Article
Psychology, Clinical
Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez, Amit Lazarov, Xi Zhu, Daniel S. Pine, Yair Bar-Haim, Yuval Neria
Summary: Through eye-tracking and resting-state functional connectivity research, it was found that there are differences in attention allocation to negative stimuli between patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and the healthy control group, and these differences are related to the connectivity status of reward-related brain areas.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucas Bohlen, Jonah Schwarze, Jannik Richter, Bernadette Gietl, Christian Lazarov, Anna Kopyakova, Andreas Brandl, Tobias Schmidt
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) on resting muscle tone in healthy subjects. A randomized trial found that OMT significantly changed muscle tone, biomechanical properties, and viscoelastic properties, but was not affected by muscle-technique pairings. Additionally, there were differences in muscle tone between genders.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Ann-Kathrin Arend, Rebekka Schnepper, Annika Petra Christine Lutz, Katharina Naomi Eichin, Jens Blechert
Summary: Research findings suggest that individuals with BED show heightened food-cue reactivity under negative emotions, regardless of the caloric content of the food. This supports the theory of emotional eating and points to a heightened response to all foods in individuals with BED. Inconsistencies between appetitive ratings and aversive corrugator responses indicate ambivalent food responses under negative emotions in BED patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
A. Benjamin Srivastava, Juan Sanchez-Pena, Frances R. Levin, John J. Mariani, Gaurav H. Patel, Nasir H. Naqvi
Summary: The study suggests that reduced resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) between the anterior insula (AI) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) may be a mechanism of compulsive drinking in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Individual differences in reductions in AI-BNST RSFC during cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) were directly related to reductions in the number of heavy drinking days, indicating a potential target for treatment.
ALCOHOL-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Physiology
J. Jean Chen, Claudine J. Gauthier
Summary: Task and resting-state functional MRI are based on the same BOLD phenomenon as MRI-based cerebrovascular reactivity mapping, with CVR estimation playing a key role in calibrated BOLD fMRI. CVR has implications for resting-state functional connectivity and is a major source of vascular bias in calibrated fMRI. Research is increasingly focusing on estimating CVR without challenges, including using resting-state fMRI for this purpose.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neuroimaging
Allen A. Champagne, Nicole S. Coverdale, Matti D. Allen, Joshua C. Tremblay, Rebecca E. K. MacPherson, Kyra E. Pyke, T. Dylan Olver, Douglas J. Cook
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in functional connectivity strength (FCS) with age were influenced by vascular parameters. The results showed that FCS was greater in older adults compared to younger ones. However, when considering vascular parameters, the group differences in FCS disappeared. These findings suggest that future studies should take into account vascular physiological markers in order to enhance our understanding of aging effects on brain connectivity.
BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Samuel C. Berry, Richard G. Wise, Andrew D. Lawrence, Thomas M. Lancaster
Summary: Pre-clinical and human neuroimaging research indicates that the extended-amygdala (ExtA) plays a role in regulating negative emotional states and substance-use behaviors. A study with a large sample of healthy young adults found that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) have overlapping intrinsic functional connectivity networks (ICNs), but no evidence of heritability within the BST-CeA connection was found. Additionally, there were no significant correlations or co-heritability associations with negative disposition and alcohol use across the ICNs or for specific BST-amygdala intrinsic functional connectivity.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Editorial Material
Psychology, Clinical
Matthew J. Hirshberg, Simon B. Goldberg, Melissa Rosenkranz, Richard J. Davidson
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas, Blake A. Colaianne, Matthew J. Hirshberg, Mark T. Greenberg, Richard J. Davidson, John D. Dunne, David Germano, Robert W. Roeser
Summary: This study investigates whether variability in the implementation of an undergraduate course on human flourishing is differentially associated with student outcomes. The findings suggest that despite differences in teaching methods and student engagement, the outcomes of the students are similar. Institutions interested in offering this course can make limited adaptations without concerns of altering its impact on students.
JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Educational
Matthew J. Hirshberg, Corrina Frye, Cortland J. Dahl, Kevin M. Riordan, Nathan J. Vack, Jane Sachs, Robin Goldman, Richard J. Davidson, Simon B. Goldberg
Summary: While the mental health of students during the COVID-19 pandemic has received considerable attention, this study highlights the importance of addressing the well-being of educators. The study found that a smartphone-based meditation app, the Healthy Minds Program (HMP), significantly reduced psychological distress and improved well-being among teachers. These findings suggest that the HMP could be an effective approach to support the mental health and well-being of educators and have positive implications for student outcomes.
JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Elizabeth M. Planalp, Kristin N. Dowe, Andrew L. Alexander, H. Hill Goldsmith, Richard J. Davidson, Douglas C. Dean III
Summary: This study examines the neural correlates of negative emotions in infants and found that the microstructure of white matter tracts at 1 month of age is associated with the expression of fear later in infancy. Specifically, the left stria terminalis, a tract connecting frontal and tempo-parietal regions, showed differential associations with the level and change in infant fear. These findings suggest the unique neurobehavioral characteristics of fear as early as 1 month of age and contribute to our understanding of affective development.
DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Matthew J. J. Hirshberg, Richard J. J. Davidson, Simon B. B. Goldberg
Summary: Educator mental health is connected to several urgent educational issues. A study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of school system employees experienced clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms. Lower family income was associated with higher stress levels, more severe depressive symptoms, and decreased intentions to stay in the same job, contributing to the current staffing shortages in schools. Supporting the mental health of educators should be prioritized as a policy.
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Sin U. Lam, Kevin M. Riordan, Otto Simonsson, Richard J. J. Davidson, Simon B. B. Goldberg
Summary: Despite the well-documented psychological benefits of meditation practice, limited research has examined factors associated with meditation practice persistence. This study explored rates and correlates of meditation persistence using a population-based sample in the USA. The findings provide insights into factors that may promote persistence with meditation, which can guide the delivery of meditation training.
Article
Clinical Neurology
P. A. Rowley, M. J. Paukner, L. B. Eisenmenger, A. S. Field, R. J. Davidson, S. C. Johnson, S. Asthana, N. A. Chin, V. Prabhakaran, B. B. Bendlin, B. R. Postle, H. H. Goldsmith, C. M. Carlsson, M. A. Brooks, N. H. Kalin, L. E. Williams, H. A. Rowley
Summary: This study investigated 16,400 brain MRIs and found that incidental findings are common, ranging from trivial to life-threatening. Formal neuroradiologist interpretation yielded more reliable results compared to spontaneous detection by nonradiology scanning staff.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wendy C. Crone, Pelin Kesebir, Beverly Hays, Shilagh A. Mirgain, Richard J. Davidson, Susan C. Hagness
Summary: The mental health crisis in graduate education highlights the importance of engineering graduate programs providing effective methods to promote well-being. Mindfulness-based training has been found to improve emotional well-being and research capacity. A study conducted on engineering graduate students showed significant improvements in emotional health, neuroticism, positive affect, negative affect, and mindfulness after participating in a mindfulness training program.
Article
Psychology, Social
Qinggang Yu, Stacey M. Schaefer, Richard J. Davidson, Shinobu Kitayama
Summary: The study examined the moderating role of behavioral adjustment on the relationship between neuroticism and brain structure. Findings indicated that behavioral adjustment significantly moderated the effect of neuroticism on total brain volume (TBV), with a negative association between neuroticism and TBV only observed when behavioral adjustment was low.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Matthew J. Hirshberg, Blake Colaianne, Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas, Godwill Oke, Natalia Van Doren, Richard J. Davidson, Robert W. Roeser
Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college student mental health. The study found that anxiety, depression, and well-being of college students did not significantly worsen during the pandemic compared to before. Additionally, more frequent in-person social interactions were associated with lower anxiety and depressive symptoms, higher well-being, but also less compliance with handwashing and face mask-wearing.
JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Psychology, Biological
Laura D. Kubzansky, Elissa S. Epel, Richard J. Davidson
Summary: Hopelessness and despair have negative impacts on health and longevity, thus strategies to improve population health are urgently needed. Prosociality plays a significant role in promoting better mental and physical health for individuals and communities, making it a priority for public health.
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Simon B. B. Goldberg, Zishan Jiwani, Daniel M. M. Bolt, Kevin M. M. Riordan, Richard J. J. Davidson, Matthew J. J. Hirshberg
Summary: Bidirectional associations between alliance and distress were found in a 4-week smartphone-based meditation intervention, similar to results from in-person psychotherapy. Alliance may play an important role in promoting engagement and effectiveness within unguided mobile-health interventions. Measuring alliance in unguided mHealth tools may improve their acceptability and effectiveness.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Christian A. Webb, Matthew J. Hirshberg, Oscar Gonzalez, Richard J. Davidson, Simon B. Goldberg
Summary: There is limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of psychosocial interventions. This study demonstrates the importance of considering individual differences and subgroup-specific mediators in understanding the mechanisms of change. By identifying baseline characteristics that predict differential response, we can gain insights into why certain interventions work for specific subgroups and inform personalized interventions.
JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Psychology
Laura D. Kubzansky, Eric S. Kim, Julia K. Boehm, Richard J. Davidson, Jeffrey C. Huffman, Eric B. Loucks, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Rosalind W. Picard, Stephen M. Schueller, Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald, Tyler J. VanderWeele, Katey Warran, David S. Yeager, Charlotte S. Yeh, Judith T. Moskowitz
Summary: Psychological well-being is associated with better physical health and can be improved through interventions. To improve population health, interventions need to be adapted and durable, and a shift to a public-health model is required. Interventions should be accessible and effective for diverse populations.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Heather C. Abercrombie, Alexandra L. Barnes, Elizabeth C. Nord, Anna J. Finley, Estelle T. Higgins, Daniel W. Grupe, Melissa A. Rosenkranz, Richard J. Davidson, Stacey M. Schaefer
Summary: A greater cortisol response to acute stress is associated with smaller increases in negative affect, suggesting mood-protective effects of cortisol elevations.
STRESS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Jose Sanchez-Bornot, Roberto C. Sotero, J. A. Scott Kelso, Ozguer Simsek, Damien Coyle
Summary: This study proposes a multi-penalized state-space model for analyzing unobserved dynamics, using a data-driven regularization method. Novel algorithms are developed to solve the model, and a cross-validation method is introduced to evaluate regularization parameters. The effectiveness of this method is validated through simulations and real data analysis, enabling a more accurate exploration of cognitive brain functions.
