Papers by Eleanor Dommett
The Impact of Resilience Interventions on University Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being: A Systematic Review
Education sciences, May 10, 2024
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Investigating the effects of cardio and non-cardio exercise on adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
http://isrctn.com/, May 11, 2020
The impact of participation in a neuroscience course on motivational measures and academic performance
Trends in Neuroscience and Education, Sep 1, 2013
Abstract Previous work suggests how pupils view their intelligence (fixed or flexible) influences... more Abstract Previous work suggests how pupils view their intelligence (fixed or flexible) influences academic performance. We delivered workshops on neuroscience emphasising brain plasticity to 11–12 year old pupils to encourage belief in incremental intelligence. We assessed changes in motivational measures, including intelligence beliefs, and mathematics ability. Neuroscience, study skills (an active control) or no information was delivered to both pupils and their mathematics teachers by either neuroscience-trained ‘Advanced Skills Teachers’ (ASTs) or computer software; measures were obtained at multiple assessment points over a 20 month period. Neuroscience training increased belief in incremental intelligence over the 20 months but had no specific effects on other motivational measures or maths performance. Study skills training had only a short-term effect on incremental intelligence. Teacher training did not affect pupil outcomes during the duration of study but may take longer to develop, therefore necessitating longer studies.
Fast quantitative determination of methylphenidate levels in rat plasma and brainex vivoby MALDI-MS/MS
Journal of Mass Spectrometry, Jul 1, 2015
This study presents a simple and sensitive high-throughput matrix-assisted laser desorption/ioniz... more This study presents a simple and sensitive high-throughput matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/MS) method for ex vivo quantification of methylphenidate (MPH) in rat plasma and brain. The common MALDI matrix alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid was used to obtain an optimal dried droplet preparation. For method validation, standards diluted in plasma and brain homogenate prepared from untreated (control) rats were used. MPH was quantified within a concentration range of 0.1-40 ng/ml in plasma and 0.4-40 ng/ml in brain homogenate with an excellent linearity (R(2) ≥ 0.9997) and good precision. The intra-day and inter-day accuracies fulfilled the FDA's ±15/20 critera. The recovery of MPH ranged from 93.8 to 98.5% and 87.2 to 99.8% in plasma and homogenate, respectively. We show that MPH is successfully quantified in plasma and brain homogenate of rats pre-treated with this drug using the internal standard calibration method. By means of this method, a linear correlation between plasma and brain concentration of MPH in rodents pre-treated with MPH was detected. The simple sample preparation based on liquid-liquid extraction and MALDI-MS/MS measurement requires approximately 10 s per sample, and this significantly reduces analysis time compared with other analytical methods. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MALDI-MS/MS method for quantification of MPH in rat plasma and brain. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental enrichment differentially modifies specific components of sensory-evoked activity in rat barrel cortex as revealed by simultaneous electrophysiological recordings and optical imaging in vivo
Neuroscience, Oct 1, 2010
Environmental enrichment of laboratory animals leads to multi-faceted changes to physiology, heal... more Environmental enrichment of laboratory animals leads to multi-faceted changes to physiology, health and disease prognosis. An important and under-appreciated factor in enhancing cognition through environmental manipulation may be improved basic sensory function. Previous studies have highlighted changes in cortical sensory map plasticity but have used techniques such as electrophysiology, which suffer from poor spatial resolution, or optical imaging of intrinsic signals, which suffers from low temporal resolution. The current study attempts to overcome these limitations by combining voltage-sensitive dye imaging with somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) recordings: the specific aim was to investigate sensory function in barrel cortex using multi-frequency whisker stimulation under urethane anaesthesia. Three groups of rats were used that each experienced a different level of behavioural or environmental enrichment. We found that enrichment increased all SEP response components subsequent to the initial thalamocortical input, but only when evoked by single stimuli; the thalamocortical component remained unchanged across all animal groups. The optical signal exhibited no changes in amplitude or latency between groups, resembling the thalamocortical component of the SEP response. Permanent and extensive changes to housing conditions conferred no further enhancement to sensory function above that produced by the milder enrichment of regular handling and behavioural testing, a finding with implications for improvements in animal welfare through practical changes to animal husbandry.
Subcortical control of dopamine neurons: The good, the bad and the unexpected
Brain Research Bulletin, Dec 1, 2006
The function of the phasic dopamine signal, seen in response to salient and rewarding stimuli, ha... more The function of the phasic dopamine signal, seen in response to salient and rewarding stimuli, has been heavily debated. The reward prediction error hypothesis has been criticised for the suggestion that such a complex signal could be derived at short latencies, relying only on subcortical inputs. However, as more has been learnt about the nature of the subcortical inputs, we are led to challenge this criticism. Here we suggest that the subcortical inputs can indeed support complex calculations and that it would be unwise to underestimate their processing capabilities. Whilst our analysis cannot differentiate between the reward prediction error hypothesis and its opponents, it does suggest that the initial argument against a prediction error is incorrect.
Investigating the effects of acute tryptophan loading on attention and impulsivity in adults with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
http://isrctn.com/
Factors and impact of cognitive load in online learning: a systematic review protocol
This registration contains a protocol for a systematic review. The review will identify the facto... more This registration contains a protocol for a systematic review. The review will identify the factors that may impact cognitive load for neurotypical and neurodivergent students in the use of online learning.
Safety beliefs and knowledge of cognitive enhancers in UK university students
Cognitive enhancers (CE) are prescription drugs taken, either without a prescription or at a dose... more Cognitive enhancers (CE) are prescription drugs taken, either without a prescription or at a dose exceeding that which is prescribed, to improve cognitive functions such as concentration, vigilance or memory. Previous research suggests that users believe the drugs to be safer than non-users and that they have sufficient knowledge to judge safety. However, no research had actually compared the information sources used and safety knowledge of users and non-users. This study therefore compared users and non-users of CE in terms of i) their sources of knowledge about the safety of CE and ii) the accuracy of their knowledge of possible adverse effects of a typical cognitive enhancer (modafinil); and iii) how the accuracy of knowledge relates to their safety beliefs. Students (N=148) from King's College London (UK) completed an anonymous online survey assessing safety beliefs, sources of knowledge and knowledge of the safety of modafinil; and indicated whether they used CE, and, if so...
During 2014/15, the HEA funded the production of a Psychological Literacy Compendium of Case Stud... more During 2014/15, the HEA funded the production of a Psychological Literacy Compendium of Case Studies providing examples of psychological literacy gathered from academics in the UK. Following this, we invited psychology academics to submit case studies for a second version of the Compendium and we opened invites to the International community at various conferences. We also invited previous contributors to submit revised version of their case studies showing how they had adapted them as a result of feedback and reflection. This International Compendium will be published online at the www.psychliteracy.com/ website and within our University repositories. The Compendium was presented at a Psychological Literacy Symposium at the EuroPLAT Conference held in Salzburg in September 2017 and it will be discussed within a workshop at the EFPTA Conference to be held in Reykjavik in April 2018. The case studies are presented in alphabetical order and while they are not fully representative of t...
The impact of participation in a neuroscience course on motivational measures and academic performance
Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 2013
Abstract Previous work suggests how pupils view their intelligence (fixed or flexible) influences... more Abstract Previous work suggests how pupils view their intelligence (fixed or flexible) influences academic performance. We delivered workshops on neuroscience emphasising brain plasticity to 11–12 year old pupils to encourage belief in incremental intelligence. We assessed changes in motivational measures, including intelligence beliefs, and mathematics ability. Neuroscience, study skills (an active control) or no information was delivered to both pupils and their mathematics teachers by either neuroscience-trained ‘Advanced Skills Teachers’ (ASTs) or computer software; measures were obtained at multiple assessment points over a 20 month period. Neuroscience training increased belief in incremental intelligence over the 20 months but had no specific effects on other motivational measures or maths performance. Study skills training had only a short-term effect on incremental intelligence. Teacher training did not affect pupil outcomes during the duration of study but may take longer to develop, therefore necessitating longer studies.
Fast quantitative determination of methylphenidate levels in rat plasma and brain ex vivo by MALDI-MS/MS
Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 2015
This study presents a simple and sensitive high-throughput matrix-assisted laser desorption/ioniz... more This study presents a simple and sensitive high-throughput matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/MS) method for ex vivo quantification of methylphenidate (MPH) in rat plasma and brain. The common MALDI matrix alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid was used to obtain an optimal dried droplet preparation. For method validation, standards diluted in plasma and brain homogenate prepared from untreated (control) rats were used. MPH was quantified within a concentration range of 0.1-40 ng/ml in plasma and 0.4-40 ng/ml in brain homogenate with an excellent linearity (R(2) ≥ 0.9997) and good precision. The intra-day and inter-day accuracies fulfilled the FDA's ±15/20 critera. The recovery of MPH ranged from 93.8 to 98.5% and 87.2 to 99.8% in plasma and homogenate, respectively. We show that MPH is successfully quantified in plasma and brain homogenate of rats pre-treated with this drug using the internal standard calibration method. By means of this method, a linear correlation between plasma and brain concentration of MPH in rodents pre-treated with MPH was detected. The simple sample preparation based on liquid-liquid extraction and MALDI-MS/MS measurement requires approximately 10 s per sample, and this significantly reduces analysis time compared with other analytical methods. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MALDI-MS/MS method for quantification of MPH in rat plasma and brain. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using the five-choice serial reaction time task to examine the effects of atomoxetine and methylphenidate in the male spontaneously hypertensive rat
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 2014
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder an... more Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder and is normally treated with either stimulant or non-stimulant medication such as methylphenidate and atomoxetine respectively. The impact of these drugs on attention and impulsivity has been explored extensively in healthy animals but there is little research into their effects in an animal model of ADHD. In the present study we investigated the effects of both drugs on the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of ADHD using the five-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT). We found a number of difficulties associated with training this vulnerable strain on such a complex task. However, where rats were able to learn the task we found very small effects of methylphenidate; increased incorrect responding and therefore decreased accuracy, a marker of attention at a single dose. There were no significant effects of atomoxetine on accuracy once multiple comparisons were taken into consi...
A Multifaceted Approach to Neuroscience Outreach: Meeting the Challenges
The Neuroscientist, 2007
UK government targets aim for 50% of 18- to 30-year-olds entering higher education; however, with... more UK government targets aim for 50% of 18- to 30-year-olds entering higher education; however, with the vast choice of subjects to study available at this level, it is important to help pupils make informed decisions. As part of this process, awareness of newer fields such as neuroscience, which is not on the syllabus for science at school, needs to be promoted. Various challenges face neuroscientists working with visiting school pupils, including the lack of appropriate teaching resources, the culture and language barrier, and the risk of misinterpretation through oversimplification. The authors have designed a workshop to promote neuroscience and related scientific issues with school pupils aged 16 to 18 years. Pupil feedback showed that awareness of options within science increased after the workshop. The workshop also used resources taken from an undergraduate course successfully, demonstrating that appropriate resources are already available. A practical session using human brains was most popular, with all pupils believing it to be thought provoking and interesting. The final session aimed to challenge stereotypes within science, and despite the lowest pupil ratings overall, the majority agreed this aim was met. Pupils reported that the workshop was interesting and that the information about options within science useful. The most impressive outcome was that, although no pupil recorded less inclination to continue in science following the workshop, 46% said that they were more likely to do so. These data confirm the importance of outreach work for pupils' interest and career choice.
Environmental enrichment differentially modifies specific components of sensory-evoked activity in rat barrel cortex as revealed by simultaneous electrophysiological recordings and optical imaging in vivo
Neuroscience, 2010
Environmental enrichment of laboratory animals leads to multi-faceted changes to physiology, heal... more Environmental enrichment of laboratory animals leads to multi-faceted changes to physiology, health and disease prognosis. An important and under-appreciated factor in enhancing cognition through environmental manipulation may be improved basic sensory function. Previous studies have highlighted changes in cortical sensory map plasticity but have used techniques such as electrophysiology, which suffer from poor spatial resolution, or optical imaging of intrinsic signals, which suffers from low temporal resolution. The current study attempts to overcome these limitations by combining voltage-sensitive dye imaging with somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) recordings: the specific aim was to investigate sensory function in barrel cortex using multi-frequency whisker stimulation under urethane anaesthesia. Three groups of rats were used that each experienced a different level of behavioural or environmental enrichment. We found that enrichment increased all SEP response components subsequent to the initial thalamocortical input, but only when evoked by single stimuli; the thalamocortical component remained unchanged across all animal groups. The optical signal exhibited no changes in amplitude or latency between groups, resembling the thalamocortical component of the SEP response. Permanent and extensive changes to housing conditions conferred no further enhancement to sensory function above that produced by the milder enrichment of regular handling and behavioural testing, a finding with implications for improvements in animal welfare through practical changes to animal husbandry.
Subcortical control of dopamine neurons: The good, the bad and the unexpected
Brain Research Bulletin, 2006
The function of the phasic dopamine signal, seen in response to salient and rewarding stimuli, ha... more The function of the phasic dopamine signal, seen in response to salient and rewarding stimuli, has been heavily debated. The reward prediction error hypothesis has been criticised for the suggestion that such a complex signal could be derived at short latencies, relying only on subcortical inputs. However, as more has been learnt about the nature of the subcortical inputs, we are led to challenge this criticism. Here we suggest that the subcortical inputs can indeed support complex calculations and that it would be unwise to underestimate their processing capabilities. Whilst our analysis cannot differentiate between the reward prediction error hypothesis and its opponents, it does suggest that the initial argument against a prediction error is incorrect.
Auditory responses in a rodent model of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Brain Research, Dec 1, 2015
A central component of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is increased distractibili... more A central component of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is increased distractibility in response to visual and auditory stimuli, which is linked to the superior colliculus (SC). Furthermore, there is now mounting evidence of altered collicular functioning in ADHD and it is proposed that a hyper-responsive SC could mediate symptoms of ADHD, including distractibility. In the present study we conducted a systematic characterisation of the intermediate and deep layers of the SC in the most commonly used and well-validated model of ADHD, the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), building on prior work showing increased distractible behaviour in this strain using visual distractors. We examined collicular-dependent orienting behaviour, local field potential (LFP) and multiunit activity (MUA) in response to auditory stimuli in the anaesthetised rat, and morphological measures, in the SHR in comparison to the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar (WIS). We found no evidence of increased distractibility in the behavioural data but suggest that this may arise due to cochlear hearing loss in the SHR. Furthermore, the electrophysiology data indicate that the SC in the SHR may still be hyper-responsive, normalising the amplitude of auditory responses that would otherwise be reduced due to the hearing impairment. The morphological measures of collicular volume, cell density and ratios did not indicate this potential hyper-responsiveness had a basis at the structural level examined. These findings have implications for future use of the SHR in auditory processing studies and may represent a limitation to the validity of this animal model.
Abnormal air righting behaviour in the spontaneously hypertensive rat model of ADHD
Experimental Brain Research, Sep 20, 2011
The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is the most commonly used model of attention-deficit hyp... more The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is the most commonly used model of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), displaying the main symptoms of the disorder which are responsive to psychostimulant treatments. Research to date has focused on behavioural tests investigating functioning of the striatum or prefrontal cortex in these rats. However, there is now evidence that the superior colliculus, a structure associated with head and eye movements, may also be dysfunctional in ADHD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the SHR demonstrated impairment in collicular-dependent behaviour. To this end, we examined air righting behaviour, which has previously been shown to be modulated in a height-dependent manner reliant on a functional superior colliculus. We assessed SHR, Wistar Kyotos and Wistars on static righting and air righting at 50 and 10 cm drop heights. There were no differences in static righting, indicating that there were no gross motor differences that would confound air righting. Qualitative analysis of video footage of the righting did not reveal any changes previously associated with collicular damage, unique to the SHR. However, the SHR did show impairment in height-dependent modulation of righting in contrast to both control strains, such that the SHR failed to modulate righting latency according to drop height. This failure is indicative of collicular abnormality. Given that many rodent tests of attentional mechanisms involve head and eye orienting, which are heavily dependent on the colliculus, a collicular dysfunction has strong implications for the type of attentional task used in this strain.
Predicting student mental wellbeing and loneliness and the importance of digital skills
Journal of Further and Higher Education
International Journal of Mental Health
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Papers by Eleanor Dommett