Behavioral Correlates Research Articles

Contextual and Psychological Factors of Face Mask-Wearing Among Secondary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Toronto

Background: Several studies have investigated the factors associated with mask-wearing in adults, but very few studies have explored mask wearing in children or schools. As such, our study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and psychological factors impacting mask-wearing in high school students. Methods: In February 2023, a cross-sectional survey was distributed online to Grade 9–12 students in a school located in Toronto. The association between knowledge, attitudes and psychological variables was evaluated using descriptive statistics and Kendall’s tau-b rank correlation tests. Thematic analysis was then used to summarize the qualitative responses. Results: A total of 62 participants fully completed the survey. 46.8% (n = 29) identified as male, 43.5% (n = 27) as female, and the median age was 16 years (IQR, 15–17 years). Almost all participants indicated that they were knowledgeable about COVID-19's modes of transmission (n = 57, 92.0%) and preventative measures (n = 60, 96.8%). More participants supported voluntary masking in schools (n = 34, 54.9%) compared to mask mandates (n = 16, 25.9%). Attitudes towards masking in schools, perceived susceptibility, perceived aesthetic, and anxiety-reduction benefits were positively correlated with higher frequencies of mask-wearing (τb = 0.238 to 0.491, p = 0.03 to <0.001). However, perceived barriers (e.g., physical discomfort, hindrance to communication, inconvenience) were negatively correlated (τb = -0.259 to -0.385, p = 0.0019 to <0.001). Age, sex, self-reported COVID-19 knowledge, perceived severity, and perceived medical benefits were not significant correlates of masking behaviour. Qualitative reasons that encouraged individuals to wear masks included protection and aesthetic reasons. Students who did not wear masks questioned the necessity of mask-wearing and commented on the new social norm of not wearing a mask among their classmates. Conclusion: Adolescent mask-wearing is significantly correlated with pre-existing attitudes towards masks, while perceived barriers strongly discourage students from wearing masks. Future research should investigate how to best promote positive beliefs regarding mask-wearing to youth.

CORRELATES OF PREVENTIVE BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the correlates of preventive behaviour towards diabetes mellitus among the elderly in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State. The research design adopted for this study was a descriptive correlational research design. The study population comprised twelve thousand, three hundred and seventy-eight (12,378) elderly persons (60 years and above) in Port Harcourt Metropolis. The sample size for the study was 420. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select the sample. The instrument for data collection in this study was a structured questionnaire with reliability coefficient of 0.79. Data collected were analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS V-25) using mean, standard deviation and Pearson Correlation at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed the preventive behaviour towards diabetes mellitus among the elderly in Port Harcourt Metropolis was good (2.85±0.83). Specifically, the respondents always avoided sugar-rich drinks (3.69±0.66), avoided cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption (3.68±0.61), engaged in regular blood sugar testing (3.59±0.83), and sometimes avoided stress as much as possible (3.59±0.83). The result revealed a statistically significant relationship between diabetes mellitus type 2 preventive behaviour and variables such as knowledge (N = 391, r = 0.29, p = 0.00), family history (N = 391, r = 0.46, p = 0.03), religion (N = 391, r = 0.19, p = 0.00), and social support (N = 391, r = 0.63, p = 0.02). It was concluded that, good preventive behaviour towards type 2 diabetes mellitus among the elderly State is linked mainly to personal and social factors. Such factors are: knowledge, educational status, family history, religious affiliation and social support which are correlated with type 2 diabetes prevention among the elderly. It was recommended among others that the National Institute of Diabetes should design proactive strategies to uphold the good preventive behaviour found by providing all essential resources for them at subsidized rates.

Perpetration of non-consensual sharing of sexual content among adolescents: socio-moral and emotional competencies, gender-based attitudes, and sexual behavior correlates

Perpetration of non-consensual sharing of sexual content among adolescents: socio-moral and emotional competencies, gender-based attitudes, and sexual behavior correlates

Identifying the Strongest Correlates of Condom Use Among US Adolescents

Condoms are effective at preventing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy; however, only 52% of sexually active US adolescents used a condom at last intercourse. To examine (1) the association between 36 psychosocial variables and adolescent condom use to determine the strongest correlates of condom use behavior across the literature, (2) heterogeneity of these effects, and (3) the moderating roles of age, gender/sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and year of study. A systematic search was conducted of studies published between January 2000 and February 2024 using Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Communication Source databases, plus relevant review articles and unpublished data. Studies were included if they (1) were observational studies of US adolescents (mean sample age <19 years), (2) included adolescent reports of condom use behavior and a correlate of interest, and (3) were available in English after January 2000. Investigators extracted data on participant characteristics, study methods, settings, correlates, condom use outcomes, and study quality. Correlation coefficients and 95% CIs were computed from studies and meta-analyzed using random-effects models. The primary outcome was adolescent-reported condom use behavior. A total of 249 studies with 283 independent samples (251 713 adolescents; weighted mean age, 16.2 years) were synthesized. Twenty-three correlates were significantly associated with adolescent condom use. The correlates of condom use with the largest weighted mean effects were condom use at first sex (Pearson r = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.36-0.56), condom use intentions (Pearson r = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.35-0.48), and condom communication with a partner (Pearson r = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.29-0.52). Safer sex knowledge-a primary focus of many sex education efforts-was not significantly associated with condom use (Pearson r = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.10 to 0.05). Most effects (24 of 31 [77%]) were statistically significantly heterogeneous; age, gender/sex, sexual orientation, and year of study explained heterogeneity in only a few effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis identified the strongest and weakest correlates of adolescent condom use across nearly 25 years of research. These results can be used to refine sexual behavior theory and guide more targeted evidence-based intervention efforts for adolescents.

Associations of health beliefs and worry with COVID-19 protective behaviors among lung cancer patients.

Although cognitions have predicted COVID-19 protective behaviors in cancer populations, theory suggests that emotions may be more predictive of these behaviors. This study examined Health Belief Model (HBM) variables as correlates of COVID-19 protective behaviors in lung cancer patients and whether worry about COVID-19 was associated with these behaviors beyond the effects of HBM variables. From 2021 to 2022, 191 patients (62.3% female, mean age = 66 years, range = 34-91 years, mean time post-diagnosis = 2 years, range = 0.4-22 years) completed a one-time survey. Results of regression analyses showed that fewer perceived barriers to mask wearing were associated with greater mask wearing, and greater perceived severity of COVID-19 was associated with more social distancing. Higher levels of worry about COVID-19 were associated with greater mask wearing and social distancing above and beyond the effects of HBM variables. HBM variables and worry were unrelated to hand hygiene. Results are largely consistent with theory and suggest potential intervention targets.

Disentangling the neural underpinnings of response inhibition in disruptive behavior and co-occurring ADHD.

While impaired response inhibition has been reported in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), findings in disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) have been inconsistent, probably due to unaccounted effects of co-occurring ADHD in DBD. This study investigated the associations of behavioral and neural correlates of response inhibition with DBD and ADHD symptom severity, covarying for each other in a dimensional approach. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were available for 35 children and adolescents with DBDs (8-18 years old, 19 males), and 31 age-matched unaffected controls (18 males) while performing a performance-adjusted stop-signal task. No significant association was found between behavioral performance and symptom severities. However, contrasting successful inhibition with failed inhibition revealed that DBD and ADHD symptom severity was associated with greater activation in the right inferior frontal regions and reduced activation in the bilateral striatal regions, respectively. During successful inhibition versus go-trials, ADHD symptom severity was associated with the left lateral occipital cortex activation. The contrast of failed inhibition versus go-trials revealed reduced activation in the right frontal and left parietal regions associated with DBD symptom severity while ADHD symptom severity was associated with bilateral precunei, dorsolateral prefrontal and left posterior parietal regions. Except for the right inferior frontal regions during successful versus failed inhibition, all clusters were also found to be inversely associated with the other dimension of interest (i.e., DBD or ADHD symptoms). Opposite direction of the associations between DBD and ADHD symptom severity, and fronto-parietal and fronto-striatal activation suggest unique contributions of DBD and ADHD to the neural correlates of response inhibition.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Health Care Trainees, Staff and Faculty at an Academic Medical Center.

Background/Objectives: Health care workers are at greater risk for death by suicide compared to the general population and are less likely to seek assistance. More information about correlates of suicidality and treatment-seeking behavior are needed to reduce risk. Methods: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention developed an Interactive Screening Program to identify and engage at-risk staff and trainees in health care settings. The study reports on the prevalence and demographic and clinical predictors of current suicidal thoughts, behaviors and mental health treatment at a single site (n = 5898) from 2009 to 2024. Results: The study found that 18.2% of respondents reported current suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These were more common among respondents who were younger, male, and who identified as a race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors were more likely among those with higher PHQ-8 scores (OR = 1.23, p < 0.01) and those who endorsed maladaptive coping behaviors, hopelessness, loneliness, stress and nervousness (ORs 1.36-3.04, ps < 0.01). Current mental health treatment was more likely among women, non-Hispanic White respondents compared with Asian or Pacific Islander respondents, and nurses relative to physicians. Mental health treatment was also associated with higher PHQ-8 scores, lifetime suicide attempts, difficulty controlling eating and alcohol consumption, and recent feelings of anxiety, stress and nervousness. Conclusions: Findings suggest a continued need to identify and engage health care trainees and staff who are at risk for suicide and to establish new approaches to linking these individuals to resources or interventions aimed at reducing risk. The study identified male and/or Asian/Pacific Islander-identifying health care workers who reported intense loneliness and/or hopelessness, use of non-prescription drugs and recent suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors as high-risk individuals who may require enhanced methods of outreach, identification, acceptance and accessibility of treatment.

Digital Image Correlation and Numerical Analysis of Mechanical Behavior in Photopolymer Resin Lattice Structures.

Cellular structures are increasingly utilized in modern engineering due to their exceptional mechanical and physical properties. In this study, the deformation and failure mechanisms of two energy-efficient lattice structures-hexagonal honeycomb and re-entrant honeycomb-were investigated. These structures were manufactured using additive stereolithography with light-curable Durable Resin V2. The experimental testing of the topologies under two perpendicular loading directions employed the 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system to capture strain fields and deformation patterns, providing insights into structural behavior and failure mechanisms. The unit cells of the topologies were scaled up to enable precise optical measurements while preserving their structural interaction characteristics. Numerical simulations, conducted using the SAMP-1 material model in LS-DYNA and calibrated with tensile and compression test data, accurately replicated the behavior of the studied topologies and demonstrated good agreement with experimental results. The hexagonal structure, loaded along axis 2, showed the best fit, with deviations within 5%, while the re-entrant honeycomb structure exhibited weaker yet reasonable agreement. By integrating experimental and numerical approaches, the research validates the SAMP-1 model's predictive capabilities for lattice structures and provides a framework for analyzing energy-absorbing lattice topologies.

Scale-free Spatio-temporal Correlations in Conformational Fluctuations of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins.

The self-assembly of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) into condensed phases and the formation of membrane-less organelles (MLOs) can be considered as the phenomenon of collective behavior. The conformational dynamics of IDPs are essential for their interactions and the formation of a condensed phase. From a physical perspective, collective behavior and the emergence of phase are associated with long-range correlations. Here the conformational dynamics of IDPs and the correlations therein are analyzed, using µs-scale atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments. The existence of typical scale-free spatio-temporal correlations in IDP conformational fluctuations is demonstrated. Their conformational evolutions exhibit "1/f noise" power spectra and are accompanied by the appearance of residue domains following a power-law size distribution. Additionally, the motions of residues present scale-free behavioral correlation. These scale-free correlations resemble those in physical systems near critical points, suggesting that IDPs are poised at a critical state. Therefore, IDPs can effectively respond to finite differences in sequence compositions and engender considerable structural heterogeneity which is beneficial for IDP interactions and phase formation.

Neural processing of auditory stimuli in rats: Translational aspects using auditory oddball paradigms.

The three-class oddball paradigm allows to investigate the processing of behaviorally relevant and irrelevant auditory stimuli. In humans, event-related potentials (ERPs) are used as neural correlate of behavior. We recorded local field potentials (LFPs) within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in rats during three-class and passive two-class oddball paradigms and analyzed the ERPs focusing on similarities to human recordings. Rats were trained in a three-class auditory oddball paradigm to respond by nose poke to an infrequent Target tone that was rewarded, while ignoring an infrequent Distractor and frequent Standard tone of different frequencies. After reaching a success criterion of correct responses to the Target and correct rejection of the Standard and Distractor (80 %,each), electrodes were stereotaxically implanted into the mPFC. The recording of the neuronal activity took place in the three-class oddball paradigm as well as in a passive two-class oddball paradigm with unfamiliar frequencies. Correct responding to the Target tone was accompanied by a higher amplitude of the ERP in comparison to the Standard and Distractor tones (p < 0.05). Target Miss, or incorrect responding to Distractor or Standard led to reduced, respectively enhanced peak latency. In the two-class oddball paradigm, the amplitude of the Distractor ERP was enhanced as compared to that after Standard (p < 0.05). ERPs derived from mPFC LFPs of rats show key characteristics similar to that derived from human EEGs. This model allows to investigate the processing of behaviorally important and irrelevant auditory stimuli in subcortical brain regions in a translational approach.

Examining psychological correlates of vaccine hesitancy: a comparative study between the US and Israel.

It is important to identify psychological correlates of vaccine hesitancy, including among people not from the United States (U.S.). College students were recruited between March-June 2023 in the US (n = 330, M age = 20.21, 79.5% female) and in Israel (n = 204, M age = 23.45, 92.6% female) to complete a cross-sectional survey on vaccine attitudes, emotions, and behavior. A 2 (Nation: US, Israel) × 2 (Vaccine Status: Vaccinated, Unvaccinated) factorial design was used. Individual ANCOVAS controlling for sociodemographic factors were conducted to test main effects of nation and vaccine status, and their interaction, across various psychological correlates of health behavior. Consistent with hypotheses, unvaccinated (vs. vaccinated) individuals reported higher perceived ambiguity, reactance, and anger as well as perceived lower susceptibility, severity, worry, positive emotion, and intentions to vaccinate. Contrary to hypotheses, unvaccinated individuals reported greater fear. Israeli (vs. American) participants reported higher perceived ambiguity, worry, fear, and anger, as well as lower perceived susceptibility. Vaccinated Americans reported higher intentions to vaccinate again in the future (M = 2.89, SE = 0.08) compared to vaccinated Israelis (M = 2.36, SE = 0.08). However, unvaccinated Americans reported lower intentions to vaccinate (M = 1.80, SE = 0.15) than unvaccinated Israelis (M = 1.95, SE = 0.21). Findings provide insight into correlates to target for vaccine promotion and emphasize the need for cultural tailoring.

Neural correlates of vicarious reward processing and peer victimization experiences in late childhood.

This preregistered study examined the neural correlates of vicarious reward processing and subsequent trust behavior in relation to experiences of victimization averaged over two years in late childhood. This study used a sample of children with prospective longitudinal data on peer victimization over the past two years (nbehavioral = 83, 49.4 % girls, Mage = 10.6 years, nfmri = 62). Participants played an fMRI vicarious reward task in which they could win or lose money for themselves and two other peers. The two other peers were experimentally manipulated to either include or exclude the participant in a Cyberball task prior to the task. Additionally, trust in the two peers was assessed using a one-shot trust game. Results revealed ventral striatum activation when winning (versus losing) for oneself, and activation in the dmPFC, vmPFC and precuneus when playing for excluders rather than for oneself. Victimization predicted decreased ventral striatum activation during personal rewards, and increased activation in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex when playing for excluders rather than for oneself. Finally, averaged victimization was associated with increased differentiation in trust toward the including and excluding peers. Together, these findings contribute to our understanding of the social cognitions and behaviors of victims of bullying.

The Impact of Electrophysiological Diversity on Pattern Completion in Lithium Nonresponsive Bipolar Disorder: A Computational Modeling Approach.

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) demonstrate episodic memory deficits, which may be hippocampal-dependent and may be attenuated in lithium responders. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CA3 pyramidal cell-like neurons show significant hyperexcitability in lithium-responsive BD patients, while lithium nonresponders show marked variance in hyperexcitability. We hypothesize that this variable excitability will impair episodic memory recall, as assessed by cued retrieval (pattern completion) within a computational model of the hippocampal CA3. We simulated pattern completion tasks using a computational model of the CA3 with different degrees of pyramidal cell excitability variance. Since pyramidal cell excitability variance naturally leads to a mix of hyperexcitability and hypoexcitability, we also examined what fraction (hyper- vs. hypoexcitable) was predominantly responsible for pattern completion errors in our model. Pyramidal cell excitability variance impaired pattern completion (linear model β = -2.00, SE = 0.03, p<0.001). The effect was invariant to all other parameter settings in the model. Excitability variance, specifically hyperexcitability, increased the number of spuriously active neurons, increasing false alarm rates and producing pattern completion deficits. Excessive inhibition also induces pattern completion deficits by limiting the number of correctly active neurons during pattern retrieval. Excitability variance in CA3 pyramidal cell-like neurons observed in lithium nonresponders may predict pattern completion deficits in these patients. These cognitive deficits may not be fully corrected by medications that minimize excitability. Future studies should test our predictions by examining behavioral correlates of pattern completion in lithium-responsive and -nonresponsive BD patients.

Cortical and behavioral correlates of alexia in primary progressive aphasia and Alzheimer's disease.

The underlying causes of reading impairment in neurodegenerative disease are not well understood. The current study seeks to determine the causes of surface alexia and phonological alexia in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and typical (amnestic) Alzheimer's disease (AD). Participants included 24 with the logopenic variant (lvPPA), 17 with the nonfluent/agrammatic variant (nfvPPA), 12 with the semantic variant (svPPA), 19 with unclassifiable PPA (uPPA), and 16 with AD. Measures of Surface Alexia and Phonological Alexia were computed by subtracting control-condition word reading accuracy from irregular word reading and pseudoword reading accuracy, respectively. Cases of Surface Alexia were common in svPPA, lvPPA, uPPA, and AD, but not in nfvPPA. At the subgroup level, average Surface Alexia was significantly higher in svPPA, lvPPA, and uPPA, compared to unimpaired age-matched controls. Cases of Phonological Alexia were common in nfvPPA, lvPPA, and uPPA, and average Phonological Alexia was significantly higher in these subgroups, compared to unimpaired age-matched controls. Behavioral regression results indicated that Surface Alexia can be predicted by impairment in the lexical-semantic processing of nouns, suggesting that a lexical-semantic deficit is required for the development of surface alexia, while cortical volume regression results indicated that Surface Alexia can be predicted by reduced volume in the left Superior Temporal Pole, which has been associated with conceptual-semantic processing. Behavioral regression results indicated that Phonological Alexia can be predicted by impairment on Pseudoword Repetition, suggesting that this type of reading difficulty may be due to impaired phonological processing. The cortical volume regression results suggested that Phonological Alexia can be predicted by reduced volume within the left Inferior Temporal Gyrus and the left Angular Gyrus, areas that are associated with lexical-semantic processing and phonological processing, respectively.

Informal caregiver quality of life: Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of quality of life among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual caregivers in the Women’s Health Initiative

Informal caregiver quality of life: Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of quality of life among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual caregivers in the Women’s Health Initiative

Differentiating the neurobiological correlates for reading gains in children with reading difficulties with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using fMRI.

Reading difficulties (RD) frequently co-occur with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and children with both RD + ADHD often demonstrate greater challenges in reading and executive functions (EF) than those with RD-only. This study examined the effect of a 4-week EF-based reading intervention on behavioral and neurobiological correlates of EF among 8-12 y.o. English-speaking children with RD + ADHD (n = 19), RD-only (n = 18), and typically developing children (n = 18). Behavioral and resting-state fMRI data were collected from all participants before and after 4 weeks of the EF-based reading computerized program. Group (RD + ADHD, RD-only, typical readers) x Test (pre- and post-intervention) repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted for reading, EF, and brain functional connectivity (FC) measures. Across groups, reading (fluency, comprehension) and EF (inhibition, speed of processing) behavioral performance improved following the intervention. Exploratory subgroup comparisons revealed that children with RD + ADHD, but not RD-only, showed significant gains in reading comprehension, whereas inhibition improved in both RD groups, but not among typical readers. Furthermore, across groups, FC between the frontoparietal (FP) and cingulo-opercular (CO) networks decreased following the intervention. Exploratory subgroup comparisons revealed that children with RD + ADHD, but not RD-only, showed a significant decrease in FC of FP-CO and FP-dorsal attention network. These results support the differential response to an EF-based reading intervention of children with RD with and without comorbid ADHD at brain and behavioral levels.

The interplay of time and space in human behavior: a sociological perspective on the TSCH model

The concept of spatiotemporal correlation, initially rooted in the domain of physics, has increasingly become of interest to scholars across various fields. This burgeoning interest is especially noted within the realm of human dynamics, where the examination of human behavior’s spatiotemporal aspects is emerging. The exploration into the nuanced ways in which human actions intertwine with geographical contexts is paramount. This paper delves into the Time-Space Characteristic Correlation of Human Behavior (TSCH) model, a pioneering framework that melds the intricacies of human behavior with geographic considerations through a micro-dynamic approach to population strategy, employing the mean-field limit method. This study scrutinizes the spatiotemporal dynamics of individual travel behaviors, focusing on specific traits such as sudden increases in activity (paroxysm B), behavioral memory (M), and the radius of gyration (Rg). The stability of these behavioral waves is evaluated through the application of the “db4” wavelet basis function, revealing stable fluctuations in population travel patterns that resonate deeply with regional characteristics. The model enables the computation of the overall cost burden of area visits for local residents, uncovering a power-law correlation between this cost and the spatial attractiveness of urban centers when analyzed at a collective level. Our findings underscore a profound linkage between the temporal and spatial patterns of human behavior at the urban scale. Furthermore, the TSCH model’s advancement facilitates a nuanced understanding of complex social issues, including urban development, public health management, and transportation systems optimization, offering valuable insights for sociological inquiry and practical application in addressing contemporary societal challenges.

Brain volumes, cognitive, and adaptive skills in school-age children with Down syndrome

BackgroundDown syndrome (DS) is the most common congenital neurodevelopmental disorder, present in about 1 in every 700 live births. Despite its prevalence, literature exploring the neurobiology underlying DS and how this neurobiology is related to behavior is limited. This study fills this gap by examining cortical volumes and behavioral correlates in school-age children with DS.MethodsSchool-age children (mean = 9.7 years ± 1.1) underwent comprehensive assessments, including cognitive and adaptive assessments, as well as an MRI scan without the use of sedation. Children with DS (n = 35) were compared to available samples of typically developing (TD; n = 80) and ASD children (n = 29). ANOVAs were conducted to compare groups on cognitive and adaptive assessments. ANCOVAs (covarying for age, sex, and total cerebral volume; TCV) compared cortical brain volumes between groups. Correlations between behavioral metrics and cortical and cerebellar volumes (separately for gray (GM) and white matter (WM)) were conducted separately by group.ResultsAs expected, children with DS had significantly lower cognitive skills compared to ASD and TD children. Daily Living adaptive skills were comparable between ASD children and children with DS, and both groups scored lower than TD children. Children with DS exhibited a smaller TCV compared to ASD and TD children. Additionally, when controlling for TCV, age, and sex, children with DS had significantly smaller total GM and tissue volumes. Cerebellum volumes were significantly correlated with Daily Living adaptive behaviors in the DS group only.ConclusionsDespite children with DS exhibiting lower cognitive skills and smaller brain volume overall than children with ASD, their deficits in Socialization and Daily Living adaptive skills are comparable. Differences in lobar volumes (e.g., Right Frontal GM/WM, Left Frontal WM, and Left and Right Temporal WM) were observed above and beyond overall differences in total volume. The correlation between cerebellum volumes and Daily Living adaptive behaviors in the DS group provides a novel area to explore in future research.

Author Correction: The relation between cortical gene expression and the neural correlates of risky behavior

Author Correction: The relation between cortical gene expression and the neural correlates of risky behavior

Repeated epidural stimulation modulates cervical spinal cord excitability in healthy adult rats.

Spinal evoked motor responses (SEMR) are utilized in longitudinal pre-clinical and human studies to reflect the in-vivo physiological changes in neural networks secondary to a spinal cord injury (SCI) or neuro-rehabilitative treatments utilizing epidural stimulation (ES). However, it remains unknown whether the repeated ES exposure during SEMR testing itself modulates spinal cord physiology and accompanying SEMR characteristics. To answer this, ES was delivered to the cervical spinal cord using standard stimulation paradigms during multiple SEMR data acquisition sessions (~ 17h spanning across 100 days) in ten healthy adult rats. Cervical SEMR at rest and forelimb muscle activity during reaching and grasping task were collected before and after 100 days. We noted a persistent increase in SEMR activity relative to baseline, with prominent changes in the mono and poly-synaptic components of SEMR. The findings indicate increased spinal cord excitability. Increased spinal cord excitability translated into increased forelimb muscle activation during the reaching and grasping task. For the majority of SEMR and muscle activity increase, effect size was large or very large. Cervical SEMR are amenable to modulation by routine ES testing protocols, with prominent changes in the mono and poly-synaptic components of SEMR. Since repeated stimulation during multiple testing alone increases cord excitability, we recommend (1) SEMR may be used with caution to infer the physiological status of the spinal circuitry (2) utilizing appropriate control groups and motor behavioral correlates for meaningful functional interpretation in longitudinal neuromodulation studies involving multiple SEMR testing sessions following a SCI.