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Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) can be used in real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI NF) investigations to provide feedback on brain activity to enable voluntary regulation of the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal from localized brain regions. However, the temporal pattern of successful self-regulation is dynamic and complex. In particular, the general linear model (GLM) assumes fixed temporal model functions and misses other dynamics. We propose a novel data-driven analyses approach for rtfMRI NF using intersubject covariance (ISC) analysis. The potential of ISC was examined in a reanalysis of data from 21 healthy individuals and nine patients with post-traumatic stress-disorder (PTSD) performing up-regulation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). ISC in the PTSD group differed from healthy controls in a network including the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). In both cohorts, ISC decreased throughout the experiment indicating the development of individual regulation strategies. ISC analyses are a promising approach to reveal novel information on the mechanisms involved in voluntary self-regulation of brain signals and thus extend the results from GLM-based methods. ISC enables a novel set of research questions that can guide future neurofeedback and neuroimaging investigations.

A recent claim has been made that there must be a self-regulation in the waiting times to see hospital consultants on the ground that the relative changes in the size of waiting lists follow a power law.⁴ In agreement with simulations of Frecketon and Sutherland, we explain the general nonself-regulating mechanism underlying this result and derive the exponent value -2 exactly. In addition, we provide links with related phenomena encountered in many other fields.

We present a model of a three-step food chain. Population A grows at a certain rate and at another rate is eaten by the population B which has its own birth rate but is, in turn, eaten at a different rate by the population C. The dynamics of the model is given by a set of differential equations and via Monte Carlo simulations. Our system undergoes sudden cataclysms in the form of partial destruction of one of the populations. We show that there exist threshold values for the possible percentage of destroyed populations, above which the system returns to its previous state, thus showing a self-regulatory character.

Our empirical study explores how social entrepreneurs’ metacognition — awareness and regulation of thoughts and feelings — affects the entrepreneurial process of social and environmental value creation that supports positive socioeconomic change toward sustainability-as-flourishing (defined below). We use an inductive design that yields patterns across five German cases of social entrepreneurship at different levels of analysis. Findings at the individual level reveal social entrepreneurs’ metacognitive abilities facilitated awareness of discontent about social and environmental problems. These abilities included perspective-taking, empathy, suspending rushed judgment, seeing a bigger picture, and reducing ego-defensiveness. The discontent then activated a creative social entrepreneurial response. Findings at the enterprise level show how social entrepreneurs resolved conflicts with recalcitrant external stakeholders by calming stakeholders’ anxieties and negativity. At a societal level, social entrepreneurs were shown to co-create change by consciously investing in and empowering external stakeholders. We induce theory that depicts how the individual, enterprise, and societal levels interact, thus drawing a more complete picture of the social and environmental value creation process. By considering entrepreneurs’ metacognition, this study extends the predominant research focus from external, objective entrepreneurial phenomena to the internal, subjective dimension of social entrepreneurs. It offers insight into the process of how enterprises could potentially contribute to a flourishing future for humans and the planet.

Previous research has established abstract mindedness as one of the various factors which encourage prosocial behaviour in individuals. This study explored the relationship between abstract mindedness (vs. concrete mindedness) and prosocial behaviour, specifically studying self-regulation as an intervening variable for this relationship among 160 undergraduates (M_age = 22.24 years). It was hypothesized that self-regulation would mediate the relationship between mindset condition (abstract vs. concrete) and prosocial behaviour. Participants completed a series of mindset activation tasks, a self-regulation measure and a prosocial behaviour measure. The results revealed that as compared to concrete mindedness, abstract mindedness resulted in significantly greater prosocial behaviour in participants. However, self-regulation did not appear to mediate the relationship between mindset condition and prosocial behaviour; therefore, rejecting the intervening role of self-regulation in this relationship. The present findings reaffirm that abstract mindedness enhances prosocial behaviour and highlight the need for future research to further examine the underlying constructs of this relationship.

Technological addiction is a common issue worldwide that has seldomly been investigated; this research has developed a possible path model on further acknowledgment of the problematic use of technology. Present study (N = 211 Chinese adults) has investigated the relationships of parenting styles (PS), attachment style (AS), self-regulation, self-esteem and Smartphone addiction (SA). Results show that PS considerably predicts different types of AS. Secure and anxious AS was desirably predicted self-regulation and self-esteem. Under self-regulation, higher impulse control also successfully predicts less SA, while goal setting negatively predicted SA. The model helps explore new relationships between Smartphone addiction and other constructs in an educational psychology aspect. It also helps gain insight on how parenting and selfregulation influences Smartphone usage. Programs which promote parenting skills and correct regulating skills are suggested.