Changes in length judgments caused by rotation of the contextual distractor.

In the present study, we tested the applicability of the computational model of the illusion of interrupted spatial extent (Bulatov, Marma, & Bulatova, Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 82, 2714-2727, 2020) to account for the psychophysical data collected with three-dot stimuli containing a cross-shaped contextual distractor. In different series of experiments, the illusion magnitude changes caused by the rotation of distractors with different values of the internal angle (45°, 75°, and 90°) were quantitatively determined. It was shown that the data obtained for all modifications of stimuli can be rather well approximated by model functions proportional to the sum of the absolute values of cosines. A good agreement between theoretical calculations and experimental results supports the suggestion that the perceptual displacement of the stimulus terminators, which occurs due to the processes of local integration of neural activity, may be one of the main causes of the illusion investigated.

Depressive Symptoms, Help-Seeking, and Barriers to Mental Healthcare Among Healthcare Professionals in Lithuania.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience high levels of work-related psychological distress, including depressive symptoms. Due to the stigma of mental health problems and other barriers, HCPs are likely to be hesitant to seek appropriate mental healthcare. We aimed to explore these phenomena among HCPs in Lithuania. METHODS: A web survey inquiring about depressive symptoms, help-seeking, and barriers to mental health-care was conducted. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). 601 complete questionnaires were included in the analyses. The barriers to help-seeking were identified using the inductive content analysis approach. Descriptive, non-parametric, and robust statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Most of the respondents have reported depression-like symptoms over the lifetime, although only about a third of them sought professional help. Of those, roughly half preferred a private specialist. The stigma and neglect of mental health problems were the most common barriers to help-seeking. Around half of the HCPs believed that seeking mental healthcare can imperil their occupational license. About a quarter of the HCPs screened positive for clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Statistically significant differences in the PHQ-9 score were found between categories of healthcare specialty, marital status, religious beliefs, workplace, and years of work as a HCP. Fewer years of work and younger age were associated with the higher PHQ-9 score. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that HCPs in Lithuania may be inclined not to seek appropriate mental healthcare and experience poor mental health, although stronger evidence is needed to verify these findings.

Quantitative examination of an unconventional form of the filled-space illusion.

The spatial interval containing some visual elements (fillers) seems to be longer than an empty interval of the same length, and the effect persists for most observers. This illusion of interrupted spatial extent (or the filled-space illusion) can be observed even in extremely simplified line drawings, but its origin is still not completely understood. Recently, we proposed a quantitative explanation for the results of experiments with stimuli containing either continuous or discrete filling: the illusion may be associated with the integration of distractor-induced effects near the endpoints (terminators) of the stimulus intervals. Subsequent analysis of the principles underlying the explanation allowed us to hypothesize the appearance of illusory effects caused by previously unknown stimulus modifications. To test the suggestions, in the present study we performed experiments with three-dot stimuli that contain a distracting circle (either outline or uniformly filled) surrounding one of the lateral terminators. It has been demonstrated that the illusion magnitude varies predictably with the size of the circle, and there is no significant difference between the data obtained for stimuli with the outline and filled distractors. To more thoroughly examine the illusion, the central angle of circular distracting arcs (real or imaginary) was used as an independent variable in supplementary experiments. A rather successful theoretical interpretation of the experimental results supports the suggestion that perceptual positional biases induced by additional context-evoked neural excitation can be considered as one of the main causes of the filled-space illusion.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with unusual initial presentation as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative prion disease. MRI findings are included in diagnostic criteria for probable CJD, giving a sensitivity and specificity more than 90%, but the atypical radiological presentations in the early stage of the disease could cause the diagnostic difficulties. CJD can be definitively diagnosed by histopathological confirmation, brain biopsy or at autopsy. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of 53-year-old woman with a history of a rapidly progressive dementia with symptoms of visual impairment, increased extrapyramidal type muscle tonus, stereotypical movements and ataxic gait resulting in the patient's death after13 months. The clinical symptoms deteriorated progressively to myoclonus and akinetic mutism already on the 14th week. The series of diagnostic examinations were done to exclude the possible causes of dementia. Initial MRI evaluation as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) on the 9th week after the onset of symptoms created us a diagnostic conundrum. Subsequent MRI findings of symmetrical lesions in the basal ganglia (nucleus caudatus, putamen) on the 13th week and EEG with periodic sharp wave complexes (PSWC) in frontal regions on the 18th week allowed us to diagnose the probable sCJD. The histopathological findings after brain biopsy on the 14th week demonstrated the presence of the abnormal prion protein deposits in the grey matter by immunohistochemistry with ICSM35, KG9 and 12 F10 antibodies and confirmed the diagnosis of sCJD. CONCLUSIONS: In this article we focus our attention on a rare association between radiological PRES syndrome and early clinical stage of sCJD. Although concurrent manifestation of these conditions can be accidental, but the immunogenic or neuropeptide mechanisms could explain such radiological MRI findings. A thorough knowledge of differential diagnostic of PRES may be especially useful in earlier diagnosis of sCJD.