Huntington’s chorea (Huntington’s disease, HD) is a genetic disorder caused by autosomal dominant mutation, leading to progressive neurodegenerative changes in the central nervous system. Involuntary movements such as chorea occur typically in HD patients, accompanied by progressive cognitive and psychiatric disturbances. Other common symptoms of HD are circadian and sleep abnormalities, which are observed from the earliest stages of the disease or even before the occurrence of clinical symptoms. The most common sleep problems reported by HD patients include insomnia, difficulties in falling asleep, frequent nocturnal awakenings, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Also, specific changes in sleep architecture have been identified in HD. In this paper, we review studies on sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in HD. We outline findings concerning sleep patterns and disturbances of circadian rhythms in HD patients, as well as the role of psychiatric disorders and motor disorders in HD patients’ sleep problems. We also discuss problems related to the different methods of diagnosing sleep disorders in HD. Furthermore, the adverse effects of medication used for the treatment of core HD symptoms as one of the sources of sleep disturbances in HD are emphasized. In conclusion, the diversity and complexity of the determinants of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in HD are highlighted. Finally, the relevance of effective treatment to improve patients’ functioning and quality of life as well as the potential relief of their cognitive and emotional symptoms is addressed.

The sufficient length and good quality of night sleep play a vital role in maintaining health, well-being and effective functioning. Nevertheless, an increase in the prevalence of sleep deprivation can be observed recently. The concept of bedtime procrastination, defined as going to bed later than intended, has been proposed to explain one of the psychological determinants of sleep deficiency. To investigate the prevalence of bedtime procrastination among Poles we carried out a Polish adaptation of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS), a self-report questionnaire for measuring the tendency to voluntarily postpone going to bed in the absence of any external circumstances for doing so. The aim of the research was to determine the main psychometric properties of the Polish version of the BPS. We also aimed to identify the relationships between bedtime procrastination and selected demographic variables in the Polish sample, and to examine the impact of bedtime procrastination on self-reported sleep outcomes. The data obtained from online surveys conducted on two Polish samples were analyzed, including demographic factors, self-reported sleep outcomes, and responses to items of the BPS. The Polish version of the BPS has a unifactorial structure like the original version. It also exhibits satisfactory internal consistency and moderate temporal stability in a 10-week retest study. BPS scores were not significantly related to the place of residence, the highest completed level of education, living with a spouse or partner, and living with children. Scores in BPS slightly decreased with age and females scored higher on BPS than males. Higher BPS scores were obtained for a group of students in comparison to a group of subjects who were not students, and lower BPS scores were found in working respondents in comparison to respondents who were not working. BPS scores correlate negatively with sleep length on workdays and a feeling of sleep sufficiency, and positively with sleep length on weekdays relative to workdays, sleeping later than one would like, and a feeling of fatigue. Several relationships between self-reported sleep outcomes and demographic variables were also identified.

Results of our study support the hypothesis of competition between the implicit and explicit memory systems in humans.

Getting good and sufficiently long sleep at night is important for health, effective functioning, and well-being. However, insufficient or delayed sleep are important and growing social problems that can lead to fatigue, poor performance, deterioration of well-being, circadian rhythm disturbances, and health problems. One of the significant determinants of sleep deprivation is bedtime procrastination, which is understood as the individual tendency to postpone going to bed in the absence of any external circumstances that force one to do so. Nowadays, this phenomenon is widespread in various social groups, especially among students. Despite the high prevalence of bedtime procrastination, its relationship with personality characteristics has not yet been thoroughly studied. The presented research aimed to identify the possible impact of the basic dispositional personality traits and trait-like personality characteristics on bedtime procrastination and daytime fatigue resulting from a deficiency of sleep at night. The responses from 399 university students who voluntarily took part in an internet survey were analyzed. The severity of bedtime procrastination was assessed using the Bedtime Procrastination Scale. Five basic dispositional personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness/intellect) and their components (aspects) were measured using the International Personality Item Pool – Big Five Aspects Scale. Self-esteem and general self-efficacy were assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Perceived locus of control was measured using the Delta Questionnaire. The direct and indirect relationships between personality variables and daytime fatigue were investigated using linear regression models with bedtime procrastination as a mediator variable. Industriousness and orderliness, both of which are aspects of conscientiousness, were found to be indirectly associated with daytime fatigue as a consequence of their impact on bedtime procrastination. Volatility and withdrawal, both of which are aspects of neuroticism, were found to be directly related to daytime fatigue without the intermediary impact of bedtime procrastination. Self-esteem was shown to be associated with experiencing daytime fatigue, both directly and indirectly through bedtime procrastination. General self-efficacy and external locus of control were associated with daytime fatigue only directly, without the intermediary role of bedtime procrastination. The results of our research indicate that personality factors may not only play an important role in shaping sleep-related health behaviors, but they also affect well-being during the day.

Physical activity is an important determinant of a healthy lifestyle. Regular participation in sports-related activities contributes to the maintenance of good psychophysiological and social health. Long-term physical activity has a positive impact on subjective well-being and can reduce stress. Karate is a specific physical activity which focuses on self-regulation and self-development; therefore, it may reduce impulsivity and improve self-control. Good self-control is also related to satisfaction with life and well-being. The presented study aimed to examine the possible intermediate impact of self-control and emotion regulation on the relationship between karate training and satisfaction with life. Fifty-eight karate practitioners and fifty-nine control subjects participated in the research. The Satisfaction With Life Scale and the Brief Self-Control Scale were applied in order to assess life satisfaction and the general level of self-control. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was used to assess suppression and reappraisal, both of which are distinct aspects of emotion regulation. The direct and indirect relationships between karate training and satisfaction with life were investigated using a linear regression model that included self-control, suppression and reappraisal as mediating variables. No direct effects of karate training on satisfaction with life were found, whereas karate training was indirectly associated with satisfaction with life via the indirect path that leads through self-control and reappraisal. This indicates that self-control and reappraisal fully mediate the impact of karate training on subjective well-being. Karate training can therefore play an important role in shaping volitional and personality characteristics, both of which contribute to increasing the well-being of trainees.

Celem dwóch badaĔ zaprezentowanych w artykule byáo wskazanie, jaki wpáyw na subiek tywną ocenĊ postĊpu w realizacji "osobistych projektów" (Little, 1980) wywiera implementa cja intencji oraz róĪnice indywidualne w sposobie formuáowania celów i sprawnoĞci mecha nizmów kontroli dziaáania. ZaáoĪono, Īe implementacja intencji moĪe zrekompensowaü uwa runkowane osobowoĞciowo trudnoĞci w sposobie formuáowania celów oraz niską sprawnoĞü mechanizmów kontroli dziaáania. PodstawĊ operacjonalizacji zmiennych niezaleĪnych stano wiáa koncepcja faz procesu dziaáania Gollwitzera (1996), model osobowo-Ğci Mądrzyckiego (2002) oraz koncepcja siáy woli Kuhla (1996). Wyniki Badania 1 (N = 91) wykazaáy, Īe implementacja intencji powoduje wzrost subiektywnej oceny postĊpu w realizacji celu dokonywany przez osoby o niskim poziomie tzw. orientacji na cel. Uzyskane w Badaniu 2 (N = 85) rezultaty potwierdziáy pozytywny wpáyw implementacji intencji na subiektywną ocenĊ postĊpu w realizacji celów. Osoby zorientowane na stan wyĪej oceniaáy postĊp w realizacji celów po dokonaniu implementacji intencji. Potwierdzono tym samym, Īe sáaboĞü wewnĊtrznych mechanizmów samoregulacyjnych moĪe zostaü zrekompensowana przez dokonanie implementacji intencji. Osoby zorientowane na dziaáanie nie wykazywaáy róĪnic w subiektywnej ocenie postĊpu niezaleĪnie od tego, czy dokonaáy, czy teĪ nie implementacji intencji. Sáowa kluczowe: implementacja intencji, orientacja na stan vs. na dziaáanie, "osobiste pro jekty", orientacja na cel, subiektywna ocena

Artykuł poglądowy/Review article S t r e s z c z e n i e Aleksytymia jest określana jako zespół względnie stałych własności jednostki, przejawiający się głów-nie trudnościami w umysłowym odzwierciedlaniu własnych emocji. Zawiera składniki zaliczane do wymiaru poznawczego, obejmujące trudności w identyfikowaniu, werbalizowaniu i analizowaniu własnych uczuć, oraz komponenty tworzące wymiar afektywny, czyli słabą pobudliwość emocjonalną oraz ograniczone zdolności wyobrażeniowe. U osób z wysokim poziomem aleksytymii stwierdza się deficyty regulacji emocjonalnej i zwiększone ryzyko wystąpienia zaburzeń psychicznych, zwłaszcza depresyjnych i lękowych. Rozpowszechnienie aleksytymii ocenia się na ok. 10% w populacji ogólnej i ok. 20% wśród pacjentów z zaburzeniami psychicznymi. W pierwszej części artykułu przedstawiono związki aleksytymii z zaburzeniami psychicznymi. Następnie dokonano przeglądu wyników badań nad mózgowymi korelatami i mechanizmami aleksytymii ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem technik neuroobrazowania funkcjonalnego. Komponenty aleksytymii należące do jej poznawczego i afektywnego wymiaru wykazały związki z aktywnością odmiennych struktur mózgowych, a wzorzec zależności okazał się częściowo zróżnicowany ze względu na znak prezentowanych w badaniach bodźców emocjonalnych. Przedstawione powyżej zależności wskazują na dużą złożoność neuropsychologicznych mechanizmów aleksytymii. Wyniki omówionych badań pozwalają na dokonanie cennego wglądu w możliwe neuropsychologiczne mechanizmy aleksytymii, jednak należy je uznać za niewystarczające do ich pełnego zidentyfikowania. Na zakończenie zaproponowano konkretne metodologiczne zalecenia dla przyszłych badań, jak również możliwe implikacje terapeutyczne rezultatów badań neuroobrazowych dotyczących osób z wysokim poziomem aleksytymii.Słowa kluczowe: aleksytymia, przetwarzanie emocji, neuroobrazowanie, zakręt obręczy. A b s t r a c tAlexithymia is defined as a syndrome of relatively constant individual characteristics, manifested primarily in problems with mental reflection on one's emotions. It embraces the components included in the cognitive dimension, involving difficulties in identifying, verbalizing and analysing one's feelings, as well as the components of the affective dimension, namely weak emotional arousability and constricted imaginal capacities. Among individuals with a high level of alexithymia, disturbed emotion regulation and increased risk of developing mental health problems, depressive and anxiety disorders, in particular, are found. The prevalence of alexithymia is estimated at approximately 10% in the general population and over 20% in the clinical population. The first part of the article covers the relation of alexithymia to mental disorders. Subsequently, the evidence of neural correlates and mechanisms of alexithymia is reviewed, with particular focus on functional neuroimaging studies. Cognitive and affective components of alexithymia were found to be associated with activation of different brain structures. Furthermore, the pattern of those re...