1,720,998 research outputs found
A predictive coding approach to psychedelic virtual-induced hallucinations and creative cognition in aging
Full text linkRecent research has investigated the potential of psychedelic substances in treating various neurological and psychiatric disorders. In particular, there has been a growth in studies concerning the intersection of psychedelics, Virtual Reality (VR), and Cognitive Flexibility (CF). Indeed, the use of immersive technology allows the simulation of the perceptual and cognitive effects of psychedelic substances without the potential risks associated with them. CF is strongly associated with creative cognition, a complex cognitive mechanism involved in creative thinking and associated with the prefrontal cortex and the neural networks supporting executive functions, memory, attention, and spontaneous modes of thought. The Bayesian brain approach, which is rooted in predictive coding, has emerged as a promising framework for understanding the effects of psychedelic hallucinations on cognitive functioning. Psychedelic substances may enhance creativity by inducing a state of CF, allowing for a wider range of associations and possibilities to be explored and increasing openness to experience. A decline in cognitive abilities, including creative processing and divergent thinking, is observed during the aging process. In particular, studies on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) show poorer performance in executive functions, including CF. The present paper suggests that psychedelic hallucinations induced by VR may help optimize the balance between top-down expectations and bottom-up sensory information. Therefore, enhanced CF and creativity may be crucial during the aging process for maintaining cognitive functions and preventing pathological conditions
Beyond the school perimeter involving the neighbourhood
No full textIn a period of rapid change, the central role of school and educational training
in civil society has led to the renewal of the complex school sphere.
The possibilities of regeneration of the considerable building heritage involved
are explored through the close link between places, spaces and life experiences,
the practices conducted and the teaching methods that characterise them.
Responding to needs beyond functionality, regulations and standards with a
sensitive and open attitude towards the humanistic and social components is also a prerequisite for the NEB - New European Bauhaus, the European Commission. NEB is an interdisciplinary project around the terms «beautiful» for our eyes, mind, and soul, «sustainable» to regain harmony with nature, the environment and the Planet, and «inclusive» to encourage a dialogue between cultures, disciplines, genders and ages
OVER-LON: Overview Virtual Effect for Relieving LONeliness
No full textIn recent years, loneliness has emerged as a pressing global concern, not merely as a social phenomenon but as a complex, multidimensional condition with profound psychological and physiological consequences. Despite the proliferation of digital communication technologies, individuals continue to report elevated levels of perceived social isolation, underscoring a critical discrepancy between connectivity and connectedness. Loneliness has been implicated in the etiology and maintenance of various psychopathologies, including depression, anxiety, and, notably, eating disorders.1 Within this context, emerging evidence suggests that immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences may offer novel, experientially
rich pathways to reframe internal representations of isolation and foster a deeper sense of social embeddedness.
This article presents the OVER-LON project, which aims to investigate the potential of a VR simulation of the Overview Effect, a cognitive and affective shift experienced by astronauts when viewing Earth from space, to alleviate loneliness and enhance perceived social connectedness. Drawing from research on awe and embodied cognition and enriched by insights from conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) and psychological flexibility, we propose a model in which immersive, metaphorically grounded interventions may offer a transformative medium for cognitive–affective reframing
The Impact of Embodied and Enacted Metaphors on Cognition and Emotions in Technology‐Mediated Experiences: A Scoping Review
Full text linkMetaphors are a fundamental tool for shaping human understanding and interaction with the world. Indeed, they play a crucial role in cognitive and emotional processes, enabling individuals to comprehend one domain of experience in terms of another. Grounded in the Conceptual Metaphor Theory, this scoping review emphasizes the significant role of the body in metaphorical cognition and examines how technology may enhance cognitive and emotional abilities through metaphorical embodiment and enactment. Additionally, the review proposes the theoretical frameworks of active inference and Bayesian brain to provide a deeper understanding of how embodied metaphors shape cognitive and emotional experiences by integrating past experiences with current sensory inputs to make predictions about the future. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to extract relevant articles. Out of the 2648 articles retrieved, a total of 19 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 15 studies concerning the effect of metaphors on different cognitive abilities (i.e., learning, creative cognition, and perception) and 4 studies regarding emotions (i.e., emotional regulation, arousal, and psychophysiological correlates). Data from these studies were systematically extracted, tabulated, and subjected to a narrative synthesis. Overall, findings suggest that the embodiment and enactment of metaphors, facilitated by immersive technologies, significantly influence cognitive processes and emotional experiences. This enhancement is observed across diverse demographic groups, indicating broad applicability. Despite promising implications, the review identifies a need for further research, especially among clinical populations and in exploring metaphors not traditionally framed within the Conceptual Metaphor Theory
Floating Schools. A manifesto
No full textThe MIAW-Milan International Architecture Workshop at Politecnico di Milano fosters cross-disciplinary dialogue in architectural education, linking research and practice. Focusing on Milan’s urban context, the workshop has explored evolving school typologies across five sites, addressing social and spatial integration. Emphasizing openness and permeability, the projects rethink educational spaces as civic hubs, blending pedagogy with urban life. The outcomes—diverse architectural solutions—were showcased in an exhibition, highlighting innovative approaches to school design as a societal catalyst
The state of the Italian school buildings: an overview
No full textIn Italy. An intervention that becomes more complex if we are dealing with a
restricted asset pursuant to the Cultural Heritage law of 2004 (and its upgrades).
This, in fact, means adding a further constraint to those to which buildings, in
general, and school buildings, as particular subject of this paper, are subjected.
All this in the light of the need for a functional adaptation, in particular with
regard to the new pedagogical and, therefore, didactic needs, to which the
existing buildings do not seem to offer an adequate response.
The “reform” of school buildings in Italy has been a binding issue since the
unification of the country, i.e. from the second half of the 19th century to
nowadays.
Making a very summary distinction, the theme of the school building was, until
the 1970s, mainly linked to pedagogical, learning, education and training criteria.
From the 1970s onwards, attention to the school building took into account not
only the necessary criteria for good planning, considering teaching and shared
spaces, leisure and refreshment areas, but also the maintenance of the structures
of existing ones
Embodied concepts in Parkinson’s disease: Insights from fruits versus animals semantic fluency impairments
No full textOBJECTIVE: Initial findings indicate that semantic memory retrieval of different categories, such as fruits and animals, is variably impacted in Parkinson's disease (PD). Importantly, theories of embodied cognition propose that these variances may stem from compromised motor processing in PD patients. Indeed, the conceptual representation of the fruits category may involve aspects of manipulability and graspability, which are less relevant for the animals category. We aimed to assess semantic memory retrieval of fruits versus animals category as assessed by semantic fluency (SF) in PD by using the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative database. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 104 healthy controls (HC), 264 patients with sporadic de novo PD (S-PD), and 57 patients with genetic PD (G-PD). Additionally, we carried out explorative analysis concerning possible differences between S-PD and G-PF on SF. RESULTS: We found lower fruits SF performance in PD (S-PD plus G-PD) compared to HC; however, this score could not classify the two groups. Crucially, no difference for the animals class was found. When analyzing separately S-PD and G-PD, we found that fruits SF in S-PD was lower compared to HC and was negatively associated with S-PD diagnosis. Remarkably, no difference for the animals class was found. We did not find significant SF differences in the G-PD. Moreover, SF scores, regardless of the category, were uncorrelated with dopamine integrity measures and motor symptoms scales. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal distinct patterns of category dissociation in S-PD and G-PD, suggesting a potential link between category dissociation and motor embodiment processes in PD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
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