Threat effects on human oculo-motor function.

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Threat effects on human oculo-motor function.

Neuroscience. 2017 Jul 18;:

Authors: Naranjo EN, Cleworth TW, Allum JHJ, Inglis JT, Lea J, Westerberg BD, Carpenter MG

Abstract
Neuro-anatomical evidence supports the potential for threat-related factors, such as fear, anxiety and vigilance, to influence brainstem motor nuclei controlling eye movements, as well as the vestibular nuclei. However, little is known about how threat influences human ocular responses, such as eye saccades (ES), smooth pursuit eye tracking (SP), and optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), and whether these responses can be facilitated above normal baseline levels with a natural source of threat. This study was designed to examine the effects of height-induced postural threat on the gain of ES, SP and OKN responses in humans. Twenty participants stood at two different surface heights while performing ES (ranging from 8°- 45° from centre), SP (15, 20, 30°/s) and OKN (15, 30, 60°/s) responses in the horizontal plane. Height did not significantly increase the slope of the relationship between ES peak velocity and initial amplitude, or the gain of ES amplitude. In contrast height significantly increased SP and OKN gain. Significant correlations were found between changes in physiological arousal and OKN gain. Observations of changes with height in OKN and SP supports neuro-anatomical evidence of threat-related mechanisms influencing both oculo-motor nuclei and vestibular reflex pathways. Although further study is warranted, the findings suggest that potential influences of fear, anxiety and arousal/alertness should be accounted for, or controlled, during clinical vestibular and oculo-motor testing.

PMID: 28733210 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Threat effects on human oculo-motor function.

Related Articles

Threat effects on human oculo-motor function.

Neuroscience. 2017 Jul 18;:

Authors: Naranjo EN, Cleworth TW, Allum JHJ, Inglis JT, Lea J, Westerberg BD, Carpenter MG

Abstract
Neuro-anatomical evidence supports the potential for threat-related factors, such as fear, anxiety and vigilance, to influence brainstem motor nuclei controlling eye movements, as well as the vestibular nuclei. However, little is known about how threat influences human ocular responses, such as eye saccades (ES), smooth pursuit eye tracking (SP), and optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), and whether these responses can be facilitated above normal baseline levels with a natural source of threat. This study was designed to examine the effects of height-induced postural threat on the gain of ES, SP and OKN responses in humans. Twenty participants stood at two different surface heights while performing ES (ranging from 8°- 45° from centre), SP (15, 20, 30°/s) and OKN (15, 30, 60°/s) responses in the horizontal plane. Height did not significantly increase the slope of the relationship between ES peak velocity and initial amplitude, or the gain of ES amplitude. In contrast height significantly increased SP and OKN gain. Significant correlations were found between changes in physiological arousal and OKN gain. Observations of changes with height in OKN and SP supports neuro-anatomical evidence of threat-related mechanisms influencing both oculo-motor nuclei and vestibular reflex pathways. Although further study is warranted, the findings suggest that potential influences of fear, anxiety and arousal/alertness should be accounted for, or controlled, during clinical vestibular and oculo-motor testing.

PMID: 28733210 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Identification of a rare COCH mutation by whole-exome sequencing : Implications for personalized therapeutic rehabilitation in an Austrian family with non-syndromic autosomal dominant late-onset hearing loss.

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Identification of a rare COCH mutation by whole-exome sequencing : Implications for personalized therapeutic rehabilitation in an Austrian family with non-syndromic autosomal dominant late-onset hearing loss.

Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2017 Jul 21;:

Authors: Parzefall T, Frohne A, Koenighofer M, Kirchnawy A, Streubel B, Schoefer C, Gstoettner W, Frei K, Lucas T

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-syndromic autosomal dominant hearing impairment is characteristically postlingual in onset. Genetic diagnostics are essential for genetic counselling, disease prognosis and understanding of the molecular mechanisms of disease. To date, 36 causative genes have been identified, many in only individual families. Gene selection for genetic screening by traditional methods and genetic diagnosis in autosomal dominant patients has therefore been fraught with difficulty. Whole-exome sequencing provides a powerful tool to analyze all protein-coding genomic regions in parallel, thus allowing the comprehensive screening of all known genes and associated alterations.
METHODS: In this study, a previously undiagnosed late-onset progressive autosomal dominant hearing loss in an Austrian family was investigated by means of whole-exome sequencing. Results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing.
RESULTS: A previously described c.151C>T missense (p.Pro51Ser) mutation in the LCCL (limulus factor C, cochlin, late gestation lung protein Lgl1) domain of the cochlin gene (COCH) was identified as causative and segregated with disease in five members of the family. Molecular diagnostics led to the decision to perform cochlear implantation in an index patient who subsequently showed excellent postoperative auditory performance. The c.151C>T mutation was not found in 18 screened Austrian families with autosomal dominant hearing loss but was represented alongside other known pathogenic mutant COCH alleles in the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) in European populations. A combined allele frequency of 0.000128 implies an orphan disease frequency for COCH-induced hearing loss of 1:3900 in Europe.
CONCLUSIONS: Exome sequencing successfully resolved the genetic diagnosis in a family suffering from autosomal dominant hearing impairment and allowed prediction of purported auditory outcome after cochlear implantation in an index patient. Personalized treatment approaches based on the molecular mechanisms of disease may become increasingly important in the future.

PMID: 28733840 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Declining and fluctuating prevalence values of hearing impairment in 18-year old Swedish men during three decades

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Per Muhr, Ann-Christin Johnson, Ulf Rosenhall
ObjectiveTo analyze time trends in prevalence of hearing impairment in almost complete birth cohorts of 18-year old Swedish men from 1970s up to 2010.Study groupsBefore 1999, all 18-year old men, in Sweden, were called for a compulsory conscription examination. In 1971–1999, the participation rate in audiometry was 73–95%. After 1999, when exemption from conscription was allowed, the participation rate gradually declined to 52% in 2004. Samples with participation rates below 50% (2005–2010) were considered non-representative and excluded from the analyses.ResultsHigh-frequency hearing impairments (HFHI) 35–40 dB HL and ≥45 dB HL showed a decreasing trend over the observed period, from a prevalence of 2.9% (35–40 dB HL) and 3.8% (≥45 dB HL) respectively in 1971 to 1.4% and 1.1% respectively in 2004. HFHI 25–30 dB HL, showed slow variations over time and decreased from 8.5% in 1971 to 3.2% in 1981 followed by an increase to 10.4% in 1992. After that year there was a decrease to 5.2% in 2004. The slow fluctuations affected only HFHI 25–30 dB HL, mainly at 6 kHz. The left ear was more affected than the right ear.ConclusionsThe most important observation was a decrease of HFHI 35–40 dB HL by 52% percent and of HFHI ≥45 dB HL by 71% between the years 1971 and 2004. The prevalence of HFHI 25–30 dB HL in young Swedish males fluctuated over a period of 33 years. Possible reasons for these trends and variations are discussed.



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Objective assessment of electrode discrimination with the auditory change complex in adult cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Rajeev Mathew, Jaime Undurraga, Guoping Li, Leah Meerton, Patrick Boyle, Azhar Shaida, David Selvadurai, Dan Jiang, Deborah Vickers
The spatial auditory change complex (ACC) is a cortical response elicited by a change in place of stimulation. There is growing evidence that it provides a useful objective measure of electrode discrimination in cochlear implant (CI) users. To date, the spatial ACC has only been measured in relatively experienced CI users with one type of device. Early assessment of electrode discrimination could allow auditory stimulation to be optimized during a potentially sensitive period of auditory rehabilitation. In this study we used a direct stimulation paradigm to measure the spatial ACC in both pre- and post-lingually deafened adults. We show that it is feasible to measure the spatial ACC in different CI devices and as early as 1 week after CI switch-on. The spatial ACC has a strong relationship with performance on a behavioural discrimination task and in some cases provides information over and above behavioural testing. We suggest that it may be useful to measure the spatial ACC to guide auditory rehabilitation and improve hearing performance in CI users.



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Declining and fluctuating prevalence values of hearing impairment in 18-year old Swedish men during three decades

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Per Muhr, Ann-Christin Johnson, Ulf Rosenhall
ObjectiveTo analyze time trends in prevalence of hearing impairment in almost complete birth cohorts of 18-year old Swedish men from 1970s up to 2010.Study groupsBefore 1999, all 18-year old men, in Sweden, were called for a compulsory conscription examination. In 1971–1999, the participation rate in audiometry was 73–95%. After 1999, when exemption from conscription was allowed, the participation rate gradually declined to 52% in 2004. Samples with participation rates below 50% (2005–2010) were considered non-representative and excluded from the analyses.ResultsHigh-frequency hearing impairments (HFHI) 35–40 dB HL and ≥45 dB HL showed a decreasing trend over the observed period, from a prevalence of 2.9% (35–40 dB HL) and 3.8% (≥45 dB HL) respectively in 1971 to 1.4% and 1.1% respectively in 2004. HFHI 25–30 dB HL, showed slow variations over time and decreased from 8.5% in 1971 to 3.2% in 1981 followed by an increase to 10.4% in 1992. After that year there was a decrease to 5.2% in 2004. The slow fluctuations affected only HFHI 25–30 dB HL, mainly at 6 kHz. The left ear was more affected than the right ear.ConclusionsThe most important observation was a decrease of HFHI 35–40 dB HL by 52% percent and of HFHI ≥45 dB HL by 71% between the years 1971 and 2004. The prevalence of HFHI 25–30 dB HL in young Swedish males fluctuated over a period of 33 years. Possible reasons for these trends and variations are discussed.



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Objective assessment of electrode discrimination with the auditory change complex in adult cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Rajeev Mathew, Jaime Undurraga, Guoping Li, Leah Meerton, Patrick Boyle, Azhar Shaida, David Selvadurai, Dan Jiang, Deborah Vickers
The spatial auditory change complex (ACC) is a cortical response elicited by a change in place of stimulation. There is growing evidence that it provides a useful objective measure of electrode discrimination in cochlear implant (CI) users. To date, the spatial ACC has only been measured in relatively experienced CI users with one type of device. Early assessment of electrode discrimination could allow auditory stimulation to be optimized during a potentially sensitive period of auditory rehabilitation. In this study we used a direct stimulation paradigm to measure the spatial ACC in both pre- and post-lingually deafened adults. We show that it is feasible to measure the spatial ACC in different CI devices and as early as 1 week after CI switch-on. The spatial ACC has a strong relationship with performance on a behavioural discrimination task and in some cases provides information over and above behavioural testing. We suggest that it may be useful to measure the spatial ACC to guide auditory rehabilitation and improve hearing performance in CI users.



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Declining and fluctuating prevalence values of hearing impairment in 18-year old Swedish men during three decades

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Per Muhr, Ann-Christin Johnson, Ulf Rosenhall
ObjectiveTo analyze time trends in prevalence of hearing impairment in almost complete birth cohorts of 18-year old Swedish men from 1970s up to 2010.Study groupsBefore 1999, all 18-year old men, in Sweden, were called for a compulsory conscription examination. In 1971–1999, the participation rate in audiometry was 73–95%. After 1999, when exemption from conscription was allowed, the participation rate gradually declined to 52% in 2004. Samples with participation rates below 50% (2005–2010) were considered non-representative and excluded from the analyses.ResultsHigh-frequency hearing impairments (HFHI) 35–40 dB HL and ≥45 dB HL showed a decreasing trend over the observed period, from a prevalence of 2.9% (35–40 dB HL) and 3.8% (≥45 dB HL) respectively in 1971 to 1.4% and 1.1% respectively in 2004. HFHI 25–30 dB HL, showed slow variations over time and decreased from 8.5% in 1971 to 3.2% in 1981 followed by an increase to 10.4% in 1992. After that year there was a decrease to 5.2% in 2004. The slow fluctuations affected only HFHI 25–30 dB HL, mainly at 6 kHz. The left ear was more affected than the right ear.ConclusionsThe most important observation was a decrease of HFHI 35–40 dB HL by 52% percent and of HFHI ≥45 dB HL by 71% between the years 1971 and 2004. The prevalence of HFHI 25–30 dB HL in young Swedish males fluctuated over a period of 33 years. Possible reasons for these trends and variations are discussed.



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Objective assessment of electrode discrimination with the auditory change complex in adult cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Rajeev Mathew, Jaime Undurraga, Guoping Li, Leah Meerton, Patrick Boyle, Azhar Shaida, David Selvadurai, Dan Jiang, Deborah Vickers
The spatial auditory change complex (ACC) is a cortical response elicited by a change in place of stimulation. There is growing evidence that it provides a useful objective measure of electrode discrimination in cochlear implant (CI) users. To date, the spatial ACC has only been measured in relatively experienced CI users with one type of device. Early assessment of electrode discrimination could allow auditory stimulation to be optimized during a potentially sensitive period of auditory rehabilitation. In this study we used a direct stimulation paradigm to measure the spatial ACC in both pre- and post-lingually deafened adults. We show that it is feasible to measure the spatial ACC in different CI devices and as early as 1 week after CI switch-on. The spatial ACC has a strong relationship with performance on a behavioural discrimination task and in some cases provides information over and above behavioural testing. We suggest that it may be useful to measure the spatial ACC to guide auditory rehabilitation and improve hearing performance in CI users.



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Declining and fluctuating prevalence values of hearing impairment in 18-year old Swedish men during three decades

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Per Muhr, Ann-Christin Johnson, Ulf Rosenhall
ObjectiveTo analyze time trends in prevalence of hearing impairment in almost complete birth cohorts of 18-year old Swedish men from 1970s up to 2010.Study groupsBefore 1999, all 18-year old men, in Sweden, were called for a compulsory conscription examination. In 1971–1999, the participation rate in audiometry was 73–95%. After 1999, when exemption from conscription was allowed, the participation rate gradually declined to 52% in 2004. Samples with participation rates below 50% (2005–2010) were considered non-representative and excluded from the analyses.ResultsHigh-frequency hearing impairments (HFHI) 35–40 dB HL and ≥45 dB HL showed a decreasing trend over the observed period, from a prevalence of 2.9% (35–40 dB HL) and 3.8% (≥45 dB HL) respectively in 1971 to 1.4% and 1.1% respectively in 2004. HFHI 25–30 dB HL, showed slow variations over time and decreased from 8.5% in 1971 to 3.2% in 1981 followed by an increase to 10.4% in 1992. After that year there was a decrease to 5.2% in 2004. The slow fluctuations affected only HFHI 25–30 dB HL, mainly at 6 kHz. The left ear was more affected than the right ear.ConclusionsThe most important observation was a decrease of HFHI 35–40 dB HL by 52% percent and of HFHI ≥45 dB HL by 71% between the years 1971 and 2004. The prevalence of HFHI 25–30 dB HL in young Swedish males fluctuated over a period of 33 years. Possible reasons for these trends and variations are discussed.



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Objective assessment of electrode discrimination with the auditory change complex in adult cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Rajeev Mathew, Jaime Undurraga, Guoping Li, Leah Meerton, Patrick Boyle, Azhar Shaida, David Selvadurai, Dan Jiang, Deborah Vickers
The spatial auditory change complex (ACC) is a cortical response elicited by a change in place of stimulation. There is growing evidence that it provides a useful objective measure of electrode discrimination in cochlear implant (CI) users. To date, the spatial ACC has only been measured in relatively experienced CI users with one type of device. Early assessment of electrode discrimination could allow auditory stimulation to be optimized during a potentially sensitive period of auditory rehabilitation. In this study we used a direct stimulation paradigm to measure the spatial ACC in both pre- and post-lingually deafened adults. We show that it is feasible to measure the spatial ACC in different CI devices and as early as 1 week after CI switch-on. The spatial ACC has a strong relationship with performance on a behavioural discrimination task and in some cases provides information over and above behavioural testing. We suggest that it may be useful to measure the spatial ACC to guide auditory rehabilitation and improve hearing performance in CI users.



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Declining and fluctuating prevalence values of hearing impairment in 18-year old Swedish men during three decades

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Per Muhr, Ann-Christin Johnson, Ulf Rosenhall
ObjectiveTo analyze time trends in prevalence of hearing impairment in almost complete birth cohorts of 18-year old Swedish men from 1970s up to 2010.Study groupsBefore 1999, all 18-year old men, in Sweden, were called for a compulsory conscription examination. In 1971–1999, the participation rate in audiometry was 73–95%. After 1999, when exemption from conscription was allowed, the participation rate gradually declined to 52% in 2004. Samples with participation rates below 50% (2005–2010) were considered non-representative and excluded from the analyses.ResultsHigh-frequency hearing impairments (HFHI) 35–40 dB HL and ≥45 dB HL showed a decreasing trend over the observed period, from a prevalence of 2.9% (35–40 dB HL) and 3.8% (≥45 dB HL) respectively in 1971 to 1.4% and 1.1% respectively in 2004. HFHI 25–30 dB HL, showed slow variations over time and decreased from 8.5% in 1971 to 3.2% in 1981 followed by an increase to 10.4% in 1992. After that year there was a decrease to 5.2% in 2004. The slow fluctuations affected only HFHI 25–30 dB HL, mainly at 6 kHz. The left ear was more affected than the right ear.ConclusionsThe most important observation was a decrease of HFHI 35–40 dB HL by 52% percent and of HFHI ≥45 dB HL by 71% between the years 1971 and 2004. The prevalence of HFHI 25–30 dB HL in young Swedish males fluctuated over a period of 33 years. Possible reasons for these trends and variations are discussed.



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Objective assessment of electrode discrimination with the auditory change complex in adult cochlear implant users

Publication date: Available online 23 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Rajeev Mathew, Jaime Undurraga, Guoping Li, Leah Meerton, Patrick Boyle, Azhar Shaida, David Selvadurai, Dan Jiang, Deborah Vickers
The spatial auditory change complex (ACC) is a cortical response elicited by a change in place of stimulation. There is growing evidence that it provides a useful objective measure of electrode discrimination in cochlear implant (CI) users. To date, the spatial ACC has only been measured in relatively experienced CI users with one type of device. Early assessment of electrode discrimination could allow auditory stimulation to be optimized during a potentially sensitive period of auditory rehabilitation. In this study we used a direct stimulation paradigm to measure the spatial ACC in both pre- and post-lingually deafened adults. We show that it is feasible to measure the spatial ACC in different CI devices and as early as 1 week after CI switch-on. The spatial ACC has a strong relationship with performance on a behavioural discrimination task and in some cases provides information over and above behavioural testing. We suggest that it may be useful to measure the spatial ACC to guide auditory rehabilitation and improve hearing performance in CI users.



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Associations of Sex Hormones and Anthropometry with the Speaking Voice Profile in the Adult General Population

Publication date: Available online 22 July 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Lasse Jost, Michael Fuchs, Markus Loeffler, Joachim Thiery, Juergen Kratzsch, Thomas Berger, Christoph Engel
ObjectiveThere is evidence that sexual hormone concentrations and anthropometric factors influence the human voice. The goal of this study was to investigate to what extent body mass index (BMI), body height, body weight, breast-to-abdomen-ratio, testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone are associated with the sound pressure level and the fundamental frequency of the speaking voice in a cross-sectional approach among adults in the general population.MethodsSpeaking voice profiles with four different intensity levels, hormone concentrations, and anthropometric parameters were assessed for 2,381 individuals aged 40–79 years, who were randomly sampled from the population of a large city in Germany. Multivariate analysis was performed, adjusting for age and stratified by sex.ResultsTaller body height was associated with lower frequencies. Higher body weight was associated with lower frequencies and higher sound pressure levels. The ratio of chest to abdominal circumference was associated with the sound pressure levels in males and females: participants with larger breast-to-abdomen-ratio were found to have higher sound pressure levels. Among the sexual hormones, higher concentrations of DHEA-S were associated with lower fundamental frequencies of the voice while using the normal speaking voice. In addition, bioavailable testosterone was associated with the sound pressure level of the normal speaking voice in men and the softest speaking voice in women.ConclusionOur findings suggest that BMI, body height, body weight, breast-to-abdomen-ratio, bioavailable testosterone, and DHEA-S are associated with the speaking voice in adults. No associations between testosterone and the frequency of the speaking voice were found.



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Effects of Voice Therapy on Muscle Tension Dysphonia: A Systematic Literature Review

Publication date: Available online 22 July 2017
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Gabriela da Cunha Pereira, Isadora de Oliveira Lemos, Camila Dalbosco Gadenz, Mauriceia Cassol
The present study aimed to carry out a systematic review of the effects of voice therapy on individuals diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) or hyperfunctional dysphonia. This is a systematic literature review on the databases Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Lilacs using a search strategy related to the theme of the study. The selection included clinical trials that assessed the effects of speech therapy intervention on patients diagnosed with MTD or hyperfunctional dysphonia published over the last 10 years in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. The Physiotherapy Evidence-Based Database (PEDro) Scale was used to assess the methodology of the studies. Of the 634 publications, 12 studies were included in this review, of which three were excluded due to a low score on the PEDro Scale, resulting in a final number of nine publications. Regarding the techniques approached, semioccluded vocal tract exercises (22.22%), nasal sound and frequency modulation (22.22%), maximum phonation time (MPT) technique and vocal hygiene (11.11%), vocal function exercises (11.11%), respiratory exercises along with phonoarticulatory sounds (11.11%), manual laryngeal therapy (11.11%), and manual laryngeal therapy associated with respiratory exercises (11.11%) were identified. These techniques promoted the following effects: improvement in intraoral and subglottal pressure, positive alterations in the glottal contact quotient, significant changes in fundamental frequency measures, increased MPT, and reduced voice roughness. Methodology was identified to be a shortcoming in the studies. The clinical trials reviewed showed positive results in using the therapeutic techniques selected in the speech therapy approach.



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