What do faculties specializing in brain and neural sciences think about, and how do they approach, brain-friendly teaching-learning in Iran?

Objective: to investigate the perspectives and experiences of the faculties specializing in brain and neural sciences regarding brain-friendly teaching-learning in Iran. Methods: 17 faculties from 5 universities were selected by purposive sampling (2018). In-depth semi-structured interviews with directed content analysis were used. Results: 31 sub-subcategories, 10 subcategories, and 4 categories were formed according to the “General teaching model”. “Mentorship” was a newly added category. Conclusions: A neuro-educational approach that consider the roles of the learner’s brain uniqueness, executive function facilitation, and the valence system are important to learning. Such learning can be facilitated through cognitive load considerations, repetition, deep questioning, visualization, feedback, and reflection. The contextualized, problem-oriented, social, multi-sensory, experiential, spaced learning, and brain-friendly evaluation must be considered. Mentorship is important for coaching and emotional facilitation

What do faculties specializing in brain and neural sciences think about, and how do they approach, brain-friendly teaching-learning in Iran?

Objective: to investigate the perspectives and experiences of the faculties specializing in brain and neural sciences regarding brain-friendly teaching-learning in Iran. Methods: 17 faculties from 5 universities were selected by purposive sampling (2018). In-depth semi-structured interviews with directed content analysis were used. Results: 31 sub-subcategories, 10 subcategories, and 4 categories were formed according to the “General teaching model”. “Mentorship” was a newly added category. Conclusions: A neuro-educational approach that consider the roles of the learner’s brain uniqueness, executive function facilitation, and the valence system are important to learning. Such learning can be facilitated through cognitive load considerations, repetition, deep questioning, visualization, feedback, and reflection. The contextualized, problem-oriented, social, multi-sensory, experiential, spaced learning, and brain-friendly evaluation must be considered. Mentorship is important for coaching and emotional facilitation

The Relationship Between Functional Motor Status and Self-evaluation in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

Abstract Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common pediatric disorder that results in a wide range of motor and functional problems that impose mobility limitations, decrease the quality of movement, negatively affect physical activity participation, self-care, and academic performance, and ultimately result in social isolation and negative self-evaluation. Despite abundant evidence of motor function, very few studies investigated all aspects of self-evaluation or described the relationship between motor function and self in individuals with CP. The present study aimed at investigating the relationship between functional motor status and self-evaluation in individuals with CP. A systematic search was performed in six electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, OTseeker, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar) for English language articles from any date to May 2019. Screening, selection, and quality assessment were conducted by two authors independently. Allstudies recruiting individuals with CP and using functional motor status and self-evaluation tests were included. The AXIS checklist was used for the quality assessment of included studies. As all data sources were generated by published studies, ethical approval was not applicable to the present study. Seven articles met the inclusion criteria. These studies investigated the relationship between functional motor status and self-esteem and selfconcept. Based on the AXIS, three articles were identified as high quality and four as low quality. The result of the present review showed that there was no relationship between self-concept and functional motor status in individuals with CP, while there was a significant relationship between self-esteem and functional motor status. More studies are required to shed light on other aspects of self and relationship of self-evaluation with motor function in individuals with CP

The Relationship between Auditory Sensory Gating and Cognitive Functions on Auditory and

ObjectivesConsidering the common neurological origins, there is a relationship between the sensory gating and cognitive functions. However, there is no adequate information on this issue. In this study, auditory event-related potentials and the sensory gating performance were assessed in P50, N100 and P200 waves. Besides, their relationship with cognitive performance in auditory and visual modalities was investigated.Materials & MethodsNineteen normal primary school students (14 boys) were tested in Tehran, Iran from 2017 to 2018. In the auditory modality, the Persian version of the non-word repetition test and monaural selective auditory attention test (mSAAT) were used for assessment of the working memory and selective attention, respectively. In order to evaluate the visual working memory and visual selective attention, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure, selective and divided attention test were used, respectively. A 32-channel EEG system was used for electrophysiological assessment.ResultsThe P50 sensory gating was negatively correlated with the visual selective attention (P=0.034, r=-0.49) and N100 sensory gating was negatively correlated with the auditory working memory (P=0.043, r=-0.48) as well as visual selective attention (P=0.039, r=-0.47). For P200, there was a significant negative relationship with auditory selective attention in the right ear (P=0.034, r=-0.49).ConclusionSensory gating in children is not a modality-specific phenomenon. Sensory gating in a modality could be associated with cognitive functions in other modalitie

Correlation between Sleep Disorders and Function in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study is to explain the correlation between sleep disorders and function in children with spastic cerebral palsy (4-12Y).Materials & MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out on 62 children with spastic CP (8.98±1.46Y) who were recruited from rehabilitation clinics of Tehran, Iran 2017. The Activities Scale for Kids, The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children and the cerebral palsy Quality Of Life questionnaire for Children were utilized in this study. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16)ResultsThe results showed that children with sleep disorder and arousal disorders have lower family health, lower quality of life and lower level of independence in their activities (0.05).ConclusionThese results emphasize on necessity of more attention about sleep disorders and family health problems in children with cerebral palsy

A computer-based selective visual attention test for first-grade school children: Design, development and psychometric properties

Background: Visual attention is known as a critical base for learning. The purpose of the present study was to design, develop and evaluate the test-retest and internal consistency reliability as well as face, content and convergent validity of the computer- based selective visual attention test (SeVAT) for healthy first-grade school children. Methods: In the first phase of this study, the computer-based SeVAT was developed in two versions of original and parallel. Ten experts in occupational therapy helped to measure the content validity using the CVR and CVI methods. Face validity was measured through opinions collected from 10 first-grade children. The convergent validity of the test was examined using the Spearman correlation between the SeVAT and Stroop test. In addition, test-retest reliability was determined by measuring the intra-class correlation (ICC) between the original and parallel versions of the SeVAT in a single session. The internal consistency was calculated by Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Sixty first grade children (30 girls/30boys) participated in this study. Results: The developed test was found to have good content and face validity. The SeVAT showed an excellent test-retest reliability (ICC= 0.778, p<0.001) and internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha of original and parallel tests were 0.857 and 0.831, respectively). SeVAT and Stroop test demonstrated a positive correlation upon the convergent validity testing. Conclusion: Our results suggested an acceptable reliability and validity for the computer-based SeVAT in the assessment of selective attention in children. Further research may warrant the differential validity of such a test in other age groups and neuro-cognitively disordered populations

Library Services Needed by the Disabled in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Persons with Disabilities are the world\u27s largest minority. This group, like others, needs information and skills to play a positive role in the community. Public libraries play an important role in providing services to the community, including People with Disabilities, by providing a variety of sources and services. The present study has been conducted using the qualitative content analysis method for identifying the types of library services and programs required for people with visually impaired, physically disabled, and hearing impaired using a semi-structured interview. The sample of the study consisted of 84 individuals, including librarians of public libraries and the disabled in the three groups mentioned. The identified library needs and services are categorized into eight categories: planning and budgeting, advertising and service development, library accessibility and physical condition, services and programs, human resources and training, collection, information equipment, and technology and welfare facilities. The category of services and programs had the highest frequency in all three groups of the disabled. In the group of physically disabled individuals, the category of accessibility ranked highest, and in the two groups of the blind and deaf, services and programs had the highest frequency. The need to know about library services in different ways (email, SMS, and social media, …) had the highest frequency. Public libraries should plan to make the library accessible, and provide a variety of services and programs for individuals with disabilitie

Library Services Needed by the Disabled in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Persons with Disabilities are the world\u27s largest minority. This group, like others, needs information and skills to play a positive role in the community. Public libraries play an important role in providing services to the community, including People with Disabilities, by providing a variety of sources and services. The present study has been conducted using the qualitative content analysis method for identifying the types of library services and programs required for people with visually impaired, physically disabled, and hearing impaired using a semi-structured interview. The sample of the study consisted of 84 individuals, including librarians of public libraries and the disabled in the three groups mentioned. The identified library needs and services are categorized into eight categories: planning and budgeting, advertising and service development, library accessibility and physical condition, services and programs, human resources and training, collection, information equipment, and technology and welfare facilities. The category of services and programs had the highest frequency in all three groups of the disabled. In the group of physically disabled individuals, the category of accessibility ranked highest, and in the two groups of the blind and deaf, services and programs had the highest frequency. The need to know about library services in different ways (email, SMS, and social media, …) had the highest frequency. Public libraries should plan to make the library accessible, and provide a variety of services and programs for individuals with disabilitie

Can hand dexterity predict the disability status of patients with multiple sclerosis?

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disease. Hand dysfunction is one of the main complaints of patients with MS. The present study aimed to compare hand dexterity of MS patients with low Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores and healthy adults. It also sought to identify the predictors of disability status of patients with MS based on their manual dexterity and demographic characteristics. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 (16 male/44 female) patients with MS and 60 (19 male/41 female) healthy people, who matched in terms of age and sex, were recruited. Their hand dexterity was evaluated by the Purdue Pegboard Test. The disability status of the MS group was determined by the Expanded Disability Status Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS15. Results: The hand dexterity in MS group even with low EDSS score (1.5 ± 1.07) was weaker than control group. Moreover, the dexterity of dominant hand and alternating two hands coordination subtests of the PPT was a good discriminator between two groups (p<0.001). The results of linear regression analysis suggested dominant hand dexterity and disease duration as predictors of disability status that predict 60.5 per cent of the variation in EDSS scores in patients with MS (p<0.001). Conclusion: Reduced dominant hand dexterity in patients with MS is a disabling factor. Further research is recommended to determine if early hand rehabilitation can reduce the severity of disability in Patients with MS

Emotional Face Perception in Patients with Schizophrenia: an Event-Related Potential Study

Emotional face recognition has been shown to be drastically impaired among patients with schizophrenia. Since the underlying processes of this deficit have not been widely addressed, we attempted to investigate the relationship between facial expression perception and clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. We enrolled 28 patients with schizophrenia and 28 healthy adults matched by their sex and age. The amplitude and latency of component N170 in event-related EEG potentials (ERPs) induced by presentations of happy, fearful, and neutral face images were comparatively evaluated in these two groups. Furthermore, the relationship between the N170 measures and clinical symptoms of schizophrenia were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The N170 responses to facial expressions in patients with schizophrenia were significantly delayed, as compared to healthy control participants [F (1, 54) = 4.25, P = 0.044]. The N170 response to fearful faces (as compared to happy and neutral faces) was elicited with the minimum latency in the control group, while this component was most delayed among schizophrenics. Positive schizophrenia symptoms correlated with the amplitudes of the left-hemisphere N170 component in response to happy, fearful, and neutral faces. Our findings suggest that the facial expression deficit in schizophrenia is related to delayed responses in face perception and is influenced by the severity of positive symptoms. The evident delay in fearful face perception among patients with schizophrenia may partly explain their inappropriate reactions to threatening conditions.У пацієнтів, котрі страждають на шизофренію, розпізнавання виразів обличчя є серйозно порушеним. Оскільки процеси, що зумовлюють подібний дефіцит, вивчені недостатньо, ми намагалися дослідити співвідношення сприйняття виразів обличчя та клінічних симптомів у пацієнтів із цим захворюванням. В обстежувану групу ввійшли 28 пацієнтів із діагнозом шизофренія та 28 дорослих суб’єктів; групи були узгоджені в статевому та віковому аспектах. У представників цих двох груп вимірювали та порівнювали амплітуду й латентний період компонента N170 у складі пов’язаних з подією потенціалів, викликаних пред’явленням зображень облич зі щасливим, переляканим і нейтральним виразом. Потім оцінювали взаємозв’язок параметрів N170 з оцінками клінічних симптомів шизофренії згідно зі шкалою позитивних і негативних синдромів (PANSS). Розвиток компонента N170 після пред’явлення зображень облич з різними виразами відбувався у пацієнтів із шизофренією істотно пізніше, ніж у здорових контрольних суб’єктів [F (1, 54) = = 4.25, P = 0.044]. N170 після пред’явлення переляканих облич (порівняно зі щасливими та нейтральними) розвивався у суб’єктів контрольної групи з мінімальною затримкою, а у шизофреників він виникав значно пізніше. Інтенсивність позитивних симптомів у шизофреників корелювала з амплітудами N170 у лівій півкулі після пред’явлення як щасливих, так і переляканих і нейтральних облич. Наші спостереження показують, що дефектність сприйняття виразу обличчя у пацієнтів, хворих на шизофренію, пов’язана із затримкою відповідей ЦНС, і на таку дефектність впливає тяжкість позитивних симптомів. Очевидна затримка сприйняття облич з переляканим виразом у пацієнтів із шизофренією може частково пояснювати неадекватність їх реакцій на загрозливі ситуації