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Trends in Cognitive Sciences Apr 2024Teenagers have a reputation for being fickle, in both their choices and their moods. This variability may help adolescents as they begin to independently navigate novel... (Review)
Review
Teenagers have a reputation for being fickle, in both their choices and their moods. This variability may help adolescents as they begin to independently navigate novel environments. Recently, however, adolescent moodiness has also been linked to psychopathology. Here, we consider adolescents' mood swings from a novel computational perspective, grounded in reinforcement learning (RL). This model proposes that mood is determined by surprises about outcomes in the environment, and how much we learn from these surprises. It additionally suggests that mood biases learning and choice in a bidirectional manner. Integrating independent lines of research, we sketch a cognitive-computational account of how adolescents' mood, learning, and choice dynamics influence each other, with implications for normative and psychopathological development.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Mood Disorders; Affect; Reinforcement, Psychology; Cognition
PubMed: 38503636
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2024.02.006 -
PloS One 2023Gait is a large component and indicator of health. Many factors affect gait including age, disease, and even mood disorders. Few studies have looked at the influence of...
Gait is a large component and indicator of health. Many factors affect gait including age, disease, and even mood disorders. Few studies have looked at the influence of emotional states on gait. This study aimed to investigate the influence of emotional states on walking performance to understand whether an emotional state may be an important factor to consider when evaluating gait. Thirty-six young adults were recruited (23F, 13M) and performed a neutral baseline condition of walking which included six passes of walking across an 8m walkway (a total of 48m of walking). Participants then completed 6 pseudo-randomized emotional state induction conditions while immersive 360-degree videos were used to induce the following emotional conditions: happiness, excitement, sadness, fear, and anger. Participants viewed the emotion elicitation videos using a virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD), then rated their emotional state using self-assessment manikins and walked (without the HMD) over a pressure sensor walkway. One-way repeated measures ANOVA and pairwise comparisons were used to examine differences in gait parameters across the emotional conditions. Participants walked with significantly reduced step length and speed during the sadness condition compared to the other emotional conditions and the neutral condition. Furthermore, participants adjusted the timing of their walking during the sadness condition and walked with significantly increased step, stance, and swing times compared to other emotional conditions, but not the neutral condition. Step time was significantly reduced during the conditions of excitement and fear compared to the neutral condition. Emotions may impact variety of gait parameters involving pace and rhythm, however have little influence on gait variability and postural control. These results indicate that perhaps the emotions of sadness and excitement should be taken into account as potential confounds for future gait analysis.
Topics: Humans; Young Adult; Emotions; Fear; Gait; Pleasure; Walking; Male; Female
PubMed: 37708145
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284308 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2019The worldwide prevalence of sleep disorders is approximately 50%, with an even higher occurrence in a psychiatric population. Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental... (Review)
Review
The worldwide prevalence of sleep disorders is approximately 50%, with an even higher occurrence in a psychiatric population. Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness characterized by shifts in mood and activity. The BD syndrome also involves heterogeneous symptomatology, including cognitive dysfunctions and impairments of the autonomic nervous system. Sleep abnormalities are frequently associated with BD and are often a good predictor of a mood swing. Preservation of stable sleep-wake cycles is therefore a key to the maintenance of stability in BD, indicating the crucial role of circadian rhythms in this syndrome. The symptom most widespread in BD is insomnia, followed by excessive daytime sleepiness, nightmares, difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep, poor sleep quality, sleep talking, sleep walking, and obstructive sleep apnea. Alterations in the structure or duration of sleep are reported in all phases of BD. Understanding the role of neuroglia in BD and in various aspects of sleep is in nascent state. Contributions of the different types of glial cells to BD and sleep abnormalities are discussed in this paper.
PubMed: 31379620
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00501 -
Psychiatry International Mar 2022Neuroticism and premenstrual conditions share pleiotropic loci and are strongly associated. It is presently not known which DSM-5 symptoms of premenstrual...
Neuroticism and premenstrual conditions share pleiotropic loci and are strongly associated. It is presently not known which DSM-5 symptoms of premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual mood disorder are associated with neuroticism. We enrolled 45 study participants to provide prospective daily ratings of affective ("depression", "anxiety, "anger", "mood swings") and psychological ("low interest", "feeling overwhelmed", and "difficulty concentrating") symptoms across two-three menstrual cycles (128 total cycles). Generalized additive modeling (gam function in R) was implemented to model the relationships between neuroticism and the premenstrual increase in symptomatology. Significance level was adjusted using the False Discovery Rate method and models were adjusted for current age and age of menarche. Results of the association analysis revealed that "low interest" ( ≤ 0.05) and "difficulty concentrating" ( ≤ 0.001) were significantly associated with neuroticism. None of the remaining symptoms reached statistical significance. The late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is characterized by complex symptomatology, reflecting a physiological milieu of numerous biological processes. By identifying co-expression between neuroticism and specific premenstrual symptomatology, the present study improves our understanding of the premenstrual conditions and provides a platform for individualized treatment developments.
PubMed: 36381676
DOI: 10.3390/psychiatryint3010005 -
Boletin Medico Del Hospital Infantil de... 2021Due to the pandemic, children are undergoing many changes in their daily lives.
BACKGROUND
Due to the pandemic, children are undergoing many changes in their daily lives.
METHODS
We analyzed how parents perceive the effects of the contingency on their children through an online survey shared by digital media for 7 days.
RESULTS
We obtained 4000 responses. The most frequent difficulty of the children was online homeschooling (30.4%), followed by sleeping disorders (20.3%). The use of screens increased 30-80% in over 65% of children. Tantrum was detected in 34% and mood swings in 30% of children. The majority of parents (77.8%) considered that distance education does not guarantee children's education and that the level of learning acquired through online classes is not the same as that of face-to-face education (83.5%). In contrast, 70.6% of parents considered that it is not yet time to reopen schools, 78.8% believed that there is sufficient evidence to keep them closed, and 45% indicated that it is better not to return to campus this year. Regarding activities to improve mental health during the contingency, 51.3% have created home games, and 23.6% perform physical activity. However, 74.4% do not have the peace of mind to restart daily life. Among the positive aspects of the contingency, adaptability (35%) and family union (33.5%) were reported.
CONCLUSIONS
Health professionals in contact with children must be prepared for the problems that this contingency is generating and sensitize parents to observe their children and seek professional help on any alarm data on the emotional or behavioral state of the child.
Topics: Adolescent; COVID-19; Child; Child, Preschool; Education, Distance; Humans; Internet; Mental Health; Parents; Schools; Screen Time; Sleep Wake Disorders; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34167146
DOI: 10.24875/BMHIM.20000140 -
Neuropsychopharmacology : Official... Oct 2022Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a pervasive and devastating mental illness with high comorbidity rates with other mental disorders. Understanding the genetic architecture...
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a pervasive and devastating mental illness with high comorbidity rates with other mental disorders. Understanding the genetic architecture of this comorbidity could be improved by focusing on intermediate traits that show positive genetic correlation with the disorders. Thus, we aimed to characterize the shared vs. unique polygenicity of AUD, alcohol consumption (AC) and mood instability (MOOD) -beyond genetic correlation, and boost discovery for jointly-associated loci. Summary statistics for MOOD (a binary measure of the tendency to report frequent mood swings), AC (number of standard drinks over a typical consumption week) and AUD GWASs (Ns > 200,000) were analyzed to characterize the cross-phenotype associations between MOOD and AC, MOOD and AUD and AC and AUD. To do so, we used a newly established pipeline that combines (i) the bivariate causal mixture model (MiXeR) to quantify polygenic overlap and (ii) the conjunctional false discovery rate (conjFDR) to discover specific jointly associated genomic loci, which were mapped to genes and biological functions. MOOD was highly polygenic (10.4k single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs, SD = 2k) compared to AC (4.9k SNPs, SD = 0.6k) and AUD (4.3k SNPs, SD = 2k). The polygenic overlap of MOOD and AC was twice that of MOOD and AUD (98% vs. 49%), with opposite genetic correlation (-0.2 vs. 0.23), as confirmed in independent samples. MOOD&AUD associated SNPs were significantly enriched for brain genes, conversely to MOOD&AC. Among 38 jointly associated loci, fifteen were novel for MOOD, AC and AUD. MOOD, AC and AUD were also strongly associated at the phenotypic level. Overall, using multilevel polygenic quantification, joint loci discovery and functional annotation methods, we evidenced that the polygenic overlap between MOOD and AC/AUD implicated partly shared biological underpinnings, yet, clearly distinct functional patterns between MOOD&AC and MOOD&AUD, suggesting new mechanisms for the comorbidity of AUD with mood disorders.
Topics: Alcoholism; Genome-Wide Association Study; Humans; Multifactorial Inheritance; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 35953530
DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01401-6 -
Experimental & Molecular Medicine Apr 2018Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent mood swings between depression and mania, and is associated with high treatment costs.... (Review)
Review
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent mood swings between depression and mania, and is associated with high treatment costs. The existence of manic episodes is the defining feature of BD, during which period, patients experience extreme elevation in activity, energy, and mood, with changes in sleep patterns that together severely impair their ability to function in daily life. Despite some limitations in recapitulating the complex features of human disease, several rodent models of mania have been generated and characterized, which have provided important insights toward understanding its underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Among the mechanisms, neuronal excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) synaptic dysfunction in some brain regions, including the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, is an emerging hypothesis explaining mania. In this review, we highlight recent studies of rodent manic models having impairments in the E/I synaptic development and function. We also summarize the molecular and functional changes of E/I synapses by some mood stabilizers that may contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. Furthermore, we discuss potential future directions in the study of this emerging hypothesis to better connect the outcomes of basic research to the treatment of patients with this devastating mental illness.
Topics: Affect; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Antipsychotic Agents; Biomarkers; Bipolar Disorder; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Neurons; Synapses
PubMed: 29628501
DOI: 10.1038/s12276-018-0028-y -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jan 2022Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder, characterized by prominent mood swings and emotion regulation (ER) deficits. The uncinate fasciculus (UF), a white... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder, characterized by prominent mood swings and emotion regulation (ER) deficits. The uncinate fasciculus (UF), a white matter tract connecting the amygdala and the ventral prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in ER. Aberrancies in UF microstructure may be an endophenotype associated with increased risk for BD. However, studies in individuals with BD and their first-degree relatives (REL) have yielded inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis takes a region-of-interest approach to consolidate the available evidence and elucidate the role of the UF in the risk-architecture of BD.
METHODS
Using web-based search engines, we identified diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies focusing on the left and right UF and conducted meta-analyses comparing fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) between BD or REL and healthy control participants (HC).
RESULTS
We included 32 studies (n=1186, n=289, n=2315). Compared to HC, individuals with BD showed lower FA in the right (WMD=-0.31, p<0.0001) and left UF (WMD=-0.21, p = 0.010), and higher RD in the right UF (WMD=0.32, p = 0.009). We found no significant differences between REL and HC. In the right but not left UF, REL showed higher FA than BD (p = 0.043).
CONCLUSION
Our findings support aberrant UF microstructure, potentially related to alterations in myelination, as a mechanism, but not as an endophenotype of BD. However, given the limited power in the REL subsample, the latter finding must be considered preliminary. Studies examining the role of the UF in individuals at familial risk for BD are warranted.
Topics: Anisotropy; Bipolar Disorder; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Humans; Nerve Net; Uncinate Fasciculus; White Matter
PubMed: 34699854
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.045 -
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular... 2023Infertility and obstetric complications have become global health issues in the past few years. Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive even... (Review)
Review
Infertility and obstetric complications have become global health issues in the past few years. Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive even after twelve months or more of regular and unprotected intercourse. According to WHO data published in the year 2020, 186 million people have infertility globally. Factors leading to infertility are variable in both males and females. But some common factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and stress. Various synthetic drugs and treatment options are available that are effective in treating infertility, but their prolonged usage produces various unwanted adverse effects like hot flashes, mood swings, headaches, and weight gain. In extreme cases, these may also lead to the development of anxiety and depression. Herbal remedies have gained a lot of popularity over the years, and people's inclination toward them has increased all over the world. The prime reason is that these show significant therapeutic efficacy and have fewer side effects. The therapeutic efficacy of plants can be attributed to the presence of diverse phytochemical classes of constituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, and volatile oils. These secondary metabolites, or phytomolecules, can be used to develop herbal formulations. The review highlights the applications and mechanisms of action of various phytochemicals for treating infertility. Also, it focuses on the various future prospects associated with it.
Topics: Male; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Infertility; Phytochemicals; Alkaloids
PubMed: 37215366
DOI: 10.1155/2023/1327562 -
Clinical Psychopharmacology and... May 2022Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings and has a chronic course. However, the mechanism by which mood episodes with completely opposite... (Review)
Review
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings and has a chronic course. However, the mechanism by which mood episodes with completely opposite characteristics appear repeatedly, or a mixture of symptoms appears, in patients with bipolar disorder remains unknown. Therefore, mood stabilizers are indicated only for single mood episodes, such as manic episodes and depressive episodes, and no true mood-stabilizing drugs effective for treating both manic and depressive episodes currently exist. Therefore, in this review, therapeutic targets that facilitate the development of mood stabilizers were examined by reviewing the current understanding of the neuromolecular etiology of bipolar disorder.
PubMed: 35466094
DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228