Out of sight out of mind: Perceived physical distance between the observer and someone in pain shapes observer's neural empathic reactions

Social and affective relations may shape empathy to others' affective states. Previous studies also revealed that people tend to form very different mental representations of stimuli on the basis of their physical distance. In this regard, embodied cognition and embodied simulation propose that different physical distances between individuals activate different interpersonal processing modes, such that close physical distance tends to activate the interpersonal processing mode typical of socially and affectively close relationships. In Experiment 1, two groups of participants were administered a pain decision task involving upright and inverted face stimuli painfully or neutrally stimulated, and we monitored their neural empathic reactions by means of event-related potentials (ERPs) technique. Crucially, participants were presented with face stimuli of one of two possible sizes in order to manipulate retinal size and perceived physical distance, roughly corresponding to the close and far portions of social distance. ERPs modulations compatible with an empathic reaction were observed only for the group exposed to face stimuli appearing to be at a close social distance from the participants. This reaction was absent in the group exposed to smaller stimuli corresponding to face stimuli observed from a far social distance. In Experiment 2, one different group of participants was engaged in a match-to-sample task involving the two-size upright face stimuli of Experiment 1 to test whether the modulation of neural empathic reaction observed in Experiment 1 could be ascribable to differences in the ability to identify faces of the two different sizes. Results suggested that face stimuli of the two sizes could be equally identifiable. In line with the Construal Level and Embodied Simulation theoretical frameworks, we conclude that perceived physical distance may shape empathy as well as social and affective distance

Double dissociation of neural responses supporting perceptual and cognitive components of social cognition: Evidence from processing of others' pain

Models on how perceptual and cognitive information on others' mental states are treated by the cognitive architecture are often framed as duplex models considering two independent systems. In the context of the neuroscience of empathy analogous systems have been described. Using event-related potentials (i.e., ERPs) technique, we tested the hypothesis of temporal dissociation of two functional systems. We implemented a design in which perceptual (i.e., painful or neutral facial expressions) and contextual (i.e., painful or neutral related sentences) cues on others' mental states were orthogonally manipulated. Painful expressions selectively modulated the early activity at 110\u2013360 ms over fronto-central and centro-parietal regions, whereas painful contexts selectively modulated the late activity at 400\u2013840 ms over these same regions. Notably, the reactions to pain triggered by these cues added up when both were available, that is the joint reaction was characterized by additive effects. These findings favor a model assuming distinct neural paths of perceptual and cognitive processing, at least when the cognitive component is triggered by language

Long-term continuous monitoring of the preterm brain with diffuse optical tomography and electroencephalography: A technical note on cap manufacturing

open12noDiffuse optical tomography (DOT) has recently proved useful for detecting whole-brain oxygenation changes in preterm and term newborns' brains. The data recording phase in prior explorations was limited up to a maximum of a couple of hours, a time dictated by the need to minimize skin damage caused by the protracted contact with optode holders and interference with concomitant clinical/nursing procedures. In an attempt to extend the data recording phase, we developed a new custom-made cap for multimodal DOT and electroencephalography acquisitions for the neonatal population. The cap was tested on a preterm neonate (28 weeks gestation) for a 7-day continuous monitoring period. The cap was well tolerated by the neonate, who did not suffer any evident discomfort and/or skin damage. Montage and data acquisition using our cap was operated by an attending nurse with no difficulty. DOT data quality was remarkable, with an average of 92% of reliable channels, characterized by the clear presence of the heartbeat in most of them.openopenAlfonso Galderisi; Sabrina Brigadoi; Simone Cutini; Sara Basso Moro; Elisabetta Lolli; Federica Meconi; Silvia Benavides-Varela; Eugenio Baraldi; Piero Amodio; Claudio Cobelli; Daniele Trevisanuto; Roberto Dell'AcquaGalderisi, Alfonso; Brigadoi, Sabrina; Cutini, Simone; BASSO MORO, Sara; Lolli, Elisabetta; Meconi, Federica; Silvia, Benavides-Varela; Baraldi, Eugenio; Amodio, Piero; Cobelli, Claudio; Trevisanuto, Daniele; Dell'Acqua, Robert

Riesgo, variabilidad y cambio climático

Fil: González, Silvia G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Geografía. Programa de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; Argentina.Fil: Calvo, Anabel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Geografía. Programa de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; Argentina.Fil: Meconi, Gabriel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Geografía. Programa de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; Argentina.Fil: Viand, Jesica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Geografía. Programa de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; Argentina.En la vida cotidiana nos encontramos con condiciones de riesgo que afectan en mayor\no menor medida a los diferentes sectores de la sociedad; son condiciones\npotencialmente inseguras que fueron construyéndose a través del tiempo. El riesgo\nsobre la seguridad personal (o la "sensación" de inseguridad urbana), o el riesgo a la\nsalud que pueden producir diversos contaminantes ambientales, o bien las "extrañas"\nprecipitaciones de granizo que han ocurrido y muchos otros, son riesgos con los que\nnos encontramos diariamente y que pueden transformarse en catástrofe si no estamos\npreparados para asumirlos, enfrentarlos y disminuirlos? en fin, "gestionarlos". Una\nmanera de alcanzar dicha meta es lograr una conceptualización que permita abordar\nla problemática con un diagnóstico certero

The attentional blink impairs detection and delays encoding of visual information: Evidence from human electrophysiology

This article explores the time course of the functional interplay between detection and encoding stages of information processing in the brain and the role they play in conscious visual perception. We employed a multitarget rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) approach and examined the electrophysiological P3 component elicited by a target terminating an RSVP sequence. Target-locked P3 activity was detected both at frontal and parietal recording sites and an independent component analysis confirmed the presence of two distinct P3 components. The posterior P3b varied with intertarget lag, with diminished amplitude and postponed latency at short relative to long lags—an electroencephalographic signature of the attentional blink (AB). Under analogous conditions, the anterior P3a was also reduced in amplitude but did not vary in latency. Collectively, the results provide an electrophysiological record of the interaction between frontal and posterior components linked to detection (P3a) and encoding (P3b) of visual information. Our findings suggest that, although the AB delays target encoding into working memory, it does not slow down detection of a target but instead reduces the efficacy of this process. A functional characterization of P3a in attentive tasks is discussed with reference to current models of the AB phenomenon

Public Participation Plan: A Strategy for Citizen Involvement

DVRPC has a long history of public involvement in its plans and programs, beginning in the 1970s when federal mandates outlined the basics of citizen involvement. In 2001, the DVRPC Board adopted a Public Participation Plan, which was designed for DVRPC's Board, staff and the general public as an outline of the Commission's overall strategy for public participation; it also included the policies that were adopted as inherent to the operation of this agency into the twenty-first century. Updated in 2004, the Public Participation Plan now includes a public disclosure policy and an Environmental Justice Protocol. It is now time to examine and reissue the Public Participation Plan, to ensure its compliance with current federal transportation legislation, specifically the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This also provides an excellent opportunity for the Commission to reaffirm its commitment to a transparent, open and inclusive planning process

DVRPC Planner's Methodology

DVRPC has developed a Planner's Methodology, which is designed to provide guidance to staff in meeting Title VI and Environmental Justice (EJ) mandates and structuring a public participation plan at the project or study level. How meaningful public participation is gathered and implemented into a planning process may differ widely, depending on the type and scope of the project. The Planner's Methodology sets a framework for developing individual public participation plans for specific projects, offers a "tool kit" of public participation strategies, and offers instruction on how to utilize DVRPC's Indicators of Potential Disadvantage (IPD) methodology, as well as an overview of Title VI and EJ mandates. Overall, the Planner's Methodology builds upon DVRPC's philosophy and intent to place public participation, Title VI, and EJ at the forefront of the Commission's priorities

Environmental Justice at DVRPC: Fiscal Year 2009

In 2001, DVRPC published the "... and Justice for All" report to identify impacts of disparate funding and services on defined low-income and minority groups. A methodology was created, refined in subsequent years, to identify populations that may be adversely affected by transportation planning decisions. This report is an annual update of that initial report and catalogues DVRPC's fiscal year 2009 programs and plans that contain Environmental Justice (EJ) elements. Descriptions for each project or program that utilize DVRPC's EJ methodology are discussed, including DVRPC's Long-Range Plan, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan (CHSTP) and corridor studies

Molecular dynamics simulations of surfactants' adsorption in emulsion polymerizations and of CO2 capture by graphene-polymer composites.

302 p.Adsorption is an increase in the concentration of a dissolved substance at the interface of a solid and a liquid phase due to the operation of surface forces. Adsorption has emerged as an important process for various industrial applications, such as emulsion polymerization and gas separation. Surfactants have a crucial role in emulsion polymerization due to their inward properties; namely, they affect the polymer particles nucleation and prevent them from the coagulation by the reduction of surface tension. However, many aspects of their use are poorly understood and cause significant problems. In this thesis the combination of experimental and computational studies will be reported with the aim to elucidate the adsorption properties of ionic and non-ionic surfactants on hydrophobic polymer surface such as poly(styrene). Also, since the particle nucleation behavior of nonionic surfactants exhibits deviations from the Smith-Ewart model, which described the kinetic mechanism of the particle nucleation typical for ionic surfactant, we seek to take a deeper look of the behavior of these two classes of surfactants at monomer/polymer-water interface during the emulsion polymerization of styrene. Three-dimensional graphene-polymer porous materials have been proposed recently as potential adsorbents for carbon dioxide capture. Owing to their mechanical stability and ease of regeneration they can potentially alleviate short- coming encountered by other sorbents. Molecular dynamics simulation will be performed to study the adsorption of carbon dioxide by different graphene-polymer composite systems. Additionally an estimation of the CO2 selectivity respect to N2 and CH4 will be examined to prove the ability of the composite materials to discriminate against these competing gasses.Polyma