The dark and bright side of the numbers: how emotions influence mental number line accuracy and bias.

The traditional view of cognition as detached from emotions is recently being questioned. This study aimed to investigate the influence of emotional valence on the accuracy and bias in the representation of numbers on the mental number line (MNL). The study included 164 participants who were randomly assigned into two groups with induced positive and negative emotional valence using matched arousal film clips. Participants performed a computerised number-to-position (CNP) task to estimate the position of numbers on a horizontal line. The results showed that participants in the positive valence group exhibited a rightward bias, while those in the negative valence group showed an opposite pattern. The analysis of mean absolute error revealed that the negative valence group had higher error rates compared to the positive valence group. Furthermore, the MNL estimation pattern analysis indicated that a two-cycle cyclic power model (CPM) best explained the data for both groups. These findings suggest that emotional valence influences the spatial representation of numbers on the MNL and affects accuracy in numerical estimations. Our findings are finally discussed in terms of body-specificity and the Brain's Asymmetric Frequency Tuning (BAFT) theories. The study provides new insights into the interplay between emotions and numerical cognition.

Differential roles of brain oscillations in numerical processing: evidence from resting-state EEG and mental number line.

Recent works point to the importance of emotions in special-numerical associations. There remains a notable gap in understanding the electrophysiological underpinnings of such associations. Exploring resting-state (rs) EEG, particularly in frontal regions, could elucidate emotional aspects, while other EEG measures might offer insights into the cognitive dimensions correlating with behavioral performance. The present work investigated the relationship between rs-EEG measures (emotional and cognitive traits) and performance in the mental number line (MNL). EEG activity in theta (3-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz, further subdivided into low-alpha and high-alpha), sensorimotor rhythm (SMR, 13-15 Hz), beta (16-25 Hz), and high-beta/gamma (28-40 Hz) bands was assessed. 76 university students participated in the study, undergoing EEG recordings at rest before engaging in a computerized number-to-position (CNP) task. Analysis revealed significant associations between frontal asymmetry, specific EEG frequencies, and MNL performance metrics (i.e., mean direction bias, mean absolute error, and mean reaction time). Notably, theta and beta asymmetries correlated with direction bias, while alpha peak frequency (APF) and beta activity related to absolute errors in numerical estimation. Moreover, the study identified significant correlations between relative amplitude indices (i.e., theta/beta ratio, theta/SMR ratio) and both absolute errors and reaction times (RTs). Our findings offer novel insights into the emotional and cognitive aspects of EEG patterns and their links to MNL performance.

CSF-Targeted Proteomics Indicate Amyloid-Beta Ratios in Patients with Alzheimer's Dementia Spectrum.

Background: According to recent studies, amyloid-ß (Aß) isoforms as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers have remarkable predictive value for cognitive decline in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, we aimed to investigate the correlations between several targeted proteomics in CSF samples with Aß ratios and cognitive scores in patients in AD spectrum to search for potential early diagnostic utility. Methods: A total of 719 participants were found eligible for inclusion. Patients were then categorized into cognitively normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD and underwent an assessment of Aß and proteomics. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS), and Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) were used for further cognitive assessment. The Aß42, Aß42/Aß40, and Aß42/38 ratios were considered as means of comparison to identify those peptides corresponding significantly to these established biomarkers and cognitive scores. The diagnostic utility of the IASNTQSR, VAELEDEK, VVSSIEQK, GDSVVYGLR, EPVAGDAVPGPK, and QETLPSK was assessed. Results: All investigated peptides corresponded significantly to Aß42 in controls. In those with MCI, VAELEDEK and EPVAGDAVPGPK were significantly correlated with Aß42 (p value < 0.001). Additionally, IASNTQSR, VVSSIEQK, GDSVVYGLR, and QETLPSK were significantly correlated with Aß42/Aß40 and Aß42/38 (p value < 0.001) in this group. This group of peptides similarly corresponded to Aß ratios in those with AD. Eventually, IASNTQSR, VAELEDEK, and VVSSIEQK were significantly associated with CDR, ADAS-11, and ADAS-13, particularly in MCI group. Conclusion: Our research suggests potential early diagnostic and prognostic utilities for certain peptides extracted from CSF-targeted proteomics research. The ethical approval of ADNI is available at ClinicalTrials.gov with Identifier: NCT00106899.