• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.441-467
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• 2016

This fMRI study is aim to investigate effects of competitive environment in cognitive empathic process in human brain. Empathy is known as a crucial factor for human's adaptive behavior in aspects of social cognition and it is almost automatic process, on the other hand competitive situation is psychologically devastated environment to win someone for getting rewards. We hypnotized that reading and understanding of other person's mind are a specific characteristic related to survival evolutionarily, however competition would have an effect on the empathic cognitive process because of mechanisms of competition. To manipulate the competitive atmosphere, one researcher took a role of competitor against participants and they were instructed to get monetary rewards when their performance was better than a competitor. 21 participants(9 males and 12 females) performed to judge the emotional valence of the empathic task consisted of illustrated images with various situation could be experienced in real world as on $1^{st}$ person perspective in both competitive and non-competitive condition, and did same performance with objects stimulus in control condition. In order to examine the competition effects on empathic process,, hemodynamic response were obtained during fMRI session and the imaging data were analyzed to identify brain regions where responses to each condition across the two consecutive runs. Participants' reaction time in competitive condition was faster statistically significant than non-competitive one. Activation for competitive condition increased in the following areas: ACC, mPFC, SMG, thalamus extended caudate and Nacc, parahippocampal gyrus, and for non-competitive condition increased paracingulate gyrus, temporal pole, vmPFC, superior occipital gyrus. As a result of regression analysis using empathic scores as covariance, the rSMG, IFG, fusiform gyrus, thalamus, putamen were correlated with higher empathic levels, and TPJ were correlated with lower empathic scores. We suggest that these observations could mean competitive environment have an effect on neural base of cognitive empathic process.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.272-279
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the discriminating nature of $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT in patients with parkinsonism. Methods: $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT images acquired from the 18 normal controls; NC ($60.4{\pm}10.0$ yr) and 237 patients with parkinsonism ($65.9{\pm}9.2$ yr) were analyzed. From spatialIy normalized images, regional counts of the caudate, putamen, and occipital lobe were obtained using region of interest method. Binding potential (BP) was calculated with the ratio of specific to nonspecific binding activity at equilibrium. Additionally, the BP ratio of putamen to caudate (PCR) and asymmetric Index (ASI) were measured. Results: BPs of NC $3.37{\pm}0.57,\; 3.10{\pm}0.41,\; 3.23{\pm}0.48$ for caudate, putamen, whole striatum, respectively) had no significant difference with those of essential tremor; ET ($3.31{\pm}0.64,\; 3.06{\pm}0.61,\; 3.14{\pm}0.63$) and Alzheimer's disease; AD (3.33 $\pm$0.60, 3.29$\pm$0.79, 3.31$\pm$0.70), but were higher than those of Parkinson's disease; PD (1.92$\pm$0.74, 1.39$\pm$0.68, 1.64$\pm$0.68), multiple system atrophy; MSA (2.36$\pm$1.07, 2.16$\pm$0.91, 2.26$\pm$0.96), and dementia with Lewy body; DLB (1.95$\pm$0.72, 1.64$\pm$0.65, 1.79$\pm$0.66)(p<0.005). PD had statisticalIy lower values of PER and higher values of ASI than those of NC (p<0.005). And PD had significantIy lower value of PCR, higher ASI and lower BP in the putamen and whole striatum than MSA (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dopamine transporter image of $^{123}I-FP-CIT$ SPECT was a good value in differential diagnosis of parkinsonism.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 2007

Purpose: Gender differences in personality are considered to have biological bases. In an attempt to understand the gender differences of personality on neurobiological bases, we conducted correlation analyses between regional brain glucose metabolism and temperament factors of personality in males and females. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six healthy right-handed volunteers (18 males, 33.8$\pm$17.6 y; 18 females, 36.2$\pm$20.4 y) underwent FDG PET at resting state. Three temperament factors of personality (novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA), reward dependence (RD)) were assessed using Cloninger's 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory (TCD within 10 days of FOG PET scan. Correlation between regional glucose metabolism and each temperament factor was tested using SPM2. Results: In males, a significant negative correlation between NS score and glucose metabolism was observed in the bilateral superior temporal gyri, the hippocampus and the insula, while it was found in the bilateral middle frontal gyri, the right superior temporal gyrus and the left cingulate cortex and the putamen in females. A positive HA correlation was found in the right midbrain and the left cingulate gyrus in males, but in the bilateral basal ganglia in females. A negative RD correlation was observed in the right middle frontal and the left middle temporal gyri in males, while the correlation was found in the bilateral middle frontal gyri and the right basal ganglia and the superior temporal gyrus in females. Conclusion: These data demonstrate different cortical and subcortical metabolic correlates of temperament factors of personality between males and females. These results may help understand biological substrate of gender differences in personality and susceptibility to neuropsychiatric illnesses.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.38
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• pp.387-419
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• 2005

Material characteristics and provenance interpretation of the raw materials for the stone moulds of bronze artifacts excavated in Galdong Prehistoric site were studied. The stone moulds are made of igneous hornblendite with coarse-grained holocrystalline textures. The surface color shows greenish grey to dark green with greasy luster. The value of magnetic susceptibility of the moulds ranges from 19.2 to 71.0 (mean ; $39.2{\times}10^{-3}$ SI unit).High value of magnetic susceptibility indicates high contents of magnetite as a ferromagnetic mineral and the wide range of the values are due to heterogeneous distribution of magnetite. These are characteristics of basic igneous rocks. The rock-forming minerals of the moulds mainly consist of amphibole, plagioclase and biotite. Pyroxene, chlorite and opaque minerals are also rarely present. A large quantity of carbon was detected on the dark black crust near the surface of the moulds by quantitative analysis. Geological field survey was carried out to identify a source of the raw materials of the stone moulds around Galdong site. Hornblendite or gabbroic rocks being similar to the moulds forming rock occur at Daeseongri, Sikcheonri and Gyodongri in Jangsoo, and Illdaeri in Namwon about 50 kilometers away from the site in a straight line. They have similarity with the moulds forming rock in magnetic susceptibility ranging from 16.1 to 72.4 (mean ; $39.9{\times}10^{-3}$ SI unit). Among those hornblendite or gabbroic rocks, one in Jangsoo area is the most similar to the moulds forming rock on the basis of petrological and mineralogical characteristics. Comparing normalized patterns of major, minor, rare earth and immobile elements contents of the moulds to them of hornblendite in Jangsoo area, geochemical evolution trend and behavior characteristics show affinities between them. It suggests that the moulds forming rock and hornblendite in Jangsoo area have been originated from cogenetic magma. This hornblendite is easy to engrave an inscription or detail graphics on the surface because of its softness, and has good thermal conductivity. Hornblendite in Sikcheonri, Jangsoo is particularly produced and used for stone wares until the present day. Therefore, it is probable that the stone materials of the moulds has been imported from Daeseongri, Sikcheonri and Gyodongri in Jangsoo area. However, it cannot be completely excluded the possibility that the material of the moulds was supplied from Illdaeri in Namwon area appearing the same type of hornblendite on a small outcrops. It is necessary to carry out further archaeological studies to identify several possibilities of migration process of raw materials.