• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

We designed, fabricated, and tested the capacitive microsensors for skin piloerection monitoring. The performance of the skin piloerection monitoring sensor was characterized using the artificial bump, representing human skin goosebump; thus, resulting in the sensitivity of $-0.00252%/{\mu}m$ and the nonlinearity of 25.9 % for the artificial goosebump deformation in the range of $0{\sim}326{\mu}m$. We also verified two successive human skin piloerection having 3.5 s duration on the subject's dorsal forearms, thus resulting in the capacitance change of -6.2 fF and -9.2 fF compared to the initial condition, corresponding to the piloerection intensity of $145{\mu}m$ and $194{\mu}m$, respectively. It was demonstrated experimentally that the proposed sensor is capable to measure the human skin piloerection objectively and quantitatively, thereby suggesting the quantitative evaluation method of the qualitative human emotional state for cognitive human-machine interfaces applications.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2017

Objectives It is well known that problem drinking is associated with alterations of brain structures and functions. Brain functions related to alcohol consumption can be determined by the resting state functional connectivity in various resting state networks (RSNs). This study aims to ascertain the alcohol effect on the structures forming predetermined RSNs by assessing their cortical thickness. Methods Twenty-six abstinent male patients with alcohol dependence and the same number of age-matched healthy control were recruited from an inpatient mental hospital and community. All participants underwent a 3T MRI scan. Averaged cortical thickness of areas constituting 7 RSNs were determined by using FreeSurfer with Yeo atlas derived from cortical parcellation estimated by intrinsic functional connectivity. Results There were significant group differences of mean cortical thicknesses (Cohen's d, corrected p) in ventral attention (1.01, < 0.01), dorsal attention (0.93, 0.01), somatomotor (0.90, 0.01), and visual (0.88, 0.02) networks. We could not find significant group differences in the default mode network. There were also significant group differences of gray matter volumes corrected by head size across the all networks. However, there were no group differences of surface area in each network. Conclusions There are differences in degree and pattern of structural recovery after abstinence across areas forming RSNs. Considering the previous observation that group differences of functional connectivity were significant only in networks related to task-positive networks such as dorsal attention and cognitive control networks, we can explain recovery pattern of cognition and emotion related to the default mode network and the mechanisms for craving and relapse associated with task-positive networks.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.119-123
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The influence of music training on different areas of the brain has been extensively researched, but the underlying neurobehavioral mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, the effects of training for more than three years in Carnatic music (an Indian form of music) on the discrimination ability of different areas of the brain were tested using P300 analysis at three electrode placement sites. Subjects and Methods: A total of 27 individuals, including 13 singers aged 16-30 years (mean±standard deviation, 23±3.2 years) and 14 non-singers aged 16-30 years (mean age, 24±2.9 years), participated in this study. The singers had 3-5 years of formal training experience in Carnatic music. Cortical activities in areas corresponding to attention, discrimination, and memory were tested using P300 analysis, and the tests were performed using the Intelligent Hearing System. Results: The mean P300 amplitude of the singers at the Fz electrode placement site (5.64±1.81) was significantly higher than that of the non-singers (3.85±1.60; t(25)=3.3, p<0.05). The amplitude at the Cz electrode placement site in singers (5.90±2.18) was significantly higher than that in non-singers (3.46±1.40; t(25)=3.3, p<0.05). The amplitude at the Pz electrode placement site in singers (4.94±1.89) was significantly higher than that in non-singers (3.57±1.50; t(25)=3.3, p<0.05). Among singers, the mean P300 amplitude was significantly higher in the Cz site than the other placement sites, and among non-singers, the mean P300 amplitude was significantly higher in the Fz site than the other placement sites, i.e., music training facilitated enhancement of the P300 amplitude at the Cz site. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that more than three years of training in Carnatic singing can enhance neural coding to discriminate subtle differences, leading to enhanced discrimination abilities of the brain, mainly in the generation site corresponding to Cz electrode placement.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.119-123
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The influence of music training on different areas of the brain has been extensively researched, but the underlying neurobehavioral mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, the effects of training for more than three years in Carnatic music (an Indian form of music) on the discrimination ability of different areas of the brain were tested using P300 analysis at three electrode placement sites. Subjects and Methods: A total of 27 individuals, including 13 singers aged 16-30 years (mean±standard deviation, 23±3.2 years) and 14 non-singers aged 16-30 years (mean age, 24±2.9 years), participated in this study. The singers had 3-5 years of formal training experience in Carnatic music. Cortical activities in areas corresponding to attention, discrimination, and memory were tested using P300 analysis, and the tests were performed using the Intelligent Hearing System. Results: The mean P300 amplitude of the singers at the Fz electrode placement site (5.64±1.81) was significantly higher than that of the non-singers (3.85±1.60; t(25)=3.3, p<0.05). The amplitude at the Cz electrode placement site in singers (5.90±2.18) was significantly higher than that in non-singers (3.46±1.40; t(25)=3.3, p<0.05). The amplitude at the Pz electrode placement site in singers (4.94±1.89) was significantly higher than that in non-singers (3.57±1.50; t(25)=3.3, p<0.05). Among singers, the mean P300 amplitude was significantly higher in the Cz site than the other placement sites, and among non-singers, the mean P300 amplitude was significantly higher in the Fz site than the other placement sites, i.e., music training facilitated enhancement of the P300 amplitude at the Cz site. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that more than three years of training in Carnatic singing can enhance neural coding to discriminate subtle differences, leading to enhanced discrimination abilities of the brain, mainly in the generation site corresponding to Cz electrode placement.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.327-337
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• 2023

Objectives: Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by repeated seizures attributable to synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. The study evaluated the effect of acetone extract of Adansonia digitata stem bark (ASBE) on seizure score, cognition, depression, and neurodegeneration as well as the level of Gamma-Aminobutyrate acid (GABA) and glutamate in Pentylenetetrazol-kindled rats. Methods: Thirty-five rats were assigned into five groups (n = 7). Groups 1-2 received normal saline and 35 mg/kg PTZ every other day. Groups 3-4 received 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg ASBE orally while group 5 received 5 mg/kg diazepam daily for twenty-six days. Group 3-5 received PTZ every other day, 30 mins after ASBE and diazepam. Results: The results showed that Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induces seizure, reduces mobility time in force swim test and decreases the normal cell number in the brain. It also significantly decreases (p < 0.05) catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione activities compared to the ASBE pre-treated rats. Pre-treatment with ASBE reportedly decreases seizure activities significantly (p < 0.05) and increases mobility time in the force swim test. ASBE also significantly elevate (p < 0.05) the normal cell number in the hippocampus, temporal lobe, and dentate gyrus. Conclusion: ASBE reduced seizure activity and prevented depression in PTZ-treated rats. It also prevented neurodegeneration by regulating glutamate and GABA levels in the brain as well as preventing lipid peroxidation.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1142-1151
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate microstructural damage in high myopia (HM) patients using 3T diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI). Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 30 HM patients and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) with DKI. Kurtosis parameters including kurtosis fractional anisotropy (FA), mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (AK), and radial kurtosis (RK) as well as diffusion metrics including FA, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity derived from DKI were obtained. Group differences in these metrics were compared using tract-based spatial statistics. Partial correlation analysis was used to evaluate correlations between microstructural changes and disease duration. Results: Compared to HCs, HM patients showed significantly reduced AK, RK, MK, and FA and significantly increased AD, predominately in the bilateral corticospinal tract, right inferior longitudinal fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and left thalamus (all p < 0.05, threshold-free cluster enhancement corrected). In addition, DKI-derived kurtosis parameters (AK, RK, and MK) had negative correlations (r = -0.448 to -0.376, all p < 0.05) and diffusion parameter (AD) had positive correlations (r = 0.372 to 0.409, all p < 0.05) with disease duration. Conclusion: HM patients showed microstructural alterations in the brain regions responsible for motor conduction and vision-related functions. DKI is useful for detecting white matter abnormalities in HM patients, which might be helpful for exploring and monitoring the pathogenesis of the disease.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2012

Objective : To investigate the correlation between relationship ability and ADL performance ability of patients with TBI. Methods : This study was carried out from March 2012 to April 2012 with 20 patients with TBI. Relationship ability assessed using Relationship Change Scale(RCS), ADL performance ability assessed using Functional Independence Measure(FIM). Results : The RCS showed a high level of correlation with marital status and duration of illness. The RCS showed a high level of correlation with the FIM total score and the FIM cognition area. However the RCS did not show a correlation with the FIM motor area. Conclusions : Functional disability of social cognition is a factor that disturbs rehabilitation after TBI and it has a negative influence on the relationship in ADL. If accurate evaluation and treatment on relationship ability after TBI are carried out side by side from the initial stages of onset, we could expect more patients to improve their social cognition and ADL performance ability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

Phytochemicals have long been known to hold a number of physiological benefits, including antioxidant, anticardiovascular activities and anticancer. The profitable effects of phytochemicals from food sources such as vegetables and fruits, with respect to neurodegeneration, are only beginning to receive increased attention. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the major neurodegenerative diseases for which no treatment is available, and characterized by loss of cognition and memory. Many recent studies show that the brain of AD patient is subjected to increased oxidative stress resulting from free radical damage, and the resulting cellular malfunctions are widely believed to be responsible for neuronal degeneration in AD. In this study, the relative relation between AD and phytochemicals were surveyed.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2004

인간이 진화의 산물이라면 인간의 두뇌도 당연히 진화의산물이다. 따라서 인간의 두뇌를 연구하는 데에는 진화적 관점이 필수적으로 요구된다. 그래서 나는 이 짤막한 논문에서 우리 인간을 제외한 다른 동물도 사고의 능력을 갖추고 있다는 사실을 증명해줄 수 있는 직접 또는 간접적 증거들을 제시하고 그러한 정보들이 우리 두뇌의 진화를 이해하는 데 어떤 함의가 있는지 논의하고자 한다. 동물의 인지 능력을 엿볼 수 있는 대표적인 행동들로 도구의 사용, 동물들이 만드는 각종 구조물, 진화의 역사 동안 한번도 전하지 못했던 새로운 문제에 대한 해결책, 속임수, 언어, 그리고 복잡한 사회구조에 대한 이해 등에 대해 동물행동학자들의 관찰 견과를 간략히 소개한다. 아울러 지난 몇 년간 본인이 추진해온 한국영장류 연구소(Institute of Primate Research and Conservation: iPRC)의 건립 계획과 연구 목표를 간략하게나마 밝히고자 한다.

• Lingua Humanitatis
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• v.5
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• pp.221-264
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• 2003

This paper takes issue with the idea of language as a 'serial-time structure' as opposed to the 'real-time event' of speech, an idea entrenched in Chomskyan model of linguistic theory. The discussion centers around the leitmotif question: Is language constructed entirely from a finite set of apriori discrete symbol types, as the 'competence vs performance' dichotomy implies\ulcorner A set of linguistic patterns examined in this study, largely with regard to phonological considerations, points to the evidence to the contrary. That is, while the patterns may be said to be linguistically distinct, they are not discretely, different, i.e. not different enough to be reliably differentiated. It is demonstrated that much of current research in phonology, including the most recent Optimality Theory, is misdirected in that it falsely presupposes a discrete universal phonetic inventory. The main thrust of the present study is that there is no sharp boundary between 'competence' defined as the formal, symbolic, discrete time domain of language and human cognition on the one hand and 'performance' as the continuous, fuzzy, real-time domain of human physiology on the other.