Application of Eye-tracking in research on the theory of mind in ASD.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a broad diagnostic category describing a group of neurodevelopmental disorders which includes the autistic disorder. Failure to develop normal social relationships is a hallmark of autism. An inability to understand and cope with the social environment can occur regardless of IQ. One of the hypotheses of the appearance of ASD symptoms is associated with the theory of mind (TOM). ASD patients do not have the ability to attribute the full range of mental states (goal states and epistemic states) to themselves and to others. Eye-tracking allows for observation of early signs of TOM in ASD individuals, even before they are 1 year old, without the need of developed motor and language skills. This provides a window for looking at the very basics of mindreading - detecting intentionality and eyes in our environment. Studies show that ASD children fail to recognize biological motion, while being highly sensitive to physical contingency within the random movement. Their perception of faces seems disorganized and undirected, while object recognition is intact. Evidence suggests that this orientation of attention following gaze cues is diminished in ASD patients. Available data also show deficits in emotion recognition, that cannot be accounted for by impairments in face processing or visual modality alone. Such observations provide an insight into disturbances of information processing and offer an explanation for poor social functioning of ASD patients. When combined with other methods, Eye-tracking has the potential to reveal differences in processing information on a neural circuitry level. Thus, it may help in understanding the complexity of TOM mechanisms, and their role in social functioning.

Who is happier: smoker or non-smoker? Smoking in medical students from the perspective of positive psychology.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation of nicotine dependence with perceived happiness and experienced emotions in three groups, namely non-smokers, smokers, and those who quitted smoking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The total of 552 Poznan University of Medical Sciences students aged 21.84 ± 3.95 (women: 83.3%, men: 16.7%) participated in this study. They were asked to fill out 4 questionnaires. Two were originally designed by the authors of this paper - one asked about some demographic information and the other described cigarette smoking. Happiness and its dimensions were measured using Fordyce's Happiness Measure and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). RESULTS: The obtained results point out some significant differences between smokers, non-smokers, and those who quitted smoking as to the levels of negative affect with respects to its two dimensions: Unpleasant and Frustrated. Smokers were characterized by a higher level of a negative affect than non-smokers, as well as higher scores for the Unpleasant and Frustrated dimensions compared to non-smokers and those who quitted smoking. As far as the positive affect of smokers and those who quitted smoking is concerned, a significant difference was observed for 5 dimensions: Interested, Inspired, Attentive, Determined and Active. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this paper can help us understand better the nicotine-dependent population in the context of positive psychology, and provide us with some basic information helpful in designing preventive programmes for nicotine addicts.

An analysis of cognitive functioning of children and youth with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in the context of glycemic control.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the cognitive functioning of children and youth with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 68 children with type 1 diabetes, aged 6-17 years, divided into 3 groups according to the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): group 1: HbA1c ≤ 6.0-7.5%; group 2: HbA1c 7.6-8.5%; group 3: HbA1c over 8.6%. Wechsler's intelligence scale (WISC-R), the Trail of 10 words and Brickenkamp's and Zillmer's d2 Test of Attention were used to assess cognitive functioning. RESULTS: The research demonstrated a significant influence of low, medium or high glycaemic control on lowering the general level of functioning in verbal intelligence, and in WISC-R subtests: information, vocabulary, comprehension, number sequencing and block design. CONCLUSIONS: Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus can experience difficulties in cognitive functioning, as a consequence of high HbA1c. Additional research, involving a larger group of patients and a wider age range when the disease was diagnosed, will enable further findings on the occurrence of cognitive impairment in T1DM.

[Lead and cadmium content in daily food rations of children and adolescents from copper basin of the Legnica region]. / Zawartosc olowiu i kadmu w racjach pokarmowych dzieci i mlodziezy z terenu Legnickiego Zaglebia Miedziowego.

Environmental pollution still remains a serious problem in some heavily industrialized regions of Poland. Among various xenobiotics prevalent in human environment heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are considered as most harmful to living systems. The main source of these metals for humans is food and water, therefore increased dietary lead and cadmium intake may cause functional disturbances of various body systems, especially in young developing organisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the lead and cadmium content in daily food rations served at two selected Children Guardian Centres (CGC) located in the region of Copper Basin Legnica (Glogów and Polkowice), during winter and spring seasons in 1996. The lead and cadmium content was determined after dry mineralization of samples by the FAAS method with deuterium BC. It was found that the lead and cadmium content in daily food rations exceeded the PTWI limits for children and adolescents in both CGC. Moreover, seasonal and regional variations of the lead and cadmium content in daily meals were observed. Generally, higher levels of lead in food rations were determined in the winter season whereas the cadmium content was higher in the CGC in Glogów in comparison to Polkowice.