Hedonic Tone Research Articles

B - 62 Cognitive Training Targeting Reward Responsiveness Promotes more Efficient Affective Processing in an Interference Go/NoGo Task

Abstract Objective Abnormalities in emotional processing are commonly seen in depression and anxiety, disorders also associated with decreased reward sensitivity i.e., anhedonia. We tested a noninvasive, cognitive training program aimed at boosting reward responsiveness and gaged if it may also improve affective processing efficiency. Methods Individuals (N = 50; 54% Female; 18–65 yo) with low hedonic tone (Positive and Negative Affect Scale/PANAS score < 25) and diagnostic levels of depression and/or anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire-8/PHQ-8 or General Anxiety Disorder-7/GAD-7 score ≥ 10) who responded to community-posted flyers completed an affective go/no-go (AGN) task before and after completing an exploratory reward learning task, i.e., a multi-arm bandit (MAB). Participants were randomly assigned to a high-reward MAB training with either high variance (HV) or low variance (LV) in reward rates, HV being expected to boost reward maximization. In the AGN, participants saw negative and positive pictures and had to respond as fast as possible to pictures of a given target category (positive or negative). Results Following the HV vs LV training MAB, participants were more accurate (higher likelihood of hits), which was more evident in negative target blocks relative to positive target blocks (odds ratio/OR:0.61, 95% CI = [0.38,0.98]; z = −2.045, p = 0.041). Participants exhibited stronger decreases in hits response times following the HV vs LV training MAB, but across all target blocks (B:-37 ms, 95% CI = [−56,-18]; t = −3.806, p < 0.001). Conclusions A novel cognitive training program aimed at boosting reward sensitivity may help improve patients’ processing of emotionally taxing stimuli. Targeting reward sensitivity is a critical component of improving clinical outcomes in depressed and anxious patients..

Effectiveness of Malodor-Reducing Ostomy Pouch Additives: An Assessment of Odor Intensity, Hedonic Tone, and Odor Character.

Background Ostomy pouch odor can have a negative impact on the quality of life of people living with a stoma. This study assessed the effectiveness of malodor-reducing ostomy pouch additives under simulated conditions. Methodology The following six commercially available products with different odor control technologies plus a control were assessed: soyethyl morpholinium ethosulphate, zinc ricinoleate (ZnR), ZnR with orange terpenes (ZnR-Orange), a proprietary copper-based deodorant, a proprietary ion mix deodorant, and a terpene blend (TB). Each was added to an ostomy pouch with skatole (a substitute for human fecal odor). Professional olfactometrists rated odors according to intensity, hedonic tone (pleasantness), and character. Results The TB and ZnR-Orange had very weak (<1.0) malodor intensity, with mean (standard deviation [SD]) ratings of 0.6 (1.1) and 0.9 (0.9), respectively. All other products (2.7-3.0) and control (3.7) were statistically higher (stronger intensity) compared with the TB(p < 0.001). The mean (SD) hedonic tone for the TB was 0.8 (1.7) (considered slightly pleasant); all other products (-0.8 to 0.1) and control (-0.9) were statistically lower (p < 0.001). Odor character profiles were broadly comparable, but products with scent additives (TB and ZnR-Orange) were predominantly associated with fragrances. Conclusions This information may help nurses and other healthcare providers when educating ostomates about their options. Other factors such as application mode and recommended dosage may also influence the choice of product. Future research on real-world populations (i.e., ostomates), as well as assessment of lubrication properties, is warranted.

Valence explains how and why positive affects and negative affects correlate: A conceptual replication and extension of Diener et al.'s (1995) the personality structure of affect.

Diener et al. (1995) used a multimethod approach to test a hierarchical model of trait affect. The model suggests that specific trait affects are related to each other by two, distinct, but negatively correlated factors. We report the results of a conceptual replication study that addressed several limitations of Diener et al.'s (1995) study. We used three ethnically diverse samples which included a group of undergraduates along with both of their biological parents. As such, in terms of generalizability, we improved upon the original study which was limited to a student sample by also including middle-aged adults as targets. Most importantly, we included measures of hedonic tone to validate the interpretation of the higher-order factors as positive affect and negative affect. Also, we did not average informant ratings to model individual rating biases. Further, we used item-level indicators rather than item averages as indicators of basic affects. Our results confirm Diener et al.'s (1995) model and demonstrate that positive trait affect and negative trait affect are negatively correlated and account for the covariance among specific affects. We discuss the implications of these results in the context of personality theories that consider positive trait affect and negative trait affect as independent factors related to extraversion and neuroticism, respectively (Costa & McCrae, 1980). We argue that this model cannot account for the negative correlation between positive affect and negative affect and that further research is needed to locate affect within the Big Five model of personality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Adverse childhood experiences, low self-esteem, and salient stimulus response in eating disorders.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are elevated in individuals with eating disorders (EDs), but how the neurobiology of EDs and ACEs interact is unclear. Women 18-45years old with anorexia nervosa (AN, n=38), bulimia nervosa (BN, n=32), or healthy controls (n=60) were assessed for ACEs and ED behaviours and performed a taste-conditioning task during brain imaging. Mediation analyses tested relationships between ACE score, self-esteem, and ED behaviours. ACE scores were elevated in EDs and correlated positively with body mass index (p=0.001), drive for thinness (p=0.001), and body dissatisfaction (p=0.032); low self-esteem mediated the relationship between ACEs and body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimia severity. ACE scores correlated negatively (FDR-corrected) with unexpected, salient stimulus receipt in AN (substantia nigra) and BN (anterior cingulate, frontal and insular cortex, ventral striatum, and substantia nigra). When ACE scores were included in the model, unexpected stimulus receipt brain response was elevated in EDs in the anterior cingulate and ventral striatum. ACEs attenuate unexpected salient stimulus receipt response, which may be a biological marker for altered valence or hedonic tone perception in EDs. Low self-esteem mediates the relationships between ACEs and ED behaviours. Adverse childhood experiences should be assessed in biological studies, and their effects targeted in treatment.

Assessing effects of diet alteration on selected parameters of chronically mentally ill residents of a 24-hour Nursing Home. Part 3: Effects of diet modification on selected health indicators.

The aim of the research was to check whether, and to what extent, dietary changes affect the selected indicators of health, including well-being. The study, lasting 3 years, included 52 chronically mentally ill people. Hand grip strength (HGS) measurements ‟before" and ‟after" feeding adjustments were performed using a SaehanTM pear dynamometer, blood pressure measurements were made using an Omron blood pressure monitor. Well-being was assessed using the UMACL Adjective Mood Scale. Based on the analysis of medical records, the study also included: the number of infections of the upper respiratory tract, the number of autoaggressive/aggressive behaviors and the frequency of stay of extremely offensive/agitated residents in the hospital. The dietary changes were reflected in the increased value of the hand grip strength (especially in women), lowered or normalized blood pressure to normal or recommended values, lowered tension arousal, accompanied by an increase in energetic arousal and hedonic tone (translating into improved well-being and mood), and a decrease in the number of episodes of aggression/self-aggression and associated hospitalizations. The dietary changes resulted in an improvement in the tested parameters as well as in reduction in the amount of food wasted by the residents. There was also a decrease in the number of catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, which reduced the overall number and quantity of prescribed drugs.

Synthetic leathers as a possible source of chemicals and odorous substances in indoor environment

Abstract This article deals with volatile organic substances (VOCs) and odours that can be released into the indoor environment from synthetic leathers that are part of upholstered furniture. The primary task of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of selected synthetic leathers and assess their emission characteristics, including odour substances. VOC emissions were determined using the test chamber method (ČSN EN ISO 16000-9) at a temperature of 23°C and a relative humidity of 50%. The emitted compounds were adsorbed by standard stainless steel tubes with Tenax TA sorbent. VOCs were analysed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry The properties of odours were tested using a Sniffer 9000 device, which was directly connected to a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. The dominant substances (with the highest concentration) that were emitted by samples of tested synthetic leathers include toluene (118.2 µg·m−3), 1,2-propanediol (46.2 µg·m−3), and limonene (153.0 µg·m−3). Ohio synthetic leather produced the most unpleasantness hedonic tone (-4) from all evaluated materials.

Uncovering the main and interacting impact of workaholism on momentary hedonic tone at work: An experience sampling approach.

Workaholism is a current issue in modern organizations with well-characterized implications for individual health and well-being. Yet, the affective experience of workaholics at work and their emotional reactivity to job stressors have been poorly investigated, with the few available studies being cross-sectional or based on retrospective reports obtained outside the working time. Here, we conducted an experience sampling study to characterize workaholics' affective experience during work and their emotional reactivity to workday accumulation and momentary workload. A total of 139 full-time back-office workers participated in a 3-day protocol by reporting on their hedonic tone and momentary workload up to six times per workday. Multilevel modeling was used to investigate the relationship between trait workaholism and job-related hedonic tone as well as the cross-level interactions between workaholism and both workday accumulation and momentary workload. As expected, our results showed lower job-related hedonic tone for individuals with higher workaholic tendencies, with workaholism interacting with the two investigated job stressors. However, contrary to our hypotheses, we found that workaholism weakened, rather than strengthening, the negative trend of hedonic tone over the levels of both predictors, a result possibly explained by a blunted reactivity condition due to chronic job strain. Moreover, we corroborated previous findings suggesting worse outcomes in workaholic women compared to workaholic men. Organizations should consider taking action to monitor and manage the workaholism levels in the workforce and to create a psychosocial work environment that discourages the enactment of workaholic tendencies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Receptor specific mechanisms underlying psychedelic effects on affective behaviors

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients experience affective symptoms. Conventional therapies to address affective symptoms have limited efficacy in AD, alternative options, like psychedelics, have received interest. Psychedelics work through serotonergic pathways ‐ a neuromodulatory system with dysfunction in AD ‐mechanisms underlying behavioral changes and potential efficacy of their use are unknown. Evaluation of mechanisms underlying behavioral effects is needed to determine their potential as interventions. Psychedelics act through serotonin receptors, not serotonin re‐uptake inhibition characteristic of typical antidepressants. We investigate psychedelics’ mechanism of action as a potential effector of hedonic tone to assess its potential use for affective symptoms in AD.MethodWT mice were subject to one of three paradigms: (1) a 10‐day social defeat stress (SDS); (2) an injection of 2,5‐Dimethoxy‐4‐iodoamphetamine (DOI); or (3) SDS with DOI. SDS was used instead of an AD proteinopathy model to induce effects like anhedonia. Afterwards, mice underwent behavioral tests to evaluate compulsivity and affect. An additional group will receive DOI +serotonin receptor antagonistsResultFirst, SDS increased time spent in closed arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM; p = 0.0068) indicating an increase in anxiety. It also increased nest shredding (NST; p = 0.206), indicating an increase in compulsivity.Secondly, an injection of DOI decreased time spent in closed arms (p = 0.0151) indicating decrease in anxiety, and decreased nest shredding (p = 0.0325) indicating a decrease in compulsivity.Lastly, we expect that DOI will decrease anxiety and compulsivity. We expect to find the inverse to be true in mice that receive DOI +antagonist.ConclusionWe are showing that a traumatic stressor, like that a human might experience pre‐AD, induces potentially maladaptive affective behavioral changes. Here, we’ve demonstrated that psychedelics can act to recover affective dysfunction by activation of serotonin receptors. Because of degeneration of key serotonergic nuclei in AD, the use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors has limited efficacy for addressing symptoms like depression. Psychedelics may offer improved outcomes for AD patients in this regard due to its alternative mechanism of action. Further work to evaluate the efficacy of psychedelics in animal models more closely approximating AD‐type changes in serotonergic systems will help refine this understanding and guide potential clinical applications.

Establishing the link between motivational disturbances and behavioural rigidity in frontotemporal dementia.

Rigid and inflexible behaviours are common in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), manifesting in compulsive pursuit of specific interests, routines, and rituals. Paradoxically, these changes occur alongside profound motivational disturbances including apathy and anhedonia. While posited to be related, no study to date has explored the link between motivational changes and behavioural rigidity in FTD. Carer ratings for 71 FTD participants (26 semantic dementia [SD], 45 behavioural variant [bvFTD]) were obtained on the Dimensional Apathy Scale (apathy), the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (hedonic tone) and the Cambridge Behavioural Inventory-Revised (CBI-R; behavioural changes). A rigidity index was created from existing items on the CBI-R. Whole-brain voxel-based morphometry was used to explore associations between rigidity and grey matter intensity in the combined FTD group. Behavioural rigidity was significantly related to apathy severity (r = 0.57) and decreased hedonic tone (r = -0.36) in the combined FTD group. Multiple linear regression revealed a significant diagnosis × hedonic tone interaction (β = -1.40), whereby lower hedonic tone predicted rigidity in SD (r = -0.65) but not in bvFTD (r = -0.18). In contrast, the relationship between rigidity and apathy did not differ between the groups (β = -0.42). At the neural level, rigidity correlated with degeneration of predominantly right-sided frontostriatal structures including, notably, the nucleus accumbens. As the first study to demonstrate a link between motivational changes and behavioural rigidity in FTD, our findings have important clinical implications. By identifying candidate mechanisms of behavioural rigidity, our findings can inform targeted interventions to manage inflexible patterns of thought and behaviour in daily life.

Attenuation of Odours in the Urban Outdoor Environment: A Rapid Review and Implications for the Conduct and Interpretation of Smell Walks

The assessment and documentation of visual, auditory, and olfactory sensory experiences within urban environments is an emerging focus of research that has implications for the understanding of cultural heritage as well as community mental health. The common methodology to identify, describe, and document smells within environmental settings is smell walks, where individuals walk predefined transects, identifying and locating encountered odours and odour attributes (e.g., intensity, hedonic tone). As the locations of smell walks vary (e.g., indoor and outdoor markets, urban parks, etc.), localised environmental parameters such as airflow and temperature affect the dispersion and attenuation of the odours, influencing the results. This paper presents a rapid, systematic review of the factors that influence the attenuation of odours in the urban outdoor environment, in particular, in the context of outdoor markets. Although there is an abundance of literature on wind patterns in urban canyons discussing the influence of microtopography, this can only be applied cum grano salis to outdoor markets settings. Various avenues for future research are outlined.

Effects of desensitization on odors varying in concentration and pleasantness

AbstractBackgroundDesensitization in response to repetitive odorous stimulations is a common and well‐investigated process, but it has been a matter of discussion in which way this process relates to odor valence. Our goal was to investigate changes of intensity and pleasantness induced by desensitization in odors in relation to their valence and concentration.Materials and MethodsUsing air‐dilution olfactometry, 30 normosmic participants received two pleasant (phenylethylalcohol [PEA], mixture of pleasant odorants [mix‐P]) and two unpleasant odors (hydrogen sulfide [H2S], mixture of unpleasant odorants [mix‐NP]). At the baseline (before desensitization), four different concentrations of each odor were presented randomly for 0.2 s, with 40 s inter‐stimulus interval. During the desensitization procedure, the odor used was presented continuously for 15 s. Following an odor‐free interval of 4 s the same odor was presented again, in the post‐desensitization phase. Odor intensity and pleasantness were rated after presenting each stimulus in pre and post desensitization phases.ResultsAt baseline, Mix‐P was rated as pleasant and H2S was rated as unpleasant, as expected, while PEA and mix‐NP were rated as slightly pleasant or neutral, respectively. For intensity, desensitization was found for all odors regardless of hedonic tone, with the effect being more pronounced with PEA and mix‐NP at lower concentrations. A decrease of pleasantness/unpleasantness (“affective habituation”) was present for the two lower concentrations of the pleasant mixture, while hedonic ratings of the unpleasant odors remained largely unchanged.ConclusionsThese results suggest that, in this model, desensitization in intensity between pleasant and unpleasant odors was similar and affective habituation only occurred for the most pleasant odor.Practical ApplicationsOur study unraveled the link between odor desensitization and valence considering the concentration effect, where the intensity was decreased for the relatively “neutral” odors and pleasantness was habituated only for the pleasant odor. These results help to explain individual differences in the effects of olfactory loss and provide a promising perspective for personalized treatment for olfactory loss in clinics, for instance, fast adaptation and parosmia.

A conditional process model of perfectionism, goal-realization, and post-competition mood

Research has recently begun to examine the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and athletes’ post-competition mood. However, to date, there have been few attempts to examine the interaction between dimensions of perfectionism or model possible explanatory processes. To address these limitations, in the current study we tested a novel conditional process model whereby the relationship between perfectionistic strivings and post-competition affect was mediated by the degree to which goals were considered to have been met (goal-realization) and that this indirect effect was, in turn, moderated by levels of perfectionistic concerns. We tested this model in a sample of 251 athletes who took part in a “Runmageddon” event - a cross-country obstacle race. Athletes completed measures of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns) before the race and measures of goal-realization and mood (tense arousal, energetic arousal, and hedonic tone) between 24 and 48 h after the race. Analyses revealed that perfectionistic strivings were indirectly linked to a more unpleasant post-competition mood (higher tense arousal and lower hedonic tone) via perceptions of lower goal-realization. In addition, these two indirect effects were statistically significant only when perfectionistic concerns were medium and high. The results support the proposed conditional model and suggest the interplay between dimensions of perfectionism is important for athletes’ post-competition mood, and the level of perfectionistic concerns, especially.

Restructuring reward: A pilot study to enhance natural reward response in adults with cannabis use disorder

BackgroundHedonic dysregulation is a core mechanism of addiction. There is a dearth of research on hedonic dysregulation in cannabis use disorder (CUD). The current study tested whether personalized scripted imagery may be an efficacious approach to remediate reward functioning in adults with CUD. MethodsAdults with CUD (n=10) and non-CUD controls (n=12) completed a single session personalized scripted imagery procedure. Non-drug (i.e. natural) reward and neutral scripts were transcribed and participants listened to the scripts in counterbalanced order. Primary outcomes included positive affect (PA), galvanic skin response (GSR), and cortisol and were assessed at four timepoints. Mixed effects models were used to compare between and within subject effects. ResultsMixed effects models revealed a Condition (reward vs. neutral) X Group (CUD vs. control) interaction (p=0.01) on PA response, indicating blunted PA response to the neutral script relative to the reward script in CUD participants. Likewise, GSR response in CUD participants was decreased in response to the neutral script relative to the reward script (p=0.034; interaction n.s.). An interaction effect of Group X PA on cortisol response was found (p=.036) indicating that cortisol was positively correlated with PA in healthy control participants, but not CUD participants. ConclusionsAdults with CUD may demonstrate acute deficits in hedonic tone under neutral conditions relative to healthy controls. Personalized scripted imagery may be an efficacious tool to remediate hedonic dysregulation in CUD. Cortisol may play a role in healthy positive affect regulation warranting further investigation.

The Impact of Nursing Handover on Nurses’ Mood

Objective: To estimate the impact of nursing handover on nurses’ mood after the end of the nursing shift report. Methods: A cross-sectional, repeated-measures design study involving a diary questionnaire was conducted during November - December 2019. Data were collected from 125 nurses working in a public hospital in Northern Greece. 375 diaries were returned. Mood change was measured using the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist instrument that describes three mood factors (Hedonic Tone, Tense Arousal and Energetic Arousal). Results: A significant change in nurses’ mood before and after the nursing handover was reported and more specifically, an increase in positive and a decrease in negative mood state was observed. A change in all mood groups - Hedonic Tone, Tense Arousal and Energetic Arousal was also identified. Nurses with many years of experience who work in internal medicine, increased their Hedonic Tone (P=0.001) and decreased their Tense Arousal (P=0.005). Conclusion: The benefits of nursing handover are long established and is suggested as the most appropriate period of time for nurses to achieve emotional change before leaving from work. Nurses are advised to use the nursing handover as an opportunity to psychologically disengage from work and increase their positive mood.

Priorities for research on neuromodulatory subcortical systems in Alzheimer's disease: Position paper from the NSS PIA of ISTAART.

The neuromodulatory subcortical system (NSS) nuclei are critical hubs for survival, hedonic tone, and homeostasis. Tau-associated NSS degeneration occurs early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, long before the emergence of pathognomonic memory dysfunction and cortical lesions. Accumulating evidence supports the role of NSS dysfunction and degeneration in the behavioral and neuropsychiatric manifestations featured early in AD. Experimental studies even suggest that AD-associated NSS degeneration drives brain neuroinflammatory status and contributes to disease progression, including the exacerbation of cortical lesions. Given the important pathophysiologic and etiologic roles that involve the NSS in early AD stages, there is an urgent need to expand our understanding of the mechanisms underlying NSS vulnerability and more precisely detail the clinical progression of NSS changes in AD. Here, the NSS Professional Interest Area of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment highlights knowledge gaps about NSS within AD and provides recommendations for priorities specific to clinical research, biomarker development, modeling, and intervention. HIGHLIGHTS: Neuromodulatory nuclei degenerate in early Alzheimer's disease pathological stages. Alzheimer's pathophysiology is exacerbated by neuromodulatory nuclei degeneration. Neuromodulatory nuclei degeneration drives neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia. Biomarkers of neuromodulatory integrity would be value-creating for dementia care. Neuromodulatory nuclei present strategic prospects for disease-modifying therapies.

Determinants of escapism in adult video gamers with autism spectrum conditions: The role of affect, autistic burnout, and gaming motivation

Persons with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) often engage in video gaming, one of the most common leisure activity in this population. Escapism, aimed at the avoidance of negative experiences or self-development, is considered as one of the main gaming motivations. Furthermore, escapism is a self-regulatory strategy used while suffering from autistic burnout, consisting of exhaustion, reduced social skills, anhedonia, and withdrawal. The goal of the current study was to determine predictors of escapism in video gaming among adult gamers with ASC. It was hypothesized that two types of escapism – self-suppression and self-expansion – would differentiate gaming motivations, affective outcomes, anhedonia, and autistic burnout rates. A total of 189 persons participated in the study (Mage = 27.52, SDage = 7.25), including 105 females. The results obtained indicated that self-suppression escapism was predicted by introjected regulation, positive and negative affect, and hedonic tone (F = 8.760, p < .001), while self-expansion was predicted by identified and integrated gaming motivations, hedonic tone, and positive affect (F = 23.066, p < .001). PLS-SEM analysis revealed good fit of the model with autistic burnout predicting self-suppression escapism. These results acknowledge the two-dimensional approach to escapism and highlight potential risk factors of self-suppression, especially among persons presenting symptoms of autistic burnout. Future research and clinical application directions are outlined.

A study on the relationship between odor hedonic ratings and individual odor detection threshold

Odor hedonic perception (pleasant/unpleasant character) is considered as the first and one of the most prominent dimensions in olfaction and is known to depend on several parameters. Among them, the relation between the odorant concentration and the hedonic estimation has been widely studied. However, few studies have considered odor hedonic ratings (OHR) in relation to individual detection thresholds (IDT). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine olfactory detection thresholds and to describe hedonic rating variations from individual thresholds to higher concentrations. IDT were performed for two pleasant (apple and jasmine) and two unpleasant (durian and trimethylamine) odorant stimuli. The experimenter presented one by one in a randomized order, the different odorant concentrations above IDT. Participants rated odor hedonic valence of these stimuli on a visual analog scale. Results showed, except for trimethylamine, the same relationship between hedonic ratings and stimulus concentration, i.e., an increase of pleasantness (apple and jasmine)/unpleasantness (durian) ratings at low and middle concentrations followed by a plateau at high concentrations. Correlations between OHR and concentrations as well as between OHR and threshold steps were always significant. Moreover, comparisons between both conditions showed that the correlation coefficient was significantly higher for trimethylamine (and a trend for apple) when IDTs were considered, while no difference was found for jasmine and durian. Overall, results suggested that the relationship between OHR and IDT is odor specific. These findings contribute to explain the large variability of the hedonic tone (i.e., weakly vs. very pleasant, weakly vs. very unpleasant) at specific concentration in the general population and could serve future research in this field (e.g., olfactory preferences in nutrition studies, anhedonia in psychiatric disorders…).

Strength of excitation and insomnia as mediated by mood dimensions.

The main goal of our study was to demonstrate the relationship between the strength of excitation (SE) as one of the basic central nervous system (CNS) properties and insomnia, and to determine the role of the mood components as mediators of this relationship. We hypothesized that SE directly and indirectly via arousal-related mood dimensions may be related to insomnia. The study involved 149 people, 85 women and 64 men, aged 18 to 60 (M = 30.11, SD = 11.43) selected from the general population using snowball sampling. The basic properties of the CNS were diagnosed using Pavlovian Temperament Survey. Mood was assessed using the Polish adaptation of UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist. To evaluate insomnia symptoms Athens Insomnia Scale in its Polish adaptation was used. SE negatively correlated with insomnia (no significant correlations between strength of inhibition and mobility and insomnia). All CNS properties positively correlated with hedonic tone (HT) and energetic arousal (EA), and negatively with tense arousal (TA) as mood dimensions. HT and EA were negatively correlated with insomnia but TA positively correlated with insomnia. Both EA and TA served as mediators in the relationship between SE and insomnia. The results indicated the relationship between SE and insomnia as well as between SE and EA and TA as mood dimensions related to arousal. Mediation analysis suggests that both EA and TA may serve as mediators of the relationship between SE and insomnia. However, the results of the mediation analysis require careful interpretation.

Exposure to Green and Historic Urban Environments and Mental Well-Being: Results from EEG and Psychometric Outcome Measures.

Previous studies have identified the benefits of exposure to green or historic environments using qualitative methods and psychometric measures, but studies using a combination of measures are lacking. This study builds on current literature by focusing specifically on green and historic urban environments and using both psychological and physiological measures to investigate the impact of virtual exposure on well-being. Results from the psychological measures showed that the presence of historic elements was associated with a significantly stronger recuperation of hedonic tone (p = 0.01) and reduction in stress (p = 0.04). However, the presence of greenness had no significant effect on hedonic tone or stress. In contrast, physiological measures (EEG) showed significantly lower levels of alpha activity (p < 0.001) in occipital regions of the brain when participants viewed green environments, reflecting increased engagement and visual attention. In conclusion, this study has added to the literature by showing the impact that historic environments can have on well-being, as well as highlighting a lack of concordance between psychological and physiological measures. This supports the use of a combination of subjective and direct objective measures in future research in this field.

Principles for the selection of a sensory panel for the evaluation of car interior materials

AbstractVehicle interior air quality has gained importance since the 1990s. One of the most widely accepted methods to measure emissions in this respect is the VDA 270—Determination of the odor characteristics of trim materials in motor vehicles. So far, it describes the odor evaluation procedure, but not the selection of the sensory panel. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate principles that might be applicable for the selection of a VDA 270 panel. Based on this work, a dedicated three‐step approach is detailed to aid in selecting a panel. It comprises of an odor threshold determination, a hedonic tone evaluation and a reproducibility test. In addition, a “Screening 12” test was performed to verify the assessors' olfactory function. The selection was not specific to gender and the age of the candidates ranged from 19 to 55 years. Out of 26 volunteers, only 10 were able to meet all of the self‐developed criteria for the panel. With this approach, the individual ratings of the selected panelists did not deviate by more than two odor grades for the selected polyolefin samples considering the VDA 270 scale.Practical ApplicationsA meaningful comparison and interpretation of VDA 270 data requires objective test results. This is challenging as the VDA 270 scale is, at least partly, subjective and only a small minimum number of panelists is defined. The terminology used in the 6‐point scale itself was investigated in order to deduce potential tests for the panel selection procedure. Relevant international standards that are linked to the topic of interior air quality were screened to compare related guidelines for the panel selection. The implementation of a selection procedure needs to consider practical aspects in an industrial environment, too. Therefore, feasibility and quality issues are discussed to overcome some of those problems. As fundamental questions of sensory testing are involved this work might be relevant for other olfactory screening applications in an industrial setup. However, where hedonic tone measurements are required only consumer panels can provide reliable information.