Important methodological issues regarding the use of TMS to investigate interoceptive processing: a comment on Pollatos et al (2016)

Comment on: Changes in interoceptive processes following brain stimulation by Pollatos, Herbert, Mai & Kammer, 201

A Performance Effectiveness Model for the Assessment of Anxiety\u27s Effect on Muscle Activation in Trumpet Players

The purpose of this research study is to analyze the relationship between anxiety and muscle activation in undergraduate trumpet players. sEMG will be used to measure three muscle groups: the upper trapezius, sternoclidomatoid, and masseter. This data will be analyzed along with State Trait Anxiety Inventory anxiety reports of each subject, and with VAS data of perceived anxiety after performing the repeated playing trials. Through covariate data obtained from the anxiety reports and an anxiety-induction experimental protocol, we hope to discover what effect anxiety will have on general muscle activation and fatigue in trumpet players. We hypothesize that subjects with higher anxiety levels will display greater levels of muscle activation and fatigue over the course of playing the trumpet as compared to subjects with lower anxiety levels. Preliminary data analysis has shown that there is no significant difference in VAS scales between the anxiety-induced group and the control group; the rest of the data analysis is still in progress.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1085/thumbnail.jp

Individual Investors and Portfolio Diversification in Late Victorian Britain: How Diversified Were Victorian Financial Portfolios?

This article investigates Victorian investor financial portfolio strategies in England and Wales during the second half of the nineteenth century. We find that investors held on average about half of their gross wealth in the form of four or five liquid financial securities, but were reluctant to adopt fully contemporary financial advice to invest equal amounts in securities or to spread risk across the globe. They generally held under-diversified portfolios and proximity to their investments may have been an alternative to diversification as a means of risk reduction, especially for the less wealthy

Continuing to look in the mirror : A review of neuroscientific evidence for the Broken Mirror Hypothesis, EP-M model and STORM model of Autism Spectrum Conditions

The Mirror Neuron System (MNS) has been argued to be a key brain system responsible for action understanding and imitation. Subsequently, MNS dysfunction has therefore been proposed to explain the social deficits manifested within Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), an approach referred to as the Broken Mirror Hypothesis (BMH). Despite excitement surrounding this hypothesis, extensive research has produced insufficient evidence to support the BMH in its pure form and instead two alternative models have been formulated: EP-M model and the Social Top-down Response Modulation (STORM) model. All models suggest some dysfunction regarding the MNS in ASC, be that within the MNS itself or systems that regulate the MNS. This literature review compares these three models in regard to recent neuroscientific investigations. This review concludes that there is insufficient support for the BMH, but converging evidence supports an integrated EP-M and STORM model

The interpretation of mu suppression as an index of mirror neuron activity:Past, present and future

Mu suppression studies have been widely used to infer the activity of the human mirror neuron system (MNS) in a number of processes, ranging from action understanding, language, empathy and the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Although mu suppression is enjoying a resurgence of interest, it has a long history. This review aimed to revisit mu’s past, and examine its recent use to investigate MNS involvement in language, social processes and ASDs. Mu suppression studies have largely failed to produce robust evidence for the role of the MNS in these domains. Several key potential shortcomings with the use and interpretation of mu suppression, documented in the older literature and highlighted by more recent reports, are explored here.</p

Towards reproducible and respectful autism research: Combining open and participatory autism research practices

Background Open research broadly refers to a set of practices that aim to increase transparency, rigor, reproducibility and inclusivity of research. Participatory research refers to incorporating the views and sharing power with the autism community to decide what research gets done, how it is done and how it is implemented. There is growing interest in both open and participatory practices in autism research. To date, however, these practices have tended to be considered separately. Method In this paper, we outline the value of both open and participatory approaches to the autism research field, highlighting key points of overlap. Results We propose three core principles underpinning open and participatory autism research: (1) the need for adequate expertise and infrastructure to facilitate high quality research, (2) the need for a greater degree of accessibility at all stages of the research process, and (3) the need to foster trusting relationships between the autistic and research communities. Conclusion There are various challenges and opportunities of adopting open and participatory principles in autism research. We hope our principles support researchers to embed these approaches more fully within their work.publishedVersio

The Experiences of Autistic People When Facemask Wearing and Interacting with Masked Individuals

Background: The World Health Organization recommended that individuals use a facemask to prevent the ongoing spread of COVID-19. Many governments implemented this recommendation into law. However, the increased usage of facemasks may have had particular impacts on the autistic population, due to differences in emotion processing, sensory issues, and anxiety about regularly changing rules. This research aimed to investigate the lived experiences of autistic people when wearing facemasks and their experiences interacting with others wearing facemasks.Methods: First, the research team conducted a content analysis of social media posts (n = 124) created by autistic individuals. Based on this, we developed a novel questionnaire and distributed it so that autistic adults could share their facemask experiences (n = 49).Results: Seven main themes were identified from the social media analyses: general attitudes toward masks, sensory issues, “wear-a-mask” message, rules and expectations, sunflower lanyards, social problems and benefits, and mask exemption. Secondary questionnaire responses highlighted that the experience of facemasks was mixed. Many individuals experienced sensory issues. Yet, for some individuals, there were benefits: they did not have to monitor their facial expressions to camouflage their autistic responses. Participants reported differing opinions on the topic of mask exemption, and the sunflower lanyard as a symbol of mask exemption. Data did not suggest anxiety around rule changes but did suggest feelings of anger at others who were perceived not to be following the rules.Conclusions: These findings highlight the mixed experiences of autistic people with facemasks and suggest lessons for future events in which there are rapid changes to public health messaging

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between the heartbeat-evoked potential and interoception

The Heartbeat Evoked Potential (HEP) has been proposed as a neurophysiological marker of interoceptive processing. Despite its use to validate interoceptive measures and to assess interoceptive functioning in clinical groups, the empirical evidence for a relationship between HEP amplitude and interoceptive processing, including measures of such processing, is scattered across several studies with varied designs. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the body of HEP-interoception research, and consider the associations the HEP shows with various direct and indirect measures of interoception, and how it is affected by manipulations of interoceptive processing. Specifically, we assessed the effect on HEP amplitude of manipulating attention to the heartbeat; manipulating participants’ arousal; the association between the HEP and behavioural measures of cardiac interoception; and comparisons between healthy and clinical groups. Following database searches and screening, 45 studies were included in the systematic review and 42 in the meta-analyses. We noted variations in the ways individual studies have attempted to address key confounds, particularly the cardiac field artefact. Meta-analytic summaries indicated there were moderate to large effects of attention, arousal, and clinical status on the HEP, and a moderate association between HEP amplitude and behavioural measures of interoception. Problematically, the reliability of the meta-analytic effects documented here remain unknown, given the lack of standardised protocols for measuring the HEP. Thus, it is possible effects are driven by confounds such as cardiac factors or somatosensory effects

Camouflaging in Developmental Language Disorder : The views of speech and language pathologists and parents

Camouflaging describes behaviors that cover up neurodivergent difficulties. While researched in autism, camouflaging has received no systematic study in other conditions affecting communication, including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). This study explored camouflaging in DLD, drawing on the experience and expertise of speech and language pathologists and parents of children with DLD. Using a qualitative descriptive design, we interviewed six speech and language pathologists and six parents of children with DLD. The inductive thematic analysis considered three broad topic areas: What camouflaging behaviors do children with DLD do, the impacts of camouflaging, and what factors are associated with camouflaging. Camouflaging took a range of forms, with eight common presentations identified. Camouflaging reportedly delayed recognition of children’s language needs and affected interventions. Camouflaging reportedly impacted children’s exhaustion, mental health, self-esteem, personality, friendships, and how others view them. Research characterizing camouflaging in DLD could help reduce the underdetection of children’s language needs. </jats:p