Significant Difference In Amplitude Research Articles

Effects of eyestalk ablation on growth, feeding behavior, movement and circadian gene expression in Haliotis discus hannai

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of eyestalk ablation on growth, feeding behavior, circadian movement activity, and circadian gene expression in the abalone Haliotis discus hannai. Abalones were divided into two groups: eyestalk-ablated (EA) and control (C), and were cultured for 60 days. Results showed that the EA group exhibited significantly higher growth rates in body weight compared to the C group. However, the EA group also had a higher mortality rate, indicating the negative consequences of eyestalk ablation. The feeding rate was significantly higher in the EA group, especially during nocturnal feeding, suggesting that eyestalk ablation may specifically affect nocturnal feeding behavior in abalone. Both EA and C groups displayed rhythmic oscillations in movement activity, with no significant differences in mesor and amplitude. Nevertheless, the peak of populational movement proportion in the EA group occurred approximately 2 h earlier than that in the C group. Transcriptome analysis identified 417 circadian genes, with the most significant enrichment found in the growth-related thyroid hormone signaling pathway. The expression of five core clock genes (clock, cry, rho, tipin, per) exhibited significant circadian rhythms in H. discus hannai, while their rhythmic oscillation significance was weaker in the EA group, except for the tipin transcript. These findings reveal that eyestalk ablation affects growth, feeding and locomotor behavior, and clock gene expression in abalone, providing valuable insights for understanding the circadian regulatory mechanisms and physiological ecological adaptations of abalone. However, due to its harmful effects on animal welfare and the limited promotion of growth, this technology is not advocated for use in aquaculture practices.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Ventricular Preexcitation in the Young: Cause and Accessory Pathway Characteristics.

The cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in the young is highly varied. Ventricular preexcitation (preexcitation) is well recognized, yet little is known about the specificity for any cause and the characteristics of the responsible accessory pathways (AP). Retrospective cohort study of patients <21 years of age with HCM/preexcitation from 2000 to 2022. The cause of HCM was defined as isolated HCM, storage disorder, metabolic disease, or genetic syndrome. Atrioventricular AP (true AP) were distinguished from fasciculoventricular fibers (FVF) using standard invasive electrophysiology study criteria. AP were defined as high risk if any of the following were <250 ms: shortest preexcited RR interval in atrial fibrillation, shortest paced preexcited cycle length, or anterograde AP effective refractory period. We identified 345 patients with HCM and 28 (8%) had preexcitation (isolated HCM, 10/220; storage disorder, 8/17; metabolic disease, 5/19; and genetic syndrome, 5/89). Six (21%) patients had clinical atrial fibrillation (1 with shortest preexcited RR interval <250 ms). Twenty-two patients underwent electrophysiology study which identified 23 true AP and 16 FVF. Preexcitation was exclusively FVF mediated in 8 (36%) patients. Five (23%) patients had AP with high-risk conduction properties (including ≥1 patient in each etiologic group). Multiple AP were seen in 8 (36%) and AP plus FVF in 10 (45%) patients. Ablation was acutely successful in 13 of 14 patients with recurrence in 3. One procedure was complicated by complete heart block after ablation of a high-risk midseptal AP. There were significant differences in QRS amplitude and delta wave amplitude between groups. There were no surface ECG features that differentiated AP from FVF. Young patients with HCM and preexcitation have a high likelihood of underlying storage disease or metabolic disease. Nonisolated HCM should be suspected in young patients with large QRS and delta wave amplitudes. Surface ECG is not adequate to discriminate preexcitation from a benign FVF from that secondary to potentially life-threatening AP.

Cortical auditory potentials and cognitive potentials in individuals with and without vestibular dysfunction

Background: Among individuals with vestibular dysfunction, the loss of vestibular sensory information is found to alter cognitive abilities that coordinate spatial and non-spatial information. P300 is an event-related potential commonly used to assess cognitive processing. The aim of the present study was to compare the latency and amplitude of cortical auditory evoked potential and P300 between individuals with vestibular dysfunction and individuals with no vestibular dysfunction. Methods: Forty adults with a mean age of 40.5 ± 13.07 participated in the study. Group I included 20 adults diagnosed with vestibular dysfunction and group II included 20 age-matched adults with no vestibular dysfunction. The P300 was recorded from the electrode site Cz and Pz. It was elicited using pure-tones in odd-ball paradigm. The latency and amplitude of peaks P1, N1, P2, and N2 of the cortical auditory evoked potential and the P300 were measured. Results: Significant amplitude difference was observed in cortical potentials at Cz and Pz. The P300 was present only in 70% of individuals with vestibular dysfunction compared to 100% among individuals with no vestibular dysfunction. The mean amplitude of the P300 was slightly larger in group 1 compared to group 2 and the mean latency of the P300 was similar in both groups. However, the difference in amplitude of the P300 between groups was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Knowing the cognitive function of individuals with vestibular dysfunction enables planning vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which enhances the quality of life in these individuals by improving their vestibular and cognitive functions.

Normal linear and non-linear cochlear mechanisms and efferent system functioning in individuals with misophonia.

Misophonia, a condition characterized by heightened sensitivity and strong emotional reactions to specific sounds, has sparked considerable interest and debate regarding its underlying auditory mechanisms. The study aimed to understand the auditory underpinnings of two such potential inner ear systems, non-linear and linear outer hair cell functioning along with auditory efferent functioning in individuals with misophonia. 40 ears with misophonia (20 participants) and 37 ears without misophonia (20 participants), both having normal hearing sensitivity were included in this study. Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were obtained in two conditions (with and without contralateral noise). Results of independent-samples t-test showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in the absolute amplitudes of both TEOAEs and DPOAEs between the individuals with and without misophonia. There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) observed in the magnitude of suppression amplitude between the two groups for in both TEOAEs and DPOAEs between individuals with and without misophonia. These results suggest that the cochlear and efferent auditory underpinnings examined in this study may not be major contributors to the development or manifestation of misophonia.

Experimental Study on Flame Response Characteristics of a Non-Premixed Swirl Model Combustor

Non-premixed swirl combustion has been widely used in pieces of industrial combustion equipment such as industrial boilers, furnaces, and certain specific gas turbine combustors. In recent years, the combustion instability of non-premixed swirl flames has begun receiving attention, yet there is still a lack of related research in academia. Therefore, in this study, we conducted experimental research on a swirl stabilized gas flame model combustor and studied the heat release response characteristics of the swirl combustor through the flame transfer function. Firstly, the flame transfer function (FTF) was measured under different inlet velocities and equivalence ratios, and the experimental results showed that the FTF gain curve of the non-premixed swirl flame exhibited a significant “bimodal” shape, with the gain peaks located around 230 Hz and 330 Hz, respectively. Secondly, two oscillation modes of the flame near the two gain peaks were identified (the acoustic induced vortex mode Mv and the thermoacoustic oscillation mode Ma), which have not been reported in previous studies on swirl non-premixed flames. In addition, we comprehensively analyzed the flame pulsation characteristics under the two oscillation modes. Finally, the coupling degrees between velocity fluctuations, fuel pressure fluctuations, and heat release fluctuations were analyzed using the Rayleigh Index (RI), and it was found that in the acoustic-induced vortex mode, a complete feedback loop was not formed between the combustor and the fuel pipeline, which was the main reason for the significant difference in the pressure fluctuation amplitude near 230 Hz and 330 Hz.

Expectations underlie the effects of unpredictable pain: a behavioral and electroencephalogram study.

Previous studies on the potential effects of unpredictability on pain perception and its neural correlates yielded divergent results. This study examined whether this may be explained by differences in acquired expectations. We presented 41 healthy volunteers with laser heat stimuli of different intensities. The stimuli were preceded either by predictable low, medium, or high cues or by unpredictable low-medium, medium-high, or low-high cues. We recorded self-reports of pain intensity and unpleasantness and laser-evoked potentials (LEPs). Furthermore, we investigated whether dynamic expectations that evolved throughout the experiment based on past trials were better predictors of pain ratings than fixed (nonevolving) expectations. Our results replicate previous findings that unpredictable pain is higher than predictable pain for low-intensity stimuli but lower for high-intensity stimuli. Moreover, we observed higher ratings for the medium-high unpredictable condition than the medium-low unpredictable condition, in line with an effect of expectation. We found significant interactions (N1, N2) for the LEP components between intensity and unpredictability. However, the few significant differences in LEP peak amplitudes between cue conditions did not survive correction for multiple testing. In line with predictive coding perspectives, pain ratings were best predicted by dynamic expectations. Surprisingly, expectations of reduced precision (increased variance) were associated with lower pain ratings. Our findings provide strong evidence that (dynamic) expectations contribute to the opposing effects of unpredictability on pain perception; therefore, we highlight the importance of controlling for them in pain unpredictability manipulations. We also suggest to conceptualize pain expectations more often as dynamic constructs incorporating previous experiences.

Long-term dance training modifies eye-head coordination in response to passive head impulse.

Long-term dance training is known to improve postural control, especially in challenging postural tasks. However, the effect of dance training on the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) has yet to be properly assessed. This study directly investigated whether VOR parameters are influenced by long-term dance training by testing dancers and controls using the video head impulse test. VOR gains using two of the most common methods (area ratio and instantaneous gains), latency and amplitude of the first saccade, if applicable, were computed. Results revealed a larger VOR gain as measured by area gain and instantaneous gain at 40 ms specifically for left-head impulses, but not right-head impulses. No significant differences in saccade frequency, amplitude, or latency were observed between groups. These differences appear to stem from a modified eye-to-head relationship during high-velocity head impulses in dancers. More specifically, the dancers' eyes lead head movement during passively applied head impulses, which result in higher VOR gain.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates, for the first time, that long-term dance training results in a nonlinear relationship between eye and head velocity within the first milliseconds following passive head impulse. The data also suggest a larger VOR gain in dancers. This finding suggests that dance training may modify eye-head relationship in passive high-frequency head movements. This is of particular interest for vestibular rehabilitation.

A reliable and reproducible protocol for sound-evoked vestibular myogenic potentials in rattus norvegicus.

Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) provide an objective measure of the integrity of the sacculo-collic pathway leading to their widespread use as a clinical tool in the diagnostic vestibular test battery. Though the application of cVEMPs in preclinical models to assess vestibular function, as performed in relevant clinical populations, remains limited. The present study aimed to establish a rodent model of cVEMP with standardized methods and protocols, examine the neural basis of the responses, and characterize and validate important features for interpretation and assessment of vestibular function. We compared air-conducted sound (ACS)-evoked VEMPs from the sternocleidomastoid muscles in naïve Brown Norway rats. A custom setup facilitated repeatable and reliable measurements which were carried out at multiple intensities with ACS between 1 and 16 kHz and over 7 days. The myogenic potentials were identified by the presence of a positive (P1)-negative (N1) waveform at 3-5 ms from the stimulus onset. Threshold, amplitude, and latency were compared with intensity- and frequency-matched responses within and between animals. cVEMP responses were repeatedly evoked with stimulus intensities between 50-100 dB SPL with excellent test-retest reliability and across multiple measurements over 7 days for all frequencies tested. Suprathreshold, cVEMP responses at 90 dB SPL for 6-10 kHz stimuli demonstrated significantly larger amplitudes (p < 0.01) and shorter latencies (p < 0.001) compared to cVEMP responses for 1-4 kHz stimuli. Latency of cVEMP showed sex-dependent variability, but no significant differences in threshold or amplitude between males and females was observed. The results provide a replicable and reliable setup, test protocol, and comprehensive characterization of cVEMP responses in a preclinical model which can be used in future studies to elucidate pathophysiological characteristics of vestibular dysfunctions or test efficacy of therapeutics.

Optical Setup for Investigating the Hyperpolarizability of Organic Nanostructure Materials in Solutions Using Electric Field Induced Second Harmonic Generation

Abstract: In this paper, an optical setup for electric field-induced second-harmonic generation (EFISH) at 1.9 μm experiment was arranged and used to investigate and determine the hyperpolarizability of some nanostructure organic components in two different solutions. First, a laser beam at 1.9 μm was generated by pumping a hydrogen Raman cell pressurized to 55 bar with 10 Hz Q-switched Nd: YAG nanosecond laser operating at λ = 1.064 μm. Next, the generated laser beam was aligned with all optical components within the assembly. The final step was to optimize the beam’s power and polarization at the center of the EFSH cell. Different nanostructure organic samples in solutions were prepared with nearly the same standard concentration of about 5 mmol/L to be investigated under the optimized system. Two solvents were used in this work, dichloromethane, or DCM (CH2Cl2), and chloroform, or trichloromethane (CHCl3). First, the harmonic order hyperpolarizability of five organic molecules in solutions with different chemical components such as quinolinium groups and organic boron complexes (supplied by the Chemistry Department at Catania University, Italy) were experimentally investigated experimentally. Only component (2-(2-[5′-(N,N-dimethylamino)-(2,2′-bithiophen)-5-yl]vinyl)-1-methyquinolin-1-ium iodide) in chloroform showed a significant difference in Maker fringes amplitude of the applied electrical field in comparison with fringes of its pure solvent. The value ofμfor this component has been calculated as 1320 x 10-48 esu. This value indicates that the component is a suitable candidate for use in second-harmonic generation imaging for biological applications. Keywords: Electric field-induced second-harmonic generation (EFISH), Harmonic light, Organic materials, hyperpolarizability. PACS: Nonlinear optics, 42.65.-k, Electric fields, instrumentation for measurement, 07.50.-e, Organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures, 81.07.Pr, Organic materials optical materials, 42.70.Jk

Prompt penetration effects on Equatorial Electrojet from the Indian sector

The morphology of prompt penetration effects (PP) in the Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ) at Vencode (VEN, Geomagnetic latitude 0.29ºN) was studied using 5-min samples of EEJ and interplanetary Ey component data from 2011 to 2015. In contrast to previous studies that mainly focused on storm-time PP events, our study investigated the characteristics of PP effects on EEJ during both quiet and disturbed periods. Our findings reaffirm earlier reports of high PP efficiency during local noon for both quiet and disturbed days. Moreover, PP amplitudes were greater when IMF-Bz was oriented northward compared to southward, indicating the presence of overshielding effects even during quiet conditions. Additionally, we examined seasonal variations in PP amplitudes and observed weaker PP during the solstice compared to the equinox. Furthermore, our study analysed the equatorial counter electrojet (CEJ) caused by PP events associated with northward-turning IMF-Bz. We report 15% of CEJs at VEN associated with PP effects; a few PP events were observed while the equatorial electric field at VEN was already westward (i.e. PP within CEJ), indicating the combined effects of magnetospheric and ionospheric perturbations. Identifying CEJs caused by PP during quiet days helps to differentiate between magnetospheric and ionospheric mechanisms/processes. Additionally, we investigated the spatial variability in PP amplitudes at closely spaced sites, utilizing one year of concurrent data from Minicoy (MNC, Geomagnetic latitude 0.19ºN), VEN, and Campbell Bay (CBY, Geomagnetic latitude 0.29ºN) situated at geographic longitudes 72º, 77º and 93º, respectively. Our results showed significant differences in PP amplitudes between VEN-CBY and MNC-CBY, separated by 15º and 20º longitude, respectively. Observations from the three equatorial sites demonstrated a longitudinal trend, with PP amplitudes increasing westward towards MNC, inverse to the amplitudes of EEJ.Graphical

Design seismic track irregularity for high‐speed railways

AbstractThere has been no consensus on post‐earthquake operating plan for high‐speed railway trains. In this paper, two three‐dimensional coupling model of track‐bridge system without and with trains for high‐speed railways were developed, and their performance were verified based on shaking table tests. The equivalent method of design seismic track irregularity for random structures was discussed, and the amplitude response spectra of design seismic track irregularity for all levels of seismic intensity were proposed. In addition, the rationality of design seismic track irregularity was evaluated based on engineering case analysis, providing a theoretical foundation of formulating post‐earthquake contingency plans for high‐speed railways. The results show that when span number increases, the design seismic track irregularity amplitude increases and then tends to be stable; when the span number reaches 9, the train dynamic response gradually becomes stable; the random structures with arbitrary span numbers are equivalent to a specific 9‐span structure when constructing design seismic track irregularity. When the seismic intensity is low, there is no significant difference in shape and amplitude between the measured pre‐earthquake and post‐earthquake track alignment irregularities, and the train can normally run with no significant deceleration required. The train dynamic response under the design post‐earthquake track irregularity is greater than that under the measured post‐earthquake track irregularity, indicating that the design seismic track irregularity has a reasonable safety margin and a good feasibility in engineering practice.

Combining electromyography and Raman spectroscopy: optical EMG.

Electromyography (EMG) remains a key component of the diagnostic work-up for suspected neuromuscular disease, but it does not provide insight into the molecular composition of muscle which can provide diagnostic information. Raman spectroscopy is an emerging neuromuscular biomarker capable of generating highly specific, molecular fingerprints of tissue. Here, we present "optical EMG," a combination of EMG and Raman spectroscopy, achieved using a single needle. An optical EMG needle was created to collect electrophysiological and Raman spectroscopic data during a single insertion. We tested functionality with in vivo recordings in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using both transgenic (n = 10) and non-transgenic (NTg, n = 7) mice. Under anesthesia, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), spontaneous EMG activity and Raman spectra were recorded from both gastrocnemius muscles with the optical EMG needle. Standard concentric EMG needle recordings were also undertaken. Electrophysiological data were analyzed with standard univariate statistics, Raman data with both univariate and multivariate analyses. A significant difference in CMAP amplitude was observed between SOD1G93A and NTg mice with optical EMG and standard concentric needles (p = .015 and p = .011, respectively). Spontaneous EMG activity (positive sharp waves) was detected in transgenic SOD1G93A mice only. Raman spectra demonstrated peaks associated with key muscle components. Significant differences in molecular composition between SOD1G93A and NTg muscle were identified through the Raman spectra. Optical EMG can provide standard electrophysiological data and molecular Raman data during a single needle insertion and represents a potential biomarker for neuromuscular disease.

Twenty-month-olds categorically discriminate similar sounding vowels regardless of vocabulary level, an event related potentials (ERP) study.

The current study investigated whether vocabulary relates to phonetic categorization at neural level in early childhood. Electoencephalogram (EEG) responses were collected from 53 Dutch 20-month-old children in a passive oddball paradigm, in which they were presented with two nonwords "giep" [ɣip] and "gip" [ɣɪp] that were contrasted solely by the vowel. In the multiple-speaker condition, both nonwords were produced by twelve different speakers; while, in the single-speaker condition, one single token of each word was used as stimuli. Infant positive mismatch responses (p-MMR) were elicited in both conditions without significant amplitude differences. When the infants were median split based on vocabulary level, the large and small vocabulary groups showed comparable p-MMR amplitudes yet different scalp distribution in both conditions. These results suggest successful phonetic categorization of native similar sounding vowels at 20 months, and a close relationship between speech categorization and vocabulary development.

A-46 MMA Athletes Demonstrate Different Brain Vital Sign Profiles Compared to Matched Controls at “Baseline”

Abstract Purpose We compared objective brain vital sign metrics derived from event-related potentials (ERPs) of mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes and matched control participants. Methods We recorded 101 successful EEG scans from 12 MMA athletes (24.8 ± 2.6 yr) and 18 matched control participants (26.5±3.5 yr). For this analysis, only “baseline” scans were considered (n=30). “Baseline” was at least 90 days from a previous fight and 90 days (MMA) or 1 year (control) following medical clearance from a previously diagnosed concussion. We derived objective, clinical metrics (brain vital signs) from ERPs for auditory sensation (N100), basic attention (P300), and cognitive processing (N400) evoked while participants listen to a 6-minute auditory stimulus sequence. EEG data were processed using standard methods. N100, P300, and N400 amplitudes and latencies were manually identified on evoked potential waveforms by a blinded reviewer. Differences between groups at the waveform level were evaluated with a mass-univariate analysis using non-parametric resampling. Brain vital signs were compared across groups with a Kruskal-Wallis H-test for independent samples, with FDR correction for multiple comparisons. Results Mass-univariate waveform analyses showed significant differences (P &amp;lt; 0.05) between MMA athletes and controls in both P300 and N400 ERPs. The Kruskal-Wallis test identified a significant difference in N400 amplitude (H=7.04, P=.008, Padj=.047) between MMA athletes and controls. Conclusions MMA athletes demonstrate significant differences in “baseline” brain vital signs compared to controls, indicating that exposure to repetitive head impacts in MMA may be associated with subconcussive changes in brain function.

Intraseasonal Variation in the Mesosphere Observed by the Mengcheng Meteor Radar from 2015 to 2020

The intraseasonal oscillations (30–100 days, ISO) in the MLT (mesosphere and lower thermosphere) horizontal wind are investigated based on observations from the Mengcheng meteor radar. There is a clear seasonal variation in ISO in the horizontal wind at 80 km, which is strongest during the winter and weakest during the summer. At 100 km, ISO occurs throughout most of the year except winter, and there are significant differences in periods and amplitudes from year to year. From 2015 to 2016, ISOs with periods of 40–60 days were present in the 100 km horizontal wind, whereas none were simultaneously observed in the 80 km horizontal wind. Cross wavelets were used to study the relationship between ISO in the MLT region and ISO in the lower atmosphere. Some of the ISO activity is linked to tropospheric tropical convective activity, but the ISO connections with that in tropospheric convection are not consistent in the upper mesosphere and in the lower thermosphere.

P347 SHORT–TERM EFFECTIVENESS OF TAFAMIDIS THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH TRANSTYRETIN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS: EVALUATION OF CLINICAL–INSTRUMENTAL AND BIOHUMORAL PARAMETERS

Abstract Background In the ATTRACT trial, Tafamidis has been shown to be effective in patients with transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) by improving quality of life and survival at 30–month follow–up. However, it‘s not clear which are the clinical–instrumental and bio–humoral parameters that change first and after how long time from the begging of treatment. Methods In our cardiomyopathy tertially referral center from January 2022 to October 2022, 47 patients with ATTR (73% males, 27% females, mean age 75±16 years) were admitted for the evaluation of the possible TTR treatment. Of these,30 received treatment with Tafamidis and 10 (M, mean age 77±11 years, 9ATTRwt, 1vATTR) completed a six months follow–up and constituted our patient population. The following parameters werecollected at baseline and after six–months follow–up: 6 minute walking test, Kansas score, NYHA class, NT–pro BNP,echocardiographic ejection fraction, 12 lead ECG with assessment of amplitude of QRS voltages, heart rhythm, presence of Q waves of pseudo necrosis, number of ventricular/supraventricular ectopic beats, presence of atrioventricular (AV) blocks, sinus blocks, hemiblocks, bundle branch blocks, QTc length, type and dose of additional medications. Results No patient changed the antiarrhythmic therapy during the six months follow–up, and no ventricular arrhythmias nor sinoatrial blocks were recorded. Two patients had pacemaker (PM) before the beginning of thetherapy and no PM was implanted during the follow–up. There was no significant difference in QRS voltage amplitude (p=0.157), atrial fibrillation (p=0.785), Q waves of pseudonecrosis (p= 1.000), ectopic beats (p= 1.000), AV blocks (p= 1.000), hemiblocks (p= 1.000), bundle branch blocks (p= 1.000), QTc (p= 0.813), ejection fraction (p= 0.317), NYHA class (p= 0.564), NTproBNP (p=0.273). Statistically significant differences were found in the Kansas score (p=0.042) and in the 6 minute walking test (p= 0.018). Conclusions Tafamidis is able to improve quality of life andfunctional capacity in ATTR patients early in the course of the treatment. The stability of the other parameters, that tend to fast worsen in the natural course of the disease, demonstrates the ability of Tafamidis to halt and possibly revert amyloidosis.

Brain activity underlying visual search in depth when viewing volumetric multiplanar images

The study investigated the cortical activity associated with 3D and 2D image perception on a volumetric multiplanar display by analyzing event-related potentials (ERPs) and power spectral density (PSD). In this study, we used a volumetric multiplanar display to present visual targets, and the brain signals were recorded via an EEG amplifier and analyzed using the EEGLAB toolbox on MATLAB. The study found no significant differences in amplitude between the 3D and 2D conditions across five occipital and parietal electrodes. However, there was a significant difference in latency of the P3 component on the Pz electrode. The analysis of PSD showed no significant differences between the two conditions, although there was a slightly higher alpha and beta activity observed in the 2D visualization. The study concluded that 3D image representation on a volumetric multiplanar display has no more sensory or cognitive load on the human brain than 2D representation, and that depth perception on a multiplanar display requires less brain activity.

How do decision makers evaluate advice from advisors with happy and angry expressions? A behavioural and ERP study

ABSTRACT In the process of decision-making based on conferring with advisors, people are sensitive to advisors’ emotional expressions. An advisor’s expression is considered a type of feedback. The quick detection of motivational or valence significance of feedback has been associated with feedback-related negativity (FRN). In this study, we investigated how decision makers evaluated advice that was distant from the original estimate provided by advisors with different emotional expressions based on behavioural, FRN, and P300 data. The results showed that participants were more likely to modify their initial estimates based on advice from advisors with happy expressions than from advisors with angry expressions, regardless of whether it was near-distance advice or far-distance advice. When facing far-distance advice, FRN amplitudes in angry-expression conditions were significantly larger than in happy-expression conditions. When facing near-distance advice, there was no significant difference in the FRN amplitude between happy- and angry-expression conditions. P300 amplitudes were larger in near-distance conditions than in far-distance conditions. These findings suggest that, as a type of feedback with social information, the advisor’s face will affect the decision maker’s evaluation of the advice, with a happy face of the advisor serving as correct feedback and an angry face serving as incorrect feedback.

Increased sensitivity of spatial filters by combining the magnetic and electrical components of the sensorimotor cortical beta rhythm

Modulation of human magnetic or electrical sensorimotor rhythms during motor imagery is widely used in fundamental and applied neurophysiological research. To date, there is evidence of a better sensitivity of magnetic field sensors to beta-rhythm modulation, however, the potential synergistic effect of combining the two modalities has not yet been investigated. In this study, simultaneous registration of electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetoencephalogram (MEG) was carried out in eight healthy volunteers during voluntary and imaginary movements, as well as during electrical stimulation of the median nerve. In all subjects, it was possible to identify desynchronization (suppression) of mu and beta rhythms during the performance of sensorimotor tasks, as well as beta synchronization after the end of movement or stimulation. Using the common projections of the covariance matrices of signals of the electric, magnetic, and combined (“MEEG”) modalities, the most sensitive individual spatial filters were calculated separately for each type of reaction. Relative to the pre-stimulus control, the changes in the amplitude of the sensorimotor rhythm components turned out to be the largest in the combined MEEG modality. At the same time, for mu-desynchronization, MEEG turned out to be significantly better than MEG, and for beta-desynchronization, MEEG turned out to be significantly better than both MEG and EEG. For beta synchronization, a shift in the position of sources in the fronto-medial direction was shown, and there were no significant differences in amplitude between modalities. It was also shown that for beta desynchronization, most subjects identified MEG sources with identical EEG projections or without pronounced EEG projections, which indicates the presence of several small tangentially located cortical dipoles involved in beta rhythm desynchronization. The results obtained indicate that in studies of modulation of sensorimotor rhythm components, in particular beta desynchronization, the combination of MEG and EEG leads to greater sensitivity. The multifocal nature of the magnetic beta rhythm and its varying severity in EEG sources indicate the presence of independent regulatory circuits of cortical-thalamic or intracortical origin.

Pattern Electroretinogram in Ocular Hypertension, Glaucoma Suspect and Early Manifest Glaucoma Eyes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

To provide standardized confidence limits of the transient pattern electroretinogram (tPERG) P50 and N95 and steady state pattern electroretinogram (ssPERG) amplitudes in normal controls as compared to ocular hypertension (OHT), glaucoma suspect (GS), or early manifest glaucoma (EMG) eyes. The identification of standardized confidence limits in the context of pattern electroretinogram (PERG) might overcome the high intrinsic variability of the measure, and it might lead to a more intuitive understanding of the results as well as to an easier comparison of data from multiple tests, sites, and operators. The study protocol was prospectively registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID: CRD42022370032). A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies comparing PERG raw data in normal control eyes as compared to OHT, GS, or EMG were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence quality assessment tool. The main outcome was the P50, N95, and ssPERG amplitude difference between the control and the study groups' eyes. The standardized mean difference was calculated as a measure of the effect size for the primary outcome. A subanalysis was conducted based on the type of electrodes adopted for the PERG measurements (invasive vs. noninvasive). Of the 4580 eligible papers, only 23 were included (1754 eyes). Statistically significant amplitude differences were found in the P50, N95, and ssPERG amplitudes between normal controls and OHT, GS, and EMG eyes. The highest standardized mean difference values were observed in the ssPERG amplitude in all 3 sets of comparison. The subanalysis did not reveal any statistically significant differences between invasive and noninvasive recording strategies. The use of standardized values as the main outcome measures in the context of the PERG data analysis is a valid approach, normalizing several confounding factors which have affected the clinical utility of PERG both for individual patients and in clinical trials. Steady state PERG apparently better discriminates diseased eyes compared to tPERG. The adoption of skin-active electrodes is able to adequately discriminate between healthy and diseased statuses. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.