Authors:

Jackson, R., Hodgson, V., LAMBON RALPH, M.

Reference:

Year of publication:

In Press

CBU number:

8957

Authors:

SMITH, A., Bisby, J.A., DERCON, Q., BEVAN, A., Kigar, S.L., Lynall, M-E., DALGLEISH, T. Hitchcock, C., NORD, C.

Reference:

Year of publication:

-

CBU number:

8956

Abstract:

Aberrations to metacognition— the ability to reflect on and evaluate self-performance— are a feature of poor mental health. Theoretical models of post-traumatic stress disorder propose that following severe stress or trauma, maladaptive metacognitive evaluations and appraisals of the event drive the development of symptoms. Empirical research is required in order to reveal whether disruptions to metacognition cause or contribute to symptom development in line with theoretical accounts, or are simply a consequence of ongoing psychopathology. In two experiments, using hierarchical Bayesian modelling of metacognition measured in a memory recognition task, we assessed whether distortions to metacognition occur at a state-level after an acute stress induction, and/or at a trait-level in a sample of individuals experiencing intrusive memories following traumatic stress. Results from experiment 1, an in-person laboratory-based experiment, demonstrated that heightened psychological responses to the stress induction were associated with poorer metacognitive efficiency, despite there being no overall change in metacognitive efficiency from pre- to post-stress (N=27). Conversely, in experiment 2, an online experiment using the same metamemory task, we did not find evidence of metacognitive alterations in a transdiagnostic sample of patients with intrusive memory symptomatology following traumatic stress (N=36, compared to 44 matched controls). Our results indicate a relationship between state-level psychological responses to stress and metacognitive alterations. The lack of evidence for pre- to post-stress differences in metamemory illustrates the importance for future studies to reveal the direction of this relationship, and consequently the duration of stress-associated metacognitive impairments and their impact on mental health.

URL:

Authors:

HUMPHT=REYS, G.F., HALAI, A.D., BRANZI, F.M., LAMBON RALPH, M.A.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2024

CBU number:

8955

URL:

Authors:

Chi, Z., Devine, R.T., Wolsetencroft, J., Skuse, D., Hughes, C. BAKER,. K. IMAGINE-ID Consortium

Reference:

Year of publication:

2024

CBU number:

8954

Abstract:

Background Parents of individuals with rare neurodevelopmental conditions and intellectual disabilities (ID) are vulnerable to mental health difficulties, which vary between parents and within parents over time. The underlying cause of a child’s condition can influence parents’ mental health, via uncertain pathways and within unknown time-windows. Results We analysed baseline data from the IMAGINE-ID cohort, comprising 2655 parents of children and young people with ID of known genetic origin. First, we conducted a factor analysis of the SDQ Impact scale to isolate specific pathways from genetic aetiology to parents’ mental health. This suggested a two-factor structure for the SDQ Impact scale, with a “home & distress” dimension and a “participation” dimension. Second, we tested via structural equation modelling (SEM) whether genetic diagnosis affects Impact and mental health directly, or indirectly via children’s characteristics. This analysis identified an indirect pathway linking genetic aetiology to parents’ mental health, serially through child characteristics (physical disabilities, emotional and behavioural difficulties) and Impact: home & distress. Third, we conducted moderation analysis to explore the influence of time elapsed since genetic diagnosis. This showed that the serial mediation model was moderated by time since diagnosis, with strongest mediating effects among recently diagnosed cases. Conclusions There are multiple steps on the pathway from ID-associated genetic diagnoses to parents’ mental health. Pathway links are strongest within 5 years of receiving a genetic diagnosis, highlighting opportunities for better post-diagnostic support. Recognition and enhanced support for children’s physical and behavioural needs might reduce impact on family life, ameliorating parents’ vulnerabilities to mental health difficulties.

Authors:

JONES, J.S., MONGHAN, A., LEYLAND-CRAGGS, CALM Team, ASTLE, D.E.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2023

CBU number:

8953

Abstract:

Aim: The triple network model of psychopathology posits that altered connectivity between the Salience (SN), Central Executive (CEN), and Default Mode Networks (DMN) may underlie neurodevelopmental conditions. However, this has yet to be tested in a transdiagnostic sample of young people. Method: We investigated this in 175 children (60 girls) that represent a heterogeneous population who are experiencing neurodevelopmental difficulties in cognition and behavior, and 60 comparison children (33 girls). Hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention were assessed by parent-report. Resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging data were acquired and functional connectivity was calculated between independent network components and regions of interest. We then examined whether connectivity between the SN, CEN and DMN was dimensionally related to hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention, whilst controlling for age, gender, and motion. Results: Hyperactivity/impulsivity was associated with increased functional connectivity between the SN, CEN, and DMN in at-risk children, whereas it was associated with decreased functional connectivity between the CEN and DMN in comparison children. These effects replicated in an adult parcellation of brain function and when using increasingly stringent exclusion criteria for in-scanner motion. Conclusion: Triple network connectivity characterizes transdiagnostic neurodevelopmental difficulties with hyperactivity/impulsivity. We suggest that this may arise from delayed network segregation, difficulties sustaining CEN activity to regulate behavior, and/or a heightened developmental mismatch between neural systems implicated in cognitive control relative to those implicated in reward/affect processing. Keywords: ADHD; Functional Connectivity; Hyperactivity; Inattention; Neurodiversity; Resting State Networks.

Authors:

AKARCA, D., CAROZZA, S., ASTLE, D.

Reference:

Year of publication:

In Press

CBU number:

8951

Authors:

MAGNABOSCO, F., HAUK, O.

Reference:

Year of publication:

In Press

CBU number:

8950

Authors:

Bagheri, S., Taridashti, S., Farahani, H., WATSON, P., Rezvani, E.

Reference:

Year of publication:

In Press

CBU number:

8949

Authors:

DUNCAN, J.

Reference:

Year of publication:

In Press

CBU number:

8948

Abstract:

With recordings from temporal, parietal and frontal regions of the behaving monkey brain, accompanied by a powerful method for optogenetic silencing of the frontal region, Mendoza-Halliday et al. compare network functions for working memory and visual selective attention.

Authors:

Henriques, R.N., HENSON, R. Cam-CAN & CORREIA, M.M.

Reference:

Year of publication:

In Press

CBU number:

8947

Abstract:

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) is sensitive to white matter microstructural changes across the human lifespan. Several models have been proposed to provide more sensitive and specific metrics than those provided by the conventional Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) analysis. However, previous results using different metrics have led to contradictory conclusions regarding the effect of age on fibre demyelination and axonal loss in adults. Moreover, it remains unclear whether these metrics provide distinct information about the effects of age, e.g., on different white-matter tracts. To address this, we analysed dMRI data from 651 adults approximately uniformly aged from 18 to 88 years in the Cam-CAN cohort, using six dMRI metrics: Fractional Anisotropy (FA) from standard DTI; Mean Signal Diffusion (MSD) and Mean Signal Kurtosis (MSK) from Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging (DKI) applied to directional averaged diffusion-weighted signals; and Neurite Density Index (NDI), Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI) and isotropic Free water volume fraction (Fiso) estimated from Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI). Averaging across white-matter regions-of-interest (ROIs), second-order polynomial fits revealed that MSD, MSK and Fiso showed the strongest effects of age, with significant quadratic components suggesting more rapid and sometimes inverted effects in old age. Analysing the data in different age subgroups revealed that some apparent discrepancies in previous studies may be explained by the use of cohorts with different age ranges. Factor analysis of the six metrics across all ROIs revealed three independent factors that can be associated to 1) tissue microscopic properties (e.g. differences in fibre density/myelin), 2) free-water contamination, and 3) tissue configuration complexity (e.g. crossing, dispersing, fanning fibres). While FA captures a combination of different factors, other dMRI metrics are strongly aligned to specific factors (NDI and MSK with Factor 1, Fiso with Factor 2, and ODI with Factor 3). To assess whether directional diffusion and kurtosis quantities provide additional information about the effects of age, further factor analyses were also performed, which showed that additional information about the effects of age may be present in radial and axial kurtosis estimates (but not standard axial and radial diffusivity). In summary, our study offers an explanation for previous discrepancies reported in dMRI ageing studies and provides further insights on the interpretation of different dMRI metrics in the context of white matter microstructural properties.

Data available, click to request