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The digitalization process for organizations, which was inevitably accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, raises relevant challenges for Human Resource Management (HRM) because every technological implementation has a certain impact on human beings. Between many organizational HRM practices, recruitment and assessment interviews represent a significant moment where a social interaction provides the context for evaluating candidates' skills. It is therefore relevant to investigate how different interaction frames and relational conditions affect such task, with a specific focus on the differences between face-to-face (FTF) and remote computer-mediated (RCM) interaction settings. In particular, the possibility of qualifying and quantifying the mechanisms shaping the efficiency of interaction in the recruiter-candidate dyad-i.e. interpersonal attunement-is potentially insightful. We here present a neuroscientific protocol aimed at elucidating the impact of FTF vs. RCM modalities on social dynamics within assessment interviews. Specifically, the hyperscanning approach, understood as the concurrent recording and integrated analysis of behavioural-physiological responses of interacting agents, will be used to evaluate recruiter-candidate dyads while they are involved in either FTF or RCM conditions. Specifically, the protocol has been designed to collect self-report, oculometric, autonomic (electrodermal activity, heart rate, heart rate variability), and neurophysiological (electroencephalography) metrics from both inter-agents to explore the perceived quality of the interaction, automatic visual-attentional patterns of inter-agents, as well as their cognitive workload and emotional engagement. The proposed protocol will provide a theoretical evidence-based framework to assess possible differences between FTF vs. RMC settings in complex social interactions, with a specific focus on job interviews., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The need for quick tools to sketch an early but accurate cognitive profile of patients who suffered brain damage or head trauma is of primary importance. Nonetheless, in the Italian context, the most-diffused screening tools are still those originally devised to diagnose dementia. The present pilot study then aimed at investigating the potential and feasibility of a novel screening battery, the Cognitive Assessment for Stroke Patients (CASP), in a sample of Italian patients by comparing it to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tests. A total of 29 neurology patients took part in the study. Participants underwent a screening procedure including the administration of MMSE, MoCA, and CASP. Data analysis suggested that the scores of the Italian version of the CASP are relatively less affected by the presence of language difficulties-common sequelae of stroke and head traumas-with respect to MMSE and MoCA ones. Furthermore, CASP scores proved to be highly correlated with both MMSE and MoCA scores, showing good clinical potential. Finally, the outcomes of administered tests proved not to be influenced by etiology or gender, and CASP scores showed a diminishing trend related to patients' age and a positive association with patients' education.

Executive functions tend to decrease their efficiency during the physiological aging process. Nevertheless, cognitive and brain reserves are thought to act as protective factors against cognitive decline. Then, the re-activation of cognitive and neural networks by means of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) may help in maintaining those reserves and improving functional profiles. The present research investigates the effect of prefrontal NIBS in empowering executive functions and electrophysiological attention responses in healthy elderly people. Twenty-two volunteers have been assigned to a control or NIBS group. The NIBS protocol (anodal transcranial direct current stimulation) lasted eight weeks (three sessions per week), with twice-weekly administration of tasks tapping on executive functions. Participants’ cognitive and electrophysiological profiles were assessed at the beginning, after the treatment period, and after six months. Data analyses showed interesting positive modulations in post-intervention performances for the NIBS group – specifically in tests tapping on executive functions and automatic electrophysiological attention responses. Besides, participants’ subjective reports of improvement in everyday functioning, behavioral and electrophysiological evidences suggest that a moderately intensive NIBS protocol might help in empowering specific cognitive functions even in healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The vasovagal syncope is characterized by short-lasting loss of consciousness and muscular tone. While it is widely-accepted that episodes are due to a sudden decrease of blood pressure, the actual cause of that decrease is still matter of debate. Given the link between vagal system and affective experience, this research aims at investigating the hypothesis of a psychogenic etiopathogenesis and at sketching a clearer picture of affective responses in syncope. Methods Healthy control volunteers and patients took part to the study. In order to explore conscious and automatic processing of affective information, participants were asked to observe high-arousal stimuli inducing affective activation while their autonomic and electroencephalographic activities were recorded. Further, at the end of the task subjects were presented with psychometric and personality tests. Results Patients’ psychometric and psychophysiological data highlighted peculiar and complex profiles with respect to the control group, with anomalous electroencephalographic, cardiovascular and electrodermal responses but spared emotional appraisal skills. Conclusions The complexity of psychometric and psychophysiological pictures suggests that there may exist different syncope subtypes, characterized by the dysregulation of autonomic responsivity. Key message Comparing and integrating personality, psychometric and functional data may support the diagnostic process and definition of syncope-related clinical pictures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective While the contribution of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) in preventing cognitive decline is looked with interest, NIBS empowerment of healthy elderly is understudied. The present research aims at investigating the effect of prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in empowering executive functions and electrophysiologic attention responses in healthy aging. Methods 22 participants have been assigned to the intervention or control group and underwent a complex assessment at T0 and at T1 – after three months. The anodal tDCS protocol lasted eight weeks (three sessions per week), with twice-weekly administration of tasks tapping on executive functions. A complete set of standardized cognitive tests and an electroencephalographic recording during a challenging computerized attention task have been integrated in the assessment protocol. Results T0–T1 comparisons highlighted a significant increase in post-intervention performances for the tDCS group. Specifically, tests tapping on executive functions and automatic electrophysiologic attention responses showed positive modulations. Conclusions The consistency of behavioral and electrophysiologic findings suggests that a moderately intensive NIBS protocol might mediate the empowerment of specific cognitive functions even in healthy aging people. Key message Physiological aging is a dynamic process, where non-invasive interventions may capitalize on resources of the cognitive reserve to help improving cognitive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]