Search Results (32)

Accurate and interpretable assessment of cognitive workload from EEG remains a central challenge in neuroergonomics and real-time human–machine interaction. To address the limitations of existing Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) approaches, particularly their instability, limited neuroscientific grounding, and sensitivity to amplitude fluctuations, this paper introduces Scale-Stabilized Relative Intrinsic Mode Energy (SS-RIME), a theoretically motivated and physiologically informed feature extraction framework. SS-RIME integrates instantaneous frequency stabilization to enforce a consistent oscillatory hierarchy across subjects, delta (1–4 Hz) and theta (4–7.5 Hz) spectral weighting based on established frontal-midline activity, and cross-IMF energy normalization to reduce amplitude-driven variability. Applied to 64-channel EEG recorded during N-back tasks, the proposed framework achieved high performance, outperforming both classical machine-learning baselines and deep learning models such as EEGNet, DeepConvNet, and ShallowConvNet. SS-RIME yielded accuracies of $99.12\pm 0.41\%$ (0 vs. 2-back), $97.84\pm 0.63\%$ (0 vs. 3-back), and $92.31\pm 1.12\%$ (2 vs. 3-back), demonstrating strong cross-subject generalization. Theta-dominant IMFs over frontal midline regions emerged as the most discriminative components, supporting the neuroscientific validity of the stabilized and spectrally weighted Hilbert–Huang representation. With an inference time below 20 ms per epoch, SS-RIME is computationally efficient and suitable for real-time neuroergonomics applications, providing a robust, explainable, and physiologically grounded solution for EEG-based cognitive workload decoding while addressing key methodological gaps in prior EMD/CEEMDAN and deep learning approaches. Full article

Background/Objectives: Schizophrenia is one of the most extensively studied yet conceptually unstable disorders in the history of medicine and brain sciences. Since its formalization at the turn of the twentieth century, the disorder has been repeatedly redefined, reflecting changes in clinical observation, diagnostic philosophy, and neuroscientific models of brain function. The objective of this review is to critically examine the historical evolution of schizophrenia as a medical construct and to analyze how shifts in diagnostic systems have shaped the search for biological and molecular biomarkers. Methods: A narrative-historical review of the literature was conducted, integrating classical psychiatric texts, diagnostic manuals, and contemporary neuroscientific studies. Key milestones in the conceptualization of schizophrenia were analyzed alongside the development of biological hypotheses, including neurochemical, electrophysiological, neuroimaging, genetic, immunological, omics-based, and digital approaches. Emphasis was placed on identifying conceptual continuities, ruptures, and methodological limitations across historical periods. Results: The analysis reveals that the evolution of schizophrenia has been characterized by increasing diagnostic standardization accompanied by growing biological heterogeneity. While successive biological models have provided valuable insights into specific aspects of the disorder, none have yielded single, robust diagnostic biomarkers. Instead, findings consistently reflect partial overlaps between clinical phenotypes and biological signals, strongly influenced by historically derived diagnostic categories. Conclusions: The persistent absence of definitive diagnostic biomarkers for schizophrenia reflects not only technical limitations but also the historical construction of the disorder as a heterogeneous clinical category. Understanding this historical context is essential for interpreting current findings in brain sciences. Future research is likely to benefit from stratification-based, dimensional, and integrative frameworks that move beyond categorical diagnosis while preserving clinical relevance. Full article

Image communication represents a fundamental domain of human experience that intersects cognitive neuroscience, educational psychology, and visual communication theory. The increasing digitalization of contemporary society has amplified the importance of visual literacy, defined as the ability to interpret, use, and create visual media. While neuroscientific research highlights the brain’s proficiency in processing visual information, significant gaps remain in understanding the underlying psychological mechanisms and their practical applications in educational contexts. This study proposes a multidisciplinary research design to systematically analyze these psychological dimensions. The research will integrate cognitive, perceptual, and pedagogical perspectives to understand how visual representations influence learning. The methodological design includes a multi-method approach combining experimental analysis, ethnographic observation, and psychometric evaluation on a stratified sample of 240 participants (aged 16–25) divided into three groups: high school students (n = 80), university students (n = 80), and young professionals (n = 80). The proposed methodology will utilize eye-tracking to analyze visual perception patterns, integrated with semantic differential methods to evaluate cognitive and affective associations with visual imagery. The expected results should clarify how the effectiveness of image communication depends on the coherence between technical and semantic aspects of visual imagery. The research aims to contribute to the theoretical framework of educational neuroscience, offering empirical evidence for optimizing teaching strategies based on multimodal visual communication. Full article

Background/Objectives: This article is a narrative review that examines the development of attachment from intrauterine life to the first thousand days of a child’s life, integrating psychoanalytic, neuroscientific, genetic, and cross-cultural perspectives. Biological, relational, neurological, and cultural factors interact and shape individual differences in socio-emotional functioning. This paper aims to propose a reinterpretation of early attachment, describing it as both a clinical and relational phenomenon and an adaptive process inscribed in human evolutionary history, according to the Four-Domain Integrative Framework described herein. Methods: The review examined three main areas of evidence: early attachment characteristics, cross-cultural caregiving variations, and genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying environmental sensitivity. Results: The review first identified seven characteristics of early attachment (proximity seeking, emotional attunement, intrauterine experiences, maternal holding, security patterns, brain plasticity, and maternal stress) which represent developmental mechanisms that generate individual differences in trust, self-regulation, resilience, and psychopathological vulnerability. Second, cross-cultural variations in six distinct caregiving contexts were examined, demonstrating that secure attachment emerges through culturally specific pathways, differentially influencing motor development, sleep patterns, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis maturation, and social skills. Finally, the differential susceptibility model was provided through the analysis of five genetic and epigenetic systems (oxytocin receptor gene, serotonin transporter gene, dopamine receptor gene, glucocorticoid receptor methylation, and fetal programming) that modulate environmental sensitivity. Conclusions: Biological, relational, neurological, and cultural factors interact and shape individual differences in socio-emotional functioning. Full article

Hypnosis has traditionally been conceptualized as a clinical technique for reducing physiological symptoms (e.g., pain, nausea) and psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety, intrusive thoughts), yet emerging neuroscientific evidence suggests it operates through the fundamental mechanisms of emotional regulation and self-integration. This integrative review synthesizes research on clinical hypnosis from cognitive neuroscience, affective science, and clinical practice to examine how hypnotic phenomena modulate large-scale brain networks—particularly the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), and salience network (SaN)—to reorganize emotional experience and self-referential processing. We propose a formal mechanistic model in which hypnotic induction produces heightened experiential plasticity through coordinated network reconfiguration, enabling adaptive emotion regulation and reduced dissociative fragmentation. Central to this framework is the construct of Fundamental Peace (FP), operationalized as a dynamic neuro-experiential state characterized by: (1) flexible attentional control without effortful suppression; (2) emotional coherence across self-states; (3) reduced self-referential rigidity; (4) compassionate self-awareness. Unlike equanimity (affective neutrality) or well-being (positive evaluation), Fundamental Peace represents integrated regulatory capacity under changing conditions. Key findings from neuroimaging studies demonstrate that hypnotic states consistently reduce DMN activity, enhance ECN-SaN coupling, and modulate connectivity patterns associated with self-referential processing. Meta-analytic evidence from 85 controlled experimental trials shows robust pain reduction effects, while clinical studies document improvements in trauma-related dissociation and emotional dysregulation. We critically evaluate this framework against alternative theories (dissociated control, cold control, predictive processing, social-cognitive models), specify testable predictions, and assess evidence quality across neuroimaging and clinical domains. Implications for trauma treatment, clinical implementation, and future research integrating causal inference methods are discussed, alongside ethical and cultural considerations. Full article

This paper proposes E-MOTE (Emotion-aware Teacher Education Framework), an ethically grounded conceptual model aimed at enhancing teacher education through the integrated use of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Virtual Reality (VR). As a conceptual and design-oriented proposal, E-MOTE is presented as a structured blueprint for future development and empirical validation, not as an implemented or evaluated system. Grounded in neuroscientific and educational research, E-MOTE seeks to strengthen teachers’ emotional awareness, teacher noticing, and social–emotional learning competencies. Rather than reporting empirical findings, this article offers a theoretically structured framework and an operational blueprint for the design of emotion-aware teacher training environments, establishing a structured foundation for future empirical validation. E-MOTE articulates three core contributions: (1) it clarifies the multi-layered construct of emotion-aware teaching by distinguishing between emotion detection, perception, awareness, and regulation; (2) it proposes an integrated AI–FACS–VR architecture for real-time and post hoc feedback on teachers’ perceptual performance; and (3) it outlines a staged experimental blueprint for future empirical validation under ethically governed conditions. As a design-oriented proposal, E-MOTE provides a structured foundation for cultivating emotionally responsive pedagogy and inclusive classroom management, supporting the development of perceptual micro-skills in teacher practice. Its distinctive contribution lies in proposing a shift from predominantly macro-behavioral simulation toward the deliberate cultivation of perceptual micro-skills through FACS-informed analytics integrated with AI-driven simulations. Full article

Background: The role of cognitive load theory (CLT) in understanding effective pedagogy has received increased attention in the fields of education and psychology in recent years. A considerable amount of literature has been published on the CLT construct as foundational guidance for instructional design by focusing on managing cognitive load in working memory to enhance learning outcomes. However, recent neuroscientific findings and practical critiques suggest that CLT’s emphasis on content-focused instruction and cognitive efficiency may overlook the complexity of human learning. Methods: This conceptual paper synthesises evidence from cognitive science, developmental psychology, neuroscience, health sciences and educational research to examine the scope conditions and limitations of CLT when applied as a general framework for K–12 learning. One of the major theoretical issues identified is the lack of consideration for the broad set of interpersonal and self-management skills, creating potential limitations for real-world educational contexts, where social-emotional and self-regulatory abilities are as crucial as cognitive competencies. Results: As a result of the critique, this paper introduces the Neurodevelopmental Informed Holistic Learning and Development Framework as a neuroscience-informed construct that integrates cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal dimensions essential for effective learning. Conclusions: In recognising the limitations of CLT, the paper offers practitioners contemporary, neurodevelopmentally informed insights that extend beyond cognitive efficiency alone and better reflect the multidimensional nature of real-world learning. Full article

(1) Background: Mental health disparities persist across culturally diverse populations despite robust cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) efficacy evidence. Cultural neuroscience suggests that neurobiological processes underlying therapeutic mechanisms may exhibit culturally variable patterns, yet integration of neuroscientific frameworks into culturally adapted interventions remains limited. (2) Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 2014–December 2024) for peer-reviewed studies examining CBT interventions targeting depression, anxiety, PTSD, or psychological distress in culturally diverse populations. Ninety-four studies were synthesized using narrative methods; methodological heterogeneity precluded meta-analytic pooling. (3) Results: Culturally adapted CBT interventions consistently demonstrated superior outcomes compared to standard protocols across diverse populations. Group formats showed exceptional retention in collectivistic cultures, while hybrid technology-enhanced models achieved strong completion rates across contexts. Cultural adaptation enhanced engagement (e.g., 84% vs. 52% retention in refugee populations) and maintenance of treatment gains. Individual studies reported effect sizes ranging from d = 0.29 to d = 2.4; substantial within-group variability was observed, and identified patterns likely reflect learned cultural adaptations rather than inherent biological differences. Direct neuroimaging evidence within included studies remained limited (13.8%). (4) Conclusions: The evidence supports culturally adapted interventions as essential for equitable mental health outcomes. Cultural experiences may influence therapeutic processes, suggesting potential benefit from considering culturally variable processing patterns alongside universal mechanisms. However, conclusions regarding specific neural pathways remain preliminary, and individual assessment remains paramount, with cultural background representing one factor among many in treatment planning. Full article

We investigate why the remarkable diversity of human identity, including gender fluidity, non-binary roles, and varied sexual orientations, is fundamentally rooted in the evolutionary and neurocognitive complexity of the human brain. Drawing upon interdisciplinary evidence from comparative biology, neuroimaging, anthropology, and social neuroscience, this paper explores how increased neural complexity across evolutionary trajectories supports behavioral plasticity and identity diversification. The concept of neural degeneracy, wherein different neural structures produce functionally similar outcomes, is central to understanding how individual and cultural diversity naturally emerges from the brain’s highly adaptable networks. By reviewing historical, prehistoric, and cross-species data, the paper demonstrates that identity diversity is neither recent nor culturally limited but has longstanding evolutionary and social foundations. Despite substantial scientific consensus on this inherent complexity, societal resistance persists, often driven by oversimplified and biologically reductionist interpretations of neuroscience. To counter these misunderstandings, the article introduces Complexity Neuroethics, a framework advocating the acknowledgment of diversity of identity expressions as an evolutionarily expected outcome of neurocognitive evolution. Ultimately, the review calls for a transformative dialogue between neuroscience and society, promoting policies, healthcare practices, and educational initiatives aligned with neuroscientific realities to foster more inclusive societies that embrace self-identity as an evolutionary and cognitive achievement. Full article

Third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT3) have progressively shifted the focus of psychotherapy from symptom reduction to process-based and transdiagnostic mechanisms of change, emphasizing self-identification as a core dimension. Within this evolution, the Self-Identification Program (SIP) represents a conceptual and clinical advancement particularly relevant to mood disorders, where maladaptive self-identification, rumination, and self-judgment play central roles. SIP directly targets dysfunctional self-identification—the reification of transient and maladaptive mental contents as defining features of a self—through a framework integrating the three levels of CBT3: mindfulness (CBT3.1), loving/kindness and compassion (CBT3.2), and deconstructive insight into the nature of a self (CBT3.3). Theoretically, SIP aligns with dimensional psychiatry (AMPD, HiTOP, RDoC) and recent advances in behavioral linguistics (Relational Frame Theory) and psychotherapy (Process-Based Behavioral Therapy). By integrating linguistic, affective, and neuroscientific perspectives, SIP bridges contextual behavioral science and contemplative practice, offering a unified, process-based model of identity transformation. Clinically, SIP extends CBT3 beyond mindfulness and loving/kindness and/or compassion training to specifically address the mechanism by which self-identification becomes a source of suffering—namely, the mistaken identification with an independent and permanent self. In doing so, SIP provides a novel, mechanistically grounded pathway toward enduring change in depressive and bipolar spectrum disorders. Full article

Serotonergic psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), are increasingly recognised as powerful tools to advance the understanding of consciousness and its relation to brain activity. Psychedelic research has informed neuroscientific theories that attempt to map neural observations of network connectivity and signal diversity to phenomenological qualities like psychological flexibility. Thus far, however, there have been relatively limited efforts to bridge the gap between psychedelic-informed theory and the experiential differences observed in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. In this narrative review and conceptual synthesis, we compare the psychedelic state and autism in adults from a neurophenomenological perspective. Predictive processing is invoked as a unifying framework. This procedure highlights both phenomena as involving a shift towards sensory information relative to prior knowledge, but potentially implicating alterations at opposite ends of the cortical hierarchy. This contrastive approach also reveals opportunities for refining concepts—including psychological flexibility—as well as interpretations of results across fields. However, neurobiological findings, especially in autism, are heterogeneous and there are inherent restrictions in comparing transient state and lifelong trait phenomena. Conclusions of this comparison are primarily conceptual and offer testable hypotheses for the neurophenomenology of the psychedelic state, autism, and their interaction. Full article

The concept of Brain Health is transforming the neuroscientific landscape, promoting an integrative and preventive approach to care under a unifying vision. This position paper, developed by Swiss junior societies in neurology and psychiatry, presents a trainee perspective on how Brain Health should be addressed from the earliest stages of postgraduate training. It explores current gaps in postgraduate training, including the continued separation of neurology, psychiatry and other specialties involved in brain disorder care, limited interdisciplinary and interprofessional exposure, and gaps in leadership, public health, and advocacy skills. We highlight promising models such as Switzerland’s integrated training components and the proposed “brain medicine” framework, inspired by internal medicine. Additionally, we examine innovative initiatives from trainee associations that promote collaborative learning, advocacy, and Brain Health awareness through academic and creative channels. The paper also stresses the importance of equitable global access to training, the integration of research into clinical education, and the urgent need to address burnout and working conditions among early-career professionals. By reframing trainees not as passive learners but as active agents of change, we call for systemic reforms that support their role in advancing Brain Health. Ultimately, we advocate for the development of international core competencies, adaptable curricula, and structured interdisciplinary pathways that embed Brain Health into every level of medical training. Only through this comprehensive approach can we equip the next generation of clinicians to promote lifelong Brain Health across specialties, systems, and populations. Full article

Vocabulary acquisition is a fundamental challenge in second language (L2) learning. Recent research highlights the benefits of using gestures to enhance vocabulary retention. This comprehensive review explores the theoretical, empirical, and neuroscientific foundations of gesture-enhanced learning. Findings show that the human body, specifically sensorimotor engagement, can be harnessed as an effective cognitive tool to support long-term word learning. This paper examines the limitations of traditional vocabulary learning methods, introduces embodied cognition as a theoretical framework, presents behavioral and neuroscientific evidence supporting gesture-based learning, and offers practical applications for educational settings. This integration of multidisciplinary research provides a robust foundation for reconceptualizing the role of physical engagement in second language acquisition. Full article

This paper combines Christopher Alexander’s pattern language with generative AI into a hybrid design framework. The result is a narrative synthesis that can be useful for informed project design. Advanced large language models (LLMs) enable the real-time synthesis of design patterns, making complex architectural choices accessible and comprehensible to stakeholders without specialized architectural knowledge. A lightweight, web-based tool lets project teams rapidly assemble context-specific subsets of Alexander’s 253 patterns, reducing a traditionally unwieldy 1166-page corpus to a concise, shareable list. Demonstrated through a case study of a university department building, this method results in environments that are psychologically welcoming, fostering health, productivity, and emotional well-being. LLMs translate these curated patterns into vivid experiential narratives—complete with neuroscientifically informed ornamentation. LLMs produce representative images from the verbal narrative, revealing a surprisingly traditional design that was never input as a prompt. Two separate LLMs (for cross-checking) then predict the pattern-generated design to catalyze improved productivity as compared to a standard campus building. By bridging abstract design principles and concrete human experience, this approach democratizes architectural planning grounded on Alexander’s human-centered, participatory ethos. Full article

Background/Objectives: Indigenous perspectives, which emphasize non-materialistic dimensions of healing, such as the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit, align with one foundational principle of osteopathic care. Integrating these perspectives into person-centered care may enhance therapeutic effectiveness by accommodating diverse understandings of health and well-being. This perspective paper explores how various epistemological frameworks, including Indigenous non-materialistic approaches, can inform manual therapy techniques and therapeutic alliances to advance person-centered care. Methods: We synthesized the best available evidence with expert insights and interdisciplinary viewpoints to address the gaps in the scientific literature. Our approach integrates conceptual analysis and emerging research to provide a comprehensive discussion for a broad professional audience. Results: We focused on detailing the existing sociocultural and experiential frameworks available to describe patients’ bodily perceptions rather than abstract intellectual constructs. Our findings were divided into two sections. The first examines the incorporation of diverse body representations that extend beyond purely biomechanical interpretations, emphasizing the role of non-materialistic components in therapeutic processes. The second explores recent neuroscientific research on self and consciousness, demonstrating how these insights intersect with Indigenous perspectives to enrich the theoretical and practical applications of osteopathic principles in different clinical contexts. Conclusions: Epistemological flexibility has the potential to refine clinical frameworks and ensure that they reflect the full scope of osteopathic practices beyond musculoskeletal care. By integrating diverse sociocultural perspectives without reinforcing stereotypes or rigid cultural constructs, this approach clarifies the diversity of body representations in osteopathic practices, addresses gaps in academic discourse, and promotes the integration of multiple worldviews as a foundation for truly person-centered care. Full article