22 research outputs found
ERP Modulation during Observation of Abstract Paintings by Franz Kline
No full textThe aim of this study was to test the involvement of sensorimotor cortical circuits during the beholding of the static consequences of hand gestures devoid of any meaning.In order to verify this hypothesis we performed an EEG experiment presenting to participants images of abstract works of art with marked traces of brushstrokes. The EEG data were analyzed by using Event Related Potentials (ERPs). We aimed to demonstrate a direct involvement of sensorimotor cortical circuits during the beholding of these selected works of abstract art. The stimuli consisted of three different abstract black and white paintings by Franz Kline. Results verified our experimental hypothesis showing the activation of premotor and motor cortical areas during stimuli observation. In addition, abstract works of art observation elicited the activation of reward-related orbitofrontal areas, and cognitive categorization-related prefrontal areas. The cortical sensorimotor activation is a fundamental neurophysiological demonstration of the direct involvement of the cortical motor system in perception of static meaningless images belonging to abstract art. These results support the role of embodied simulation of artist's gestures in the perception of works of art. © 2013 Sbriscia-Fioretti et al
Contaminazione regionale e globale di alcuni idrocarburi clorurati in campioni vegetali di aree fredde
No full textExploring narratives on PTG in cancer patients in active vs remission phases of disease: what about a peritraumatic growth?
No full textObjective: The present study aims to explore post-traumatic growth in cancer patients
comparing the active phase, when patients undergo different treatments, and the remission
phase, characterised by periodic follow-ups and gradually return to lives outside
the hospital world.
Methods: 69 cancer patients (36 in active phase and 33 in remission phase) completed
an online survey narrating their growth experience related to cancer disease. A modelling
emergent theme analysis was implemented for narratives of both group by means
of T-Lab software.
Results: Four themes emerged for narratives of active phase group: ‘the time of illness
and the time of life (saturating the 46% of words)’, ‘the meaning-seeking’ (21%), ‘to
find oneself in a battle (21%)’ and ‘to learn by battling’ (12%). Remission phase group
themes concerned ‘the time of life’ (40%), ‘the seismic experience’ (31%), ‘to care for
the Self and for others’ (15%) and ‘strength from vulnerability’ (14%).
Conclusions: Remission group narratives are close to PTG as defined in scientific literature,
while patients in the active phase of disease narrated PTG as the attempt
of including illness in their life trajectory and learning from the battle against cancer.
Author suggests the definition of peritraumatic growth as a transformation process
parallel to treatment phase
An integrated EEG and eye-tracking approach for the study of responding and initiating joint attention in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Get PDFAutism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterised by impairment in joint attention (JA), which has two components: the response to JA and the initiation of JA. Literature suggests a correlation between JA and neural circuitries, although this link is still largely unexplored in ASD. In this pilot study, we aimed at investigating the neural correlates of responding and initiating JA in high-functioning children with ASD and evaluating the changes in brain function and visual pattern after six months of rehabilitative treatment using an integrated EEG/eye-tracking system. Our results showed that initiating and responding JA subtend both overlapping (i.e. frontal and temporal) and specialized (i.e. parietal for responding JA and occipital for initiating JA) neural circuitries. In addition, in a subgroup of subjects, we observed trends of changes in both brain activity and connectivity after rehabilitative treatment in both the two tasks, which were correlated with modifications in gaze measures. These preliminary results, if confirmed in a larger sample, suggest the feasibility of using the proposed multimodal approach to characterise JA-related brain circuitries and visual pattern in ASD individuals and to monitor longitudinal changes in response to rehabilitative intervention
Gait Variability and Kinematic Alterations in People with Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Neuropathy
No full textBackground: People with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy have been reported to show alterations in lower limb joint function compared to healthy non-diabetic people. Specifically the maximum angular movement available at certain joints can be reduced during static, non-weight bearing tasks. Limited joint range of motion has the potential to compromise balance and stability thereby increasing the risk of falling. It is unclear whether a reduction in the extent of movement available at the joints is reflected by a reduction in the amount of angular movement actually utilised during a functional task such as stair negotiation. The aim of this study was to determine if people with diabetes show reduced dynamic range of motion at the ankle, knee and hip joints during stair ascent and descent in comparison to controls. Falls risk during stair negotiation was calculated by measuring the degree of variability in dynamic joint range of motion. Methods: Data were generated from three groups: subjects with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy (DPN), diabetes without peripheral neuropathy (DM), and healthy controls (Ctl). The study was conducted in a gait laboratory using motion capture and related 3D software for analysis. Joint range of motion for the ankle, knee, and hip were captured during level walking, stair ascent, and descent. A seven step, bespoke staircase was fabricated for this purpose. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Newman-Keuls tests were used to analyse the data. Results: Significantly reduced ankle range of motion, in the sagittal plane, was observed in the DPN group during stair ascent when compared to the controls. For stair descent, the DPN group demonstrated a significant increase in knee and hip ROM in the frontal plane, and also hip ROM in the transverse plane. No significant differences between the groups were identified for joint variability. Conclusions: People with DPN demonstrate alterations in dynamic range of motion at the lower limb joints during stair ascent and descent. The degree of angular movement utilised for both stair tasks was decreased at the ankle joint and this has the potential to undermine balance and stability. In contrast, angular movement at the knee and hip joints was increased in the frontal and transverse planes. This may compensate for impaired balance and stability by increasing the base of support to maintain balance and assist in foot clearance and placement. The specific combination of increased angular movement at the knee and hip may represent a compensatory stair gait strategy in response to reduced angular movement at the ankle joint
Statistical comparisons of LAURA source estimations between condition-specific microstates.
No full text<p><b>MI vs.: NoGoMI, Go, NoGo conditions</b>. <b>(A)</b> MI-Map 5 vs. NoGoMI-Map 4. <b>(B)</b> MI-Map 5 vs. Go-Map 6. <b>(C)</b> MI-Map 5 vs. NoGo-Map 5. Positive t-values (red color) indicate higher current source densities in MI than in the compared condition; negative t-values (blue color) indicate higher current source densities in the compared condition than in MI condition. All other conventions as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0126800#pone.0126800.g005" target="_blank">Fig 5</a>.</p
Statistical comparisons of LAURA source estimations between session A and B over significant TANOVA time intervals.
No full textAll significant voxels are colored (t (14) > 2.14 / p t values (red color) indicate higher current source densities in session A than in session B; negative t values (blue color) indicate higher current source densities in session B than in session A. LAURA solutions are rendered on MNI152 template brain (left hemisphere on the left side). (A) First significant TANOVA time interval (192–220 ms after cue onset). (B) Second significant TANOVA time interval (258–306 ms after cue onset). (C) Third significant TANOVA time interval (438–472 ms after cue onset).</p
Electrophysiological results over 1000 ms after cue onset (cue onset: 0 ms).
No full text(A) Group-averaged (n = 15) event related potential (ERP) waveforms of the two experimental sessions, superimposed across the 110 recording channels (e1–e110). Black: session A cue; red: session B cue. (B) Statistical analysis of global ERP amplitude. Periods of significant differences of ERP amplitude (p (C) Global scalp electric field analyses. Upper plot: statistical analysis of global electric field strength. Black areas indicate time intervals of significant differences (p p (D) Mean topographic maps of the group-averaged ERP data for session A (upper map) and session B (lower map) cues, corresponding to each time interval of significant topographic modulation between sessions resulting from TANOVA. Each panel is colored as the corresponding TANOVA time interval. All topographic maps are plotted with nasion upward and left scalp leftward; each map is scaled separately with respect to its maximum and minimum values to optimise the contrast.</p
