• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2018

Smokers keep smoking despite knowing that tobacco claims many lives, including their own and others'. What makes it hard for them to quit smoking nonetheless? Tobacco companies insist that smokers choose to smoke, according to their right to self-determination. Moreover, they insist that with motivation and willpower to quit smoking, smokers can easily stop smoking. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to discuss the addictive disease called tobacco use disorder, with an assessment of the addictiveness of tobacco and the reasons why smoking cessation is challenging, based on neuroscientific research. Nicotine that enters the body via smoking is rapidly transmitted to the central nervous system and causes various effects, including an arousal response. The changes in the nicotine receptors in the brain due to continuous smoking lead to addiction symptoms such as tolerance, craving, and withdrawal. Compared with other addictive substances, including alcohol and opioids, tobacco is more likely to cause dependence in smokers, and smokers are less likely to recover from their dependence. Moreover, the thinning of the cerebral cortex and the decrease in cognitive functions that occur with aging accelerate with smoking. Such changes occur in the structure and functions of the brain in proportion to the amount and period of smoking. In particular, abnormalities in the neural circuits that control cognition and decision-making cause loss of the ability to exert self-control and autonomy. This initiates nicotine dependence and the continuation of addictive behaviors. Therefore, smoking is considered to be a behavior that is repeated due to dependence on an addictive substance, nicotine, instead of one's choice by free will.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.467-473
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the memory enhancing effect and underlying molecular mechanism of arabinoxylan (AX), a major component of dietary fiber in wheat against scopolamine (SCO)-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Diverse behavior tests including Y-maze, Morris water maze, and passive avoidance tests were performed to measure cognitive functions. SCO significantly decreased the spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test and step-through latency in passive avoidance test, whereas increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test compared with the sham control group. In contrast, oral administration of AX (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) effectively reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in SD rats. Furthermore, AX treatment up-regulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cortex and hippocampus via promoting activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Therefore, our findings suggest that AX can improve SCO-induced learning and memory impairment possibly through activation of CREB and up-regulation of BDNF levels, thereby exhibiting a cognition-enhancing potential.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.167-183
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• 2018

Electroencephalogram (EEG) recording provides a new way to support human-machine communication. It gives us an opportunity to analyze the neuro-dynamics of human cognition. Machine learning is a powerful for the EEG classification. In addition, machine learning can compensate for high variability of EEG when analyzing data in real time. However, the optimal EEG electrode location must be prioritized in order to extract the most relevant features from brain wave data. In this paper, we propose an intelligent system model for the extraction of EEG data by training the optimal electrode location of EEG in a specific problem. The proposed system is basically a fuzzy system and uses a neural network structurally. The fuzzy clustering method is used to determine the optimal number of fuzzy rules using the features extracted from the EEG data. The parameters and weight values found in the process of determining the number of rules determined here must be tuned for optimization in the learning process. Genetic algorithms are used to obtain optimized parameters. We present useful results by using optimal rule numbers and non - symmetric membership function using EEG data for four movements with the right arm through various experiments.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.603-624
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• 2020

There is an emerging interest in brain functional connectivity (FC) based on functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Alzheimer's disease (AD) studies. The complex and high-dimensional structure of FC makes it challenging to explore the association between altered connectivity and AD susceptibility. We develop a pipeline to refine FC as proper covariates in a penalized logistic regression model and classify normal and AD susceptible groups. Three different quantification methods are proposed for FC refinement. One of the methods is dimension reduction based on common component analysis (CCA), which is employed to address the limitations of the other methods. We applied the proposed pipeline to the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data and deduced pathogenic FC biomarkers associated with AD susceptibility. The refined FC biomarkers were related to brain regions for cognition, stimuli processing, and sensorimotor skills. We also demonstrated that a model using CCA performed better than others in terms of classification performance and goodness-of-fit.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2022

Purpose: Aging process comes with cognitive impairment due to decreased neuronal cell number, activity, and neuronal circuit. Alteration of inhibitory neurons contributes to cognitive impairment in normal aging and is responsible for disrupting the excitation/inhibition balance by reducing the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Morus nigra (Mulberry) is a natural physiologically active substance that has been proven to have anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects through many studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the mulberry extract (ME) on cognitive function through anti-oxidant enzyme and GABAergic neuronal activity in aged rat brain. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned as the young group (8 weeks, n= 8), aging group (67 weeks, n= 8), and aging+ mulberry extract group (67 weeks, n= 8). The aging+ mulberry extract group was orally administered 500 mg/kg/d mulberry extract for 6 weeks. Results: The aging+ mulberry extract group improved spatial and short-term memory. The antioxidant potential of ME increased the expression of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Also, the aging+ mulberry extract group significantly increased the expression of GABAergic interneuron in hippocampus cornu ammonis1 (CA1) compared to the aging group. Conclusion: The number of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons was deceased and memory functions in the aging process, but those symptoms were improved and restored by mulberry extract administration.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.571-578
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• 2022

Objective: Cognitive-motor trainings had a positive impact on cognitive function and dual-task trainings led to improvements of global cognitive function. The brain activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is another indicator that can infer cognitive function. This study aims to confirm the usability of the interactive system cognitive-motor training program and the changes in the prefrontal cortex through training. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: In this study, two cognitive tasks were randomly applied to 20 adults as cognitive-motor training using an interactive system, and the same task was performed using the original method. During all tasks, the brain activity of the prefrontal cortex was measured by the change in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) in real-time using Functional Near-Infrastructure. After performing the tasks, the usability of the developed interactive system was evaluated by a usability questionnaire which consists of five items, and each item consists of a 7-point Likert scale that responds from 1 point to 7 points. Results: The HbO levels were increased during cognitive task performance than at the resting phase. And evaluating the usefulness of the interactive system, a questionnaire result showed that it would be useful for cognitive-motor programs. Conclusions: The cognitive-motor training using the interactive system increased the activity of the prefrontal cortex, and the developed wearable sensor-based interactive system confirmed its usefulness.

• 한국음향학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.237-242
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• 2010

본 연구는 기능성 게임 콘텐츠의 교육효과를 위해 음향청취방법을 달리하여, 인간의 뇌파 지수로 분석한 유사 실험을 한 연구이다. 실험결과 무음으로 처리한 대조군에 비해 스피커 방식의 청취방법이 높은 뇌 활성화 반응도를 보였으며, 다음으로 헤드폰 방식 이였다. 본 연구에서는 기능성 게임 콘텐츠의 음향청취방법에 따라 인지반응에 미치는 정도를 뇌파 지수 분석을 통하여 정량적으로 분석한 것에 큰 의미가 있다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2005

목적 : 본 연구는 외부에서 고 농도$(30\%)$의 산소 공급이 공간 인지 능력에 어떠한 변화를 유발하는지 뇌기능 자기공명영상의 시계열 신호 분석을 통해 관찰하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : 비슷한 난이도의 공간 인지 과제 두 세트를 제작하기 위해 집단 검사를 실시하였다. 집단검사는 263명의 대학생을 대상으로 수행되었다. 그 결과 공간 인지 능력 측정을 위해 20 문항을 포함하는 두 개의 문제지를 제작하였다. 8명의 오른손잡이 남자 대학생(평균 23.5세)이 뇌기능 자기공명영상 실험의 피험자로 참여하였다. $21\%$와 $30\%$의 산소를 공급하면서 공간 인지 과제를 수행하는 두 번의 실험이 설계되었다. 각 실험은 네 개의 블록으로 구성되고, 각 블록은 통제 및 공간 과제로 구성되었다. 37 MRI 기기를 사용하여 single-shot EPI 방법으로 뇌기능 영상을 획득하였다. 감산법을 이용하여 공간 과제 수행 시 활성화되는 뇌 영역을 추출하였다. 활성화 영역의 시계열 신호 분석을 위해 대표적인 네 영역(소뇌, 후두엽, 두정엽, 전두엽)을 선정하였다. 결과 : 평균 정답률은 $21\%$와 $30\%$ 산소 농도에서 각각 $50.63{\pm}8.63$와 $62.50{\pm}9.64$ 이었고, 두 농도간의 통계적 유의차가 발생하였다 (p<0.05). $21\%$에 비해 $30\%$ 산소 농도에서 소뇌 후두엽, 두정엽, 전두엽 영역에서 신경 활성화의 면적이 증가하였다. 소뇌, 후두엽, 두정엽 영역의 신경 활성화 면적의 증가율은 약 $17\%$이었고, 전두엽은 약 $50\%$ 이었다. 특히, 공간 인지 처리와 가장 밀접한 관련이 있는 두정엽 영역에서는 신경 활성화 강도도 증가하였다. 좌 두정엽에서 신경 활성화 강도의 증가율은 약 $1.4\%$ 이었고, 우 두정엽은 약 $1.7\%$ 이었다. 결론 : 고농도의 산소가 과제수행에 필요한 산소 공급을 충분하게 하여 과제수행에 필요한 신경망을 보다 활성화시켰다. 그리고 그 결과로 과제 수행 능력도 증가시킨다는 결론을 도출할 수 있다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.253-259
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• 2019

Chaenomeles speciose Nakai (CSP) or Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne (CSS) (Rosaceae) has been used, traditionally, to treat muscle problems and gastric dampness in eastern Asia countries. Therefore, many studies have focused on investigating its active compounds and effects on muscle pain, arthritis and gastro-intestinal diseases. Recently, several studies reported that CSS extract degrade amyloid plaques and enhance synaptic acetylcholine level in vivo and in vitro. Although these two Chaenomeles species are used without differences, CSP is reported to contains more phenolic compounds which are known to enhance memory. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the memory ameliorating effects of CSP by employing the passive avoidance test, Y-maze task and novel object recognition test. CSP (30 or 100 mg/kg) ameliorated the declined memory induced by scopolamine injection and enhanced the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels along with post synaptic density protein 95 (PSD 95) levels at the hippocampus of the scopolamine-injected mouse brain. These results suggested that CSP alleviates the cognition declines caused by cholinergic blockade via enhancing BDNF levels and PSD 95, and that it would enhance memory formation and be useful for treating memory declines.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.253-262
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• 2011

외상성 뇌손상 및 우반구 손상 환자의 인지-의사소통 능력은 다른 신경학적 장애군과 다른 양상을 띤다. 따라서, 이들의 진단 시 실어증 평가도구 등을 활용하는 것은 바람직하지 않다. 본 연구에서는 두 장애군의 인지-의사소통 능력을 평가할 수 있는 문항을 개발하기에 앞서, 이와 관련된 국외 문헌 및 평가도구를 살펴보고자 하였다. 연구 결과, 외상성 뇌손상 환자의 평가 시에는 주의력, 기억력, 조직화 능력, 추론력, 기능적 의사소통 능력 등을 포괄적으로 고려하는 것이 유용함을 알 수 있었다. 또한, 우반구 손상 이후에는 주의력 등 여러 인지 영역과 함께 고차원적 언어 능력을 평가할 필요성이 제기되었다. 요컨대, 두 장애군의 인지-의사소통 능력을 평가하기 위해서는 다양한 인지-의사소통 영역 간의 영향을 반드시 고려해야 한다. 아울러, 두 장애군을 실어증 등 다른 신경학적 장애군으로부터 변별하고, 치료 시 영역별 지침서로서 활용할 수 있는 평가도구의 개발이 필요하다.