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Evidence of an active role of dreaming in emotional memory processing shows that we dream to forget.Scientific Reports Apr 2024Dreaming is a universal human behavior that has inspired searches for meaning across many disciplines including art, psychology, religion, and politics, yet its function...
Dreaming is a universal human behavior that has inspired searches for meaning across many disciplines including art, psychology, religion, and politics, yet its function remains poorly understood. Given the suggested role of sleep in emotional memory processing, we investigated whether reported overnight dreaming and dream content are associated with sleep-dependent changes in emotional memory and reactivity, and whether dreaming plays an active or passive role. Participants completed an emotional picture task before and after a full night of sleep and they recorded the presence and content of their dreams upon waking in the morning. The results replicated the emotional memory trade-off (negative images maintained at the cost of neutral memories), but only in those who reported dreaming (Dream-Recallers), and not in Non-Dream-Recallers. Results also replicated sleep-dependent reductions in emotional reactivity, but only in Dream-Recallers, not in Non-Dream-Recallers. Additionally, the more positive the dream report, the more positive the next-day emotional reactivity is compared to the night before. These findings implicate an active role for dreaming in overnight emotional memory processing and suggest a mechanistic framework whereby dreaming may enhance salient emotional experiences via the forgetting of less relevant information.
Topics: Humans; Dreams; Memory; Emotions; Sleep
PubMed: 38622204
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58170-z -
NPJ Science of Learning Apr 2024Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR) is a noninvasive tool to manipulate memory consolidation during sleep. TMR builds on the brain's natural processes of memory... (Review)
Review
Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR) is a noninvasive tool to manipulate memory consolidation during sleep. TMR builds on the brain's natural processes of memory reactivation during sleep and aims to facilitate or bias these processes in a certain direction. The basis of this technique is the association of learning content with sensory cues, such as odors or sounds, that are presented during subsequent sleep to promote memory reactivation. Research on TMR has drastically increased over the last decade with rapid developments. The aim of the present review is to highlight the most recent advances of this research. We focus on effects of TMR on the strengthening of memories in the declarative, procedural and emotional memory domain as well as on ways in which TMR can be used to promote forgetting. We then discuss advanced technical approaches to determine the optimal timing of TMR within the ongoing oscillatory activity of the sleeping brain as well as the specificity of TMR for certain memory contents. We further highlight the specific effects of TMR during REM sleep and in influencing dream content. Finally, we discuss recent evidence for potential applications of TMR for mental health, educational purposes and in the home setting. In conclusion, the last years of research have provided substantial advances in TMR that can guide future endeavors in research and application.
PubMed: 38622159
DOI: 10.1038/s41539-024-00244-8 -
Community Mental Health Journal Aug 2024The Active Recovery Triad (ART) model provides a framework for recovery-oriented care in long-term mental health settings. The aim of this study is to gain insight into...
Recovery-oriented care in Teams Working with the ART Model in long-term Mental Health care: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Service Users and Their Significant Others.
The Active Recovery Triad (ART) model provides a framework for recovery-oriented care in long-term mental health settings. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the experiences and views of service users and their significant others regarding care and support they receive from teams working with the ART model. Semi-structured interviews were performed with nineteen service users and five significant others of teams operating in Dutch long-term mental health care. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The three core principles of the ART model formed the deductive basis of the analysis and for every principle themes were identified inductively. Under the principle 'Active', service users mentioned that they feel motivated, work actively on personal recovery goals and have dreams for the future. Service users valued the service as a safe environment, but several service users also preferred to live more independently. Under the principle 'Recovery', participants reported how the dimensions of recovery (health, personal identity, daily life and community functioning) were addressed in care and support. Also, specific conditions for recovery-oriented care were identified, for example regarding specific expertise of care providers. Under the principle 'Triad' the support from significant others, contact with care workers and with other service users were identified as important. The insights regarding what is important for service users and their significant others may contribute to the improvement of care and support in long-term mental health care. In addition, the findings of this study provide directions for the further development of the ART model.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Qualitative Research; Adult; Middle Aged; Mental Disorders; Interviews as Topic; Netherlands; Mental Health Services; Long-Term Care; Patient Care Team
PubMed: 38619696
DOI: 10.1007/s10597-024-01269-4 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024With the coming of a rapidly aging society, individuals born in the baby boom era after World War II are now facing the challenges of aging. From late middle age to...
With the coming of a rapidly aging society, individuals born in the baby boom era after World War II are now facing the challenges of aging. From late middle age to successful aging, what are the perceptions and responses of these quasi-seniors? With this in mind, referring to Phelan's successful aging scale, the researchers developed the 4P Strategies (Physical, Psychological, Prospect, and Place and Relationships) tailored for quasi-seniors. Based on grounded theory, the results of 12 sessions of focused interviews (involving a total of 93 interviewees between the ages of 55 and 75; 41 males and 52 females; 48 not retired and 45 retired) were matched with the 4P Strategies. The results were the following: (1) regarding the Physical factor, the interviewees were shocked by their physical decline, and they had begun to devise strategies for health preservation and exercise; (2) regarding the Psychological factor, in order to mentally adapt, the interviewees agreed that moderate stress relief was absolutely necessary; (3) regarding the Prospect factor: the interviewees felt that one should make financial plans early, contemplate the value of life, and more actively learn and realize one's dreams; and (4) regarding the Place and Relationships factor, the interviewees aimed to rebuild their close relationships with their spouses, family members, and old friends and had polarized views regarding where to live in their old age. On the whole, the most discussed issue among the interviewees was where to live in their old age. Many had their own views and plans and did not stick to traditional views; however, they took the opinions of their significant others into account. During the interviews, interviewees wished to understand the responses of their peers to serve as a reference for their own decisions, and they realized that successful aging also required learning. This study aimed to encourage quasi-seniors about to enter their old age and help them to learn how to positively respond to aging as well as work towards a happy life with successful aging. This study could fill in gaps in research involving individuals in this age group and provide a reference for relevant policies.
PubMed: 38610188
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070766 -
BMC Medical Ethics Apr 2024The often poor prognosis associated with cancer necessitates empowering patients to express their care preferences. Yet, the prevalence of Advance Directives (AD) among...
BACKGROUND
The often poor prognosis associated with cancer necessitates empowering patients to express their care preferences. Yet, the prevalence of Advance Directives (AD) among oncology patients remains low. This study investigated oncologists' perspectives on the interests and challenges associated with implementing AD.
METHODS
A French national online survey targeting hospital-based oncologists explored five areas: AD information, writing support, AD usage, personal perceptions of AD's importance, and respondent's profile. The primary outcome was to assess how frequently oncologists provide patients with information about AD in daily clinical practice. Additionally, we examined factors related to delivering information on AD.
RESULTS
Of the 410 oncologists (50%) who responded to the survey, 75% (n = 308) deemed AD relevant. While 36% (n = 149) regularly inform patients about AD, 25% (n = 102) remain skeptical about AD. Among the respondents who do not consistently discuss AD, the most common reason given is the belief that AD may induce anxiety (n = 211/353; 60%). Of all respondents, 90% (n = 367) believe patients require specific information to draft relevant AD. Physicians with experience in palliative care were more likely to discuss AD (43% vs 32.3%, p = 0.027). Previous experience in critical care was associated with higher levels of distrust towards AD (31.5% vs 18.8%, p = 0.003), and 68.5% (n = 281) of the respondents expressed that designating a "person of trust" would be more appropriate than utilizing AD.
CONCLUSION
Despite the perceived relevance of AD, only a third of oncologists regularly apprise their patients about them. Significant uncertainty persists about the safety and relevance of AD.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prospective Studies; Advance Directives; Palliative Care; Neoplasms; Oncologists
PubMed: 38600485
DOI: 10.1186/s12910-024-01046-8 -
Heliyon Apr 2024Cognitive ability, as an early human capital, has always been an important research object in modern education and labor economics. Despite growing awareness of the...
Cognitive ability, as an early human capital, has always been an important research object in modern education and labor economics. Despite growing awareness of the importance of height in individual growth and development, there are few empirical studies on height and cognitive ability. Using the data from the China Education Panel Survey, this paper examined the impact of height on the cognitive ability of adolescents and explored the reasons behind the Chinese pursuit of height growth and the potential impact mechanism. In this paper, comprehensive analysis ability was taken as the representative of cognitive ability. The empirical results showed that height was positively correlated with cognitive ability. From the perspective of the influence mechanism, the hypothesis that height reflected self-esteem, health, non-cognitive ability, and other influences on cognitive ability was excluded. To correct the errors that endogenous problems may cause, we used the PSM method and "age at first menstruation " and "age at first wet dream" as instrumental variables to correct them. The results showed that height still affected cognitive ability, with taller people having higher cognitive ability.
PubMed: 38590882
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28742 -
Solicited Cough Sound Analysis for Tuberculosis Triage Testing: The CODA TB DREAM Challenge Dataset.MedRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Mar 2024Cough is a common and commonly ignored symptom of lung disease. Cough is often perceived as difficult to quantify, frequently self-limiting, and non-specific. However,...
Cough is a common and commonly ignored symptom of lung disease. Cough is often perceived as difficult to quantify, frequently self-limiting, and non-specific. However, cough has a central role in the clinical detection of many lung diseases including tuberculosis (TB), which remains the leading infectious disease killer worldwide. TB screening currently relies on self-reported cough which fails to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) accuracy targets for a TB triage test. Artificial intelligence (AI) models based on cough sound have been developed for several respiratory conditions, with limited work being done in TB. To support the development of an accurate, point-of-care cough-based triage tool for TB, we have compiled a large multi-country database of cough sounds from individuals being evaluated for TB. The dataset includes more than 700,000 cough sounds from 2,143 individuals with detailed demographic, clinical and microbiologic diagnostic information. We aim to empower researchers in the development of cough sound analysis models to improve TB diagnosis, where innovative approaches are critically needed to end this long-standing pandemic.
PubMed: 38585855
DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.24304980 -
Nurse Education Today Jul 2024The Strengths Model, a framework grounded in the belief that everyone has an inherent capability to cope with challenges, is designed to support the hopes and...
BACKGROUND
The Strengths Model, a framework grounded in the belief that everyone has an inherent capability to cope with challenges, is designed to support the hopes and aspirations of people with psychiatric disabilities, guiding them toward their desired self-image. The model originally gained attention in the field of social welfare and has since become popular in the field of community mental health. There is an increasing demand for nurses to understand and implement this model in the support they provide.
OBJECTIVES
To clarify how implementation of the Strengths Model in nurse education impacts students' perceptions of their clients with psychiatric disabilities.
DESIGN
Qualitative descriptive study informed by Grounded Theory.
SETTING
Public university nursing practicum.
PARTICIPANTS
Sixteen fourth-year students undertaking a practicum using the Strengths Model.
METHODS
Semi-structured interviews.
RESULTS
The core concept identified was that people with psychiatric disabilities uncover their own inherent strengths. Students began their engagement by listening to clients' dreams and goals. Then, three processes were identified that led to the outcome of students seeing clients in terms of their limitations, while one process was identified that led to the alternate desirable outcome of students developing a sense of respect for clients.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the process leading to students developing a sense of respect for clients with psychiatric disabilities involved three interrelated factors: students listening to clients' dreams and goals, both parties working together to discover the clients' dreams, and clients uncovering their own inherent strengths and then leveraging them. Incorporating the Strengths Model, which takes a person-centric approach to support the agency of people with psychiatric disabilities, into nurse education has the potential to foster healthcare professionals who respect people with psychiatric disabilities, see them on an equal footing, and consider themselves partners in facilitating the recovery journey.
Topics: Humans; Students, Nursing; Qualitative Research; Female; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; Male; Adult; Mental Disorders; Grounded Theory; Perception; Interviews as Topic; Attitude of Health Personnel
PubMed: 38583345
DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106190 -
Cell Reports Apr 2024The relationship between sensory stimuli and perceptions is brain-state dependent: in wakefulness, suprathreshold stimuli evoke perceptions; under anesthesia,...
The relationship between sensory stimuli and perceptions is brain-state dependent: in wakefulness, suprathreshold stimuli evoke perceptions; under anesthesia, perceptions are abolished; and during dreaming and in dissociated states, percepts are internally generated. Here, we exploit this state dependence to identify brain activity associated with internally generated or stimulus-evoked perceptions. In awake mice, visual stimuli phase reset spontaneous cortical waves to elicit 3-6 Hz feedback traveling waves. These stimulus-evoked waves traverse the cortex and entrain visual and parietal neurons. Under anesthesia as well as during ketamine-induced dissociation, visual stimuli do not disrupt spontaneous waves. Uniquely, in the dissociated state, spontaneous waves traverse the cortex caudally and entrain visual and parietal neurons, akin to stimulus-evoked waves in wakefulness. Thus, coordinated neuronal assemblies orchestrated by traveling cortical waves emerge in states in which perception can manifest. The awake state is privileged in that this coordination is reliably elicited by external visual stimuli.
Topics: Animals; Wakefulness; Mice; Neurons; Hallucinations; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Ketamine; Photic Stimulation; Brain Waves; Visual Cortex; Brain
PubMed: 38578827
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114017 -
BMC Women's Health Apr 2024Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention option for those who are most vulnerable to HIV infection, especially young women (YW)....
BACKGROUND
Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention option for those who are most vulnerable to HIV infection, especially young women (YW). Objection by or lack of support from male sexual partners has been shown to impact YW's ability to take PrEP consistently. We explored the views of YW, and male partners and male peers of YW in Siaya County, Western Kenya, to illustrate how men influence, and can support, YW in using PrEP.
METHODS
We used Photovoice to capture the views of YW ages 18-24 who were currently or previously enrolled in the DREAMS program and with current or previous experience taking PrEP. We also captured the views of YW's sexual partners and male peers. The YW completed eight photo assignments that focused on identifying factors influencing their PrEP use, and male participants completed four photo assignments focused on identifying ways men support or hinder YW's PrEP use. Photographs were presented and discussed in same- and mixed-gender groups using the SHOWeD method. YW also participated in in-depth interviews. The analysis focused on identifying themes that described men's influence on YW's PrEP adherence and persistence.
RESULTS
Among YW, a restricting male influence on PrEP use emerged in the majority of photo assignments such that YW's photographs and discussions revealed that men were more often viewed as barriers than supporters. YW perceived that they had little autonomy over their sexual lives and choice to use PrEP. YW's PrEP use was perceived to be hindered by stigmatizing community narratives that influenced men's support of PrEP use among women. Male participants suggested that men would support YW's PrEP use if PrEP was better promoted in the community and if men were more knowledgeable about its benefits.
CONCLUSIONS
A lack of support from male partners and peers and stigmatizing community narratives influence YW's PrEP use. Community-based programs should include education about PrEP specifically for male partners and peers of YW to positively influence PrEP use among YW.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; HIV Infections; Anti-HIV Agents; Kenya; Men; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 38570779
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03044-9