The Effect of Brand on EEG Modulation

Consumers often develop close relationships with their preferred brands and goods. To achieve marketing goals, companies need to develop in customers a positive brand attachment. When they succeed, the brand is immediately recognized, it elicits specific responses, and it becomes more difficult to be replaced by competitors. Previous studies have suggested the existence of a relationship between brand evaluation and a reward-related functional circuit. The present study measured brain responses to different brands of mineral water. In particular, we were interested in analyzing the impact of brand attachment on brain modulation. We hypothesized that brand evaluation would be associated with reward processing, and that brain oscillatory activity would be modulated by different expectations based on previous experience. Time-frequency analyses of EEG oscillatory activity were performed on 26 healthy subjects (13 males and 13 females) during water intake of differently labeled glasses of mineral water. Our results confirmed that brand processing is related to activity of the frontocentral reward-related network. Beta activity seems to be modulated by the experience of pleasure associated with a favorite brand, while theta modulation seems to reflect the lack of this experience. In conclusion, our study showed how exposure to a brand can affect EEG modulation. Additionally, we confirmed a possible relationship between brand evaluation and reward processing.

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The impact of 1/f activity and baseline correction on the results and interpretation of time-frequency analyses of EEG/MEG data: A cautionary tale

10.1101/2020.12.04.412031 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Máté Gyurkovics ◽

Grace M. Clements ◽

Kathy A. Low ◽

Monica Fabiani ◽

Gabriele Gratton

Keyword(s):

Noise Level ◽

Additive Model ◽

Signal Amplitude ◽

Multiplicative Model ◽

Oscillatory Activity ◽

Baseline Correction ◽

Alpha Power ◽

Time Frequency ◽

Activity Factor ◽

The Impact

AbstractTypically, time-frequency analysis (TFA) of electrophysiological data is aimed at isolating narrowband signals (oscillatory activity) from broadband non-oscillatory (1/f) activity, so that changes in oscillatory activity resulting from experimental manipulations can be assessed. A widely used method to do this is to convert the data to the decibel (dB) scale through baseline division and log transformation. This procedure assumes that, for each frequency, sources of power (i.e., oscillations and 1/f activity) scale by the same factor relative to the baseline (multiplicative model). This assumption may be incorrect when signal and noise are independent contributors to the power spectrum (additive model). Using resting-state EEG data from 80 participants, we found that the level of 1/f activity and alpha power are not positively correlated within participants, in line with the additive but not the multiplicative model. Then, to assess the effects of dB conversion on data that violate the multiplicativity assumption, we simulated a mixed design study with one between-subject (noise level, i.e., level of 1/f activity) and one within-subject (signal amplitude, i.e., amplitude of oscillatory activity added onto the background 1/f activity) factor. The effect size of the noise level × signal amplitude interaction was examined as a function of noise difference between groups, following dB conversion. Findings revealed that dB conversion led to the over- or under-estimation of the true interaction effect when groups differing in 1/f levels were compared, and it also led to the emergence of illusory interactions when none were present. This is because signal amplitude was systematically underestimated in the noisier compared to the less noisy group. Hence, we recommend testing whether the level of 1/f activity differs across groups or conditions and using multiple baseline correction strategies to validate results if it does. Such a situation may be particularly common in aging, developmental, or clinical studies.

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The Impact of Electronic Word of Mouth on Brand Evaluation Leading to Brand Attachment: A Comparative Study on Consumer Electronics and Cosmetic Brands in Sri Lanka

Kelaniya Journal of Management ◽

10.4038/kjm.v9i2.7641 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

J. D. T. Madhusanka ◽

R. A. S. Weerasiri ◽

W. V. A. D. Karunarathne

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Word Of Mouth ◽

Consumer Electronics ◽

Electronic Word Of Mouth ◽

Brand Attachment ◽

Brand Evaluation ◽

The Impact

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Modality-specific frequency band activity during neural entrainment to auditory and visual rhythms

10.1101/2020.11.29.402701 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel C. Comstock ◽

Jessica M. Ross ◽

Ramesh Balasubramaniam

Keyword(s):

Oscillatory Activity ◽

Beta Activity ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Rhythm Perception ◽

Beta Band ◽

Time Frequency ◽

Visual Rhythm ◽

Neural Entrainment ◽

Specific Frequency ◽

Band Activity

AbstractRhythm perception depends on the ability to predict the onset of rhythmic events. Previous studies indicate beta band modulation is involved in predicting the onset of auditory rhythmic events (Snyder & Large, 2005; Fujioka et al., 2009, 2012). We sought to determine if similar processes are recruited for prediction of visual rhythms by investigating whether beta band activity plays a role in a modality dependent manner for rhythm perception. We looked at source-level EEG time-frequency neural correlates of prediction using an omission paradigm with auditory and visual rhythms. By using omissions, we can separate out predictive timing activity from stimulus driven activity. We hypothesized that there would be modality specific markers of rhythm prediction in induced beta band oscillatory activity, characterized primarily by activation in the motor system specific to auditory rhythm processing. Our findings suggest the existence of overlapping networks of predictive beta activity based on common activation in the parietal and right frontal regions, auditory specific predictive beta in bilateral sensorimotor regions, and visually specific predictive beta in midline central, and bilateral temporal/parietal regions. We also found evidence for evoked predictive beta activity in the left sensorimotor region specific to auditory rhythms. These findings implicate modality dependent networks for auditory and visual rhythm perception. The results further suggest that auditory rhythm perception may have left hemispheric specific mechanisms.

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0331 Neurological Impact on the Reward Processing of Food Images Imposed by Mild Sleep Restriction in Adolescents

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.328 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A126-A126

Author(s):

M Alsameen ◽

M W DiFrancesco ◽

M St-Onge ◽

D W Beebe

Keyword(s):

Sleep Duration ◽

Fast Food ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Reward Processing ◽

Sleep Restriction ◽

Brain Response ◽

Food Category ◽

Brain Responses ◽

Food Images ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Previous studies indicate that lack of sleep might increase risk for unhealthy eating and obesity. This is particularly important during adolescence, when most youth sleep less than the recommended 8-10 hours/night and dietary habits are developed that extend into adulthood. This study investigated the relationship between multi-night sleep restriction and the appeal of food, including neuroimaging to examine the impact on brain responses to food-related stimuli. Methods Healthy 14-17 year-old adolescents (n=39) completed an experimental sleep manipulation across consecutive five-night periods to compare nightly sleep of approximately 9 hours (healthy sleep duration) vs. about 6.3 hours (mild sleep restriction). At the end of each week, participants underwent functional MRI while performing a visual food appeal task. The task included 42 photos in each of four food categories (sweets, snacks, fast-food, meat/fruit/vegetable) and one non-food category. Photos were presented every 3 seconds in blocks of 7 within each category; 6 interleaved blocks per category. Teens rated the appeal of each block of photos. General linear modeling explained regional brain response according to categorical presentation time-courses. Results The pattern of brain responses to the different food types was similar across the two sleep conditions. However, the sleep manipulation led to significant regional effects when contrasting the totality of food vs non-food images. Specifically, when compared to non-food, food images overall resulted in greater activation in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) during sleep restriction. Both regions have been previously shown to be involved in processing reward-related information. Conclusion Our findings suggest neuronal responses in reward circuitry for teens viewing food images are influenced by sleep duration. Sleep restriction may affect reward processing of food in teens by increasing brain activation in VTA/SN network components that underlie dopamine-mediated motivational drive. Support Supported by NIH R01HL120879

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Electrophysiological aftereffects of high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS): an EEG investigation

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-021-06142-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Filippo Ghin ◽

Louise O’Hare ◽

Andrea Pavan

Keyword(s):

High Frequency ◽

Discrimination Task ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Random Noise ◽

Decomposition Analysis ◽

Oscillatory Activity ◽

Motion Direction ◽

Time Frequency ◽

Direction Discrimination ◽

Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation

AbstractThere is evidence that high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS) is effective in improving behavioural performance in several visual tasks. However, so far there has been limited research into the spatial and temporal characteristics of hf-tRNS-induced facilitatory effects. In the present study, electroencephalogram (EEG) was used to investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of cortical activity modulated by offline hf-tRNS on performance on a motion direction discrimination task. We used EEG to measure the amplitude of motion-related VEPs over the parieto-occipital cortex, as well as oscillatory power spectral density (PSD) at rest. A time–frequency decomposition analysis was also performed to investigate the shift in event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) in response to the motion stimuli between the pre- and post-stimulation period. The results showed that the accuracy of the motion direction discrimination task was not modulated by offline hf-tRNS. Although the motion task was able to elicit motion-dependent VEP components (P1, N2, and P2), none of them showed any significant change between pre- and post-stimulation. We also found a time-dependent increase of the PSD in alpha and beta bands regardless of the stimulation protocol. Finally, time–frequency analysis showed a modulation of ERSP power in the hf-tRNS condition for gamma activity when compared to pre-stimulation periods and Sham stimulation. Overall, these results show that offline hf-tRNS may induce moderate aftereffects in brain oscillatory activity.

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Evaluation and Validation of a Joint Stress Test to Induce Activity-Related Knee Joint Discomfort — a Prospective Case-Control Study

Sports Medicine - Open ◽

10.1186/s40798-021-00317-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Christiane Schön ◽

Claudia Reule ◽

Katharina Knaub ◽

Antje Micka ◽

Manfred Wilhelm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Knee Joint ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Stress Test ◽

Osteoarthritis Of The Knee ◽

Time Interval ◽

Short Time Interval ◽

Joint Stress ◽

Joint Health ◽

The Impact ◽

Health Function

Abstract Background The assessment of improvement or maintenance of joint health in healthy subjects is a great challenge. The aim of the study was the evaluation of a joint stress test to assess joint discomfort in subjects with activity-related knee joint discomfort (ArJD). Results Forty-five subjects were recruited to perform the single-leg-step-down (SLSD) test (15 subjects per group). Subjects with ArJD of the knee (age 22–62 years) were compared to healthy subjects (age 24–59 years) with no knee joint discomfort during daily life sporting activity and to subjects with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis of the knee joint (OA, Kellgren score 2–3, age 42–64 years). The subjects performed the SLSD test with two different protocols: (I) standardization for knee joint discomfort; (II) standardization for load on the knee joint. In addition, range of motion (ROM), reach test, acute pain at rest and after a single-leg squat and knee injury, and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) were assessed. In OA and ArJD subjects, knee joint discomfort could be reproducibly induced in a short time interval of less than 10 min (200 steps). In healthy subjects, no pain was recorded. A clear differentiation between study groups was observed with the SLSD test (maximal step number) as well as KOOS questionnaire, ROM, and reach test. In addition, a moderate to good intra-class correlation was shown for the investigated outcomes. Conclusions These results suggest the SLSD test is a reliable tool for the assessment of knee joint health function in ArJD and OA subjects to study the improvements in their activities. Further, this model can be used as a stress model in intervention studies to study the impact of stress on knee joint health function.

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Neuromodulation of Astrocytic K+ Clearance

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22052520 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 2520

Author(s):

Alba Bellot-Saez ◽

Rebecca Stevenson ◽

Orsolya Kékesi ◽

Evgeniia Samokhina ◽

Yuval Ben-Abu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oscillatory Behavior ◽

Network Activity ◽

Oscillatory Activity ◽

Extracellular Potassium ◽

Uptake Mechanism ◽

Kir Channels ◽

Neuronal Network Activity ◽

Clearance Process ◽

Spatial Buffering ◽

The Impact

Potassium homeostasis is fundamental for brain function. Therefore, effective removal of excessive K+ from the synaptic cleft during neuronal activity is paramount. Astrocytes play a key role in K+ clearance from the extracellular milieu using various mechanisms, including uptake via Kir channels and the Na+-K+ ATPase, and spatial buffering through the astrocytic gap-junction coupled network. Recently we showed that alterations in the concentrations of extracellular potassium ([K+]o) or impairments of the astrocytic clearance mechanism affect the resonance and oscillatory behavior of both the individual and networks of neurons. These results indicate that astrocytes have the potential to modulate neuronal network activity, however, the cellular effectors that may affect the astrocytic K+ clearance process are still unknown. In this study, we have investigated the impact of neuromodulators, which are known to mediate changes in network oscillatory behavior, on the astrocytic clearance process. Our results suggest that while some neuromodulators (5-HT; NA) might affect astrocytic spatial buffering via gap-junctions, others (DA; Histamine) primarily affect the uptake mechanism via Kir channels. These results suggest that neuromodulators can affect network oscillatory activity through parallel activation of both neurons and astrocytes, establishing a synergistic mechanism to maximize the synchronous network activity.

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Impact of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 during Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Diseases

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26061777 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 1777

Author(s):

Gaetano Isola ◽

Alessandro Polizzi ◽

Vincenzo Ronsivalle ◽

Angela Alibrandi ◽

Giuseppe Palazzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Matrix Metalloproteinase ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Multivariate Regression Analysis ◽

Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Hs Crp ◽

The Impact ◽

Negative Predictor ◽

Metalloproteinase 9

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been shown to play a key role in endothelial function and perhaps pivotal in the correlation between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). For the study, the impact of MMP-9 of periodontitis and CVD on serum and saliva concentrations was analyzed. For the study patients with periodontitis (n = 31), CVD (n = 31), periodontitis + CVD (n = 31), and healthy patients (n = 31) were enrolled. Clinical and demographic characteristics as well as serum and salivary MMP-9 were evaluated. MMP-9 concentrations in serum and saliva were statistically elevated in patients with CVD (p < 0.01) and in patients with periodontitis plus CVD (p < 0.001) compared to patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects. Multivariate regression analysis showed that c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was the only significant predictor for MMP-9 serum (p < 0.001), whereas hs-CRP (p < 0.001) and total cholesterol (p = 0.029) were the statistically significant salivary MMP-9 predictors. This study evidenced that patients with CVD and periodontitis + CVD presented elevated MMP-9 concentrations in serum and saliva compared to patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects. Furthermore, hs-CRP was a negative predictor of serum and salivary MMP-9.

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An improved method to estimate Q based on the logarithmic spectrum of moving peak points

Interpretation ◽

10.1190/int-2017-0234.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. T255-T263 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yanli Liu ◽

Zhenchun Li ◽

Guoquan Yang ◽

Qiang Liu

Keyword(s):

Seismic Waves ◽

Wave Attenuation ◽

Real Data ◽

Peak Frequency ◽

Seismic Reflection Data ◽

The Real ◽

Time Frequency ◽

Reflection Data ◽

Text Filtering ◽

The Impact

The quality factor ([Formula: see text]) is an important parameter for measuring the attenuation of seismic waves. Reliable [Formula: see text] estimation and stable inverse [Formula: see text] filtering are expected to improve the resolution of seismic data and deep-layer energy. Many methods of estimating [Formula: see text] are based on an individual wavelet. However, it is difficult to extract the individual wavelet precisely from seismic reflection data. To avoid this problem, we have developed a method of directly estimating [Formula: see text] from reflection data. The core of the methodology is selecting the peak-frequency points to linear fit their logarithmic spectrum and time-frequency product. Then, we calculated [Formula: see text] according to the relationship between [Formula: see text] and the optimized slope. First, to get the peak frequency points at different times, we use the generalized S transform to produce the 2D high-precision time-frequency spectrum. According to the seismic wave attenuation mechanism, the logarithmic spectrum attenuates linearly with the product of frequency and time. Thus, the second step of the method is transforming a 2D spectrum into 1D by variable substitution. In the process of transformation, we only selected the peak frequency points to participate in the fitting process, which can reduce the impact of the interference on the spectrum. Third, we obtain the optimized slope by least-squares fitting. To demonstrate the reliability of our method, we applied it to a constant [Formula: see text] model and the real data of a work area. For the real data, we calculated the [Formula: see text] curve of the seismic trace near a well and we get the high-resolution section by using stable inverse [Formula: see text] filtering. The model and real data indicate that our method is effective and reliable for estimating the [Formula: see text] value.

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