Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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The benefits and safety of a virtual reality intervention in patients suffering from acute and chronic pain: A pilot study
No full textBackground: To overcome the challenge of psychotherapist scarcity in applying pain psychotherapy in clinical practice, we developed a virtual reality (VR) program delivering weeks of pain psychotherapy without psychotherapists, with a focus on minimizing the risk of motion sickness. Objectives: We conducted a single-arm pilot study to assess the efficacy and motion sickness associated with a VR session delivering guided imagery and breathing techniques selected from the initial course of our VR program, involving patients suffering from various acute and chronic pain. Methods: Patients underwent a 15-min VR session. Pain-related and anxiety ratings using a 0-10 numerical rating scale were collected pre-, during-, post-VR and in 6-h follow-up. Motion sickness symptoms were assessed using Simulator Sickness Questionnaire pre- and post-VR. Results: Patients (n = 73) reported their perceived pain intensity and anxiety reduced significantly from pre- to post-VR by 22.9% and 45.0% (all p < 0.0001), respectively. Such modulatory effects of VR in pain perception and anxiety persisted at 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 6 h post-VR (all p < 0.0001). The pre-post beneficial effects of VR were independent from patients' demographic characteristics and their pain duration. Importantly, only six patients (8.2%) had post-VR motion sickness symptoms, and only one patient reported moderate level of severity. Conclusion: These findings suggest the selected VR session delivering pain psychotherapeutic techniques may be effective and tolerable for patients with varying pain conditions, which provides initial evidence for the development of future randomized controlled trials of the complete VR program
Let Human Sketches Help: Empowering Challenging Image Segmentation Task with Freehand Sketches
No full textSketches, with their expressive potential, allow humans to convey the essence of an object through even a rough contour. For the first time, we harness this expressive potential to improve segmentation performance in challenging tasks like camouflaged object detection (COD). Our approach introduces an innovative sketch-guided interactive segmentation framework, allowing users to intuitively annotate objects with freehand sketches (drawing a rough contour of the object) instead of the traditional bounding boxes or points used in classic interactive segmentation models like SAM. We demonstrate that sketch input can significantly improve performance in existing iterative segmentation methods, outperforming text or bounding box annotations. Additionally, we introduce key modifications to network architectures and a novel sketch augmentation technique to fully harness the power of sketch input and further boost segmentation accuracy. Remarkably, our model’s output can be directly used to train other neural networks, achieving results comparable to pixel-by-pixel annotations—while reducing annotation time by up to 120 times, which shows great potential in democratizing the annotation process and enabling model training with less reliance on resource-intensive, laborious pixel-level annotations. We also present KOSCamo+, the first freehand sketch dataset for camouflaged object detection. The dataset, code, and the labeling tool will be open sourced.</p
Beyond valence: A predictive coding framework for major–minor mode perception and its therapeutic implications: Comment on "The major–minor mode dichotomy in music perception" by Carraturo et al.
No full textThe dichotomy between major and minor modes in Western tonal music has long been oversimplified as a straightforward mapping of emotional valence (positive versus negative). However, a recent review by Carraturo et al. [1] presents a tripartite paradox in understanding this relationship: (1) psychophysical discrepancies, where minor mode's melodic tension can evoke pleasure despite its sad connotations [2], (2) neural contradictions, with minor mode stimulating limbic-reward circuit activity [3], and (3) cultural heterogeneity, as non-Western modal systems sometimes defy major-minor emotional mappings [4]. These inconsistencies underscore the need for a unifying framework that reconciles the psychophysical, neural, and cultural complexities of mode perception. We propose that reward prediction error (RPE)-a computational mechanism linking auditory expectation-violation dynamics [5] and dopamine-driven motivation [6]-offers such a bridge. This predictive coding perspective reframes major-minor perception beyond mere valence, illuminate its therapeutic potential, and addresses individual and cultural variability.</p
Dynamic interactions among schizotypal traits, affective and prodromal symptoms, social functioning in a large sample of college students: A cross-lagged panel network analysis
No full textObjective: Previous studies suggested that schizotypal traits are closely related with affective symptoms and social dysfunction in general population. However, the dynamic interactions among these variables across time remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate this issue using cross-sectional and longitudinal network analysis. Methods: A total of 9136 college students completed self-report scales measuring schizotypal traits, anxiety, depression, prodromal risk, and social functioning at timepoint 1 (T1) and six months later. Classical contemporaneous network analysis was used to estimate the associations among all variables at T1, and the cross-lagged panel network analysis was performed to estimate the predictive effects at follow-up. In addition, prodromal high-risk and low-risk subgroups at T1 were identified using Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) to investigate differences on network constructs and edge weights using Network Comparison Tests (NCT). Results: Contemporaneous network showed that negative dimension of schizotypal traits, anxiety, and depression interacted and were all negatively correlated with social functioning. Of all the nodes in the network, interpersonal features of schizotypal traits was the most centralized. The results of cross-lagged network analysis further verified the predictive effect of personality traits and emotions on social function. In addition, NCT revealed significant difference between prodromal high-risk and low-risk subgroups in network structure and strength of edges connecting schizotypal traits, affective symptoms with prodromal risk, but not in global strength. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that schizotypal traits, affective symptoms, and prodromal risk relate to social functioning, both independently and through their dynamic interactions
The effectiveness of brief mindfulness training in reducing test anxiety among high school students
No full textBackgroundFor many high school students, test anxiety is a prevalent issue that adversely affects their exam performance. Previous research has explored the effectiveness of mindfulness training in alleviating test anxiety; however, the lack of real-life exam scenarios and lengthy training sessions has limited its application. This study examines the effects of a brief, five-day mindfulness training and immediate session on enhancing students' mindfulness levels and reducing their test anxiety.MethodsThe participants were recruited and divided into an experimental group (n = 29) and a control group (n = 32). The experimental group underwent a daily eight-minute mindfulness training for five consecutive days, while the control group engaged in a passive waiting period. To assess changes in mindfulness levels and exam performance, two exams were administered before and after the five-day mindfulness intervention, accompanied by the completion of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. To evaluate changes in test anxiety levels, the State Anxiety Inventory was filled out on days 1, 3, and 5 of the training.ResultsAfter five days of mindfulness training, the mindfulness group showed significant improvements in overall mindfulness levels (particularly in observing and describing skills), a significant reduction in test anxiety and notable improvements in exam performance. Furthermore, the effects on test anxiety were observed after just one training session.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates that a brief, five-day mindfulness training can significantly enhance mindfulness levels, reduce test anxiety, and improve exam performance in high school students. The positive effects on test anxiety were noticeable after a single session
The effectiveness of brief mindfulness training in reducing test anxiety among high school students
No full textBackgroundFor many high school students, test anxiety is a prevalent issue that adversely affects their exam performance. Previous research has explored the effectiveness of mindfulness training in alleviating test anxiety; however, the lack of real-life exam scenarios and lengthy training sessions has limited its application. This study examines the effects of a brief, five-day mindfulness training and immediate session on enhancing students' mindfulness levels and reducing their test anxiety.MethodsThe participants were recruited and divided into an experimental group (n = 29) and a control group (n = 32). The experimental group underwent a daily eight-minute mindfulness training for five consecutive days, while the control group engaged in a passive waiting period. To assess changes in mindfulness levels and exam performance, two exams were administered before and after the five-day mindfulness intervention, accompanied by the completion of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. To evaluate changes in test anxiety levels, the State Anxiety Inventory was filled out on days 1, 3, and 5 of the training.ResultsAfter five days of mindfulness training, the mindfulness group showed significant improvements in overall mindfulness levels (particularly in observing and describing skills), a significant reduction in test anxiety and notable improvements in exam performance. Furthermore, the effects on test anxiety were observed after just one training session.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates that a brief, five-day mindfulness training can significantly enhance mindfulness levels, reduce test anxiety, and improve exam performance in high school students. The positive effects on test anxiety were noticeable after a single session.</p
The Relationship Among Range Adaptation, Social Anhedonia, and Social Functioning: A Combined Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Resting-State fMRI Study
No full textBackground and Hypothesis Social anhedonia is a core feature of schizotypy and correlates significantly with social functioning and range adaptation. Range adaptation refers to representing a stimulus value based on its relative position in the range of pre-experienced values. This study aimed to examine the resting-state neural correlates of range adaptation and its associations with social anhedonia and social functioning.Study Design In study 1, 60 participants completed resting-state magnetic resonance spectroscopy and fMRI scans. Range adaptation was assessed by a valid effort-based decision-making paradigm. Self-reported questionnaires was used to measure social anhedonia and social functioning. Study 2 utilized 26 pairs of participants with high (HSoA) and low levels of social anhedonia (LSoA) to examine the group difference in range adaptation's neural correlates and its relationship with social anhedonia and social functioning. An independent sample of 40 pairs of HSoA and LSoA was used to verify the findings.Study Results Study 1 showed that range adaptation correlated with excitation-inhibition balance (EIB) and ventral prefrontal cortex (vPFC) functional connectivity, which in turn correlating positively with social functioning. Range adaptation was specifically determined by the EIB via mediation of ventral-medial prefrontal cortex functional connectivities. Study 2 found HSoA and LSoA participants exhibiting comparable EIB and vPFC connectivities. However, EIB and vPFC connectivities were negatively correlated with social anhedonia and social functioning in HSoA participants.Conclusions EIB and vPFC functional connectivity is putative neural correlates for range adaptation. Such neural correlates are associated with social anhedonia and social functioning.</p
Distinguishing the roles of edge, color, and other surface information in basic and superordinate scene representation
No full textThe human brain possesses a remarkable ability to recognize scenes depicted in line drawings, despite that these drawings contain only edge information. It remains unclear how the brain uses this information alongside surface information in scene recognition. Here, we combined electroencephalogram (EEG) and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) methods to distinguish the roles of edge, color, and other surface information in scene representation at the basic category level and superordinate naturalness level over time. The time-resolved decoding results indicated that edge information in line drawings is both sufficient and more effective than in color photographs and grayscale images at the superordinate naturalness level. Meanwhile, color and other surface information are exclusively involved in neural representation at the basic category level. The time generalization analysis further revealed that edge information is crucial for representation at both levels of abstraction. These findings highlight the distinct roles of edge, color, and other surface information in dynamic neural scene processing, shedding light on how the human brain represents scene information at different levels of abstraction.</p
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