An increasing body of experimental data have suggested that aberrant functional interactions between large-scale networks may be the most plausible explanation of psychopathology across multiple mental disorders, including substance-related and addictive disorders. In the current research, we have investigated the association between problematic cannabis use (PCU) and triple-network electroencephalographic (EEG) functional connectivity. Twelve participants with PCU and 24 non-PCU participants were included in the study. EEG recordings were performed during resting state (RS). The exact Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography software (eLORETA) was used for all EEG analyses. Compared to non-PCU, PCU participants showed an increased delta connectivity between the salience network (SN) and central executive network (CEN), specifically, between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and right posterior parietal cortex. The strength of delta connectivity between the SN and CEN was positively and significantly correlated with higher problematic patterns of cannabis use after controlling for age, sex, educational level, tobacco use, problematic alcohol use, and general psychopathology (r_p = 0.40, p = 0.030). Taken together, our results show that individuals with PCU could be characterized by a specific dysfunctional interaction between the SN and CEN during RS, which might reflect the neurophysiological underpinnings of attentional and emotional processes of cannabis-related thoughts, memories, and craving.

Suicide is a major public health problem, and it is urgent to investigate its underlying clinical and psychological concomitants. It has been suggested that low mentalization skills and problematic use of the internet (PUI) are factors that can play a role in suicidal behaviors. It is possible that poor mentalization skills contribute to leading to forms of PUI, which, in turn, can represent triggers for suicidal ideation (SI). We tested this hypothesis through a quantitative and cross-sectional study on a sample (n = 623) of young adults (age range: 18–34). Self-report measures investigating symptoms related to Social Media Addiction (SMA), Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), mentalization capacity, and SI were used. A single mediation analysis with two mediators was carried out to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of mentalization on SI through the mediating role of SMA- and IGD-related symptoms, controlling for potential confounding factors (e.g., socio-demographic and addiction-related variables). The four explored variables were significantly associated with each other (all p < 0.001) across all subjects; the mediational model showed that the total effect of mentalization on SI was significant (B = −0.821, SE = 0.092 (95% CI: −1.001; −0.641)) and that both SMA- (B = −0.073, SE = 0.034 (95% CI: −0.145; −0.008)) and IGD-related symptoms (B = 0.046, SE = 0.027 (95% CI: −0.107; −0.001)) were significant mediators of such association. Our findings support the possibility that PUI severity plays a relevant role in mediating the association between low mentalization skills and levels of SI.

Specific risk attitude and risky behavior had an important boost during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this contribution, we hypothesize that access to nature during home confinement will decrease both the tendency to passive risk taking and alcohol intake. To do so, we interviewed through an online survey two samples of Italian residents during the strict lockdown due to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, in Study 1, participants were 1519 Italian residents coming from different Italian regions, whilst in Study 2, participants were 182 students at a university of southern Italy who were monitored for one week. In Study 1, the hierarchical regression analysis attested that access to nature during the lockdown mitigated the tendency to passive risk taking, over and beyond the effect of socio-demographic variables and the psychological construct of impulsiveness, an important personality correlate of risk taking. In Study 2, the hierarchical regression showed that access to green was associated with fewer glasses of alcohol drunk in a week of lockdown. This effect held over and above the effect of socio-demographic variables and the drinking behavior before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In both studies, findings confirmed the beneficial effect of access to nature in specific risk-taking domains. Theoretical future directions, as well as practical implications for the management of the COVID-19 emergency by policymakers, are discussed.

Objectives. Identity disturbance and instability in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are associated with impairments in the integration of emotional autobiographical memory (EAM). At the neurophysiological level, it has been suggested that EAM dysfunction may be linked with functional connectivity (FC) alterations of the salience network (SN). Despite this, evidence in adolescents with BPD remains scarce, especially under task-related conditions. Therefore, we investigated SN electroencephalography (EEG) FC in adolescents with BPD during the resting-state condition (RS) and during two EAM tasks (i.e., happiness- and fear-related). Methods. A total of 24 female adolescents with BPD and 15 healthy controls underwent RS and task-related EEG recording. All participants were also assessed for BPD and related clinical dimensions. EEG FC analyses in the SN were performed using exact Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (eLORETA) software. Results. Compared to controls, BPD patients exhibited reduced theta SN connectivity during RS. This hypo-connectivity pattern was positively correlated with all BPD-related dimensions (i.e., emotional dysregulation, impulsiveness, dissociative symptoms, and childhood trauma). Furthermore, compared to the RS, during the listening of fear-related memories, BPD patients showed an increase in delta SN connectivity. This hyper-connectivity pattern was negatively correlated with the self-reported vividness of recall. Conclusions. While decreased SN theta connectivity may be a common neural marker of traumatic disintegration, increased SN delta connectivity may indicate a neural correlate of suppression/avoidance of negative memories.

The article explores the aesthetic-poetic dimension of education, from theclassical reflection on mimesis to Morin’s complex thought, proposing the poetry oflife as a pedagogical category. Aesthetic participation is analyzed as a cognitive andrelational practice that generates empathy and solidarity, fostering understandingand communion. Finally, poetic education is proposed as a perspective to face thecontemporary social and ecological crisis.