Associations between empathy, inhibitory control, and physical aggression in toddlerhood

Impaired empathy has been associated with aggression in children, adolescents and adults, but results have been contradictory for the preschool period. Impaired inhibitory control also increases the risk of aggression, and possibly moderates empathy‐aggression associations. The current study investigated whether empathy and inhibitory control are associated with aggression in toddlerhood. Furthermore, we aimed to clarify the role of inhibitory control in empathy and aggression, specifically, whether inhibitory control moderates the association between empathy and aggression. During a laboratory visit at age 30 months (N = 103), maternal reports of physical aggression were obtained and child inhibitory control was examined using a gift delay task. Empathy was examined by obtaining behavioral observations and recording physiological responses (heart rate response and respiratory sinus arrhythmia response) to an empathy‐eliciting event (i.e., simulated distress). Reduced inhibitory control was associated with more aggression. Behavioral and physiological indicators of empathy were not associated with aggression. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed an interaction effect of heart rate response to distress simulation with inhibitory control in the prediction of aggression. Post hoc analyses indicated a negative association between heart rate response and aggression when inhibitory control was high, but a positive association was found in toddlers who demonstrated low inhibitory control. These results suggest that children are less aggressive when they have both high levels of empathy and inhibitory control. Therefore, both empathy and inhibition are important targets for interventions aiming to reduce or prevent aggression at a young age

"Precious time together was taken away":Impact of COVID-19 restrictive measures on social needs and loneliness from the perspective of residents of nursing homes, close relatives, and volunteers

During the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, restrictive measures (e.g., prohibiting physical visits and group activities) were introduced in nursing homes to protect older residents. Although the importance of social contacts and social activities to fulfill social needs and avoid loneliness is known, these were challenged during the pandemic. This qualitative study specifically focused on how residents, close relatives, and volunteers in nursing homes experienced the restrictive measures in retrospect and gained insights into the impact of the restrictive measures on social needs and loneliness, and the lessons that could be learned. Thirty semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with residents and close relatives, and one online focus group with ten volunteers, were conducted. Recruitment took place at psychogeriatric and somatic units in the Northern, Eastern and Southern regions of the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium. The interviews and focus group were transcribed verbatim, and an open, inductive approach was used for analysis. Alternative ways of social contact could not fully compensate for physical visits. Generally, participants reported that it was a difficult time, indicated by feelings of loneliness, fear, sadness, and powerlessness. A great diversity in loneliness was reported. The most important reasons for feeling lonely were missing close social contacts and social activities. The diversity in the impact of restrictive measures depended on, e.g., social needs, coping strategies, and character. Restrictive COVID-19 measures in nursing homes resulted in negative emotions and unmet social needs of residents, close relatives, and volunteers. During future outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus or another virus or bacterium, for which restrictive measures may be needed, nursing homes should actively involve residents, close relatives, and volunteers to balance safety, self-determination, and well-being

DEVELOPING AN ICF CORE SET FOR ADULTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: A GLOBAL EXPERT SURVEY OF RELEVANT FUNCTIONS AND CONTEXTUAL FACTORS

Objective: To identify areas of functioning in adults with cerebral palsy that are considered relevant by experts, in order to develop an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for adults with cerebral palsy. Participants: Experts from various professional backgrounds worldwide who had experience working with adults with cerebral palsy fo

Infant emotional responses to challenge predict empathic behavior in toddlerhood

Although emotional responses are theorized to be important in the development of empathy, findings regarding the prediction of early empathic behavior by infant behavioral and physiological responses are mixed. This study examined whether behavioral and physiological responses to mild emotional challenge (still face paradigm and car seat task) in 118 infants at age 6 months predicted empathic distress and empathic concern in response to an empathy‐evoking task (i.e, experimenter's distress simulation) at age 20 months. Correlation analyses, corrected for sex and baseline levels of physiological arousal, showed that stronger physiological and behavioral responses to emotional challenge at age 6 months were positively related to observed empathic distress, but not empathic concern, at age 20 months. Linear regression analyses indicated that physiological and behavioral responses to challenge at 6 months independently predicted empathic distress at 20 months, which suggests an important role for both physiological and behavioral emotional responses in empathy development. In addition, curvilinear regression analyses showed quadratic associations between behavioral responses at 6 months, and empathic distress and empathic concern at 20 months, which indicates that moderate levels of behavioral responsivity predict the highest levels of empathic distress and empathic concern

Low bone mineral density in ambulatory persons with cerebral palsy? A systematic review

Purpose: Non-ambulatory persons with cerebral palsy are prone to low bone mineral density. In ambulatory persons with cerebral palsy, bone mineral density deficits are expected to be small or absent, but a consensus conclusion is lacking. In this systematic review bone mineral density in ambulatory persons with cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification Scales I–III) was studied. Materials and methods: Medline, Embase, and Web of Science were searched. According to international guidelines, low bone mineral density was defined as Z-score ≤ −2.0. In addition, we focused on Z-score ≤ −1.0 because this may indicate a tendency towards low bone mineral density. Results: We included 16 studies, comprising 465 patients aged 1–65 years. Moderate and conflicting evidence for low bone mineral density (Z-score ≤ −2.0) was found for several body parts (total proximal femur, total body, distal femur, lumbar spine) in children with Gross Motor Function Classification Scales II and III. We found no evidence for low bone mineral density in children with Gross Motor Function Classification Scale I or adults, although there was a tendency towards low bone mineral density (Z-score ≤ −1.0) for several body parts. Conclusions: Although more high-quality research is needed, results indicate that deficits in bone mineral density are not restricted to non-ambulatory people with cerebral palsy.Implications for Rehabilitation Although more high-quality research is needed, including adults and fracture risk assessment, the current study indicates that deficits in bone mineral density are not restricted to non-ambulatory people with CP. Health care professionals should be aware that optimal nutrition, supplements on indication, and an active lifestyle, preferably with weight-bearing activities, are important in ambulatory people with CP, also from a bone quality point-of-view. If indicated, medication and fall prevention training should be prescribed

Late burial to early tectonic quartz veins in the periphery of the High-Ardenne slate belt (Rursee, North Eifel, Germany)

A detailed structural mapping and geometrical analysis of distinct bedding-(sub)perpendicular and bedding-parallel quartz veins has been performed in the northeastern part of the High-Ardenne slate belt (Rursee, North Eifel, Germany), with the aim to reconstruct the local fracturing/veining history. The structural relationship of these two types of veins as well as their relationship with cleavage, folds and faults allows attributing a pre- to early-Variscan age to these veins. The first type of veins is oriented (sub)perpendicular to bedding and consists of several, mutual cross-cutting generations, which clearly predate Variscan deformation. The second type of veins, bedding-parallel veins, post-dates the bedding-(sub)perpendicular veins and reflects bedding-parallel thrusting at the onset of Variscan deformation, predating folding. Subsequently, during progressive Variscan compression both types of veins were passively folded within characteristic, NW-vergent, overturned folds. Locally, due to flexural slip folding, reactivation along the bedding-parallel veins may have taken place.status: publishe

Early vein generations in the High-Ardenne slate belt (Belgium, Germany): the earliest manifestations of the Variscan orogeny?

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Carnosine and skeletal muscle dysfunction in a rodent multiple sclerosis model

Muscle weakness and fatigue are primary manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Interventions that enhance muscle function may improve overall physical well-being of MS patients. Recently, we described that levels of carnosine, an endogenous muscle dipeptide involved in contractile function and fatigue-resistance, are reduced in muscle tissue from MS patients and a monophasic rodent MS model (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, EAE). In the present study, we aimed to (1) confrm this fnding in a chronic EAE model, along with the characterization of structural and functional muscle alterations, and (2) investigate the efect of carnosine supplementation to increase/restore muscle carnosine levels and improve muscle function in EAE. We performed muscle immunohistochemistry and ex vivo contractility measurements to examine muscle structure and function at diferent stages of EAE, and following nutritional intervention (oral carnosine: 3, 15 or 30 g/L in drinking water). Immunohistochemistry revealed progressively worsening muscle fber atrophy and a switch towards a fast-twitch muscle phenotype during EAE. Using ex vivo muscle contractility experiments, we observed reductions in muscle strength and contraction speed, but no changes in muscle fatigability of EAE mice. However, carnosine levels were unaltered during all stages of EAE, and even though oral carnosine supplementation dose-dependently increased muscle carnosine levels up to+94% after 56 days EAE, this did not improve muscle function of EAE mice. In conclusion, EAE mice display signifcant, yet time-dependent, muscular alterations, and carnosine intervention does not improve muscle function in EAE

Can external lateral stabilization reduce the energy cost of walking in persons with a lower limb amputation?

The aim of this study was to examine whether impaired balance control is partly responsible for the increased energy cost of walking in persons with a lower limb amputation (LLA). Previous studies used external lateral stabilization to evaluate the energy cost for balance control; this caused a decrease in energy cost, with concomitant decreases in mean and variability of step width. Using a similar set-up, we expected larger decreases for LLA than able-bodied controls. Fifteen transtibial amputees (TT), 12 transfemoral amputees (TF), and 15 able-bodied controls (CO) walked with and without external lateral stabilization provided via spring like cords attached to the waist. Effects of this manipulation on energy cost, step parameters, and pelvic motion were evaluated between groups. TT (-5%) and CO (-3%) showed on average a small reduction in energy cost when walking with stabilization, whereas TF exhibited an increase in energy cost (+6.5%) The difference in the effect of stabilization was only significant between TT and TF. Step width, step width variability, and medio-lateral pelvic displacement decreased significantly with stabilization in all groups, especially in TT. Contrary to expectations, external lateral stabilization did not result in a larger decrease in the energy cost of walking for LLA compared to able-bodied controls, suggesting that balance control is not a major factor in the increased cost of walking in LLA. Alternatively, the increased energy cost with stabilization for TF suggests that restraining (medio-lateral) pelvic motion impeded necessary movement adaptations in LLA, and thus negated the postulated beneficial effects of stabilization on the energy cost of walking. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved