Brain Sciences

568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investing in the Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce Development: Enhancing Professionals’ Competencies to Support Emotion and Behavior Regulation in Young Children

by Shulamit N. Ritblatt, Audrey Hokoda and Charles Van Liew

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090120 - 19 Sep 2017

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 9268

Abstract

This paper delineates a preventive approach to early childhood mental health by preparing the workforce to provide relational, sensitive care to young children ages 0–5. One of the most prevalent issues in early childhood is behavioral challenges and the inability of young children [...] Read more.

This paper delineates a preventive approach to early childhood mental health by preparing the workforce to provide relational, sensitive care to young children ages 0–5. One of the most prevalent issues in early childhood is behavioral challenges and the inability of young children to regulate themselves. This leads to an expulsion rate in early childhood (3–4 times higher than K-12 expulsion rate) and future mental health issues. The Early Childhood Social-Emotional and Behavior Regulation Intervention Specialist (EC-SEBRIS) graduate level certificate program was created to strengthen early care and education providers with the knowledge and practice of how to support emotion and behavior regulation in young children in their groups. Evaluation data provide evidence that early care and education professionals increased in their perception of self-efficacy and in their sensitivity of care and skills to support behavioral health in young children. Results indicated that the children in their care showed less challenging behaviors and increased social competencies. This manuscript highlights the importance of prevention and the dire need to provide young children with high-quality, appropriate care to support their mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Illness in Children)

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174 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

COACH CV: The Seven Clinical Phenotypes of Concussion

by Neil Craton, Haitham Ali and Stephane Lenoski

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090119 - 16 Sep 2017

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6692

Abstract

Our understanding of the diverse physiological manifestations of concussion is changing rapidly. This has an influence on the clinical assessment of patients who have sustained a concussion. The 2017 Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport states that numerous post-injury clinical findings, such as [...] Read more.

Our understanding of the diverse physiological manifestations of concussion is changing rapidly. This has an influence on the clinical assessment of patients who have sustained a concussion. The 2017 Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport states that numerous post-injury clinical findings, such as cognitive deficits, post-traumatic headaches, dizziness, difficulties with oculomotor function, and depression have all been associated with a poorer prognosis in concussed patients. This demonstrates that there are several potential clinical manifestations after head injury warranting clinical evaluation. We have developed an acronym to guide the office-based assessment of concussed patients to consider each of the potential clinical phenotypes. “COACH CV” prompts the clinician to evaluate for cognitive problems, oculomotor dysfunction, affective disturbances, cervical spine disorders, headaches, and cardiovascular and vestibular anomalies. Full article

2970 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility of Equivalent Dipole Models for Electroencephalogram-Based Brain Computer Interfaces

by Paul H. Schimpf

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090118 - 15 Sep 2017

Viewed by 3784

Abstract

This article examines the localization errors of equivalent dipolar sources inverted from the surface electroencephalogram in order to determine the feasibility of using their location as classification parameters for non-invasive brain computer interfaces. Inverse localization errors are examined for two head models: a [...] Read more.

This article examines the localization errors of equivalent dipolar sources inverted from the surface electroencephalogram in order to determine the feasibility of using their location as classification parameters for non-invasive brain computer interfaces. Inverse localization errors are examined for two head models: a model represented by four concentric spheres and a realistic model based on medical imagery. It is shown that the spherical model results in localization ambiguity such that a number of dipolar sources, with different azimuths and varying orientations, provide a near match to the electroencephalogram of the best equivalent source. No such ambiguity exists for the elevation of inverted sources, indicating that for spherical head models, only the elevation of inverted sources (and not the azimuth) can be expected to provide meaningful classification parameters for brain–computer interfaces. In a realistic head model, all three parameters of the inverted source location are found to be reliable, providing a more robust set of parameters. In both cases, the residual error hypersurfaces demonstrate local minima, indicating that a search for the best-matching sources should be global. Source localization error vs. signal-to-noise ratio is also demonstrated for both head models. Full article

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131 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

by Andrea Mary Loftus

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090117 - 11 Sep 2017

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4393

Abstract

It was has been my pleasure to have acted as the guest editor for the Brain Sciences Special Issue on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).[...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI))

152 KiB

Open AccessErratum

Erratum: Balconi, M.; et al. Evidences from Rewarding System, FRN and P300 Effect in Internet-Addiction in Young People SHORT TITLE: Rewarding System and EEG in Internet-Addiction Brain Sciences 2017, 7, 81

by Michela Balconi, Irene Venturella and Roberta Finocchiaro

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090116 - 11 Sep 2017

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3275

Abstract

We would like to submit the following erratum to our recently published paper [1] due to the error in the title.[...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurological Research on Learning, Reward and Decision Making)

493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Childhood Autism

by Anna Cieślińska, Elżbieta Kostyra, Barbara Chwała, Małgorzata Moszyńska-Dumara, Ewa Fiedorowicz, Małgorzata Teodorowicz and Huub F.J. Savelkoul

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090115 - 9 Sep 2017

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 7749

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous, behaviorally defined disorders whereby currently no biological markers are common to all affected individuals. A deregulated immune response may be contributing to the etiology of ASD. The active metabolite of vitamin D₃ [...] Read more.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous, behaviorally defined disorders whereby currently no biological markers are common to all affected individuals. A deregulated immune response may be contributing to the etiology of ASD. The active metabolite of vitamin D₃ has an immunoregulatory role mediated by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in monocyte, macrophages, and lymphocytes. The effects of vitamin D and interaction with the VDR may be influenced by polymorphism in the VDR gene. Methods: Genetic association of four different VDR polymorphisms (Apa-I, Bsm-I, Taq-I, Fok-I) associated with susceptibility to the development of autism in children was investigated. Results: We uniquely found an association between the presence of the T allele at position Taq-I and presence of the a allele at position Apa-I of the VDR gene with decreased ASD incidence. There was also an association between female gender and the presence of the T allele. We found no statistical significant correlation between VDR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and vitamin D₃ concentration in serum of ASD children. Conclusion: Genetic polymorphism in two SNP in VDR may be correlated with development of ASD symptoms by influencing functionality of vitamin D₃ metabolism, while vitamin D₃ levels were not significantly different between ASD and non-ASD children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Etio-Pathology to Treatment)

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1155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Time-Frequency Analysis of Mu Rhythm Activity during Picture and Video Action Naming Tasks

by Megan E. Cuellar and Christina M. Del Toro

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090114 - 6 Sep 2017

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6587

Abstract

This study used whole-head 64 channel electroencephalography to measure changes in sensorimotor activity—as indexed by the mu rhythm—in neurologically-healthy adults, during subvocal confrontation naming tasks. Independent component analyses revealed sensorimotor mu component clusters in the right and left hemispheres. Event related spectral perturbation [...] Read more.

This study used whole-head 64 channel electroencephalography to measure changes in sensorimotor activity—as indexed by the mu rhythm—in neurologically-healthy adults, during subvocal confrontation naming tasks. Independent component analyses revealed sensorimotor mu component clusters in the right and left hemispheres. Event related spectral perturbation analyses indicated significantly stronger patterns of mu rhythm activity (pFDR < 0.05) during the video condition as compared to the picture condition, specifically in the left hemisphere. Mu activity is hypothesized to reflect typical patterns of sensorimotor activation during action verb naming tasks. These results support further investigation into sensorimotor cortical activity during action verb naming in clinical populations. Full article

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378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Connecting the Dots between Schizotypal Symptoms and Social Anxiety in Youth with an Extra X Chromosome: A Mediating Role for Catastrophizing

by Anne C. Miers, Tim Ziermans and Sophie Van Rijn

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090113 - 6 Sep 2017

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6278

Abstract

Youth with an extra X chromosome (47, XXY & 47, XXX) display higher levels of schizotypal symptoms and social anxiety as compared to typically developing youth. It is likely that the extra X chromosome group is at-risk for clinical levels of schizotypy and [...] Read more.

Youth with an extra X chromosome (47, XXY & 47, XXX) display higher levels of schizotypal symptoms and social anxiety as compared to typically developing youth. It is likely that the extra X chromosome group is at-risk for clinical levels of schizotypy and social anxiety. Hence, this study investigated how schizotypal and social anxiety symptoms are related and mechanisms that may explain their association in a group of 38 children and adolescents with an extra X chromosome and a comparison group of 109 typically developing peers (8–19 years). Three cognitive coping strategies were investigated as potential mediators, rumination, catastrophizing, and other-blame. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that the relationship between schizotypal symptoms and social anxiety was mediated by catastrophizing coping in the extra X chromosome group but not in the comparison group. The results suggest that youth with an extra X chromosome with schizotypal symptoms could benefit from an intervention to weaken the tendency to catastrophize life events as a way of reducing the likelihood of social anxiety symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Anxiety Disorder in Emerging or Early Psychosis)

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565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Computer versus Compensatory Calendar Training in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Functional Impact in a Pilot Study

by Melanie J. Chandler, Dona E. C. Locke, Noah L. Duncan, Sherrie M. Hanna, Andrea V. Cuc, Julie A. Fields, Charlene R. Hoffman Snyder, Angela M. Lunde and Glenn E. Smith

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090112 - 6 Sep 2017

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5570

Abstract

This pilot study examined the functional impact of computerized versus compensatory calendar training in cognitive rehabilitation participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Fifty-seven participants with amnestic MCI completed randomly assigned calendar or computer training. A standard care control group was used for comparison. [...] Read more.

This pilot study examined the functional impact of computerized versus compensatory calendar training in cognitive rehabilitation participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Fifty-seven participants with amnestic MCI completed randomly assigned calendar or computer training. A standard care control group was used for comparison. Measures of adherence, memory-based activities of daily living (mADLs), and self-efficacy were completed. The calendar training group demonstrated significant improvement in mADLs compared to controls, while the computer training group did not. Calendar training may be more effective in improving mADLs than computerized intervention. However, this study highlights how behavioral trials with fewer than 30–50 participants per arm are likely underpowered, resulting in seemingly null findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI))

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458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Problems in Classifying Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): One or Multiple Syndromes?

by María Del Carmen Díaz-Mardomingo, Sara García-Herranz, Raquel Rodríguez-Fernández, César Venero and Herminia Peraita

Brain Sci. 2017, 7(9), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7090111 - 1 Sep 2017

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 8453

Abstract

As the conceptual, methodological, and technological advances applied to dementias have evolved the construct of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), one problem encountered has been its classification into subtypes. Here, we aim to revise the concept of MCI and its subtypes, addressing the problems [...] Read more.

As the conceptual, methodological, and technological advances applied to dementias have evolved the construct of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), one problem encountered has been its classification into subtypes. Here, we aim to revise the concept of MCI and its subtypes, addressing the problems of classification not only from the psychometric point of view or by using alternative methods, such as latent class analysis, but also considering the absence of normative data. In addition to the well-known influence of certain factors on cognitive function, such as educational level and cultural traits, recent studies highlight the relevance of other factors that may significantly affect the genesis and evolution of MCI: subjective memory complaints, loneliness, social isolation, etc. The present work will contemplate the most relevant attempts to clarify the issue of MCI categorization and classification, combining our own data with that from recent studies which suggest the role of relevant psychosocial factors in MCI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI))

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Brain Sci., Volume 7, Issue 9 (September 2017) – 10 articles

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