Finger Tapping of Stroke Patients' Unaffected Hand Is Different from Healthy / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To compare finger tapping of stroke patients' unaffected hands to the same hands of healthy people. Methods 40 stroke patients with left hemiplegia (25 males and 15 females), including 11 cases of cerebral hemorrhage and 29 cases of cerebral infarction, and other 40 healthy people were tested the finger tapping of right hand. Results The finger tapping was significantly lower in the stroke patients than in the healthy people (P<0.01). There was no difference in finger tapping between patients with cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction (P<0.05). Conclusion Motor function of fingers in unaffected hands is injured in stroke patients.

Finger Tapping of Stroke Patients' Unaffected Hand Is Different from Healthy / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To compare finger tapping of stroke patients' unaffected hands to the same hands of healthy people. Methods 40 stroke patients with left hemiplegia (25 males and 15 females), including 11 cases of cerebral hemorrhage and 29 cases of cerebral infarc-tion, and other 40 healthy people were tested the finger tapping of right hand. Results The finger tapping was significantly lower in the stroke patients than in the healthy people (P<0.01). There was no difference in finger tapping between patients with cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction (P<0.05). Conclusion Motor function of fingers in unaffected hands is injured in stroke patients.

The Effects of Tapping Force and Speed on the Activation of Motor-related Cortices / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

This single participant functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigates the effects of tapping force and speed on the activation characteristics in motor-related cortices during bilateral self-paced tapping of hand fi ngers. The participant performed four types of self-paced hand fi nger tapping which are soft-slow (SS), soft-fast (SF), hard-slow (HS) and hard-fast (HF) in an fMRI scan. A general linear model (GLM) was implemented in generating brain activation. Statistical inferences were then made about the brain activations using Gaussian random fi eld theory (RFT) at corrected signifi cant level (α = 0.05), given that there is no activation. The results indicate that the brain coordinates bilateral selfpaced tapping of hand fi ngers with the involvement of motor-related cortices which are bilateral precentral gyrus (PCG), bilateral cerebellum and supplementary motor area (SMA). The increase in tapping force accentuate signifi cant activation (p < 0.05 corrected) in bilateral PCG (Brodmann Area (BA) 6) in accordance with its function in triggering motor action such as controlling the tapping force. The increase in tapping speed causes a signifi cant (p < 0.05 corrected) increase in brain activation only in somatosensory associated region in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) or right BA7. This suggests that SPL plays important roles in coordinating purposeful, skilled movements

Comparison of Forefinger Tapping between Hemiplegics and Normal Controls / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To measure the tapping frequency of hemiplegic unaffected forefinger and normal control's forefinger. Methods The tapping frequency of 27 left hemiplegic patients and 32 healthy controls were measured by finger oscillating frequency tester. Results The oscillation frequency of hemiplegic patients was lower than that of the healthy controls (P<0.001). Conclusion Hand function of hemiplegic patients weakened.

Activation Characteristics of the Primary Motor (M1) and Supplementary Motor (SMA) Areas during Robust Unilateral Finger Tapping Task / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

This study investigated the functional specialisation characteristics of brain in multiple right-hand dominant subjects pertaining to the activation of the cerebral motor cortices evoked by unilateral finger tapping, especially in primary motor (M1) and supplementary motor (SMA) areas. This multiple-subject study used unilateral (UNIright and UNIleft) selfpaced tapping of hand fingers to activate the M1 and SMA. Brain activation characteristics were analysed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Activation for UNIright and UNIleft showed the involvement of contralateral and ipsilateral M1 and SMA. A larger activation area but with a lower percentage of signal change (PSC) were observed in the left M1 due to the control on UNIright (4164 voxels at α = 0.001, PSC = 1.650) as compared to the right M1 due to the control on UNIleft (2012 voxels at α = 0.001, PSC = 2.377). This is due to the influence of the tapping rate effects which is greater than what could be produced by the average effects of the dominant and sub-dominant hands. The significantly higher PSC value observed in the right M1 (p < 0.05) is due to a higher control demand used by the brain in coordinating the tapping of the sub-dominant fingers. The findings obtained from this study showed strong evidence of the existence of brain functional specialisation and could be used as baseline references in determining the most probable motor pathways in a sample of subjects.

Neuropsychological Functioning in Detoxified Alcoholics by Seoul Computerized Neurocognitive Function Test / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate consistent and significant findings of neurocognitive functioning in detoxified alcoholics have been inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive functions in detoxified alcoholics and the relationship between neuropsychological test scores and alcohol consumption patterns. METHODS: Twenty-four alcoholics, aging between 30 and 50 years, at least 4 weeks after the beginning of detoxification and 24 normal controls equated for age and education were exmained on Seoul computerized neurocognitive function tests in order to evaluate neurocognitive functions, which include attention, memory function, executive function, motor performance. RESULTS: Compared to controls, alcoholics were more impaired on both finger tapping test (FTT, right: p<0.05, left: p0.01), but there were no significant differences between two groups on any measures including attention, memory function, and executive function. Even though there were significantly negative associations between length of drinking history and performances on FTT with both hands (right: r=-0.55, p0.01; left: r=-0.48, p0.05) in alcohol group, multiple regression analyses showed that age and STAI contributed significantly to the prediction of FTT, ameliorating the dignostic effect. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of significant declines in attention, memory, and executive functions in alcoholics compared to normal controls, except impaired motor performance functions which may be related to concurrent anxiety.

Neuropsychological Functioning in Detoxified Alcoholics by Seoul Computerized Neurocognitive Function Test / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate consistent and significant findings of neurocognitive functioning in detoxified alcoholics have been inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cognitive functions in detoxified alcoholics and the relationship between neuropsychological test scores and alcohol consumption patterns. METHODS: Twenty-four alcoholics, aging between 30 and 50 years, at least 4 weeks after the beginning of detoxification and 24 normal controls equated for age and education were exmained on Seoul computerized neurocognitive function tests in order to evaluate neurocognitive functions, which include attention, memory function, executive function, motor performance. RESULTS: Compared to controls, alcoholics were more impaired on both finger tapping test (FTT, right: p<0.05, left: p0.01), but there were no significant differences between two groups on any measures including attention, memory function, and executive function. Even though there were significantly negative associations between length of drinking history and performances on FTT with both hands (right: r=-0.55, p0.01; left: r=-0.48, p0.05) in alcohol group, multiple regression analyses showed that age and STAI contributed significantly to the prediction of FTT, ameliorating the dignostic effect. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of significant declines in attention, memory, and executive functions in alcoholics compared to normal controls, except impaired motor performance functions which may be related to concurrent anxiety.

Application of specific brain function evaluation by optical topography

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To use the evaluation of a specific brain function obtained by optical topography. This system uses a non invasive method to measure brain function unlike other major systems.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve optical fibers were attached to the subject's head. Hemodynamic changes in the motor cortex were measured during finger tapping before and after alcohol intake for eachALDH2 genotype.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Different hemodynamic changes in the motor cortex were observed among, theALDH2 genotypes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Optical topography is a useful tool for evaluating specific brain functions. Further research is needed on the relations between various environmental factors and brain functions by optical topography.</p>

Application of Specific Brain Function Evaluation by Optical Topography

Objectives: To use the evaluation of a specific brain function obtained by optical topography. This system uses a non invasive method to measure brain function, unlike other major systems. Methods: Twelve optical fibers were attached to the subject's head. Hemodynamic changes in the motor cortex were measured during finger tapping before and after alcohol intake for each ALDH2 genotype. Results: Different hemodynamic changes in the motor cortex were observed among the ALDH2 genotypes. Conclusions: Optical topography is a useful tool for evaluating specific brain functions. Further research is needed on the relations between various environmental factors and brain functions by optical topography.