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Disturbo Bipolare, Disturbo D’abuso Di Sostanze E Disturbo D’abuso Di Alcool : Un Confronto Temperamentale
No full textC-tactile fibers mediate Affective Touch: from childhood to individual differences to neural correlates
Full text linkThe emotional aspect of touch has been called ‘Affective Touch’ (AT), a term capturing tactile processing with a hedonic, motivational and social significance (e.g. affiliative behaviors or mother-infant bonding). AT is driven by C-Tactile (CT) fibers that are mainly present in hairy skin and respond specifically to slow, gentle touch. CT fibers project to a neural network including the insular cortex and other areas involved in the social domain. In this thesis, the reader will find three distinct studies that, however, follow a temporal progression that reflects both the way they have been carried out and the logical sequence of the rationale underpinning my doctoral project.
In the first study, we studied the development of somatosensation and Affective Touch as central role throughout childhood. In adults, these functions are driven by different, neuroanatomically and functionally segregated fibers. To date, very little is known about the basic features of these fibers in childhood and this lack of knowledge is mirrored in the Affective Touch domain, where there are no studies on the main physiological features of the tactile processes linked to the stimulation of the hairy skin, namely the only body part that modulates Affective Touch. Thus, our study aims to analyse: tactile sensitivity and tactile acuity of children’s hairy forearms; a possible separation between somatosensation and the Affective Touch; and the presence/absence of a mature Affective Touch system already in childhood. To these aims, participants (160 children, aged 6 to 14 years), were administered with the Von Frey (tactile sensitivity) and the 2 Point Discrimination (tactile acuity) tests. Affective Touch was measured following the classic protocol and pleasantness ratings were recorded. Our findings showed a correlation between age and somatosensation, suggesting a progressive reduction of sensitivity and acuity as age grows. Further, there was no overlap between Affective Touch and somatosensation, suggesting a behavioral separation. Lastly, we found higher pleasantness ratings for Affective vs. Neutral stimulations at all ages and an enhanced preference for Affective as age grows. We concluded that both somatosensation and Affective Touch are already present as two separate components of touch in childhood and change as a function of age.
In the second and third studies, I investigated the perception of AT on the basis of individual differences. The perception and the neural processing of AT appear to be modulated by psychological and psychopathological factors such as autistic traits, anorexia disorder and attachment patterns. Despite this, nothing is known about the Disorganized attachment pattern which is the one with the highest difficulty in regulating emotions and social skills that are central aspects of the AT network. Our studies aim to compare the perception and brain responses to AT in a sample of adults classified as having a Organized (OA) or a Disorganized attachment (DA). 46 OA and 17 DA individuals (as coded via Adult Attachment Interview) underwent a behavioral tactile procedure for basic somatosensation (comprising Von Frey Monofilaments, 2PD, and thermal sensitivity) and a psychological assessment (including SCL-90-R and PID-5). AT perception was measured applying Affective (AS) and Neutral Stimulations (NS) with a watercolor brush on the forearm, respectively at 3 or 30 cm/s; pleasantness ratings for AS and NS and a index of preference (AT index) were collected. A randomly selected subset of 12 OA and 8 DA underwent also a fMRI block design, during affective and neutral tactile stimulations (four run of 5 repetitions of AS and 5 repetitions of NS each), in addition of two resting-state sessions for a functional connectivity analysis (fc-fMRI). No differences emerged for somatosensation and psychological scales. A MANOVA on AS and NS ratings showed that DA vs OA reported lower ratings for AS and no difference for NS. A t-test on AT index showed that DA vs OA preferred NS. A fMRI F omnibus contrast revealed the involvement of posterior insula (PI), somatosensory primary cortex (S1), supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and amygdala during AS and NS. A 2 (OA vs DA) x 2 (AS vs NS) mixed factorial ANOVA on hemodynamic responses showed an effect of stimulation, with higher activation for NS in PI, S1 and amygdala, and an effect of group, with DA showing higher activation in amygdala. An interaction in amygdala showed higher activation for NS vs AS in DA, but not in OA. fc-fMRI showed connectivity between PI and SMG and PI and S1. Results showed that DA perceived AT as less pleasant and preferred NS compared to OA, suggesting that adults who experience difficulties in the ways to relate to others in the affectivity domain, and, in particular, referring to attachment history, are specifically impaired in AT perception, but not in other basic functions of somatosensation. Altered AT perception appeared to be also mirrored by differences in brain mechanism for processing AT. In fact, we found a higher activation in amygdala for AS and NS in DA compared to OA, suggesting different mechanisms for coding motivational and hedonic aspect of AT. Further studies are needed to understand whether this atypical response to AT refers to attribution of a negative or positive value to these stimuli.
The results from my three experiments have shown that it is worth investigating this construct in the future. From a personal point of view, it seems to me that this set of three experiments is a trait d'union between neurosciences, which we all know and fascinate us because of their ability to measure very complex phenomena, and other constructs associated with a more clinical perspective such as attachment. I therefore hope that my doctoral thesis will be a humble contribution to a wider view of clinical and neuroscientific phenomena
Tactile sensitivity, tactile acuity, and affective touch. From childhood to early adolescence
No full textThe development of somatosensation and affective touch acquires a central role throughout our lives, for several reasons. In adults, these functions are driven by different, neuroanatomically and functionally segregated fibres. To date, very little is known about the basic features of these fibres in childhood and this lack of knowledge is mirrored in the affective touch domain, where there are no studies on the main physiological features of the tactile processes linked to the stimulation of the hairy skin, namely the preferential site of affective touch. Thus, our study aims to analyze (1) tactile sensitivity and tactile acuity of children's hairy forearms; (2) a possible dissociation between somatosensation and the affective touch; and (3) the presence/absence of the perception of affective touch already in childhood. To these aims, participants (160 children, aged 6 to 14years), were administered with the Von Frey (tactile sensitivity) and the 2 Point Discrimination (tactile acuity) tests. Affective touch was measured following the classic protocol and pleasantness ratings were recorded. Our findings showed a correlation between age and somatosensation, suggesting a progressive reduction of sensitivity and acuity as age grows. Further, there was no overlap between affective touch and somatosensation, suggesting a behavioural segregation. Lastly, we found higher pleasantness ratings for Affective versus Neutral stimulations at all ages and an enhanced preference for Affective as age grows. We concluded that both somatosensation and affective touch are already present as two separate components of touch in childhood and change as a function of ag
Patients' crying experiences in psychotherapy: Relationship with the patient level of personality organization, clinician approach, and therapeutic alliance
No full textThe present study sought to further understand patients’ crying experiences in psychotherapy. We asked
64 clinicians to randomly request one patient in their practice to complete a survey concerning crying in
psychotherapy as well as a measure of therapeutic alliance. All clinicians provided information regarding
their practice and patient diagnostic information. Fifty-five (85.93%) patients cried at least once, and 18
(28.1%) had cried during their most recent session. Patients’ frequency of crying episodes in therapy was
negatively related with psychotic level of personality organization, while patients’ tendency to feel more
negative feelings after crying was positively related to lower levels of personality organization. Patients’
feeling more in control after crying was positively related with an interpersonal therapeutic approach,
while patients’ perception of therapists as more supportive after crying was positively related to a
psychodynamic approach. Patients’ tendency to experience more negative feelings after crying was
significantly related with both lower levels of personality organization and patients’ perception of the
therapeutic alliance as weak. In regard to their most recent crying event in treatment, therapeutic alliance
was related to gaining a new understanding of experience not previously recognized by the patient.
Further, patients’ experiences of having never told anyone about their experience related to a crying
episode, as well as their realization of new ideas and feeling of having communicated something that
words could not express was positively related to the goal dimension of alliance. Patients’ perception of
crying as a moment of genuine vulnerability, greater feelings of self-confidence and self-disclosure as
well as having had a therapist response that was compassionate and supportive, was positively related
with the bond dimension of alliance. Clinical implications and future research directions regarding patient
crying experiences in psychotherapy are discussed.The present study sought to further understand patients' crying experiences in psychotherapy. We asked 64 clinicians to randomly request one patient in their practice to complete a survey concerning crying in psychotherapy as well as a measure of therapeutic alliance. All clinicians provided information regarding their practice and patient diagnostic information. Fifty-five (85.93%) patients cried at least once, and 18 (28.1%) had cried during their most recent session. Patients' frequency of crying episodes in therapy was negatively related with psychotic level of personality organization, while patients' tendency to feel more negative feelings after crying was positively related to lower levels of personality organization. Patients' feeling more in control after crying was positively related with an interpersonal therapeutic approach, while patients' perception of therapists as more supportive after crying was positively related to a psychodynamic approach. Patients' tendency to experience more negative feelings after crying was significantly related with both lower levels of personality organization and patients' perception of the therapeutic alliance as weak. In regard to their most recent crying event in treatment, therapeutic alliance was related to gaining a new understanding of experience not previously recognized by the patient. Further, patients' experiences of having never told anyone about their experience related to a crying episode, as well as their realization of new ideas and feeling of having communicated something that words could not express was positively related to the goal dimension of alliance. Patients' perception of crying as a moment of genuine vulnerability, greater feelings of self-confidence and self-disclosure as well as having had a therapist response that was compassionate and supportive, was positively related with the bond dimension of alliance. Clinical implications and future research directions regarding patient crying experiences in psychotherapy are discussed
REATTIVITÀ VAGALE IN RISPOSTA A STIMOLI APPETITIVI E NEUTRI IN SOGGETTI CON DIAGNOSI DI OBESITA’
No full textL’obesità è caratterizzata da anomala assunzione di cibo e da eccessivo accumulo di grasso. Il comportamento alimentare è dipendente dall’osservazione di stimoli come il cibo. Un indice particolarmente adatto per studiare la risposta a questi stimoli nei disturbi del comportamento alimentare è la variabilità del battito cardiaco, un parametro di funzionamento del sistema nervoso parasimpatico in grado di riflettere la capacità di regolare le emozioni e di inibire comportamenti disfunzionali.
Questo studio si propone di esplorare la variabilità del battito cardiaco alla presentazione di immagini legate al cibo in un gruppo di pazienti obesi e in soggetti normopeso. Si ipotizza che, per i soli pazienti, gli stimoli legati al cibo diventino ansiogeni e scatenino una risposta fisiologica di crollo vagale. Si ipotizza inoltre che questo non si verifichi di fronte a stimoli non legati al cibo.
24 pazienti obesi ricoverati (19 femmine; età: 49.20 ± 13.64; indice di massa corporea: 41.63 ± 8.09) e 37 soggetti normopeso (24 femmine; età: 25.08 ± 6.76; indice di massa corporea: 22.14 ± 2.74) sono stati sottoposti a monitoraggio elettrocardiografico durante una condizione di riposo (baseline), un compito sperimentale e una fase di recupero. Un sottogruppo di pazienti (n = 11) ha ripetuto il paradigma sostituendo gli stimoli legati al cibo con stimoli neutri (oggetti). I risultati mostrano una riduzione significativa della variabilità interbattito dei pazienti, ma non dei controlli (p < .05), di fronte al cibo. Inoltre, i pazienti mostrano un’incapacità di ritornare ai valori di base al termine del compito (attivazione fisiologica sostenuta; p < .05). Come previsto, di fronte a stimoli neutri, i pazienti non mostrano alcuna risposta di attivazione fisiologica (n.s.).
I risultati confermano la relazione tra aspetti fisiologici e psicologici nei disturbi alimentari e giustificano future indagini sulla reattività del sistema nervoso autonomo a stimoli salienti in persone obese
Psychopathology, body uneasiness and self-identity in patients with non-BED obesity compared to healthy controls
No full textIntroduction: Obesity represents a major public health problem associated with medical and psychological impairment. Obesity is frequently studied with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) comorbidity. Less evidence is available for non-BED obesity, in spite of its correlation with psychological impairment and body image disturbance. In this study, we explored psychopathological features, eating behaviors, body image disturbance and self-identity impairment in patients with obesity and a control group. In patients, we also studied the relation between specific eating/body features and psychopathological symptoms. Finally, we explored the latent factorial structure that describes these features. Material and methods: The clinical sample was composed by twenty patients suffering from obesity without BED (16 females). The control group included twenty-eight healthy and normal-weight subjects (20 females) enrolled from the general population. All participants underwent a clinical interview and filled out questionnaires about body image and psychopathological symptoms.
Statistics: The Student t test was applied to compare obese patients and healthy controls in all psychological dimensions. In the clinical sample, gender differences were tested through multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA). Then, correlational analyses explored the relation between specific eating/body features and psychopathological symptoms. Lastly, a principal-components factor analysis was performed to explore the existence of a latent factorial structure emerging from assessment evaluation in obese population.
Results: Obese patients reported significantly higher scores than healthy controls in several psychopathological dimensions, i.e. Somatization, Obsessive-Compulsive, Depression, Hostility, Phobic Anxiety, and Psychoticism. Patients also reported higher body uneasiness and self-identity impairment resulting from some scores on Body Uneasiness Test and Identity and Eating Disorders questionnaire. Avoidant behaviours were more frequently reported in men whereas women reported higher body distress/dissatisfaction. In the clinical sample the questionnaires were correlated and a three-factor structure emerged: “Weight and body control”, “Weakness of Self-Identity”, and “Psychopathological distress”.
Discussion: The present study found that obese patients might present several disturbances in body image, self- perception and general psychopathological distress. Clinicians should be aware of these issues to improve therapeutic strategy in the treatment of obesity
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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