Self-observation of a virtual body-double engaged in social interaction reduces persecutory thoughts

The proportion of the population who experience persecutory thoughts is 10–15%. People then engage in safety-seeking behaviours, typically avoiding social interactions, which prevents disconfirmatory experiences and hence paranoia persists. Here we show that persecutory thoughts can be reduced if prior to engaging in social interaction in VR participants first see their virtual body-double doing so. Thirty non-clinical participants were recruited to take part in a study, where they were embodied in a virtual body that closely resembled themselves, and asked to interact with members of a crowd. In the Random condition (n = 15) they observed their body-double wandering around but not engaging with the crowd. In the Targeted condition the body-double correctly interacted with members of the crowd. The Green Paranoid Thoughts Scale was measured 1 week before and 1 week after the exposure and decreased only for those in the Targeted condition. The results suggest that the observation of the body-double correctly carrying out a social interaction task in VR may lead to anxiety-reducing mental rehearsal for interaction thus overcoming safety behaviours. The results also extend knowledge of the effects of vicarious agency, suggesting that identification with the actions of body-double can influence subsequent psychological state.

SIM: The Surgery Imagery Mindset and Preparing for Surgery

Discussed under various terms such as mental skills, mental rehearsal, cognitive training, and non-technical skills, psychological performance skills are gaining greater acceptance for their contributions to excellence in surgical performance. Mental imagery, specifically performance-enhancing mental imagery for surgeons, has received the greatest attention in the surgical literature. As part of the surgeon’s imagery mindset (SIM), this form of mental rehearsal contributes to optimal surgical performance for both developing and practicing surgeons. We discuss the nature of SIM and describe 5 basic guidelines for maximizing the application of performance-enhancing mental imagery in surgical contexts.

On Cognitive Searching Optimization in Semi-Markov Jump Decision Using Multistep Transition and Mental Rehearsal

Cognitive searching optimization is a subconscious mental phenomenon in decision making. Aroused by exploiting accessible human action, alleviating inefficient decision and shrinking searching space remain challenges for optimizing the solution space. Multiple decision estimation and the jumpy decision transition interval are two of the cross-impact factors resulting in variation of decision paths. To optimize the searching process of decision solution space, we propose a semi-Markov jump cognitive decision method in which a searching contraction index bridges correlation from the time dimension and depth dimension. With the change state and transition interval, the semi-Markov property can obtain the action by limiting the decision solution to the specified range. From the decision depth, bootstrap re-sampling utilizes mental rehearsal iteration to update the transition probability. In addition, dynamical decision boundary by the interaction process limits the admissible decisions. Through the flight simulation, we show that proposed index and reward vary with the transition decision steps and mental rehearsal frequencies. In conclusion, this decision-making method integrates the multistep transition and mental rehearsal on semi-Markov jump decision process, opening a route to the multiple dimension optimization of cognitive interaction.

Video modeling examples are effective tools for self-regulated learning in physical education: Students learn through repeated viewing, self-talk, and mental rehearsal

This study aimed at assessing the impact of video modeling examples (VMEs) on secondary school students’ self-regulated learning experiences in gymnastics in original physical education (PE) settings. A total of 56 students (28 males and 28 females), aged 16–17, took part in a seven-week gymnastics learning unit for the purpose of acquiring new motor skills and knowledge using VMEs, in the absence of teacher and peer assistance. Repeated measurements were collected through gymnastics floor routines and a custom-designed written test. Semi-structured interviews were administered to explore students’ self-regulated learning strategies. The analysis of quantitative data revealed significant improvements in males’ skill performance (pre: 4.54 ± 2.42, post: 10.97 ± 3.25 points; p < 0.001) and knowledge (pre: 6.43 ± 2.26, post: 13.19 ± 3.09 points; p < 0.001), as well as females’ skill performance (pre: 2.64 ± 2.09, post: 8.96 ± 4.12 points; p < 0.001) and knowledge (pre: 6.14 ± 2.48, post: 10.97 ± 3.25 points; p < 0.001) after taking part in the practical intervention. Sex-based differences, in favor of the males, were only observed in knowledge outcomes (males: Δ (Δ%) = 6.76 (105.1%), females: Δ (Δ%) = 4.25 (69.2%); p < 0.05). Qualitative data analysis yielded three major learning strategies: repeated viewing and interpretation of VMEs, self-talk and mental rehearsal. In conclusion, VMEs were able to empower the participating students to acquire motor skills and knowledge in PE classes through activating different metacognitive learning strategies, and even without resorting to teacher/peer assistance. Data from this study could prompt PE teachers to incorporate VME-mediated self-regulated learning methods into their teaching practices for better classroom management and for improving their students’ metacognition.

Patient-specific mental rehearsal with three-dimensional models before low anterior resection: randomized clinical trial

Background It was hypothesized that preparing for a surgical procedure, taking into account individual patient characteristics, may facilitate the procedure and improve surgical quality. The aim of this study was to compare different case-specific, preoperative mental rehearsal methods before minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery. Methods In this RCT, patients were allocated in a 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 ratio to four groups: systematic mental rehearsal (SMR) using MRI scans; SMR and three-dimensional (3D) virtual models; SMR and synthetic 3D printed models; and routine practice (control group). Surgeons operating on all but the control group underwent mental rehearsal with the visual aids, including axial MRI scans of the pelvis, interactive 3D virtual models reconstructed from axial MRIs, and synthetic models, manufactured by 3D printing. Operations were video-recorded and assessed by two experts blinded to allocation using two validated scores, the Competency Assessment Tool (CAT) and Objective Clinical Human Reliability Analysis (OCHRA). The primary outcome of the study was surgical performance, measured by the CAT. Results Forty-nine patients were randomized and allocated to the four groups. There were 12 participants in each of the control, MRI and SMR, and virtual and SMR groups, whereas the SMR using physical models and simulation group included 13. No difference was observed between groups in median CAT scores (control 30.50, MRI 34.25, virtual 31.75, physical 34.00; P = 0.748, partial η2 &lt;0.001, where pη2 is indicative of effect size) or OCHRA scores (anterior, posterior, right and left lateral planes, transection P&gt;0.200, pη2 =0.052–0.088). Time spent not performing dissection was significantly shorter for the SMR with MRI group than for the control (57.5 versus 42 respectively; P &lt; 0.001, pη2 =0.212). Conclusion Mental rehearsal did not affect CAT and OCHRA scores of consultant surgeons. Reference number: ISRCTN 75603704 (https://www.isrctn.com).

Transformation of speech sequences in human sensorimotor circuits

After we listen to a series of words, we can silently replay them in our mind. Does this mental replay involve a reactivation of our original perceptual dynamics? We recorded electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity across the lateral cerebral cortex as people heard and then mentally rehearsed spoken sentences. For each region, we tested whether silent rehearsal of sentences involved reactivation of sentence-specific representations established during perception or transformation to a distinct representation. In sensorimotor and premotor cortex, we observed reliable and temporally precise responses to speech; these patterns transformed to distinct sentence-specific representations during mental rehearsal. In contrast, we observed less reliable and less temporally precise responses in prefrontal and temporoparietal cortex; these higher-order representations, which were sensitive to sentence semantics, were shared across perception and rehearsal of the same sentence. The mental rehearsal of natural speech involves the transformation of stimulus-locked speech representations in sensorimotor and premotor cortex, combined with diffuse reactivation of higher-order semantic representations.