Marc Lavoie | University of Montreal (original) (raw)

Papers by Marc Lavoie

Stimulus-Response Compatibility (SRC) refers to the fact that some tasks are performed easier and... more Stimulus-Response Compatibility (SRC) refers to the fact that some tasks are performed easier and better than others because of the way stimuli and responses are paired with each other. To assess the brain responses to stimulus-response conflicts, we investigated the behavioral (accuracy and Reaction Times: RTs) as well as the physiological response (Lateralized Readiness Potentials: LRP) modulations in a positional blocked and a conditional mixed design in twelve university students. Results revealed that the performance was less accurate and the RTs, as well as the LRP onset, were delayed under the mixed conditional design. A greater compatibility effect was also noted on accuracy, RTs and LRP onset latency in the mixed design. Consistent with these findings, smaller peak activation at fronto-central areas sug- gests that more selective inhibition is needed in a mixed design context. Despite a smaller activation, the topographical distribution is similar in both designs. These results indicate that the translation time between stimulus- and response codes are greater under the mixed instruction, while the similar LRP topography suggests that common neural structures underlie LRPs in response to both type of designs

Practice points: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is, by definition, a multidisciplinary ... more Practice points:

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is, by definition, a multidisciplinary challenge.

Evaluation and treatment require integration of cognitive, behavioral, psychophysiological and neurobiological
approaches.

Brain plasticity in GTS suggests that treatment can have both behavioral and physiological consequences.

Treatment could combine pharmacological, psychophysiological and behavioral interventions.

Cognitive and metacognitive training in motor planning and inhibition can complement behavioral
interventions in GTS.

The addition of cognitive remediation to cognitive behavioral therapy may produce changes in electrocortical
function post-therapy.

Future research should explore the potential of psychophysiological therapies addressing specific processes
in GTS.

However, the cortical mechanisms underlying the episodic recall of emotional scenes are still poo... more However, the cortical mechanisms underlying the episodic recall of emotional scenes are still poorly understood. Our main aim was to compare the magnitude of the Event-Related brain Potentials (ERP) old-new effect related to emotionally unpleasant, pleasant and neutral photographic images. As expected, correct recognition of all types of images elicited three topographically distinct ERP components sensitive to the classical old-new recognition effect. The results revealed that the behavioral performances were mainly sensitive to arousal, while the ERP old/new effect over posterior regions (300 -1000 ms) was exclusively affected by unpleasantness. A later component (1000 -1400 ms) showed an inverted old/ new effect at parietal sites, which was also sensitive to unpleasantness. These results imply that ERP reflecting episodic conscious recollection and post-retrieval monitoring are clearly affected both by valence and arousal.

Attention deficit disorderwith hyperactivity (ADHD) is a common comorbidity in children with Tour... more Attention deficit disorderwith hyperactivity (ADHD) is a common comorbidity in children with Tourette syndrome (TS). However, motor restlessness and high levels of sensorimotor activation or “overactivity” may be a feature of TS rather than a distinct ADHD comorbidity. The link between overactivity and ADHD in TS has yet to be established and in particular between adult and preadolescent manifestations. The current study furthers this understanding of ADHD features in TS by investigating the relationship between cognitive and behavioral aspects of ADHD and TS. The style of planning (STOP) overactivity scale was compared in preadolescent (𝑛 = 17) and adult (𝑛 = 17) samples.The STOP overactivity scale measures the characteristic overactive style of planning in everyday life. The aims of the study were twofold as follows: (1) to see if an overactive style was present in adolescents as well as in adults, and (2) to see if this overactive style correlated with hyperactivity, impulsivity, or perfectionism. Results suggest that overactivity may be a better description of the hyperactivity manifestations in TS. Behavioral components of overactivity were present in preadolescents while the cognitive components were more frequent in adults. Overactivity relates at the same time to perfectionism and impulsivity.

Posttraumatic stress disorder Trauma-oriented social interaction Physiological reactivity Perceiv... more Posttraumatic stress disorder Trauma-oriented social interaction Physiological reactivity Perceived supportive and unsupportive social interactions a b s t r a c t Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly make efforts to avoid trauma-oriented conversations with their significant others, which may interfere with the natural recovery process. Trauma-oriented conversations can be experienced as physiologically arousing, depending on the intensity of PTSD symptoms and perceptions of social support. In the current investigation, changes in heart rate responses to a trauma-oriented social interaction with a significant other were assessed. Perceived supportive and unsupportive or negative social interactions were examined as moderators of the association between heart rate changes to this context and intensity of PTSD symptoms. A total of 46 individuals with PTSD completed diagnostic interviews and self-report measures of symptoms and perceived supportive and negative social interactions during a trauma-oriented social interaction with a significant other. Heart rate was continuously measured during this interaction. Results showed that engagement in a trauma-oriented social interaction was predictive of elevations in heart rate that positively correlated with intensity of PTSD symptoms. The moderation hypothesis was partially supported. In addition, perceived negative social interactions positively correlated with elevations in heart rate. These findings can inform social intervention efforts for individuals with PTSD.

Prominent disturbances in the experience, expression, and emotion recognition in patients with sc... more Prominent disturbances in the experience, expression, and emotion recognition in patients with schizophrenia have been relatively well documented over the last few years. Furthermore, sex differences in behavior and brain activity, associated with the processing of various emotions, have been reported in the general population and in schizophrenia patients. Others proposed that sex differences should be rather attributed to testosterone, which may play a role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Also, it had been suggested that estradiol may play a protective role in schizophrenia. Surprisingly, few studies investigating this pathology have focused on both brain substrates and gonadal steroid hormone levels, in emotional processing. In the present study, we investigated electrocortical responses related to emotional valence and arousal as well as gonadal steroid hormone levels in patients with schizophrenia. Event-Related Potentials (ERP) were recorded during exposition to emotional pictures in 18 patients with schizophrenia and in 24 control participants paired on intelligence, manual dominance and socioeconomic status. Given their previous sensitivity to emotional and attention processes, the P200, N200 and the P300 were selected for analysis. More precisely, emotional valence generally affects early components (N200), which reflect early process of selective attention, whereas emotional arousal and valence both influences the P300 component, which is related to memory context updating, and stimulus categorization. Results showed that, in the control group, the amplitude of the N200 was significantly more lateralized over the right hemisphere, while there was no such lateralization in patients with schizophrenia. In patients with schizophrenia, significantly smaller anterior P300 amplitude was observed to the unpleasant, compared to the pleasant. That anterior P300 reduction was also correlated with negative symptoms. The N200 and P300 amplitudes were positively correlated with the estradiol level in all conditions, revealing that the N200 and the P300 were reduced, when estradiol level was higher. Conversely, only the P300 amplitude showed positive correlation with the testosterone level. Citation: Champagne J, Mendrek A, Germain M, Hot P and Lavoie ME (2014) Event-related brain potentials to emotional images and gonadal steroid hormone levels in patients with schizophrenia and paired controls. Front. Psychol. 5:543.

Books by Marc Lavoie

Over approximately the past 20 years, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been increasingly ... more Over approximately the past 20 years, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been increasingly
recognized as a significant personal and societal problem (Alonso et al., 2004; Kessler,
2000).With this recognition has come a burgeoning amount of research examining the neurobiological
and cognitive characteristics of the disorder. Much of the early research on PTSD
focused on military veterans, in particular those who served in World War II and the Vietnam
War (Card, 1987; Foy & Card, 1987). More recently, considerable emphasis has been placed
on understanding the etiology and consequences of PTSD in military personnel returning
from operations in the Middle East termed ‘‘Operation Enduring Freedom’’ and ‘‘Operation
Iraqi Freedom’’(OEF/OIF; Vasterling, Verfaellie,& Sullivan, 2009). Research has also involved
individuals with PTSD secondary to a variety of other common causes including rape, criminal
victimization, motor vehicle accidents, and physical abuse in childhood or adulthood
(Darves-Bornoz et al., 2008; Kessler, 2000).
In this chapter, we first provide an overview of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and
common assessment measures, as well as the epidemiology and course of the disorder. We then review the neuropsychological correlates of PTSD, including variables that may contribute to the heterogeneity of findings. We briefly address current treatment approaches to PTSD and what is known about their impact on neuropsychological functioning, as well as the potential role of neuropsychological assessment in treatment planning. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of brain imaging research that has informed our understanding of neural substrates and its associated cognitive limitations