Search

Guidelines advocate that the symptomatic management of fever should prioritize alleviating the child's discomfort. We investigated the definition and assessment of discomfort in febrile children within the scientific pediatric literature. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and preregistered on the Prospero database (CRD42023471590). Databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched. Studies addressing discomfort in febrile children were eligible. Out of 794 initially identified articles, 27 original studies and seven guidelines specifically used the term 'discomfort'. Only 14 original articles provided a definition of discomfort, revealing substantial heterogeneity and no clear-cut definition. Discomfort was often assessed subjectively, predominantly through parent or self-report, and only two studies used a scoring system for assessment. The definitions varied widely, with terms such as crying, irritability, shivering and chills, pain and distress, goosebumps commonly used and evaluation of observable modifications such as facial modifications. Overall, no consensus on a single, standardized definition was available. Conclusions: This systematic review shows the absence of a standardized definition and assessment of discomfort in febrile children. The findings of the present analysis might be the basis for building a consensus and developing a new tool to evaluate discomfort. What is Known: • Discomfort is currently considered the main criterion to guide antipyretic administration in children with fever. • Despite this clear-cut recommendation, it has been questioned whether a commonly accepted understanding and assessment of this condition exists. What is New: • This systematic review identifies a significant heterogeneity in definitions and assessment of discomfort in children with fever. • Both subjective parameters and observable modifications in physiological parameters should be included in a new and shared characterization of discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often suggested that piloerection, or goosebumps, is primarily triggered by emotional experience—theoretical perspectives place a heavy emphasis on experiencing novelty and surprise. However, the two studies described here challenge this perspective, demonstrating that the incidence of piloerection is not contingent upon exposure to novel stimuli and is disconnected from self-reported emotions. Study 1 (N = 80) shows that piloerection was not more likely to occur among individuals exposed to unfamiliar stimuli compared to those with prior exposure. Additionally, self-reported emotions were not correlated with observed piloerection. Study 2 (N = 27) found that piloerection persists throughout multiple exposures to identical stimuli. Importantly, the trajectories of observed piloerection and self-reported emotions diverged greatly. These findings challenge the common view that piloerection—unlike self-reported goosebumps and chills—is driven by emotional experience, suggesting that it may not be as closely connected to emotional experiences as previously theorised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piloerection (e.g., goosebumps) is an essential thermoregulatory and social signaling mechanism in non‐human animals. Although humans also experience piloerection—often being perceived as an indicator of profound emotional experiences—its comparatively less effective role in thermoregulation and communication might influence our capacity to monitor its occurrence. We present three studies (total N = 617) demonstrating participants' general inability to detect their own piloerection events and their lack of awareness that piloerection occurs with a similar frequency on multiple anatomical locations. Self‐reported goosebumps were more frequent than observed piloerection. However, only 31.8% of self‐reports coincided with observable piloerection, a bias unrelated to piloerection intensity, anatomical location, heart‐rate variability, or interoceptive awareness. We also discovered a self‐report bias for the forearm, contradicting the observation that piloerection occurs with equal frequency on multiple anatomical locations. Finally, there was low correspondence between self‐reports of being "emotionally moved" and observed piloerection. These counterintuitive findings not only highlight a disconnect between an obvious physiological response and our capacity for self‐monitoring, but they underscore a fascinating divergence between human and non‐human species. Although piloerection is vital in non‐human organisms, the connection between piloerection and psychological experience in humans may be less significant than previously assumed, possibly due to its diminished evolutionary relevance. This research reveals a striking dissociation between an obvious physiological response—piloerection—and human capacity for self‐perception. Although this highlights the limitations of relying on self‐report measures, it also underscores an important divergence between humans and non‐human species. We propose that the relation between piloerection and psychological experience in humans is less pronounced than in other species, potentially due to its diminished role in human evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Epistemus. Journal of Music, Cognition & Culture Research is the property of Facultad de Psicologia Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Most of Charles Darwin's ideas have withstood the test of time, but some of them turned out to be dead ends. This article focuses on one such dead end: Darwin's ideas about the connection between piloerection and mental illness. Piloerection is a medical umbrella term to refer to a number of phenomena in which our hair tends to stand on end. Darwin was one of the first scientists to study it systematically. In The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872), he discusses piloerection in the context of his analysis of the expressions involved in fear and anger, relying heavily on the evidence provided by one of his correspondents, the British psychiatrist James Crichton Browne. This essay reveals how Darwin's initial doubts about the similarity between piloerection in animals and psychiatric patients were eased when studying photographic portraits of female psychiatric patients sent to him by Crichton Browne. It considers arguments against Darwin's reading of these portraits and the apparent contrast between this reading and his own skepticism, in later years, about the value of documentary photography. The article concludes with some notes regarding the reception of Darwin's ideas about psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's objectives were to investigate the acute toxicity and related biochemical effects of levamisole and ivermectin in mice. The 24 h oral median lethal dose (LD50) of levamisole was determined by the up-and-down method and was 155.5 mg/ kg of body weight. The treated mice showed signs of acute poisoning represented by excessive grooming, lacrimation, piloerection, straub tail, tachycardia, bulged eyes, tremor, convulsion and finally death within 24 h of treatment. The approximate lethal dose (ALD) of levamisole was 368 mg/kg, and the mice showed signs of poisoning similar to the previous signs of poisoning within 24 h of treatment. The 24 h oral LD50 of ivermectin was 115.2 mg/kg and the mice showed acute signs of poisoning, represented by excessive grooming, lacrimation, closed eyelids, piloerection, tachycardia, rapid respiration, depression, flat body appearance, paralysis and finally death within 24 h of treatment, while the approximate lethal dose of ivermectin was 121 mg/kg and also with the presence of severe poisoning signs as mentioned before. Non-lethal toxic doses of levamisole at 100 and 150 mg/kg and ivermectin at 75 and 100 mg/kg led to significant blood biochemical changes after 24 h of treatment, represented by a significant increase in the activity of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and a significantly increased total bilirubin concentration in the blood plasma of mice. These results proved the presence of acute toxicity and biochemical effects of both anthelmintics levamisole and ivermectin even though they have wide safety margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Keratosis pilaris is a common skin disorder characterized by little bumps on the skin. Some believe the lumps resemble goose bumps or the skin of a plucked chicken. Others misinterpret the bumps as tiny pimples. These rough-feeling pimples are actually dead skin cell plugs. The plugs are most commonly found on the upper arms and thighs (front). These pimples on the cheeks are common in children. Keratosis pilaris is a persistent skin disorder that is most frequent in adolescents. Methods: A specially designed questionnaire was used to collect data in this cross-sectional investigation. The questionnaire included demographic questions as well as questions about Keratosis Pilaris awareness and understanding. The questionnaire was created following a series of conversations amongst a panel of experts comprised of subject specialists, researchers, and language experts. The questionnaire's Cronbach alpha was computed. The research was carried out in Saudi Arabia's Aseer region. Results: Out of total 590 distributed forms, we got 504 properly filled forms in response, so the response rate was 85%, cronbach alpha of the questionnaire was 0.85, 61.9% were aware about the keratosis pilaris (KP). Conclusion: A thorough patient education is essential. Despite the fact that numerous treatments are available, none of them perform well or are consistently successful; because the condition is not life-threatening, patients should be aware that some treatments are more likely to cause harm than good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce ChillsDB the first validated database of audiovisual stimuli eliciting aesthetic chills (goosebumps, psychogenic shivers) in a US population. To discover chills stimuli "in the wild", we devised a bottom-up, ecologically-valid method consisting in searching for mentions of the emotion' somatic markers in user comments throughout social media platforms (YouTube and Reddit). We successfully captured 204 chills-eliciting videos of three categories: music, film, and speech. We then tested the top 50 videos in the database on 600+ participants and validated a gold standard of 10 stimuli with a 0.9 probability of generating chills. All ChillsDB tools and data are fully available on GitHub for researchers to be able to contribute and perform further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrocnide moroides (also known as gympie-gympie, mulberrylike stinging tree, or stinger) is arguably the most brutal of stinging plants, even leading to death in dogs, horses, and humans in rare cases. They can be recognized as shrubs with heart-shaped, serrated, dark green leaves that are covered in what appears to be soft downy fur with red to dark purple raspberries growing on long stems. After contact, there is immediate piloerection and local swelling, which may disappear after 1 hour or last as long as 24 hours, but the subjective pain, pruritus, and burning can persist for months. One can only treat conservatively with symptom management, and the most successful method of removing plant hair is hair removal wax strips, which are considered an essential component of a first aid kit where D moroides is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to suggest a new way for structuring English teacher preparation within traditional university programs, challenging the age-old use of formal lesson plan reflections and introducing critical narratives as course texts to better understand pre-service teacher experiences. Through this reimagined English methods curriculum, the authors establish increased cohesion between practice and theory, facilitate the development of teacher reflective practice and establish methods for apprehending the emotional experience of pre-service educators. Design/methodology/approach: This study of 18 pre-service English language arts students considers how teacher education programs could better emphasize socio-emotional elements of teaching by asking students to produce and engage with critical narratives that require more than just an appraisal of learning outcomes of direct instruction, but merge critical inquiry, ethical teaching considerations, self-reflection and perceptions of practice. Findings: The findings indicate that when compared with traditional lesson plan reflections, critical narrative reflections of field experiences increase student focus on emotional aspects of teaching, provide a more nuanced lens into emotional experiences and establish a more complex conception of the teaching practice. Originality/value: This curricular design challenges the prevailing ways that English pre-service educators are understood and taught through a reimagined understanding and application of narrative writing as course texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an accessible review of the biological and psychological evidence to guide new and experienced researchers in the study of emotional piloerection in humans. A limited number of studies have attempted to examine the physiological and emotional correlates of piloerection in humans. However, no review has attempted to collate this evidence to guide the field as it moves forward. We first discuss the mechanisms and function of non-emotional and emotional piloerection in humans and animals. We discuss the biological foundations of piloerection as a means to understand the similarities and differences between emotional and non-emotional piloerection. We then present a systematic qualitative review (k = 24) in which we examine the physiological correlates of emotional piloerection. The analysis revealed that indices of sympathetic activation are abundant, suggesting emotional piloerection occurs with increased (phasic) skin conductance and heart rate. Measures of parasympathetic activation are lacking and no definite conclusions can be drawn. Additionally, several studies examined self-reported emotional correlates, and these correlates are discussed in light of several possible theoretical explanations for emotional piloerection. Finally, we provide an overview of the methodological possibilities available for the study of piloerection and we highlight some pressing questions researchers may wish to answer in future studies. • Provides an overview of biological and psychological research on piloerection • Summarises the main physiological correlates of emotional piloerection • Summarises emotional correlates of emotional piloerection • Provides an overview of methodological possibilities for studying emotional piloerection • Identifies questions for future research to answer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional experiences typically labelled "being moved" or "feeling touched" may belong to one universal emotion. This emotion, which has been labelled "kama muta", is hypothesised to have a positive valence, be elicited by sudden intensifications of social closeness, and be accompanied by warmth, goosebumps and tears. Initial evidence on correlations among the kama muta components has been collected with self-reports after or during the emotion. Continuous measures during the emotion seem particularly informative, but previous work allows only restricted inferences on intra-individual processes because time series were cross-correlated across samples. In the current studies, we instead use a within-subject design to replicate and extend prior work. We compute intra-individual cross-correlations between continuous self-reports on feeling moved and (1) positive and negative affect; (2) goosebumps and subjective warmth and (3) appraisals of closeness and morality. Results confirm the predictions of kama muta theory that feeling moved by intensified communal sharing cross-correlates with appraised closeness, positive affect, warmth and (less so) goosebumps, but not with negative affect. Contrary to predictions, appraised morality cross-correlated with feeling moved as much as appraised closeness did. We conclude that strong inferences on emotional processes are possible using continuous measures, replace earlier findings, and are largely in line with theorising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living organisms are imparted with compact intelligence in which a myriad of functionalities are delivered by highly integrated and demodularized subunits, as in the case of the mammalian skin in which different embedding stimuli‐receptors and follicles work together to provide rich sensation for temperature and tactility, as well as the visible and regulatory response of hair erection via the arrector pili muscle. A breakthrough in robotics is to create similar intelligence using emerging stimuli‐responsive materials. Here, a thin film composite comprising a transition metal oxide/hydroxide layer for sensation and high‐performing actuation under environmental stimuli including visible light, humidity, and temperature, and a graphene‐based layer for feedback strain sensing, is developed to demonstrate such an approach of robotics. The system is used to construct robotic hair that mimics well mammalian hair in functionality, and devices for sensing objects for their effective manipulation. This research opens a "material intelligence" approach for robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five funnel-web spiders in the genus Macrothele are widely distributed to Taiwan. We herein reported the severe case of a woman bitten by a male Macrothele gigas who present with autonomic (i.e., profuse sweating and piloerection), cardiovascular (hypertension and tachycardia), and neurologic effects (perioral numbness) in addition to local tissue swelling and regional limb pain. Morphine and ampicillin/sulbactam were administered. Her cardiovascular, neurologic, and local symptoms gradually improved, and thus was discharged 24 h post-bite. However, persistent diaphoresis and piloerection lasted for at least 3 days, and pre-renal azotemia was suspected. Due to the risk of severity and death reported for the Australian funnel web spider bites, we suggest patients bitten by an Asian funnel-web spider be carefully monitored and resuscitation performed as indicated. • Information on the diagnosis and management of the Asian funnel-web spiders' bites remains limited. • The patient bitten by Macrothele gigas (Asian funnel-web spider) developed cardiovascular, neurologic, and autonomic effects. • Specific antivenom is unavailable in Taiwan. • Immediately applying pressure immobilization and transporting the patient to the emergency department are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisher's experience of treatment and recovery are the reader's entry point into the history of alcohol and drugs, but at times the book strains to see beyond them. Fisher's personal story of addiction and recovery propels the historical narrative forward and parallels the experiences of the historical figures he discusses. Carl Erik Fisher, an addiction physician, bioethicist, and a person in long-term recovery, has written two books under one cover. [Extracted from the article]