Hippocampal sclerosis affects fMR-adaptation of lyrics and melodies in songs

Songs constitute a natural combination of lyrics and melodies, but it is unclear whether and how these two song components are integrated during the emergence of a memory trace. Network theories of memory suggest a prominent role of the hippocampus, together with unimodal sensory areas, in the build-up of conjunctive representations. The present study tested the modulatory influence of the hippocampus on neural adaptation to songs in lateral temporal areas. Patients with unilateral hippocampal sclerosis and healthy matched controls were presented with blocks of short songs in which lyrics and/or melodies were varied or repeated in a crossed factorial design. Neural adaptation effects were taken as correlates of incidental emergent memory traces. We hypothesized that hippocampal lesions, particularly in the left hemisphere, would weaken adaptation effects, especially the integration of lyrics and melodies. Results revealed that lateral temporal lobe regions showed weaker adaptation to repeated lyrics as well as a reduced interaction of the adaptation effects for lyrics and melodies in patients with left hippocampal sclerosis. This suggests a deficient build-up of a sensory memory trace for lyrics and a reduced integration of lyrics with melodies, compared to healthy controls. Patients with right hippocampal sclerosis showed a similar profile of results although the effects did not reach significance in this population. We highlight the finding that the integrated representation of lyrics and melodies typically shown in healthy participants is likely tied to the integrity of the left medial temporal lobe. This novel finding provides the first neuroimaging evidence for the role of the hippocampus during repetitive exposure to lyrics and melodies and their integration into a song

Le rôle de la vision dans la perception et la production de la parole : étude des voyelles orales du français québécois produites et perçues par des adultes voyants et aveugles

La vue des articulateurs que sont notamment la mâchoire et les lèvres, sans indice acoustique, permet de reconnaître bon nombre de phonèmes et dénote l'importance de la vision dans la perception de la parole. Plusieurs travaux ont par ailleurs mis en exergue le lien étroit unissant perception et production de la parole. La cécité constitue un paradigme de recherche privilégié pour étudier le rôle de la vision dans ces mécanismes de la parole. Nous avons donc choisi d'étudier la perception auditive et les caractéristiques acoustiques des\ud productions des 11 voyelles orales du français québécois [i y u e ø o ε œ ɔ a α] en position tenue isolée de 6 adultes présentant une cécité totale et congénitale et de 6 adultes non-voyants. Une étude exploratoire du mouvement anticipatoire de constriction des lèvres lors de la production de séquences [iCny] a également été menée auprès de 2 sujets par groupe. Nos objectifs ont consisté à décrire acoustiquement la perception des traits d'aperture, de lieu d'articulation et d'arrondissement des voyelles par les participants, à présenter l'organisation articulatori-acoustique et acoustico-auditive des voyelles qu'ils ont produites et à détailler le décours temporel de leur coarticulation labiale anticipante. Notre méthodologie a impliqué des tests d'identification et de discrimination de voyelles synthétisées, des enregistrements acoustiques de productions de voyelles en position tenue isolée dans 2 conditions (en présence de bruit blanc de façon à réduire la rétroaction auditive, et en condition normale, sans bruit perturbateur) et des enregistrements audio-visuels de données géométriques des lèvres. Nous n'avons pas pu observer de différences majeures entre les deux groupes de sujets. Par contre, des tendances ont pu être observées lors de la description de leur perception; pour certains contrastes d'aperture, les sujets aveugles ont présenté des frontières catégorielles de moindre valeur, des pentes Probit généralement inférieures et des pics de discrimination supérieurs. Beaucoup de variabilité inter-individuelle a été observée dans les productions des sujets, mais peu de différences inter-groupes ont été observées. De façon générale, l'AVS des sujets aveugles était inférieur à celui des voyants et ce, dans les deux conditions de bruit. Les données géométriques des lèvres des deux groupes de sujets concordent bien avec les principes établis du Modèle d'expansion du mouvement relatif à la planification motrice de la constriction labiale; les sujets aveugles présentent cependant des pentes légèrement plus faibles que celles des sujets voyants. Des recherches doivent être poursuivies auprès des populations enfant et adulte, voyante et aveugle, afin de mettre en lumière de façon plus précise le rôle de la vision dans les mécanismes de production et de perception de la parole. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Vision, Cécité, Perception de la parole, Production de la parole, Acoustique, Articulatoire, Voyelles, Coarticulation

Périers-sur-le-Dan – Chemin du Hameau, rue du Londel

Lien Atlas (MCC) :http://atlas.patrimoines.culture.fr/atlas/trunk/index.php?ap_theme=DOM_2.01.02&ap_bbox=-0.353;49.247;-0.321;49.268 Suite au projet d’aménagement d’un lotissement en bordure méridionale du bourg de Périers-sur-le-Dan, un diagnostic archéologique a été mené sur 2,54 ha dans le but d’en évaluer le potentiel archéologique, dans un secteur particulièrement sensible aux occupations des périodes préhistorique, protohistorique et historique. Les principaux résultats concernent des a..

Le Breuil-en-Auge – RD579a, l'Herbage

Lien Atlas (MCC) :http://atlas.patrimoines.culture.fr/atlas/trunk/index.php?ap_theme=DOM_2.01.02&ap_bbox=0.186;49.213;-0.258;49.241 L’emprise du diagnostic archéologique est située au Breuil-en-Auge, à peu près à mi-distance entre Lisieux (6 km) et les villes côtières de Deauville et Trouville-sur-Mer (15 km), dans le Pays d’Auge. L’emprise est positionnée au lieu-dit l’Herbage , à quelques centaines de mètres au nord du centre bourg. La parcelle, d’une superficie de 16 690 m2, fait l’objet d..

Périers-sur-le-Dan – Chemin du Hameau, rue du Londel

Suite au projet d’aménagement d’un lotissement en bordure méridionale du bourg de Périers-sur-le-Dan, un diagnostic archéologique a été mené sur 2,54 ha dans le but d’en évaluer le potentiel archéologique, dans un secteur particulièrement sensible aux occupations des périodes préhistorique, protohistorique et historique. Les principaux résultats concernent des aménagements d’époque moderne et contemporaine (parcellaire et chemins) identifiés pour la plupart sur le cadastre napoléonien de 1808..

What competencies do European general practice trainees value the most? A prioritisation exercise using a Delphi-informed approach

General Practice has changed over the past decade. Expansion of clinicians’ roles may create uncertainty, stress, and overload – particular for those at the start of their career. The WONCA Europe network for medical education, EURACT, has published competency-based aims and requirements for speciality training in general practice. Greater understanding of the trainee perspective would support planning and delivery of postgraduate training curricula. This two-step study aims to provide a competency priority list, created by European early career general practitioners, to highlight skills that this generation considers highly essential in future speciality training. A competency list was drafted with trainee- and early career general practitioners from across Europe at the Vasco da Gama Movement Forum (Edinburgh, January 2022). Participants identified competencies that they regarded as most relevant for future speciality training in their respective national contexts. Competencies were coded into categories and ranked in two consecutive rounds, the first taking place online and the second at WONCA Europe (London, June 2022). After two rounds, a consensual list of three main competencies for each category was drafted. The top three competencies for each category remained the same throughout both rounds and may be considered competencies that early career general practitioners in Europe consider important for training. Prioritisation of these competencies by institutions and educators within general practice training programmes may support trainees’ satisfaction and perceived preparedness for practice

Patients with schizophrenia and their finances: how they spend their money

Introduction: Although most patients with schizophrenia rely on state financial support, little is known about their expenses and how they use the money at their discretion. However, the ability to budget is a predictive factor in rehabilitation. An assessment of financial management skills could make it possible to develop more appropriate psycho-social assistance. Method: Fifty-seven outpatients with schizophrenia treated in the public sector in Geneva, Switzerland took part in the study. Psychosocial, diagnostic, neurocognitive and symptomatological measures were collected. Data were gathered on patients' incomes and quality of life. A prospective analysis of their expenses during a 1-month period was also performed. Results: Median income was 4,125 Swiss francs per month (i.e., 3,372 US dollars). After paying fixed expenses (which were handled with or without the assistance of a representative payee), a mean of 400 Swiss francs remained at their disposal to use as they wished. Seventy-two percent of this money was devoted to the use of psychoactive substances (e.g., cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis) or various drinks in coffee houses, and 28% on leisure activities (trips, sports and other recreational activities). Eighty-four percent of patients would have liked to have more money for leisure activities. The study was well-accepted and led to modification of the treatment plan in 84% of cases. Conclusion: Most of the discretionary money patients received was used for buying substances with addictive properties; this may hinder the practice of activities favouring recovery. Thus, it appears essential to guide patients in the management of their budget

Expression and activity of 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C1) in abdominal subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue in women

We have examined the expression and activity of 20a-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20a-HSD) in abdominal adipose tissue in women. This recently-characterized enzyme from the aldoketoreductase 1C family (AKR1C1) is responsible for the conversion of progesterone into 20a-hydroxyprogesterone. Abdominal subcutaneous (SC) and omental (OM) adipose tissue biopsies were obtained from a sample of 32 women aged 47.7+-5.9 years (BMI: 27.6+-5.0 kg/m2 ) undergoing abdominal hysterectomies. Body composition and body fat distribution measurements were performed before the surgery by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography respectively. The expression of 20a-HSD was determined by real-time RT-PCR, and its activity was measured in whole tissue homogenates. Messenger RNA and activity of the enzyme were detected in both the SC and OM fat depots, the two measures being significantly higher in the SC compartment. Women characterized by a visceral adipose tissue area greater than or equal to 100 cm2 had an increased 20a-HSD conversion rate in their omental adipose tissue compared to women without visceral obesity (13.99+-2.07 vs. 7.92+-0.83 fmol/ug protein/24h, p<0.05). Accordingly, a positive correlation was found between omental adipose tissue 20a-HSD activity and computed tomography-measured visceral adipose tissue area (r=0.36, p<0.05). Significant positive correlations were also found between omental 20a-HSD activity and omental adipocyte diameter (r=0.49, p<0.05) and omental adipose tissue LPL activity (r=0.36, p=0.06). In conclusion, 20a-HSD activity and mRNA were detected in SC and OM adipose tissue in women, and omental 20a-hydroxylation of progesterone was highest in women with visceral obesity. Further studies are required to establish whether local conversion of progesterone may impact on the metabolism and function of adipocytes located within the abdominal cavity

Biologie de la reproduction d'une espèce menacée de l'île de La Réunion (Corymborkis corymbis: Orchidaceae) : implications pour sa conservation

La connaissance de la biologie de la reproduction est une étape essentielle dans la mise en place de projets de conservation des espèces menacées. L'étude de Corymborkis corymbis, espèce protégée de l'île de La Réunion, montre que cette espèce n'est représentée que par quelques populations sur l'île. Son taux de fécondité en milieu naturel, de l'ordre de 3 %, est extrêmement faible. L'étude de son système de compatibilité montre que l'espèce est partiellement autocompatible mais pas autofertile. Des perspectives d'études à réaliser sont proposées, ainsi que des stratégies de gestion de la conservation de cette espèce.The knowledge of the reproductive biology is an essential step in the building of conservation projects of endangered species . The protected Corymborkis corymbis in La Réunion island is only represented by few populations. lts fecundity in natural conditions is very low ( around 3 % ). The study of its breeding system shows that the species is partially self-compatible but not self-fertile. This paper proposes future studies as well as management strategies of the conservation of this species