Borderline Personality and the Detection of Angry Faces

Background

Many studies have assessed emotion recognition in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and considerable evidence has been accumulated on patients’ ability to categorize emotions. In contrast, their ability to detect emotions has been investigated sparsely. The only two studies that assessed emotion detection abilities found contradictory evidence on patients’ ability to detect angry faces.

Methods

To clarify whether patients with Borderline Personality Disorder show enhanced detection of angry faces, we conducted three experiments: a laboratory study (n = 53) with a clinical sample and two highly powered web studies that measured Borderline features (n₁ = 342, n₂ = 220). Participants in all studies completed a visual search paradigm, and the reaction times for the detection of angry vs. happy faces were measured.

Results

Consistently, data spoke against enhanced detection of angry faces in the Borderline groups, indicated by non-significant group (Borderline vs. healthy control) × target (angry vs. happy) interactions, despite highly satisfactory statistical power to detect even small effects.

Conclusions

In contrast to emotion categorization, emotion detection appears to be intact in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and individuals high in Borderline features. The importance of distinguishing between these two processes in future studies is discussed.     

Emotion Regulation Moderates the Association between Empathy and Prosocial Behavior

Theory and evidence suggest that empathy is an important motivating factor for prosocial behaviour and that emotion regulation, i.e. the capacity to exert control over an emotional response, may moderate the degree to which empathy is associated with prosocial behaviour. However, studies to date have not simultaneously explored the associations between different empathic processes and prosocial behaviour, nor whether different types of emotion regulation strategies (e.g. cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) moderate associations between empathy and prosocial behaviour. One hundred–and-ten healthy adults completed questionnaire measures of empathy, emotion regulation and prosocial tendencies. In this sample, both affective and cognitive empathy predicted self-reported prosocial tendencies. In addition, cognitive reappraisal moderated the association between affective empathy and prosocial tendencies. Specifically, there was a significant positive association between empathy and prosocial tendencies for individuals with a low or average tendency to reappraise but not for those with a high tendency to reappraise. Our findings suggest that, in general, empathy is positively associated with prosocial behaviour. However, this association is not significant for individuals with a high tendency for cognitive reappraisal.     

Empathy Moderates the Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on Costly Punishment

Humans incur considerable costs to punish unfairness directed towards themselves or others. Recent studies using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) suggest that the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is causally involved in such strategic decisions. Presently, two partly divergent hypotheses are discussed, suggesting either that the right DLPFC is necessary to control selfish motives by implementing culturally transmitted social norms, or is involved in suppressing emotion-driven prepotent responses to perceived unfairness. Accordingly, we studied the role of the DLPFC in costly (i.e. third party) punishment by applying rTMS to the left and right DLPFC before playing a Dictator Game with the option to punish observed unfair behavior (DG-P). In addition, sham stimulation took place. Individual differences in empathy were assessed with the German version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Costly punishment increased (non-significantly) upon disruption of the right – but not the left – DLPFC as compared to sham stimulation. However, empathy emerged as a highly significant moderator variable of the effect of rTMS over the right, but not left, DLPFC, suggesting that the right DLPFC is involved in controlling prepotent emotional responses to observed unfairness, depending on individual differences in empathy.     

Influence of Repressive Coping Style on Cortical Activation during Encoding of Angry Faces

Background

Coping plays an important role for emotion regulation in threatening situations. The model of coping modes designates repression and sensitization as two independent coping styles. Repression consists of strategies that shield the individual from arousal. Sensitization indicates increased analysis of the environment in order to reduce uncertainty. According to the discontinuity hypothesis, repressors are sensitive to threat in the early stages of information processing. While repressors do not exhibit memory disturbances early on, they manifest weak memory for these stimuli later. This study investigates the discontinuity hypothesis using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Methods

Healthy volunteers (20 repressors and 20 sensitizers) were selected from a sample of 150 students on the basis of the Mainz Coping Inventory. During the fMRI experiment, subjects evaluated and memorized emotional and neutral faces. Subjects performed two sessions of face recognition: immediately after the fMRI session and three days later.

Results

Repressors exhibited greater activation of frontal, parietal and temporal areas during encoding of angry faces compared to sensitizers. There were no differences in recognition of facial emotions between groups neither immediately after exposure nor after three days.

Conclusions

The fMRI findings suggest that repressors manifest an enhanced neural processing of directly threatening facial expression which confirms the assumption of hyper-responsivity to threatening information in repression in an early processing stage. A discrepancy was observed between high neural activation in encoding-relevant brain areas in response to angry faces in repressors and no advantage in subsequent memory for these faces compared to sensitizers.     

Perspective Distortion from Interpersonal Distance Is an Implicit Visual Cue for Social Judgments of Faces

The basis on which people make social judgments from the image of a face remains an important open problem in fields ranging from psychology to neuroscience and economics. Multiple cues from facial appearance influence the judgments that viewers make. Here we investigate the contribution of a novel cue: the change in appearance due to the perspective distortion that results from viewing distance. We found that photographs of faces taken from within personal space elicit lower investments in an economic trust game, and lower ratings of social traits (such as trustworthiness, competence, and attractiveness), compared to photographs taken from a greater distance. The effect was replicated across multiple studies that controlled for facial image size, facial expression and lighting, and was not explained by face width-to-height ratio, explicit knowledge of the camera distance, or whether the faces are perceived as typical. These results demonstrate a novel facial cue influencing a range of social judgments as a function of interpersonal distance, an effect that may be processed implicitly.     

Functioning of the P-glycoprotein Membrane Transport Protein under Conditions of the Inhibition of Glutathione Synthesis

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology - The functioning and mechanism of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) regulation under conditions of inhibition of glutathione synthesis in human colon adenocarcinoma...     

Receiving Palliative Treatment Moderates the Effect of Age and Gender on Demoralization in Patients with Cancer

Background

Existential distress is an important factor affecting psychological well-being in cancer patients. We studied occurrence and predictors of demoralization, a syndrome of existential distress, in particular the interaction of age, gender, and curative vs. palliative treatment phase.

Methods

A cross-sectional sample of N = 750 patients with different tumor sites was recruited from in- and outpatient treatment facilities. Patients completed the following self-report questionnaires: Demoralization Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Illness-Specific Social Support Scale Short Version-8, and physical problems list of the NCCN Distress Thermometer. Moderated multiple regression analyses were conducted.

Results

We found high demoralization in 15% and moderate demoralization in 8% of the sample. Curative vs. palliative treatment phase moderated the impact of age and gender on demoralization (three-way interaction: b = 1.30, P = .02): the effect of age on demoralization was negative for women receiving palliative treatment (b = −.26, P = .02) and positive for men receiving palliative treatment (b = .25, P = .03). Effects of age and gender were not significant among patients receiving curative treatment. Female gender was associated with higher demoralization among younger patients receiving palliative treatment only. Analyses were controlled for significant effects of the number of physical problems (b = 6.10, P<.001) and social support (b = −3.17, P<.001).

Conclusions

Existential distress in terms of demoralization is a relevant problem within the spectrum of cancer-related distress. It is associated with a complex interaction of demographic and medical patient characteristics; existential challenges related to palliative treatment may exacerbate the impact of age- and gender-related vulnerability factors on demoralization. Psychosocial interventions should acknowledge this interaction in order to address the individual nature of existential distress in subgroups of cancer patients.     

Frequency of Infant Stroking Reported by Mothers Moderates the Effect of Prenatal Depression on Infant Behavioural and Physiological Outcomes

Animal studies find that prenatal stress is associated with increased physiological and emotional reactivity later in life, mediated via fetal programming of the HPA axis through decreased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression. Post-natal behaviours, notably licking and grooming in rats, cause decreased behavioural indices of fear and reduced HPA axis reactivity mediated via increased GR gene expression. Post-natal maternal behaviours may therefore be expected to modify prenatal effects, but this has not previously been examined in humans. We examined whether, according to self-report, maternal stroking over the first weeks of life modified associations between prenatal depression and physiological and behavioral outcomes in infancy, hence mimicking effects of rodent licking and grooming. From a general population sample of 1233 first time mothers recruited at 20 weeks gestation we drew a stratified random sample of 316 for assessment at 32 weeks based on reported inter-partner psychological abuse, a risk to child development. Of these 271 provided data at 5, 9 and 29 weeks post delivery. Mothers reported how often they stroked their babies at 5 and 9 weeks. At 29 weeks vagal withdrawal to a stressor, a measure of physiological adaptability, and maternal reported negative emotionality were assessed. There was a significant interaction between prenatal depression and maternal stroking in the prediction of vagal reactivity to a stressor (p = .01), and maternal reports of infant anger proneness (p = .007) and fear (p = .043). Increasing maternal depression was associated with decreasing physiological adaptability, and with increasing negative emotionality, only in the presence of low maternal stroking. These initial findings in humans indicate that maternal stroking in infancy, as reported by mothers, has effects strongly resembling the effects of observed maternal behaviours in animals, pointing to future studies of the epigenetic, physiological and behavioral effects of maternal stroking.     

Pain and Empathy: The Effect of Self-Oriented Feelings on the Detection of Painful Facial Expressions

Background

Painful facial expressions have been shown to trigger affective responses among observers. However, there is so far no clear indication about the self- or other-oriented nature of these feelings. The purpose of this study was to assess whether facial expressions of pain are unconsciously associated with other-oriented feelings (empathic concern) or with self-oriented feelings (personal distress).

Method

70 participants took part in a priming paradigm in which ambiguous facial expressions of pain were primed by words related to empathic concern, distress, negative or by neutral words. It was hypothesized that empathic concern or distress-related words might facilitate the detection of pain in ambiguous facial expressions of pain, independently of a mere effect of prime (i.e., neutral words) or an effect of valence congruency (negative primes).

Results

The results showed an effect of prime on the detection and on the reaction time to answer “pain” when confronted to ambiguous facial expressions of pain. More specifically, the detection of pain was higher and faster when preceded by distress primes relative to either neutral or negative primes.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that painful expressions are unconsciously related to self-oriented feelings of distress and that their threat value might account for this effect. These findings thus shed new light on the automatic relationship between painful expressions and the affective components of empathy.     

Higher Education Moderates the Effect of T2 Lesion Load and Third Ventricle Width on Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis

Background

Previous work suggested greater intellectual enrichment might moderate the negative impact of brain atrophy on cognition. This awaits confirmation in independent cohorts including investigation of the role of T2-lesion load (T2-LL), which is another important determinant of cognition in MS. We here thus aimed to test this cognitive reserve hypothesis by investigating whether educational attainment (EA) moderates the negative effects of both brain atrophy and T2-LL on cognitive function in a large sample of MS patients.

Methods

137 patients participated in the study. Cognition was assessed by the “Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests.” T2-LL, normalized brain volume (global volume loss) and third ventricle width (regional volume loss) served as MRI markers.

Results

Both T2-LL and atrophy predicted worse cognition, with a stronger effect of T2-LL. Higher EA (as assessed by years of education) also predicted better cognition. Interactions showed that the negative effects of T2-LL and regional brain atrophy were moderated by EA.

Conclusions

In a cohort with different stages of MS, higher EA attenuated the negative effects of white matter lesion burden and third ventricle width (suggestive of thalamic atrophy) on cognitive performance. Actively enhancing cognitive reserve might thus be a means to reduce or prevent cognitive problems in MS in parallel to disease modifying drugs.     

The Effect of Genetic Diversity on Ecosystem Functioning in Vegetated Coastal Ecosystems

In species-poor communities, genetic diversity potentially plays an important role for ecosystem functioning, though this is still largely unexplored in marine and estuarine ecosystems. We studied how genetic diversity (sensu genotypic diversity and/or allelic richness) affects ecosystem functioning in marine habitat-forming plant communities. First, we conducted a 15-month field experiment in the highly seasonal Baltic Sea and established mono- and polycultures of different genotypes and genotype combinations of Zostera marina. Second, we reviewed existing literature and performed a meta-analysis of 12 studies including this study. We found no evidence of positive genetic diversity effects on shoot production in the field experiment, but diversity enhanced community stability over time. The literature review revealed that a majority of the included studies observed positive effects of genetic diversity on ecosystem functions such as primary production and nutrient uptake. The results from the meta-analysis support the hypothesis that genetic diversity effects on productivity are stronger during or after periods of stress. These diversity effects were also more positive in the field compared to mesocosm studies. Our results indicate that genetic diversity has positive effects on ecosystem functioning, particularly during increased environmental stress. Thus, local genetic diversity should be preserved especially in species-poor ecosystems, where it potentially provides insurance against environmental change.     

角色扮演在《人际沟通》实验教学中的应用效果

目的:探讨角色扮演在《人际沟通》课程实验教学中的应用效果。方法:选择243名护理本科学生,在《人际沟通》实验课部分应用角色扮演,通过课前准备、角色扮演、角色分析、成绩评价、学生态度调查等分析其在本门课程实验教学中应用的可行性。结果:学生参与积极性均较高,能够认真完成角色、自评和互评,加深了对理论知识的印象和理解,利于本门课程的学习。结论:通过角色扮演的方法,可以加深学生们对理论知识的印象和理解,利于本门课程的学习。     

山药水浸提物对alpha- 葡萄糖苷酶抑制作用的初步研究

目的:通过研究山药水浸提物对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制作用,初步探索山药对2型糖尿病的预防和治疗作用。方法:对山药进行热水浸提,采用1:5的料液比,浸提温度90℃,时间2小时,超滤获得山药水浸提物,利用α-葡萄糖苷酶对淀粉降解反应建立酶活检测体系,通过检测酶反应产物分析山药水浸提物对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制作用,并计算IC50。结果:山药水浸提物对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制率大于46%,IC50值为1.9 g/ml。结论:山药水浸提物对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制作用提示山药可以作为肥胖或者2型糖尿病患者有效的一种药食同源食材,本实验结果为2型糖尿病高危人群及患者合理选择膳食结构提供新的科学依据。     

The Inhibition Effect of Antiserum on the Motility of Leptospira

Leptospires are a group of bacteria with a unique ultrastructure and a fascinating swimming behavior that cause a number of emerging and re-emerging diseases worldwide called leptospirosis. The unusual form of motility is thought to play a critical role in the infection process. However, the inhibition mechanism of antiserum on the motility of Leptospira to attenuate the infection efficiency is unknown. In this study, effect of antiserum on motility was quantitatively investigated by swimming speed. Relatively low concentration of antiserum was found to inhibit leptospiral motility, suggesting that the basic immunization can affect the infection efficiency. Recovery of motility a few hours later after the addition of antiserum was observed. This raises a hypothesis that Leptospira carries surface molecules bound with antibodies toward the cell end to escape and recovers the motility.     

Semiotics and the Technique of Empathy

The subject of this research is one of the basic units of the psychotechnical theory of psychotherapy developed by the author, “immediate experience–empathy.” The structure of empathy is analyzed as a therapist's communicative act. This structure includes a number of elements—an operator of understanding, a mode of experiencing, a sign of experiencing, and so forth. The possibilities for modifying empathic responses and the functions of these modifications in the psychotherapeutic process are considered. Special attention is given to semiotic and expressive aspects of empathy.     

Childbirth Moderates the Genetic and Environmental Influences on BMI in Adult Twins

We report a study of the moderating role that the number of childbirths has on the genetic and environmental influences on BMI variation. We used a classical twin design with a sample of 704 adult female twins (334 monozygotic and 370 dizygotic). A gene–environment interaction (G × E) model was applied to estimate the moderating effects of childbearing. Results show that age and number of children exert a significant positive main effect on BMI. Furthermore, we found significant moderating effects of childbearing, with a larger number of children associated with an increased sensitivity to environmental factors.     

The Effect of Emotional Distance on Psychophysiologic Concordance and Perceived Empathy Between Patient and Interviewer

– This preliminary study investigated the effect of emotional distance on psychophysiologic concordance and perceived empathy in a clinical population. Participants included 20 adult outpatients from a mental health clinic that underwent a brief semi-structured interview with a trained psychiatrist in either an emotionally neutral or an emotionally distant condition. Simultaneous skin conductance (SC) levels of the patient and interviewer were recorded and used to calculate a measure of psychophysiologic concordance. Interviewer gaze was rated by an independent observer and used as a proxy indicator of emotional distance. Observer ratings of interviewer gaze, SC concordance, and patient ratings of perceived interviewer empathy were significantly lower in the emotionally distant condition compared with the emotionally neutral condition (p < 0.05). Results suggest that increased emotional distance is associated with decreased psychophysiologic concordance and reduced subjective ratings of perceived empathy. The observed differences in psychophysiologic concordance support the use of this measure as a potential marker of empathy in a clinical population in an interview setting.     

枯草芽孢杆菌对杨树水泡溃疡病菌菌丝生长的抑制作用

测定了枯草芽孢杆菌BS-2菌株对杨树水泡溃疡病菌菌丝生长的影响,发现BS-2菌株能够抑制病菌菌丝的生长,并导致菌丝形态畸变,表现为菌丝伸长生长受抑制、扭曲、原生质浓缩、局部膨大成球形或椭圆形以及菌丝断裂和菌丝细胞变成空泡等。BS-2发酵液对病菌菌丝生长也有明显的抑制作用,培养时间越长,其培养液的抑菌作用越强;在不同培养基中获得的发酵液对病菌的抑制效果不同。     

生物抑菌剂抑制大肠埃希菌效果研究

为研究生物防腐剂壳聚糖、ε-聚赖氨酸、乳酸链球菌素(Nisin)能否代替化学性食品防腐剂,通过敏感性测定、杀菌动力学测定、正交优化实验、应用效果试验,研究了其对指示菌大肠埃希菌的抑制效果。结果表明,壳聚糖、Nisin、ε-聚赖氨酸的最小抑菌浓度分别为10、2.5、0.078mg/mL。当壳聚糖、Nisin、ε-聚赖氨酸的浓度分别为5、0.04、0.01mg/mL时对大肠埃希菌的抑制作用最好,在这一最佳组合条件下对大肠埃希菌杀菌率达88.57%。