Bioelectrical Activity Research Articles

Vowel perception in multilingual speakers: ERP evidence from Polish, English and Norwegian.

Research on Mismatch Negativity (MMN) in monolingual and bilingual speakers has shown significant differences in L1 versus L2 phonemic perception. In this study, we examined whether the MMN response is sensitive to the differences between L1, L2 and L3/Ln. We compared bioelectrical brain activity in response to changes in pairs of vowels produced in three different languages. Specifically, multilingual participants listened to selected vowel contrasts in their L1 Polish, L2 English and L3/Ln Norwegian presented within the passive-oddball paradigm. Results revealed that the MMN was modulated by language: we observed significant differences between L2 English and L3/Ln Norwegian as well as between L1 Polish and L3/Ln Norwegian. For L3/Ln Norwegian, the MMN response had a lower amplitude when compared with L2 English and L1 Polish. Such findings suggest that foreign language status (i.e., L2 vs. L3/Ln) modulates early auditory processing.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis in a 6-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report.

Background: Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. TBEV transmission typically occurs through infected Ixodes tick bite or by consumption of unpasteurised milk from infected cattle. Case report: We report the clinical, neuroimaging, electroencephalogram (EEG), and laboratory (microbiological tests and spinal tap) data of a 6- year-old boy with Tick-borne encephalitis. Our patient presented with a biphasic course, initially with a myositis-like picture on his first admission to the emergency department, and after a few days with an encephalitic picture, resulting in a second hospitalization. EEG showed focal slow activity, while his brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a signal abnormality, which completely resolved on repeat MRI after 3 months. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the youngest patient presenting with myositis in the first phase of Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). In the presence of a biphasic clinical course, with previous myositis, aspecific MRI changes in the thalamic and midbrain regions and an EEG documenting slowed bioelectrical activity should prompt suspicion of TBEV infection.

Functional activity of the maxillofacial region muscles in children with arthrogryposis multiple congenita

BACKGROUND: Disorders of the maxillofacial region in children with аrthrogryposis multiplex congenita can be congenital or occur as secondary changes. The lower jaw and associated muscles play important roles in the functioning and development of the maxillofacial region. In children with аrthrogryposis multiplex congenita, the functional activity of the muscles of the maxillofacial region has not been studied.
 AIM: To estimate the functional activity of the muscles of the maxillofacial region in children with аrthrogryposis multiplex congenita.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surface electromyography was used to examine the masticatory and facial muscles of 47 children aged 317 years with arthrogryposis (main group) and 20 healthy children with orthognathic bite (control group). The main and control groups were examined by a dentist and had not previously received orthodontic treatment. The bioelectric activities of the temporalis and masseter muscles on the right and left sides were simultaneously registered at rest and during functional tests (opening of the mouth, moving the lower jaw forward, jaw compression, and chewing). The average activity amplitudes were taken into account, and asymmetry coefficients were calculated. The obtained data are statistically processed.
 RESULTS: Electromyography results, according to different functional tests, revealed disorders in 65%88% of children with аrthrogryposis multiplex congenita. In all samples, the tonic activity of the masticatory muscles increased at rest, the amplitude of the activity of masseter and temporalis muscles decreased, signs of an imbalance of the masticatory muscles such as the hyperactivation of the temporalis muscle compared with the masseter muscle with jaw compression and chewing were noted, and muscle asymmetry indices increased. The frequency and degree of functional muscle disorders prevailed in children with deciduous and temporary occlusion.
 CONCLUSIONS: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita in children is characterized by a high frequency of impaired functional activity of the muscles of the maxillofacial region, which can negatively affect bite formation, chewing function, and articulation.

Uncertainty quantification of the effect of cardiac position variability in the inverse problem of electrocardiographic imaging

Objective. Electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) is a functional imaging modality that consists of two related problems, the forward problem of reconstructing body surface electrical signals given cardiac bioelectric activity, and the inverse problem of reconstructing cardiac bioelectric activity given measured body surface signals. ECGI relies on a model for how the heart generates bioelectric signals which is subject to variability in inputs. The study of how uncertainty in model inputs affects the model output is known as uncertainty quantification (UQ). This study establishes develops, and characterizes the application of UQ to ECGI. Approach. We establish two formulations for applying UQ to ECGI: a polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) based parametric UQ formulation (PCE-UQ formulation), and a novel UQ-aware inverse formulation which leverages our previously established ‘joint-inverse’ formulation (UQ joint-inverse formulation). We apply these to evaluate the effect of uncertainty in the heart position on the ECGI solutions across a range of ECGI datasets. Main results. We demonstrated the ability of our UQ-ECGI formulations to characterize the effect of parameter uncertainty on the ECGI inverse problem. We found that while the PCE-UQ inverse solution provided more complex outputs such as sensitivities and standard deviation, the UQ joint-inverse solution provided a more interpretable output in the form of a single ECGI solution. We find that between these two methods we are able to assess a wide range of effects that heart position variability has on the ECGI solution. Significance. This study, for the first time, characterizes in detail the application of UQ to the ECGI inverse problem. We demonstrated how UQ can provide insight into the behavior of ECGI using variability in cardiac position as a test case. This study lays the groundwork for future development of UQ-ECGI studies, as well as future development of ECGI formulations which are robust to input parameter variability.

Influence of Physical Loads on Cognitive Functions and Bioelectric Activity of the Brain in Athletes of Various Specializations

Influence of Physical Loads on Cognitive Functions and Bioelectric Activity of the Brain in Athletes of Various Specializations

THE PHENOMENON OF SIMULATING SEIZURES IN EPILEPSY: CASE REPORT

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures may resemble epileptic ones, but bioelectric activity is not recorded on the electroencephalogram. In some cases, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and epilepsy are diagnosed simultaneously. The frequency of epilepsy in patients with diagnosed psychogenic non–epileptic seizures is 22%, and the incidence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures among patients with epilepsy is 12%. The article describes a clinical case of a patient with diagnosed epilepsy, in whom psychogenic non-epileptic seizures were detected simultaneously with epileptic seizures. Polymorphic non-convulsive and convulsive seizures were observed in the clinical presentation. The patient received anti-epileptic therapy in high doses for a long time without significant effect. Convulsive seizures in most cases occurred during the day in crowded places in the presence of people. Most often, the patient managed to attract the attention of others and ask for help. A pathopsychological examination revealed a pronounced sharpening of hysteroid and epileptoid traits with excessive fixation on the state of the patient's health. For the first time in years of being treated by different doctors, the patient admitted during psychotherapy that convulsive seizures that occur with her are "useful". It was advantageous for her to take on the role of a person out of health in order to protect herself from her husband's aggression and get sympathy, feel special, get rid of extra burden at work. The article provides a differential diagnosis between factitious disorder, conversion disorder, simulation and aggravation. It is concluded that convulsive seizures in the patient occurred by the mechanism of a factitious disorder. The following facts speak in favor of this: motivation for this behavior is not clear to others and is of an internal nature, the desire to accept the role of a person out of health, awareness of seizures "usefulness", lack of attention in the family, hysteroid character traits. It is concluded that for the successful treatment of comorbidity conditions of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and epilepsy, close interaction of a neurologist, a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist and a psychologist is extremely important.

Changes in the osteopath′s brain bioelectrical activity during listening the patient′s cranial rhythmic impulse (pilot study)

Introduction. Previously, the authors conducted a series of studies of changes in the bioelectric activity (BEA) of the brain of patients while an osteopath was working with them. Data on the specific response of the brain to osteopathic effects allow us to explain many mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of osteopathy. It is of interest to study the nature of changes in the BEA of an osteopath′s brain during prolonged tactile contact with objects of influence. Aim: the identification of changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain that occur in the process of performing osteopathic listening of the patient relative to the period of quiet wakefulness; the reproducibility of the interaction patterns of the osteopath′s cerebral cortex biopotentials during working with different patients; the comparison of the nature of changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain during osteopathic listening of the patient and during imitation of listening (palpation of an inanimate object). Materials and methods. The study involved 2 osteopaths (the article′s authors) having more than 5 years of experience in osteopathy. Measurements were carried out twice with each of them. The authors of the article themselves and the clinic′s assistant acted as patients. A soccer ball was used for an experiment with simulated listening. The BEA of the osteopaths′ brain was recorded by the method of multiparametric computer EEG. Results. Changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain during imitation of listening (palpation of an inanimate object) are characterized by the greatest increase in EEG correlations in the leads C4, P4. Changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain when performing diagnostic listening of the patient′s cranial rhythmic impulse relative to the period of calm wakefulness are characterized by a longitudinal direction of brain activity and an increase in interhemispheric interaction of biopotentials. During the end of the audition immediately after working with the patient, the individual differences of each of the subjects related to the style of working with patients and the nature of the mobility of nervous processes became more pronounced. Conclusion. Changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain during imitation of listening allow us to talk about the activity of the secondary somatosensory cortex, i.e., the work of ascending mechanisms of the nervous system, orientation reaction, and cognitive attention. Changes in the BEA of the brain of an osteopath during diagnostic listening may indicate the predominance of descending mechanisms of the nervous system, the work of the executive control system, perceptual attention of the doctor.

Statistical indicators of the change in the amplitude of the EEG in the brain due to the effect of anxiety caused by the exam process in 17-year-old choleric students

Psycho-emotional factors play the main role among the factors that have a negative impact on health at a young age. Students have the concept of "exam stress", which occurs at various intervals before the exam. This process occurs over several days to several weeks, when anxiety develops during the post-exam exam. In this regard, the main goal of his work was to reveal the age characteristics of the changes in the bioelectrical activity of the brain, depending on the temperament type of the higher nervous activity, due to the effect of the emotional tension created in the examination process. The practical health of the participants and their voluntary participation in the research were considered important conditions. In order to study the impact of the exam process on emotional stress, students were divided into three groups: The first group included students who were on regular school days 2 months before the exam, the second group 30 minutes before the exam process, and the third group after the exam and 30 minutes after the exam process. These results show that the examination process has a different effect on the amplitude of EEG waves in the left and right frontal lobes of the brain before and after the examination. Therefore, both examination processes have both enhancing and depressing effects on the amplitude of EEG waves. It is very likely that at this age, it shows that the process of adaptation to the first exam process in students is not fully formed.

Evaluation of the efficacy of manual soft tissue therapy and therapeutic exercises in patients with pain and limited mobility TMJ: a randomized control trial (RCT)

SummaryThe limited number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of soft tissue manual therapy and self-therapy interventions prompted the authors to focus on the analgesic and myorelaxant use of massage, post-isometric muscle relaxation (PIR) and therapeutic exercise in TMD patients.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of soft tissue therapy and therapeutic exercises in female patients with pain, increased masseter muscle tension and limited mandibular mobility.Material and methodsThe study was conducted on a group of 82 women (G1) with the Ib disorder diagnosed in DC/TMD (Ib—myofascial pain with restricted mobility). The control group (G2) consisted of 104 women without diagnosed TMDs (normal reference values for TMJ ROM and masseter muscle sEMG bioelectric activity). Diagnostic procedures were performed in both groups (sEMG of the masseter muscles at baseline and during exercise, measurement of TMJ mobility, assessment of pain intensity—NRS scale). The G1 group was randomly divided into 3 therapeutic groups in which the therapy was carried out for 10 days: therapeutic exercises (TE), manual therapy – massage and therapeutic exercises (MTM_TE), manual therapy – PIR and therapeutic exercises (MTPIR_TE). Each time after therapy, the intensity of pain and TMJ mobility were assessed. Sealed, opaque envelopes were used for randomization. After 5 and 10 days of therapy, bilateral sEMG signals of the masseter muscles were acquired.ResultsMassage, PIR and self-therapy led to a decrease in sEMG at rest as well as in exercise. After day 6 of therapy, the groups obtained a significant difference (p = 0.0001). Each of the proposed forms of therapy showed a minimal clinically significant difference (MID) in the sEMG parameter at the endpoint, with the most considerable difference in the MTM_TE group. The forms of MT used were effective in reducing the patients’ pain intensity; however, a significant difference between therapies occurred after 4 treatments (p = 0.0001). Analyzing the MID between methods, it was observed that self-therapy had an analgesic effect only after 8 treatments, while PIR after 3 and massage after 1 treatment. After day 7, the mean pain score in the MTM_TE group was 0.889 and in the TMPIR_TE group was 3.44 on the NRS scale. In terms of MMO, a significant difference was obtained between monotherapy and each form of TM, i.e. massage (p = 0.0001) and PIR (p = 0.0001). Analyzing mandibular lateral movements, the authors got a significant difference in the proposed MT forms, of which massage treatments exceeded the effectiveness of PIR.ConclusionsSoft tissue manual therapy and therapeutic exercise are simple and safe interventions that can potentially benefit patients with myogenic TMDs, with massage showing better analgesic effects than PIR.

Особенности биоэлектрической активности ретросплениальной коры головного мозга

Human brain is one of the most difficult organs to study. The possibility of developing the technologies that have sufficient scientific accuracy and economic accessibility and never violate the moral and ethical standards of human society is of great interest. The study was aimed to study the possibility of assessing the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) structures’ activity based on the EEG analysis of brain activity in the alpha frequency range in 36 healthy volunteers with an average age of 29.1 years, no acute central nervous system disorders or exacerbation of chronic central nervous system disorders, severe traumatic brain injuries, mental disorders or epilepsy. Significant source localizations were obtained by solving the EEG inverse problem that could be used for identification of the cerebral retrosplenial cortex structures’ bioelectric activity. The use of such technology will allow us to expand the scope of the research focused on assessing the brain functional activity in both research and clinical centers, thereby paving the way for understanding the features of the brain structures’ activity in physiologically normal conditions and in individuals with mental disorders caused by various functional alterations in the brain.

Influence of Physical Loads on Cognitive Functions and Bioelectric Activity of the Brain in Athletes of Various Specializations

Methods of psychophysiological testing and electroencephalography were used to study the effect of physical activity on cognitive functions (in particular, in the decision-making ability test) and brain bioelectrical activity (in particular, the power of the EEG amplitude in the beta and delta ranges) in athletes of various specializations. It is shown that when performing psychological tests before the load, athletes involved in cyclic types of load demonstrate better results than weightlifters – they have a higher learning rate, a higher percentage of correct answers, a shorter response time and a faster attention switching speed. The results of psychological tests before exercise in the control group were lower than in athletes, but higher than in weightlifters. The single-time physical load of a cyclic nature did not affect the results of the Iowa Gambling Task in untrained volunteers and weightlifters, but contributed to the improvement of test results in athletes training in cyclic sports – the learning rate and the percentage of correct answers increased. When performing a cognitive test, athletes noted an increase in the power of the spectra of the delta (and in weightlifters – and theta) range to a greater extent than in the control. In contrast to the control group, physical activity in athletes more often contributes to a decrease in the power of the EEG spectra, especially in the beta and delta ranges. The revealed differences in the results of psychophysiological tests in athletes of various specializations and untrained volunteers are largely determined by the features of the functional activity of various parts of the cortex, which is reflected in the characteristics of patterns of brain bioelectrical activity.

Effects of daily exposure to peat smoke on the reproductive and nervous systems in male white rats

Introduction. The regular occurrence of large-scale peat fires is an urgent medical and environmental problem of the modern scientific community. The peat smoke is a complex mixture of pollutants that have a serious impact on air quality and public health. 
 Materials and methods. Adult male rats were exposed to peat smoke for 24 hours, the concentrations of PM2.5 and CO were 0.92±0.08 mg/m3 and 40.8±1.9 mg/m3, respectively. After exposure an open field examination, EEG examination and histological analysis of the testes and brain were performed, after which they were mated with intact females. Postnatal death of offspring in the first week of life, body weight, behaviour and electroencephalography indicators during puberty were evaluated.
 Results. There was showed an increase in motor activity, anxiety, and violation of EEG indicators in rat males exposed to peat smoke. Both an increase in shadow cells and degeneratively altered neurons in the nervous tissue were found. No changes were detected in the testes. Exposure to peat smoke during conception increased stillbirth and mortality of offspring during the first week of life, but did not affect weight gain. Violation of behaviour structure was recorded only in females offspring. An increase in slow-wave activity of the brain in males offspring was revealed.
 Limitations. The study was limited to studying the effects of a single 24-hour exposure to peat smoke on outbred white rats.
 Conclusion. A single peat smoke exposure for 24 hours at a concentration of PM2.5=0.92±0.08 mg/m3 and CO=40.8±1.9 mg/m3 leads to significant morphological and functional changes in the CNS. In the absence of a gonadotoxic effect, peat smoke exposure on males before mating causes specific changes in the behavior and bioelectrical activity of the brain of their offspring.

Study of the impact of using the industrial exoskeleton to support the upper limbs on the condition of the arms and shoulder girdle muscles

Introduction. The level of occupational morbidity associated with the effects of physical overload and overstrain of individual organs and systems indicates the need for timely and effective prevention, one of the means of which is the introduction of a promising type of PPE — industrial exoskeletons. Since there are no clear requirements and criteria of their safety and efficiency, all the researches in this field are of experimental character, which dictates the necessity of testing each particular type of exoskeleton in relation to the performance of certain labor operations.
 The study aims assess the influence of using industrial exoskeleton for support of upper limbs on the arm and shoulder girdle muscles fatigue.
 Materials and methods. The researchers used the presented industrial exoskeleton designed to reduce the load on the upper limbs when performing work above the level of the user's head. Eleven healthy volunteers participated in the study. In laboratory conditions, the authors simulated labor activity similar to work on an automobile conveyor with a gravity class 3.2.
 During the work, both without the use of an industrial exoskeleton and with its use, scientists measured the bioelectric activity of the muscles of the upper extremities and shoulder girdle on both sides using surface EMG. In addition, before and after the work, the authors performed myotonometry and dynamometry in order to register the biomechanical properties of the studied muscles, as well as strength and endurance of the hands.
 Results. As a result of recording the EMG-signal, scientists found that the activity of the anterior deltoid muscle on the right and the biceps muscle of the shoulder on the right when using an industrial exoskeleton in work is reduced by more than 50%. The indicators of endurance and strength recorded during dynamometry decreased after performing work both with and without an exoskeleton, from 1% to 36%, but their dynamics did not fully correspond to classical ideas about the development of muscle fatigue. The analysis of myotonometry data did not show statistically significant changes in the parameters of the studied muscles.
 Limitations. The limitations of this study are: a small sample size (eleven volunteers), the lack of calculation of the sample size, the use of a small set of used biomedical methods for assessing the human condition.
 Conclusion. The use of the studied industrial exoskeleton when performing simulated labor operations reduces the bioelectric activity of the main muscles involved in the work, which proves its effectiveness. The developed technique of surface EMG can be used in the future when carrying out such work. Dynamometry and myotonometry did not show sufficient sensitivity in the study, which necessitates the development of special techniques for solving similar problems.
 Ethics. The Local Ethics Committee of Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health have approved the Protocol of the study (the protocol No.3 dated 04/20/2022).

PECULIARITIES OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND THE INTENSITY OF MANIFESTATIONS OF ADHD IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of both theoretical foundations and empirical findings regarding the investigation into the correlation between neurophysiological parameters and the intensity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifestations in primary school children. Specifically, the study examines the unique characteristics of this correlation through the utilization of neurophysiological indicators. Within each subgroup of children diagnosed with ADHD, a notable association has been observed between elevated levels of ADHD manifestations, as assessed through the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS), and distinctive qualitative aspects of the electroencephalogram (EEG). Additionally, the study identifies certain distinct features of brain bioelectrical activity that deviate from the norm for each respective subgroup. Notably, among children exhibiting prominent hyperactivity and impulsivity, the highest frequency of elevated indicators was consistently observed concerning the fourth type of EEG, whereas the second type of EEG was not commonly encountered within this particular subgroup. Among children with a predominant attention deficit, the second type of EEG demonstrated a prevailing occurrence of the highest mean scores, while the third type of EEG was found to be atypical within this subgroup. These findings have practical implications for the development of a psychological support program, encompassing various aspects such as conducting psychoeducational interventions within the child's environment, strategic planning and selection of corrective and developmental approaches, as well as the establishment of a comprehensive framework consisting of methods and techniques aimed at stabilizing the child's condition.

PlantConnect

Abstract This paper describes PlantConnect, a real-time interactive system that explores human-plant interaction via the human act of breathing, the bioelectrical and photosynthetic activity of plants, and computational intelligence to bring the two together. Part of larger investigations into alternative models for the creation of shared experiences and understanding with the natural world, the work is presented as a concrete implementation of a possible model based upon reciprocal interplay and information flows between human and nonhuman worlds.

Особенности анализа ЭЭГ-микросостояний при постинсультной афазии

Knowledge about the specificity of changes in the activity of neural networks associated with realization of thought processes can be used to construct the personalized medical rehabilitation systems. This approach is of particular interest for people with the speech function disturbance due to stroke, since the development of aphasia with the loss of speech leads to severe social maladaptation that worsens the disease outcome. The study was aimed to assess the functional activity of individual neural networks based on the theory of combining the EEG microstate identification technique with the method of determining spatial localization by solving the EEG inverse problem in 27 individuals (15 males and 12 females) with an average age of 52 years, who had speech impairment due to acute atherothrombotic stroke. Mathematical analysis of the scalp bioelectrical activity multichannel recording from the system for EEG microstate model isolation was carried out under changing environmental conditions caused by the auditory-speech load together with the EEG inverse problem solution for each subject. It was found that the speech disorder development depends not only on the fact of damage to brain structures, but also on the deep functional restructuring of both neural streams involved in implementation of brain function and the entire speech connectome. The disease with a predominant motor disorder, that has shown the possibility of transferring functions to the intact hemisphere prefrontal structures, in contrast to sensory disorders representing global changes in the entire speech connectome, can probably be considered the most favorable variant of aphasia.

Effects of short-term speleotherapy exposure on the bioelectric activity of a healthy brain

BACKGROUND: Speleotherapy is a non-drug therapeutic approach that involves spending time in underground caves or mines with health promotion purpose. However, adaptation mechanisms of the human body and the effects of speleotherapy in healthy brain remain largely unknown.
 AIM: To study changes in the functional state of the brain of a healthy person in terms of EEG activity parameters under the speleotherapy exposure.
 MATERIALS AND METODS: The study involved a group of 25 student volunteers who were informed about the studys purpose, agreed to participate in the experiment and sighen the informed consent. In the experimental group, EEG registration was carried out before and after a 2-hour speleotherapeutic exposure using the Encephalan-EEGR-19/26 electroencephalograph-recorder. In the control group, EEG was taken before and after a 2-hour rest in a switched off speleological chamber. EEG rhythm ratio indices were calculated as ratios of the power of alpha/theta, alpha/beta1, and (theta + alpha)/beta1 rthythms. Data analysis was carried out using MS Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics v. 26.0 software.
 RESULTS: Significant changes in the EEG alpha/theta index in P4, T6 and O2 leads were observed in the experimental group, but not in the control group. The alpha/theta index appeared to be the most sensitive to speleotherapy. No other significant differences between the groups were found.
 CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in the alpha/beta1 and (theta + alpha)/beta1 indices in the subjects undergoing the speleotherapy procedure, while there were significant changes in these indices in O2 derivation in the control group. The alpha/theta index is the most sensitive indicator for assessing the effect of speleotherapy on the healthy human brain.

Event-Related Spectral Perturbation, Inter Trial Coherence, and Functional Connectivity in motor execution: A comparative EEG study of old and young subjects.

The motor-related bioelectric brain activity of healthy young and old subjects was studied to understand the effect of aging on motor execution. A visually cued finger tapping movement paradigm and high-density EEG were used to examine the time and frequency characteristics. Twenty-two young and 22 healthy elderly adults participated in the study. Repeated trials of left and right index finger movements were recorded with a 128-channel EEG. Event-Related Spectral Perturbation (ERSP), Inter Trial Coherence (ITC), and Functional Connectivity were computed and compared between the age groups. An age-dependent theta and alpha band ERSP decrease was observed over the frontal-midline area. Decrease of beta band ERSP was found over the ipsilateral central-parietal regions. Significant ITC differences were found in the delta and theta bands between old and young subjects over the contralateral parietal-occipital areas. The spatial extent of increased ITC values was larger in old subjects. The movement execution of older subjects showed higher global efficiency in the delta and theta bands, and higher local efficiency and node strengths in the delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands. As functional compensation of aging, elderly motor networks involve more nonmotor, parietal-occipital, and frontal areas, with higher global and local efficiency, node strength. ERSP and ITC changes seem to be sensitive and complementary biomarkers of age-related motor execution.

Anaesthesia by intravenous propofol reduces the incidence of intra-operative gastric electrical slow-wave dysrhythmias compared to isoflurane

Gastric motility is coordinated by bioelectrical slow-wave activity, and abnormal electrical dysrhythmias have been associated with nausea and vomiting. Studies have often been conducted under general anaesthesia, while the impact of general anaesthesia on slow-wave activity has not been studied. Clinical studies have shown that propofol anaesthesia reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) compared with isoflurane, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of two anaesthetic drugs, intravenous (IV) propofol and volatile isoflurane, on slow-wave activity. In vivo experiments were performed in female weaner pigs (n = 24). Zolazepam and tiletamine were used to induce general anaesthesia, which was maintained using either IV propofol (n = 12) or isoflurane (n = 12). High-resolution electrical mapping of slow-wave activity was performed. Slow-wave dysrhythmias occurred less often in the propofol group, both in the duration of the recorded period that was dysrhythmic (propofol 14 ± 26%, isoflurane 43 ± 39%, P = 0.043 (Mann–Whitney U test)), and in a case-by-case basis (propofol 3/12, isoflurane 8/12, P = 0.015 (Chi-squared test)). Slow-wave amplitude was similar, while velocity and frequency were higher in the propofol group than the isoflurane group (P < 0.001 (Student’s t-test)). This study presents a potential physiological biomarker linked to recent observations of reduced PONV with IV propofol. The results suggest that propofol is a more suitable anaesthetic for studying slow-wave patterns in vivo.

Features of bioelectric brain activity in people with different level of situational anxiety when performing non-verbal tasks

The purpose of the study: to analyze the parameters of the electroencephalogram in individuals with different levels of anxiety when performing non-verbal tasks.Object and methods. The study was conducted on 20 female students, aged 18 to 22 years. All studies were carried out on a voluntary basis, confirmed in writing, in compliance with bioethical standards governing the conduct of observations on humans. The level of situational anxiety was determined using the Spielberg-Khanin test.The spectral power of the electroencephalogram rhythms was recorded using the NVX 36 digital DC EEG neurovisor using a cap with a set of electrodes that were placed on the head of the subjects according to the international 10–20 system. The EEG recording lasted 1–2 minutes before and during the performance of nonverbal tasks. As non-verbal tasks, the subjects were asked to complete the Portsus maze test and the Cattell intellectual test. The results obtained were statistically processed. Differences were considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05. All data obtained are presented as arithmetic means ± standard errors of the mean, as well as changes in average values in %.Research results. It was found that the dynamics of EEG parameters in the performance of nonverbal tasks in students depends on the level of their situational anxiety. In persons with a low level of situational anxiety, when performing nonverbal tasks, an increase in the spectral power of the EEG parameters of beta2 and gamma waves in the frontal, parietal, occipital, and central leads is observed.In subjects with an average level of anxiety in the conditions of performing non-verbal tasks, the EEG parameters of beta2 and gamma waves in the frontal, occipital, and parietal leads noticeably increased. Persons with a high level of anxiety are characterized by an increase in the spectral power of alpha, beta2 and gamma rhythms in the frontal, central, parietal and occipital leads.