ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Binaural beats (BB) provisions alpha and gamma have been suggested to modulate working memory (WM), while white noise (WN) acted as a control condition. Methods: The current study overlays WN on alpha and gamma tones to study its modulating role on WM performance. A block-design n-back task paradigm used to determine the effect of load on embedded BB on WM performance using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Six young adults (3 males and 3 females) with mean age of 23.5 ± 0.84 within the Kota Bharu vicinity participated in the study. A repeated-measures ANOVA (p<0.05) on response accuracy indicate medium effect size on condition (η2 =0.420), and large effect sizes on groups (η2 = 0.388) and load (η2 = 0.487). The potential practical difference is more evident on low- (0-back) and high-load (3-back). GWN provision marginally excels, implying its entrainment may benefit WM processing. A repeated-measures ANOVA (p<0.05) on reaction time (RT) implied a large effect size on all variables (condition: η2 =0.065, groups: η2 =0.227 and load: η2 =0.169). It was observed that BB exposure elicits a slow processing speed which worsens RT. The neural correlates suggest activated regions in GWN and AWN are associated with attentional mechanisms and WM processes. Conclusion: Preliminary findings indicate both embedded BB has a potential to improve WM performance with the cost of slower processing speed. GWN provision modulates attentional mechanisms benefiting WM performance and AWN may enhance performance in extreme ends of WM load.
ABSTRACT
@#The question of whether dyslexic children have visual cognitive differences in terms of brain activity as compared to normal children remains unsolved. Here, we aimed to study the neuronal source activity during visual attentional processing reflected in the P300 Event-Related Potential (ERP) component, when being exposed to the different congruency of visual images on dyslexic children by utilizing an ERP. Twelve dyslexic and twelve non-dyslexic children in the range of age 8 to 11 years old took part in this study. They pressed button ‘1’ when they saw a congruence image of the animal in its natural habitat and button ‘2’ for incongruence animal images in non-natural habitat. The source localization of P300 was executed on the grand average waveform by utilising Standardised Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA) algorithm provided by Net Station software. The BA 19 of the left occipital lobe was the most activated during congruence and incongruence images in the dyslexic children. As for the control children, BA 18 and BA 17 of the occipital lobe were activated during congruence and incongruence images, respectively. In sum, there were no differences in source activity areas during both visual images in dyslexic children as compared to the control children, which brings us to a conclusion that the visual attentional activity in dyslexic children used the brain areas that are associated with visual characteristics rather than context differences.
ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Shifted attention can be studied in paired stimuli using different experimental paradigms. Pre-existing literatures showed that children with dyslexia have difficulty in learning. Hence, there might be a relationship between learning difficulty and shifted attention. We investigated shifted attention and topographic distribution of the N200 component using audio–visual paired stimuli in an event-related potential (ERP) study among dyslexic Malay children. Methods: A 128 ERP net designed for children was used for the study. A total of 24 age-matched children were divided into control (n=12) and dyslexic (n=12) groups. A modified audio–visual paired stimuli paradigm was used for the ERP study. Congruent (animal-matched sound) and incongruent (animal-not matched sound) stimuli were used. All participants were instructed to press key ‘1’ and ‘2’ when congruent and incongruent stimuli are presented, respectively. Amplitudes and latencies of the N200 ERP component were analysed at 19 electrode locations in the 10-20 system. A topographic map was analysed for the N200 component for both groups. Results: There was no significant differences in the N200 amplitudes and latencies between children with dyslexia and control children at any sites. The topographic map distribution revealed that the dyslexic group had right frontal and left temporal N200 voltage distribution during the incongruent stimuli. Conclusion: We conclude that Malay children with dyslexia have no difficulties/intact in shifted attention. Moreover, children with dyslexia have diverted left temporal areas during auditory sound attention.
ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Children with dyslexia have disparate visual attention while reading varied structures of grapheme-phoneme that have different congruency. Exploring more related with attention and reading disability, we investigated the visual attention, topographic mapping and correlation of ages of children with dyslexia using ERP study. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional, non-interventional study was performed with simple randomization to select participants. A total of 24 children were recruited into two groups; control (n=12) and dyslexic (n=12) groups. 128-ERP net was used for ERP experiment. Congruent (true meaningful Malay, 80%) and incongruent (meaningless, 20%) words were used for stimuli. Participants pressed button ‘1' and ‘2' when they saw congruent and incongruent words, respectively. Amplitudes and latencies of P300 ERP component were analysed at 19 electrode sites in 10-20 system. Results: Dyslexics evoked significantly higher P300 amplitude at T6 and shorter P300 latency at Fp1 areas compared with the control group. Moreover, pseudo word stimulations showed a high P300 voltage distribution in the prefrontal and right occipital area in the dyslexics, whereas there was more activation in the bilateral occipito-parietal areas in the controls. Significantly moderate positive correlation was found in the control group at F3, F7 and negative correlation in the dyslexic group at T4 areas for P300 latency. Conclusion: Children with dyslexia have higher visual attention with fronto-central topographic distribution for true Malay words and prefrontal and right occipital areas for pseudo Malay words. Age correlation results indicated that attention is directly related to the brain maturity of children.
ABSTRACT
Human cognition involves many mental processes that are highly interrelated, such as perception, attention, memory, and thinking. An important and core cognitive process is memory, which is commonly associated with the storing and remembering of environmental information. An interesting issue in memory research is on ways to enhance memory performance, and thus, remembering of information. Can colour result in improved memory abilities? The present paper highlights the relationship between colours, attention, and memory performance. The significance of colour in different settings is presented first, followed by a description on the nature of human memory. The role of attention and emotional arousal on memory performance is discussed next. The review of several studies on colours and memory are meant to explain some empirical works done in the area and related issues that arise from such studies.