Neural basis of implicit motor sequence learning: Modulation of cortical power

Implicit sequence learning describes the acquisition of serially ordered movements and sequentially structured cognitive information, that occurs without awareness. Theta, alpha and beta cortical oscillations are present during implicit motor sequence learning, but their role in this process is unclear. The current study addressed this gap in the literature. A total of 50 healthy adults aged between 19 and 37 years participated in the study. Implicit motor sequence learning was examined using the Serial Reaction Time task where participants unknowingly repeat a sequence of finger movements in response to a visual stimulus. Sequence learning was examined by comparing reaction times and oscillatory power between sequence trials and a set of control trials comprising random stimulus presentations. Electroencephalography was recorded as participants completed the task. Analyses of the behavioral data revealed participants learnt the sequence. Analyses of oscillatory activity, using permutation testing, revealed sequence learning was associated with a decrease in theta band (4–7 Hz) power recorded over frontal and central electrode sites. Sequence learning effects were not observed in the alpha (7–12 Hz) or beta bands (12–20 Hz). Even though alpha and beta power modulations have long been associated with executing a motor response, it seems theta power is a correlate of sequence learning in the manual domain. Theta power modulations on the serial reaction time task may reflect disengagement of attentional resources, either promoting or occurring as a consequence of implicit motor sequence learning     

A Spanish matrix sentence test for assessing speech reception thresholds in noise

Objective: To develop, optimize, and evaluate a new Spanish sentence test in noise. Design: The test comprises a basic matrix of ten names, verbs, numerals, nouns, and adjectives. From this matrix, test lists of ten sentences with an equal syntactical structure can be formed at random, with each list containing the whole speech material. The speech material represents the phoneme distribution of the Spanish language. The test was optimized for measuring speech reception thresholds (SRTs) in noise by adjusting the presentation levels of the individual words. Subsequently, the test was evaluated by independent measurements investigating the training effects, the comparability of test lists, open-set vs. closed-set test format, and performance of listeners of different Spanish varieties. Study sample: In total, 68 normal-hearing native Spanish-speaking listeners. Results: SRTs measured using an adaptive procedure were 6.2 ± 0.8 dB SNR for the open-set and 7.2 ± 0.7 dB SNR for the closed-set test format. The residual training effect was less than 1 dB after using two double-lists before data collection. Conclusions: No significant differences were found for listeners of different Spanish varieties indicating that the test is applicable to Spanish as well as Latin American listeners. Test lists can be used interchangeably.     

The Effects of Functional Training,Bicycle Exercise,and Exergaming on Walking Capacity of Elderly Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Single-blinded Trial

Objectives

To compare the effects of functional training, bicycle exercise, and exergaming on walking capacity of elderly with Parkinson disease (PD).

Steroid-based treatments for patients with total sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Conclusions: In patients with total sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), oral prednisone (OP) alone or intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) alone have comparable results. The addition of salvage ITD following OP does not seem to add over either single modality treatment. Objectives: To study the effect of steroid-based treatments in patients with total SSNHL. Methods: The medical charts of 59 patients with total loss of hearing, defined as pure tone thresholds in the profound range (> 90 dB) with an unobtainable speech reception threshold (SRT) that were treated with OP (n = 20), ITD (n = 13), or OP followed by salvage ITD (n = 26) were analyzed. Response to treatment was evaluated by means of pure tone thresholds, SRT, and speech discrimination score (SDS), immediately after treatment and on a follow-up visit. Results: Forty-nine patients (83%) responded to treatment, with mean significant improvements of 36, 34, 31, and 25 dB at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, respectively. The mean improvement in SRT was 33 dB, and SDS improved by 32%. There were no differences in improvement in pure tone thresholds and SRT among the three treatment groups. The late effect of OP was similar to the effect of salvage ITD.     

BOPPPS模式下大学生科研训练融入药剂学实验课程的教学改革与实践

目的：探讨BOPPPS教学模式及SRT理念在《药剂学实验》教学中的应用。方法：以平顶山学院2019级和2020级药学专业两个班级的230名本科生为研究对象,分为实验组和对照组。实验组采用基于BOPPPS的教学模式及SRT理念融入的教学方法,对照组采用传统教学方法,学期结束时使用SPSS24.0对实验操作成绩、小组设计成绩、教学满意度等结果进行检验。结果 教学结束时实验组的过程性评价和终结性评价的综合成绩及教学满意度均高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 基于BOPPPS模式及SRT理念的《药剂学实验》教学方式比传统教学方式更加有利于提高学生的实验操作技能,并提升学生发散思维及综合运用知识和解决问题的能力。     

Viscerosomatic convergence onto T2–T4 spinoreticular, spinoreticular-spinothalamic, and spinothalamic tract neurons in the cat

Neurons of T2 to T4 spinal segments were antidromically activated from the medullary reticular formation and the contralateral region in or near the ventral posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus. Sixty-seven percent of the spinoreticular neurons projected to the ipsilateral, contralateral, or both ipsilateral and contralateral medullary reticular formation. In addition, 21% of the cells projected to the reticular formation and thalamus and 12% projected only to the thalamus. These cells received both visceral and somatic inputs. Electrical stimulation of cardiopulmonary sympathetic afferent fibers elicited an early peak of cell activity in 30 cells, an early and late peak in 38 cells, and only a late peak in 1 cell. Seventy-one percent of the cells had simple somatic receptive fields; these fields were localized to the left forelimb and left upper thorax. The remaining 29% of the cells had complex receptive fields that often extended to the hind limb as well as bilaterally. Classification of all cells according to threshold for activation of the somatic receptive field showed that 86% of the cells were high-threshold, 10% were wide dynamic range, and 4% were high-threshold but, in addition, were inhibited during hair movement. Viscerosomatic convergence onto these cells support Ruch's convergence projection theory for referred pain. These projecting neurons may be involved with referred pain associated with angina pectoris. In addition, they may also be involved with cardiovascular adjustments.     

邮政分拣作业对工人健康影响的调查研究

本文对６９名女性信件分拣作业工人的慢性肌肉骨胳损伤和心理生理功能进行了调查，并测量了作业场所人机学参数。结果表明：分拣作业者，肩、腰、背和手腕部不适感阳性率较高，作业者身体尺寸参数与工作架及坐椅尺寸参数不匹配。作业后作业者临界闪烁融合频率和视度值较作业前显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０５或０．０１），而简单反应时作业后显著长于作业前（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结果提示邮政分拣作业是一种视需性、单调性和重复性运动作业，作业过程中存在着姿势紧张问题，邮政分拣作业对作业者的身心健康存在着不良影响。     

Effect of Melatonin on the Human Electrocardiogram and Simple Reaction Time Responses

It has been suggested that melatonin may have therapeutic potential for alleviating jet lag. In an attempt to define further the effects of low pharmacological doses of melatonin on the human body, 5 mg of melatonin was given orally to one subject in a blind experiment. The electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded together with simple reaction time (SRT) responses over a 5-h period after taking melatonin. The main part of the project was carried out under artificial domestic lighting conditions and involved ten evening sessions. Microprocessor analysis of the ECG of one subject clearly showed that melatonin had the effect of lengthening the RR interval, that between the peak of the P wave and the onset of the R wave, and the interval between the onset of the R wave and the peak of the T wave. A model to explain the cubic curve, which was fitted by regression analysis to the data, implies that the natural evening increase in melatonin may also increase these intervals. The results suggest that melatonin may affect both the phase and the amplitude of the observed ECG phenomenon. Analysis of more than 40,000 SRT responses to both visual and auditory stimuli implied that these responses might also be lengthened by melatonin. Frequency histograms of the responses and observations on premature and missed responses were not able to reproduce the results of other workers who found that higher doses (240 mg) of melatonin decreased the number of incorrect responses to simple reaction time tasks.     

SRT 与3D-CRT 治疗肺癌脑转移瘤价值的临床研究

目的对比研究立体定向放疗(SRT)与三维适形放疗(3D-CRT)在肺癌脑转移瘤治疗中的临床价值。方法回顾分析2009至2011年间本科收治的74例肺癌脑转移瘤患者(脑转移病灶数小于或等于3个、单个病灶小于或等于3cm),分别接受单独三维适形放疗或单独立体定向放疗,比较两组患者中位生存期、局部控制率及放疗不良反应。结果全组患者中位生存期为9.3个月,肿瘤局部控制率分别为73.5%、79.6%,两组患者放疗不良反应比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 SRT是脑转移瘤患者的一种有效治疗手段,与常规放疗相比,局部控制率、中位生存期无明显差异,放疗不良反应无增加,但治疗时间较3D-CRT更短,是一种有效的治疗手段。