Perceptual Performance Research Articles

Sensory integration for neuroprostheses: from functional benefits to neural correlates.

In the field of sensory neuroprostheses, one ultimate goal is for individuals to perceive artificial somatosensory information and use the prosthesis with high complexity that resembles an intact system. To this end, research has shown that stimulation-elicited somatosensory information improves prosthesis perception and task performance. While studies strive to achieve sensory integration, a crucial phenomenon that entails naturalistic interaction with the environment, this topic has not been commensurately reviewed. Therefore, here we present a perspective for understanding sensory integration in neuroprostheses. First, we review the engineering aspects and functional outcomes in sensory neuroprosthesis studies. In this context, we summarize studies that have suggested sensory integration. We focus on how they have used stimulation-elicited percepts to maximize and improve the reliability of somatosensory information. Next, we review studies that have suggested multisensory integration. These works have demonstrated that congruent and simultaneous multisensory inputs provided cognitive benefits such that an individual experiences a greater sense of authority over prosthesis movements (i.e., agency) and perceives the prosthesis as part of their own (i.e., ownership). Thereafter, we present the theoretical and neuroscience framework of sensory integration. We investigate how behavioral models and neural recordings have been applied in the context of sensory integration. Sensory integration models developed from intact-limb individuals have led the way to sensory neuroprosthesis studies to demonstrate multisensory integration. Neural recordings have been used to show how multisensory inputs are processed across cortical areas. Lastly, we discuss some ongoing research and challenges in achieving and understanding sensory integration in sensory neuroprostheses. Resolving these challenges would help to develop future strategies to improve the sensory feedback of a neuroprosthetic system.

Shape from dots: a window into abstraction processes in visual perception

IntroductionA remarkable phenomenon in perception is that the visual system spontaneously organizes sets of discrete elements into abstract shape representations. We studied perceptual performance with dot displays to discover what spatial relationships support shape perception.MethodsIn Experiment 1, we tested conditions that lead dot arrays to be perceived as smooth contours vs. having vertices. We found that the perception of a smooth contour vs. a vertex was influenced by spatial relations between dots beyond the three points that define the angle of the point in question. However, there appeared to be a hard boundary around 90° such that any angle 90° or less was perceived as a vertex regardless of the spatial relations of ancillary dots. We hypothesized that dot arrays whose triplets were perceived as smooth curves would be more readily perceived as a unitary object because they can be encoded more economically. In Experiment 2, we generated dot arrays with and without such “vertex triplets” and compared participants’ phenomenological reports of a unified shape with smooth curves vs. shapes with angular corners. Observers gave higher shape ratings for dot arrays from curvilinear shapes. In Experiment 3, we tested shape encoding using a mental rotation task. Participants judged whether two dot arrays were the same or different at five angular differences. Subjects responded reliably faster for displays without vertex triplets, suggesting economical encoding of smooth displays. We followed this up in Experiment 4 using a visual search task. Shapes with and without vertex triplets were embedded in arrays with 25 distractor dots. Participants were asked to detect which display in a 2IFC paradigm contained a shape against a distractor with random dots. Performance was better when the dots were sampled from a smooth shape than when they were sampled from a shape with vertex triplets.Results and discussionThese results suggest that the visual system processes dot arrangements as coherent shapes automatically using precise smoothness constraints. This ability may be a consequence of processes that extract curvature in defining object shape and is consistent with recent theory and evidence suggesting that 2D contour representations are composed of constant curvature primitives.

Perturbation-based dual task assessment in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Dual tasking (i.e., concurrent performance of motor and cognitive task) is significantly impaired in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (OAwMCI) compared to cognitively intact older adults (CIOA) and has been associated with increased fall risk. Dual task studies have primarily examined volitionally driven events, and the effects of mild cognitive impairment on reactive balance control (i.e., the ability to recover from unexpected balance threats) are unexplored. We examined the effect of cognitive tasks on reactive balance control in OAwMCI compared to CIOA. Adults >55 years were included and completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to categorize them as OAwMCI (MoCA: 18-24, n = 15) or CIOA (MoCA: ≥25, n = 15). Both OAwMCI [MoCA: 22.4 (2.2), 65.4 (6.1) years, 3 females] and CIOA [MoCA: 28.4 (1.3), 68.2 (5.5) years, 10 females] responded to large magnitude stance slip-like perturbations alone (single task) and while performing perceptual cognitive tasks targeting the visuomotor domain (target and tracking game). In these tasks, participants rotated their head horizontally to control a motion mouse and catch a falling target (target game) or track a moving object (track). Margin of stability (MOS) and fall outcome (harness load cell >30% body weight) were used to quantify reactive balance control. Cognitive performance was determined using performance error (target) and sum of errors (tracking). A 3 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA examined the effect of group and task on MOS, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) model was used to determine changes in fall outcome between groups and tasks. 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVAs examined the effect of group and task on cognitive performance. Compared to CIOA, OAwMCI exhibited significantly deteriorated MOS and greater number of falls during both single task and dual task (p < 0.05), and lower dual task tracking performance (p < 0.01). Compared to single task, both OAwMCI and CIOA exhibited significantly deteriorated perceptual cognitive performance during dual task (p < 0.05); however, no change in MOS or fall outcome between single task and dual task was observed. Cognitive impairment may diminish the ability to compensate and provide attentional resources demanded by sensory systems to integrate perturbation specific information, resulting in deteriorated ability to recover balance control among OAwMCI.

An intelligent airflow perception model for metal mines based on CNN-LSTM architecture

In view of the harsh underground working environment and difficulties of airflow monitoring sensors placement, implementing an intelligent ventilation strategy is crucial for ensuring ventilation safety during mining process. The key issue lies in obtaining global real-time airflow parameters for ventilation safety and intelligent control. Thus, we propose an intelligent perception approach based on artificial intelligence (AI) method for acquiring airflow parameters, which operates by leveraging partial airflow data from specific monitoring points to predict airflow at undisclosed locations. Initially, this approach is facilitated by the training of an AI database through numerical simulations of ventilation networks. Subsequently, an intelligent airflow perception model is constructed, incorporating convolution neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and hybrid CNN-LSTM architectures. Through iterative updates and enhancements, these models demonstrate average deviations between predicted and actual airflow parameters of less than 5% in both simulated scenarios and empirical applications. Furthermore, in the case study, the CNN-LSTM architecture model exhibits superior performance for intelligent airflow perception. This architecture combing with airflow monitoring system, and utilizing partial real-time data inputs to obtain perception point outputs, can effectively enhance employee productivity, reduce energy consumption, and prevent resource wastage.

Impact of individual and work factors on the heat-related consequences among power plant workers in a hot region

ABSTRACT Prolonged exposure to hot environments increases the probability of heat load that may cause occupational heat strain to workers. This study investigates the impact of individual and work-related factors on the heat-related consequences among power plant workers in a hot region. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020. The collecting data tool was a validated self-reported 26 item questionnaire and completed in 534 individuals. We used logistic regression, Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and maximum likelihood evaluations for data analysis. The findings indicated that age, work environment, physical work demands and drinking fluids during work hours are significant with heat exposure perception, heat-related symptoms, and work performance (P-value<0.05). Further, the male workers aged 40-49 are more prone to heat-related symptoms (AOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18-2.13). The importance of addressing heat stress in occupational settings is necessary and informing strategies to help workers adapt to heat in hot workplaces.

Revision Cochlear Implantation With Device Manufacturer Conversion: Surgical Outcomes and Speech Perception Performance.

Describe the clinical profile of revision cochlear implantation (RCI) cases involving device manufacturer conversion (RCImc+), compare them to cases without manufacturer conversion (RCImc-), and classify the reasons for manufacturer conversion (MC). Retrospective case review. Tertiary academic center. Data on demographics, RCI indications, medical background, surgical details, and the reasons for MC were collected for all RCIs from 1989 to 2020. Post-RCI speech perception performance was categorized as unchanged, improved, or declined, according to clinically based criteria. Of 185 RCIs, 39 (21%) involved MC, mostly in pediatric patients (67%). The leading RCImc+ indications were device-related (59%) and medical (31%) failures. Initial implant manufacturers were Advanced Bionics (49%), Cochlear (25.5%), or Medel (25.5%). Most MC reasons were patient-driven (64%) versus CI team recommendations (36%). The RCImc+ group demonstrated a 3-fold higher rate of medical indications than RCImc- (31% vs11.5%, P = .007). The time interval from symptom onset to RCI was longer in RCImc+ (43 vs20.3 months, P = .001), and the rate of multiple revisions in the same ear was higher (25.6% vs8.2%, P = .009). Complete reinsertion rates were high in both RCImc+ and RCImc- (94.8% vs94.5%, P = 1) without any complications. Speech perception improved or remained unchanged in most (84%) cases, with no significant difference between the groups (P = .183). This retrospective study showed that RCI involving MC is safe and beneficial. Although RCImc+ patients exhibited distinct clinical characteristics, MC did not impact surgical or speech perception outcomes. This provides evidence-based data to support informed decision-making by CI teams and patients.

Perceptual subitizing performance in 3- and 4-year-olds: The impact of visual features of sets

Perceptual subitizing is a pivotal skill in children’s mathematical development. It is defined as the rapid identification of small numerosities. Previous studies pointed to the contribution of visual features of sets to perceptual subitizing performance in adults. Insights into the contribution of visual features to subitizing performance in the critical 3- to 4-year age range are scant. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the impact of visual features on perceptual subitizing performance (accuracy and response time) in 3- and 4-year-olds. Participants (119 3- and 4-year-olds) were offered a subitizing task that incorporated pictures of sets of three to five objects. The pictures systematically varied across four visual features: (a) pictorial context (distractors present vs. absent), (b) set homogeneity (homogeneous vs. heterogeneous objects), (c) set arrangement (linearly vs. randomly arranged objects), and (d) set differentiation (distinct vs. overlapping objects). Pictures with distractors, heterogeneous objects, randomly arranged objects, or overlapping objects were associated with lower subitizing accuracy and longer response times compared with pictures without distractors, homogeneous objects, linearly arranged objects, or distinct objects, respectively. Pictures with randomly arranged or overlapping objects along with distractors were associated with even lower subitizing accuracy. Pictures featuring a simple visual design—without distractors and with homogeneous, linearly arranged, and distinct sets—yielded the best subitizing performance in terms of accuracy and response time. Our findings might be explained by the cognitive processes underlying 3- and 4-year-olds’ subitizing performance. The findings offer building blocks for future research in the domain and preschool educational practice.

Data-driven traffic signal adaptive control algorithm integrating vehicle perception and traffic flow data

Due to the equipment error, environmental interference and data transmission delay of vehicle flow detection, the accuracy and real-time performance of vehicle perception and traffic flow data will be affected to some extent, resulting in poor traffic signal control effect. Therefore, a data-driven traffic signal adaptive control algorithm is designed by integrating vehicle perception and traffic flow data. To complete the modeling of urban traffic, the discrete distribution and continuous distribution of traffic are obtained. Based on this research environment, the DV-hop localization algorithm is improved to sense the vehicle position. Based on the phase space reconstruction of traffic flow time series and vehicle location information, traffic flow data is predicted. Based on the driving of traffic data, the vehicle types are divided into small, medium and large three categories, and the impact weights are assigned respectively, and the weight values affecting the final allocation of green time are obtained to realize the allocation of green time. The experimental results show that: The research algorithm can not only predict the traffic flow intensity effectively, but also the predicted results are highly coincident with the actual traffic flow intensity. Vehicle arrival rates are higher, vehicle delays are shorter, and vehicles stop fewer times on average.

The Impact of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) on the Indian Commercial Real Estate Market: A Study of Investor Perception and Market Performance

The introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in India has marked a significant evolution in the country's commercial real estate landscape. This paper examines the multifaceted impact of REITs on the Indian commercial real estate market, focusing on key dimensions such as liquidity, transparency, investor access, and market development. Firstly, REITs have enhanced liquidity in the commercial real estate sector by providing investors with a liquid avenue to invest in income-generating properties, thereby reducing the traditionally illiquid nature of real estate investments. This increased liquidity has facilitated capital flow into the market and stimulated transaction activity. Secondly, REITs have contributed to greater transparency in the Indian real estate market. By mandating regular disclosures and adherence to stringent governance standards, REITs have improved information symmetry between investors and property developers, leading to a more efficient allocation of capital and reduced investment risk. Thirdly, the introduction of REITs has widened investor access to commercial real estate assets. Individual investors, institutional funds, and foreign investors now have the opportunity to participate in the market through REIT investments, thereby diversifying their portfolios and potentially earning stable returns from rental income and capital appreciation. Furthermore, REITs have played a pivotal role in the development of the Indian commercial real estate market. Their presence has spurred the professionalization of property management practices, encouraged the adoption of international standards, and catalyzed the growth of ancillary industries such as real estate services and financial advisory firms.

OPTIMISING THE LADDER RAISE TASK IN THE PHYSICAL APTITUDE TEST FOR FIRE-FIGHTERS

INTRODUCTION &amp; AIM Identifying physically capable candidates is a crucial component of recruiting firefighters given the physical demands of the occupation. At the request of a local fire agency, a review of one test item within the physical aptitude testing protocol was undertaken with the aim of this pilot study to compare physical and perceptual performance between the ladder raise task and a suite of surrogate tests to determine suitability for use in recruitment screening. METHODS 23 participants (unskilled in firefighting) performed the criterion ladder task (‘Ladder’) and three surrogate tasks: stationary constant-tension overhead press (existing test item; ‘Reel’); barbell overhead walk/return (‘Barbell’); overhead modular ladder lift (Modular Under-Running Apparatus (‘MURA’)). The tests were segmented into six components relating to lifting and under-running the device. Task duration, task completion, perceptual and kinetic variables were measured. Pearson’s correlation, OLP regressions and paired t-tests assessed relationships between the Ladder and surrogate tasks. RESULTS The Reel most closely reflected the criterion task in component 1 (lifting) for both peak and average forces (dz =-0.11, p=0.920; dz=-0.11, p=0.532 respectively). The MURA and Barbell were most closely aligned to the Ladder in all other objective values with trivial-small differences evident. The MURA was most closely aligned with the Ladder in subjective measures for components-2/5 and components-3/4 including difficulty (dz= -0.41, p=0.133; dz=-0.32, p=0.250, respectively), fatigue (dz= -0.25, p=0.354; dz=-0.10, p=0.796, respectively) and task representation (7.2[1.6]; 7.4[1.6], respectively). CONCLUSION The currently used Reel task revealed low construct and content validity. The MURA was shown to be the most appropriate surrogate option for the local fire agency to further investigate for use within recruitment physical testing. Further investigation with a sample of career firefighters should be undertaken to verify face validity at the industry level.

ACUTE INTERMITTENT HEAT EXPOSURE WITH MORE FREQUENT AND SHORTER COOLING BREAKS ENHANCES PERFORMANCE AND ELICITS COMPARABLE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO CONTINUOUS HEAT EXPOSURE

INTRODUCTION &amp; AIMS Heat acclimation (HA) is critical to mitigate the adverse effects of heat on exercise performance. While these methods yield physiological adaptations to heat, it also results in greater internal training load. This can potentially compromise training quality and lead to overreaching. Therefore, there is a need for HA protocols that address situations where training quality is crucial, yet the heat stimulus is necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of shorter, more frequent rest breaks with per-cooling (PerC) as an alternative HA session on physiological, perceptual, and self-paced maximal cycling performance, compared to continuous heat exposure. METHODS Thirteen participants completed one continuous and three intermittent heat exposure (IHE) maximal self-paced cycling protocols matched for total exercise and rest duration, in a random order in heat (36°C, 80% relative humidity): 1 x 60-min exercise (CON), 3 x 20-min exercise with 7.5-min rest between sets (IHE-20), 4 x 15-min exercise with 5-min rest between sets (IHE-15), 6 x 10-min exercise with 3-min rest between sets (IHE-10). Mixed-method PerC (crushed-ice ingestion and cooling vest) was applied during rest periods of all IHE protocols. RESULTS Total distance completed was greater in IHE-10, IHE-15, and IHE-20 compared to CON (+11%, +9%, and +8%, respectively), with no difference observed between IHE protocols. Total time spent above 38.5°C core temperature (Tc) was longer in CON compared to IHE-15 and IHE-20 (+62% and +78%, respectively), but similar to IHE-10 (+5%). Furthermore, a longer time above 38.5°C Tc occurred in IHE-10 versus IHE-15 and IHE-20 (+54% and +69%, respectively). Sweat loss did not differ between conditions. CONCLUSION Intermittent heat exposure with PerC may be a viable alternative HA protocol in situations where training quality takes precedence over thermal stimulus, or when both factors hold equal priority.

Aging affects auditory contributions to focus perception in Jianghuai Mandarina).

Speakers can place their prosodic prominence on any locations within a sentence, generating focus prosody for listeners to perceive new information. This study aimed to investigate age-related changes in the bottom-up processing of focus perception in Jianghuai Mandarin by clarifying the perceptual cues and the auditory processing abilities involved in the identification of focus locations. Young, middle-aged, and older speakers of Jianghuai Mandarin completed a focus identification task and an auditory perception task. The results showed that increasing age led to a decrease in listeners' accuracy rate in identifying focus locations, with all participants performing the worst when dynamic pitch cues were inaccessible. Auditory processing abilities did not predict focus perception performance in young and middle-aged listeners but accounted significantly for the variance in older adults' performance. These findings suggest that age-related deteriorations in focus perception can be largely attributed to declined auditory processing of perceptual cues. Poor ability to extract frequency modulation cues may be the most important underlying psychoacoustic factor for older adults' difficulties in perceiving focus prosody in Jianghuai Mandarin. The results contribute to our understanding of the bottom-up mechanisms involved in linguistic prosody processing in aging adults, particularly in tonal languages.

Performance of soccer players under acute physical fatigue: An approach based on cognitive, tactical and physical aspects

This study aimed to verify whether peripheral perception, tactical behaviour, and physical performance are influenced by acute physical fatigue in soccer players. The study included 24 trained soccer players (18.6 ± 1.5 years) from two Brazilian clubs. The TSAFT90 test was used to induce acute physical fatigue. The results showed that physical fatigue did not affect peripheral perception (p = 0.360). Regarding tactical behaviour, improved efficiency was observed for the principles of offensive coverage (p = 0.029), width and length with the ball (p = 0.044), and concentration (p = 0.008). On the other hand, a reduction was observed in the number of tactical actions of offensive coverage (p = 0.020) and recovery balance (p = 0.042). Also, improved accuracy in the principles of defensive balance (p = 0.009), recovery balance (p = 0.021) and defensive unity (p = 0.003) occurred under physical fatigue. A reduction in the physical performance outcomes total distance covered (p < 0.001), average speed (p < 0.001), sprints (p = 0.029), number of accelerations (p = 0.008) and decelerations (p = 0.008) were also detected. The internal (p < 0.01) and external (p < 0.01) workload was higher under physical fatigue. Overall, acute physical fatigue did not influence peripheral perception. However, physical performance was reduced under fatigue, the perceived effort increased, and tactical behaviours were affected by decreasing tactical actions performed near the ball, increasing errors in defensive movements in the lateral corridors and the last defensive line, and improving offensive tactical actions performance.

The Effect of a Table Tennis Exercise Program With a Task-Oriented Approach on Visual Perception and Motor Performance of Adolescents With Developmental Coordination Disorder.

In this study we investigated the effects of an 8-week table tennis exercise program with a task-oriented approach on visual perception and motor performance of 31 adolescents with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The participants were identified by their teachers as having greater difficulty than their peers (450 students from three Korean middle schools) in physical education (PE) classes. On the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2, these adolescents scored below the 15th percentile and showed difficulties in performing daily life activities due to motor performance problems; they did not have physical defects, intellectual or neurological impairments, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Of 98 prospective adolescents with PE difficulties, we obtained personal assent and parents' informed consent from 54, and 31 of these met screening criteria for DCD through the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-Korean. This final group was divided in non-random fashion (based on the proximal geographic grouping of the children's schools) between an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in the 8-week task-oriented table tennis training program with three 90-minute sessions per week, while the control group only participated in regular PE classes twice per week. We measured participants' visual perception and motor performance in the same environment before and after the intervention program. Participants' visual perception was significantly more improved in the experimental group than the control group, with specific improved skills in visual-motor search, visual-motor speed, figure-ground, and visual closure; copying and perceptual constancy skills did not improve significantly. In addition, total motor performance and motor sub-skills, including fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, strength, and agility were significantly more improved in the experimental group than in the control group. Thus, our task-oriented table tennis exercise program was of greater assistance than general PE classes for improving visual perception and motor performance in adolescents at risk of DCD.

And That’s a Fact: A Rhetorical Perspective on the Role of Fact-Checkers

ABSTRACT Fact-checking initiatives have rapidly expanded worldwide with the overall aim of assessing the veracity of factual claims made in public. In this paper, we critique how the objectivity norm informs the current role perception of fact-checkers and suggest ways to reinterpret this perception through rhetorical argumentation theory. First, we point to research literature on fact-checking as a site in which role perceptions of fact-checkers and epistemological ideals are represented, (re)created and contested, marking out an objectivist role perception. Second, we highlight recent contributions from scholars who, like us, have noticed tensions between the objectivist role perception and role performances of fact-checkers and constructively recommended different ways of working around these tensions. In dialogue with these suggestions, we propose that rhetorical argumentation theory can be considered a supplementary resource to further advance epistemological discussions on the role perception of fact-checkers. In addition, the vocabulary from rhetorical argumentation theory holds potential for methodological operationalisation to guide the future role performances of fact-checkers. Finally, to develop our suggestion further, we propose a new research agenda embracing action-oriented research as an integrated way of developing fact-checkers’ role and practise together with practitioners.

The relationship of Value dimensions in Turk Society with fatalistic tendencies, safety motivation, risk perception and safety performance

Understanding the role of people in occupational accidents is very difficult. It is always assumed that people perform the behaviour that feels right to them. This study's main topic is the relationship between values, which form the basis of human behaviour, and safety motivation, fatalistic tendencies, risk perception and safety behaviour.In this context, for the aim of the study, path analysis and partial correlation analysis were used to examine the relationship between variables, and tests were used to examine the relationship between demographic variables with 701 participants from NUTS-12 region of Turkey.According to the findings of the research, it was determined that most of the 19 value dimensions and the top values of self-protection and growth and the top value dimensions of conservation, self-enhancement, self-transcendence and openness to change affect fatalism tendencies, risk perception, safety motivation(SM) and safety performance(SP). While self-protection, conservation and self-enhancement top values have a negative effect on SP, openness to change, self-transcendence and growth top values have a positive effect on SP.Taking into consideration that individuals will exhibit behaviours based on the value dimensions they attach importance to, OHS trainings should be developed in accordance with the value dimensions given importance according to NUTS-12 regions. Furthermore, legal support should be provided to eliminate and reduce the negative aspects of value dimensions for OHS.

Color discrimination repetition distorts color representations

Perceptual learning is the improvement of perceptual performance after repeated practice on a perceptual task. Studies on perceptual learning in color vision are limited. In this study, we measured the impact of color discrimination repetitions at a specific base color on color perception for entire hues. Participants performed five sessions of color discrimination training (200 or 300 trials per session) over five days, at colors on either the negative or positive direction of the L-M color axis, based on group assignment. We administered three color perception assessments (unique hues, color category boundaries, and color appearance) before and after the sessions to evaluate perceptual changes after training. The results showed declines in color discrimination thresholds after training, as expected. Additionally, the training influenced outcomes across all three assessment types. After the training, the perceived color appearance changed near the trained color along the stimulus hue, and some of the unique hues and the color category boundaries moved significantly toward the trained color. These findings indicate that short-term repetitions of color discrimination training can alter color representations in the visual system, distorting color perception around the trained color.

Novel Electrophysiological Signatures of Learning and Forgetting in Human Rapid Eye Movement Sleep.

Despite the known behavioral benefits of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, discrete neural oscillatory events in human scalp electroencephalography (EEG) linked with behavior have not been discovered. This knowledge gap hinders mechanistic understanding of the function of sleep, as well as the development of biophysical models and REM-based causal interventions. We designed a detection algorithm to identify bursts of activity in high-density, scalp EEG within theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (8-13 Hz) bands during REM sleep. Across 38 nights of sleep, we characterized the burst events (i.e., count, duration, density, peak frequency, amplitude) in healthy, young male and female human participants (38; 21F) and investigated burst activity in relation to sleep-dependent memory tasks: hippocampal-dependent episodic verbal memory and nonhippocampal visual perceptual learning. We found greater burst count during the more REM-intensive second half of the night (p < 0.05), longer burst duration during the first half of the night (p < 0.05), but no differences across the night in density or power (p > 0.05). Moreover, increased alpha burst power was associated with increased overnight forgetting for episodic memory (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we show that increased REM theta burst activity in retinotopically specific regions was associated with better visual perceptual performance. Our work provides a critical bridge between discrete REM sleep events in human scalp EEG that support cognitive processes and the identification of similar activity patterns in animal models that allow for further mechanistic characterization.

Test conditions impact measures of visual, perceptual, and cognitive performance

Traditionally, visual, perceptual, and cognitive (VPC) testing is performed in well-lit, silent rooms, whilst seated, and with little incentive. Whilst this is a well-controlled setting, it may lack key features of ecological validity and therefore generalisations to real-world environments and tasks may be erroneous. In the present study, 60 participants completed tests of processing speed, divided attention, and selective attention under varying conditions of light, auditory demands, movement demands, and incentive. The results found that processing speed was significantly better in the incentive condition compared to the non-incentive condition; and in the seated and standing conditions compared to the stepping condition. Divided attention and selective attention were significantly worse in the silent condition compared to the music conditions. No significant differences were found between light and dark conditions. These findings demonstrate that performance on the VPC tests is affected by auditory conditions, movement conditions, and incentives, but not light conditions.

Role performance and factors affecting quality of life in bladder cancer survivors with ileal orthotopic neobladder

ObjectiveBladder cancer survivors with neobladder experience changes in role performance and quality of life (QoL) due to various symptoms and problems, but related studies are limited. Therefore, this study attempted to explore the QoL and factors influencing it in bladder cancer survivors with neobladder. MethodsA cross–sectional descriptive design was used. Data were collected from 100 bladder cancer survivors with a neobladder using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ–C30 and Muscle–Invasive Bladder Cancer Module, the Patient Activation Measure 13, the Enforced Social Dependency Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Factors affecting the QoL were identified using multiple regression analysis. ResultsQoL significantly differed by daily pad usage, need for clean intermittent catheterization, and role performance. QoL was correlated with urinary symptoms and problems, future perspective, abdominal bloating and flatulence, body image, role performance, and social support. Role performance, body image, and the need for clean intermittent catheterization were identified as the factors affecting QoL. ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of bladder cancer survivors continuing their roles at home, at work, and in society after neobladder reconstruction. Specifically, continuing recreational and social activity positively affects QoL, even if the activity range is modified. To help with their role performance, institutional support and changes in social perception are needed. Additionally, education and interventions, including body image enhancement, symptom management, and self–care, should be developed and applied to improve their QoL.