Neuroprotection against vascular dementia after acupuncture combined with donepezil hydrochloride：P300 event related potential

Acupuncture can be used to treat various nervous system diseases.Here,168 vascular dementia patients were orally administered donepezil hydrochloride alone（5 mg/day,once a day for 56 days）,or combined with acupuncture at Shenting（DU24）,Tianzhu（BL10）,Sishencong（Extra）,Yintang（Extra）,Renzhong（DU26）,Neiguan（PC6）,Shenmen（HT7）,Fengchi（GB20）,Wangu（GB12） and Baihui（DU20）（once a day for 56 days）.Compared with donepezil hydrochloride alone,P300 event related potential latency was shorter with an increased amplitude in patients treated with donepezil hydrochloride and acupuncture.Mini-Mental State Examination score was also higher.Moreover,these differences in P300 latency were identified within different infarcted regions in patients treated with donepezil hydrochloride and acupuncture.These findings indicate that acupuncture combined with donepezil hydrochloride noticeably improves cognitive function in patients with vascular dementia,and exerts neuroprotective effects against vascular dementia.

Familiarity in Chinese and English Idiom Comprehension: An Event Related Potential Study from Chinese English Learners

Idioms have attracted great attention over recent decades. Nevertheless, controversies still remain in regard of the most plausible cognition mechanism for idiom comprehension, especially concerning non-Indo-European languages and second/foreign language users. Event Related Potential （ERP） experiments on proficient English learners whose native language was Mandarin Chinese were conducted to test the influences of idioms＇ familiarity on both Chinese and English （as foreign language） idiom comprehension. Data including accuracy rates, reaction time, and latency and peak amplitudes of N400 were recorded and analyzed, indicating that familiarity might play a significant role in idiom comprehension in both native and foreign languages. Further, idioms, should they have similar familiarity levels, may be easier to process in the native language （Chinese） than in the foreign language （English）.

Discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and olfactory event related potentials in five patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory infection

Background Subjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection （URI）. Methods We tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials （OERPs） recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer. Results An unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable. Conclusions We suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrophysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.

How do medical students understand disease behaviors?Evidence from event-related potentials

Objective: To investigate how medical students process Western medicine(WM) terms vs. traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) terms and how this is impacted by analogical priming from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience.Methods: The experiments were designed as a 2(TCM terms vs. WM terms) × 2(correct terms vs.incorrect terms) × 2(analogical priming task vs. non-priming task) scheme. A total of 26 medical students completed a non-priming judgment task and an analogical priming judgment task on medical terms. During the tasks, the participants were asked to make correct/incorrect judgments on WM terms and TCM terms, and their behavioral data and event-related potentials(ERPs) were recorded.Results: Behaviorally, the response speed and accuracy of WM terms were higher than those of TCM terms(both P <.001), indicating a prominent concreteness effect. Analogical priming shortened the response time to medical terms(P <.001), and the response time to TCM terms was shortened more significantly(P =.001). For ERPs, WM terms induced a larger P200(an early positive ERP component), a smaller N400(a negative ERP component), and a higher late positive ERP component, indicating superiority of attention adjustment, smaller-scale semantic activation, and a higher cost of late semantic analysis and integration. However, the analogical priming eliminated the difference between WM and TCM terms in P200 and N400 while maintaining it in the LPC. This suggests that WM terms are sensitive to analogical attention adjustment, and TCM terms are susceptible to analogical semantic integration.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that WM and TCM disease behavior terms may initially differ in concreteness or the use of a verbal-linguistic system. Analogy is more conducive to understanding TCM terms. This research provides important neuroscientific evidence of the difference in thinking between TCM and WM.

Event temporal relation computation based on machine learning

Temporal relation computation is one of the tasks of the extraction of temporal arguments from event, and it is also the ultimate goal of temporal information processing. However, temporal relation computation based on machine learning requires a lot of hand-marked work, and exploring more features from discourse. A method of two-stage machine learning based on temporal relation computation （TSMLTRC） is proposed in this paper for the shortcomings of current temporal relation computation between two events. The first stage is to get the main temporal attributes of event based on classification learning. The second stage is to compute the event temporal relation in the discourse through employing the result of the first stage as the basic features, and also employing some new linguistic characteristics. Experiments show that, compared with the artificial golden rule, the computational efficiency in the first stage is much higher, and the F1-Score of event temporal relation which is computed through combining multi-features may be increased at 85.8% in the second stage.

ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR TREATMENT OF MOTOR APHASIA CAUSED BY ISCHEMIC APOPLEXY

Objective To observe therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with language training on aphasia induced by ischemic apoplexy and investigate the mechanisms. Methods 60 patients were randomly divided into a treatment group treated by acupuncture associated with language training and a control group treated by simple language training. Tongue-acupuncture was applied as the main therapy, and language training included speech organ training, mouth-shape and voice training, spoken language expression training and practical communication ability training. According to Aphosio Bottery of Chinese （ABC）, language ex- amination evaluation was made, and event related potential （P300） was detected before and after treatment. Results The therapeutic effect in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group （P〈O. 05）, and the scores of ABC items including information content, speech fluency, repetition, vocabula- ry denomination, color naming, response denomination, confirmation or negation, acoustic recognition and carrying out instruction in the treatment group were obviously higher than those in the control group （P〈0.05）. After one course of treatment, the latencies of N2 and P3 waves in P300 were significantly short- ened and the amplitude of P3 was significantly elevated in the treatment group, compared with those in the control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture combined with language training provided remarkable therapeutic effects in treating cerebral infarction-induced motor aphasia, and it was better than simple lan- guage training. The results of enhancing of the ABC scores including information content, speech fluency, repetition, vocabulary denomination, color naming, response denomination, confirmation or negation, acous- tic recognition and carrying out instruction, and shortening of the latencies of N2 and P3 waves in P300 and ele- vation of P3 amplitude may be taken as the indices for evaluating and anticipating clinical therapeutic effects of the therapy for treating the disease, which may also be some of the mechanisms.

字谜问题解决中顿悟的原型启发机制再探

以字谜为实验材料,采用"五对五的学习-测试"范式和ERP记录手段,考察了原型字谜和靶字谜之间是否包含共同字词对顿悟的原型启发的影响。结果发现:在靶字谜出现后的800-1700ms内,有、无共同字词条件比基线条件诱发了一个更正的ERP成分(P800-1700),可能反映了原型的激活和新颖联系的形成。不过,有、无共同字词条件在行为反应和ERP波形上没有显著差异,可能表明原型字谜和靶字谜之间在字面上是否包含相同的字词并不是原型启发的关键。

叙述文本中中心概念的确定方式及其通达

采用移动窗口技术考察叙述文本中中心概念的确定方式及其通达。实验一在中文条件下得出了与Michelle&O’Brien2002研究一致的结果。实验二采用事件相关方式确定中心词,结果表明,无论在标题相关陪衬词还是在事件相关陪衬词干扰下,事件相关中心词通达效果显著优于边缘词。实验三进一步比较事件相关中心概念与词频相关中心概念的通达效果,结果表明,前者通达效果显著优于后者。总的实验结果表明,事件相关中心的确定方式同样在叙述文本中具有适用性,能够很好地体现文本中心,表现出情境模型水平上的通达优势。

毒品成瘾的ERP研究进展

把ERP研究技术应用于毒品成瘾研究将有利于对成瘾问题的脑机制进行更深入的探讨,为有效诊断和戒除毒品成瘾提供更直接的生理指标。目前的研究主要集中在鉴别和诊断毒品成瘾的ERP成分、毒品成瘾导致认知障碍或缺失的脑机制以及毒品成瘾的生理心理机制等三个方面。通过对毒品成瘾ERP研究现状的介绍,可以推测今后的研究将着重于加强对毒品成瘾心理机制、毒品成瘾导致的认知功能障碍和情感障碍研究范式的拓展以及将多种ERP成分与毒品成瘾研究更有效地结合起来。

靶线索与意向关联性对事件性前瞻记忆的影响

采用基于双重任务的研究范式,操纵线索与意向的关联性、分心水平以及线索区别性,考察了前瞻记忆的前瞻成分和回溯成分在基于事件的前瞻记忆中的作用。结果表明:(1)靶线索与意向关联性对前瞻记忆的回溯成分有显著影响,靶线索与意向高关联时,意向提取过程符合自动加工;靶线索与意向低关联时,意向提取过程符合策略加工。(2)靶线索的区别性对前瞻记忆的前瞻成分有显著影响,靶线索区别性特征显著提高对线索的识别水平,符合自动加工,当靶线索特征不显著时需要策略加工。

P300 EEG Recognition Based on SVM Approach

In this paper, we used SVM method to detect P300 signal. Before training a classification parameter for the SVM, several preprocessing operations were applied to the data including filtering, downsampling, single trial extraction, windsorizing, electrode selection et al. With the SVM algorithm, the classification accuracy could be up to above 80%. In some cases, the accuracy could reach 100%. It is suitable to use SVM for P300 EEG recognition in the P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) system. Our further work will include the improvement to yield higher classification accuracy using fewer trials.

Beyond Pure Frequency and Phases Exploiting： Color Influence in SSVEP Based on BCl

A BCI （brain computer interface） established a new direct communication channel using the brain activity between the human brain and machine. The visual stimulus with a certain frequency is present to the BCI users; it exists in a particular condition to observe a continuous brain response respect to frequent of visual stimuli. A significant problem when engaged the SSVEP （steady-state visual evoked potential） based on BCI, it will be exhausted and may suffer for the users when staring at flashing stimuli. This experimental study investigates how the differences in LED＇s-colors influence of SSVEP with respect to （i.e., frequencies and phases）. The result shows that the visualization of phase delays in lower frequencies greater than in higher frequencies.

The Impact of Age and Duration of Cochlear Implant in a Congenital Deaf Population: An ERP Study

Objective: It is well known that patients with Cochlear Implant (CI) have a large inter-individual variability in linguistic and auditory performances. This can be related to individual auditory processing abilities and integrity of auditory system from auditory nerve to cerebral cortex. P300 can be used for the evaluation of central auditory functions in people with hearing loss and CI. No studies considered the P300 in the population of prelingually deafened adults that underwent CI in old age. The aim of this study is to assess Event Related Potential (ERP) in patients with congenital profound hearing loss with early or late implantation and evaluate these results respect to an age-matched normal hearing group. Methods: ERPs (N100, N200 and P300) and auditory benefit testing (pure tone average and speech audiometric test) and auditory perception testing (Categories of Auditory Performance—CAP) were evaluated in all subjects with their device. Results: All mean latencies (N100, N200 and P300) were found greater in patients group compared to control group. When analyzing all measures in patient group, we did not find any significant differences according to age of implant while significant difference (p > 0.05) in N100 amplitude (p = 0.045) and P300 latency (p = 0.035) were found according to time of CI use. A linear correlation between N200 and P300 latency in control and patients groups was found. Conclusion: In summary, ERPs analysis in the evaluation of CI showed a great importance of long use of the device in addiction to an early time of implant.

灰色关联度用于全能运动项目因素分析中存在的问题

通过分析全能运动项目和灰色关联的特点,揭示了关联度用于全能运动项目因素分析时,其结果具有唯一性和不唯一性,以及应注意的问题。

婴儿痉挛症的听觉事件相关电位的初步研究

本文首次采用听觉事件相关电位(ERP)技术,对23名婴儿痉挛症患儿和21名正常儿童进行了初步研究,证实患儿P300潜伏期与DQ的负相关性,从神经电生理角度论证了婴儿痉挛症发病的年龄依附性,以及其脑功能的迟滞和无序性。提出听觉ERP是一种有发展前途的技术,有希望用于婴儿痉挛症智能发育障碍程度的客观评价。

利用词项语义共现和社团划分发现微博热点事件

针对传统词项之间语义关系抽取难以适用于微博,导致发现微博热点事件不敏感的问题,提出一种基于词项语义共现和社团划分的方法发现热点事件。首先利用热度定义对微博数据进行初次筛选,通过构建共现词项图来模拟词项间的语义相关性,并结合修改的TF-IDF公式计算词项间的语义相关度;借助社区划分和模块度的概念对词项图进行划分,完成词项聚类,进而获得热点事件。实验结果表明,与同类方法相比,该方法的准确率较高,发现的热点事件与实时事件基本保持一致,具有较好的热点识别效果。

Relocating ruptures of two M6 earthquakes in Zhongba, South-central Tibet in 2004 and 2005 with seismological and geodetic methods

To better understand repeatability of strong earthquakes in previously ruptured zones during one seismogenic period, we studied the rupture zones of the doublet of M6 earthquakes in Zhongba region of southcentral Tibet, China, in 11 July 2004 and 7 April 2005, respectively. We focused on the overlapping degree of two strong quakes’ aftershock areas one week after the mainshocks by using the SQH station in China Seismic Network and a 68-stations temporary broadband seismic array, a part of the international HI-CLIMB project. About 115 local earthquakes were recorded in one week after the mainquakes, and we located these earthquakes by master event relative location （MERL） method. We also used this method to relocate 31 other M3.7 ＋ earthquakes from 1 July 2004 to 1 July 2005. Meanwhile, we studied two mainshocks’ coseismic ruptures with satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar （InSAR）. Our results show that the ruptured zones of the two earthquakes do not overlapp substantially, either from early aftershock data or from InSAR inversions.

EFFECTS OF MUSICAL MEDITATION TRAINING ON AUDITORY MISMATCH NEGATIVITY AND P300 IN NORMAL CHILDREN

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Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Pamidronate Disodium in Treatment of Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer

Objective： To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of pamidronate disodium in patients with bone lesions secondary to advanced breast carcinoma. Methods： A retrospective chart review was conducted of 62 patients receiving intravenous pamidronate disodium for metastatic breast cancer. The proportion of patients experiencing at least one skeletal related event （SRE） after 12 months of therapy was determined. Results： The proportion of patients who had an SRE was 29.00% （18 individuals） and the median time to first event was greater than 350 days. Radiotherapy（ll individuals）and pathologic fracture（6 individuals）were the most frequent type of SRE, while cord compression（1 individuals） and hypercalcaemia（0 individuals） were rare. A total of 37 individuals had transient hypocalcaemia without any clinical symptom. No significant creatinine abnormalities were encountered. There were no clinically relevant changes of calcium ,phosphate and creatinine before and after therapy. Conclusion： Long-term treatment with pamidronate disodium significantly reduces and delays skeletal morbidity from osteolytic metastases . Prolonged therapy was well tolerated. This study suggests that the rate of clinically relevant SREs is substantially lower than the event rate observed in phase llI clinical trials.