Biology subjects

Bassetto, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Bassetto, S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Impact Of Learned Helplessness On Cognitive Performance And Resting-State Connectivity: An fMRI Study

1.1Learned helplessness (LH) is the phenomenon of resignation in the face of a problematic situation and is caused by the feeling of lacking control in a situation due to internal or external factors. This means that an individual does not seek to resolve the situation they are confronted with and consciously or unconsciously chooses to be passive. The Dorsal Raphe Nucleus (DRN) core could be at the root of the persistent action of the LH phenomenon and influences regions such as the striatum and amygdala. It is thought that the LH phenomenon could affect self-perception and it has been shown that the default mode network (DMN) is often associated with self-reflection during the resting state (RS) phase. It is therefore possible that LH influences both self-perception and the DMN. Based on previous studies, we investigated how LH affects participants. We used functional MRI (fMRI) to test this hypothesis. Participants were divided into two groups, subjected to solvable (control group), and solvable plus unsolvable (LH group) cognitive tasks. We also measured electrodermal signals, OCEAN (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) personality scores, variables related to the anagram resolution, and related these to LH. The study revealed significant differences in the RS contrast between the two groups, with the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC) (an area of the DMN) being more connected to the DRN in the LH group than in the control group, and a portion of the Superior Temporal Gyrus being more connected to the PCC in the control group than in the LH group. These results suggest that LH may have a direct impact on the DMN and could lead to the start of long-term changes.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Feasibility of cognitive neuroscience data collection during a speleological expedition

In human cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology studies, laboratory-based research tasks have been important to establish principles of brain function and its relationship to behaviour; however, they differ greatly from real-life experiences. Several elements of real-life situations that impact human performance, such as stressors, are difficult or impossible to replicate in the laboratory. Expeditions offer unique possibilities for studying human cognition in complex environments that can transfer to other situations with similar features. For example, as caves share several of the physical and psychological challenges of safety-critical environments such as spaceflight, underground expeditions have been developed as an analogue for astronaut training purposes, suggesting that they might also be suitable for studying aspects of behaviour and cognition that cannot be fully examined under laboratory conditions. While a large range of topics and tools have been proposed for use in such environments, few have been evaluated in the field. We tested the feasibility of collecting human physiological, cognitive, and subjective experience data concerning brain state, sleep, cognitive workload, and fatigue, during a speleological expedition in a remote region. We document our approaches and challenges experienced, and provide recommendations and suggestions to aid future work. The data support the idea that cave expeditions are relevant naturalistic paradigms that offer unique possibilities for cognitive neuroscience to complement laboratory work and help improve human performance and safety in operational environments.

neuroscience↗