scholarly journals Processing of semantic and grammatical gender in Spanish speakers with aphasia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Piazza ◽  
Marco Calabria ◽  
Carlo Semenza ◽  
Cecilia Poletto
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Grammatical Gender ◽  
Choice Task ◽  
Spanish Speakers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Gender Processing

Background. Previous studies have argued that two types of linguistic gender exist: grammatical gender, which is arbitrarily assigned to nouns, and semantic gender, which depends on the gender of the referent.Aim. We explore the hypothesis that these two types of gender entail distinct cognitive processes by investigating the performance of people with aphasia at the level of sentence comprehension.Methods and Procedure. Eleven people with aphasia and a control group of 13 age-matched healthy participants took part in a constrained completion choice task. The participants had to complete sentences in a way that made the last word gender congruent. The subjects of the sentences had either Semantic gender (“enfermera”, nurse; indicating the sex of the referent), Grammatical gender (“silla”, chair), or Opaque-Grammatical gender (“tomate”, tomato).Results. People with aphasia performed more poorly in all gender conditions than healthy controls. They also were less accurate in both the Grammatical and Opaque-Grammatical conditions than in the Semantic gender condition.Conclusion. We propose that semantic and grammatical gender entail two levels of gender processing and that semantic gender is processed faster because it provides more salient information.

scholarly journals Processing of semantic and grammatical gender in Spanish speakers with aphasia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Piazza ◽  
Marco Calabria ◽  
Carlo Semenza ◽  
Cecilia Poletto
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Grammatical Gender ◽  
Choice Task ◽  
Spanish Speakers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Gender Processing

Background. Previous studies have argued that two types of linguistic gender exist: grammatical gender, which is arbitrarily assigned to nouns, and semantic gender, which depends on the gender of the referent. Aim. We explore the hypothesis that these two types of gender entail distinct cognitive processes by investigating the performance of people with aphasia at the level of sentence comprehension.Methods and Procedure. Eleven people with aphasia and a control group of 13 age-matched healthy participants took part in a constrained completion choice task. The participants had to complete sentences in a way that made the last word gender congruent. The subjects of the sentences had either Semantic gender (“enfermera”, nurse; indicating the sex of the referent), Grammatical gender (“silla”, chair), or Opaque-Grammatical gender (“tomate”, tomato).Results. People with aphasia performed more poorly in all gender conditions than healthy controls. They also were less accurate in both the Grammatical and Opaque-Grammatical conditions than in the Semantic gender condition.Conclusion. We propose that semantic and grammatical gender entail two levels of gender processing and that semantic gender is processed faster because it provides more salient information.

Reduced cortical brain activity with the use of microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees during walking

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saffran Möller ◽  
David Rusaw ◽  
Kerstin Hagberg ◽  
Nerrolyn Ramstrand
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Prosthetic Knee ◽  
Level Walking ◽  
Lower Limb Prosthesis ◽  
Prosthetic Knees ◽  
Limb Prosthesis

Background: Individuals using a lower-limb prosthesis indicate that they need to concentrate on every step they take. Despite self-reports of increased cognitive demand, there is limited understanding of the link between cognitive processes and walking when using a lower-limb prosthesis. Objective: The objective was to assess cortical brain activity during level walking in individuals using different prosthetic knee components and compare them to healthy controls. It was hypothesized that the least activity would be observed in the healthy control group, followed by individuals using a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee and finally individuals using a non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: An optical brain imaging system was used to measure relative changes in concentration of oxygenated and de-oxygenated haemoglobin in the frontal and motor cortices during level walking. The number of steps and time to walk 10 m was also recorded. The 6-min walk test was assessed as a measure of functional capacity. Results: Individuals with a transfemoral or knee-disarticulation amputation, using non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee ( n = 14) or microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee ( n = 15) joints and healthy controls ( n = 16) participated in the study. A significant increase was observed in cortical brain activity of individuals walking with a non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee when compared to healthy controls ( p < 0.05) and individuals walking with an microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Individuals walking with a non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee demonstrated an increase in cortical brain activity compared to healthy individuals. Use of a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee was associated with less cortical brain activity than use of a non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee. Clinical relevance Increased understanding of cognitive processes underlying walking when using different types of prosthetic knees can help to optimize selection of prosthetic components and provide an opportunity to enhance functioning with a prosthesis.

scholarly journals How expectations shape the formation of intrusive memories – An experimental study using the trauma film paradigm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Herzog ◽  
Charlotte Barth ◽  
Winfried Rief ◽  
Eva-Lotta Brakemeier ◽  
Tobias Kube
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intrusive Memories ◽  
Group Control Group ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Negative Expectations ◽  
Trauma Film Paradigm

Objective: Although intrusions are the hallmark symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), there is still limited knowledge about the processes that contribute to the development of intrusions. Here, we used the well-established trauma film paradigm (TFP) to investigate how expectations about the intensity and controllability of intrusions influence their occurrence. Methods: 90 healthy participants underwent the TFP before they were randomized to one of three conditions manipulating their expectations about intrusions: positive expectations group; negative expectations group; control group. The primary outcome was the frequency and severity of intrusive memories as assessed with an intrusion diary over seven days.Results: The TFP was well implemented, as indicated by significant post-film anxiety and a substantial number of intrusions reported for the subsequent week. The three groups did not differ in their expectations about intrusions and, relatedly, in their experience of intrusions. A mediation analysis revealed that the influence of post-film anxiety on intrusive memories was fully mediated by expectations. Conclusion: Despite the failure of the expectation manipulation, the results of the mediation analysis support the hypothesis that post-film expectations influence the formation of intrusive memories, suggesting that intrusions may result from maladaptive dynamics between emotional and cognitive processes following trauma(like) experiences.

Sense of familiarity and face emotion recognition in schizophrenia

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1427-1427
Author(s):  
G. Lahera ◽  
V. de los Ángeles ◽  
C. Fernández ◽  
M. Bardón ◽  
S. Herrera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Basic Emotions ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Affective Experiences ◽  
Face Emotion Recognition ◽  
Unfamiliar Faces

IntroductionPatients with schizophrenia show a deficit in emotion recognition through facial expression. Familiarity means the implicit memory of past affective experiences and it involves fast cognitive processes and it is triggered by certain signals.ObjectivesTo assess the emotion recognition in familiar and unfamiliar faces in a sample of schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.Methods18 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (DSM-IVTR) and 18 healthy volunteers were assessed with the Ekman Test of emotion recognition in unfamiliar faces. In addition each subject was accompanied by 4 familiar people (parents, siblings or friends), which was photographed by expressing the 6 Ekman’s basic emotions.ResultsSchizophrenic patients recognize worse emotions in their relatives than in neutral faces, a greater extent than controls (Mann-Whitney U = 81, p = .01). The patient group showed a mean score on the Ekman test (neutral faces) lower than control group (16 (SD 2.38) versus 17.82 (2.13; U p = 0.03). Regarding familiar faces, the group patients showed a worse performance than the control group (13.22 (3.8) versus 17.18 (2.82); U p = 0.00). In both tests, the highest number of errors was with emotions of anger and fear. The patients group showed a lower level of familiarity and emotional valence to their families (U = 33, p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe sense of familiarity may be a factor involved in face emotion recognition and it may be disturbed in schizophrenia.

WHEN GENDER AND LOOKING GO HAND IN HAND

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola E. Dussias ◽  
Jorge R. Valdés Kroff ◽  
Rosa E. Guzzardo Tamargo ◽  
Chip Gerfen
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Grammatical Gender ◽  
Spanish Speakers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Online Processing ◽  
L2 Processing ◽  
Eye Fixations ◽  
Gender Information ◽  
Additional Group ◽  
English Speaking

In a recent study, Lew-Williams and Fernald (2007) showed that native Spanish speakers use grammatical gender information encoded in Spanish articles to facilitate the processing of upcoming nouns. In this article, we report the results of a study investigating whether grammatical gender facilitates noun recognition during second language (L2) processing. Sixteen monolingual Spanish participants (control group) and 18 English-speaking learners of Spanish (evenly divided into high and low Spanish proficiency) saw two-picture visual scenes in which items matched or did not match in gender. Participants’ eye movements were recorded while they listened to 28 sentences in which masculine and feminine target items were preceded by an article that agreed in gender with the two pictures or agreed only with one of the pictures. An additional group of 15 Italian learners of Spanish was tested to examine whether the presence of gender in the first language (L1) modulates the degree to which gender is used during L2 processing. Data were analyzed by comparing the proportion of eye fixations on the objects in each condition. Monolingual Spanish speakers looked sooner at the referent on different-gender trials than on same-gender trials, replicating results reported in past literature. Italian-Spanish bilinguals exhibited a gender anticipatory effect, but only for the feminine condition. For the masculine condition, participants waited to hear the noun before identifying the referent. Like the Spanish monolinguals, the highly proficient English-Spanish speakers showed evidence of using gender information during online processing, whereas the less proficient learners did not. The results suggest that both proficiency in the L2 and similarities between the L1 and the L2 modulate the usefulness of morphosyntactic information during speech processing.

A Common Thrombomodulin Amino Acid Dimorphism Is Associated with Myocardial Infarction

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (02) ◽  
pp. 248-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Norlund ◽  
Johan Holm ◽  
Bengt Zöller ◽  
Ann-Kristin Öhlin
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Plasma Concentration ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndromes ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Coronary Syndromes ◽  
Premature Myocardial Infarction

SummaryEndothelial dysfunction and haemostatic imbalance are believed to be important aetiological factors in the development of acute coronary syndromes. Thrombomodulin (TM) is an integral membrane protein crucial for normal endothelial function and activation of the protein C anticoagulant pathway. We have investigated the importance of a common C/T dimorphism in the TM gene (nucleotide 1418) for development of premature myocardial infarction (MI). The C/T dimorphism predicts an Ala455 to Val replacement in the sixth EGF-like domain of TM. The dimorphism was investigated in 97 MI survivors and 159 healthy controls. The C allele was significantly more frequent among patients than controls (p = 0.035). The allele frequency for the C allele was 0.82 in the patients and 0.72 in the control group. The plasma concentration of TM was investigated among healthy controls but was not related to the C/T dimorphism. In conclusion, the association of the C allele with premature MI, suggests that the TM gene and the C/T dimorphism may be aetiological factors involved in the pathogenesis of MI. Possibly, the Ala455 to Val replacement may affect the function of the TM molecule and the activation of the protein C anticoagulant pathway.

scholarly journals Dopamine adjusts the circadian gene expression of Per2 and Per3 in human dermal fibroblasts from ADHD patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Faltraco ◽  
Denise Palm ◽  
Adriana Uzoni ◽  
Lena Borchert ◽  
Frederick Simon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dermal Fibroblast ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adhd Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Circadian Gene ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Circadian Preference

AbstractA link between dopamine levels, circadian gene expression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has already been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of these relationships by measuring circadian gene expression in primary human-derived dermal fibroblast cultures (HDF) after dopamine exposure. We analyzed circadian preference, behavioral circadian and sleep parameters as well as the circadian gene expression in a cohort of healthy controls and participants with ADHD. Circadian preference was evaluated with German Morningness-Eveningness-Questionnaire (D-MEQ) and rhythms of sleep/wake behavior were assessed via actigraphy. After ex vivo exposure to different dopamine concentrations in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cultures, the rhythmicity of circadian gene expression (Clock, Bmal1, Per1-3, Cry1) was analyzed via qRT-PCR. We found no statistical significant effect in the actigraphy of both groups (healthy controls, ADHD group) for mid-sleep on weekend days, mid-sleep on weekdays, social jetlag, wake after sleep onset, and total number of wake bouts. D-MEQ scores indicated that healthy controls had no evening preference, whereas subjects with ADHD displayed both definitive and moderate evening preferences. Dopamine has no effect on Per3 expression in healthy controls, but produces a significant difference in the ADHD group at ZT24 and ZT28. In the ADHD group, incubation with dopamine, either 1 µM or 10 µM, resulted in an adjustment of Per3 expression to control levels. A similar effect also was found in the expression of Per2. Statistical significant differences in the expression of Per2 (ZT4) in the control group compared to the ADHD group were found, following incubation with dopamine. The present study illustrates that dopamine impacts on circadian function. The results lead to the suggestion that dopamine may improve the sleep quality as well as ADHD symptoms by adjustment of the circadian gene expression, especially for Per2 and Per3.

scholarly journals AB1034 DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1808.2-1809
Author(s):  
D. Karatas ◽  
Z. Öztürk ◽  
D. Cekic ◽  
Z. Yuertsever ◽  
Ü. Erkorkmaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Familial Mediterranean Fever ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Moderate Depression ◽  
Mediterranean Fever

Background:Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, peritonitis, pleuritis, arthritis, and skin eruption (1). It is shown by studies that chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, chronic heart disease, hypertension which other than inflammatory – rheumatologic disease increase depression and anxiety (2). There are a few studies evaluating depression and anxiety in FMF patients, and these results are conflicting (3,4).Objectives:To assess the frequency of depression and anxiety in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)Methods:In this study, 77 FMF patients aged 18 and over who were followed up in Sakarya University Education and Research Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, and 78 healthy volunteers aged 18 and over as thecontrol group. Beck depression scale and Beck anxiety scale were used to depression and anxiety, respectively. Beck’sdepression scale was evaluated as 9 and below normal, 10-16 mild depression, 17-29 moderate depression, 30-63 severe depression. Beck anxiety scale was evaluated as 0-8 normal, 8-15 mild anxiety, 16-25 moderate anxiety, 26 and above severe anxiety.FMF disease severity was determined by Pras scoring.Results:The study group, comprised 77 diagnosed with FMF with a meanage of 37.18 and a control group comprised of 78 healthy controls (C) with a meanage of 35.32 (p=0,058). İn studygroup (P) %63.6, control group (C) %53.8 as female. %36.4 of thestudy group(C), %46.2 of the control group are male. (p=0,216). The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in FMF patients compared to the control group (in order P;C: normal %24,7; %47,4, mild depression: %40.3; %26.9, moderate depression %26; %19.2, severe depression %11.7; %6.4 p<0.015). Similarly in depression results; the prevalence of anxiety was significantly higher in FMF patients compared to the control group (in order P;C normal %23,4; %57.7, mild anxiety %26; %20.5, moderate anxiety %26; %15.4, severe anxiety %24.4; %6.4 p<0,001). Depression status was not correlated with FMF disease severity (p=0.645). A correlation was found between FMF severity and anxiety which it is which was found statistically significant (p=0.005).There was no relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein with depression and anxiety.Conclusion:Both anxiety and depression frequency are increased in FMF patients compared to healthy controls.References:[1]Livneh A, Langevitz P, Zemer D et al. (1997) Criteria for the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever. Arthritis Rheum 40 (10), 1879–85.[2]Alonso J, Ferrer M, Gandek B, Ware JE Jr, Aaronson NK, Mosconi P, Rasmussen NK, Bullinger M, Fukuhara S, Kaasa S, Leplège A, IQOLA Project Group (2004) Health-related quality of life associated with chronic conditions in eight countries: results from the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project. Qual Life Res 13:283–298[3]Makay B, Emiroglu N, Unsal E (2010) Depression andanxiety in children and adolescents with familial Mediterranean fever. Clin Rheumatol 29, 375–9.[4]Giese A, Ornek A, Kilic L, Kurucay M, Sendur S. N., Lainka E, Henning B. F. Anxiety and depression in adult patients with familialMediterranean fever: a study comparing patients living in Germany and Turkey. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2017; 20: 2093–2100Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Perceived stress in the time of COVID-19: the association with brooding and COVID-related rumination in adults with and without migraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilla Nóra Kovács ◽  
Dániel Baksa ◽  
Dóra Dobos ◽  
Nóra Eszlári ◽  
Kinga Gecse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Similar Degree ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Group Status ◽  
Depressive Rumination ◽  
The Times ◽  
Brooding And Reflection

Abstract Background The main goal of this research was to explore whether migraineurs had a higher level of perceived stress than healthy controls during the times of the coronavirus and related restrictive measures, and to examine the relationship between different subtypes of rumination and perceived stress in these groups. We measured two facets of depressive rumination, brooding and reflection, along with rumination about the current COVID-19 situation to see whether these different subtypes of rumination explained perceived stress among migraineurs and healthy controls. Methods Healthy adults (n = 64) and migraine patients (n = 73) filled out self-report questionnaires online. A multiple linear regression model was used to test whether depressive rumination (i.e. brooding and reflection) and COVID-related rumination explained perceived stress among adults with and without migraine during the times of COVID-19, after controlling for gender, age, migraine/control group status and migraine disability. Results Although we did not find any difference in the level of perceived stress among migraineurs and the control group, perceived stress was more strongly associated with brooding as well as COVID-related rumination among migraineurs than healthy controls. COVID-related rumination and brooding (but not reflection) explained the level of perceived stress after controlling for gender, age, migraine/control group status and migraine disability. Conclusions The similar degree of perceived stress among migraineurs and the control group may imply that there is great variation in the personal experience of people regarding the pandemic, that may be determined by numerous other factors. Our results demonstrate that ruminating about the pandemic and related difficulties, as well as brooding (but not reflection) appear to be associated with higher level of perceived stress during the times of the coronavirus. This association was slightly stronger among migraineurs, hinting at the increased vulnerability of this patient group in stressful situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results also suggest that ruminating about the pandemic and its consequences is weakly associated with trait-level depressive rumination, thus may be more contingent on specific factors.

scholarly journals Effect of Achilles Tendon Rupture on Player Performance and Longevity in Women’s National Basketball Association Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 232596712198998
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Tramer ◽  
Lafi S. Khalil ◽  
Patrick Buckley ◽  
Alexander Ziedas ◽  
Patricia A. Kolowich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Tendon Rupture ◽  
Achilles Tendon Rupture ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Career Longevity ◽  
Women's National Basketball Association ◽  
Player Performance

Background:Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players have a greater incidence of lower extremity injury compared with male players, yet no data exist on functional outcomes after Achilles tendon rupture (ATR).Purpose:To evaluate the effect of Achilles tendon repair on game utilization, player performance, and career longevity in WNBA athletes.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:WNBA players from 1997 to 2019 with a history of ATR (n = 12) were matched 1:2 to a healthy control group. Player characteristics, game utilization, and in-game performance data were collected for each athlete, from which the player efficiency rating (PER) was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed comparing postinjury data to preinjury baseline as well as cumulative career data. Changes at each time point relative to the preinjury baseline were also compared between groups.Results:Of the 12 players with ATR, 10 (83.3%) returned to play at the WNBA level at a mean (±SD) of 12.5 ± 3.3 months. Four players participated in only 1 WNBA season after injury. There were no differences in characteristics between the 10 players who returned to play after injury and the control group. After return to play, the WNBA players demonstrated a significant decrease in game utilization compared with preinjury, playing in 6.0 ± 6.9 fewer games, starting in 12.7 ± 15.4 fewer games, and playing 10.2 ± 9.1 fewer minutes per game ( P < .05 for all). After the index date of injury, the players with Achilles repair played 2.1 ± 1.2 more years in the WNBA, while control players played 5.35 ± 3.2 years ( P < .01) Additionally, the players with Achilles repair had a significant decrease in PER in the year after injury compared with preinjury (7.1 ± 5.3 vs 11.0 ± 4.4; P = .02). The reduction in game utilization and decrease in PER in these players was maintained when compared with the matched controls ( P < .05 for both).Conclusion:The majority of WNBA players who sustained ATR were able to return to sport after their injury; however, their career longevity was shorter than that of healthy controls. There was a significant decrease in game utilization and performance in the year after return to play compared with healthy controls.

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