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Background: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a major health problem, often with negative effects on behaviour and mental health as well as cognition. Prevalence of ABI is exceptionally high among offenders and increases their re‐offending risk. Information on risk factors for ABI and its outcomes among offenders that could guide effective treatment for them is, nevertheless, scarce and dispersed. However, there is a more substantial literature about the general population that could inform work with brain‐injured offenders, especially when selecting for samples or subgroups with similar relevant characteristics, such as lower socio‐economic status (SES), pre‐injury lower tested intelligence score (<85) and pre‐injury mental health problems. Aims: To explore brain injury data from non‐offender samples of otherwise similar socio‐economic and mental health and ability characteristics to offenders then, first, to describe their untreated outcomes and, secondly, outcomes after frequently used interventions in these circumstances, noting factors associated with their effectiveness. Method: Three databases were systematically searched for the years 2010–2022; first, using terms for brain injury or damage and cognitive (dys)function, mental health or quality of life. Second, in a separate search, we used these terms and terms for interventions and rehabilitation. In the second review, studies were selected for clear, distinguishable data on age, sex, SES and lifestyle factors to facilitate inferences for offenders. A narrative analytical approach was adopted for both reviews. Results: Samples with characteristics that are typical in offender groups, including lower SES, lower pre‐injury intelligence quotient (<85), prior cognitive impairments and prior mental health problems, had poorer cognitive and behavioural outcomes following ABI than those without such additional problems, together with lower treatment adherence. With respect to treatment, adequate motivation and self‐awareness were associated with better cognitive and behavioural outcomes than when these were low or absent, regardless of the outcome measured. Conclusions: More complex pre‐injury mental health problems and social disadvantages typical of offenders are associated with poorer post‐brain injury recovery. This paper adds to practical knowledge by bringing together work that follows specific outcome trajectories. Overall, succesful ABI‐interventions in the general population that aim at pre‐injury difficulties comparable to those seen among offenders, show that personalising injury‐specific treatments and taking account of these difficulties, maximised positive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: (Physical) inactivity and disturbances in the rest‐activity rhythm (e.g. more daytime sleeping and more night‐time restlessness) are common in institutionalised persons living with dementia (iPwD). Both are associated with worse quality of life (QoL), which underlines the need for non‐pharmacological interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine if the implementation of personalised activity cards (PACs) could enhance the amount of time spent on goal‐directed daily (physical) activities and improve the rest‐activity rhythm in iPwD. Method: This prospective longitudinal quasi‐experimental multicentre study was conducted on 11 wards in 8 nursing homes in the Netherlands. The intervention consisted of PACs, a structured method for offering personalised activities based on input from (professional) caregivers. The PACs were implemented on 5 wards. The other 6 wards received care as usual (control group). Intervention compliance was checked every two weeks with an online survey. Outcome variables included minutes spent on goal‐directed daily (physical) activity as measured with an adjusted version of the Physical Activity Survey in Long‐Term Care (PAS‐LTC; observations by researchers), and rest‐activity rhythm was assessed using Actiwatch activity monitors. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), and after 12‐15 weeks (T1). Result: We analysed the data of 84 iPwD; intervention group: n = 35, control group: n = 49 (Table 1). Intention‐to‐treat mixed model analyses showed no significant interaction effects of the intervention (group × time) on goal‐directed daily (physical) activity and rest‐activity rhythm variables (Table 2). One ward in the intervention group did not implement the PACs. The four wards that did implement the PACs reported diverging percentages of the execution of planned activities, even as low as 33.5% (range 33.5‐74.2%). The most reported reason for not executing activities on the PACs was that employees were too busy. Conclusion: Contrary to our expectations, implementing PACs did not show any effect on goal‐directed daily (physical) activity in iPwD. The lack of improvement in activity level might be an explanation for the lack of improvement in rest‐activity rhythm. These findings support previous research that it can be difficult to implement new methods in the nursing home environment, and underline the importance of more implementation research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the evidence that disrupted sleep‐wake cycles are associated with an exacerbation of behavioural disturbances and an acceleration of the disease progression in dementia, the effect of sensory stimulation for improving sleep quality and rest‐activity rhythm is unclear. The aim of the current meta‐analysis is to give an overview of the effectiveness of sensory stimulation interventions on reduction and prevention of sleep disturbances in nursing homes residents with dementia. Method: A systematic literature search and meta‐analysis were performed on December 3, 2019. Twenty‐seven studies examining the effects of a sensory stimulation intervention on rest‐activity rhythm and/or nocturnal restlessness in nursing home residents with dementia were included. Outcomes were measured with Actiwatches and/or standardized observation scales. Extensive subgroup meta‐analyses were performed to adjust for varying characteristics of included studies. Result: Uni‐sensory stimulation including tactile and visual stimulation (i.e. light therapy, massage, acupuncture, animal‐assisted interventions) seemed effective for improving sleep quality and strengthen the rest‐activity rhythm (Hedges g=.47, p ≤.01, Figure 1). More specifically, visual and tactile stimulation with a minimum of 30 minutes/day for two weeks have effectively reduced the duration of nocturnal awakenings (g=‐.29, p≤.05), sleep onset latency (g=‐.25, p≤.05), and nocturnal behaviour disturbances (g=‐.57, p≤.01), and have improved nocturnal sleep duration (g =.38, p ≤.01), and sleep efficiency (g=.48, p≤.01). The heterogeneity within the majority of outcomes varied between medium and large. The majority of studies were of poor quality (59%, Figure 2). Dementia type and severity, gender, treatment duration and intensity (light levels in lux values) were not related to the effectiveness of sensory stimulation in all outcomes. Conclusion: Although the methodological quality of the studies was limited, we found indications that sleep quality and nocturnal restlessness in nursing home residents with dementia may benefit from sensory stimulation. Recommended is to use a sensory stimulating environment in nursing homes which may prevent or improve sleep disturbances, and therefore can contribute to higher quality of life of their patients. Future research should conduct RCTs, while using comparable interventions, measuring instruments and procure, so the quality of dementia can be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial experimental evidence supports the theory that the dopaminergic system codes a phasic (short duration) signal predicting the delivery of primary reinforcers, such as water when thirsty, during Pavlovian learning. This signal is described by the temporal difference (TD) model. Recently, it has been suggested that the human dopaminergic system also codes more complex cognitive goal states, including those required for human social interaction. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with 18 healthy subjects, we tested the hypothesis that TD signals would be present during a Pavlovian learning task, and during a social motor response learning task. Using an identical model, TD signals were present in both tasks, although in different brain regions. Specifically, signals were present in the dorsal anterior cingulate, ventral striatum, amygdala, and thalamus with Pavlovian learning, and the dorsal anterior cingulate and bilateral frontal operculum with social motor response learning. The frontal operculum is believed to be the human homologue of the monkey mirror neuron system, and there is evidence which links the region with inference about other peoples' intentions and goals. The results support the contention that the human dopaminergic system predicts both primary reinforcers, and more complex cognitive goal states, such as motor responses required for human social group interaction. Dysfunction of such a mechanism might be associated with abnormal affective responses and incorrect social predictions, as occur in psychiatric disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three experiments investigated whether emotional information influences perceptual dominance during binocular rivalry. In Experiment 1, rival emotional and neutral faces in the background were coupled with grating stimuli in the foreground. Results showed that gratings paired with emotional faces dominated over those paired with neutral faces. In Experiment 2, emotional and neutral faces were presented dichoptically, without being paired with other stimuli. Dominance of emotional faces was observed. Fusion and low-level image differences were ruled out by examining dominance periods of upright and inverted emotional and neutral faces presented as face-house pairs (Experiment 3). Here, face stimuli dominated over house stimuli only for upright face conditions. In addition, upright emotional faces were perceived for significantly longer durations than upright neutral faces. The results provide further support for the influence of emotional meaning on binocular rivalry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]