Switching in adults with aphasia

Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of impaired reconfiguration and interference when adults with aphasia switch rules. These underlying processing deficits are discussed within a broader framework of cognitive flexibility. Future studies should investigate switching processes and their relationship with functional communication.

from Aphasiology

Vocal changes following radiotherapy to the head and neck for non-laryngeal tumors

Abstract To investigate vocal changes in patients following the neck irradiation for non-laryngeal tumors sparing the glottic region. Fifteen patients were enrolled for the study. Phonatory effort and voice evaluation were reported. Perceptual evaluation and acoustic analysis were performed. Men/women ratio was 6/9. The mean age was 54 years with a range from 24 to 84. The most common primary site of tumor was the nasopharynx and tongue. The mean phonatory effort was significantly greater in the irradiated group versus controls (0.54 vs. 0.08 with a P value 0.01). Fifteen percent reported their voice as being poor and almost 85% as being fair. All the parameters of the GRABS perceptual evaluation were significantly worse in the irradiated group. There were no statistically significant differences between all the acoustic variables in both groups except for an decrease in the Habitual pitch in the irradiated patients. Radiation therapy to head and neck region can affect voice even if the radiation beams spare the vocal folds.

from the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Correlated Connectivity and the Distribution of Firing Rates in the Neocortex

Two recent experimental observations pose a challenge to many cortical models. First, the activity in the auditory cortex is sparse, and firing rates can be described by a lognormal distribution. Second, the distribution of nonzero synaptic strengths between nearby cortical neurons can also be described by a lognormal distribution. Here we use a simple model of cortical activity to reconcile these observations. The model makes the experimentally testable prediction that synaptic efficacies onto a given cortical neuron are statistically correlated, i.e., it predicts that some neurons receive stronger synapses than other neurons. We propose a simple Hebb-like learning rule that gives rise to such correlations and yields both lognormal firing rates and synaptic efficacies. Our results represent a first step toward reconciling sparse activity and sparse connectivity in cortical networks.

from the Journal of Neuroscience

Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive The Neural Correlates of Visual and Verbal Cognitive Styles

Conclusion: Benefits of bilateral implantation in the short term are clearest in children with limited delays between implantation.

from Otology & Neurotology

Auditory Manifestations of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence [Audiology]

Conclusion: Auditory symptoms are common in SSCD patients. These symptoms do not show any relationship to the presence of negative bone-conduction thresholds on pure-tone audiometry. No firm conclusion could be drawn regarding the association between symptoms and ABG. Different pathways or mechanisms may exist in SSCD for bone-conducted sounds arising from different sources. Surgical repair of the dehiscence results in resolution of auditory symptoms in most patients.

from Otology & Neurotology

Benefits of Short Interimplant Delays in Children Receiving Bilateral Cochlear Implants

Conclusion: Benefits of bilateral implantation in the short term are clearest in children with limited delays between implantation.

from Otology & Neurotology

Comparison of Speech Perception Performance Between Sprint/Esprit 3G and Freedom Processors in Children Implanted With Nucleus Cochlear Implants [Cochlear Implants]

Conclusion: Serial comparisons revealed that that speech perception performance evaluated in children aged 5 to 15 years was superior with the Freedom than previous generations of Nucleus sound processors. These differences are deemed to ensue from an increased input dynamic range, a feature that offers potentially enhanced phonemic discrimination.

from Otology & Neurotology

Cone Beam Computed Tomography, A Low-Dose Imaging Technique in the Postoperative Assessment of Cochlear Implantation [Cochlear Implants]

Conclusion: These preliminary results suggests that, for in vivo postoperative evaluation of cochlear implants, CBCT can provide at least the same information as conventional radiography, digital radiograph, and MSCT but in a more comfortable and a much more safer way.

from Otology & Neurotology

Experience With the Longer (8.5 mm) Abutment for Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid

Conclusion: We have found the longer abutment to be very successful for the small proportion of patients with troublesome soft tissue overgrowth. We would advocate its use when topical management and surgical intervention have failed to control the skin reaction.

from Otology & Neurotology

Imaging of electrode position in relation to electrode functioning after cochlear implantation

This study assessed the electrode position in cochlear implant patients and evaluated the extent to which the electrode position is determinative in the electrophysiological functioning of the cochlear implant system. Five consecutively implanted adult patients received a multichannel cochlear implant. In all patients, the electrical impedance and the electrically evoked compound action potentials were recorded immediately after implantation. Multislice computer tomography was performed 6 weeks postoperatively before switch-on of the cochlear implant. The electrode position relative to the modiolus was assessed and correlated to the electrophysiological measurements. All electrodes were fully inserted; this was confirmed by computer tomography. The individual electrode distance toward the modiolus could be most precisely analyzed for the basal part of the electrode array.

from ORL -Journal for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Its Related Specialties

Dynamical Instability Determines the Effect of Ongoing Noise on Neural Firing

Abstract At low stimulation rates, electrically stimulated auditory nerve fibers typically fire regularly, in lock-step to the applied stimulus. At high stimulation rates, however, these same fibers fire irregularly. Firing irregularity has been attributed to the random opening and closing of voltage-gated sodium channels at the spike generation site. We demonstrate, however, that the nonlinear dynamics of neural excitation and refractoriness embodied in the FitzHugh–Nagumo (FN) model produce realistic firing irregularity at high stimulus rates, even in the complete absence of ongoing physiological noise. Indeed, we show that ongoing noise can actually regularize the response at low discharge rates.

from JARO — Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology

The role of visual and phonological representations in the processing of written words by readers with diagnosed dyslexia: evidence from a working memory task

Abstract The aim of the study was to elucidate the nature and efficiency of the strategies that readers with phonological dyslexia use for temporary retention of written words in Working Memory (WM). Data was gathered through a paradigm whereby participants had to identify serially presented written (target) words from within larger word pools according to their presentation order, with word pools containing code-specific distracter (CSD) words and non-code-specific distracter (NCSD) words. Analyses focused on three aspects of performance: (1) false recognition of target words; (2) correct recognition of target words; and (3) retention of word presentation order. Participants were readers with diagnosed phonological dyslexia (n?=?20, mean grade level?=?9.05 [0.89]) and a control group of regular readers (n?=?25, mean grade level?=?9.00 [0.76]). Results provide direct evidence that the dyslexic readers and the regular readers used essentially different memory coding strategies for the temporary retention of written words, with the former predominantly relying on a visual strategy and the latter on a phonological strategy. Findings further pinpointed a notably impoverished ability of the dyslexic readers to retain word presentation order. The implication of these findings is discussed in relation to theories predicting the acquisition and mastery of reading.

from Annals of Dyslexia

The “Weight” of Words on the Forearms During Relaxation

Abstract In this paper we examined the influence of repetition of weight-related sentences on the involuntary pressure forces of the forearms, when in a relaxed state. These forces were involuntary oscillations, exerted by muscle movements of the breathing-cycle and muscle movements of the arm on force sensors. We constructed a linguistic bio-mechanical system (Ablasmi), where in each arm of a padded relaxation chair contained special sensors that were specifically designed to detect the pressure forces of each forearm while participants listened to the specific recorded weight-related sentences. In this experiment we used some classic sentences, such as “your right/left arm is heavy,” inspired by Autogenic Training (Schultz in Le training autogene. Paris, PUF, 1974) and some sentences, such as “your right/left arm is made of lead,” inspired by Grossmann’s relaxation technique. We observed that when the recorded sentences were directed to the right arm there was a significant increase of involuntary pressure forces on the right forearm. Additionally, we observed the same effect on the left forearm for the sentences directed to the left forearm. Thus, we believe we have provided experimental evidence of a definite linguistic effect of weight-related sentences on the involuntary pressure forces of the forearms. The implications of these findings are discussed.
from Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback

Visual Learners Convert Words To Pictures In The Brain And Vice Versa, Says Penn Psychology Study

A University of Pennsylvania psychology study, using functional magnetic resonance imaging technology to scan the brain, reveals that people who consider themselves visual learners, as opposed to verbal learners, have a tendency to convert linguistically presented information into a visual mental representation. The more strongly an individual identified with the visual cognitive style, the more that individual activated the visual cortex when reading words.

The opposite also appears to be true from the study’s results.

from Medical News Today.com

COPD-related problems hard to swallow

Patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit a disordered breathing-swallowing pattern that may account for their higher risk of aspiration pneumonia, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh.

from EurekAlert.org