26 research outputs found
Auditory-motor integration in typical development and autism spectrum disorder: behavioral and brain correlates
No full textOur senses work in conjunction with our motor functions to be able to properly interact with the environment. This interaction is referred to as sensorimotor integration. Research in sensorimotor integration has investigated motor responses to both visual and auditory cues. Specifically in auditory-motor integration studies, typically-developing (TD) participants have tapped along to beats of varying speed and metrical complexity in order to evaluate a specific form of integration known as synchronization. In autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensorimotor integration has shown general impairments for both visuomotor and auditory-motor tasks. Although more research has been completed in ASD using visuomotor and complex auditory-motor tasks such as speech processing, less is known about the behavioral and brain correlates of basic auditory-motor integration (i.e. tapping to a beat).This dissertation is comprised of three articles that aim to investigate auditory-motor integration in ASD and TD individuals. A rhythm synchronization task, where rhythms varied in metrical complexity, had been previously tested in TD adults investigating auditory-motor synchronization (Chen et al., 2008b). This task was modified to be child-friendly for the purposes of Article 1 and 2 to be used with ASD and TD children. In Article 1, auditory-motor rhythm synchronization performance was examined in ASD and TD children with a focus on developmental effects. The results showed that children with ASD performed similarly to TD children on the rhythm synchronization task, and that both groups performed better with age. To further characterize auditory-motor synchronization in ASD and TD children, Article 2 examined the brain structural correlates of auditory-motor synchronization using the same task previously described in Article 1. The results did not find a relationship between brain structure and auditory-motor synchronization performance across all subjects. There were also no group differences when correlating brain structure to auditory-motor synchronization performance. Article 3 evaluated brain function correlates of auditory-motor integration in the context of speech perception in ASD and TD individuals using activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis methodology. Results from previous functional neuroimaging studies that investigated speech perception in ASD and TD individuals were compiled and ALE contrasts were performed to determine convergence of activation across all studies. The results showed common activation patterns within ASD and TD groups in core speech-related regions. The results also found no group differences. However, qualitatively comparing the within group results showed divergent activation patterns. Specifically, the TD group activated regions associated with more complex speech processing.The findings from these three articles extend the characterization of auditory-motor integration in ASD and TD individuals. These findings produced new evidence of intact basic auditory-motor synchronization in children with ASD as well as common and divergent patterns of neural activation for speech perception in ASD and TD individuals. This dissertation encourages future research in both behavioral and brain-behavioral studies, and gives guidance for auditory-motor interventions in ASD.Nos sens travaillent de paire avec nos fonctions motrices afin de nous permettre d’interagir avec notre environnent. Cette interaction est communément appelée intégration sensorimotrice. La recherche en intégration sensorimotrice investigue les réponses motrices aux stimulis visuels et auditifs. Plus particulièrement, dans les études d’intégration audio-motrice, les participants chez qui le développement est typique (TD) ont tapé suivant des battements de vitesse et de complexité métrique variable afin d’évaluer une forme spécifique d’intégration aussi appelée synchronisation. Chez les patients diagnostiqués de trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA), l’intégration sensorimotrice montre des déficits dans les tâches visuo-motrices et audio-motrices. Malgré que de plus en plus de recherche est complétée dans le domaine des TSA en utilisant des tâches visuo-motrices et audio-motrices complexes (tel que l’analyse de la parole), plusieurs lacunes demeurent dans notre compréhension comportementale et cérébrale de l’intégration sensorimotrice de base (tel taper à un certain rythme). La dissertation suivante est composée de trois articles qui visent à investiguer l’intégration sensorimotrice chez les TSA et les individus TD. Une tâche de synchronisation rythmique, pour laquelle les rythmes variaient en complexité métrique avait déjà été testée chez les individus TD afin d’investiguer leur synchronisation audio-motrice (Chen et al., 2008b). Cette tâche a été modifiée pour les articles 1 et 2 afin d’être adaptée aux enfants et utilisée chez les enfants TSA ainsi que TD. Dans l’article 1, la performance de synchronisation rythmique audio-motrice a été examinée chez les enfant TSA et TD avec l’accent mis sur les effets développementaux. Les résultats ont démontré que la performance des enfants TSA était comparable aux enfants TD dans les tâches de synchronisation rythmique et que les deux groupes s’amélioraient avec l’âge. Afin de caractériser la synchronisation audio-motrice plus profondément chez les enfants TSA et TD, l’article 2 a examiné les corrélations structurelles de la synchronisation audio-motrice au niveau cérébral en utilisant la même tâche que dans l’article 1. Les résultats n’ont pas démontré de relation entre les structures cérébrales et la performance dans les tâches de synchronisation audio-motrice pour tous les sujets, ni au niveau individuel, ni au niveau des sous-groupes. L’article 3 a évalué les corrélations cérébrales fonctionnelles de l’intégration audio-motrice dans le contexte de la perception de la parole chez les individus TSA et TD en utilisant la méthodologie méta-analytique « activation likelihood estimation » (ALE). Les résultats d’études antérieurs de neuroimagerie fonctionnelle qui ont investigué la perception de la parole chez les individus TSA et TD ont été compilés et les contrastes ALE ont été utilisés afin de déterminer une convergence d’activation à travers toutes les études. Ces résultats ont démontré des modèles d’activation communs dans chaque groupe dans les régions principales liées à la parole, sans évidence de différences entre les groupes. Par contre, lors d’une comparaison qualitative des modèles d’activation, des résultats divergents sont démontrés. Plus spécifiquement, le groupe TD activait des régions cérébrales associées avec un traitement de la parole plus complexe. Les trouvailles des trois articles permettent d’approfondir les connaissances dans la caractérisation de l’intégration audio-motrice chez les individus TSA et TD. Elles démontrant de nouvelles preuves d’une synchronisation audio-motrice intacte chez les individus TSA, ainsi que des modèles d’activation neurale communs et divergents dans la perception de la parole chez les individus TSA et TD. Cette dissertation encourage de futures études comportementales et cérébro-comportementales et aide à guider les interventions audio-motrices chez les enfants TSA
Fenix II: A cultural, artistic and culinary hotspot
No full textThe Fenix II building, located in the inner city port area of Rotterdam, has been an integral part of the city's history in both architectural and cultural terms. Serving as storage space after the 1920's for the emigrants of the country, and as industrial storage after the 1950's, it becomes today part of the modern redevelopments of the peninsula. The urban transformation taking place in the peninsula of Katendrecht poses a serious question to the Fenix II building about its urban character and its role in the city. Its relation to the surroundings and the multiple urban characters around it are important for the future function and can be used to position the building inside the urban network of the city, making it part of the ongoing route among the city’s monumental architecture. The strong connection to the memories of the past and the spacious interior form a perfect background for a new cultural use which in combination with other functions can support a durable future use. The existing facade’s and structure can be easily utilized to house modern functions with the addition of installations, while allowing its open floor plan to be experienced. Part of the building’s footprint can be returned to the public realm with the use of green areas and connect the two sides of its long form. The roof can be reintegrated to follow the city’s tradition in green roofs and generate new perspectives. The different atmospheres in the interior highlight the long standing repetitive structure as one of the buildings most valuable characteristics.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Heritage & Architectur
Speech perception in autism spectrum disorder: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis
No full textAuditory‐musical processing in autism spectrum disorders: a review of behavioral and brain imaging studies
No full textReforming health care : a case for stay well health insurance
No full textAll countries - whether industrial, developing, or in transition to a market economy - are interested in health care reform. A central focus of reform everywhere is to make patients more responsive to health care costs without diluting the protection offered by public or private insurance. Conventional insurance offers customers little incentive to monitor their own use of health care services or to adopt and maintain better health habits. The authors describe an alternative health insurance structure first adopted in Mendocino County, California, in 1979, and compare it with conventional forms of insurance. The Mendocino or"stay well"plan offers consumers direct incentives to control their use of health care services and to adopt healthier lifestyles. How well this insurance can contain health care costs depends on the size of the incentives and consumer responsiveness to them. Conditions in some developing countries and in many countries moving to market based economies - overuse of services, poor health habits, and declining real incomes - improves the likelihood of a favorable response to such incentives. How to structure the stay well system depends on the country, but the stay well plan is a general flexible form of insurance that subsumes most conventional plans as special cases. The rewards for low use might take many forms. As in the Mendocino plan, the rewards might be a credit to a retirement account, but they could just as easily be annual cash rebates or credits against out of pocket expenses that exceed an individual's or family's spending goal in a future period. Administration of the stay well plan appears not to be unduly complex. If anything, incorporating stay well incentives in a single-payer or national health care system would be simpler than incorporating them in a self insured fund. The success of the plan hinges on whether incentives shift the frequency distribution of health care spending by reducing unnecessary utilization in the short run and through better health care habits, reducing long run costs. Despite additional payments to low users, the stay well plan could be less expensive than conventional plans with similar coverage. As in any insurance plan, solvency is enhanced by larger groups, better risk pooling, economies of scale in administration and claims processing, and greater bargaining power with health care providers.Insurance&Risk Mitigation,Health Economics&Finance,Insurance Law,Health Systems Development&Reform,Health Monitoring&Evaluation
Correction: Amenamevir by Ugi-4CR
No full textThe authors regret that there was an inaccuracy present in the affiliation information for one of the authors, Alexander Dömling, in the original manuscript. The work was performed at the Department of Drug Design, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands ([email protected]) before the transition of Alexander Dömling to their current institution, CATRIN, Innovative Chemistry Group, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic ([email protected]). The corrected list of author information and affiliations for this article is as shown here. The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.</p
Auditory Pitch Perception in Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Associated With Nonverbal Abilities
No full text Atypical sensory perception and heterogeneous cognitive profiles are common features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous findings on auditory sensory processing in ASD are mixed. Accordingly, auditory perception and its relation to cognitive abilities in ASD remain poorly understood. Here, children with ASD, and age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched typically developing children, were tested on a low- and a higher level pitch processing task. Verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities were measured using the Wechsler’s Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. There were no group differences in performance on either auditory task or IQ measure. However, there was significant variability in performance on the auditory tasks in both groups that was predicted by nonverbal, not verbal skills. These results suggest that auditory perception is related to nonverbal reasoning rather than verbal abilities in ASD and typically developing children. In addition, these findings provide evidence for preserved pitch processing in school-age children with ASD with average IQ, supporting the idea that there may be a subgroup of individuals with ASD that do not present perceptual or cognitive difficulties. Future directions involve examining whether similar perceptual-cognitive relationships might be observed in a broader sample of individuals with ASD, such as those with language impairment or lower IQ. </jats:p
Analysis of a purported SHANK3 mutation in a boy with autism: Clinical impact of rare variant research in neurodevelopmental disabilities
No full textISDN2014_0248: Neuroanatomical correlates of auditory‐motor synchronization in children with autism
No full textISDN2014_0317: Auditory cortical structure predicts superior pitch processing in children with autism
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