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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected young adults' lives globally, including those in Germany. This study investigated mental health and quality of life during the pandemic, with a particular focus on mood. Immune fitness, the body's capacity to respond to health challenges (such as infections) by activating an appropriate immune response, was assessed as a physical health indicator. Methods: Data were collected from 317 participants, aged 18 to 35, via an online survey conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. Participants included 103 men (32.5%) and 214 women (67.5%), with a mean age of 25.5 years (SD = 4.1). Results: Compared to pre-pandemic levels, significant declines in mood, quality of life, immune fitness, and sleep quality were observed during the lockdown periods of the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.0125). The most pronounced effects were observed during the second lockdown, with declines extending into the second no-lockdown period for fatigue, depression, happiness, optimism, and immune fitness (p < 0.0125). Significant sex differences were found for the magnitude of mood effects (anxiety, depression, stress). No significant differences were found according to age or occupational status (student vs. work). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown periods had a significant negative effect on the mood, immune fitness, and well-being of young adults living in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "Metacontrol" describes the ability to maintain an optimal balance between cognitive control styles that are either more persistent or more flexible. Recent studies have shown a link between metacontrol and aperiodic EEG patterns. The present study aimed to gain more insight into the neurobiological underpinnings of metacontrol by using methylphenidate (MPH), a compound known to increase postsynaptic catecholamine levels and modulate cortical noise. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design, we investigated the effect of MPH (0.5 mg/kg) on aperiodic EEG activity during a flanker task in a sample of n = 25 neurotypical adults. To quantify cortical noise, we employed the fitting oscillations and one over f algorithm. Results: Compared with placebo, MPH increased the aperiodic exponent, suggesting that it reduces cortical noise in 2 ways. First, it did so in a state-like fashion, as the main effect of the drug was visible and significant in both pre-trial and within-trial periods. Second, the electrode-specific analyses showed that the drug also affects specific processes by dampening the downregulation of noise in conditions requiring more control. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the aperiodic exponent provides a neural marker of metacontrol states and changes therein. Further, we propose that the effectiveness of medications targeting catecholaminergic signaling can be evaluated by studying changes of cortical noise, fostering the idea of using the quantification of cortical noise as an indicator in pharmacological treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The principle of gain control determines the efficiency of neuronal processing and can be enhanced with pharmacological or brain stimulation methods. It is a key factor for cognitive control, but the degree of how much gain control may be enhanced underlies a physical limit. Methods To investigate whether methylphenidate (MPH) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) share common underlying mechanisms and cognitive effects, we administered MPH and anodal tDCS (atDCS) over the right inferior frontal gyrus both separately and combined, while healthy adult participants (n = 104) performed a response selection and inhibition task. The recorded EEG data were analyzed with a focus on theta band activity, and source estimation analyses were conducted. Results The behavioral data show that MPH and atDCS revealed interactive effects on the ability to inhibit responses. Both MPH and atDCS modulated task-related theta oscillations in the supplementary motor area when applied separately, making a common underlying mechanism likely. When both stimulation methods were combined, there was no doubling of effects in the supplementary motor area but a shift to inferior frontal areas in the cortical network responsible for theta-driven processing. Conclusions The results indicate that both MPH and atDCS likely share a common underlying neuronal mechanism, and interestingly, they demonstrate interactive effects when combined, which are most likely due to the physical limitations of gain control increases. The current study provides critical groundwork for future combined applications of MPH and non-invasive brain stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current proceedings summarize the presentations held during the 12th meeting of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group (AHRG) in 2022, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aim of the annual AHRG meeting was to discuss advances in research on the causes, consequences, and possible treatment of the alcohol hangover, including methodological issues and the possibilities for future research collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]