One system, two paths: Unifying autonomic and behavioural thermoregulation via perceptual control.

Shortness of breath (SoB), sleep disturbance, and fatigue are the most common physical symptoms (PS) among patients with Heart Failure (HF). Depressive symptoms (DS) are the most common psychological symptoms that might affect the severity of PS. Perceived control (PC) has positive effects among patients with HF. This study determined whether PC mediated the relationship between DS and PS severity among patients with HF. Three hundred participants were recruited conveniently from four hospitals in Amman, Jodan. Arabic versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Control Attitude Scale-Revised, and the Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure were used to collect the data. Baron and Kenny's approach through multiple regression demonstrated that DS and PC were independent predictors for sleep disturbance, SoB, and fatigue. This indicated that PC partially mediated the relationship between DS and PS severity. Addressing DS and PC may reduce symptoms; future research should evaluate longitudinal and interventional effects.

Nowadays, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has become a common method for treating coronary artery diseases. This surgery requires a long post-operative length of stay (PLOS) in the hospital. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the factors affecting PLOS in patients undergoing CABG surgery using machine learning methods. A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science, from inception until September 25, 2023. This review was performed according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. All studies that investigated the factors affecting PLOS using machine learning methods in patients undergoing CABG surgery were included in the study. In total, 9715 articles were identified after the removal of the duplicates. After the systematic screening, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. The result showed there are 56 effective factors in predicting PLOS in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Of which 15 factors: age, gender, left ventricular ejection fraction, infection, Perceived Control (PC) levels, BMI, angina class, diabetes, Logistic Euro-score, smoking, fluid balance, inotropes, low cardiac output, atrial fibrillation, and history of cerebrovascular accident are mentioned in more than one article as an affecting factors. This systematic review highlights the multifactorial nature of PLOS, showing that patients' postoperative length of stay is influenced by factors across pre-, intra-, and postoperative care.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a known risk factor for depression, yet its daily cognitive-emotional mechanisms remain unclear, especially under unpredictable stressors like COVID-19. This study examined whether CM relates to mean levels and daily dynamics of perceived control (PC) and negative affect (NA), as well as whether these processes mediate depression in emerging adults. Among 184 Chinese emerging adults ( M age = 21.58, SD = 2.09; 123 females) assessed over 14 days. DSEM revealed significant cross-lagged effects between PC and NA, highlighting the dynamic cognitive-emotional interaction. Moreover, mean levels of PC and NA mediated the association between childhood emotional abuse (CEA) and depression, whereas other CM subtypes were not related to depression through PC or NA. These results suggest that dual cognitive-emotional pathways are fundamental mechanisms connecting CEA to depression. The study highlights the necessity of interventions addressing both PC and NA, especially in the context of unpredictable stressors.

ABSTRACT The arrangement of objects in a 3D gaming environment is key to guiding players' visual attention. The human visual system is naturally drawn to salient areas, characterized by high contrast and importance, which directly affect performance in games like hidden‐object and first‐person shooters. This study investigates how improving user experience can be achieved by varying game difficulty according to objects' saliency. We created two games with three distinct levels of difficulty in which players utilized virtual reality to locate targets in various environments. Game difficulty was modulated by the saliency of these objects within their environments. In the second experiment, we applied the same structure but focused on how varying the materials and colors of objects influenced detection. Our findings show that controlling object saliency and visual characteristics can effectively manage game difficulty, offering new possibilities for adaptive and immersive gaming experiences.

ABSTRACTSelf‐reflection is central to adaptive stress regulation, yet little is known about when immersed versus distanced reflection optimises learning from stressful events. Drawing on Perceptual Control Theory, we propose that matching reflective stance to the emotional salience of stressors—adopting immersion for mild events and distancing for highly significant ones—optimises control‐system reorganisation. This triple‐blind, parallel‐group randomised controlled trial will compare event‐informed reflection against fixed self‐immersed and self‐distanced conditions using ecological momentary assessment. Two hundred and fifty emerging adults (aged 18–25) in the United Kingdom will complete three daily assessments over 14 days. Primary outcomes include stress reactivity (within‐person stressor–negative affect slopes) and coping self‐insight. We hypothesise that event‐informed reflection will attenuate stress reactivity and enhance coping self‐insight relative to fixed stances, with coping self‐insight mediating effects on reactivity. Dynamic structural equation modelling with Bayesian estimation will test these predictions.

With the gradual development of exoskeleton robot hardware, the research focus should be transferred to the control model. The current field of exoskeleton control systems is undergoing a paradigm shift from traditional human-computer interaction to human-computer symbiosis. This research focuses on the control model and control strategy of an exoskeleton robot. Through a systematic review of the literature, this paper divides the current control model into four clear control paradigms: brain-less control, perceptual control, predictive control, and symbiotic control, and prospects the future human-computer interaction mode of exoskeleton. At the same time, the core characteristics, typical cases, and limitations of each paradigm are analyzed, and the four trends of human-computer symbiosis are summarized. The future development path of exoskeleton based on artificial intelligence, brain-computer interface, and new sensing technology is outlined. Brainless control can not adapt to individual differences and real-time changes, ignoring the real-time state of people. Perceptual control cannot predict or look forward to motor intention. Predictive control is complex in calculation, highly dependent on the model and data, and mostly in the laboratory stage. In the future, a close coupling and bidirectional communication man-machine relationship will be formed to form a man-machine intelligent unity.

We tested whether enhanced allocentric spatial memory of a distressing scene can attenuate intrusive memories. Using virtual reality (VR), we developed an immersive trauma analog to measure and manipulate spatial memory. Study 1 (N = 92) established the paradigm's validity in eliciting intrusions and assessing spatial memory for scene-embedded objects. Results showed that spatial memory was better for more distressing objects and when participants were probed from the original encoding viewpoint, but memory performance did not differentiate egocentric from allocentric strategies or relate to intrusions during a 15-minute interval. Critically, Study 2 (N = 120) showed that targeted spatial memory training on scene contents, administered after viewing the traumatic scene, significantly reduced intrusions, as assessed by a 3-day intrusion diary and a retrospective self-report assessment, compared to a perceptual control. These findings support our main hypothesis, suggesting that therapeutic approaches targeting intrusions may benefit from enhancing memory for the spatial layout of traumatic events. Further investigation is needed to determine the specific role of allocentric memory, as opposed to general spatial memory, in this process.

Perceived control is a key mechanism implicated in stress resilience. A tendency to perceive control over stressors may protect individuals against negative outcomes across various situations by increasing active coping and preventing exacerbated stress reactions. Assuming that individual differences in perceived control during an uncontrollable stress task may represent an underlying resilience factor, we investigated associations of perceived control with neural, endocrine, and affective responses to a different, psychosocial stressor, and with overall mental health. 116 male participants aged 18-30 completed a psychosocial stress task, and we assessed stress responses via functional magnetic resonance imaging, cortisol levels, and affective state questionnaires. General mental health was assessed via self-report. Perceived control was measured during a second, uncontrollable stress task and growth mixture modeling revealed a high- and a low-control class. Comparison of these classes showed that the high-control class experienced less helplessness during the uncontrollability task and demonstrated more flexible responses to psychosocial stress as reflected in cortisol secretion and activation of the bilateral posterior insula. Further, the high-control class reported fewer psychosomatic symptoms and a less external locus of control. These findings suggest that perceived control might act as a resilience factor, influencing stress processing across multiple domains. The study highlights the potential for perceived control to be harnessed in resilience-building interventions and underscores the need for further experimental and longitudinal research to confirm its role in modulating stress responses.

Abstract Consistent evidence has shown that perceived control (PC) buffers against age-related cognitive declines over periods of up to 20 years. However, little is known about how core health behaviors (e.g., diet) and demographic factors (e.g., socioeconomic status (SES)) may mediate and moderate this relationship. Using national data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (n = 831, age range = 34-83), this study examined the role of a Western Mediterranean Diet (wMD) as a mediator between, and SES as a moderator of, PC and cognitive functioning. Participants provided complete data for age, sex, education, income, race, diet, and health locus of control (PC) at Wave 2, as well as 9-year longitudinal data on episodic memory (EM) at Waves 2 and 3. Hayes’ PROCESS Macro was utilized to identify how the relationship between PC and longitudinal EM may be mediated by wMD and moderated by central indicators of SES (income, education). Step 1 mediation models showed that wMD mediated the association between PC and 9-year episodic memory (b = .0084, CIs = .0002-.0211). Step 2 moderated mediation models showed that this wMD mediated pathway was pronounced for only those with less education (b = .0216, CIs = .0045-.0469). Results advance the literature by providing new evidence for (a) the mechanistic health behavior processes (wMD) that account for the relationship between PC and episodic memory and (b) the sociodemographic populations for whom this mediated pathway is most pronounced (those with lower SES).

BackgroundA more integrated approach to mental and brain health across the lifespan is needed. Understanding how individuals in a specific community perceive control over their health outcomes may provide insights for multidimensional and personalized care. We used the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale (MHLOC) to assess a group of Spanish‐speaking, Latino San Franciscans. Beliefs on what influences their general and mental health were measured in three dimensions: Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLOC), Powerful Others Health Locus of Control (PHLOC), and Chance Health Locus of Control (CHLOC).MethodParticipants provided informed consent and self‐administered the MHLOC scale in the San Francisco (SF) Mission Neighborhood Health Clinic. Sociodemographic variables were collected (age, sex, education, years living in SF, religion). We compared participants’ general and mental health beliefs and tested for associations between their MHLC dominant dimension and their sociodemographic variables.Result78 participants (47.2 years, 72.5% male) with diverse sociodemographic backgrounds completed the MHLOC scale (table 1). PHLOC dimension was dominant for general and mental health (43% and 51%, respectively), followed by IHLOC (31% and 33%), and CHLC (26% and 17%). A large proportion of participants changed their dominant dimension when shifting from thinking of their general to their mental health beliefs (n = 40, 51.3%). The most prominent change was from IHLC to PHLC dominance (p = 0.03, Figure 1). Age and education were found to have a significant effect on general health beliefs (one‐way ANOVA, F = 4.50, p = 0.014 and χ2 = 26.35, p = 0.010, respectively).ConclusionOur findings suggest a tendency among Latino San Franciscans to view their mental health as strongly influenced by external factors, while viewing their general health as strongly influenced by self‐responsibility. Acknowledging and supporting participants’ reliance on external resources while fostering self‐efficacy could guide prevention and intervention strategies for mental and brain health.

Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) and the Free Energy Principle (FEP) are two foundational, principle-based frameworks originally developed to explain brain function. However, since their initial proposals, both frameworks have been generalized to account for the behavior of living systems more broadly. Despite their conceptual overlap and practical successes, a mathematical comparison of the two frameworks has yet to be undertaken. In this article, we briefly introduce and compare the philosophical foundations underlying PCT and FEP. We then introduce and compare their experimental and mathematical foundations concretely in the context of bacterial chemotaxis. With these foundations in place, we can use tools from category theory to argue that PCT can be formally understood as a subset of the FEP framework; however, it is worth noting that the mathematical machinery unique to FEP is not required to successfully model bacterial chemotaxis. Finally, we conclude with a proposal for a mathematical synthesis where each framework plays an orthogonal yet complementary role.

ABSTRACT Feeling good during exercise is a key predictor of whether people stay active. One factor thought to influence this is whether exercisers perceive control over their training intensity. A meta-analysis suggested this psychological effect may be negligible. However, our study suggests this conclusion should be reconsidered given prior limitations (small samples, data aggregation bias, and limited focus on the ‘heavy’ domain of exercise intensity). We explored affective responses to self-adjusted versus imposed intensities within the approximated heavy domain (64–76% HRmax). Sensitivity power simulations informed our sample size (N = 94; 22.7 ± 2.7 years, 49% female). Participants first completed a ramp protocol with the option to adjust intensity, followed one week later by an imposed session replicating their own pattern, without them knowing this. Affective valence was recorded every 3 min (Feeling Scale, FS), and decisional preferences assessed post-session (DPEX test). Multilevel modelling showed affective valence was 0.52 FS units lower [95% CI: −0.86, −0.18] in the imposed condition and preference for exercise also decreased (dz = -0.45); results were robust across multiverse analyses. Small chances to adjust intensity may improve the experience, but confirmatory research is needed to test assumptions with an empirically justified smallest effect size of interest.

Beneath the Personal Protective Equipment: Perspectives on Infection Prevention and Control From Emergency Department Health Care Personnel.

How do organisms pursue goals? This article compares two very different frameworks that address this question, perceptual control theory (PCT) and the free energy principle (FEP). According to PCT, organisms have goals (reference values for certain variables) and sensors (of their actual values) and act to bring the sensed values towards the references. That is, they are organised as assemblages of control systems. FEP views the behaviour of organisms as resulting from minimising a quantity called free energy. PCT makes specific proposals for the organisation of multiple control systems and for other aspects of goal-seeking behaviour, such as adaptation, learning, and memory. FEP claims that these phenomena and others emerge from the single principle of free energy minimisation. PCT sharply distinguishes action from prediction: they are different sorts of things. FEP treats action as a particular case of prediction: organisms act not by commanding but by predicting their future states. • Perceptual control theory asserts that an organism's actions are undertaken to control its perceptions. • The free energy principle unifies action with prediction as aspects of minimising free energy. • The two theories differ fundamentally. It remains to be seen how this disaccord may be resolved.

Against the backdrop of cultural heritage digitalisation, video games have emerged as an effective medium for cultural heritage preservation due to their strong interactivity, entertainment value, and cultural carrying capacity. However, current research faces challenges: a lack of critical perspectives, fragmented gaming experiences, and insufficient cultural communication efficacy. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study integrates Critical Heritage Studies, Virtual Restoration, MDA Framework, Flow Theory, and cross-cultural design, identifying their synergies and complementarities. It synthesizes three fundamental design principles: Triadic coupling-driven contextualisation, Pluralistic cultural epistemology, and Subject-Agentic aesthetic narration, explained through classic theories. The proposed gaming framework emphasizes participatory cultural communication while fostering authentic, immersive experiences, where aesthetic quality and perceptual control synergistically enhance interactive efficacy. Rooted in psychological, cognitive, and aesthetic theories, the framework explores the balance between entertainment experience and cultural sensitivity, optimizing player engagement, and promoting cross-cultural acceptance. It offers practical guidance for developers and a novel theoretical perspective for researchers.

When we search for an object in the natural visual environment, we sometimes know exactly what the object looks like. At other times, however, we know only the category of the object. For example, if we are looking for our own bath towel, we might know that it is brown and is folded into a rectangle. However, if we are looking for a towel in a friend’s house, we might not know its color or whether it is folded or lying in a clump. Consequently, we may sometimes be able to use specific perceptual features to guide search, but some search tasks are so conceptual in nature that the relevant visual features are difficult to specify. Here, we found that eye-movement patterns during visual search could be predicted by perceptual dimensions derived from crowd-sourced data (THINGS), but only when observers had previously seen the specific target object. When only the category of the desired object was known (because the observer had never seen the specific target), eye-movement patterns were predicted by conceptual dimensions derived from a natural language processing model (ConceptNet), and perceptual features had no significant predictive ability once the conceptual information was statistically controlled. In addition, as observers gained experience searching for a specific exemplar of a category, they became progressively more reliant on perceptual features and less reliant on conceptual features. Together, these findings provide novel evidence that conceptual information can influence search, especially when the precise perceptual features of an object are unknown.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.3758/s13414-025-03116-4.

Enhancing Postoperative Pain Management in Cardiopulmonary Bypass Heart Surgery Patients: A Study on Nursing Intervention Informed by Behavior Change Theory.

Self-regulatory foraging behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera) was investigated using the framework of Perceptual Control Theory (PCT). We developed a PCT-based model to describe how bees maintain goal-directed behavior, specifically targeting a sucrose-rich feeding site while overcoming a wind disturbance. In a controlled experiment, we found that 13 of 14 bees could successfully adjust their flight paths to overcome the disturbance and consistently reach the feeding target. While they demonstrated a great deal of individual variability regarding how they overcame the wind across experimental trials, they did so by finally adopting a headwind (i.e., flying into the wind) approach pattern rather than tailwind or crosswind approach patterns. These results support the application of PCT to the study of behavior in honey bees, which can be regarded as self-regulative (i.e., non-linear and dynamic) rather than as linear sequences of inputs and outputs. Given that such dynamic models are concerned with the functions or purposes of behavior, they may also be classified as teleonomic.

Farmers' behavioral intention towards pesticide safety in Nepal: An assessment of the extended theory of planned behavior.