IntroductionSpeech perception in noise (SPiN) is a critical challenge for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and current behavioral assessments can be unreliable in populations with language barriers or cognitive impairment. Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) can serve as a supplementary measurement as they often show strong correlations with SPiN outcomes across diverse hearing profiles.MethodsFollowing PRISMA and SWiM guidelines, this systematic review includes studies from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases that examined the relationship between non-task related CAEPs and SPiN outcomes in adults with normal hearing, SNHL, or cochlear implants.ResultsSixteen studies were included, encompassing 238 participants with SNHL and 204 participants with normal hearing. Across studies, N1 latency, P2 latency, and N1-P2 amplitude of the onset CAEP and acoustic change complex (ACC) are most consistently correlated with SPiN performance, particularly in sentence-based tests. The mismatch negativity (MMN) showed limited predictive value, as findings varied by age and hearing status. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to methodological heterogeneity.ConclusionOnset CAEP and ACC N1 and P2 latencies together with N1-P2 amplitudes particularly demonstrate potential as electrophysiological indicators of SPiN performance. Their clinical utility is promising for populations where behavioral testing can be unreliable, such as CI users or individuals with cognitive or language barriers. However, standardization of protocols and further longitudinal research are needed to validate their application in clinical settings.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023404158, identifier PROSPERO (CRD42023404158).
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is pleased to welcome Shauna Cronin
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is pleased to welcome Shauna Cronin (she/her) as our new Vice President, Programs, effective April 27, 2026.
Shauna brings nearly two decades of national leadership in mental health system transformation, program design, and policy innovation. Her experience spans complex, multi‑partner initiatives across governments, communities, and lived and living experience networks, with notable contributions through organizations such as CAMH, Frayme, Stepped Care Solutions 2.0, and the Global Leadership Exchange.
A widely respected and internationally recognized leader, Shauna is known for turning bold vision into measurable impact. Her work has consistently advanced equity, strengthened service integration, and elevated Canada’s leadership in mental health, while meaningfully valuing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis voices as part of an ongoing reconciliation journey.
Shauna holds advanced degrees in political science, strategic communications, and international affairs, is currently pursuing a Master’s in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership, and holds a Health Leadership designation from the Rotman School of Management. She brings a rare combination of deep policy insight, collaborative systems leadership, and a genuine commitment to people and outcomes.
We look forward to the perspective, care, and leadership Shauna will bring as she joins our exceptional Programs team and helps advance mental health and well-being across Canada.
The post The Mental Health Commission of Canada is pleased to welcome Shauna Cronin appeared first on Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Monitoring Daily Mobility in Children With Autism
Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD
Interventions: Device: placement of a wearable wrist sensor
Sponsors: IRCCS San Raffaele Roma
Recruiting
Interventions: Device: placement of a wearable wrist sensor
Sponsors: IRCCS San Raffaele Roma
Recruiting
MTCL2 Is Essential for the Bipolar-to-Multipolar Transition in the Dendrite Extension of Cerebellar Granule Neurons
The dynamic regulation of neuronal polarity is essential for the formation of neural networks during brain development. Primary cultures of rodent neurons recapitulate several aspects of this polarity regulation, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying axon specification, dendrite formation, and neuronal migration. However, the process by which the preexisting bipolarity of migrating neurons is disrupted to form multipolar dendrites remains to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that MTCL2, a microtubule-crosslinking protein associated with the Golgi apparatus, plays a crucial role in this type of polarity transformation exhibited by cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) in mice of either sex. MTCL2 is highly expressed in CGNs and gradually accumulates in dendrites as the cells develop polarity. MTCL2 knockdown inhibited the bipolar-to-multipolar transition of dendrite extension observed in their differentiation in vitro as well as in vivo. During this transformation, the Golgi apparatus shifts from the base of the preexisting bipolar neurites to the lateral or apical side of the nucleus in the cell body. There, it forms a close association with the microtubule cage that wraps around the nucleus. The resulting upward extension of the Golgi apparatus is tightly coupled with the randomization of its position in the x–y plane. Knockdown and rescue experiments demonstrated MTCL2 promotes these changes in the Golgi position in a microtubule- and Golgi-binding activity-dependent manner. These results suggest that MTCL2 promotes the development of multipolar short dendrites by sequestering the Golgi apparatus from the base of the preexisting neurite into the microtubule cage.
<![CDATA[A new US Department of War backed phase 2a study will test BXCL501’s efficacy in easing acute stress reactions and preventing PTSD.]]>
Prefrontal and hippocampal microstructural gray matter following cognitive training under moderate hypoxia in mood disorders: a randomized controlled trial
BackgroundCognitive impairment persists during partial or full remission in 50–70% of individuals with mood disorders and impacts daily functioning and clinical prognosis. Preclinical evidence suggests that extended exposure to moderate hypoxia, combined with motor-cognitive learning, may elevate neuroplasticity and improve cognition. In these individuals with remitted mood disorders, we found that cognitive training under repeated moderate normobaric hypoxia improved executive function, and here investigate neurobiological mechanisms.MethodsParticipants with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD) in partial or full remission were randomized to 3 weeks of 3.5-h daily normobaric hypoxia (12% O2) combined with cognitive training five to 6 days per week or treatment-as-usual (TAU). Participants were assessed with cognitive tests and diffusion-weighted MRI at baseline and 1 month after treatment completion (week 8) as part of the ALTIBRAIN trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06121206). Prefrontal and hippocampal gray matter microstructure were modelled with Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI).ResultsFifty-seven participants (mean age 39 years, SD: 13, 70% female) with baseline MRI data were included. No significant effects of hypoxia-cognition training vs. TAU on neurite density index (NDI) or orientation dispersion index (ODI) were observed in either the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus (all p-FDR ≥ 0.832). No significant associations were observed between microstructural changes and changes in cognitive function in either region (all p-FDR ≥ 0.721). At baseline, microstructure in both regions was not associated with executive function or global cognition (all p > 0.40).ConclusionThe absence of detectable microstructural changes, despite selective improvements in executive function, indicates that NODDI-derived metrics did not capture structural correlates of the cognitive response to hypoxia-cognition training. Whether this reflects functional neural mechanisms, measurement insensitivity, or the timing of the single follow-up assessment remains to be determined. Future studies should incorporate multiple imaging time points to capture the dynamic trajectories of putative microstructural brain changes.
Preliminary Exploration of the Usability of a Structured Plate to Improve Eating Behaviors in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Impact on the Family: A Pilot Study
Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Childhood
Interventions: Device: Structured Plate
Sponsors: Universidad de Zaragoza
Completed
Interventions: Device: Structured Plate
Sponsors: Universidad de Zaragoza
Completed
Efficacy and Underlying Mechanisms of Group-Based Natural Psychotherapy for Anxiety Disorder
Conditions: Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder
Interventions: Behavioral: Group-based Natural Psychotherapy
Sponsors: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital; Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Fourth People’s Hospital in Hefei
Active, not recruiting
Interventions: Behavioral: Group-based Natural Psychotherapy
Sponsors: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital; Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Fourth People’s Hospital in Hefei
Active, not recruiting
Telephone-Based Mental Health Promotion for Rural Women in Brazilian Agrarian Reform Communities: Pre-Post Pilot Study
Background: Women living in rural agrarian reform communities face intersecting challenges related to social, economic, racial, and gender vulnerabilities, which significantly increase their likelihood of developing physical and mental health problems. Despite the potential of telephone-based interventions to promote mental health, there is a lack of studies assessing their feasibility and effectiveness among underserved populations in Brazil. Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a telephone-based intervention on mental health outcomes among women living in a rural agrarian reform community in Brazil. Methods: We conducted a descriptive, prospective pilot study with a pretest and posttest design. Data were collected at 3 time points: baseline, 1 week, and 1 month after the intervention. The outcomes assessed included quality of life, social support, self-efficacy, and common mental disorder symptoms. Nonparametric tests were used to analyze the data. The intervention consisted of 3 phone calls supported by a workbook, with content based on cognitive behavioral and psychiatric nursing principles. Results: Of the 31 women enrolled, 23 (74.2%) completed all 3 phone-based sessions. There was a significant reduction in common mental disorder symptoms (Kendall =0.280; =.002), particularly in the somatic domain (=.02). Moreover, participants reported improved perceptions of the physical domain of quality of life (Kendall =0.131; =.049). All women rated the intervention positively, with more than half emphasizing its practical usefulness. Conclusions: The telephone-based intervention was feasible and showed promising results in improving mental health outcomes among women in a rural setting. These findings support integrating low-intensity, remote psychosocial strategies into primary health care, especially those led by nurses, to increase access to mental health promotion for vulnerable populations.
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Willingness of Patients With Mental Disorders to Engage in Online Psychotherapy: Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey
<strong>Background:</strong> China faces a high prevalence of mental disorders but low treatment uptake, a gap driven by limited awareness and unevenly distributed mental health resources. While online psychotherapy has the potential to expand access, patient willingness remains insufficiently explored. <strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to investigate the willingness of Chinese patients with mental disorders to engage in online psychotherapy and to identify associated factors. <strong>Methods:</strong> A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to assess the attitudes and willingness of patients with mental disorders in China to engage in online psychotherapy. Willingness to engage in online psychotherapy was assessed using a 0 to 100 rating scale, with higher scores indicating greater willingness. Univariate analysis, correlation analysis, and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to identify factors influencing willingness. <strong>Results:</strong> Among 361 eligible participants, the mean willingness score for online psychotherapy was 70 (SD 28.56). In total, 86.4% (n=312) of participants preferred short-term therapy (1 to 10 sessions), while 92.5% (n=334) expected the cost per session to remain less than CNY ¥400 (US $55.50). Participants most preferred therapist-guided online individual therapy (n=142, 39.3%). Convenience (124/361, 34.3%) and perceived anonymity (“no one will know about the illness”; 119/361, 33.0%) were the 2 most commonly reported perceived benefits of online psychotherapy. The leading barrier was concerns about data security and privacy (108/303, 35.6%), followed by difficulty in establishing therapeutic rapport (60/303, 19.8%). The regression analysis revealed that age, self-stigma, satisfaction with current psychiatric medications, and satisfaction with previous online psychotherapy significantly influenced patients’ willingness to seek online psychotherapy. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> This multicenter study reveals a high level of willingness to engage in online psychotherapy among Chinese patients, with self-stigma as a key barrier. These findings support the development of tailored services, stigma reduction interventions, and infrastructure investment to enhance mental health care delivery.
