Searching Choices: Quantifying Decision‐Making Processes Using Search Engine Data

When making a decision, humans consider two types of information: information they have acquired through their prior experience of the world, and further information they gather to support the decision in question. Here, we present evidence that data from search engines such as Google can help us model both sources of information. We show that statistics from search engines on the frequency of content on the Internet can help us estimate the statistical structure of prior experience; and, specifically, we outline how such statistics can inform psychological theories concerning the valuation of human lives, or choices involving delayed outcomes. Turning to information gathering, we show that search query data might help measure human information gathering, and it may predict subsequent decisions. Such data enable us to compare information gathered across nations, where analyses suggest, for example, a greater focus on the future in countries with a higher per capita GDP. We conclude that search engine data constitute a valuable new resource for cognitive scientists, offering a fascinating new tool for understanding the human decision‐making process.     

Human bedside evaluation versus automatic responsiveness testing in epilepsy (ARTiE)

Evaluation of behavioral impairment during epileptic seizures is critical for medical decision making, including accurate diagnosis, recommendations for driving, and presurgical evaluation. We investigated the quality of behavioral testing during inpatient video–electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring at an established epilepsy center, and introduce a technical innovation that may improve clinical care. We retrospectively reviewed video‐EEG data from 152 seizures in 33 adult or pediatric patients admitted for video‐EEG monitoring. Behavioral testing with questions or commands was performed in only 50% of seizures ictally, 73% of seizures postictally, and 80% with either ictal or postictal testing combined. Furthermore, the questions or commands were highly inconsistent and were performed by nonmedical personnel in about one fourth of cases. In an effort to improve this situation we developed and here introduce Automatic Responsiveness Testing in Epilepsy (ARTiE), a series of video‐recorded behavioral tasks automatically triggered to play in the patient's room by computerized seizure detection. In initial technical testing using prerecorded or live video‐EEG data we found that ARTiE is initiated reliably by automatic seizure detection. With additional clinical testing we hope that ARTiE will succeed in providing comprehensive and reliable behavioral evaluation during seizures for people with epilepsy to greatly improve their clinical care.     

Effect of folic acid on oxidative stress and behavioral changes in the animal model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine

Recent studies have shown benefits for the supplementation of folic acid in schizophrenic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of folic acid addition on adult rats, over a period of 7 or 14 days. It also sets out to verify any potential protective action using an animal model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine, in behavioral and biochemical parameters. This study used two protocols (acute and chronic) for the administration of ketamine at a dose of 25 mg/kg (i.p.). The folic acid was given by oral route in doses of 5, 10 and 50 mg/kg, once daily, for 7 and/or 14 days in order to compare the protective effects of folic acid. Thirty minutes after the last administration of ketamine, the locomotor and social interaction activities were evaluated, and immediately the brain structure were removed for biochemical analysis. In this study, ketamine was administered in a single dose or in doses over the course of 7 days increasing the animal’s locomotion. This study showed that the administration of folic acid over 7 days was unable to prevent hyper locomotion. In contrast, folic acid (10 and 50 mg/kg) administrated over a period of 14 days, was able to partially prevent the hyper locomotion. Our data indicates that both acute and chronic administrations of ketamine increased the time to first contact between the animals, while the increased latency for social contact was completely prevented by folic acid (5, 10 and 50 mg/kg). Chronic and acute administrations of ketamine also increased lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation in brain. Folic acid (10 and 50 mg/kg) supplements showed protective effects on the oxidative damage found in the different brain structures evaluated. All together, the results indicate that nutritional supplementation with folic acid provides promising results in an animal model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine.     

两种音乐治疗方式对痴呆患者精神行为症状效果的比较

目的：了解两种音乐治疗方式对痴呆患者精神行为症状的改善效果。方法从3个老年病房随机各挑选25例住院痴呆患者,随机分为联合治疗组（主动式音乐治疗联合被动式音乐治疗）,被动治疗组（被动式音乐治疗）及对照组,进行为期12周的研究,在干预前后使用神经精神科问卷（NPI）对3组患者的精神行为症状进行评定。结果联合治疗组及被动治疗组在 NPI 量表的激越、抑郁、焦虑、淡漠及激惹的得分均有明显改善（ P ＜0．01）。而且联合治疗组改善程度优于被动治疗组。结论联合及被动式音乐治疗均能改善患者的精神行为症状,而联合式音乐治疗效果更佳。     

Client and therapist agreement about the client's problems—Associations with treatment alliance and outcome

Objective: A shared understanding of the patient's symptoms and problems is seen by most theories as a crucial aspect of the collaboration in therapy, presumably influencing alliance and outcome. The empirical ground for this argument is not solid, however. Several studies have found weak associations between a common view of the patient's problems and outcome. The purpose of the present study was to analyze whether agreement in the understanding of the patient's depression and anxiety problems was important for alliance and outcome. Method: The study used data from a practice-based study using the CORE system with 846 patients who received psychological treatment in primary care. Results: The analyses indicated that although patients who were assessed by their therapists as having depression and anxiety problems scored higher on these subscales than other patients, about half of the patients reported such problems when the therapists did not, and vice versa. Agreement was not associated with better alliance or outcome. Conclusions: Productive collaboration in psychotherapy may be based on other factors than agreement about symptoms.