Beyond Difference in Reaction Time: Understanding Neuronal Activity during the Preparatory Period of the Decision Process

Even the simplest perceptual tasks are executed with significant interindividual differences in accuracy and RT. In this work, we used the diffusion decision model and multi-electrode EEG signals to study the impact of neuronal activity during the preparatory period on the following decision process in an attention task. Two groups were defined by fast and slow responses during the performance of control trials. A third, control group performed the same experiment but with instructions defining signal for response execution. We observed that the fast-responding group had a shorter duration of nondecision processes (describing both stimulus encoding and response preparation) preceded by lower power of the frontal upper alpha (10–15 Hz) and central beta (21–26 Hz) activities during the preparatory period. To determine whether these differences were followed by a shortening of the early perceptual or late motor process, we analyzed lateralized readiness potential (LRP). The time from LRP onset until response execution (LRP-RT interval) was similar in all three groups, enabling us to interpret shortening of nondecision time as reflecting faster stimulus encoding.

The Left Posterior Parietal Cortex Contributes to the Selection Process for the Initial Swing Leg in Gait Initiation

The present study examined whether the left posterior parietal cortex contributes to the selection process for the initial swing leg in gait initiation. Healthy humans initiated the gait in response to an auditory start cue. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was given over P3, P4, F3 or F4 simultaneously, with the auditory start cue, in the on-TMS condition. A coil was placed over one of the four TMS sites, but TMS was not given in the off-TMS condition. The probability of right leg selection in the on-TMS condition was significantly lower than in the off-TMS condition when the coil was placed over P3, indicating that the left posterior parietal cortex contributes to the selection process of the initial swing leg of gait initiation. The latency of the anticipatory postural adjustment for gait initiation with the left leg was shortened by TMS over F4 or P4, but with the right leg was shortened by TMS over P3 or P4. Thus, the cortical process affecting the time taken to execute the motor process of gait initiation with the right leg may be related to the selection process of the initial swing leg of gait initiation.

Temporal Features of Handwriting: Challenges for Forensic Analysis

This paper looks at handwriting as a multi-stage motor process which develops over time and leaves its time-bound marks in the writing trajectory. It explains some of the time-based research methodology and points out a number of ‘dynamic’ features with potential relevance for forensic application. The final sections of the paper contain suggestions for research leading to the re-establishment of temporal features in the static trace, which could support the handwriting expert’s effort to decide on a document’s authorship and on the circumstances at the time of writing. Some of these suggestions present challenges for prolonged interdisciplinary research co-operation. Purchase Article - $10

Contribution of harmonious physical development exercises to increase bio-motor process at preschool children

Introduction: A child turns into a well-defined personality after a long educational process based on a curriculum, a process that is the first step on a learning path. The kindergarten, as Florinda Golu states, is “the first institution that ensures an intense learning process through a methodic activity framed in a play, effort, and interrelation regimen. This leads to acquisitions and progress in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor fields of a pre-school child”. [6, pg.140] The aim of this paper is to amend the instructive and educational process at pre-school level by developing the psychomotor activities/physical education (PE) lessons through using the physical exercises as a main resort for a harmonious physical development. Materials and methods: The experiment took place at the P.P. no.9 Kindergarten during the 2015-2016 school year, and included 30 children from the upper preschool group, 17 girls and 13 boys, aged 5-6. The test used included the following: somatic evaluation and motricity evaluation. Results: After applying the motricity evaluation content proposed in the paper, and after the initial and final testing (five motricity tests), we were able to see an amendment in the indices we tested for, and through direct observation we detected a “self-overcoming” will power in the children. These aspects validate the proposed hypothesis. Conclusions: The progress was materialized in: number of repetitions, centimeters, and number of points scored – they further strengthened our determination that balanced physical development exercises at this age (5-6) have a positive influence on the correct posture of children, that they make up the basis of general movement, and that they enhance the values of motricity indexes.

NEURAL CONTROL OF SWALLOWING

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Swallowing is a motor process with several discordances and a very difficult neurophysiological study. Maybe that is the reason for the scarcity of papers about it. OBJECTIVE: It is to describe the chewing neural control and oral bolus qualification. A review the cranial nerves involved with swallowing and their relationship with the brainstem, cerebellum, base nuclei and cortex was made. METHODS: From the reviewed literature including personal researches and new observations, a consistent and necessary revision of concepts was made, not rarely conflicting. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Five different possibilities of the swallowing oral phase are described: nutritional voluntary, primary cortical, semiautomatic, subsequent gulps, and spontaneous. In relation to the neural control of the swallowing pharyngeal phase, the stimulus that triggers the pharyngeal phase is not the pharyngeal contact produced by the bolus passage, but the pharyngeal pressure distension, with or without contents. In nutritional swallowing, food and pressure are transferred, but in the primary cortical oral phase, only pressure is transferred, and the pharyngeal response is similar. The pharyngeal phase incorporates, as its functional part, the oral phase dynamics already in course. The pharyngeal phase starts by action of the pharyngeal plexus, composed of the glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X) and accessory (XI) nerves, with involvement of the trigeminal (V), facial (VII), glossopharyngeal (IX) and the hypoglossal (XII) nerves. The cervical plexus (C1, C2) and the hypoglossal nerve on each side form the ansa cervicalis, from where a pathway of cervical origin goes to the geniohyoid muscle, which acts in the elevation of the hyoid-laryngeal complex. We also appraise the neural control of the swallowing esophageal phase. Besides other hypotheses, we consider that it is possible that the longitudinal and circular muscular layers of the esophagus display, respectively, long-pitch and short-pitch spiral fibers. This morphology, associated with the concept of energy preservation, allows us to admit that the contraction of the longitudinal layer, by having a long-pitch spiral arrangement, would be able to widen the esophagus, diminishing the resistance to the flow, probably also by opening of the gastroesophageal transition. In this way, the circular layer, with its short-pitch spiral fibers, would propel the food downwards by sequential contraction.

Contribution of harmonious physical development exercises to increase bio-motor process at preschool children

Introduction A child turns into a well-defined personality after a long educational process based on a curriculum, a process that is the first step on a learning path. The kindergarten, as Florinda Golu states, is “the first institution that ensures an intense learning process through a methodic activity framed in a play, effort, and interrelation regimen. This leads to acquisitions and progress in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor fields of a pre-school child”. The aim of this paper is to amend the instructive and educational process at pre-school level by developing the psychomotor activities/physical education (PE) lessons through using the physical exercises as a main resort for a harmonious physical development. Materials and methods The experiment took place at the P.P. no.9 Kindergarten during the 2015-2016 school year, and included 30 children from the upper preschool group, 17 girls and 13 boys, aged 5-6. The test used included the following: somatic evaluation and motricity evaluation. Conclusion After applying the motricity evaluation content proposed in the paper, and after the initial and final testing (five motricity tests), we were able to see an amendment in the indices we tested for, and through direct observation we detected a “self-overcoming” will power in the children. These aspects validate the proposed hypothesis. The progress was materialized in: number of repetitions, centimeters, and number of points scored – they further strengthened our determination that balanced physical development exercises at this age (5-6) have a positive influence on the correct posture of children, that they make up the basis of general movement, and that they enhance the values of motricity indexes.