Neural correlates of processing valence and arousal in affective words

Psychological frameworks conceptualize emotion along 2 dimensions, "valence" and "arousal." Arousal invokes a single axis of intensity increasing from neutral to maximally arousing. Valence can be described variously as a bipolar continuum, as independent positive and negative dimensions, or as hedonic value (distance from neutral). In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to characterize neural activity correlating with arousal and with distinct models of valence during presentation of affective word stimuli. Our results extend observations in the chemosensory domain suggesting a double dissociation in which subregions of orbitofrontal cortex process valence, whereas amygdala preferentially processes arousal. In addition, our data support the physiological validity of descriptions of valence along independent axes or as absolute distance from neutral but fail to support the validity of descriptions of valence along a bipolar continuum

A cortical potential reflecting cardiac function

Emotional trauma and psychological stress can precipitate cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death through arrhythmogenic effects of efferent sympathetic drive. Patients with preexisting heart disease are particularly at risk. Moreover, generation of proarrhythmic activity patterns within cerebral autonomic centers may be amplified by afferent feedback from a dysfunctional myocardium. An electrocortical potential reflecting afferent cardiac information has been described, reflecting individual differences in interoceptive sensitivity (awareness of one's own heartbeats). To inform our understanding of mechanisms underlying arrhythmogenesis, we extended this approach, identifying electrocortical potentials corresponding to the cortical expression of afferent information about the integrity of myocardial function during stress. We measured changes in cardiac response simultaneously with electroencephalography in patients with established ventricular dysfunction. Experimentally induced mental stress enhanced cardiovascular indices of sympathetic activity (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, ventricular ejection fraction, and skin conductance) across all patients. However, the functional response of the myocardium varied; some patients increased, whereas others decreased, cardiac output during stress. Across patients, heartbeat-evoked potential amplitude at left temporal and lateral frontal electrode locations correlated with stress-induced changes in cardiac output, consistent with an afferent cortical representation of myocardial function during stress. Moreover, the amplitude of the heartbeat-evoked potential in the left temporal region reflected the proarrhythmic status of the heart (inhomogeneity of left ventricular repolarization). These observations delineate a cortical representation of cardiac function predictive of proarrhythmic abnormalities in cardiac repolarization. Our findings highlight the dynamic interaction of heart and brain in stress-induced cardiovascular morbidity

Effective actions on the squashed three-sphere

The effective actions of a scalar and massless spin-half field are determined as functions of the deformation of a symmetrically squashed three-sphere. The extreme oblate case is particularly examined as pertinant to a high temperature statistical mechanical interpretation that may be relevant for the holographic principle. Interpreting the squashing parameter as a temperature, we find that the effective `free energies' on the three-sphere are mixtures of thermal two-sphere scalars and spinors which, in the case of the spinor on the three-sphere, have the `wrong' thermal periodicities. However the free energies do have the same leading high temperature forms as the standard free energies on the two-sphere. The next few terms in the high-temperature expansion are also explicitly calculated and briefly compared with the Taub-Bolt-AdS bulk result.Comment: 23 pages, JyTeX. Conclusion slightly amended, one equation and minor misprints correcte

Criminal Justice Project: Drug Interventions Programme - Knowsley Drug Testing Profile (2014 to 2017)

The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) process generally begins with the police drug testing individuals in the custody suite following an arrest. If offenders test positive for Class A drugs (opiates and/or cocaine), they are served with a Required Assessment (RA) by the police. This a compulsory legal sanction which requires the individual to attend up to two appointments (initial/follow-up RA) with a drugs worker. During these assessments the drugs worker will assess the individual’s drug use and offending behaviour and, if necessary, encourage them to engage with drug treatment services (Home Office, 2010). In 2016/17, 57% of those accessing DIP in Merseyside presented via the RA route, while in Knowsley 32% presented through RAs (Collins et al., 2017). For this reason, the police play an important role in the early stages of the DIP process. Merseyside Police introduced targeted drug testing in 2015. This involves a set list of questions around drug use that should be considered by the police before a decision is made on whether the arrestee is drug tested. The main aim of targeted testing is to reduce the number of negative drug tests carried out in the custody suite setting, thus save police time and money, while ensuring offenders who use drugs continue to be drug tested and referred to treatment services through the RA process. This Drug Testing Profile for Knowsley presents information on drug tests carried out on Knowsley residents across the Merseyside area between January 2014 and December 2017, with a particular focus given to the most recent year (2017). This profile contextualises Merseyside Police drug testing data by providing numbers and trends of offenders who use drugs identified through this route into the DIP system and a demographic overview of the individuals. Comparisons to overall Merseyside figures have been made, where possible, with tables in Appendix A and B showing comparisons across each area (custody suite area and area of residence). This profile also provides recommendations for all stakeholders involved with DIP, in terms of the efficient use of resources and effective services locally and across Merseyside

St Helens DIP Activity Profile (2016/17)

The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) has an overarching aim to identify and engage with drug using offenders in the criminal justice system and encourage them towards appropriate treatment services in order to reduce acquisitive crime in England and Wales. DIP assessments capture demographic information and provide an insight into drug and alcohol use, and offending behaviour. These assessments allow drugs workers to determine whether further intervention is required to address substance use and offending. This DIP Activity Profile for St Helens presents data for clients accessing DIP between 1st April 2016 and 31st March 2017. This profile will contextualise DIP activity data and provide a demographic overview of the clients. It complements the monthly performance reports by providing an annual snapshot of the Criminal Justice Data Set

Sefton DIP Activity Profile (2016/17)

The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) has an overarching aim to identify and engage with drug using offenders in the criminal justice system and encourage them towards appropriate treatment services in order to reduce acquisitive crime in England and Wales. DIP assessments capture demographic information and provide an insight into drug and alcohol use, and offending behaviour. These assessments allow drugs workers to determine whether further intervention is required to address substance use and offending. This DIP Activity Profile for Sefton presents data for clients accessing DIP between 1st April 2016 and 31st March 2017. This profile will contextualise DIP activity data and provide a demographic overview of the clients. It complements the monthly performance reports by providing an annual snapshot of the Criminal Justice Data Set

Wirral DIP Activity Profile (2016/17)

The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) has an overarching aim to identify and engage with drug using offenders in the criminal justice system and encourage them towards appropriate treatment services in order to reduce acquisitive crime in England and Wales. DIP assessments capture demographic information and provide an insight into drug and alcohol use, and offending behaviour. These assessments allow drugs workers to determine whether further intervention is required to address substance use and offending. This DIP Activity Profile for Wirral presents data for clients accessing DIP between 1st April 2016 and 31st March 2017. This profile will contextualise DIP activity data and provide a demographic overview of the clients. It complements the monthly performance reports by providing an annual snapshot of the Criminal Justice Data Set

Knowsley DIP Activity Profile (2016/17)

The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) has an overarching aim to identify and engage with drug using offenders in the criminal justice system and encourage them towards appropriate treatment services in order to reduce acquisitive crime in England and Wales. DIP assessments capture demographic information and provide an insight into drug and alcohol use, and offending behaviour. These assessments allow drugs workers to determine whether further intervention is required to address substance use and offending. This DIP Activity Profile for Knowsley presents data for clients accessing DIP between 1st April 2016 and 31st March 2017. This profile will contextualise DIP activity data and provide a demographic overview of the clients. It complements the monthly performance reports by providing an annual snapshot of the Criminal Justice Data Set

Criminal Justice Project: Drug Interventions Programme - Sefton Drug Testing Profile (2014 to 2017)

The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) process generally begins with the police drug testing individuals in the custody suite following an arrest. If offenders test positive for Class A drugs (opiates and/or cocaine), they are served with a Required Assessment (RA) by the police. This a compulsory legal sanction which requires the individual to attend up to two appointments (initial/follow-up RA) with a drugs worker. During these assessments the drugs worker will assess the individual’s drug use and offending behaviour and, if necessary, encourage them to engage with drug treatment services (Home Office, 2010). In 2016/17, 57% of those accessing DIP in Merseyside presented via the RA route, while in Sefton 60% presented through RAs (Collins et al., 2017a). For this reason, the police play an important role in the early stages of the DIP process. Merseyside Police introduced targeted drug testing in 2015. This involves a set list of questions around drug use that should be considered by the police before a decision is made on whether the arrestee is drug tested. The main aim of targeted testing is to reduce the number of negative drug tests carried out in the custody suite setting, thus save police time and money, while ensuring offenders who use drugs continue to be drug tested and referred to treatment services through the RA process. This Drug Testing Profile for Sefton presents information on drug tests carried out at Sefton’s custody suites and on Sefton residents across the Merseyside area between January 2014 and December 2017, with a particular focus given to the most recent year (2017). This profile contextualises Merseyside Police drug testing data by providing numbers and trends of offenders who use drugs identified through this route into the DIP system and a demographic overview of the individuals. Comparisons to overall Merseyside figures have been made, where possible, with tables in Appendix A and B showing comparisons across each area (custody suite area and area of residence). This profile also provides recommendations for all stakeholders involved with DIP, in terms of the efficient use of resources and effective services locally and across Merseyside