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Sensory Processing (sensory + processing)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	41%
Medical Sciences	38%
Humanities and Social Sciences	8%

Selected Abstracts

Sensory Processing and Adaptive Behavior Deficits of Children Across the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Continuum

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2010
Joshua L. Carr
Background:, Prenatal alcohol exposure can have detrimental effects on a child's development of adaptive behaviors necessary for success in the areas of academic achievement, socialization, and self-care. Sensory processing abilities have been found to affect a child's ability to successfully perform adaptive behaviors. The current study explored whether significant differences in sensory processing abilities, adaptive behavior, and neurocognitive functioning are observed between children diagnosed with partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), or children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol (PEA), but did not meet criteria for an FASD diagnosis. The influence of IQ on adaptive behavior as well as further exploration of the relationship between sensory processing and adaptive behavior deficits among these children was also examined. Methods:, A secondary analysis was conducted on some of the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) scores, Adaptive Behavior Assessment System,Second Edition (ABAS-II) scores, and Wechsler Intelligence Scale,Fourth Edition/Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence,Third Edition (WISC- IV/WPPSI,III) scores of 46 children between 3 and 14 years of age with pFAS, ARND, or who were PEA. Results:, Greater sensory processing deficits were found in children with a diagnosis of pFAS and ARND compared to those in the PEA group. Children with an ARND diagnosis scored significantly worse on measures of adaptive behavior than the PEA group. Children with pFAS scored significantly lower than children with ARND or PEA on perceptual/performance IQ. No correlation was found between IQ scores and adaptive behaviors across the FASD diagnostic categories. A significant positive correlation was found between SSP and ABAS-II scores. Conclusions:, Regardless of the diagnosis received under the FASD umbrella, functional difficulties that could not be observed using traditional measures of intelligence were found, supporting guidelines that a broad range of standardized assessments be included when screening children for FASD. [source]

Genetic manipulation, whole-cell recordings and functional imaging of the sensorimotor cortex of behaving mice

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2009
C. C. H. Petersen
Abstract Sensory processing, sensorimotor integration and motor control are amongst the most basic functions of the brain and yet our understanding of how the underlying neuronal networks operate and contribute to behaviour is very limited. The relative simplicity of the mouse whisker sensorimotor system is helpful for detailed quantitative analyses of motor control and perception during active sensory processing. Recent technical advances now allow the measurement of membrane potential in awake-behaving mice, using whole-cell recordings and voltage-sensitive dye imaging. With these recording techniques, it is possible to directly correlate neuronal activity with behaviour. However, in order to obtain causal evidence for the specific contributions of different neuronal networks to behaviour, it is critical to manipulate the system in a highly controlled manner. Advances in molecular neurobiology, gene delivery and mouse genetics provide techniques capable of layer, column and cell-type specific control of gene expression in the mouse neocortex. Over the next years, we anticipate considerable advances in our understanding of brain function through measuring and manipulating neuronal activity with unprecedented precision to probe the molecular and synaptic mechanisms underlying simple forms of active sensory perception and associative learning. [source]

Occupational therapy using a sensory integrative approach for children with developmental disabilities

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 2 2005
Roseann C. Schaaf
Abstract This article provides an introduction and overview of sensory integration theory as it is used in occupational therapy practice for children with developmental disabilities. This review of the theoretical tenets of the theory, its historical foundations, and early research provides the reader with a basis for exploring current uses and applications. The key principles of the sensory integrative approach, including concepts such as "the just right challenge" and "the adaptive response" as conceptualized by A. Jean Ayres, the theory's founder, are presented to familiarize the reader with the approach. The state of research in this area is presented, including studies underway to further delineate the subtypes of sensory integrative dysfunction, the neurobiological mechanisms of poor sensory processing, advances in theory development, and the development of a fidelity measure for use in intervention studies. Finally, this article reviews the current state of the evidence to support this approach and suggests that consensual knowledge and empirical research are needed to further elucidate the theory and its utility for a variety of children with developmental disabilities. This is especially critical given the public pressure by parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities to obtain services and who have anecdotally noted the utility of sensory integration therapy for helping their children function more independently. Key limiting factors to research include lack of funding, paucity of doctorate trained clinicians and researchers in occupational therapy, and the inherent heterogeneity of the population of children affected by sensory integrative dysfunction. A call to action for occupational therapy researchers, funding agencies, and other professions is made to support ongoing efforts and to develop initiatives that will lead to better diagnoses and effective intervention for sensory integrative dysfunction, which will improve the lives of children and their families. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MRDD Research Reviews 2005;11:143,148. [source]

The neuroanatomy and neuroendocrinology of fragile X syndrome

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 1 2004
David Hessl
Abstract Fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by a single gene mutation on the X chromosome, offers a unique opportunity for investigation of gene,brain,behavior relationships. Recent advances in molecular genetics, human brain imaging, and behavioral studies have started to unravel the complex pathways leading to the cognitive, psychiatric, and physical features that are unique to this syndrome. In this article, we summarize studies focused on the neuroanatomy and neuroendocrinology of FXS. A review of structural imaging studies of individuals with the full mutation shows that several brain regions are enlarged, including the hippocampus, amygdala, caudate nucleus, and thalamus, even after controlling for overall brain volume. These regions mediate several cognitive and behavioral functions known to be aberrant in FXS such as memory and learning, information and sensory processing, and social and emotional behavior. Two regions, the cerebellar vermis, important for a variety of cognitive tasks and regulation of motor behavior, and the superior temporal gyrus, involved in processing complex auditory stimuli, are reported to be reduced in size relative to controls. Functional imaging, typically limited to females, has emphasized that individuals with FXS do not adequately recruit brain regions that are normally utilized by unaffected individuals to carry out various cognitive tasks, such as arithmetic processing or visual memory tasks. Finally, we review a number of neuroendocrine studies implicating hypothalamic dysfunction in FXS, including abnormal activation of the hypothalamic,pituitary,adrenal (HPA) axis. These studies may help to explain the abnormal stress responses, sleep abnormalities, and physical growth patterns commonly seen in affected individuals. In the future, innovative longitudinal studies to investigate development of neurobiologic and behavioral features over time, and ultimately empirical testing of pharmacological, behavioral, and even molecular genetic interventions using MRI are likely to yield significant positive changes in the lives of persons with FXS, as well as increase our understanding of the development of psychiatric and learning problems in the general population. MRDD Research Reviews 2004;10:17,24. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Effect of acute hyperglycaemia on sensory processing in diabetic autonomic neuropathy

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 10 2010
Jens B. Frøkjær
Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (10): 883,886 Abstract Background, Acute hyperglycaemia is known to increase gastrointestinal (GI) sensitivity in healthy subjects and may contribute to the increased prevalence of GI symptoms in diabetes patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute hyperglycaemia on perception and brain responses to painful visceral and somatic stimuli in diabetic patients. Materials and methods, The sensitivity and evoked brain potentials (EPs) to electrical oesophageal and median nerve stimulations were assessed in 14 type-1 diabetes patients with autonomic neuropathy and GI symptoms using a hyperinsulinaemic clamp at 6 and 15 mM. Results, No differences between the normo- and hyperglycaemic conditions were found in sensitivity to both oesophageal (P = 0·72) and median nerve (P = 0·66) stimulations. The latencies and amplitudes of EPs did not differ between the normo- and hyperglycaemic conditions following oesophageal (P = 0·53 and 0·57) and median nerve (P = 0·78 and 0·52) stimulations. Conclusions, Acute hyperglycaemia itself does not contribute to the sensations in patients with longstanding diabetes and autonomic neuropathy. Any potential sensory effects of acute hyperglycaemia can likely be blurred by the neuropathic-like changes in the sensory nervous system. [source]

Effects of urethane anaesthesia on sensory processing in the rat barrel cortex revealed by combined optical imaging and electrophysiology

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 5 2010
Ian M. Devonshire
Abstract The spatiotemporal dynamics of neuronal assemblies evoked by sensory stimuli have not yet been fully characterised, especially the extent to which they are modulated by prevailing brain states. In order to examine this issue, we induced different levels of anaesthesia, distinguished by specific electroencephalographic indices, and compared somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) with voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDI) responses in the rat barrel cortex evoked by whisker deflection. At deeper levels of anaesthesia, all responses were reduced in amplitude but, surprisingly, only VSDI responses exhibited prolonged activation resulting in a delayed return to baseline. Further analysis of the optical signal demonstrated that the reduction in response amplitude was constant across the area of activation, resulting in a global down-scaling of the population response. The manner in which the optical signal relates to the various neuronal generators that produce the SEP signal is also discussed. These data provide information regarding the impact of anaesthetic agents on the brain, and show the value of combining spatial analyses from neuroimaging approaches with more traditional electrophysiological techniques. [source]

Long-range connectivity of mouse primary somatosensory barrel cortex

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 12 2010
Rachel Aronoff
Abstract The primary somatosensory barrel cortex processes tactile vibrissae information, allowing rodents to actively perceive spatial and textural features of their immediate surroundings. Each whisker on the snout is individually represented in the neocortex by an anatomically identifiable ,barrel' specified by the segregated termination zones of thalamocortical axons of the ventroposterior medial nucleus, which provide the primary sensory input to the neocortex. The sensory information is subsequently processed within local synaptically connected neocortical microcircuits, which have begun to be investigated in quantitative detail. In addition to these local synaptic microcircuits, the excitatory pyramidal neurons of the barrel cortex send and receive long-range glutamatergic axonal projections to and from a wide variety of specific brain regions. Much less is known about these long-range connections and their contribution to sensory processing. Here, we review current knowledge of the long-range axonal input and output of the mouse primary somatosensory barrel cortex. Prominent reciprocal projections are found between primary somatosensory cortex and secondary somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, perirhinal cortex and thalamus. Primary somatosensory barrel cortex also projects strongly to striatum, thalamic reticular nucleus, zona incerta, anterior pretectal nucleus, superior colliculus, pons, red nucleus and spinal trigeminal brain stem nuclei. These long-range connections of the barrel cortex with other specific cortical and subcortical brain regions are likely to play a crucial role in sensorimotor integration, sensory perception and associative learning. [source]

Perceptual load interacts with stimulus processing across sensory modalities

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 12 2009
J. Klemen
Abstract According to perceptual load theory, processing of task-irrelevant stimuli is limited by the perceptual load of a parallel attended task if both the task and the irrelevant stimuli are presented to the same sensory modality. However, it remains a matter of debate whether the same principles apply to cross-sensory perceptual load and, more generally, what form cross-sensory attentional modulation in early perceptual areas takes in humans. Here we addressed these questions using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants undertook an auditory one-back working memory task of low or high perceptual load, while concurrently viewing task-irrelevant images at one of three object visibility levels. The processing of the visual and auditory stimuli was measured in the lateral occipital cortex (LOC) and auditory cortex (AC), respectively. Cross-sensory interference with sensory processing was observed in both the LOC and AC, in accordance with previous results of unisensory perceptual load studies. The present neuroimaging results therefore warrant the extension of perceptual load theory from a unisensory to a cross-sensory context: a validation of this cross-sensory interference effect through behavioural measures would consolidate the findings. [source]

Local and descending circuits regulate long-term potentiation and zif268 expression in spinal neurons

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 3 2006
Lars Jørgen Rygh
Abstract Long-term potentiation (LTP), a use dependent long-lasting modification of synaptic strength, was first discovered in the hippocampus and later shown to occur in sensory areas of the spinal cord. Here we demonstrate that spinal LTP requires the activation of a subset of superficial spinal dorsal horn neurons expressing the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1-R) that have previously been shown to mediate certain forms of hyperalgesia. These neurons participate in local spinal sensory processing, but are also the origin of a spino-bulbo-spinal loop driving a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor (5HT3-R)- mediated descending facilitation of spinal pain processing. Using a saporin-substance P conjugate to produce site-specific neuronal ablation, we demonstrate that NK1-R expressing cells in the superficial dorsal horn are crucial for the generation of LTP-like changes in neuronal excitability in deep dorsal horn neurons and this is modulated by descending 5HT3-R-mediated facilitatory controls. Hippocampal LTP is associated with early expression of the immediate-early gene zif268 and knockout of the gene leads to deficits in long-term LTP and learning and memory. We found that spinal LTP is also correlated with increased neuronal expression of zif268 in the superficial dorsal horn and that zif268 antisense treatment resulted in deficits in the long-term maintenance of inflammatory hyperalgesia. Our results support the suggestion that the generation of LTP in dorsal horn neurons following peripheral injury may be one mechanism whereby acute pain can be transformed into a long-term pain state. [source]

Estrogen-dependent selectivity of genomic responses to birdsong

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 6 2006
Donna L. Maney
Abstract Behavioral responses to sociosexual signals often depend on gonadal steroid hormones, which are thought to modulate behavior by acting on motivational systems in the brain. There is mounting evidence that sex steroids may also modulate perception of sociosexual signals by affecting sensory processing. In seasonally breeding songbirds such as the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), the female's behavioral response to hearing male song depends on her plasma levels of estradiol (E2). Here, we examined whether plasma E2 also affects the selectivity of the song-induced zenk (egr-1) response in the auditory forebrain, which is known to vary according to the behavioral relevance of song stimuli. Non-breeding females were held on a winter-like photoperiod and implanted with silastic capsules containing either no hormone or E2. E2-treated birds hearing 42 min of conspecific song had more cells immunoreactive for the protein product of zenk in the auditory forebrain than did those hearing frequency-matched synthetic tones. In birds not treated with E2, however, the zenk response to song did not differ from that to tones. We found similar effects in the avian homolog of the inferior colliculus, indicating that E2 may affect the processing of auditory information upstream of the forebrain. Our data suggest that in females, zenk induction in the auditory system is selective for song only when plasma E2 exceeds non-breeding levels. E2-dependent plasticity of auditory pathways and processing centres may promote recognition of and attention to conspecific song during the breeding season. [source]

Distribution and regulation of L-type calcium channels in deep dorsal horn neurons after sciatic nerve injury in rats

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 12 2005
E. Dobremez
Abstract Deep dorsal horn neurons are involved in the processing of nociceptive information in the spinal cord. Previous studies revealed a role of the intrinsic bioelectrical properties (plateau potentials) of deep dorsal horn neuron in neuronal hyperexcitability, indicating their function in pain sensitization. These properties were considered to rely on L -type calcium currents. Two different isotypes of L -type calcium channel alpha 1 subunit have been cloned (CaV1.2 and CaV1.3). Both are known to be expressed in the spinal cord. However, no data were available on their subcellular localization. Moreover, possible changes in CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 expression had never been investigated in nerve injury models. Our study provides evidence for a differential expression of CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 subunits in the somato-dendritic compartment of deep dorsal horn neurons. CaV1.2 immunoreactivity is restricted to the soma and proximal dendrites whereas CaV1.3 immunoreactivity is found in the whole somato-dendritic compartment, up to distal dendritic segments. Moreover, these specific immunoreactive patterns are also found in electrophysiologically identified deep dorsal horn neurons expressing plateau potentials. After nerve injury, namely total axotomy or partial nerve ligation, CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 expression undergo differential changes, showing up- and down-regulation, respectively, both at the protein and at the mRNA levels. Taken together, our data support the role of L-type calcium channels in the control of intrinsic biolectrical regenerative properties. Furthermore, CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 subunits may have distinct and specific roles in sensory processing in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, the former being most likely involved in long-term changes after nerve injury. [source]

Neural circuit-dependent odor adaptation in C. elegans is regulated by the Ras-MAPK pathway

GENES TO CELLS, Issue 6 2005
Takaaki Hirotsu
The molecular machinery that mediates odor adaptation in the olfactory neurons is well documented in various animal species. However, types of adaptation that depend on neural circuits are mostly unexplored. We report here that the Ras-MAPK pathway is essential for such a type of odor adaptation, called early adaptation, in C. elegans. Early adaptation requires a pair of AIY interneurons, which receive synaptic inputs from olfactory neurons. Mutants of the Ras-MAPK pathway show defects in early adaptation. Continued exposure to an odorant causes activation of MAP kinase not only in the olfactory neurons, but also in the AIY interneurons. While activity of the Ras-MAPK pathway in the olfactory neurons is important for odor perception, its activity in the AIY interneurons is important for odor adaptation. Our results thus reveal a dual role of the Ras-MAPK pathway in sensory processing in the nervous system of C. elegans. [source]

Comparing MEG and fMRI views to naming actions and objects

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 6 2009
Mia Liljeström
Abstract Most neuroimaging studies are performed using one imaging method only, either functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), or magnetoencephalography (MEG). Information on both location and timing has been sought by recording fMRI and EEG, simultaneously, or MEG and fMRI in separate sessions. Such approaches assume similar active areas whether detected via hemodynamic or electrophysiological signatures. Direct comparisons, after independent analysis of data from each imaging modality, have been conducted primarily on low-level sensory processing. Here, we report MEG (timing and location) and fMRI (location) results in 11 subjects when they named pictures that depicted an action or an object. The experimental design was exactly the same for the two imaging modalities. The MEG data were analyzed with two standard approaches: a set of equivalent current dipoles and a distributed minimum norm estimate. The fMRI blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) data were subjected to the usual random-effect contrast analysis. At the group level, MEG and fMRI data showed fairly good convergence, with both overall activation patterns and task effects localizing to comparable cortical regions. There were some systematic discrepancies, however, and the correspondence was less compelling in the individual subjects. The present analysis should be helpful in reconciling results of fMRI and MEG studies on high-level cognitive functions. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Task-relevance and temporal synchrony between tactile and visual stimuli modulates cortical activity and motor performance during sensory-guided movement

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 2 2009
Sean K. Meehan
Abstract Sensory-guided movements require the analysis and integration of task-relevant sensory inputs from multiple modalities. This article sought to: (1) assess effects of intermodal temporal synchrony upon modulation of primary somatosensory cortex (S1) during continuous sensorimotor transformations, (2) identify cortical areas sensitive to temporal synchrony, and (3) provide further insight into the reduction of S1 activity during continuous vibrotactile tracking previously observed by our group (Meehan and Staines 2007: Brain Res 1138:148,158). Functional MRI was acquired while participants received simultaneous bimodal (visuospatial/vibrotactile) stimulation and continuously tracked random changes in one modality, by applying graded force to a force-sensing resistor. Effects of intermodal synchrony were investigated, unbeknownst to the participants, by varying temporal synchrony so that sensorimotor transformations dictated by the distracter modality either conflicted (low synchrony) or supplemented (high synchrony) those of the target modality. Temporal synchrony differentially influenced tracking performance dependent upon tracking modality. Physiologically, synchrony did not influence S1 activation; however, the insula and superior temporal gyrus were influenced regardless of tracking modality. The left temporal-parietal junction demonstrated increased activation during high synchrony specific to vibrotactile tracking. The superior parietal lobe and superior temporal gyrus demonstrated increased activation during low synchrony specific to visuospatial tracking. As previously reported, vibrotactile tracking resulted in decreased S1 activation relative to when it was task-irrelevant. We conclude that while temporal synchrony is represented at higher levels than S1, interactions between inter- and intramodal mechanisms determines sensory processing at the level of S1. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Neural connectivity in hand sensorimotor brain areas: An evaluation by evoked field morphology

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 2 2005
Franca Tecchio
Abstract The connectivity pattern of the neural network devoted to sensory processing depends on the timing of relay recruitment from receptors to cortical areas. The aim of the present work was to uncover and quantify the way the cortical relay recruitment is reflected in the shape of the brain-evoked responses. We recorded the magnetic somatosensory evoked fields (SEF) generated in 36 volunteers by separate bilateral electrical stimulation of median nerve, thumb, and little fingers. After defining an index that quantifies the shape similarity of two SEF traces, we studied the morphologic characteristics of the recorded SEFs within the 20-ms time window that followed the impulse arrival at the primary sensory cortex. Based on our similarity criterion, the shape of the SEFs obtained stimulating the median nerve was observed to be more similar to the one obtained from the thumb (same median nerve innervation) than to the one obtained from the little finger (ulnar nerve innervation). In addition, SEF shapes associated with different brain regions were more similar within an individual than between subjects. Because the SEF morphologic characteristics turned out to be quite diverse among subjects, we defined similarity levels that allowed us to identify three main classes of SEF shapes in normalcy. We show evidence that the morphology of the evoked response describes the anatomo-functional connectivity pattern in the primary sensory areas. Our findings suggest the possible existence of a thalamo-cortico-thalamic responsiveness loop related to the different classes. Hum Brain Mapp 24:99,108, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Mapping the time course of nonconscious and conscious perception of fear: An integration of central and peripheral measures

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 2 2004
Leanne M. Williams
Abstract Neuroimaging studies using backward masking suggest that conscious and nonconscious responses to complex signals of fear (facial expressions) occur via parallel cortical and subcortical circuits. Little is known, however, about the temporal differentiation of these responses. Psychophysics procedures were first used to determine objective thresholds for both nonconscious detection (face vs. blank screen) and discrimination (fear vs. neutral face) in a backward masking paradigm. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were then recorded (n = 20) using these thresholds. Ten blocks of masked fear and neutral faces were presented under each threshold condition. Simultaneously recorded skin conductance responses (SCRs) provided an independent index of stimulus perception. It was found that Fear stimuli evoked faster SCR rise times than did neutral stimuli across all conditions, indicating that emotional content influenced responses, regardless of awareness. In the first 400 msec of processing, ERPs dissociated the time course of conscious (enhanced N4 component) from nonconscious (enhanced N2 component) perception of fear, relative to neutral. Nonconscious detection of fear also elicited relatively faster P1 responses within 100 msec post-stimulus. The N2 may provide a temporal correlate of the initial sensory processing of salient facial configurations, which is enhanced when top-down cortical feedback is precluded. By contrast, the N4 may index the conscious integration of emotion stimuli in working memory, subserved by greater cortical engagement. Hum. Brain Mapping 21:64,74, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Enhancing mothers' interactions with toddlers who have sensory-processing disorders

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010
Nurit Jaegermann
The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of a brief Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers (the MISC-SP) designed to enhance the quality of mothers' interaction with their toddlers who have sensory processing disorders (SPD). The basic assumption was that quality parent,child interactions can serve as a protective factor moderating the potential negative effects of toddlers' sensory processing and regulation difficulties on their development. The effects of the intervention were compared to those of another intervention designed to enhance children's sensory functioning (the SI group) and to a control group receiving no intervention. Participants were 86 toddlers (12,18 months old) with SPD and their mothers, who were randomly assigned to the aforementioned three research groups. Following the intervention period, mothers in the MISC-SP group showed more sensitive behavior, supported their toddlers' communication behavior better, and used teaching behaviors more appropriately than did mothers in the two other groups. [source]

Identification of a novel gene, Mblk-1, that encodes a putative transcription factor expressed preferentially in the large-type Kenyon cells of the honeybee brain

INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
Hideaki Takeuchi
Abstract Mushroom bodies (MBs) are considered to be involved in higher-order sensory processing in the insect brain. To identify the genes involved in the intrinsic function of the honeybee MBs, we searched for genes preferentially expressed therein, using the differential display method. Here we report a novel gene encoding a putative transcription factor (Mblk-1) expressed preferentially in one of two types of intrinsic MB neurones, the large-type Kenyon cells, which makes Mblk-1 a candidate gene involved in the advanced behaviours of honeybees. A putative DNA binding motif of Mblk-1 had significant sequence homology with those encoded by genes from various animal species, suggesting that the functions of these proteins in neural cells are conserved among the animal kingdom. [source]

Learning in a hierarchical control system: 4D/RCS in the DARPA LAGR program

JOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS (FORMERLY JOURNAL OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS), Issue 11-12 2006
Jim Albus
The Defense Applied Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Learning Applied to Ground Vehicles (LAGR) program aims to develop algorithms for autonomous vehicle navigation that learn how to operate in complex terrain. Over many years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a reference model control system architecture called 4D/RCS that has been applied to many kinds of robot control, including autonomous vehicle control. For the LAGR program, NIST has embedded learning into a 4D/RCS controller to enable the small robot used in the program to learn to navigate through a range of terrain types. The vehicle learns in several ways. These include learning by example, learning by experience, and learning how to optimize traversal. Learning takes place in the sensory processing, world modeling, and behavior generation parts of the control system. The 4D/RCS architecture is explained in the paper, its application to LAGR is described, and the learning algorithms are discussed. Results are shown of the performance of the NIST control system on independently-conducted tests. Further work on the system and its learning capabilities is discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Sensory Processing and Adaptive Behavior Deficits of Children Across the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Continuum

Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the brain of the locust

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 3 2002
Uwe Homberg
Abstract As part of continuous research on the neurobiology of the locust, the distribution and functions of neurotransmitter candidates in the nervous system have been analyzed particularly well. In the locust brain, acetylcholine, glutamate, ,-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the biogenic amines serotonin, dopamine, octopamine, and histamine most likely serve a transmitter function. Increasing evidence, furthermore, supports a signalling function for the gaseous molecule nitric oxide, but a role for neuroptides is so far suggested only by immunocytochemistry. Acetylcholine, glutamate, and GABA appear to be present in large numbers of interneurons. As in other insects, antennal sensory afferents might be cholinergic, while glutamate is the transmitter candidate of antennal motoneurons. GABA is regarded as the principle inhibitory transmitter of the brain, which is supported by physiological studies in the antennal lobe. The cellular distribution of biogenic amines has been analyzed particularly well, in some cases down to physiologically characterized neurons. Amines are present in small numbers of interneurons, often with large branching patterns, suggesting neuromodulatory roles. Histamine, furthermore, is the transmitter of photoreceptor neurons. In addition to these "classical transmitter substances," more than 60 neuropeptides were identified in the locust. Many antisera against locust neuropeptides label characteristic patterns of neurosecretory neurons and interneurons, suggesting that these peptides have neuroactive functions in addition to hormonal roles. Physiological studies supporting a neuroactive role, however, are still lacking. Nitric oxide, the latest addition to the list of neurotransmitter candidates, appears to be involved in early stages of sensory processing in the visual and olfactory systems. Microsc. Res. Tech. 56:189,209, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Sensory functions in dystonia: Insights from behavioral studies,,

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 10 2009
Michele Tinazzi MD
Abstract The pathophysiology of primary dystonia is thought to involve dysfunction of the basal ganglia cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical motor circuits. In the past, emphasis was placed on the role of the basal ganglia in controlling movements; in more recent times, however, it has also become clear that they play an important part in sensory as well as cognitive functions. Here, we review evidence for dysfunction of sensory processing in patients with dystonia, and speculate that this may lead to abnormalities in a crucial role of the basal ganglia that links sensory information to appropriate motor output. Sensory function, particularly in the somatosensory domain, has been shown to be compromised in patients with primary dystonia, both in adult onset focal dystonia and in genetically characterized DYT1 dystonia. Given that nonaffected DYT1 gene carriers may show similar abnormalities to clinically affected individuals, sensory deficits could constitute a subclinical endophenotypic trait of disease that precedes overt clinical manifestations. Whether they can trigger primary dystonia or are an epiphenomenon is an issue warranting further study, but the fact that a number of different neurorehabilitative approaches explicitly manipulate somatosensory inputs to improve motor function suggests there may be a causal link between them. We believe that in future, randomized, blind and controlled studies in large patient populations should address this issue, providing efficient strategies to aid functional recovery, particularly in focal hand dystonia, where the available medical treatments offer little benefit. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society [source]

Pathophysiological concepts of restless legs syndrome

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 10 2007
Walter Paulus MD
Abstract Pathophysiological concepts of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are based mainly on neuroimaging and on neurophysiological data. Furthermore treatment effects contribute essentially to the present understanding of the disease, unless the genetic progress expected in the near future will clarify substantially open issues. The concept agreed on assumes a dysfunction of the dopaminergic system, possibly on the level of striatal and/or spinal dopamine receptors, and the A11 neuron group localized in the hypothalamus as an integrated part of the system. These neurons modulate spinal excitability, alterations of which in turn affect sensory processing predominantly of leg afferents in brain stem structures. Neurophysiologically excitability alterations can be measured by a variety of methods such as determination of pain thresholds, H-reflex testing, and quantitative sensory testing. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society [source]

Abnormalities of sensory processing and sensorimotor interactions in secondary dystonia: A neurophysiological study in two patients

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 3 2005
Stefano Tamburin MD
Abstract Experimental data suggest that abnormalities of sensory processing and sensorimotor integration may play a role in the genesis of symptoms in primary dystonia. We studied 2 patients with dystonia secondary to lesions in the somatosensory pathways. We documented sensorimotor alterations in these patients that strongly resemble those found in primary dystonia. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that abnormalities in sensorimotor processing may contribute to the pathogenesis of dystonic conditions. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society [source]

A case study of a five-year-old child with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified using sound-based interventions

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2009
Amy J Nwora
Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of The Listening Program (TLP) in treating a child with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Using a single-subject case study design, one child with PDD-NOS was administered a 20-week TLP intervention focused on improving sensory processing and language function. Data collection included pre- and post-evaluations using video footage, and Sensory Profile and Listening Checklist questionnaires. Results of the study indicated improved behaviour and sensory tolerance in the post-intervention video footage, including active participation in singing and movements to song. Sensory Profile and Listening Checklist questionnaires indicated significant improvements in sensory processing, receptive/expressive listening and language, motor skills, and behavioural/social adjustment at the post-intervention assessment. Although small in scope, this study highlights the need for continued research by occupational therapists into sound-based interventions. Particularly, occupational therapists need to perform larger-scale studies utilizing TLP to verify the efficacy of this alternative treatment method. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Hyperperfusion in primary somatosensory region related to somatic hallucination in the elderly

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 4 2010
Kiyotaka Nemoto MD
Aim:, The purpose of the present study was to investigate the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of patients with delusional disorder, somatic type (DDST) exhibiting somatic hallucination. Methods:, Five patients diagnosed with DDST, as well as 20 control subjects, were examined. All subjects underwent technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography. Statistical analysis was performed with SPM5, using a two-sample t -test model to test the regional population effect on rCBF. Results:, Patients with DDST had a significant increase in perfusion in the left post-central gyrus and the right paracentral lobule, both of which are involved in somatic sensory processing. Conclusion:, Somatic hallucination might be associated with increased perfusion in the primary somatosensory regions. [source]

The dynamics of cardiac defense: From attention to action

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
Isabel Ramírez
Abstract The attentional and motivational significance of cardiac defense is examined in two studies. In Study 1, cardiac defense was evoked by an intense acoustic stimulus in the context of either a visual search or a memory search task using letters as stimuli. Results showed a potentiation of the long latency acceleration of cardiac defense in the visual search task. In Study 2, participants performed the same visual search task using pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant pictures as stimuli. Results showed a further potentiation of the long latency acceleration of cardiac defense when the visual search task was performed with unpleasant, compared to pleasant or neutral pictures. These results indicate that cardiac defense has both attentional and motivational contributions, where the attentional significance is related to increased sensory processing, whereas the motivational significance is associated with preparation for active defense. [source]

ERP correlates of online monitoring of auditory feedback during vocalization

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
Colin S. Hawco
Abstract When speakers hear the fundamental frequency (F0) of their voice altered, they shift their F0 in the direction opposite the perturbation. The current study used ERPs to examine sensory processing of short feedback perturbations during an ongoing utterance. In one session, participants produced a vowel at an F0 of their own choosing. In another session, participants matched the F0 of a cue voice. An F0 perturbation of 0, 25, 50, 100, or 200 cents was introduced for 100 ms. A mismatch negativity (MMN) was observed. Differences between sessions were only found for 200-cent perturbations. Reduced compensation when speakers experienced the 200-cent perturbations suggests that this larger perturbation was perceived as externally generated. The presence of an MMN, and no earlier (N100) response suggests that the underlying sensory process used to identify and compensate for errors in mid-utterance may differ from feedback monitoring at utterance onset. [source]

Electrophysiological evidence for altered early cerebral somatosensory signal processing in schizophrenia

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Till D. Waberski
Abstract Various studies have indicated an impairment of sensory signal processing in schizophrenic patients. Anatomical and functional imaging studies have indicated morphological and metabolic abnormalities in the thalamus in schizophrenia. Other results give evidence for an additional role of cortical dysfunction in sensory processing in schizophrenia. Advanced analysis of human median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) reveals a brief oscillatory burst of low-amplitude and high-frequency activity (,600 Hz), the so-called high frequency oscillations (HFOs). The present study explores the behavior of HFOs in a cohort of schizophrenic patients in comparison to a group of controls. HFOs in the group of patients appeared with a delayed latency. In the low-frequency part of the SEPs an increase in amplitude was found. These results are interpreted to reflect a lack of somatosensory inhibition in the somatosensory pathway, either at a thalamic or a cortical level. [source]

Contributions of spectral frequency analyses to the study of P50 ERP amplitude and suppression in bipolar disorder with or without a history of psychosis

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 7 2008
Christine A Carroll
Objective:, The present study investigated event-related brain potential (ERP) indices of auditory processing and sensory gating in bipolar disorder and subgroups of bipolar patients with or without a history of psychosis using the P50 dual-click procedure. Auditory-evoked activity in two discrete frequency bands also was explored to distinguish between sensory registration and selective attention deficits. Methods:, Thirty-one individuals with bipolar disorder and 28 non-psychiatric controls were compared on ERP indices of auditory processing using a dual-click procedure. In addition to conventional P50 ERP peak-picking techniques, quantitative frequency analyses were applied to the ERP data to isolate stages of information processing associated with sensory registration (20,50 Hz; gamma band) and selective attention (0,20 Hz; low-frequency band). Results:, Compared to the non-psychiatric control group, patients with bipolar disorder exhibited reduced S1 response magnitudes for the conventional P50 peak-picking and low-frequency response analyses. A bipolar subgroup effect suggested that the attenuated S1 magnitudes from the P50 peak-picking and low-frequency analyses were largely attributable to patients without a history of psychosis. Conclusions:, The analysis of distinct frequency bands of the auditory-evoked response elicited during the dual-click procedure allowed further specification of the nature of auditory sensory processing and gating deficits in bipolar disorder with or without a history of psychosis. The observed S1 effects in the low-frequency band suggest selective attention deficits in bipolar patients, especially those patients without a history of psychosis, which may reflect a diminished capacity to selectively attend to salient stimuli as opposed to impairments of inhibitory sensory processes. [source]