Yunxiang Tang

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laughter intervention in alleviating stress among adults through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and explore sources of heterogeneity. Following PRISMA guidelines, 15 RCTs (1,344 participants) were identified via searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang Data up to June 2025. Study selection, quality assessment (Cochrane Risk of Bias tool), and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata17.0, with stress outcomes pooled via random-effects models. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses assessed robustness and heterogeneity. Interventions included laughter yoga, simulated laughter sessions, and comedy-based therapies, delivered either online or in person, over durations ranging from 1 to 16 weeks. Laughter intervention significantly reduced stress (SMD = − 1.41, 95% CI: −2.04, − 0.78; p < 0.001), although high heterogeneity was observed (I² = 95.8%). Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent benefits across clinical patients, nurses, nursing students, and mothers of NICU children. Sensitivity analyses supported result stability (p < 0.001). The methodological quality of included studies was variable, with most showing some concerns regarding allocation concealment and blinding. Based on currently available RCT evidence, laughter intervention appears to be beneficial for reducing stress in diverse adult populations. However, the finding is tempered by high statistical heterogeneity and variable methodological quality across studies. Despite a large aggregate effect size, high heterogeneity limits the precision of the estimate. While promising, these results should be interpreted cautiously. Future research should prioritize multi-center designs, standardized outcome measures, and integration of objective biomarkers (e.g., cortisol) to strengthen evidence. Methodological improvements in RCT design and cultural adaptations are critical for clinical applicability.

Physical activity (PA) is a key modifiable factor influencing sleep health. The “Weekend Warrior” (WW) pattern is increasingly common, yet its

This study established and implemented a multidimensional assessment protocol to systematically investigate neurobehavioral changes among 30 preliminary and backup members of the Antarctic inland expedition team undergoing rapid altitude training. The protocol integrates psychometric scales (BFI-44, DASS-21, PSQI), behavioral paradigms (N-back task), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and wrist actigraphy to assess neurobehavioral adaptations across varying altitudes (0 m above sea level (a.s.l) / 3,700 m a.s.l / 4,300 m a.s.l) over an 8-day cycle. The core design comprises pre-ascent baseline testing; synchronized cognitive-fNIRS measurements at target altitudes; 24/8 sleep monitoring (including 8 h nocturnal actigraphy). This multimodal framework enables quantitative characterization of prefrontal compensatory activation, sleep fragmentation dynamics, and altitude-induced anxiety fluctuations. Findings reveal that, compared to Chinese normative data, participants exhibited significantly elevated agreeableness (t=3.940, P<0.001) and conscientiousness (t=9.736, P<0.001), alongside reduced neuroticism (t=-14.087, P<0.001). Acute hypoxia exacerbated anxiety (Z=-4.098, P<0.001), with greater severity in ethnic minority members (H=6.405, P=0.011). Actigraphy demonstrated altitude-dependent sleep fragmentation (WASO: 4,300 m a.s.l versus baseline, P=0.028). N-back tasks confirmed preserved working memory at 3,700 m a.s.l. (accuracy P=0.027) mediated by compensatory prefrontal activation (L-aPFC activation P=0.043). These data establish evidence-based selection criteria for polar science expeditions in high-altitude settings and delineate neuroplastic resilience thresholds under hypoxic stress.

This study established and implemented a multidimensional assessment protocol to systematically investigate neurobehavioral changes among 30 preliminary and backup members of the Antarctic inland expedition team undergoing rapid altitude training. The protocol integrates psychometric scales (BFI-44, DASS-21, PSQI), behavioral paradigms (N-back task), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and wrist actigraphy to assess neurobehavioral adaptations across varying altitudes (0 m above sea level (a.s.l) / 3,700 m a.s.l / 4,300 m a.s.l) over an 8-day cycle. The core design comprises pre-ascent baseline testing; synchronized cognitive-fNIRS measurements at target altitudes; 24/8 sleep monitoring (including 8 h nocturnal actigraphy). This multimodal framework enables quantitative characterization of prefrontal compensatory activation, sleep fragmentation dynamics, and altitude-induced anxiety fluctuations. Findings reveal that, compared to Chinese normative data, participants exhibited significantly elevated agreeableness (t=3.940, P<0.001) and conscientiousness (t=9.736, P<0.001), alongside reduced neuroticism (t=-14.087, P<0.001). Acute hypoxia exacerbated anxiety (Z=-4.098, P<0.001), with greater severity in ethnic minority members (H=6.405, P=0.011). Actigraphy demonstrated altitude-dependent sleep fragmentation (WASO: 4,300 m a.s.l versus baseline, P=0.028). N-back tasks confirmed preserved working memory at 3,700 m a.s.l. (accuracy P=0.027) mediated by compensatory prefrontal activation (L-aPFC activation P=0.043). These data establish evidence-based selection criteria for polar science expeditions in high-altitude settings and delineate neuroplastic resilience thresholds under hypoxic stress.

Objective: To investigate the effects of sleep quality, sleep deprivation, and napping on facial emotion recognition (FER) accuracy and speed. Methods: This research included a cross-sectional study (102 qualified participants) and a randomized controlled study (26 in the napping group and 24 in the control group). The stimuli for the FER task were obtained from the Chinese Facial Affective Picture System (CFAPS). Four facial expressions (fearful, disgusted, sad, and angry) were used. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Self-Rating Depression Scale were used to measure participants’ sleep quality and psychological conditions. In Study 1, FER ability was compared between good and poor sleepers. In Study 2, all participants were sleep-deprived for one night, and completed the FER task before and after sleep deprivation. After different interventions (ie, napping for one hour, or walking around for ten minutes), the participants completed the third FER task. Results: Study 1: Poor sleepers were able to recognize sad expressions more accurately compared with good sleepers. Study 2: 30-h sleep deprivation had no significant effect on the accuracy (ACC). Napping after sleep deprivation improved the FER ACC of upper-face expressions and marginally significantly improved the FER ACC of disgusted expressions. Conclusion: Better sleep quality was linked to lower FER accuracy, particularly in recognizing sad expressions, while no significant differences in recognition speed were observed. Additionally, 30 hours of sleep deprivation did not affect FER accuracy, but napping after sleep deprivation improved accuracy for upper-face and marginally for disgusted expressions.

Background: Napping deprivation in habitual nappers leads to cognitive impairment. The ameliorative effect of acute aerobic exercise has been demonstrated for this post-cognitive impairment. However, it is still unclear which intensity of aerobic exercise is the most effective and how long this improvement can be sustained. Methods: Fifty-eight healthy adults with a chronic napping habit were randomly assigned to four intervention groups after undergoing nap deprivation: a sedentary control group, a low-intensity exercise group (50– 59% maximum heart rate, HR_max), a moderate-intensity exercise group (60– 69% HR_max), and a high-intensity exercise group (70– 79% HR_max). Working memory (N-back task), vigilance (Psychomotor Vigilance Task, PVT), and response inhibitory capacity (Go/NoGo task) were measured. Results: Regression analyses showed a quadratic trend between exercise intensity and working memory reaction time and accuracy (F =3.297– 5.769, p < 0.05, R² =10.7– 18.9%). The effects of exercise were optimal at low-intensity. There was a significant quadratic trend between exercise intensity and PVT lapse (F =4.314, p =0.042, R² =7.2%). The effect of exercise increased with higher intensity. Prolonged observation found that the effect of low-intensity exercise on working memory was maintained for 2 hours. Conclusion: The effect of low-intensity exercise might be underestimated. Low-intensity exercise significantly improved working memory performance, and the effects could be maintained throughout the afternoon. In contrast, the effects of high-intensity exercise were unlikely to be maintained and might even have negative effects. Future researchers can broaden the categories of participants to enhance the external validity and collect diverse physiological indicators to explore related physiological mechanisms.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of sleep deprivation on individual cognitive reappraisal ability using a standardized behavioral paradigm. Methods: A randomized pretest-posttest control group design was conducted. Thirty-nine participants were eventually enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either the sleep control (SC: n = 17) or the sleep deprivation (SD: n = 22). Both of them were required to perform a standardized behavioral paradigm of measuring cognitive reappraisal ability one time under sleep-rested condition and another time under the condition of different sleep manipulation a week later. Results: Mean valence ratings of SD group were more negative than SC group’s (p < 0.05) and mean arousal ratings of SD group were higher than SC group’s (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Sleep deprivation may impair individual cognitive reappraisal ability and could potentially undermine the efficacy of cognitive therapy in terms of emotion regulation.