Autor: Jordi

Complexity of Everyday Life Heart Rate Dynamics and Attentional Control in Healthy Students

Xavier Bornas,Jordi Llabres, Alfonso Morillas-Romero, Blanca Aguayo-Siquier, Maria Balle, Miquel Tortella-Feliu
Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology and Life Sciences, 3, 2013

Abstract: Effective regulation of emotions requires the ability to voluntarily manage attention, i.e. attentional control (AC), which has been related to heart rate variability and vagal tone in laboratory based research. In this study, we calculated the correlation dimension (CD), the fractal-like properties (scaling exponents ?1 and ?2, and fractal dimension) and the sample entropy of heart rate time series obtained from ECG recordings (4 hours long each) taken from a sample of healthy students (n=47) during everyday activities. AC was assessed through a self-reported questionnaire. As expected, a linear positive correlation was found between AC scores and CD and entropy, but no associations were found between AC and ?1 and fractal dimension. The association between AC and ?2 was negative and marginally significant. No associations were found between AC and linear heart rate variability measures. These results show that nonlinear measures of long, everyday life, heart rate time series may provide useful information about the AC ability of healthy students.

Keywords: attentional control, heart rate, electrocardiography, complexity

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Perquè n’Huguet?

Aquests dies he tengut el privilegi de viure una campanya electoral en primera persona acompanyant a Llorenç Huguet. He après molt. He vist la meva universitat des d’una altra perspectiva. He tengut el plaer de conèixer gent que estima la UIB encara més que jo. Persones que estan disposades a ajudar a la nostra universitat a sortir del lloc on l’ha col·locada una política de retallades les conseqüències de la qual pagarem molts d’anys.

“Perquè n’Huguet?” m’ha demanat molta gent. La resposta, òbviament, es troba al programa que hem dissenyat entre tots els membres de l’equip den Llorenç. Un programa que no es tancarà fins dia 20 de maig perquè des del principi l’hem volgut fer comptant amb la participació de tota la comunitat universitària.

Però hi ha motius que no són al programa de forma explícita. Dimecres dia 22 hem de votar a n’Huguet els que volem un rector amb experiència per començar a treballar dia 23. També els que volem un rector que tengui il·lusió per ser-ho i que faci que molts de nosaltres recuperem aquesta il·lusió facilitant-nos les coses. L’hem de votar els que creiem en una universitat pública de tots i per a tots.

Clar que s’ha de repensar la universitat i s’ha de mirar al futur! Però això no es pot fer si els papers s’acumulen al teu voltant, si has d’impartir classes a grups d’alumnes enormes, si no hi ha un equip rectoral que sàpiga gestionar la universitat per tal que cadascú faci allò que ha de fer. Quan el professorat torni a parlar de fer classes en lloc de fer cronogrames, quan l’alumnat torni a parlar del que li han ensenyat en lloc de lo complicat que és canviar-se de grup de pràctiques, i quan el personal d’administració i serveis torni a veure perquè serveix la feinada que fa, quan algú es preocupi de canviar tot això, podrem repensar la UIB amb garanties d’èxit.

Hem de votar a un rector proper que confiï en les persones i no en els sistemes d’avaluació/control. Un rector que vulgui mantenir l’excel·lència en la investigació i al mateix temps que tothom que vulgui en pugui fer. Un rector que desburocratitzi Bolonya. Un rector que es preocupi personalment de la internacionalització, però ben assessorat per un grup de gent que fa molts d’anys que treballa en aquest camp. Un rector que es comprometi personalment amb el català i no només perquè així ho diuen els estatuts. Un rector que ajudi a formar persones per tal que arribin a ser els “perfils” que necessitem i no al revés.

Tenim persones a la UIB que volen treballar juntes per construir. Cal una persona que les valori, les hi doni confiança i les lideri … i tenim una persona que té la voluntat i la capacitat de fer-ho: Llorenç Huguet.
huguet

Long-Range Temporal Correlations in Resting EEG

Xavier Bornas, Miquel Noguera, Maria Balle, Alfonso Morillas-Romero, Blanca Aguayo-Siquier, Miquel Tortella-Feliu, Jordi Llabrés
Journal of Psychophysiology (2013), 27, 2, 60-66. DOI – 10.1027/0269-8803/a000087

Several studies have reported differences in long-range temporal correlations of EEG oscillations between depressed and nondepressed individuals. The question remains unsolved whether these differences are also linked to negative emotion regulation strategies that configure a depressive style. In this study we applied detrended fluctuation analysis to the amplitude envelope of broad band and narrow band (theta and alpha) spontaneous EEG oscillations of a sample (N = 56) of young nondepressed adults to whom several emotion regulation and depression questionnaires were administered. Linear positive correlations between the scaling exponents of both broad band and theta band oscillations and negative emotion regulation strategies and depression scores were found. These results suggest that previously found differences between depressed and nondepressed individuals may exist before depression manifests, as differences could be linked to a negative emotion regulation style that in some cases could lead to the development of a depressive disorder.

Resting parietal EEG asymmetry and cardiac vagal tone predict attentional control.

Maria Balle, Xavier Bornas, Miquel Tortella-Feliu, Jordi Llabrés, Alfonso Morillas, Blanca Aguayo, Joan Miquel Gelabert
Biological psychology (impact factor: 4.36). 02/2013; DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.02.012

The present study explores both resting cortical EEG asymmetry and vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV), as an index for vagal tone, as physiological correlates of self-reported attentional control in a sample of 53 healthy young adults. Regression analyses indicate that higher vagally-mediated HRV and lower right-sided parietal activity in the β2 frequency range (20 to 30Hz) are significant predictors of larger attentional control. Results are in line with some of the basic features of the neurovisceral integration model and stress the role of parietal areas in attentional control capabilities, thus aiming to consider attentional control as a trait-like disposition.

Effects of temperament and emotion regulation styles in determining negative emotional states.

Miquel Tortella-Feliu, Blanca Aguayo, Albert Sesé, Alfonso Morillas-Romero, Maria Balle, Joan Miquel Gelabert, Xavier Bornas, Jordi Llabrés
Universitat de les Illes Balears
Actas espanolas de psiquiatria (impact factor: 0.59). 11/2012; 40(6):315-22.

Introduction. The interplay of reactive and regulatory temperamental processes appears to be essential for a better understanding of emotional states and disorders. In this study we explored the prospective relationship between reactive temperament (negative affect), regulatory temperament (effortful control), negative emotion regulation styles (rumination and suppression) and self-recorded anxiety, worry, and avoidance in naturalistic conditions. Method. Thirty-two young adults were first assessed through questionnaires on negative affectivity, effortful control, and two forms of negative emotion regulation (rumination and suppression). After this they recorded anxiety, worry, and avoidance three times a day over 50 consecutive days through an on-line access electronic diary. Results. High levels of negative affect and low levels of effortful control were associated with higher levels of anxiety, worry, and avoidance (p<.01). The prospective association between negative affectivity and avoidance was moderated by effortful control (Total R2=.49). Moreover, the brooding facet of rumination totally mediated the association between negative affect and anxiety with a significant indirect effect (Effect=.30, Boot CI95%=.09 to .69). Conclusions. Avoidance patterns are significantly determined by negative affect – effortful control interaction and rumination, especially brooding, totally mediates the relationship between negative affect and anxiety.

Self-focused cognitive emotion regulation style as associated with widespread diminished EEG fractal dimension.

Self-focused cognitive emotion regulation style as associated with widespread diminished EEG fractal dimension.
Xavier Bornas, Miquel Tortella-Feliu, Maria Balle, Jordi Llabrés
Department of Psychology , University of the Balearic Islands , Palma , Spain.
Journal Article: International Journal of Psychology (impact factor: 1.34). 04/2012; DOI: 10.1080/00207594.2012.671945

The cognitive regulation of emotions is important for human adaptation. Self-focused emotion regulation (ER) strategies have been linked to the development and persistence of anxiety and depression. A vast array of research has provided valuable knowledge about the neural correlates of the use of specific self-focused ER strategies; however, the resting neural correlates of cognitive ER styles, which reflect an individual’s disposition to engage in different forms of ER in order to manage distress, are largely unknown. In this study, associations between theoretically negative ER style (self-focused or not) and the complexity (fractal dimension, FD) of the resting EEG at frontal, central, parietal, and occipital regions were investigated in 58 healthy volunteers. The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was used as the self-report measure of ER style. Results showed that a diminished FD over the scalp significantly correlated with self-focused ER style scores, even after controlling for negative affect, which has been also considered to influence the use of ER strategies. The lower the EEG FD, the higher were the self-focused ER style scores. Correlational analyses of specific self-focused ER strategies showed that self-blaming and rumination were negatively associated with diminished FD of the EEG, but catastrophizing and blaming others were not. No significant correlations were found for ER strategies more focused on situation or others. Results are discussed within the self-organized criticality theory of brain dynamics: The diminished FD of the EEG may reflect a disposition to engage in self-focused ER strategies as people prone to ruminate and self-blame show a less complex resting EEG activity, which may make it more difficult for them to exit their negative emotional state. Funding for the study was provided by the Spanish Government through grants PSI2009-12711 and SEJ-2006-14301/PSIC. The authors would like to thank Joan Miquel Gelabert, Alfonso Morillas, and Blanca Aguayo, who assisted with physiological recording. We wish to acknowledge the help of Dr Miquel Noguera in programming the FD calculation algorithms.

Heart rate variability profiles and exposure therapy treatment outcome in flight phobia.

Heart rate variability profiles and exposure therapy treatment outcome in flight phobia.
Xavier Bornas, Antonio Riera Del Amo, Miquel Tortella-Feliu, Jordi Llabrés
University of the Balearic Islands, University Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS), Palma, Spain, .
Journal Article: Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (impact factor: 1.77). 12/2011; 37(1):53-62. DOI: 10.1007/s10484-011-9179-5

The goal of this study was to explore why certain patients in a previous study on exposure therapy for flight phobia did not experience an improvement in their conditions. Participants from a treatment study (N = 45) were selected according to post-treatment results and divided into two groups: the unsatisfactory treatment outcome group (UTO, N = 10) and the satisfactory treatment outcome group (STO, N = 10). The differences between these two groups prior to receiving exposure therapy were analyzed at the behavioral, physiological, and cognitive levels. The UTO participants had been avoiding flying longer than the STO phobics. Following Thayer and Lane’s neurovisceral model of emotion regulation, heart rate variability was analyzed at two levels: tonic and phasic. Low frequency and high frequency (HF) power were calculated in the frequency domain and Sample Entropy was computed in the time domain. The tonic HF power of the UTO group was higher than the STO group’s tonic HF power. In the phasic level, while the STO group’s HF power decreased under exposure and subsequently returned to baseline level, the UTO group demonstrated a more rigid pattern. Finally, the STO group reported higher emotional involvement than the UTO group when they were shown a sample of the therapy. Based on these results, the challenge of matching exposure therapy to each patient’s profile is discussed.