The effect of counseling with a skills training approach on maternal functioning: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The role of the mother can be deeply satisfying, but it is associated with many challenges including challenges during the postpartum period that may impede the optimal development of the infant. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of counseling using the Skills Training Approach (STA) on postpartum maternal functioning. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was performed on 68 postpartum women who referred to health centers of Tabriz-Iran in 2019. Participants were assigned to one of two groups - either counseling or control through the block randomization method. The intervention group received four counseling sessions using the Skills Training Approach (STA). Before and two weeks after the completion of the intervention, the Barkin Index of Maternal Functionning (BIMF) was completed by the participants. The independent t-test and ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance) was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and the baseline scores of the BIMF and its domains (p\u2009>\u20090.05). Before the intervention, the mean (SD) total score of the BIMF in the intervention group was 73.1 (8.5) and in the control group, it was 71.6 (4.8). Post-intervention, the mean (SD) of the total score of the BIMF in the intervention group was 95.8 (11.8) and in the control group, it was 70.3 (4.5). Based on the ANCOVA test and after adjusting the baseline score, the mean total score of the BIMF was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (Mean Difference (MD): 22.9; 95% CI: 18.2 to 27.6; p\u2009<\u20090.001). The post-intervention scores of all domains of the BIMF including self-care (MD: 3.8), infant care (MD: 2.0), mother-child interaction (MD: 4.8), psychological wellbeing (MD: 8.4), social support (MD: 4.0), management (MD: 6.8), and adjustment to new motherhood (MD: 3.2) were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P\u2009<\u20090.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, counseling, using STA, was effective in improving maternal functioning in all of the domains. This intervention, aimed at skill-building, should be strongly considered where improved postpartum functioning is the goal

Beyond the target area: an integrative view of tDCS-induced motor cortex modulation in patients and athletes

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique used to modulate neural tissue. Neuromodulation apparently improves cognitive functions in several neurologic diseases treatment and sports performance. In this study, we present a comprehensive, integrative review of tDCS for motor rehabilitation and motor learning in healthy individuals, athletes and multiple neurologic and neuropsychiatric conditions. We also report on neuromodulation mechanisms, main applications, current knowledge including areas such as language, embodied cognition, functional and social aspects, and future directions. We present the use and perspectives of new developments in tDCS technology, namely high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) which promises to overcome one of the main tDCS limitation (i.e., low focality) and its application for neurological disease, pain relief, and motor learning/rehabilitation. Finally, we provided information regarding the Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) in clinical applications, Cerebellar tDCS (ctDCS) and its influence on motor learning, and TMS combined with electroencephalography (EEG) as a tool to evaluate tDCS effects on brain function

The Role of Meaning in Life, Mindfulness and Resilience in the Flourishing of Students

The purpose of the study was to evauate the role of meaning in life, mindfulness and resilience in the flourishing of students. Based on descriptive – analytic method, two hundred and forty students of Tabriz University were selected by convenience sampling.  Participants responded to Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ; Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ; Baer, R.‌A., Smith,‌G.‌T.,‌Hopkins,‌J.,‌Krietemeyer,‌J.,‌&‌ Toney) and Diener Flourishing Scale. The results were analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results showed that meaning in life and mindfulness had direct effects on the resilience. Resilience also had direct effects on the flourishing. Moreover the meaning in life and mindfulness showed indirect effect on flourishing by mediational effects of resilience. In general, hypothetical model showed good fit. These findings can be endorsed the importance of the positive role of meaning in life, mindfulness and resilience on the flourishing

Effects of intrahippocampal injection of Leptin on seizure-induced cognitive impairment in male rats

Introduction: Leptin is a peptide hormone secreted by adipose tissue. Leptin also acts on the hippocampus where it facilitates the induction of long-term potentiation. It also enhances NMDA receptor-mediated transmission. Previous studies have shown that Leptin plays a role in learning and memory. There is evidence that Leptin can have antiepileptic effects. This suggests that Leptin in the brain may be involved in cognitive de�cits associated with seizure. In the current study, the possible effects of Leptin on cognitive impairment following PTZ-induced seizures were examined in male rats. Method: Male rats were divided into 5 groups including control and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) plus saline or Leptin (0.25, 1 or 2 μg/kg). After one week of intrahippocampal surgery period, PTZ (50 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally and after 30 min, saline or different doses of Leptin were injected into bilateral CA1 region. Behavioral tests (Open field, Morris water maze, Novel object recognition test and shuttle box) were done thirty minutes after the intrahippocampal injection of saline or Leptin. Result: Our results demonstrated the signi�cant impairment of learning and memory in PTZ group (P < 0.01). Intrahippocampal injection of Leptin at the dose of 1 μg/kg signi�cantly improved learning and memory in PTZ + Leptin group compared to PTZ group. Conclusion: Obtained results showed that Leptin in PTZ-treated animals has an improving effect on learning and memory. © 2020 Elsevier Inc

Intergenerational effects of maternal separation on cognitive abilities of adolescent rats

Early life adversity (ELA) is a predisposing factor for the development of behavioral and emotional disorders later in life. In humans, primates and rodents, interruption in the mother�infant relationships, and disorganized maternal care negatively influence appropriate behavioral responses and may cause cognitive deficits. Epidemiological studies suggest that ELA-induced behavioral alterations can be transmitted across generations. In this study, we investigated the cognitive abilities of male and female rats in the second filial (F2) generations whose mother, father, or both of their parents were undergoing a 180 min/day maternal separation (MS) paradigm during infancy (postnatal day (PND) 1-21). Cognitive abilities (in the open field, Morris water maze, and social interaction task) of F2 pups were tested during adolescence. Our results showed that although the mother-MS group of both sexes showed normal cognitive behavior, father-MS female pups showed more anxiety in the open field, and social interaction and spatial memory impaired in this group. These impairments were not pronounced in every detail in father-MS male pups. Moreover, rat pups that both parents experienced MS during infancy, showed normal cognitive behavior. Our data support the idea that MS-induced cognitive impairments could be transmitted across generations. Considerably, the experiences of one's parents could be inherited in the following generation in a sex-dependent manner. © 2020 International Society for Developmental Neuroscienc

The Combination Effects of Resveratrol and Swimming HIIT Exercise on Novel Object Recognition and Open-field Tasks in Aged Rats

Introduction: Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol abundant in grapes and red wine, has been reported to exert numerous bene�cial health effects in the body. High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIT) is a form of interval training that provides improved athletic capacity and has a protective effect on health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of swimming HIIT and Resveratrol supplementation on behavioral function in Novel object recognition and open-field tests in aged rats. Methods: A total of 45 aged male Wistar rats with an age of 20 months were randomly assigned into five groups of control (C), swimming HIIT (SW-HIIT), swimming HIIT with Resveratrol supplementation (SW-HIIT-R), Resveratrol supplementation (R), and solvent of Resveratrol supplementation (SR). There was also another group that included young animals (2-month-old) and was used to compare with older animals. Swimming HIIT and Resveratrol supplementation groups performed the exercise and received Resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day, gavage) for six weeks. Novel object recognition and open-field tests were used for evaluating the behavioral functions in animals. Results: The results showed that HIIT and Resveratrol significantly improved recognition memory compared to old animals. Moreover, it seems that HIIT and Resveratrol partly could modulate anxiety-like behaviors compared to old animals in the open-field test. © 2020, © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Environmental enrichment and pain sensitivity; a study in maternally separated rats

Rodents are highly dependent on maternal care after birth. Maternal separation (MS) is an animal model for studying neglect and abuse. Depriving the pup of such care renders the animal with Hypothalamic�Pituitary�adrenal (HPA) dysfunction and these animals are more susceptible to anxiety and stress as well as poor cognition. These effects are due to abnormal brain development in these animals. We have tried to investigate how maternal separation can affect pain sensation and whether a non-pharmacological intervention such as enriched environment (EE) can restore an abnormal pain sensation. Animals were put into four groups MS, control (CTRL) and MS + EE and CTRL + EE groups that underwent EE after weaning until adulthood. These groups were tested for pain sensitivity with hot plate and tail flick for sensory pain and formalin for affect pain. The results showed that MS rats are more sensitive to pain in the hot plate test and formalin test, however, no significant difference was seen between groups for tail flick test. When MS rats experience EE their pain sensitivity is restored at the behavioral level. Further research is required to see how EE restores pain sensation in MS rats. © 2020 International Society for Developmental Neuroscienc