Developmental differences in affective representation between prefrontal and subcortical structures

Developmental studies have identified differences in prefrontal and subcortical affective structures between children and adults, which correspond with observed cognitive and behavioral maturations from relatively simplistic emotional experiences and expressions to more nuanced, complex ones. However, developmental changes in the neural representation of emotions have not yet been well explored. It stands to reason that adults and children may demonstrate observable differences in the representation of affect within key neurological structures implicated in affective cognition. Forty-five participants (25 children; 20 adults) passively viewed positive, negative, and neutral clips from popular films while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Using representational similarity analysis (RSA) to measure variability in neural pattern similarity, we found developmental differences between children and adults in the amygdala, nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), such that children generated less pattern similarity within subcortical structures relative to the vmPFC; a phenomenon not replicated among their older counterparts. Furthermore, children generated valence-specific differences in representational patterns across regions; these valence-specific patterns were not found in adults. These results may suggest that affective representations grow increasingly dissimilar over development as individuals mature from visceral affective responses to more evaluative analyses

Benefits of Exercise Training for Children and Adolescents Undergoing Cancer Treatment: Results From the Randomized Controlled MUCKI Trial

Objective:In cancer patients, the impairment in muscle function is a frequently observed phenomenon. However, comprehensive evaluation of the effect of exercise training on muscle function in childhood cancer patients (CCPs) is sparse and therefore investigated in the MUCKI trial. Study Design:In the randomized controlled MUCKI trial, CCPs during intensive cancer treatment and aged 4-18 years were recruited. Eligible patients were enrolled soon after diagnosis as long as they were physically and mentally able to participate in exercise testing and training. Patients of the exercise group (n= 16) participated in average 2.7 +/- 1.2 times per week in a combined resistance and endurance training with moderate exercise intensity, for a time period of 8.0 +/- 2.1 weeks, while patients of the control group (n= 17) received usual care. Leg strength was evaluated as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were 6-min walk performance, arm strength, body composition, fatigue, and health-related quality of life. Results:Comparisons of pre- and post-intervention results were evaluated by baseline and stratification criteria adjusted analysis and showed positive effects for the exercise group regarding leg strength [F-(1,F- 20)= 5.733;p= 0.027*;eta p2= 0.223], walking performance [F-(1,F- 25)= 4.270;p= 0.049*;eta p2= 0.146], fatigue [F-(1,F- 13)= 8.353;p= 0.013*;eta p2= 0.391], self-esteem [F-(1,F- 6)= 6.823;p= 0.040*;eta p2= 0.532], and self-reported strength and endurance capacity [F-(1,F- 6)= 6.273;p= 0.046*;eta p2= 0.511]. No significant differences were found for the other parameters. Conclusion:Within one of the first randomized controlled trials, the present study provides evidence for a positive effect of combined training in CCPs during intensive cancer treatment. Further research is needed to confirm these results and to evaluate their clinical impact

The Burr Fall 2008

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Data from: Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science

This record contains the underlying research data for the publication "Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science" and the full-text is available from: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/5257Reproducibility is a defining feature of science, but the extent to which it characterizes current research is unknown. We conducted replications of 100 experimental and correlational studies published in three psychology journals using high-powered designs and original materials when available. Replication effects were half the magnitude of original effects, representing a substantial decline. Ninety-seven percent of original studies had statistically significant results. Thirty-six percent of replications had statistically significant results; 47% of original effect sizes were in the 95% confidence interval of the replication effect size; 39% of effects were subjectively rated to have replicated the original result; and if no bias in original results is assumed, combining original and replication results left 68% with statistically significant effects. Correlational tests suggest that replication success was better predicted by the strength of original evidence than by characteristics of the original and replication teams