations in availability of mental representations or changes in Bayesian inference. Ultimately, creativity may not be a sufficiently creative construct to capture the beneficial effects of psychedelics.

scholarly journals An introductory report on the effect of use of dextranase-containing mouthwash on oral health status of human volunteers

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-25
Author(s):  
Nucharee Juntarachot ◽  
Bhagavathi Sundaram Sivamaruthi ◽  
Sasithorn Sirilun ◽  
Piyachat Tongpong ◽  
Phakkharawat Sittiprapaporn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Sensory Evaluation ◽  
Dental Plaque ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Plaque Index ◽  
Oral Diseases ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Background: Dextran is a branched polysaccharide and one of the polymers, present in the biofilm matrix. The dextran plays a perilous role in dental plaque formation, which is involved in the development of some common oral diseases like dental caries. The dextran-hydrolyzing enzymes are under investigation to treat and manage the dental plaques. Aims and Objective: The present study reporting the preliminary observations on the effect of the use of dextranase-containing mouthwash (DMW) on dental plaque and oral health. Materials and Methods: DMW was prepared with food-grade dextranase, preservatives, gellingagents, and water as detailed. Four weeks of experimental design was employed in fourteen healthy volunteers. The selected volunteers were recommended to use DMW for at least twice a day. The plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), gingival index (GI) and bleeding on probing (BOP) of the volunteer's teeth have been assessed before and after four weeks of DMW use. Results:The volunteers were insisted to use a DMW solution twice a day for four weeks. The PI, PD, GI, and BOP was measured before and after the treatment. The plaque index of the subject at baseline and after treatment was 2.22 ± 0.48, and 1.88 ± 0.50, respectively. PI was significantly reduced after the use of DMW solution for four weeks. The value of PD was 2.00 and 2.00 at baseline and after the use of DMW, respectively. The value of PD was not changed when compared to the baseline values. The sensory evaluation of DMW was performed using questionnaires. Conclusion: The preliminary study results suggested that the use of DMW solution for four weeks (twice a day) notably reduced the PI without any change in PD. However, GI and BOP values were not affected after the use of DMW. The participants, based on the sensory evaluation, accepted the prepared DMW solution. Additional detailed research on the impact of DMW on oral hygiene is needed to confirm the beneficial effects of DMW.

Outliers in L2 Research in Applied Linguistics: A Synthesis and Data Re-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 26-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Nicklin ◽  
Luke Plonsky
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Reaction Time Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Raw Data ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

AbstractData from self-paced reading (SPR) tasks are routinely checked for statistical outliers (Marsden, Thompson, & Plonsky, 2018). Such data points can be handled in a variety of ways (e.g., trimming, data transformation), each of which may influence study results in a different manner. This two-phase study sought, first, to systematically review outlier handling techniques found in studies that involve SPR and, second, to re-analyze raw data from SPR tasks to understand the impact of those techniques. Toward these ends, in Phase I, a sample of 104 studies that employed SPR tasks was collected and coded for different outlier treatments. As found in Marsden et al. (2018), wide variability was observed across the sample in terms of selection of time and standard deviation (SD)-based boundaries for determining what constitutes a legitimate reading time (RT). In Phase II, the raw data from the SPR studies in Phase I were requested from the authors. Nineteen usable datasets were obtained and re-analyzed using data transformations, SD boundaries, trimming, and winsorizing, in order to test their relative effectiveness for normalizing SPR reaction time data. The results suggested that, in the vast majority of cases, logarithmic transformation circumvented the need for SD boundaries, which blindly eliminate or alter potentially legitimate data. The results also indicated that choice of SD boundary had little influence on the data and revealed no meaningful difference between trimming and winsorizing, implying that blindly removing data from SPR analyses might be unnecessary. Suggestions are provided for future research involving SPR data and the handling of outliers in second language (L2) research more generally.

scholarly journals Impact of dietary vitamin D3 supplements in nursery diets on subsequent growth and bone responses of pigs during an immune challenge

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (12) ◽  
pp. 4895-4903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan McCue ◽  
Jamie L Reichert ◽  
Thomas D Crenshaw
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin D Metabolites ◽  
Immune Challenge ◽  
Subsequent Growth ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Nutrient Supplements

Abstract Limited evidence is available to validate beneficial responses from extra nutrient supplements for mediation of growth suppression that results from immune challenges. Extrarenal roles of vitamin D metabolites in immune function implicate vitamin D3 supplements as a nutrient for potential beneficial effects. The current objective was to assess growth and bone ash responses to dietary vitamin D3 (D) supplements for growing pigs undergoing an immune challenge. At weaning, 216 crossbred pigs (4 pigs/pen, 6 pens/treatment) were randomly allotted within sex and weight blocks to 1 of the 9 treatments. Treatments included D supplements (0, 100, or 800 IU/kg) in a factorial arrangement with 3 vaccine (V) protocols; no injection (0 × V), a single 2 mL injection of a Lawsonia intracellularis vaccine at day 14 (1 × V), or 2 mL injections of the same vaccine at days 0 and 7 (2 × V). An adjustment diet with no supplemental D was fed for 1 wk, then assigned D diets for 2 wk (P2). After P2, all pigs were phase-fed standard diets (D = 280 IU/kg) to assess subsequent growth to 115 kg. No differences due to D supplements or vaccination protocol were detected in ADG (0.233 ± 0.021 kg/d) or GF (0.642 ± 0.028 kg/d) over the 21-d nursery trial; however, ADFI was lower (P < 0.10) in pigs fed D levels of 0 vs. 100 and 800 (0.340 vs. 0.375, 0.372 ± 0.027 kg/d). Bone mineral content (g) from whole-body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans at 9 wk (n = 4 pigs/treatment) was lower in pigs fed 0 vs. 100 and 800 IU of D (287 vs. 325, 323 ± 34.1 g/pig). Growth from nursery to 115 kg was lower (P < 0.01) in pigs fed D levels of 0 vs.100 and 800 (0.828 vs. 0.876, 0.889 ± 0.021 kg/d). At market, approximately two-thirds of pigs showed positive L. intracellularis serology titers regardless of treatment. Limited evidence for D-mediation of an immune challenge using the vaccination protocols may be a consequence of limited vaccine effects on growth in the nursery and seroconversion of most pigs to L. intracellularis by market.

scholarly journals PARASYMPATHETIC INFLUENCE ON COGNITIVE AGING IS MODERATED BY SYMPATHETIC ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY IN EARLY MIDLIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S94-S94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik L Knight ◽  
Ryan Giuliano ◽  
Sean Shank ◽  
Megan Clarke ◽  
David M Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related

Abstract The two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) have been individually linked to age-related changes in cognitive functioning: The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is thought to support healthy cognitive aging, whereas the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has been linked to heightened cognitive decline. Despite these separate findings and despite the integrative nature of the ANS, little work has examined the two branches simultaneously to better understand their interactive effects on age-related cognitive changes. We examined cognitive change in two waves of the MIDUS cognitive project and indexed PNS and SNS activity from heart rate variability and epinephrine levels (respectively) from the MIDUS biomarker project (n = 764, 56% female, mean age = 54.1 years). Our findings indicate that higher PNS levels attenuate cognitive decline, but only among individuals with low SNS levels; at higher SNS levels, the beneficial effects of the PNS are blocked. Further, lower PNS levels can be somewhat compensated for by increased SNS levels. This pattern was most robust among individuals transitioning to mid-life (i.e., 35-40 years old at the initial cognitive test). These results suggest that interventions targeting the ANS as a modifiable factor in cognitive aging should consider both ANS branch’s effects simultaneously, particularly in the early stages of midlife.

Addiction and Criminal Behavior: A Continuing Examination of Criminal Addicts

1976 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Weissman ◽  
Samuel W. Marr ◽  
Paul L. Katsampes
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Self Report ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Activity Increase ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Study Results ◽  
And Gender

The study proposed to examine the relationship between opiate addiction and criminal behavior. The study group was composed of general arrestee population subjects who were identified as regular opiate users. The subjects were interviewed to determine demographic, drug use, and self-report criminal history data; arrest data were collected from official records. The study addressed three research questions: (1) the general effect of addiction upon criminal activity; (2) the effect of addiction upon specific offense categories; and (3) the variations of the effects of addiction upon criminal activity relative to the age of onset of addiction, race, and gender. Study results showed dramatic increases in criminal activity associated with the onset of addiction. The criminal activity increase was displayed in violent crime categories, as well as property acquisitive and drug offense categories. Some differences were apparent according to age of onset of addiction, race, and gender, but the study design did not warrant the drawing of definitive conclusions regarding the differences.

scholarly journals Quercetin Potentiates Docosahexaenoic Acid to Suppress Lipopolysaccharide-induced Oxidative/Inflammatory Responses, Alter Lipid Peroxidation Products, and Enhance the Adaptive Stress Pathways in BV-2 Microglial Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Sun ◽  
Runting Li ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
Kevin Fritsche ◽  
David Beversdorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Microglial Cells ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Heme Oxygenase 1 ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Study Results

High levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the phospholipids of mammalian brain have generated increasing interest in the search for its role in regulating brain functions. Recent studies have provided evidence for enhanced protective effects when DHA is administered in combination with phytochemicals, such as quercetin. DHA and quercetin can individually suppress lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced oxidative/inflammatory responses and enhance the antioxidative stress pathway involving nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, studies with BV-2 microglial cells indicated rather high concentrations of DHA (IC50 in the range of 60–80 µM) were needed to produce protective effects. To determine whether quercetin combined with DHA can lower the levels of DHA needed to produce protective effects in these cells is the goal for this study. Results showed that low concentrations of quercetin (2.5 µM), in combination with DHA (10 µM), could more effectively enhance the expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and suppress LPS–induced nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, phospho-cytosolic phospholipase A2, reactive oxygen species, and 4-hydroxynonenal, as compared to the same levels of DHA or quercetin alone. These results provide evidence for the beneficial effects of quercetin in combination with DHA, and further suggest their potential as nutraceuticals for improving health.

scholarly journals Probiotics as prevention for gastro-intestinal disorders in pediatrics.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-63
Author(s):  
Celine Perceval ◽  
Michel Pletincx ◽  
Yvan Vandenplas
Keyword(s):  
Acute Gastroenteritis ◽  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disorders ◽  
Infantile Colic ◽  
Insufficient Evidence ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea ◽  
In Infants And Children ◽  
Broad Consensus

This is a narrative review, largely of randomized trials on the impacts of probiotics. It concludes that evidence for beneficial effects of selected probiotics in the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders is limited mainly to acute gastroenteritis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, infantile colic and necrotizing enterocolitis.  However, there is no broad consensus to recommend the use of probiotics in the prevention of these conditions, mainly because of the different designs used in different studies, resulting in limited evidence for specific strains, dosages and indications. More well-designed studies utilizing standardized methodologies are needed before recommendations can be proposed. At this stage, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of probiotics in infants and children for the prevention of gastro-intestinal disorders.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF SHEAR WALLS ON A TYPICAL FOUR-STORY REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE SUBJECTED TO SEVERE EARTHQUAKE EVENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-795
Author(s):  
Nader Zad ◽  
Hani Melhem
Keyword(s):  
Reinforced Concrete ◽  
Dynamic Analysis ◽  
Concrete Structure ◽  
Time History ◽  
Shear Walls ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Reinforced Concrete Structure ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Structural Resistance ◽  
Study Results

Various seismic-resistant design methods are used to ensure the stability of multi-story buildings against lateral forces caused by earthquakes. Utilization of reinforced concrete shear walls is one of the most reliable methods of design and construction of earthquake-resistant buildings because it increases structural resistance to lateral loads and stiffens and strengthens the structure, thereby minimizing earthquake-induced damages. This paper investigates the beneficial effects of using shear walls in the structural design of a typical low-rise building to improve its resistance to earthquake events. To this end, a four-story reinforced concrete structure is modeled first without shear walls, then with the addition to shear walls. The 2002 Denali Alaska earthquake is used as an example of a severe seismic excitation because it is considered the most massive strike-slip earthquake in North America in almost 150 year. SAP2000 is used to perform the dynamic analysis. In order to obtain an accurate representation of the structure’s behavior, response modal nonlinear time-history dynamic analysis is utilized to analyze and compare the response of the building with and without shear walls. Study results showed that shear walls are very effective in achieving compliance with seismic design codes. In addition, the use of shear walls significantly reduces the shear stresses, bending moments, and displacements of the various members of the structure.

scholarly journals Neuroprotective effects of the Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract against an Alzheimer-like rat model of β amyloid1-40 intrahippocampal injection

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 545-560
Author(s):  
Pacôme Kouadio N’Go ◽  
Omar Touhami Ahmed Ahami ◽  
Aboubaker El Hessni ◽  
Fatima-Zahra Azzaoui ◽  
Youssef Aboussaleh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Oxidative Stress Markers ◽  
Object Recognition Test ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Post Surgery

Abstract Objective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a threatening disease for African populations in the upcoming years because of the increase in their expectancy of life. Here, we investigated whether natural products from Chrysophyllum perpulchrum as catechin and two dimeric procyanidins (catechin + hexose) could prevent progression of oxidative stress and cognitive changes using an AD-like rat model induced by Aβ1-40 injection into the hippocampal CA1 subfield. Methodology Adult male Wistar rats were either microinjected with 1% ammonia as a vehicle (10 µL) or aggregated Aβ1-40 at 10 µg bilateral hippocampus. On the 14th day of post-surgery, some Aβ rats were treated with melatonin (10 mg/kg i.p.) or with the Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract (300 mg/kg p.o.), and some sham-operated rats received the extract alone. Cognitive abilities were tested with Y-maze, object recognition test and Morris Water Maze. Oxidative stress markers as well as the level of activated microglial cells were assayed in the brain. Results Aβ rats exhibited significant deficits of recognition memory and spatial learning. This was associated with an increase of microglia Iba 1 immunoreactivity as well as nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase levels but not to the thiol content in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and septum of AD-like rats. The Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract treatment mitigated Aβ-induced cognitive impairments and reversed microglia overactivation and subsequent generation of oxidative stress markers. Interestingly, the neuroprotective actions of the Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract seem to be comparable to the control drug melatonin used albeit with some more beneficial effects. Conclusion These findings are preliminary and should be strengthened by more pharmacological studies of bioactive compounds of Chrysophyllum perpulchrum before being proposed as a promising drug against AD.

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