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ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on stroke patients with lateropulsion. MethodsFrom February to October, 2023, 30 stroke patients with lateropulsion in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were divided into control group (n = 15) and experimental group (n = 15) randomly. The control group received routine rehabilitation and sham galvanic vestibular stimulation, and the experimental group received routine rehabilitation and true galvanic vestibular stimulation, for two weeks. They were assessed with Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP), subjective visual vertical (SVV), Line Cancellation Test (LCT), Star Cancellation Test (SCT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Holden Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and Barthel Index (BI) before and after treatment. ResultsAll the indexes improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 2.461, Z > 3.000, P < 0.05), except the SVV orientation, SVV certainty and SCT in the control group; while the SCP, SVV certainty, LCT and FAC were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.189, Z = -2.862, P < 0.05), and the differences before and after intervention were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.382, P < 0.05), except LCT. SCP was correlated with SVV orientation, SVV certainty, SCT, BBS, BI and FAC (|r| > 0.381, P < 0.05). ConclusionGalvanic vestibular stimulation can improve the lateropulsion, balance, walking function and activities of daily living in stroke patients, which may be related to improvement for spatial cognitive function, especially vertical perception.
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Problem: Awareness of children, who experience movement, particularly motor coordination difficulties, has increased dramatically over the last ten years. These motor coordination problems of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) or/and Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been frequently associated with poor visual and spatial eye-vision processing.Background: Motor control difficulties for DCD and ADHD children have been discussed in detail. However, just a little is known about the influence of the natural environment on these disorders. Even more, the built environment’s impact as a spatial cognition and coordination functionality has never been considered.Aim: This pilot and innovative study aim to identify the correlation between and evaluate the visual contribution of the so-called “spatial compound linear geometries” and DCD children’s motor/walking control.Methodology: Twenty children aged 5 to 8 years with DCD difficulties (two intervention groups, one with 10 boys and the other one with 10 girls) were assessed by a statistical structural evaluation in three built environments (two urban parks and one pocket park), under two conditions (rich or not in trees, flora, and PnP linear geometries), and different motor coordination control situations (static balance, dynamic balances, dark condition).Results: The worst performances (regarding movement disorders and motor coordination problems) were observed for both groups with DCD children playing in parks poor in or without trees, flora, and spatial compound linear geometries. Instead, a significant performance (strong statistical correlation) was found for the same intervention group (DCD children’s boys or girls) playing in parks rich in trees, flora, and vegetation (natural environment). The best performance (very strong statistical correlation) was detected in parks rich in a natural environment and linear geometries. Conclusions: While the natural environment contribution is bibliographically known, the best performance finding of the visual contribution of the spatial compound linear geometries, as spatial landmarks enriching the visual-spatial motor/walking functionalities for Children with DCD disorder, could provide new cognitive approaches towards an understanding of children’s Developmental Coordination Disorder and walking physiology. DCD children’s performance, scores, and cues were related to both the natural environment and the spatial compound linear geometries as spatial landmark motor coordination cues and spatio-temporal clues. The significant variability in sensory processing among children with DCD, ADHD, and co-occurring symptoms can contribute to understanding how neurological and social factors correlate across diagnoses. Also, derived observations for stepping errors, Gait analysis (variables), and spatio-temporal clues conclude that visual eye-based processing interrelates with motor coordination problems, performance, inattention, environmental conditions (dark), sex identity (boys, girls), and DCD hyperactivity. Applications: Development of interactive visual applications for (i) human spatial cognition and movement improvement; and (ii) children’s motor control and coordination refinement.
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Resumen Objetivo: Analizar el papel que juegan las reglas en forma de instrucciones verbales y conducta no vocal sobre la manera como las personas se orientan en el espacio urbano. Método: Investigación descriptiva de tipo exploratoria. Se seleccionaron de manera aleatoria 75 personas, hombres y mujeres, mayores de edad y de diversas condiciones sociales, a quienes se les indagó mediante entrevistas informales en distintos puntos del espacio público de Bogotá por la manera de llegar a un destino específico. La información fue recogida por asistentes de investigación quienes se hacían pasar por transeúntes en busca de un lugar mientras grababan la conversación con el entrevistado. Las entrevistas fueron analizadas mediante el programa Atlas.ti. Resultados: Permiten agrupar las respuestas de los transeúntes a los lugares de destino en cinco categorías de reglas o instrucciones que dan las personas: instrucciones de secuencia geográfica, de secuencia de lugares, instrucciones para reconocimiento del lugar, instrucciones temporo-espaciales y no vocales. Conclusiones: Las personas estructuran su conocimiento del espacio urbano a partir de un sistema de categorías verbales que tienen que ver con el seguimiento de reglas, las cuales se reflejan en instrucciones y comunicación no vocal o gestual a manera de expresiones corporales. Se discuten las implicaciones del estudio en la identificación de reglas que configuran una gramática espacial en contraposición a los modelos cognoscitivos y las aproximaciones de las neurociencias, así como los alcances para la planeación urbana y la enseñanza de la ubicación especial.
Abstract Objective: This research study aims to examine the role of verbal instructions and non-vocal behavior, in order to explore the way people are oriented in urban space. Method: A descriptive and exploratory method was conducted. 75 adult people of different social strata, men and women, randomed selected were informaly interviewed about how to reach to a specific place, in different public places of Bogota. Research assistants who were in charge of data collecting, act as pedestrian recorded the conversation of the interviewee. Interviews were analyzed using Atlas.ti software. Results: Showed five categories of rules or instructions given by people whom were interviewed in relation with destinations, including the interpretation that could be made on non-vocal expressions. Conclusions: People structure their knowledge of urban space based on a system of verbal categories that have to do with the following of rules which are reflected in instructions and non-vocal or gestural communication in the form of corporal expressions. The implications of the study are discussed in the identification of rules that configure a spatial grammar, as opposed to cognitive models and neuroscience approaches, as well as the scope for urban planning and the teaching of special location.
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Humans , Male , Female , Social Conditions , Behavior , Communication , Official Instructions , Orientation, Spatial , Role , Neurosciences , City PlanningABSTRACT
Efficient behavioral assays are crucial for understanding the neural mechanisms of cognitive functions. Here, we designed a high-throughput automatic training system for spatial cognition (HASS) for free-moving mice. Mice were trained to return to the home arm and remain there during a delay period. Software was designed to enable automatic training in all its phases, including habituation, shaping, and learning. Using this system, we trained mice to successfully perform a spatially delayed nonmatch to sample task, which tested spatial cognition, working memory, and decision making. Performance depended on the delay duration, which is a hallmark of working memory tasks. The HASS enabled a human operator to train more than six mice simultaneously with minimal intervention, therefore greatly enhancing experimental efficiency and minimizing stress to the mice. Combined with the optogenetic method and neurophysiological techniques, the HASS will be useful in deciphering the neural circuitry underlying spatial cognition.
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Animals , Male , Automation, Laboratory , Behavior, Animal , Equipment Design , Habituation, Psychophysiologic , Memory, Short-Term , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Spatial MemoryABSTRACT
El sistema vestibular permite estabilizar las imágenes visuales en la retina durante el desplazamiento y mantener el balance postural. Hay proyecciones desde los núcleos vestibulares hasta la corteza cerebral, específicamente a nivel del hipocampo y la región témporo-parietal, relacionadas a la llamada cognición espacial y a algunos procesos cognitivos no espaciales como atención y cálculo numérico. La presente es una revisión bibliográfica de areas de estudio e investigación en relación a estos procesos. En los sistemas de búsqueda Pub Med y Google Académico, se encontraron 44 artículos, de los cuales dos fueron capítulos de libros de texto. Se elaboran conclusiones pertinentes
The vestibular system allows the stabilization of visual images in the retina during displacement, thus contributing to the maintenance of postural balance. There are projections from the vestibular nuclei to the cerebral cortex, specifically hippocampus and the temporo-parietal region, related to the so-called spatial cognition and to some non- spatial cognitive processes such as attention and numerical calculation. A literature review on study and research areas related to these processes is presented. Academic Google and PubMed search engines were utilized with a total of 44 articles found, two of which were textbook chapters. Pertinent conclusions are elaborated.
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Objective To investigate the characteristics of mental rotation in stroke patients and the relationship between mental rotation and visual-spatial cognitive function. Methods From March, 2012 to October, 2013, 30 stroke patients were selected as experimental group and 30 healthy subjects as control group. They were tested with hand mental rotation task, and assessed with visuospatial abilities from Mon-treal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results The reaction time of hand mental rotation task was significantly longer in the experimental group than in the control group (F=95.6, P<0.001). The reaction time was longer with the increase of rotation angle in both groups, and was the longest as 180° of rotation (F=345.672, P<0.001). The response accuracy rate of hand mental rotation task was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (F=6.444, P<0.05). The response accuracy rate was lower with the increase of rotation angle in both groups, and was the least as 180° of rotation (F=102.911, P<0.001). The reaction time negatively correlated with the score of visuospa-tial abilities, while the response accuracy rate positively correlated with it in the stroke patients (P<0.05). Conclusion The mental rotation ability is impaired in stroke patients, however, the respondent pattern is similar to healthy people. The mental rotation ability is correlated with visual-spatial cognitive functions in stroke patients.
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Objective To explore the effect of bexarotene (BEX) on spatial cognition,impairment in memory and learning and hippocampal nerve regeneration of Aβ25-35 mice.Methods Eighty healthy male ICR mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,low-dosage BEX treatment group and high-dosage BEX treatment group (n=20); AD mouse models in the later three groups were induced by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ25-35; and mice in the low-dosage BEX treatment group and high-dosage BEX treatment group treated with BEX (50 and 100 mg/kg·d) by gavage 7 days after Aβ25-35 injection for consecutive 14 days.Morris water maze and Y-maze tests were used to test the spatial cognitive function and abilities of learning and memory,respectively,28 days after Aβ25-35 injection.Intraperitoneal injection of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) three times daily for 28 days was performed,and then,immumohistochemical staining was employed to detect the BrdU expression in the hippocampus; dual cortex protein (DCX) staining and Hoechst staining were,respectively,used to evaluate the proliferation and migration,and apoptosis of neuronal precursor cells; toluidine blue staining was employed to evaluate the mature neurons in the hippocampus.The levels of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the expressions of hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) were measured by ELISA and Western blotting,respectively.Results Morris water maze test showed that the latency of crossing the platform was gradually increased in the control group,high-dosage BEX treatment group,low-dosage BEX treatment group and model group on the 3nd,4th,5th and 6th day,and the duration of stay was gradually decreased on the 6th day; increased learning frequency and reduced memory frequency was noted in Y-maze test; number of BrdU-positive cells,length and density of DCX neurite,and number of granule cells in the hippocampus decreased gradually,while Hoechst-positive cells decreased gradually; hippocampal levels of GFAP,GAP-43 and BDNF decreased gradually; the differences in the above levels were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion BEX can improve the spatial cognition and the impairment in memory and learning and promote their hippocampal neurogenesis of Aβ25-35 mice.
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Se han propuesto tres aproximaciones que intentan explicar las peculiaridades del Síndrome de Asperger (SA): disfunción ejecutiva, pobre teoría de la mente o dificultades en la coherencia central. En 2005, Frith y Vignemont proponen una desconexión entre posiciones egocéntrica a alocéntrica, planteando una nueva línea de caracterización del SA. Objetivo: En el presente estudio se comparó el desempeño del tránsito entre posiciones egocéntrica y alocéntrica, en un grupo de cinco niños con SA. Método: El grupo estuvo conformado por 4 niños y 1 niña, con edad promedio de 10 años. Se realizó una valoración detallada a fin de confirmar el diagnóstico y se aplicaron subescalas de la Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil. Se reporta el análisis del desempeño en la subescala Habilidades Espaciales. Resultados: Se observa un desempeño dentro del rango promedio observando diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre subdominios que conforman la subescala (014<0.05 F friedman), así como en las respuestas correctas cuando utilizaron marcos de referencia alocéntricos y egocéntrico en tareas de comprensión (gl 2, 0.041<0.05 Q Cochran) y expresión (gl 2, 0.022<0.05 Q Cochran) derecha-izquierda. Conclusión: En el caso del SA, se observa predominio del uso de la posición egocéntrica. El desempeño alocéntrico de los participantes es más eficaz cuando establecen relaciones desde un objeto dinámico vs estático. Se destaca la importancia de realizar un diagnóstico meticuloso del SA, a fin de valorar si las peculiaridades observadas en cognición espacial han sido generalizadas erróneamente a otros Trastornos del Espectro Autista debido a un diagnóstico equivocado.
Asperger Syndrome (SA) has been explained by three approaches: executive dysfunction, impaired theory of mind and central coherence. In 2005, Frith and Vignemont suggest a new approach, based in disconnection between egocentric and allocentric stances. The present study aimed to compare performance´s group of five children with AS in egocentric-allocentric transit task. Four boys and a girl, whose average age was 10 years old, formed the group. A comprehensive assessment confirmed de AS diagnostic. Children were assessed with Evaluacion Neuropsicológica Infantil subtests, and we report the Spatial Abilities subtest analysis. Standard scores were obtained by the group in average values, but there were significant differences (014<0.05 F friedman) between subdomains assessed by Spatial Abilities subtest. We also found significant differences in egocentric-allocentric stances in spatial notion understanding task (gl 2,0.041<0.05 Q Cochran), and spatial notion expression task (gl 2, 0.022<0.05 Q Cochran). Conclusion: AS group prevail taking egocentric stance. Allocentric performance is commonly efficient if individuals take stance from dynamic than static object. We highlight the importance of an accurate and comprehensive assessment in AS diagnosis to avoid generalization of AS features to another Spectrum Autistic Disorders because of a mistaken AS diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Female , Child , Cognition , Self Concept , Social Perception , Space Perception , Asperger Syndrome/physiopathology , Asperger Syndrome/psychology , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
Este escrito estudió hasta qué punto las personas, al momento de ir de un punto A a uno B, realizan las rutas planeadas previamente, y si éstas son idénticas para ir que para volver. Se pidió a 42 participantes estudiar un plano del campus principal de la UTFSM, y trazar las rutas que eligirían para ir entre dos pares de puntos. Una vez terminada esta tarea, los participantes debieron recorrer en la realidad las rutas trazadas. Los resultados mostraron que las rutas trazadas en papel no necesariamente coincidieron con las rutas realizadas en terreno, y que, en la mayoría de los casos, las rutas A-B/B-A y X-Y/Y-X no fueron simétricas. Se concluye sugiriendo que los criterios de elección de ruta cambian porque el razonamiento espacial de las personas es inherentemente situado, esto es, moldeado por el entorno en que se lleva a cabo.
This paper is concerned with route behavior in people. Specifically, it aims to better understand whether people follow routes planned in advance, and whether these routes are identical irrespective of the direction of travel. A total of 42 participants (27 belonging to UTFSM and 15 from outside) were asked to trace routed between a pair of points in a map of the campus. After that, they were brought to these places and asked to physically navigate these routes. The main results showed that planned routes were not necessarily employed in real-world scenarios, and that people often changed routes depending on the direction of travel. These results suggest that route choice criteria are somehow dependant on contextual information.