Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience
Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience (MSJPN) aims to provide students with a valuable and complete experience of publishing scientific writings, both as authors and as reviewers. The journal is first and foremost aimed to be a product created by and for students. By assisting students in the writing and reviewing process MSJPN aims to publish high quality papers. Any type of paper may be submitted to the journal, which will be judged by staff editors for their suitability. When found potentially suitable, student reviewers will provide review reports upon which a decision is based by one of the editors to accept, request revisions of, or reject the paper. Editors aim to publish the majority of submitted papers, such that student will experience the entire publication process.
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University
Authors can use either their accepted author manuscript for: Use at a conference, meeting or for teaching purposes. Internal training. Sharing individual articles with colleagues for their research use (also known as 'scholarly sharing'). Use in a subsequent compilation of the author's, or the supervisor's works. Inclusion in a thesis or dissertation. Reuse of portions or extracts from the article in other works. Preparation of derivative works (other than for commercial purposes).
Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience, ed 10 colofon
Copyright (c) 2023 Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience
Decisive mechanism for selectively inducing NMDAR-dependent LTP versus LTD: The role of Ca2+ influx
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.
Does Resistance Training Have Positive Effects on Redox Homeostasis in the Human Body?
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.
Table of contents, colophon, and editorial note
Copyright (c) 2021 Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience
Neurobiological Correlates of Decision-Making in Framing Conditions
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.
The Memory Effects of Simulating Crime-related Amnesia
Crime-related amnesia refers to the amnesia for an offense that is sometimes reported by offenders of (violent) crimes. Although some of the amnesia claims may be genuine, others are likely to be simulated. Simulating amnesia can have advantages for the offender, but not all offenders will continue claiming amnesia during the police investigation. This raises the question whether and how simulating crime-related amnesia affects subsequent genuine memory recall of the crime. Experimental studies generally find a memory-undermining effect of simulating amnesia. The exact memory effects depend on the simulation strategy used. According to the Memory and Deception (MAD) framework, different forms of deception result in distinct memory errors. False denial is likely to lead to omission errors, whereas fabrication of an alternative story is more likely to lead to commission errors. The possible explanations for these memory effects, important considerations, and legal implications will be discussed.
The Influence of Psychedelic Drugs on the 'Sense of Self'
Potent psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin are implicated in a multitude of cognitive and perceptual alterations. Through the mediation of serotonergic 5-HT2 receptors, distortion of the self is a common effect of these drugs. The self is usually referred to as an entity comprising physical and psychological attributes that are coherent within our self-concept. This so-called binding process can be affected through psychedelic experiences and can oftentimes lead to the phenomenon of ego-dissolution. Given this, ego-dissolution leads to the elimination of a binded self-model which eventually results in the perception of distorted self-boundaries. There have been improvements conceptualizing and assessing ego-dissolution. The Ego-Dissolution Inventory is the first questionnaire dealing with the assessment of this phenomenon. In addition, a variety of neural studies associate this common psychedelic induced phenomenon with different brain regions. The Default Mode Network and the Salience Network, two large-scale networks associated with distinct components of the self, show altered activity and disintegration, leading to a more global connectivity within the brain. Additionally, decoupling of the Medial Temporal Lobe (MTL) and reduced interhemispheric communication show the same correlations. These findings are first attempts to conceptualize the self and the concept of ego-dissolution in terms of large-scale networks within the brain.
Nightmares in traumatized children: Does disturbed emotion regulation play a mediating role?
This review paper discusses to what extent a disturbed emotion regulation acts as a mediator in the relationship between trauma in children and the experience of nightmares. Evidence has been established for an association between trauma and the experience of nightmares. The role played by an emotion dysregulation is discussed both from a neurological and from a psychosocial perspective. The neurological dimension describes the key role played by the amygdala, which is hyperactive during nightmares and chronically hyperactive after trauma. The psychosocial dimension describes the role of attachment style for the development of emotion regulation and presents theories of dream function in order to portray the role of an emotion dysregulation for post-traumatic nightmares in children. An evaluation of the literature suggests that - from both the neurological and the psychosocial perspective - emotion dysregulation plays the role of a mediator in the relationship between child trauma and nightmares and a model showing this interplay is hypothesized and explained. Empirical research should be conducted in order to empirically validate the hypothesized model and to further support the assumption that an emotion regulation therapy should be part of the treatment for child trauma patients frequently experiencing post-traumatic nightmares. Keywords: nightmares, childhood trauma, emotion dysregulation, triangular model
There is evidence that caffeine has positive effects on cognition. Studies have shown that caffeine is an indirect enhancer of cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and mood. A new caffeine-based trend has emerged, claiming “massive impact on energy and cognitive function.” This new beverage, known as Bulletproof coffee, is a combination of coffee, grass-fed butter, and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil. Thus far, these claims have not been supported by any scientific evidence. This research aimed to determine whether these enhancing effects could be corroborated by empirical data. We hypothesised that participants in the Bulletproof condition would perform better on memory-related tasks and subjective mood ratings. 21 participants performed two working memory-related tasks after consuming a coffee beverage (either decaffeinated coffee, regular coffee, or Bulletproof coffee). Subjective mood ratings were collected before and after coffee consumption as a secondary measure. Findings show that there was no effect of coffee beverage on cognitive performance during the working memory-related tasks. The statistical analysis also yielded a significant interaction effect between the Alertness mood dimension and coffee beverage (decaffeinated and regular coffee). Further research needs to be conducted to gain more conclusive results. Keywords: Bulletproof coffee, memory, caffeine, cognitive enhancement
Not New, but Nearly Forgotten: An Undervalued Treatment for Addiction Combining LSD and Hypnosis
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.
Steps towards sustainable student support: Stressors among international high school students living in a boarding house
High school is a stressful time for any adolescent. But what about teenagers who recently moved across the world to live in a boarding house and start at a competitive international school? This study aimed to discover what stressors boarding students at an international school experience through a literature research and 15 semi-structured interviews with current students and recent graduates. The findings indicate that the boarders experience a wide variety of boarding-, peer-, and school-related stressors. Interventions are suggested to address the mentioned stressors and to help the school design effective programs to promote student wellbeing.
Memories in public speaking performance anxiety reconstructed: a qualitative exploration using a cognitive and etiological model
Prior research on social anxiety disorder (SAD) demonstrated the importance of anxiety provoking images, which can be related to memories. The present study examines how imagery plays a role in young adults’ public speaking anxiety. The experiential intervention imagery rescripting (ImRs), conducted in fourteen participants with public speaking anxiety, resulted in reconstructing memories from adolescence. In order to explore which themes contribute to anxiety provoking images, the study of reconstructed memories focused on the cognitive anxiety process and etiological factors. Qualitative theory-driven analysis of these memories demonstrates that the anxiety process fits the cognitive model on SAD. With regard to etiology, expected influences of negative peer behaviour and parents were small or not found whereas influence of negative teacher behaviour was found. The present results therefore suggest that ImRs could be effective for the specific anxiety group which should be directed on negative teacher behaviour as contributor to their anxiety.
Recovery from Work-Related Stress: A literature review
Occupational stress adversely affects both the individual and the organization. Because of its economical and health relevance, much research has been devoted to employee recovery from work stress. Defined as a process of replenishing resources, recovery has been suggested to be important in reducing work-related fatigue, thereby making individuals feeling ready again to meet the demands at work. This literature review systematically summarizes findings from research on recovery. The literature search was conducted based on the PsychInfo database. Forty-eight journal articles were included in the review. Overall, studies consistently implicate that daily recovery is especially important to avoid long-term strain reactions. Moreover, research has found specific off-job activities as well as experiences attached to these activities to promote recovery, thereby improving performance, health, and well-being. Taken together, results imply that both individuals and organizations should be concerned about employee recovery and possibilities to support it during work and non-work time.
Lacking control, Pattern Perception, and Symptom Overendorsement
Whitson and Galinksy (2008) claimed to have shown that a state of chaos – i.e. uncontrollability – promotes pattern perception and spurious beliefs. In this lab report, we discuss an attempt to replicate Whitson and Galinsky’s (2008) results. Furthermore, we tried to go one step further by exploring the possibility that uncontrollability and fantasy proneness promotes symptom overendorsement as an internal strategy to create order. In a within-subjects design, we asked 28 individuals to think about an uncontrollable situation or a situation in which they had been in full control. Next, participants were given a Snowy Picture Task (VPT), a Superstitious Beliefs Test (SBT), and a test tapping into symptom overendorsement (SIMS). We found that whether being in control or lacking control does not influence symptom overendorsement. Furthermore, we were not able to replicate Whitson and Galinsky’s (2008) results. Limitations and implications are discussed.
The negative neural correlates of consciousness
For a long time, scientists and philosophers alike have been speculating about the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC). Although definitions differ, usually an NCC denotes neural events whose occurrence correlates with our phenomenal experiences. In this essay, we motivate the introduction of the concept of a 'negative neural correlate of consciousness' (NNCC). The NNCC can be conceptually understood as neural events whose occurrence inversely correlates with a given phenomenal experience. We wish to introduce this concept for two reasons. First, it is an elegant solution to the problem of sufficiency that so far has unduly neglected in the NCC debate. Secondly, based on the Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness, we argue that only by pairing each NCC with a corresponding NNCC will scientists ever be able to predict conscious experience from brain data. We discuss empirical implications of and potential objections to the suggested NNCC framework.
GABAA receptor-mediated tonic transmission in sleep-wake cycles
Sleep-wake cycles are an important physiological characteristic of the mammalian rain and essential for wellbeing and cognitive performance. In this review, a novel and comprehensive view on the organisation of sleep in the brain is described. Evidence is presented that sleep is regulated in a local manner and is dependent on prior cortical activity. Moreover, the composition, expression, and role of a specific type of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) inhibitory neurotransmission mediated by extrasynaptic δ-GABAa receptors, known as tonic GABAa transmission, is described. Furthermore, this article reviews findings linking the regulation of sleep to this tonic GABAergic conductance that is observed in the thalamo-cortical circuitry relevant to slow wave sleep. This will contribute to our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the contribution of GABAergic tonic transmission to the neural basis of sleep-wake regulation, to ultimately develop more efficient clinical interventions to treat sleep disorders.
The relationship between impulsivity, weight concern and the yoyo-effect in healthy women
Weight cycling, or the so-called yoyo-effect, is an unhealthy aspect of eating behaviour. It is hypothesized that being more impulsive is related to more weight cycling. Furthermore, the yoyo-effect is expected to follow from an interaction between impulsivity and weight concern; high-impulsive, high weight concerned eaters might experience the yoyo-effect to a higher degree than low-impulsive, high weight concerned eaters. In the current study, 214 women aged 25-50 were recruited. Weight cycling, weight concern and two concepts of impulsivity were assessed, namely trait impulsiveness and reward sensitivity. It is found that trait impulsive people and weight concerned people show a higher degree of weight cycling. The results do not reveal an interaction between both aspects of impulsivity and weight concern. This study suggests that impulsivity, as well as weight concern, might play a role in maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing the risks of the yoyo-effect.
Involvement of the FKBP5 gene in the pathogenesis of stress-related disorders and antidepressant response: An update
The FKBP5 gene has been shown to modulate stress responses by regulating glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. Because stressful events are increasingly recognized as important environmental risk factors of psychiatric disorders, FKBP5 has recently become a candidate gene in research on stress-related conditions. This review aims to provide a concise overview of current knowledge about the FKBP5 gene and its clinical implications and suggest directions for future research. Firstly, the functional role of the gene will be described. Associations with affective and post-traumatic stress disorders will then be discussed in the context of gene-by-environment interactions. Finally, the usefulness of FKBP5 genotype as predictor of antidepressant drug response will be outlined.
Spirituality and Resilience: New Insights Into Their Relation With Life Satisfaction and Depression
Spirituality is not only commonly under debate as part of peoples’ quest for meaning, but has also been subject to many studies concerning its influence on people with severe illnesses. The current research aims at investigating its influence on mental health. For this purpose a four-scale questionnaire was used to test peoples’ spirituality and resilience as well as their life satisfaction and current symptoms of depression. To diversify the sample the survey was conducted in three languages, namely English, German and Dutch. Spirituality was found to correlate positively with life satisfaction and negatively with depression. Furthermore, resilience was identified as a mediator of the effect of spirituality on depression and as a partial mediator for the effect on life satisfaction. This study therefore suggests spirituality and resilience could be valuable factors in promoting peoples’ mental health.
Modality-specific encoding of conceptual person identity in the Fusiform Face Area
I employed multi-voxel pattern analysis to fMRI data from two functionally defined clusters in the Fusiform Face Area (FFA); mFus and pFus. Stimulus information was decoded from hemodynamic response patterns evoked by three fictional identities. These were comprised of sets of semantic person information and corresponding faces. By presenting identities with overlapping visual and semantic features we could attribute successful decoding to the differentiating feature. Our data suggest a functional differentiation between pFus and mFus. Analysis of response patterns in pFus indicated that this cluster is engaged in perceptual analysis during face presentation and in retrieval of the corresponding face representation during presentation of semantic stimuli. In mFus semantic items appear to evoke a single corresponding face representation whereas during face perception this cluster is likely to be engaged in retrieval of semantic features by activation of a collection of corresponding visual representations. I propose that mFus supports conceptual knowledge of people by activating visual features that correspond to semantic categories.
Letter from the editors for Vol. 3 of the Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience
Copyright (c) 2019 Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience
Imaginary systems? Conceptualizing hippocampal function beyond memory
Viewing the hippocampus as a structure specifically dedicated to memory is no longer viable. However, functional characterization of its structure and its involvement in learning and memory is still necessary. This review argues that the hippocampus principally processes specific spatial contexts. It highlights the hippocampal involvement in thinking about the future, rather than the past by discussing its role in episodic prospection and navigational planning. Finally, it argues that the hippocampus might also process non-spatial information by representing its components in a pseudo-Euclidean memory space.
The potential application of oxytocin in autism spectrum disorders
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a significant percent of the population. Affected individuals usually present with limited interests and impaired communication and social interactions. Despite researchers’ attempts, no specific pharmacotherapy has been developed, with behavioural interventions rendering the best results so far. However, there is an increasing amount of evidence that oxytocin intake could be beneficial in terms of improving social impairments in some of these individuals. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the proposed mechanisms underlying dysregulation in the oxytocinergic system and to assess the results and discuss the limitations of several clinical studies involving oxytocin administration.
Neurochemical, neurobiological and toxic effects of Amphetamine on memory consolidation. Review
There is consistent evidence that amphetamine at therapeutic doses can improve attention and memory via its direct and indirect impact on several neurotransmitters and amino acids. However,acute and chronic amphetamine use can deplete endogenous antioxidants, cause oxidative stress and toxicity. Interestingly, based on models of long-term potentiation it has been proposed that neuroplasticity may be affected by amphetamine-induced changes leading to altered gene expression, a process required for consolidation of new memories. These connections however remain yet unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present review is to investigate the drug’s impact on consolidation taking into account its pharmacodynamic, -kinetic and toxic properties. Conclusively, it seems that amphetamine may facilitate consolidation, and dopamine can mediate amphetamine-induced neurtoxic effects via an interaction between excitatory and inhibitory pathways.
Editorial belonging to volume 8, July 2019
Can Drug Addiction be Cured by Manipulating the Memory?: A Literature Review of Memory-Based Treatments
Drug addiction constitutes a major health problem in modern society. Most of the current treatments have demonstrated limited effectiveness in long-lasting treatment results because of focusing on acute symptoms of the illness while neglecting important factors that maintain addiction. Memory manipulation therapies appear to be a promising alternative that act on maintaining mechanisms. This review paper first investigates memory-related processes that cause substance dependence. Additionally, several findings regarding the effects of memory manipulation are summarized. The reviewed studies suggest that targeting maladaptive drug memories is a promising therapy approach that seems to prevent relapse. Three types of memory manipulation treatment are reviewed; namely extinction training, reconsolidation therapy and eye movement desensitization reprocessing. Finally, the paper concludes with the implications for the treatment of addiction using the described approaches to adapt drug-related memories.
Letter from the editorial board ed.7 2018
Copyright (c) 2018 Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience
Sex Differences in the Effects of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogue Treatment on Adolescents’ Limbic System
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogues (GnRHa) are used in conditions such as Gender Dysphoria and precocious puberty to suppress puberty in children or adolescents. This essay poses the question whether this blocking of sex hormones affects brain development of regions of the limbic system. It is hypothesized that the influence of GnRHa’s on limbic system development shows differences between the sexes. While animal research has indeed indicated sex differences in the effect of puberty suppression on hippocampus and amygdala gene expression and amygdala volume, direct evidence in human subjects is lacking. It is suggested that well controlled studies in humans on the effects of GnRHa’s on brain development could provide valuable insights into the origin of sex differences in the brain, as well as contribute to better psychological treatment of individuals who receive GnRHa’s.
The Neurotrophic Hypothesis of Depression: Treatment Implications for Erythropoietin
A purely neurotransmitter-based explanation of major depression and antidepressant action, such as the monoamine hypothesis, falls short to explain the delayed clinical onset of most agents in reference to the immediate neurochemical effects. Recently, in attempts to understand the psychobiological underpinnings of depression, the focus shifted to an involvement of intracellular signaling cascades, gene expression and protein translation. This review discusses evidence for the so-called neurotrophic hypothesis of depression, which emphasizes stress-induced disruption of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), second messenger systems, gene expression and subsequent neural atrophy and network changes that manifest as depressive symptoms in the etiology of depression. Additionally, within the framework of the neurotrophic hypothesis, the treatment potential of the cytokine Erythropoietin is discussed.