Mindful breath awareness meditation facilitates efficiency gains in brain networks: A steady-state visually evoked potentials study

The beneficial effects of mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions have stimulated a rapidly growing body of scientific research into underlying psychological processes. Resulting evidence indicates that engaging with mindfulness meditation is associated with increased performance on a range of cognitive tasks. However, the mechanisms promoting these improvements require further investigation. We studied changes in behavioural performance of 34 participants during a multiple object tracking (MOT) task that taps core cognitive processes, namely sustained selective visual attention and spatial working memory. Concurrently, we recorded the steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP), an EEG signal elicited by the continuously flickering moving objects, and indicator of attentional engagement. Participants were tested before and after practicing eight weeks of mindful breath awareness meditation or progressive muscle relaxation as active control condition. The meditation group improved their MOT-performance and exhibited a reduction of SSVEP amplitudes, whereas no such changes were observed in the relaxation group. Neither group changed in self-reported positive affect and mindfulness, while a marginal increase in negative affect was observed in the mindfulness group. This novel way of combining MOT and SSVEP provides the important insight that mindful breath awareness meditation may lead to refinements of attention networks, enabling more efficient use of attentional resources

Arterially perfused eye model of uveitis

Objective. To develop an in vitro model of uveitis based on an ex situ perfused eye to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of new pharmacological products. Procedure. Eyes were removed from more than 60 dogs and 9 horses immediately after euthanasia and perfused with nutrient medium through the lateral long ciliary artery. Perfused eyes produced aqueous humour, and perfusion pressure was adjusted to obtain an intraocular pressure in the physiological range. When the eyes were treated with histamine, a complement C5a analogue peptide and hydrogen peroxide, typical signs of uveitis were produced. These included miosis, vascular leakage, reduced intraocular pressure, reduced flow of perfusate and, in some eyes, conjunctival oedema. Results. Canine eyes showed a decrease in intraocular pressure and a decrease in perfusate flow rate when challenged with 100 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide. Flunixin meglumine (5 μmol/L), ketoprofen (5 μmol/L), indomethacin (5 μmol/L) as well as a new drug pirfenidone (10 μmol/L) prevented changes in intraocular pressure induced by hydrogen peroxide, but did not significantly moderate the mediator-induced changes in perfusate flow. Conclusions. This model is suitable for evaluating potential anti-inflammatory activity of drugs without having to induce uveitis in an experimental animal. The technique is suitable for species that range in size from cats to horses. Aust Vet J 1999;77:100-104

Serious games in virtual environments: Cognitive ergonomic trainings for workplaces in intralogistics

Along with digitisation in the intralogistics sector, new methods of employee qualification arise. In this evaluation study a Virtual Reality-based serious game for workplaces in intralogistics was analysed due to usability, user experience, workload and motivational aspects. Results clarify that the virtual training is characterised by a good usability, a positively assessed user experience and a moderate mental workload. Intrinsic motivation of the study participants is positively associated with usability and user experience. Furthermore, mental workload is related with the usability of the VR game and technology-based personal information of the participants. The combination of serious gaming in a virtual training world is a new research field and offers a modern and efficient alternative to conventional training methods in intralogistics