FN400 and LPC memory effects for concrete and abstract words.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Stróżak P, Bird CW, Corby K,
Frishkoff G, Curran T
Psychophysiology. 2016 Jul 27;
Authors: Stróżak P, Bird CW, Corby K, Frishkoff G, Curran T
Abstract
According to dual-process models, recognition memory depends on two neurocognitive mechanisms: familiarity, which has been linked to the frontal N400 (FN400) effect in studies using ERPs, and recollection, which is reflected by changes in the late positive complex (LPC). Recently, there has been some debate over the relationship between FN400 familiarity effects and N400 semantic effects. According to one view, these effects are one and the same. Proponents of this view have suggested that the frontal distribution of the FN400 could be due to stimulus concreteness: recognition memory experiments commonly use highly imageable or concrete words (or pictures), which elicit semantic ERPs with a frontal distribution. In the present study, we tested this claim using a recognition memory paradigm in which subjects memorized concrete and abstract nouns; half of the words changed font color between study and test. FN400 and LPC old/new effects were observed for abstract as well as concrete words, and were stronger over right hemisphere electrodes for concrete words. However, there was no difference in anteriority of the FN400 effect for the two word types. These findings challenge the notion that the frontal distribution of the FN400 old/new effect is fully explained by stimulus concreteness.
PMID: 27463978 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Multimodal Assessment Reveals Late-Onset Hemispheric Shift of Language in a Child with Meningocerebral Dysplasia.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Lorenzen A, Wilke M, Alber M,
Milian M, Bornemann A, Ernemann U, Rona S
Neuropediatrics. 2016 Jul 27;
Authors: Lorenzen A, Wilke M, Alber M, Milian M, Bornemann A, Ernemann U, Rona S
Abstract
We report on a girl with progressive left frontal tissue destruction starting at the age of almost 8 years. She manifested acutely with epileptic seizures accompanied by Broca aphasia as well as transient right hemiparesis. Due to refractory epilepsy developing over the next years, which originated from the left frontal lobe, the decision was made to proceed to epilepsy surgery. By then, her language functions had recovered despite progressive left frontal tissue-destruction, raising the possibility of a hemispheric shift of language. Clinical functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted to localize brain regions involved in language production. A complex pattern of clear right-hemispheric dominance, but with some left-sided contribution was found. However, a Wada test suggested the left hemisphere to be critical, seemingly contradicting fMRI. Invasive electroencephalogram recordings could reconcile these results by identifying the fMRI-detected, residual left-sided activation as being relevant for speech production. Only by combining the localizing information from fMRI with the information obtained by two invasive procedures could the unusual pattern of late-onset language reorganization be uncovered. This allowed for extensive left frontal resection, with histology confirming meningocerebral angiodysplasia. Postoperatively, language functions were preserved and seizure outcome was excellent. The implications of our findings for presurgical assessments in children are discussed.
PMID: 27462834 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Children's language development after cochlear implantation: a literature review.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Monteiro CG, Cordeiro AA, Silva
HJ, Queiroga BA
Codas. 2016 May-Jun;28(3):319-325
Authors: Monteiro CG, Cordeiro AA, Silva HJ, Queiroga BA
Abstract
Aim: review the literature for studies that describe the language development of children after they receive cochlear implants.
Research strategies: Literature review on the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct databases, tracing the selection and critical analysis stages in the journals found and selected.
Selection criteria: We selected original articles looking at children with cochlear implants, which mentioned language development after surgery. Case studies, dissertations, books chapters, editorials, and original articles that did not mention aspects of oral communication development, perception of sounds and speech, and other stages of human development, in the title, abstract, or text, were excluded.
Data analysis: A protocol was created for this study including the following points: author, year, location, sample, type of study, objectives, methods used, main results, and conclusion.
Results: 5,052 articles were found based on the search descriptors and free terms. Of this total, 3,414 were excluded due to the title, 1,245 due to the abstract, and 358 from reading the full text; we selected 35, of which 28 were repeated. In the end, seven articles were analyzed in this review.
Conclusion: We conclude that cochlear implant users have slower linguistic and educational development than their peers with normal hearing - though they are better than conventional prostheses users - and they are able to match them over time. There is great variability in the test methodologies, thus reducing the effectiveness and reliability of the results found.
PMID: 27462733 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Geometric Constraints on Human Speech Sound Inventories.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Dunbar E, Dupoux E
Front Psychol. 2016;7:1061
Authors: Dunbar E, Dupoux E
Abstract
We investigate the idea that the languages of the world have developed coherent sound systems in which having one sound increases or decreases the chances of having certain other sounds, depending on shared properties of those sounds. We investigate the geometries of sound systems that are defined by the inherent properties of sounds. We document three typological tendencies in sound system geometries: economy, a tendency for the differences between sounds in a system to be definable on a relatively small number of independent dimensions; local symmetry, a tendency for sound systems to have relatively large numbers of pairs of sounds that differ only on one dimension; and global symmetry, a tendency for sound systems to be relatively balanced. The finding of economy corroborates previous results; the two symmetry properties have not been previously documented. We also investigate the relation between the typology of inventory geometries and the typology of individual sounds, showing that the frequency distribution with which individual sounds occur across languages works in favor of both local and global symmetry.
PMID: 27462296 [PubMed]
Reflex Cough and Disease Duration as Predictors of Swallowing Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Troche MS, Schumann B,
Brandimore AE, Okun MS, Hegland KW
Dysphagia. 2016 Jul 26;
Authors: Troche MS, Schumann B, Brandimore AE, Okun MS, Hegland KW
Abstract
Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have progressive and pervasive disorders of airway protection. Recent work has highlighted the relationship between reflex and voluntary cough and swallowing safety. The goal of this study was to test the sensitivity and specificity of several airway protective and disease-specific factors for predicting swallowing safety outcomes in PD. Sixty-four participants (44 males) completed measures of voluntary and reflex cough, and swallowing safety. Clinical predictors included disease severity and duration, and cough airflow and sensitivity measures. ROC and Chi-square analyses identified predictors of swallowing safety (penetration-aspiration score) in PD. Disease duration significantly discriminated between patients with normal and abnormal swallowing safety (p = 0.027, sensitivity: 71 %, specificity: 55.4 %). Cough reflex sensitivity significantly discriminated between patients who penetrated above the level of the vocal folds and those with more severe penetration/aspiration (p = 0.021, sensitivity: 71.0 %, specificity 57.6 %). Urge-to-cough sensitivity (log-log linear slope) was the only variable which significantly discriminated between patients with penetration versus aspiration (p = 0.017, sensitivity: 85.7 %, specificity 73.2 %). It is important to identify the factors which influence airway protective outcomes in PD especially given that aspiration pneumonia is a leading cause of death. Results from this study highlight the ecological validity of reflex cough in the study of airway protection and this study further identifies important factors to consider in the screening of airway protective deficits in PD.
PMID: 27461481 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The Left, The Better: White-Matter Brain Integrity Predicts Foreign Language Imitation Ability.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Vaquero L, Rodríguez-Fornells A,
Reiterer SM
Cereb Cortex. 2016 Jul 26;
Authors: Vaquero L, Rodríguez-Fornells A, Reiterer SM
Abstract
Speech imitation is crucial for language acquisition and second-language learning. Interestingly, large individual differences regarding the ability in imitating foreign-language sounds have been observed. The origin of this interindividual diversity remains unknown, although it might be partially explained by structural predispositions. Here we correlated white-matter structural properties of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) with the performance of 52 German-speakers in a Hindi sentence- and word-imitation task. First, a manual reconstruction was performed, permitting us to extract the mean values along the three branches of the AF. We found that a larger lateralization of the AF volume toward the left hemisphere predicted the performance of our participants in the imitation task. Second, an automatic reconstruction was carried out, allowing us to localize the specific region within the AF that exhibited the largest correlation with foreign language imitation. Results of this reconstruction also showed a left lateralization trend: greater fractional anisotropy values in the anterior half of the left AF correlated with the performance in the Hindi-imitation task. From the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that foreign language imitation aptitude is tested using a more ecological imitation task and correlated with DTI tractography, using both a manual and an automatic method.
PMID: 27461123 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Group size, vocal grooming and the origins of language.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Dunbar RI
Psychon Bull Rev. 2016 Jul 26;
Authors: Dunbar RI
Abstract
I argue that speech and language evolved through a series of stages individually designed to break through successive glass ceilings on group size. Language was simply the last of these (and hence evolved late in hominin evolution), but its precursors (laughter and singing) each played a crucial role in preparing the way for speech production.
PMID: 27460463 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Two-Step Screening of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in Thai Children with Language Delay and Typically Developing Children.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Srisinghasongkram P,
Pruksananonda C, Chonchaiya W
J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Jul 26;
Authors: Srisinghasongkram P, Pruksananonda C, Chonchaiya W
Abstract
This study aimed to validate the use of two-step Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) screening adapted for a Thai population. Our participants included both high-risk children with language delay (N = 109) and low-risk children with typical development (N = 732). Compared with the critical scoring criteria, the total scoring method (failing ≥3 items) yielded the highest sensitivity of 90.7 %; specificity was 99.7 %, positive predictive value 96.1 %, and negative predictive value 99.4 %. The two-step M-CHAT screening is a promising instrument that can be utilized to detect ASD in Thai children in both primary and clinical settings. Moreover, socio-cultural context should be considered when adopting the use and interpretation of the M-CHAT for each country.
PMID: 27460003 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The stability and validity of automated vocal analysis in preverbal preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Woynaroski T, Oller DK,
Keceli-Kaysili B, Xu D, Richards JA, Gilkerson J, Gray S, Yoder P
| Related Articles |
Autism Res. 2016 Jul 26;
Authors: Woynaroski T, Oller DK, Keceli-Kaysili B, Xu D, Richards JA, Gilkerson J, Gray S, Yoder P
Abstract
Theory and research suggest that vocal development predicts "useful speech" in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but conventional methods for measurement of vocal development are costly and time consuming. This longitudinal correlational study examines the reliability and validity of several automated indices of vocalization development relative to an index derived from human coded, conventional communication samples in a sample of preverbal preschoolers with ASD. Automated indices of vocal development were derived using software that is presently "in development" and/or only available for research purposes and using commercially available Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) software. Indices of vocal development that could be derived using the software available for research purposes: (a) were highly stable with a single day-long audio recording, (b) predicted future spoken vocabulary to a degree that was nonsignificantly different from the index derived from conventional communication samples, and (c) continued to predict future spoken vocabulary even after controlling for concurrent vocabulary in our sample. The score derived from standard LENA software was similarly stable, but was not significantly correlated with future spoken vocabulary. Findings suggest that automated vocal analysis is a valid and reliable alternative to time intensive and expensive conventional communication samples for measurement of vocal development of preverbal preschoolers with ASD in research and clinical practice. Autism Res 2016. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PMID: 27459107 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
"Bird Song Metronomics": Isochronous Organization of Zebra Finch Song Rhythm.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Norton P, Scharff C
| Related Articles |
Front Neurosci. 2016;10:309
Authors: Norton P, Scharff C
Abstract
The human capacity for speech and vocal music depends on vocal imitation. Songbirds, in contrast to non-human primates, share this vocal production learning with humans. The process through which birds and humans learn many of their vocalizations as well as the underlying neural system exhibit a number of striking parallels and have been widely researched. In contrast, rhythm, a key feature of language, and music, has received surprisingly little attention in songbirds. Investigating temporal periodicity in bird song has the potential to inform the relationship between neural mechanisms and behavioral output and can also provide insight into the biology and evolution of musicality. Here we present a method to analyze birdsong for an underlying rhythmic regularity. Using the intervals from one note onset to the next as input, we found for each bird an isochronous sequence of time stamps, a "signal-derived pulse," or pulse(S), of which a subset aligned with all note onsets of the bird's song. Fourier analysis corroborated these results. To determine whether this finding was just a byproduct of the duration of notes and intervals typical for zebra finches but not dependent on the individual duration of elements and the sequence in which they are sung, we compared natural songs to models of artificial songs. Note onsets of natural song deviated from the pulse(S) significantly less than those of artificial songs with randomized note and gap durations. Thus, male zebra finch song has the regularity required for a listener to extract a perceived pulse (pulse(P)), as yet untested. Strikingly, in our study, pulses(S) that best fit note onsets often also coincided with the transitions between sub-note elements within complex notes, corresponding to neuromuscular gestures. Gesture durations often equaled one or more pulse(S) periods. This suggests that gesture duration constitutes the basic element of the temporal hierarchy of zebra finch song rhythm, an interesting parallel to the hierarchically structured components of regular rhythms in human music.
PMID: 27458334 [PubMed]
Determinants of living well with aphasia in the first year post stroke: a prospective cohort study.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Worrall LE, Hudson K, Khan A,
Ryan B, Simmons-Mackie N
| Related Articles |
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Jul 22;
Authors: Worrall LE, Hudson K, Khan A, Ryan B, Simmons-Mackie N
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine factors that contribute to living well with aphasia in the first 12 months post stroke.
DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal cohort study SETTING: Hospitalized care, ambulatory care and general community PARTICIPANTS: A referred sample of 58 people with a first incidence of aphasia after stroke was assessed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post onset. Participants were recruited through speech- language pathologists in two capital cities of Australia. Presence of aphasia was determined through the Western Aphasia Battery Revised (WAB-R)(6) by an experienced speech-language pathologist.
INTERVENTIONS: N/A MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcomes were the five domains of the Assessment for Living with Aphasia at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post stroke. The independent variables included demographics, physical functioning, social network, mood, aphasia severity and a self-rating of successfully living with aphasia at the same time points. Mixed effects modelling was used to determine which factors contributed to the trajectory of each of the five domains of Participation, Impairment, Environment, Personal Factors, Life with Aphasia.
RESULTS: Higher household income, larger social network size, being female and having a milder aphasia were positively associated with the Participation domain. Graduate or postgraduate educational levels, low mood and poor physical functioning were negatively associated with the Participation domain. Factors positively associated with other domains included higher income, self-ratings of successfully living with aphasia and aphasia severity. Low mood was consistently negatively associated with all domains.
CONCLUSION: Psychosocial determinants were the most significant predictors of living well with aphasia in the first 12 months post onset. Aphasia rehabilitation needs to attend more to these factors to optimise outcomes.
PMID: 27457540 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Response to Own Name in Children: ERP Study of Auditory Social Information Processing.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Key AP, Jones D, Peters
SU
| Related Articles |
Biol Psychol. 2016 Jul 22;
Authors: Key AP, Jones D, Peters SU
Abstract
Auditory processing is an important component of cognitive development, and names are among the most frequently occurring receptive language stimuli. Although own name processing has been examined in infants and adults, surprisingly little data exist on responses to own name in children. The present ERP study examined spoken name processing in 32 children (M=7.85years) using a passive listening paradigm. Our results demonstrated that children differentiate own and close other's names from unknown names, as reflected by the enhanced parietal P300 response. The responses to own and close other names did not differ between each other. Repeated presentations of an unknown name did not result in the same familiarity as the known names. These results suggest that auditory ERPs to known/unknown names are a feasible means to evaluate complex auditory processing without the need for overt behavioral responses.
PMID: 27456543 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Communication and quality of life outcomes from an interprofessional intensive, comprehensive, aphasia program (ICAP).
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Hoover EL, Caplan DN, Waters GS,
Carney A
| Related Articles |
Top Stroke Rehabil. 2016 Jul 26;:1-9
Authors: Hoover EL, Caplan DN, Waters GS, Carney A
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAPs) have developed in response to a growing need for treatments which produce changes in language function in people with aphasia, especially in the chronic phase of recovery. ICAPs are growing in number and several papers have presented preliminary results of their use, but little data exist about their efficacy or effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the communication effects of an ICAP program that incorporated evidenced-based individual and group treatment in an interprofessional program.
METHOD: Twenty-seven individuals with chronic aphasia were provided with 30 h of interprofessional treatment a week for a four-week period in both individual and group formats. A delayed treatment, within-participant research protocol was used. Language measures were taken at two intervals pre- and two intervals post treatment. Functional, narrative, and quality of life measures were taken once pre and once post treatment.
RESULTS: Significant change was observed on targeted language functions post treatment. Significant treatment effects were also observed on functional and quality of life measures as well as on all impairment-based language measures for the group.
CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence of linguistic and quality of life change in individuals with chronic aphasia who were treated in an interprofessional ICAP.
PMID: 27456043 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Self-reported cochlear implant management skills: development and validation of the self-administered Cochlear Implant Management Skills (CIMS-self) survey.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Bennett RJ, Jayakody DM,
Eikelboom RH, Atlas MD
| Related Articles |
Clin Otolaryngol. 2016 Jul 25;
Authors: Bennett RJ, Jayakody DM, Eikelboom RH, Atlas MD
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: A self-administered device management survey was developed and validated to investigate the ability of cochlear implant recipients to self-report physical handling and care for their hearing implant device(s) and to identify factors that may influence self-reported management skills.
DESIGN: Survey development and validation. A prospective convenience cohort design study.
SETTING: Specialist hearing implant clinic.
PARTICIPANTS: Forty-nine postlingually deafened, adult cochlear implant recipients, at least 12 months post-operative.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survey test-retest reliability, responsiveness, criterion validity and sensitivity and specificity compared to clinician evaluation of device management skills. Correlations between self-reported management skills and participant demographic, audiometric, cognitive function, clinical outcomes and device factors.
RESULTS: The self-administered Cochlear Implant Management Skills survey was developed, demonstrating high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.884, p < 0.001; CI 95%: 0.721 to 0.952), responsiveness to intervention (management skills training) [t(20) = -3.245, p = 0.004], criterion validity (ICC = 0.765, p < 0.001; CI 95%: 0.584 to 0.868) and sensitivity (0.89). No associations were found between self-reported management skills and participant factors.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that a self-report survey is an effective method for the evaluation of skills required for cochlear implant device management. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PMID: 27455457 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The Neural Substrates Underlying the Implementation of Phonological Rule in Lexical Tone Production: An fMRI Study of the Tone 3 Sandhi Phenomenon in Mandarin Chinese.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Chang CH, Kuo WJ
| Related Articles |
PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159835
Authors: Chang CH, Kuo WJ
Abstract
This study examined the neural substrates underlying the implementation of phonological rule in lexical tone by the Tone 3 sandhi phenomenon in Mandarin Chinese. Tone 3 sandhi is traditionally described as the substitution of Tone 3 with Tone 2 when followed by another Tone 3 (33 →23) during speech production. Tone 3 sandhi enables the examination of tone processing in the phonological level with the least involvement of segments. Using the fMRI technique, we measured brain activations corresponding to the monosyllable and disyllable sequences of the four Chinese lexical tones, while manipulating the requirement on overt oral response. The application of Tone 3 sandhi to disyllable sequence of Tone 3 was confirmed by our behavioral results. Larger brain responses to overtly produced disyllable Tone 3 (33 > 11, 22, and 44) were found in right posterior IFG by both whole-brain and ROI analyses. We suggest that the right IFG was responsible for the processing of Tone 3 sandhi. Intense temporo-frontal interaction is needed in speech production for self-monitoring. The involvement of the right IFG in tone production might result from its interaction with the right auditory cortex, which is known to specialize in pitch. Future studies using tools with better temporal resolutions are needed to illuminate the dynamic interaction between the right inferior frontal regions and the left-lateralized language network in tone languages.
PMID: 27455078 [PubMed - in process]
Victims Seeking Help from Speech-Language Pathologists: Bullying, Preparedness, and Perceptions.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Blood GW, Blood IM
| Related Articles |
Folia Phoniatr Logop. 2016 Jul 26;68(1):29-36
Authors: Blood GW, Blood IM
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Antibullying initiatives indicate that all school-based personnel should accept responsibility for changing the school climate and eliminating bullying. This study examined if victims seeking assistance for bullying contacted speech-language pathologists (SLPs), SLPs' preparation to address bullying and their current perceptions of responsibilities and interventions.
METHODS: A mailed survey consisting of a questionnaire and scale on bullying intervention strategies was completed by 418 school-based SLPs.
RESULTS: Sixty-one (14.6%) SLPs reported that victims on their caseloads told them directly about being bullied during the last month. The majority of SLPs (84.9%) reported that bullying was a problem in schools, and 65.1% reported that they had observed students being bullied in the past month. Less than half of the SLPs (46.7%) reported feeling prepared to deal with bullying episodes. Thirty-six SLPs (7.9%) reported that they did not address bullying issues because it was outside the scope of practice or job responsibilities.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large study to report that victims seek help from SLPs directly for assistance with bullying incidents. SLPs stated that they received some training in addressing bullying issues but did not feel prepared. SLPs thought bullying was a problem but were undecided about the best strategies for assisting the students.
PMID: 27454183 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on seizure frequency of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Tekturk P, Erdogan ET, Kurt A,
Vanli-Yavuz EN, Ekizoglu E, Kocagoncu E, Kucuk Z, Aksu S, Bebek N, Yapici Z,
Gurses C, Gokyigit A, Baykan B, Karamursel S
| Related Articles |
Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2016 Jul 12;149:27-32
Authors: Tekturk P, Erdogan ET, Kurt A, Vanli-Yavuz EN, Ekizoglu E, Kocagoncu E, Kucuk Z, Aksu S, Bebek N, Yapici Z, Gurses C, Gokyigit A, Baykan B, Karamursel S
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive and safe method tried in drug-resistant epilepsies, in recent years. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of tDCS in patients diagnosed with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) which is a well-known drug-resistant focal epilepsy syndrome.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve MTLE-HS patients diagnosed with their typical clinical, EEG and MRI findings fulfilling the criteria for drug-resistance as suggested by the ILAE commission were included after Ethics Committee approval and their signed consent. All patients received modulated cathodal stimulation; 2mA for 30min on 3 consecutive days. All patients also received sham stimulation with the same electrode positions; designed as 60s stimulation gradually decreasing in 15s with placement of the electrodes for 30min over the stimulation side. They were followed up by standard seizure diaries and their medical treatment was not changed during the study period. Their seizure frequencies both before and after cathodal tDCS and sham stimulation were compared statistically. Adverse effects were also questioned.
RESULTS: Mean age of our study group was 35.42±6.96 (6 males; median: 35.50). The mean seizure frequency was 10.58±9.91 (median=8; min-max=2-30) at the baseline and significantly decreased to 1.67±2.50 (median=0.5; min-max=0-8) after cathodal tDCS application (p=0.003). Ten patients (83.33%) had more than 50% decrease in their seizure frequencies after cathodal tDCS. Two patients (16.67%) also showed positive sham effect. Six patients (50%) were seizure-free in the post-cathodal tDCS period of one month. No adverse effect has been reported except tingling sensation during cathodal stimulation.
CONCLUSION: Our small series suggested that cathodal tDCS may be used as an additional treatment option in MTLE-HS. It may be tried in TLE-HS patients waiting for or rejecting epilepsy surgery or even with ineffective surgery results. More studies are needed with large series of patients to investigate the effects of tDCS in drug resistant epilepsies.
PMID: 27450765 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Learning words and learning sounds: Advances in language development.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Vihman MM
| Related Articles |
Br J Psychol. 2016 Jul 23;
Authors: Vihman MM
Abstract
Phonological development is sometimes seen as a process of learning sounds, or forming phonological categories, and then combining sounds to build words, with the evidence taken largely from studies demonstrating 'perceptual narrowing' in infant speech perception over the first year of life. In contrast, studies of early word production have long provided evidence that holistic word learning may precede the formation of phonological categories. In that account, children begin by matching their existing vocal patterns to adult words, with knowledge of the phonological system emerging from the network of related word forms. Here I review evidence from production and then consider how the implicit and explicit learning mechanisms assumed by the complementary memory systems model might be understood as reconciling the two approaches.
PMID: 27449816 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The neural underpinnings of reading skill in deaf adults.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Emmorey K, McCullough S,
Weisberg J
| Related Articles |
Brain Lang. 2016 Jul 20;160:11-20
Authors: Emmorey K, McCullough S, Weisberg J
Abstract
We investigated word-level reading circuits in skilled deaf readers (N=14; mean reading age=19.5years) and less skilled deaf readers (N=14; mean reading age=12years) who were all highly proficient users of American Sign Language. During fMRI scanning, participants performed a semantic decision (concrete concept?), a phonological decision (two syllables?), and a false-font control task (string underlined?). No significant group differences were observed with the full participant set. However, an analysis with the 10 most and 10 least skilled readers revealed that for the semantic task (vs. control task), proficient deaf readers exhibited greater activation in left inferior frontal and middle temporal gyri than less proficient readers. No group differences were observed for the phonological task. Whole-brain correlation analyses (all participants) revealed that for the semantic task, reading ability correlated positively with neural activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus and in a region associated with the orthography-semantics interface, located anterior to the visual word form area. Reading ability did not correlate with neural activity during the phonological task. Accuracy on the semantic task correlated positively with neural activity in left anterior temporal lobe (a region linked to conceptual processing), while accuracy on the phonological task correlated positively with neural activity in left posterior inferior frontal gyrus (a region linked to syllabification processes during speech production). Finally, reading comprehension scores correlated positively with vocabulary and print exposure measures, but not with phonological awareness scores.
PMID: 27448530 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
[The "aphasia" article in Villaret's Handwörterbuch].
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Menninger A
| Related Articles |
Luzif Amor. 2016;29(57):175-84
Authors: Menninger A
Abstract
Freud's authorship is founded on three arguments: 1) the reasoning of the article is close to Charcot's lectures which Freud had just translated; 2) there is a specific Freudian core thesis, common to the article and his later writings, namely the notion of an associative speech area extending between the "motor fields of the cortex and those of the optic and auditory nerves" and touching them like "corners" of a continuous field; 3) general observations on the revision or non- revision of articles taken over from the 1st to the 2nd edition of Villaret.
PMID: 27281987 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
[New entities and the criteria of FTLD].
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Otsuki M
| Related Articles |
Nihon Rinsho. 2016 Mar;74(3):459-65
Authors: Otsuki M
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the historical entity hitherto, the pivotal clinical symptoms of FTLD (frontotemporal lobar degeneration), and an introduction for the revised criteria for bvFTD (behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia): FTDC (International Behavioral Variant FTD Criteria Consortium) presented by Rascovsky et al(2011), and the classification criteria for PPA(primary progressive aphasia) heralded by Gorno-Tempini et al (2011). According to the former criteria, bvFTD can be diagnosed by the clinical symptoms as having possible bvFTD or probable bvFTD, and the pathological findings could lead definite bvFTD. In the latter classification criteria of PPA, two types are implicated in FTLD: one is the non-fluent/agrammatic variant PPA(PNFA/nfvPPA/naPPA), and the other is semantic variant PPA(SD/svPPA).
PMID: 27025087 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Brain Network Connectivity Maintains Cognition across the Lifespan Despite Accelerated Decay of Regional Brain Activation.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Tsvetanov KA, Henson RN, Tyler
LK, Razi A, Geerligs L, Ham TE, Rowe JB, Cambridge Centre for Ageing and
Neuroscience
|
Related Articles |
J Neurosci. 2016 Mar 16;36(11):3115-26
Authors: Tsvetanov KA, Henson RN, Tyler LK, Razi A, Geerligs L, Ham TE, Rowe JB, Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience
Abstract
UNLABELLED: The maintenance of wellbeing across the lifespan depends on the preservation of cognitive function. We propose that successful cognitive aging is determined by interactions both within and between large-scale functional brain networks. Such connectivity can be estimated from task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), also known as resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). However, common correlational methods are confounded by age-related changes in the neurovascular signaling. To estimate network interactions at the neuronal rather than vascular level, we used generative models that specified both the neural interactions and a flexible neurovascular forward model. The networks' parameters were optimized to explain the spectral dynamics of rs-fMRI data in 602 healthy human adults from population-based cohorts who were approximately uniformly distributed between 18 and 88 years (www.cam-can.com). We assessed directed connectivity within and between three key large-scale networks: the salience network, dorsal attention network, and default mode network. We found that age influences connectivity both within and between these networks, over and above the effects on neurovascular coupling. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that the relationship between network connectivity and cognitive function was age-dependent: cognitive performance relied on neural dynamics more strongly in older adults. These effects were driven partly by reduced stability of neural activity within all networks, as expressed by an accelerated decay of neural information. Our findings suggest that the balance of excitatory connectivity between networks, and the stability of intrinsic neural representations within networks, changes with age. The cognitive function of older adults becomes increasingly dependent on these factors.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Maintaining cognitive function is critical to successful aging. To study the neural basis of cognitive function across the lifespan, we studied a large population-based cohort (n = 602, 18-88 years), separating neural connectivity from vascular components of fMRI signals. Cognitive ability was influenced by the strength of connection within and between functional brain networks, and this positive relationship increased with age. In older adults, there was more rapid decay of intrinsic neuronal activity in multiple regions of the brain networks, which related to cognitive performance. Our data demonstrate increased reliance on network flexibility to maintain cognitive function, in the presence of more rapid decay of neural activity. These insights will facilitate the development of new strategies to maintain cognitive ability.
PMID: 26985024 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Selective Influences of Precision and Power Grips on Speech Categorization.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Tiainen M, Tiippana K, Vainio M,
Peromaa T, Komeilipoor N, Vainio L
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Related Articles |
PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0151688
Authors: Tiainen M, Tiippana K, Vainio M, Peromaa T, Komeilipoor N, Vainio L
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that articulatory gestures are systematically associated with specific manual grip actions. Here we show that executing such actions can influence performance on a speech-categorization task. Participants watched and/or listened to speech stimuli while executing either a power or a precision grip. Grip performance influenced the syllable categorization by increasing the proportion of responses of the syllable congruent with the executed grip (power grip-[ke] and precision grip-[te]). Two follow-up experiments indicated that the effect was based on action-induced bias in selecting the syllable.
PMID: 26978074 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
The Efficient Coding of Speech: Cross-Linguistic Differences.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Guevara Erra R, Gervain
J
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PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0148861
Authors: Guevara Erra R, Gervain J
Abstract
Neural coding in the auditory system has been shown to obey the principle of efficient neural coding. The statistical properties of speech appear to be particularly well matched to the auditory neural code. However, only English has so far been analyzed from an efficient coding perspective. It thus remains unknown whether such an approach is able to capture differences between the sound patterns of different languages. Here, we use independent component analysis to derive information theoretically optimal, non-redundant codes (filter populations) for seven typologically distinct languages (Dutch, English, Japanese, Marathi, Polish, Spanish and Turkish) and relate the statistical properties of these filter populations to documented differences in the speech rhythms (Analysis 1) and consonant inventories (Analysis 2) of these languages. We show that consonant class membership plays a particularly important role in shaping the statistical structure of speech in different languages, suggesting that acoustic transience, a property that discriminates consonant classes from one another, is highly relevant for efficient coding.
PMID: 26901527 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Did you or I say pretty, rude or brief? An ERP study of the effects of speaker's identity on emotional word processing.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Pinheiro AP, Rezaii N, Nestor
PG, Rauber A, Spencer KM, Niznikiewicz M
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Related Articles |
Brain Lang. 2016 Feb;153-154:38-49
Authors: Pinheiro AP, Rezaii N, Nestor PG, Rauber A, Spencer KM, Niznikiewicz M
Abstract
During speech comprehension, multiple cues need to be integrated at a millisecond speed, including semantic information, as well as voice identity and affect cues. A processing advantage has been demonstrated for self-related stimuli when compared with non-self stimuli, and for emotional relative to neutral stimuli. However, very few studies investigated self-other speech discrimination and, in particular, how emotional valence and voice identity interactively modulate speech processing. In the present study we probed how the processing of words' semantic valence is modulated by speaker's identity (self vs. non-self voice). Sixteen healthy subjects listened to 420 prerecorded adjectives differing in voice identity (self vs. non-self) and semantic valence (neutral, positive and negative), while electroencephalographic data were recorded. Participants were instructed to decide whether the speech they heard was their own (self-speech condition), someone else's (non-self speech), or if they were unsure. The ERP results demonstrated interactive effects of speaker's identity and emotional valence on both early (N1, P2) and late (Late Positive Potential - LPP) processing stages: compared with non-self speech, self-speech with neutral valence elicited more negative N1 amplitude, self-speech with positive valence elicited more positive P2 amplitude, and self-speech with both positive and negative valence elicited more positive LPP. ERP differences between self and non-self speech occurred in spite of similar accuracy in the recognition of both types of stimuli. Together, these findings suggest that emotion and speaker's identity interact during speech processing, in line with observations of partially dependent processing of speech and speaker information.
PMID: 26894680 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Alpha and gamma band oscillations index differential processing of acoustically reduced and full forms.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Drijvers L, Mulder K, Ernestus
M
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Brain Lang. 2016 Feb;153-154:27-37
Authors: Drijvers L, Mulder K, Ernestus M
Abstract
Reduced forms like yeshay for yesterday often occur in conversations. Previous behavioral research reported a processing advantage for full over reduced forms. The present study investigated whether this processing advantage is reflected in a modulation of alpha (8-12Hz) and gamma (30+Hz) band activity. In three electrophysiological experiments, participants listened to full and reduced forms in isolation (Experiment 1), sentence-final position (Experiment 2), or mid-sentence position (Experiment 3). Alpha power was larger in response to reduced forms than to full forms, but only in Experiments 1 and 2. We interpret these increases in alpha power as reflections of higher auditory cognitive load. In all experiments, gamma power only increased in response to full forms, which we interpret as showing that lexical activation spreads more quickly through the semantic network for full than for reduced forms. These results confirm a processing advantage for full forms, especially in non-medial sentence position.
PMID: 26878718 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Effects of Physiological Internal Noise on Model Predictions of Concurrent Vowel Identification for Normal-Hearing Listeners.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Hedrick MS, Moon IJ, Woo J, Won
JH
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PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0149128
Authors: Hedrick MS, Moon IJ, Woo J, Won JH
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that concurrent vowel identification improves with increasing temporal onset asynchrony of the vowels, even if the vowels have the same fundamental frequency. The current study investigated the possible underlying neural processing involved in concurrent vowel perception. The individual vowel stimuli from a previously published study were used as inputs for a phenomenological auditory-nerve (AN) model. Spectrotemporal representations of simulated neural excitation patterns were constructed (i.e., neurograms) and then matched quantitatively with the neurograms of the single vowels using the Neurogram Similarity Index Measure (NSIM). A novel computational decision model was used to predict concurrent vowel identification. To facilitate optimum matches between the model predictions and the behavioral human data, internal noise was added at either neurogram generation or neurogram matching using the NSIM procedure. The best fit to the behavioral data was achieved with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 8 dB for internal noise added at the neurogram but with a much smaller amount of internal noise (SNR of 60 dB) for internal noise added at the level of the NSIM computations. The results suggest that accurate modeling of concurrent vowel data from listeners with normal hearing may partly depend on internal noise and where internal noise is hypothesized to occur during the concurrent vowel identification process.
PMID: 26866811 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
On Predicting Sociodemographic Traits and Emotions from Communications in Social Networks and Their Implications to Online Self-Disclosure.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Volkova S, Bachrach
Y
| Related Articles |
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2015 Dec;18(12):726-36
Authors: Volkova S, Bachrach Y
Abstract
Social media services such as Twitter and Facebook are virtual environments where people express their thoughts, emotions, and opinions and where they reveal themselves to their peers. We analyze a sample of 123,000 Twitter users and 25 million of their tweets to investigate the relation between the opinions and emotions that users express and their predicted psychodemographic traits. We show that the emotions that we express on online social networks reveal deep insights about ourselves. Our methodology is based on building machine learning models for inferring coarse-grained emotions and psychodemographic profiles from user-generated content. We examine several user attributes, including gender, income, political views, age, education, optimism, and life satisfaction. We correlate these predicted demographics with the emotional profiles emanating from user tweets, as captured by Ekman's emotion classification. We find that some users tend to express significantly more joy and significantly less sadness in their tweets, such as those predicted to be in a relationship, with children, or with a higher than average annual income or educational level. Users predicted to be women tend to be more opinionated, whereas those predicted to be men tend to be more neutral. Finally, users predicted to be younger and liberal tend to project more negative opinions and emotions. We discuss the implications of our findings to online privacy concerns and self-disclosure behavior.
PMID: 26652673 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Relations Between the Intelligibility of Speech in Noise and Psychophysical Measures of Hearing Measured in Four Languages Using the Auditory Profile Test Battery.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Van Esch TE, Dreschler
WA
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Trends Hear. 2015;19
Authors: Van Esch TE, Dreschler WA
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine the relations between the intelligibility of speech in noise and measures of auditory resolution, loudness recruitment, and cognitive function. The analyses were based on data published earlier as part of the presentation of the Auditory Profile, a test battery implemented in four languages. Tests of the intelligibility of speech, resolution, loudness recruitment, and lexical decision making were measured using headphones in five centers: in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Correlations and stepwise linear regression models were calculated. In sum, 72 hearing-impaired listeners aged 22 to 91 years with a broad range of hearing losses were included in the study. Several significant correlations were found with the intelligibility of speech in noise. Stepwise linear regression analyses showed that pure-tone average, age, spectral and temporal resolution, and loudness recruitment were significant predictors of the intelligibility of speech in fluctuating noise. Complex interrelationships between auditory factors and the intelligibility of speech in noise were revealed using the Auditory Profile data set in four languages. After taking into account the effects of pure-tone average and age, spectral and temporal resolution and loudness recruitment had an added value in the prediction of variation among listeners with respect to the intelligibility of speech in noise. The results of the lexical decision making test were not related to the intelligibility of speech in noise, in the population studied.
PMID: 26647417 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
The Impact of Postmeningitic Labyrinthitis Ossificans on Speech Performance After Pediatric Cochlear Implantation.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Liu CC, Sweeney M, Booth TN, Lee
KH, Kutz JW, Roland P, Isaacson B
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Otol Neurotol. 2015 Dec;36(10):1633-7
Authors: Liu CC, Sweeney M, Booth TN, Lee KH, Kutz JW, Roland P, Isaacson B
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: 1) To characterize pediatric cochlear implant performance in patients with hearing loss secondary to bacterial meningitis. 2) To evaluate performance differences in patients with and without labyrinthitis ossificans (LO).
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review.
SETTING: A large university-based multidisciplinary cochlear implant program.
PATIENTS: Forty-nine patients with hearing loss from bacterial meningitis who received cochlear implants from 1991 to 2011. Thirty-nine patients had adequate data for analysis.
INTERVENTION: Cochlear implantation with postoperative performance evaluation.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Speech perception category (SPC).
RESULTS: Nineteen (48.7%) patients had intraoperative evidence of LO. Fourteen patients (70.0%) without LO compared with seven (36.8%) with LO developed open-set speech after implantation. There was a trend toward better postimplant SPC outcomes in patients without LO that did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.17). The presence of LO negatively correlated with classroom placement (p < 0.05). Analysis of each group individually demonstrated statistically significant improvement in pre- versus postimplant SPC outcomes (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: The presence of LO may negatively affect performance in pediatric patients receiving a cochlear implant for hearing loss secondary to bacterial meningitis.
PMID: 26536413 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Music Perception Influences Language Acquisition: Melodic and Rhythmic-Melodic Perception in Children with Specific Language Impairment.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Sallat S, Jentschke
S
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Behav Neurol. 2015;2015:606470
Authors: Sallat S, Jentschke S
Abstract
Language and music share many properties, with a particularly strong overlap for prosody. Prosodic cues are generally regarded as crucial for language acquisition. Previous research has indicated that children with SLI fail to make use of these cues. As processing of prosodic information involves similar skills to those required in music perception, we compared music perception skills (melodic and rhythmic-melodic perception and melody recognition) in a group of children with SLI (N = 29, five-year-olds) to two groups of controls, either of comparable age (N = 39, five-year-olds) or of age closer to the children with SLI in their language skills and about one year younger (N = 13, four-year-olds). Children with SLI performed in most tasks below their age level, closer matching the performance level of younger controls with similar language skills. These data strengthen the view of a strong relation between language acquisition and music processing. This might open a perspective for the possible use of musical material in early diagnosis of SLI and of music in SLI therapy.
PMID: 26508812 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Production of Verb Tense in Agrammatic Aphasia: A Meta-Analysis and Further Data.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Faroqi-Shah Y, Friedman
L
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Behav Neurol. 2015;2015:983870
Authors: Faroqi-Shah Y, Friedman L
Abstract
In a majority of languages, the time of an event is expressed by marking tense on the verb. There is substantial evidence that the production of verb tense in sentences is more severely impaired than other functional categories in persons with agrammatic aphasia. The underlying source of this verb tense impairment is less clear, particularly in terms of the relative contribution of conceptual-semantic and processing demands. This study aimed to provide a more precise characterization of verb tense impairment by examining if there is dissociation within tenses (due to conceptual-semantic differences) and an effect of experimental task (mediated by processing limitations). Two sources of data were used: a meta-analysis of published research (which yielded 143 datasets) and new data from 16 persons with agrammatic aphasia. Tensed verbs were significantly more impaired than neutral (nonfinite) verbs, but there were no consistent differences between past, present, and future tenses. Overall, tense accuracy was mediated by task, such that picture description task was the most challenging, relative to sentence completion, sentence production priming, and grammaticality judgment. An interaction between task and tense revealed a past tense disadvantage for a sentence production priming task. These findings indicate that verb tense impairment is exacerbated by processing demands of the elicitation task and the conceptual-semantic differences between tenses are too subtle to show differential performance in agrammatism.
PMID: 26457004 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Influence of language experience on digit recognition by English and Chinese listeners.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Zhou X, Yuan W, Galvin JJ, Fu
QJ, Zhang Y
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J Acoust Soc Am. 2015 Sep;138(3):EL324-8
Authors: Zhou X, Yuan W, Galvin JJ, Fu QJ, Zhang Y
Abstract
Digit recognition was measured in quiet and in two noise conditions by English-native (EN) and Chinese-native (CN) listeners. EN listeners were tested using English digits and CN listeners were tested using both English and Chinese digits. In quiet, forward digit span recall worsened for both groups as the number of digits was increased. Significant effects of language experience were observed with five or more digits. Language experience had a significant effect on digit recognition in babble but not in steady noise. These results suggest that understanding of a nonnative language can be influenced by both cognitive load and listening environment.
PMID: 26428834 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Improved speech inversion using general regression neural network.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Najnin S, Banerjee B
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J Acoust Soc Am. 2015 Sep;138(3):EL229-35
Authors: Najnin S, Banerjee B
Abstract
The problem of nonlinear acoustic to articulatory inversion mapping is investigated in the feature space using two models, the deep belief network (DBN) which is the state-of-the-art, and the general regression neural network (GRNN). The task is to estimate a set of articulatory features for improved speech recognition. Experiments with MOCHA-TIMIT and MNGU0 databases reveal that, for speech inversion, GRNN yields a lower root-mean-square error and a higher correlation than DBN. It is also shown that conjunction of acoustic and GRNN-estimated articulatory features yields state-of-the-art accuracy in broad class phonetic classification and phoneme recognition using less computational power.
PMID: 26428818 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Speaking rate consistency in native and non-native speakers of English.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Baese-Berk MM, Morrill
TH
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J Acoust Soc Am. 2015 Sep;138(3):EL223-8
Authors: Baese-Berk MM, Morrill TH
Abstract
Non-native speech differs from native speech in multiple ways. Previous research has described segmental and suprasegmental differences between native and non-native speech in terms of group averages. For example, average speaking rate for non-natives is slower than for natives. However, it is unknown whether non-native speech is also more variable than native speech. This study introduces a method of comparing rate change across utterances, demonstrating that non-native speaking rate is more variable than native speech. These results suggest that future work examining non-native speech perception and production should investigate both mean differences and variability in the signal.
PMID: 26428817 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Relating movement recurrence and expressive timing patterns in music performances.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Teixeira EC, Yehia HC, Loureiro
MA
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J Acoust Soc Am. 2015 Sep;138(3):EL212-6
Authors: Teixeira EC, Yehia HC, Loureiro MA
Abstract
In this study the movement patterns of ten expert musicians are quantitatively related to expressive timing patterns and the music structure during performances. The hypothesis is that ancillary gestures recurrently employed are closely related to expressive intentions, and that the expressive content imposed in key musical passages is thus reflected in the patterns of gestural recurrence. A movement and an audio analysis of 30 clarinet performances of a Brahms' excerpt are compared. Results show direct correlations between the recurrence pattern of clarinetists' ancillary movements and expressive bar duration manipulations employed by them, associated with melodic phrasing and harmonic transitions.
PMID: 26428815 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Developmental Surveillance and Referral in a Traditionally Medically Underserved Border Community.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Gonzalez EC, Summers C, Mueller
V, Hernandez A, Gil-Lopez G, Garcia DC, Lopez ME
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Matern Child Health J. 2015 Nov;19(11):2323-8
Authors: Gonzalez EC, Summers C, Mueller V, Hernandez A, Gil-Lopez G, Garcia DC, Lopez ME
Abstract
PURPOSE: Early identification and referral have been shown to improve long-term outcomes for children with disabilities. However, the number of children enrolled in early intervention services continues to be lower than the number of children confirmed to be developmentally delayed later in life. This study investigated the pattern of developmental surveillance and referral practices of pediatricians in a traditionally medically underserved border community.
DESCRIPTION: An online survey was created by members of a community/academic partnership. Emails were followed up with a personal contact to doctor's offices to increase the response rate.
ASSESSMENT: Response rate for the survey was 26.7 %. Most respondents reported using a combination of formal screening tools and parent interviews to complete developmental screenings in their practice with the Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers being the most commonly used tool.
CONCLUSION: Although most respondents reported referring children for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C services, gaps were identified in available services and in the referral process that need to be addressed. Additionally, future studies need to evaluate the efficacy of a referral and feedback system to improve earlier access to intervention services for children with disabilities.
PMID: 26386709 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
No Effect of Different Stimulation Conditions on Verbal Fluency and Visuospatial Orientation in Patients with Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Yilmaz R, Akbostancı MC, Mercan
FN, Sorgun MH, Savaş A
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Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2015;93(5):326-32
Authors: Yilmaz R, Akbostancı MC, Mercan FN, Sorgun MH, Savaş A
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation is an effective treatment for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease. Apart from the obvious motor benefits, some cognitive side effects have been reported, particularly in verbal fluency.
OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the effects of the stimulation on verbal fluency and visuospatial orientation with changing stimulation conditions in 35 patients with Parkinson's disease.
METHODS: Patients were randomized for their stimulation conditions as 'both on', 'both off', 'right on', and 'left on' and underwent verbal fluency and visuospatial orientation tasks during their drug-on periods. Letter and categorical fluency tasks and Benton's Judgment of Line Orientation Test were used for assessment.
RESULTS: Overall, 6 patients were excluded due to dementia or depression. For verbal fluency, the number of words they produced in 1 min was similar in four stimulation conditions (p > 0.05). No significant difference was found between stimulation conditions in the spatial orientation task.
CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to find any significant changes in verbal fluency and visuospatial orientation task scores with different stimulation conditions. This result suggests that either stimulation has no effect on given domains or the effect is so small that more detailed batteries are required to detect the difference.
PMID: 26352117 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Pattern Recognition Methods and Features Selection for Speech Emotion Recognition System.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Partila P, Voznak M, Tovarek
J
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ScientificWorldJournal. 2015;2015:573068
Authors: Partila P, Voznak M, Tovarek J
Abstract
The impact of the classification method and features selection for the speech emotion recognition accuracy is discussed in this paper. Selecting the correct parameters in combination with the classifier is an important part of reducing the complexity of system computing. This step is necessary especially for systems that will be deployed in real-time applications. The reason for the development and improvement of speech emotion recognition systems is wide usability in nowadays automatic voice controlled systems. Berlin database of emotional recordings was used in this experiment. Classification accuracy of artificial neural networks, k-nearest neighbours, and Gaussian mixture model is measured considering the selection of prosodic, spectral, and voice quality features. The purpose was to find an optimal combination of methods and group of features for stress detection in human speech. The research contribution lies in the design of the speech emotion recognition system due to its accuracy and efficiency.
PMID: 26346654 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Educational Applications for Blind and Partially Sighted Pupils Based on Speech Technologies for Serbian.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Lučić B, Ostrogonac S, Vujnović
Sedlar N, Sečujski M
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ScientificWorldJournal. 2015;2015:839252
Authors: Lučić B, Ostrogonac S, Vujnović Sedlar N, Sečujski M
Abstract
The inclusion of persons with disabilities has always represented an important issue. Advancements within the field of computer science have enabled the development of different types of aids, which have significantly improved the quality of life of the disabled. However, for some disabilities, such as visual impairment, the purpose of these aids is to establish an alternative communication channel and thus overcome the user's disability. Speech technologies play the crucial role in this process. This paper presents the ongoing efforts to create a set of educational applications based on speech technologies for Serbian for the early stages of education of blind and partially sighted children. Two educational applications dealing with memory exercises and comprehension of geometrical shapes are presented, along with the initial tests results obtained from research including visually impaired pupils.
PMID: 26171422 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
A Digital Liquid State Machine With Biologically Inspired Learning and Its Application to Speech Recognition.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Zhang Y, Li P, Jin Y, Choe
Y
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IEEE Trans Neural Netw Learn Syst. 2015 Nov;26(11):2635-49
Authors: Zhang Y, Li P, Jin Y, Choe Y
Abstract
This paper presents a bioinspired digital liquid-state machine (LSM) for low-power very-large-scale-integration (VLSI)-based machine learning applications. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first work that employs a bioinspired spike-based learning algorithm for the LSM. With the proposed online learning, the LSM extracts information from input patterns on the fly without needing intermediate data storage as required in offline learning methods such as ridge regression. The proposed learning rule is local such that each synaptic weight update is based only upon the firing activities of the corresponding presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons without incurring global communications across the neural network. Compared with the backpropagation-based learning, the locality of computation in the proposed approach lends itself to efficient parallel VLSI implementation. We use subsets of the TI46 speech corpus to benchmark the bioinspired digital LSM. To reduce the complexity of the spiking neural network model without performance degradation for speech recognition, we study the impacts of synaptic models on the fading memory of the reservoir and hence the network performance. Moreover, we examine the tradeoffs between synaptic weight resolution, reservoir size, and recognition performance and present techniques to further reduce the overhead of hardware implementation. Our simulation results show that in terms of isolated word recognition evaluated using the TI46 speech corpus, the proposed digital LSM rivals the state-of-the-art hidden Markov-model-based recognizer Sphinx-4 and outperforms all other reported recognizers including the ones that are based upon the LSM or neural networks.
PMID: 25643415 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Talking Picture Schedules: Embedding Video Models into Visual Activity Schedules to Increase Independence for Students with ASD.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Spriggs AD, Knight V, Sherrow
L
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J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Dec;45(12):3846-61
Authors: Spriggs AD, Knight V, Sherrow L
Abstract
Studies examining video modeling and visual activity schedules independent of one another have been shown to be effective in teaching skills for students with autism, but there is little research about the effectiveness of combining the two methods. Use of visual activity schedules with embedded video models via an iPad application was investigated to determine if high school students with autism could transition within and between novel activities (e.g., writing paragraphs, setting a table, data entry) using a multiple probe across participants design. Findings indicate youth with autism were able to independently transition within and between tasks. Students exhibited high rates of generalization to the static visual activity schedules and novel task exemplars after the embedded video model was removed.
PMID: 25413145 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Two cases of prostheses for flap protection after buccal mucosal incision.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Nomoto S, Sato T, Yoshida S,
Saito S, Kamiyama I, Ito A, Tanaka J
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Bull Tokyo Dent Coll. 2014;55(1):49-54
Authors: Nomoto S, Sato T, Yoshida S, Saito S, Kamiyama I, Ito A, Tanaka J
Abstract
Here we describe two patients in whom prostheses were applied for flap protection after buccal mucosal incision. In the first case, the patient was a 65-year-old man with a diagnosis of buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (T2N0M0). Left buccal mucosa squamous cell tumor resection and dermoplasty were performed, followed by alveolar ridge augmentation and buccal mucosal graft in the scar area. The carcinoma recurred, however, and left buccal mucosa carcinoma resection was performed, followed by reconstruction surgery using a free forearm flap. After a 12-week healing period, a molar support was constructed on the unaffected side and a protective prosthesis placed on the affected side. Training in ingestion and swallowing were given postoperatively. The patient in the second case was a 62-year-old woman with a diagnosis of buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (T2N1M0). Right buccal mucosa carcinoma resection and supraomohyoid neck dissection were performed, followed by reconstruction surgery using a free forearm flap. A molar support was constructed on the unaffected side and a protective prosthesis placed on the affected side at 5 months postoperatively. Training was given in ingestion and swallowing postoperatively. The prostheses prevented bite wounds to the flaps in the affected areas due to jaw movement during swallowing or speaking. The postoperative courses were uneventful, and the average masticatory score was 92.5 (85, 100), not affecting daily life. The prostheses were placed after reconstruction surgery using free flaps after buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma resection. Dysphasia recovered to the preoperative level by dysphasia and pronunciation training in both cases. The postoperative prognosis was favorable, with the prosthesis preventing damage to the flap.
PMID: 24717930 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Aspects of orthodontic-prosthetic rehabilitation of dentofacial anomalies.
Today, 28 Ιουλίου
2016, 2:45:50 μμ | Ajduković Z, Janošević M,
Filipović G, Arsić S, Janošević P, Petrović N
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Related Articles |
J Prosthodont. 2014 Apr;23(3):236-45
Authors: Ajduković Z, Janošević M, Filipović G, Arsić S, Janošević P, Petrović N
Abstract
Skeletal class III malocclusion is one of the most difficult dentofacial anomalies, characterized by deviation in the development of the mandible and maxilla in the sagittal plane, where the mandible is dominant in relation to the maxilla. In patients with class III malocclusion, anomalies in the dentoalveolar level and esthetic discrepancies are also frequent. The etiology of class III malocclusion is multifactorial due to the interaction of hereditary and environmental factors. Rehabilitation and treatment of malocclusion is one of the major goals of modern dentistry. This article presents the orthodontic-prosthetic therapy and rehabilitation of a 45-year-old patient with an abnormal occlusal vertical dimension and a skeletal class III malocclusion. The patient came to the clinic complaining about degraded esthetics and disordered functions of the orofacial region (functions of eating, swallowing, speech) and also pain in the temporomandibular joint. After the diagnosis was made, the patient was first referred to orthodontic treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances (self-ligating brackets system Rot 0.22). Upon completion of the orthodontic treatment, the patient was sent for further prosthetic treatment. Fixed prosthetic restorations were made in the upper and lower jaw, thus achieving a satisfactory result in terms of esthetics and function of the stomatognathic system.
PMID: 23890094 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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