Computer-based Task Research Articles

Maladaptive Restrictive Food Choice Behavior in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa.

Individuals with anorexia nervosa persistently restrict their food intake while often severely underweight. This maladaptive food choice behavior and related decision-making processes have mainly been investigated in adults. It is unknown whether the same decision-making processes drive food choices in adolescents, given their more favorable treatment outcomes. This study investigated maladaptive food choice behavior in adolescents with AN and examined whether they display the same decision-making processes as adults. Adolescents with AN (n = 42) and age-matched controls (n = 42) completed a computer-based food choice task, rating food images for healthiness and tastiness before choosing between two food items. Adolescents with AN chose high-fat foods less frequently than controls, with food choices more influenced by their perceived "healthiness" and less by their "tastiness" than they did among controls. Relative to controls, adolescents with AN also reported lower overall tastiness ratings and greater habit strength of restrictive eating, which was, however, not related to food choices. Adolescents with AN display the same maladaptive food choice behavior as adults, namely the persistent restriction of high-fat food choices. Their choices were more strongly influenced by the perceived healthiness of a food item, compared to the choices of controls.

Secondary School Students’ Enacted Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in a Computer-Based Writing Task–Insights from Digital Trace Data and Interviews

AbstractStudying in digital learning environments highlights the skills needed to regulate one’s own learning. In youth, students are acquiring and developing these skills, but for many students, effectively self-regulating their learning is challenging. To design support in this regard, an in depth understanding of how and why their self-regulated learning (SRL) is enacted is needed. This study focuses on secondary school students’ enacted SRL strategies in a computer-based, multi-source writing task to detect and explain differences between high- and low-performing students. To address this aim, the students’ SRL processes during the task were captured using digital trace data (N = 50, navigational log, mouse, and keyboard data) and supplemented with stimulated recall interviews (n = 17). Raw trace data were parsed by implementing an existing theory-based process library that automatically detects the SRL processes. The durations and network properties of and transitions between the SRL processes of students in the highest and lowest essay score tertiles were investigated, involving the novel application of network metrics, and a qualitative content analysis for the stimulated recall data was performed. The results show that successful students differed from less successful ones regarding the time they allotted for the SRL processes, the number of distinct transitions between them, as well as transition probabilities. The successful students expressed a larger proportion of and different cyclical patterns of SRL processes during the task. The student interviews contextualise these findings and complement them by revealing qualitative differences in students’ monitoring of learning. This study provides novel insights into SRL among young students in computer-based writing task and suggests approaches for designing effective, personalised support for students’ adaptive learning strategies, which can be useful in developing educational technology and teacher education.

Neural correlates of systemic lidocaine administration in healthy adults measured by functional MRI: a single arm open label study.

Intravenous lidocaine is increasingly used as a nonopioid analgesic, but how it acts in the brain is incompletely understood. We conducted a functional MRI study of pain response, resting connectivity, and cognitive task performance in volunteers to elucidate the effects of lidocaine at the brain-systems level. We enrolled 27 adults (age 22-55 yr) in this single-arm, open-label study. Pain response task and resting-state functional MRI scans at 3 T were obtained at baseline and then with a constant effect-site concentration of lidocaine. Electric nerve stimulation, titrated in advance to 7/10 intensity, was used for the pain task (five times every 10 s). Group-level differences in pain task-evoked responses (primary outcome, focused on the insula) and in resting connectivity were compared between baseline and lidocaine conditions, using adjusted P<0.05 to account for multiple comparisons. Pain ratings and performance on a brief battery of computer-based tasks were also recorded. Lidocaine infusion was associated with decreased pain-evoked responses in the insula (left: Z=3.6, P<0.001, right: Z=3.6, P=0.004) and other brain areas including the cingulate gyrus, thalamus, and primary sensory cortex. Resting-state connectivity showed significant diffuse reductions in both region-to-region and global connectivity measures with lidocaine. Small decreases in pain intensity and unpleasantness and worse memory performance were also seen with lidocaine. Lidocaine was associated with broad reductions in functional MRI response to acute pain and modulated whole-brain functional connectivity, predominantly decreasing long-range connectivity. This was accompanied by small but significant decreases in pain perception and memory performance. NCT05501600.

Inducing select/reject control in a matching-to-sample procedure with observing response: Effects on stimulus equivalence.

This study investigated a three-choice matching-to-sample procedure with an observing-response requirement to induce select and reject control during baseline training and examined their effects on the formation of equivalence classes. The study involved four girls, aged 8 to 10 years, who participated in a computer-based task that alternated between conditions designed to induce select and reject control by requiring observing responses to display the stimuli. In the select-control condition, the correct stimulus was revealed first on at least 75% of the trials, increasing the likelihood of selecting the correct stimulus without seeing the incorrect ones. In contrast, in the reject-control condition, the correct stimulus was revealed third on at least 75% of the trials, forcing the display of both incorrect stimuli. This procedure successfully generated both select and reject control, which increased progressively with the accuracy during baseline training trials. Select control was more prominent than reject control, but both led to the formation of equivalence classes. This finding suggests that reject control does not hinder control by the correct stimulus.

Evolutionary Cognitive Enhancement: Stimulating Whole-Body Problem-Solving Capacities

AbstractThis article argues that understanding the primary functions of cognitive processes in our evolutionary past can help to develop effective cognitive enhancement methods. The adaptive problems our ancestors faced forged interconnected cognitive and motor mechanisms supporting various movement-based problem-solving processes. However, the physical and social challenges these cognitive-motor capacities originally evolved to address are no longer prevalent in modern societies. Consequently, many adaptive problem-solving mechanisms linked to a wide range of body movements are often underused and insufficiently developed in modern contexts, contributing to age-related cognitive decline. From this view, and considering current cognitive enhancement techniques such as cognitive training, neurostimulation, physical exercise, and combined cognitive and physical training, the present article introduces an evolutionary-inspired cognitive enhancement framework. This framework advocates for developing strategies and training methods that stimulate our evolved cognitive-motor adaptations. In particular, therapeutic interventions should incorporate adaptive problems and whole-body movement solutions into modern technologies and computer-based tasks.

HMM for discovering decision-making dynamics using reinforcement learning experiments.

Major depressive disorder (MDD), a leading cause of years of life lived with disability, presents challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to its complex and heterogeneous nature. Emerging evidence indicates that reward processing abnormalities may serve as a behavioral marker for MDD. To measure reward processing, patients perform computer-based behavioral tasks that involve making choices or responding to stimulants that are associated with different outcomes, such as gains or losses in the laboratory. Reinforcement learning (RL) models are fitted to extract parameters that measure various aspects of reward processing (e.g. reward sensitivity) to characterize how patients make decisions in behavioral tasks. Recent findings suggest the inadequacy of characterizing reward learning solely based on a single RL model; instead, there may be a switching of decision-making processes between multiple strategies. An important scientific question is how the dynamics of strategies in decision-making affect the reward learning ability of individuals with MDD. Motivated by the probabilistic reward task within the Establishing Moderators and Biosignatures of Antidepressant Response in Clinical Care (EMBARC) study, we propose a novel RL-HMM (hidden Markov model) framework for analyzing reward-based decision-making. Our model accommodates decision-making strategy switching between two distinct approaches under an HMM: subjects making decisions based on the RL model or opting for random choices. We account for continuous RL state space and allow time-varying transition probabilities in the HMM. We introduce a computationally efficient Expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for parameter estimation and use a nonparametric bootstrap for inference. Extensive simulation studies validate the finite-sample performance of our method. We apply our approach to the EMBARC study to show that MDD patients are less engaged in RL compared to the healthy controls, and engagement is associated with brain activities in the negative affect circuitry during an emotional conflict task.

EEG-CogNet: A deep learning framework for cognitive state assessment using EEG brain connectivity

The assessment of cognitive states such as workload, attention, and fatigue is crucial in cognitive science and human performance fields due to its significant impact on work efficiency and decision-making. This paper introduces a deep learning framework for cognitive state assessment using Electroencephalogram (EEG) brain connectivity. The framework was evaluated using EEG data from 26 participants through three computer-based tasks: the Dual N-Back Task, Visual Search Task, and Continuous Performance Task, each designed to induce varying levels of cognitive workload, attention, and fatigue, respectively. A comprehensive dataset was meticulously compiled, including physiological, behavioral, and subjective data to ensure robust analyses. The EEG data underwent rigorous pre-processing and feature extraction processes, focusing on brain connectivity metrics such as Coherence and Phase-Locking Value across multiple frequency bands and employing three neural network architectures: Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN), and Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory networks (ConvLSTM) for classification. The proposed work achieved classification accuracies of 96.53% for workload, 98.40% for attention, and 97.86% for fatigue in the combined frequency bands. The study’s findings underscore the potential of EEG-based methods for non-invasive cognitive state monitoring. By addressing existing limitations such as small sample sizes and task-specific models, this research enhances the generalizability and applicability of EEG-based cognitive assessments. The implications of these advancements are significant for fields requiring continuous cognitive monitoring, such as defense, healthcare, and high-risk operational environments.

Test performance in optional shift and configural acquired equivalence are positively correlated.

In two experiments, participants completed two computer-based tasks: a configural acquired equivalence procedure and an optional-shift procedure. Both revealed that test performance was positively correlated, even when controlling for nonspecific variables. This finding supports the suggestion that a common mechanism underlies performance in both tasks. Experiment 2 included eye tracking to the stimuli used in the task. We found that participants who attended to the predictive compound elements in the optional-shift training went on to show stronger attentional-set effects in the subsequent test. The relationship between attention and performance is considered by reference to attentional and nonattentional learning theories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Cognitive Symptoms Are Not Associated with Cognitive Performance in Post-Acute mTBI.

Subjective cognitive symptoms are commonly reported after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) but are often not associated with objective cognitive performance. This may be due to limitations in traditional cognitive performance measures, which may not be sensitive to subtle variations in cognition in post-acute mTBI. This study explored associations between objective and subjective cognition using computer-based tasks of increasing cognitive load, proposed to be more sensitive to subtle differences in performance. Individuals with mTBI (n = 68) and trauma controls (n = 40) were prospectively recruited and assessed approximately 8weeks post-injury. Participants completed measures of subjective symptom reporting, objective cognitive performance (including two computer-based tasks of increasing cognitive load), and psychological distress. There were no significant associations between subjective and objective cognition reporting in the mTBI group, both in bivariate correlations (|r| = 0.01-0.20, p> .05) and when controlling for psychological distress (|r| = 0.00-0.17, p> .05). A similar pattern of results was observed in trauma controls, suggesting that the limited relationships between objective and subjective cognition in mTBI may not be specific to this population. Despite employing measures of cognitive performance proposed to be more sensitive than traditional tasks, no significant relationships were observed between objective and subjective cognition in post-acute mTBI, and estimated effect sizes were small to negligible. This provides further evidence that at a group level 8weeks after mTBI subjective cognitive symptoms primarily reflect factors aside from objective cognition.

Digital assessment of cognitive-affective biases related to mental health.

With an increasing societal need for digital therapy solutions for poor mental health, we face a corresponding rise in demand for scientifically validated digital contents. In this study we aimed to lay a sound scientific foundation for the development of brain-based digital therapeutics to assess and monitor cognitive effects of social and emotional bias across diverse populations and age-ranges. First, we developed three computerized cognitive tasks using animated graphics: 1) an emotional flanker task designed to test attentional bias, 2) an emotional go-no-go task to measure bias in memory and executive function, and 3) an emotional social evaluation task to measure sensitivity to social judgments. Then, we confirmed the generalizability of our results in a wide range of samples (children (N = 50), young adults (N = 172), older adults (N = 39), online young adults (N=93), and depression patients (N = 41)) using touchscreen and online computer-based tasks, and devised a spontaneous thought generation task that was strongly associated with, and therefore could potentially serve as an alternative to, self-report scales. Using PCA, we extracted five components that represented different aspects of cognitive-affective function (emotional bias, emotional sensitivity, general accuracy, and general/social attention). Next, a gamified version of the above tasks was developed to test the feasibility of digital cognitive training over a 2-week period. A pilot training study utilizing this application showed decreases in emotional bias in the training group (that were not observed in the control group), which was correlated with a reduction in anxiety symptoms. Using a 2-channel wearable EEG system, we found that frontal alpha and gamma power were associated with both emotional bias and its reduction across the 2-week training period.

Exploration of effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation on circadian rhythms and its associations with sleep and spatial memory in patients with breast cancer: The ICANSLEEP-2 protocol.

Patients with breast cancer (BC) exhibit circadian rhythm disruptions, mainly of rest-activity rhythm (RAR), of which sleep is an essential component, and cortisol rhythm. Sleep complaints such as insomnia and cognitive impairments are prevalent in BC. In general population, sleep is known to contribute greatly to cognition. Thus, improving RAR (and particularly sleep) could help limiting cognitive impairments in BC patients. It has recently been suggested that, in addition to its essential role in spatial memory, the vestibular system contributes to RAR synchronization. Its stimulation could therefore limit both sleep disturbances and spatial memory deficits in BC. The main aim of the ICANSLEEP-2 study is to assess the effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) on circadian rhythms. The secondary aim is to assess whether GVS improves sleep and spatial memory in BC patients. Two groups with insomnia complaints (Insomnia Severity Index > 7) will be included: a patients' group with BC (n = 50) and a healthy control group without history of cancer (n = 25). There will be two assessment sessions, before and after 2 weeks of GVS. Patients will be randomly assigned to either a GVS group or a sham group (noneffective stimulation). Controls will receive GVS. GVS effects will be quantified and compared between groups. Assessments will include actigraphy, salivary cortisol, polysomnography, a cognitive test battery (including a computer-based task for spatial memory) and validated questionnaires (for psychological functioning and sleep complaints). Current methods for improving sleep in BC have had controversial outcomes regarding sleep structure. We expect GVS to offer a new mean of directly targeting RAR disruptions in BC patients, with beneficial effects on sleep structure. Given the crucial impact of sleep on cognitive functioning, notably spatial memory, improving sleep of BC patients should enhance their cognitive functioning. This study received ethical approval from the Ile de France IV institutional review board on 19 April 2022 (no. ID-RCB: 2022-A00437-36). The findings yielded by this protocol will be presented at various conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. NCT05414357.

A quantitative study on peripersonal space in anorexia nervosa and healthy subjects: Role of social variables and association with psychopathology

ObjectivesThis study investigates peripersonal space (PPS) modulation in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) versus healthy controls (HCs) and explores associations between PPS, eating-related, and general psychopathology. MethodForty-six patients and 42 HCs completed a computer-based task observing videos of an approaching actor (male or female) displaying different facial expressions along with a non-social condition. Then, participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing eating-related and general psychopathology. ResultsMixed-models revealed that both groups adjusted PPS based on task conditions, with a gender effect favoring closer proximity to female actor. HCs reduced PPS amplitude progressively during the task, while patients did not show this effect. In patients, wider PPS correlated with lower self-esteem and facial expression identification accuracy, while in HCs, PPS was associated to body dissatisfaction and anxiety symptoms. ConclusionThese findings enhance understanding of bodily self-consciousness, suggesting PPS consideration in therapeutic interactions with patients with AN and as a potential target in treatments addressing social impairment.

Visual search for real-world scenes in patients with Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Visual attention-related processes that underlie visual search behavior are impaired in both the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), which is considered a risk factor for AD. Although traditional computer-based array tasks have been used to investigate visual search, information on the visual search patterns of AD and MCI patients in real-world environments is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in visual search behaviors among individuals with AD, aMCI, and healthy controls (HCs) in real-world scenes. A total of 92 participants were enrolled, including 28 with AD, 32 with aMCI, and 32 HCs. During the visual search task, participants were instructed to look at a single target object amid distractors, and their eye movements were recorded. The results indicate that patients with AD made more fixations on distractors and fewer fixations on the target, compared to patients with aMCI and HC groups. Additionally, AD patients had longer fixation durations on distractors and spent less time looking at the target than both patients with aMCI and HCs. These findings suggest that visual search behavior is impaired in patients with AD and can be distinguished from aMCI and healthy individuals. For future studies, it is important to longitudinally monitor visual search behavior in the progression from aMCI to AD. Our study holds significance in elucidating the interplay between impairments in attention, visual processes, and other underlying cognitive processes, which contribute to the functional decline observed in individuals with AD and aMCI.

Does feedback type matter? The superiority of process feedback over performance feedback in interdependent teamwork

BackgroundFeedback plays an important role for individuals and teams. While there is a lot of research on performance feedback, positive effects of process feedback (divided into individual- and team-level) are little studied. In particular, the simultaneous consideration of individual variables and feedback characteristics and their influence on feedback perceptions in the feedback process is missing. AimsThe present study analyzes the effects of three feedback conditions (i.e., performance feedback, team-level process feedback, and individual-level process feedback) on feedback perceptions (i.e., usefulness and fairness), as well as on feedback acceptance and team awareness. Sample142 randomly assigned two-person teams. MethodsEach team worked on four computer-based team tasks in the C³Fire microworld and received one type of feedback after completing each 15-min scenario. Measurements were taken after the second (T1) and fourth (T2) scenarios. ResultsStructural equation modeling results revealed positive effects of feedback orientation at T0 on feedback usefulness and feedback fairness at T1, and of usefulness and fairness on feedback acceptance at T2. Feedback usefulness (but not fairness) was also a positive predictor of team awareness at T2. Team-level process feedback resulted in overall positive effects on usefulness and fairness. In general, the effects on perceived usefulness appeared to be stronger than on perceived fairness of the feedback. ConclusionsTeam-level process feedback in teamwork and individual feedback orientation are important for perceived usefulness and fairness of the feedback. Team awareness may be enhanced by increasing feedback usefulness; feedback acceptance may be enhanced by increasing feedback usefulness and fairness.

Going back to "basics": Harlow's learning set task with wolves and dogs.

To survive and reproduce, animals need to behave adaptively by adjusting their behavior to their environment, with learning facilitating some of these processes. Dogs have become a go-to model species in comparative cognition studies, making our understanding of their learning skills paramount at multiple levels, not only with regards to basic research on their cognitive skills and the effects of domestication, but also with applied purposes such as training. In order to tackle these issues, we tested similarly raised wolves and dogs in a serial learning task inspired by Harlow's "learning set." In Phase 1, different pairs of objects were presented to the animals, one of which was baited while the other was not. Both species' performance gradually improved with each new set of objects, showing that they "learnt to learn," but no differences were found between the species in their learning speed. In Phase 2, once subjects had learned the association between one of the objects and the food reward, the contingencies were reversed and the previously unrewarded object of the same pair was now rewarded. Dogs' performance in this task seemed to be better than wolves', albeit only when considering just the first session of each reversal, suggesting that the dogs might be more flexible than wolves. Further research (possibly with the aid of refined methods such as computer-based tasks) would help ascertain whether these differences between wolves and dogs are persistent across different learning tasks.

Media multitasking: Performance differences between younger and older adults and the role of working memory

We examined the effects of media multi- vs. single-tasking on performance in a scenario that resembled the media multitasking requirement of many contemporary office workplaces.Older (n = 117, Mage = 70.99 years, SD = 5.18) and younger adults (n = 109, Mage = 22.86, SD = 3.93) performed a repetitive computer-based reading task (Task 1) that, in the multitasking condition, was repeatedly interrupted by news app messages that the participants had to read for comprehension (Task 2). In the single-tasking condition, the messages appeared after Task 1 was completed. In both conditions, participants afterwards answered questions about the message content. Performance in Task 1 was poorer in the multi- than in the single-tasking condition, but there was no evidence of greater multitasking costs in the older compared to the younger adults. Regarding Task 2, there was no indication of multitasking costs in any age group, but older adults showed poorer comprehension, regardless the task requirements. This effect of age was mediated via working memory updating abilities. Thus, the way information is commonly presented in social media, that is, usually bit-by-bit and not ordered by topic, seems to disadvantage older readers due to poorer updating abilities.All in all, the results provide some indication that, in terms of task accuracy, older adults do not appear to be at a disadvantage compared to younger adults when it comes to coping with the multitasking demands of digitalized societies.

Work-related musculoskeletal complaints: risk factors and impact on work productivity among university administrative employees

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a significant workplace problem leading to loss of productivity and disability. Administrative workers perform computer-based tasks for long periods. Consequently, they are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study was to explore the frequency and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal complaints and their impact on work productivity among administrative employees of Suez Canal University, Egypt.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 administrative employees through simple random sampling. Data were collected by an interview questionnaire including sociodemographic, work-related data, ergonomic and psychological risk factors, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ).ResultsThe frequency of work-related musculoskeletal complaints in at least one anatomical region over the past year was 74.7%. Neck (47.1%), lower back (40.7%), and shoulder (36.3%) were the most reported sites of complaints. Risk factors significantly associated with work-related musculoskeletal complaints were gender, age, physical activity, work experience, workplace stress, sustained body position, awkward posture, and inadequate rest breaks. Logistic regression revealed that older age (OR = 1.039, p = 0.023), being female (OR = 2.175, p = 0.011), and not having adequate rest breaks (OR = 1.979, p = 0.019) were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. The risk factors of absenteeism include gender, age, marital status, educational level, physical activity, BMI, work experience, and musculoskeletal complaints.ConclusionMusculoskeletal problems were highly prevalent among administrative employees. Being female and not having adequate rest breaks were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. Ergonomic interventions and improvement of working conditions are recommended to reduce WMSDs.

Challenges with computing scalar and ad-hoc implicatures in Mandarin-speaking 4–8-year-old autistic children

IntroductionMixed findings have been reported about the computation of scalar or/and ad-hoc implicatures in primarily school-age autistic verbal children and adolescents: while some studies reported their struggles with both implicatures, others observed their strengths in computing scalar implicatures. This study extends the previous investigation by testing the derivation of scalar (including both number and quantifier) and ad-hoc implicatures of a younger group of Mandarin-speaking autistic 4–8-year-olds; moreover, we assess the biological, linguistic, and cognitive factors affecting children's implicature acquisition. MethodsThe participants included 22 4–8-year-old autistic verbal children (mean age = 67.64 months) and 19 typically developing (TD) children who did not significantly differ in age, receptive vocabulary, and non-verbal IQ. Both groups completed a computer-based Truth Value Judgment task, assessing their knowledge of scalar (involving the number ‘three’ and the quantifier ‘some’) and ad-hoc implicatures. We also examined whether their implicature computation was linked to age, receptive vocabulary, non-verbal IQ, and Theory of Mind (ToM). ResultsCompared with the TD controls, autistic children derived significantly fewer scalar and ad-hoc implicatures. Specifically, TD children successfully computed number and ad-hoc implicatures, contrasting to the bimodal distribution of their pragmatic vs. logical responses to quantifier implicatures. Though autistic children performed better with number implicatures slightly above the chance level, they had difficulties in computing quantifier and ad-hoc implicatures. Further, autistic children's knowledge of the number and ad-hoc implicatures was linked to their ToM skills. ConclusionsThese findings underscore the overall delayed implicature knowledge of young autistic children, and their low sensitivity to the implicatures is related to the core ToM deficits. Furthermore, our data confirm the coherent pattern of the earlier acquisition of number over quantifier implicatures and illuminate the distinct mechanisms underlying the computation of scalar vs. ad-hoc implicatures.

Feasibility and Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Social Prediction Training in Children and Young Adults with Congenital Cerebellar Malformations.

This study tested the feasibility and efficacy of a Virtual Reality (VR) social prediction training (VR-Spirit) specifically designed for patients with congenital cerebellar malformation. The study is a randomised controlled trial in which 28 cerebellar patients aged 7-25 yo were randomly allocated to the VR-Spirit or to a control intervention in VR. The VR-Spirit required participants to compete with different avatars in scenarios that prompted them to form predictions about avatars' intentions. The control intervention consisted of games currently adopted for motor rehabilitation. Social prediction as well as secondary neuropsychological and behavioural outcomes were assessed at the beginning (T0), at the end (T2) and after 2months (T3). The experimental group showed a significant increase, compared to the control participants, in social prediction assessed through a VR task. Moreover, at least at T3, the VR-Spirit enhanced the use of contextual predictions in a computer-based action prediction task. Importantly, these effects were generalized to secondary neuropsychological outcomes, specifically theory of mind and, only at T2, inhibition. No differences between the interventions were detected on emotional-behavioural problems. Lastly, both interventions showed high feasibility and acceptability. These findings confirm that it is possible to develop condition-specific rehabilitative training on the basis of neurocognitive functions impaired in case of congenital malformation. The VR-Spirit demonstrated to generalize its effects to theory of mind abilities, and it might be thus extended to other neurodevelopmental disorders that present social perception deficits and alterations of predictive processing.Trial registration: ISRCTN, ID: ISRCTN22332873. Retrospectively registered on 12 March 2018.

Role of executive functions in the relations of state- and trait-math anxiety with math performance.

The detrimental effect of math anxiety on math performance is thought to be mediated by executive functions. Previous studies have primarily focused on trait-math anxiety rather than state-math anxiety and have typically examined a single executive function rather than comprehensively evaluating all of them. Here, we used a structural equation modeling approach to concurrently determine the potential mediating roles of different executive functions (i.e., inhibition, switching, and updating) in the relationships between both state- and trait-math anxiety and math performance. A battery of computer-based tasks and questionnaires were administered to 205 university students. Two relevant results emerged. First, confirmatory factor analysis suggests that math anxiety encompassed both trait and state dimensions and, although they share substantial variance, trait-math anxiety predicted math performance over and above state-math anxiety. Second, working memory updating was the only executive function that mediated the relationship between math anxiety and math performance; neither inhibition nor switching played mediating roles. This calls into question whether some general proposals about the relationship between anxiety and executive functions can be extended specifically to math anxiety. We also raise the possibility that working memory updating or general cognitive difficulties might precede individual differences in math anxiety.