This study aimed to investigate the neurocognitive effects of the Attention Training Technique (ATT) on brain activity in healthy participants. The participants included 20 university students who were asked to practice ATT as a homework assignment for 20 days. The intracerebral source localization of their electroencephalogram during rest and the ATT task, which comprised selective attention, attention switching, and divided attention conditions, was evaluated by standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography. Brain activity during rest was subtracted from that during the ATT task, and that was compared before and after the homework assignment. The results for the divided attention condition indicated significantly decreased alpha 1 frequency band power in the left orbital frontal cortex (OFC) and alpha 2 power in the right inferior temporal cortex. Further, decreased alpha 1 power in the left OFC correlated with reduced subjective difficulty during the divided attention condition. One possibility is that the brain activity changed as the effect of ATT practice, although this study cannot confirm causality. Further studies are required which include a control group that would complete similar training without the ATT task.
Empathic communications between a patient and therapist are an essential component of psychotherapy. However, objective neural markers of the quality of the psychotherapeutic relationship have been elusive. Here we conceptualize how a neuroscience-informed approach involving real-time neurofeedback, facilitated via existing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) technologies, has the potential to provide objective information for facilitating therapeutic rapport. We propose several neurofeedback-assisted psychotherapy (NF-AP) approaches that could offer the potential for optimizing the experience of the individual patient and therapist across the spectrum of psychotherapeutic treatment. Finally, we consider how the possible strengths of these approaches are balanced by the current limitations and discuss the prospects of NF-AP.
Recent findings suggest that stigma and camouflaging contribute to mental health difficulties for autistic individuals, however, this evidence is largely based on UK samples. While studies have shown cross-cultural differences in levels of autism-related stigma, it is unclear whether camouflaging and mental health difficulties vary across cultures. Hence, the current study had two aims: (1) to determine whether significant relationships between autism acceptance, camouflaging, and mental health difficulties replicate in a cross-cultural sample of autistic adults, and (2) to compare these variables across cultures. To fulfil these aims, 306 autistic adults from eight countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States) completed a series of online questionnaires. We found that external acceptance and personal acceptance were associated with lower levels of depression but not camouflaging or stress. Higher camouflaging was associated with elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Significant differences were found across countries in external acceptance, personal acceptance, depression, anxiety, and stress, even after controlling for relevant covariates. Levels of camouflaging also differed across countries however this effect became non-significant after controlling for the covariates. These findings have significant implications, identifying priority regions for anti-stigma interventions, and highlighting countries where greater support for mental health difficulties is needed.
Background: The symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are known to exacerbate the effect of cognitive-behavioral impairments on emotional burden. Although adults with ADHD frequently experience procrastination and internalizing symptoms such as depression and anxiety, few studies have examined whether the association between procrastination and internalizing symptoms differs by ADHD symptoms. Objective: This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of ADHD symptoms on the association between procrastination and internalizing symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 470 adults (mean age=26.57, standard deviation=2.93) using self-reported questionnaires: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, General Procrastination Scales, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Conclusion: Participants with more substantial ADHD symptoms experienced more procrastination and internalizing symptoms than those with the less substantial ADHD symptoms. Therefore, procrastination constitutes the treatment target for those suffering from ADHD and comorbid internalizing symptoms. Alternatively, there was no enhancing effect of ADHD symptoms on the association between procrastination and internalizing symptoms. It is necessary to examine more precise and valid hypotheses and underlying mechanisms of procrastination in high and low ADHD symptom groups.
We propose the concept of social summarization as an alternative to the content-based technology for summarization, report on its use in the community system TelMeA2003 implemented and employed to investigate techniques for social summarization, and discuss its effectiveness in supporting collaborative activities in online communities.
【背景】イメージ書き直しとは，恐怖記憶のイメージをより安全なイメージに書き直す技法である。メカニズムには未だ不明な点が多いが，再固定化を利用して恐怖記憶を減弱すると考えられている。【方法】Web of Science, Science Directにて“imagery rescripting” and “reconsolidation”というタームを用いて検索した。【結果】現時点ではイメージ書き直しと再固定化の関係を示す研究は存在しない。【結論】今後の研究では（1）イメージ書き直しとイメージエクスポージャーの再発率の比較，（2）イメージ書き直しとイメージエクスポージャーに関与する脳部位の比較，（3）イメージ書き直しとイメージエクスポージャーによるトラウマの陳述内容の変化の比較，（4）記憶想起直後にイメージを挿入する条件と記憶想起10分後にイメージを挿入する条件の比較，が行われる必要がある。
