Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience

Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience, ed 10 colofon

2023-07-31T14:02:18+00:00

Colofon for MSJPN ed 10

Does Resistance Training Have Positive Effects on Redox Homeostasis in the Human Body?

2022-07-02T13:15:32+00:00

Regular aerobic or resistance training are related to better body composition, greater physical and mental health, and a reduction in all-cause mortality. Physical exercise also lowers the risk for diseases that are related to chronic oxidative stress like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Paradoxically, exercise induces oxidative stress in the body. This review aims to investigate the positive effects of resistance training on redox homeostasis in the human body. From the studies reviewed here, it can be concluded that regular resistance training leads to training adaptations of the antioxidant system. These adaptations enable the body to cope better with future oxidative stress induced by exercise or other bodily or environmental factors. This effect has been demonstrated over different ages, gender, health status, as well as resistance training intensities. Therefore, it should be recommended as a general health behavior for the prevention and potential therapy of a wide range of diseases.

Decisive mechanism for selectively inducing NMDAR-dependent LTP versus LTD: The role of Ca2+ influx

2022-07-05T12:58:10+00:00

Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are two types of synaptic plasticity. Interestingly, NMDAR-dependent LTP and LTD are induced by Ca²⁺influx into the post-synaptic cell. This raises the question how the cell selectively induces either LTP or LTD. Early research suggested Ca²⁺amplitude as a decisive mechanism. This essay critically evaluates this hypothesis by reviewing evidence and alternative candidates (i.e., timing/location of Ca²⁺influx, NMDAR subunits, competition between AMPAR exocytosis/endocytosis). In sum, the amplitude of Ca²⁺influx should be seen as one of many components entailed in the complex decisive machinery for selective LTP and LTD induction.

Not New, but Nearly Forgotten: An Undervalued Treatment for Addiction Combining LSD and Hypnosis

2020-10-05T14:35:54+00:00

Hypnosis and psychedelics have long been used as adjuncts to psychotherapy for a range of psychiatric disorders such as addiction. However, the results were unsatisfactory as only a few patients successfully responded to each treatment. Therefore, combining them (= “hypnodelic” therapy) might prove to have an additive value for therapeutic outcomes. This review provides an outline of studies in which hypnosis and LSD are used in conjunction to aid the therapeutic process in drug addict patients. It was found that hypnodelic therapy produced significantly greater improvement on most scales (e.g. depression, anxiety) of the Psychiatric Evaluation Profile (PEP) questionnaire compared to other combinations of treatment techniques. Additionally, ego-dissolution and transcendent experiences were associated with converse levels of global functional brain connectivity. It is concluded that hypnodelic therapy deserves renewed scientific interest because it represents a promising treatment technique for drug addict patients.

Neurobiological Correlates of Decision-Making in Framing Conditions

2021-06-01T12:10:03+00:00

Human decision-making is a complex process, of which the neurobiological correlates are not well understood. Several theories have been proposed, among others Prospect theory which assumes a different evaluation of gains and losses of the same value. De Martino et al. tested the influence of the “framing effect” on decision-making and we aimed to replicate their study as some of the findings remained unclear. A general tendency to act in accordance with the frame was shown in a behavioural study. In order to uncover the underlying neural correlates, participants performed the same task in an fMRI scanner. Even though the amygdala could not be linked to framing, increased activity in the ACC when making frame-incongruent decisions was established. This can be related to acting in a more rational manner. Furthermore, activity in the cerebellum was increased when making a choice, indicating the involvement of this brain area in decision-making under uncertainty.