From the internal lexicon to delusional belief

Author(s): Max Coltheart / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2014

In this overview, Author presents the development of his approach—the twofactor account of delusions—drawing attention to the neuropsychological research on delusions (the role of brain damage in the formation of delusions), as well as to the differences between explaining monothematic and polythematic delusions (this differentiation is not analyzed in detail in the present volume). He also sketches the most promising issues in the current research on delusions.

Bayesian inference, predictive coding and delusions

Author(s): Rick A. Adams,Harriet R. Brown,Karl John Friston / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2014

This paper considers psychotic symptoms in terms of false inferences or beliefs. It is based on the notion that the brain is an organ of inference that actively constructs hypotheses to explain or predict its sensations. This perspective provides a normative (Bayes optimal) account of action and perception that emphasises probabilistic representations; in particular, the confidence or precision of beliefs about the world. We consider sensory attenuation deficits, catatonia and delusions as various expressions of the same core pathology: namely, an aberrant encoding of precision in a predictive coding hierarchy. In predictive coding, precision is thought to be encoded by the postsynaptic gain of neurons reporting prediction error. This suggests that both pervasive trait abnormalities and florid failures of inference in the psychotic state can be linked to factors controlling postsynaptic gain—such as NMDA receptor function and (dopaminergic) neuromodulation. We illustrate these points using a biologically plausible simulation of attribution of agency—showing how a reduction in the precision of prior beliefs, relative to sensory evidence, can lead to false inference.

Amending the revisionist model of the Capgras delusion. A further argument for the role of patient experience in delusional belief formation

Author(s): Garry Young / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2014

Recent papers on the Capgras delusion have focused on the role played by subpersonal abductive inference in the formation and maintenance of the delusional belief. In these accounts, the delusional belief is posited as the first delusion-related event of which the patient is conscious. As a consequence, an explanatory role for anomalous patient experience is denied. The aim of this paper is to challenge this revisionist position and to integrate subpersonal inference within a model of the Capgras delusion which includes a role for experiential content. I argue that the following revisionist claims are problematic: (a) that a fully-formed belief enters consciousness, and (b) that this is the first conscious delusion-related event. Instead, it is my contention that a delusional thought (arrived at through subpersonal abductive inference) and an anomalous experience co-occur in consciousness prior to the formation of the delusional belief. The co-occurrence of thought and anomalous experience overcomes problems with the revisionist position resulting in an account of the Capgras delusion with greater explanatory efficacy.

Reflections on predictive processing and the mind. Interview with Jakob Hohwy

Author(s): Jakob Hohwy,Przemysław Nowakowski,Paweł Gładziejewski / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2014

From the introduction to the issue: "The issue also contains an interview with Jakob Hohwy. In Hohwy’s still-recent book Predictive Mind (2013a), we can find an interesting, predictive approach to delusions (close to the one that Adams et al. present in the current volume of AVANT). Hohwy points towards the unobvious connections between delusions and illusions (see also Hohwy 2013b)."

On embodiment in prediction. A book review of "The Predictive Mind"

Author(s): Przemysław Nowakowski / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2014

From the introduction to the book review: "The debate regarding predictive coding has been going on for over a year now. The first philosophical traces of this debate are Andy Clark’s (2013a) and Jakob Hohwy’s works. The latter has recently published the first philosophical monograph on the subject of a predictive account of the mind."

Az internetfüggőség pszichiátriája

Author(s): István Boncz / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 12/2012

Zaburzenia rozwoju mowy a trudności w czytaniu i pisaniu. Analiza przypadku osoby z alalią

Author(s): Kamila Dębińska-Gustaw / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2015

Reading and writing skills are necessary for the proper functioning of human society, there are one of the forms of linguistic communication. Underlying the difficulty in mastering these skills may lie among others speech disorders, including neurological substrate. In the case of people with alalia, developmental disorders of speech significantly affect the mastery of reading and writing. There are language operations in which the symptoms of disorder may persist for a long time. The article discusses the relation of speech disorders of neurological substrate with difficulties in reading and writing. The introduction presents the concept and the reasons for difficulties in reading and writing, which are related with speech disorders. I separate described difficulties from the concept of dyslexia. Based on the analysis of case 16-year-old girl with alalia I show that the difficulties in learning reading and writing skills are the result of disturbances in speech development. The case study indicates that symptoms of alalia can persist to the age of teenage and determine the life of an adult.

Klinički i rehabilitacijski aspekti Angelmanovog sindroma

Author(s): Maja Rebrović Čančarević / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 2/2015

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by progressive microcephaly and epilepsy. In terms of development, this syndrome implies developmental discrepancies and difficulties in acquiring speech and language, as well as unusual behaviour (e.g., spontaneous bouts of laughter). AS is a distinct disorder with a characteristic cognitive, behavioural, and neurological phenotype. It is linked with abnormalities in chromosome 15q11-13. The incidence of AS is estimated to be between 1 in 15,000 and 1 in 20,000 children. Developmental delays are first noted around the age of 6 months. However, the unique clinical features of Angelman syndrome do not become manifest until after age of 1 year. The following characteristics are associated with Angelman syndrome: strabismus, protruding tongue, frequent drooling, sucking and swallowing disorders, wide mouth, excessive chewing, hypopigmented skin, scoliosis, and abnormal sleep-wake cycles. Diagnosis is based on genetic testing and on establishing individual clinical features of Angelman syndrome. Education and rehabilitation methods in managing Angelman syndrome are early intervention, basic perceptive stimulation, behavioral modification, physical, speech and language, and occupational therapy. Speech and language therapy should focus on nonverbal methods of communication. Angelman syndrome is not a progressive ailment, and the prognosis for adulthood is good.

Pripovjedne sposobnosti djece s Downovim sindromom i djece s Williamsovim sindromom

Author(s): Višnja Pranjic,Emica Farago,Dijana Arapovic / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2016

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomopathy, with an incidence of 1:600. Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder with an incidence of 1:7500-20000. Persons with these disorders have comparable cognitive deficits, but different language abilities. The goal of this research was to test the narrative ability of children with DS and children with WS and compare them with the narrative abilities of children with typical language development. The research was carried out on a sample of 40 children with DS, 5 children with WS and 40 children with typical language development. The children were paired by receptive age. For receptive age assessment we used the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III-HR; Kovačević et al., 2009). Narrative abilities were tested on two variables: storytelling and verbal description of the mother. The results of a robust discriminant analysis showed statistically significant differences between children with Down syndrome (DS), children with Williams syndrome (WS) and children with typical language development. As we had assumed, the children with DS achieved significantly lower results than the children with WS and the children with typical development. However, no statistically significant difference was found in narrative ability–storytelling between the children with WS and the children with typical language development, they did show a signifi cant statistical difference in narrative ability – description of the mother. These results indicate that the narrative abilities of children with WS are relatively well developed, which is not the case for children with DS.

Poticanje socijalne interakcije putem socijalnih priča u dječaka s poremećajem iz spektra autizma

Author(s): Magdalena Jancec,Sanja Šimleša,Jasmina Frey Škrinjar / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2016

Social Stories are short stories that have been written and adapted for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Social Stories are used to improve children’s social and/or communication skills by teaching them appropriate behaviors in social situations. Social Stories are a very common intervention option for children with ASD. Their common goal is to reduce disruptive behaviors and teach social skills. Current research has not yet scientifi cally confi rmed the effectiveness of using Social Stories as a means of improving the social skills of children with ASD. The main goal of this study is to test the influence of using Social Stories combined with a video modelling approach as a treatment option for social interaction skills in a boy with high functioning autism. This is the fi rst case study of Social Stories effectiveness in Croatia. The participant was a boy (5,2), diagnosed with high-functioning autism. Social Stories were combined with video modelling to teach social interaction skills. In order to achieve the objective of the study, a survey consisting of quantitative and qualitative work was conducted. The quantitative part of the study presents the results of measurements of the frequency of initiated social interactions of the participant, and measurement of the frequency of social responsiveness to interaction initiated by peers, both in two time points. The qualitative part of the study presented the results of the assessment of interaction quality, and the quality of responsiveness to interaction initiated by peers, also in two time points. The results confirmed the hypothesis of the research; the effectiveness of using Social Stories as a treatment for social interaction skills in participant was confirmed, implying the need for implementation of Social Stories combined with video modelling in the further educational goals of the participant, as well as the need for further research in order to ensure evidence-based practice in the use of Social Stories in a population of children with high-functioning autism.

Znanstveno utemeljene intervencije kod poremećaja iz spektra autizma

Author(s): Klara Popcevic,Jasmina Ivšac-Pavliša,Ana-Marija Bohaček,Sanja Šimleša,Beti Basic / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2016

There is an increasing prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is becoming a social issue at the national and local levels (the question of screening, diagnosis, and intervention for ASD). Recognition is all the more effective, and parents and professionals who are in contact with children at early ages are recognizing the signs of ASD earlier than in the past. As a result, today the number of children who should be included in the intervention programs is growing. ASD is primarily a disorder characterized by significant deficits in socio-cognitive abilities, which is reflected in the communication, interaction, and behaviour of children with ASD. There is no universally accepted and unique intervention for children and adults with ASD. Due to the complexity of the disorder and the challenges that ASD presents the society with (e.g. inclusion in kindergartens, form of professional support and education), in many countries experts have designed attractive interventions that are promoted with enthusiastism but at the same time are controversial in terms of scientific evidence. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate and emphasize the quality of interventions that have appeared as evidence-based practices, supported by the results of scientific research. Providing support for ASD requires interdisciplinary collaboration, and experts will have the responsibility of implementing and advocating only those interventions whose effectiveness is backed by sufficient evidence.

The Role of Loneliness in the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Subjective Well-Being: Using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) as a Measure

Author(s): Antonija Maričić,Marina Štambuk / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2015

The purpose of this study was to test the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between social anxiety and subjective well-being while taking into account the multidimensionality of social anxiety. Reaching this aim was preceded by examining the psychometric properties of the Croatian translation of the SPIN on a sample of 202 students. The results show support for the one-dimensional structure of the SPIN. However, it has also been shown that several items of the inventory may be redundant and that a 2-factor structure (12 items) fits the data better. The first factor was described as "observation situations and negative evaluation", while the second represented "social avoidance and fear". The total SPIN score showed convergent and divergent construct validity as well as high levels of internal consistency and test- -retest reliability. Loneliness fully mediated the relationship between social anxiety and subjective well-being. The symptoms of social anxiety that contribute to its relation with subjective well-being through loneliness are those related to the concerns of being negatively evaluated or merely observed by others when experiencing or doing something.

VOLEK, Peter: Človek, slobodná vôľa a neurovedy

Author(s): Mária Spišiaková / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 2/2016

Review of: VOLEK, Peter: Človek, slobodná vôľa a neurovedy. Ružomberok : Verbum – vydavateľstvo Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku, 2015. 217 s. ISBN 978–80–561–0241–1

Stuttering Risk: Neurophysiological and Genetic Findings Versus Psychosocial Insights. A Proposalfor a Resolution

Author(s): Jurg Kollbrunner,Sandra Fritschi Wedell,Alexander Zimmermann,Eberhard Seifert / Language(s): English Issue: 7/2014

In the search for the causes of developmental stuttering the findings have constantly proved contradictory. Despite the huge body of knowledge about stuttering its cause is still considered to be unknown; the psychological background is recognized as important, but stuttering is currently regarded as a pure neurological problem. It is generally agreed that therapy should be multidimensional but in fact there is a widespread opinion that the dysfunction has genetic roots. This surprising lack of agreement is blocking the advance of research and the development of therapeutic approaches. In addition, there are serious shortcomings in the currently favored methodology of stuttering research: evidence-based medicine and practice have reduced the amount of high-grade evidence research data to such an extent that much useful information has been lost; the relevance of functional magnetic resonance imaging is controversial, and the hope that one day genetic engineering will correct stuttering-related mutations without severe side effects is unrealistic. A change of approach to research and therapy is required. If this cannot be found on the basis of a generally accepted notion of the cause of stuttering, it must emerge from the search for the best existing therapeutic approach.

EEG/QEEG Technology Identifies Neurobiomarkers Critical to Medication Selection and Treatment in Refractory Cases

Author(s): Ronald J. Swatzyna,Jay D. Tarnow,Jonika D. Tannous,Vijayan K. Pillai,Christine Schieszler,Gerald P. Kozlowski / Language(s): English Issue: 7/2014

In psychiatry, the reliability of diagnosis (a symptom-based approach) is instrumental in the management of medications and treatments. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is now searching for neurobiological measures that account for observed and reported symptoms. The results of our study of 386 refractory clinical cases suggest there are four neurobiological measures that account for medication failure: encephalopathy, focal slowing, beta spindles and transient discharges. One or more of these neurobiological measures (neurobiomarkers) explained why medication failed in each of these refractory cases. Our investigation found positive correlations between numbers of medications being prescribed and numbers of neurobiomarkers being identified in children and adolescents. In adults we also we found a positive correlation between numbers of medications being prescribed and number of diagnoses. This study represents a model that could improve the efficacy of the psychotropic intervention and treatment selection in refractory psychiatric cases.

An insight into migraine; a neurological disorder

Author(s): Maryam Naveed,Maria Aslam,Makrukh Ali,Mehmoona Khan,Zainab Sharmeen,Sidra Khalid / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2020

Migraine is a major health problem in all over the world in young age especially from age 20-30 years. Migraine is the severe headache especially in female as its prevalence is much higher in females than males. Migraine affected the health of youngster in both developed such as America and US and developing country such as Pakistan, Africa, India and Afghanistan. Prevalence of migraine is higher in middle class people. As, 18% of the migraine patients belong to upper class, 81% of patients belongs to middle class and only 1% patients belongs to lower class. Prevalence of migraine is higher in middle class because people belong to middle socio-economic status take more tension of the life.Factors that can trigger the rate and frequency of migraine are smoking, consumptions of alcohol, physical exercise and dietary supplements. To find the determinants of migraine and to reduce the rate of migraine, it was essential to create the awareness among people about health issues.

Becoming a person. A reflexion about the common general field for the process in normal and alterate states

Author(s): Serena Veggetti M. / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2018

Reviewing some of the leading publications on the so called “difficult problem” of neuropsychology, the author critically compares it with the definition of consciousness proposed by Vygotskij and shared by the representatives of the Historical-cultural trend in psychology. This comparison seems, at the present day state of the research in general psychology, to give evidence of a better explaining by the latter, of the process of “becoming a person”, which is impaired in most clinical cases. The foundation of this process, is argued, is a general early learning dynamic which wasn’t succesfully experienced by the subject. So if Davydov was right in defining life as substantially a learning process, every intervention, wether educational or rieducational or clinical, hat to refer to this dynamic.

Analysis of the implementation of psychosocial rehabilitation and its development in patients with schizophrenia

Author(s): Jorge Alexandro Benítez Contreras,Marcela Rebeca Contreras Loera / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2018

Schizophrenia, for many years, has been taken as one of the incurable diseases of importance, mainly due to its worldwide prevalence and in its particular early onset, chronicity and relationship with personal, labor and social disabilities. The main objective of the study was to perform an intervention to patients with schizophrenia, from the model of psychosocial rehabilitation and describe the impact generated in their social, personal and work life and those around them (family, neighbours, people with whom they are forced to cross on a daily basis, etc.), to define the susceptibility and feasibility of success in Morelos and Mexico society. The methodology used was a qualitative approach, with exploratory and descriptive scope, following the cognitivebehavioral current. The interviews and observation were the techniques used for the data collection supported in the log (field journals), the Valencia et al.1 scale and reports at the end of each module of the intervention together with the criteria and assessment of the team of health with which the project worked in the health center. The results of the research indicate that patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and who attend a process of psychosocial rehabilitation considering areas such as work, social, economic, sexual and family, which show significant changes in their conduct and behavior mainly in family and work. In conclusion, in the present work it was found that a method that favors the improvement of quality of life is the model of psychosocial rehabilitation, where the patient works from a multidisciplinary perspective, different areas and levels of their person to achieve a better expectation from a personal, cognitive, work, social, economic, sexual, family and group aspect.

FILM AND THEORY OF MIND

Author(s): Somnath CHAKRABORTY / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Studies in mental images and visuals, diagrams, graphics, drawings etc. form an undeniable part in cognitive science research. Film as a visual medium couldn’t be kept aside, aloof from scientific enquiry for too long. It is from that irresistible urge to include the fascinating visual medium that film had to be incorporated into the academic sphere of cognitive science. Considered to be a ‘cheap’ form of art and fated to be stuck in its infancy (as it was thought during the 1890s), film finally entered the arena of serious academics far from its original fate. Starting as a rather philosophical endeavor, the analysis of films went later into psychological approaches and nowadays film psychology has become a wide area of research. This paper explores the relation between understanding of visual media (films) and the notion of embodied theory of mind. The broad area, under which this falls, would be films and cognition. The perspective that is involved in this work is the phenomenological paradigm as laid down by Merleau-Ponty.

A jóga szerepe Sztanyiszlavszkij rendszerében és az affektív mozgáspedagógiában

Author(s): Ferenc Adamovich / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: Sp. Issue/2021

The system of affective movement pedagogy is based on the theoretical and practical results in the field of neurology, physical theatre and yoga from the 21st century. My experiences as a dancer, teacher and yoga instructor assist me in creating this system. On the one hand, this technique helps create a connection between emotions, body and movement, and on the other hand, the technique also urges the body to move with the help of these connections. The hypothesis is based on the suggestion that our emotions and thoughts influence the reactions that we express. In the present study, I examine the system of affective movement pedagogy through Stanislavski's system and by adopting the techniques of experiencing and action. I explain that hatha yoga played a decisive role in Stanislavski’s technique, however, it still assumes a different function, based on the cited texts, than in the area of affective movement pedagogy. I attempt to compare the two techniques through the terminology used in yoga. The system of affective movement pedagogy affects areas that partially fill a research gap and are novel in the arts of acting and dance. Its effects are manifested in daily trainings, in creative processes and in the actor’s work.