RELAXATION EXERCISE WITH CEREBRAL PALSIED ADULTS SHOWING SPASTICITY

A method for improving the muscle incoordination associated with cerebral palsy was empirically tested. Relaxation exercises, involving the successive tensing and relaxing of the major muscle groups of the body, were performed by four adults with spastic quadraplegia. All four subjects were sheltered workshop employees. Their IQs ranged from normal to mentally deficient. Testing consisted of two timed-trials of both the Placing Test and the Turning Test from the Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Tests. These tests measured the amount of time required to complete various manual manipulations involving pegs and pegboard. A multiple baseline across subjects design was employed to provide experimental control. All subjects showed significant improvement over baseline performance on the tests following the relaxation training. Limitations of this preliminary investigation and implications of these results for future research were noted.     

Understanding Cognition Through Large-Scale Cortical Networks

An emerging body of evidence from a number of fields is beginning to reveal general neural principles underlying cognition. The characteristic adaptability of cognitive function is seen to derive from large-scale networks in the cerebral cortex that are able to repeatedly change the state of coordination among their constituent areas on a subsecond time scale. Experimental and theoretical studies suggest that large-scale network dynamics operate in a metastable regime in which the interdependence of cortical areas is balanced between integrating and segregating activities. Cortical areas, through their coordination dynamics, are thought to rapidly resolve a large number of mutually imposed constraints, leading to consistent local states and a globally coherent state of cognition.     

语篇主题表征在大脑两半球的存贮

使用半视野速示技术和启动—再认探测方法,采用包含两个句子的短语篇作为前行信息、通过主题启动、歧义词启动探测语段阅读时主题表征在大脑两半球的存贮情况,结果发现,无论是主题启动还是歧义词启动,左视野／右半脑和右视野／左半脑对语境相关的目标词反应时间都比不一致目标词更长,说明语段阅读后两半脑对主题表征都有存贮。     

关于阵发性心房纤颤是否需要抗凝治疗的思考

阵发性心房纤颤与持续性心房纤颤同样面临着缺血性脑卒中风险,而关于阵发性房颤是否需要华法林抗凝治疗是目前争论热点问题。阵发性房颤是否抗凝治疗使患者面临着严重出血或血栓栓塞风险。循证医学论证了阵发性房颤抗凝治疗必要性及风险性,并且由于阵发性房颤患者有着不同的脑卒中及出血风险,个体差异的绝对性和多样性客观上要求对患者进行风险／效益比评估,在循证医学基础上进行个体化治疗。     

脑梗死不同病因亚型同血浆同型半胱氨酸浓度的关系研究

为探讨脑梗死患者血浆同型半胱氨酸（HCY）水平同病因分型及疾病严重程度的关系,选择首发脑梗死急性期患者73例,对照组30例,进行TOAST病因分型、NIHSS神经功能缺损评分、血浆HCY检测。结果显示,病例组血浆HCY升高率、水平比对照组显著增高;大动脉粥样硬化亚型病例组血浆HCY水平比对照组明显增高;病例组血浆HCY水平同NIHSS评分呈正相关,提示高HCY血症是脑梗死发病及大动脉粥样硬化亚型脑梗死发病的高危因素,血浆HCY水平同神经功能缺损程度正相关。     

降纤酶治疗急性脑梗死的临床疗效评价

采用随机同期对照的临床研究方法,对发病在24h内的90例急性脑梗死患者,分别进行降纤酶与常规治疗方法的治疗,观察其疗效,应用Logistic回归分析方法进行评价。结果显示,降纤酶可降低血浆纤维蛋白原的水平,有效地促进神经功能恢复,改善急性脑梗死患者的临床症状,有着与常规治疗方法相同的临床疗效。     

The effect of highly concentrated oxygen administration on cerebral activation levels and lateralization in visuospatial tasks

This study investigated what effect a 30% oxygen administration had on visuospatial cognitive performance and cerebral activation and lateralization using fMRI. Eight college students were selected as the subjects for this study. An oxygen dispenser that provided 21% and 30% oxygen at a constant rate of 8L/min was developed. In order to measure the performance level of visuospatial cognition, two psychological tests were also developed. The experiment consisted of two runs, one for a visuospatial cognition task with normal air (21% oxygen) and the other for a visuospatial cognition task with hyperoxic air (30% oxygen). Functional brain images were taken with a 3T MRI using the single-shot EPI method. The results of the visuospatial behavioral analysis reveal that accuracy rates were enhanced with 30% oxygen administration when compared to 21% oxygen. There were more activations observed at the bilateral occipital, parietal, and frontal lobes with 30% oxygen administration. However, decreased cerebrum lateralization was observed with 30% oxygen administration in the same regions compared with 21% oxygen administration. Thus, it is concluded that the positive effect on the visuospatial cognitive performance level by the highly concentrated oxygen administration resulted from an increase of cerebrum activation and a decrease of cerebrum lateralization.     

Emotion and Pain: A Functional Cerebral Systems Integration

Emotion and pain are psychological constructs that have received extensive attention in neuropsychological research. However, neuropsychological models of emotional processing have made more progress in describing how brain regions interact to process emotion. Theories of emotional processing can describe inter-hemispheric and intra-hemispheric interactions during emotional processing. Due to similarities between emotion and pain, it is thought that emotional models can be applied to pain. The following review examines the neuropsychology of emotion and pain using a functional cerebral systems approach. Specific comparisons are made between pain and anger. Attention is given to differences in cerebral function and physiology that may contribute to the processing of emotion and pain. Suggestions for future research in emotion and pain are given.     

A few thoughts about the mind,the brain,and a child with early deprivation

Infant brain research is having an increasing impact on child psychotherapy and our understanding of the neurobiological effects of trauma and neglect. This paper outlines the 'experience-dependent' nature of brain development in infancy and the concept of critical periods in such development. The effects of deprivation on child development are illustrated and case material from a child who was institutionalized during his second year is used as a basis for posing questions about the nature of the mind and the brain. In spite of his deprivation, he was able to communicate imaginatively. Schore's proposal for the use of early interventions is put forward to counter discouragement that can be engendered by work with severely deprived children.