Learning from EMG: semi-automated grading of facial nerve function

The current grading of facial nerve function is based on subjective impression with the established assessment scale of House and Brackmann (HB). Especially for research a more objective method is needed to lower the interobserver variability to a minimum. We developed a semi-automated grading system based on (facial) surface EMG-data measuring the facial nerve function of 28 patients with vestibular schwannoma surgery. The sEMG was recorded preoperatively, postoperatively and after 3–12 months. In addition, the HB grade was determined. After manual selection and preprocessing, the data were subjected to machine learning classificators (Logistic regression, SVM and KNN). Lateralization indices were calculated and multivariant machine learning analysis was performed according to three scenarios [differentiation of normal (1) and slight (2) vs. impaired facial nerve function and classification of HB 1-3 (3)]. The calculated AUC for each scenario showed overall good differentiation capability with a median AUC of 0.72 for scenario 1, 0.91 for scenario 2 and multiclass AUC of 0.74 for scenario 3. This study approach using sEMG and machine learning shows feasibility regarding facial nerve grading in perioperative VS-surgery setting. sEMG may be a viable alternative to House Brackmann regarding objective evaluation of facial function especially for research purposes.

Visual Experiences without Presentational Phenomenology

A number of philosophers claim that visual experiences have a peculiar phenomenal character that is “presentational”. According to what I call the “Visual Presentationality Thesis”, this peculiar phenomenal character, presentational phenomenology, is not merely a contingent feature but is a necessary feature of visual experiences. Necessarily, visual experiences have presentational phenomenology. The main aim of this paper is to argue against the Visual Presentationality Thesis. I refute the Visual Presentationality Thesis by giving some counterexamples to it. In particular, I give counterexamples from derealization, which is a psychopathological condition that is characterized by the subjective impression of unreality or detachment from one’s surroundings. Derealization is a condition in which patients have visual experiences without presentational phenomenology. I defend this hypothesis about derealization on the basis of an inference to the best explanation; this hypothesis provides the best explanation of (otherwise puzzling) subjective reports by patients with derealization.

Additional Resources for Sparse Theories of Phenomenal Consciousness

The phenomenal overflow debate is a debate about the richness of phenomenal consciousness. There are two candidate views: the rich view and the sparse view. The rich view says phenomenal consciousness outstrips access consciousness and the contents of working memory. The sparse view denies this. Moreover, according to some conceptions of the sparse view, the subjective impression of richness depends on scene statistics and the refrigerator-light illusion. The purpose of this paper is to show there are additional resources available to the sparse view in accommodating intuitions of richness that have yet to be fully appreciated by participants in the debate. To this end, research pertaining to feature binding and activity-silent working memory will be discussed.

Early Motor Skills in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders Are Marked by Less Frequent Hand and Knees Crawling

Our aim in this study was to affirm or negate (quantitatively) our subjective impression of altered hands and knees crawling (H&K crawling) among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Through parental questionnaires and children’s health records, we retrospectively compared early motor skills, including the frequency of H&K crawling in 79 children with Autistic Disorder or Asperger Syndrome versus 100 children with typical development (TD). We found H&K crawling to be significantly less frequent among children with ASD (44.2%) versus children with TD (69%). Children with ASD also showed a decreased frequency of acquiring a seating position without help and a later mean walking age compared to the TD children. These data suggest that early motor development delays may be a useful sign for detecting ASD at early ages.

Utilizing intrapartum transperineal ultrasound in the second stage of labor to predict the difficulty in operative forceps delivery

Objectives: To assess the predictive value of intrapartum transperineal ultrasound (ITU) measurements, including angle of progression (AOP) and head direction (HD), for the difficulty of forceps delivery in occiput anterior position. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted among 21 nulliparous women with singleton term pregnancies with an indication for forceps delivery. Two operators performed ITU (AOP and HD) immediately before blade application, both at rest and with concurrently contraction and active pushing. Managing obstetricians were blinded to the ultrasound data. A forceps delivery was classified as “complicated” when one or more of the following situations occurred: three or more tractions, a subjective impression of a difficult traction, failed forceps delivery, a third-degree or higher perineal tear and a significant neonatal lesion. Results: Of 21 cases, we identified 5 cases of complicated forceps deliveries. AOP at rest (AOP1) was 127.67 ± 11.35° in complicated group and 143.68 ± 15.08° in uncomplicated group (P = 0.043); AOP during contraction (AOP2) was 161.44 ± 9.25° versus 179.55 ± 15.81° (P = 0.026). HD at rest (HD1) was 14.81 ± 15.39° versus 20.30 ± 9.81° (P = 0.351); HD during contraction (HD2) was 26.77 ± 14.99° versus 35.97 ± 10.21° (P = 0.131). By calculating the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC), the measurements of AOP1 and AOP2 and their combination (Combined prediction score = -28.790 + 0.105*AOP1(°) + 0.094*AOP2(°)) showed significant predictive values for a safe forceps delivery. The AUCs were 81.3% (95CI 58.4%-94.7%), 83.8% (95 CI 61.3%-96.0%) and 92.5% (95%CI 72.3%-99.4%), respectively. The optimal cut-offs were an AOP1 of 127.8° (sensitivity = 81.25%, specificity = 80%), an AOP2 of 171.4° (sensitivity = 75%, specificity = 100%) and a new combined prediction score of 1.376 (sensitivity = 81.25%, specificity = 80%). Conclusions: Using the measurements of AOP1 and AOP2 and their combination can predict a high probability of safe forceps delivery, and such prediction can be helpful for the obstetricians in clinical decision-making.

Changes in voice quality of the children with cleft/lip in relation to children without anomaly

Children with cleft palate/lip are exposed to risk for verbal communication disorders that include resonance, articulation, voice disorders, and expressive language. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the changes in the voice quality of the children with cleft palate in relation to children without anomaly. The study included 52 participants, 26 with previously corrected cleft palate / lip, and 26 respondents without anomaly who are between 3 and 6 years old. Subjective assessment of voice quality was performed by using the GRBAS scale. Perceptual scales are important in assessing the voice quality, determining the degree and severity of voice disturbance, and deciding on further clinical procedures. Although the instrumental approach to voice examination is relevant because it provides objectivity, the subjective impression in assessing voice quality is crucial. Statistical processing was performed by groups, group structure (gender and age), a certain highest value, as well as percentage participations. The results showed that 50% of the participants were diagnosed with certain changes in the voice. Children aged 3-5 years have a 2.25 times higher incidence of voice changes than children aged 6-8 years. The largest number of participants belong to group 0 - There is no change in voice quality which represents as much as 50% of the total number of patients in the first group. While "3 - Pronounced changes in the voice" were not identified in the respondents aged 3-5 years. In 50% of the total number of participants there is no change in voice quality and these are located in girls aged 3-5 years.

Audiological results and subjective benefit of an active transcutaneous bone-conduction device in patients with congenital aural atresia

Purpose To review functional and subjective benefit after implantation of an active transcutaneous bone conduction device (BCD) in patients with congenital microtia with atresia or stenosis of the external auditory canal. Methods Retrospective chart analysis and questionnaire on the subjective impression of hearing ( Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ-B) of patients treated between 2012 and 2015. ResultsResults 18 patients (24 ears) with conductive or mixed hearing loss in unilateral (n = 10) or bilateral (n = 8) atresia were implanted with a BCD. No major complications occurred after implantation. Preoperative unaided air conduction pure tone average at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz (PTA 4 ) was 69.2 ± 11.7 dB, while postoperative aided PTA 4 was 33.4 ± 6.3 dB, resulting in a mean functional hearing gain of 35.9 +/- 15.6 dB. Preoperatively, the mean monosyllabic word recognition score was 22.9 % ± 22.3 %, which increased to 87.1 % +/- 15.1 % in the aided condition. The Oldenburger Sentence Test at S0N0 revealed a decrease in signal-to-noise-ratio from − 0.58 ± 4.40 dB in the unaided to − 5.67 ± 3.21 dB in the postoperative aided condition for all patients investigated. 15 of 18 patients had a subjective benefit showing a positive SSQ-B score (mean 1.7). Conclusion The implantation of an active bone conduction device brings along subjective and functional benefit for patients with conductive or combined hearing loss.

Psychophysical Determination of the Relevant Colours That Describe the Colour Palette of Paintings

In an early study, the so-called “relevant colour” in a painting was heuristically introduced as a term to describe the number of colours that would stand out for an observer when just glancing at a painting. The purpose of this study is to analyse how observers determine the relevant colours by describing observers’ subjective impressions of the most representative colours in paintings and to provide a psychophysical backing for a related computational model we proposed in a previous work. This subjective impression is elicited by an efficient and optimal processing of the most representative colour instances in painting images. Our results suggest an average number of 21 subjective colours. This number is in close agreement with the computational number of relevant colours previously obtained and allows a reliable segmentation of colour images using a small number of colours without introducing any colour categorization. In addition, our results are in good agreement with the directions of colour preferences derived from an independent component analysis. We show that independent component analysis of the painting images yields directions of colour preference aligned with the relevant colours of these images. Following on from this analysis, the results suggest that hue colour components are efficiently distributed throughout a discrete number of directions and could be relevant instances to a priori describe the most representative colours that make up the colour palette of paintings.

In your phase: neural phase synchronisation underlies visual imagery of faces

Mental imagery is the process through which we retrieve and recombine information from our memory to elicit the subjective impression of “seeing with the mind’s eye”. In the social domain, we imagine other individuals while recalling our encounters with them or modelling alternative social interactions in future. Many studies using imaging and neurophysiological techniques have shown several similarities in brain activity between visual imagery and visual perception, and have identified frontoparietal, occipital and temporal neural components of visual imagery. However, the neural connectivity between these regions during visual imagery of socially relevant stimuli has not been studied. Here we used electroencephalography to investigate neural connectivity and its dynamics between frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal electrodes during visual imagery of faces. We found that voluntary visual imagery of faces is associated with long-range phase synchronisation in the gamma frequency range between frontoparietal electrode pairs and between occipitoparietal electrode pairs. In contrast, no effect of imagery was observed in the connectivity between occipitotemporal electrode pairs. Gamma range synchronisation between occipitoparietal electrode pairs predicted subjective ratings of the contour definition of imagined faces. Furthermore, we found that visual imagery of faces is associated with an increase of short-range frontal synchronisation in the theta frequency range, which temporally preceded the long-range increase in the gamma synchronisation. We speculate that the local frontal synchrony in the theta frequency range might be associated with an effortful top-down mnemonic reactivation of faces. In contrast, the long-range connectivity in the gamma frequency range along the fronto-parieto-occipital axis might be related to the endogenous binding and subjective clarity of facial visual features.