Action versus state orientation moderates the relation between executive function task performance and resting heart rate variability

Despite a considerable rationale for a relationship between executive functions (EFs) and resting heart rate variability based on the neurovisceral integration model, meta-analyses reveal relatively small effect sizes. This study aims to evaluate this relationship in three EF tasks by taking task characteristics and implicit affect and attention regulation measured by action-state orientation into account. Analyzing 154 participants (M = 23.56 years; SD = 3.14) indicated that the relationship was moderated by action-state orientation. However, the Johnson-Neyman test only found a relationship for state-oriented individuals, which also differed in the direction between demanding and low-demanding tasks. Therefore, this study cannot fully confirm the neurovisceral integration model. Implications for future research are discussed.     

工作记忆刷新训练改善抑郁倾向大学生情绪调节能力的HRV证据

根据流调中心用抑郁量表(CES-D)和贝克抑郁量表(BDI-II-C)的得分情况招募健康被试20例, 抑郁倾向被试40例, 以自愿参加的分组方式将抑郁倾向被试分为工作记忆刷新训练组和对照组, 每组20例。对训练组进行为期20天的工作记忆刷新训练, 对照组不做处理。记录各组被试在前后测的刷新功能以及在情绪调节任务中量表的得分情况, 并收集各组被试在5种实验条件下的心率变异性(HRV)的频域指标值, 结果发现：前测时抑郁倾向个体的HF-HRV显著低于健康个体的平均水平。经过工作记忆训练, 后测的抑郁倾向训练组在情绪调节任务中的HF-HRV水平有显著的提高, 贴近健康对照组的水平, 并与抑郁倾向对照组分离。研究表明, 工作记忆刷新训练能够使抑郁倾向大学生的HRV活动更接近健康被试的HRV活动, 表明抑郁倾向大学生的情绪调节能力得到了改善。     

老年舒张性心力衰竭诊治的思考

舒张性心力衰竭在老年高血压、冠心病患者中发病率较高,但临床症状、体征不特异,不典型,常容易漏诊。因此,临床工作中应注意发现舒张性心力衰竭相关的症状、体征,结合胸片有肺淤血、超声心动图左室射血分数(left ventriculare-jection fraction,LVEF)正常、血浆脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)增高等,早期诊断及治疗,提高老年患者的生活质量,减少晚期混合型心力衰竭的发病率。     

易学视域下的象山心学

象山心学有着深层易学根基之支撑。基于易学的天人之学,他敞开了以大中至正之道、之理为根基根据的整体宇宙图景。认为人的本心存在的敞开着宇宙大千世界中的一切。《易》的"穷理尽性以至于命"的价值期许,遂具体落实为人人之开显对于本心的高度明觉,挺立个我生命的主体性,积极构建基于此心的属于自己的意义的世界。     

Visuospatial processing in adolescents with critical congenital heart disease: Organization,integration, and implications for academic achievement

Among the most significant factors affecting quality of life in individuals with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) are neurodevelopmental challenges, including deficits in visuospatial processing and academic achievement. Few studies have compared outcomes across CCHD subgroups, despite their significant differences in anatomy/physiology and medical/surgical courses. This study compared visuospatial processing abilities using the Developmental Scoring System for the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (DSS-ROCF) across groups of adolescents with CCHD (d-transposition of the great arteries [TGA, n = 139], Tetralogy of Fallot [TOF, n = 68], single-ventricle cardiac anatomy requiring the Fontan operation [SVF, n = 145]) and a group of healthy controls (CTR, n = 111), and examined the validity of visuospatial processing in predicting concurrent academic outcomes. The CCHD subgroups were found to differ in Organization, ps < .001, Structural Accuracy, ps < .001, and Incidental Elements Accuracy scores, ps ≤ .008; the post hoc analyses show that the SVF group tended to underperform compared to the other CCHD groups. With respect to academic skills, all CCHD groups scored lower than the CTR group, ps ≤ .007; however, the CCHD groups were not different from each other, ps > .23. The regression results showed that the DSS-ROCF Style rating (reflecting integration) accounted for a small yet statistically significant portion of unique variance in “assembled” academic outcomes, over and above the variance already accounted for by DSS-ROCF Organization, p < .01. These findings support the need for comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and monitoring of children and adolescents with CCHD, as well as targeted intervention for organization and integration deficits that may increase their risk for academic underachievement.     

Posttraumatic stress and depression: potential pathways to disease burden among heart failure patients

Background and Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are associated with high disease burden. Pathways by which PTSD and MDD contribute to disease burden are not understood. Design: Path analysis was used to examine pathways between PTSD symptoms, MDD symptoms, and disease burden among 251 low-income heart failure patients. Methods: In Model 1, we explored the independent relationship between PTSD and MDD symptoms on disease burden. In Model 2, we examined the association of PTSD symptoms and disease burden on MDD symptoms. We also examined indirect associations of PTSD symptoms on MDD symptoms, mediated by disease burden, and of PTSD symptoms on disease burden mediated by MDD symptoms. Results: Disease burden correlated with PTSD symptoms (r = .41; p < .001) and MDD symptoms (r = .43; p < .001) symptoms. Both models fit the data well and displayed comparable fit. MDD symptoms did not mediate the association of PTSD symptoms with disease burden. Disease burden did mediate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and MDD symptoms. Conclusions: Results support the importance of detection of PTSD in individuals with disease. Results also provide preliminary models for testing longitudinal data in future studies.     

The role of social support in women’s health and recovery processes

The aim of this study was to assess the psychological state of women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer or cardiac surgery, including examination of the role of social support in both groups. The study included 48 women (mean age: 66.04?±?8.3 years). They were divided into two groups according to diagnosis: 23 women (mean age: 69.2?±?8.6 years) who underwent heart surgery (cardiac group, CG) and 25 women (mean age: 63.2?±?7.0 years) treated for breast cancer and associated with the Women After Mastectomy Club (oncology group, OG). In addition to the assessment of socio-demographic variables, the following self-report questionnaires were administered: Satisfaction with Life Scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory as well as Berlin Social Support Scale. In the CG, the severity of depressive symptoms was two times higher than in OG (p?=?.003). In both groups, there was a high percentage (80%) of women with severe symptoms of anxiety (p?=?.37). In both groups, the level of life satisfaction was similar (p?=?.58), but OG was characterized by a higher level of acceptance of the disease (p?=?.003). The correlation analysis showed that in both groups, social support was related differently to the parameters of emotional state. Women treated for breast cancer were in a better mental condition than women treated for heart disease. The support coming from other women in similar circumstances (Women After Mastectomy Club) seems to be more effective than the support coming from the patient’s immediate environment. The results for social support ought to be interpreted not only through the prism of mean values of received support, but also with regard to the information on the sources of support.     

Increasing compliance with wearing a medical device in children with autism

Health professionals often recommend the use of medical devices to assess the health, monitor the well-being, or improve the quality of life of their patients. Children with autism may present challenges in these situations as their sensory peculiarities may increase refusals to wear such devices. To address this issue, we systematically replicated prior research by examining the effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) to increase compliance with wearing a heart rate monitor in 2 children with autism. The intervention increased compliance to 100% for both participants when an edible reinforcer was delivered every 90 s. The results indicate that DRO does not require the implementation of extinction to increase compliance with wearing a medical device. More research is needed to examine whether the reinforcement schedule can be further thinned.     

Heart rate and blood pressure responses to a competitive role‐playing game

The effects of the outcome of competitive encounters on physiological parameters have been studied, especially testosterone levels, but hardly on other systems that, however, present a high sensitivity to stress. This study assessed the effect of a competitive game on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in a sample of university students. In addition, the influence of anxiety and attributions of the outcome was also explored. Only winners significantly showed a rise in HR during the competition followed by a decrease along the posttask phase in addition to more internal attributions. On the contrary, the average HR for losers during the competition was lower compared with their baseline values. No differences depending on the outcome were found in BP. The cardiovascular response as well as the subjective interpretation of the outcome suggest a more active strategy employed by winners vs. a more passive strategy of losers. Future studies should specifically investigate the importance of coping strategies for psychophysiological adaptation to contests and for the outcome reached. This would permit an advance in the understanding of the role of individual differences in the processes of stress and in associated diseases. Aggr. Behav. 27:351–359, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

放松训练和腹式呼吸对应激的影响

探讨腹式呼吸和放松训练对应激引起的T波幅度降低和心率升高的对抗作用。被试为 3组 38名女大学生。结果表明 :(1)放松训练和腹式呼吸均能显著促进T波幅度升高和对抗应激时T波幅度的降低 ,但腹式呼吸的效果优于放松训练。 (2 )应激会引起心率的显著上升和T波幅度的显著降低。 (3)心率不是测量放松训练和腹式呼吸效果的敏感指标。结论 :腹式呼吸和放松训练可以有效地缓解心血管系统的应激反应