413 research outputs found
Joint action in a nearly natural situation. An investigation with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
No full textEgetemeir J, Stenneken P, Fallgatter AJ, Herrmann MJ. Joint action in a nearly natural situation. An investigation with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In: 17th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) - Meeting Program. 2010: 277
Exploring the neural basis of real-life joint action: measuring brain activation during joint table setting with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
No full textEgetemeir J, Stenneken P, Koehler S, Fallgatter AJ, Herrmann MJ. Exploring the neural basis of real-life joint action: measuring brain activation during joint table setting with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2011;5(95):1-9
Simulation of near-infrared light absorption considering individual head and prefrontal cortex anatomy: implications for optical neuroimaging
No full textFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an established optical neuroimaging method for measuring functional hemodynamic responses to infer neural activation. However, the impact of individual anatomy on the sensitivity of fNIRS measuring hemodynamics within cortical gray matter is still unknown. By means of Monte Carlo simulations and structural MRI of 23 healthy subjects (mean age: (25.0 +- 2.8 years), we characterized the individual distribution of tissue-specific NIR-light absorption underneath 24 prefrontal fNIRS channels. We, thereby, investigated the impact of scalp-cortex distance (SCD), frontal sinus volume as well as sulcal morphology on gray matter volumes (V gray) traversed by NIR-light, i.e. anatomy-dependent fNIRS sensitivity. The NIR-light absorption between optodes was distributed describing a rotational ellipsoid with a mean penetration depth of (23.6 +- 0.7 mm) considering the deepest 5% of light. Of the detected photon packages scalp and bone absorbed (96.4 +- 9.7)% and absorbed (3,1 +- 1.8)% of the energy. The mean V gray volume (1.1 +- 0.4)cm 3 was negatively correlated (r = -.76) with the SCD and frontal sinus volume (r= -.57) and was reduced by in subjects with relatively large compared to small frontal sinus. Head circumference was significantly positively correlated with the mean SCD (r= .46) and the traversed frontal sinus volume (r= .43). Sulcal morphology had no significant impact on . Our findings suggest to consider individual SCD and frontal sinus volume as anatomical factors impacting fNIRS sensitivity. Head circumference may represent a practical measure to partly control for these sources of error variance
Social cognition in down syndrome: Face tuning in face-like non-face images
No full textIndividuals with Down syndrome (DS) are widely believed to possess considerable socialization strengths. However, the findings on social cognition capabilities are controversial. In the present study, we investigated whether individuals with DS exhibit shortage in face tuning, one of the indispensable components of social cognition. For this purpose, we implemented a recently developed Face-n-Food paradigm with food-plate images composed of food ingredients such as fruits and vegetables. The key benefit of such face-like non-face images is that single elements do not facilitate face processing. In a spontaneous recognition task, 25 children with DS aged 9 to 18 years were presented with a set of Face-n-Food images bordering on the Giuseppe Arcimboldo style. The set of images was administered in a predetermined order from the least to most resembling a face. In DS individuals, thresholds for recognition of the Face-n-Food images as a face were drastically higher as compared not only with typically developing controls, but also with individuals with autistic spectrum disorders and Williams-Beuren syndrome. This outcome represents a significant step toward better conceptualization of the visual social world in DS and neurodevelopmental disorders in general
sj-docx-1-asm-10.1177_10731911241236699 – Supplemental material for Validation of the Self-Report Version of the German Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale (SWAN-DE-SB)
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-1-asm-10.1177_10731911241236699 for Validation of the Self-Report Version of the German Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale (SWAN-DE-SB) by Friederike Blume, Lilly Buhr, Jan Kühnhausen, Rieke Köpke, Lydia A. Weber, Andreas J. Fallgatter, Thomas Ethofer and Caterina Gawrilow in Assessment</p
Electrophysiological evidence for a differential activation of the brain network associated with temporal discrimination processing.
No full textThe time course of temporal discrimination: An ERP study
No full textAuditory processing during sleep was investigated in premature infants by auditory event related potentials
(AERPs). Twenty-six premature infants (mean GA 30 week– range 25–35) admitted to a neonatal intensive
care unit were studied, prior to discharge, in active and quiet sleep at a mean post-conceptional age of
35 weeks. Infant state was determined by behavioral observation according to standard criteria. An auditory
odd-ball paradigm was used with frequently occurring ‘standard’ tones at 1000 Hz and infrequent ‘deviant’
tones at 2000 Hz. Waveforms were recorded at Fz, Cz, Pz, T3 and T4 scalp locations. Measurements were
performed in 18 patients because 8 preterm infants were excluded since they had less than the required
artifact-free deviant trials in each sleep state. The responses to standard tones were equally recorded in both
active and quiet sleep, but auditory responses to deviant tones consisting of an increased frontal negativity in
the time period from 200 to 300 ms after the stimulus were recorded only in active sleep. A significant effect of
electrode placement, for frontal location by sleep condition and sleep condition by 50 ms time windows was
shown by repeated measures analyses of variance. The significance of these findings on evoked potential
methodology in preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit is discussed
Social cognition in autism: Face tuning
No full textFaces convey valuable information for social cognition, effective interpersonal interaction, and non-verbal communication. Face perception is believed to be atypical in autism, but the origin of this deficit is controversial. Dominant featural face encoding is suggested to be responsible for face tuning scarcity. Here we used a recently developed Face-n-Food paradigm for studying face tuning in individuals with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The key benefit of these images is that single components do not explicitly trigger face processing. In a spontaneous recognition task, adolescents with autism and typically developing matched controls were presented with a set of Face-n-Food images in different degree resembling a face (slightly bordering on the Giuseppe Arcimboldo style). The set of images was shown in a predetermined order from the least to most resembling a face. Thresholds for recognition of the Face-n-Food images as a face in ASD individuals were substantially higher than in typically developing controls: they did not report seeing a face on the images, which controls easily recognized as a face, and gave overall fewer face responses. This outcome not only lends support to atypical face tuning, but provides novel insights into the origin of face encoding deficits in autism
Social cognition in individuals born preterm
No full textAbstract Faces hold a substantial value for effective social interactions and sharing. Covering faces with masks, due to COVID-19 regulations, may lead to difficulties in using social signals, in particular, in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. Daily-life social participation of individuals who were born preterm is of immense importance for their quality of life. Here we examined face tuning in individuals (aged 12.79 ± 1.89 years) who were born preterm and exhibited signs of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a dominant form of brain injury in preterm birth survivors. For assessing the face sensitivity in this population, we implemented a recently developed experimental tool, a set of Face-n-Food images bordering on the style of Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The key benefit of these images is that single components do not trigger face processing. Although a coarse face schema is thought to be hardwired in the brain, former preterms exhibit substantial shortages in the face tuning not only compared with typically developing controls but also with individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. The lack of correlations between the face sensitivity and other cognitive abilities indicates that these deficits are domain-specific. This underscores impact of preterm birth sequelae for social functioning at large. Comparison of the findings with data in individuals with other neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions provides novel insights into the origins of deficient face processing
The DLPFC is centrally involved in resolving Stroop conflicts, suppressing distracting sensory input within the auditory and visual system
No full textIntroduction Cognitive control is a prerequisite for successful, goal-oriented behavior. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is assumed to be a key player in applying cognitive control; however, the neural mechanisms by which this process is accomplished are still unclear. Methods To further address this question, an audiovisual Stroop task was used, comprising simultaneously presented pictures and spoken names of actors and politicians. Depending on the task block, participants had to indicate whether they saw the face or heard the name of a politician or an actor (visual vs. auditory blocks). In congruent trials, both stimuli (visual and auditory) belonged to the same response category (actor or politician); in incongruent trials, they belonged to different categories. During this task, activity in sensory target regions was measured via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG), respectively. Specifically, fNIRS was used to monitor activity levels within the auditory cortex, while the EEG-based event-related potential of the N170 was considered as a marker of FFA (fusiform face area) involvement. Additionally, we assessed the effects of inhibitory theta-burst stimulation—a specific protocol based on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)—over the right DLPFC. Non-invasive brain stimulation is one of the few means to draw causal conclusions in human neuroscience. In this case, rTMS was used to temporarily inhibit the right DLPFC as a presumed key player in solving Stroop conflicts in one of two measurement sessions; then, effects were examined on behavioral measures as well as neurophysiological signals reflecting task-related activity in the frontal lobes and sensory cortices. Results The results indicate a central role of the DLPFC in the implementation of cognitive control in terms of a suppression of distracting sensory input in both the auditory cortex and visual system (FFA) in high-conflict situations. Behavioral data confirm a reduced Stroop effect following previous incongruent trials (“Gratton effect”) that was only accomplished with an intact DLPFC (i.e., following placebo stimulation). Discussion Because non-invasive brain stimulation is uniquely suited to causally test neuroscientific hypotheses in humans, these data give important insights into some of the mechanisms by which the DLPFC establishes conflict resolution across different sensory modalities
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