COMBINED EFFECTS OF MIDAZOLAM AND ETHANOL ON SLEEP AND ON PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

The effect of hypoxaemia (mean SpO2 78%) on cognitive function was measured in two groups of twelve normal subjects. A series of psychometric tests was administered to each subject in the same sequence and consisted of the Reitan trail-making test, a digit symbol substitution test, a visuospatial orientation test and the simple unprepared reaction-time test. Psychomotor performance was assessed in a double-blind manner while the subjects were breathing first air and then either air or a hypoxic mixture. While there was improvement in time for the trail-making test during a repeat study breathing air, there was significant deterioration of time to completion of the test in conditions of hypoxia. A significant learning effect in the orientation test was seen in the control group but this did not occur in hypoxic subjects. Hypoxaemia was shown to cause a significant impairment of simple unprepared reaction time compared with controls. All the changes in cognitive function were small and there were no subjective differences in the air or hypoxic groups. The usefulness of the Reitan trail-making and the simple unprepared reaction-time test in the assessment of psychomotor performance deficit under conditions of hypoxaemia has been demonstrated by this study in normal subjects. It was concluded that a mean oxygen saturation of 78% caused only minor changes in cognitive function in normal subjects.

Download Full-text

Auditory Selective Attention in Cerebral-Palsied Individuals

Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools ◽

10.1044/0161-1461.1604.260 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 260-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lee Ann Laraway

Keyword(s):

Selective Attention ◽

White Noise ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Auditory Selective Attention ◽

Normal Individuals ◽

Significant Difference

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the auditory selective attention abilities of normal and cerebral-palsied individuals. Twenty-three cerebral-palsied and 23 normal subjects between the ages of 5 and 21 were asked to repeat a series of 30 items consisting of from 2 to 4 digits in the presence of intermittent white noise. Results of the study indicate that cerebral-palsied individuals perform significantly poorer than normal individuals when the stimulus is accompanied by noise. Noise was not a significant factor in the performance of the normal subjects regardless of age.

Download Full-text

The Effect of Stapedectomy on the Loudness of One’s Own Voice

Journal of Speech and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.0803.223 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 223-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

William Melnick

Keyword(s):

Middle Ear ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Sound Energy ◽

Loudness Function ◽

Before And After ◽

Increased Sensitivity

Five subjects with normal middle ear mechanisms, and otosclerotic patients, before and after stapedectomy, matched the loudness of their voices to the loudness of a 125-cps-sawtooth noise. The results showed loudness matching functions with gradual slopes, less than 1.00, for the normal subjects and the patients prior to stapedectomy. Post-surgically, the loudness function for the patients increased in steepness to considerably more than 1.00. These results are explained, most logically, in terms of increased sensitivity of the altered middle ear to sound energy generated by the listener’s own voice.

Download Full-text