Search Results (285)

Art therapy serves as a crucial intervention modality for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), demonstrating unique value in emotional expression, sensory integration, and social communication. However, current practice presents critical challenges, including the disconnect between design expertise and clinical needs, unclear mechanisms of environmental factors’ impact on therapeutic outcomes, and insufficient evidence-based support for technology integration. Purpose: This study aimed to construct an evidence-based theoretical framework for art therapy environment design for children with autism, clarifying the relationship between environmental design elements and therapeutic effectiveness. Methodology: Based on the Web of Science database, this study employed a dual-track approach comprising bibliometric analysis and micro-qualitative content analysis to systematically examine the knowledge structure and developmental trends. Research hotspots were identified through keyword co-occurrence network analysis using CiteSpace, while 24 representative design cases were analyzed to gain insights into design concepts, emerging technologies, and implementation principles. Key Findings: Through keyword network visualization analysis, this study identified ten primary research clusters that were systematically categorized into four core design elements: sensory feedback design, behavioral guidance design, emotional resonance design, and therapeutic support design. A responsive therapeutic environment conceptual framework was proposed, encompassing four interconnected components based on the ABC model from positive psychology: emotional, sensory, environmental, and behavioral dimensions. Evidence-based design principles were established emphasizing child-centeredness, the promotion of multisensory expression, the achievement of dynamic feedback, and appropriate technology integration. Research Contribution: This research establishes theoretical connections between environmental design elements and art therapy effectiveness, providing a systematic design guidance framework for interdisciplinary teams, including environmental designers, clinical practitioners, technology developers, and healthcare administrators. The framework positions technology as a therapeutic mediator rather than a driver, ensuring technological integration supports rather than interferes with children’s natural creative impulses. This contributes to creating more effective environmental spaces for art therapy activities for children with autism while aligning with SDG3 goals for promoting mental health and reducing inequalities in therapeutic access. Full article

Natural disasters like wildfires pose significant threats to communities, which necessitates timely and effective disaster response strategies. While Aspect-based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA) has been widely used to extract sentiment-related information at the sub-sentence level, the corresponding field of Aspect-based Emotion Analysis (ABEA) remains underexplored due to dataset limitations and the increased complexity of emotion classification. In this study, we used EmoGRACE, a fine-tuned BERT-based model for ABEA, which we applied to georeferenced tweets of the 2020 California wildfires. The results for this case study reveal distinct spatio-temporal emotion patterns for wildfire-related aspect terms, with fear and sadness increasing near wildfire perimeters. This study demonstrates the feasibility of tracking emotion dynamics across disaster-affected regions and highlights the potential of ABEA in real-time disaster monitoring. The results suggest that ABEA can provide a nuanced understanding of public sentiment during crises for policymakers. Full article

Emotion regulation is essential for mental health. However, many people ignore their own emotional regulation or are deterred by the high cost of psychological counseling, which poses significant challenges to making effective support widely available. This review systematically examines the convergence of multimodal sensing technologies and large language models (LLMs) for the development of Automated Emotional Regulation (AER) systems. The review draws upon a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, encompassing research papers, technical reports, and relevant theoretical frameworks. Key findings indicate that multimodal sensing offers the potential for rich, contextualized data pertaining to emotional states, while LLMs provide improved capabilities for interpreting these inputs and generating nuanced, empathetic, and actionable regulatory responses. The integration of these technologies, including physiological sensors, behavioral tracking, and advanced LLM architectures, presents the improvement of application, moving AER beyond simpler, rule-based systems towards more adaptive, context-aware, and human-like interventions. Opportunities for personalized interventions, real-time support, and novel applications in mental healthcare and other domains are considerable. However, these prospects are counterbalanced by significant challenges and limitations. In summary, this review synthesizes current technological advancements, identifies substantial opportunities for innovation and application, and critically analyzes the multifaceted technical, ethical, and practical challenges inherent in this domain. It also concludes that while the integration of multimodal sensing and LLMs holds significant potential for AER, the field is nascent and requires concerted research efforts to realize its full capacity to enhance human well-being. Full article

In the context of Industry 4.0, user demands for industrial robots have shifted toward diversification and experience-orientation. Effectively integrating users’ affective imagery requirements into industrial-robot form design remains a critical challenge. Traditional methods rely heavily on designers’ subjective judgments and lack objective data on user cognition. To address these limitations, this study develops a comprehensive methodology grounded in Kansei engineering that combines Extenics-based semantic analysis, eye-tracking experiments, and user imagery evaluation. First, we used web crawlers to harvest user-generated descriptors for industrial floor-cleaning robots and applied Extenics theory to quantify and filter key perceptual imagery features. Second, eye-tracking experiments captured users’ visual-attention patterns during robot observation, allowing us to identify pivotal design elements and assemble a sample repository. Finally, the semantic differential method collected users’ evaluations of these design elements, and correlation analysis mapped emotional needs onto stylistic features. Our findings reveal strong positive correlations between four core imagery preferences—“dignified,” “technological,” “agile,” and “minimalist”—and their corresponding styling elements. By integrating qualitative semantic data with quantitative eye-tracking metrics, this research provides a scientific foundation and novel insights for emotion-driven design in industrial floor-cleaning robots. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to validate a new parent-reported scale for tracking Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). PANS is a condition characterized by a sudden and severe onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. To meet diagnostic criteria, an individual must present with either obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) or severely restricted food intake, accompanied by at least two additional cognitive, behavioral, or emotional symptoms. These may include anxiety, emotional instability, depression, irritability, aggression, oppositional behaviors, developmental or behavioral regression, a decline in academic skills such as handwriting or math, sensory abnormalities, frequent urination, and enuresis. The onset of symptoms is usually triggered by an infection or an abnormal immune/inflammatory response. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) is a subtype of PANS specifically linked to strep infections. Methods: We developed a 101-item PANS/PANDAS and Related Inflammatory Brain Disorders Treatment Evaluation Checklist (PTEC) designed to assess changes to a patient’s symptoms over time along 10 subscales: Behavior/Mood, OCD, Anxiety, Food intake, Tics, Cognitive/Developmental, Sensory, Other, Sleep, and Health. The psychometric quality of PTEC was tested with 225 participants. Results: The internal reliability of the PTEC was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96). PTEC exhibited adequate test–retest reliability (r = 0.6) and excellent construct validity, supported by a strong correlation with the Health subscale of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (r = 0.8). Conclusions: We hope that PTEC will assist parents and clinicians in the monitoring and treatment of PANS. The PTEC questionnaire is freely available at neuroimmune.org/PTEC. Full article

Muscle–joint flexibility is defined as the ability of a muscle to stretch in a controlled manner, allowing a wide range of movement at the joints. While numerous methodologies exist for improving flexibility, few studies have investigated the role of athletes’ perceptual processes and awareness related to their own body and movement control during such training. In this pilot study, we explored how two different training protocols—static and dynamic stretching (control group, CON) and multi-joint resistance training (experimental group, EXP)—influence both flexibility and psychophysical awareness, understood as a multidimensional construct involving perceived flexibility improvements, self-assessed control over exercise execution, and cognitive-emotional responses such as engagement, motivation, and satisfaction during physical effort. The study involved 24 male amateur track-and-field athletes (mean age 23 ± 2.5 years), randomized into two equal groups. Over 12 weeks, both groups trained three times per week. Flexibility was assessed using the Sit and Reach Test at three time points (pre-, mid-, and post-intervention). A 2 × 3 mixed ANOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction (F = 20.17, p < 0.001), with the EXP group showing greater improvements than the CON group. In the EXP group, Sit and Reach scores increased from pre = 28.55 cm (SD = 4.91) to mid = 29.39 cm (SD = 4.67) and post = 29.48 cm (SD = 4.91), with a significant difference between pre and post (p = 0.01; d = 0.35). The CON group showed minimal changes, with scores of pre = 28.66 cm (SD = 4.92), mid = 28.76 cm (SD = 5.03), and post = 28.84 cm (SD = 5.10), and no significant difference between pre and post (p = 0.20; d = 0.04). Psychophysical awareness was assessed using a custom questionnaire structured on a 5-point Likert scale, with items addressing perception of flexibility, motor control, and exercise-related bodily sensations. The questionnaire showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.92). Within the EXP group, psychophysical awareness increased significantly (from 3.50 to 4.17; p = 0.01; d = 0.38), while no significant change occurred in the CON group (p = 0.16). Post-hoc power analysis confirmed small to moderate effect sizes within the EXP group, although between-group differences lacked sufficient statistical power. These results suggest that resistance training may improve flexibility and concurrently enhance athletes’ psychophysical self-awareness more effectively than traditional stretching. Such findings offer practical implications for coaches seeking to optimize flexibility training by integrating alternative methods that promote both physical and perceptual adaptations. Full article

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex and heterogeneous condition characterized by emotional instability, impulsivity, and impaired regulation of interpersonal relationships. This narrative review integrates findings from recent neuroimaging, neurochemical, and treatment studies to identify core neurobiological mechanisms and highlight translational potential. Evidence from 112 studies published up to 2025 is synthesized, encompassing structural MRI, resting-state and task-based functional MRI, EEG, PET, and emerging machine learning applications. Consistent disruptions are observed across the prefrontal–amygdala circuitry, the default mode network (DMN), and mentalization-related regions. BPD shows a dominant and stable pattern of hyperconnectivity in the precuneus. Transdiagnostic comparisons with PTSD and cocaine use disorder (CUD) suggest partial overlap in DMN dysregulation, though BPD-specific traits emerge in network topology. Machine learning models achieve a classification accuracy of 70–88% and may support the tracking of early treatment responses. Longitudinal fMRI studies indicate that psychodynamic therapy facilitates the progressive normalization of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) activity and reductions in alexithymia. We discuss the role of phenotypic heterogeneity (internalizing versus externalizing profiles), the potential of neuromodulation guided by biomarkers, and the need for standardized imaging protocols. Limitations include small sample sizes, a lack of effective connectivity analyses, and minimal multicenter cohort representation. Future research should focus on constructing multimodal biomarker panels that integrate functional connectivity, epigenetics, and computational phenotyping. This review supports the use of a precision psychiatry approach for BPD by aligning neuroscience with scalable clinical tools. Full article

This paper examines a previously unknown anonymous Hebrew letter inserted into a postwar edition of Shem HaGedolim, found in the library of the Jewish University in Budapest. The letter, composed in Győr in 1947, consists almost entirely of passages copied from Tiferet Chayim, a hagiographic genealogy of the Sanz Hasidic dynasty. Although derivative in content, the letter’s form and placement suggest it was not meant for transmission but instead served as a private act of mourning and historiographical preservation. By situating the letter within the broader context of post-Holocaust Jewish and Hasidic memory practices, including yizkor books, rabbinic memoirs, and grassroots commemorative writing, this study proposes that the document constitutes a “micro-yizkor”: a bibliographic ritual that aimed to re-inscribe lost tzaddikim into sacred memory. Drawing on theories of trauma, religious coping, and bereavement psychology, particularly the Two-Track Model of Bereavement, the paper examines the letter as both a therapeutic and historiographical gesture. The author’s meticulous copying, selective omissions, and personalized touches (such as modified honorifics and emotive phrases) reflect an attempt to maintain spiritual continuity in the wake of communal devastation. Engaging scholarship by Michal Shaul, Lior Becker, Gershon Greenberg, and others, the analysis demonstrates how citation, far from being a passive act, functions here as an instrument of resistance, memory, and redemptive reconstruction. The existence of such a document can also be examined through the lens of Maurice Rickards’ insights, particularly his characterization of the “compulsive note” as a salient form of ephemera, materials often inserted between the pages of books, which pose unique challenges for interpreting the time capsule their authors sought to construct. Ultimately, the paper argues that this modest and anonymous document offers a rare window into postwar Ultra-orthodox religious subjectivity. It challenges prevailing assumptions about Hasidic silence after the Holocaust and demonstarates how even derivative texts can serve as potent sites of historical testimony, spiritual resilience, and bibliographic mourning. The letter thus sheds light on a neglected form of Hasidic historiography, one authored not by professional historians, but by the broken-hearted, writing in the margins of sacred books. Full article

This study explores key factors influencing Aging-in-Place Attachment (AiPA) among older adults in Macau’s high-density community spaces, emphasizing interactions between the built environment, behavior, and psychology. A multidimensional framework evaluates environmental, behavioral, human-factor, and psychological contributions. A mixed-methods, multisource approach was employed. This study measured spatial characteristics of nine public spaces, conducted systematic behavioral observations, and collected questionnaire data on place attachment and aging intentions. Eye-tracking and galvanic skin response (GSR) captured visual attention and emotional arousal. Hierarchical regression analysis tested the explanatory power of each variable group, supplemented by semi-structured interviews for qualitative depth. The results showed that the physical environment had a limited direct impact but served as a critical foundation. Behavioral variables increased explanatory power (~15%), emphasizing community engagement. Human-factor data added ~4%, indicating that sensory and habitual interactions strengthen bonds. Psychological factors contributed most (~59%), confirming AiPA as a multidimensional construct shaped primarily by emotional and social connections, supported by physical and behavioral contexts. In Macau’s dense urban context, older adults’ desire to age in place is mainly driven by emotional connection and social participation, with spatial design serving as an enabler. Effective age-friendly strategies must extend beyond infrastructure upgrades to cultivate belonging and interaction. This study advances environmental gerontology and architecture theory by explaining the mechanisms of attachment in later life. Future work should explore how physical spaces foster psychological well-being and examine emerging factors such as digital and intergenerational engagement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Deficits in emotion recognition abilities have been described as risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. However, much of this research is based on self-reports or instruments that present limited psychometric properties. While current scientific literature supports the use of eye tracking to assess cognitive and emotional processes, including emotional decoding abilities, there is a gap in the scientific literature when it comes to measuring these processes in IPV perpetrators using eye tracking in an emotional decoding task. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the association between fixation times via eye tracking and emotional decoding abilities in IPV perpetrators, controlling for potential confounding variables. Methods: To this end, an emotion recognition task was created using an eye tracker in a group of 52 IPV perpetrators. This task consisted of 20 images with people expressing different emotions. For each picture, the facial region was selected as an area of interest (AOI). The fixation times were added to obtain a total gaze fixation time score. Additionally, an ad hoc emotional decoding multiple-choice test about each picture was developed. These instruments were complemented with other self-reports previously designed to measure emotion decoding abilities. Results: The results showed that the longer the total fixation times on the AOI, the better the emotional decoding abilities in IPV perpetrators. Specifically, fixation times explained 20% of the variance in emotional decoding test scores. Additionally, our ad hoc emotional decoding test was significantly correlated with previously designed emotion recognition tools and showed similar reliability to the eyes test. Conclusions: Overall, this pilot study highlights the importance of including eye movement signals to explore attentional processes involved in emotion recognition abilities in IPV perpetrators. This would allow us to adequately specify the therapeutic needs of IPV perpetrators to improve current interventions. Full article

Cumulative Ecological Resources Theory offers an integrative perspective for social–emotional interventions by overcoming the traditional dichotomy between internal and external resources. As a crucial ecological resource, perceived social support is known to be heterogeneous, yet its mechanism of influence on social–emotional competence remains to be clarified. This study investigates the effect of developmental characteristics of adolescents’ perceived social support on social–emotional competence. A six-month longitudinal study tracked 995 adolescents using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Delaware Social and Emotional Competency Scale. Based on the results, (1) the adolescents’ perceived social support could be categorized into four types: Poor, Moderate, Rich, and Separated; (2) the Poor type exhibited greater category mobility, whereas the Moderate and Rich types demonstrated higher stability; some adolescents in the Poor, Moderate, and Rich types transitioned to the Separated type; and adolescents in the Separated type were more likely to transition to the Moderate type; (3) gender, age, and boarding status influenced the transition in perceived social support categories; (4) the transition pattern of transitioning to or remaining within the Rich type positively predicted social–emotional competence at T2. The findings support the Cumulative Ecological Resource Theory by revealing heterogeneity in adolescents’ perceived social support and demonstrating that trajectories toward higher resource accumulation significantly enhance social–emotional competence. Full article

Music therapy in paediatric palliative care offers a unique opportunity for emotional support, legacy creation, and therapeutic connection for children and their families. This paper describes the Heartbeats Intervention, as delivered by a paediatric palliative care music therapist at Sydney Children’s Hospital Australia. This intervention involves recording and creatively integrating the heartbeats of children and family members into personalised musical compositions. Originally inspired by music therapist Brian Schreck’s work, the intervention has evolved to meet diverse therapeutic goals, from soothing children with serious illnesses (including cancer) with recordings of their families’ heartbeats to creating legacy song tracks that support families through bereavement. Despite some logistical and resource challenges, the intervention has been well-received and continues to expand, including the integration of environmental soundscapes and broader community involvement, which allows the intervention to be experienced by a greater number of families. This paper contributes to the limited but growing literature on music therapy in paediatric palliative care, highlighting the Heartbeats Intervention as a flexible and meaningful way to enhance psychosocial support and connection for children and their families. Further research to evaluate its long-term impact and to explore children’s direct experiences of the intervention is needed. Full article

Humor is widely recognized for its positive effects on well-being, including stress reduction, mood enhancement, and cognitive benefits. Yet, the lack of reliable tools to objectively quantify amusement—particularly its temporal dynamics—has limited progress in this area. Existing measures often rely on self-report or coarse summary ratings, providing little insight into how amusement unfolds over time. To address this gap, we developed a Random Forest model to predict the intensity of amusement evoked by humorous video clips, based on participants’ facial expressions—particularly the co-activation of Facial Action Units 6 and 12 (“% Smile”)—and video features such as motion, saliency, and topic. Our results show that exposure to humorous content significantly increases “% Smile”, with amusement peaking toward the end of videos. Importantly, we observed emotional carry-over effects, suggesting that consecutive humorous stimuli can sustain or amplify positive emotional responses. Even when trained solely on humorous content, the model reliably predicted amusement intensity, underscoring the robustness of our approach. Overall, this study provides a novel, objective method to track amusement on a fine temporal scale, advancing the measurement of nonverbal emotional expression. These findings may inform the design of emotion-aware applications and humor-based therapeutic interventions to promote well-being and emotional health. Full article

Background: Autistic children experience social communication challenges that are often linked to reduced social motivation and attention. However, there is currently no effective intervention to improve social attention in autistic children. Objective: This study compared the effects of rope therapy (RT), a novel intervention, with traditional sensory integration therapy (SIT) on social attention and temperament traits in autistic children. Methods: A two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in which participants were randomly assigned to RT (n = 14) and SIT (n = 12) groups. Social attention was assessed using eye-tracking parameters, and temperament trait changes were measured using the Taylor–Johnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA) scale. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in social attention over time (p < 0.05). Although the RT group demonstrated numerically greater improvements in social attention compared to the transitional SIT group, most of the between-group differences were not statistically significant. Additionally, the RT group showed significant reductions in anxiety and emotional repression temperament traits (p < 0.05). Conclusions: RT exhibits promise as an effective intervention for improving social attention and temperament trait patterns in autistic children. Further research is required to confirm the findings of this study and explore the long-term effects of RT. Full article

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with chronic inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity and is linked with significant functional impairment. Despite being highly prevalent, diagnosis of ADHD continues to rely on subjective assessment reports of behavior and is often delayed or inaccurate. This review summarizes current advances in biomarkers and neuropsychological tests for the improvement of ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Key biomarkers are neuroimaging methods (e.g., structural and functional MRI), electrophysiological measures (e.g., EEG, ERP), and biochemical measures (e.g., cortisol, vitamin D). Additionally, novel experimental measures, e.g., eye-tracking, pupillometry, and microbiome analysis, hold the promise to be objective and dynamic measures of ADHD symptoms. The review also comments on the impact of the burden of ADHD on quality of life, e.g., emotional well-being, academic achievement, and social functioning. Additionally, differences between individuals, such as age, sex, comorbidities, and the impact of social and family support, are also addressed in relation to ADHD outcomes. In summary, we highlight the potential of these emerging biomarkers and tools to revolutionize ADHD diagnosis and guide personalized treatment strategies. These insights have significant implications for improving patient outcomes. Full article