Increase In Cognitive Performance Research Articles

Neocortical neurogenesis in development and evolution-Human-specific features.

In this review, we focus on human-specific features of neocortical neurogenesis in development and evolution. Two distinct topics will be addressed. In the first section, we discuss the expansion of the neocortex during human evolution and concentrate on the human-specific gene ARHGAP11B. We review the ability of ARHGAP11B to amplify basal progenitors and to expand a primate neocortex. We discuss the contribution of ARHGAP11B to neocortex expansion during human evolution and its potential implications for neurodevelopmental disorders and brain tumors. We then review the action of ARHGAP11B in mitochondria as a regulator of basal progenitor metabolism, and how it promotes glutaminolysis and basal progenitor proliferation. Finally, we discuss the increase in cognitive performance due to the ARHGAP11B-induced neocortical expansion. In the second section, we focus on neocortical development in modern humans versus Neanderthals. Specifically, we discuss two recent findings pointing to differences in neocortical neurogenesis between these two hominins that are due to a small number of amino acid substitutions in certain key proteins. One set of such proteins are the kinetochore-associated proteins KIF18a and KNL1, where three modern human-specific amino acid substitutions underlie the prolongation of metaphase during apical progenitor mitosis. This prolongation in turn is associated with an increased fidelity of chromosome segregation to the apical progenitor progeny during modern human neocortical development, with implications for the proper formation of radial units. Another such key protein is transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1), where a single modern human-specific amino acid substitution endows TKTL1 with the ability to amplify basal radial glia, resulting in an increase in upper-layer neuron generation. TKTL1's ability is based on its action in the pentose phosphate pathway, resulting in increased fatty acid synthesis. The data imply greater neurogenesis during neocortical development in modern humans than Neanderthals due to TKTL1, in particular in the developing frontal lobe.

The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study.

Anemia is a public health problem that affects about 50% of adolescent females in sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia can negatively affect the overall growth, cognitive performance, and productivity of school-going adolescents. This pilot study assessed the impact of Solanum torvum-fortified biscuits on hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of school-going adolescent females. A cluster randomized controlled, open labeled trial was undertaken among four basic schools in the Ahafo Region of Ghana. Out of the 169 participants, 151 (intervention = 83, control = 68) adolescent females completed the trial. The intervention and control groups were made up of two schools each. The participants in the intervention and control groups received a total of 30 turkey berry-fortified biscuit supplementation or 30 placebos for a period of six weeks, respectively. The hemoglobin levels and cognitive test scores were obtained before and after the intervention. The number of anemic cases and low cognitive performance among the female adolescents in the intervention group reduced by 23.8% and 8.7%, respectively. There was a positive impact on the hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of the intervention group. For every unit of turkey berry-fortified biscuit consumed by the intervention group, there was a 0.945 unit increase in hemoglobin level (p = 0.001) and a 2.796 unit increase in cognitive performance (p = 0.005). The turkey berry-fortified biscuit significantly reduced anemia prevalence and improved cognitive performance among the adolescent girls. Therefore, its potential in the management of anemia and improvement of cognition could be explored.

Cognitive Trajectories in Preclinical and Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease Related to Amyloid Status and Brain Atrophy: A Bayesian Approach.

Cognitive decline is a key outcome of clinical studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To determine effects of global amyloid load as well as hippocampus and basal forebrain volumes on longitudinal rates and practice effects from repeated testing of domain specific cognitive change in the AD spectrum, considering non-linear effects and heterogeneity across cohorts. We included 1,514 cases from three cohorts, ADNI, AIBL, and DELCODE, spanning the range from cognitively normal people to people with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We used generalized Bayesian mixed effects analysis of linear and polynomial models of amyloid and volume effects in time. Robustness of effects across cohorts was determined using Bayesian random effects meta-analysis. We found a consistent effect of amyloid and hippocampus volume, but not of basal forebrain volume, on rates of memory change across the three cohorts in the meta-analysis. Effects for amyloid and volumetric markers on executive function were more heterogeneous. We found practice effects in memory and executive performance in amyloid negative cognitively normal controls and MCI cases, but only to a smaller degree in amyloid positive controls and not at all in amyloid positive MCI cases. We found heterogeneity between cohorts, particularly in effects on executive functions. Initial increases in cognitive performance in amyloid negative, but not in amyloid positive MCI cases and controls may reflect practice effects from repeated testing that are lost with higher levels of cerebral amyloid.

Clinical implementation of standardized neurocognitive assessment before and after radiation to the brain.

Radiotherapy induced impairment of cognitive function can lead to a reduced quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe the implementation and compliance of standardized neurocognitive assessment. In addition, the first results of cognitive changes for patients receiving a radiation dose to the brain are described. Patients that received radiation dose to the brain (neuro, head and neck and prophylactic cranial irradiation between April-2019 and Dec-2021 were included. Three neuro cognitive tests were performed a verbal learning and memory test, the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test; a verbal fluency test, the Controlled Oral Word Association Test and a speed and cognitive flexibility test, the Trail Making Test A&B. Tests were performed before the start of radiation, 6months (6m) and 1year (1y) after irradiation. The Reliable Change Index (RCI) between baseline and follow-up was calculated using reference data from literature. 644 patients performed the neurocognitive tests at baseline, 346 at 6months and 205 at 1y after RT, with compliance rates of 90.4%, 85.6%, and 75.3%, respectively. Reasons for non-compliance were: 1. Patient did not attend appointment (49%), 2.Patient was unable to perform the test due to illness (12%), 3. Patient refused the test (8 %), 4. Various causes, (31%). A semi-automated analysis was developed to evaluate the test results. In total, 26% of patients showed a significant decline in at least one of variables at 1y and 11% on at least 2 variables at 1y. However, an increase in cognitive performance was observed in 49% (≥1 variable) and 22% (≥2 variables). Standardized neurocognitive testing within the radiotherapy clinic was successfully implemented, with a high patient compliance. A semi-automatic method to evaluate cognitive changes after treatment was defined. Data collection is ongoing, long term follow-up (up to 5years after treatment) and dose-effect analysis will be performed.

Genetically proxied lean mass and risk of Alzheimer’s disease: mendelian randomisation study

ObjectiveTo examine whether genetically proxied lean mass is associated with risk of Alzheimer’s disease.DesignMendelian randomisation study.SettingThe UK Biobank study and genome wide association study meta-analyses of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive...

FAMILY FLYNN EFFECTS AND LINKS TO MIDDLE-AGE HEALTH OUTCOMES

Abstract The Flynn effect (Flynn, 1984; 1987) refers to increases in cognitive performance, for later-born cohorts. It has been documented globally, occurring for more than a century. In a meta-analysis, Pietschnig and Voracek (2015) noted that the effect may be even stronger in adults than in children, though little research has addressed this topic (or its implications) for aging adults. Similarly, overall life-time health has improved, and incidences of cognitive impairment have decreased during the last two decades (Clouston et al., 2021). Using multilevel growth curve models, we found family Flynn effects in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth; children in families with later-born mothers, and later-born first children, had higher PIAT math scores, and steeper developmental slopes. Although the link from childhood and adolescent cognitive function to later life outcomes has been well studied, research that takes advantage of the Flynn effect to facilitate interpreting that link is lacking. Clouston et al. (2021) emphasized the value of the Flynn effect in investigating links between childhood cognitive functioning and later adult Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) risks. We linked our family level results to middle-age maternal health outcomes (factors that are related to ADRD risks). Canonical correlation analyses showed that mothers (at ages 40+ and 50+) from families with higher score levels and slopes tended to have better mental and physical health. Our results, showing a Flynn effect in child and adolescence scores, at the family level, with links to adult health, persisted after controlling for a known selection bias.

Improvement of cognitive dysfunction by a novel phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, Tadalafil.

There is substantial evidence for the modulatory role of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in memory and synaptic plasticity, and an increase in intracellular cGMP facilitates these processes. The present study was aimed at the neuropharmacological investigations of tadalafil (TAD 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, p.o.) and further involvement of nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP in its effects. The effects of tadalafil and its combination with NG -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were investigated in scopolamine- and diabetes-induced cognitive dysfunction using elevated plus maze (EPM) and object recognition (ORT) tests. The results of EPM revealed that the scopolamine- and diabetes-induced learning and memory deficit was dose dependently attenuated after administration of TAD (TAD 10 and 20 mg/kg, p.o.) in both paradigms studied. Administration of L-NAME (20 mg/kg) aggravated scopolamine- and diabetes-induced learning and memory deficit. Co-administration of L-NAME (20 mg/kg) after TAD (20 mg/kg) produced significant increase in cognitive performance as compared to scopolamine- and diabetic- control group. This showed that L-NAME (20 mg/kg) aggravated scopolamine- and diabetes-induced learning and memory deficit was significantly reversed by TAD (20 mg/kg). The results of the present study revealed that tadalafil by inhibiting PDE5 possibly elevated the cGMP level that through a diversity of its substrates produced neuropharmacological effects in cognitive dysfunction.

Moving up but not getting ahead: Family socioeconomic position in pregnancy, social mobility, and child cognitive development in the first seven years of life

ObjectivesUnderstanding when and how socioeconomic position (SEP) influences cognitive development is key to reducing population inequalities in health and achievement. The objective of this study was to determine the unique association between prenatal family SEP and child cognitive development, and to determine whether marked postnatal social mobility was associated with improvements in child cognitive performance to age 7. MethodsData were from children enrolled in the US National Collaborative Perinatal Project (NCPP) (n = 28,761) during 1959–1965, a dataset large enough to observe marked mobility, which remains uncommon. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the relationship between SEP (i.e., parental income, education, occupation) during gestation and cognitive performance at 8 months (Bayley Scales of Infant Development Mental Development Index) and at 7 years (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children). ResultsHolding demographic and perinatal factors constant, family SEP during gestation was not associated with cognitive performance at 8 months (B = −0.03, 95% CI: −0.07–0.01) but was positively associated with performance at 7 years even after accounting for SEP at 7 years (B = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.11–1.45). Children whose families experienced the most extreme upward mobility (from the lowest to highest income quartile) showed a 12 percentile increase in cognitive performance in the first 7 years of life. Those with the most extreme downward mobility (from the highest to lowest income quartile) still experienced an 8 percentile increase in cognitive performance in this interval. ConclusionsThe proportion of children in poverty today is similar to 1965 and intergenerational mobility has declined markedly. Prenatal SEP may contribute to inequalities in child cognitive performance that even extraordinary social mobility cannot erase. To optimize cognitive development across generations, current means-tested programs to support families with young children should be supplemented by universal approaches to ensure access to opportunity before young people become parents.

New opportunities in the treatment of patients with chronic brain ischemia

The study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Hericium erinaceus extract (Cebrofit) in combination with vinpocetine compared to vinpocetine monotherapy in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia. Two groups of patients were identified — the basic and control, which included 160 patients with stage I and II dyscirculatory encephalopathy aged 30 to 80 years. All subjects underwent basic therapy, during which for 3 months patients of the basic group took Cebrofit 1 capsule 150 mg twice a day and vinpocetine (Vicebrol) 1 tablet 5 mg three times a day, and patients of the control group used only vinpocetine according to the scheme described above. Based on a comprehensive study, it was found that the use of Cebrofit in combination with vinpocetine compared to vinpocetine monotherapy resulted in accelerated regression of subjective and objective manifestations of chronic brain ischemia with an advantage in patients with stage I dyscirculatory encephalopathy. In patients with stage I dyscirculatory encephalopathy, the use of Cebrofit in combination with vinpocetine produced a pronounced neuroprotective effect, which manifested in a significant improvement in general condition, a decrease in the severity of neurological symptoms, a decrease in the manifestations of asthenia and anxiety after 28 days of therapy, and a significant increase in cognitive performance after 7 days of therapy, while maintaining this positive trend until the end of the course of treatment. In patients with stage II dyscirculatory encephalopathy under the influence of Cebrofit in combination with vinpocetine, positive differences in the form of a decrease in the severity of clinical and neurological symptoms, manifestations of asthenia, anxiety, and depression, as well as improvement in cognitive functions were recorded after 84 days of treatment, which allows recommending the use of these schemes in clinical practice.

Eight weeks of intermittent fasting versus calorie restriction does not alter eating behaviors, mood, sleep quality, quality of life and cognitive performance in women with overweight

Human trials that compare intermittent fasting (IF) to calorie restriction (CR) with psychological, behavioral and cognition outcomes are limited. We hypothesized that there would be no difference between CR and IF on perceived eating behaviors, mood, sleep quality, quality of life (QOL) and cognition in women with overweight and obesity. In this prespecified secondary analysis of an open-label, single center, parallel assignment, randomized controlled trial, healthy women with overweight or obesity (N = 46, mean [SD] age 50 [9] years, BMI 32.9 [4.4] kg/m2), without a diagnosed eating disorder and who were randomized into 2 weight loss groups (prescribed 70% of calculated energy requirements as IF or CR) were included. Measurements were assessed in both IF and CR groups following a 12-hour overnight fast during baseline and week 8 and additionally following a 24-hour fast in the IF group only at week 8. We observed that IF produced greater weight and body fat loss than CR (P < .001). We did not detect any statistical difference between groups for the change in dietary restraint, disinhibition, hunger, mood, sleep quality, and QOL. An increase in cognitive performance was found in both IF (P = .036) and CR (P = .006) groups in one of the cognitive tasks, but there was no statistical difference between groups. Perceived eating behaviors, mood, sleep quality and cognitive performance were not changed by an acute 24-hour fast within the IF group (all P > .05). IF may be a viable alternative to CR for weight loss, in the short-term, without adversely impacting eating behaviors, mood, sleep quality, QOL or cognition in healthy women with overweight or obesity. However, larger and long term trials are required.

Personalized Adaptive Training Improves Performance at a Professional First-Person Shooter Action Videogame.

First-Person Shooter (FPS) game experience can be transferred to untrained cognitive functions such as attention, visual short-term memory, spatial cognition, and decision-making. However, previous studies have been using off-the-shelf FPS games based on predefined gaming settings, therefore it is not known whether such improvement of in game performance and transfer of abilities can be further improved by creating a in-game, adaptive in-game training protocol. To address this question, we compared the impact of a popular FPS-game (Counter-Strike:Global-Offensive–CS:GO) with an ad hoc version of the game based on a personalized, adaptive algorithm modifying the artificial intelligence of opponents as well as the overall game difficulty on the basis of individual gaming performance. Two groups of FPS-naïve healthy young participants were randomly assigned to playing one of the two game versions (11 and 10 participants, respectively) 2 h/day for 3 weeks in a controlled laboratory setting, including daily in-game performance monitoring and extensive cognitive evaluations administered before, immediately after, and 3 months after training. Participants exposed to the adaptive version of the game were found to progress significantly faster in terms of in-game performance, reaching gaming scenarios up to 2.5 times more difficult than the group exposed to standard CS:GO (p < 0.05). A significant increase in cognitive performance was also observed. Personalized FPS gaming can significantly speed-up the learning curve of action videogame-players, with possible future applications for expert-video-gamers and potential relevance for clinical-rehabilitative applications.

Effects of Yoga Practice During Pregnancy on Pregnancy Outcome and Child Health

Introduction: Yoga is believed to be a ancient Indian science, way of life. It includes practice of specific body postures with regulated breathing, and quietness with self. Yoga during pregnancy is believed to help women have best of pregnancy experience. In last some years, Yoga during pregnancy has had breakthrough globally. It is designed to promote physical, mental health so as to take care of emotional, spiritual dimensions of health of pregnant women which can be directly linked to healthy pregnancy outcome. Objective: To get information about practice and, effects of Yoga during pregnancy on pregnancy and its outcome. Material and Methods: Literature search was done by various search engines to get information in relation to current status of Yoga practice during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. There was no specific criteria of inclusion of studies, or reviews. Whatever was accessible, including opinions were looked into. Results: Yoga is believed to decrease pregnancy complications, promote stress-free joyous pregnancy without negativity. Yoga during pregnancy seems to be affecting the baby’s, life beyond birth too, with significant increase in cognitive performance of children of mothers who practiced Yoga during pregnancy. Some aspects show more benefits than others and others report no significant benefits too. Some studies do exist which, emphasize benefits of Yoga, in promoting overall positive health and wellbeing. However little prospective published research exists about practice, of Yoga and effects, and pregnancy outcome. While many studies have shown Yoga as safe feasible, non-pharmacological intervention, well designed studies seem to be scarce, but are needed. Conclusion: Well-designed studies are required to comprehensively investigate about Yoga as means to improving pregnancy outcome.

The GSK Workspace Performance Hub : Promoting productivity and wellbeing through office design

Reflecting employees’ needs in the physical workspace should form a key part of a company’s ethos. As a major global healthcare company with a large real estate portfolio, GSK identified an opportunity to explore the impact of the work environment on employee experience and performance in the face of the growing attraction of co-working spaces. GSK’s Worldwide Real Estate and Facilities (WREF) team, alongside leaders in innovation, strategy and science, designed and developed the Workspace Performance Hub (WPH) as a way to measure and quantify this impact. The WPH facilitated the testing of a number of environmental variables on the occupants’ physiology, wellbeing and productivity. The WREF team and their partners, EY Seren and ART Health Solutions, designed a rigorous scientific approach to safely explore the impact of workplace design and environmental factors, such as temperature and biophilia, on 70 GSK employees (50 in the WPH and 20 in a control group) across a six-month period. The study showed that physical environment has a considerable impact on employee health, wellbeing and performance. Participants experienced an increase in cognitive performance after their residency of the WPH, while also reporting a reduction in stress. In addition, occupants saw a rise of 17 per cent in innovation cycles during their stay. The greater variety of workstations, circadian lighting and biophilia also meant that the WPH residents were more active and had a lower resting heart rate than their control group counterparts. While further research is required on a larger scale and across a variety of personas representing different working styles and cultures, this pilot study demonstrates that by creating better, tailored human experiences, organisations can create environments that bring value to the business and their employees.

Evaluation of Immediate Interference After Intervention With Double Tasks in Elderly Individuals

This study investigated the immediate effects of an intervention with dual tasks on balance in elderly individuals. Eight tests and an evaluation on a force platform were used. The subjects were divided into 2 groups; one was subjected to an intervention proposal with double tasks and the other with simple tasks. After the intervention, the double-task group maintained its performance in the tests and showed improvement in the cognitive performance of some activities during posturography. The simple-task group required more time for simple and motor Timed Up and Go tests, and there was no increase in cognitive performance or postural control.

A gift for gratitude and cooperative behavior: brain and cognitive effects.

Recently, different psychological studies have been interested in identifying the factors that regulate the development and maintenance of long-lasting interpersonal and social relationships. Specifically, the present research explored the link between gift exchange, gratitude and cognitive effects. The behavioral performance and neural activity of 32 participants were recorded during a cooperative game to be played before and after gift exchange. Specifically, participants had to perform the task coupled with a dear friend. Half of the couples were asked to exchange a gift before the task performance; the other half was asked to exchange a gift halfway through the task performance. For hemodynamic brain responses, functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used. Results showed that an increase in cognitive performance occurred after the exchange of gifts, with improved accuracy and lower response times in task performance. Regarding hemodynamic responses, an increase in oxygenated hemoglobin was detected, especially in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex following the gift exchange. Furthermore, it was observed that gift exchange before the beginning of the task increased the performance level. The present study provides a significant contribution to the identification of those factors that enable the increased cognitive performance based on cooperative relationships.

From Antarctica to Alzheimers – Exercise helps to prevent cognitive decline

Regular physical exercise has been proven to counteract physiological deconditioning caused by a sedentary lifestyle. More recently, human and animal studies have demonstrated that regular physical activity also targets brain function by increasing cognition and mood. In two studies, presented here, we aimed to show the long-term effect of exercise on mental health. Study 1: Eight male volunteers were isolated and confined during the winter period at the Antarctic Concordia Station. Every six weeks electroencephalographic measurements were recorded under rest, cognitive tests and a mood questionnaire were executed. Study 2: 75 previously sedentary patients with a clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were randomized to one of three groups, either provided with high intensity exercise, moderate exercise or no exercise for 12 month. An influence of exercise on the progression of MCI was determined by a neuropsychological test battery (CogState). Study 1: Whereas brain activity showed a decline throughout the isolation period for both groups, regular active people were able to remain their mood state and cognitive performance. Study 2: Participants who showed an increase in physical fitness over the 12 month intervention period, also showed a significant increase in cognitive performance and life-quality. In both studies, we could show that a regular exercise program was able to improve mood, cognitive performance and life-quality. A transfer of results from space life science into everyday life, allows emphasizing the importance of regular physical activity for brain health and stressing its relevance for a healthy life-style.

Boosting the effect of reward on cognitive control using TMS over the left IFJ

Although an enhancing effect of reward on cognitive performance has been observed consistently, its neural underpinnings remain elusive. Recent evidence suggests that the inferior frontal junction (IFJ) may be a key player underlying such an enhancement by integrating motivational processes and cognitive control. However, its exact role and in particular a potential causality of IFJ activation is still unclear. In the present study, we therefore investigated the causal contributions of the left IFJ in motivated task switching by temporarily disrupting its activity using continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS, Exp.1) or 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS, Exp.2). After TMS application over the left IFJ or a control site (vertex), participants performed a switch task in which numbers had to be judged by magnitude or parity. Different amounts of monetary rewards (high vs low) were used to manipulate the participants’ motivational states. We measured reaction times and error rates. Irrespective of TMS stimulation, participants exhibited slower responses following task switches compared to task repeats. This effect was reduced in high reward trials. Importantly, we found that disrupting the IFJ improved participants’ behavioral performance in the high reward condition. For high reward trials exclusively, error rates decreased when the IFJ was modulated with cTBS or 1 Hz rTMS but not after vertex stimulation. Our results suggest that the left IFJ is causally related to the increase in cognitive performance through reward.

Effect of Short‐Term Theta Frequency Stimulation of the Vagus Nerve on Cognition among Patients with Refractory Epilepsy: A Pilot Study

ObjectiveThe purpose of this investigation is to collect preliminary data on the effect of theta frequency vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive measures, including memory retention, in patients with refractory epilepsy.BackgroundVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) was approved by the FDA in 1997 as an adjunctive treatment for medically refractory epilepsy. VNS provides intermittent high frequency stimulation to the left vagus nerve, resulting in retrograde stimulation to centers in the brainstem. Research interest into alternative uses of VNS has increased in popularity over the past decade, including its effect on cognition.Initial short‐term studies (3–24 hours of stimulation) have provided information on how it may be working to alter cognitive function. Two pre‐clinical studies showed that rats displayed increased memory retention after 24 hours of VNS. Clinical studies have also demonstrated a significant increase in cognitive performance when VNS is administered during the memory consolidation period of a list learning task.The nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) in the brain stem is the primary relay station for afferent vagal nerve fibers. The NST has numerous projections to various areas of the forebrain and brain stem, including the hippocampus. Stimulation of the vagus nerve has been shown to alter the electrophysiological and metabolic profiles of the hippocampus, an area that plays a critical role in learning and memory functions. The hippocampus generates and maintains high amplitude oscillations in the theta frequency range (4–8 Hz), which play an important role in memory tasks. Furthermore, there is pre‐clinical evidence that theta oscillations are depressed in rodent models with temporal lobe epilepsy, and that reduced theta activity correlates with memory deficits. We hypothesize that theta frequency VNS will have a positive effect on memory retention.MethodsPatients with implanted VNS devices were identified in the medical records, consented, and screened via the Beck Depression Inventory (excluded if score &gt; 20) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (excluded if score &lt; 24). Participants then practiced cognitive tasks for 30 minutes, followed by three rounds of neurocognitive testing with different VNS settings (Figure 1). Only VNS frequency (theta: 5 Hz, beta: 25–30 Hz, and control: 0 Hz) was altered. Each round of neurocognitive testing included two tasks. The first was a memory encoding/retrieval task (California Verbal Learning Test, CVLT). The second was an executive function task administered between the encoding and retrieval portions of CVLT. Both participants and test administrators were blinded to VNS parameters.Results &amp; DiscussionOver the course of one year, data was only collected from one patient. This was due to a combination of factors, including stringent exclusion criteria, difficult patient recruitment, and an understaffed research team. However, this patient did display a 23% increase in delayed free recall performance when treated with theta frequency stimulation (Figure 2). Furthermore, accuracy and reaction time decreased by 5% and &gt;15% for both beta and theta stimulation (as compared to the control) during the executive function task (Stroop test). While generalizable conclusions are impossible to draw from this data, the preliminary results support our hypothesis. While we are in the process of collecting more data, we hope that this study can serve as a platform for researchers to build from.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Restoration and the City: The Role of Public Urban Squares.

Over recent decades, the study of psychological restoration has attracted a considerable amount of interest within and without the boundaries of environmental psychology, with most of the work focused on analyzing restoration in natural contexts. However, little attention has been paid to the (possible) restorative potential of urban settings, as they have usually been expected not to be restorative and to present some elements that might imply negative health outcomes in the short and long term. In this field study, our aim was to evaluate restoration in urban squares. To this end, we measured participants' attentional and affective states both before and after spending half an hour in an urban square. A sample of 46 subjects contemplated and walked through one of the two selected squares that differed in restorative potential (PRS). Analyses revealed a statistically significant increase in cognitive performance and a decrease in negative affect in both squares. They also showed that participants reported greater stress recovery rates in one of the settings. These results support the idea that cities can be potentially restorative and justify the relevance of a research area focused on the urban designs, which may offer psychological benefits to urban citizens.

P182 Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive activity

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is known to modulate neuronal network activity thus affecting cognitive performance. tDCS has demonstrated prolonged effects, reflecting plastic processes in the brain (Nitsche and Paulus, 2001). We investigated an influence of tDCS on EEG waves, cognitive performance and activation of regulation mechanisms in autonomic nervous system. Eight healthy male volunteers underwent anodal/cathodal and sham stimulation on separate days in a single blind crossover trial. tDCS was applied for 10 min at 1.5 mA current with an active electrode over T3 area and a passive electrode over A2 lead. EEG and heart rate variability were recorded during a two-minute interval of eyes-closed/eyes-opened background state before and after stimulation, during a cognitive load (a letter cancelation and an arithmetic test) and during a background state at the end of the experiment. Before the experiment volunteers have passed tapping test to assess Pavlovian nervous system properties. We found that an anodal stimulation provoked an increase in cognitive performance in 87% cases, while the cathodal one showed a slight decrease in 38% cases; other probes demonstrated an opposite effect. We found subject-depended changes in frequency band power after tDCS. Generally, anodal stimulation increased power of all bands, while cathodal one had an opposite effect (Fig. 1). The maximum effects were observed at T3/T4, F3 and O2 leads. We found correlations between the balance of the strength of excitation and inhibition in the nervous system and the changes of theta and beta power after cathodal stimulation. We observed an increase in beta activity across well-balanced individuals while solving cognitive tasks after the cathodal stimulation. Consequently, tDCS affects cognitive and regulatory activity of the brain. Effects depend on the polarity of the active electrode. Anodal stimulation mostly increases cortical electrical activity in temporal and left prefrontal areas. The effect entails an increase in cognitive performance and a reorganization in control of autonomic nervous system which is responsible for activation of behavioral physiological resources. Effects of cathodal stimulation depend on individual balance of the strength of excitation and inhibition in the brain. Download : Download high-res image (122KB) Download : Download full-size image