• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.228-236
• /
• 2004

Retinal ganglion cells transmit visual scene as an action potential to visual cortex through optic nerve. Conventional recording method using single intra- or extra-cellular electrode enables us to understand the response of specific neuron on specific time. Therefore, it is not possible to determine how the nerve impulses in the population of retinal ganglion cells collectively encode the visual stimulus with conventional recording. This requires recording the simultaneous electrical signals of many neurons. Recent advances in multi-electrode recording have brought us closer to understanding how visual information is encoded by population of retinal ganglion cells. We examined how ganglion cells act together to encode a visual scene with multi-electrode array (MEA). With light stimulation (on duration: 2 sec, off duration: 5 sec) generated on a color monitor driven by custom-made software, we isolated three functional types of ganglion cell activities; ON (35.0$\pm$4.4%), OFF (31.4$\pm$1.9%), and ON/OFF cells (34.6$\pm$5.3%) (Total number of retinal pieces = 8). We observed that nearby neurons often fire action potential near synchrony (< 1 ms). And this narrow correlation is seen among cells within a cluster which is made of 6～8 cells. As there are many more synchronized firing patterns than ganglion cells, such a distributed code might allow the retina to compress a large number of distinct visual messages into a small number of ganglion cells.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.286-294
• /
• 2010

This study was performed to identify the cerebral network associated with sensation through the tickling stimulation, which is distinctive from the rest of other networks processing normal stimulation and to investigate the difference of laughing mechanism which is closely related to tickling using functional MRI(fMRI). A 16 healthy volunteers (mean age: 28.9) on a 3.0T MR scanner during two sensation conditions. Counterbalanced stimulus were presented across the participants, and the stimulation was used block design. Acquired data was analyzed by the statistical parametric mapping (SPM 99). Subject and group analysis was performed. Individual analysis showed the activation of somatic sensation area in both tasks and the tickling sensation test showed more activated area in the Wernicke's area(BA40) compared to the normal sensation. The group analysis result shows that under normal stimulations, both sides of somatosensory cortices(BA 1,2 and 3) were activated and under tickling stimulation, not only the cortices but also those huge activation on thalamus, cingulate gyrus and insular lobe were detected. When the tickling was stopped, significant activations were shown in right cingulate gyrus, left MFG area and left insular lobe. A cerebral area responsible for recognizing tickling sensation was examined and the primitive stimulation such as tickling is much closely related to laugh, which is an important factor for various social activities.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.729-736
• /
• 2010

In this study, a magnetic stimulation (MS) device with controllable pulse forming technology and pulse shape (MS) is described. The MS device uses an IGBT with appropriate snubbers to switch coil currents up to 6 kA, enabling pulse forming technology control from 5 s to over 100 s. The induced electric field pulses use 2% - 34% less energy and generate 57% - 67% less coil heating compared to matched conventional cosine pulses. MS is used to stimulate rhesus monkey motor cortex in vivo with pulse forming technology of 20 to 100 s, demonstrating the expected decrease of threshold pulse amplitude with increasing pulse forming technology. The technological solutions used in the MS prototype can expand functionality, and reduce power consumption and coil heating in MS, enhancing its research and therapeutic applications.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.470-476
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this Study was to invest)gate the function or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in regulatory mechanism of pulpal microcirculation with the aim of elucidating neurogenic inflammation. Experiments were performed on twelve cats under general anesthesia. CGRP was administered through the femoral vein to see the systemic Influence and through the external carotid artery to see the local effect. Sympathetic nerve to the dental pulp was stimulated electrically and pulpal blood flow (PBF) was measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter on the canine teeth to the drug administration. The paired variables of control and experimental data were compared by paired t-test and differences with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Systemic administration of CGRP $(0.3{\mu}g/ka)$ exerted decreases in systemic blood pressure and caused changes in PBF with an initial increase i311owed by decrease and a move marked second increase and decrease. Close intra-arterial (i.a.) injection of CCRP $(0.03{\mu}g/kg)$ resulted in slight PBF increase. The effect of CGRP resulted in no significant increase in PBF in the presence of $CGRP_{8-37}$. The electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerve alone resulted in PBF decreases. The j.a. administration of CGRP following the electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerve compensated the decreased PBF. Therefore, CGRP effectively blocked the sympathetic nerve stimulation-induced PBF decrease. Results of the present study have provided evidences that even though the local vasodilatory function of CGRP are weak, CCRP is effectively involved in blocking the vasoconstriction caused by sympathetic nerve stimulation in the feline dental pulp.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to observe the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast changes due to the reaction of human brain at a gustatory sense in response to a salty-taste stimulation. Materials and Methods : Twelve healthy, non-smoking, right-handed male subjects (mean age: 25.6, range: 23-28 years) participated in this salty-taste stimulus functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study. MRI scans were performed with 1.57 GE Signa, using a multi-slice GE-EPI sequence according to a blood-oxy-gen-level dependent (BOLD) experiment paradigm. Scan parameters included matrix size $128\times128$, FOV 250 mm, TR 5000 msec, TE 60 msec, TH/GAP 5/2 mm. Sequential data acquisitions were carried out for 42 measurements with a repetition time of 5 sec for each taste-stimulus experiments. Analysis of fMRI data was carried out using SPM99 implemented in Matlab. NaCl solution $(3\%)$ was used as a salty stimulus. The task paradigm consisted of alternating rest-stimulus cycles (30-second rest, 15-second stimulus) for 210 seconds. During the stimulus period, NaCl-solution was presented to the subject's mouth through plastic tubes as a bolus of delivered every 5 sec using -processor controlled auto-syringe pump. Results : Insula, frontal opercular taste cortex, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) were activated by a salty-taste stimulation $(NaCl,\;3\%)$ in the fMRI experiments. And dosolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was also significantly responded to salty-taste stimuli. Activation areas of the right side hemisphere were more superior to the left side hemisphere. Conclusion : The results of this study well correspond to the fact that both insula, amygdala, OFC, DLPFC areas are established as taste cortical areas by neuronal recordings in primates. Authors found that laboratory-developed auto-syringe pump is suitable for gustatory fMRI study. Further research in this field will accelerate to inquire into the mechanism of higher order gustatory process.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.1399-1410
• /
• 2009

It is a method to treat pain using medication, neurotomy, and surgery. And acupuncture, ultrasound, electric treatment, and magnetic treatment are applied as a alternative physiotherapy. Electronic therapy is useful but it can be affected by impedance of skin or subcutaneous tissue. So, percutaneous stimulation is leading therapy, that is very randomly. We developed the system which can stimulate parts of acupuncture point noninvasively using the focused magnetic field. And we designed the magnetic stimulation electrode which is considered efficiency of the magnetic stimulation. It can make similar stimulation with manual acupuncture. To confirm the availability and reliability we compared Meridian Electronic Potential(MEP) change between manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation. From this result, we found out the MEP changes of manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation were similar. And there were various response properties as changes of stimulation method, intensity, and frequency. Also, the MEP change can be induced by electromagnetic stimulation. We confirmed that it is possible to use electromagnetic stimulation as a acupoint stimulation or pain treatment instrument.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1994 no.05
• /
• pp.65-68
• /
• 1994

시각자극에 의해 머리표면에서 발생하는 Transient Evoked Potential을 검출하여 Source Tracing Method를 이용하여 뇌의 시각인지영역을 추정하였다. 본 과정에서 TEP검출방식은 average method를 이용하였고, 신경흥분에 대한 물리적 모델로 Single Current Dipole Model을 이용하고, 머리기하에 대한 3중구각모델을 이용하여 Forward Problem을 풀었다. Inverse Problem은 current dipole의 6개의 parameter에 대한 Least Square Error Method를 이용하여 신경흥분의 위치를 추정하였다. 이러한 결과와 생리학적으로 밝혀진 시각경로와의 비교결과 유사성이 확인되었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
• /
• 2001.05a
• /
• pp.325-328
• /
• 2001

정상적인 뉴런의 활성전위는 외부에서 일정한 자극이 인가되었을 때 세포막을 기준으로 하여 각 이온간의 농도 차에 의해 발생한다. 최근에 관심이 되어지고 있는 쇼크에 의한 세포가 손상이 발생할 경우, 즉 신호를 받아들이고 전달하는 뉴런 중에서 축색에 이온채널이 이상증세를 발생하면 신경 전달 흐름을 흐트러지게 하여 이웃한 정상세포에게 커다란 영향을 미치게 된다. 이것은 병리학적인 중요한 역할을 하는 축색 내에 이상이 발생하였다고 가정을 하지만 이 가정을 뒷받침 해 주는 증거는 매우 적다고 보고되고 있다. 최근 연구에서 손상된 축색의 모델은 쇼크이후에 이온의 칼륨 채널에 blocking 현상이 발생하여 나트륨 이온이 다수 유입됨을 고려하고있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 쇼크나 충격에 의해 축색의 손상을 입을 경우 운동신경의 변형으로부터 병리학적인 중요한 이상결과를 일으킬 수 있는 상태를 고려하여 신경모델을 설계해 시뮬레이션 해 보았다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1993.11a
• /
• pp.34-35
• /
• 1993

Glycine은 GABA와 함께 뇌에 작용하는 중요한 억제성 신경전달 물질이다. GABA가 대뇌등에서 중요한 역할을 하는 반면, GLYCINE은 연수, 척수, 간뇌에 특히 다량 존재한다. GLYCINE은 GLYCINE RECEPTOR에 작용하여 수용체와 연결된 chloride channel의 conductance를 증가시킴으로써 target세포의 활성을 억제한다. 그러므로, glycine의 신경전달체계에 이상이 오면 spastic mouse등에서 볼수 있는 것처럼 neuromuscular disorder가 유발된다. 신경전달 물질은 presynaptic 세포에 자극이 오면 synaptic cleft로 분비가 된후 presynaptic이나 Postsynaptic 세포에 위치한 수용체에 작용하여 생리 활성을 나타내거나, 분해효소에 의해서 생리활성이 없는 물질로 바뀌든지, presynaptic cell에 위치한 transporter(수송체)에 의해서 presynaptic 세포로 reuptake되서 cycle를 끝낸다. Glycine의 경우는 synaptic cleft로 분비된 후 glycine transporter에 의해서 reuptake된다. 그러므로 glycine transporter의 활성 정도는 sysnapse내의 glycine의 농도를 조절하며 더 나아가 glycine이 glycine receptor에 작용하는 시간에 영향을 줌으로써 target 세포의 활성정도를 결정한다.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 2019

This study examined how the application of silver spike point (SSP) and acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (A-TENS) on acupoints affects blood flow and pain threshold, using laser Doppler blood fluxes and the Commander algometer. Our study included 32 healthy men and women who were randomly divided into the SSP group (n=18) and the A-TENS group (n=14). The pain threshold and blood flow were measured at the Neiguan (PC6) of the Jueyin Pericardium Meridian of the hand. SSP was performed with a 2.8cm electrode at a fixed frequency of 3 Hz for 15 minutes. The change in blood flow and pain threshold after the intervention significantly differed between the two groups (p<0.05). We found that the application of SSP and A-TENS on an acupoint altered their blood flow and pressure pain threshold, with SSP resulting in significantly greater change than A-TENS. Based on these results, the convergence of acupoint and electrical stimulation therapy can be usefully applied as a method for various patients. Continued development of convergence interventions is necessary.