Unveiling the neural dynamics of the theory of mind: a fMRI study on belief processing phases.

Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to interpret others' behaviors in terms of mental states, has been extensively studied through the False-Belief Task (FBT). However, limited research exists regarding the distinction between different phases of FBT, suggesting that they are subserved by separate neural mechanisms. Further inquiry into this matter seems crucial for deepening our knowledge of the neurocognitive basis of mental-state processing.

Frontal Deactivation and the Efficacy of Statistical Learning: Neural Mechanisms Accompanying Exposure to Visual Statistical Sequences.

Statistical learning is the cognitive ability to rapidly identify structure and meaning in unfamiliar streams of sensory experience, even in the absence of feedback. Despite extensive studies, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this phenomenon still require further clarification under varying cognitive conditions. Here, we examined neural mechanisms during the first exposure to visually presented sequences in 47 healthy participants.

Local variation in brain temperature explains gender-specificity of working memory performance.

Introduction: Exploring gender differences in cognitive abilities offers vital insights into human brain functioning.

Methods: Our study utilized advanced techniques like magnetic resonance thermometry, standard working memory n-back tasks, and functional MRI to investigate if gender-based variations in brain temperature correlate with distinct neuronal responses and working memory capabilities.

Results: We observed a significant decrease in average brain temperature in males during working memory tasks, a phenomenon not seen in females.

A safety evaluation of intermittent high-dose inhaled nitric oxide in viral pneumonia due to COVID-19: a randomised clinical study.

High-dose inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, and antimicrobial properties, resulting in improved arterial oxygenation as well as a beneficial therapeutic effect on lower respiratory tract infections. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of 150-ppm intermittent iNO administered with a novel iNO-generator, for treating adults hospitalised for viral pneumonia. In this prospective, open-label, multicenter study, subjects aged 18-80, diagnosed with viral pneumonia received either standard supportive treatment alone (Control-Group) or combined with iNO for 40 min, 4 times per day up to 7 days (Treatment-Group).

Common and distinct BOLD correlates of Simon and flanker conflicts which can(not) be reduced to time-on-task effects.

The ability to identify and resolve conflicts between standard, well-trained behaviors and behaviors required by the current context is an essential feature of cognitive control. To date, no consensus has been reached on the brain mechanisms involved in exerting such control: while some studies identified diverse patterns of activity across different conflicts, other studies reported common resources across conflict tasks or even across simple tasks devoid of the conflict component. The latter reports attributed the entire activity observed in the presence of conflict to longer time spent on the task (i.

Research on the Pathogenesis of Cognitive and Neurofunctional Impairments in Patients with Noonan Syndrome: The Role of Rat Sarcoma-Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Gene Disturbances.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is one of the most common genetic conditions inherited mostly in an autosomal dominant manner with vast heterogeneity in clinical and genetic features. Patients with NS might have speech disturbances, memory and attention deficits, limitations in daily functioning, and decreased overall intelligence. Here, 34 patients with Noonan syndrome and 23 healthy controls were enrolled in a study involving gray and white matter volume evaluation using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), white matter connectivity measurements using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

An MR spectroscopy study of temporal areas excluding primary auditory cortex and frontal regions in subjective bilateral and unilateral tinnitus.

Previous studies indicate changes in neurotransmission along the auditory pathway in subjective tinnitus. Most authors, however, investigated brain regions including the primary auditory cortex, whose physiology can be affected by concurrent hearing deficits. In the present MR spectroscopy study we assumed increased levels of glutamate and glutamine (Glx), and other Central Nervous System metabolites in the temporal lobe outside the primary auditory cortex, in a region involved in conscious auditory perception and memory.

Differences in diffusion tensor imaging parameters of brain white matter tracts between patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2 - a retrospective single-centre study.

Introduction: The main aim of our study was to compare diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters in patients with myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2 (DM1 and DM2).

Clinical Rationale For The Study: To ascertain whether DTI could be used to assess the integrity of white matter tracts in the brain and identify any abnormalities or disruptions in connectivity between different brain regions in patients with DM. By providing a more detailed understanding of the structural changes in the brain associated with DM, could DTI potentially be used to develop more effective treatments for the cognitive and neurological symptoms of the disorder?

Material And Methods: We retrospectively compared MRI scans of 19 patients with DM1 to those of 23 healthy, matched controls, and of 16 patients with DM2 to those of 20 healthy, matched controls, and finally compared the DM1 and DM2 samples.

Watching talking faces: The development of cortical representation of visual syllables in infancy.

From birth, we perceive speech by hearing and seeing people talk. In adults cortical representations of visual speech are processed in the putative temporal visual speech area (TVSA), but it remains unknown how these representations develop. We measured infants' cortical responses to silent visual syllables and non-communicative mouth movements using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

Administration of Intravenous Furosemide in Patients with Acute Infection: Patient Characteristics and Impact on In-Hospital Outcome.

Intravenous (IV) fluid is frequently used to treat patients who have been admitted with an acute infection; among these patients, some will experience pulmonary congestion and will need diuretic treatment. Consecutive admissions to the Internal Medicine Department of patients with an acute infection were included. Patients were divided based on IV furosemide treatment within 48 h after admission.

The Development of Cortical Responses to the Integration of Audiovisual Speech in Infancy.

In adults, the integration of audiovisual speech elicits specific higher (super-additive) or lower (sub-additive) cortical responses when compared to the responses to unisensory stimuli. Although there is evidence that the fronto-temporal network is active during perception of audiovisual speech in infancy, the development of fronto-temporal responses to audiovisual integration remains unknown. In the current study, 5-month-olds and 10-month-olds watched bimodal (audiovisual) and alternating unimodal (auditory + visual) syllables.

Semantic decisions in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders - functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Objectives: Goal: to assess fMRI activation during semantic tasks in adolescents with ASD.

Methods: Material: 44 right-handed male adolescents aged 12-19 (mean 14.3 ± 2.

Morphometric evaluations based on Voxel Based Morphometry on adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.

Objectives: Goal: to evaluate changes in the grey matter volume using the VBM method in a group of adolescents with ASD, who met the criteria for Asperger's Syndrome.

Methods: Material and methods: Morphometric evaluations based on Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) were performed on 37 male adolescents aged 12 to 19 (M = 14.3 ± 2.

Theory of Mind and Parental Mental-State Talk in Children with CIs.

Previous studies have suggested that parents may support the development of theory of mind (ToM) in their child by talking about mental states (mental state talk; MST). However, MST has not been sufficiently explored in deaf children with cochlear implants (CIs). This study investigated ToM and availability of parental MST in deaf children with CIs (n = 39, Mage = 62.

Exposure to hate speech deteriorates neurocognitive mechanisms of the ability to understand others' pain.

The widespread ubiquity of hate speech affects people's attitudes and behavior. Exposure to hate speech can lead to prejudice, dehumanization, and lack of empathy towards members of outgroups. However, the impact of exposure to hate speech on empathy and propensity to attribute mental states to others has never been directly tested empirically.

The accuracy of 8-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, adjusted to seasons.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is considered the most reliable and accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP). However, the use of ABPM has some limitations, which make it difficult to complete for the entire 24 h. We aimed to establish in which part of the day BP measurements are in highest correlation with full ABPM (over 24 h) results.

The Added Value of a High CT Coronary Artery Calcium Score in the Management of Patients Presenting with Acute Chest Pain vs. Stable Chest Pain.

Background: Contrast computerized tomography (CT) scan is occasionally aborted due to a high coronary artery calcium score (CACS). For the same CACS in our clinical practice, we observed a higher occurrence of severe coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute chest pain (ACP) compared to patients with stable chest pain (SCP). Since it is known that ACP differs in many ways from SCP, the aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of a high CACS for the diagnosis of severe CAD between ACP and SCP patients.

Does the TPJ fit it all? Representational similarity analysis of different forms of mentalizing.

Mentalizing is the key socio-cognitive ability. Its heterogeneous structure may result from a variety of forms of mental state inference, which may be based on lower-level processing of cues encoded in the observable behavior of others, or rather involve higher-level computations aimed at understanding another person's perspective. Here we aimed to investigate the representational content of the brain regions engaged in mentalizing.

Resting-state fMRI functional connectivity of the left temporal parietal junction is associated with visual temporal order threshold.

The study aimed to determine the relationship between the millisecond timing, measured by visual temporal order threshold (TOT), i.e. a minimum gap between two successive stimuli necessary to judge a before-after relation, and resting-state fMRI functional connectivity (rsFC).

Neuropsychological correlates of P300 parameters in individuals with aphasia.

Background: Aphasia is often accompanied by impairment of non-language cognitive functions. Assessment of cognitive capacity in people with aphasia (PWA) with standard neuropsychological methods may be problematic due to their language difficulties. Numerous experimental studies indicate that P300 may be considered as an index of cognitive capacity in both healthy and clinical samples.

EEG-fMRI: Ballistocardiogram Artifact Reduction by Surrogate Method for Improved Source Localization.

For the analysis of simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings, it is vital to use effective artifact removal tools. This applies in particular to the ballistocardiogram (BCG) artifact which is difficult to remove without distorting signals of interest related to brain activity. Here, we documented the use of surrogate source models to separate the artifact-related signals from brain signals with minimal distortion of the brain activity of interest.

Effects of training and using an audio-tactile sensory substitution device on speech-in-noise understanding.

Understanding speech in background noise is challenging. Wearing face-masks, imposed by the COVID19-pandemics, makes it even harder. We developed a multi-sensory setup, including a sensory substitution device (SSD) that can deliver speech simultaneously through audition and as vibrations on the fingertips.

Working Memory in Aphasia: The Role of Temporal Information Processing.

Aphasia is an acquired impairment of language functions resulting from a brain lesion. It is usually accompanied by deficits in non-linguistic cognitive processes. This study aimed to investigate in patients with aphasia the complex interrelationships between selected cognitive functions: auditory speech comprehension, working memory (WM), and temporal information processing (TIP) in the millisecond time range.