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A neurobiological dual representation model of PTSD proposes that reduced hippocampus-dependent contextual processing contributes to intrusive imagery due to a loss of control over hippocampus-independent sensory and affective representations. We investigated whether PTSD sufferers show impaired allocentric spatial processing indicative of reduced hippocampal functioning. Trauma-exposed individuals with ( N = 29) and without ( N = 30) a diagnosis of PTSD completed two tests of spatial processing: a topographical recognition task comprising perceptual and memory components, and a test of memory for objects’ locations within a virtual environment in which the test is from either the same viewpoint as presentation (solvable with egocentric memory) or a different viewpoint (requiring allocentric memory). Participants in the PTSD group performed significantly worse on allocentric spatial processing than trauma-exposed controls. Groups performed comparably on egocentric memory and non-spatial memory for lists of objects. Exposure to repeated incident trauma was also associated with significantly worse spatial processing in the PTSD group. Results show a selective impairment in allocentric spatial processing, implicating weak hippocampal functioning, as predicted by a neurobiological dual representation model of PTSD. These findings have important clinical implications for cognitive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cognitive flexibility (CF) contributes unique variance to child and adolescent irony interpretation. • This remains when controlling for NVIQ, core language, knowledge and mentalising. • Mentalising shows a less robust relationship with irony interpretation. Successful peer relations in older children depend on proficiency with banter, which in turn frequently involves verbal irony. Individual differences in successful irony interpretation have traditionally been attributed to theory of mind. Our premise was that the key factor might in fact be cognitive flexibility, that is, the ability to switch between different perspectives (here, on the same utterance). We also wished to extend the focus of previous irony studies, which have almost exclusively examined simple irony, where the literal meaning conflicts with observable physical evidence (e.g., "Great day for a picnic" when viewing a downpour). Therefore, we also examined how children interpreted more complex irony, where listeners must consider at a deeper level the common ground shared with the speakers (e.g., general knowledge/cultural common ground or information about the particular speaker). In Study 1, we found that for 6- to 8-year-olds, both cognitive flexibility and theory of mind contributed unique variance to simple irony interpretation while statistically controlling for nonverbal reasoning and structural language standardized scores. Neither inhibitory control, nor working memory, nor general knowledge correlated with irony interpretation. The 6- to 8-year-olds were at floor for complex irony. In Study 2, we found that cognitive flexibility contributed unique variance to how 10- to 12-year-olds interpreted complex irony while controlling for nonverbal reasoning, structural language, and specific knowledge required. We are the first to examine the relationship with cognitive flexibility and conclude that it must be taken into account when investigating the relationship between theory of mind and irony interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low physical activity (PA) and high levels of sedentary time (ST) are associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among older people. However, their independent contribution and importance of duration of PA and ST bouts remain unclear. We investigated associations between objectively measured PA, ST and non-invasive vascular measures, markers of CVD risk. Cross-sectional study of 1216 men from the British Regional Heart Study, mean age 78.5years, measured in 2010-2012. Carotid intima thickness (CIMT), distensibility coefficient (DC) and plaque presence were measured using ultrasound; pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and augmentation index (AIx) using a Vicorder. PA and ST were measured using hip-worn ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. After adjusting for covariates, each additional 1000 steps per day was associated with a 0.038m/s lower cfPWV (95% CI=-0.076, 0.0003), 0.095 10(-3) kPa(-1) higher DC (95% CI=0.006, 0.185), 0.26% lower AIx (95% CI=-0.40, -0.12) and a 0.005mm lower CIMT (95% CI=-0.008, -0.001). Moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) was associated with lower AIx and CIMT, light PA (LPA) with lower cfPWV and CIMT and ST with higher cfPWV, AIx and CIMT and lower DC. LPA and ST were highly correlated (r=-0.62). The independence of MVPA and ST or MVPA and LPA was inconsistent across vascular measures. Bout lengths for both PA and ST were not associated with vascular measures. In our cross-sectional study of older men, all PA regardless of intensity or bout duration was beneficially associated with vascular measures, as was lower ST. LPA was particularly relevant for cfPWV and CIMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]