International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
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Int J Psychophysiol · Jan 2012
Autonomic arousal in adults who stutter prior to various reading tasks intended to elicit changes in stuttering frequency.
This study examined relationships between anticipatory autonomic arousal and stuttering in four reading tasks. 13 adult persons who stutter (PWS) reported their 'feared' (expected to elicit more stuttering) sounds. They read phrases initiated by feared (F) and neutral (N) phonemes. Both stimuli sets were read solo (S) and with choral accompaniment (C), creating FS, FC, NS, and NC conditions. ⋯ These findings suggest that anticipatory autonomic arousal is better differentiated by the possibility of stuttering than by a fluent/stuttered speech outcome. Trials that produced anticipatory SC responses showed greater final HR deceleration, suggesting autonomic coactivation, a response pattern that is associated with aversive stimuli and herein, likely indicative of speech-related state anxiety. However, these physiological markers of anxiety appear to be neither necessary nor sufficient to induce observable stuttering.
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Int J Psychophysiol · Nov 2011
Sigh rate and respiratory variability during normal breathing and the role of negative affectivity.
Spontaneous breathing was measured in healthy persons scoring either high (N=45) or low (N=30) on trait negative affectivity (NA), during a 10 min period of quiet sitting using the LifeShirt System®. Sighing and respiratory variability before and after sighs were assessed. Total respiratory variability of minute ventilation was indexed by the coefficient of variation and structured (correlated) variability was quantified by the autocorrelation. ⋯ Thus sighing acted as a resetter of the respiratory system. However, when comparing the low and the high NA group, this pattern was specific for high NA individuals. We conclude that it is important to take into account individual difference variables when studying the psychophysiological functions of sighing.
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Int J Psychophysiol · Oct 2011
ReviewClinical electrophysiologic assessments and mild traumatic brain injury: state-of-the-science and implications for clinical practice.
Conventional and quantitative electroencephalography (EEG and qEEG, respectively) may enhance clinical diagnosis and treatment planning provided to persons with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and postconcussive symptoms. Effective and appropriate use of EEG and qEEG in this context requires expert-level knowledge of these technologies, mTBI, and the differential diagnosis for postconcussive symptoms. A practical and brief review from the perspective of a clinician-scientist engaged principally in the care and study of persons with mTBI therefore may be of use and value to other clinicians and scientists interested in these matters. ⋯ The implications of this review on the applications of these electrophysiologic assessments to the clinical evaluation of persons with mTBI and postconcussive symptoms are then considered. Finally, suggestions are offered regarding the design of future studies using these technologies in this population. Although this review may be of interest and value to professionals engaged in clinical or research electrophysiology in their daily work, it is intended to serve more immediately the needs of clinicians less familiar with these types of clinical electrophysiologic assessments.
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Int J Psychophysiol · Oct 2011
ReviewDiffusion weighted imaging and neuropsychological correlates in adults with mild traumatic brain injury.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is increasingly being used as a research tool in mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). This article reviews the concepts of diffusion tensor imaging, neuropsychological testing and results to date when applied to mTBI in adults. DTI is being used in conjunction with neuropsychological and electrophysiological measures to provide improved structural/functional correlations of mTBI. Future directions and applications of DTI in mTBI research are suggested.
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Int J Psychophysiol · Oct 2011
Changes in resting connectivity during recovery from severe traumatic brain injury.
In the present study we investigate neural network changes after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) through the use of resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) methods. Using blood oxygen level dependent functional MRI, we examined RSFC at 3 and 6 months following resolution of posttraumatic amnesia. The goal of this study was to examine how regional off-task connectivity changes during a critical period of recovery from significant neurological disruption. ⋯ Findings here demonstrate significantly increased resting connectivity internal-state networks in the TBI sample during the first 6 months following recovery. The most consistent finding was increased connectivity in both internal and external state networks to the insula and medial temporal regions during recovery. These findings were dissociable from repeat measurements in a matched healthy control sample.