Combined functional magnetic resonance imaging and skin conductance to detect localized neural response to psychological stress: a pilot study

Pruneti, Carlo; Vanello, Nicola; Paterni, Marco; Landini, Luigi; Guidotti, Sara; Ferdeghini, E.M.

doi:10.12871/00039829202112

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…For instance, it might be useful to further investigate HRV (especially HF-HRV) and SCR within the same experimental paradigm because it is not clear why conductance activity is so inhibited. Several studies in the literature demonstrated that SCR reflects the cognitive processing of emotional stimuli in healthy subjects [ 79 , 80 , 81 ]; therefore, this difference with OCD subjects needs to be investigated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of Clinical Psychophysiology of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders: Does the Obsession with Diet Also Alter the Autonomic Imbalance of Orthorexic Patients?

2023

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(1) Background: A new mental illness is attracting the attention of researchers and mental health professionals. Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a possible new mental disorder, the main symptom of which is an obsessive and insecure focus on healthy foods and consequent compulsive behaviors. There is a common consensus among researchers that ON is considered partly overlapping with obsessive–compulsive disorders (OCDs). (2) Methods: MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for articles published in the last 10 years regarding the psychophysiological aspects of OCD and ON. Eight studies met the eligibility criteria. The inclusion criteria encompassed adults diagnosed with OCD and/or ON. However, only studies involving OCD patients were found. (3) Results: Some research groups have shown that OCD disorders can be considered among anxiety disorders because they are characterized by anxious hyper activation. Other research, however, has shown profiles characterized by low psychophysiological reactivity to stressful stimuli. Despite this, there seems to be a consensus on the poor inhibition abilities, even when activation is low, and the dissociation between cognitive and psychophysiological activation emerged. (4) Conclusions: However discordant, some points seem to bring the researchers to agreement. In fact, there is consensus on conducting a multidimensional assessment that can measure all of the aspects of suffering (cognition, emotion, and behavior) and highlight the poor body–mind integration. This clinical approach would make it possible to propose interventions aimed at treating some mental illnesses such as food obsession that can paradoxically impair the psychophysical balance. Nevertheless, the applied systematizing approach to existing studies on ON is very much needed for better understanding of the psychophysical nature of this new mental illness and its implications for prevention and treatment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of Clinical Psychophysiology of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders: Does the Obsession with Diet Also Alter the Autonomic Imbalance of Orthorexic Patients?

2023

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“…A Psychophysiological Stress Profile (PSP) [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] structured in three phases was implemented. In the baseline phase (6 min), each patient was instructed to close their eyes and to remain still and relaxed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognition, Behavior, Sexuality, and Autonomic Responses of Women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

Pruneti

Guidotti

2022

Brain Sciences

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(1) Background: Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (FHA) can be caused by the hyper activation of neuro-endocrine responses to stress. Among other endocrine factors and hypothalamic dysfunctions, the psychophysiological stress response can very frequently lead to an inhibition of the gonadal–pituitary axis. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of neurovegetative activation in a group of young women affected by this condition. (2) Methods: Twenty-five women (mean age = 21.1 ± 4.34) with FHA were consecutively recruited. Information on psycho-physiological distress was collected through a Psychopathological assessment (with the administration of three psychometric tests) and the Psychophysiological Stress Profile (PSP). Their data were compared with a control group. (3) Results: In the PSP, the patients displayed significantly higher values compared to controls in terms of the parameters of muscle tension (sEMG), skin conductance (SCL/SCR), heart rate (HR), and peripheral temperature (PT). Furthermore, autonomic hyper-activation at rest, marked reactivity to stress, and reduced recovery were seen. Moreover, a condition characterized by psychological distress (anxiety and somatic complaints, depressed and irritable mood, obsessive-compulsive traits) emerged. (4) Conclusions: The results highlight autonomic hyper-activation in FHA, which is also associated with psychological distress. Considering that FHA is a condition that affects multiple systems between mind and body, a multimodal, multidimensional, and multidisciplinary assessment of stress is becoming an emerging need.

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“…The hypothesis that drove the present study is based on the fact that the rapid phasic components of SC (the skin conductance response [SCR]) is the parameter that best reflects the phasic components of autonomic arousal (Fowles et al, 1981;Tranel & Damasio, 1984). More specifically, SCR has long been known as a sensitive index of psychosomatic arousal that is strictly connected to emotional activations, mental processing, and focused attention, especially considering stimuli with emotional or social valence (Bechara et al, 1996;Cacioppo et al, 2007;Gatti et al, 2018;Palomba et al, 2000;Pruneti et al, 2021). For instance, previous studies demonstrated that SC, both during the rest phase (skin conductance level [SCL]) and during the stress presentation (SCR), is closely connected with the activation of specific brain areas responsible for processing the emotional value of a stimulus, such as the hypothalamus and amygdala (Gatti et al, 2018;Pruneti et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More specifically, SCR has long been known as a sensitive index of psychosomatic arousal that is strictly connected to emotional activations, mental processing, and focused attention, especially considering stimuli with emotional or social valence (Bechara et al, 1996;Cacioppo et al, 2007;Gatti et al, 2018;Palomba et al, 2000;Pruneti et al, 2021). For instance, previous studies demonstrated that SC, both during the rest phase (skin conductance level [SCL]) and during the stress presentation (SCR), is closely connected with the activation of specific brain areas responsible for processing the emotional value of a stimulus, such as the hypothalamus and amygdala (Gatti et al, 2018;Pruneti et al, 2021). Furthermore, other brain regions responsible for sustained and focal attention (i.e., prefrontal and orbito-frontal cortexes) emerged to be associated with autonomic activation (Pruneti et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, previous studies demonstrated that SC, both during the rest phase (skin conductance level [SCL]) and during the stress presentation (SCR), is closely connected with the activation of specific brain areas responsible for processing the emotional value of a stimulus, such as the hypothalamus and amygdala (Gatti et al, 2018;Pruneti et al, 2021). Furthermore, other brain regions responsible for sustained and focal attention (i.e., prefrontal and orbito-frontal cortexes) emerged to be associated with autonomic activation (Pruneti et al, 2021). In summary, it is precisely for this reason that SCR is commonly considered by researchers as a good index of emotional and motivational involvement (Pennisi & Sarlo, 1998;Pribram & McGuinness, 1975).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychophysiology and Cognitive Functioning in Elderly: The Skin Conductance as a Reliable Marker of Memorization and Rememorization Capability

Pruneti¹,

Cosentino²,

Guidotti³

2023

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Objectives. The aim of the study is to assess the role of physiological activation in favoring the benefits of a series of sessions of reminiscence therapy (RT). Methods. Seven healthy elders (age: 87.7 ± 4.6) were recruited. A Psychophysiological Stress Profile (in three phases: baseline, stress, recovery) has been recorded in order to register the skin conductance (level and response, SCL-SCR). During the stress condition the Mini-Mental State Examination and Semantic Fluency Test were administered. The cognitive functioning was reassessed after seven sessions of RT. Results. On the basis of the SCR value (during stress condition), two groups have been made: high responders (HRs) and low responders (LRs). At baseline, HRs significantly differ in SCR (stress phase) and MMSE total score. After the RT, the same group reported higher scores in memory recall and lexical access. Discussion. A relation between physiological arousal and cognitive performance has been confirmed.

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Combined functional magnetic resonance imaging and skin conductance to detect localized neural response to psychological stress: a pilot study

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

A Systematic Review of Clinical Psychophysiology of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders: Does the Obsession with Diet Also Alter the Autonomic Imbalance of Orthorexic Patients?

A Systematic Review of Clinical Psychophysiology of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders: Does the Obsession with Diet Also Alter the Autonomic Imbalance of Orthorexic Patients?

Cognition, Behavior, Sexuality, and Autonomic Responses of Women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

Psychophysiology and Cognitive Functioning in Elderly: The Skin Conductance as a Reliable Marker of Memorization and Rememorization Capability

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