scholarly journals Metaphor Comprehension and Interpretation in Cleft Palate Children Aged 6–9

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 266-286
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Konopka ◽  
Ewa Pisula ◽  
Emilia Łojek ◽  
Piotr Fudalej
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Figurative Language ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Metaphor Comprehension ◽  
Polish Version ◽  
Test Picture ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control

Abstract The level of metaphor comprehension and interpretation was investigated in a sample of children with cleft palate (CP), aged 6;0-8;11, and healthy controls matched with age, sex, socioeconomic status, and IQ level. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Revised (WISC-R) was used to evaluate the children’s cognitive functioning, and the metaphor tests from a modified version of the Right Hemisphere Language Battery - Polish version (RHLB-PL) were used to assess comprehension of figurative language. The CP and control groups differed significantly in Verbal IQ values and in performance in the Vocabulary test, Comprehension test, Picture Metaphor Explanation test, and Written Metaphor Explanation test. In both metaphor explanation tests, children with CP gave fewer responses than controls. The results suggest no differences between children with CP and controls in understanding figurative language, although they point to weaker performance in communicating responses and producing statements in the CP children group.

scholarly journals Activating the Right Hemisphere Through Left-Hand Muscle Contraction Improves Novel Metaphor Comprehension

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tala Noufi ◽  
Maor Zeev-Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Figurative Language ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
Metaphor Comprehension ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Semantic Judgment ◽  
Metaphoric Language ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
The Right

The neurotypical brain is characterized by left hemisphere lateralization for most language processing. However, the right hemisphere plays a crucial part when it is required to bring together seemingly unrelated concepts into meaningful expressions, such as in the case of novel metaphors (unfamiliar figurative expressions). The aim of the current study was to test whether it is possible to enhance novel metaphor comprehension through an easy, efficient, and non-invasive method – intentional contraction of the left hand’s muscles, to activate the motor and sensory areas in the contralateral hemisphere. One hundred eighteen neurotypical participants were asked to perform a semantic judgment task involving two-word expressions of four types: literal, conventional metaphors, novel metaphors, or unrelated, while squeezing a rubber ball with their right hand, left hand, or not at all. Results demonstrated that left-hand contraction improved novel metaphor comprehension, as participants were more accurate and quicker in judging them to be meaningful. The findings of the present work provide a simple and efficient method for boosting right hemisphere activation, which can be used to improve metaphoric language comprehension. This method can aid several populations in which right hemisphere function is not fully established, and who struggle with processing figurative language, such as adolescents and individuals on the autistic spectrum.

scholarly journals Metaphor Processing in Schizophrenia Patients: A Study of Comprehension and Explanation of Metaphors

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Pawełczyk ◽  
Emilia Łojek ◽  
Tomasz Pawełczyk
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Metaphor Comprehension ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Polish Version ◽  
The Right ◽  
Metaphor Processing ◽  
Negative Syndrome

Abstract The study assessed the quantity and quality of errors made by schizophrenia patients in understanding and interpretation of the same metaphors, to evaluate metaphor understanding and explanation depending on the type of presentation material, and to analyze the correlation of illness symptoms with metaphor comprehension and explanation. Two groups of participants were examined: a schizophrenia sample (40 participants) and a control group (39 participants). Metaphor processing was assessed by the subtests of the Polish version of the Right Hemisphere Language Battery (RHLB-PL). The patients were also evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Schizophrenia patients scored significantly lower in explanation of metaphors, making more incorrect literal and abstract mistakes or providing no answer more frequently. No differences were observed in understanding metaphors; no correlation between symptoms and metaphor processing was obtained. In both groups, picture metaphors were easier to comprehend and written metaphors were easier to comprehend than to explain.

scholarly journals Comparative study of the areas of osteochondral defects produced in the femoral condyles of rabbits treated with gel of sugarcane biopolymer

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 383-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Cezar Vidal Carneiro de Albuquerque ◽  
José Lamartine de Andrade Aguiar ◽  
Saulo Monteiro dos Santos ◽  
Nicodemus Pontes Filho ◽  
Roberto José Vieira de Mello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Osteochondral Defects ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control ◽  
Natural Healing ◽  
Femoral Condyles

PURPOSE: To measure the healed areas of osteochondral defects produced in femoral condyles of rabbits filled with biopolymer sugar cane gel and to compare these with those of the control group at 90, 120 and 180 days. METHODS: A study was made of 16 New Zealand rabbits, 6 and 7 months old, weighing between 2 and 2.5 kg. Defects of 3.2 x 4 mm were made, with trephine, in the femoral condyles of the right and left knees. As to the study group defects of the medial and lateral condyles of the right knee were used which were filled with Biopolymer Sugar Cane Gel; as to the Control Group defects of the medial and lateral condyles of the left t knees were used which were left open for natural healing. The defects were analyzed at 90, 120 and 180 days after surgery. After euthanasia, the knees were removed and fixed in Bouin's solution for later digital photographic documentation with a digital camera. The areas healed were measured in both the study and control groups using the images obtained from an Image-J® program. Statistical analysis was conducted using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the means of the healed areas in the study and control groups at 90, 120 and 180 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: The dimension of the healed areas of the defects treated with the biopolymer sugar-cane gel in the study group was similar to those of the control group, which healed naturally.

The Effects of Bone Chips Dehydrated with Solvent on Healing Bone Defects

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Dayi ◽  
M Aslan ◽  
G Şimşek ◽  
AB Yilmaz
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Bone Healing ◽  
Bone Grafts ◽  
Bone Defects ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Bone Cortex ◽  
Healing Bone ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control

The effect of bone chips dehydrated with solvent on the healing of bone defects was evaluated. Solvent-dehydrated spongiose bone chips were placed in experimentally formed cavities in the right back tibia of rabbits. After 10, 20 and 30 days, histopathological cross-sections from the bone grafts were examined microscopically for bone healing and formation of spongiose bone, cortex and bone marrow. Spongiose bone chips had a positive and accelerating influence on the healing of bone defects in the 10-day period after transplantation, but no significant differences were observed between the treated and control groups 20 and 30 days after transplantation.

scholarly journals Ultrasonography of the Vagus Nerve in the Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Ovidijus Laucius ◽  
Renata Balnytė ◽  
Kęstutis Petrikonis ◽  
Vaidas Matijošaitis ◽  
Neringa Jucevičiūtė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Dorsal Nucleus ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control

Background. It is currently impossible to diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the premotor phase even though at the time of motor symptom onset the number of already degenerated dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons is considerable. Degeneration of the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve (VN) has been reported early in the disease course, and it could lead to impaired function of the VN, resulting in certain nonmotor symptoms of PD. Therefore, we raised a hypothesis that the loss of VN neurons could result in a smaller diameter of the VN among PD patients. Methods. 20 PD patients and 20 age- and gender-matched individuals without any neurodegenerative disease were enrolled in a pilot study. The diameters of the right and left VNs were measured using ultrasonography, their average was calculated, and the narrower VN diameter was noted separately. Results. No difference was found between the PD and control groups neither in the average VN diameter (mean 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.24 vs. 1.13; 1.07–1.18, mm; p=0.353) nor in the narrower VN diameter (mean 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.20 vs. 1.07; 1.02–1.13, mm; p=0.421). The narrower VN diameter and the average VN diameter were not able to distinguish between PD patients and controls (area under curve (AUC) = 0.588, 95% CI = 0.408–0.767, and p=0.344; and AUC = 0.578, 95% CI = 0.396–0.759, and p=0.402). Conclusions. To conclude, no differences were found in VN diameter between the PD and control groups. Therefore, our data do not support the hypothesis that PD could be associated with a smaller diameter of the VN.

Alpha Asymmetry over the Right and Left Hemispheres of Stutterers and Control Subjects Preceding Massed Oral Readings: A Preliminary Investigation

1977 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Moore ◽  
Mary K. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Left Hemisphere ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Hemispheric Processing ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Alpha Asymmetry ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control

Interhemispheric alpha asymmetry of both stutterers and non-stutterers measured preceding each of five massed oral readings of the same material was investigated. Preliminary results indicated a reduction of alpha over the left hemisphere for non-stutterers, while a reduction for stutterers was found for the right hemisphere. Present results, together with other investigations using dichotic, tachistoscopic, and EEG procedures, suggest right hemispheric processing for the stuttering group as compared with left hemispheric processing for the non-stuttering group.

scholarly journals A Brain Mapping Approach to Inspect the Underlying Neural Correlates upon Perceiving Persian Metaphors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaheh Yazdani ◽  
Amirsaeid Moloodi ◽  
Zahra Kheradmand ◽  
Ali Mohammad Kamali ◽  
K.S. Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Brain Mapping ◽  
Semantic Processing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Figurative Language ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Neural Modulation ◽  
The Right

Metaphors are frequently used in our daily life communications to comprehend and convey abstract concepts. Different neuroimaging studies also show a wide neural connection to metaphor perception. This study used a brain mapping setup (quantitative electroencephalography) to examine large-scale brain networks in participants when they were submitted to non-metaphorical sentences as compared to creative and conventional metaphorical phrases. To this end, 20 healthy right-handed individuals with Persian as their mother-tongue language consented to participate in the above language task. Having evaluated the functional connectivity across key cortical hubs, no significant or predominant role of the right hemisphere was observed upon comprehension of the conventional and creative metaphorical phrases. Rather, a wide interhemispheric functional connectivity is proposed to play a key part in the above task. Further understanding about the neural networks involved in the semantic processing of metaphors may potentially open new avenues to neural modulation in patients who find it challenging to comprehend figurative language or abstract metaphorical meanings (e.g. schizophrenics).

Carotico-vertebral Doppler Ultrasonography in Patients with Idiopathic Vertigo

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-516
Author(s):  
Sanem Okşan Erkan ◽  
Nuray Bayar Muluk ◽  
Birgül Tuhanioğlu ◽  
Talih Özdaş ◽  
Muhammet Arslan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Doppler Ultrasonography ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Hemispheric Dominance ◽  
Left Vertebral Artery ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Media Thickness ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control

Background: In the present study, we investigated the relationship between caroticovertebral Doppler USG measurement results and Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form (VSS-SF) in patients with idiopathic vertigo. Methods: Fifty patients with idiopathic vertigo and 30 healthy subjects were included into the study. Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) examination, audiological examination, routine hemogram, biochemichal tests and temporal magnetic resonance imaging were performed to diagnose “idiopathic vertigo”. By carotico-vertebral Doppler ultrasonography (USG), common carotid artery (CCA) area, intima media thickness; and vertebral artery dimension were measured on the right and left side of the study and control groups. Results: CCA area values were not different between the study and control groups; and between the right and left sides of the each group. On the left side, intima media thickness and vertebral artery dimension values of the vertigo group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Correlation tests showed that CCA area and intima media thickness values on the right and left side were positively correlated with each other. Moreover, in patients with higher right; or left intima media thickness values, left vertebral artery dimensions decreased. Older age was associated with higher intima media thickness in right and left sides. When CCA values decreased on the right side, VSS-SF values increased; and patients’ complaints for vertigo got higher. Linear regression analysis (Backward LR) results also showed that the significant compounding factor on VSS-SF was right CCA area. As right CCA area decreased, VSS-SF increased with more vertigo complaints. Whereas, vertigo complaints and VSS-SF decreased when right CCA increased. Conclusion: We concluded that a decrease in the right CCA were linked with higher VSS-SF scores and increasing vertigo symptoms. Whereas, a decrease in the left CCA area and left crabial blood supply are more important related to the left hemispheric dominance in right-handed people. Moreover, an increase in the intima media thickness was also detected in the vertigo patients and it probably causes a decrease in the central blood flow.

UNBIASING THE BRAIN: THE EFFECTS OF MEDITATION UPON THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES

1983 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Meissner ◽  
Michael Pirot
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Left Hemisphere ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Transcendental Meditation ◽  
Hand Preference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Clinical Method ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain

Twenty males with a strong right hand preference underwent 120 simple reaction time trials to a 500 hz auditory stimulus presented to right, left and both ears. Ten Transcendental Meditators served as their own controls in twenty minute meditation and relaxation conditions and were also compared to a ten Non-Meditator control group who relaxed only in two 20-minute conditions. The reaction time trials were administered after the conditions. When the ears were compared to each other a significant right-ear (left hemisphere) advantage (REA) occurred in all relaxation conditions of the Meditator and Non-Meditator control groups. However, no REA emerged after meditation conditions of the Meditator group. The Meditator group after meditation compared to their own baseline relaxation condition showed a significant suppression of reaction time latencies to stimulation delivered to the left hemisphere and a significant facilitation to stimulation delivered to the right hemisphere. The meaning of these findings suggest Transcendental Meditation is an attentional strategy that disrupts the usual biases of the brain which also has implications as a clinical method. A neuropsychological explanation of the results suggest a comprehensive theory of Transcendental Meditation.

scholarly journals Processing of metaphors in transcortical motor aphasia

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Mancopes ◽  
Fernanda Schultz
Keyword(s):  
Left Hemisphere ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Great Emphasis ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Metaphor Comprehension ◽  
Motor Aphasia ◽  
The Right ◽  
Left Hemisphere Stroke ◽  
Comprehension Tests ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Great emphasis has been placed on the right hemisphere, due to its possible selective contribution, in the processing of metaphorical statements. Objectives: To describe the processing of metaphors in the case of a patient with transcortical motor aphasia, using specific tests for patients with encephalic injuries of the right hemisphere, and to contribute to the discussion on the inter-hemispheric relationships associated with this function. Methods: A 54 year-old man with transcortical motor aphasia was evaluated three years after a left hemisphere stroke. The tasks of comprehension of metaphors were based on the subtest Metaphor Comprehension Task of the Montreal Evaluation of Communications Scale (MEC). Two metaphor comprehension tests were applied, in 45-minute sessions with a 48 hour interval between each. Test 1 involved comprehension of the metaphors according to the options offered, and Test 2 the comprehension of metaphors measured by response time and visual field. Results: Although the right hemisphere was not affected by the stroke in this case, difficulties were observed in the processing of metaphors. Conclusions: This study suggests that the left hemisphere participates in the processing of figurative meanings. The adaptability of the brain can also re-accommodate the uninjured areas of the brain, causing the dynamic of the brain to be modified. As a result, deducing cerebral functions based on clinical data can be problematic. The value of this study is that it can contribute to clinical aspects of language rehabilitation.

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