Language acquisition in all natural human languages is a process in which its foundations are laid during the formative years of early childhood when the brain undergoes developmental changes. Exploring specific linguistic components provides a detailed lens through which to understand the intricacies of language acquisition. This journal article investigates the developmental trajectory of parts of speech (POS) usage in Greek-speaking children aged 3-6 years. Leveraging a sample size of 300 participants, evenly distributed across three age groups (3-4, 4-5, and 5-6 years), the study employs a spontaneous speech sample to conduct a thorough statistical analysis. Findings reveal substantial differences in POS usage across distinct age categories and insignificant ones between boys and girls. Specifically, inflectional speech parts were more common than non-inflectional ones across all three age groups. Children used more often nouns (22.66%), verbs (22.25%), pronouns (12.63%), articles (11.98%), adverbs (10.36%), and conjunctions (10.82%). On the other hand, prepositions (4.69%), adjectives (3%), particles (1.17%), interjections (0.27%), and participles (0.16%) were used less frequently. This research provides valuable information regarding POS milestones, contributes to our understanding of language development in Greek-speaking children, and holds implications for tailored interventions and educational practices.

The functioning and disability of Mongolian children with cerebral palsy were assessed by applying the World Health Organization's Common Brief ICF-CY Core Set for Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy. The cross-sectional study involved a consecutive sample of 98 children with spastic cerebral palsy (mean age 6.9 years) and their caregivers. They came from both urban and rural areas of Mongolia. The majority (65%) of the participants were spastic diplegic. Body functions, activities, participation, and interaction with the environment differed depending on the type of cerebral palsy. Brain structure did not differ, however. Regarding environmental factors, there was no significant difference between the types of products and technology used for communication, immediate family relationships, or social attitudes. The environment was the key component negatively impacting the lived experience of children with cerebral palsy in Mongolia. Overall, the findings help to identify unmet needs and can improve interventions for such children in Mongolia to meet international standards.

This study investigates the relationship between task characteristics, episodic absorption, and performance, based on the job demands-resources theory. Given that modern tasks often require processing substantial data and making real-time decisions, they demand significant attentional focus. Absorption, defined as a temporary state of deep attentional engagement, is thought to enhance task performance and efficiency. To explore this, we conducted an n-back task with participants, a task that requires focused, voluntary attentional control. Physiological and neural data were collected, with a particular focus on pupillary dynamics and the P300 wave, an event-related potential marker associated with attentional and cognitive processes. The study aimed to test three hypotheses: (a) absorption, as a temporary cognitive state, enhances performance and task efficiency; (b) absorption episodes are linked to activation in the P300 wave and pupillary responses; and (c) task demands and resources significantly impact the occurrence of absorption episodes. Specifically, we expected high job demands coupled with high resources to result in frequent absorption episodes, while high demands with low resources and low demands with high resources would lead to fewer episodes. Findings from this research may provide insights into how task design and resource allocation influence cognitive engagement, shedding light on optimal work conditions that foster absorption and improve performance. This research has potential applications in designing tasks and environments that promote sustained attentional engagement, ultimately contributing to more effective, resource-aligned organizational practices.

Chronic pain is a complex and debilitating condition that affects an estimated 1.5 billion individuals worldwide. The impact of chronic pain extends beyond the individual, with significant socioeconomic consequences, including health care costs and decreased performance. Today, electroencephalography (EEG) has become a valuable non-invasive tool in the study of chronic pain, allowing researchers to measure and analyse the brain’s electrical activity in response to pain stimuli. Thus, this bibliometric analysis evaluated the literature on chronic pain and EEG, identified main themes, authors, institutions, author keywords, and publications in the field and assessed the research impact and influence in this study area from 1972 to 2023. First, datasets were obtained from Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus, then analysed using ScientoPy and VOSviewer software. There has been a steady increase in the literature on chronic pain and EEG since 1972. In 2021, a significant number of publications (n = 69) were in WoS. Furthermore, “Neuroscience & Neurology” was the most popular subject matter, with 388 publications. Meanwhile, the top five author keywords associated with this subject were “chronic pain”, “EEG”, “fibromyalgia”, “spinal cord injury”, and “neurofeedback”. The term “machine learning” has garnered significant attention in recent years, particularly in 2022 and 2023. In summary, the trend in chronic pain and EEG research has consistently shown a rise in scholarly interest. These study findings can guide future research efforts, policy-making, and practical measures in diagnosing and managing chronic pain, which can improve patients' well-being and quality of life.

Primary Parkinsonism is one of the most prevalent movement disorders characterized by hypokinesia, rigidity, and tremor. The number of Parkinson disease (PD) cases is anticipated to rise globally, making finding effective and affordable interventions crucial. Physiotherapy interventions have shown promise in managing tremors, but high-quality systematic reviews are limited. This systematic review aims to evaluate the benefits of physiotherapy treatments in managing tremors in PD. The study followed the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, and PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted using multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, AMED, and PsycINFO. Keywords related to PD, physiotherapy, and tremors were used. The eligibility of studies was assessed independently by two reviewers, and the quality of included studies was evaluated using the JBI risk of bias tool. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, participant demographics, intervention details, and outcome measures. A total of seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The sample sizes ranged from 10 to 79 participants, and the interventions varied from standard exercises to technological interventions. The findings from the included studies demonstrated positive effects of physiotherapy interventions on tremor reduction and motor function improvement. However, due to the heterogeneity among the studies in terms of the classification of PD, outcomes measured, and intervention duration, it was challenging to draw definitive conclusions. In conclusion, while limited evidence exists, physiotherapy interventions have shown temporary benefits in reducing tremors and improving motor function in patients with PD.

The Taliban's seizure of power in Afghanistan has led to a mass migration of educated individuals with varying levels of post-traumatic stress (PTS) to various countries around the world. It is known that post-traumatic stress leads to the possible decline of cognitive functions, including prospective memory (PM) in adults. However, the relationship between PTS and PM in displaced Afghan students has not yet been studied. This study aims to investigate the association between PTS and PM among displaced Afghan students. A cross-sectional quantitative study used the Prospective Memory Questionnaire (PMQ) and the Post-Traumatic Stress Questionnaire (PCL-5). The study employed non-probabilistic convenience sampling, with 132 Afghan and 130 Kyrgyz students participating. Data analysis was performed using non-parametric methods in SPSS Statistics-29. The results showed that Afghan students reported significantly higher levels of traumatic stress. Similarly, Afghan students exhibited more prospective memory decline than Kyrgyz students. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant associations between Afghan citizenship and higher traumatic stress levels, as well as between traumatic stress and memory decline. Our findings highlight the significant impact of citizenship and traumatic stress on memory decline among Afghan students and contribute to the existing literature, particularly in the context of migration and displacement.

Language performance issues can occur before impairments in episodic memory, visuospatial construction ability, or mental state in those at risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the neural basis for this change is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neural correlates of sentence comprehension in healthy cognitive ageing (HCA). Thirteen healthy, elderly subjects between the age of 50-70 years old were recruited within Klang Valley. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was conducted while participants engaged in a Malay picture-to-sentence matching comprehension task. During the task, participants silently read a sentence and were required to select one of three images that best describes the context of the sentence. The fMRI data were analysed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM12) to identify brain regions involved in sentence comprehension. Results showed activation in the left inferior occipital gyrus (IOG), medial temporal gyrus (MTG), inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and left parietal lobe, suggesting that these areas are involved in sentence processing. We conclude that HCAs present similar patterns of neural brain activation, and these regions are integrated to support sentence comprehension processing. Further research may include younger adults and a larger population sample to better represent findings in the Malaysian ageing population.

Younger generations are shown to have a high prevalence rate of anxiety. This study examined the changes in the alpha brain signals based on autogenic relaxation training (ART) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) to determine their efficacy in reducing anxiety symptoms among undergraduate students. This study was a randomized controlled trial in which participants were randomly allocated to either the ART group or the PMR group. Seven supervised sessions of ART and PMR were conducted over three weeks, with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. Electroencephalography (EEG) and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores (BAI) were used as outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of relaxation training on anxiety before and after the interventions. The study included 30 participants with a mean age of 19.60 ± 0.84 years. A paired sample t-test revealed that relaxation training significantly reduced anxiety. Additionally, ART demonstrated statistically significant effects in reducing anxiety (p=0.004), showing a greater decrease in post-intervention mean BAI scores compared to PMR. However, the difference between ART and PMR was not statistically significant (p=0.110). ART showed a greater reduction in post-intervention BAI scores, while PMR showed greater positive changes in EEG findings. The study outcome is an enhanced evidence-based physiotherapy program that may be used by physiotherapists in the neurological rehabilitation with anxiety.

Persons with diabetes often experience muscle weakness and decreased mobility due to diabetic neuropathy. This condition usually arises due to prolonged elevated blood sugar levels, which damage the motor nerves, innervating the muscles and sensory nerves. As the neuropathy progresses, it can cause loss of muscle mass and diminished motor function in the legs and feet. Consequently, individuals with diabetic neuropathy may experience difficulties with balance, walking, and performing daily activities. This weakness increases the risk of falls and injuries and contributes to reduced mobility and a lower quality of life. Hence, early intervention and management are essential to preserve muscle strength and functionality among the diabetic population. Managing muscle function and mobility in affected individuals is a significant challenge. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effect of conventional physiotherapy training on muscle activity in diabetic neuropathy patients using Noroxon wireless sensor electromyography (EMG) technology. The study included 8 patients aged 45-65; after obtaining consent and meeting selection criteria, these patients were enrolled. Wireless sensor EMG monitored muscle activity in the tibialis anterior and soleus. Participants underwent conventional physiotherapy, consisting of 40 minutes daily, 5 days a week, over 3 months. The result showed a significant increase in the maximum voluntary contraction of tibialis anterior and soleus muscles on both right and left side mean values at p ≤ 0.001. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that diabetic neuropathy causes alterations in muscle dynamics, particularly in distal muscles. These findings offer valuable insights into the progression of neuropathy and highlight the effectiveness of physiotherapy in mitigating its effects by significantly enhancing the maximum voluntary contraction of these muscles.