@article{PourhassanSarginsonHitzletal.2023, author = {Pourhassan, Jasmin and Sarginson, Jane and Hitzl, Wolfgang and Richter, Kneginja}, title = {Cognitive function in soccer athletes determined by sleep disruption and self-reported health, yet not by decision-reinvestment}, series = {Frontiers in Neurology}, volume = {13}, journal = {Frontiers in Neurology}, publisher = {Frontiers Media SA}, issn = {1664-2295}, doi = {10.3389/fneur.2022.872761}, pages = {1 -- 13}, year = {2023}, abstract = {BackgroundSleep disruption (SD) increases sympathetic activity and cortisol secretion, and delays cognitive functions such as reaction-time (RT). Sympathetic activity of disturbed sleepers, is similar to those of so-called decision-reinvesters. Decision-reinvestment refers to traits in individuals with greater tendency to ruminate and reinvest in their decisions, with significant decrease in both motor-control and cognitive performance. Decision-making quality is a crucial attribute to athletic performance which relies on RT. Consequently, SD affects pitch-performance negatively, particularly in decision-reinvesters. This observational pilot-study examined the relationship between SD and cognitive function, perceived health, as well as reinvestment strategies. The hypothesis was that athletes with lower SD perceive their health better, report lower stress levels, perform better in cognitive tasks, and show lower tendency for decision-reinvestment.MethodsTwenty-one football player recorded their sleep with fit-trackers for 7 nights. Participants self-reported their mental and physical health, decision-reinvestment strategy, sleep behaviour, and perceived stress levels. Athletes then performed a set of cognitive tests to examine memory function (Backwards Corsi), selective attention (STROOP), and cognitive flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST). Normality was tested with a Shapiro-Wilk test, and analysed with a Pearson's or Spearman's correlation test.ResultsSignificant correlation appeared between extended sleep-interruptions and Backwards Corsi RT, r = 0.66, p = 0.010, as further in total sleep time and wellbeing r = 0.50, p = 0.029. A negative correlation exist in regard of pain scores and Backwards Corsi scores r = -0.57, p = 0.110. Physical health correlated with error-rates in the WCST, r = 0.69, p ≤ 0.001. Also, reinvestment negatively correlated with physical health, r = -0.80, p ≤ 0.001.ConclusionWellbeing relies on total sleep-time. Athletes with extended sleep-interruptions are slower in recalling memory, and those with greater reported pain have lower memory scores. Participants who rate physical health greater, have more error-rates in the WCST; indicating that cognitive flexibility is enhanced in individuals with inferior perceived health. However, individuals with lower physical health scores also have greater tendency to ruminate and reinvest in decisions, suggesting interrelation between reinvestment and physical health.}, language = {en} } @article{RichterZimniTomovaetal.2021, author = {Richter, Kneginja and Zimni, Melanie and Tomova, Iva and Retzer, Lukas and H{\"o}fig, Joachim and Kellner, Stefanie and Fries, Carla and Bernstein, Karina and Hitzl, Wolfgang and Hillemacher, Thomas and Miloseva, Lence and Acker, Jens}, title = {Insomnia Associated with Tinnitus and Gender Differences}, series = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {18}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, number = {6}, publisher = {MDPI AG}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph18063209}, pages = {10}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Chronic tinnitus causes a decrease in well-being and can negatively affect sleep quality. It has further been indicated that there are clinically relevant gender differences, which may also have an impact on sleep quality. By conducting a retrospective and explorative data analysis for differences in patients with tinnitus and patients diagnosed with tinnitus and insomnia, hypothesized differences were explored in the summed test scores and on item-level of the validated psychometric instruments. A cross-sectional study was conducted collecting data from a sample of tinnitus patients (n = 76). Insomnia was diagnosed in 49 patients. Gender differences were found on aggregated test scores of the MADRS and BDI with men scoring higher than women, indicating higher depressive symptoms in men. Women stated to suffer more from headaches (p \< 0.003), neck pain (p \< 0.006) and nervousness as well as restlessness (p \< 0.02). Women also reported an increase in tinnitus loudness in response to stress compared to men (p \< 0.03). Male individuals with tinnitus and insomnia have higher depression scores and more clinically relevant depressive symptoms than women, who suffer more from psychosomatic symptoms. The results indicate a need for a targeted therapy of depressive symptoms in male patients and targeted treatment of psychosomatic symptoms, stress-related worsening of insomnia and tinnitus in women.}, language = {en} }