Neuroscience Research Notes

Psychometric properties of Mongolian versions of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in young adults

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) are standardized self-report tools for screening depressive and anxiety disorders, respectively. While they have been validated in various cultural contexts, their psychometric properties have not been thoroughly evaluated in Mongolia. This study aimed to validate the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 among young adults in Mongolia, ensuring their reliability and efficacy in assessing mental health. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,391 young adults (aged 17-29 years). Tests for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity were performed, including exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity and cut-off scores were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Both the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.913 and 0.895, respectively) and good test-retest reliability over time (ICC=0.637 for PHQ-9; ICC=0.782 for GAD-7). Factor analyses confirmed their unidimensional structures, explaining 59.1% and 61.5% of variance, respectively. Unidimensional models showed acceptable goodness-of-fit indices, with RMSEA values of 0.051 for PHQ-9 and 0.047 for GAD-7, indicating a close-to-good fit for both models. Strong correlations were observed between PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores with HADS scores (p<0.001), indicating good convergent validity. Observed cut-off scores yielded high sensitivity and specificity in this sample population. The final Mongolian versions of the questionnaires exhibited robust psychometric properties. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were validated as reliable instruments for screening depression and anxiety among medical students in Mongolia. These findings improve the capacity for early identification and intervention in mental health among this population. However, further research should address limitations related to gender representation and the need for assessment in diverse settings.

Comparative effects of weight bearing exercises on mini trampoline and multisensory exercises on balance, proprioception and fatigue among geriatrics: a pilot study

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Age-related decline in balance, proprioception, and increased fatigue contribute to functional limitations and fall risk in older adults. Exercise-based interventions targeting sensory integration are commonly used; however, comparative evidence between different approaches remains limited. This randomised pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of weight-bearing exercises on a mini trampoline and multisensory exercises in the geriatric population. Thirty participants aged ≥65 years were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A (weight-bearing exercises on mini trampoline, n=15) and Group B (multisensory exercises, n=15). Both groups underwent supervised interventions for 4 weeks (5 sessions/week). Primary outcomes included functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test), proprioception (joint position error), and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale). Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, adherence, and safety. Nonparametric analyses were performed, and effect sizes (r) with 95% confidence intervals were reported. Both groups demonstrated significant within-group improvements across all outcomes, with large effect sizes (r=0.81–0.91). Between-group comparisons showed moderate-to-large effect sizes favouring the weight-bearing exercises on the mini trampoline group (r=0.75–0.86). Feasibility outcomes were favourable, with an 88% recruitment rate, 100% adherence, and no adverse events reported. This pilot study suggests that both interventions are feasible and may improve balance, proprioception, and fatigue in older adults. While trends indicate greater improvements with weight-bearing exercises on a mini trampoline, these findings are preliminary and should not be interpreted as evidence of clinical superiority. Larger, adequately powered trials are required to confirm these observations and determine long-term effectiveness.

Integrated in vivo and in silico assessment of Rauvolfia vomitoria extract on NMDA receptors in a PTZ-induced seizure model

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Rauvolfia vomitoria (RV) is recognised for its anti-seizure properties, largely due to its rich alkaloid content. In this study, we evaluated the effect of an aqueous extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria on PTZ-induced seizures in male Wistar rats and used in-silico methods to identify the most promising alkaloid compound for predictive analysis. Male Wistar rats (average weight: 160 g) were divided into four groups (n = 5): saline (control), 25 mg/kg PTZ i.p., 200 mg/kg oral RV pretreatment + 25 mg/kg PTZ i.p., and 40 mg/kg oral carbamazepine pretreatment + 25 mg/kg PTZ i.p. Following treatment, we assessed behaviour via the novel object recognition test (NORT) and evaluated antioxidant enzyme levels, brain electrolyte concentrations, and histomorphology changes. Additionally, we employed molecular docking and pharmacokinetic profiling to assess the drug-like properties of the compounds. NORT results revealed increased exploratory time and a non-significant discrimination index. Antioxidant defences were enhanced, while lipid peroxidation indices showed a non-significant reduction. Major electrolyte concentrations were preserved. Molecular docking identified serpentinine as a high-affinity NMDA receptor ligand, with several other Rauvolfia vomitoria alkaloids exhibiting favourable drug-like properties. Oral pretreatment with Rauvolfia vomitoria mitigates PTZ-induced seizure, potentially through antioxidant modulation and a slight trend towards recognition memory. In-silico analyses highlight Rauvolfia vomitoria alkaloids as promising candidates for further experimental validation.

Exploring the influence of BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism and coping mechanisms on depression, anxiety, and stress among allied health sciences undergraduates

Wan Lei Thien, Chrystalle B. Y. Tan, Kai Ling Chin — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Mental health is influenced by genetic and psychological factors. While higher education supports personal and professional growth, it also poses challenges to student well-being. This research aimed to explore the influence of BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphisms and coping mechanisms on mental health among medical and allied health sciences undergraduates at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. A total of 109 undergraduates completed a series of questionnaires, including a demographic questionnaire, the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE), and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life – BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Participants then submitted their saliva samples for gene polymorphism analysis. Results showed that 20.2% of participants had severe to extremely severe symptoms of depression, 43.1% for anxiety, and 15.6% for stress. While homozygous Met allele carriers (Met/Met) had higher mean anxiety and stress scores than Val allele carriers (Val/Val and Val/Met), the differences were not statistically significant. For homozygous Met allele carriers, problem-focused coping showed a negative correlation, whereas emotion-focused coping showed a positive correlation with depression and stress. Avoidant-focused coping was positively predicted by depression among Val allele carriers. Importantly, the Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) indicated that coping strategies exerted a stronger influence on mental health outcomes than BDNF genotype, even after controlling for demographic variables. Additionally, the psychological quality-of-life subscale significantly predicted mental health outcomes. These findings highlight the need for coping-based interventions to improve students' mental well-being, as well as further research into genetic influences.

Influence of phonological relevance on top-down and bottom-up processing: a systematic dichotic listening study

Ashwath Yashu, Kuthirakal Rohith, Wasim Ahmed, Mayur Bhat — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Dichotic listening (DL) is a test where auditory stimuli are presented simultaneously to each ear. It is sensitive to hemisphere differences and has been used to study language lateralisation. Recently, dichotic tests have been widely used to study the influence of attention on speech laterality in various disordered populations. The study aims to examine the effect of phonemic relevance on dichotic perception in Kannada. This study was carried out in two phases. Phase 1 aimed to develop and validate a Dichotic word list in Kannada, and Phase 2 involved data collection. Two lists of dichotic pairs were developed and tested with 25 adults across three conditions (free recall, forced right, and forced left). Results showed significant differences in ear responses during the free recall condition, indicating a right-ear advantage. Further, the results showed reduced dichotic performance for phonemically relevant pairs compared to the irrelevant pairs. The findings demonstrated that the right ear advantage can be precisely obtained by increasing the linguistic complexity of dichotic pairs. The addition of phonemic relevance would enhance the clinical utility of dichotic testing for assessing linguistic deficits across various disordered populations.

Construction and validation of over-expression of RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) using PiggyBac transposon inducible vector system in HEK293FT cells

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST), a key regulator of neural gene expression, modulates ion channel function, neurotransmitter receptor activity, and synaptic plasticity, and its dysregulation has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. However, stable overexpression of REST in mammalian cells remains technically challenging, highlighting the need for an efficient and controllable delivery platform. Here, we constructed and validated a PiggyBac-based inducible vector system for regulatable REST overexpression in HEK293FT cells as a proof of concept. The REST-FLAG-P2A-GFP construct was assembled using NEBuilder HiFi DNA Assembly and validated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), Sanger sequencing, and whole-plasmid sequencing. HEK293FT cells were transfected with REST-FLAG-P2A-GFP and SB100X, together with Xlone_GFP plasmids, using polyethylenimine (PEI), followed by doxycycline induction at 24 and 48 hours post-transfection. REST expression was confirmed by eGFP fluorescence imaging, while blasticidin resistance supported stable transgene integration for up to 5 days. Western blot analysis further verified inducible REST overexpression, detecting REST protein at approximately 130 and 200 kDa, with 1.45-fold (p < 0.01) and 1.56-fold (p < 0.05) increases, respectively, compared with uninduced cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the utility of the PiggyBac transposon system for stable and inducible expression of transcription factors in mammalian cells and establish a platform for future studies of REST function and gene regulatory mechanisms.

Bibliometric analysis on potential biomarkers for long COVID

Xiangyu Liu, Takafumi Suematsu, Nobuyuki Sudo, Battuvshin Lkhagvasuren — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Long COVID has emerged as a significant public health challenge due to its diverse and often debilitating symptoms that affect various bodily systems. Identifying reliable diagnostic biomarkers for long COVID is crucial for early detection, prevention, and the development of treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of available biomarkers associated with long COVID published in the literature between 2020 and 2024. We searched the Scopus database for English-language research articles and reviews published between 2020 and 2024 that contained the terms “long COVID” and “biomarkers.” After excluding publications unrelated to the topic, we applied bibliometric techniques using the bibliometrix package in R and VOSviewer to analyse the final set of 398 articles. Publication trends, collaborative networks, keyword co-occurrence, and citation impact were systematically evaluated to identify the most frequently reported biomarkers and map the research landscape. Inflammatory factors, including interleukin 6, C-reactive protein, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, were frequently highlighted. Additionally, cardiac function markers (troponin and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide) and neurological indicators (neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein) were identified. Although numerous studies have emphasised the multisystem pathology of long COVID, the published literature has not yet converged on a single biomarker with sufficient evidence for the clinical diagnosis of long COVID. This bibliometric analysis indicates that, while a unified diagnostic biomarker for long COVID remains elusive, multiple recurring patterns have emerged across immunological, cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic domains. These findings may advance pathophysiological understanding and inform future research and clinical translation.

Cognitive neuroscience and socio-emotional skills

Pablo Egana-delSol, Marcela Peña, Jesus Juyumaya — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The average length of an individual’s education has grown over time, driven by the promise of improving a person’s job prospects and, consequently, their quality of life. However, several behavioural studies report that most skills needed to enhance job prospects are learned not in school but on the job. Related research also highlights the critical role of socio-emotional skills in human capital development. Nevertheless, researchers claim that there is a need for better measurement of such skills. Cognitive neuroscience research may play a pivotal role in addressing this gap by providing explanatory mechanisms and objective metrics, as well as by inspiring innovative human capital interventions. This review highlights how integrating socio-emotional neuroscience data into educational settings can improve individual and societal well-being.

The role of virtual reality in the rehabilitation of individuals with Down Syndrome

Maithily Murali, Priyanka Kumar, Muhammed Afsal K A — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder resulting from an extra copy of chromosome 21, leading to intellectual disability, physical abnormalities, and a range of health complications. It is the most common chromosomal aneuploidy and has an increasing global prevalence. Individuals with DS often face developmental delays, congenital heart defects, and reduced muscle tone. Emerging rehabilitation methods, including Virtual Reality, have shown promise in enhancing cognitive and motor functions by providing interactive, engaging environments. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Virtual reality in enhancing the physical, cognitive and social outcomes among individuals with Down syndrome. A comprehensive literature review in accordance with PRISMA-ScR was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, focusing on full-text articles from 2019-2024. Seven studies, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, that examined the role of virtual reality in the rehabilitation of individuals with Down syndrome were included in the analysis. This study shows that virtual reality effectively improves motor skills, balance, cognitive function, and motivation in children with Down syndrome. Regular, controlled use of VR offers a dynamic and engaging therapy option, with better balance and coordination outcomes than traditional methods. Evidence supports the use of virtual reality in rehabilitating children with Down syndrome, showing improvements in motor skills, balance, cognition, and independence. Interactive, game-based VR boosts engagement and motivation, leveraging neuroplasticity for meaningful progress.