Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Hemisensory syndrome is associated with a low diagnostic yield and a nearly uniform benign prognosis.
To describe the diagnostic yield and prognosis for patients with hemisensory syndrome. ⋯ Diagnostic yield in hemisensory syndrome is low, and prognosis is almost always uniformly benign. The author advocates careful assessment of medical history and consideration for neuroimaging in this group of patients.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Predictors of successful self control during brain-computer communication.
Direct brain-computer communication uses self regulation of brain potentials to select letters, words, or symbols from a computer menu to re-establish communication in severely paralysed patients. However, not all healthy subjects, or all paralysed patients acquire the skill to self regulate their brain potentials, and predictors of successful learning have not been found yet. Predictors are particularly important, because only successful self regulation will in the end lead to efficient brain-computer communication. This study investigates the question whether initial performance in the self regulation of slow cortical potentials of the brain (SCPs) may be positively correlated to later performance and could thus be used as a predictor. ⋯ Initial performance in the self regulation of SCP is positively correlated with later performance in severely paralysed patients, and thus represents a useful predictor for efficient brain-computer communication.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Identification of target areas for deep brain stimulation in human basal ganglia substructures based on median nerve sensory evoked potential criteria.
In the interventional treatment of movement disorders, the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) are the most relevant electrode targets for deep brain stimulation (DBS). This study tested the value of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) for the functional identification of VIM and STN. ⋯ Based on SEP criteria, the VIM target but not the STN region can be identified by typical SEP configuration changes, when penetrating the target zone. The approach is independent of the patient's cooperation and vigilance and therefore feasible in general anaesthesia. It provides an easy, reliable, and robust tool for the final assessment of electrode positions at the last instance during electrode implantation when eventual electrode revisions can easily be performed.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Aug 2003
Social deprivation and adult head injury: a national study.
To establish the association between measures of social deprivation, mechanisms of injury, patterns of care, and outcome following closed head injury. ⋯ Residing in a more deprived area is not associated with increased mortality from head injury among adults in Scotland. It is associated with different patterns of injury and a different process of care following presentation to hospital.