Subjective Responses Research Articles

The immediate and lasting effects of imagery rescripting and their associations with imagery tendency in young adults with childhood maltreatment history: An ERP study.

The effectiveness of imagery rescripting (IR) in reducing psychological symptoms associated with aversive memories has been confirmed across various disorders. To better understand the neural mechanisms underlying IR, we assessed the immediate and lasting effects and their associations with imagery tendency by using unpleasant pictures depicting child maltreatment within a population with childhood maltreatment (CM) history. Participants (n = 68) were instructed to engage in two experimental phases while electroencephalogram was recorded. In the rescripting phase, participants viewed neutral or unpleasant pictures and then either imagined the same pictures or rescripted unpleasant ones to assess immediate effect. In the re-exposure phase, participants passively viewed all pictures without instruction to assess lasting effect. Participants rated their subjective valence and imagery vividness in the rescripting phase or intensity of negative feelings in the re-exposure phase. IR led to an attenuation of the late positive potential (LPP) amplitude in the late time window (2000-6000 ms at parietal-occipital electrodes) and a decrease in self-reported unpleasantness during the rescripting phase. After 5-min interval, unpleasant pictures with rescripted history elicited smaller LPP (400-1500 ms at centro-parietal electrodes) and negative feelings than those with imagery history in the re-exposure phase. The higher habitual use of imagery was associated with a greater reduction in late LPP during the rescripting phase and full-time range LPP during the re-exposure phase. The current findings suggest that IR has an immediate effect and a lasting effect on subjective and neural response in the CM population. Individuals with higher imagery tendency are likely to profit more from IR.

A Comprehensive Investigation of Social Anxiety and Social Evaluative Stress in Autistic Children and Adolescents and Specific Learning Disorders.

The aim was to investigate trait social anxiety and social evaluative stress in autistic children and adolescents and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). This was done by evaluating behavioral, subjective, and autonomic responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Study 1 included 280 children and adolescents: 60 autistic without intellectual disability (ID), 70 SLD, and 150 non-diagnosed (ND) peers. Study 2 involved 55 participants: 15 autistic without ID, 15 SLD, and 20 ND. The sample was predominantly male. In Study 1, behavioral (quality of public speech) and subjective (valence, arousal, perceived competence, and worries) aspects of social stress were examined. Study 2 expands upon the first study, as physiological responses to social stress were also measured. Trait social anxiety was investigated using both parents' and children's reports in the two studies. Parents of autistic participants and with SLD reported higher trait social anxiety in their children than the parents of ND. No differences emerged from the participants' self-reports, though those autistic and with SLD were assigned lower scores in the public speech quality than ND. Autistic children and adolescents reported lower arousal and higher perceived competence than ND, while those with SLD reported a lower perception of competence. Autistic participants had a decreased cardiac reactivity across the TSST when compared to SLD and ND. Our findings show unique patterns of responses within each group, confirming that the combined investigation of trait anxiety and social stress responses could be a valuable insight in research and clinical practice.

Decoding Brain Signals from Rapid-Event EEG for Visual Analysis Using Deep Learning

The perception and recognition of objects around us empower environmental interaction. Harnessing the brain’s signals to achieve this objective has consistently posed difficulties. Researchers are exploring whether the poor accuracy in this field is a result of the design of the temporal stimulation (block versus rapid event) or the inherent complexity of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Decoding perceptive signal responses in subjects has become increasingly complex due to high noise levels and the complex nature of brain activities. EEG signals have high temporal resolution and are non-stationary signals, i.e., their mean and variance vary overtime. This study aims to develop a deep learning model for the decoding of subjects’ responses to rapid-event visual stimuli and highlights the major factors that contribute to low accuracy in the EEG visual classification task.The proposed multi-class, multi-channel model integrates feature fusion to handle complex, non-stationary signals. This model is applied to the largest publicly available EEG dataset for visual classification consisting of 40 object classes, with 1000 images in each class. Contemporary state-of-the-art studies in this area investigating a large number of object classes have achieved a maximum accuracy of 17.6%. In contrast, our approach, which integrates Multi-Class, Multi-Channel Feature Fusion (MCCFF), achieves a classification accuracy of 33.17% for 40 classes. These results demonstrate the potential of EEG signals in advancing EEG visual classification and offering potential for future applications in visual machine models.

Probenecid as a pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: Arandomized placebo-controlled alcohol interaction trial.

This study shows the first evidence for pannexin 1 channels as a new target to develop medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Due to its history of long-term safe clinical use and preclinical evidence of reducing excessive alcohol intake in rodents, probenecid has clinical potential for AUD. We conducted a Phase I/IIa randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial investigating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of an oral dose of probenecid (2 g) when administered with alcohol (0.08 g/dL) in individuals who regularly consume alcohol to the 0.08 g/dL level (N = 35) and in individuals with mild to severe AUD. Alcohol pharmacokinetics and subjective responses were evaluated to assess potential interactions between probenecid and alcohol. Alcohol craving, inflammatory biomarkers, cognitive assessments, and hemodynamics were assessed as additional alcohol research domains. All outcomes were assessed both in the ascending and descending limb of alcohol intoxication using Generalized Estimating Equation. Probenecid did not exert any significant effect on alcohol pharmacokinetics and did not affect alcohol stimulation or sedation. Probenecid, compared to placebo, significantly decreased alcohol craving during the alcohol ascending limb. Inflammatory biomarkers, cognitive performance following alcohol ingestion, and hemodynamics were likewise not affected by probenecid administration. Analysis of sex as a biological variable revealed no differences of probenecid compared to placebo. Taken together, our data support the potential of probenecid for treatment of AUD and suggest that pannexin 1 channels represent a novel emerging therapeutic target for the development of new pharmacotherapies for treating AUD.

Application of pre-programmed lighting control scenarios: A mixed-methods pilot study in Swedish residential environments

Everyday light exposure plays a vital role in circadian entrainment, especially during twilight. Electric lighting can supplement daylight anytime, enabling unlimited human activity; hence, many struggle to combine a healthy sleep regime with social constraints. Dusk/dawn simulators have been developed to compensate for the lack of twilight exposure and are typically applied in residential environments, where people usually sleep. Innovations in tuneable lighting control enable home-integrated dusk/dawn simulation, but it is essential to understand their performance and acceptance in real-life situations. A pilot field study was executed in 14 Swedish apartments and tested 3 lighting control scenarios for effects on behaviour, well-being and sleep patterns during the winter. Data were collected using wearable actigraphy, weekly surveys and interviews. The light intervention influenced wake- and bedtimes and contributed to slightly more consistent sleep schedules. Subjective responses emphasised that the dawn simulation assisted in a calm and peaceful wake-up, providing extra time for morning activities. The dusk simulation was a reminder to go to bed, but not all participants appreciated the light quality. Satisfaction and acceptance of the pre-programmed dusk/dawn control system were very high, provided there would be increased control for the residents.

The Effect of Cooking and Cooling Chickpea Pasta on Resistant Starch Content, Glycemic Response, and Glycemic Index in Healthy Adults

Background/Objectives: Legume seeds, such as chickpeas, are a rich source of resistant starch (RS) and have a low glycemic index (GI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cooking and cooling chickpea pasta on the RS content, glycemic response, and GI in healthy subjects. Methods: Twelve healthy subjects of both sexes, aged 18–65 years, participated in this study. Each person consumed two standardized portions of chickpea pasta: (i) freshly cooked (FCP) and (ii) cooked chickpea pasta which was cooled for 24 h at 4 °C and reheated before consumption (CCP). Glucose solution was provided as a reference food. Participants consumed chickpea pasta in a random order. GI measurements were completed using the standard methodology and calculated according to the ISO 2010 standard. Results: The cooling and reheating process significantly increased the RS content of boiled chickpea pasta (from 1.83 g/100 g to 3.65 g/100 g) and had a beneficial effect on postprandial glycemia in healthy individuals. The CCP pasta had a significantly lower GI value than the FCP pasta (33 vs. 39, p = 0.0022). A significant difference in the glucose, as identified by the incremental area under the curve (IAUC), was observed between the CCP and FCP (1327.9 ± 414.8 mg/dL/min vs. 1556.1 ± 456.9 mg/dL/min, p = 0.0022). The cooling–reheating process did not affect the sensory attributes of the chickpea pasta. In general, the overall acceptability of the CCP pasta was similar to that of the FCP pasta. Conclusions: The results of our study support the hypothesis that a reduced glycemic response after simple changes in technological intervention leads to a decrease in postprandial blood glucose and GI. This can be helpful for people who need to control postprandial glycemia.

Safety and Immunogenicity of an Adjuvanted Clostridioides difficile Vaccine Candidate in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Phase 1 Study.

This study investigated the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity in healthy subjects of a Clostridioides difficile vaccine candidate with/without adjuvant, targeting toxins A and B. In this first-in-human, phase 1, observer-blind study, subjects aged 18-45 years were randomized to receive F2 antigen (n = 10) or placebo (n = 10), and subjects aged 50-70 years to receive F2 antigen plus AS01 adjuvant (n = 45), F2 antigen (n = 45), or placebo (n = 30) in 2 doses 1 month apart. A subcohort (n = 40) received a third dose 15 months later. Solicited adverse events (AEs) were recorded for 7 days and unsolicited AEs for 30 days after each dose. Immunogenicity was assessed at baseline and after each dose. Solicited AEs were transient and most frequent in subjects receiving F2 antigen plus AS01. No serious AEs were considered related to study vaccine. Immunogenicity was substantially higher in subjects receiving F2 antigen plus AS01 than subjects receiving F2 antigen alone. A third dose increased the immune response in subjects with baseline neutralization titers below the assay lower limit of quantitation. The GSK C. difficile vaccine candidate was immunogenic, especially when given with AS01, and was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile. NCT04026009.

Normative values and factors affecting saphenous nerve responses in a south Asian population: a cross-sectional neurophysiological study at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

BackgroundThe saphenous nerve, a sensory branch of the femoral nerve, is not commonly included in routine lower extremity nerve conduction studies due to a high frequency of non-recordable responses in healthy subjects. However, saphenous nerve conduction studies are sometimes utilized for the diagnostic assessment of isolated lumbosacral plexus, femoral, or saphenous mononeuropathies. Our study aims to determine normative saphenous nerve response values in a healthy Pakistani population and to investigate their associations with patient body mass index, age, and gender.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken over a 3‑month period (May to July 2021) at a neurophysiology department of a tertiary care center in Pakistan. Healthy subjects underwent neurological examination, anthropometric measurements, and bilateral SN nerve conduction studies, with recording of peak-latency, peak-to-peak amplitude and conduction velocity. Statistical analyses and linear regression were conducted to evaluate associations between nerve conduction study variables and patient characteristics. Statistical analyses were also run to assess patient characteristics affecting recordability of saphenous nerve responses. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsAmong 117 subjects, 79.5% (n = 93) had recordable saphenous nerve responses. Median peak-latency, amplitude, and conduction velocity were 3.2 (3.0-3.3) m/s, 7.7 (5.8–9.9) uV, and 44.0 (42.0–47.0) m/s, respectively. Bilaterally absent responses were observed in 20.5% (n = 24) of subjects. Obese participants had a significantly higher number of absent saphenous responses (p = 0.033). Females had shorter peak-latency (p = 0.006) and higher conduction velocity (p = 0.012).ConclusionsSaphenous nerve responses can be used to assess unilateral femoral and saphenous nerve pathologies, provided they are recordable on the asymptomatic side for comparison. Absent bilateral saphenous nerve responses should be interpreted with caution given their prevalence in healthy individuals. Patient characteristics should be taken into consideration when interpreting recordable and nonrecordable saphenous nerve responses.

Respiratory Effects of Maximal Lung Recruitment Maneuvers Using Single-Breath Estimation in ARDS.

Determining which patients with ARDS are most likely to benefit from lung recruitment maneuvers is challenging for physicians. The aim of this study was to assess whether the single-breath simplified decremental PEEP maneuver, which evaluates potential lung recruitment, may predict a subject's response to lung recruitment maneuvers, followed by PEEP titration. We conducted a pilot prospective single-center cohort study with a 3-step protocol that defined sequential measurements. First, potential lung recruitment was assessed by the single-breath maneuver in the volume controlled mode. Second, the lung recruitment maneuver was performed in the pressure controlled mode, with a fixed driving pressure of 15 cm H2O and a maximum PEEP of 30 cm H2O. Third, the lung recruitment maneuver was followed by decremental PEEP titration to determine the optimal PEEP, defined as the lowest driving pressure. Responders to the lung recruitment maneuver were defined by an improvement in PaO2 /FIO2 > 20% between the baseline state and the end of the PEEP titration phase. Forty-two subjects with moderate-to-severe ARDS were included. The mean ± SD lung recruitment was 149 ± 104 mL. A threshold lung recruitment of 195 mL (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.80) predicted a positive response to the maximal lung recruitment maneuver. The lung recruitment maneuver, followed by PEEP titration, resulted in a modification of PEEP in 74% of the subjects. PEEP was increased in more than two thirds of the responders and decreased in almost half of the non-responders to the lung recruitment maneuver. In addition, a decrease in driving pressure and an increase in respiratory system compliance were reported in 62% and 67% of the subjects, respectively. The single-breath maneuver for evaluating lung recruitability predicted, with poor accuracy, the subjects who responded to the lung recruitment maneuver based on PaO2 /FIO2 improvement. Nevertheless, the lung recruitment maneuver, followed by PEEP titration, improved ventilator settings and respiratory mechanics in a majority of subjects.

3D-printed model is a useful addition in orthopedic resident education for the understanding of tibial plateau fractures

This study aimed to explore the role of the three-dimension (3D) printed models in orthopedic resident training of tibial plateau fractures. A total of 41 residents from our institution were divided into two groups. The intervention group, consisting of 20 residents, had access to 3D-printed models illustrating thirteen tibial plateau fractures. In contrast, the control group, comprising 21 residents, received digital images of thirteen identical tibial plateau fractures. Evaluation of learning outcomes included the accurate identification of tibial plateau fracture patterns, deduction of traumatic mechanisms, preoperative plan, assessment time, and subjective questionnaire responses. The participants with 3D printed models scored significantly higher in both the Schatzker classification and Luo three-column classification compared to those without 3D printed models. Residents in the intervention group performed better in accuracy in deducing traumatic mechanisms compared to the control group. In addition, the sum score of preoperative plan in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Specifically, participants with 3D printed models scored higher in surgical approach choice and implants placement than these in the control group. Residents exposed to 3D printed models also spent less time to complete the assessment than those with access only to digital imaging. Subjective assessments indicated that 3D-printed models boosted confidence in fracture identification, improved preoperative plan for fracture management and enhanced the understanding in injury mechanism of tibial plateau fractures. Furthermore, residents agreed that the use of 3D-printed models heightened their interest in learning tibial plateau fractures. Therefore, the addition of 3D printed models significantly contributed to a comprehensive understanding of tibial plateau fractures, the improvement in fracture identification, inferring injury mechanisms and preoperative plan.

Field Investigation on the Thermal Environment and Comfort of People Exercising in a Fitness Center

A favorable thermal environment in fitness centers is important to attract more members and is beneficial to the health of exercising people. The purpose of this study was to research the actual thermal environment of a typical fitness center in different seasons and the thermal requirement of exercising people. A field investigation covering winter, spring, and summer was conducted. The environmental parameters were measured. Subjective questionnaires involving individual information, clothing insulation, thermal sensation, etc., were collected. Participants’ heart rates were tested to estimate their metabolic rate (MR). A total of 740 valid questionnaires were collected. The results showed that a scissors gap existed between the predictive mean vote (PMV) and the thermal sensation vote (TSV) for the exercising people. For the higher MR group, there was a separation between the TSV and thermal preference vote, e.g., most participants would not prefer to cooler or warmer thermal environment when they felt hot or cold. The CO2 concentration changed greatly among seasons and the distribution in the fitness center was not uniform. With mechanical ventilation, the CO2 concentration in summer was the lowest. In other seasons it became much higher due to limited natural ventilation. However, subjective response to indoor air quality showed no significant difference among seasons. The participants felt more satisfied to the overall thermal environment in the transition season. The results can be referenced in the thermal environment management in fitness centers during seasonal changes.

Immediate effects of propofol on mood: a randomized comparison of two doses in a cohort with depression.

The intravenous anesthetic propofol is known to induce positive mood effects during routine clinical use, suggesting it might be repurposed as an antidepressant, but also raising concerns about abuse potential. How propofol's acute effects vary by dose and with repeated infusions is unknown. This exploratory analysis aimed to (1) compare the immediate mood effects of propofol administered at two different doses, (2) describe how those mood effects change with repeated infusions, and (3) evaluate whether acute mood improvement predicts later antidepressant response. Twenty-four adults with moderate-to-severe treatment-resistant depression were randomized into two dosing groups. Six low- or high-dose propofol infusions were administered under blinded conditions over a two-week period. Self-reported mood states were recorded before and after each infusion using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X). Abuse potential was evaluated with the Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ-5). At the first infusion, propofol induced acute improvements in PANAS-X Sadness, Fear, Joviality, and Serenity scales (p < 0.002), independent of dose. Over the series of six infusions, acute changes in Sadness, Fear, and Joviality, but not Serenity, diminished with infusion number (p < 0.002). The DEQ-5 "want more" rating decreased across infusions (p = 0.002). Changes in PANAS-X scales with the first infusion did not predict later improvement in depression severity (p > 0.05). Cumulative changes in mood states observed with repeated infusions suggest that propofolengages adaptive mechanisms in mood circuitry. Subjective responses with repeated infusions do not indicate increasing potential for abuse in this patient population.

Quantifying human thermal adaptation for indoor environments through field surveys and climate chamber experiments

ABSTRACT Thermal comfort boundaries established through climate chamber experiments are often found to significantly vary in real-world conditions based on the potential for thermal adaptation. In this context, this research aims to quantify the extent of thermal adaptation using a personalized ventilation system. We hypothesize that a personalized ventilation system can enhance thermal adaptation compared to real-world settings with limited opportunity for thermal adaptation. The study is based on thermal comfort surveys in mixed-mode open-plan office spaces of a humid subtropical region (Cwa), and a controlled climate chamber with a provision for personalized ventilation. We obtained 5629 subjective thermal responses through longitudinal field surveys accompanied by environmental measurements. In a climate chamber, 16 acclimatized volunteers were subjected to 140 different set-points with air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), and air velocity (Va) variations yielding 19,200 subjective responses. A thermo-neutral temperature (Tn) of 26.5°C with an acceptability band of ±5.9°C was obtained through the field surveys. The Tn obtained from climate chamber surveys varied from 28.0°C to 29.3°C with an acceptability band of ±3.6°C depending on the ventilation rate. An empirical relationship between thermal sensation vote (TSV) and multiple environmental variables (Calidity) suggests 2°C higher Tn for Caliditychamber, Thermal adaptation correction factor of 2.1°C for warm-dry indoor environment and 1°C for warm-humid indoor environment were deduced through comparative analysis.

Psychophysics of user acceptance of social cyber-physical systems.

A mini-review of the literature, supporting the view on the psychophysical origins of some user acceptance effects of cyber-physical systems (CPSs), is presented and discussed in this paper. Psychophysics implies the existence of a lawful functional dependence between some aspect/dimension of the stimulation from the environment, entering the senses of the human, and the psychological effect that is being produced by this stimulation, as reflected in the subjective responses. Several psychophysical models are discussed in this mini-review, aiming to support the view that the observed effects of reactance to a robot or the uncanny valley phenomenon are essentially the same subjective effects of different intensity. Justification is provided that human responses to technologically and socially ambiguous stimuli obey some regularity, which can be considered a lawful dependence in a psychophysical sense. The main conclusion is based on the evidence that psychophysics can provide useful and helpful, as well as parsimonious, design recommendations for scenarios with CPSs for social applications.

Investigating the Feasibility of Gap Prepulse Inhibition by Auditory Middle Latency Responses in Healthy Subjects

Background and Aim: Gap Prepulse Inhibition (GPI) is a type of Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) in which a gap is used as a prepulse. This study was conducted to investigate the silence gap effect on Auditory Middle Latency Response (AMLR) inhibition in normal subjects. Methods: In this study, 25 participants with normal hearing and no history of tinnitus were included. AMLR was recorded in response to stimuli with gap and without gap in two background noises of 2 and 8 kHz at two electrode locations Fz and Cz and then, gap prepulse inhibition for Na-Pa, Pa-Nb, Nb-Pb and Pb-Nc amplitude with Use of responses to stimuli with and without gap was calculated. Results: The results showed that the mean amplitudes of all four AMLR indices decreased in response to the stimuli with gap and this decrease was more and statistically significant in 8 kHz background noise (p≤0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that in future studies, PPI of Na-Pa and Pb-Nc amplitudes can be used as main indicators and PPI of Pa-Nb and Nb-Pb amplitudes as alternative indicators in the PPI paradigm in tinnitus diagnosis. Keywords: Prepulse inhibition; tinnitus; auditory middle latency responses

Surgeon perspectives on a virtual reality platform for preoperative planning in complex bone sarcomas

Background and objectivesTreatment of primary bone and soft tissue sarcomas typically includes complete surgical resection with or without adjunctive modalities. Despite best efforts, for the most challenging clinical scenarios such as axial or pelvic sarcoma, five-year survival rates are reported to be between 27 and 40 %. Since quality of resection is a key determinant of oncologic outcomes, it is critical to preoperatively plan the surgical approach to improve resection accuracy, ensure sufficient surgical margins, and reduce the risk of local or metastatic recurrence. The computer conversion of 2-dimensional (2D) computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to a three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) avatar image may allow improved preoperative estimation of tumor size, location, adjacent anatomy, and spatial understanding of the tumor without relying on surgeon experience, memory, and imagination. The purpose of this study is to investigate the utility of a virtual reality platform in preoperative planning and surgical approach in a retrospective cohort of pelvic bone sarcoma cases. MethodsThe histopathology database at our institution was queried for all historical cases of bone and soft tissue sarcoma with surgical resection failure, defined as positive gross or microscopic margins. Four cases of pelvic bone sarcoma were chosen for retrospective review by fellowship-trained orthopedic tumor specialists. For each case, participants first studied conventional 2D preoperative CT images and answered a questionnaire pertaining to objective case parameters. Participants then interacted with case-specific 3D models while wearing a VR headset and answered the same questionnaire. The VR ‘avatar’ was created with custom-developed software. After using both modalities, participants completed a Likert-scale survey aiming to evaluate the VR technology's subjective impact on understanding tumor environment, surgical plan confidence, and its ability to improve communication with colleagues and patients. Four attending orthopedic oncologists, one orthopedic oncology fellow, and one senior orthopedic oncology resident participated in the study. ResultsFour cases of failed resection were evaluated by a group of both attending surgeons and a group of trainees composed of both residents and fellows. Tumor borders were clearly delineated in 0 % and 66.6 % cases when evaluating with conventional 2D imaging and VR, respectively. Participants changed adjacent structure involvement grade 22.2 % of the time after assessing involvement grade on the VR technology, with adjacent ligamentous structure grading changed most frequently in 55.5 % of cases. Users reported they would change the surgical approach or margins 44.4 % of the time after reviewing with VR technology. Initial 6 plane resection plans were changed in every user case. Subjective responses indicated that surgeons expressed more confidence in their approach, confidence with obtaining negative margins, and provided more detail regarding structures to be resected in specific planes. ConclusionPelvic tumors present unique surgical challenges due to complex 3D anatomy, the proximity of vital structures, consistency of the tumor, and the need to alter patient position during resection procedures. Using examples of failed pelvic bone sarcoma resections, our study found that VR imaging increased understanding of the tumor environment, characteristics, and ability to communicate with patients and colleagues.

Analysis of the Interplay between Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in University Classrooms for Enhanced HVAC Control

While aspects of indoor environmental quality, such as thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), acoustic, and visual comfort, are usually studied separately, their interactions are crucial yet often overlooked. Understanding how these factors influence each other is essential for a comprehensive perception of the indoor environment. This paper investigates the relationship between indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort using an extensive field investigation conducted in university classrooms during the heating season, collecting 712 samples of subjective responses correlated with environmental measurements. Key findings reveal significant correlations between subjective responses related to the thermal environment and those related to air quality. Perceived control over the thermal environment shows stronger correlations with IAQ responses than with thermal responses, particularly with perceived ventilation (r = 0.41), COVID-19 risk (r = 0.28), and air quality (r = 0.28). Additionally, environmental parameters demonstrate stronger correlations with thermal responses than with IAQ responses. Higher CO2 concentration is associated with increased thermal sensation and decreased thermal preference and perceived control. Conversely, IAQ responses remain relatively stable with changes in indoor operative temperature. The difference between the operative temperature to which the occupants are exposed and their expressed neutral temperature widens as CO2 concentration rises, indicating a reduced adaptive capacity of occupants which is associated with increasing CO2 levels. These insights are crucial for providing HVAC system management strategies that consider the interaction between different aspects of IEQ, aiming to improve occupants’ well-being and reduce energy consumption.

Lower thresholds and stronger adaptation to pain in musicians reflect occupational-specific adaptations to contact heat stimulation.

Extensive audio-motor training and psychological stress can cause professional musicians acute overstrain-injury and chronic pain, resulting in damaged careers and diminished quality of life. It has also been previously shown that musicians might perceive pain differently than non-musicians. Therefore, the aim of our study was to quantify differences between musicians and non-musicians regarding their subjective responses to painful contact heat stimuli and assess how emotional traits might influence these responses. Upon completing the StateTrait-Anxiety-Depression Inventory, 15 healthy musicians and 15 healthy non-musicians from German universities received 15 noxious contact heat stimuli at the dorsal side of each hand and foot. After each stimulation, participants were asked to provide a pain rating from 0 to 10. Musicians not only reported significantly higher pain ratings after the first stimulation but also showed a significantly higher degree of habituation compared to non-musicians. Additionally, musicians showed a significantly less pronounced difference regarding the pain rating of the hands compared to the feet than non-musicians. Trait anxiety and trait depression scores had no effect on the pain rating or the habituation. The more pronounced habituation of musicians might hint at a neuroplastic nociceptive alteration in musicians. The lack of significance between the psychological traits and their effect on the pain ratings is surprising but could be a result of both participant groups having stressful careers. The findings of this report justify musicians' repetitive sensorimotor training as an important model for plasticity and contribute to a better understanding of pain perception in musicians.

When faces don’t lie

Abstract In the last decades, Cognitive Translation Studies (CTIS) have witnessed a growing expansion of Audio Description (AD), with emphasis on experimental studies examining the psychological factors that influence the creation and reception of AD. While most studies have focused on the creation phase of AD, recent reception research has explored emotions, immersion, and presence in the context of AD. A study by Rojo et al. (2021) investigated the impact of AD on the reception of porn, comparing the psychophysiological response of sighted participants watching audiovisual content with blind and sighted participants listening to AD without images. The results indicated no significant differences in physiological and subjective responses. The present study aims at providing further evidence on the participants’ emotional response by analyzing their facial expressions using the FaceReader software (Noldus Information Technology). Unlike cardiac and cortisol responses, the analysis of the participants’ facial expressions reveals some intriguing differences between the groups that point to some emotional differences in the reception of porn.

Alcohol and cannabis co-use: Probing subjective response in eliciting cross-substance craving

The co-use of alcohol and cannabis is rising in prevalence, yet the mechanisms driving individuals to co-use are not well understood. Subjective response to alcohol or cannabis may predict the desire to use either substance. However, which specific facets of subjective response predict cross-substance craving remains unclear. The present study investigated whether acute administration of alcohol or cannabis facilitates cue-induced craving for the other substance, with an emphasis on the underlying subjective response mechanisms contributing to co-use. This is a secondary analysis of a behavioral pharmacology study that combined alcohol/cannabis administration with a cross-substance cue-reactivity paradigm in individuals who were heavy alcohol and heavy cannabis co-users. Over two sessions, twenty-nine individuals (17M/12F) self-administered alcohol or cannabis (in a crossover design), and then completed a cue-reactivity exercise with the other substance. Analyses tested how changes in subjective response variables following substance administration predicted cross-substance cue-induced craving. Following alcohol administration, greater subjective ratings of positive mood predicted significantly greater cue-induced cannabis craving (β = 1.14, SE = 0.41, t = 2.80, p = 0.010). Following cannabis administration, lower subjective effects ratings of positive mood/arousal predicted significantly greater cue-induced alcohol craving (β = −1.08, SE = 0.38, t = −2.85, p = 0.009; β = −2.38, SE = 1.13, t = −2.10, p = 0.047). This study identified subject response mechanisms contributing to cross-substance cue induced craving. These mechanisms include increases in positive mood following alcohol use and decreases in positive mood and arousal, akin to increases in relaxation, following cannabis use.