Biology subjects

Dehghani-Arani, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Dehghani-Arani, F..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

The Gut-Brain Axis Shapes Cognitive-Emotional Processing: Evidence for Attentional Avoidance of Bloating Cues in IBS

BackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by significant gut-brain interactions and various symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Cognitive deficits in IBS have been linked to attentional biases, particularly towards somatic and symptom-related cues. Despite increasing interest in understanding these cognitive processes, the specific patterns of attentional biases and their relationship with anxiety in IBS remain inadequately explored. MethodThis study employed a dot-probe task to compare attentional biases toward somatic (bloating, pain) and social threat cues (angry/disgusted faces) in 15 patients with IBS, 15 individuals with high anxiety (HA), and 15 healthy controls (HC). Participants completed two tasks (Body/Face) with 500 ms stimulus exposure. Attentional bias indices (RT incongruent - RT congruent) were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVAs, controlling for anxiety (STAI) and IBS symptom severity (IBS-SSS). ResultsPatients with IBS exhibited significant avoidance of bloating-related stimuli compared to HC (p =.013), but not pain-related cues. Anxiety modulated attentional processing in IBS (p =.015) and HC (p =.013). HA showed no significant biases. IBS patients demonstrated slower overall reaction times than HC (p=.024), suggesting cognitive load. A positive IBS severity-anxiety correlation was observed in IBS (r = 0.574, p =.020). ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate that IBS is associated with selective avoidance of bloating-related stimuli, driven by a maladaptive interplay between hyper-precise symptom expectations and interoceptive noise--a mechanism distinct from anxiety-related attentional patterns. While anxiety amplifies this avoidance, it does not independently account for the cognitive profile of IBS. These results underscore the gut-brain axis role in shaping cognitive-emotional processing.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Attention in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Affected Domains and Brain-Gut Axis Interactions

BackgroundIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, significantly impacting patients quality of life. Recent research suggests that attention may be affected in individuals with IBS, potentially influencing symptom perception and emotional distress. ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to investigate the relationship between attention and IBS, focusing on the affected domains of attention and the interactions within the brain-gut axis. MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, PsychINFO, and Scopus, from January 1990 to December 2024. Studies were included if they assessed attention in adult IBS patients and employed valid measurement tools. A total of 24 studies were selected for analysis, encompassing various methodologies, including neuroimaging and behavioral assessments. ResultsThe findings indicate that IBS patients exhibit significant attentional biases, particularly towards gastrointestinal-related stimuli, reflecting heightened sensitivity and hypervigilance. Specific domains of attention, including selective attention, sustained attention, and pre-attentional processing, were identified as being affected. The review highlights the role of psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, in modulating attention in IBS. Neuroimaging studies revealed altered brain activation patterns in regions associated with attention and emotional processing, suggesting a complex interplay between cognitive function and the brain-gut axis. ConclusionThis systematic review underscores the multifaceted nature of attention in IBS, revealing specific attentional deficits and biases that may contribute to symptom exacerbation and emotional distress. The findings emphasize the need for further research to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions aimed at addressing attention in IBS patients.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Investigating the Effects of Synbiotic Intervention on Working Memory performance in Healthy Young Women

The gut-brain axis plays a key role in the bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal system and the brain, with gut microbiota significantly influencing cognitive function. While synbiotic and probiotic interventions have shown potential cognitive benefits, results across studies remain mixed. This randomized, controlled, repeated-measures study investigated the effects of a 15-day synbiotic intervention on cognitive performance in 28 healthy women (aged 18-32), assigned to either a synbiotic or no-treatment control group. Cognitive performance was assessed before and after the intervention using the Parametric Auditory Working Memory Task and the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT). Compared to the control group, participants in the synbiotic group demonstrated selective improvements in attention, particularly in overall visual attention and visual sustained attention, as indicated by significant group-by-time interactions (ps < .05). No significant changes were observed in auditory working memory or inhibitory control. These results suggest that short-term synbiotic supplementation may selectively enhance visual attention without broadly affecting executive functions.

neuroscience↗