scholarly journals Simulating musical rotation, contour and notes: perception of (e)motion in nonmusicians

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Kolesnikov ◽  
Joshua Silberstein Bamford ◽  
Eduardo Andrade ◽  
Martina MONTALTI ◽  
Marta Calbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Music Cognition ◽  
Auditory Information ◽  
High Complexity ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Melodic Contour ◽  
Aesthetic Standard ◽  
Perceived Motion ◽  
The Brain

The meaning of music may rely upon perceived motion (Zuckerkandl, 1971). Recently, the framework of embodied music cognition, which draws on the discovery of mirror neurons and the theory of embodied simulation (Gallese, 2007), makes the claim that our understanding of human-made sounds draws upon our experience of making the same or similar movements and sounds, which involves imitation of the source of visual and auditory information (Cox, 2011). This paper investigates perceived motion and embodied music experience in non-musicians across three musical dimensions: melodic contour (ascending, descending and flat), melodic complexity (low, medium, high) and, following from Hanson and Huron (2019), note pattern (binary, ternary, quaternary). As part of an initiative to adhere to a high aesthetic standard, 27 ten-second piano tracks were created in collaboration with a film composer. In the computer task, participants rated stimuli on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 100 for perceived Direction, Rotation, Movement, and Emotional and Physical Involvement. Results showed that: 1) Quaternary conditions were perceived as having significantly more Rotation, Movement and being more Physically Involving than Ternary and Binary, 2) High Complexity conditions were perceived as evoking significantly more Movement and being more Emotionally Involving than Low and Medium, and 3) Ascending conditions were perceived as having significantly more Movement, Rotation and being more Emotionally and Physically Involving than Descending and Flat. Results indicate that greater embodiment evoked by musical ascent may be modulated by greater perceived exertion or ‘effort’ to reach higher pitches, in line with the mimetic subvocalization hypothesis (Cox, 2017). Future studies are needed to investigate whether perceived rotation is driven by note pattern (i.e. metre) or note density and pitch., and how musical contour and rotation impact sensorimotor activation in the brain.

Drusen in the Peripheral Retina of the Alzheimer’s Eye

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 743-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kresimir Ukalovic ◽  
Sijia Cao ◽  
Sieun Lee ◽  
Qiaoyue Tang ◽  
Mirza Faisal Beg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Retina ◽  
Amyloid Angiopathy ◽  
Temporal Region ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Eye Tissues ◽  
Neuropathological Diagnosis ◽  
Ocular Imaging ◽  
Cerebral Amyloid ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Oil Red O

Background: Recent work on Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis focuses on neuroimaging modalities; however, these methods are expensive, invasive, and not available to all patients. Ocular imaging of biomarkers, such as drusen in the peripheral retina, could provide an alternative method to diagnose AD. Objective: This study compares macular and peripheral drusen load in control and AD eyes. Methods: Postmortem eye tissues were obtained from donors with a neuropathological diagnosis of AD. Retina from normal donors were processed and categorized into younger (<55 years) and older (>55 years) groups. After fixation and dissection, 3-6 mm punches of RPE/choroid were taken in macular and peripheral (temporal, superior, and inferior) retinal regions. Oil red O positive drusen were counted and grouped into two size categories: small (<63 μm) and intermediate (63-125 μm). Results: There was a significant increase in the total number of macular and peripheral hard drusen in older, compared to younger, normal eyes (p<0.05). Intermediate hard drusen were more commonly found in the temporal region of AD eyes compared to older normal eyes, even after controlling for age (p<0.05). Among the brain and eye tissues from AD donors, there was a significant relationship between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) severity and number of temporal intermediate hard drusen (r=0.78, p<0.05). Conclusion: Imaging temporal drusen in the eye may have benefit for diagnosing and monitoring progression of AD. Our results on CAA severity and temporal intermediate drusen in the AD eye are novel. Future studies are needed to further understand the interactions among CAA and drusen formation.

The Auditory Brainstem Implant

2019 ◽  
pp. 758-770
Author(s):  
Robert V. Shannon
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Technique ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Auditory Information ◽  
Speech Understanding ◽  
Auditory Neurons ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Implant ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Implanted Device

The auditory brainstem implant (ABI) is a surgically implanted device to electrically stimulate auditory neurons in the cochlear nucleus complex of the brainstem in humans to restore hearing sensations. The ABI is similar in function to a cochlear implant, but overall outcomes are poorer. However, recent applications of the ABI to new patient populations and improvements in surgical technique have led to significant improvements in outcomes. While the ABI provides hearing benefits to patients, the outcomes challenge our understanding of how the brain processes neural patterns of auditory information. The neural pattern of activation produced by an ABI is highly unnatural, yet some patients achieve high levels of speech understanding. Based on a meta-analysis of ABI surgeries and outcomes, a theory is proposed of a specialized sub-system of the cochlear nucleus that is critical for speech understanding.

scholarly journals Breeder Diet Strategies for Generating Ttpa-Null and Wild-Type Mice with Low Vitamin E Status to Assess Neurological Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine M Ranard ◽  
Matthew J Kuchan ◽  
John W Erdman
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Vitamin E ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Neurological Outcomes ◽  
Transfer Protein ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Vitamin E Status

ABSTRACT Studying vitamin E [α-tocopherol (α-T)] metabolism and function in the brain and other tissues requires an animal model with low α-T status, such as the transgenic α-T transfer protein (Ttpa)–null (Ttpa−/−) mouse model. Ttpa+/− dams can be used to produce Ttpa−/− and Ttpa+/+mice for these studies. However, the α-T content in Ttpa+/− dams’ diet requires optimization; diets must provide sufficient α-T for reproduction, while minimizing the transfer of α-T to the offspring destined for future studies that require low baseline α-T status. The goal of this work was to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of 2 breeding diet strategies on reproduction outcomes and offspring brain α-T concentrations. These findings will help standardize the breeding methodology used to generate the Ttpa−/− mice for neurological studies.

scholarly journals Temporal gliosarcoma: case report and review of literature

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
Amit Agrawal ◽  
Vissa Shanthi ◽  
Baddukonda Appala Ramakrishna ◽  
Kuppili Venkata Murali Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Spindle Cell ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Aggressive Tumor ◽  
The Brain

Abstract First characterized by Stroebe, the gliosarcomas are highly malignant and rare primary tumor of the brain composed of neoplastic glial cells in association with spindle cell sarcomatous elements (biphasic tissue patterns). In spite of being recognized as two different pathologies studies have not shown any significant differences between gliosarcoma and glioblastoma with regard to age, sex, size, clinical presentation, and median survival. In summary, gliosarcoma is an aggressive tumor with a propensity to recur and re-grow with poor outcome. Future studies are needed to understand the true pathology of these biphasic tumors.

scholarly journals Brain stimulation used as biofeedback in neuronal activation of the temporal lobe area in autistic children

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 632-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vernon Furtado da Silva ◽  
Mauricio Rocha Calomeni ◽  
Rodolfo Alkmim Moreira Nunes ◽  
Carlos Elias Pimentel ◽  
Gabriela Paes Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Brain Area ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
The One ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Data Collection Procedure

ABSTRACT This study focused upon the functional capacity of mirror neurons in autistic children. 30 individuals, 10 carriers of the autistic syndrome (GCA), 10 with intellectual impairments (GDI), and 10 non-autistics (GCN) had registered eletroencephalogram from the brain area theoretically related to mirror neurons. Data collection procedure occurred prior to brain stimulation and after the stimulation session. During the second session, participants had to alternately process figures evoking neutral, happy, and/or sorrowful feelings. Results proved that, for all groups, the stimulation process in fact produced additional activation in the neural area under study. The level of activation was related to the format of emotional stimuli and the likelihood of boosting such stimuli. Since the increase of activation occurred in a model similar to the one observed for the control group, we may suggest that the difficulty people with autism have at expressing emotions is not due to nonexistence of mirror neurons.

Neural Basis of Rhythm Perception

2018 ◽  
pp. 164-186
Author(s):  
Christina M. Vanden Bosch der Nederlanden ◽  
J. Eric T. Taylor ◽  
Jessica A. Grahn
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Auditory Information ◽  
Language Outcomes ◽  
Rhythm Perception ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Oscillatory Dynamics ◽  
Motor Excitability ◽  
Neural Underpinnings

To understand and enjoy music, it is important to be able to hear the beat and move your body to the rhythm. However, impaired rhythm processing has a broader impact on perception and cognition beyond music-specific tasks. We also experience rhythms in our everyday interactions, through the lip and jaw movements of watching someone speak, the syllabic structure of words on the radio, and in the movements of our limbs when we walk. Impairments in the ability to perceive and produce rhythms are related to poor language outcomes, such as dyslexia, and they can provide an index of a primary symptom in movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. The chapter summarizes a growing body of literature examining the neural underpinnings of rhythm perception and production. It highlights the importance of auditory-motor relationships in finding and producing a beat in music by reviewing evidence from a number of methodologies. These approaches illustrate how rhythmic auditory information capitalizes on auditory-motor interactions to influence motor excitability, and how beat perception emerges as a function of nonlinear oscillatory dynamics of the brain. Together these studies highlight the important role of rhythm in human development, evolutionary comparisons, multi-modal perception, mirror neurons, language processing, and music.

scholarly journals Can Intentional Distractions Affect Endurance Performance Positively?

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Roger Couture
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Endurance Performance ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Ratings Of Perceived Exertion ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Performance Change ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Active Distraction

Distractions are often associated with negative outcomes however, distractions can also benefit people. Using the hypothesis of internal-external distractions in the competition for cue, this study examined the effects of an active (controlled) and passive (uncontrolled) distraction on three endurance tasks. Participants (N=42), aged 20 to 23 years were assigned to three groups. Tasks and conditions were counterbalanced across groups to minimize the residual effects of fatigue, learning an intervention and other confounding variables. Performance time, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion and perceived fatigue were measured. Results showed that active distraction significantly improved performance and lowered Rate of Perceived Exertion in one task. As expected, the active distraction group was the least accurate for estimating time spent. Passive distraction caused minimal performance change. More investigation is needed to understand why an active distraction only affected one trial. Future studies should delve into means for better understanding the hypothesis of competition for cue.

scholarly journals Is There a Link between Oropharyngeal Microbiome and Schizophrenia? A Narrative Review

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 846
Author(s):  
Stanislas Martin ◽  
Audrey Foulon ◽  
Wissam El Hage ◽  
Diane Dufour-Rainfray ◽  
Frédéric Denis
Keyword(s):  
Periodontal Disease ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Oral Microbiome ◽  
Oral Microbiota ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

The study aimed to examine the impact of the oropharyngeal microbiome in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and to clarify whether there might be a bidirectional link between the oral microbiota and the brain in a context of dysbiosis-related neuroinflammation. We selected nine articles including three systemic reviews with several articles from the same research team. Different themes emerged, which we grouped into 5 distinct parts concerning the oropharyngeal phageome, the oropharyngeal microbiome, the salivary microbiome and periodontal disease potentially associated with schizophrenia, and the impact of drugs on the microbiome and schizophrenia. We pointed out the presence of phageoma in patients suffering from schizophrenia and that periodontal disease reinforces the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Moreover, saliva could be an interesting substrate to characterize the different stages of schizophrenia. However, the few studies we have on the subject are limited in scope, and some of them are the work of a single team. At this stage of knowledge, it is difficult to conclude on the existence of a bidirectional link between the brain and the oral microbiome. Future studies on the subject will clarify these questions that for the moment remain unresolved.

scholarly journals Comparative genomics and transcriptomics of 4 Paragonimus species provide insights into lung fluke parasitism and pathogenesis

GigaScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce A Rosa ◽  
Young-Jun Choi ◽  
Samantha N McNulty ◽  
Hyeim Jung ◽  
John Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Iron Acquisition ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Orthologous Group ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Blood Flukes ◽  
Lung Fluke ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Background Paragonimus spp. (lung flukes) are among the most injurious foodborne helminths, infecting ∼23 million people and subjecting ∼292 million to infection risk. Paragonimiasis is acquired from infected undercooked crustaceans and primarily affects the lungs but often causes lesions elsewhere including the brain. The disease is easily mistaken for tuberculosis owing to similar pulmonary symptoms, and accordingly, diagnostics are in demand. Results We assembled, annotated, and compared draft genomes of 4 prevalent and distinct Paragonimus species: Paragonimus miyazakii, Paragonimus westermani, Paragonimus kellicotti, and Paragonimus heterotremus. Genomes ranged from 697 to 923 Mb, included 12,072–12,853 genes, and were 71.6–90.1% complete according to BUSCO. Orthologous group analysis spanning 21 species (lung, liver, and blood flukes, additional platyhelminths, and hosts) provided insights into lung fluke biology. We identified 256 lung fluke–specific and conserved orthologous groups with consistent transcriptional adult-stage Paragonimus expression profiles and enriched for iron acquisition, immune modulation, and other parasite functions. Previously identified Paragonimus diagnostic antigens were matched to genes, providing an opportunity to optimize and ensure pan-Paragonimus reactivity for diagnostic assays. Conclusions This report provides advances in molecular understanding of Paragonimus and underpins future studies into the biology, evolution, and pathogenesis of Paragonimus and related foodborne flukes. We anticipate that these novel genomic and transcriptomic resources will be invaluable for future lung fluke research.

scholarly journals Potential caveats of putative microglia-specific markers for assessment of age-related cerebrovascular neuroinflammation

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedram Honarpisheh ◽  
Juneyoung Lee ◽  
Anik Banerjee ◽  
Maria P. Blasco-Conesa ◽  
Parisa Honarpisheh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Myeloid Cells ◽  
Amyloid Angiopathy ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Age Related ◽  
In Vivo Animal Models ◽  
Intermediate Expression ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Background The ability to distinguish resident microglia from infiltrating myeloid cells by flow cytometry-based surface phenotyping is an important technique for examining age-related neuroinflammation. The most commonly used surface markers for the identification of microglia include CD45 (low-intermediate expression), CD11b, Tmem119, and P2RY12. Methods In this study, we examined changes in expression levels of these putative microglia markers in in vivo animal models of stroke, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and aging as well as in an ex vivo LPS-induced inflammation model. Results We demonstrate that Tmem119 and P2RY12 expression is evident within both CD45int and CD45high myeloid populations in models of stroke, CAA, and aging. Interestingly, LPS stimulation of FACS-sorted adult microglia suggested that these brain-resident myeloid cells can upregulate CD45 and downregulate Tmem119 and P2RY12, making them indistinguishable from peripherally derived myeloid populations. Importantly, our findings show that these changes in the molecular signatures of microglia can occur without a contribution from the other brain-resident or peripherally sourced immune cells. Conclusion We recommend future studies approach microglia identification by flow cytometry with caution, particularly in the absence of the use of a combination of markers validated for the specific neuroinflammation model of interest. The subpopulation of resident microglia residing within the “infiltrating myeloid” population, albeit small, may be functionally important in maintaining immune vigilance in the brain thus should not be overlooked in neuroimmunological studies.

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