Search Results (6,969)

Mind wandering is a mental activity that occupies up to 50% of our waking time. While scientists have now started to acknowledge and to study the creative potential of mind wandering for our imaginative skills, fiction has long recognised its value. This article focuses on the depiction of mind wandering in fiction, with examples ranging from Virginia Woolf’s The Waves to Ayumu Watanabe’s movie Children of the Sea. In particular, I focus on how images related to water are employed in this respect. It appears that water-related metaphors and imagery are particularly significant for the depiction of the interlacement between mind wandering and processes of creativity connected to fiction. This article argues that the notion of fictional world per se can be enriched and better conceptualised as a less “fixed” entity if pictured as a fluid, stream-like mental construct, shaped by imaginative engagement and mind wandering. Full article

Background: The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is classified as a functional somatic syndrome and is characterized primarily by chronic pain in multiple body regions and physical and/or mental fatigue. The German S3-guideline recommends a multimodal therapy for severe forms. Since research on non-pharmacologic complementary, naturopathic, and integrative therapy approaches shows positive and promising effects, integrative methods are firmly anchored in the S3 guideline. Objective/Methods: Aim of the present study was to investigate whether a multimodal integrative treatment program can be effective in reducing the primary symptoms of FMS (pain and fatigue) and improving psychological aspects such as quality of life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Another aim of the study is to explore whether potential effects appear only in the short term (immediately after discharge) or persist long term (six months after discharge). The treatment concept is based on mind–body medicine and elements of classical European naturopathy (including fasting interventions) and focusses on stress reduction and lifestyle modification. Results: Of N = 134 originally included longstanding fibromyalgia patients (mean time since diagnosis 9.2 ± 8.5 years), 101 data sets could be analyzed. Results show a significant improvement in both short-term and long-term pain and fatigue intensity (about 12% improvement). Long-term reductions in pain intensity appear to be supported by medical fasting interventions. Regarding psychological aspects and quality of life, there are long-lasting reductions regarding anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and helplessness and a long-lasting increase in self-efficacy, quality of life and current working ability. Conclusions: The two-weeks inpatient stay therefore leads to significant improvements in all mentioned aspects. Therefore, the concept may be a promising component for integration into medical guidelines and thus in the care of FMS patients. Future research including randomized controlled trials is necessary to further evaluate the program. Full article

Maieutics is a remarkable method for discovering new insights through deep dialogue. Defined as “relating to or resembling the Socratic method of eliciting new ideas from another”, the term originates from the Greek word for “midwifery”—as noted in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Recently, maieutics has gained renewed relevance in advanced discussions about artificial intelligence, the nature of the mind, and scientific inquiry. This contribution presents a real and extended dialogue, illustrating the power of the maieutic method in addressing key developments in the field of Automatic Control. Over the past 40 years, the authors have followed a unique intellectual path shaped by this method. Inspired by recent research, they have also applied maieutics in interaction with AI systems—particularly ChatGPT. This experiment aimed to replicate, in a condensed timeframe, the long intellectual journey taken over decades. The preliminary results suggest that although AI systems can retrieve historical information, they struggle to capture the deeper, guiding principles of this journey. The authors also identify a significant concern: while the maieutic approach with ChatGPT can serve as a valuable educational tool, it must be complemented by a strong knowledge of dynamical systems leading to innovative paradigms of learning. Full article

This study explores how Instagram fashion influencers build brand loyalty through customer engagement within the framework of sustainable consumption. Grounded in the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theory, influencer marketing is conceptualized as a stimulus that activates customer engagement (organism), which in turn enhances brand loyalty (response). A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 279 Instagram users in Palestine who actively follow fashion influencers, and the model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings confirm that social media influencer marketing (SMIM) significantly improves both engagement and loyalty. Customer engagement was found to be both a partial mediator and a significant moderator, such that highly engaged consumers exhibited stronger loyalty responses—suggesting intensified value alignment and emotional resonance in sustainability contexts. This study extends the prior literature by integrating the creation–consumption–contribution (C–C–C) model into the SOR framework and conceptualizing engagement as both a psychological state and a boundary condition. It contributes to sustainable consumption research by illustrating how participatory digital behaviors can foster ethical brand relationships, particularly in emerging economies. Practically, it offers strategic guidance for fashion brands and influencers to design campaigns that promote co-creation, authenticity, and eco-conscious narratives. It also emphasizes the importance of aligning influencer values with those of sustainability-minded consumers to foster long-term loyalty. By contextualizing the findings within the Palestinian market, the study highlights how cultural factors may shape engagement and sustainability perceptions, paving the way for future cross-cultural investigations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Emotional eating has been linked to neurobiological mechanisms similar to those observed in addictive behaviors, and this occurrence appears not fully understood, even in academic communities/environments. To supplement existing information, a preliminary assessment of university students' emotional eating patterns, nutritional status, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes has been performed in this current work. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 129 students from the University of Extremadura, Spain. Emotional eating was assessed using the Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire—Spanish version (TFEQ-R18(SP)) questionnaires, while type 2 diabetes risk was evaluated through the Finnish Diabetes Risk (FINDRISC) score test. Anthropometric data, including height, weight, BMI, and body composition, were collected using standardized measurement protocols. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: Significant differences were observed in BMI (mean ± SD: 23.93 ± 5.36 kg/m²) and total EEQ score (mean ± SD: 9.82 ± 5.82) across FINDRISC risk categories (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The Very Emotional Eaters group presented higher BMIs and FINDRISC scores, along with greater score dispersion. No significant differences were identified in EEQ subscales. Conclusions: Emotional eating behaviors may serve as indirect indicators of metabolic vulnerability, particularly when combined with excess body weight. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating emotional regulation and mindful eating strategies into health promotion programs for young adults. Full article

Trust in public institutions was challenged during the COVID-19 global pandemic, with widespread mistrust towards healthcare institutions as well as fellow public institutions. Concurrently, a new public institution or social tool, mass-market artificial intelligence (AI), more broadly emerged, which too may be a target of fluctuating public trust. Using national survey data from the United Kingdom’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (survey year: 2022, N = 4320; survey year: 2023, N = 4232), we explore the level of trust in civic institutions (healthcare, non-healthcare, and AI) during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom using a naturalistic quasi-experimental design. At both waves (2022 and 2023), principal component analysis and structural equation modeling over thirteen public institutions and AI variables confirmed three factors (or domains) of public trust: trust in healthcare institutions, trust in fellow civic institutions other than healthcare, and trust in AI. Measurement invariance testing of mean levels of public trust along each distinct component revealed that as compared with 2022, in 2023, (1) trust in healthcare institutions and in fellow civic institutions other than healthcare significantly increased and (2) trust in AI remained approximately level. Next, latent profile modeling revealed four levels of a common public trust profile, with all three domains of public trust being normatively closely associated. Taken together, these results suggest that a psychological stance of public trust, PT, may increase after a societal crisis. Full article

At present, polypharmacy—which is the use of several medications to treat a single case at the same time—has become a fairly common medical practice, particularly in chronic illnesses or with older patients. But this relatively ‘faster’ form of treatment brings the problem of cumulative polypharmacy, which occurs when there is an increase in drug–drug interactions (DDIs) due to the large number of medicines taken. While the aftermath, such as the reduction in strength of medication taken or catastrophic and fatal responses to certain drugs, is clearly not worth the initial effort put into trying to ease the condition, attempting to resolve these issues requires excessive research. With these difficulties in mind, we describe our research that uses graph neural networks (GNNs) focused on DDI prediction by modeling drugs and their interactions in the form of graphs. The research is divided into two parts. In this research, the relevant literature is reviewed in order to understand how modern GNN-based algorithms can be applied for the detection of optimal drugs. Full article

Background: Mindfulness and mind wandering are cognitive traits central to attentional control and psychological well-being, yet their neural underpinnings are yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to identify structural brain networks comprising gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) that predict individual differences in mindfulness and distinct mind wandering tendencies (deliberate and spontaneous). Methods: Using structural MRI data and self-report measures from 76 participants, we applied an unsupervised data-fusion machine learning technique (parallel independent component analysis) to identify GM and WM networks associated with mindfulness and mind wandering traits. Results: Our analysis revealed several distinct brain networks linked to these cognitive constructs. Specifically, one GM network involving subcortical regions, including the caudate and thalamus, positively predicted mindfulness and deliberate mind wandering, while negatively influencing spontaneous mind wandering through the mediating role of the mindfulness facet “acting with awareness.” In addition, two separate WM networks, predominantly involving frontoparietal and temporal regions, were directly associated with reduced spontaneous mind wandering. Conclusions: These findings advance our current knowledge by demonstrating that specific GM and WM structures are involved in mindfulness and different forms of mind wandering. Our results also show that the “acting with awareness” facet has a mediating effect on spontaneous mind wandering, which provides supporting evidence for attentional and executive control models. These new insights into the neuroanatomical correlates of mindfulness and mind wandering have implications for ongoing research in the growing topic of mindfulness and mind wandering, mindfulness-based interventions, and other clinical applications. Full article

Human engagement in extreme activities, from spaceflight to deep-sea diving and extreme sports, presents unique physiological challenges. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptations to these demands is crucial for developing strategies to enhance human performance and resilience in such environments. This review integrates multi-omics data across a range of extreme phenotypes, including astronauts, scuba divers, acute alcohol consumers, long-haul flight passengers, bodybuilders, and simulation racers. We analyze current literature in genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and metagenomic studies to identify common and phenotype-specific adaptations, highlighting potential biomarkers and pathways associated with resilience in harsh conditions. This integrated approach offers insights into human adaptability and provides a foundation for developing personalized strategies to mitigate risks and enhance performance in extreme environments, with particular relevance to extended spaceflight. Full article

The transition from secondary to higher education presents numerous academic, social, and psychological challenges that can negatively impact students’ well-being, particularly during the first year. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hypnosis as a non-pharmacological intervention for managing perceived stress among first-year nursing students at the Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Techniques (ISPITS) in Rabat, Morocco. A total of 166 students from five academic tracks were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups with comparable baseline characteristics. Their perceived stress levels were assessed using two validated instruments, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), administered before and after a five-session hypnosis program conducted over 10 weeks. The results showed a marked and statistically significant reduction in stress among the intervention group, with the mean VAS scores decreasing from 7.82 ± 2.05 to 3.00 ± 1.71 compared to a smaller reduction in the control group (from 7.65 ± 1.78 to 5.80 ± 1.72; between-group difference = 2.8, p < 0.0001). Similarly, the PSS-14 scores in the intervention group declined significantly from 26.42 ± 7.54 (moderate stress) to 24.32 ± 8.20 (still moderate), with a mean difference of 2.09 ± 7.70 (t = 2.21, p = 0.0307, 95% CI [0.20; 3.98]). These findings indicate that hypnosis is an effective mind–body approach for alleviating perceived stress, improving emotional regulation, and could be incorporated into academic support programs to enhance student well-being. Full article

This article examines the interactions between Wang Yangming’s School of Mind and Daoist traditions, focusing on specific instances of contact, adaptation, and reinterpretation. Drawing on both historically attested events and later hagiographical narratives—treated here as cultural representations rather than literal biographies—the study traces how Wang encountered Daoist religious sites, imagery, and technical vocabulary over the course of his life. Particular attention is given to parallels between Wang’s use of concepts such as liangzhi (innate moral knowledge) and Daoist terms from inner alchemy, as well as his adaptation of practices like stillness-sitting (jingzuo) and the metaphor of “forming the sacred embryo” (jie shengtai). The analysis shows that these elements were selectively reframed within his own intellectual framework, often shifting their emphasis from physical cultivation or longevity to moral and practical self-cultivation. Such a reorientation may have something to do with the Jingming Sect 淨明道. By situating Wang’s reinterpretations within the broader religious and philosophical environment of early sixteenth-century China, the article contributes to a more nuanced understanding of cross-tradition engagement and the circulation of ideas between Confucianism and Daoism. Full article

Background/Objectives: There is increasing interest within cognitive neuro-surgery in preserving domains not traditionally assessed during awake surgery. The study aims at proposing a specific protocol to assist surgical resection in right temporal areas. Patients were not evaluated during direct cortical stimulation; instead, assessments occurred during the resection itself. The real-time neuropsychological testing (RTNT) protocol employed tasks evaluating visuospatial and social cognition, administered repeatedly throughout the resection using varied items. Methods: A consecutive series of 24 patients (median age 44) performed RTNT. The aim of RTNT is to maintain high accuracy through resection. Lesions in the right temporal cortex and the subcortical white matter beneath can cause deficits; accordingly, not all of our patients had pre-surgery performance within the normal range. In this case, the aim of RTNT is to maintain the not perfect pre-surgery level. Results: We found a statistically significant between-tasks difference in the patients’ median values (across RTNT runs), in their minimum score reached during resection, and in the delta between performance at the last vs. the first RTNT run. The tasks that varied belonged to visual–spatial attention (landmark task), face processing (recognition of famous faces), and social cognition (theory of mind). The outcome was measured by pre- vs. post-surgery neuropsychological score comparison. The number of patients scoring below the normal range did not significantly differ between post- vs. pre-intervention. Conclusions: Results demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a continuous monitoring protocol during the resection phase, and the potential of the selected tasks to assess visuospatial and social functions associated with the non-dominant (right) hemisphere. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mental health and emotional well-being are critical yet often overlooked in older adults. Immersive virtual reality (VR) may offer novel strategies for promoting relaxation in this population, but the diversity of intervention designs and underlying mechanisms remains insufficiently mapped. This scoping review aimed to systematically examine head-mounted display (HMD) VR interventions for relaxation in older adults, focusing on core scenarios, mechanisms, and conceptual paradigms. Methods: Following the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus were conducted for empirical studies of HMD-based VR relaxation interventions in adults aged 60 and older. Data on study characteristics, hardware, intervention scenarios, and reported physiological and psychological mechanisms were extracted and categorized into conceptual paradigms. Results: Twenty-four studies were included, covering diverse clinical and community samples. Four main VR relaxation paradigms emerged: environmental relaxation, guided meditation, psychotherapy integration, and interactive gamified relaxation. Reported mechanisms included parasympathetic activation, multisensory immersion, attentional distraction, positive affect induction, mindfulness, cognitive engagement, and reminiscence activation. Considerable heterogeneity was found in intervention design and outcomes, with mechanisms often inferred rather than directly described. Conclusions: Similar relaxation mechanisms were engaged across paradigms, including hybrid interventions combining multiple approaches, highlighting the adaptability of VR to meet diverse needs. Identifying these four paradigms provides a foundation for future research and development of targeted VR-based relaxation for older adults. Further studies should clarify mechanisms, use standardized physiological outcome measures, and assess long-term benefits of VR relaxation interventions in geriatric populations. Full article

(1) Background: Chronic pulmonary diseases (CPDs), such as COPD, asthma, and interstitial lung disease, are often accompanied by psychological distress and reduced quality of life. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs), including digital and virtual reality (VR) formats, have emerged as promising non-pharmacological approaches to improve symptom management and well-being. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MBIs—delivered in-person or digitally—on anxiety, depression, disease-related stress, dyspnea, and health-related quality of life in individuals with CPDs. (2) Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2005–2025). Thirteen studies (8 randomized controlled trials, 5 non-randomized) met inclusion criteria. Outcomes assessed included psychological distress, physical symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Risk of bias was evaluated using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. (3) Results: MBIs were associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, stress, and HRQoL in several studies. Interventions were generally well-tolerated and effective across various delivery methods, including digital and VR-based formats. Improvements were especially notable when interventions were tailored and sustained. (4) Conclusions: MBIs, including digital and VR-delivered formats, show promise in supporting psychological and physical outcomes in CPD populations. They represent a feasible and complementary tool in modern respiratory care. Full article

Representational Theories of Mind have long dominated Cognitive Translation Studies, typically assuming that translation involves the manipulation of internal representations (symbols) that stand in for external states of affairs. In recent years, classical representationalism has given way to more nuanced, inferential, interpretive, context-sensitive, and modern representational models, some of which align naturally with probabilistic and predictive approaches. While these frameworks remain broadly compatible with one another, radical enactivism offers a more disruptive alternative: it denies representational content altogether, viewing translation instead as an affectively grounded, context-sensitive, self-evidencing activity shaped by the translator’s embodied engagement with text, context, and sociocultural norms. From an enactivist standpoint, translation emerges not from static symbolic mappings, but from situated, embodied, and affectively modulated inference processes that dynamically negotiate meaning across languages. The paper provides a theoretical synthesis, arguing that the Free Energy Principle under Predictive Processing and Active Inference provides a suitable mathematical framework amenable to representational and enactive accounts. Full article