Hemispheric processing of memory is affected by sleep

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Sleep is known to affect learning and memory, but the extent to which it influences behavioural processing in the left and right hemispheres of the brain is as yet unknown. We tested two hypotheses about lateralised effects of sleep on recognition memory for words: whether sleep reactivated recent experiences of words promoting access to the long-term store in the left hemisphere (LH), and whether sleep enhanced spreading activation differentially in semantic networks in the hemispheres. In Experiment 1, participants viewed lists of semantically related words, then slept or stayed awake for 12 h before being tested on seen, unseen but related, or unrelated words presented to the left or the right hemisphere. Sleep was found to promote word recognition in the LH, and to spread activation equally within semantic networks in both hemispheres. Experiment 2 ensured that the results were not due to time of day effects influencing cognitive performance

A multi-method evaluation of a compassion focused cognitive behavioural psychotherapy group for people who self-harm

Objective This paper describes the content and multi-method evaluation of a compassion focused cognitive behavioural psychotherapy (CBT) group for people who self-harm/injure. Method Quantitative questionnaires and a qualitative focus group were used for the three participants. Reflective diary contents were analysed. Results Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the questionnaires. This demonstrated positive reductions in the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores but no significant change in self-compassion scores. The cognitions of self-injurious behaviour scale demonstrated some positive belief change. Participants reported improved self-awareness, alternative coping and improved emotional regulation. All participants reported anger anxiety and sadness in their diaries, one reported self-hatred and another feeling dead and numb. Distraction was considered a useful strategy to avoid or delay self-harm. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used and identified six superordinate themes: ‘The secrets out! Openness & Honesty’, ‘Care without fear: calm acceptance’, ‘Skills not Spills’, ‘We’re all in it together, ‘Compassion not competition nor comparison’ and ‘Fear of flying solo’. Conclusion Although participants were in small numbers the combination of compassion focused therapy and CBT appears to hold future promise for further research on effectiveness