Bipartite functional fractionation within the neural system for social cognition supports the psychological continuity of self vs. other

In the present study, we integrated two crucial issues in cognitive neuroscience: (i) The field of brain connectome research has been characterising the fine-grained fractionation within of each identified functional network. (ii) The field of social neuroscience has been exploring how a network of social-affective cortical zones implement the representational codes to idiosyncratically represent personal identities. Here we performed a series of multivoxel decoding to investigate the neural representations of self- vs. other-referential concept, a pivotal psychological construct that permeates every aspects of social life and has been argued as a core function of the specialised system for social cognition. Across multiple analyses, we found a robust dyadic fractionation between the two subnetworks within the social system - multivoxel patterns reliably dissociated between regions that are affiliated with the 'default mode' network and those with the 'semantic cognition' network, evident both in the outcomes of supervised classification and representational similarity. Moreover, representational configuration of the neural responses to self- and other-referential thoughts mirrored the psychological continuum of social distance, from an integral sense of one's present self to a distant other, with the broad-stroke distinction of 'self-ness vs. otherness' being the principal axis in the representational space, and social distance being the auxiliary axis. Taken together, our findings inform the burgeoning endeavour of connectome research about brain's network architecture and how it impacts on social cognition.

Psychological Continuum of Elderly Patients Suffering from Arterial Hypertension with Metabolic Syndrome, Against the Background of Chronotherapy with a Fixed Combination of Amlodipine, Lisinopril and Rosuvastatin

Aim To study the psychological continuum in elderly patients with arterial hypertension associated with metabolic syndrome during the chronotherapy with a fixed combination (FC) of amlodipine, lisinopril, and rosuvastatin.Material and methods In the inpatient conditions, 63 patients aged 60–74 years with arterial hypertension associated with metabolic syndrome were treated with chronotherapy with a FC of amlodipine, lisinopril, and rosuvastatin (5 / 10 / 10 mg/day in the evening). These patients composed the main group. The control group (58 patients aged 60–74 years with arterial hypertension associated with metabolic syndrome) was treated with the FC of amlodipine, lisinopril, and rosuvastatin at the same dose of 5 / 10 / 10 mg/day in the morning.Results At one year, the disorders of psychological continuum were significantly decreased with the chronotherapy (evening dosing) with the antihypertensive FC of amlodipine, lisinopril, and rosuvastatin compared to the traditional treatment (morning dosing) at the same dose of 5 / 10 / 10 mg/day in both groups. With the chronotherapeutic approach, the dynamic of cognitive disorders in patients aged 60–74 years with arterial hypertension associated with metabolic syndrome was characterized by a significant increase in the Mini-Mental-State-Examination scale score from 17.8±0.3 at baseline to 23.5±0.4 with the evening dosing (р<0.001) vs. the increase from 16.9±0.3 to 20.4±0.4 (р<0.001) with the morning dosing. The situational anxiety score decreased from 40.0±2.2 to 30.6±1.8 (р<0.05) and from 40.8±2.5 to 33.5±1.9 (р<0.05), and the trait anxiety score decreased from 48.8±2.0 to 26.4±1.9 (р<0.001) and from 44.9±1.9 to 30.7±1.7 (р<0.01) with the evening and morning dosing, respectively. Depressive disorders slightly decreased with the chronotherapy by 14.1 % vs. 7.7 % with the traditional regimen; nevertheless, they were consistent with depressive spectrum disorders in both groups.Conclusion The study results showed a higher effectiveness of the chronotherapeutic treatment compared to the traditional treatment with FC of amlodipine, lisinopril, and rosuvastatin in arterial hypertension with metabolic syndrome.

Psychological continuum of elderly hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome receiving chronotherapy with a fixed-dose combination of amlodipine, lisinopril and rosuvastatin

Aim. To study the psychological continuum of elderly hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) receiving chronotherapy with a fixed-dose combination of amlodipine, lisinopril and rosuvastatin.Material and methods. In a clinical setting, 63 hypertensive patients with MS aged 60-74 years (experimental group) received chronotherapy with fixed-dose combination of amlodipine, lisinopril and rosuvastatin (Ekvamer®) at a dose of 5/10/10 mg in the evening (8 pm). The control group of hypertensive patients with MS aged 60-74 years old (n=58) received Ekvamer® in the morning (conventional therapy) at the same dosage.Results. With fixed-dose combination of amlodipine, lisinopril and rosuvastatin, the severity of psychological continuum abnormalities significantly decreases after 1 year in the chronotherapy regimen (evening intake) than with morning intake with an equivalent dosage of 5/10/10 mg per day in both cases. The dynamics of cognitive impairments in hypertensive patients aged 60-74 years with MS using chronotherapy regimen is characterized by a significant increase in the mean MMSE score from the initial 17,8±0,3 to 23,5±0,4 points (p±0,001) vs 16,9±0,3 to 20,4±0,4 points (p<0,001) when taking the drug in the morning. Situational anxiety decreased from 40,0±2,2 to 30,6±1,8 points (p<0,05) vs 40,8±2,5 to 33,5±1,9 points (p<0,05), personal anxiety from 48,8±2,0 to 26,4±1,9 (p<0,001) vs from 44,9±1,9 to 30,7±1,7 (p<0,01) points, respectively. Depressive disorders slightly decreased with chronotherapy (14,1%) vs 7,7% than with the conventional scheme, but despite this, they corresponded to depressive spectrum disorders in both groups.Conclusion. The results obtained indicate a greater efficiency of chronotherapy than the conventional use of fixed-dose combination of amlodipine, lisinopril and rosuvastatin in hypertensive patients with MS.

Connecting Customer Knowledge Management and Intention to Use Sport Services Through Psychological Involvement, Commitment, and Customer Perceived Value

Despite the increasing importance of customer knowledge management (CKM) as a strategic resource for sport service organizations, little sport management research has examined the link between CKM and consumers’ intention to use sport services. Using the psychological continuum model as the theoretical framework, this study examines whether CKM predicts consumers’ intention to use sport services. Participants (N = 686) were recruited from nonprofit sports clubs in Urmia, Iran. Structural equation modeling results revealed positive relationships between CKM, psychological involvement, perceived value, commitment, and intention to use. Furthermore, both CKM and psychological involvement had positive indirect effects on intention to use through perceived value and commitment. Findings from this study highlight the importance of psychological involvement and perceived value in promoting intention to use sport services at nonprofit sports clubs and CKM’s role as a key antecedent.

What Makes a Fan a Fan?

The objective of this chapter is to examine how consumers become fans of Apple products through hero worship of Steve Jobs. To bolster the understanding of this interesting phenomenon regarding how consumers establish psychological connection with Steve Jobs, the psychological continuum model (PCM) and social identity theory are applied as frameworks to assess the evolvement process of Steve Jobs' fans across four progressive stages. To allocate these fans into distinct stages that represent an increased psychological connection, the authors conducted a content analysis of web reviews based on two Steve Jobs online fan communities. The findings indicate that progressive development of fans can be classified into four stages of awareness, attraction, attachment and allegiance with discrete psychological, and behavioral outcomes.