Search

Abstract In occupational therapy, crafts and groups are used as therapeutic tools, but their electrophysiological effects have not been well described. This study aimed to investigate the effects of group crafting on the physiological synchrony (PS) of dyadic heartbeats and on the autonomic activity and electroencephalogram (EEG) of individuals. In this cross-sectional study, individuals’ EEG and dyadic electrocardiogram (ECG) were measured during the task in a variety of conditions. The three conditions were alone, parallel, nonparallel. Autonomic activity from the subjects’ ECG, PS from the dyadic ECG, and current source density from exact Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (eLORETA) from subjects’ EEG were analyzed. Measurements from 30 healthy young adults showed that the parallel condition significantly increased subjects' parasympathetic activity and dyadic PS. Parallel condition and frontal midline theta influenced parasympathetic activity, whereas parasympathetic activity was not associated with PS. Dyadic lag value were correlated with frontal delta, beta, and gamma activity. The results suggest that crafting in parallel groups increases parasympathetic activity and PS through different mechanisms, despite the absence of direct interaction. They also explain the electrophysiological evidence for the use of crafts and groups in psychiatric occupational therapy, such as increased relaxation and PS.

In occupational therapy, crafts and groups are used as therapeutic tools, but their electrophysiological effects have not been well described. This study aimed to investigate the effects of group crafting on the physiological synchrony (PS) of dyadic heartbeats and on the autonomic activity and electroencephalogram (EEG) of individuals. In this cross-sectional study, individuals' EEG and dyadic electrocardiogram (ECG) were measured during the task in a variety of conditions. The three conditions were alone, parallel, nonparallel. Autonomic activity from the subjects' ECG, PS from the dyadic ECG, and current source density from exact Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (eLORETA) from subjects' EEG were analyzed. Measurements from 30 healthy young adults showed that the parallel condition significantly increased subjects' parasympathetic activity and dyadic PS. Parallel condition and frontal midline theta influenced parasympathetic activity, whereas parasympathetic activity was not associated with PS. Dyadic lag value were correlated with frontal delta, beta, and gamma activity. The results suggest that crafting in parallel groups increases parasympathetic activity and PS through different mechanisms, despite the absence of direct interaction. They also explain the electrophysiological evidence for the use of crafts and groups in psychiatric occupational therapy, such as increased relaxation and PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder (PD) are debilitating psychiatric conditions, yet their underlying neurobiological differences remain underexplored. This study aimed to directly compare resting-state EEGs in patients with OCD and PD, without a healthy control group, using the eLORETA method. Methods: We collected retrospective EEG data from 24 OCD patients and 22 PD patients who were hospitalized due to significant impairment in daily life functions. eLORETA was used to analyze the EEG data. Results: Heightened theta activity was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of OCD patients compared to PD patients (PD vs. OCD, t = −2.168, p < 0.05). Conversely, higher gamma activity was found in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and paracentral lobule (PCL) in PD patients (PD vs. OCD, t = 2.173, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings highlight neurobiological differences between OCD and PD patients. Specifically, the increased theta activity in the ACC for OCD patients and elevated gamma activity in the MFG and PCL for PD patients offer preliminary insights into the neural mechanisms of these disorders. Further studies are essential to validate these results and delve deeper into the neural underpinnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The therapeutic structure of occupational therapy (OT) includes groups. Although the presence of others is expected to be relaxing due to the social buffering effect and the tend and befriend theory, it has not been sufficiently validated in accordance with the therapeutic structure of OT. The aim of this study was to investigate the electrophysiological evidence for the effectiveness of parallel groups and states of concentration on craft activities used in OT. Methods: Thirty healthy young adults were used as controls to measure EEG and autonomic activity during craft activities in three conditions: alone, parallel, and nonparallel. EEG was analyzed using exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography, and autonomic activity was analyzed using Lorenz plot analysis. Results: Parasympathetic activity was significantly higher in the parallel condition than in the alone condition. A significant negative correlation was found between current source density and parasympathetic activity in the region centered on the right insular cortex in the α1 band, and functional connectivity in regions including the anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex was associated with autonomic activity. Conclusion: Craft activities that occurred during frontal midline theta rhythm also increased parasympathetic activity. The results suggest that the parallel groups used in OT and the intensive state of craft activities induce a social buffering effect that increases parasympathetic activity despite the absence of physical contact or social support. This provides evidence for the effectiveness of the therapeutic structure of occupational activities and groups in OT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder (PD) are debilitating psychiatric conditions, yet their underlying neurobiological differences remain underexplored. This study aimed to directly compare resting-state EEGs in patients with OCD and PD, without a healthy control group, using the eLORETA method. Methods: We collected retrospective EEG data from 24 OCD patients and 22 PD patients who were hospitalized due to significant impairment in daily life functions. eLORETA was used to analyze the EEG data. Results: Heightened theta activity was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of OCD patients compared to PD patients (PD vs. OCD, t = −2.168, p < 0.05). Conversely, higher gamma activity was found in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and paracentral lobule (PCL) in PD patients (PD vs. OCD, t = 2.173, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings highlight neurobiological differences between OCD and PD patients. Specifically, the increased theta activity in the ACC for OCD patients and elevated gamma activity in the MFG and PCL for PD patients offer preliminary insights into the neural mechanisms of these disorders. Further studies are essential to validate these results and delve deeper into the neural underpinnings.

Introduction: Although the study of the Triple Network (TN) model has gained attention in the exploration of stress-related processes, the neurophysiological mechanisms of TN in relation to perceived stress have been relatively understudied in nonclinical samples so far. The main objective of the present study was to investigate, in a sample of university students, the association of perceived stress with resting state electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity in the TN. Methods: Ninety university students (40 males and 50 females; mean age 22.30 ± 2.43 years; mean educational level 16.60 ± 1.62 years) were enrolled. EEG data were analyzed through the exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA). Results: Higher levels of perceived stress were associated with decreased delta EEG connectivity within the central executive network (CEN) and between the CEN and the salience network (SN). Higher levels of perceived stress were also associated with decreased theta EEG connectivity between the CEN and the SN. The associations between perceived stress and EEG connectivity data were significant even when relevant confounding factors (i.e., sex, age, educational level, and psychopathological symptoms) were controlled for. Discussion: Taken together, our results suggest that higher levels of perceived stress are associated with a dysfunctional synchronization within the CEN and between the SN and the CEN. This functional pattern might in part reflect the negative impact of high levels of perceived stress on cognitive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We investigated the association among triple network electroencephalographic (EEG) functional connectivity, dissociative symptoms, and childhood trauma (CT) in a sample of university students. Sampling and Methods: Seventy-six participants (30 males and 46 females; mean age 22.12 ± 2.35) completed self-report measures investigating dissociative symptoms, CT, and depressive symptoms. Participants also performed an eyes-closed resting-state EEG recording. EEG analyses were conducted through the exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) software. Results: A 2-step cluster analysis revealed 2 groups: participants (N = 23) with high dissociative-traumatic dimension symptoms (DTD+) and participants (N = 53) with low DTD symptoms (DTD−). Compared to DTD− subjects, DTD+ participants showed decreased theta connectivity between the salience network (SN) and central executive network (CEN), specifically between the right anterior insula and the left posterior parietal cortex. No significant correlation was detected between EEG data and clinical variables. Conclusion: Our results raise the possibility of a dysfunctional connectivity pattern occurring between the SN and CEN in individuals with high DTD symptoms. Such connectivity pattern might reflect the neuropsychophysiological disintegration related to pathological dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of 20 min of narrow-bandwidth light exposure of different wavelengths (455, 508, and 629 nm, with irradiance of 14 µW/cm2) on various neuropsychological and neurophysiological parameters of vigilance in healthy volunteers and to provide further evidence of the behavioral (subjective sleepiness, reaction time) and electrophysiological (P300 and spectral characteristics) responses to light. The results show that the short-wavelength light condition (455 nm) was found to be most effective in terms of its alerting effect for the following variables: subjective sleepiness, latency of P300 response, and absolute EEG power in higher beta (24–34 Hz) and gamma (35–50 Hz) range at each of the 19 recording electrodes. However, no differences in current power density were observed at the level of cortical EEG sources estimated by exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography. Our results are in line with other research that shows significant alerting effects of blue (short-wavelength) light in comparison to lights of longer wavelengths. Our results confirm earlier findings that exposure to short-wavelength light during the day may enhance cognitive performance in task-specific scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]