Effects of emotional valence and intensity on cognitive and affective empathy after insula lesions.

The insula plays a central role in empathy. However, the complex structure of cognitive (CE) and affective empathy (AE) deficits following insular damage is not fully understood. In the present study, patients with insular lesions (n = 20) and demographically matched healthy controls (n = 24) viewed ecologically valid videos that varied in terms of valence and emotional intensity.

Lateralized deficits in arousal processing after insula lesions: Behavioral and autonomic evidence.

A large body of evidence ascribes a pivotal role in emotion processing to the insular cortex. However, the complex structure and lateralization of emotional deficits following insular damage are not understood. Here, we investigated emotional ratings of valence and arousal and skin conductance responses (SCR) to a graded series of emotionally arousing scenes in patients with left (n = 10) or right (n = 9) insular damage and in healthy controls (n = 18).

Phasic alerting increases visual processing speed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

External warning cues temporarily increase the brain's sensitivity for upcoming events, helping individuals to flexibly adapt their reactions to the requirements of complex visual environments. Previous studies reported that younger and cognitively normal older adults profit from phasic alerting cues. Such an intact phasic alerting mechanism could be even more relevant in individuals with Alzheimer's disease who are characterized by reduced processing capacities.

Effects of Temporary Functional Deafferentation in Chronic Stroke Patients: Who Profits More?

Temporary functional deafferentation (TFD) by an anesthetic cream on the stroke-affected forearm was shown to improve sensorimotor abilities of stroke patients. The present study investigated different predictors for sensorimotor improvements during TFD and indicated outcome differences between patients grouped in subcortical lesions only and lesions with any cortical involvement. Thirty-four chronic stroke patients were temporarily deafferented on the more affected forearm by an anesthetic cream.