Physiological Components Research Articles

Measuring dynamic emotional experiences in response to media stimuli

Communication research has long recognized the dynamic nature of most media stimuli and the corresponding dynamic emotional processing implied on the side of the audience. Capturing and analyzing these emotional dynamics during media reception is imperative for advancing our understanding of media processing and effects, but is not common practice in most communication research. This article highlights several methodological approaches to measuring the physiological, behavioral, and experiential components of emotions during media exposure: Electrodermal activity, automated facial expression analysis, continuous response measurement, and self-probed emotional retrospections. We discuss these methods in terms of what they measure, their practical application to different research contexts, and aspects of data-analysis. We further highlight ways to adapt and apply these methods to advance research on hot topics in communication science, psychology, and related fields and provide recommendations for scholars who wish to integrate continuous measures of emotional responses into their research.

Cotton fibre development: Genes and physiological determinants of fibre length

Cotton fibres, single-celled extensions of the seed epidermis, progress through a series of developmental stages. This review explores fibre developments' genetic and physiological components, focusing on factors that affect fibre length. An attempt has been made to summarize the evolution of cotton species, highlighting the transition from wild to cultivated types and the selection for improved fibre traits. The stages of fibre development–initiation, elongation, secondary wall synthesis and maturation, as well as the roles of specific genes and physiological determinants governing fibre length during these processes, are discussed. The prospects for improving cotton fibre length to meet the industry standards, supported by the wealth of research information generated, are also outlined.

Biologging in a free-ranging mammal reveals apparent energetic trade-offs among physiological and behavioural components of the acute-phase response.

The acute-phase response (APR) is an adaptive emergency life-history stage, wherein vertebrates exhibit fever and anorexia to survive an infection. However, induced immune responses are energetically costly, and sick animals may reduce physical activity to compensate. Tests of this predicted energetic trade-off in free-ranging animals are rare due to difficulties in measuring individual physiology and behaviour under immune challenge in natural settings. However, recent advances in biologging technology now make such studies possible. We surgically implanted heart rate/temperature loggers in free-ranging adult male Arctic ground squirrels, fitted the squirrels with collar-mounted accelerometers and light/temperature loggers, and injected animals with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate an immune challenge. LPS-injected squirrels exhibited approximately 1°C overnight fevers accompanied by slightly elevated (10 bpm) heart rates; LPS-injected squirrels also spent 19% less of their time aboveground the following day and reduced overall movement by 40% compared with saline-injected controls. Thus, we found support for an energetic trade-off between functional immune responses (fever and anorexia) and lethargic sickness behaviour within the APR of a free-ranging mammal. Moreover, our results suggest animal-borne devices can play an important role in future studies of vertebrate immunity and disease dynamics.

Sex Differences in the Neurobiology of Fear and Anxiety.

Although women are diagnosed with anxiety and stress-related disorders at twice the rate of men, there remains a lack of clarity around how to enhance treatment within each sex to reduce disparate rates of anxiety. However, in recent years, a growing literature has identified neural, cognitive, and physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in fear and anxiety, with the promise of informing tailored treatment approaches. Here, we review recent findings, focusing on human studies among healthy populations as well as among patients with generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. The literature reveals nuanced differences in the types of stimuli that preferentially evoke anxiety and stress responses in women and men, as well as sex differences in threat neurocircuitry that mediates the behavioral, physiological, and subjective components of fear and anxiety.

Comprehensive Investigation of Growth, Yield, and Physiological Components of Narcissus Plants in Response to Light Quality Under Controlled Environment

Comprehensive Investigation of Growth, Yield, and Physiological Components of Narcissus Plants in Response to Light Quality Under Controlled Environment

Histological assessment of the shared vascular wall in anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries with an interarterial course

Abstract Background In anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) an intramural segment is present if the proximal AAOCA courses through the aortic wall. This is defined as a shared tunica media of the aorta and AAOCA in the ‘intramural septum’. This definition is based on autopsy studies of selected AAOCA patients who suffered sudden cardiac death and is difficult to apprehend on imaging modalities. Therefore, the aim was to identify the histological features and variants of the interarterial vascular wall in living adult patients, and correlate this to CT-angiography (CTA). Methods This prospective multicenter study included consecutive adult AAOCA patients who underwent surgical unroofing between 2021 to 2024. The excised interatrial vascular wall tissue was embedded, sectioned, and immunohistochemically stained for physiological components, e.g. smooth muscle cells and connective tissue, and pathological components such as fibrosis. Microscopic examination and quantification was performed by two independent observers and findings were correlated with CTA. Results Fifteen patients (mean age 42.9±14.0 years, 60% female) and 1 postmortem specimen were included. Fourteen (93%) had a right-AAOCA and 1 (7%) a left-AAOCA, with a mean intramural length of 8.4±4.1mm. Histopathologically, disorganized elastic lamellae with fragmentation, presence of fibrosis and loss of nuclei were observed. No vasa vasorum or nervi vasorum were identified. Post-sectioning virtual 3D reconstructions enhanced the spatial insight in correlation of histological sections with CTA. Conclusion This first study of the intramural septum in adults with AAOCA reveals the histological structure of the shared vascular wall between the aorta and AAOCA. Marked vascular wall abnormalities such as lack of vasa and nervi vasorum, fragmentation of elastic lamellae and fibrotic changes were observed. These findings support a propensity to local vascular wall pathology in patients with AAOCA. 3D reconstruction supported the translation of histological data to clinical imaging techniques.Central Figure

Maize Morphophysiological Changes Modulated by Cover Crops Rotation in Northeast Brazil

Cover crops have gained attention due to their potential benefits for the soil and physiological performance of subsequent crops. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and productive aspects of maize grown in succession to cover crops in northeastern Brazil. A randomized complete block design with four repetitions was employed, in which the treatments consisted of the following cover crops: sunn hemp, spectabilis, pigeon pea, Brachiaria sp., jack bean, millet, and fallow. Physiological aspects and production components of maize were evaluated at the tasseling (VT) and smooth grain (R3) phenological stages. Millet cover increased carotenoid content in maize leaves by up to 78% at R3. Maize grown after pigeon pea, millet, and Brachiaria sp. showed up to 42% greater CO2 assimilation efficiency compared to jack bean. Carboxylation efficiency increased by up to 34% in maize grown after millet and Brachiaria sp., while water use efficiency improved by up to 76% in maize after sunn hemp and pigeon pea at R3. Sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean reduced soil temperature by 2 °C compared to fallow. The highest maize yield was observed after jack bean, with an 8% increase over fallow. These findings demonstrate the benefits of incorporating cover crops into maize cultivation systems in the semi-arid region of Brazil.

Risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the developmental age

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent respiratory sleep disorder in children, associated with severe health consequences, including hypertension, cardiac dysfunction, and neurocognitive impairment. Despite extensive research on OSAS in adults, the risk factors for pediatric OSAS remain underexplored. Objective: This literature review aims to identify and present the key risk factors associated with pediatric OSAS based on contemporary studies. Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted for literature published between 2016 and 2024. Search terms included “obstructive sleep apnea,” “children,” and “risk factors.” A total of 93 relevant studies were reviewed after excluding non-pediatric and irrelevant papers from an initial pool of 283. Results: The most commonly identified risk factors for pediatric OSAS include adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy, obesity, craniofacial abnormalities, and asthma. Additional risk factors such as allergic rhinitis, recurrent upper respiratory infections, nasal stenosis, congenital diseases, low vitamin D levels, and preterm birth were also noted. Conclusion: Pediatric OSAS is influenced by multiple factors, including anatomical, physiological, and genetic components. Further research is required to explore emerging risk factors, such as role of vitamin D deficiency and microbiota, and to clarify the impact of variables like ethnicity and breastfeeding.

Metabolic strategies in hypoxic plants.

Complex multicellular organisms have evolved in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. Oxygen is therefore essential for all aerobic organisms including plants, for energy production through cellular respiration. However, plants can experience hypoxia following extreme flooding events and also under aerated conditions in proliferative organs or tissues characterized by high oxygen consumption. When oxygen availability is compromised, plants adopt different strategies to cope with hypoxia and limited aeration. A common feature among different plant species is the activation of an anaerobic fermentative metabolism to provide adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to maintain cellular homeostasis under hypoxia. Fermentation also requires many sugar substrates, which is not always feasible, and alternative metabolic strategies are thus needed. Recent findings have also shown that the hypoxic metabolism is also active in specific organs or tissues of the plant under aerated conditions. Here, we describe the regulatory mechanisms that control the metabolic strategies of plants and how they enable them to thrive despite challenging conditions. A comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the genetic and physiological components underlying hypoxic metabolism should help to provide opportunities to improve plant resilience under the current climate change scenario.

Drought alters the physiological quality of runner-type peanut seeds during seed formation

Sub-optimal water supply during crop development, especially during peak flowering and pod filling, affects the quality of the produced seeds, generally resulting in poor seed quality. The goals of this study were to identify the acquisition pattern of physiological components in peanut seeds as well as to assess the impact of drought during peanut seed development on its physiological quality. The research was conducted at the USDA-ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory in Dawson, GA for three consecutive years (2019, 2020, and 2021) using field conditions under two water regimes, well-watered control and drought stress. Rainout shelters were used to prevent rain in the drought-stressed block for 30 d, starting 80 d after planting. The well-watered block received supplemental irrigation when soil water potential reached −40 kPa. Peanut pods from the cultivar Georgia-06G were harvested at 2500 growing degree days, and the peanut maturity profile board was used to classify the pods into different maturity classes. Germination, vigor, desiccation tolerance (DT), and longevity tests were performed on seeds from each maturity class and both water regimes. The acquisition pattern for the physiological components of seed quality was developed for seeds grown under well-watered and drought conditions. Maximum germination occurred in 'brown 1' and 'brown 2' under drought and well-watered conditions, respectively. Both water regimes reached maximum vigor in the 'brown 1'; however, under well-watered conditions, vigor had a rapid decline after 'brown 1' while under drought stress, the decline in vigor was slower. Maximum DT was achieved between ‘orange’ and 'brown 1' under drought conditions, whereas under well-watered conditions, maximum DT was achieved between 'brown 2' and 'black 1'. Seeds from immature classes had lower capacity to be stored compared with mature seeds. Overall, drought stress promoted greater physiological quality in the peanut seeds than the well-watered treatment. Maximum physiological quality was achieved in the transition from ‘orange’ into 'brown 1' under drought conditions, and in the transition from 'brown 2' to 'black 1' class under well-watered conditions. Also, drought stress preserved seed quality for a longer period.

Regulation of Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms Related to Water Stress Tolerance in Barley and Improvement of Growth and Productivity Using Salicylic Acid and Chitosan

The present investigation aimed to assess the impacts of three Salicylic Acid (SA) concentrations (T2=100, T3=200, T4=300ppm), three Chitosan concentrations (T5=150, T6=225, T7=300ppm) and T8= Salicylic Acid (100 ppm) with Chitosan (150 ppm) mixture in comparison to control treatment (T1) on two barley cultivars Giza126 and Giza 134 under rainfed conditions. Some vegetative and yield traits were recorded, plant height, spike length, number of gains spike-1, number of spikes/m2, 1000 grain weight, biological and grain yield. A split plot design was performed with three replications. The field experiment was conducted in the northern west coast region of Egypt (Marsa Matruh government) under the rainfed condi­tions during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 growing seasons. The results showed a direct relationship between increased foliar application and increased yield attributes. Results indicated that Giza 126 cultivar as affected by T4 showed the most desirable values for grains spikes-1 in first season, spikes/m2, biological yield and grain yield during the first and second seasons respectively. In addition, barley cultivar Giza 126 as affected by T3 showed the highest values for grains spikes-1 in second season. On the other hand, barley cultivar Giza 134 as affected by T4 showed the highest values for plant height, spike length and 1000-grain weight in first and second seasons respectively. From results, it can be concluded that the Salicylic Acid (SA) concentration 300 ppm is recommendable for improving the productivity of barley under rainfed conditions of Egypt. To study the potential role of SA and Chitosan on water stress tolerance mechanisms some biochemical and physiological parameters were recorded. Application of SA and Chitosan decreased significantly Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) measuring by determined the concentrations of MDA and H2O2 especially SA with concentrations 300 ppm (T4). For osmolytes (proline, SSC and SPC), all treatments using SA and Chitosan induced significant increase in osmolytes content compared with control under water stress only in the two studied barley genotypes, except for treatment with Chitosan 225 and 300 ppm in Giza 126 for proline content. Similar results were recorded for antioxidant enzymes activity (CAT, POX and PPO) which showed up-regulation for all treatments compared with control under water stress for the two studied genotypes. On contrast, APX antioxidant enzyme recorded the highest activity in control treatment under water stress only. In general, for all studied treatments comparing with control, application of SA300 ppm and the mixture between SA100 and Chitosan150 ppm were the best treatment for induction of up and down regulation of biochemical and physiological component in the barley cells which is known as defense system against water stress damage.

Dual-functionalized architecture enables stable and tumor cell-specific SiO2NPs in complex biological fluids.

Most commercial anticancer nanomedicines are administered intravenously. This route is fast and precise as the drug enters directly into the systemic circulation, without undergoing absorption processes. When nanoparticles come into direct contact with the blood, however, they interact with physiological components that can induce colloidal destabilization and/or changes in their original biochemical identity, compromising their ability to selectively accumulate at target sites. In this way, these systems usually lack active targeting, offering limited therapeutic effectiveness. In the literature, there is a paucity of in-depth studies in complex environments to evaluate nanoparticle stability, protein corona formation, hemolytic activity, and targeting capabilities. To address this issue, fluorescent silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) are here functionalized with zwitterionic (kinetic stabilizer) and folate groups (targeting agent) to provide selective interaction with tumor cell lines in biological media. The stability of these dually functionalized SiO2NPs is preserved in unprocessed human plasma while yielding a decrease in the number of adsorbed proteins. Experiments in murine blood further proved that these nanoparticles are not hemolytic. Remarkably, the functionalized SiO2NPs are more internalized by tumor cells than their healthy counterparts. Investigations of this nature play a crucial role in garnering results with greater reliability, allowing the development of nanoparticle-based pharmaceutical drugs that exhibit heightened efficacy and reduced toxicity for medical purposes.

Dimensionality reduction of neuronal degeneracy reveals two interfering physiological mechanisms.

Neuronal systems maintain stable functions despite large variability in their physiological components. Ion channel expression, in particular, is highly variable in neurons exhibiting similar electrophysiological phenotypes, which raises questions regarding how specific ion channel subsets reliably shape intrinsic properties of neurons. Here, we use detailed conductance-based modeling to explore how stable neuronal function is achieved despite variability in channel composition among neurons. Using dimensionality reduction, we uncover two principal dimensions in the channel conductance space that capture most of the variance of the observed variability. These two dimensions correspond to two sources of variability that originate from distinct physiologically relevant mechanisms underlying the regulation of neuronal activity, providing quantitative insights into how channel composition is linked to the electrophysiological activity of neurons. These insights allow us to understand and design a model-independent, reliable neuromodulation rule for variable neuronal populations.

A microfluidic patch for wireless wearable electrochemical detection of sweat metabolites

Wearable sweat sensors provide an innovative detection method for analyzing human physiological and biochemical parameters and play an important role in detecting the potential risks of chronic diseases. Existing commercial wearable sensors (Apple iWatch, HUAWEI smart band) have problems such as single detection index (heart rate or blood pressure), and mainly focus on the physical information. This work studied an integrated microfluidic patch to simultaneously detect several biomarkers (pH, sodium ions, and uric acid) in sweat. We achieved the detection of pH level, sodium, and uric acid in linear ranges of 4–8, 0–160 mM, and 5–160 μM, respectively, covering well the clinically relevant ranges in the healthy human sweat. Laser engraving was chosen to prepare a microfluidic layer, and the sweat collection function was realized by combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic microfluidic synergy. It could efficiently collect the required sweat sample volume (80 μL) within 30 s while avoiding the contamination caused by directly contact with the skin. In addition, a wireless signal acquisition and transmission system was designed with the signal reading, processing, and wireless transmission functions, which can display the testing results in real time on Android phone-specific application software. We combined the wireless system with a microfluidic patch for on-body testing to verify the good wearability of the sweat sensor. This research realized the wireless data processing and transmission while improving sweat collection efficiency. In addition, it could detect various sweat physiological components in real-time, and provides a multiparameter, real-time, and portable sensing platform.

Swallowing Safety after Remote sub-total Esophagectomy: How Important is Tongue Pressure?

The factors related to oropharyngeal dysphagia after remote esophagectomy (greater than five months) remain unclear. This study aimed to assess patient perception of dysphagia, maximum anterior isometric pressure (MAIP), maximum posterior isometric pressure (MPIP), lingual swallowing pressure (LSP) and radiographic physiological components of the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing in patients who are post remote sub-total esophagectomy (SE). Patient perception of dysphagia was assessed using the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10). MAIP, MPIP, and LSP were measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument. Videofluoroscopy was used to assess the physiologic components of swallowing with the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP) and the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS). Ten patients were included in the study (53.2% male; mean age 54.5 ± 18.0). The mean postoperative time was 30 months (range, 5.0-72 months). Seven patients had elevated EAT-10 scores (> 3). All patients demonstrated impaired oropharyngeal swallowing on at least three MBSImP components (range 3-12) and two patients aspirated (PAS 8). There was a significant difference in MAIP values when comparing patients with normal versus impaired laryngeal elevation and epiglottic movement (p < 0.001). MPIP values were significantly different in patients with normal versus impaired epiglottic movement as well as normal versus elevated PAS scores (p < 0.001). Decreased lingual pressure and physiological changes in swallowing coexist after SE. Our results indicate that the decrease in tongue strength may be one of the factors related to unsafe swallow. The assessment of lingual pressure provides diagnostic value and should be incorporated as part of a comprehensive assessment in this population.

The particle effect: comparative toxicity of chlorpyrifos in combination with microplastics and phytoplankton particles in mussel

Lately, the role of microplastics (MP) as vectors for dissolved contaminants and as vehicle for their transfer to aquatic organisms has received attention. Similarly to MP, other inorganic and organic particles may act as passive samplers. However, limited comparative knowledge exists at this respect. In the present study we have comparatively investigated the risk for mussel of MP and the pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) alone and in combination with MP and phytoplankton particles of microalgae (MP-CPF and MA-CPF, respectively). We selected MP and microalgae of similar size to expose mussel to the same volume of particles (≈1.5 mm3L−1 ≈ equivalent to 1.5 mg MP L−1) and the same concentration of contaminant (CPF, 7.6 μg L−1). MP were virgin HDPE microparticles (≤10 μm) while the microalgae species was Isochrisis galbana (4–8 μm). Mussels were exposed for 21 days to MP, CPF, MP-CPF and MA-CPF. Then, a suite of neurotoxicity, oxidative stress and oxidative damage biomarkers were measured in samples collected at day 7 and 21. Additionally, these biochemical markers were assessed in an integrated manner with others measured at physiological, immune and cell component level in the same organisms, previously published. Overall, MP did not elicit significant alterations on the majority of parameters measured. In contrast, mussels exposed to CPF, MA-CPF and MP-CPF showed evidence of neurotoxicity and oxidant imbalance at day 7, added to a detrimental physiological condition and immune imbalance at day 21. At the latter time MP-CPF mussels showed greater alterations than CPF or MA-CPF mussels. This suggested a synergistic toxicity of MP combined with CPF greater than that produced by the contaminants alone (MP or CPF) or by MA combined with CPF.

Muscle reoxygenation is slower after higher cycling intensity, and is faster and more reliable in locomotor than in accessory muscle sites.

Wearable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used during dynamic exercise to reflect the balance of muscle oxygen delivery and uptake. This study describes the behaviour and reliability of postexercise reoxygenation with NIRS as a function of exercise intensity at four muscle sites during an incremental cycling test. We discuss physiological components of faster and slower reoxygenation kinetics in the context of sport science and clinical applications. We hypothesised that reoxygenation would be slower at higher intensity, and that locomotor muscles would be faster than accessory muscles. We quantified test-retest reliability and agreement for each site. Twenty-one trained cyclists performed two trials of an incremental cycling protocol with 5-min work stages and 1-min rest between stages. NIRS was recorded from the locomotor vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles, and accessory lumbar paraspinal and lateral deltoid muscles. Reoxygenation time course was analysed as the half-recovery time (HRT) from the end of work to half of the peak reoxygenation amplitude during rest. Coefficient of variability (CV) between participants, standard error of the measurement (SEM) within participants, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability were evaluated at 50%, 75%, and 100% peak workloads. A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare differences between workloads and muscle sites. HRT was slower with increasing workload in the VL, RF, and PS, but not DL. VL had the fastest reoxygenation (lowest HRT) across muscle sites at all workloads (HRT = 8, 12, 17s at 50%, 75%, 100% workload, respectively). VL also had the greatest reliability and agreement. HRT was sequentially slower between muscle sites in the order of VL < RF < PS < DL, and reliability was lower than for the VL. This study highlights the potential for using wearable NIRS on multiple muscle sites during exercise. Reoxygenation kinetics differ between local muscle sites with increasing intensity. Moderate-to-good reliability in the VL support its increasing use in sport science and clinical applications. Lower reliability in other muscle sites suggest they are not appropriate to be used alone, but may add information when combined to better reflect systemic intensity and fatigue during exercise at different intensities.

Unraveling the physiological and psychosocial signatures of pain by machine learning.

Pain is a complex subjective experience, strongly impacting health and quality of life. Despite many attempts to find effective solutions, present treatments are generic, often unsuccessful, and present significant side effects. Designing individualized therapies requires understanding of multidimensional pain experience, considering physical and emotional aspects. Current clinical pain assessments, relying on subjective one-dimensional numeric self-reports, fail to capture this complexity. To this aim, we exploited machine learning to disentangle physiological and psychosocial components shaping the pain experience. Clinical, psychosocial, and physiological data were collected from 118 chronic pain and healthy participants undergoing 40 pain trials (4,697 trials). To understand the objective response to nociception, we classified pain from the physiological signals (accuracy >0.87), extracting the most important biomarkers. Then, using multilevel mixed-effects models, we predicted the reported pain, quantifying the mismatch between subjective level and measured physiological response. From these models, we introduced two metrics: TIP (subjective index of pain) and Φ (physiological index). These represent possible added value in the clinical process, capturing psychosocial and physiological pain dimensions, respectively. Patients with high TIP are characterized by frequent sick leave from work and increased clinical depression and anxiety, factors associated with long-term disability and poor recovery, and are indicated for alternative treatments, such as psychological ones. By contrast, patients with high Φ show strong nociceptive pain components and could benefit more from pharmacotherapy. TIP and Φ, explaining the multidimensionality of pain, might provide a new tool potentially leading to targeted treatments, thereby reducing the costs of inefficient generic therapies. RESC-PainSense, SNSF-MOVE-IT197271.

Binaural Interaction Component and Behavioral Auditory Processing in the Elderly with Hearing Loss: Preliminary Study

Purpose: The binaural interaction component (BIC) is presumed to reflect binaural hearing abilities, including spatial hearing. This study aims to record BIC amplitudes and examine their relationship with behavioral auditory tests.Methods: Nine elderly adults with hearing loss (eight males and one female) participated in this study. The BIC was derived from the wave V amplitude of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and the N1-P2 amplitude of the auditory late latency response (ALR). Behavioral auditory processing tests, including sentence recognition scores, localization scores, and masking level difference, were obtained and analyzed with respect to electrophysiological BICs.Results: BICs were more reliably identified in ALR compared to ABR. The ALR BIC elicited by a 2,000 Hz tone burst showed a significant correlation with sentence recognition scores in both quiet and noise, as well as localization scores at 2,000 Hz. Other variables also demonstrated significant interrelationships.Conclusion: This study suggests that the ALR BIC elicited by a 2,000 Hz tone burst may be a key physiological component representing spatial hearing abilities in individuals with hearing loss. More robust conclusions can be drawn from future studies with larger sample sizes and more sophisticated designs.

Dopamine in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism: a narrative review.

Owing to the global obesity epidemic, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of glucose and lipid metabolism has become increasingly important. The dopaminergic system, including dopamine, dopamine receptors, dopamine transporters, and other components, is involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. However, the mechanism of action of the dopaminergic system in glucose and lipid metabolism is poorly understood. In this review, we examine the role of the dopaminergic system in glucose and lipid metabolism. The dopaminergic system regulates glucose and lipid metabolism through several mechanisms. It regulates various activities at the central level, including appetite control and decision-making, which contribute to regulating body weight and energy metabolism. In the pituitary gland, dopamine inhibits prolactin production and promotes insulin secretion through dopamine receptor 2. Furthermore, it can influence various physiological components in the peripheral system, such as pancreatic β cells, glucagon-like peptide-1, adipocytes, hepatocytes, and muscle, by regulating insulin and glucagon secretion, glucose uptake and use, and fatty acid metabolism. The role of dopamine in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism has significant implications for the physiology and pathogenesis of disease. The potential therapeutic value of dopamine lies in its effects on metabolic disorders.