scholarly journals Limits of cross-modal plasticity? Short-term visual deprivation does not enhance cardiac interoception, thermosensation, or tactile spatial acuity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominika Radziun ◽  
Laura Crucianelli ◽  
H. Henrik Ehrsson

In the present study, we investigated the effect of short-term visual deprivation on discriminative touch, cardiac interoception, and thermosensation by asking 64 healthy volunteers to perform four behavioral tasks. The experimental group contained 32 subjects who were blindfolded and kept in complete darkness for 110 minutes, while the control group consisted of 32 volunteers who were not blindfolded but were otherwise kept under identical experimental conditions. Both groups performed the required tasks three times: before and directly after deprivation (or control) and after an additional washout period of 40 minutes, in which all participants were exposed to normal light conditions. Our results showed that short-term visual deprivation had no effect on any of the senses tested. This finding suggests that short-term visual deprivation does not modulate basic bodily senses and extends this principle beyond tactile processing to the interoceptive modalities of cardiac and thermal sensations.

Author(s):  
Ghada M. Awada ◽  
Hassan B. Diab ◽  
Kawthar H. Faour

The study reports the effect of group investigation (GI) cooperative learning method and the Glogster online poster on improving the intercultural communication skills of international students (n=54) of eight different countries. The study is premised on the proposition that the integration of GI and Glogster in classrooms consisting of Lebanese and non-Lebanese students could be effective in improving the intercultural communication skills of international students and enhancing their perceptions of intercultural communication. The study employed the mixed methods pretest-posttest control group experimental design whereby six Interactions Among Civilizations intact classes were randomly assigned to control and experimental conditions. Employing the intercultural sensitivity scale yielded findings indicating the significance of the GI and Glogster in developing the cultural adaptability and intercultural sensitivity of the experimental group participants (n=25) whereas the control group participants (n=28) did not show similar improvement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Elena Pinero-Pinto ◽  
María-Luisa Benítez-Lugo ◽  
Raquel Chillón-Martínez ◽  
Manuel Rebollo-Salas ◽  
Lorena-María Bellido-Fernández ◽  
...  

Objective. To determine the short-term effects of infant massage on the development of Down syndrome babies. Materials and Methods. The study compared two groups (intervention and control), each with 16 babies with Down syndrome between 4 and 8 months old. The variables developmental age and developmental quotient were measured at two distinct time points, at pretest and after 5 weeks, using the Brunet-Lézine Early Childhood Psychomotor Development revised scale. This scale measures the variables of age and development quotient in a partial way (motor, visual-motor coordination, language, and social development) and in a global way. The experimental group received infant massage, applied by the parents, during these 5 weeks, every day for at least 10 minutes. The massage protocol was based on the methodology created by Vimala McClure. The control group received it after 5 weeks. Results. All developmental variables were improved in the experimental group but not in the control group. There were significant differences in developmental age between the two groups, and this outcome was better in the experimental group (p<0.001). The 2-by-2 mixed-model analysis of variance indicates a statistically significant group-by-time interaction for all development quotients, both partial and global (p<0.001), which was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusion. Infant massage therapy improves the development of babies with Down syndrome in the short term.


2016 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 068-073
Author(s):  
Kavitha Shetty ◽  
Lawrence Mathias ◽  
Mahesh V. Hegde ◽  
Sukumar Shanmugam

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the influence of additional eccentric strengthening to the hip abductor and lateral rotator musculature on pain and function in sedentary people with Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Methods: 30 sedentary patients between 18 and 40 years of age, with a diagnosis of PFPS, all the subjects received treatment for a period of 4weeks and the subjects were randomly assigned to Control group (CG) and Experimental group (EG). The patients in the Control group (n = 15) performed a conventional knee-stretching and strengthening program, whereas, patients in the Experimental group (n = 15) performed the same exercises as those in the control group ,in addition received eccentric strengthening exercises for the hip abductors and lateral rotators. An 11-point numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) were used as outcome measures during the baseline and at the end of 4weeks . Results: Statistics were retrieved using SPSS.16, paired 't' test was conducted to compare AKPS and LEFS values ,whereas, Mann- Whitney U test was used for NPRS value between the groups. After 4 weeks of treatment, the control group, pre and post-test value for AKPS (p<0.001),LEFS (P<0.001),NPRS (p<0.001) shows a statistical significance and even in the experimental group, pre and post-test value for AKPS (p<0.001),LEFS (P<0.001),NPRS (p<0.001) shows a statistical significance in pain and function, but comparing both the group experimental group is significantly more better AKPS (p=0.002),LEFS (P<0.001),NPRS (P<0.001) then a control group. Conclusion: short term Knee strengthening exercises supplemented by eccentric hip abductor and lateral rotator musculature–strengthening exercises were more effective than knee exercises alone in improving function and reducing pain in sedentary people with PFPS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxu Shi ◽  
Lanying Qin ◽  
Jun Peng ◽  
Zishen Zhao ◽  
Haixiang Zhang

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of plasma exchange therapy for autoimmune bullous skin disease. METHODS: Fifty patients with autoimmune bullous skin disease enrolled in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2019 were selected. The patients were grouped by treatment method: 25 control group patients were given conventional hormone therapy, while 25 experimental group patients were treated with plasma exchange therapy; efficacy of treatment was compared between two groups of patients. RESULTS: Initial dose, maximum dose, and cumulative dose of glucocorticoids were lower in experimental group patients than those in control group (P<0.05). Incidence of complication was lower in experimental group patients than those in control group (P<0.05); the difference was significant. There was no significant difference in short-term efficacy between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The application of plasma exchange therapy was effective for treatment of autoimmune bullous skin disease. It could reduce dosage amount of glucocorticoids and incidence of complications; its application can be promoted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 56-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.A. Savina ◽  
I.A. Savenkova ◽  
I.V. Shchekotikhina ◽  
A.M. Gul'yants

This article discusses the results of experimental study aimed at investigating the effect of games with rules on voluntary regulation of preschool children. The following components of voluntary regulation were studied: short-term and working memory, verbal interference control, the ability to follow verbal instruction, and knowledge of rules of conduct. One hundred and twenty 6—7-year-old children participated in this study. After the intervention, children in experimental group improved their knowledge of rules of conduct, short-term memory for numbers, verbal interference, and the ability to follow verbal instruction when executing a visual-motor integration task. Children in the control group also improved their verbal interference ability and short-term memory for numbers and words. However, size effects were smaller than in the experimental group.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 10-16
Author(s):  
Megha Mehta ◽  
Abraham M. Joshua ◽  
Suruliraj Karthikbabu ◽  
Zulkifli Misri ◽  
Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan ◽  
...  

Introduction: The objective of this study was to find the immediate as well as short-term effect on pelvic alignment and forward arm reach distance in sitting among stroke patients following thoracic spine and abdominal muscles taping along with conventional therapy. Methods: Thirty subjects with stroke attending the physiotherapy programme at Department of Physiotherapy at a tertiary care hospital underwent this randomized controlled experimental study. Subjects in the experimental group received taping, along with conventional physiotherapy treatment, for restricting thoracic kyphosis and facilitating abdominal muscles. Subjects in the control group received only conventional physiotherapy treatment. To assess the change in pelvic alignment and forward arm reach distance while sitting, Palpation MeterTM (PALMTM) and sit and reach test were used, respectively. Results: In the experimental group, pelvic obliquity was corrected (4.1 ± 0.94) and anterior pelvic tilt revealed improvement (4.9 ± 2.1, p value < 0.001). In the control group, no improvement in pelvic alignment was recorded. Improvement in forward arm reach distance was similar in both groups ( p value = 0.804). Conclusion: Taping as an adjunctive treatment method to physiotherapy can cause immediate as well as short-term improvement of pelvic alignment in sitting, following stroke. It also, immediately improves the sit and reach distance in the same population.


Author(s):  
M. Zadorozhnaya ◽  
S. Lysko ◽  
O. Suntsova

The hatchery is an important link in the production process of a poultry enterprise, and therefore there is a need to take eff ective measures to prevent the penetration and spread of infection. For this purpose hatching eggs are processed, veterinary and sanitary measures are carried out using disinfectants. The most common chemical disinfectants, but many of them have a short-term eff ect and have a negative infl uence on the embryos, and the task of any incubator is to get high-quality young birds. In most cases poultry farms use formalin, which when used repeatedly has a negative enfl uence not only on the embryos and their development, but also on the maintenance staff . In this regard, the creation of non-toxic, highly eff ective, eco-friendly products that do not pollute the environment, inhibit the growth of microorganisms that do not aff ect the embryo and maintenance personnel is an urgent task for veterinary science and practice. One of these drugs is a complex of coniferous balsamic fi r. The purpose of our researches was to study the infl uence of treatment of hatching eggs with the new drug on the fetal and postnatal development of quails. Egg processing has been performed before laying and during transfer in 15,5 days: in the experimental group with coniferous complex, in the control group with formalin. Biological control has been carried out in 9,5 and 15,5 days, taking into account the hatchability of eggs, the livability and live weight of quails. Blood has been collected at the age of 7 and 14 days for biochemical analysis, examining it for the content of total protein, albumins and globulins. The complex coniferous balsamic fi r did not have the negative infl uence on the fetal and postnatal development of the resulting young birds increased the hatchability of eggs, the livability and live weight of quails. Thus, the live weight of quails in the experimental group at the age of 7 days exceeded the control by 2,3 %, and at 14 days by 0,3 %. The livability of quails obtained from eggs treated with the studied drug the period of 1–14 days was 2,0 % higher compared to the control group.


Author(s):  
Ghada M. Awada ◽  
Hassan B. Diab ◽  
Kawthar H. Faour

The study reports the effect of group investigation (GI) cooperative learning method and the Glogster online poster on improving the intercultural communication skills of international students (n=54) of eight different countries. The study is premised on the proposition that the integration of GI and Glogster in classrooms consisting of Lebanese and non-Lebanese students could be effective in improving the intercultural communication skills of international students and enhancing their perceptions of intercultural communication. The study employed the mixed methods pretest-posttest control group experimental design whereby six Interactions Among Civilizations intact classes were randomly assigned to control and experimental conditions. Employing the intercultural sensitivity scale yielded findings indicating the significance of the GI and Glogster in developing the cultural adaptability and intercultural sensitivity of the experimental group participants (n=25) whereas the control group participants (n=28) did not show similar improvement.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Edward R. Christophersen ◽  
Margaret A. Sullivan

Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics instituted a major campaign ("The First Ride—A Safe Ride") in order to encourage all parents to use an infant restraint seat for their newborn's first ride in an automobile—the ride home from the hospital. In the present study the effect of the behavior of the hospital staff on parents' use of infant restraint seats was examined. This study involved 30 mother-infant pairs who were selected sequentially from an obstetrics unit and randomly assigned to two groups. A control group was discharged from the obstetrics unit with no particular emphasis on car safety and no loaner restraint seat available. An experimental group was offered a loaner restraint seat at the time of discharge, with a staff person demonstrating how to put the infant into the restraint seat, how to carry the infant in the seat out to the car, and how to fasten the restraint seat in the automobile with the auto lap belt. Correct use of the loaner restraint seat on the first ride home was observed in 67% of the experimental mothers and in none (0%) of the control mothers. Although this difference was no longer significant at four- to six-week follow-up this study points out the short-term impact that hospital staff can have on the parents' use of restraint seats. Additional techniques are needed to maintain parents' use of restraint seats throughout childhood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélder JT Costa

The breathing mechanism has existed since our birth and accompanies us throughout life. Breathing is an important function in the regulatory process of numerous body functions, its optimization can bring many health benefits. However, many children are unaware of the mechanisms of breathing, namely abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing, and in addition to this, many breathe normally through their mouths. The present study aimed to verify the influence of a short-term breathing exercise program on children's breathing capacity. Twenty-one children aged between 8 and 10 years were selected, from this selection two groups were formed, the control group (CG) with 10 children and the experimental group (EG) with 11. Through a spirometric test, an assessment of breathing capacity (ABC) was carried out for both groups. The GE participated in a program of breathing exercises (BEP) lasting 15 to 20 minutes for 5 weeks. Then, the ABC was performed again for both groups. The results demonstrate a significant increase in the values (p<0.027) of the forced vital capacity (FVC) of the EG, thus suggesting that the application of a BEP promotes the breathing capacity of school-aged children. Further studies should be performed with larger samples and with a longer protocol.


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