Wireless Neurosensor for Full-Spectrum Electrophysiology Recordings during Free Behavior

SummaryBrain recordings in large animal models and humans typically rely on a tethered connection, which has restricted the spectrum of accessible experimental and clinical applications. To overcome this limitation, we have engineered a compact, lightweight, high data rate wireless neurosensor capable of recording the full spectrum of electrophysiological signals from the cortex of mobile subjects. The wireless communication system exploits a spatially distributed network of synchronized receivers that is scalable to hundreds of channels and vast environments. To demonstrate the versatility of our wireless neurosensor, we monitored cortical neuron populations in freely behaving nonhuman primates during natural locomotion and sleep-wake transitions in ecologically equivalent settings. The interface is electrically safe and compatible with the majority of existing neural probes, which may support previously inaccessible experimental and clinical research

The immediate effects of Tai Chi on the postural stability, muscle activity and measures of inferred ankle proprioception of healthy young adults

Tai Chi has often been applied in research among older adults to affect postural stability and proprioception in the lower limbs; however, little is known about the effects Tai Chi may have in these domains among healthy young adults. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate these potential effects. A total of 30 (17 females and 13 males) healthy young adults were randomized to either an experimental group or control group. To assess postural stability, both groups performed a pre-intervention postural stability task under eyes open/closed and firm/foam surface conditions, while center of pressure-based measures of mean sway velocity (MSV) and 95% elliptical area (EA) were collected. Ankle proprioception was inferred using electromyography data from the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis bilaterally, in addition to, the spectral power within the 0.4 – 0.7 Hz band derived from all data points of COP sway in the anteroposterior direction, which is believed to be sensitive to change in ankle proprioception. For the intervention, the experimental group was engaged in a 15-minute Tai Chi task, while the control group sat comfortably in a chair. Post-intervention measures were then collected using the same protocol as the pre-intervention measures. Four-way ANOVAs were used to determine if the Tai Chi intervention had a significant effect on postural stability, muscle activity, or measures of inferred ankle proprioception. No significant differences were observed between the experimental or control group across pre-/post test measures. These findings suggest that a single 15-minute Tai Chi intervention is not sufficient to produce effects on the postural stability, muscle activity, or ankle proprioception of healthy young adults

Advances of Italian Machine Design

This 2028 Special Issue presents recent developments and achievements in the field of Mechanism and Machine Science coming from the Italian community with international collaborations and ranging from theoretical contributions to experimental and practical applications. It contains selected contributions that were accepted for presentation at the Second International Conference of IFToMM Italy, IFIT2018, that has been held in Cassino on 29 and 30 November 2018. This IFIT conference is the second event of a series that was established in 2016 by IFToMM Italy in Vicenza. IFIT was established to bring together researchers, industry professionals and students, from the Italian and the international community in an intimate, collegial and stimulating environment

The clinical utility of the Vivosonic Integrity Auditory Brainstem response system in children with cerebral palsy

Determining auditory functioning in difficult-to-test populations such as cerebral palsy (CP) remains a challenge in paediatric audiology. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is favoured as the procedure to assess auditory functioning in difficult-to-test populations such as CP. The CP population, however, offers unique challenges for the ABR procedure due to the presence of involuntary muscular movements that may compromise the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ABR. Conventional ABR technology attempts to improve the SNR by the modification of acquisition parameters e.g. adjusting the low cut filter or implementing stricter artifact rejection criteria. However, such modifications may compromise the waveform morphology of the ABR. Furthermore, sedation or general anesthesia can also be used to improve the SNR by reducing excessive muscular movements. The CP population, however, displays a high risk for developing upper airway obstruction when being sedated or anesthetized. Thus, the feasibility and reliability of the conventional ABR may be compromised when being employed in the CP population. In recent years a novel ABR system, the Vivosonic Integrity (VS) ABR has become clinically available. The device incorporates features such as pre-amplification of the ABR signal, Kalman filtering and wireless recording. These features promise to address the limitations of conventional ABR technology to obtain a reliable recording in the midst of excessive myogenic artifact. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the clinical utility of the VS system when assessing a sample of children with CP without the use of sedation. The clinical utility of the VS ABR system was determined by comparing its success rates, the threshold correspondence to behavioural pure tone (PT) thresholds and recording time to a conventional ABR system when using click and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli. A cross-sectional within-subject comparison research design was selected in order to compare thresholds obtained with different procedures. The experimental part of this study was represented by the within-subject control condition where the VS ABR system and the conventional ABR system were simultaneously conducted in each subject. This unique setup was important in the research as equivalent test conditions in terms of EEG and environmental conditions had to be ensured for both ABR systems. 15 CP subjects between the ages of 12 and 18 years were included in the project. A diagnostic audiological test battery including immittance, distortion product otoacoustic emissions and behavioural audiometry was conducted on each subject prior the administration of the ABR procedures. The variability of the audiological test battery results – between the subjects and when compared to previous research – emphasized the heterogeneity of the CP population. Furthermore, more than half of the research sample (53%; n=15) responded inconsistently to behavioural pure tone (PT) stimuli. It was suggested that the severity of physical impairments as well as additional impairments such as mental retardation might have influenced the consistency of the subjects’ responses during behavioural PT audiometry. The ABR results indicated that there were no significant differences with regards to threshold correspondence and recording time between the two ABR systems when using click and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli (p>0.05). With regards to the success rates, the VS system was successful in more cases than the conventional ABR system using click and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli. Although results also showed no statistically significant value for click p=.1121) and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli p=.1648), there was a tendency towards the 95% confidence level in both cases suggesting that the VS ABR system may produce a statistically significant success rate for click as well as for 0.5 kHz TB stimuli, provided a larger sample is tested. The research indicated that, since the VS ABR system was more successful across a wider range of subjects during click-evoked and 0.5 kHz TB recordings, it may increase the clinical usefulness of the ABR especially in terms of hearing screening in the CP population. The research suggested that excessive muscular movements during the recordings influenced not only the VS ABR’s, but also the conventional ABR’s threshold correspondences to PT thresholds as well as the recording time of the measurements. Therefore it may still be necessary to use a light sedative in some CP patients to reduce excessive myogenic interference despite the possible advantages of the VS ABR system.Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Speech-Language Pathology and Audiologyunrestricte

International Conference on NeuroRehabilitation 2012

This volume 3, number 2 gathers a set of articles based on the most outstanding research on accessibility and disability issues that was presented in the International Conference on NeuroRehabilitation 2012 (ICNR).The articles’ research present in this number is centred on the analysis and/or rehabilitation of body impairment most due to brain injury and neurological disorders.JACCES thanks the collaboration of the ICNR members and the research authors and reviewers that have collaborated for making possible that issue

Improving audio training for Cochlear Implant users

A Cochlear Implant(CI) is an implant that replaces the functionality of the inner ear with an electronic prosthesis. The prosthesis stimulates the auditory nerves within the cochlea so that people with auditory disabilities regain hearing. While the medical process of inserting the implant is relatively straightforward, learning how to use the implant may be difficult. This thesis proposes a digital training platform that can aid with the learning process for CI users and lighten the transition into the audible realm. Providing efficient training tools available at home without assistance from third parties can increase independence for CI users, as it becomes easier to conduct audio training. The results from a questionnaire performed during the thesis with CI users as participants found that participants spent, on average, one hour traveling to and from training centers or audio therapists. Introducing home-based training tools tailored toward post-lingually deafened CI users can help free up patients' time and alleviate the learning process. Therefore, a digital training platform was developed, tailored towards the needs of post-lingually deafened CI users. CI users were involved via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews throughout the development process, and their feedback was gathered to inform the design and increase usability and effectiveness. The participants' feedback and the findings from a literature review based on related research crafted the requirements specification for the proposed digital training platform. Throughout the thesis, the main goal was to create something that could be deployed and maintained, accessible and reachable for those who may use it. Therefore, a cost analysis of different cloud computing services was carried out to find the cheapest deployment options to avoid adding a monetary barrier to entry. Linode Kubernetes Engine (LKE) was an affordable and efficient option. Along with LKE, the efficacy of deployment through single board computers was investigated. The data gathered through performance testing done during the thesis indicates that the current generation of the Raspberry Pi platform could be used to provide a cheap alternative to deployment if the number of expected users is relatively low. However, a side effect of using single-board computers is that it puts the responsibility to provide the availability and reliability requirements on the developer. As a result, you can not rely on the monetary incentives of a cloud provider. Since the availability and reliability requirements of the proposed digital training platform could not be ensured when utilizing single-board computers, the final deployment utilizes LKE and is accessible through: www.lyttetrening.n