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Sustained activity has been recorded in the prefrontal cortex during working memory tasks. First, we compare the anatomical distribution of this activity in humans and monkeys. Then, we show that it reflects many factors, maintenance of the items presented, preparation for the response, transformation of the items during the delay, task rules and task goals. Finally, we point out that sustained activity has also been recorded in other areas, such as the parietal cortex. We suggest that the key to prefrontal cortex lies not in the maintenance of sensory information but in the prospective use of that information for behaviour. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Slitrk proteins belong the leucine-rich repeat transmembrane family and share structural similarities with the Slits and tropomyosin receptor kinase families, which regulate the development of the nervous system. Slitrks are highly expressed in the developing nervous system of vertebrates, modulating neurite outgrowth and enhancing synaptogenesis; however, the expression and function of Slitrk protein members differ. Slitrk protein variations have been associated with various sensory and neuropsychiatric conditions, including myopia, deafness, obsessive–compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, glioma, and Tourette syndrome; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, the Slitrk family members' protein expression, roles in the signaling cascade, functions, and gene mutations need to be comprehensively studied to develop therapeutics against neurodegenerative diseases. This study presents complete and pertinent information demonstrating the relationship between Slitrk family proteins and neuropsychiatric illnesses. This review briefly discusses neurodevelopmental disorders, the leucine-rich repeat family, the Slitrk family, and the association of Slitrk with the neuropathology of representative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a systematic literature review, which is considered the most comprehensive way to analyze the field of memory forensics, this paper investigates its development through past and current methodologies, as well as future trends. This paper systematically starts with an introduction to the key issues and a notable agenda of the research questions. Appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria were then developed, and a deliberate search strategy was adopted to identify primary research studies aligned with the research question. The paper goes into specific details of six different memory categories, notably volatile memory, interpreting their advantages and the tactics used to retrieve the data. A detailed comparison with existing reviews and other relevant papers is made, forming a broader and wider picture of the research. The discussion summarizes the main findings, particularly the rise of more complex and advanced cyber threats and the necessity of more effective forensic methods for their investigation. This review pinpoints the possibilities for future study with the purpose of staying ahead in the evolving technological landscape. This overview is undoubtedly an essential resource for professionals and researchers working in digital forensics. It allows them to stay competent and provides enough insight into the current trends while marking the future direction in digital forensics methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of a moderate intensity physical training protocol, on alveolar bone morphology of rats submitted to ligature-induced periodontitis. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, considering the presence/absence of periodontitis and presence/absence of training. The training protocol was performed on a treadmill, 30 min/day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. In the experimental periodontal breakdown, with/without training, ligatures were placed on the lower first molars on the 14th day of the experiment, and were followed until the end of the protocol. At the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized and samples of plasma and mandibles were collected for immunoenzymatic evaluation of interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10, evaluation of serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, analysis of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione, histological and microtomographic analyses were performed. Physical training resulted in a reduced levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α C-reactive protein and LPO and an increase in the levels of IL-10 in rats with periodontitis (p<0.05); a reduction in the inflammatory infiltrate and decreased fiber degradation was identified in histological analysis. Additionally, it was shown a decrease in vertical bone loss and an increase in the bone volume/trabecular volume ratio was identified in periodontitis+physical training group (p<0.05). Based on the results, the practice of frequent physical exercise, at moderate intensity, can contribute to the reduction of damage related to the disproportionate inflammatory response in periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines the association between micronutrient intake, anthropometric indices, lipid accumulation, and blood lipid risk index among Tehranian women. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 556 Tehranian women. Dietary intake was measured using a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Biochemical assessment and anthropometric indices were measured, and demographic information and physical activity were collected. Results: Participants with the highest intake of carbohydrates were more prone to obesity. Conversely, those in the top tertile for protein intake had a lower likelihood of obesity and higher levels of lipid accumulation product (LAP). The highest fat consumers had a 63% decreased chance of having a high Castelli's Risk Index 1 (CRI‐1). A higher glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) were linked to an increased probability of a high atherogenic coefficient (AC). Women in the top tertile of GL were significantly more likely to be obese and had lower odds for high LAP. Participants in the top tertile of aromatic amino acids/branched chain amino acids (AAA/BCAA) had significantly lower chances of high CRI‐1 and a high atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Those in the highest tertile of monounsaturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA/PUFA) had lower odds of obesity and high AIP. Conclusions: The amount of carbohydrate (g) and protein intake (%), dietary GL, and the ratio of MUFA to PUFA were associated with obesity. The amount of fat intake (g) and AAA/BCAA indices were associated with CRI‐1. LAP decreased with an increase in GL. AC increased with an increase in GI and GL. AAA/BCAA and MUFA/PUFA were associated with AIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study investigates the effects of social isolation on mental health and cognitive functions in Sprague Dawley (SD) and Wistar Albino (WIS) rat strains, prompted by the heightened awareness of such impacts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the impact of social isolation on memory, learning, and behavioral changes in middle-aged SD and WIS rat strains and to investigate cortical trace element levels, seeking potential correlations between these levels and the observed behavioral responses to social isolation. Methods: Four groups of 14-month-old male rats were established: control and isolated SDs and WIS rats (CONT-SD, ISO-SD, CONT-WIS, ISO-WIS). Morris Water Maze and Porsolt Forced Swimming tests were conducted for behavioral assessment. Following behavioral tests, rats were sacrificed under general anesthesia, and cortices were isolated for analysis of macro and trace element levels (ICP/MS). Results: In behavioral tests, CONT-SD rats exhibited superior performance in the Morris Water Maze test compared to CONT-WIS rats, but displayed increased depressive behaviors following social isolation, as evident in the Porsolt Forced Swimming test (p < 0.05). ISO-SD rats showed elevated levels of Co and Cu, along with reduced levels of Cs and As, compared to ISO-WIS rats. Moreover, isolation resulted in decreased Cu and Mo levels but increased Rb levels in WIS rats. Comparison of trace element levels in naïve groups from different strains revealed lower Zn levels in the WIS group compared to SD rats. Discussion: The findings suggest that the SD strain learns faster, but is more susceptible to depression after isolation compared to the WIS strain. Increased Co and Cu levels in ISO-SD align with previous findings, indicating potential trace element involvement in stress responses. Understanding these mechanisms could pave the way for preventive treatment strategies or therapeutic targets against the consequences of stressors, contributing to research and measures promoting a balanced diet to mitigate neurobehavioral abnormalities associated with social isolation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their timely article, Andrew Little and Anne Meng make an important point. Despite widespread alarm over democratic backsliding, objective evidence suggests that the scale of the phenomenon is much more limited than many seem to think. Recent power holders around the world have not been entrenching themselves more effectively than in the past. Incumbents continue to lose elections about as often as they used to, and those who win have not been doing so by larger margins. Opposition parties are allowed to compete about as frequently today as 10 or 20 years ago. Moreover, there has been no increase in leaders' ability to evade term limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Resilience is a complex process of adaptation to new conditions that would permit a positive outcome after adversities, traumas or other sources of stress. However, despite the growing interest in this topic, there is no universally accepted definition and no comprehensive bio-behavioural model. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the main biological models that have been theorized to date, with a focus on new alternative theories to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development and strengthening of resilience, with potential implications for the prevention of some psychopathological disorders. Method: This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and includes 185 studies published in English in PubMed and Embase up to December 2023. Results: Most studies use the stress-related model, which conceptualizes resilience as the absence of symptoms after the stressful event and mainly deal with the differences between stress-prone and resilient phenotypes in animals exposed to stress. However, the results of this search seem to suggest that resilience might be an independent construct with biological bases rooted in the stress system and the social brain, and widely sculptured by individual and environmental factors, especially early life events and affiliation. Conclusions: This work contributes to ongoing efforts to understand the intricate mechanisms of resilience, while highlighting the potential of improving social relationships since our birth to promote coping strategies towards stress and traumas, and even a peaceful world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the roles of signaling molecules in the organization and control of cognitive functions of healthy and 'ill' brains are analyzed. As an initial mechanism of memory physiology, we determine the complex of biochemical processes that are triggered by signal transmission in a synapse and finish with the fixation of information in the genomic apparatus. The center of these events is a coordinated system that includes transduction, transcription, epigenetic, and regulatory (neurotrophic) proteins. Dissonance of these mechanisms is a primary cause of memory disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, and psychic disorders. We consider the data of experimental and clinical observations on the role of the multilevel system of signaling molecules during aging, neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's), and psychic disorders (depression). However, signaling molecules may be considered as well-defined targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The weightlessness caused by prolonged bed rest results in changes in cerebral circulation and thus, brain functions, which is of interest. Methods: We investigated the effects of 45-day, -6° head-down bed rest, which stimulated microgravity, on working memory in 16 healthy male participants. The 2-back task was used to test the working memory variations on the 2nd day before bed rest (R-2); on the 11th (R11), 20th (R20), 32nd (R32), and 40th (R40) days of bed rest; and on the eighth day after bed rest (R+8). The cognitive response and the physiological reactivity (such as galvanic skin response, heart rate, and heart rate variability) under the 2-back task were recorded simultaneously. Results: The results showed that compared with R-2, on the R+8, the participants' galvanic skin response increased significantly, and the high frequency of heart rate variability (HF), low frequency of heart rate variability (LF), and reaction time in the 2-back task decreased significantly. There were positive correlations between the participants' reaction time of working memory and the LF/HF under head-down bed rest (at R11, R20, and R32). Conclusion: The results suggested that the prolonged head-down bed rest may have a detrimental effect on individual physiology and working memory. Physiology indices, such as galvanic skin response and heart rate variability, were sensitive to the prolonged bed rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sympathoadrenal medullary system and the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis are both activated upon stressful events. The release of catecholamines, such as dopamine, norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EPI), from sympathetic autonomic nerves participate in the adaptive responses to acute stress. Most theories suggest that activation of peripheral b-adrenoceptors (b-ARs) mediates catecholamines-induced memory enhancement. These include direct activation of b-ARs in the vagus nerve, as well as indirect responses to catecholamine-induced glucose changes in the brain. Excessive sympathetic activity is deeply associated with memories experienced during strong emotional stressful conditions, with catecholamines playing relevant roles in fear and traumatic memories consolidation. Recent findings suggest that EPI is implicated in fear and traumatic contextual memories associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by increasing hippocampal gene transcription (e.g., Nr4a) downstream to cAMP response-element protein activation (CREB). Herein, we reviewed the literature focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of memories associated with fear and traumatic experiences to pave new avenues for the treatment of stress and anxiety conditions, such as PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential decision-making tasks that require information integration over extended durations of time are challenging for several reasons, including the problem of vanishing gradients, long training times and significant memory requirements. To this end, we propose a neuron model fashioned after the JK flip-flops in digital systems. A flip-flop is a sequential device that can store state information of the previous history. We incorporate the JK flip-flop neuron into several deep network architectures and apply the networks to difficult sequence processing problems. The proposed architectures include flip-flop neural networks (FFNNs), bidirectional flip-flop neural networks (BiFFNNs), convolutional flip-flop neural networks (ConvFFNNs), and bidirectional convolutional flip-flop neural networks (BiConvFFNNs). Learning rules of proposed architectures have also been derived. We have considered the most popular benchmark sequential tasks like signal generation, sentiment analysis, handwriting generation, text generation, video frame prediction, lung volume prediction, and action recognition to evaluate the proposed networks. Finally, we compare the results of our networks with the results from analogous networks with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neurons on the same sequential tasks. Our results show that the JK flip-flop networks outperform the LSTM networks significantly or marginally on all the tasks, with only half of the trainable parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many older people are facing various risks of cognitive impairment, while outdoor activities in open spaces may be helpful for their cognitive health. However, the effect of open spaces on cognitive health is unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationships between the cognitive health of older people and the built environment of open spaces. A questionnaire survey of 60 older people aged 60 and above was conducted. Results identified three major components of the built environment of open spaces, namely, planning, supporting facilities, and building services. According to the correlation and regression analysis, it is revealed that 8 BEOS items, including green ratio, a width of the pathway, maintenance of the whole garden, the color of green space, diversity of plants, location, and font of signage, artificial light of sitting area were positively related to memory, while only the size was negatively associated with memory. Only the green ratio could positively predict the concentration. The judgment was positively influenced by the green ratio, width of pathways, maintenance of the whole garden, color of green space and diversity of plants. A BEOS - cognitive health model for older people was built in this study. The results highlighted the importance of plants for cognitive health. Several recommendations, such as not-so-large sizes and diverse plants with vivid colors and signages with big fonts, etc., were proposed to improve the built environment of the open spaces and support the declining cognitive health of older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Risky alcohol use is related to a variety of cognitive impairments, including memory and visuo-perceptual difficulties. Remarkably, no prior work has assessed whether usage of alcohol can predict difficulties perceiving facial identity. Objectives: Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether riskier alcohol consumption predicted impairments in face perception and self-reported difficulties in face recognition. Results: Participants (N = 239, male = 77) were over 18 years old and had normal or corrected-to-normal vision. Alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), while face recognition difficulties were determined by the 20-item Prosopagnosia Index questionnaire (PI20). A subsample of participants (N = 126, male = 51) completed the Cambridge Face Perception task (CFPT) to assess their face perception ability. Multiple linear regressions showed significant models of prediction on both face perception and face recognition when considering AUDIT score and age as predictors. Conclusion: This study suggested, for the first time, that risky alcohol use predicts both poorer visuo-perceptual processing for faces and self-reported difficulties in face recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐conscious processing of human memory has traditionally been difficult to objectively measure and thus understand. A prior study on a group of hippocampal amnesia (N = 3) patients and healthy controls (N = 6) used a novel procedure for capturing neural correlates of implicit memory using event‐related potentials (ERPs): old and new items were equated for varying levels of memory awareness, with ERP differences observed from 400 to 800 ms in bilateral parietal regions that were hippocampal‐dependent. The current investigation sought to address the limitations of that study by increasing the sample of healthy subjects (N = 54), applying new controls for construct validity, and developing an improved, open‐source tool for automated analysis of the procedure used for equating levels of memory awareness. Results faithfully reproduced prior ERP findings of parietal effects that a series of systematic control analyses validated were not contributed to nor contaminated by explicit memory. Implicit memory effects extended from 600 to 1000 ms, localized to right parietal sites. These ERP effects were found to be behaviorally relevant and specific in predicting implicit memory response times, and were topographically dissociable from other traditional ERP measures of implicit memory (miss vs. correct rejections) that instead occurred in left parietal regions. Results suggest first that equating for reported awareness of memory strength is a valid, powerful new method for revealing neural correlates of non‐conscious human memory, and second, behavioral correlations suggest that these implicit effects reflect a pure form of priming, whereas misses represent fluency leading to the subjective experience of familiarity. Psychology wrestles with objectively measuring implicit memory. We used ERPs to assess a novel measure of implicit memory, created an automated analysis, validated it, and made it open source. ERPs dissociated two kinds of non‐conscious memory, one linked to fluency and later familiarity, and another linked to pure implicit activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA), which includes exercise, can reduce the risk of developing various non-communicable diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), and mitigate their adverse effects. However, the mechanisms underlying this ability are not yet fully understood. Among several possible mechanisms proposed, such as the stimulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nerve growth factor (NGF), the possible involvement of particular vesicular structures enclosed in lipid membranes known as extracellular vesicles (EVs) has recently been investigated. These EVs would appear to exert a paracrine and systemic action through their ability to carry various molecules, particularly so-called microRNAs (miRNAs), performing a function as mediators of intercellular communication. Interestingly, EVs and miRNAs are differentially expressed following PA, but evidence on how different exercise parameters may differentially affect EVs and the miRNAs they carry is still scarce. In this review we summarized the current human findings on the effects of PA and different exercise parameters exerted on EVs and their cargo, focusing on miRNAs molecules, and discussing how this may represent one of the biological mechanisms through which exercise contributes to preventing and slowing NDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vicious cycle model of obesity suggests that repeated habitual intake of a diet high in fat and sugar (HFS) results in impairment in hippocampal function which in turn increases impulsive behaviours, making it harder to resist unhealthy diet choices. Evidence from studies with rodents consistently show switching to a HFS diet impairs performance on hippocampally-sensitive memory tasks. The limited literature in humans also suggest impaired memory and increased impulsivity related to higher habitual HFS intake. However, these changes in memory and impulsivity have been looked at independently. To investigate how these effects are inter-related, three experiments were conducted where relative HFS intake was related to measures of memory and impulsivity. In Experiment 1 (90 female participants), HFS was associated with higher scores on the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-revised (EMQ), and higher scores on the total, Attention (BISatt) and Motor (BISmot) sub-scales of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS11). Experiment 2 (84 women and 35 men), replicated the association between HFS and EMQ, and also found HFS related to poorer performance on the hippocampally-sensitive 4 mountain (4MT) memory task. The association between HFS intake and the BISatt replicated, but there were no significant associations with other BIS11 measures or delay-discounting for monetary rewards. Experiment 3 (199 women and 87 men) replicated the associations between DFS and 4MT and EMQ, and also found an association with overall recall, but not response inhibition, from a Remembering Causes Forgetting task: HFS was also significantly associated with BIS total, BISatt and BISmot. In all three studies these associations remained when potential confounds (BMI, age, gender, hunger state, restrained and disinhibited eating) were controlled for. Mediation analysis found that the effect of HFS on memory at least part mediated the relationship between HFS and impulsivity in Experiments 1 and 3, but not 2. Overall these data provide some support for the vicious cycle model, but also suggest that trait impulsivity may be a risk factor for poor dietary choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stress is a main factor influencing brain functions as revealed by the electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. Moreover, different stress durations seemingly cause perturbations in brain waves and lead to mental disorders. This study investigates the effects of acute, sub-chronic and chronic stress on EEG in rats. Methods: Twenty-eight Wistar adult male rats were randomly allocated to one control and three experimental groups subjected to 6 hr/day of acute (1d), sub-chronic (7d) and chronic (21d) stress. At the end of each period, 20 minutes of EEG recording was taken of each subject. Results: Percentages of delta, theta and alpha frequencies of the baseline in the chronic stress group showed significant differences from those of the control (P<0.05). Theta waves increased in the chronic stress group compared to the acute and sub-chronic (P<0.05 and P<0.01; respectively) ones. This is while, compared to the control, the acute and sub-chronic stress groups exhibited significantly increased percentages of beta waves (P<0.05 in both). Conclusion: The data indicate that different stress durations have different impacts on the EEG rhythm. Acute and sub-chronic stress durations led to changed cortical activity, indicating the inability of the subjects to cope with the stress imposed. Also, chronic stress caused irregularities in the EEG rhythm (delta, theta and alpha waves). EEG recording seems to be useful for measuring stress levels and for predicting abnormalities due to different stress durations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audio frequency magnetic fields (20 Hz−20 kHz) are magnetic fields in extremely low frequency-very low frequency (ELF-VLF) bands that are present near audio equipment and acoustic transducers. These devices transform and operate the electrical signal from the recordings or other devices into acoustic and audio signals. The cognitive influence of sound and noise has been widely studied and recognized since the times of ancient Rome; however, the cognitive effects of the magnetic fields of these frequencies have not been studied. Due to the extensive use of audio devices that use this type of transducer near the temporal–parietal area, we believe that it is of interest to study their impact on short-term memory or working memory (WM) and to analyze their potential as they operate as a transcranial magnetic stimulation. In this study, a mathematical model and an experimental tool are introduced to analyze memory performance. The model dissociates the reaction time of a cognitive task. We analyze the model in data from a group of 65 young, healthy subjects. WM is assessed in our experimental setup by means of the Sternberg test (ST), whereby during the ST, one subgroup was exposed to an audio frequency magnetic stimulus, and the other subgroup received a sham stimulus. The magnetic stimulus was ∼0.1 µT and was applied to both sides of the head at the frontal cortex near the temporal–parietal area, which is where WM is expected to be located. The ST records reaction times when determining whether an object displayed on the computer screen is one of the objects to be remembered. The results are analyzed within the mathematical model and changes are observed, including the deterioration of WM, which could affect 32% of its operability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown benefits of physical exercise on memory performance when carried out before or after a memory task. The effects of concurrent physical exercise and particularly resistance exercise are still inconclusive. The current study investigates the influence of resistance exercise with two intensities (fast and slow squats) on performance in a wordlist learning task using a within-subject design. Sport students (N = 58, Mage = 23 years; 26 women) were trained in a mnemonic technique to encode word lists (method of loci). In each session they were asked to encode two lists, each consisting of 20 words. During encoding, participants either performed one squat per word (fast-squat-condition), one squat every second word (slow-squat-condition), or stayed seated (control-condition). Participants performed three sessions for each condition, in counterbalanced order. Heart rates differed significantly according to exercise intensity. Memory performances in the sitting condition were better, compared to the exercise conditions. Performance in sitting and the fast squat conditions improved similarly over time, while performance in the slow squat condition increased faster, and reached the level of the fast squat condition at the end of the study phase. We conclude that light to moderate resistance exercise while working on an episodic memory task may rather represent a dual-task situation (= two tasks that compete for attentional resources). Especially doing a squat every second word may represent an inhibition task that people have to get used to. Future studies should include biochemical markers of arousal and neuronal plasticity in addition to heart rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating research demonstrates that acute exercise can enhance long-term episodic memory. However, it is unclear if there is an intensity-specific effect of acute exercise on long-term episodic memory function and whether this is influenced by the post-exercise recovery period, which was the primary objective of this experiment. Another uncertainty in the literature is whether aerobic endurance influences the interaction between exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery period on long-term episodic memory function, which was a secondary objective of this study. With exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery period occurring as within-subject factors, and fitness as a between-subject factor, 59 participants (Mage = 20 years) completed 12 primary laboratory visits. These visits included a 20-min bout of exercise (Control, Moderate, and Vigorous), followed by a recovery period (1, 5, 10, and 15 min) and then a word-list episodic memory task, involving an encoding phase and two long-term recall assessments (20-min and 24-h delayed recall). The primary finding from this experiment was that moderate and vigorous-intensity exercise improved memory function when compared to a non-exercise control. A secondary finding was that individuals with higher levels of aerobic endurance, compared to their lesser fit counterparts, had greater memory performance after exercise (moderate or vigorous) when compared to after a control condition. Additionally, individuals with higher levels of aerobic endurance, compared to their lesser fit counterparts, generally performed better on the memory task with longer post-exercise recovery periods. Future research should carefully consider these parameters when evaluating the effects of acute exercise on long-term episodic memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explicit instruction is a teaching strategy that aims to avoid cognitive overload experienced by students which aims to improve academic performance. Previous research has mentioned working memory as a cognitive capacity that processes information and cognitive control and supports the success of explicit teaching on student academic performance. The core components of the executive function consist of working memory, but also inhibitory control and shifting. This review of the article provides new directions for the development of cognitive load theory on explicit teaching and research on executive function-based information processing aimed at avoiding cognitive load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-fat diet- (HFD-) induced neuroinflammation may ultimately lead to an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Here, we evaluate the effects of diet control and swimming or both on the prevention of cognitive impairment by enhancing SIRT1 activity. Twenty-week-old ApoE-/- mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks and then were treated with diet control and/or swimming for 8 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed using the novel object recognition test (NORT) and Y-maze test. The expression of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the hippocampus was measured by western blotting. The levels of fractional anisotropy (FA), N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio, choline (Cho)/Cr ratio, and myo-inositol (MI)/Cr ratio in the hippocampus were evaluated by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) using 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our results showed that cognitive dysfunction and hippocampal neuroinflammation appeared to be remarkably observed in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- mice fed with HFD. Diet control plus swimming significantly reversed HFD-induced cognitive decline, reduced the time spent exploring the novel object, and ameliorated spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test. Compared with the HFD group, ApoE-/- mice fed diet control and/or subjected to swimming had an increase in FA, NAA/Cr, and Cho/Cr; a drop in MI/Cr; elevated expression levels of SIRT1, PGC-1α, and BDNF; and inhibited production of proinflammatory cytokines, including NF-κB p65, IL-1β, and TNF-α. SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent class III histone enzyme, deacetylases and regulates the activity of PGC-1α and NF-κB. These data indicated that diet control and/or swimming ameliorate cognitive deficits through the inhibitory effect of neuroinflammation via SIRT1-mediated pathways, strongly suggesting that swimming and/or diet control could be potentially effective nonpharmacological treatments for cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the incidence of cardiovascular abnormalities and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has long been postulated. Curcumin (CUR) is a potential anti‐atherosclerotic agent but its poor water solubility hinders its pharmacological use. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of formulation of CUR nanoemulsion prepared using the spontaneous emulsification technique on high fat high fructose (HFHF)‐induced hepatic and cardiac complications. Fifty Wistar rats were divided into five groups. CUR nanoemulsion at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg and conventional powdered CUR at a dose of 50 mg/kg were orally administered daily to rats for two weeks, and compared with normal control and HFHF control. Results revealed that the high dose level of CUR nanoemulsion was superior to conventional CUR in ameliorating the HFHF‐induced insulin resistance status and hyperlipidemia, with beneficial impact on rats' recorded electrocardiogram (ECG), serum aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine aminotransferase (AST) levels, leptin, adiponectin, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase and cardiac troponin‐I. In addition, hepatic and cardiac oxidative and nitrosative stresses, oxidative DNA damage and disrupted cellular energy statuses were counteracted. Results were also confirmed by histopathological examination. Practical applications: The use of curcumin nanoemulsion could be beneficial in combating hepatic and cardiac complications resulting from HFHF diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research suggests that behavioural (e.g., exercise) and psychological factors (e.g., metamemory; monitoring and control of one's memory processes) may influence memory function. However, there is conflicting results on the optimal intensity of acute exercise to enhance memory and whether acute exercise can also enhance metamemory. Furthermore, very limited research has evaluated whether acute exercise can influence source episodic memory. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is an intensity-specific effect of acute exercise on source episodic memory and metamemory accuracy. Thirty young adults participated in a three-condition (control/moderate/vigorous-intensity exercise), within-subject counterbalanced experimental study. After each intervention, participants completed source episodic memory and metamemory tasks. Results demonstrated that acute exercise, relative to control, was effective in enhancing source episodic memory, but not metamemory accuracy. Vigorous-intensity acute exercise was the most optimal intensity to enhance source episodic memory. Overall, our findings suggest that there is an intensity-specific effect of acute exercise on source episodic memory. Furthermore, when exercise-related improvements in memory occur, young adults may be unaware of these memory benefits from exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capability of a plant to protect itself from stress-related damages is termed "adaptability" and the phenomenon of showing better performance in subsequent stress is termed "stress memory". While drought is one of the most serious disasters to result from climate change, the current understanding of drought stress priming in soybean is still inadequate for effective crop improvement. To fill this gap, in this study, the drought memory response was evaluated in cultivated soybean (Glycine max). To determine if a priming stress prior to a drought stress would be beneficial to the survival of soybean, plants were divided into three treatment groups: the unprimed group receiving one cycle of stress (1S), the primed group receiving two cycles of stress (2S), and the unstressed control group not subjected to any stress (US). When compared with the unprimed plants, priming led to a reduction of drought stress index (DSI) by 3, resulting in more than 14% increase in surviving leaves, more than 13% increase in leaf water content, slight increase in shoot water content and a slower rate of loss of water from the detached leaves. Primed plants had less than 60% the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance compared to the unprimed plants, accompanied by a slight drop in photosynthesis rate, and about a 30% increase in water usage efficiency (WUE). Priming also increased the root-to-shoot ratio, potentially improving water uptake. Selected genes encoding late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins and MYB, NAC and PP2C domain-containing transcription factors were shown to be highly induced in primed plants compared to the unprimed group. In conclusion, priming significantly improved the drought stress response in soybean during recurrent drought, partially through the maintenance of water status and stronger expression of stress related genes. In sum, we have identified key physiological parameters for soybean which may be used as indicators for future genetic study to identify the genetic element controlling the drought stress priming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memory is vital to our daily existence. Although a large number of studies have suggested that the hippocampus is dedicated to long‐term memory, understanding how memory is anatomically encoded within the hippocampal neuronal network is still lacking. Previously our laboratory showed that hippocampal pyramidal cells are organized in cell clusters to encode both spatial and episodic memory. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that "cluster‐type" is a functional organization principal in the hippocampus to encode all types of memory. Here, we tested whether contextual fear, another hippocampus‐dependent memory, is also organized in cell clusters. We further investigated the possibility that post‐learning sleep may affect functional organization. Cluster formation was examined by assessing the topographic localization of active cells using immediate early gene (IEG, Zif268) imaging methods. The first experiment provides evidence of a cluster‐type organization in the hippocampus for fear memory by showing a spatial distribution of adjacent Zif268 positive cells. Exposure to the context itself, without electric shocks, induced a similar cellular formation; however, the degree of clustering was significantly lower. The second experiment provides evidence that sleep plays a role in the refinement and long‐term stability of the clusters. The present results confirm the existence of a cluster‐type topographic functional neuronal organization in the hippocampus for memory, and further suggest that post‐learning sleep enhances the cluster‐type organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most computational theories of cognition lack a representation of physiology. Understanding the cognitive effects of compounds present in the environment is important for explaining and predicting changes in cognition and behavior given exposure to toxins, pharmaceuticals, or the deprivation of critical compounds like oxygen. This research integrates physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model predictions of caffeine concentrations in blood and tissues with ACT‐R's fatigue module to predict the effects of caffeine on fatigue. Mapping between the PBPK model parameters and ACT‐R model parameters is informed by the neurophysiological literature and established associations between ACT‐R modules and brain regions. The results from three such parameter mappings are explored to explain observed data from sleep‐deprived participants performing the psychomotor vigilance test with and without caffeine. Predicted caffeine concentrations in the brain are used to modulate procedural parameters in the fatigue module to explain caffeine's effects on multiple performance metrics. Understanding the effects of environmental compounds on cognition is important for predicting changes in performance. This research integrates physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model predictions of caffeine with ACT‐R's fatigue module to predict the effects of caffeine and fatigue on the psychomotor vigilance task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obesity epidemic is concerning as obesity appears to negatively impact cognition and behavior. Furthermore, some studies suggest that this negative effect could be carried across generations from both mothers and fathers although evidence is not consistent. Here, we attempt to address how obesogenic diets in the parental generation (F0) can impact offspring's cognition and anxiety intergenerationally (F1) in a zebrafish model. We compare both mean trait values and their variances. Using a multifactorial design, we created a total of four groups: F1T (treatment mothers × treatment fathers); F1M (treatment mothers × control fathers); F1P (treatment fathers × control mothers); and F1C (control mothers × control fathers, F1C); and subjected them to anxiety tank tests and aversive learning assays. When both parents were exposed, offspring (F1T) displayed the poorest aversive learning, while offspring that only had one parent exposed (F1P and F1M) learnt the aversive learning task the best. Zebrafish in all groups displayed no statistically significant differences in anxiety‐associated behaviors. Males and females also performed similarly in both anxiety and aversive learning assays. While all F1 groups had similar levels of fasting blood glucose, variance in glucose levels were reduced in F1P and F1T indicating the importance of investigating heteroskedasticity between groups. Furthermore, anxiety behaviors of these two groups appeared to be less repeatable. To our knowledge, this is the first study to test the intergenerational effects of an obesogenic diet on zebrafish cognition. Our multifactorial design as well as repeated tests also allowed us to disentangle maternal and paternal effects (as well as combined effects) and accurately detect subtle information such as between‐individual variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research conducted a three‐level meta‐analysis with a total of 159 journal articles on the other‐race bias in facial identification, which had been published between 1969 and 2021. The effect size analysis yielded moderate pooled effect sizes of the other‐race bias on face identification—people showed higher hit rates and discriminability, lower false alarm rates, and more stringent criteria for own‐race faces than for other‐race faces. Results from the sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis also supported the robustness of the other‐race bias. In moderation analyses, participant race (White vs. non‐White) and retention interval between the study and test phases produced stable moderating effects on estimates of the other‐race bias. Despite an increase in racial diversity for decades in our society, the current meta‐analysis still demonstrated robust effects of the other‐race bias in facial identification, replicating findings from the previous meta‐analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential benefits (veridical memory) and, importantly, costs (false memory) of acute exercise on memory in conjunction with the timing and type of exercise have not been fully studied. In Experiment 1, we employed a three-condition (15-minute vigorous-intensity acute exercise Before or During memory encoding, or a Control condition of watching a video), within-subjects, counterbalanced design. The procedures included an immediate and delayed (20-minute post encoding) free recall assessment. Veridical memory was determined by the number of studied words that were recalled, whereas false memory was determined by retrieving a non-presented, critical item. For veridical memory, Before was not different than Control (p =.42), however, During was worse than Before and Control (p's <.001). No differences occurred for false memory. Experiment 2 was conducted that included several additional exercise conditions (e.g., light-intensity exercise) during memory encoding, used a recognition task instead of a free recall task, and extended the long-term memory assessment out to 24-hours. Experiment 2 demonstrated that vigorous-intensity acute exercise during encoding reduced both veridical and false memory for related new items (p <.05). These findings demonstrate that the timing and intensity of exercise play an important role in influencing memory performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Depression impairs brain functions and memory processes. In a state of depression, escitalopram (as an antidepressant drug) and exercise (as an alternative lifestyle) both affect brain functions. Therefore, this study compared the therapeutic effects of exercise, using escitalopram at two different doses and exercise-accompanied escitalopram on different aspects of brain functions in rats with depression. Methods: Male rats were randomly allocated into nine different groups of control, sham, depression, depression-rest, depression-exercise, depression-escitalopram 10, depression-escitalopram 20, depression-escitalopram 10-exercise and depression-escitalopram 20-exercise. Chronic restraint stress (6h/day, 14 days) was applied to induce depression. The escitalopram injections and treadmill running (1h/day, 14 days) were performed after the stress-induced depression. Moreover, different aspects of brain functions like learning, memory, memory consolidation and locomotor activity were evaluated via the passive avoidance test. Results: The results indicated that depression disrupted learning, memory and memory consolidation. Escitalopram at a dose of 20mg/kg, exercise-accompanied escitalopram 20mg/kg and only exercise improved them significantly. In rats with depression, escitalopram at a dose of 10mg/kg (with and without exercise) enhanced memory in depression non-significantly. Moreover, the locomotor activity was decreased in groups with exercise-accompanied escitalopram 20mg/kg and exercise compared to only allowing a rest period after depression. Conclusion: Overall, escitalopram 20mg/kg, exercise-accompanied escitalopram 20mg/kg and only exercise had therapeutic effects on memory improvement in subjects with depression. Since the combination of escitalopram 20mg/kg and exercise had a partial additive effect, it was the best treatment protocol for reversing the memory deficits in rats with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this systematic review was to examine past literature focusing on the potential relationship between exercise (or physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF]) and functional brain connectivity in healthy adults. Among the studies meeting this purpose, we also evaluated studies investigating whether, and how, functional connectivity may influence the exercise–cognition relationship. A systematic review was employed through several electronic databases (PsychInfo, PubMed, and Google Scholar) in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The literature search identified 656 records, and a total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these 12 studies, there were 4, 7, and 1 study, respectively, examining the relationship between exercise and frontal lobe connectivity, temporal lobe connectivity, and whole‐brain connectivity. Also, 7 studies examined the relationship between functional connectivity and cognitive performance across multiple brain regions as a function of exercise. Existing literature suggests that CRF, habitual physical activity, and varying intensities of acute exercise can strengthen functional connections among a wide variety of regions and subcortical structures of the human brain. These exercise‐induced functional connectivity changes within and between specific brain structures/networks supporting cognitive processing may improve various domains of cognitive function. Given these complex associations, a thorough understanding of how functional connectivity plays a mediating role in the exercise–cognition interaction is needed in future studies. This paper demonstrates the effect of exercise on cognition and how exercise‐induced changes in brain functional connectivity influence this effect. These findings have important implications on improving cognition and identifying mechanisms of the exercise‐cognition interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue plasminogen activator's (tPA) fibrinolytic function in the vasculature is well-established. This specific role for tPA in the vasculature, however, contrasts with its pleiotropic activities in the central nervous system. Numerous physiological and pathological functions have been attributed to tPA in the central nervous system, including neurite outgrowth and regeneration; synaptic and spine plasticity; neurovascular coupling; neurodegeneration; microglial activation; and blood–brain barrier permeability. In addition, multiple substrates, both plasminogen-dependent and -independent, have been proposed to be responsible for tPA's action(s) in the central nervous system. This review aims to dissect a subset of these different functions and the different molecular mechanisms attributed to tPA in the context of learning and memory. We start from the original research that identified tPA as an immediate-early gene with a putative role in synaptic plasticity to what is currently known about tPA's role in a learning and memory disorder, Alzheimer's disease. We specifically focus on studies demonstrating tPA's involvement in the clearance of amyloid-β and neurovascular coupling. In addition, given that tPA has been shown to regulate blood–brain barrier permeability, which is perturbed in Alzheimer's disease, this review also discusses tPA-mediated vascular dysfunction and possible alternative mechanisms of action for tPA in Alzheimer's disease pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large households/families may create more happiness and offer more comprehensive healthcare among the members. We correlated household size to dementia mortality rate at population level for analysing its protecting role against dementia mortality. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Dementia specific mortality rates of the 183 member states of World Health Organization were calculated and matched with the respective country data on household size, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), urban population and ageing. Scatter plots were produced to explore and visualize the correlations between household size and dementia mortality rates. Pearson's and nonparametric correlations were used to evaluate the strength and direction of the associations between household size and all other variables. Partial correlation of Pearson's approach was used to identify that household size protects against dementia regardless of the competing effects from ageing, GDP and urbanization. Multiple regression was used to identify significant predictors of dementia mortality. Results: Household size was in a negative and moderately strong correlation (r = -0.6034, p < 0.001) with dementia mortality. This relationship was confirmed in both Pearson r (r = - 0.524, p<0.001) and nonparametric (rho = -0.579, p < 0.001) analyses. When we controlled for the contribution of ageing, socio-economic status and urban lifestyle in partial correlation analysis, large household was still in inverse and significant correlation to dementia mortality (r = −0.331, p <0.001). This suggested that, statistically, large household protect against dementia mortality regardless of the contributing effects of ageing, socio-economic status and urban lifestyle. Stepwise multiple regression analysis selected large household as the variable having the greatest contribution to dementia mortality with R2 = 0.263 while ageing was placed second increasing R2 to 0.259. GDP and urbanization were removed as having no statistically significant influence on dementia mortality. Conclusions: While acknowledging ageing, urban lifestyle and greater GDP associated with dementia mortality, this study suggested that, at population level, household size was another risk factor for dementia mortality. As part of dementia prevention, healthcare practitioners should encourage people to increase their positive interactions with persons from their neighbourhood or other fields where large household/family size is hard to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The main aim of the study was to evaluate whether the available brief test of mental functions Addenbrooke's cognitive examination III (ACE III) detects cognitive impairment in patients with cerebellar damage. The second goal was to show the ACE III cognitive impairment profile of patients with focal cerebellar lesions. Method The study sample consisted of 31 patients with focal cerebellar lesions, 78 patients with supratentorial brain damage, and 31 subjects after spine surgery or with spine degeneration considered as control group, free of organic brain damage. The ACE III was used. Results Patients with cerebellar damage obtained significantly lower results in the ACE III total score and in several subscales: attention, fluency, language, and visuospatial domains than healthy controls without brain damage. With the cut-off level of 89 points, the ACE III was characterized by the sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 72%, and accuracy of 72%. The cerebellar cognitive impairment profile was found to be "frontal-like" and similar to that observed in patients with anterior supratentorial brain damage, with decreased ability to retrieve previously learned material and its preserved recognition, impaired word fluency, and executive dysfunction. The results are consistent with cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome. Conclusions The ACE III can be used as a sensitive screening tool to detect cognitive impairments in patients with cerebellar damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to further address important questions regarding the therapeutic efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for various behavioral and neuroimmune aspects of the Fmr1 phenotype. To address these questions, our experimental design utilized two different omega-3 fatty acid administration timepoints, compared to both standard laboratory chow controls ("Standard") and a diet controlling for the increase in fat content ("Control Fat"). In the first paradigm, post-weaning supplementation (after postnatal day 21) with the omega-3 fatty acid diet ("Omega-3") reversed deficits in startle threshold, but not deficits in prepulse inhibition, and the effect on startle threshold was not specific to the Omega-3 diet. However, post-weaning supplementation with both experimental diets also impaired acquisition of a fear response, recall of the fear memory and contextual fear conditioning compared to the Standard diet. The post-weaning Omega-3 diet reduced hippocampal expression of IL-6 and this reduction of IL-6 was significantly associated with diminished performance in the fear conditioning task. In the perinatal experimental paradigm, the Omega-3 diet attenuated hyperactivity and acquisition of a fear response. Additionally, perinatal exposure to the Control Fat diet (similar to a "Western" diet) further diminished nonsocial anxiety in the Fmr1 knockout. This study provides significant evidence that dietary fatty acids throughout the lifespan can significantly impact the behavioral and neuroimmune phenotype of the Fmr1 knockout model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cumulative effect of positive or negative feedback on subsequent emotional experiences remains unclear. Elucidating this effect could help individuals to better understand and accept the change in emotional experience, irrespective of when they or others receive consecutive positive or negative feedback. This study aimed to examine this effect on 37 participants using self‐reported pleasantness and event‐related potential data as indicators. After completing each trial, the participants received predetermined false feedback; they were then assessed on a nine‐point pleasantness scale. There were 12 false feedback conditions categorized into three valence types. The positive type consisted of three consecutive positive feedbacks and a fourth medium feedback; the medium type contained four consecutive medium feedbacks; the negative type consisted of three consecutive negative feedbacks and a fourth medium feedback. We abbreviated medium false feedback after three positive, medium, and negative false feedbacks as 3 pm, 3 mm, and 3 nm, respectively. The results showed that the score of self‐reported pleasantness of 3mm was significantly lower than that of 3 pm and higher than that of 3 nm. The feedback‐related negativity amplitude of 3 pm was significantly greater than that of 3 mm and 3 nm, and the late‐positive potential amplitude of 3 nm was significantly greater than that of 3 pm and 3 mm. We found that individuals experienced medium feedback more positively and negatively after continuous positive and negative feedback, respectively. Our findings suggest that individuals should seek continuous positive feedback and avoid continuous negative feedback; this strategy may contribute to increased positive emotional experiences in the future. We provide strong evidence that continuous positive and negative feedback has a cumulative effect on emotional experience through the results of self‐reported pleasantness, feedback‐related negativity, and late positive potential. Specifically, individuals perceived subsequent medium feedback more positively following continuous positive feedback, and more negatively following continuous negative feedback. Our findings add a new perspective on increasing future positive emotional experience by pursuing continuous positive feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While caffeine effects on postural balance are controversial and while postural sways are an issue for middle-aged adults, no data is available concerning the caffeine effects on these sways. As women have a greater sensitivity to caffeine consumption than men, we hypothesized that caffeine may positively affect these sways. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of different caffeine doses on postural balance in middle-aged women. Twenty-five healthy middle-aged women were recruited to evaluate their postural performance, after treatment capsule intake. As a result, significant improvements were observed only in eyes closed on foam surface, after low caffeine consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to learn, store and recapture information about unique personal experiences is referred to as episodic memory and is sustained by a network of brain areas that are nestled within the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and associated networks. Human and animal data demonstrate that these structural components are influential in the organization and processing of incoming information. Strengthening the cellular and neural communication within the aforementioned components of the brain, called long‐term potentiation (LTP), is considered a driving force underscoring the ability to recapture information about unique personal experiences. This process can be enhanced by exercise, thus facilitating improvements in episodic memory. This narrative review discusses the interrelationships (and underlying mechanisms) between exercise, LTP and episodic memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotine is the major alkaloid present in cigarettes that induces various biochemical and behavioral changes. Nanonaringenin (NNG) and vitamin E are antioxidants that are reported to mitigate serious impairments caused by some toxins and oxidants. Thus, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of NNG, vitamin E, and their combinations to ameliorate behavioral, biochemical, and histological alterations induced by nicotine in rats. Adult male albino rats were randomly grouped into six equal groups (10 rats/group): control, N (nicotine 1 mg/kg b.w./day S/C from 15th to 45th day, 5 days a week), NNG (25 mg/kg b.w./day orally for 45 days), N + NNG, N + E (nicotine + vitamin E 200 mg/kg b.w./day orally), and N + NNG + E (nicotine + NNG + vitamin E at the aforementioned doses). Behavioral tests were conducted on day 15 and 30 postnicotine injection, while memory tests, brain neurotransmitters, antioxidants, and histopathological examination were examined at day 30 only. As a result, nicotine impaired rats' activity (hypoactivity and hyperactivity) and memory, induced anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects on rats, and altered neurotransmitters (acetylcholinesterase, serotonin, and dopamine), and redox markers (MDA, H2O2, GSH, and catalase) levels in brain homogenates. Thickening and congestion of the meninges and degeneration of the cerebral neurons and glia cells were observed. Cosupplementation with NNG, vitamin E, and their combination with nicotine was beneficial in the alleviation of activity impairments and improved short memory and cognition defects and exploratory behaviors. Our results indicate the antioxidant potential of NNG and vitamin E by modulating redox markers and neurotransmitters in the brain. Thus, data suggest that the prophylactic use of NNG, vitamin E, and/or their combination for (45 days) may have a successful amelioration of the disrupted behavior and cognition and biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by nicotine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the 7.5% carbon dioxide (CO2) model of anxiety induction to investigate the effects of state anxiety on normal gait and gait when navigating an obstacle. Healthy volunteers (n = 22) completed a walking task during inhalations of 7.5% CO2 and medical air (placebo) in a within-subjects design. The order of inhalation was counterbalanced across participants and the gas was administered double-blind. Over a series of trials, participants walked the length of the laboratory, with each trial requiring participants to navigate through an aperture (width adjusted to participant size), with gait parameters measured via a motion capture system. The main findings were that walking speed was slower, but the adjustment in body orientation was greater, during 7.5% CO2 inhalation compared to air. These findings indicate changes in locomotor behaviour during heightened state anxiety that may reflect greater caution when moving in an agitated state. Advances in sensing technology offer the opportunity to monitor locomotor behaviour, and these findings suggest that in doing so, we may be able to infer emotional states from movement in naturalistic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wrongful convictions continue to occur through eyewitness misidentification. Recognising what factors, or interaction between factors, affect face-recognition is therefore imperative. Extensive research indicates that face-recognition accuracy is impacted by anxiety and by race. Limited research, however, has examined how these factors interact to potentially exacerbate face-recognition deficits. Brigham (2008) suggests that anxiety exacerbates other-race face-recognition deficits. Conversely, Attentional Control Theory predicts that anxiety exacerbates deficits for all faces. This systematic review examined existing studies investigating the possible interaction between anxiety and face-race to compare these theories. Recent studies included in this review found that both anxiety and race influence face-recognition accuracy but found no interaction. Potential moderators existing in reviewed studies, however, might have influenced their results. Separately, in some studies reviewed, anxiety induced during retrieval impacted recognition, contrasting with the conclusions of previous reviews. Recommendations for future research are given to address moderators potentially impacting results observed previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus are major risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and studies with transgenic mouse models of AD have provided supportive evidence with some controversies. To overcome potential artifacts derived from transgenes, we used a knock‐in mouse model, AppNL−F/NL−F, which accumulates Aβ plaques from 6 months of age and shows mild cognitive impairment at 18 months of age, without the overproduction of APP. In the present study, 6‐month‐old male AppNL−F/NL−F and wild‐type mice were fed a regular or high‐fat diet (HFD) for 12 months. HFD treatment caused obesity and impaired glucose tolerance (i.e., T2DM conditions) in both wild‐type and AppNL−F/NL−F mice, but only the latter animals exhibited an impaired cognitive function accompanied by marked increases in both Aβ deposition and microgliosis as well as insulin resistance in the hippocampus. Furthermore, HFD‐fed AppNL−F/NL−F mice exhibited a significant decrease in volume of the granule cell layer in the dentate gyrus and an increased accumulation of 8‐oxoguanine, an oxidized guanine base, in the nuclei of granule cells. Gene expression profiling by microarrays revealed that the populations of the cell types in hippocampus were not significantly different between the two mouse lines, regardless of the diet. In addition, HFD treatment decreased the expression of the Aβ binding protein transthyretin (TTR) in AppNL−F/NL−F mice, suggesting that the depletion of TTR underlies the increased Aβ deposition in the hippocampus of HFD‐fed AppNL−F/NL−F mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D on glycemic control and biochemical indices in type 2 diabetes. Methods: This randomized double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) referred to Shahid Beheshti hospital. These patients were randomly classified into case and control groups. Case group consumed 50,000 IU of vitamin D once a week for 12 weeks and control group placebo. Biochemical and lipid parameters and vitamin D3 were measured in two groups. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed by latex enhance immunoturbidimetric assay. Results: There was no significant difference between case and control groups in terms of age, sex, body mass index and used medications. The mean vitamin D level in case and control groups before intervention was 15.06 ±3.307 and 15.83± 2.509 ng/ml and after intervention was 49.77 ±15.73 and 14.91±3.13 ng/ml respectively. The mean fast blood sugar in case and control groups after intervention was 156.565±32.23 and 147.75±35.06 mg/dl, respectively. The mean HbA1c in case and control groups before intervention was 7.59± 0.39 % and 7.66± 0.38 % and after intervention was 7.26 ± 0.60 and 7.60 ± 0.38, respectively. Moreover, significant difference was seen between case (20.2± 5.74 IU/L) and control groups (23.35± 7.80 IU/L) in terms of alanine aminotransferase, after intervention. Conclusion: According to these findings, vitamin D supplementation possibly through decreasing HbA1C and hepatic alanine aminotransferase could improve diabetes complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating research provides suggestive evidence that acute aerobic exercise may, potentially, enhance episodic memory function post-exercise. Limited research has evaluated whether acute resistance exercise may also enhance episodic memory post-exercise. Furthermore, whether these two exercise modalities have a differential effect on post-exercise episodic memory is relatively unknown. To address these research questions, three experimental studies were conducted (N = 104) among young adults (18–25 years). The experiments implemented acute bouts of aerobic or resistance exercise for 15 min. Episodic memory was comprehensively evaluated post-exercise with a list-learning paradigm and a computerised assessment of what-where-when aspects of episodic memory. Various manipulations (e.g., between vs. within-group) of the study design were implemented across the experiments. Across these three experiments, we failed to find consistent evidence of either type of acute exercise affecting episodic memory performance post-exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]