Bias tra volti neutri ed attivazione emozionale indotta dalla musica

This study aims to analyze how, through an experimental project, the museums and the structures of perceptual learning can refer to the new systems related to ergonomics and structural neuroaesthetics. Particularly, in this study we propose an experimental protocol in which the perception of faces with different emotional expressions may be variables as a function of auditory stimulus / perceived as background music in a cross modal way. The stimuli had been presented and categorized with an e-prime presentation, and then analyzed, with the ERP’s technique, during a cross modal presentation of three types of classical music (Chopin, Albéniz, Mozart) categorized with a VAS scale on Emotional Activation. The effects of synaesthetic perception related to ergonomy can have a strong modulation of cortical processing of the stimulus, conditioning or facilitating the perception and interpretation of the stimulus proposed. These results are in agreement with the recent neuroaesthetic studies, even in the museum environment, indicating that perceptive and learning environment are modulated by multimodal processes

Neuroprosthetic Haptic Interface and Haptic Stimulation: Neuromorphic Microtransduction and EEG Alpha Variations

According to the recent studies on the psychophysiology of touch, a haptic effector designed in a neuromorphic way was projected, designing an electronic card as to be able to deliver variable signals over time and in intensity. The two-dimensional arrays of micro-actuators were made either with planar geometry or with three-dimensional, semi-spherical or “dome” geometry. Subsequently, on both the behavioral and the electrophysiological level the haptic sensation received by the effector was evaluated on 6 subjects and compared to real stimulations of different grains (Paper). During the various stimulations the subject was in a state of Resting State (RS). Each stimulation had a frequency range ranging from 2 to 500 Hz on 2 and 5 s. Analysis of behavioral responses and the alpha rhythm in RS showed significant differences for low frequencies vs Paper. RS highlighted differences in ROIs on the various frequency distributions, especially low frequencies in Frontal ROI. This pilot study indicates that the best frequencies for a haptic simulation are between a range from 20 Hz to 166 Hz

A cerebral bridge from olfactory cognition to spatial navigation

An evolutionary paradox is the variability of the olfactory bulb size, in contrast to the other brain regions, which are sized proportionally to the peripheral function. This variability seems to be the result of selection for the olfactory function. This disagreement may derive from considering smell as a sense linked to odorous discrimination. In many vertebrates and in terrestrial and marine mammals, the sense of smell has evolved into functions related to the eco-localization. So, if the olfactory function involves spatial perception and navigation, this, couldexplain the proportional discrepancy between the olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex. Humans are able to discriminate a spatial position as a function of olfactory cues. Vice versa, in neurodegenerative syndromes the orientation capacity and olfactory perception are impaired. This leads us to think that could be a common cross-modal processing, of phylogenetic origin, which links olfactory perception and spatial orientation. Starting from these theoretical assumptions, we conducted a basic research, on 100 healthy subjects, investigating, through both behavioral and electroencephalographic data, the connection between spatial memory span and olfactory spatial memory span. Subjects were assessed through a three-condition task: normal Corsi Block Test (CBT), ‘Olfactory’ Block Test (OBT) and a ‘Semantic-Olfactory’ Block Test (SOBT). CBT consisted in a test on spatial memory span; OBT consisted in a presentation a spatial sequences of 9 different odorants (i.e., Eucalyptol, Carvone, Eugenol, Isoamyl Acetate, Geraniol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Acetophenone, Cinnamon, Hexanal) instilled on paper square not recognizable by any sign, positioned on a CBT, and showed in a spatial navigation way, and SOBT consisted of a semantic labelled of olfactory spatial navigation. A GLM repeated measure highlighted significant differences during the three conditions. Subjects had different SPANs due to different conditions. The Semantic olfactory memory SPAN was inferior respect Olfactory span and Spatial Span. Furthermore was found a significant positive correlation between the three condition. The 5 subjects with higher SPAN scores, 5 with medium scores and the 5 subjects with lower SPAN scores were recruited to investigate ERP components elicited during the cross-modal task. Subjects had to perform, during a high-density EEG recording, an olfactory task (administered through the device US2017127971 (A1) “? 2017-05-11), an EEG Posner spatial cueing task and a go/no-go olfactory semantic categorization task. The results of this study will be discussed in light of a theoretical connection between these three aspects of cortical functions that seem strongly interconnected

La Realtà Virtuale. Strumento per elicitare processi neurocognitivi per il trattamento in ambito riabilitativo

The virtual reality (VR) is scientifically recognized as an interactive tool and simulation that allows a specific form of communication. Recently it has been considered as a tool of therapy in the rehabilitation of neurodegenerative and some psychological disorders, making it a useful adjunct (and not replacing) of the classic techniques of psychotherapy, in that, acting as a Cognitive-Experiential Therapy, succeeds is to mediate between the study of the therapist and the real world, both to overcome some obstacles related to some classic treatments exhibition of imaginative type. The recreated environments using the VR technology, in fact, may represent a further context for social interaction through which the user has the opportunity to experience real-life situations, objects and feared contexts, to have feelings, emotions and thoughts (past or present) on his psychological distress and increase the level of self-esteem, self-efficacy and safety, testing new adaptation strategies. And the VR protocol can also be useful as an additional diagnostic tool than traditional methods, since it allows to acquire specific information regarding the cognitive and behavioral sphere of patients undergoing these investigations. For this reason, even today, clinical psychology can utilize VR as a valid means of assessment, diagnosis and interventio

Brain computer interface: studio, evoluzione ed applicazione dell’interfaccia neurale

This research aims to illustrate the progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence, in particular with an examination of the Brain Computer Interface (BCI), also known as Neural Interface. These devices, which have a distinctly interdisciplinary character, binds primarily the medical engineering field with that of neuro - cognitive research and have as main objective the rehabilitation or better support for therapeutic purposes with the so-called lock-in patients. First a brief focus on the neural interface story was outlined, with attention to early studies and recent developments that have characterized this protocol. Then we moved to the clarification of the neuro - psychological components that form the basis of a Neural Interface and therefore, detection systems and the particular brain frequencies that activate a BCI will be analyzed. Finally, we’ll discuss some of the most recent studies which have guided the BCI to new scope for developmen

Brain computer interface: studio, evoluzione ed applicazione dell’interfaccia neurale

This research aims to illustrate the progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence, in particular with an examination of the Brain Computer Interface (BCI), also known as Neural Interface. These devices, which have a distinctly interdisciplinary character, binds primarily the medical engineering field with that of neuro - cognitive research and have as main objective the rehabilitation or better support for therapeutic purposes with the so-called lock-in patients. First a brief focus on the neural interface story was outlined, with attention to early studies and recent developments that have characterized this protocol. Then we moved to the clarification of the neuro - psychological components that form the basis of a Neural Interface and therefore, detection systems and the particular brain frequencies that activate a BCI will be analyzed. Finally, we’ll discuss some of the most recent studies which have guided the BCI to new scope for developmen

Olfactory Marker Protein in the Human Carotid Body

Background: Transduction mechanisms of the hypoxic chemoreflex elicited by carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor cells remain unclear. Recent studies direct attention to the plausible link between CB and olfactory chemoreceptor functions.Methods: Here we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the distribution and localization of olfactory marker protein (OMP) in human CB. Carotid bodies were collected post-mortem from hospital patients aged 27-76 years who died from reasons unre-lated to chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disorders. We used specific antibodies to selectively identify CB cells and OMP in tissue sections. The binding of antibodies to target antigens was visualized with the Ultra Vision detection system.Results: We show that OMP is abundantly present in the cytoplasm of CB chemoreceptor cells. The presence of OMP in these cells indicates that the olfactory system may participate in shaping the chemosensory CB function.Conclusions: The findings support the notion that the transduction mechanisms of chemoreceptive systems contain a degree of homology, irrespective of the anatomical localization and the functional role these systems fulfill. The ectopic presence of OMP in CB broadens the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying chemosensory responses

Body representation, eating attitudes and BMI in adolescence

This research aims to investigate, in a population of adolescents, the body’s representations, the representations of the relationship with food, the characteristics of dietary habits, body image perceived body image as real as possible predictors of behavior disorders food in the same age group. We recruited 100 children (mean age 16.3 sd = 1.51), by the school to which they belong. We ‘measured the BMI (Body Mass Index), the semantic differential on the body representation, one on food relationship and test EAT. This study showed that the representation of the body is extremely sensitive in the adolescent population, the figure body itself in relation to BMI and not eating habits. This result implies that adolescent prevention should be focused on the representation on that body rather than eating habit

Parametri fisiologici, alessitimia e analisi del testo in soggetti con attacchi di panic

recenti studi sugli attacchi di panico analizzano la relazione tra l'inizio dell'attacco e l'iperaousal associato a iperventilazione e attivazione del sistema limbico. studi di psicosomatica hanno osservato la correlazione tra alessitimia e attacchi di panico. l'ipotesi di questo lavoro è analizzare l'associazione tra la capacità modulatoria delle regioni sbcorticakli quando i soggetti identificano correttamente lo stimolo emozionale. Si sono analizzati i livelli di alessitimia e il GSR K e F (Galvanick Skin Reflex) durante la narrazione si episodi di paura