ABSTRACT
Background: Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCS) is a test to measure the speed and electrical activity in a nerve. Physiological factors like age, temperature, height, gender affect the nerve conduction velocity. There is paucity on the data regarding the age group at which these changes become significant. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the specific age group at which changes in nerve conduction velocity occurs. Methods: 103 individuals in the age group of 15-65 years participated in the study. They were grouped into, Group I in the age group of 15-30 (n=40) years, Group II 31-45 years (n=31), Group III 46-60 years (n=32). Median motor and sensory conduction velocity were determined. Results: There was a significant correlation between age and median motor (p=0) and sensory (p=0) conduction velocities. There was a significant decreasing trend observed in Group III. Conclusions: Age has definite correlation with the NCS in median motor and sensory nerves. It is essential to have reference values with relation to age.
ABSTRACT
Abacus is a method used by Chinese, Japanese and Koreans to improve mathematical skills. This system has now invaded our country. The improvement in mathematical skills is said to be due to a coordinated functioning of both right and left hemisphere. As learning and memory in any field is achieved by coordinating and analyzing the different sensory inputs, whether an abacus trainee would also improve the short-term memory as a whole was evaluated in our study. 50 children of average IQ between 5 and 12 years from 2 regular schools and 50 from an abacus institute were evaluated for short-term memory before and after a period of one and two years. The memory tests were taken from Wechsler memory scale, Mini mental state examination, Mann - Buitar visual memory screen for objects. The results showed that the abacus learners at the end of one and two years had a better visual and auditory memory when compared to non-abacus learners.