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Current Drug Metabolism 2018Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (γ-hydroxybutyrate or GHB) is a physiological compound of mammalians with specific receptors in central nervous system (CNS). Apart from an... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (γ-hydroxybutyrate or GHB) is a physiological compound of mammalians with specific receptors in central nervous system (CNS). Apart from an endogenous production, GHB is also an exogenous molecule found in pharmaceutical as well as in illicit formulations. Products manufactured and spread in these two fields, whose borders are all but strictly defined and traced, differ for the in vivo effects and for the potential of abuse. Illicit GHB gained public attention due to its use as a sexual assault facilitator. Notwithstanding its popularity, the effects on human performances, are still not completely understood and could be more complex than expected. Therefore, there is a real public safety concern regarding psychomotor functions and driving abilities due to GHB ingestion.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an updated and complete review on the effects of GHB on psychomotor, cognitive and driving performance that may be useful for judiciary expert forensic evaluation of driving under the influence of GHB (GHB-DUI).
METHOD
Experimental animal-based and human-based studies and case series or epidemiological studies regarding driving under influence of GHB (and its precursors) were reviewed using main scientific databases.
RESULTS
The effects of GHB on cognitive, psychomotor and driving performance are dose-related in experimental studies. In real cases of driving under the influence of GHB, severe impairment is observed. In these cases, a wide range of blood GHB levels are found. Possible long-term effects are also reported.
CONCLUSION
GHB causes cognitive and psychomotor impairment and risky driving behavior. Multiple aspects and variables are still waiting clarification, such as the harmful potential of illicit preparations, the effect of precursors and impairing dosages. GHB (and its precursors) must be considered a substantial personal and public risk even in the absence of a clear dose-effects correlation.
Topics: Animals; Driving Under the Influence; Humans; Psychomotor Performance; Sodium Oxybate
PubMed: 29366411
DOI: 10.2174/1389200219666180124113802 -
Nature Reviews. Neuroscience Feb 2023Humans are able to rapidly perform novel tasks, but show pervasive performance costs when attempting to do two things at once. Traditionally, empirical and theoretical... (Review)
Review
Humans are able to rapidly perform novel tasks, but show pervasive performance costs when attempting to do two things at once. Traditionally, empirical and theoretical investigations into the sources of such multitasking interference have largely focused on multitasking in isolation to other cognitive functions, characterizing the conditions that give rise to performance decrements. Here we instead ask whether multitasking costs are linked to the system's capacity for knowledge generalization, as is required to perform novel tasks. We show how interrogation of the neurophysiological circuitry underlying these two facets of cognition yields further insights for both. Specifically, we demonstrate how a system that rapidly generalizes knowledge may induce multitasking costs owing to sharing of task contingencies between contexts in neural representations encoded in frontoparietal and striatal brain regions. We discuss neurophysiological insights suggesting that prolonged learning segregates such representations by refining the brain's model of task-relevant contingencies, thereby reducing information sharing between contexts and improving multitasking performance while reducing flexibility and generalization. These proposed neural mechanisms explain why the brain shows rapid task understanding, multitasking limitations and practice effects. In short, multitasking limits are the price we pay for behavioural flexibility.
Topics: Humans; Psychomotor Performance; Cognition; Brain; Learning
PubMed: 36347942
DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00653-x -
Nature Human Behaviour Sep 2019Explaining and predicting individual behavioural differences induced by clinical and social factors constitutes one of the most promising applications of neuroimaging.... (Review)
Review
Explaining and predicting individual behavioural differences induced by clinical and social factors constitutes one of the most promising applications of neuroimaging. In this Perspective, we discuss the theoretical and statistical foundations of the analyses of inter-individual differences in task-related functional neuroimaging. Leveraging a five-year literature review (July 2013-2018), we show that researchers often assess how activations elicited by a variable of interest differ between individuals. We argue that the rationale for such analyses, typically grounded in resource theory, offers an over-large analytical and interpretational flexibility that undermines their validity. We also recall how, in the established framework of the general linear model, inter-individual differences in behaviour can act as hidden moderators and spuriously induce differences in activations. We conclude with a set of recommendations and directions, which we hope will contribute to improving the statistical validity and the neurobiological interpretability of inter-individual difference analyses in task-related functional neuroimaging.
Topics: Brain; Functional Neuroimaging; Humans; Individuality; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Psychomotor Performance; Reinforcement, Psychology; Task Performance and Analysis
PubMed: 31451737
DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0681-8 -
Neuron Nov 2016The relationship between the brain and the environment is flexible, forming the foundation for our ability to learn. Here we review the current state of our... (Review)
Review
The relationship between the brain and the environment is flexible, forming the foundation for our ability to learn. Here we review the current state of our understanding of the modifications in the sensorimotor pathway related to sensorimotor learning. We divide the process into three hierarchical levels with distinct goals: (1) sensory perceptual learning, (2) sensorimotor associative learning, and (3) motor skill learning. Perceptual learning optimizes the representations of important sensory stimuli. Associative learning and the initial phase of motor skill learning are ensured by feedback-based mechanisms that permit trial-and-error learning. The later phase of motor skill learning may primarily involve feedback-independent mechanisms operating under the classic Hebbian rule. With these changes under distinct constraints and mechanisms, sensorimotor learning establishes dedicated circuitry for the reproduction of stereotyped neural activity patterns and behavior.
Topics: Animals; Association Learning; Brain; Humans; Learning; Models, Neurological; Motor Skills; Perception; Psychomotor Performance
PubMed: 27883902
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.029 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2019Limited evidence exists regarding cognitive and psychomotor function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we aimed to compare the neurocognitive...
Limited evidence exists regarding cognitive and psychomotor function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we aimed to compare the neurocognitive and psychomotor function of 60 IBD patients with 60 age/sex-matched controls. Computer-based instrument Complex Reactinometer Drenovac (CRD) was used for assessment of cognitive domains: convergent thinking (simple mathematical tasks; CRD-11), perceptive abilities (light signal position discrimination; CRD-311) and sophisticated operative thinking (complex psychomotor coordination; CRD-411). The most important analyzed parameters were total test solving time (T); minimal time of particular test solving (T) and total number of wrong reactions (N). Performance in all three cognitive tests showed statistically significantly longer T and T in IBD patients (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in N. Aforementioned findings were adjusted for BMI, age and duration of education. Our study has shown impaired neurocognitive and psychomotor function in IBD patients compared to controls, especially in mental processing speed and mental endurance of perceptive abilities, convergent thinking and complex operative thinking.
Topics: Adult; Cognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychomotor Performance
PubMed: 31551482
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50192-2 -
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review Aug 2017Sharing numerous characteristics with suppression in the other senses, tactile suppression is a reliable phenomenon that accompanies movement. By investigating the... (Review)
Review
Sharing numerous characteristics with suppression in the other senses, tactile suppression is a reliable phenomenon that accompanies movement. By investigating the simplest of movements (e.g., finger flexions), early research tried to explain the origins of the phenomenon in terms of motor command generation together with sensory reafference. Here, we review recent research that has delved into (naturalistic) goal-directed movements. In connection with goal-directed movement, tactile suppression is evident as a decrease in behavioural performance measured shortly prior to, and during, movement execution. It is also reflected in a consistent response bias highlighting the (perceptual) uncertainty of the movement. Goal-directed movement supports the forward model and establishes contextual influences as the defining influences on tactile suppression. Depending on the task at hand, people prioritize a certain percept during movement. Future research, we argue, should focus on studying naturalistic movements, or sequences of movements, that share a common meaning or goal.
Topics: Goals; Humans; Movement; Psychomotor Performance; Touch Perception
PubMed: 27896632
DOI: 10.3758/s13423-016-1203-6 -
Journal of Dance Medicine & Science :... 2016Dance imagery is a consciously created mental representation of an experience, either real or imaginary, that may affect the dancer and her or his movement. In this... (Review)
Review
Dance imagery is a consciously created mental representation of an experience, either real or imaginary, that may affect the dancer and her or his movement. In this study, imagery research in dance was reviewed in order to: 1. describe the themes and ideas that the current literature has attempted to illuminate and 2. discover the extent to which this literature fits the Revised Applied Model of Deliberate Imagery Use. A systematic search was performed, and 43 articles from 24 journals were found to fit the inclusion criteria. The articles were reviewed, analyzed, and categorized. The findings from the articles were then reported using the Revised Applied Model as a framework. Detailed descriptions of Who, What, When and Where, Why, How, and Imagery Ability were provided, along with comparisons to the field of sports imagery. Limitations within the field, such as the use of non-dance-specific and study-specific measurements, make comparisons and clear conclusions difficult to formulate. Future research can address these problems through the creation of dance-specific measurements, higher participant rates, and consistent methodologies between studies.
Topics: Athletes; Dancing; Female; Humans; Imagination; Male; Motor Skills; Practice, Psychological; Psychomotor Performance; Rotation
PubMed: 27245944
DOI: 10.12678/1089-313X.20.2.51 -
Quarterly Journal of Experimental... Feb 2021There is a widespread stereotype that women are better at multitasking. Previous studies examining gender difference in multitasking used either a concurrent or...
There is a widespread stereotype that women are better at multitasking. Previous studies examining gender difference in multitasking used either a concurrent or sequential multitasking paradigm and offered mixed results. This study examined a possibility that men were better at concurrent multitasking while women were better at task switching. In addition, men and women were also compared in terms of multitasking experience, measured by a computer monitoring software, a self-reported Media Use Questionnaire, a laboratory task-switching paradigm, and a self-reported Multitasking Prevalence Inventory. Results showed a smaller concurrent multitasking (dual-task) cost for men than women and no gender difference in sequential multitasking (task-switching) cost. Men had more experience in multitasking involving video games while women were more experienced in multitasking involving music, instant messaging, and web surfing. The gender difference in dual-task performance, however, was not mediated by the gender differences in multitasking experience but completely explained by difference in the processing speed. The findings suggest that men have an advantage in concurrent multitasking, which may be a result of the individual differences in cognitive abilities.
Topics: Attention; Cognition; Executive Function; Female; Humans; Individuality; Male; Psychomotor Performance; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors; Task Performance and Analysis
PubMed: 32933422
DOI: 10.1177/1747021820960707 -
Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements... 2018Primary writing tremor (PWT) is a rare condition; tremor occurs primarily while writing rather than during other tasks.
BACKGROUND
Primary writing tremor (PWT) is a rare condition; tremor occurs primarily while writing rather than during other tasks.
PHENOMENOLOGY SHOWN
We illustrate the phenomenology of PWT and point out associated subtle dystonic posturing on neurological examination.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE
PWT is a tremor disorder that shares clinical features with both dystonia and essential tremor.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychomotor Performance; Tremor; Writing
PubMed: 30402337
DOI: 10.7916/D8T740ZZ -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023People show vast variability in skill performance and learning. What determines a person's individual performance and learning ability? In this study we explored the...
People show vast variability in skill performance and learning. What determines a person's individual performance and learning ability? In this study we explored the possibility to predict participants' future performance and learning, based on their behavior during initial skill acquisition. We recruited a large online multi-session sample of participants performing a sequential tapping skill learning task. We used machine learning to predict future performance and learning from raw data acquired during initial skill acquisition, and from engineered features calculated from the raw data. Strong correlations were observed between initial and final performance, and individual learning was not predicted. While canonical experimental tasks developed and selected to detect average effects may constrain insights regarding individual variability, development of novel tasks may shed light on the underlying mechanism of individual skill learning, relevant for real-life scenarios.
Topics: Humans; Motor Skills; Psychomotor Performance
PubMed: 37443195
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38231-5