Article
Psychiatry
Sohee Park
Summary: The author elaborates on three research programs that she has pursued to understand the causes of schizophrenia: working memory and behavior guidance, disrupted social cognition, and bodily-self disturbances.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Linda Scoriels, Larissa T. Genaro, Stella Keffer, Anna Luiza Guimaraes, Barbara Barros-Dumas, Luana G. Mororo, Thales Biagioni, Camila Lucena, Thais R. da Hora, Barbara J. Sahakian, Melissa Fisher, Sophia Vinogradov, Rogerio Panizzutti
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of auditory and visual neuroscience-informed cognitive training on emotion processing and social cognition in individuals with schizophrenia. Both auditory and visual training were effective at improving emotion processing and social cognition, with the auditory training group showing more remarkable improvement. The improvements were related to cognitive improvement, not symptom improvement.
SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Keane Lim, Zixu Yang, Nur Amirah Abdul Rashid, Bhing Leet Tan, Justin Dauwels, Jimmy Lee
Summary: The study found that individuals with schizophrenia performed poorer in emotion recognition and theory of mind tasks compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls. There was no statistically significant difference in social cognitive performance between individuals with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Cristiana Montemagni, Elisa Del Favero, Cecilia Riccardi, Laura Canta, Mario Toye, Enrico Zanalda, Paola Rocca
Summary: The study found that computer-assisted cognitive remediation (CACR) programs showed significant improvements in cognitive function, reduction in depressive symptoms, enhancement of social cognition, and real-world functioning compared to standard therapy in patients with schizophrenia. Notably, significant improvements were observed in specific metacognitive sub-functions and verbal learning, indicating the potential benefits of integrating CACR into mental health rehabilitation services.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rainer K. W. Schwarting
Summary: This review examines the introduction and scientific applications of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in rats, addresses methodological challenges, and discusses the interpretation of these vocalizations as communicative signals and indicators of emotional status.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Anna Serra-Mayoral, Celia Mareca, Ramon Cano, Anna Romaguera, Montserrat Alsina, Lina Gutierrez, Elia Valls, Salvador Sarro, Peter J. McKenna, Edith Pomarol-Clotet, Caterina Calderon
Summary: The study found that the BAT, as a tool for assessing Theory of Mind in psychotic patients, showed high sensitivity and accuracy, providing valuable insights into their cognitive impairments.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Zita Fekete, Edit Vass, Martina Farkas-Pocs, Ramona Balajthy, Ildiko Szabo Kuritarne
Summary: This study investigates the verbal manifestations of schizophrenia patients within the theory of mind modules of Metacognitive Training. The research found that schizophrenia patients attempt to interpret facial expressions and expressive movements during emotion recognition. They seek contextual information when deducing the state of others, and are willing to share the burden of the illness and stigma. However, they show no signs of awareness of the consequences of the inferred states regarding future adjustment.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Social
Sander van de Cruys, Jo Bervoets, Stephen Gadsby, David Gijbels, Karolien Poels
Summary: This paper explores the importance of information-seeking activities of conspiracists and their impact on the appeal and development of conspiracy beliefs. It suggests that curiosity, insight experiences, and other cognitive experiences play a crucial role in the formation of conspiracy theories. The paper also hypothesizes that individuals experiencing more uncertainty or epistemic exclusion may have a higher need for autonomous epistemic agency and discovery.
PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Christopher J. Hyatt, Bruce E. Wexler, Brian Pittman, Alycia Nicholson, Godfrey D. Pearlson, Silvia Corbera, Morris D. Bell, Kevin Pelphrey, Vince D. Calhoun, Michal Assaf
Summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia (SZ), and typically developed (TD) individuals were compared in their engagement in dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) states during social-emotional processing. Results showed differences in neural processing of emotions between ASD and TD, with ASD spending more time in a sad-associated state compared to TD individuals. This highlights the importance of examining whole-brain reconfiguration of FNC to understand unique emotion-specific dFNC states.
Article
Psychiatry
Rachal R. Hegde, Synthia Guimond, Deepthi Bannai, Victor Zeng, Shezal Padani, Shaun M. Eack, Matcheri S. Keshavan
Summary: This study validated the False Belief task as a measure of Theory of Mind in schizophrenia and found that individuals with schizophrenia exhibited reduced brain activation in the bilateral TPJ during the task, which was positively associated with ToM abilities. Lower neural activity in the bilateral TPJ was associated with ToM impairments observed in individuals with early course schizophrenia.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Abhishek Saxena, Bridget J. Shovestul, Emily M. Dudek, Stephanie Reda, Arun Venkataraman, J. Steven Lamberti, David Dodell-Feder
Summary: In this study, researchers investigated the feasibility of training volitional control of the theory of mind network using real-time fMRI neurofeedback. The results demonstrated that participants were able to achieve volitional control in most regions during the training tasks and transfer task. The study also found a strong association between volitional control and thinking about prior social experiences. However, there were some limitations in the study design and sample size, and further research is needed to replicate the findings. Nonetheless, this study highlights the potential clinical applications of training volitional control of a social cognitive brain network.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Simge Uzman Ozbek, Ekin Sut, Emre Bora
Summary: This study compared group differences in social and non-social cognition in individuals with ASD and schizophrenia and examined the impact of age and other factors on these differences. The findings showed that schizophrenia was associated with more severe impairments in non-social cognition, while ASD was associated with more severe impairments in social cognition. The pattern and developmental trajectories of these deficits differed between the two disorders and were also influenced by age and other factors.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Jose Augusto Silva Reis, Giordano Novak Rossi, Flavia L. Osorio, Jose Carlos Bouso, Jaime Eduardo Cecilio Hallak, Rafael Guimaraes dos Santos
Summary: Recognition of emotions in facial expressions (REFE) is crucial for social cognition. Studies on major depressive disorder (MDD) have shown conflicting evidence regarding REFE alteration. This systematic review analyzed clinical trials on therapeutic interventions for MDD and their effects on REFE. While some interventions, such as drugs and psychotherapy, appeared to reduce REFE biases in MDD patients, significant heterogeneity was observed in terms of sample, interventions, tasks, and results. Further research and consistent evaluation tools are needed to understand the nuanced deficits and specific outcomes of different treatment options.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Yiting Weng, Jingxia Lin, Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu, Hector W. H. Tsang
Summary: In this study, a systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies using neuroimaging to measure theory of mind (ToM) in schizophrenia. The results showed that patients with schizophrenia exhibited hyperactivations in the superior longitudinal fasciculus II and hypoactivations in the superior frontal gyrus, precuneus and cuneus, and precentral gyrus during ToM tasks. The primary brain regions involved in the potential neuropathways in schizophrenia were the middle temporal gyrus, superior and inferior frontal gyrus, and supplementary motor areas.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Kah Kheng Goh, Mong-Liang Lu
Summary: The study suggests that oxytocin levels are associated with social cognition and social dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia have more deficits in social cognition and social dysfunction, along with lower plasma oxytocin levels. Plasma oxytocin levels are positively correlated with affective Theory of Mind (ToM) in patients with schizophrenia, and the effects of oxytocin on social functioning are partially mediated by affective ToM.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Martin Bruene, Sarah Maria von Hein, Christian Claassen, Rainer Hoffmann, Carsten Saft
Summary: Patients with Huntington's disease (HD) show some understanding of fairness rules in a neuroeconomic game, but they do not punish observed unfairness from a third-party perspective. This lack of altruistic punishment is linked to deficits in executive functioning and theory of mind.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vera Flasbeck, Martin Bruene
Summary: The methylation of FKBP5 gene region is associated with anxiety and psychopathological symptom load index, as well as lower empathic abilities. Psychopathology and empathy impairments are related to the level of childhood maltreatment, but there is no difference in methylation of FKBP5 gene region between clinical and non-clinical groups. Methylation of NR3C1 is lower in BPD patients compared to healthy controls, with small differences.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Christoph Bamberg, Vera Flasbeck, Georg Juckel, Martin Bruene
Summary: The study demonstrated that the indicator of central serotonergic activity, LDAEP, increases after food consumption and is related to mood improvement. Furthermore, LDAEP is selectively modulated by the type of nutrition consumed. Additionally, the study showed a high intraindividual stability of LDAEP.
CLINICAL EEG AND NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Clara Maiss, Luisa Engemann, Katharina Kern, Vera Flasbeck, Andreas Muegge, Thomas Luecke, Martin Bruene
Summary: The study found that BPD patients had lower HRV, which was associated with reduced approach to angry faces. Following social exclusion, the BPD group showed the highest approach to happy faces and the lowest approach to angry faces.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Udo Bonnet, BenediktBernd Claus, Martin Schaefer, Jens Kuhn, Peter Nyhuis, Norbert Scherbaum, Martin Brune, Velat Wakili, Georg Juckel
Summary: This study examined the influence of psychiatric medications on COVID-19 and found no significant association with the duration and severity of the virus. Some promising relationships with antidepressants, anticoagulants, and RAAS-inhibitors were noted before p-value adjustment, warranting larger prospective studies to reevaluate the impact of routine medications on COVID-19-related health outcomes.
PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rebecca J. Williams, Elliot C. Brown, Darren L. Clark, G. Bruce Pike, Rajamannar Ramasubbu
Summary: This study found that in patients with major depressive disorder after one week of pharmacological treatment, those who responded to the treatment showed increased brain activation related to negative emotional expressions, while non-responders and healthy controls did not show this change. In addition, responders showed more activation in the brain regions involved in emotion processing tasks.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Vera Flasbeck, Christoph Bamberg, Martin Brune
Summary: This study investigated the effects of fasting and consumption of standardized carbohydrate and protein shakes on interoception. Results showed that fasting and intake of shakes can influence cardiac measures of autonomic nervous system functioning and neural correlates of cardiac interoception. These findings may have relevance for diets and psychosomatic disorders, including eating disorders.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Benjamin Otto, Lisa Kokkelink, Martin Brune
Summary: The study found that BPD patients had higher scores on the fast Pace-of-Life Syndrome (PoLS), were more aggressive, experienced more chronic stress, and had more severe childhood adversity. Childhood trauma predicted PoLS, which in turn predicted allostatic load (AL).
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Correction
Clinical Neurology
Elisabeth Petrasch-Parwez, Andreas Schoebel, Alia Benali, Zahra Moinfar, Eckart Foerster, Martin Bruene, Georg Juckel
EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Morris Gellisch, Oliver T. Wolf, Nina Minkley, Wolfgang H. Kirchner, Martin Brune, Beate Brand-Saberi
Summary: This study examines the implications of transitioning from face-to-face to online learning from a psychobiological perspective. The results suggest that face-to-face learning elicits stronger stress responses compared to online learning, as evidenced by decreased Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and higher cortisol concentrations in medical students.
ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Olivia Plett, Vera Flasbeck, Martin Bruene
Summary: This study examined the effects of animal-assisted and human-guided skills training on neurobiological correlates of affiliation and stress regulation. The results showed that both interventions had significant short-term effects on affiliative and stress hormones, with no difference between the two approaches in this regard.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marius Markmann, Melanie Lenz, Oliver Hoeffken, Agne Steponaviciute, Martin Bruene, Martin Tegenthoff, Hubert R. Dinse, Albert Newen
Summary: Through hypnosis suggestions, semantic content can instantly and systematically alter spatial discrimination of tactile perception, indicating that this change is a result of modified perceptual processes, rather than simply altered judgment based on perception.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Vera Flasbeck, Annegret Matthiessen, Anne Alabowitz, Adina Carmen Rusu, Martin Bruene
Summary: Research has shown that empathy for both somatic and psychological pain is influenced by the subjective evaluation of somatic pain and general pain sensitivity. In a study involving 55 healthy participants, individuals who were more sensitive to somatic pain exhibited higher levels of empathy for both somatic and psychological pain.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Katharina Kern, Kathrin Sinningen, Luisa Engemann, Clara Maiss, Beatrice Hanusch, Andreas Muegge, Thomas Luecke, Martin Bruene
Summary: This study found that plasma Hcy levels were significantly higher in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) compared to healthy controls, and were significantly correlated with the severity of childhood trauma, chronic stress, and subjective sleep disturbances. These findings support the association between BPD and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and suggest Hcy as a potential marker for evaluating midlife CVD risk in BPD patients.
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER AND EMOTION DYSREGULATION
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
C. Kossmann, J. Heller, M. Bruene, C. Schulz, M. Heinze, J. Cordes, B. Muehlbauer, E. Ruether, J. Timm, G. Gruender, G. Juckel
Summary: The study found that psychosocial functioning of patients with schizophrenia is related to disease severity and skill level, as well as quality of life, well-being under treatment, and sexual activities.
PSYCHIATRIC QUARTERLY
(2021)
