Word onset phonetic properties and motor artifacts in speech production EEG recordings

Abstract

Electrophysiological research using verbal response paradigms faces the problem of muscle artifacts that occur during speech production or in the period preceding articulation. In this context, this paper has two related aims. The first is to show how the nature of the first phoneme influences the alignment of the ERPs. The second is to further characterize the EEG signal around the onset of articulation, both in temporal and frequency domains. Participants were asked to name aloud pictures of common objects. We applied microstate analyses and time-frequency transformations of ERPs locked to vocal onset to compare the EEG signal between voiced and unvoiced labial plosive word onset consonants. We found a delay of about 40 ms in the set of stable topographic patterns for /b/ relative to /p/ onset words. A similar shift was observed in the power increase of gamma oscillations (30–50 Hz), which had an earlier onset for /p/ trials (∼150 ms before vocal onset). This 40-ms shift is consistent with the length of the voiced proportion of the acoustic signal prior to the release of the closure in the vocal responses. These results demonstrate that phonetic features are an important parameter affecting response-locked ERPs, and hence that the onset of the acoustic energy may not be an optimal trigger for synchronizing the EEG activity to the response in vocal paradigms. The indexes explored in this study provide a step forward in the characterization of muscle-related artifacts in electrophysiological studies of speech and language production.

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Bringing a 'Yes, and' mindset to EMS

By Eric Chase, EMS1 Contributor It was late in December and I was grinding through the holiday season. I was often assessing failures from the last call that didn't end well, compounded with my own feelings of inadequacy. I'd go over the decision points and questions from Monday morning quarterbacks, saying ,"they just don't know what we do anyhow." I wonder why people complain ...

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Temporal Response of Angiogenesis and Hypertrophy to Resistance Training in Young Men.

While endurance exercise training promotes angiogenesis and improves metabolic health, the effect of resistance training on this process is less well defined. We hypothesised that capillarization would increase proportionally, and concurrently, with muscle fiber hypertrophy in response to resistance training in young men. Methods: In this double blind, randomized control trial, 36 males (22 +/- 1 y) were randomized to placebo or protein supplementation, and participated in 12-wk of resistance training. Skeletal muscle biopsies were collected prior to, and following 2, 4, 8, and 12-wk of training. Immunohistochemistry assessed fiber-type specific size and capillarization. Western blot and RT-PCR assessed proteins involved in the molecular regulation of angiogenesis. Results: Resistance training effectively increased type I (15 +/- 4%; P

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Implementing Resistance Training in Secondary Schools: A Cluster RCT.

Purpose: Guidelines recommend that young people engage in muscle-strengthening activities on at least three days per week. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a school-based intervention focused on resistance training (RT) for adolescents. Methods: The 'Resistance Training for Teens' intervention was evaluated using a cluster randomized controlled trial with 607 adolescents (50.1% female; 14.1+/-0.5 years) from 16 secondary schools. Teachers were trained to deliver the intervention, which included: (i) an interactive student seminar; (ii) a structured physical activity program, focused on RT; (iii) lunchtime fitness sessions; and, (iv) web-based smartphone apps. The primary outcome was muscular fitness (MF) and secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), RT skill competency, flexibility, physical activity, self-efficacy and motivation. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6- (post-program; primary end-point) and 12-months (follow-up). Outcomes were assessed using linear mixed models, with three potential moderators tested using interaction terms (and sub-group analyses where appropriate). Results: For the primary outcome (MF), a group-by-time effect was observed at 6-months for upper body (2.0 repetitions, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8 to 3.2), but not lower body (-1.4cm, 95% CI: -4.7 to 1.9). At 6-months, there were intervention effects for RT skill competency and self-efficacy, but no other secondary outcomes. Effects for upper body MF and RT skill competency were sustained at 12-months. Despite overall no effect for BMI, there was a group-by-time effect at 12-months among students who were overweight/obese at baseline (-0.55 kg/m2, 95% CI: -1.01 to -0.08). Conclusions: The school-based RT intervention resulted in immediate and sustained improvements in upper body MF and RT skill competency, demonstrating an effective and scalable approach to delivering RT within secondary schools. (C) 2017 American College of Sports Medicine

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Swimming Training Reduces Neuroma Pain by Regulating Neurotrophins.

Introduction: Neuroma formation after peripheral nerve transection leads to severe neuropathic pain in amputees. Previous studies suggested physical exercise could bring beneficial effect on alleviating neuropathic pain. Yet the effect of exercise on neuroma pain still remained unclear. In addition, long-term exercise can affect the expression of neurotrophins (NTs), such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which play key roles in nociceptor sensitization and nerve sprouting following nerve injury. Here, we investigated whether long-term swimming exercise could relieve neuroma pain by modulating NTs expression. Methods: We used a tibial neuroma transposition (TNT) rat model to mimic neuroma pain. Following TNT surgery, rats were performed swimming exercise for 5 weeks. Neuroma pain and tactile sensitivities were detected using von Frey filaments. Immunofluorescence was applied to analyze neuroma formation. NGF and BDNF expression in peripheral neuroma, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord were measured using ELISA and western blotting. Results: TNT led to neuroma formation, induced neuroma pain and mechanical allodynia in hind paw. 5-week swimming exercise inhibited neuroma formation, relieved mechanical allodynia in the hind paw and neuroma pain in the lateral ankle. The analgesic effect lasted for at least one week, even the exercise ceased. TNT elevated the expressions of BDNF and NGF in peripheral neuroma, DRG and spinal cord to different extents. Swimming also decreased the elevation of NTs expression. Conclusions: Swimming exercise not only inhibits neuroma formation induced by nerve transection, but also relieves pain behavior. These effects might be associated with the modulation of NTs. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. (C) 2017 American College of Sports Medicine

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Feedback Leads to Better Exercise Quality in Adolescents with Patellofemoral Pain.

Purpose: Adolescents with patellofemoral pain (PFP) do not comply with their exercise prescription, performing too few and too fast repetitions, compromising recovery. We investigated if real-time feedback on contraction time would improve the ability of adolescents with PFP to perform exercises as prescribed. Methods: A randomised, controlled, participant-blinded, superiority trial with a 6-week intervention of three weekly sessions of three elastic band exercises was undertaken. Forty 15 to 19-year-old adolescents with PFP were randomised to real-time BandCizer(TM)-iPad feedback on contraction time or not by a physiotherapist. The primary outcome was the mean deviation from the prescribed contraction time of 8 seconds per repetition. Secondary outcomes included isometric hip and knee strength, Kujala Patellofemoral Scale and Global Rating of Change. Results: The mean deviation from prescribed 8 seconds per repetition contraction time was 1.5s (+/-0.5) for the feedback group, compared to 4.3s (+/-1.0) for the control group (mean difference: 2.7s (95% CI: 2.2-3.2, P

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Lead Paramedic (Full Time) - Constellis, LLC

Constellis was established in 2010 by a group of operators and investors who sought to combine best-in-class brands, assets and people within the complex risk management industry. Today, the leading provider of risk management and operational support services worldwide, Constellis combines the legacy capabilities and experience of ACADEMI, Triple Canopy, Olive Group, Centerra, Edinburgh International ...

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