Effect of Diffuse Glioma with Precentral Gyrus Invasion on Interhemispheric Brain Activation： A Task-based FMRI Study / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectivesTo explore the effect of diffuse glioma with precentral-gyrus invasion on fMRI activation maps by grasping T-fMRI. MethodsA total of 56 diffuse glioma patients were divided into precentral-gyrus invasion （PGI： n=21） and precentral-gyrus non-invasion （PGNI： n=35） groups. Three statistical thresholds （P value： 10-4， P1； 10-6， P2； 10-8， P3） were set to obtain the activation maps accordingly （V1， V2 and V3）. The interhemispheric and bilateral precentral gyrus activation volumes ratios （IAVR and PAVR） were calculated， respectively. The activation volumes ［△V1=V1-V2； △V2=V2-V3； △Vn （ipsilateral）/△Vn’ （contralateral）， n=1， 2］ within two statistical thresholds and the corresponding interhemispheric ratio was further compared. In addition， the associations of tumor characteristics with IAVR and PAVR were analyzed. ResultsCompared with PGNI， PGI showed significantly decreased IAVR at p1， and the same trends of PAVR in PGI at P1 and P2 （P＜0.05）. However， neither IAVR nor PAVR showed significant differences at P3. PGI showed significantly lower ratios of △V1/△V1’ than PGNI （P=0.02）， except for △V2/△V2’. Additionally， within PGI， PAVR was negatively correlated with tumor volume （P=0.043）， and the distance from the tumor to the hand-knob was positively correlated with the IAVR and PAVR （P＜0.05）. ConclusionDiffuse glioma invading eloquent areas tended to affect interhemispheric asymmetry of activation at relatively lower statistical thresholds than diffuse glioma without invasion， rather than stricter statistical thresholds. Multiple ranges of statistical thresholds were recommended to analyze T-fMRI.

Paediatric type diffuse high grade gliomas in the WHO CNS5 classification: What the pathologist needs to know?

Pediatric-type of diffuse high-grade gliomas (HGG) are classified as a distinct group in the current fifth edition of WHO classification. This group of high-grade tumors is no more called as glioblastoma (GBM), which has been reserved for adult isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild type HGG. These tumors are uncommon as compared to embryonal tumors and low-grade gliomas (LGG). Pediatric-type of diffuse HGG biologically differs from their adult counterparts in that they are therapeutically less sensitive to alkylating chemotherapies. They comprise a heterogeneous group of molecularly defined tumors – predominantly histone gene altered, less common receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-mediated, and syndrome-associated. This review provides an overview of these uncommon tumors and discusses the diagnostic approach of this heterogeneous group of tumors.

Frontal Lobe: Various Sulci Present On Superolateral Surface- A Morphological And Morphometric Study

Introduction: The sulci of the human brain are specifically the result of an evolutionary infolding process. Theseare the anatomical structures which border and divide the adjacent gyri. Knowledge of pattern of sulci and theirsulcul and intersulcal length is important for diagnosis of neurological, functional and cognitive disorders.Aim: The aim of the study is to present the significance of morphological and morphometric measurements ofsulci of superolateral surface of frontal lobe and their comparison between right and left cerebral hemispheres.Materials and methods: The study comprised of 50 formalin fixed cerebral hemispheres 25 right and 25 left, ofhuman cadaver of unknown sex which were obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Government MedicalCollege, Amritsar. . All the parameters were taken by using standard digital vernier calliper and calibrated scale.Result and conclusion: All the sulci of superolateral surface of frontal lobe were found to be present in all thespecimens of right and left cerebral hemispheres except AHR which was absent in 4%(2) specimens of the rightside. The mean length of CS and PreCS was found to be more in right hemispheres where as mean depth of bothsulci was more in left hemispheres. Mean length and depth of lateral sulcus was more in left side as comparedto right. Mean length of SFS and IFS was greater in right hemispheres whereas the mean depth of both the sulciwas found to be similar in both sides. Hence the differences in sulcul length and depth indicate that the twocerebral hemispheres differ structurally and it can be speculated that some morphological asymmetries couldbe related to other functional hemispheric specialization

Cerebral localization of higher functions: The period between Thomas Willis and Paul Broca / Localização cerebral de funções superiores: o período entre Thomas Willis e Paul Broca

ABSTRACT. The age-old debates about the localization of the mind (higher functions) took a new course when Willis located a higher nervous function (memory) in the brain parenchyma, and supposedly, in the cerebral cortex. About two centuries later, Broca, founded on solid scientific reasoning, localized a circumscribed area of the 3rd frontal circumvolution of the left hemisphere as the seat of articulate language, a higher function (speech - language domain). He (and Dax) also defined the functional asymmetry (specialization) of the hemispheres, with left dominance (for language). The period between the findings of these individuals was not quiescent, as numerous authors contributed with their theoretical and clinicopathological research toward creating a conducive scientific atmosphere for this accomplishment, and should be regarded as important. Further studies, in the decades that followed, revealed the localization of additional aspects of language and of other higher functions (cognitive domains).

RESUMO. Os debates milenares sobre a localização da mente (funções superiores) chegaram a um novo caminho quando Willis localizou uma função nervosa superior (memória) no parênquima cerebral, e supostamente, no córtex cerebral. Cerca de dois séculos depois, Broca, baseado em sólido pensamento científico, localizou uma área circunscrita da 3ª circunvolução frontal do hemisfério esquerdo como o sítio da linguagem articulada, uma função superior (fala - domínio da linguagem). Ele (e Dax) também definiu a assimetria funcional (especialização) dos hemisférios, com dominância esquerda (para linguagem). O período entre os achados dessas duas personalidades não ficou quiescente, considerando que numerosos autores contribuíram, com suas pesquisas teóricas e clinicopatológicas, para criar uma atmosfera científica adequada para tal realização, devendo ser vistos como importantes. Mais estudos, nas décadas seguintes, revelaram a localização de aspectos adicionais da linguagem e de outras funções superiores (domínios cognitivos).

Study on the attentional network lateralization in patients with bipolar disorder / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To investigate the abnormality of cerebral laterality of the three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, executive control) in patients with bipolar depression disorder. Methods Patients with bipolar depression disorder (n=28) and healthy controls (n=40) were selected. Lateralized Attention Network Test (LANT) was used to explore the efficiency of the networks in bilateral cerebral hemisphere. Results In the response time (RT), there was a significant interaction between groups and hemispheres in orienting network (F=4.67, P=0.03). The result of post hoc test indicated that the RT in the orienting function was significantly longer in the left hemisphere than in the right in control group (t=-4.47, P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the orienting network between the left and right hemisphere in patients with the depressive bipolar disorder. Conclusion Attention is impaired in patients with depressive bipolar disorder in which the disappearance of left hemisphere advantage of orienting network is the main manifestation of attention impairments.

Auditory Cortical Temporal Processing and Hemispheric Asymmetry Revealed by N1 Dipole Source Activity in Adult Cochlear Implant Users / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implant (CI) changes the way that sound inputs are processed in the brain, possibly causing brain reorganization. Given that the pattern and degree of reorganization are known to be related to speech perception skill, information regarding hemispheric asymmetry can be used to predict behavioral performances in CI users. The current study investigated the hemispheric asymmetry of N1 dipole cortical activity in response to the temporally varied speech sounds and its relationship to speech perception abilities in adult CI users. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The cortical activity was recorded from 64 scalp electrodes in 10 CI users and 11 normal-hearing controls. Speech stimuli were synthesized consonant-vowels, the /ba/-/pa/ continuum that ranged from 0 to 50 ms with a 6-step voice onset time (VOT). N1 dipole amplitudes, latencies, and locations were analyzed as a function of VOT and the direction of implantation. Also investigated was the relationship between N1 dipole lateralization and speech perception. RESULTS: For the N1 dipole location, significant location differences between CI and normal hearing groups were seen at 40 ms VOT in the anterior-posterior direction. For hemispheric asymmetry, the N1 dipole activity in good CI performers was higher in the auditory cortex contralateral to the stimulated ear, while poor CI performers showed greater ipsilateral activity. In addition, a lateralization index at 20 ms VOT showed significant correlation with the /ba/-/pa/ consonant perception scores in noise. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the hemispheric asymmetry of N1 dipole activity in response to stimuli of temporally varied speech has a substantial clinical value, and that this can be used to estimate CI speech perception.

Visuospatial Dysfunction in Patients With the Right Vestibular Neuritis / 대한평형의학회지

Acute vestibular neuritis (VN) is characterized by acute/subacute vertigo with spontaneous nystagmus and unilateral loss of semicircular canal function. Vestibular system in human is represented in the brain bilaterally with functional asymmetries of the right hemispheric dominance in the right handers. Spatial working memory entails the ability to keep spatial information active in working memory over a short period of time which is also known as the right hemispheric dominance. Three patients (patient 1, 32-year-old female; patient 2, 18-year-old male; patient 3, 63-year-old male) suffered from acute onset of severe vertigo, nausea and vomiting. Patients 1 and 2's examination revealed VN on the right side showing spontaneous left beating nystagmus and impaired vestibular ocular reflex on the right side in video head-impulse and caloric tests. Patient 3's finding was fit for VN on the left side. We also evaluated visuospatial memory function with the block design test in these 3 VN patients which discovered lower scores in patients 1 and 2 and the average level in patient 3 compare to those of healthy controls. Follow-up block design test after resolved symptoms showed within normal range in both patients. Our cases suggest that the patients with unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy may have an asymmetrical effect on the higher vestibular cognitive function. The right VN can be associated with transient visuospatial memory dysfunction. These findings add the evidence of significant right hemispheric dominance for vestibular and visuospatial structures in the right-handed subjects, and of predominant dysfunction in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the peripheral lesion side.

Hemispherotomy for hemisphericepilepsy: outcome and early follow up for complications / 基础医学与临床

Objective To investigate the results and complications of hemispherotomy for drug resistant hemispheric epilepsy.Methods The authors reviewed 5 patients who were diagnosed as drug resistant hemispheric epilepsy and operated in the neurosurgery department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2011 to 2013.All the 5 patients were underwent hemispherotomy after carefully multidisciplinary pre-operation evaluation.Results All patients tolerated the procedure well and the postoperative course was smooth.All the 5 patients didn`t have seizure in the period of following up of 46 to 69 months.Conclusions According to literatures and the authors` experience, hemispherotomy is as safe and efficient for hemispheric epilepsy as hemispherectomy.It is most important advance for hemispherectomy.The procedure of hemispherotomy is complex but not very difficult, illustrating a good prospect of application and extension.

Influence of diversification continuing care on quality of life and activities of daily living of epilepsy patients / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the influence of diversification continuing care on quality of life and activities of daily living of epilepsy patients secondary to cerebral hemispheric atrophy.Methods Twenty epilepsy patients with cerebral hemispheric atrophy,admitted to Second Department of Neurosurgery of Hebei Provincial People's Hospital from March 2012 to December 2014 were selected by convenience sampling method,and divided into the intervention group (12 cases) and control group (8 cases),Patients in the control group were given routine guidance discharge,and intervention group were given continuing nursing intervention.The influence of diversification continuing care on quality of life and activities of daily living of epilepsy patients were compared between two groups.Results Twelve months after discharge,QOL in the control group and the intervention group scored 58.8±20.9 and 77.2±14.3,t=2.37,P ＜ 0.05.The ADL scored 49.42±8.14 and 62.72±7.06,t=2.39,P ＜0.05.Conclusions Diversification continuing nursing intervention is helpful to improve quality of life and activities of daily living of epilepsy patients secondary to cerebral hemispheric atrophy.

Clinical study of functional hemispherectomy for pediatric intractable epilepsy with hemisphere lesions / 实用医学杂志

Objective To study the results of functional hemispherectomy for pediatric intractable epilepsy with hemisphere lesions , and to explore the indications of functional hemispherectomy , as well as the prognosis. Methods Twenty-four children with intractable epilepsy caused by hemisphere lesions were included , who underwent functional hemispherectomy. All patients were followed up for 3 ~ 48 months. Results All 24 cases obtained improvement of abnormal behavior , and no significant exacerbation of neurological deficits was observed. During the follow-up, 18 cases were in EngelⅠ(75%), 5 in Engel Ⅱ(21%), and 1 in Engel Ⅰ(4%) respectively. No long-term complication was observed. Conclusion Comprehensive presurgical evaluation is a prerequisite for the surgical treatment of pediatric intractable epilepsy caused by hemisphere lesions. Functional hemispherectomy can effectively control seizures and obviously improve the prognosis.

Dichotic Perception of Modern Chinese Tones by Mexican Chinese Learners / 听力学及言语疾病杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between the advantageous ear (cerebral hemisphere) of Spanish-speaking Mexican Chinese learners and category's perception of the Chinese tones .Methods Four types of Chinese syllables tones were used as experimental materials with dichotic listening technology to test the Spanish -speaking Mexican Chinese learners who studied Chinese about 60~70 hours ,20~27years old(mean is 21 .29 ± 2 .3) , and then the correct response time and error rate were made a count on .Results In terms of reaction time for iden-tifying the four Chinese tones ,the Spanish-speaking M exican Chinese learners's reaction to the first tone suggested that their right ear were the advantageous ear (the left cerebral hemisphere) .As for the main effects of both hands , the first tone suggested that the Spanish -speaking Mexican Chinese learners had a left hand advantage .The Span-ish -speaking Mexican Chinese learners's reaction to the sencond tone suggested that their right ear were the advan-tageous ear(the left cerebral hemisphere) with the left hand used as a hand of reaction ,and the Spanish-speaking Mexican Chinese learners's reaction to the second tone suggested that their left ear were the advantageous ear (the right cerebral hemisphere) with the right hand used as a hand of reaction .In terms of error rate for identifying the four Chinese tones ,the Spanish-speaking M exican Chinese learners's reaction to the third tone suggested that their right ear were the advantageous ear (the left cerebral hemisphere) with the left or right hand used as a hand of reac-tion ,but the fourth's identification didn't show the advantageous ear .Conclusion M exican Chinese learners identify the first and third tones of Modern Chinese the right ear (the left cerebral hemisphere) main effects were significant . Identifying the second tone of Modern Chinese ,Mexican Chinese learners'right ears (the left cerebral hemisphere)or right ears (the left cerebral hemisphere) were the advantageous ear (the advantageous cerebral hemisphere) or not depend on the reaction of hands .Identifying the fourth tones ,Mexican Chinese learners'left or right ear (left or right cerebral hemisphere) main effects weren't significant .

Cerebral Lateralization of Pro- and Anti-Social Tendencies

Mounting evidence suggest that the right-hemisphere (RH) has a relative advantage, over the left-hemisphere (LH), in mediating social intelligence - identifying social stimuli, understanding the intentions of other people, awareness of the dynamics in social relationships, and successful handling of social interactions. Furthermore, a review and synthesis of the literature suggest that pro-social attitudes and behaviors are associated with physiological activity in the RH, whereas unsocial and anti-social tendencies are mediated primarily by the LH. This hemispheric asymmetry is rooted in several neurobiological and functional differences between the two hemispheres. (I) Positive social interactions often require inhibiting one's immediate desires and considering the perspectives and needs of others. Given that self-control is mediated by the RH, pro-social emotions and behaviors are, therefore, inherently associated with the RH as it subserves the brain's self-restraint mechanisms. (II) The RH mediates experiences of vulnerability. It registers the relative clumsiness and motor weakness of the left limbs, and it is involved, more than the LH, in processing threats and mediating fear. Emotional states of vulnerability trigger the need for affiliation and sociality, therefore the RH has a greater role in mediating pro-social attitudes and behaviors. (III) The RH mediates a holistic mode of representing the world. Holistic perception emphasizes similarities rather than differences, takes a long-term perspective, is associated with divergent thinking and seeing other points-of-view, and it mediates a personal mode of relating to people. All these features of holistic perception facilitate a more empathetic attitude toward others and pro-social behaviors.

A tale of two hemispheres: contrasting socioemotional dysfunction in right- versus left-lateralised semantic dementia / Um conto sobre dois hemisférios: contrastando a disfunção socioemocional na demência semântica com atrofia lateralizada à direita versus esquerda

OBJECTIVE: Semantic dementia, a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, is characterised by cross-modal loss of conceptual knowledge attributable to progressive degeneration of the left anterior temporal lobe. Much less is known regarding the clinical presentation of SD patients with predominantly right-lateralised atrophy. Recent reports emphasise marked socioemotional and behavioural disturbances in such cases. Given the importance of the right anterior temporal lobes in social cognition, we hypothesised that socioemotional functioning would be disproportionately affected in right versus left-lateralised SD cases. METHODS: We assessed well-characterised cases of predominantly right (n=10) and left (n=12) SD and 20 matched healthy controls on tests of emotion processing and interpersonal functioning. RESULTS: Right SD cases showed disproportionate difficulties in the recognition of positive and negative facial emotions, specifically happiness and anger, compared with left SD cases. Deficits in anger recognition persisted in right SD despite covarying for facial and semantic processing. On a contextually rich task of emotion recognition using multimodal videos, no subgroup differences were evident. Finally, empathic concern was rated as significantly lower by caregivers of right versus left SD cases. Overall, the extent of socioemotional disturbance was associated with the degree of behavioural changes in SD. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal considerable overlap in the extent to which socioemotional processes are disrupted in left and right-lateralised cases of SD. Notably, however, right SD cases show disproportionate deficits for recognition of facial emotions and the capacity for empathic concern, supporting a specialised role for the right anterior temporal lobes in mediating these cognitive functions.

OBJETIVO: A demência semântica (DS), um subtipo de degeneração lobar frontotemporal, é caracterizada por perda multimodal do conhecimento conceitual atribuída à degeneração progressiva do região anterior do lobo temporal esquerdo. Sabe-se menos sobre o quadro clínico de pacientes com DS em que a atrofia é localizada predominantemente à direita. Relatos recentes têm enfatizado marcantes distúrbios socioemocionais e comportamentais em tais casos. Dada a importância da região anterior do lobo temporal direito na cognição social, aventamos a hipótese de que o funcionamento socioemocional seria desproporcionalmente afetado nos casos de DS com atrofia lateralizada à direita. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados os desempenhos de casos bem caracterizados de DS com atrofia do lobo temporal predominantemente à direita (n=10) e à esquerda (n=12) e 20 controles saudáveis em testes de processamento de emoções e funcionamento interpessoal. RESULTADOS: Casos de DS com atrofia predominante à direita apresentaram dificuldades desproporcionadas no reconhecimento de emoções faciais positivas e negativas, especificamente expressões de felicidade e raiva, em comparação com os casos de atrofia à esquerda. Os déficits no reconhecimento de raiva persistiram depois de excluídas as covariações com processamento facial e semântico. Em uma tarefa contextualmente rica de reconhecimento de emoções através de vídeos multimodais, não houve diferenças entre os subgrupos. Por fim, preocupação empática foi classificada por cuidadores como significativamente menor nos casos com atrofia à direita. Em geral, o grau de perturbação socioemocional foi associado com o grau de alterações comportamentais na DS. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados revelam uma considerável sobreposição na medida em que os processos socioemocionais são rompidos tanto em casos com atrofia predominante à direita como à esquerda. Notavelmente, entretanto, os casos com DS com atrofia predominante à direita apresentam déficits desproporcionais no reconhecimento de emoções faciais e na capacidade de preocupação empática, dando suporte à hipótese de um papel especializado das regiões anteriores do lobo temporal direito na mediação dessas funções cognitivas.

The Neural Basis of Optimism and Pessimism

Our survival and wellness require a balance between optimism and pessimism. Undue pessimism makes life miserable; however, excessive optimism can lead to dangerously risky behaviors. A review and synthesis of the literature on the neurophysiology subserving these two worldviews suggests that optimism and pessimism are differentially associated with the two cerebral hemispheres. High self-esteem, a cheerful attitude that tends to look at the positive aspects of a given situation, as well as an optimistic belief in a bright future are associated with physiological activity in the left-hemisphere (LH). In contrast, a gloomy viewpoint, an inclination to focus on the negative part and exaggerate its significance, low self-esteem as well as a pessimistic view on what the future holds are interlinked with neurophysiological processes in the right-hemisphere (RH). This hemispheric asymmetry in mediating optimistic and pessimistic outlooks is rooted in several biological and functional differences between the two hemispheres. The RH mediation of a watchful and inhibitive mode weaves a sense of insecurity that generates and supports pessimistic thought patterns. Conversely, the LH mediation of an active mode and the positive feedback it receives through its motor dexterity breed a sense of confidence in one's ability to manage life's challenges, and optimism about the future.

Especialização hemisférica cerebral e assimetrias comportamentais: o lado da cama tem gênero? / Cerebral hemispheric specialization and behavioral asymmetries: does the side of bed have a gender?

Dados acerca do lado da cama onde as mulheres dormem foram coletados para subsidiar a validade de um projeto amplo para determinar se esta atividade é lateralizada. Informações a respeito do lado que ocupam na cama de casal, sua lateralidade manual, o tempo de convívio do casal e outros itens adicionais foram coletados em amostra de 229 mulheres com idades de 20 a 65 anos. As frequências totais de ocupação nos lados da cama se mostraram estatisticamente equivalentes, porém o lado esquerdo mostrou ser significantemente (Χ² = 5,44, 1 g.l., p<0,05) mais escolhido (70 por cento) nos casos em que a escolha foi feita espontaneamente (i.e, não determinada por fatores impositivos). Conclui-se que os dados indicam a validade da pesquisa proposta que se insere na linha de estudos dedicados à compreensão dos mecanismos de funcionamento do sistema nervoso central.

Data relative on the side occupied by females in double beds were collected in order to evaluate the feasebility to carry-out a more extensive study to determine if this behavioral pattern is lateralized. Information relative to the side occupied in the bed, manual lateralization, how long lived togheter, and other related questions were collected in a sample of 229 women aged from 20 to 65 years old. Total frequencies of the bed side occupied showed to be equivalent, however, the left side showed to be chosen significantly more (70 percent)(Χ² = 5.4; 1 d.f.; p<0.05) when the choice was stated to be spontaneous (i.e, not determined by an impositive factor). It is concluded that the obtained data give favourable support to an extensive study on the subject, which inserts into the area of research devoted to the understanding of the functional characteristics of central nervous functioning.

The hemispheric lateralization of the auditory cortex after being stimulated by pure tone: a 1H-MRS study / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the asymmetry of metabolic products of the auditory cortex in normal human brain after being stimulated by the pure tone with the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1 H-MRS). Methods Twelve healthy volunteers, including 7 males and 5 females, were performed MRS tests before and after the stimulation of the pure tone of 90 dB in intensity and 1000 Hz in frequency. The the metabolites peak of the N-acetylaspartate (NAA) ,creatine(Cr) ,choline( Cho) , glutamine/glutamate ( Glx) and GABA in auditory cortex were investigated, The content of metabolic products were conducted with half-quantitative analysis. The differences of the NAA/( Cho + Cr) ,Glx/Cr and GABA/ Cr ratios before and after pure tone stimulation in the bilateral auditory cortex were analyzed. The difference of distribution of the metabolic products between the left and right auditory cortex was also analyzed to explore the asymmetry of the auditory cortex. Results The NAA/( Cho + Cr) and GABA/Cr ratios increased,the Glx/Cr ratio decreased in the left auditory cortex after being stimulated by the pure tone. There were significant differences in the NAA/( Cho + Cr) , Glx/Cr and GABA/Cr ratios before and after pure tone stimulation (P0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the Glx/Cr ratio of the auditory cortex between two sides after being stimulated by the pure tone. Conclusion The metabolic lateralization exists in auditory cortex of normal human brain after being stimulated by the pure tone, which may be the bases of the functional asymmetry.

Normative study of tympanic infrared thermometry: a non-invasive index of asymmetric cerebral activity

Human and primate studies have demonstrated that performance of tasks that induce asymmetrical physiological activation of the cerebral hemispheres leads to a reduction of tympanic temperature (TT) ipsilateral to the most active hemisphere. It is possible that diseases that interfere in an asymmetrical fashion with the degree of cerebral activity cause similar TT changes. There are not, however, normative studies of the acceptable interaural difference in TT in normal subjects at rest. This study was done to establish normative values for interaural TT values measured by means of infrared tympanic thermometry in resting normal subjects not engaged in any specific task. TT values were measured in 47 normal volunteers (20 men and 27 women, aged 39.38±12.57 years old) at rest; mean interaural differences of TT were calculated. Mean right ear TT was 36.85±0.50ºC and mean left ear TT was 36.74±0.57ºC; these values are in agreement with those already reported in the literature. Mean interaural TT difference was 0.25ºC (SD 0.21ºC). These findings indicate that maximal normal values for interaural TT differences, with confidence levels of 99 percent and 95 percent, are, respectively, 0.88 and 0.67ºC. The value of interaural differences of TT as a marker of asymmetrical hemispheric activity in neurological patients will have to be established by additional studies.

Estudos em humanos e outros primatas demonstraram que a realização de tarefas que causam ativação assimétrica fisiológica dos hemisférios cerebrais resulta em redução da temperatura timpânica (TT) ipsilateral ao hemisfério cerebral mais ativo. É possível que patologias que interfiram de modo assimétrico com o grau de atividade cerebral causem alterações similares da TT. Não existem, entretanto, estudos normativos da diferença normal aceitável de TT entre os tímpanos de um mesmo indivíduo em repouso. Este estudo teve como objetivo estabelecer uma normatização dos valores bilaterais da TT, e principalmente das diferenças interauriculares desse parâmetro, obtidas por termometria timpânica por infravermelho, em indivíduos normais, na ausência de execução de tarefas específicas. Foram obtidas medidas da TT em 47 voluntários normais (20 homens e 27 mulheres, com média de idade de 39,38±12,57 anos) em repouso e calculadas as diferenças interauriculares, sua média e desvio-padrão. A TT média foi de 36,85±0,50ºC à direita e de 36,74± 0,57ºC à esquerda, o que está de acordo com dados da literatura. A média das diferenças de TT encontrada foi de 0,25ºC e o desvio padrão (DP) 0,21ºC. Com base nesses achados, os valores máximos considerados normais para a diferença interauricular da TT, com níveis de confiança de 99 por cento e de 95 por cento, são de 0,88ºC e 0,67ºC, respectivamente. A utilidade da medida da diferença interauricular da TT como marcador de assimetria da atividade cerebral em pacientes com patologias neurológicas deverá ser avaliada em estudos adicionais.

The Therapeutic Effect of Inhibitory Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Subcortical Aphasia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether suppression of right inferior frontal gyrus (Broca's homologue) by 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve speech recovery. METHOD: We applied low frequency rTMS on right Broca's homologue twice a week for 6 weeks in eight subcortical aphasia patients who were 3 months to 3 years poststroke onset. They were tested with Korean Version-Western Aphasia Battery before and after procedure. Also, they were tested with Parallel Short Forms for the Korean-BostonNaming Test and Animal Naming Test serially for outcome measure. rTMS was performed with intensity of 80% of motor threshold for 10 min (600 pulses) at 1 Hz frequency. RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed in picture naming at post-rTMS only in nonfluent aphasia patients but not in fluent aphasia patients. CONCLUSION: rTMS may provide a novel treatment for aphasia by possibly modulating the distributed, bi-hemispheric language network.

Study on the Cerebral Laterality Pattern of Medical Students / 체질인류학회지

In this study, cerebral functional laterality patterns of medical students in the year 2005 were compared with those in the year 1995. Questionnaires on the behavior patterns were asked, and the laterality patterns were classified as right hemispheric (R)-balanced hemispheric (B)-left hemispheric (L). 385 students were studied (210 male and 175 female). Of the 3 categories, male students showed the patterns of R (42.8%), B (31.9%) and L (25.3%). Female students showed R (45.2%), B (30.9%) and L (23.9%). As the above result shows, laterality patterns of male and female were similar. The above data were compared with the another data in the article reported in 1995. Previous report showed that R (63.5%), B (24.9%) and L (11.6%) in the male students, and R (49.0%), B (22.4%) and L (28.6%) in female students, respectively. From the above results, It was suggested that cerebral laterality patterns of medical students in the year 2005 shifted toward left, but it still remained 42~45% in right hemispheric as contrast to 24~25% in left hemispheric. Hemispheric shift was interpreted as that, it may be the result of student's adaptative or competitive activities in the fast changing social environment.

Hemispheric Asymmetry for Encoding Unrelated Word Pairs? A Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Study / 航天医学与医学工程

Objective To explore the role of the prefrontal cortex in semantic encoding of unrelated word pairs by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Method Forty-eight subjects were presented unrelated pairs of Chinese words under both the nonsemantic and semantic encoding conditions. Under the nonsemantic condition, subjects judged whether the two words had similar orthographic structures; under the semantic condition, they generated a sentence involving the presented word pairs. The changes of regional blood volume associated with the cognitive tasks were measured by using fNIRS equipment which was a continuous optical imager. Result The regions that corresponded to the prefrontal regions showed greater activation under semantic than nonsemantic condition in both left and right hemispheres, although the extent of the activation was larger in the left than right prefrontal regions. This result was consistent with other neuroimaging studies on unrelated word pairs processing, but did not conform to the strict interpretations of the hemispheric encoding/retrieval asymmetry model (HERA). Conclusion This study suggests that material specificity is one of the important factors to influence hemispheric asymmetry in memory encoding. When associations between items are required, right prefrontal regions participate in the encoding processing as well. It also indicates that fNIRS imaging is a viable method of investigating higher level cognitive processing such as memory.