THE ROLE OF NEURO LINGUISTICS IN CREATIVE WRITING SHORT STORIES THROUGH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

This study aims to explore the role of neurolinguistics in writing creative short stories for students through an interdisciplinary approach. neurolinguistics is a field of study consisting of linguistics and medicine which studies the relationship between language and the human brain which is linked to cognitive neuroscience and sensory and cellular movement. The method used in this research is literature review or literature review. There are four stages or four phases in conducting this research (1) designing a review, (2) conducting a review, (3) analyzing and (4) writing a review. In neurolinguistics, the parts of the human brain are also studied. The brain has 3 main parts, namely the cerebrum (cerebrum), cerebellum (cerebellum), and brainstem (brainstem). There are six factors that must be considered in creative writing, namely general knowledge and cognition, creative cognition, process, motivation and conative, linguistics and literacy, and psychomotor. There are also four-pillar factors of neurolinguistics, namely outcome, rapport, sensory acuity, and flexibility. Neurolinguistics also studies the structure and parts of the human brain, including the cerebrum (large brain), cerebellum (cerebellum), brainstem (brain stem) and limbic system (limbic system). The part that is closely related to writing is the cerebellum (cerebellum).

Sensory Consumer and Descriptive Analysis of Steaks from Beef Animals Selected from Tough and Tender Animal Genotypes: Genetic Meat Quality Traits Can Be Detected by Consumers

The objective of the present study was to determine if animals who were genetically divergent in the predicted tenderness of their meat actually produced more tender meat, as well as what the implications were for other organoleptic properties of the meat. The parental average genetic merit for meat tenderness was used to locate 20 “Tough genotype” heifers and 17 “Tender genotype” heifers; M. longissimus thoracis steaks from all heifers were subjected to sensory affective analysis (140 consumers) and sensory profiling using two trained sensory panels. All sample steaks were treated identically regarding pre- and post-mortem handling, storage, cooking and presentation (i.e., randomised, blind coded). For the affective consumer study, eight steaks were sectioned from the same location of the striploin muscles from each of the heifers. In total, 108 steaks from the Tender genotype and 118 from the Tough genotype were tested in the consumer study to determine the preference or liking of these steaks for appearance, aroma, flavour, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability. The consumer study found that the Tender genotype scored higher (p < 0.0001) for liking of tenderness, juiciness, flavour and overall acceptability compared to the Tough genotype. Similar results were generally found for the separate consumer age cohorts (18–64 years) with lower sensory acuity in the 65+ age cohort. For the descriptive analysis, the Tender genotype scored numerically more tender, juicy and flavoursome, although the differences were only significant for one of the panels. The critical outcome from this study is that parental average genetic merit can be used to pre-select groups of animals for tenderness, which, in turn, can be detected by consumers.

Claustral Projections to Anterior Cingulate Cortex Modulate Engagement with the External World

Engagement is a major determinant of performance. Hyper-engagement risks impulsivity and is fatiguing over time, while hypo-engagement could lead to missed opportunities. Even in sleep, when engagement levels are minimal, sensory responsiveness varies. Thus, maintaining an optimal engagement level with the environment is a fundamental cognitive ability. The claustrum, and in particular its reciprocal connectivity with executive regions in the frontal cortex, has been associated with salience, attention and sleep. These apparently disparate roles can be consolidated within the context of engagement. Here we describe the activity of claustro-frontal circuits in a task imposing a tradeoff between response inhibition and sensory acuity (ENGAGE). Recording calcium fiber photometry during >80,000 trials, we characterize claustrum recruitment during salient behavioral events, and find that a moderate level of activity in claustro-cingulate projections defines optimal engagement. Low activity of this pathway is associated with impulsive actions, while high activity is associated with behavioral lapses. Chemogenetic activation of cingulate-projecting claustrum neurons suppressed impulsive behavior and reduced the engagement of mice in the task. This relationship became even clearer upon addressing individual variability in the strategy mice employed during the ENGAGE task. Furthermore, this association of claustrum activity and engagement extends into sleep. Using simultaneous EEG and photometry recordings in the claustrum, we find that cingulate projecting claustrum neurons are most active during deep unresponsive slow-wave sleep, when mice are less prone to awakening by sensory stimuli.

Effect of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) on Anxiety: A Systematic Literature Review

Anxiety is a feeling of helplessness, and worry about things that are not clear, as well as a comprehensive feeling that something bad is going to happen. Anxiety is experienced subjectively and communicated interpersonally, at the same time feelings of anxiety are a necessary survival instinct. The Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a communicative approach employs a positive view of anxiety and how it can help shape life changes, and that is the topic of this article. This research method uses a Systematic Literature Review, investigating Garuda, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Proquest, using boolean for keyword neurolinguistics programming (NLP) and anxiety. The inclusion criteria used were Indonesian and English language articles written within the last 5 years (from 2015 until 2020). The exclusion criteria used by the article were abstract writing style, inaccessible, or lacking national accreditation. Articles were tested with Critical Appraisal Tools. The studies indicate that good communication using NLP can help reduce anxiety and can promote changes in a person’s behavior patterns. There are several NLP techniques including sensory acuity, reframing, anchoring, rapport, and pacing, and leading. NLP can improve knowledge, skills and attitudes, communication skills, self-management, mental health, reduce work stress, and self-efficacy. Keywords: Anxiety, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NLP

Revisiting Cattle Temperament in Beef Cow-Calf Systems: Insights from Farmers’ Perceptions about an Autochthonous Breed

Understanding temperament is an important part of cattle production since undesirable temperament may cause serious problems associated with aggression, maternal care, and human safety. However, little is known about how farmers define or assess temperament, especially in autochthonous cattle breeds. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of farmers about the temperament of the Pyrenean cattle breed with special attention to beef cow-calf systems in Spain. The methodology used to obtain the information was focus group discussions (FGD). Farmers defined temperament as a behavioural response to challenging situations imposed by human handling. Specific terms used were related to active or passive reactions to fear (e.g., “strong”, “aggressive”, “nervous”, “fearful”). The speed of response to stimuli was also important. Female temperament was thought to become more docile with age while bull temperament was more variable. Maternal aggressiveness was highlighted as a potential human safety problem, but also desirable in an extensively bred animal who may need to defend calves against predators. Anatomical characteristics were seen as unreliable predictors of temperament, while behavioural indicators were more widely used, such as “alertness”, which was a general trait of the breed, and “gaze”, which, when associated with an alert expression, suggests a potential threat. Sensory acuity, such as sight and smell, were thought to be related with temperament in some FGDs but there was no overall agreement as to whether different behavioural responses were due to differences in sensory acuity. The results from the study could be useful during training programs or in the development of new genetic selection schemes and evaluation protocols involving cattle temperament.

The 2020 Yearbook of Neurorestoratology

COVID-19 has been an emerging and rapidly evolving risk to people of the world in 2020. Facing this dangerous situation, many colleagues in Neurorestoratology did their best to avoid infection if themselves and their patients, and continued their work in the research areas described in the 2020 Yearbook of Neurorestoratology. Neurorestorative achievements and progress during 2020 includes recent findings on the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, neurorestorative mechanisms and clinical therapeutic achievements. Therapeutic progress during this year included advances in cell therapies, neurostimulation/neuromodulation, brain-computer interface (BCI), and pharmaceutical neurorestorative therapies, which improved neurological functions and quality of life for patients. Four clinical guidelines or standards of Neurorestoratology were published in 2020. Milestone examples include: 1) a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of olfactory ensheathing cell treatment of chronic stroke showed functional improvements; 2) patients after transhumeral amputation experienced increased sensory acuity and had improved effectiveness in work and other activities of daily life using a prosthesis; 3) a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis used a steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based BCI to achieve accurate and speedy computer input; 4) a patient with complete chronic spinal cord injury recovered both motor function and touch sensation with a BCI and restored ability to detect objects by touch and several sensorimotor functions. We hope these achievements motivate and encourage other scientists and physicians to increase neurorestorative research and its therapeutic applications.

Enhancing sensory acuity and balance function using near-sensory biofeedback-based perturbation intervention for individuals with traumatic brain injury

BACGROUND: Interventions addressing balance dysfunction after traumatic brain injury (TBI) only target compensatory aspects and do not investigate perceptual mechanisms such as sensory acuity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a novel intervention that integrates sensory acuity with a perturbation-based approach for improving the perception and functional balance after TBI. METHODS: A two-group design was implemented to evaluate the effect of a novel, perturbation-based balance intervention. The intervention group (n = 5) performed the intervention with the sinusoidal (0.33, 0.5, and 1 Hz) perturbations to the base of support with amplitudes derived using our novel outcome of sensory acuity - perturbation perception threshold (PPT). The efficacy is evaluated using changes in PPT and functional outcomes (Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed-up and Go (TUG), 5-meter walk test (5MWT), and 10-meter walk test (10MWT)). RESULTS: There was a significant post-intervention change in PPT for 0.33 Hz (p = 0.021). Additionally, clinically and statistically significant improvements in TUG (p = 0.03), 5MWT (p = 0.05), and 10MWT (p = 0.04) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary efficacy of a novel, near-sensory balance intervention for individuals with TBI. The use of PPT is suggested for a comprehensive understanding and treatment of balance dysfunction. The promising results support the investigation in a larger cohort.