Psychomotor Performance Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The two contrasting theoretical approaches to visual perception, the constructivist and the ecological, are briefly presented and illustrated through their analyses of space and size perception. Earlier calls for their reconciliation and... more

The two contrasting theoretical approaches to visual perception, the constructivist and the ecological, are briefly presented and illustrated through their analyses of space and size perception. Earlier calls for their reconciliation and unification are reviewed. Neurophysiological, neuropsychological, and psychophysical evidence for the existence of two quite distinct visual systems, the ventral and the dorsal, is presented. These two perceptual systems differ in their functions; the ventral system's central function is that of identification, while the dorsal system is mainly engaged in the visual control of motor behavior. The strong parallels between the ecological approach and the functioning of the dorsal system, and between the constructivist approach and the functioning of the ventral system are noted. It is also shown that the experimental paradigms used by the proponents of these two approaches match the functions of the respective visual systems. A dual-process approa...

RNA transcripts encoding the 2C-subtype of serotonin (5HT 2C) receptor undergo up to five adenosine-to-inosine editing events to encode twenty-four protein isoforms. To examine the effects of altered 5HT 2C editing in vivo, we generated... more

RNA transcripts encoding the 2C-subtype of serotonin (5HT 2C) receptor undergo up to five adenosine-to-inosine editing events to encode twenty-four protein isoforms. To examine the effects of altered 5HT 2C editing in vivo, we generated mutant mice solely expressing the fullyedited (VGV) isoform of the receptor. Mutant animals present phenotypic characteristics of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) including a failure to thrive, decreased somatic growth, neonatal muscular hypotonia, and reduced food consumption followed by post-weaning hyperphagia. Though previous studies have identified alterations in both 5HT 2C receptor expression and 5HT 2C-mediated behaviors in both PWS patients and mouse models of this disorder, to our knowledge the 5HT 2C gene is the first locus outside the PWS imprinted region in which mutations can phenocopy numerous aspects of this syndrome. These results not only strengthen the link between the molecular etiology of PWS and altered 5HT 2C expression, but also demonstrate the importance of normal patterns of 5HT 2C RNA editing in vivo.

To compare the effects of group-based and individual-based motor skill training on motor performance in children with developmental coordination disorder. Design: Randomized controlled pilot intervention study. Subjects/patients:... more

To compare the effects of group-based and individual-based motor skill training on motor performance in children with developmental coordination disorder. Design: Randomized controlled pilot intervention study. Subjects/patients: Twenty-three children (4 girls) with developmental coordination disorder (mean age (standard deviation (SD)) 8 years (1 year and 2 months)). Methods: Twelve children were randomly assigned to undergo a motor training programme once a week for 8 consecutive weeks in a group setting, and 11 children received the same training on an individual basis during the same period. Each child was also instructed to perform home exercises on a daily basis. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) was used to assess motor ability. Home exercise compliance and parental satisfaction with the programmes were also evaluated. Results: A significant reduction in the MABC total impairment score was found following both group-based (mean-4.4 (SD 5.0), p = 0.003) and individual-based training (mean-5.2 (SD 5.1), p = 0.016). However, the change in total impairment score did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (p = 0.379). There was similarly no significant between-group difference in home exercise compliance (p = 0.288) and parental satisfaction (p = 0.379). Conclusion: Group-based training produced similar gains in motor performance to individual-based training. Groupbased training may be the preferred treatment option due to the associated cost savings.

CITATIONS 128 READS 103 8 authors, including: Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: searching for psychobiological factors for psychopathology View project Projet RISC: Evaluation of the need... more

CITATIONS 128 READS 103 8 authors, including: Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: searching for psychobiological factors for psychopathology View project Projet RISC: Evaluation of the need and of the search of internet information by cancer patients, by their close relatives, and by the medical staff: satisfaction and influence on medical decisions View project Chantal Martin-Soelch Université de Fribourg

Cognition is thought to result from interactions within large-scale networks of brain regions. Here we propose a method to identify these large-scale networks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Regions belonging to such... more

Cognition is thought to result from interactions within large-scale networks of brain regions. Here we propose a method to identify these large-scale networks using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Regions belonging to such networks are defined as sets of strongly interacting regions, each of which showing an homogeneous temporal activity. Our method of large-scale network identification (LSNI) proceeds by first detecting functionally homogeneous regions. The networks of functional interconnections are then found by comparing the correlations among these regions against a model of the correlations in the noise.

Recent research has demonstrated that cortical motor areas are engaged when observing motor actions of others. However, little is known about the possible contribution of the motor system for evaluating the correctness of others' actions.... more

Recent research has demonstrated that cortical motor areas are engaged when observing motor actions of others. However, little is known about the possible contribution of the motor system for evaluating the correctness of others' actions. To address this question we designed an MEG experiment in which subjects were executing and observing motor actions with and without errors. In the execution task subjects were asked to make speeded button presses according to instruction cues. During the observation task, they viewed pictures of an actor's hand making button presses which were correct or incorrect according to the cues. Time-frequency representations of the MEG data demonstrated a depression in oscillatory activity in the beta band activity (15-35 Hz) during execution followed by a beta rebound that was stronger for incorrect compared to correct executions. During the observation task, a similar time-course of the beta activity was identified and importantly the modulations were stronger for the observation of incorrect than correct actions. Sources accounting for the difference in beta activity between correct and incorrect actions were localized using a beamforming technique. Both for the execution and observation conditions sources were identified to the dorsal motor areas comprising both primary and pre-motor cortex. Our findings demonstrate that not only is cortical motor activity modulated by action observation, but the modulation increases when the observed action is erroneous. This suggests that the motor system is engaged in evaluating the correctness of the actions of others.

This experiment was designed to test whether reading disabled boys differ from matched controls on behavioral measures ofinterhemispheric transfer time (IHTT). Specifically. we proposed that language-disordered reading disabled children... more

This experiment was designed to test whether reading disabled boys differ from matched controls on behavioral measures ofinterhemispheric transfer time (IHTT). Specifically. we proposed that language-disordered reading disabled children who had deficits m naming would show either faster or slower IHTTs compared with controls. From an initial group of 118 right-handed males. we selected a group of 25 disabled and 25 normal readers. matched on age. All subjects had to obtain a full scale IQ of 90 or above, a PIQ score of 85 or above, and a scaled score of 7 or above on the Block Design Subtest of the WISC-R. After meeting additional criteria for group assignment. manual reaction time (RT) measures of IHTT were obtained in response to simple visual and tactile stimuli during two laboratory testing sessions. Halfthe trials were conducted with the hands in an uncrossed orientation and halfwith the hands crossed in order to examine the effects of spatial compatibility on estimates of IHTT. The results revealed no overall group differences in IHTT for any of the conditions.

In the present study a direct manipulation of the optical expansion pattern was carded out. What happens to the timing of the grasp movements involved in catching a ball when optical expansion information is not veridically provided? By... more

In the present study a direct manipulation of the optical expansion pattern was carded out. What happens to the timing of the grasp movements involved in catching a ball when optical expansion information is not veridically provided? By using 2 luminescent balls of constant size and a luminescent ball that could change its diameter during flight, it was possible to manipulate the rate of optical expansion directly. The results of 2 experiments (binocular vision in Experiment l and monocular vision in Experiment 2) showed that the time of the maximal closing velocity of the hand--which conforms to the prediction if Ss use retinal expansion information--was later for the deflating ball than for the balls of constant size. Adjustments to the aperture of the hand in response to the different ball sizes, especially the adjustment of the hand to the deflating ball (even though Ss were not aware that the ball was deflating during its approach), point to a finely attuned perception-action coupling.

The precise neural mechanisms underlying transitions between consciousness and anesthetic-induced unconsciousness remain unclear. Here, we studied intracortical neuronal dynamics leading to propofol-induced unconsciousness by recording... more

The precise neural mechanisms underlying transitions between consciousness and anesthetic-induced unconsciousness remain unclear. Here, we studied intracortical neuronal dynamics leading to propofol-induced unconsciousness by recording single-neuron activity and local field potentials directly in the functionally interconnecting somatosensory (S1) and frontal ventral premotor (PMv) network during a gradual behavioral transition from full alertness to loss of consciousness (LOC) and on through a deeper anesthetic level. Macaque monkeys were trained for a behavioral task designed to determine the trial-by-trial alertness and neuronal response to tactile and auditory stimulation. We show that disruption of coherent beta oscillations between S1 and PMv preceded, but did not coincide with, the LOC. LOC appeared to correspond to pronounced but brief gamma-/high-beta-band oscillations (lasting ∼3 min) in PMv, followed by a gamma peak in S1. We also demonstrate that the slow oscillations ap...

The present study explores the link between attentional reorienting and response inhibition. Recent behavioral and neuroscience work indicates that both might rely on similar cognitive and neural mechanisms. We tested two popular accounts... more

The present study explores the link between attentional reorienting and response inhibition. Recent behavioral and neuroscience work indicates that both might rely on similar cognitive and neural mechanisms. We tested two popular accounts of the overlap: The 'circuit breaker' account, which assumes that unexpected events produce global suppression of motor output, and the 'stimulus detection' account, which assumes that attention is reoriented to unexpected events. In Experiment 1, we presented standard and (unexpected) novel sounds in a go/no-go task. Consistent with the stimulus detection account, we found longer RTs on go trials and higher rates of commission errors on no-go trials when these were preceded by a novel sound compared with a standard sound. In Experiment 2, novel and standard sounds acted as no-go signals. In this experiment, the novel sounds produced an improvement on no-go trials. This further highlights the importance of stimulus detection for response inhibition. Combined, the two experiments support the idea that attention is oriented to novel or unexpected events, impairing no-go performance if these events are irrelevant but enhancing no-go performance when they are relevant. Our findings also indicate that the popular circuit breaker account of the overlap between response inhibition and attentional reorienting needs some revision.

The superior capability of cognitive experts largely depends on quick automatic processes. To reveal their neural bases, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activity of professional and amateur players in a board... more

The superior capability of cognitive experts largely depends on quick automatic processes. To reveal their neural bases, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activity of professional and amateur players in a board game named shogi. We found two activations specific to professionals: one in the precuneus of the parietal lobe during perception of board patterns, and the other in the caudate nucleus of the basal ganglia during quick generation of the best next move. Activities at these two sites covaried in relevant tasks. These results suggest that the precuneus-caudate circuit implements the automatic, yet complicated, processes of board-pattern perception and next-move generation in board game experts.

In situations where the accumulation of internal heat limits physical performance, enhanced heat extraction from the body should improve performance capacity. The combined application of local subatmospheric pressure (35–45 mmHg) to an... more

In situations where the accumulation of internal heat limits physical performance, enhanced heat extraction from the body should improve performance capacity. The combined application of local subatmospheric pressure (35–45 mmHg) to an entire hand (to increase blood volume) and a heat sink (18–22°C) to the palmar surface were used to draw heat out of the circulating blood. Subjects walked uphill (5.63 km/h) on a treadmill in a 40°C environment. Slopes of the treadmill were held constant during paired experimental trials (with and without the device). Heat extraction attenuated the rate of esophageal temperature rise during exercise (2.1 ± 0.4° and 2.9 ± 0.5°C/h, mean ± SE, with and without the device, respectively; n = 8) and increased exercise duration (46.1 ± 3.4 and 32.3 ± 1.7 min with and without the device, respectively; n = 18). Hand cooling alone had little effect on exercise duration (34.1 ± 3.0, 38.0 ± 3.5, and 57.0 ± 6.4 min, for control, cooling only, and cooling, and sub...

Computerized dynamic platform posturography is defined in this technology assessment. The review discusses what computerized dynamic platform posturography measures, what the reliability and validity of the information are, and the... more

Computerized dynamic platform posturography is defined in this technology assessment. The review discusses what computerized dynamic platform posturography measures, what the reliability and validity of the information are, and the uniqueness of the information provided. The clinical contribution and indications for testing are discussed. There are comments on future directions for research on computerized dynamic platform posturography and a summary and conclusion. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;117:394-8.) DEFINITION Postural sway has long been recognized as an important indicator of balance function. Strain gauges incorporated into force platforms have been used to record postural sway too small to be seen by the unaided observer. Such devices recently have been linked to electronic digital computers to produce computerized dynamic platform posturography (CDPP). In CDPP a force platform is mechanized and digitally controlled so that it either can move in a horizontal plane, that is, translate, or can rotate out of the horizontal plane, that is, pitch the patient either forward or backward. 1-4 CDPP has been combined with visual stimuli to determine the relative importance of vision and somatosensation to balance. Several characteristics are considered necessary for a device to qualify as CDPP in this technology assessment. The device must be capable of measuring postural sway, that is, changes in the center of the patient's applied force. The device must incorporate means of

To assess the effect of levodopa on distinct freezing of gait (FOG) subtypes in patients with ÔoffÕ FOG. Nineteen patients (12 men, mean age 62.0 ± 8.4 years) with Parkinson's disease and clinically significant FOG during ÔoffÕ states... more

To assess the effect of levodopa on distinct freezing of gait (FOG) subtypes in patients with ÔoffÕ FOG. Nineteen patients (12 men, mean age 62.0 ± 8.4 years) with Parkinson's disease and clinically significant FOG during ÔoffÕ states were videotaped whilst walking 130 m during ÔoffÕ and ÔonÕ states. Three independent observers characterized the type, duration, and clinical manifestations and quantified FOG by analyzing the videotapes. Their combined mean scores were used for statistical analysis. The intra-class correlation coefficient assessed inter-observer reliability. Wilcoxon and Friedman tests evaluated differences in mean frequencies of FOG characteristics. During ÔoffÕ states, FOG was elicited by turns (63%), starts (23%), walking through narrow spaces (12%) and reaching destinations (9%). These respective values were only 14, 4, 2 and 1% during ÔonÕ states (P < 0.011). Moving forward with very small steps and leg trembling in place were the most common manifestations of FOG; total akinesia was rare. Most FOG episodes took <10 s and tended to be shorter during ÔonÕ states. Levodopa significantly decreased FOG frequency (P < 0.0001) and the number of episodes with akinesia (P < 0.001). Distinction amongst FOG subtypes enables evaluation of distinctive therapeutic response. Levodopa helps in reducing the frequency and duration of ÔoffÕ-related FOG.

Patients with schizophrenia did not take significantly more trials than normal controls to learn to use a visual warning signal to avoid a non-aversive stimulus on a simple computer-administered avoidance learning task. When the stimulus... more

Patients with schizophrenia did not take significantly more trials than normal controls to learn to use a visual warning signal to avoid a non-aversive stimulus on a simple computer-administered avoidance learning task. When the stimulus to be avoided was aversive (i.e. a loud buzzer), however, the schizophrenic group could be divided into two subgroups based upon their performance; almost one half of the schizophrenic group failed to learn how to avoid this task successfully. The other half, like the normal controls and the closed head injury group in our previous studies, benefited from the aversiveness of the stimulus to be avoided, and learned to avoid more quickly than in the non-aversive condition. A post-hoc analysis of the differences between these two subgroups of the patients suggested that the discrepancy in learning was related to the age of onset of illness. aversive version of the task. With the aid of a 0920-9964/99/$ -see front matter

Previous studies in patients with Parkinson's disease have reported that a single session of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve some or all of the motor symptoms for 30 to 60 minutes. A recent study suggested... more

Previous studies in patients with Parkinson's disease have reported that a single session of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve some or all of the motor symptoms for 30 to 60 minutes. A recent study suggested that repeated sessions of rTMS lead to effects that can last for at least 1 month. Here we report data that both confirm and extend this work. Fifty-five unmedicated PD patients were classified into four groups: two groups (early and late PD) received 25 Hz rTMS bilaterally on the motor arm and leg areas; other groups acted as control for frequency (10 Hz) and for site of stimulation (occipital stimulation). All patients received six consecutive daily sessions (3,000 pulses for each session). The first two groups then received a further three booster sessions (3 consecutive days of rTMS) after 1, 2, and 3 months, while the third group had only one additional session after the first month. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UP-DRS), walking time, key-tapping speed, and self-assessment scale were measured for each patient before and after each rTMS session and before and after the monthly sessions. Compared to occipital stimulation, 25 Hz rTMS over motor areas improved all measures in both early and late groups; the group that received 10 Hz rTMS improved more than the occipital group but less than the 25 Hz groups. The effect built up gradually during the sessions and was maintained for 1 month after, with a slight reduction in efficacy. Interestingly, the effect was restored and maintained for the next month by the booster sessions. We conclude that 25 Hz rTMS can lead to cumulative and long-lasting effects on motor performance.

The case of a man with a right hemisphere lesion and with evidence of left-sided visuospatial neglect is reported. On a variety of verbal and nonverbal tasks his performance was significantly modified by information implicit in stimulus... more

The case of a man with a right hemisphere lesion and with evidence of left-sided visuospatial neglect is reported. On a variety of verbal and nonverbal tasks his performance was significantly modified by information implicit in stimulus configurations. Neglect deficits were present on tests involving spatially distinct or meaningless stimulus arrays but almost absent when stimuli were continuous or meaningfully integrated.

A ttention is the process by which we select stimuli in our environment for perception and action. The ability to orient to salient visual stimuli and to parse the visual world begins to emerge in the first few months of life and... more

A ttention is the process by which we select stimuli in our environment for perception and action. The ability to orient to salient visual stimuli and to parse the visual world begins to emerge in the first few months of life and continues to evolve through childhood. This review addresses how visuospatial attention develops, is deployed, and can be damaged in children. In particular, we discuss orienting, lateralized attention, and global vs local processing. Advances in our basic understanding of the cognitive neuroscience of visuospatial attention are beginning to inform pediatric neurology, but much work remains to be done.

Background/Aims: Impairment in visual interpretation, semantic conception, or word retrieval may contribute to the naming errors identified in the Boston Naming Test (BNT). We investigated the possible cognitive mechanism of the naming... more

Background/Aims: Impairment in visual interpretation, semantic conception, or word retrieval may contribute to the naming errors identified in the Boston Naming Test (BNT). We investigated the possible cognitive mechanism of the naming difficulty in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by analyzing the error patterns presented in the BNT. Methods: The Chinese version of the 30-item BNT (BNT-30) was performed on 115 normal control (NC) subjects and 104 mildto-moderate AD patients. Accurate rates after semantic and phonemic cues were analyzed. The frequencies of 7 types of error patterns in the AD patients and the NC subjects were compared. Results: The accurate rate after semantic cues was significantly lower in the AD than in the NC groups, but phonemic cues were more helpful than semantic cues to achieve accurate naming in both groups. The AD patients made more errors in all error patterns. Particularly, the frequency of nonresponse errors (n = 806) in the AD group significantly exceeded that in the NC group (n = 382). However, the distribution of the error patterns did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: Naming difficulties in AD might be attributed to progressive semantic knowledge degradation. The AD and the NC groups differ quantitatively but not qualitatively in the error patterns in confrontation naming.

Exposure to contaminants in Great Lakes fish has been linked to impaired neuropsychological functioning in children, but neurological function of exposed adults has not been evaluated. This report describes a cross-sectional analysis of... more

Exposure to contaminants in Great Lakes fish has been linked to impaired neuropsychological functioning in children, but neurological function of exposed adults has not been evaluated. This report describes a cross-sectional analysis of the effects of PCB/DDE exposure from contaminated fish on fine motor function in older adults. The subjects were 50-90-year-old Michigan residents who were members of a previously established study cohort. Fisheaters ate 24 lbs or more of sport-caught Lake Michigan fish/year at the time they were originally recruited in 1980-1982. Age-and sex-matched nonfisheaters ate 6 or fewer lbs/year. Outcome measures were scores on the Static Motor Steadiness Test (SMST) and Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT). PCB/DDE exposure was determined through serum analyses performed at the time of recruitment into the present study in 1993-1995. Because of the high correlation between serum PCB and DDE levels in this sample (Spearman r ‫؍‬ 0.64, P < 0.0001), the effects of the two contaminants were assessed jointly using a single derived exposure variable: Low ‫؍‬ both PCB and DDE at or below the medians of their respective distributions, intermediate ‫؍‬ PCB and/or DDE in the third quartile, and high ‫؍‬ PCB and/or DDE in the upper quartile. In unadjusted analyses, high exposure to PCBs/DDE was associated with significantly poorer performance on the GPT (P ‫؍‬ 0.03). However, in the multiple regression model, age and gender emerged as the most significant factors affecting GPT scores, and exposure to PCB/DDE was not significant. Performance on the SMST was not related to PCB/DDE exposure in initial unadjusted analyses, but performance with the dominant hand was marginally (P ‫؍‬ 0.052) associated with exposure in the final model. Scores on the SMST improved slightly as PCB/DDE exposure increased. A similar trend was not observed for the nondominant hand (P ‫؍‬ 0.46). These findings suggest that PCB/DDE exposure from Great Lakes fish has not significantly impaired hand steadiness or visual-motor coordination in this sample of older adults.

1 2 3 Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be selfarchived in electronic repositories. If you wish to... more

1 2 3 Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be selfarchived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com".

Infants were presented with two sounding objects of different sizes in light and dark, in which sound cued the object's identity. Reaching behavior was assessed to determine if object size influenced preparation for grasping the object.... more

Infants were presented with two sounding objects of different sizes in light and dark, in which sound cued the object's identity. Reaching behavior was assessed to determine if object size influenced preparation for grasping the object. In both light and dark, infants aligned their hands when contacting the large object compared with the small object, which resulted in a reach with both hands extended for the large object and reach with one hand more extended for the small object. Infants contacted the large object more frequently on the bottom and sides rather than the top, where the sound source was located. Reaching in the dark by 6~-month-olds is not merely directed toward a sound source but rather shows preparation in relation to the object's size. These findings were interpreted as evidence that mental representation of previously seen objects can guide subsequent motor action by 6~-month-old infants.

The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses,... more

The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.

Background: The differential outcomes procedure (DOP) has proved useful to improve discrimination learning in both animals and humans. Here we adapted DOP to assess its utility to overcome the memory loss commonly associated with normal... more

Background: The differential outcomes procedure (DOP) has proved useful to improve discrimination learning in both animals and humans. Here we adapted DOP to assess its utility to overcome the memory loss commonly associated with normal aging. Methods: In a delayed matching-to-sample task, subjects were exposed to a man's face, and after a delay, they were required to decide if the previously seen face was within a set of six men's faces. For half the subjects, each sample face was paired with its own outcome (differential outcomes condition); outcomes were randomly arranged for the remaining half of subjects (non-differential condition). Either short (5 second) or long (30 second) delays were interposed between the sample and the comparison stimuli. Results: Results showed that relative to younger adults, older adults' performance decreased with the longer delay. However, the use of differential outcomes was able to reverse the detrimental effect of the increased delay in the elderly group, raising their performance to the level shown by younger adults. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that DOP can help elderly people overcome their memory limitations, and they draw attention to the potential of this procedure as a therapeutic technique.

Schizophrenia patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be a subgroup of schizophrenia, and OCD patients with poor insight may show psychotic-like symptoms. The aim of this work is to compare the neuropsychological performance... more

Schizophrenia patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be a subgroup of schizophrenia, and OCD patients with poor insight may show psychotic-like symptoms. The aim of this work is to compare the neuropsychological performance of those patients with ...

The influence of exercise intensity on information processing in the central nervous system was investigated using P300 and no-go P300 event-related potentials. Twelve subjects (22-33 years) performed a go/no-go reaction time task in a... more

The influence of exercise intensity on information processing in the central nervous system was investigated using P300 and no-go P300 event-related potentials. Twelve subjects (22-33 years) performed a go/no-go reaction time task in a control condition, and again after high-, medium-, and low-intensity pedaling exercises. Compared to the control condition, P300 amplitude decreased after high-intensity pedaling exercise and increased after medium-intensity pedaling exercise. There was no change after low-intensity pedaling exercise. These results suggested that the amount of attentional resources devoted to a given task decreased after high-intensity exercise and increased after medium-intensity exercise. The findings also suggest that changes in P300 amplitude are an inverted U-shaped behavior of differences in exercise intensity. In addition, no-go P300 amplitude showed the same changes as P300 amplitude at different exercise intensities. This indicates that differences in exercise intensity influenced not only the intensity of processing the requirement for a go response, but also processing of the need for a no-go response. It is concluded that differences in exercise intensity influenced information processing in the CNS.

Objective To obtain face and construct validity for a new training course to be used in any type of box/video trainer and to give a comprehensive overview of validated exercises for box/video training. Design Cross-sectional study.... more

Objective To obtain face and construct validity for a new training course to be used in any type of box/video trainer and to give a comprehensive overview of validated exercises for box/video training. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University Medical Centre. Population Students, residents and consultants. Methods Participants (n = 42) were divided into three groups according to their laparoscopic experience: 'Novices' (n = 18), 'Intermediates' (n = 14) and 'Experts' (n = 10). A laparoscopic training course consisting of six exercises was constructed. To emphasise precision, a penalty score was added. Every participant performed two repetitions of the exercises; total score per exercise was calculated. To determine face validity, participants filled in a questionnaire after completion of the exercises. An evidence-based literature search for validated box/video trainer exercises was performed. Main outcome measures Face and construct validity. Results The mean score of the 'experts' was set as the training target. Total scores appeared to be positively correlated with individual's laparoscopic experience. The overall score and the score for each exercise were significantly higher in the intermediate and expert groups when compared with the novice group (P £ 0.001). All participants completed the questionnaire. The overall assessment of the exercises was considered to be good. The course was found to be most appropriate for training residents year 1-3. Conclusion Face and construct validity for an inexpensive course for box/video training was established. A comprehensive and practical overview of all validated and published exercises for box/ video trainers is provided to facilitate an inexpensive, but optimal and tailored selection for training purposes.

To determine whether the multi-modal web-based rehabilitation 'Move it to improve it' (Mitii) is more effective than wait list control (usual care) to improve occupational performance, upper limb function, and visual perception in... more

To determine whether the multi-modal web-based rehabilitation 'Move it to improve it' (Mitii) is more effective than wait list control (usual care) to improve occupational performance, upper limb function, and visual perception in children with acquired brain injury (ABI). Fifty-eight randomly allocated children (53% males; mean age 11y 11mo, SD 2y 6mo; Manual Abilities Classification Scale equivalent I=32, II=24, III=2; mean Full-scale IQ 75.8, SD 16.2) received either 20 weeks of Mitii (n=29) or usual care (n=29). Mitii comprised upper limb, cognitive, visual perception, and gross motor tasks, recommended for 30 minutes per day, 6 days per week, over 20 weeks. Outcomes were the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function, Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function, Test of Visual Perceptual Skills, Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. The primary comparison at 20 weeks between gro...

The present study examined how the updating, inhibiting, and shifting abilities underlying executive control influence spoken noun-phrase production. Previous studies provided evidence that updating and inhibiting, but not shifting,... more

The present study examined how the updating, inhibiting, and shifting abilities underlying executive control influence spoken noun-phrase production. Previous studies provided evidence that updating and inhibiting, but not shifting, influence picture-naming response time (RT). However, little is known about the role of executive control in more complex forms of language production like generating phrases. We assessed noun-phrase production using picture description and a picture-word interference procedure. We measured picture description RT to assess length, distractor, and switch effects, which were assumed to reflect, respectively, the updating, inhibiting, and shifting abilities of adult participants. Moreover, for each participant we obtained scores on executive control tasks that measured verbal and nonverbal updating, nonverbal inhibiting, and nonverbal shifting. We found that both verbal and nonverbal updating scores correlated with the overall mean picture description RTs. Furthermore, the length effect in the RTs correlated with verbal but not nonverbal updating scores, while the distractor effect correlated with inhibiting scores. We did not find a correlation between the switch effect in the mean RTs and the shifting scores. However, the shifting scores correlated with the switch effect in the normal part of the underlying RT distribution. These results suggest that updating, inhibiting, and shifting each influence the speed of phrase production, thereby demonstrating a contribution of all three executive control abilities to language production.

Effects of bright light exposure at midday were examined on plasma melatonin rhythm in humans under controlled living conditions. Bright light of 5000 lx was provided from the ceiling at midday (1100-1700 h) for 3 consecutive days and the... more

Effects of bright light exposure at midday were examined on plasma melatonin rhythm in humans under controlled living conditions. Bright light of 5000 lx was provided from the ceiling at midday (1100-1700 h) for 3 consecutive days and the circadian rhythm in plasma melatonin was determined from the fourth to fifth day. The control study was performed in the same subjects who spend four days under dim light conditions (less than 200 lx). The subjects were allowed to sleep from 2400 to 0800 h. The onset phase, but not the end phase, of plasma melatonin rhythm was significantly phase-advanced by bright light exposure. Furthermore, the area under the curve of nocturnal melatonin rise was significantly larger under bright light exposure than under dim light. These findings indicate that midday exposure to bright light for 3 consecutive days changes the circadian organization of plasma melatonin rhythm in humans.

It can be difficult to judge the effectiveness of encoding techniques in a within-subject design. Consider the production effect-the finding that words read aloud are better remembered than words read silently. In the absence of a... more

It can be difficult to judge the effectiveness of encoding techniques in a within-subject design. Consider the production effect-the finding that words read aloud are better remembered than words read silently. In the absence of a baseline, a within-subject production effect in a mixed study list could reflect a benefit of reading aloud, a cost of reading silently, or both. To help interpret within-subject data, memory researchers have compared within-subject and between-subjects designs, with the between-subjects (i.e., pure list) conditions serving as baselines against which the within-subject (i.e., mixed-list) conditions are compared. In the present article, the authors highlight a shortcoming of using this comparison to assess costs and benefits in recognition. Unlike between-subjects experiments where separate false alarm rates are obtained for each condition, the typical within-subject experiment yields a collapsed false alarm rate, which, the authors argue, can potentially b...

Recent research in instrumental conditioning has focused on the striatum, particularly the role of the dorsal striatum in the learning processes that contribute to instrumental performance in rats. This research has found evidence of what... more

Recent research in instrumental conditioning has focused on the striatum, particularly the role of the dorsal striatum in the learning processes that contribute to instrumental performance in rats. This research has found evidence of what appear to be parallel, functionally and anatomically distinct circuits involving dorsomedial striatum (DMS) and dorsolateral striatum (DLS) that contribute to two independent instrumental learning processes. Evidence suggests that the formation of the critical action-outcome associations mediating goal-directed action are localized to the dorsomedial striatum, whereas the sensorimotor connections that control the performance of habitual actions are localized to the dorsolateral striatum. In addition to the dorsal striatum, these learning processes appear to engage distinct corticostriatal networks and to be embedded in a complex of converging and partially segregated loops that constitute the cortico-striatal thalamo-cortical feedback circuit. As the entry point for the basal ganglia, cortical circuits involving the dorsal striatum are clearly in a position to control a variety of motor functions but, as recent studies of various neurodegenerative disorders have made clear, they are also involved in a number of cognitive and executive functions including action selection, planning, and decision-making.

Study objectives: There is accumulating evidence that the common cold produces impairments in psychomotor vigilance. This has led some investigators to hypothesize that such illnesses may also have disruptive effects on sleep. While... more

Study objectives: There is accumulating evidence that the common cold produces impairments in psychomotor vigilance. This has led some investigators to hypothesize that such illnesses may also have disruptive effects on sleep. While several self-report studies suggest that viral illness may influence sleep parameters, no studies have assessed polysomnographically recorded sleep following viral infections. Design: Parallel control group comparison. Setting: Sleep laboratory in a large urban medical center. Participants: Twenty-one men and women with susceptibility to the rhinovirus type 23. Interventions: Nasal inoculation with rhinovirus type 23. Measurements: Polysomnographically recorded sleep for five nights (2300 ± 0700 h) post-viral inoculation. Twice daily (1030 and 1430 h) performance assessment during each experimental day using auditory vigilance and divided attention tasks. A multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) was performed daily for the duration of the study. Results: In symptomatic individuals, total sleep time decreased an average of 23 min, consolidated sleep decreased an average of 36 min, and sleep efficiency was reduced by an average of 5% during the active viral period (experimental days/nights 3 ± 5) compared with the incubation period. Psychomotor performance was impaired. These changes were significantly greater than those observed in asymptomatic individuals. Conclusions: The common cold can have detrimental effects on sleep and psychomotor performance in symptomatic individuals during the initial active phase of the illness. D

Aims: Examine whether one session of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) would induce any measurable cognitive changes in patients with... more

Aims: Examine whether one session of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) would induce any measurable cognitive changes in patients with cerebrovascular disease and mild cognitive deficits. Patients and method: Seven patients with cerebrovascular disease and mild executive dysfunction entered the randomised, controlled, blinded study with a crossover design. rTMS was applied either over the left DLPFC (an active stimulation site) or over the left motor cortex (MC; a control stimulation site) in one session. Each patient participated in both stimulation sessions (days 1 and 4) and the order of stimulation sites (DLPFC or MC) was randomised. A short battery of neuropsychological tests was performed by a blinded psychologist prior to and after each rTMS session. Psychomotor speed, executive function, and memory were evaluated. Results: The only mild but significant stimulation site-specific effect of rTMS was observed in the Stroop interference results (i.e. improvement) after the stimulation of DLPFC but not MC in comparison with the baseline scores (Wilcoxon, Z=À2.03, p=0.04). Patients improved in the digit symbols subtest of the Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised after both rTMS sessions regardless of the stimulation site (DLPFC or MC; Z=À2.06, p=0.04 and Z=À2.06, p=0.04, respectively). There was no measurable effect of rTMS in any other neuropsychological test. Conclusion: Our pilot study results showed that one session of the high frequency rTMS applied over the left DLPFC was safe in patients with cerebrovascular disease and mild executive deficits, and may induce measurable positive effects on executive functioning. D

Many studies indicate a role of the cerebral dopaminergic reward system in addiction. Motivated by these ®ndings, we examined in opiate addicts whether brain regions involved in the reward circuitry also react to human prototypical... more

Many studies indicate a role of the cerebral dopaminergic reward system in addiction. Motivated by these ®ndings, we examined in opiate addicts whether brain regions involved in the reward circuitry also react to human prototypical rewards. We measured regional cerebral blood¯ow (rCBF) with H 2 15 O positron emission tomography (PET) during a visuo-spatial recognition task with delayed response in control subjects and in opiate addicts participating in a methadone program. Three conditions were de®ned by the types of feedback: nonsense feedback; nonmonetary reinforcement; or monetary reward, received by the subjects for a correct response. We found in the control subjects rCBF increases in regions associated with the meso-striatal and mesocorticolimbic circuits in response to both monetary reward and nonmonetary reinforcement. In opiate addicts, these regions were activated only in response to monetary reward. Furthermore, nonmonetary reinforcement elicited rCBF increases in limbic regions of the opiate addicts that were not activated in the control subjects. Because psychoactive drugs serve as rewards and directly affect regions of the dopaminergic system like the striatum, we conclude that the differences in rCBF increases between controls and addicts can be attributed to an adaptive consequence of the addiction process.

Total sleep deprivation in healthy subjects has a profound effect on the performance on tasks measuring sustained attention or vigilance. We here report how a selective disruption of deep sleep only, that is, selective slow-wave activity... more

Total sleep deprivation in healthy subjects has a profound effect on the performance on tasks measuring sustained attention or vigilance. We here report how a selective disruption of deep sleep only, that is, selective slow-wave activity (SWA) reduction, affects the performance of healthy well-sleeping subjects on several tasks: a "simple" and a "complex" vigilance task, a declarative learning task, and an implicit learning task despite unchanged duration of sleep. We used automated electroencephalogram (EEG) dependent acoustic feedback aimed at selective interference with-and reduction of-SWA. In a within-subject repeated measures crossover design, performance on the tasks was assessed in 13 elderly adults without sleep complaints after either SWA-reduction or after normal sleep. The number of vigilance lapses increased as a result of SWA reduction, irrespective of the type of vigilance task. Recognition on the declarative memory task was also affected by SWA re...

Function-focused care (FFC) is an approach to care in which nurses help patients engage in activities of daily living (ADL) and physical activity, with the goal of preventing avoidable functional decline. This prospective, observational... more

Function-focused care (FFC) is an approach to care in which nurses help patients engage in activities of daily living (ADL) and physical activity, with the goal of preventing avoidable functional decline. This prospective, observational study, conducted with hospitalized older adults (N 5 93) examined: 1) the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who were provided FFC activity, and 2) the relationship between change in physical activity and FFC activities. Patients who received FFC were more likely: to be younger (P 5 .028); had one or more falls during the hospitalization (P 5 .048); had demonstrated better functional performance at admission (P 5 .004) and better physical capability, measured by the Tinetti gait and balance scale (P 5 .004). FFC was associated with less decrement in ADL function, admission to discharge, while considering patient characteristics (t 5 7.6; P \ .008). Results suggest that hospitalized older persons can benefit from FFC. (Geriatr Nurs 2012;33:272-279) O lder adults are admitted to acute care hospitals at rates as high as 3 times those of younger individuals. 1 It is estimated that up to 50% lose the ability to conduct activities of daily living (ADLs) while hospitalized, 2 with profound implications for their health. The consequences of functional decline include decreased functional recovery 3 and increased morbidity and mortality. 4 The immobility associated with functional decline results in iatrogenic infections, pressure ulcers, falls, and nonelective rehospitalizations. 5,6 Moreover, lack of attention to functional health predisposes the older adult to prolonged, costly rehabilitative care with limited guarantee of return to prehospitalization function. 7 This shortfall in care delivery is inconsistent with the basic tenet of gerontological nursing that emphasizes preservation of function and with the older person's expectation that the hospitalization improve not worsen health and functioning. 8 This study begins to address this gap by examining the interaction between nurses and hospitalized older adults during ADL performance and the relationship with functional outcomes.

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with impulse regulation problems. This study investigated subjective and behavioural impulsivity in women with anorexia nervosa (n=15) and a control group (n=16). Method: A self-report... more

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with impulse regulation problems. This study investigated subjective and behavioural impulsivity in women with anorexia nervosa (n=15) and a control group (n=16). Method: A self-report measure (the impulsiveness, venturesomeness, and empathy questionnaire; I 7 ) and two behavioural measures (a continuous performance task [CPT]; and a novel risk taking measure [Bets 16]) of impulsivity were used along with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: The AN group had elevated BDI scores and lower self-reported impulsiveness and venturesomeness scores, but they also displayed impulsive behaviour on the CPT (more errors of commission with faster reaction times). Discussion: The coexistence, in AN, of self-reported self-control and behavioural impulsivity indicates that the relationship between impulsivity and disordered eating in AN is more complex than previously recognised and supports the view that self-awareness in AN is low. D

Dual-task methodology has been increasingly used to assess cognitive motor interference while walking. However, whether the observed dual-task-related gait changes are systematically related to methodological variations remains unclear... more

Dual-task methodology has been increasingly used to assess cognitive motor interference while walking. However, whether the observed dual-task-related gait changes are systematically related to methodological variations remains unclear and researchers still lack knowledge of what cognitive task to use in different groups for clinical purposes or for research. We systematically reviewed experimental studies that measured gait performance with and without performing concurrent cognitive task. Our results suggest that cognitive tasks that involve internal interfering factors seem to disturb gait performance more than those involving external interfering factors. Meta-analysis results show that the overall effect of different cognitive tasks was prominent in gait speed. In healthy participants, meta-regression analysis suggests strong associations between age and speed reduction under dual-task conditions and between the level of cognitive state and speed reduction under dual-task conditions. Standardizing research methodologies, as well as improving their ecological validity, enables better understanding of dualtask-related gait changes in different populations and improves, in turn, our understanding of neural mechanisms and gait control in general in content.