The effect of breath pacing on task switching and working memory

The cortical and subcortical circuit regulating both cognition and cardiac autonomic interactions are already well established. This circuit has mainly been analyzed from cortex to heart. Thus, the heart rate variability (HRV) is usually considered a reflection of cortical activity. In this paper, we investigate whether HRV changes affect cortical activity. Short-term local autonomic changes were induced by three breathing strategies: spontaneous (Control), normal (NB) and slow paced breathing (SB). We measured the performance in two cognition domains: executive functions and processing speed. Breathing maneuvres produced three clearly differentiated autonomic states, which preconditioned the cognitive tasks. We found that the SB significantly increased the HRV low frequency (LF) power and lowered the power spectral density (PSD) peak to 0.1Hz. Meanwhile, executive function was assessed by the working memory test, whose accuracy significantly improved after SB, with no significant changes in the response times. Processing speed was assessed by a multitasking test. Consistently, the proportion of correct answers (success rate) was the only dependent variable affected by short-term and long-term breath pacing. These findings suggest that accuracy, and not timing of these two cognitive domains would benefit from short-term SB in this study population.Fil: Bonomini, Maria Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Argentino de Matemática Alberto Calderón; ArgentinaFil: Calvo, Mikel Val. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia; España. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; EspañaFil: Morcillo, Alejandro Diaz. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; EspañaFil: Segovia, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vicente, Jose Manuel Ferrandez. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; EspañaFil: Fernández Jover, Eduardo. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; Españ

A neurologically inspired network model for Graziano’s attention schema theory for consciousness

This paper describes a network-oriented model based on the neuroscientist Graziano’s Attention Schema Theory for consciousness. This theory describes an attention schema as an internal model of the attention process supporting the control of attention, similar to how our mind uses a body schema as an internal model of the body to control its movements. The Attention Schema Theory comes with a number of testable predictions. After designing a neurologically inspired temporal-causal network model for the Attention schema Theory, a few simulations were conducted to verify some of these predictions. One prediction is that a noticeable attention control deficit occurs when using attention without awareness. Another is that a noticeable attention control deficit occurs when using only bottom-up influence (from the sensory representations) without any top-down influence (for example, from goal or control states). The presented model is illustrated by a scenario where a hunter imagines (using internal simulation) a prey which he wants to attend to and catch, but shortly after he or she imagines a predator which he then wants to attend to and avoid. The outcomes of the simulations support the predictions that were made

Down syndrome as risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization : A prospective multicenter epidemiological study

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in childhood, particularly in premature infants, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To compare the hospitalization rates due to RSV infection and severity of disease between infants with and without Down syndrome (DS) born at term and without other associated risk factors for severe RSV infection. In a prospective multicentre epidemiological study, 93 infants were included in the DS cohort and 68 matched by sex and data of birth (±1 week) and were followed up to 1 year of age and during a complete RSV season. The hospitalization rate for all acute respiratory infection was significantly higher in the DS cohort than in the non-DS cohort (44.1% vs 7.7%, P<.0001). Hospitalizations due to RSV were significantly more frequent in the DH cohort than in the non-DS cohort (9.7% vs 1.5%, P=.03). RSV prophylaxis was recorded in 33 (35.5%) infants with DS. The rate of hospitalization according to presence or absence of RSV immunoprophylaxis was 3.0% vs 15%, respectively. Infants with DS showed a higher rate of hospitalization due to acute lower respiratory tract infection and RSV infection compared to non-DS infants. Including DS infants in recommendations for immunoprophylaxis of RSV disease should be considered