A multimodal fMRI dataset unifying naturalistic processes with a rich array of experimental tasks.

Cognitive neuroscience has advanced significantly due to the availability of openly shared datasets. Large sample sizes, large amounts of data per person, and diversity in tasks and data types are all desirable, but are difficult to achieve in a single dataset. Here, we present an open dataset with N = 101 participants and 6 hours of scanning per participant, with 6 multifaceted cognitive tasks including 2 hours of naturalistic movie viewing. This datasets' combination of ample sample size, extensive data per participant, more than 600 hours worth of data, and a wide range of experimental conditions - including cognitive, affective, social, and somatic/interoceptive tasks - positions it uniquely for probing important questions in cognitive neuroscience.

Neural processes related to negative self-concept in adult and adolescent anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Negative self-concept is characteristic of anorexia nervosa (AN), but the neural processes mediating this component of AN is unknown. These studies investigated how valence and social perspectives impact neural processing in both adults and adolescents with AN. METHOD: In an fMRI task, participants evaluated positive and negative adjectives from three social perspectives. Two studies were completed, one in 59 women (healthy, with AN, recovered from AN) and one in 42 adolescents (healthy, with AN). Neural regions of interest (ROIs) related to valence were identified and activations compared across groups and social perspectives. RESULTS: Behaviourally, both adult and adolescent cohorts with AN were less positive during self-evaluations. In the adult study, neural differences related to clinical group and condition were observed in ROIs more responsive to positive social stimuli (medial prefrontal cortex, precuneus, left temporoparietal junction) but not in ROIs more responsive to negative social stimuli. No neural differences in relation to clinical group were observed in the adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural differences related to negative self-concept are present in both adolescents and adults with AN, and neural differences, selective for positive social stimuli, were also observed in adults. AN may interfere with neurodevelopmental processes involved in positive self-concept.

Qualitative patient experiences from the Self-Blame and Perspective-Taking Intervention for eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: Problems in social cognition and social support contribute to eating disorders (ED). Group therapy provides an ideal format to create an experiential learning environment focused on understanding social interactions. This pilot study examined the qualitative content of the participants' experiences in the Self-Blame and Perspective-Taking Intervention (SBPI) for ED. METHODS: The SBPI was a 4-week group therapy intervention involving art therapy and psychoeducation that focused on social behaviors in ED patients. Participants received surveys immediately after the intervention and at 1 to 4 weeks after the post-intervention. Thematic analyses of qualitative feedback were performed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. RESULTS: Inductive analyses revealed three main themes: (1) Developing self-acceptance through emotional reflection, (2) Changing expectations with neurosocial knowledge, and (3) Bonding and vulnerability in social interactions; all concepts intentionally targeted by the SBPI. Participants varied in their support of a guideline to exclude personal discussion of ED-related cognitions and behaviors in the group. CONCLUSIONS: As a whole, patients valued the combination of psychosocial education with group experientials focused on social behavior. Positive feedback from the SBPI suggests that adjunctive treatments that target mental-wellness constructs indirectly related to ED pathology may be helpful by allowing patients to see themselves as separable from the illness. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0487758. Registered 7 May 2021-Retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04877158 .

Adult patients with eating disorders frequently report challenges in developing and maintaining supportive social relationships. A group therapy intervention utilizing structured art tasks in conjunction with psychoeducation about interpersonal relationships was piloted in twenty-four women with eating disorders. Participants provided written feedback about their experiences in the intervention. These responses were coded by three raters to identify consistent themes related to those experiences. Participants reported benefits related to self-acceptance and emotional regulation, valued learning about their brain and behaviors, and appreciated peer interactions in this setting. In sum, this adjunctive and structured outpatient group targeting social interactions was acceptable to outpatients with eating disorders.

Pilot data from the Self-Blame and Perspective-Taking Intervention for eating disorders.

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by altered eating behaviors and valuation of self-image, as well as difficulty establishing supportive social relationships. This pilot study evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and clinical responses to a novel and brief group-therapy intervention for EDs, the Self-Blame and Perspective-Taking Intervention (SBPI). The SBPI consisted of four sessions of experiential art therapy activities in conjunction with psychoeducation targeting interpersonal attributions and mentalization. Twenty-four outpatient, treatment-seeking women with EDs participated in the SBPI, with 87.5% completing the intervention and 94% rating their participation positively. ED symptoms, depression, anxiety, self-attribution bias, and self-esteem were assessed before (T1) and after participation (N = 20 at T2; N = 18 at T3). Separate repeated measures MANOVAs were performed to assess these clinical and self-concept variables. Relative to baseline, participants demonstrated significant improvements in two all self-concept measures: self-attribution bias, trait self-esteem and state self-esteem at T2. ED, depression, and anxiety symptoms were significantly decreased at both T2 (1-4 weeks post) and T3 (3-5 months post). The SBPI altered self-concept targets acutely and led to sustained clinical improvements. Future work is needed to evaluate how self-concept and social constructs are related to clinical symptom expression in EDs.