• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.169-184
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• 2016

Objectives: To investigate the neurophysiological effect of acupuncture treatment on insomnia patients using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) and standardized Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography method (sLORETA).Background: Insomnia is one of the commonly encountered symptoms in primary medical care. Recent studies of acupuncture for insomnia reported that the acupuncture groups showed significant improvements compared with the control groups. However, the neurophysiological mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia has not been revealed and a few studies have measured the effect of acupuncture treatment using QEEG.Methods: Participants who had some problems in initiating or maintaining sleep, or had non-restorative sleep for more than 3 days a week and ISI scores above 8 and below 21 were treated by acupuncture for 2 weeks (3 times a week, total 6 times). We assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia by the PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) at baseline and at 2 weeks after the end of treatment (4th week). Also, we performed EEG and analysed the EEG data at baseline and at the end of treatment (2nd week) on the linked ears montage using the Neuroguide software program and sLORETA.Results: Thirty-two participants were enrolled and 2 participants dropped out because of personal reasons. Among the 30 participants, EEGs of 12 participants were included in the analysis of QEEG and sLORETA. Total score on the ISI and PSQI was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment. The number of electrodes exceeding the range of 90% (±1.65) or 95% (±1.96) in the z scored absolute power of beta was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment. There was no significant change in brain activation between pre- and post-acupuncture using sLORETA.Conclusions: The deviation of absolute power compared to the normative database was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment in the alpha and beta ranges. Therefore, we suggest that acupuncture treatment for insomnia might be effective through the central nervous system especially in the brain. There are many limitations to drawing any conclusion. Further studies are needed in the future to overcome these limitations.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.171-180
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to determine an effective training method to improve sequela, since traumatic brain injury sequela is a major factor in determining the quality of life. Neurofeedback training was conducted for an adolescent who had experienced traumatic brain injury during his childhood and who had difficulty in cognitive learning and emotional aspects. The assessment of an adolescent was conducted using K-WAIS-IV intelligence test and QEEG brain wave analysis. In the neurofeedback training, T3 alpha wave compensation and T4 alpha wave inhibition training were performed 36 times for 30 minutes three times a week. In addition to the neurofeedback training, respiratory meditation was also made available to the adolescent. As a result, the adolescent showed a stable condition as indicated by taking a good sleep, reducing test anxiety, and satisfaction with final exam results. This study revealed the possibility for hidden physical and psychological problems arising due to childhood brain trauma. It has also recently been discovered that a more diverse set of tools can be found. In addition, these childhood traumatic brain injuries can be improved through brain training and meditation. The study finding is meaningful for its suggestion of a fusion method for developing mind and body therapy in terms of brain science.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.615-621
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• 2018

To enhance the energy saving and comfort of indoors, this study performed a stimulation of sound fluctuation, color temperature, and aroma. The experiment with EEG, HRV, and Vibra images was conducted in an environmental test room with a temperature of $25[^{\circ}C]$, relative humidity of 50[RH%], air current speed of 0.002[m/s], and illuminance of 1000[lux]. The stimulation experiment set up different sensory stimulation conditions, such as before exposure, single-sensory stimulation of fluctuation a=1.106 jazz music, single-sensory stimulation of RED color lighting, single-sensory stimulation of scent aroma, and multi-sensory stimulation of fluctuation a=1.106 jazz music, RED color lighting, and scent aroma. After the multi-sensory stimulation of fluctuation a=1.106 jazz music, RED color lighting and scent aroma, the capacity for work and attention were increased, and the stress index and fatigue degree were decreased. In addition, multi-sensory stimulation of fluctuation a=1.106 jazz music, RED color lighting, and scent aroma were effective in maintaining a stable heart and health. In addition, the Vibra image appeared to decrease tension/anxiety and stress. The multi-sensory stimulation of fluctuation a=1.106 jazz music, RED color lighting, and scent aroma help increase the Neuro-energy more than that by no exposure and single-sensory stimulation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.689-695
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• 2010

The effect of the code conversion process of Korean script (Hangul), also known as words for numbers, was investigated using event-related potentials (ERPs) during mental arithmetic operations. Study subjects were asked to determine whether the arithmetic results of a given target stimuli were correctly matched. Visual inspection and statistics of mean ERPs showed stimulus type-dependent processing rather than task-dependent processing. Results of addition and multiplication tasks revealed that the overall temporal profiles of the Arabic numerals were similar to the Hangul words for numbers. The only exception to this observation was a delayed positive-slope peak occurring around 300 ms, which was likely related to the encoding process of Hangul words for numbers to Arabic-digits, defined as a 'transcoding-related potential.' Source analysis confirmed that the topography of different waveforms for the two conditions was attributed to a single dipole located in the left temporo-parietal area; this area is known to be involved in Hangul words for number processing. These results suggest that the initial processing for encoding words for numbers was followed by arithmetic operations without direct access of internal number representation. Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.893-897
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• 2003

Purpose : Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes(BECT) is characterized by an excellent prognosis. Therefore, the necessity for the use of antiepileptic drugs is controversial. The object of this study is to know about the long-term follow-up of BECT, comparing daily treatment with antiepileptic drug(AED) versus no medication. Methods : We retrospectively studied 56 cases of BECTs, examined at Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Korea University Medical Center as reference study time, August 2002. Thirty-eight patients didn't have mediation(group I), while eighteen patients received one or two AED(group II). We evaluated demographics, clinical manifestations at diagnosis, EEG findings and clinical courses in groups I & II. Results : There was no significant differences of sex, age, seizure frequency, seizure type, seizure onset time, family history and EEG findings between group I & II. The reasons to start AED were : parents' anxiety(three cases), frequent seizure(12 cases) and daytime seizure(three cases). There was no evolution of status epilepticus and no difficulty in school performance. Conclusion : AED treatment was of no advantage and long-term prognosis was good regardless of treatment strategy. So it is advisable not to choose AED as the first line of therapy, provided that the patient himself/herself or the family understands the benign nature of BECT.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Cognitive Science Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.211-215
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• 2002

본 실험은 종합적 인지과정을 추론할 수 있는 결합 문제(binding problem)를 언어적인지 과정을 통해 알아 본 실험으로, 총 10 명(남:61여:4, 평균나이:24.40 $\pm$ 1.35)의 정상군을 대상으로, 4개의 음소로 이루어진 단음절 명사를 목표 자극(target stimulus)으로 하고, 4개 음소의 임의적인 조합으로서 글자를 이루지 못하는 비목표 자극(non-target stimulus)을, 각각 200 회와 800 회씩 시각적으로 0.5초씩 무작위로 제시하여 128 채널 고밀도 사건관련전위(ERP)를 측정하였다. 이번 실험 결과의 주요 특징은 글자가 아닌 비목표 자극보다 글자인 목표 자극에서 두드러지게 나타난 두정엽 부근의 P500 과 N900 이라고 할 수 있다. 자극 제시 비율의 차이에서 오는 oddball 효과로 인한 기존 P300 의 인지적 의미를 이번 결과의 P500 이 함축한다고 볼 수 있으며, 단음절 단어를 인지할 때, 글자임을 인식하는 순간은 의미적인지 과정이 진행되었다기보다 그 글자의 형태만으로 낯익은 글자인지를 분간하는 것으로 보인다 따라서, 이 경우 기존 언어 실험에 자주 등장하던 의미론적 peak 인 N400 은 보이지 않고, 곧바로 형태적이고, 통사적(syntactic)인 인지 처리 과정인 P500이 나타났다고 해석할 수 있다. 하지만, 이번 실험에서는 N400 대신에 N900 이 나타났다. 이 결과는 이번 ERP 실험과 병행된 프로토콜 분석을 통해, 피험자가 자극 제시 후, 약 900ms 정도에, 이미 제시되고 사라진 글자 자극을 다시 한번 떠올리는 인지 과정이 일어난다는 점과 관련 지어 해석하면, 기존에 의미적(semantic) 인지 과정으로만 해석했던 negative-peak 를 생각(thinking)과 같은 내재적인지 과정(internal cognitive process)으로 확장하여 일반화하는 추론도 생각해 볼 수 있다. 요컨대, 언어인지를 통한 이번 실험을 통해, 뇌파에서 검출되는 negative-peak 은 internal cognitive process로 추측되고, positive-peak 는 external cognitive process 라고 생각된다. 덧붙여, 유의해서 볼 점은 각 peak-topology 에서 Cz 의 진폭이 Fz 보다 크게 나온 점과, 일반적으로 언어 기능을 담당한다는 좌측 측두엽(T7)이 우측(T8)보다 통계적으로 더 유의미한 차이를 보였다는 점등이다.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.721-732
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• 2010

As increasing of electrical device usage, social concerns about the possible effects of 60Hz electromagnetic fields (EMF) on human health have increased. The number of people with self-attributed electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) who complain of subjective symptoms such as headache, insomnia etc. also increased. However, we don't know whether the EHS results from psychological factor or real perception to the electromagnetic field. In this study, we simultaneously investigated physiological changes(heart rate, respiration rate, heart rate variability, alpha and beta waves in EEG), subjective symptoms and perception accuracy to assess origins of subjective symptoms according to the EMF exposure. Experiment consists of real and sham sessions and 60Hz 12.5uT magnetic field was on(real) or off(sham) to 15 EHS and 16 nonEHS. As the results, EMF exposure did not have any effects on physiological parameters or subjective symptoms for both groups. There was also no evidence that EHS group perceived the EMFs correctly than the control group. Therefore, the origins of subjective symptoms is not the 60Hz magnetic field but psychological factors.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2009

Hearing loss is one of the most common birth defects among infants. Most of hearing-impaired children are not diagnosed until 1 to 3 years of age - which is too late for the critical period (6 month) for normal speech and language development. If a hearing impairment is identified and treated in its early stage, child's speech and language skills could be comparable to his or her normal-hearing peers. For these reasons, hearing screening at birth and throughout childhood is extremely important. ABR (Auditory brain-stem response) is nowadays one of the most reliable diagnostic tools in the early detection of hearing impairment. In this study, we have developed the system that automatically detects if there is hearing impairment or not for infants or children. For future studies, it will be developed as a portable system to be able to take a measurement not only in sound proof room but also in nursery for neonates.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.469-499
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• 2016

The present study investigated the cognitive mechanism underlying online processing of Korean syntactic (for example, A bed/a clock belongs to/doesn't belong to the furniture "침대는/시계는 가구에 속한다/속하지 않는다") and lexical negation (for example, A tiger/a butterfly has/doesn't have a tail "호랑이는/나비는 꼬리가 있다/없다") using an ERP(Event-related potentials) technique and a truth-value verification task. 23 Korean native speakers were employed for the whole experiment and 15's brain responses (out of 23) were recorded for the ERP analysis. The behavioral results (i.e. verification task scores) show that there is universal pattern of the accuracy and response time for verification process: True-Affirmative (high accuracy and short latency) > False-Affirmative > False-Negated > True-Negated. However, the components (early N400 & P600) reflecting the immediate processing of a negation operator were observed only in lexical negation. Moreover, the ERP patterns reflecting an effect of truth value were not identical: N400 effect was observed in the true condition compared to the false condition in the lexically negated sentences, whereas Positivity effect (like early P600) was observed in the false condition compared to the true condition in the syntactically negated sentences. In conclusion, the form and location of negation operator varied by languages and negation types influences the strategy and pattern of online negation processing, however, the final representation resulting from different computational processing of negation appears to be language universal and is not directly affected by negation types.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.571-578
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• 2010

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam adjunctive therapy for reducing the rate of seizure frequency in children with intractable pediatric epilepsy. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 86 patients with intractable pediatric epilepsy who visited our hospital between March 1989 and February 2009. Levetiracetam was included in the previous anticonvulsant regimen for at least 6 months and the reduction in the rate of seizure frequency was determined in follow-up examinations. We analyzed demographic data, seizure types, antiepileptic drug history, levetiracetam dose, adverse effects of levetiracetam therapy, treatment outcome, electroencephalogram findings, etc. Results : More than 50% reduction in the seizure frequency was observed in 62 of the 86 (72.1%) patients; 44 patients (51.1%) became seizure free, while the seizure frequency increased in 5.8% patients. The associations between seizure reduction rate and age, associated diseases, seizure types, and seizure frequency before treatment were not significant. However, the duration of disease, dose of levetiracetam, duration and frequency of anticonvulsant administration before levetiracetam therapy were significantly correlated. Electroencephalogram findings and the cause of epilepsy showed partial correlation. Forty (46%) patients showed adverse symptoms; the symptoms in the order of their frequency were somnolence, hyperactivity, irritability, aggressiveness, tiredness, etc. Conclusion : The findings of our study provide the evidence that levetiracetam adjunctive therapy is efficacious and well tolerated in various refractory childhood epilepsy cases.