Discussion/Conclusion: The overview of consumers' profiles in Italy and other European countries ... more Discussion/Conclusion: The overview of consumers' profiles in Italy and other European countries can contribute to tailoring and regulating genetic services in a way that could be efficient in terms of healthy choices, behaviors, and health resource expenditures for the general public.
This review aims to explore the growing impact of machine learning and deep learning algorithms i... more This review aims to explore the growing impact of machine learning and deep learning algorithms in the medical field, with a specific focus on the critical issues of explainability and interpretability associated with black-box algorithms. While machine learning algorithms are increasingly employed for medical analysis and diagnosis, their complexity underscores the importance of understanding how these algorithms explain and interpret data to take informed decisions. This review comprehensively analyzes challenges and solutions presented in the literature, offering an overview of the most recent techniques utilized in this field. It also provides precise definitions of interpretability and explainability, aiming to clarify the distinctions between these concepts and their implications for the decision-making process. Our analysis, based on 448 articles and addressing seven research questions, reveals an exponential growth in this field over the last decade. The psychological dimensions of public perception underscore the necessity for effective communication regarding the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence. Researchers are actively developing techniques to enhance interpretability, employing visualization methods and reducing model complexity. However, the persistent challenge lies in finding the delicate balance between achieving high performance and maintaining interpretability. Acknowledging the growing significance of artificial intelligence in aiding medical diagnosis and therapy, and the creation of interpretable artificial intelligence models is considered essential. In this dynamic context, an unwavering commitment to transparency, ethical considerations, and interdisciplinary collaboration is imperative to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence. This collective commitment is vital for establishing enduring trust between clinicians and patients, addressing emerging challenges, and facilitating the informed adoption of these advanced technologies in medicine.
The deep comprehension of a text is tantamount to the construction of an articulated mental model... more The deep comprehension of a text is tantamount to the construction of an articulated mental model of that text. The number of correct recollections is an index of a learner's mental model of a text. We assume that another index of comprehension is the timing of the gestures produced during text recall; gestures are simultaneous with speech when the learner has built an articulated mental model of the text, whereas they anticipate the speech when the learner has built a less articulated mental model. The results of four experiments confirm the predictions deriving from our assumptions for both children and adults. Provided that the recollections are correct, the timing of gestures can differ and can be considered a further measure of the quality of the mental model, beyond the number of correct recollections.
It is well established that gestures and speech form an integrated system of communication; gestu... more It is well established that gestures and speech form an integrated system of communication; gestures that match the meaning of the speech they accompany favor the listener's discourse comprehension, whereas mismatching gestures whose meaning conveys information contradicting that conveyed by speech, impair comprehension. A less investigated issue is whether or not the uptake of gestural information is a deterministic process. In line with recent studies in the literature, we purport that the process may be modulated by certain factors. In particular, we investigate the role of unrelated gestures whose meaning, which is irrelevant to the speech they accompany, could be neglected. The results of four experiments led us to conclude that unrelated gestures are not processed, and that the uptake of gestural information is a non-deterministic process.
Effetti del contenuto pragmatico degli enunciati e della disponibilità, esplicita o implicita, di... more Effetti del contenuto pragmatico degli enunciati e della disponibilità, esplicita o implicita, di antecedenti alternativi sul ragionamento condizionale…………………………………………………………….….62
Deaf individuals have difficulties in comprehending written text, as well as oral language. As a ... more Deaf individuals have difficulties in comprehending written text, as well as oral language. As a consequence, learning from text is compromised in deaf individuals. We hypothesized that a transposition of the Italian Sign Language to its written counterpart could enhance signing deaf individuals' comprehension and learning from text. We confirmed our prediction for comprehension and learning for technical texts in Experiment 1 and for narrative texts in Experiment 2; signing deaf individuals' text comprehension and learning therefore benefit from a written language whose structure reflects the structure of their visual-spatial sign language. We speculate that, for signing deaf individuals, practice in reading written sign language texts might positively affect the ability to comprehend the written oral language texts.
Classical studies on enactment have highlighted the beneficial effects of gestures performed in t... more Classical studies on enactment have highlighted the beneficial effects of gestures performed in the encoding phase on memory for words and sentences, for both adults and children. In the present investigation, we focused on the role of enactment for learning from scientific texts among primaryschool children. We assumed that enactment would favor the construction of a mental model of the text, and we verified the derived predictions that gestures at the time of encoding would result in greater numbers of correct recollections and discourse-based inferences at recall, as compared to no gestures (Exp. 1), and in a bias to confound paraphrases of the original text with the verbatim text in a recognition test (Exp. 2). The predictions were confirmed; hence, we argue in favor of a theoretical framework that accounts for the beneficial effects of enactment on memory for texts.
The literature on co-speech gestures has revealed a facilitating effect of gestures on both the l... more The literature on co-speech gestures has revealed a facilitating effect of gestures on both the listener's discourse comprehension and memory, and the speaker's discourse production. Bucciarelli (2007) and Cutica and Bucciarelli (2008) advanced a mental model account for the cognitive change produced by gestures: Gestures, whether observed or produced, favour the construction of a mental model of the discourse they accompany. In this paper, we focus on gesturing while studying, assuming that gesturing while reading a text also f avours the construction of a mental model of the text. In two experiments we invited adult participants to study two scientific texts and confirmed the predictions deriving from the assumption that gestures favour the construction of a mental model of the text: Gesturing while studying resulted in more correct recollections and text-based inferences (Experiment 1) and loss of verbatim recall (Experiment 2).
Recent studies in the psychological literature reveal that co-speech gestures facilitate the cons... more Recent studies in the psychological literature reveal that co-speech gestures facilitate the construction of an articulated mental model of an oral discourse by hearing individuals. In particular, they facilitate correct recollections and discourse-based inferences at the expense of memory for discourse verbatim. Do gestures accompanying an oral discourse facilitate the construction of a discourse model also by oral deaf individuals trained to lip-read? The atypical cognitive functioning of oral deaf individuals leads to this prediction. Our Experiments 1 and 2, each conducted on 16 oral deaf individuals, used a recollection task and confirmed the prediction. Our Experiment 3, conducted on 36 oral deaf individuals, confirmed the prediction using a recognition task.
This study concerned the role of gestures that accompany discourse in deep learning processes. We... more This study concerned the role of gestures that accompany discourse in deep learning processes. We assumed that co‐speech gestures favor the construction of a complete mental representation of the discourse content, and we tested the predictions that a discourse accompanied by gestures, as compared with a discourse not accompanied by gestures, should result in better recollection of conceptual information, a greater number of discourse‐based inferences drawn from the information explicitly stated in the discourse, and poorer recognition of verbatim of the discourse. The results of three experiments confirmed these predictions.
Background Contradictory results were reported on the role of school closure/reopening on the ove... more Background Contradictory results were reported on the role of school closure/reopening on the overall SARS-CoV-2 transmission rate, as well as on which kind and level of mitigation measures implemented in schools may be effective in limiting its diffusion. Some recent studies were reassuring, showing that opening did not increase the community spread, although teachers and families are worried about the high class density. On the other hand, distance learning was associated with a negative impact on learning, sociability and psychological health, especially in vulnerable children. As it becomes clear that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will last for a long time, there is a high need for studies and solutions to support safe schools opening based on scientific evidence of harms and benefits. The Lolli-Methode (LM) is a strategy for epidemiological surveillance and early intervention aiming at SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks’ reduction in schools, relying on polymerase chain reaction analysis of saliva...
Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who present a sustained deep molecular response (DMR... more Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who present a sustained deep molecular response (DMR) for a stable period of time might benefit from discontinuing tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). A significant number of patients seem able to reach this stage due to the availability of TKIs. However, many patients remain reluctant about TKI discontinuation and may refuse treatment interruption. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical and psycho-cognitive factors that may influence the decision to discontinue TKI therapy, thereby gaining a better understanding of patients' viewpoints on TKI discontinuation. Patients and Methods: One hundred and nineteen patients diagnosed with CML aged between 34 and 69 were enrolled (67 males and 52 females). Different clinical information and psycho-cognitive aspects such as attitude toward risk behaviours, risk preferences, need for cognitive closure, and tendency to resist to changes were assessed through the administration of a battery of questionnaires. Results: A higher tendency toward risk behaviours and the tendency to focus on possible gain in the short term rather than on losses might represent important predictors for the willingness to accept TKI discontinuation. Possible relapses following interruption of the therapy are the most common reason for concern. Furthermore, lower levels of resistance to change and having previously experienced the desire to interrupt the therapy might lead patients to accept a higher probability of relapse risk when facing such a decision. Conclusion: TKI discontinuation appears appealing and challenging at the same time for many CML patients, and different factors may influence this decision. Psychology plays a crucial role in assisting physician-patient communication and informed decisionmaking.
Background. Two procedures are available to obtain prenatal information: invasive diagnostic proc... more Background. Two procedures are available to obtain prenatal information: invasive diagnostic procedures, and non-invasive diagnostic procedures, such as those that use cell-free fetal DNA. Several psychological factors are involved in the decision to undergo a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) but little is known about the decision-making strategies involved in choosing a specific level of in-depth NIPT, considering the increased availability and complexity of NIPT options. The main aim of this work is to assess the impact of psychological factors (anxiety about pregnancy, perception of risk in pregnancy, intolerance to uncertainty), and COVID-19 pandemic on the type of NIPT chosen, in terms of the number of conditions that are tested. Methods. A self-administered survey evaluated the decision-making process about NIPT. The final sample comprised 191 women (Mage= 35.53; SD= 4.79) who underwent a NIPT from one private Italian genetic company. Based on the test date, the sample of ...
Nell'ambito del vastissimo corpus di scritti e di ricerche di Cesa-Bianchi sulla psicologia d... more Nell'ambito del vastissimo corpus di scritti e di ricerche di Cesa-Bianchi sulla psicologia della salute, si possono ritrovare alcuni concetti cardine della ricerca e della pratica in psico-oncologia, quali il ruolo della psicologia e dello psicologo in ambito sanitario, l'importanza del rapporto medico-paziente, il ruolo centrale della comunicazione, e la necessità di tener presenti nella cura le caratteristiche psicologiche del malato, in particolare quando questi deve confrontarsi con una malattia ad esito potenzialmente infausto.Questo capitolo descrive l'importanza dei suoi principali contributi su questi aspetti della psico-oncologia, sottolineando la sua capacità di cogliere in anticipo i cambiamenti, che si sono susseguiti negli anni, dei paradigmi teorici in psicologia della salute.
Despite the widespread diffusion of direct-to-consumer genetic testing (GT), it is still unclear ... more Despite the widespread diffusion of direct-to-consumer genetic testing (GT), it is still unclear whether people who learn about their genetic susceptibility to a clinical condition change their behaviors, and the psychological factors involved. The aim of the present study is to investigate long-term changes in health-related choices, individual tendencies and risk attitudes in an Italian sample of GT users. In the context of the Mind the Risk study, which investigated a sample of Italian adults who underwent GT in a private laboratory, 99 clients participated in the follow up assessment. They completed a self-administered questionnaire investigating: (a) clinical history and motivation for testing, (b) lifestyle and risk behaviors, (c) individual tendencies toward health, and (d) risk-taking attitude and risk tolerance. Such variables were measured at three different time-points: T0—before GT, T1—at 6 months after genetic results, and T2—at 1 year from results. Results showed that,...
Genetic information is increasingly provided outside of the traditional clinical setting, allowin... more Genetic information is increasingly provided outside of the traditional clinical setting, allowing users to access it directly via specialized online platforms. This development is possibly resulting in changing ethical and social challenges for users of predictive genetic tests. Little is known about the attitudes and experiences of users of web-accessed genetic information. This survey analyzes data from two European countries with regard to the utility of genetic information, the users' ways of making use of and dealing with information, and their sharing behavior. Particular focus is given to ethical and social questions regarding the motivation to share personal genetic results with others. Social factors tested for are national background, gender, and marital, parental, and educational status. This study will contribute to public discourse and offer ethical recommendations. The study will also serve to validate the developed questionnaire for use in population representative surveys.
BACKGROUND Genetic testing and genetic risk information are gaining importance in personalized me... more BACKGROUND Genetic testing and genetic risk information are gaining importance in personalized medicine and disease prevention. However, progress in these fields does not reflect increased knowledge and awareness of genetic risk in the general public. OBJECTIVE Our aim is to develop and test the efficacy of a suite of serious games, developed for mobile and Web platforms, in order to increase knowledge of basic genetic concepts and promote awareness of genetic risk management among lay people. METHODS We developed a new ad-hoc game and modified an arcade game using mechanics suitable to explain genetic concepts. In addition, we developed an adventure game where players are immersed in virtual scenarios and manage genetic risk information to make health-related and interpersonal decisions and modulate their lifestyle. The pilot usability testing will be conducted with a convenience sample of 30 adults who will be categorized into 3 groups and assigned to one game each. Participants w...
BackgroundRapid advances in genomic knowledge and widespread access to the web contributed to the... more BackgroundRapid advances in genomic knowledge and widespread access to the web contributed to the development of genetic services by private companies or medical laboratories. In the European landscape, though, there is not a single coherent regulatory approach to genetic testing (GT). The study aimed to investigate differences and similarities between two populations of GT users, Italians and Germans, in terms of health‐related behaviors, psychological characteristics, and attitudes toward genetic information.MethodsNinety‐nine Italian GT users from one private genetic company and 64 Germans GT users from one medical laboratory, completed an ad hoc self‐administered questionnaire.ResultsResults showed significant differences in health‐related behaviors (unhealthy eating behaviors, smoking behaviors, and frequency in medical check‐ups), with Germans reporting higher levels of unhealthy eating habits and smoking behaviors than Italians; Italian users also were more medically controll...
Studies in the literature have revealed that a speaker's co-speech gestures favor the constructio... more Studies in the literature have revealed that a speaker's co-speech gestures favor the construction of a complete and articulated mental model of the discourse by the listener; moreover, from the literature on co-speech gestures we know that they help the speaker to organize the stream of thought. Given these data, we hypothesized that a person who listens to a discourse accompanied by gestures would produce fewer co-speech gestures in recollecting the discourse compared to a person who listens to a discourse not accompanied by gestures. The analysis of the co-speech gestures produced by the participants in two experiments while recollecting the content of a discourse confirmed our predictions.
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