Long-Term Inhibition of Return of Attention

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven P. Tipper ◽  
Sarah Grison ◽  
Klaus Kessler

During search of the environment, the inhibition of the return (IOR) of attention to already-examined information ensures that the target will ultimately be detected. Until now, inhibition was assumed to support search of information during one processing episode. However, in some situations search may have to be completed long after it was begun. We therefore propose that inhibition can be associated with an episode encoded into memory such that later retrieval reinstates inhibitory processing and encourages examination of new information. In two experiments in which attention was drawn to face stimuli with an exogenous cue, we demonstrated for the first time the existence of long-term IOR. Interestingly, this was the case only for faces in the left visual field, perhaps because more efficient processing of faces in the right hemisphere than the left hemisphere results in richer, more retrievable memory representations.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e239297
Author(s):  
H Ravi Ramamurthy ◽  
Onkar Auti ◽  
Vimal Raj ◽  
Kiran Viralam

A 16-month-old, healthy, asymptomatic male child presented with a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular examination and chest radiograph were normal. ECG revealed sinus rhythm, and the augmented vector left lead showed raised ST segment, T wave inversion and q waves. Echocardiography showed a globular left ventricle with notched cardiac apex, abnormal echogenicity in the left ventricular apical myocardium, single papillary muscle and normal biventricular function. Cardiac MRI scan revealed a globular left ventricle with fibrofatty changes and retraction of the apex, the papillary muscles closely approximated, and the right ventricle wrapping around the apex of the left ventricle. This is described as isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia. Diagnosis of this rare entity can be made by MRI, and it has been diagnosed largely in adults. The pathophysiology and long-term outcomes are unknown. We characterise the echocardiography findings of this rare anomaly in a child for the first time in the literature.


Author(s):  
Juhn A. Wada ◽  
Alan E. Davis

SUMMARY:Morphological speech zone asymmetry in man cannot be due to environmental or developmental factors after birth. The functional implication of such a finding is not yet clear. Morphological asymmetry of the human brain is paralleled by electrophysiological evidence of cerebral hemispheric asymmetries. The results of our analysis of 50 infants suggest that clear occipital-temporal coherency asymmetry similar, but not identical to the adult pattern, also exists at or near birth. These asymmetries are generated by stimuli with no verbal content and in infants who presumably have no or an undeveloped capability for language. It is suggested that language is only a part of much more fundamental asymmetries which include the processing of auditory and visual information. Our results, and those of others, are consistent with the assumption that the left hemisphere is more able to relate stimuli to past experience, either short or long-term, while the right hemisphere is more able to process stimuli which are not easily identifiable or referable. These capabilities would not be based on language, and hence would be expected to develop independently and possibly before speech. The demonstration that reversing electrophysiological asymmetries can be generated with non-speech stimuli in the visual and auditory modalities, and in neonates, supports such an assumption.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elia M. Pestana Knight ◽  
Tobias Loddenkemper ◽  
Deepak Lachhwani ◽  
Prakash Kotagal ◽  
Elaine Wyllie ◽  
...  

Object The aim of this study was to identify the reasons for and predictors of no resection of the epileptogenic zone in children with epilepsy who had undergone long-term invasive subdural grid electroencephalography (SDG-EEG) evaluation. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed the consecutive medical records of children (< 19 years of age) who had undergone SDG-EEG evaluation over a 7-year period (1997–2004). To determine the predictors of no resection, the authors obtained the clinical characteristics and imaging and EEG findings of children who had no resection after long-term invasive SDG-EEG evaluation and compared these data with those in a group of children who did undergo resection. They describe the indications for SDG-EEG evaluation and the reasons for no resection in these patients. Results Of 66 children who underwent SDG-EEG evaluation, 9 (13.6%) did not undergo subsequent resection (no-resection group; 6 males). Of these 9 patients, 6 (66.7%) had normal neurological examinations and 5 (55.6%) had normal findings on brain MR imaging. Scalp video EEG localized epilepsy to the left hemisphere in 6 of the 9 patients and to the right hemisphere in 2; it was nonlocalizable in 1 of the 9 patients. Indications for SDG-EEG in the no-resection group were ictal onset zone (IOZ) localization (9 of 9 patients), motor cortex localization (5 of 9 patients), and language area localization (4 of 9 patients). Reasons for no resection after SDG-EEG evaluation were the lack of a well-defined IOZ in 5 of 9 patients (4 multifocal IOZs and 1 nonlocalizable IOZ) and anticipated new permanent postoperative neurological deficits in 7 of 9 patients (3 motor, 2 language, and 2 motor and language deficits). Comparison with the resection group (57 patients) demonstrated that postictal Todd paralysis in the dominant hand was the only variable seen more commonly (χ2 = 4.781, p = 0.029) in the no-resection group (2 [22.2%] of 9 vs 2 [3.5%] of 57 patients). The no-resection group had a larger number of SDG electrode contacts (mean 126. 5 ± 26.98) as compared with the resection group (100.56 ± 25.52; p = 0.010). There were no significant differences in the demographic data, seizure characteristics, scalp and invasive EEG findings, and imaging variables between the resection and no-resection groups. Conclusions Children who did not undergo resection of the epileptogenic zone after SDG-EEG evaluation were likely to have normal neurological examinations without preexisting neurological deficits, a high probability of a new unacceptable permanent neurological deficit following resection, or multifocal or nonlocalizable IOZs. In comparison with the group that underwent resection after SDG-EEG, a history of Todd paralysis in the dominant hand and arm was the only predictor of no resection following SDG-EEG evaluation. Data in this study will help to better select pediatric patients for SDG-EEG and to counsel families prior to epilepsy surgery.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 42-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inessa Vladimirovna Karpova ◽  
Vladimir Vladimirovich Mikheyev ◽  
Yevgeniy Rudolfovich Bychkov ◽  
Andrey Andreyevich Lebedev ◽  
Petr Dmitriyevich Shabanov

The effects of long-term social isolation on the content and metabolism of dopamine and serotonin systems were studied in symmetrical brain structures of BALB/c male mice. With HPLC the contents of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum of both the right and the left hemispheres of the brain in mice reared in groups and social isolation. The isolated mice were characterized by reduced level of DA in the left striatum and elevated level of 5-HIAA and ratio 5-HIAA/5-HT in the right striatum. In the hippocampus of isolated mice, the activation of both DA-ergic and 5-HT-ergic systems was observed, that is the high level of DA and DOPAC in the left hippocampus and the elevated level of 5-HT in both hemispheres and of 5-HIAA in the right hippocampus were registered. On the other hand, the reduction of both DA-ergic and 5-HT-ergic systems activity was shown to be in the right hemisphere. The decreased concentration of DOPAC and ratio DOPAC/DA in the right cortex were observed as well. As to 5-HT-ergic system, the reduced level of 5-HT in the both cortex of the hemispheres as well as 5-HIAA in the right hemisphere of isolated mice was determined. The phenomenon of interhemispheric asymmetry was revealed in the hippocampus only, which was characterized by the increased DA-ergic activity in the left hippocampus but not in the striatum and the cortex.


Author(s):  
Kevin Draper

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. A stroke can damage areas of the brain associated with communication, resulting in speech and language disorders. Such disorders are frequently acquired impairments from left-hemispheric stroke. Music-based treatments have been implemented, and researched in practice, for the past thirty years; however, the number of published reports reviewing these treatments is limited. This paper uses the four elements of the narrative synthesis framework to investigate, scrutinise and synthesise music-based treatments used in the rehabilitation of patients with speech and language disorders. A systematic review revealed that fifteen studies meet the inclusion criteria set out. It was found that the music-based treatments utilised included: Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT), Modified Melodic Intonation Therapy (MMIT), adapted forms of MIT, the Singing Intonation, Prosody, breathing (German: Atmung), Rhythm and Improvisation (SIPARI) method and a variety of methods using singing and songs. From a synthesis of the data, three themes emerged which were key elements of the interventions; they were: (a) singing songs and vocal exercises, (b) stimulating the right hemisphere and (c) use of speech prosody. These themes are discussed and implications for newly-qualified practitioners are explored.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e223365
Author(s):  
Kiran Dhaliwal ◽  
Colin Thomas Brewster ◽  
Sivarajasingham Pakeerathan

Acute blue finger syndrome is a rare benign condition that mimics digital ischaemia. We discuss the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with a 6hour history of blue discolouration of the middle finger of the right hand, associated with pain and swelling. There was no history of trauma and this was the first time that the patient had experienced these symptoms. Examination found blue discolouration of the digit primarily on the volar aspect with associated swelling. All investigations, including blood tests, X-rays and Doppler scanning, were normal. The symptoms resolved spontaneously within 48 hours. There were no recurrent episodes or long-term sequelae. Patients presenting with an acutely blue finger need rapid assessment to exclude digit ischaemia. Knowledge of this rare benign condition may prevent unnecessary distress, invasive investigations and potentially harmful treatment of a healthy patient.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helle Stangeland ◽  
Vasiliki Orgeta ◽  
Vaughan Bell

Aims and objectives: A pre-registered systematic review of post-stroke psychosis examining clinical characteristics, prevalence, diagnostic procedures, lesion location, treatments, risk factors, and long-term outcomes.Background: Neuropsychiatric outcomes following stroke are common and severely impact quality of life. Previous reviews have focused on anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment in stroke but no systematic review has yet focused on post-stroke psychosis despite clear clinical need.Methods: CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsychINFO were searched for studies on post-stroke psychosis published between 1975 and 2016. Reviewers independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data, and rated study quality.Results: Out of 2442 references, 75 met the inclusion criteria. Average age for post-stroke psychosis was 60.8 years with slightly more males than females affected. Average psychosis onset was 7.1 months after stroke. Neurological presentation was typical for stroke but a significant minority had ‘silent strokes’. The most common psychosis was delusional disorder, followed by schizophrenia-like psychosis and mood disorder with psychotic features. Mean prevalence was 4.1% (range 0.2% – 9.9%). 12 year incidence was 6.7%. Antipsychotic medication was commonly prescribed and the most frequent outcome was complete remission. Lesions were typically right hemisphere, particularly frontal, temporal and parietal regions, as well as the right caudate nucleus. Post-stroke psychosis was associated with poor functional outcomes and high mortality. Methodological quality of the studies was poor.Conclusion: Psychosis considerably adds to illness burden of stroke. Delayed onset suggests a window for early detection and intervention. Studies on the safety and efficacy of antipsychotics in this population are urgently needed.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Sobral ◽  
Johannes Müller

Rhynchosauria is a group of archosauromorph reptiles abundant in terrestrial ecosystems of the Middle Triassic.Mesosuchusis one of the earliest and basalmost rhynchosaurs, playing an important role not only for the understanding of the evolution of the group as a whole, but also of archosauromorphs in general. The braincase ofMesosuchushas been previously described, albeit not in detail, and the middle and inner ears were missing. Here, we provide new information based on micro-computed tomography scanning of the best-preserved specimen ofMesosuchus, SAM-PK-6536. Contrary to what has been stated previously, the braincase ofMesosuchusis dorso-ventrally tall. The trigeminal foramen lies in a deep recess on the prootic whose flat ventral rim could indicate the articulation surface to the laterosphenoid, although no such element was found. The middle ear ofMesosuchusshows a small and deeply recessed fenestra ovalis, with the right stapes preserved in situ. It has a rather stout, imperforated and posteriorly directed shaft with a small footplate. These features suggest that the ear ofMesosuchuswas well-suited for the detection of low-frequency sounds. The semicircular canals are slender and elongate and the floccular fossa is well-developed. This is indicative of a refined mechanism for gaze stabilization, which is usually related to non-sprawling postures. The most striking feature of theMesosuchusbraincase is, however, the presence of a pneumatic sinus in the basal tubera. The sinus is identified as originating from the pharyngotympanic system, implying ossified Eustachian tubes. Braincase pneumatization has not yet been a recognized feature of stem-archosaurs, but the potential presence of pneumatic foramina in an array of taxa, recognized here as such for the first time, suggests braincase sinuses could be present in many other archosauromorphs.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tal Seidel Malkinson ◽  
Paolo Bartolomeo

Inhibition of Return (IOR) refers to a slowing of response times (RTs) for visual stimuli repeated at the same spatial location, as compared to stimuli occurring at novel locations. The functional mechanisms and the neural bases of this phenomenon remain debated. Here we present FORTIOR, a model of the cortical control of visual IOR in the human brain. The model is based on known facts about the anatomical and functional organization of fronto-parietal attention networks, and accounts for a broad range of behavioral findings in healthy participants and brain-damaged patients. FORTIOR does that by combining four principles of asymmetry: a) Asymmetry in the networks topography, whereby the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) nodes are lateralized to the right hemisphere, causing higher activation levels in the right intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and frontal eye field (FEF) nodes. b) Asymmetry in inter-hemispheric connectivity, in which inter-hemispheric connections from left hemisphere IPS to right hemisphere IPS and from left hemisphere FEF to right hemisphere FEF are weaker than in the opposite direction. c) Asymmetry of visual inputs, stipulating that the FEF receives direct visual input coming from the ipsilateral visual cortex, while the right TPJ and vlPFC and IPS nodes receive input from both the contralateral and the ipsilateral visual fields. d) Asymmetry in the response modality, with a higher response threshold for the manual response system than that required to trigger a saccadic response. This asymmetry results in saccadic IOR being more robust to interference than manual IOR. FORTIOR accounts for spatial asymmetries in the occurrence of IOR after brain damage and after non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation on parietal and frontal regions. It also provides a framework to understand dissociations between manual and saccadic IOR, and makes testable predictions for future experiments to assess its validity.


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