Mapping the Spatiotemporal Evolution of Emotional Processing: An MEG Study Across Arousal and Valence Dimensions

Electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging findings indicate that the neural mechanisms underlying the processing of emotional dimensions (i.e., valence, arousal) constitute a spatially and temporally distributed emotional network, modulated by the arousal and/or valence of the emotional stimuli. We examined the time course and source distribution of gamma time-locked magnetoencephalographic activity in response to a series of emotional stimuli viewed by healthy adults. We used a beamformer and a sliding window analysis to generate a succession of spatial maps of event-related brain responses across distinct levels of valence (pleasant/unpleasant) and arousal (high/low) in 30–100 Hz. Our results show parallel emotion-related responses along specific temporal windows involving mainly dissociable neural pathways for valence and arousal during emotional picture processing. Pleasant valence was localized in the left inferior frontal gyrus, while unpleasant valence in the right occipital gyrus, the precuneus, and the left caudate nucleus. High arousal was processed by the left orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and inferior frontal gyrus, as well as the right middle temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, and occipital gyrus. Pleasant by high arousal interaction was localized in the left inferior and superior frontal gyrus, as well as the right caudate nucleus, putamen, and gyrus rectus. Unpleasant by high arousal interaction was processed by the right superior parietal gyrus. Valence was prioritized (onset at ∼60 ms) to all other effects, while pleasant valence was short lived in comparison to unpleasant valence (offsets at ∼110 and ∼320 ms, respectively). Both arousal and valence × arousal interactions emerged relatively early (onset at ∼150 ms, and ∼170 ms, respectively). Our findings support the notion that brain regions differentiate between valence and arousal, and demonstrate, for the first time, that these brain regions may also respond to distinct combinations of these two dimensions within specific time windows

Neuroplastic Effects of Combined Computerized Physical and Cognitive Training in Elderly Individuals at Risk for Dementia: An eLORETA Controlled Study on Resting States

The present study investigates whether a combined cognitive and physical training may induce changes in the cortical activity as measured via electroencephalogram (EEG) and whether this change may index a deceleration of pathological processes of brain aging. Seventy seniors meeting the clinical criteria of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were equally divided into 5 groups: 3 experimental groups engaged in eight-week cognitive and/or physical training and 2 control groups: active and passive. A 5-minute long resting state EEG was measured before and after the intervention. Cortical EEG sources were modelled by exact low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA). Cognitive function was assessed before and after intervention using a battery of neuropsychological tests including the minimental state examination (MMSE). A significant training effect was identified only after the combined training scheme: a decrease in the post-compared to pre-training activity of precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex in delta, theta, and beta bands. This effect was correlated to improvements in cognitive capacity as evaluated by MMSE scores. Our results indicate that combined physical and cognitive training shows indices of a positive neuroplastic effect in MCI patients and that EEG may serve as a potential index of gains versus cognitive declines and neurodegeneration. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02313935

Evaluation of user satisfaction and usability of a mobile app for smoking cessation

Background Mobile apps have a great potential to support patients in healthcare, and to encourage healthy behavioral changes such as smoking cessation. Nevertheless, the user rejection levels are still high. A set of factors that has impact on the app effectiveness is related to the quality of those features that lead to positive user experiences when using the app. This work aims to evaluate the user experience, and more specifically the usability and the user satisfaction with a mobile application for smoking cessation. This will also provide a basis for future improvements. Methods We provided a smoking cessation mobile Android app to two different user cohorts, the smokers as valid users and the experts, for three weeks. The app featured usual functionalities to help quit smoking, including an achieved benefits section, mini-games to distract during cravings, and supportive motivational messages. We collected information about user experience, through game playability and message satisfaction questionnaires, and the experts’ opinions. We also considered usage of app sections, the duration of the mini-game sessions, and the user ratings for motivational messages. Results We included 45 valid users and 25 experts in this study. The questionnaire indicated 80% satisfaction rate for the motivational messages. According to game questionnaires, over 69% of the participants agreed that the games have good usability features, however, for questions related to mobility and gameplay heuristics, agreements were below 67%. The most accessed app sections were achieved benefits and the one with motivational messages. The experts described issues that could help to improve the application. Conclusions The combination of questionnaires with expert reports allowed to identify several problems and possible corrections. Our study showed that motivational messages have a good satisfaction rate, although it is necessary to consider technical features of some mobile devices that may hinder message reception. Games have good usability and it's expected that the addition of difficulty levels and a better accessibility to the game menu could make them more attractive and increase its usage. Future development of mHealth apps based on gamification and motivational messages need to consider these factors for better user satisfaction and usability.European Union's Horizon 2020 No 68112

The Neuroscience of Positive Emotions and Affect:Implications for Cultivating Happiness and Wellbeing

This review paper provides an integrative account regarding neurophysiological correlates of positive emotions and affect that cumulatively contribute to the scaffolding for happiness and wellbeing in humans and other animals. This paper reviews the associations among neurotransmitters, hormones, brain networks, and cognitive functions in the context of positive emotions and affect. Consideration of lifespan developmental perspectives are incorporated, and we also examine the impact of healthy social relationships and environmental contexts on the modulation of positive emotions and affect. The neurophysiological processes that implement positive emotions are dynamic and modifiable, and meditative practices as well as flow states that change patterns of brain function and ultimately support wellbeing are also discussed. This review is part of "The Human Affectome Project" (http://neuroqualia.org/background.php), and in order to advance a primary aim of the Human Affectome Project, we also reviewed relevant linguistic dimensions and terminology that characterizes positive emotions and wellbeing. These linguistic dimensions are discussed within the context of the neuroscience literature with the overarching goal of generating novel recommendations for advancing neuroscience research on positive emotions and wellbeing

Does combined training of biofeedback and neurofeedback affect smoking status, behavior, and longitudinal brain plasticity?

Introduction: Investigations of biofeedback (BF) and neurofeedback (NF) training for nicotine addiction have been long documented to lead to positive gains in smoking status, behavior and to changes in brain activity. We aimed to: (a) evaluate a multi-visit combined BF/NF intervention as an alternative smoking cessation approach, (b) validate training-induced feedback learning, and (c) document effects on resting-state functional connectivity networks (rsFCN); considering gender and degree of nicotine dependence in a longitudinal design.Methods: We analyzed clinical, behavioral, and electrophysiological data from 17 smokers who completed five BF and 20 NF sessions and three evaluation stages. Possible neuroplastic effects were explored comparing whole-brain rsFCN by phase-lag index (PLI) for different brain rhythms. PLI connections with significant change across time were investigated according to different resting-state networks (RSNs).Results: Improvements in smoking status were observed as exhaled carbon monoxide levels, Total Oxidative Stress, and Fageström scores decreased while Vitamin E levels increased across time. BF/NF promoted gains in anxiety, self-esteem, and several aspects of cognitive performance. BF learning in temperature enhancement was observed within sessions. NF learning in theta/alpha ratio increase was achieved across baselines and within sessions. PLI network connections significantly changed across time mainly between or within visual, default mode and frontoparietal networks in theta and alpha rhythms, while beta band RSNs mostly changed significantly after BF sessions.Discussion: Combined BF/NF training positively affects the clinical and behavioral status of smokers, displays benefit in smoking harm reduction, plays a neuroprotective role, leads to learning effects and to positive reorganization of RSNs across time.Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02991781

Spatiotemporal analysis of the emotional state of elderly people who have undergone cognitive and physical training

Research on aging suggests that cognitive and emotional functions evolve on different trajectories along the adult lifespan. In general, cognitive functions deteriorate with age, while emotional functions are more stable or may even be enhanced in older adults (e.g. emotional regulation). Older adults exhibit a so called positivity effect in their attention and memory, by prioritizing the processing of positive compared to negative information. Several lines of literature support the phenomenon of successful aging, i.e. the maintenance of enhancement of a sense of emotional well-being and life satisfaction in view of the losses associated with age. It is obvious, that aging can have an insulating effect against affective disturbances and at least some of the affective disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand the emotional functions along the adult lifespan not only for achieving the successful aging, but also for maintaining mental health. The research presented is considered timely and effectively sets the stage for future extensions, as it takes place at a time when, at least in the Western world, the aging of the population, also known as the 'graying' of the Western world, is a demographic phenomenon characterized by reduced fertility, reduced mortality rate and a higher life expectancy. The present doctoral thesis attempts to contribute to scientific research by investigating the spatiotemporal processing of emotion through neurophysiological recordings. The initial aim was to advance our understanding on specificity of the neural substrates associated with emotion in young adults. This step is the foundation for the subsequent understanding of the emotional changes (e.g. loss of specificity, de-differentiation) related to the physical or pathological neurophysiological changes that accompany aging. Finally, the interest shifted in investigating the potential neuroplastic changes induced by a combined scheme of cognitive and physical training as indices of deceleration of the pathological processes of the aging brain.Η έρευνα για τη γήρανση υποδηλώνει ότι οι νοητικές και οι συναισθηματικές λειτουργίες ακολουθούν διαφορετικές τροχιές δια μέσου της διάρκειας της ενήλικης ζωής. Σε γενικές γραμμές, οι νοητικές ικανότητες εξασθενούν, ενώ οι συναισθηματικές λειτουργίες είναι πιο σταθερές ή μπορεί ακόμη και να ενισχυθούν στους ενήλικες μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας (π.χ. συναισθηματική ρύθμιση). Οι ενήλικες μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας σε σύγκριση με τους νεότερους ενήλικες, παρουσιάζουν μια θετική επίδραση (positivity effect) στην προσοχή, και τη μνήμη τους, με μείωση της επεξεργασίας των αρνητικών σε σχέση με τα θετικά ερεθίσματα. Υπάρχει ένα μεγάλο σώμα βιβλιογραφίας που υποστηρίζει το φαινόμενο της επιτυχούς γήρανσης (successful aging), δηλαδή της διατήρησης ή ακόμα και ενίσχυσης μιας αίσθησης συναισθηματικής ευημερίας και ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή εν όψει των απωλειών που σχετίζονται με την ηλικία. Είναι φανερό, ότι η γήρανση μπορεί να έχει μια μονωτική δράση ενάντια σε συναισθηματικές αναστατώσεις και κατά τουλάχιστον κάποιων συναισθηματικών διαταραχών. Επομένως, είναι απαραίτητη η καλύτερη κατανόηση των συναισθηματικών λειτουργιών σε όλη τη διάρκεια της ζωής όχι μόνο για την επίτευξη της επιτυχούς γήρανσης, αλλά και για την διατήρηση της ψυχικής υγείας. Η έρευνα που παρουσιάζεται θεωρείται επίκαιρη και ουσιαστικά θέτει τις βάσεις για μελλοντικές προεκτάσεις, καθώς πραγματοποιήθηκε σε μια εποχή που, τουλάχιστον στο Δυτικό κόσμο, η γήρανση του πληθυσμού, επίσης γνωστή ως το ‘γκριζάρισμα’ του Δυτικού κόσμου, είναι ένα δημογραφικό φαινόμενο που χαρακτηρίζεται από τη μείωση στη γονιμότητα, τη μείωση του ποσοστού θνησιμότητας, καθώς και ένα υψηλότερο προσδόκιμο ζωής. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή επιχειρεί να συμβάλει στην επιστημονική έρευνα μελετώντας τη χωροχρονική επεξεργασία του συναισθήματος μέσω νευροφυσιολογικών καταγραφών. Αρχικός στόχος υπήρξε η ανίχνευση καθώς και κατανόηση της εξειδικευμένης λειτουργίας των νευρωνικών υποστρωμάτων που σχετίζονται με το συναίσθημα σε νεαρά ενήλικα άτομα. Το στάδιο αυτό αποτελεί το θεμέλιο λίθο για την μετέπειτα κατανόηση των συναισθηματικών μεταβολών (π.χ. μείωση της εξειδίκευσης, από-διαφοροποίηση) που επιφέρουν οι φυσικές ή και παθολογικές νευροφυσιολογικές αλλαγές που σχετίζονται με τη γήρανση. Τέλος, διερευνήθηκε η συσχέτιση μεταξύ των ενδεχόμενων νευροπλαστικών αλλαγών που επιφέρει ο συνδυασμός νοητικής και σωματικής άσκησης και της επιβράδυνσης των παθολογικών διεργασιών της γήρανσης του εγκεφάλου

How varenicline affects sleep quality and functional connectivity? A polysomnographic evaluation

The SmokeFreeBrain (SFB), which is an EU, H2020-funded project aims to compare several antismoking approaches. Among them, the varenicline intervention seems to be extremely robust in terms of nicotine abstinence rate. However, there are some reports of side effects during sleep associated with insomnia and negatively aroused dreaming. However, these symptoms have never been objectively quantified. This study presents preliminary results from 17 participants who underwent entire polysomnographic (PSG) recordings before and 21 days after the intervention initiation. Our aim was to investigate how both smoking abstinence and varenicline treatment affect sleep quality. We employed both visual sleep scoring and functional connectivity analysis. The purpose of visual sleep scoring analysis, performed according to the guidelines of the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) was to investigate sleep macro-architecture, defined as the sleep cycles during night. We calculated various sleep parameters like efficiency, onset, stage and latency duration, sleep fragmentation and the number of arousals during sleep. Additionally, we also estimated the co-operative degree among electroencephalographic time series as well as the interactions among brain and heart. The latter analysis aimed to quantify neuroplasticity changes associated both with smoking cessation and varenicline treatment. Early results demonstrated beneficial effects from nicotine abstinence (increased oxygen saturation level, facilitated sleep onset). However, there were neurophysiological patterns of increased arousal both on autonomic (heart rate variability features) and on cortical level (increased connectivity within beta band). These patterns observed even during deep sleep stages indicating poor sleep quality

The Human Affectome

Over the last decades, the interdisciplinary field of the affective sciences has seen proliferation rather than integration of theoretical perspectives. This is due to differences in metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions about human affective phenomena (what they are and how they work) which, shaped by academic motivations and values, have determined the affective constructs and operationalizations. An assumption on the purpose of affective phenomena can be used as a teleological principle to guide the construction of a common set of metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions—a framework for human affective research. In this capstone paper for the special issue “Towards an Integrated Understanding of the Human Affectome”, we gather the tiered purpose of human affective phenomena to synthesize assumptions that account for human affective phenomena collectively. This teleologically-grounded framework offers a principled agenda and launchpad for both organizing existing perspectives and generating new ones. Ultimately, we hope Human Affectome brings us a step closer to not only an integrated understanding of human affective phenomena, but an integrated field for affective research

The Human Affectome

Over the last decades, the interdisciplinary field of the affective sciences has seen proliferation rather than integration of theoretical perspectives. This is due to differences in metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions about human affective phenomena (what they are and how they work) which, shaped by academic motivations and values, have determined the affective constructs and operationalizations. An assumption on the purpose of affective phenomena can be used as a teleological principle to guide the construction of a common set of metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions-a framework for human affective research. In this capstone paper for the special issue "Towards an Integrated Understanding of the Human Affectome", we gather the tiered purpose of human affective phenomena to synthesize assumptions that account for human affective phenomena collectively. This teleologically-grounded framework offers a principled agenda and launchpad for both organizing existing perspectives and generating new ones. Ultimately, we hope Human Affectome brings us a step closer to not only an integrated understanding of human affective phenomena, but an integrated field for affective research