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PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into the coordinated regulation of signaling, apoptosis, immunity, and metabolism during Sinonovacula constricta larval metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis is a critical ontogenetic transition for marine bivalves, marking the shift from planktonic to benthic lifestyles, where successful transformation dictates survival. The razor clam Sinonovacula constricta is economically important; however, low larval metamorphosis rates remain a major bottleneck in seedling production. To elucidate the mechanisms governing this process, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of S. constricta larvae at pre- and post-metamorphosis stages using Illumina sequencing. A total of 3701 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 3254 up-regulated and 447 down-regulated genes. Functional annotation of the respective top 20 significantly up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs indicated their potential pivotal roles in signal transduction (e.g., up-regulated: CAV1, CHRNA2; down-regulated: APP, NOTCH1), cellular proliferation and differentiation (e.g., up-regulated: TUBA, EGF1; down-regulated: KIF23, TTC25), transcriptional and epigenetic regulation (e.g., up-regulated: NFIL3; down-regulated: OVO, HMX1), substance transport (e.g., up-regulated: LRP2, LRP1B; down-regulated: SLC51A, Slc33a1), substance metabolism (e.g., up-regulated: CPK3, CYP26A1; down-regulated: RDMT1, ADAC), immunomodulation (e.g., up-regulated: CPN2, CRISP2), and protein homeostasis (e.g., up-regulated: HSP27, NAS-27). Functional enrichment analysis further revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to signal transduction and developmental regulation (e.g., Ras, TNF), cell death and homeostasis (e.g., apoptosis), immune responses (e.g., Toll-like receptor), energy metabolism (e.g., lipid), cardiovascular related (e.g., Fluid shear stress), cell junction and architecture (e.g., Tight junction), and infectious disease (e.g., measles). These results suggest a synergistic interplay between signaling, apoptosis, immunity, and metabolism during S. constricta metamorphosis. This study advances our understanding of marine bivalve metamorphosis and offers candidate genes for further mechanistic studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Effects of strength and balance training on the structure of the aging brain.

BACKGROUND: While it is established that motor training induces structural changes in the brains of young adults, structural adaptations in aging brains are less studied. METHODS: This randomized controlled study investigated the impact of long-term strength and balance training on the structural plasticity in 60 elderly adults (64 - 82 years old, 70.6 ± 4.7) using multi-modal neuroimaging. We compared the effects of three months of strength training to balance training of the same duration and to a passive control group. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to assess grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) plasticity. White matter tract integrity (WMTI) modelling was employed to explore the microstructural underpinnings of white matter alterations. RESULTS: We found that strength training was associated with changes in diffusion metrics consistent with white matter microstructural remodeling, specifically increased extra-axonal axial diffusivity in the bilateral inferior fronto-occipital and longitudinal fasciculi. Additionally, both balance and strength training mitigated reductions in axonal water fraction in the splenium of the corpus callosum and the right posterior corona radiata observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results underscore the potential relevance of strength and balance training to induce beneficial neural plasticity by counteracting aging-related demyelination in the corpus callosum and highlight the specific role of strength training in facilitating white matter reorganization in key transmission fiber pathways.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive analysis suggests CRIF1 is a potential target in breast cancer associated with prognosis and immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: CRIF1 is a multifunctional factor that regulates cell biological processes such as the cell cycle, cell proliferation, and energy metabolism, and it is a new molecule that contributes to the poor prognosis of many malignancies. However, its involvement in breast cancer development is not fully known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To investigate the relationship between CRIF1 expression, prognosis, and clinical characteristics using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-BRCA). The relationship between CRIF1 expression and the immunological microenvironment was investigated using CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE. Breast tissue and CRIF1 expression were validated by IHC. A tiny interfering plasmid was designed to transiently transfect breast cancer cell lines, and proliferation-related functional tests were carried out. The effect of sh CRIF1 on tumor formation was confirmed using a subcutaneous tumor experiment in naked mice. RESULTS: We discovered that CRIF1 was highly elevated in breast cancer tissues and associated with a poor prognosis. CRIF1 stimulates breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Knockdown decreased PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, which boosted autophagy activity. Immune infiltration research revealed that patients with high CRIF1 expression had higher CD8+ T cell expression but reduced macrophage M2 expression. CONCLUSION: Upregulation of CRIF1 in breast cancer cells enhances malignant behavior, which may be mediated by PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and is linked to cellular autophagy.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of blood flow restriction training combined with plyometric training on lower limb muscle strength and motor unit recruitment in basketball players: An experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that plyometric training (PT) improves neuromuscular function and explosive power but not maximal strength. Blood flow restriction training (BFR) combined with low-intensity resistance training (RT) increases muscle mass and strength. This study investigated the effects of PT, and BFR combined with PT on lower-limb muscle function. METHODS: Twenty elite basketball players were randomly assigned to two groups: PT-alone group (PT, n = 10) and BFR combine with PT group (PT-BFR, n = 10). All participants underwent bodyweight-based plyometric training three times per week for eight weeks. Peak torque values for hip and knee flexion and extension, as well as root mean square (RMS) values derived from electromyography, were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the 8-week intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in knee flexion and extension peak torque at 180°/s (all p < 0.01). Between-group comparisons revealed greater gains in the PT-BFR group for hip extension and flexion at 60°/s (p = 0.036-0.002; ηp2 = 0.225-0.233). RMS of the rectus femoris increased significantly more in the PT-BFR group than in the PT group (right: p = 0.004, ηp2 = 0.385; left: p = 0.020, ηp2 = 0.266), whereas no significant changes were observed in the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, or biceps femoris (all p > 0.05). CMJ height also improved more in the PT-BFR group, with a significant group × time interaction (p = 0.042, ηp2 = 0.210). CONCLUSION: Both training protocols enhanced bilateral lower-limb strength, with notable gains in the non-dominant leg; however, the magnitude did not differ substantially between groups. In contrast, compared with PT alone, BFR combined with PT produced superior enhancements in lower-limb muscle strength and neuromuscular recruitment. These findings suggest that when PT is employed to improve explosive power, it may be effectively combined with BFR to further augment muscular strength.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparative effects of 12-week resistance training on unstable and stable surfaces on muscle stiffness, muscle co-activation, and balance in older patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized trial compared the effects of unstable resistance training (URT), involving resistance exercises on unstable surfaces, and stable resistance training (SRT), performed on stable surfaces, on muscle stiffness, co-activation, and balance in older adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We hypothesized that URT would yield greater improvements by enhancing neuromuscular adaptability. METHODS: Fifty patients with KOA were randomly assigned to the URT group (n = 25) or the SRT group (n = 25). After attrition, 46 participants (URT: n = 23; SRT: n = 23) completed the intervention and were included in the final analysis. Both groups completed a 12-week supervised lower-limb resistance training program (3 sessions/week) consisting of 10 exercises performed under either unstable or stable support conditions. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of intervention, both groups showed significant reductions in pain intensity (p < 0.001). However, compared with the SRT group, the URT group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in quadriceps stiffness (p < 0.05), selected hamstring stiffness outcomes (p < 0.05), and quadriceps-hamstring co-activation (p < 0.001), alongside superior improvements in both dynamic balance and static balance (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: While both training modalities are effective for pain relief, URT elicited greater improvements in balance-related performance and neuromuscular-mechanical outcomes than SRT in older adults with KOA. These findings suggest that incorporating unstable support conditions into resistance training may provide additional rehabilitation benefits for this population.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Safety and immunogenicity of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administered to adults: A phase 2, randomized, active-controlled trial.

We conducted a phase 2, randomized, active-controlled, observer-blind study (NCT05960097) among healthy adults ≥18 y of age who completed a primary COVID-19 mRNA vaccination series, with or without a booster, ≥3 months earlier. Participants were randomized (1:1:1:1:1) to either receive an investigational bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine encoding ancestral D614G and Omicron BA.4-5 spike proteins (CV0701 mRNA vaccine) at one of three dose levels, an investigational monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine encoding the Omicron BA.4-5 spike protein (CV0601 mRNA vaccine), or a licensed Original Wuhan/Omicron BA.4-5 bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The primary objectives were to evaluate reactogenicity, safety and immunogenicity post-vaccination. Secondary and tertiary objectives were to further evaluate humoral and cell-mediated immunity post-vaccination. In total, 425 participants were vaccinated and 381 were included in the Day 29 per-protocol immunogenicity analysis. Most solicited events were mild to moderate. No vaccine-related serious adverse events or myocarditis/pericarditis cases were reported. For the CV0701 mRNA vaccine, a dose-dependent increase in Day 29 neutralizing titers against ancestral D614G and Omicron BA.4-5 was observed. Neutralizing titers against ancestral D614G and Omicron BA.4-5 declined by Days 91 and 181, but remained above baseline. Similar immune responses were observed for the CV0601 mRNA vaccine. At Day 8, CD4+ T cells (Th1 profile) increased in all study groups and CD8+ T cells increased in all study groups, except the lowest CV0701 dose group. The CV0701 and CV0601 mRNA vaccines elicited robust humoral and cellular immunity with an acceptable safety profile, comparable to a licensed, bivalent mRNA vaccine. Clinical Trial Registration EU CT number: 2023-504596-25-00 ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05960097.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pre-transport dietary chitosan improves the physiological robustness of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) by modulating antioxidant and inflammatory responses.

The acute stress caused by long-distance transport can lead to oxidative damage, immune dysfunction, and health deterioration in fish. This study evaluated dietary chitosan as a pre-transport nutritional strategy for juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Five experimental diets contained chitosan at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 g/kg, designated as p0, p25, p50, p75, and p100, respectively, for 56 d. The effects of dietary chitosan were evaluated using growth performance, feed utilization, digestive function, antioxidant capacity, nonspecific immunity, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Then, fish from the p0 and p50 groups underwent a 12-h transport stress test, with samples collected before, during, and 7 d after transport. Dietary chitosan improved most of these parameters. Among the treatment groups, p50 and p75 showed the best overall performance. The dose-response analysis further indicated that the appropriate dietary inclusion range was 5.0-7.5 g/kg. Under transport stress, fish in the p50 group exhibited more stable antioxidant enzyme responses and lower lipid peroxidation, as indicated by reduced MDA levels. Consistent with these enzyme responses, antioxidant-related genes remained relatively stable. At the same time, expression patterns related to the Nrf2-Keap1 and NF-κB signaling pathways suggested that 5.0 g/kg chitosan alleviated transport-induced oxidative damage and inflammation. Dietary chitosan also attenuated pro-inflammatory gene induction and altered the temporal expression patterns of anti-inflammatory genes. Overall, 5.0-7.5 g/kg dietary chitosan is suitable for juvenile largemouth bass, and 5.0 g/kg may serve as an effective pre-transport dietary inclusion level.

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PubMed2026

Ensemble DNA methylation clock demonstrates Immune-metabolic aging signatures associated with mortality.

Aging is a multifactorial process that is best described in terms of the progressive acquisition of multiple layers of phenotypic changes, such as epigenetic modifications, inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. DNA methylation clocks have been extensively used to construct epigenetic clocks based on the DNAm profiles that can be used to estimate biological age and predict age-associated outcomes. Nevertheless, the vast majority of clocks constructed so far have been based on linear models, which are unlikely to fully account for the heterogeneity and non-linearity of survival-related DNAm signatures. In this work, we constructed a heterogeneous stacked ensemble survival model based on DNAm data obtained from the Framingham Heart Study. We first identified 190 CpG loci using elastic net Cox regression and subsequently constructed a survival prediction model based on the fusion of five complementary survival models by means of a neural network meta-learner. The prediction power of the survival model was evaluated in an external validation cohort, where we observed strong performance for predicting all-cause mortality that significantly exceeded PhenoAge and was statistically comparable to GrimAge. These performance estimates were derived in cohorts of European ancestry and externally validated in postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years, and should therefore be interpreted as applicable only to demographically similar populations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Base editing reversal of radiation sensitivity in NHEJ1 immunodeficiency.

Inherited defects of DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair can result in radiosensitive/radiation-sensitive (RS) SCID (RS-SCID). We applied base editing to reverse NHEJ1 mutations in patient fibroblasts, exemplifying how this technology can help interrogate RS sequence variants.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Photobiomodulation as an Adjunct to Resistance Training in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been proposed as an adjunct to resistance training to enhance strength adaptations; however, findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remain inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate whether adjunctive PBM improves maximal strength gains when combined with periodized resistance training in older adults. METHODS: RCTs were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PEDro, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and CNKI from inception to January 2026. Eligible studies examined PBM delivered via low-level laser therapy or light-emitting diodes in combination with resistance training or other strength-oriented loading tasks. Prespecified meta-analyses were restricted to trials combining PBM with periodized resistance training that reported one-repetition maximum (1RM) outcomes; other studies were included in a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs (n = 456) were included. Five trials (PBM plus resistance training: n = 74; control: n = 72) met the criteria for meta-analysis. PBM combined with resistance training did not significantly improve maximal muscle strength compared with sham PBM (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.59; p = 0.14; I2 = 4%). Subgroup analyses showed a nonsignificant trend favoring PBM for unilateral 1RM, with no effect for bilateral outcomes and no significant subgroup differences. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the unilateral effect was dependent on individual studies. In nonresistance training contexts, some studies reported potential benefits for fatigue-, recovery-, or function-related outcomes, particularly in frail or critically ill older adults, although findings were inconsistent. CONCLUSION: Current evidence does not demonstrate a clear additional benefit of PBM on maximal strength when combined with resistance training in older adults, although a small effect cannot be excluded. PBM may have selective value in improving recovery-related outcomes and supporting training tolerance in vulnerable populations. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to clarify its role.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies in Neurosurgical Training: Enhancing Skills and Surgical Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the role of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) in neurosurgical education and training. DESIGN: Systematic review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. SETTING: A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for English-language studies published between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2026. PARTICIPANTS: Studies involving neurosurgeons, fellows, residents, and medical students (maximum sample size: n = 48) were included. RESULTS: Of 7,204 initially identified studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. VR was primarily used for surgical simulation (100% of VR studies) and anatomical education (62.5%). AR demonstrated broader applications, including preoperative planning (40%) and intraoperative support (30%). MR was evenly distributed across simulation, planning, and intraoperative support (40% each). The most frequently improved outcomes were training effectiveness (52%) and technical proficiency (44%). Methodological quality scores, assessed using the Modified Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MMERSQI), ranged from 39.5 to 84.5, indicating varied rigor. CONCLUSION: VR, AR, and MR technologies show potential to enhance surgical precision, technical skills, and educational outcomes in neurosurgical training. However, standardization of methodologies and cost-effective solutions remain essential. Future research should focus on long-term clinical impact and integration of AI-driven training models.

Virtual Reality↗

PubMed2026

Letter to the Editor re: "Education and training in hypospadias surgery: Current status, competency assessment, and the role of modern educational tools".

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Letter↗

PubMed2026

Dissociable neural mechanisms of cognitive enhancement through transcranial stimulation and behavioral training.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and adaptive working memory (WM) training are promising cognitive enhancement approaches; however, their neural mechanisms and potential synergies remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We directly compared how tDCS and WM training modulate neural oscillations during WM performance and examined whether combining both interventions produces additive effects. METHODS: We randomized 112 healthy adults into four groups: control (sham tDCS + non-adaptive 1-back), tDCS-only (active tDCS + non-adaptive 1-back), training-only (sham tDCS + adaptive n-back training), or combined (active tDCS + adaptive training). Participants underwent five daily intervention sessions. We recorded high-density EEG during transfer n-back tasks at baseline, post-intervention, and one-week follow-up. RESULTS: All active interventions improved WM performance relative to the control group, with the combined group showing the largest gains (n-back accuracy: +15.6% vs. + 10.1% tDCS-only, +9.7% training-only, +0.7% control; all p < 0.001). Critically, tDCS selectively increased gamma-band (30-50 Hz) power in the frontal and parietal regions (cluster p = 0.018, d > 1.0), whereas WM training enhanced frontal theta-band (4-8 Hz) power and theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (both cluster p < 0.012, d > 0.85). The combined group exhibited both neural signatures. Brain-behavior correlations revealed dissociable relationships: gamma increases predicted n-back accuracy improvements (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), whereas theta enhancements correlated with operation span gains (r = 0.58, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: tDCS and WM training enhance cognition through distinct yet complementary neural mechanisms: tDCS via gamma-mediated cortical excitability and WM training via theta-mediated cognitive control. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence for multimodal enhancement strategies that target parallel pathways within WM networks.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Six weeks of isometric resistance training led to evidence of corticospinal but not reticulospinal adaptation in previously untrained adult males.

The latest hypothesis regarding the source of enhanced neural activation from resistance training is the reticulospinal rather than the corticospinal tract, based on invasive animal and emerging human data. The present study employed a six-week isometric resistance training intervention in a randomized controlled design to address this knowledge gap. Thirty-nine healthy, untrained males (age ~23 y, sustained contraction group n = 13, explosive contraction group n = 9, control group n = 17) underwent neuromuscular and electrophysiological testing and completed all study requirements. Maximal isometric torque (MVC) and rate of torque development (RTD) were measured during a familiarization session as well as before and after the six-week period. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess motor-evoked potential (MEP) area and silent period duration while subjects contracted to 10% of MVC. Loud sound (120 dB) was used to modulate MEP area and reaction time to visual stimuli during the StartReact test. Only the intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in MVC (27%) and RTD (60%) (both P < 0.01), along with reduced MEP area (- 21%) and silent period duration (- 23%) (both P < 0.01). The sustained contraction group showed reduced modulation of reaction time and increased MEP suppression due to loud sound. Short-term resistance training seemed to reduce cortical inhibition and corticospinal excitability in both training groups. The study showed conflicting changes in measures purported to evaluate reticulospinal functioning. It is recommended to examine different forms of resistance training and longer training exposure in future.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Psychological consequences of AI-assisted training and the buffering role of mindfulness.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into athletic training is accelerating, yet its psychological implications for athletes remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on the transactional model of stress and the stress-buffering framework of mindfulness, this study examined whether mindfulness training can mitigate adverse psychological responses associated with AI-assisted training. Using a randomized controlled factorial design, 160 collegiate athletes were assigned to AI-assisted training or standard training, with or without concurrent mindfulness intervention, and assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Athletes exposed to AI-assisted training without psychological support exhibited increases in perceived stress and AI dependence over time. In contrast, these stress increases were substantially attenuated when mindfulness training was implemented alongside AI-assisted training. A significant AI × Mindfulness × Time interaction emerged for perceived stress at post-intervention, and difference-in-differences analyses corroborated a robust buffering effect. Mediation analyses further indicated that mindfulness training reduced stress partially through enhancing mindful awareness; a three-wave cross-lagged analysis showed that mindful awareness and stress were reciprocally related over time, with the hypothesized awareness-to-stress pathway remaining robust. Together, these findings suggest that AI-assisted training introduces a distinct form of evaluative pressure, and that mindfulness training may serve as an effective psychological buffer during the adoption of continuous algorithmic performance evaluation systems.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of Dynamic Neck Sensorimotor Biofeedback Training in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is commonly accompanied by pain-related functional limitations, sensorimotor disturbances, and fear of movement, which together may contribute to persistent disability. This preliminary randomized controlled trial study investigated the short-term effects of dynamic neck sensorimotor-based biofeedback training in individuals with MNP. 20 MNP patients from outpatient clinics were assigned to a biofeedback training group or a control group. The training group underwent dynamic biofeedback exercises twice weekly for 2 weeks, whereas the control group performed repeated cervical movements without biofeedback. Outcomes included cervical kinematics as repositioning errors (RPE), movement units (MU), maximal range of motion (ROM), and subjective measures, including pain intensity, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). All participants completed post-intervention assessments; adherence in the training group was 100%, with no missing data and no adverse events reported. Within the biofeedback training group, participants receiving biofeedback training demonstrated greater improvements in cervical repositioning accuracy during flexion (51.95%, p = 0.04) and extension (46.67%, p = 0.02), along with reductions in fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity and work (p < 0.05); these changes were less apparent in the active control group. Exploratory regression analyses suggested associations between improvements in repositioning accuracy and pain reduction, and between increased cervical range of motion and improvements in fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity. These pilot findings suggest that dynamic sensorimotor biofeedback training may improve proprioceptive acuity and fear-avoidance beliefs in individuals with MNP, supporting further evaluation in an adequately powered randomized trial.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The effects of visuomotor training and tDCS stimulation on visuomotor integration and visual processing: an electrophysiological approach.

BACKGROUND: Visuomotor integration coordinates visual and motor cortical activity to produce goal-directed responses and can be indexed by Rolandic Mu-rhythm suppression and visual evoked potential (VEP) P100 parameters. Perceptual-motor training improves visuomotor performance, and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex (M1) has been reported to enhance motor learning when paired with training. This study examined whether anodal M1 tDCS augments the effects of Senaptec visuomotor training in healthy adults. METHODS: Sixty participants were randomized to active anodal tDCS (five 10-minute sessions, 1 mA; n = 31) or sham (n = 29) over M1 immediately before each Senaptec training session; 53 completed all sessions and post-testing. Outcomes were Mu-suppression ratios, VEP P100 latency and amplitude, and Senaptec measures of visual sensitivity and visuomotor control. RESULTS: Active tDCS produced no augmentation of any outcome, with no significant group × time interaction for any measure, consistent across composite and task-level analyses. Training alone produced no change in Mu suppression or visuomotor control. By contrast, both groups showed significant training-related gains in visual sensitivity, including near-far quickness and stereopsis, accompanied by shorter P100 latencies and larger amplitudes, indicating more efficient early visual processing. CONCLUSIONS: A clear dissociation emerged: training produced robust improvements in early visual processing, whereas neither tDCS nor training altered sensorimotor (Mu) or visuomotor-control measures. The tDCS results should be interpreted cautiously given the modest dose and limited power to detect small effects, rather than as evidence of inefficacy. Tablet-based perceptual training enhanced visual processing independent of neuromodulation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The effect of olfactory training and odor exposure on visual selective attention.

Olfactory training (OT) is a well-established, non-invasive intervention that improves olfactory function by repeated, structured exposure to odorants. Beyond sensory outcomes, it also influences multiple aspects of cognition. Yet, its influence on attention, a fundamental process underlying many cognitive domains, remains unclear. This study examined the impact of a 12-week OT program on visual selective attentional performance and the effect of on-task odor exposure. Ninety-four healthy participants were initially included, and randomized into OT or placebo groups. Participants completed the d2 Test of Attention simultaneously with and without odor exposure in a randomized sequence at baseline, post-training, and a follow-up four weeks after stopping the training. The d2 test measures commission errors, omission errors, and concentration performance. Ninety-three participants (OT=51, placebo=42) completed baseline measurement, 74 (OT=39, placebo=35) returned for post-training session, and 57 participants (OT=29, placebo=28) returned for the follow-up appointment. Results showed that OT did not significantly improve d2 test performance. In the primary model, on-task PEA exposure reduced commission errors compared to the odorless condition, suggesting a possible transient effect of olfactory input on the inhibitory control in the context of the d2 attentional test. This effect, however, was no longer significant once the follow-up data were included and should be regarded as preliminary. Overall, these findings raise the possibility of a distinction between relatively long-term OT and short-term odor exposure: while OT did not improve visual selective attention, brief on-task odor exposure may transiently enhance inhibitory control during attentional tasks, a possibility that remains to be confirmed.

Humans↗