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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been widely used to modulate cognition and behavior. However, only a few studies have been probing the brain mechanism underlying the effects of tDCS on cognitive processing, especially throughout electrophysiological markers, such as the P3. This meta-analysis assessed the effects of tDCS in P3 amplitude and latency during an oddball, n-back, and Go/No-Go tasks, as well as during emotional processing. A total of 36 studies were identified, but only 23 were included in the quantitative analysis. The results show that the parietal P3 amplitude increased during oddball and n-back tasks, mostly after anodal stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (p = 0.018, SMD = 0.4) and right inferior frontal gyrus (p

Introduction: Central venous stenosis can be the main obstacle to the creation of an autologous vascular access in the upper limbs. The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft was developed to provide an upper limb vascular access option to such patients, avoiding alternative, less advantageous options, such as lower limb vascular accesses or central venous catheters. Its advantages include catheter avoidance and, in case of lower limbs accesses, reduction of the ischemic risk and iliac vein thrombosis, potentially compromising a future kidney transplant. Patients and methods: Revision of the clinical files of the four patients who were placed a Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow device in our Center, including demographic variables, implantation technique characteristics, surgical complications, episodes of infection and thrombosis of the access, and need to place a transitory central venous catheter to undergo hemodialysis treatment. Results: Four Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts were placed, which resulted in a significant improvement in the dialysis efficacy in all patients, with a median raise in the Kt/V of 36.7%. Two cases needed thrombectomy, one of which was unsuccessful. The actual time of patency varies between 3 and 28 months. Conclusion: Our experience with the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow device showed that it was a safe option for patients with central venous stenosis and was associated with good clinical and analytic outcomes.

Affective touch activates a brain network responsible for processing social-emotional stimuli in infants, children, and adults, with a core node in the superior temporal sulcus (STS). STS is known to be a region highly susceptible to individual variability, including for tactile stimuli processing. However, little is known about how this region is recruited to process affective touch in infancy. The aim of this study was to examine brain activity to affective touch in the temporal region (STS) and understand if it relates to behavioral patterns of sensory-over responsivity (SOR) to touch. Twelve-month-old infants (n = 24) were given affective and discriminative stimuli to the forearm while they were watching a silent movie. Brain activation was recorded in the STS for measures of oxy-hemoglobin (HbO(2)) and deoxy-hemoglobin (Hbb) using functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS). Aversive responses to tactile stimuli were measured using the Infant-Toddler Sensory Profile. A significant hemodynamic response increase in HbO(2) to affective touch was observed in the STS for infants with less aversive behavioral responses to tactile stimuli. The findings suggest that brain activity in the STS for affective touch might be related to individual differences in the affective reaction toward touch., This study was supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation through an individual doctoral grant to Helga Miguel (SFRH/BD/86694/2012). The work was conducted at Psychology Research Center (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds (PSI/01662) and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653).

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.625328/full#supplementary-material, Callous-unemotional (CU) traits observed during childhood and adolescence are thought to be precursors of psychopathic traits in adulthood. Adults with high levels of psychopathic traits typically present antisocial behavior. Such behavior can be indicative of atypical moral processing. Evidence suggests that moral dysfunction in these individuals may stem from a disruption of affective components of moral processing rather than from an inability to compute moral judgments per se. No study to date has tested if the dissociation between affective and cognitive dimensions of moral processing linked to psychopathic traits in adulthood is also linked to CU traits during development. Here, 47 typically developing adolescents with varying levels of CU traits completed a novel, animated cartoon task depicting everyday moral transgressions and indicated how they would feel in such situations and how morally wrong the situations were. Adolescents with higher CU traits reported reduced anticipated guilt and wrongness appraisals of the transgressions. However, our key finding was a significant interaction between CU traits and anticipated guilt in predicting wrongness judgments. The strength of the association between anticipated guilt and wrongness judgement was significantly weaker for those with higher levels of CU traits. This evidence extends our knowledge on the cognitive-affective processing deficits that may underlie moral dysfunction in youth who are at heightened risk for antisocial behavior and psychopathy in adulthood. Future longitudinal research is required to elucidate whether there is an increased dissociation between different components of moral processing from adolescence to adulthood for those with high psychopathic traits., This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) research grant awarded to AS-C (PTDC/MHC-PCN/2296/2014), co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016747). The study was conducted at the Psychology Research Center (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, supported by FCT through the Portuguese State Budget (Ref.: UIDB/PSI/01662/2020).

The online version of this article(https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-020-00264-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users., Functional connectivity (FC) is typically altered in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, the relationship between brain FC, tissue integrity and cognitive impairment is still unclear as contradictory findings have been documented. In this exploratory study we compared both the whole brain connectome and resting state networks (RSNs) FC of twenty-one RRMS and seventeen healthy controls (HCs), using combined network based statistics and independent component analyses. The total white matter (WM) lesion volume and information processing efficiency were also correlated with FC in the RRMS group. Both whole brain connectome and individual RSNs FC were diminished in patients with RRMS compared to HC. Additionally, the reduction in FC was found to be a function of the total WM lesion volume, with greatest impact in those harboring the largest lesion volume. Finally, a positive correlation between FC and information processing efficiency was observed in RRMS. This complimentary whole brain and RSNs FC approach can contribute to clarify literature inconsistencies regarding FC alterations and provide new insights on the white matter structural damage in explaining functional abnormalities in RRMS., This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (UID/PSI/01662/2019), through the national funds (PIDDAC) and PIC/IC/83290/2007.

Attention is a complex cognitive process that selects specific stimuli for further processing. Previous research suggested the existence of three attentional networks: alerting, orienting and executive. However, one important topic is how to enhance the efficiency of attentional networks. In this context, understanding how this system behaves under two different modulatory conditions, namely transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS), will provide important insights towards the understanding of the attention network system. Twenty-seven healthy students took part on a randomized single-blinded crossover study, testing the effects that involved three modalities of unilateral stimulation (tRNS, anodal tDCS, and sham) over the DLPFC, during the performance of the attention network test (ANT) in three different conditions: standard, speed and accuracy. Results showed that tRNS was able to increase attention during more complex situations, namely by increasing alerting and decreasing conflict effect in the executive network. Under the Speed condition, tRNS increased efficiency of the alerting network, as well as under the more demanding conflict network, tRNS overall increased the performance when comparing to sham. No statistical significant effects of tDCS were observed. These results are compatible with the attention requiring the synchronization of pre-existing networks, rather the reinforcement or creation of new pathways. AL is supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds, and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653). OFG and SC were supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653) and along with JL were also funded through the grants: PTDC/PSI-ESP/30280/2017 and PTDC/PSI-ESP/29701/2017, SC was also funded by the individual Grant IF/00091/2015. FF is supported by a NIH grant (1R01AT009491-01A1). This work was partially supported by National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and co-funded through COMPETE 2020 – PO Competitividade e Internacionalização/Portugal 2020/União Europeia, FEDER (Fundos Europeus Estruturais e de Investimento – FEEI) under the number:PTDC/PSI-ESP/30280/2017. published

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects more than 264 million people worldwide. Current treatments include the use of psychotherapy and/or drugs, however similar to 30% of patients either do not respond to these treatments, or do not tolerate the side effects associated to the use of pharmacological interventions. Thus, it is important to study non-pharmacological interventions targeting mechanisms not directly involved with the regulation of neurotransmitters. Several studies demonstrated that transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can be effective for symptoms relief in MDD. However, tDCS seems to have a better effect when used as an add-on treatment to other interventions.Methods/Design: This is a study protocol for a parallel, randomized, triple-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial in which a total of 90 drug-naive, first-episode MDD patients (45 per arm) will be randomized to one of two groups to receive a 6-weeks of CBT combined with either active or sham tDCS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The primary outcome will depressive symptoms improvement as assessed by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at 6-weeks. The secondary aim is to test whether CBT combined with tDCS can engage the proposed mechanistic target of restoring the prefrontal imbalance and connectivity through the bilateral modulation of the DLPFC, as assessed by changes over resting-state and emotional task eliciting EEG.Discussion: This study evaluates the synergetic clinical effects of CBT and tDCS in the first episode, drug-naive, patients with MDD. First episode MDD patients provide an interesting opportunity, as their brains were not changed by the pharmacological treatments, by the time course, or by the recurrence of MDD episodes (and other comorbidities)., This work was partially supported by FEDER funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade-COMPETE and by national funds through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia through the calls IF/00091/2015 and PTDC/PSI-ESP/29701/2017. The sponsors had no role in the study design, implementation, data analysis or publication.

IntroductionBinge drinking (BD) is characterized by high alcohol intake in a short time followed by periods of withdrawal. This pattern is very common during adolescence and early adulthood, a developmental stage marked by the maturation of the fronto-striatal networks. The basal ganglia, specifically the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and the caudate nucleus (CN), are part of the fronto-striatal limbic circuit involved in reward processes underlying addictive behaviors. Abnormal NAcc and CN morphometry has been noted in alcoholics and other drug abusers, however the effects of BD on these subcortical regions have been poorly explored. Accordingly, the main goal of the present study was to address potential morphological alterations in the NAcc and CN in a sample of college binge drinkers (BDs).MethodManual segmentation of the NAcc and the CN was performed in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of 20 college BDs and 16 age-matched alcohol abstainers (18-23 years-old).ResultsA two-way mixed ANOVA revealed no group differences in the volumetry of the CN, whereas increased NAcc volume was observed in the BD group when compared to their abstinent control peers.DiscussionThese findings are in line with previous automatically segmented MRI reports highlighting abnormalities in a key region involved in drug rewarding processes in BDs., This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (UID/PSI/01662/2019), through the national funds (PIDDAC). This study was also supported by the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028672, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). SS was supported by the SFRH/BD/88628/2012, Doctoral Fellowship of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, co-financed by POPH/FSE through QREN. EL-C and AC were supported by the FCT and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through the national funds, within the scope of the Transitory Disposition of the Decrete No. 57/2016, of 29th of August, amended by Law No. 57/2017 of 19 July.

Tibiofemoral unilateral knee dislocations are uncommon, making bilateral dislocations even rarer injuries. Knee dislocation is considered one of the most serious injuries that can affect this joint. Associated complications such as popliteal artery injury are responsible for the important morbidity in these patients. The authors report the case of a 52-year-old man with a traumatic bilateral knee dislocation with associated bilateral popliteal arterial injury. His clinical presentation along with radiographic and angiographic findings are described. Surgical and non-surgical treatment and functional outcomes are also reported. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The ability to regulate our own physiological arousal when dealing with the emotional expression of our partner is crucial for satisfactory and stable intimate relationships. In previous physiological studies of marital interactions, researchers have found greater levels of psychophysiological arousal for members of the couple in conflictual interactions in comparison with positive interactions. Past researchers have established that intense and prolonged autonomic and neuroendocrine arousal during marital conflict can have negative consequences for mental and physical health. In this study we examined the physiological reactivity, as measured by skin conductance level, heart rate and cortisol levels, from both partners during a couple's interaction task consisting of a structured conversation about positive and negative aspects of their relationship. Participants were thirty-two heterosexual couples (N = 64) in a committed monogamous relationship with a minimum duration of one year. We found higher heart rate and cortisol levels during negative interaction condition when compared with the positive condition. Skin conductance was higher in the positive interaction condition, when compared with the negative interaction condition. In addition, we found a significant negative association between heart rate variability and autonomic arousal evoked by the interaction task. The implications of these findings for the effects of marital strain on health as well as for the design of risk-reducing interventions, namely biofeedback are discussed., This study was funded by BIAL Foundation (Grant number: 87/12). Joana Coutinho was funded by a FCT postdoctoral grant (No. SFRH/BPD/75014/2010). This study was conducted at Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653)., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The current literature provides substantial evidence of brain alterations associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms (eg, checking, cleaning/decontamination, counting compulsions; harm or sexual, symmetry/exactness obsessions), and emotional problems (eg, defensive/appetitive emotional imbalance, disgust, guilt, shame, and fear learning/extinction) and cognitive impairments associated with this disorder (eg, inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility). Building on this evidence, new clinical trials can now target specific brain regions/networks. Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) was introduced as a new therapeutic tool for the self-regulation of brain-mind. In this review, we describe initial trials testing the use of rtfMRI to target brain regions associated with specific OCD symptoms (eg, contamination), and other mind-brain processes (eg, cognitive -working memory, inhibitory control, emotional - defensive, appetitive systems, fear reduction through counter-conditioning) found impaired in OCD patients. While this is a novel topic of research, initial evidence shows the promise of using rtfMRI in training the self-regulation of brain regions and mental processes associated with OCD. Additionally, studies with healthy populations have shown that individuals can regulate brain regions associated with cognitive and emotional processes found impaired in OCD. After the initial "proof-of-concept" stage, there is a need to follow up with controlled clinical trials that could test rtfMRI innovative treatments targeting brain regions and networks associated with different OCD symptoms and cognitive-emotional impairments., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Background/Aims: One of the components of working memory is the ability to respond to unexpected demands and rapidly shifting attention between tasks. Previous studies have used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in order to modulate task and set shifting ability over the prefrontal cortex. However, set shifting/task switching ability requires a left-lateralized fronto-parietal network. In this study, we aimed to assess if delivering active cross-hemispheric tDCS over the parietal cortex - right anodal/-left-cathodal (pRA-LC) and right cathodal/-left anodal (pRC-LA), as compared to sham tDCS, is able to modulate task switching ability in healthy volunteers. Methods: A total of 17 college students who volunteered (age: 21.65 ± 4.42, 14 females) participated in this pilot study in which the effects of three different single session tDCS conditions over the parietal cortex on task switching ability were assessed. Results: There were significant differences in terms of switch costs F (2,28) = 4,01, p < .05 dependent on stimulation. Bonferroni pairwise comparisons showed that the Response Time (RT) of the Switch Cost increased significantly (M = 102.84, SD = 18.24) for the pRA-LC condition, when compared with the sham condition (M = 49.44, SD = 17.84) (p = .03, d=2.96) Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the importance of studying the role of the parietal cortex in task switching ability. An activity shift towards the right parietal hemisphere (i.e., pRA-LC) impaired task switching performance, which is consistent with the role of the left parietal cortex on endogenous preparation and adjustment of goal directed behaviors. Future studies should focus on exploring the electrophysiological and neuroimaging correlates associated with the tDCS effects over the parietal, as well as exploring the usefulness of multi-site stimulation., OFG and SC were supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653) and along with JL were also funded through the grants: PTDC/PSIESP/30280/2017 and PTDC/PSI-ESP/29701/2017, SC was also funded by the individual grant IF/00091/2015.

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00151/full#supplementary-material., Previous research showed that the ability to make inferences about our own and other's mental states rely on common brain pathways; particularly in the case of close relationships (e.g., romantic relationships). Despite the evidence for shared neural representations of self and others, less is known about the distributed processing within these common neural networks, particularly whether there are specific patterns of internode communication when focusing on other vs. self. This study aimed to characterize context-sensitive coupling among social brain regions involved in self and other understanding. Participants underwent an fMRI while watching emotional video vignettes of their romantic partner and elaborated on their partner's (other-condition) or on their own experience (self-condition). We used dynamic causal modeling (DCM) to quantify the associated changes in effective connectivity (EC) in a network of brain regions involved in social cognition including the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), the posterior cingulate (PCC)/precuneus and middle temporal gyrus (MTG). DCM revealed that: the PCC plays a central coordination role within this network, the bilateral MTG receives driving inputs from other nodes suggesting that social information is first processed in language comprehension regions; the right TPJ evidenced a selective increase in its sensitivity when focusing on the other's experience, relative to focusing on oneself., This study was funded by BIAL Foundation (Fundasao Bial, Grant number 87/12); by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653); by the postdoctoral scholarship UMINHO/BPD/18/2017 and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science Doctoral scholarship (PD/BD/105963/2014). KF is funded by a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellowship (Ref: 088130/Z/09/Z).

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied to enhance extinction-based treatments for anxiety disorders. However, the field shows conflicting results about the anxiolytic effect of tDCS and only a few studies have previously observed the extinction of consolidated memories.Off-line tDCS modulates subsequent fear response (fear recall and fear extinction) neural activity and connectivity, throughout changes in the fear pathway that is critically involved in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders.Thirty-four women participated in a two-day fear conditioning procedure. On day 1, women were randomly assigned to the control group (n=18) or the tDCS group (n=16) and went through a fear acquisition procedure. On day 2, the tDCS group received 20min tDCS at 1mA [cathode – F4; anode – contralateral deltoid] immediately before extinction and while inside the MRI scanner. The control group completed the extinction procedure only.fMRI whole brain contrast analysis showed stimulation dependent activity patterns with the tDCS group showing decreased neural activity during the processing of the CS+ and increased activity during the processing of the CS, in prefrontal, postcentral and paracentral regions, during late extinction. PPI analysis showed tDCS impact on the connectivity between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and three clusters along the cortical–amygdalo–hippocampal– cerebellar pathway, during the processing of the CS+ in late extinction (TFCE corrected at p The increased neuronal activity during the processing of safety cues and the stronger coupling during the processing of threat cues might well be the mechanisms by which tDCS contributes to stimuli discrimination.HighlightsThe anxiolytic effect of cathodal tDCS is controversial.We show cathodal tDCS modulatory effect on delayed extinction of the fear response.Cathodal tDCS modulates the processing of safe and threatening cues.Cathodal tDCS modulates the activity and connectivity of the fear network.

ResumoA rotura traumática da artéria vertebral é rara e no seu tratamento não é habitualmente possível preservar a sua permeabilidade. Apresentamos um caso de uma rotura submetida a tratamento endovascular com preservação do seu fluxo, com recurso a 2 stents cobertos, colocados em contexto de emergência.AbstractTraumatic rupture of the vertebral artery is a rare condition, treatment does not usually allow to preserve its permeability. We present a case of a endovascular treatment with preservation of the flow using two covered stents placed in emergency context.

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a core symptom of schizophrenia. Like real voices, AVH carry a rich amount of linguistic and paralinguistic cues that convey not only speech, but also affect and identity, information. Disturbed processing of voice identity, affective, and speech information has been reported in patients with schizophrenia. More recent evidence has suggested a link between voice-processing abnormalities and specific clinical symptoms of schizophrenia, especially AVH. It is still not well understood, however, to what extent these dimensions are impaired and how abnormalities in these processes might contribute to AVH. In this review, we consider behavioral, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological data to investigate the speech, identity, and affective dimensions of voice processing in schizophrenia, and we discuss how abnormalities in these processes might help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying specific phenomenological features of AVH. Schizophrenia patients exhibit behavioral and neural disturbances in the three dimensions of voice processing. Evidence suggesting a role of dysfunctional voice processing in AVH seems to be stronger for the identity and speech dimensions than for the affective domain., Supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia doctoral grant no. SFRH/BD/77681/2011 (Ms. Conde) and Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia grant nos. IF/00334/2012, PTDC/PSI-PCL/116626/2010, and PTDC/MHN-PCN/3606/2012 (Dr. Pinheiro)., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) over the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) has already been shown to decrease craving for food. However, it remains unclear whether a single session of tDCS combined with a cognitive bias modification (CBM) task may affect explicit and implicit measures of craving for chocolate. Fifty-one healthy volunteers (38 females; mean age: 22.12 +/- 3.38) were randomly allocated to CBM training based on the Approach Avoidance task and either Sham, Right anodal-Left cathodal (RALC), or Left anodal-Right cathodal (LARC) tDCS. Results show that there was an increase in the explicit craving for chocolate, as assessed by the Visual Analog Scale [F(2, 46) = 3.239, p = 0.048], from the baseline to post-intervention. Participants which received LARC tDCS were explicitly self-reporting more craving for chocolate than those that received RALC tDCS (p = 0.023). Moreover, this effect was also observed on the implicit measure [F(2, 46) = 4.168, p = 0.022]. LARC tDCS significantly increased the implicit preference for chocolate when comparing to both RALC (p = 0.009) and Sham tDCS (p = 0.034). Previous studies have shown that RALC tDCS over the PFC is able to effectively decrease craving for food. Interestingly, the present data not only does not reproduce such result, but instead it suggests that LARC tDCS can actually increase the preference for chocolate. This result is compatible with recent models of brain laterality, in which cue craving seems to be more dependent on the left hemisphere. Thus, shifting the activity to the left hemisphere (while simultaneously reducing the activity over the homotopic region) may have led to this increased implicit as well as explicit preference for chocolate., This work was partially supported by Funded with National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and co-funded through COMPETE 2020 - PO Competitividade e Internacionalizacao/Portugal 2020/Uniao Europeia, FEDER (Fundos Europeus Estruturais e de Investimento - FEEI) under the number: PTDC/PSI-ESP/30280/2017. SC was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) with the Grant IF/00091/2015 and under FCT and COMPETE 2020 (PTDC/PSI-ESP/29701/2017). JL was funded also through FCT and COMPETE (P2020-PTDC/MHC-PCN/3950/2014) and from an internal grant from Portucalense University.

Binge Drinking (BD) is a pattern of excessive alcohol consumption highly prevalent among college students, and has been associated with structural and functional alterations of brain networks. Recent advances in the resting-state connectivity analysis have boosted the research of the network-level connectivity disturbances associated with many psychiatric and neurological disorders, including addiction. Accordingly, atypical functional connectivity patterns in resting-state networks such as the Executive Control Network (ECN) have been found in substance users and alcohol-dependent individuals. In this study, we assessed for the first time the ECN functional and structural connectivity in a group of 34 college students, 20 (10 women) binge drinkers (BDs) in comparison with a group of 14 (8 women) alcohol abstinent controls (AACs).Overall, our findings documented increased resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in the BDs left middle frontal cortex of the left ECN in comparison to the AACs, while no structural connectivity differences were observed between groups. Pearson correlations revealed a positive association between the left middle frontal gyrus rsFC and the frequency of BD episodes per month, in the BD group.These findings suggest that maintaining a pattern of acute and intermittent alcohol consumption during important stages of brain development, as the transition from adolescence to adulthood, is associated with impaired ECN rsFC despite no group differences being yet noticed in the ECN structural connectivity., This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (UID/PSI/01662/2019), through the national funds (PIDDAC); and was partially supported by the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028672, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). SSS was supported by the SFRH/BD/88628/2012, Doctoral Fellowship of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, co-financed by POPH/FSE through QREN. Eduardo Lopez-Caneda and Alberto Crego were supported by the FCT and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through the national funds, within the scope of the Transitory Disposition of the Decrete No. 57/2016, of 29th of August, amended by Law No. 57/2017 of 19 July.

BackgroundExtinction-based procedures are often used to inhibit maladaptive fear responses. However, because extinction procedures show efficacy limitations, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been suggested as a promising add-on enhancer.ObjectiveIn this study, we tested how cathodal tDCS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex affects extinction and tried to unveil the processes at play that boost the effectiveness of extinction procedures and its translational potential to the treatment of anxiety disorders.MethodsWe implemented a fear conditioning paradigm whereby 41 healthy women (mean age = 20.51 +/- 5.0) were assigned to either cathodal tDCS (n = 27) or sham tDCS (n = 16). Fear responses were measured with self-reports, autonomic responses, and implicit avoidance tendencies.ResultsCathodal tDCS shows no statistically significant effect in extinction, according to selfreports, and seems to even negatively affect fear conditioned skin conductance responses. However, one to three months after the tDCS session and extinction, we found a group difference in the action tendencies towards the neutral stimuli (F (1, 41) = 12.04, p =.001,.p2 =.227), with the cathodal tDCS group (as opposed to the sham group) showing a safety learning (a positive bias towards the CS-), with a moderate effect size. This suggests that cathodal tDCS may foster stimuli discrimination, leading to a decreased generalization effect.DiscussionCathodal tDCS may have enhanced long-term distinctiveness between threatening cues and perceptively similar neutral cues through a disambiguation process of the value of the neutral stimuli-a therapeutic target in anxiety disorders. Future studies should confirm these results and extend the study of cathodal tDCS effect on short term avoidance tendencies., AGA is supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal and Programa COMPETE [grants numbers SFRH/BD/80945/2011, PTDC/MHC-PAP/5618/2014 (POCI-01-0145FEDER-016836); http://www.poci-compete2020.pt/].JA is supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal and Programa COMPETE [grants numbers PTDC/MHC-PAP/5618/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016836), PTDC/MHC-PCN/3575/2012, PTDC/MHC-PCN/0522/2014, PTDC/MHC-PCN/6805/2014; https://www.fct.pt/index.phtml.en].The Cognitive and Behavioral Center for Research and Intervention of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra is supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement [UID/PSI/01662/2013; https://www.portugal2020.pt].The Psychology Research Centre of the University of Minho is supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER007653). The Proaction Laboratory and the PTDC/MHC-PAP/5618/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER016836) directly supported this research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Our minds are continuously alternating between external attention (EA) and mind wandering (MW). An appropriate balance between EA and MW is important for promoting efficient perceptual processing, executive functioning, decision-making, auto-biographical memory, and creativity. There is evidence that EA processes are associated with increased activity in high-frequency EEG bands (e.g., SMR), contrasting with the dominance of low-frequency bands during MW (e.g., Theta). The aim of the present study was to test the effects of two distinct single session real-time EEG (rtEEG) protocols (SMR up-training/Theta down-training-SMR⇑Theta⇓; Theta up-training/SMR down-training-Theta⇑SMR⇓) on EA and MW processes. Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two rtEEG training protocols (SMR⇑Theta⇓; Theta⇑SMR⇓). Before and after the rtEEG training, participants completed the attention network task (ANT) along with several MW measures. Both training protocols were effective in increasing SMR (SMR⇑Theta⇓) and theta (Theta⇑SMR⇓) amplitudes but not in decreasing the amplitude of down-trained bands. There were no significant effects of the rtEEG training in either EA or MW measures. However, there was a significant positive correlation between post-training SMR increases and the use of deliberate MW (rather than spontaneous) strategies. Additionally, for the Theta⇑SMR⇓ protocol, increase in post-training Theta amplitude was significantly associated with a decreased efficiency in the orientation network., Óscar F. Gonçalves was funded by the Brazilian National Counsel for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) as a special visiting researcher (Grant 401143/2014-7). This study was partially conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (UID/ PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 (Grant POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-007653). Paulo S. Boggio is a CNPq researcher fellow (Grant 311641/2015-6). SC is funded through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (IF/00091/2015). JL is funded through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PTDC/ MHC-PCN/3950/2014)., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Previous studies showed the efficacy of a single session real-time electroencephalogram (rtEEG) protocols in sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) or Theta up-training. However, the impact of this training on sustained or mind-wandering attention was only modest. This could be explained by the lack of specificity in distinct rtEEG training protocols given their limitation in inhibiting or decreasing the amplitude of down-trained bands. Additionally, multiple sessions of rtEEG in up-training/down-training SMR (sensorimotor rhythm) and Theta along with better ways of tracking sustained and mind-wandering attention protocols may be required to achieve consistent effects. Here we describe the effects of a 10-session trial of up-training/down-training SMR or Theta (SMR⇑Theta⇓; Theta⇑SMR⇓), looking at the effects of 2 rtEEG training protocols in 2 n of 1 subject designs. We also tested to impact of this training in sustained and mind-wandering attention during the course of a Sustained Attention Response Task (SART). The present trial confirmed the potentiality of a multi-session protocol in up-training Theta or SMR and, as consequence, increasing sustained attention (Theta up-training) and mind-wandering attention (SMR up-training). However, the simultaneous increase of the Theta amplitude in the SMR⇑Theta⇓ (and the more modest increase of the SMR amplitude in Theta⇑SMR⇓) reduced the specificity of the rtEEG training. Future studies should build on the potentiality of extended rtEEG protocols on this attention paradigm but increasing the specificity of the trained EEG bands choosing less tedious/more motivating feedback instruments (SMR⇑Theta⇓) and conducting the Theta⇑SMR⇓ training eyes closed.

This study examined the effects of bihemispheric and unihemispheric transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) over the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) on proactive control. Sixteen participants were randomized to receive (i) bihemispheric tDCS, with a 35cm2 anodal electrode of the right IFG and a 35cm2 cathode electrode of left IFG or (ii) unihemispheric tDCS, with a 35cm2 anodal electrode of the right IFG and a 100cm2 electrode of the left IFG or (iii) sham tDCS, while performing a prepotent inhibition task. There were significant speed-accuracy tradeoff effects in terms of switch costs: unihemispheric tDCS significantly decreased the accuracy when compared to bihemispheric, and sham tDCS, while increased response time when comparing to bihemispheric and sham tDCS. The computational model showed a symmetrical field intensity for the bihemispheric tDCS montage, and an asymmetrical for the unihemispheric tDCS montage. This study confirms that unihemispheric tDCS over the rIFG has a significant impact on response inhibition. The lack of results of bihemispheric tDCS brings two important findings for this study: (i) left IFG seems to be also critically associated with inhibitory response control, and (ii) these results highlight the importance of considering the dual effects of tDCS when choosing the electrode montage., JL, SC, OFG are members of CIPSi, supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653); and also through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology PTDC/MHC-PCN/3950/2014. FF is funded by the following NIH grants: R21HD079048, R01HD082302, 1R44NS080632-01, 1R44AT008637, HD069776. SC is funded by the following Portuguese Fondation for Science and Technology (FCT) grant IF/00091/2015., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Previous studies looking at how Mind Wandering (MW) impacts performance in distinct Focused Attention (FA) systems, using the Attention Network Task (ANT), showed that the presence of pure MW thoughts did not impact the overall performance of ANT (alert, orienting and conflict) performance. However, it still remains unclear if the lack of interference of MW in the ANT, reported at the behavioral level, has a neurophysiological correspondence. We hypothesize that a distinct cortical processing may be required to meet attentional demands during MW. The objective of the present study was to test if, given similar levels of ANT performance, individuals predominantly focusing on MW or FA show distinct cortical processing. Thirty-three healthy participants underwent an EEG high-density acquisition while they were performing the ANT. MW was assessed following the ANT using an adapted version of the Resting State Questionnaire (ReSQ). The following ERP's were analyzed: pN1, pP1, P1, N1, pN, and P3. At the behavioral level, participants were slower and less accurate when responding to incongruent than to congruent targets (conflict effect), benefiting from the presentation of the double (alerting effect) and spatial (orienting effect) cues. Consistent with the behavioral data, ERP's waves were discriminative of distinct attentional effects. However, these results remained true irrespective of the MW condition, suggesting that MW imposed no additional cortical demand in alert, orienting, and conflict attention tasks., Acknowledgements Óscar F. Gonçalves was funded by the Brazilian National Counsel for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) as a Special Visiting Researcher of the Science Without Borders program (401143/2014-7). Paulo S Boggio was funded by a CNPq researcher fellowship (311641/2015-6). Olivia Morgan Lapenta and Tatiana Conde were supported by two postdoctoral grants from CNPq (150249/2017-9 and 152358/2016-1). Sandra Carvalho was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) with the grant IF/00091/2015. Gabriel Rêgo was supported by a PhD grant from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP-2015/18713-9). This work was partially supported by FEDER funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade – COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (P2020-PTDC/MHC-PCN/3950/2014)., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The ability to discriminate self- and non-self voice cues is a fundamental aspect of self-awareness and subserves self-monitoring during verbal communication. Nonetheless, the neurofunctional underpinnings of self-voice perception and recognition are still poorly understood. Moreover, how attention and stimulus complexity influence the processing and recognition of one's own voice remains to be clarified. Using an oddball task, the current study investigated how self-relevance and stimulus type interact during selective attention to voices, and how they affect the representation of regularity during voice perception. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 18 right-handed males. Pre-recorded self-generated (SGV) and non-self (NSV) voices, consisting of a nonverbal vocalization (vocalization condition) or disyllabic word (word condition), were presented as either standard or target stimuli in different experimental blocks. The results showed increased N2 amplitude to SGV relative to NSV stimuli. Stimulus type modulated later processing stages only: P3 amplitude was increased for SGV relative to NSV words, whereas no differences between SGV and NSV were observed in the case of vocalizations. Moreover, SGV standards elicited reduced N1 and P2 amplitude relative to NSV standards. These findings revealed that the self-voice grabs more attention when listeners are exposed to words but not vocalizations. Further, they indicate that detection of regularity in an auditory stream is facilitated for one's own voice at early processing stages. Together, they demonstrate that self-relevance affects attention to voices differently as a function of stimulus type., This work was supported by Grants IF/00334/2012 and PTDC/ MHC-PCN/0101/2014 funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional) through the European programs QREN (Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional), and COMPETE (Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade), awarded to A.P.P., and a by a FCT Postdoctoral Grant (SFRH/BPD/117187/2016) awarded to T.C. This work received additional support from Grant BIAL 238/16 funded by BIAL Foundation, awarded to A.P.P, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Anastomotic aneurysm is a possible complication after arterial reconstruction with highest incidence at femoral anastomosis; open surgery is the standard treatment, but endovascular exclusion can be useful in selected cases. The authors report a case of femoral anastomotic aneurysm, 19 years after aortobifemoral grafting, treated successfully using stent grafts, under local anesthesia and percutaneous brachial access. Review of published articles regarding endovascular management of femoral anastomotic aneurysm was performed. Endovascular exclusion of femoral anastomotic aneurysm is safe and feasible.

Fluctuations in gray and white matter volumes in addition to the fibers' reorganization and refinement of synaptic connectivity apparently happen in a particular temporo-spatial sequence during the dynamic and prolonged process of cerebral maturation. These developmental events are associated with regional modifications of brain tissues and neural circuits, contributing to networks' specialization and enhanced cognitive processing. According to several studies, improvements in cognitive processes are possibly myelin-dependent and associated to white matter maturation. Of particular interest is the developmental pattern of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), more specifically the PFC white matter, due to its role in high-level executive processes such as attention, working memory and inhibitory control. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed and Embase databases to analyze the development of PFC white matter using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a widely used non-invasive technique to assess white matter maturation. Both the research and reporting of results were based on Cochrane's recommendations and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. Information extracted from 27 published studies revealed an increased myelination, organization and integrity of frontal white matter with age, as revealed by DTI indexes (fractional anisotropy [FA], mean diffusivity [MD], radial diffusivity [RD] and axial diffusivity [AD]). These patterns highlight the extended developmental course of the frontal structural connectivity, which parallels the improvements in higher-level cognitive functions observed between adolescence and early adulthood., This work was conducted at Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653). Sónia Silva Sousa was supported by the SFRH/BD/ 88628/2012, Doctoral Fellowship of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, co-financed by POPH/FSE through QREN., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

With the present study we aimed to analyze the relationship between infants' behavior and their visual evoked-potential (VEPs) response. Specifically, we want to verify differences regarding the VEP response in sleeping and awake infants and if an association between VEP components, in both groups, with neurobehavioral outcome could be identified. To do so, thirty-two full-term and healthy infants, approximately 1-month of age, were assessed through a VEP unpatterned flashlight stimuli paradigm, offered in two different intensities, and were assessed using a neurobehavioral scale. However, only 18 infants have both assessments, and therefore, these is the total included in both analysis. Infants displayed a mature neurobehavioral outcome, expected for their age. We observed that P2 and N3 components were present in both sleeping and awake infants. Differences between intensities were found regarding the P2 amplitude, but only in awake infants. Regression analysis showed that N3 amplitude predicted an adequate social interactive and internal regulatory behavior in infants who were awake during the stimuli presentation. Taking into account that social orientation and regulatory behaviors are fundamental keys for social-like behavior in 1-month-old infants, this study provides an important approach for assessing physiological biomarkers (VEPs) and its relation with social behavior, very early in postnatal development. Moreover, we evidence the importance of the infant's state when studying differences regarding visual threshold processing and its association with behavioral outcome., We wouldlike to thank the families andinfants whoparticipated in this study. Also, we would like to thank Pedro Hispano Hospital, particularly to Dr. J. Lopes dos Santos, for all the kindness throughout the time that we were there for the data collection process. We thank to Maria de Góis-Eanes for all the help and knowledge entailed throughout this study. Furthermore, we thank Associac¸ ão Viver a Ciência for the Simbiontes prize in 2013. This work was supported by Fundac¸ ão Bial (grant number 42/08) and financed by Fundac¸ ão para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) under a PhD grant (reference SFRH/BD/68263/2010).

Long-term exposure to transmeridian flights has been shown to impact cognitive functioning. Nevertheless, the immediate effects of jet lag in the activation of specific brain networks have not been investigated. We analyzed the impact of short-term jet lag on the activation of the default mode network (DMN). A group of individuals who were on a transmeridian flight and a control group went through a functional magnetic resonance imaging acquisition. Statistical analysis was performed to test for differences in the DMN activation between groups. Participants from the jet lag group presented decreased activation in the anterior nodes of the DMN, specifically in bilateral medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. No areas of increased activation were observed for the jet lag group. These results may be suggestive of a negative impact of jet lag on important cognitive functions such as introspection, emotional regulation and decision making in a few days after individuals arrive at their destination., This study was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT): PIC/IC/83290/2007, which is supported by FEDER (POFC – COMPETE). Joana Coutinho was funded by a FCT postdoctoral grant (number: SFRH/BPD/75014/2010) and Bial Foundation (grant number 87/12). Liliana Maia is supported by the Competitive Factors Operational Programme – COMPETE – by national funds from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (grant PTDC/ PSI-PCL/115316/2009)

This study used event-related potentials to examine interactions between mood, sentence context, and semantic memory structure in schizophrenia. Seventeen male chronic schizophrenia and 15 healthy control subjects read sentence pairs after positive, negative, or neutral mood induction. Sentences ended with expected words (EW), within-category violations (WCV), or between-category violations (BCV). Across all moods, patients showed sensitivity to context indexed by reduced N400 to EW relative to both WCV and BCV. However, they did not show sensitivity to the semantic memory structure. N400 abnormalities were particularly enhanced under a negative mood in schizophrenia. These findings suggest abnormal interactions between mood, context processing, and connections within semantic memory in schizophrenia, and a specific role of negative mood in modulating semantic processes in this disease.

Introduction: Prosthetic graft infection is a major complication of vascular surgery associated with high morbid-mortality rates. This retrospective non-randomized single center study evaluated our experience in the management of prosthetic vascular graft infections. Methods: We review the clinical files of patients who had vascular grafts implanted at our center between June 2007 and December 2011 and analysed the cases that developed Samson group 3, 4 and 5 infections until December 2012. Results: From June 2007 to December 2012, 18 consecutive patients (14 males, 4 females) with median age 70 years were admitted to our institution with the diagnosis of vascular graft infection accounting for an incidence of 3.8%. 50% of these infections were early infections and MRSA was the most prevalent pathogen. 44% of infections were due to infection of a femoro-popliteal bypass. Using Samson classification, 72% were group 4 and 5 infections. We performed graft preservation in one patient, graft excision without revascularization in 50% (nine) patients; Excision + insitu replacement in 39% (seven) patients; Excision + Extra-anatomic bypass in one patient. Our amputation rate was 55% and our related death rate was 16%. Conclusions: Our amputation and mortality rates are according the published reviews. Besides allowing recognition of our reality this offers the opportunity to review diagnosis and therapeutic issues in prosthetic vascular graft infections. Each situation needs to be individualized as there is no consensus nor guiding algorithms about what should be the best medical treatment Introdução: A infeção de enxertos protésicos vasculares é uma complicação grave da cirurgia vascular, cursando com altas taxas de morbimortalidade. Este estudo retrospetivo não randomizado, unicêntrico, avaliou a sua experiência na gestão de infeções de próteses vasculares. Métodos: Fez-se uma revisão dos processos clínicos das revascularizações protésicas vasculares realizadas no nosso centro entre junho de 2007 e dezembro de 2011 e selecionaram-se aquelas que desenvolveram infeções do grupo 3, 4 e 5 da classificação de Samson até dezembro de 2012. Resultados: Desde junho de 2007 a dezembro de 2012, 18 doentes (14 homens, 4 mulheres), com uma média de idade 70 anos, foram admitidos no nosso centro com o diagnóstico de infeções de próteses vasculares contribuindo para uma incidência de 3,8%. 50% das infeções foram precoces sendo o MRSA o patogéneo mais isolado. 44% das infeções deveram-se a infeção de conduto femoro-poplíteo. Usando a classificação de Samson, 72% foram infeções grupo 4 e 5. Realizámos preservação do enxerto num doente, excisão da prótese sem revascularização em 50% (nove) doentes; Excisão + substituição in situ em 39% (sete) doentes; Excisão + bypass extra-anatómico num doente. A nossa taxa de amputação foi de 55% e a nossa mortalidade relacionada foi de 16%. Conclusões: As taxas de amputação e mortalidade da série estão de acordo com as revisões publicadas previamente. Para além de permitir reconhecer a nossa realidade esta publicação oferece a oportunidade de rever o diagnóstico e questões terapêuticas relacionadas com infeções de enxertos vasculares protésicos. Cada situação deve ser individualizada, pois não há consenso nem protocolos estabelecidos sobre qual deve ser o tratamento de eleição.

Supported by SFRH/BPD/75014/2010 from Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (FCT), by SFRH/SINTD/60106/2009 from Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (FCT) and by Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (FCT/PTDC/ PSI-PCL/099981/2008).

Background Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied as an add-on enhancer of extinction-based treatments for anxiety disorders. Previous studies have showed that although anodal tDCS enhances fear extinction it also leads to decreased stimuli discrimination and consequent generalization of the fear response. Here we aim to understand the impact of cathodal tDCS in the neural activity and connectivity patterns between the tDCS target site (the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; rDLPFC) and the extant fear network (the bilateral amygdala, bilateral hippocampus, bilateral insula and the ventro medial prefrontal cortex [vmPFC]). Additionally we aim to see if cathodal tDCS leads to adverse effects similar to the ones observed with anodal stimulation. Methods We used a three-day fear conditioning procedure (day 1–fear acquisition; day 2–20-min 1 mA cathodal tDCS (only tDCS group)+ fear extinction; day 3–fear re-instatement and fear re-extinction). Thirty-four female participants where randomly assigned to either the tDCS group (n = 16) or the control group (n = 18). In day 1 fear acquisition was confirmed by self-reported contingency ratings. In day 2 we observed the between group differences in neural activity and connectivity patterns during extinction. In day 3 we observed the self-reported measures of stimuli contingency and reaction times during an approach-avoidance task to tackle the unconscious, automatic and involuntary avoidance responses. Results Functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) group-level maps showed that cathodal tDCS over rDLPFC effectively reduces the right hippocampus activity during the processing of the conditioned stimuli during extinction. Furthermore, group-level psychophysiological interaction analysis (PPI) showed that cathodal tDCS effectively interferes with the fear response neural network. In particular, during the processing of the conditioned stimuli in late extinction phase, tDCS inverts the positive coupling between the vmPFC and a broad range of prefrontal structures, in particular the right and left DLPFC that participate in the regulation of negative emotions. Finally, day 3 measures showed decreased contingency ratings for the neutral cue and increased stimuli discrimination in the tDCS group, suggesting that cathodal tDCS does not lead to increased generalization. Conclusion Our promising results show that 1 mA cathodal tDCS effectively interferes with a large-scale cortico-subcortical fear network during extinction, and confirms that tDCS is a potential add-on strategy to enhance extinction-based treatments. Future studies should observe the adequate parameters of stimulation for the simultaneous enhancement of extinction learning and increased stimuli discrimination.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is commonly associated with marked memory deficits; however, nonamnestic variants have been consistently described as well. Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a progressive degenerative condition in which posterior regions of the brain are predominantly affected, therefore resulting in a pattern of distinctive and marked visuospatial symptoms, such as apraxia, alexia, and spatial neglect. Despite the growing number of studies on cognitive and neural bases of the visual variant of AD, intervention studies remain relatively sparse. Current pharmacological treatments offer modest efficacy. Also, there is a scarcity of complementary nonpharmacological interventions with only two previous studies of PCA. Here we describe a highly educated 57-year-old patient diagnosed with a visual variant of AD who participated in a cognitive intervention program (comprising reality orientation, cognitive stimulation, and cognitive training exercises). Neuropsychological assessment was performed across moments (baseline, postintervention, follow-up) and consisted mainly of verbal and visual memory. Baseline neuropsychological assessment showed deficits in perceptive and visual-constructive abilities, learning and memory, and temporal orientation. After neuropsychological rehabilitation, we observed small improvements in the patient's cognitive functioning, namely in verbal memory, attention, and psychomotor abilities. This study shows evidence of small beneficial effects of cognitive intervention in PCA and is the first report of this approach with a highly educated patient in a moderate stage of the disease. Controlled studies are needed to assess the potential efficacy of cognition-focused approaches in these patients, and, if relevant, to grant their availability as a complementary therapy to pharmacological treatment and visual aids., This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology with individual grants (SFRH=BD=64457=2009, SFRH=BD=65213=2009, cofunded by FSE=POPH) and project grant PIC=IC=83290= 2007, supported by FEDER (POFC–COMPETE)

Objectivos: A nefropatia induzida pelo contraste é a terceira causa de insuficiência renal aguda (IRA) hospitalar. Este estudo pretende determinar a incidência de IRA induzida pelo contraste durante procedimentos angiográficos. Materiais e métodos: Estudo prospectivo de 54 doentes internados no serviço para realização de procedimentos angiográficos de diagnóstico ou terapêutica. O contraste administrado foi o Ultravist 370®. Todos os doentes foram submetidos a profilaxia pré e pós-procedimento com bicarbonato sódico. Considerou-se IRA a elevação da creatinina em 0,5 mg/dl ou 25% do valor inicial, ou diminuição de 25% na taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG). Para o cálculo da TFG utilizou-se a fórmula de Cockcroft-Gault. A doença renal crónica (DRC) e insuficiência renal crónica (IRC) foram definidas conforme a TFG < 90 ml/min ou < 60 ml/min, respectivamente. Aplicou-se o teste não paramétrico Kruskal-Wallis para estudar a influência de possíveis factores de risco para a IRA. Considerou-se significância estatística p < 0,05. Resultados: Estudo com 47 doentes do sexo masculino (87%) e 7 do sexo feminino, com idade média de 62,3 ± 11,1 anos. Entre os factores considerados, observou-se hipertensão arterial (HTA) em 46 doentes (85,2%), DRC em 23 (43%), IRC em 10 (18,5%) e diabetes mellitus (DM) em 13 (24,1%). O volume de contraste utilizado foi em média 234,8 ml, com 209,7 ml nos procedimentos diagnósticos e 345,5 ml nos terapêuticos. A incidência de IRA foi 24,1% (13 casos) e 9,3% (5) utilizando a variação de creatinina e da TFG, respectivamente. A DM (p = 0,049) e IRC (p = 0,013) tiveram significância na indução de IRA. Uma reavalição posterior de 38 doentes evidenciou a irreversibilidade da insuficiência renal em 2 casos (5,2%). Conclusões: A incidência de nefropatia foi elevada apesar da profilaxia utilizada. A DM e IRC foram os factores predisponentes à IRA. A maior parte dos casos de IRA parece reversível. A utilização de contraste iso-osmolar e em menores quantidades poderá melhorar os resultados. Objectives: Contrast induced nephropathy is the third cause of hospital acute renal failure. This study aims to determine the incidence of acute renal failure (ARF) induced by contrast after angiographic procedures. Material and methods: Prospective study with 54 patients admitted to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic angiographic procedure. Ultravist 370® was used as contrast agent in all procedures. All patients were submitted to prophylaxis with sodium bicarbonate before and after procedure. ARF was considered if an increase in creatinine of more than 0.5 mg/dl or 25% of basal value, or a decrease of more than 25% in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was observed. Cockcroft-Gault formula was used for GFR calculation. Chronic renal disease and chronic renal failure were defined as GFR

Mutation of the human gene superoxide dismutase (hSOD1) triggers the fatal neurodegenerative motorneuron disorder, familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease). Broad expression of this gene in Drosophila has no effect on longevity or functional senescence. We show here that restricting expression of human SOD1 primarily to motorneurons of Drosophila has significant effects on optomotor efficiency during in-flight tracking of rapidly moving visual targets. Under high-stress workloads with a recursive visual-motion stimulus cycle, young isogenic controls failed to track rapidly changing visual cues, whereas their same-aged hSOD1-activated progeny maintained coordinated in-flight tracking of the target by phase locking to the dynamic visual movement patterns. Several explanations are considered for the observed effects, including antioxidant intervention in motorneurons, changes in signal transduction pathways that regulate patterns of gene expression in other cell types, and expression of hSOD1 in a small set of neurons in the central brain. That hSOD1 overexpression improves sensorimotor coordination in young organisms may suggest possible therapeutic strategies for early-onset ALS in humans., This work was supported by funding from the University of California, Irvine

Neuroscientists have begun to investigate whether different political attitudes are associated with specificmind-brain markers. In this article, we build on political neuroscience research to briefly illustrate thestructure and function of a Threatening, Reactionary, Unforgiving, Machiavellian, and Partisan (T.R.U.M.P.)mindset. Additionally, we discussed, building on neuroscience and clinical evidence, how to counteractthe T.R.U.M.P. mindset., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Carotid blowout syndrome is one of the most complex bleeding complications that may occur in head and neck cancers patients. The purpose of this paper is to report the clinical manifestations and endovascular management of a case of patient with neck malignancies and a history of radiotherapy. The patient underwent immediate covered stent deployment which resulted in the successful control of bleeding.

Several studies have documented the high prevalence of psychopathology and behavior problems in Williams syndrome (WS). However, the links between cognitive development and such symptoms need further clarification. Our study aims to expand current knowledge on levels of behavior problems and its links to cognition in a sample of Brazilian individuals with WS. A total of 25 children and adolescents with WS and their parents participated in this study. The participants' IQs were assessed with the Wechsler Scales of Intelligence (for children or adults) and parental reports of psychopathology/behavior problems were collected using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The presence of clinically significant attention problems was a main feature in our sample of children and adolescents with WS. In the children, higher IQ scores were found to be significantly associated with less externalizing problems, while in the adolescents cognitive abilities were found to be associated with less internalizing symptoms. These results provide further insight into the links between psychopathology and behavior problems and cognitive abilities in WS, and suggest the need to take age into consideration when analyzing such relationships., This work was supported by CAPES [grant numbers BEX 1551/08-6 and BEX 9573/11-9]; CNPq [grant numbers 308540/2012-3 and 487188/2013-6]; and FEDER through the Competitive Factors Operational Programme (COMPETE) and national funds from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [grant number PTDC/PSI-PCL/115316/2009]., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The objective of the present study was to research the patterns of Default Mode Network (DMN) deactivation in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the transition between a resting and a non-rest emotional condition. Twenty-seven participants, 15 diagnosed with OCD and 12 healthy controls (HC), underwent a functional neuroimaging paradigm in which DMN brain activation in a resting condition was contrasted with activity during a non-rest condition consisting in the presentation of emotionally pleasant and unpleasant images. Results showed that HC, when compared with OCD, had a significant deactivation in two anterior nodes of the DMN (medial frontal and superior frontal) in the non-rest pleasant stimuli condition. Additional analysis for the whole brain, contrasting the resting condition with all the non-rest conditions grouped together, showed that, compared with OCD, HC had a significantly deactivation of a widespread brain network (superior frontal, insula, middle and superior temporal, putamen, lingual, cuneus, and cerebellum). Concluding, the present study found that OCD patients had difficulties with the deactivation of DMN even when the non-rest condition includes the presentation of emotional provoking stimuli, particularly evident for images with pleasant content., The first author was funded by the Brazilian National Counsel for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) as a Special Visiting Researcher of the Science Without Borders program (grant number: 401143/20147). This study was partially conducted at the Neuropsychophysiology Lab from the Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145FEDER-007653)., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

We evaluated the Portuguese version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index 3 (ASI-3-PT). Results of a confirmatory factor analysis (N = 603; 65.3% women, M age = 28.55, SD = 10.42) confirmed multidimensionality of the construct and the receiver operating characteristic confirmed the discriminant capacity of the measure between clinical and nonclinical samples., This work was supported by a Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal and Programa COMPETE Doctoral Grant SFRH/BD/80945/2011 to Ana Ganho-Avila, and a Post-Doctoral Grant SFRH/BPD/87514/2012 to Mariana Moura-Ramos. This study was partially conducted at Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653).

The objective of this study was to investigate the psycholinguistic abilities of children with Williams syndrome (WS) and typically developing children using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA). Performance on the ITPA was analysed in a group with WS (N = 20, mean age = 8.5 years, SD = 1.62) and two typically developing groups, matched in mental (MA, N = 20, mean age = 4.92 years, SD = 1.14) and chronological age (CA, N = 19, mean age = 8.35 years, SD = 3.07). Overall, within-group analyses showed that individuals with WS displayed higher scalar scores on the visual reception and visual association subtests. When groups were compared, we observed inferior performance of the WS group on all ITPA subtests when compared with typically developing groups. Moreover, an interaction between reception and group was found, only the WS group demonstrated superior performance on the visual reception subtest when compared to the auditory reception subtest. Evidence from this study offers relevant contributions to the development of educational intervention programs for children with WS., Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/CAPES (Processo: 1551/08-6) e Prope-UNESP-Santander and grant PIC/IC/83290/2007 from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT).

The present study analyses the modulatory effects of affective pictures in the early posterior negativity (EPN), the late positive potential (LPP) and the human startle response on both the peripheral (eye blink EMG) and central neurophysiological levels (Probe P3), during passive affective pictures viewing. The affective pictures categories were balanced in terms of valence (pleasant; unpleasant) and arousal (high; low). The data shows that EPN may be sensitive to specific stimulus characteristics (affective relevant pictures versus neutral pictures) associated with early stages of attentional processing. In later stages, the heightened attentional resource allocation aswell as themotivated significance of the affective stimuliwas found to elicit enhancedamplitudes of slow wave processes thought to be related to enhanced encoding, namely LPP,. Although pleasant low arousing pictureswere effective in engaging the resources involved in the slowwave processes, the highly arousing affective stimuli (pleasant and unpleasant) were found to produce the largest enhancement of the LPP, suggesting that high arousing stimulimay are associatedwith increasedmotivational significance. Additionally the response to high arousing stimulimay be suggestive of increasedmotivational attention, given the heightened attentional allocation, as expressed in the P3 probe, especially for the pleasant pictures. The hedonic valencemay then serve as amediator of the attentional inhibition to the affective priming, potentiating or inhibiting a shift towards defensive activation, as measured by the startle reflex., Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology with individual grants (SFRH/BD/41484/2007 and SFRH/BD/64355/2009) and by the Spanish Xunta de Galicia – with FEDER funds – (DOG 233 — Resolution date: 2009 November 18th

Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder, often referred as being characterized by dissociation between verbal and non-verbal abilities, although the number of studies disputing this proposal is emerging. Indeed, although they have been traditionally reported as displaying increased speech fluency, this topic has not been fully addressed in research. In previous studies carried out with a small group of individuals with WS, we reported speech breakdowns during conversational and autobiographical narratives suggestive of language difficulties. In the current study, we characterized the speech fluency profile using an ecologically based measure – a narrative task (story generation) was collected from a group of individuals with WS (n = 30) and typically developing group (n = 39) matched in mental age. Oral narratives were elicited using a picture stimulus – the cookie theft picture from Boston Diagnosis Aphasia Test. All narratives were analyzed according to typology and frequency of fluency breakdowns (non-stuttered and stuttered disfluencies). Oral narratives in WS group differed from typically developing group, mainly due to a significant increase in the frequency of disfluencies, particularly in terms of hesitations, repetitions and pauses. This is the first evidence of disfluencies in WS using an ecologically based task (oral narrative task), suggesting that these speech disfluencies may represent a significant marker of language problems in WS., Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientı´fico e Tecnolo´ gico (CNPq, Process GM/GD 141307/2006-4, MCT/CNPq 14/2009-474092/2009-7), Brazil, Coordenac¸a˜o de Aperfeic¸oamento de Pessoal de Nı´vel Superior (CAPES) - Programa de Doutorado no Paı´s com Esta´ gio no Exterior (PDEE, Process 1551/08-6), Brazil and Fundac¸a˜o para a Cieˆncia e Tecnologia (FCT, Process PTDC/PSI-PCL/115316/2009), Portugal