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The perception of an odour is a two-step process. First, there is a physiological process, i.e. the detection of chemical stimuli (odorous molecules) by olfactory receptors in the olfactory epithelium. Next, there is a neurologic process; olfactory neurons transduce receptors activation into neuronal electrical signals travelling along the olfactory nerve to olfactory bulb and finally, they are processed by higher cortical areas of the human brain where odour encoding and perception occur. Because of this, olfaction is a complex primal sense highly associated with attraction, mood, detection of danger and odours have the power to evoke distant memories and boost self-confidence. A lot of knowledge on olfaction has to be still get mainly regarding its relationship with other sensory stimuli as audio, visual, taste [1]. Odour recognition memory is slightly influenced by the length of retention intervals. This was observed for short intervals (few minutes) as well as longer retention period (over a year too)[2]. One approach to understanding the olfaction links to other senses is to monitor and analyse human brain activity during odours perception. By measuring event-related potentials (ERPs) by electroencephalography, it’s possible to measure the electrophysiological response of brain to a specific event, i.e. in this case the presentation of olfactory stimuli [3,4]. Aim of this study is understanding how the olfactory system, which involves and activates the limbic system, can modulate a perception on emotional face recognition. Through these results we aim to investigate and to implement innovative applications of cognitive neuroscience in order to improve basic knowledge as well as to develop novel devices for enhancing synesthetic experiences with olfactory stimuli. Method: We arrange an experiment of olfactive conditioned evoked potentials by analysing Event Related Potential (ERP) of 7 volunteers during perception of 2 odour stimuli: pleasant (rose, 2-phenyl ethanol C2H4O2) and unpleasant (acid, Acetic Acid C8H10O). Specifically, we have proposed a paradigm of operant conditioning in which the three types of odours were conditioned on images of neuter face expression [5], by a NimStim Face Stimulus Set [6], for the duration of 5 minutes to task learning, repeated for three times. Subsequently, the subject had to perform a test Face detection, implemented through NimStim Set, for a period of 10 minutes task, during a Emo No Go Paradigm Presented with E-Prime Presentation. The subject had to press a pc key during a recognition task of emotional neuter face expression in a presentation of randomized emotional expressions (fear, neuter and happy). For the odorous stimuli in the experiment, pure chemical compounds were diluted in distilled water. A dilution ratio (1:4) was suitably consider in order to realise easily perceptible, but not unpleasant, odours; the odorants and their concentration used in the test are listed in table 1 together with their odour sensory description. In addition, the distilled water was used a control for inducing an odourless stimulus. The odorous solutions (5 ml) were put into 20 ml glass vials sealed with septum till the exposure time to the volunteers. We can conclude that an unpleasant odour can modulate, in a cross modal way, the perceptions of emotional and neutral face expressions, and it can be general in a very early component (P100) and more specific, in conditioning way, in the attentive component (P300), only for neutral expressions

The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) is a learning process mediated by new technologies. The ADL also makes use of Augmented Reality, which takes place through processes of virtual manipulation. The experimental research on Augmented Reality markers and 3D objects focuses on the possibilities of interaction and manipulation of virtual forms in reality, that allows us to touch and interact with objects that do not exist but that are observable through a screen. Literature shows that there are different modules within the occipitotemporal cortex that receive both visual and somatosensory inputs and it explains how these can be integrated in the learning process. These cortical modules can be active in the evaluation of the various aspects of surface properties of objects, such as the 3D shape, as well as in visual and tactile movements. The purpose of this work is to analyze ERP components (P1, N2, P3) variations, during two different kinds of learning training (T): the same objects are manipulated either in Augmented Reality or during the condition of real haptic manipulation and the variations due to different learning styles are investigated. 12 university students were recruited for the study (mean age 23.11). The subjects were evaluated through a 4 scales style learning test: Visual Verbal (VV), Visual Non Verbal (VnV), Kinesthetic (K), Analytical (A). The subjects performed a training lasting 5 minutes consisting of haptic manipulation of 3D models, obtained through modeling a 3D Blender 2.74 and manipulation in Augmented Reality, presented through Dune® Aurasma models. After each training the subjects had to perform a recognition task of the same stimuli (presented in 2D), during an EEG recording. A General Linear Model was computed to investigate research hypothesis. Statistical Analysis reveals significance values in ERP components analyzed. N1 showed significant values in Analytic Learning (p = 0.007), Training (p = 0.00) and interaction between A * TL (p = 0.014). N2 showed significant value in Visual non Verbal Learning style (p = 0.00), Training (p = 0.01) and interaction VnV * T (p = 0.00). P3 showed significant value in Visual Verbal Learning style (p = 0.01). The subjects with high scores in Analytic Learning style show higher amplitude in the Pz channel, in P1 component. The subjects with high scores of Visual Non Verbal Learning style show higher amplitude in the Centrals, Occipitals and Parietals Channels, in N2 component. The subjects with Visual Verbal Learning, present higher amplitude in Frontals, Centrals, Parietals, and Occipitals Channels, in P3 component. We can conclude that learning styles are involved in perceptual levels during recognition tasks and according to the prominent style, processing involves different ERP components and different brain areas. The learning style affects more these variations when the mode of training is through Augmented Reality, where the visuomotor process is prevalent.

The "Delay" is defined as the division of a signal in separate components, one of which is delayed, and then reintroduced into the original signal.Delay effect occurs when a subject hearsthe sound of his own voice which is delayed by a few milliseconds. This feedback induces difficulties in the articulation of language. We analyzed the effect on attention during training with natural auditory feedback and mechanical auditory feedback.If the stimulus is presented without delayed latency, natural feedback, the subjects will not have difficulty producing verbal language, the stimulus is presented with a delayed acoustic feedback. The subjects will present difficulties in languagearticulation , finding clear difficulty concentrating on what they are reading, or simply in the pronunciation of his name and surname. This highlights the momentary interruption of the automatic processes. After a short time with a change between 7 -10 minutes, there is a small habituation to the feedback whichis not natural. It would seem that with no natural feedback, the subject presents habituation to the delay effect. This parameter adjusts the time between the introduction of the original signal and the reintroduction of the delayed signal. The aim of this study was to investigate ERP correlation during an auditory Posner attention task afteran auditory delay effect training. We recruited a total of 20 university students (mean age 28.6) as test subjects. They had to perform a task whereby they had to say their personal information, read a lyric and sing. The training had a duration of 5 minutes. The delay time used in the experiment was 200 ms for all subjects undergoing experimental effect and 0 for those submitted in the control group. After the training an auditory Posner cueing task was administered during an EEG recording: a mono-aural pure tone pip (1000 Hz) presented unilaterally was used both as the cue (250 ms) and as the target. Cue-target asynchrony was either 100 or 600 ms. The spatial relationship between cue and target defined two conditions: valid target (the same location as the cue) and invalid target (opposite localization of the cue). A repeated-measures ANOVAwas performed on the amplitude and latency of N2 and P3. Main results of the study were on the N2 component in invalid target condition. The N2 component showed slower latencies in Fp1 (F= 7.105; p=0.015), Fp2 (F=7.901; p=0.011) F8 (F=4.877; p=0.039) and C3 (F=4.128; p=0.05) in the form of higher latency values in the delayed effect group. We found the same trend in Posner reaction time (behavioural results). Results of this work can indicate how auditory feedback systems alter motor and auditory attentional early processes thus altering not only the task itself in language performance (voice, prosody and spoken), but also the motor system in the subject reaction time, as well as some ERP’s components.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is often associated with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is characterized by disturbances in attention and hyperarousal. The aim of this study was to investigate the arousal related to recognition of emotional face in IPV women. This study examined the event-related potential (ERP) N170 component to target detection, during the presentation of Nim Stim Face Stimulus Set, with Emo No Go paradigm. The task consisted of pressing a button when the subject saw a neuter face expression. Participants were 10 women with IPV, recruited in a Center Against Family Violence, compared to aged matched controls. To assess both groups we administered the Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Anxiety Inventory and a PTSD. GLM analysis was computed for N200 amplitude and latency and showed a significant effect by group (Group p=,018; Target p=,406). Post hoc analysis in amplitude showed significant value in direction of a higher amplitude in IPV group; post hoc analysis in latency showed significant value in direction of faster latency in IPV group. Lateralization analysis showed higher amplitude in right hemisphere in IPV group (Right p=,041). The behavioral result confirms a significant difference (Group =,00; Target=,00; Target*Group=,00) in direction of a faster RT in IPV group. IPV group exhibits a lower sensitivity threshold on emotional face recognition in behavioral and ERP results, and it could be a sensibilization in elicitation of emotional arousal, but this activation is independent from modality of expression.

Innovative technologies are the new interactive learning tools for a new generation. In particular, Virtual and Augmented Reality are highly relevant because they involve embodied cognition. However, there are very few studies on how our brain perceives a 3D anaglyph object or a 3D immersive object and if the level of perception is conditioned by cognitive preference and by stimuli recognition. We investigated this field of application in order to understand perceptual processing during Immersive Virtual Reality and 3D anaglyph perception, and to understand how to build a virtual reality movie based on Brain Computer Interface. The aim of this study was to understand how to build a neuroergonomic movie by creating interfaces between the brain and the computer by investigating the modulation of ERP component P3 during a virtual reality task. For the construction of a virtual reality movie with planktonic elements for MAUS, a University Museum, we analyzed a set of images in 2D and 3D active stereoscopic glasses (MAUS objects 2D, Tarbosaurus 3D, Plankton 3D, Plankton 2D, coloured screens 2D). The images were presented with E-prime presentation, in the context of the museum. The images were presented with a Go-no Go paradigm (with E-prime 2.0 presentation) during EEG and GSR recording. Participants were instructed to press a computer key when they recognised an element living in the sea during a presentation of a set of random images in 2D, anaglyph and stereo active 3D. The task was presented in a 3D immersive environment. We recruited 8 Marine Biology and 11 Cultural Heritage university students (both groups were age and gender matched). All the subjects were volunteers and had normal hearing, normal or corrected to normal vision and had right manual dominance. A GLM repeated measures analysis was computed for the amplitude and latency of the P300 component, RT and GSR. Main results from statistical analyses showed significant differences in group and the type of objects in perceptual modality as well as a group x image interaction effect. Analyses for lateralisation showed a significant difference in left amplitude in the direction of an increased amplitude in the left hemisphere in the Marine Biology students. For image condition, we found increased amplitude in the left hemisphere for 3D pictures as well. In agreement with these results, we could say that immersive 3D processing is really different from 2D or 3D non-immersive processing. We can also observe a different kind of arousal, on the left side when the subject was competent and on the right side when the analysis of the plankton stimulus was devoid of semantic knowledge of the image. In conclusion, the stimulus in virtual reality can be analyzed and studied in a much more precise 3D nature, the perception criteria of a 3D immersive stimulus are normally very different and a neuroergonomic and neuroaestethic approach must interface with these perceptive products.

Method and related system for measuring physiological parameters of a human subject undergoing an olfactory stimulation comprising one or more smelling olfactory stimuli, where by means of said system and according to said method a human subject is undergone to said olfactory stimulation by sending said one or more smelling olfactory stimuli to the human subject; one or more physiological parameters of the human subject are recorded; and said olfactory stimulation and physiological parameters recording are synchronized.

Researches concerning the psychological and behavioral alterations following exposure to Intimate Partner Violence, associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well, represent an interesting area of analyses. The aim of this work was to study the variations of event related brain potentials (ERPs), specifically N200 and P300, related to the establishment of visual emotional stimuli in women with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to IPV. We administered the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and a PTSD questionnaire to select a group of women recruited in a Center against Family Violence. Two categories of visual stimuli, emotional pictures with negative valence (EP) and positive and neutral pictures (NP), were presented during a decisional task, utilizing an oddball paradigm. The task was to press a button when the subject saw an emotional image. The IPV group was composed of 14 women (mean age: 39). The Control Group was composed of 14 women (mean age: 33) without PTDS or IPV nor depressive/anxiety symptomatology (measured with BDI II and BAI). Univariate ANOVAs were computed separately for each ERP component in amplitude and latency for electrode and for Lateralization. Both N200 and P300 had shown significant differences in amplitude (p

This research aims to investigate, in a population of adolescents, the body's representations, the representations of the relationship with food, the characteristics of dietary habits, body image perceived body image as real as possible predictors of behavior disorders food in the same age group. We recruited 100 children (mean age 16.3 sd = 1.51), by the school to which they belong. We 'measured the BMI (Body Mass Index), the semantic differential on the body representation, one on food relationship and test EAT. This study showed that the representation of the body is extremely sensitive in the adolescent population, the figure body itself in relation to BMI and not eating habits. This result implies that adolescent prevention should be focused on the representation on that body rather than eating habits.

Fluctuating sex hormone levels during the menstrual cycle have been shown to affect functional cerebral asymmetries (FCAs) in cognitive domains, contributing to sex-related differences in functional cerebral organization. The line-bisection task is usually used to quantify disorders in spatial attention. Respect to spatial representation, it has been demonstrated that men outperform women in spatial analysis of complex auditory scenes. Although the line-bisection task is a rather indirect measure of callosal function, the importance of the corpus callosum in line-bisection, especially of posterior callosal areas, is demonstrated by several studies This study aims to observe whether there is an effect between gender, hormonal components and spatial attention. Thirty-three healthy volunteers (ten women in age of fertility and thirteen women in menopause and ten man) was investigated during a computer based line-bisection task (considering the position 1: central; 2 low distance right; 3 high distance right; 4 low distance left; 5 high distance left). EEG was recorded by 38 scalp electrodes according to the enlarged 10-20 system. A General Linear Model (GLM) was made considering the effect group and the effect of position in Lateralization for the component Amplitude (V) and Latencies (L). Level of significance was fixed at p

Electromagnetic device for stimulating a particular encephalic area comprising at least a current generator and characterized in that it is provided with at least a coil of circular shape for stimulating a portion of the brain lobes in a localized way and in that it generates an electric power between 0 and 50 Watt at a frequency between 3 and 20 Hz adjustable in continuum to determine a brain synchronization effect in response to an applied magnetic field.

This paper aims to analyze the musical percept as a precursor of language, which later evolved into a human brain structure with syntactic, spatial and temporal rules similar to the language. This will be described through the studies of Psychology of Music and through evolutionary analyses, and neuroarchaeological analysis. Through acomparate and evolutionary model will b eillustrated the phylogenetic development of musical perception (listening, pitch detection, physiological production and instrumental production) and how this could be considered one of the foundations of the speech. Through this analysis we will describe how the percept music/sound exists as strongly connected both at the genetic level, biological and behavioral language functions, and we will as a capacity which the tactile receptor is involved in the processes ofsound / music discrimination and production.

Neuroimaging and neuropsychological literature show functional dissociations in brain activity during processing of stimuli belonging to different semantic categories (e.g., animals, tools, faces, places). The aim of the study was to provide informations about the processing of stimuli from different phylogenetic domains, in order to observe the emergence of non-linguistic conceptual knowledge perceptualand categorizational pathway. Event related potentials (ERPs), N200 and P300, were recorded with an odd ball paradigm, in 24healthy right-handed individuals as they performed a perceptual recognition task on 56 of images of animals, man-made objects (i.e., artifacts) and background-color.The animals were grouped according to the phylogenetic scale in Fish (F), Reptiles (R) and Mammals (M). All stimuli were matched according to the familiarity of representation. The Task consisted in 4 sessions, one for every stimulus.The task was to press a button when the subject saw the stimulus between the background colors. Univariate ANOVAs were computed separately for each ERP component in amplitude (V) and latency (L) for Electrode and for Lateralization. Both N200 and P300 had shown significant differences in Frontal Channels (Fp2, F4, F8) V (p

The Thermal Grill Illusion (TGI) has been suggested as a promising experimental model for studying paradoxical thermal painful sensation as present in e.g. neuropathic pain. The TGI can be evoked by simultaneous application of innocuous cold and warm temperatures. However, a large inter-individual variability has been reported for the provocation of painful TGI. So far, it is not known which factors contribute to this variability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of catastrophizing in the perception of thermal grill illusion. 37 healthy subjects were recruited (17 females and 20 males) and assessed using the pain catastrophizing scale. Subjects were asked to place the palm of their non-dominant hand on six bars interlaced with cold and warm temperatures of 20° and 40°, respectively. Subjects were also tested in a control condition where both uniformly warm (40°C) and cold (20°C) bars were presented. After each test, subjects were asked to report both the intensity and the unpleasantness of the stimulus using a visual analog scale (VAS). The scale ranged from 0 (no sensation) to 10 (unbearable pain) and where 4 indicated the pain threshold. Furthermore, the quality of the TGI was assessed. The VAS intensity scale was divided into two categories: Responders and Non Responders according to the perceived intensity of the TGI. Subjects who reported intensities ≥ 4 where classified as Responders and subjects who reported intensities < 4 where classified as Non-Responders. Ten subjects were found to be Responders (felt a painful TGI), while 27 were Non-Responders (felt a non-painful TGI). T-test analyses showed that Catastrophizing levels (p

Fluctuating sex hormone levels during the menstrual cycle have been shown to affect functional cerebral asymmetries (FCAs) in cognitive domains, contributing to sex-related differences in functional cerebral organization. This study aims to observe changes induced by anodal tDCS in left parietal cortex on performance in a computer based visual line bisection task and event related potentials across menstrual cycle in fertile compared to menopause women. Twenty-three healthy volunteers (ten fertile women and thirteen menopausal women) were investigated. Subjects were submitted to a computer based line-bisection task (position 1: central; 2 low distance on right; 3 high distance on right; 4 low distance on left; 5 high distance on left): baseline (B), sham (S), tDCS (T), which were randomized in three consecutive months. EEG was recorded by 38 scalp electrodes according to the enlarged 10-20 system. Anodal tDCS was performed on the P3 derivation (cathode on left supra orbital site) (20 min 2 mA intensity). The group of fertile women was investigated during follicular, secretive and menstrual phases. Subjects were instructed to press the computer bar soon after the presentation of the subjective judged central position. The positive component in the time interval between 200-400 msec was evaluated by means of Brain Vision Analyzer 2.0, after a visual inspection and rejection of artifact. In basal condition the GLM test showed a significant increase of P300 amplitude (Phase p=0,002; Condition p=0,00; Phase *Conditions p=0,026) related to the 5 (high distance) target on the left hemisphere in the menstrual phase, compared to the secretive and follicular phases (fig.1). After the left parietal TDCS, the P3 amplitude was similar across the different phases and in relation to the different targets, in all the considered EEG derivations related to 5 line position across the different phases (Figure 2). Post hoc analysis (Bonferroni Test) for Left Latence and Amplitude indicated a significant effect in follicular condition (p =0,00), in secretive condition (p=0,00) and in menstrual condition (p=0,00). In menopause group, analyses for Condition showed in all lateralization channel significant values in A and in L (p

In literature there some works about the high prevalence of adverse health outcomes related to intimate partner violence (IPV). Research concerning the psychological and behavioral alterations following exposure to IPV, associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) too, represents an interesting area of analyses. The aim of this work was to study the variations of event related brain potentials (ERPs), specifically N200 and P300, related to the establishment of visual emotional stimuli in women with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorderdue to IPV.We administeredthe Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II), Beck Anxiety Inventory(BAI) and a PTSD questionnaire to select a group of women recruited in a Center against Family Violence. Two categories of visual stimuli, emotional pictures (EP) and positive and neutral pictures (NP), were presented during a decisional task, utilizing an oddball paradigm with probabilities of occurrence of 20%, 80% respectively. Experimental Group was composed by 9 women (mean age: 39) with a PTSD due to IPV;Control Group was composed by 9 women (mean age : 33) without PTDS, IPV or depressive or anxiety symptomatology (measured with BDI II and BAI) .Univariate ANOVAs were computed separately for each ERP component in amplitude and latency for electrode. Both N2 and P300 shown significant differences in amplitude (p

The recent spread of techniques of medically assisted reproduction, and today’s changes in the laws ruling this practice, enable many couples with infertility to have access to these treatments, thus getting in contact with a world full of cultural and mental representations that often affect conception, pregnancy and parenting, raising new ethical and bioethical issues on the scene of assisted conception. This paper presents a comparison between a clinical thought, born from the experience of the famous French psychiatrist, Benoît Bayle, and a review of scientific literature, with a specific reference to the prenatal cognitive matrix. This study analyzes the physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and dynamic levels related to the scene of Artificial Conception. The results of this research indicate that the differences in these variables are actually more significant in the studies conducted on couples treated with PMA than in those conducted on controls.

gli spazi consultoriali in Italia sono servizi pubblici di assistenza alla famiglia, di educazione alla maternità e alla paternità responsabili, alla salute della donna e della coppia. Sono stati istituiti nelle varie regioni Italiane a partire dal 1975. Nel corso degli anni stanno modificando i servizi offerti in funzione della domanda dell’utenza. Obiettivo di questo studio è stato quello di analizzare, attraverso la somministrazione di un questionario, i vari servizi e i vari tipi di utenza del nord, centro e sud Italia analizzando in particolare i servizi rivolti agli adolescenti. Le analisi effettuate sono state di tipo descrittivo e di tipo inferenziale. Risultati delle analisi hanno visto una distribuzione eterogenea rispetto al nord, centro e sud, in particolare rispetto alle proporzione di utenti donne, adolescenti e rispetto alla categoria degli immigrati

Counselling spaces in Italy are in public care services to the family, education for responsible motherhood and fatherhood, women's and couples' health. The public counsellings have been established in various Italian regions since 1975. Over the years the services changed in according to customer requests. The aim of this study has been to analyze, by administering a questionnaire, the different services and different types of users in North, Central and Southern Italy with particular regard to the services for adolescents. There have been descriptive and inferential analysis. Analysis results have seen a heterogeneous distribution in North, Central, and Southern Italy, particularly in relation to the proportion of female users, adolescents and immigrants. Within the public counselling there are gynecologists, midwives and psychologists, there are less frequently pediatricians and internists, probably in relation to the type of given performances (contraception, pregnancy and unwanted pregnancy). Finally, regarding the satisfaction of the service provided, the facilities managers perceive themselves, especially in the South and the North, how mostly inaccessible, impractical and with an insufficient number of operators.

quadro sintetico e generale che analizza le rappresentazioni psicosociali della fertilità, le varie tecniche di fecondazione assistita, le norme sulle varie tecniche, accenni di bioetica e la neuroetica relativa all'embrione e le dinamiche psicologiche della coppia che accede a PMA.

i soggetti con attacchi di panico presentano al livello psicofisiologico particolari network di attivazione del sistema vegetativo e di elaborazione corticale rispetto a stimoli emotigeni e a livello cognitivo, modalità espressive correlate all'alessitimia ed a una difficoltà di elaborazione ed espressione dei contenuti emotivi. obiettivo dello studio è stato quello di analizzare parte dei network vegetativi e corticali durante la rievocazione e narrazione di un evento di routine (ER)e di un evento rappresentativo dell'emozione paura (EP) in soggetti con DAP e di analizzare i codici semantici correlati alle narrazioni stesse. si sono analizzati i seguenti indici: GSR K (tonico) e GSR F (fasico) e HRV (frequenza cardiaca). rispetto agli indici cognitivi si è analizzato la durata del tempo di narrazione (TN) ei i lemmi associati alle descrizioni degli eventi negativi e positivi. Risultati: i soggetti cin DAP presentano un range inferiore di variabilità per il GSR K nelle condizioni ER e EP; risulta invece tendente alla significatività la HRV nella condizione ER. Il TN è minore (significativamente) nella condizione EP . si potrebbe attribuire il minor tempo di narrazione per EP a una componente cognitiva di evitamento della narrazione con una valenza emozionale. Rispetto ai codici semantici il gruppo DAP non ha utilizzato lemmi emotigeni nel compito di rievocazione e descrizione di un evento rappresentativo dell'EP.

recenti studi sugli attacchi di panico analizzano la relazione tra l'inizio dell'attacco e l'iperaousal associato a iperventilazione e attivazione del sistema limbico. studi di psicosomatica hanno osservato la correlazione tra alessitimia e attacchi di panico. l'ipotesi di questo lavoro è analizzare l'associazione tra la capacità modulatoria delle regioni sbcorticakli quando i soggetti identificano correttamente lo stimolo emozionale. Si sono analizzati i livelli di alessitimia e il GSR K e F (Galvanick Skin Reflex) durante la narrazione si episodi di paura.