Editorial for Annals of Psychophysiology Volume 12

Background: Methylation of the NR3C1 gene affects the glucocorticoid receptors, which are directly related to the stress response via the HPA axis. Exposure to various stressors can lead to methylation, causing significant changes in how a person interacts with their environment. Methods: A brief review was conducted of three research studies examining the interactions between the environment and the NR3C1 gene. Results: Research indicates an interplay between the type of stressor experienced, the degree of methylation, and an individual's level of resilience. NR3C1 methylation, which occurs in infants as a response to perinatal stressors, may be, at least temporarily, adaptive. In adolescents, NR3C1 methylation is affected by exposure to stressors and trauma. Conclusion: Methylation of the NR3C1 gene can occur in response to the environment, and these changes impact a person’s behavior to varying degrees.

Background: Understanding mood changes before and after a fight is crucial for optimizing performance and ensuring fighters' mental well-being. This study aimed to analyze mood changes among Pakistani mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in a pre-and post-fight context, exploring the psychophysiological underpinnings of these shifts and their implications for the fighters' mental health and performance. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 healthy male MMA fighters, aged between 10 and 30 years, from various ethnic backgrounds, who were engaged in a daily routine of 90 minutes of MMA fighting. Mood analysis was carried out using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire pre- and post-fight. Results: The psychological variations were observed, and significant differences were noted in the scores for anger (P-value=0.012), tension (P-value=0.001), vigor (P-value=0.000), confusion (P-value=0.014), and overall BRUMS score (P-value=0.029) in the winners while only vigor (P-value=0.000) was significantly increased among the individuals who lost the fight. The mean STAI score decreased significantly among both winners and losers (Pvalue= 0.002 and 0.004, respectively). Further, the mean POMS score decreased among winners while it drastically increased for the losers but insignificantly. Conclusion: The study revealed that MMA fighters experience significant psychological changes post-fight, with winners showing reduced anger, tension, and confusion, and a marked decrease in anxiety and vigor. In contrast, losers primarily exhibited a significant drop in vigor and increase confusion and TMD scores, indicating a more negative psychological impact.

Objective: This literature review proposes new directions for future studies using the predictive processing model to study the collaboration of sensory information with cognitive predictions, taking into account the role of psychiatric conditions, trait absorption, and psychedelics in perceptual processing. Methodology: We reviewed the current literature on perception, multisensory integration, and biorhythms to understand the factors influencing the effect of predictions on sensory processing. Additionally, we applied the predictive processing model to explain how perceptual priming’s influence on emotional awareness and interoception results in paranormal experiences. Results: This review indicates many different factors influence predictive processing, including interoception, psychiatric conditions, trait absorption, and psychedelics. Analysis of the relevant research suggests that the administration of psychedelics and levels of high trait absorption facilitate the emergence of new sensory integration pathways, cultivating the potential for novel or transcendent experiences. Conclusion: This review reveals a variety of factors affecting perceptual processes. Based on the application of the predictive processing model, this review suggests that future studies on perception should focus on reducing the role of expectation in the perceptual processes by means of the administration of psychedelics or the selection of individuals with high levels of trait absorption. A greater understanding of the power of prediction on our perception has the potential to impact the way we experience pain, hunger, thirst, temperature, and even anxiety and depression. Such knowledge could open new doors for treatments or medical interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of play-based therapy in improving motor skills among children with cerebral palsy. This review aims to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials and cohort studies to inform pediatric rehabilitation practices. BACKGROUND: A neurodevelopmental disease known as cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by long-lasting motor deficits that negatively impact everyday functioning and quality of life. Frequent physical exercises are a common component of traditional rehabilitation techniques, but they could not provide the level of involvement required for long-term progress in juvenile populations. METHODOLOGY: This systematic review assessed the data from 18 research published between January 2018 and January 2025, including 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 8 cohort studies. Relevant search phrases were used to conduct database searches in PubMed, Cochrane Library, BMJ, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. Using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (for cohort studies) and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (for RCTs), studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria were evaluated critically. RESULTS: Following play-based therapy, the examined trials showed notable improvements in motor outcomes. Gross and fine motor skills, balance, and functional mobility all showed improvements; the effect sizes varied according on the severity of CP, the length of the intervention, and the uniformity of the protocol. Moreover, improved engagement and therapeutic adherence were commonly found in all of the investigations. CONCLUSION: For children with cerebral palsy, play-based therapy is an engaging and successful way to manage motor deficits. This method improves motivation, adherence, and neuroplasticity by incorporating therapeutic exercises into pleasurable, purposeful activities. Although more standardization and long-term research are required to maximize results, the data support its inclusion as a fundamental part of pediatric rehabilitation.

Objective: This narrative review examines the role of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), particularly reciprocal electrical stimulation (RES), in enhancing motor function and limb recovery in infants with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). Methods: A literature search was conducted from 2021 to 2024 using PubMed, Google Scholar, and PEDro, focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and pilot RCTs. A narrative synthesis was employed due to the limited number of eligible studies. Results: Three studies met the inclusion criteria. NMES has demonstrated promising outcomes in promoting motor recovery and reducing muscle degeneration, with RES showing particularly beneficial effects. Conclusion: NMES, specifically RES, may be therapeutically valuable in NBPP rehabilitation. However, further high-quality and standardized studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Health is the prime concern of the modern world, and with the increasing life span, both the physical and mental health of human being decline, eventually affecting the cognitive abilities of a person, which may be due to normal aging processes or neuropathological reasons. A cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between BDNF level, neurological disturbance, and aging.
 Methodology: Cognitive assessment is done through verbal fluency test (FAS, DSST, and 6CIT) and BDNF level in blood found through HPLC utilizing the ALIZA kit method.
 Results: Descriptive statistics were applied for continuous variables. Hence, one-way ANOVA was performed to show the relationship between cognitive parameters and aging.
 Conclusion: Our study reports that verbal fluency disturbs as lifetime increases, although sex, education, obesity, or lifestyle does not affect cognition.

Background: Current research inspects the concerns of students of the university about terrorism and their capacity to bounce back, and the coping strategies they are using to deal with it. A cross-sectional study research design is employed in the current study.
 Methodology: The sample is comprised of 387 students collected from faculties of Karachi University (1) Faculties of Social Sciences, Islamic Studies, Education, Law, and Administrative Sciences and (2) Faculties of Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Medicine. A consent form, demographic sheet, Students' concerns about terrorism scale, Brief resilience scale, and COPE inventory were administered to students. 
 Results: Demonstrated significant positive relationship among Anti-Terrorism, Peace, and Female emancipation. Further linear regression analysis shows that peace scores explain a 21.8% variance and female Emancipation score explains an 18.4% variance in the Anti-terrorism score. Multivariate analysis of variance shows a significant difference between gender in scores of Anti-terrorism, peace, female emancipation, and coping strategies (self-destruction, substance use, and positive reframing). 
 Conclusion: Participants' resilience was found to be in the normal range. A significant positive relationship was found between Anti-Terrorism, Peace, and Female emancipation. Those who had anti-terrorist views were in favor of peace and Female emancipation.

Background: Childbirth-related traumatic experiences are an overlooked area of psychological suffering, often leading to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and difficulties in bonding between mother and baby. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing as a brief psychological intervention in reducing Birth Trauma symptoms.
 Methodology: Using a prospective experimental longitudinal design, 12 women residing in Singapore with Birth Trauma symptoms received three 90-minute eye-movement and desensitization (EMDR) sessions over two weeks on average. Participants were assessed through two trauma self-report questionnaires and underwent a brief Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) assessment.
 Results: Post-treatment assessment showed significant differences in mean trauma scores with a 76% reduction on the Modified Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire (z = -3.061, p = .002) and 70% reduction on the Impact of Event Scale Revised (z = -3.061, p = 0.002). Skin conductance response changes from baseline to stressor reduced by 4% but were not statistically significant (z = -.863, p = 0.39).
 Conclusion: Brief EMDR has shown promise as an effective treatment for Birth Trauma. Larger controlled randomized studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR when compared to a placebo control group.

The psychophysiology of wellbeing is an important field of study that explores the relationship between mental and physical health. This interdisciplinary field integrates knowledge from psychology, neuroscience, biology, and physiology to understand how positive emotions, attitudes, and behaviors can impact physical health outcomes. Introducing the psychophysiology of wellbeing in undergraduate programs can provide students with valuable knowledge and skills to promote their own wellbeing and mental health, increase awareness of the connection between mental and physical health, and potentially open up new prospects of collaborations and wellbeing overall.