• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.70-77
• /
• 2020

Mentha arvensis is used traditional medicine to treat various disorders. In the present study, M. arvensis were extracted by the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method and analyzed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of a M. arvensis extract on scopolamine-induced cognitive and memory impairment. Mice were orally pretreated with a M. arvensis extract or normal saline, and then behavior tests were conducted 30 min after scopolamine injection. The antioxidant capacities were analyzed by free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were also measured using Ellman's method ex vivo test. In behavior tests, percent of spontaneous alteration, escape latency and swimming time in target quadrant were improved by the administration of the M. arvensis extract, which suggests that the M. arvensis extract improves memory function in the scopolamine-treated mice model. In addition, M. arvensis extract showed inhibition of the free radical and AChE activity. The results of the present study suggest that the M. arvensis extract ameliorates scopolamine-induced cognitive and memory deficits through the inhibition of free radicals and AChE activity. Therefore, M. arvensis may be a promising neuroprotective agent for management of learning and memory improvements in human dementia patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.507-517
• /
• 2015

The bark of Magnolia officinalis has been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat a variety of mental disorders including anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of M. officinalis ethanol extract on stress-induced alterations in learning and cognitive function using a passive avoidance test (PAT) and also on anxiety-related behavior using the elevated plus-maze test (EPM) in female rats . The degree of Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the region of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the locus coeruleus (LC) was measured using an immunohistochemical method. Corticosterone concentrations in serum were also measured. The ethanol extract from Magnolia officinalis was orally administered to female rats 30 minutes before evaluating their immobilization stress and anxiety-related behavior using an elevated plus-maze test and a passive avoidance test. Time spent in the open arms of the EPM increased in the M. officinalis-treated group compared with that of the saline-treated control group. In the passive avoidance test, the memory and cognitive function improved in the M. officinalis extract-treated group. M. officinalis extracts reduced elevated corticosterone concentrations in serum. Also, stress-induced TH increases were suppressed in the M. officinalis extract-treated group in the LC and the VTA region. These results suggest that M. officinalis might prove to be an effective anxiolytic anti-stress agent.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.145-165
• /
• 2006

Information filtering systems, which are designed fur users' needs, do not satisfy user's diverse requests as their filtering accuracy is unstable sometimes. This study suggests an information filtering system based on cognitive brain mapping by simulating the processes of information in human brain. Compared to traditional filtering systems, which use specific words or pattern in their filtering systems, the method suggested in this article uses both key words and relationships among these words. The significance of this study is on simulating information storing processes in human brain by mapping both key words and their relationships among them together. To combine these two methods, this study finds balances in representing two methods by searching optimal weights of each of them.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.160-167
• /
• 2019

Depression is a major mood disorder. Abnormal expression of glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) is associated with depression. Schisantherin B (STB) is one bioactive of lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill which has been commonly used as a traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. This paper was designed to investigate the effects of STB on depressive mice induced by forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, we also assessed the impairment of FST on cognitive function in mice with different ages. FST and open field test (OFT) were used for assessing depressive symptoms, and Y-maze was used for evaluating cognition processes. Our study showed that STB acting as an antidepressant, which increased GLT-1 levels by promoting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Although the damage is reversible, short-term learning and memory impairment caused by FST test is more serious in the aged mice, and STB also exerts cognition improvement ability in the meanwhile. Our findings suggested that STB might be a promising therapeutic agent of depression by regulating the GLT-1 restoration as well as activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.182-190
• /
• 2007

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a decline in cognitive abilities. Dementia is one of the aged related mental problems and a characteristic symptom of Alzheimer's disease. Nootropic agents like piracetam and cholinesterase inhibitors like $Donepezil^{\circledR}$ are used in situations where there is organic disorder in learning abilities, but the resulting side-effects associated with these agents have limited their utility. Foeniculum (F.) vulgare Linn. is widely used in Indian traditional systems of medicines and also as a house remedy for nervous debility. The present work was undertaken to assess the potential of F. vulgare as a nootropic and anti-cholinesterase agent in mice. Exteroceptive behavioral models such as Elevated plus maze and Passive avoidance paradigm were employed to assess short term and long term memory in mice. To delineate the possible mechanism through which F. vulgare elicits the anti-amnesic effects, its influence on central cholinergic activity was studied by estimating the whole brain acetylcholinesterase activity. Pretreatment of methanolic extract of fruits of F. vulgare Linn. for 8 successive days, ameliorated the amnesic effect of scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg) and aging induced memory deficits in mice. F. vulgare extract significantly decreased transfer latencies of young mice and aged mice, increased step down latency and exhibited significant anti-acetyl cholinesterase effects, when compared to piracetam, scopolamine and control groups of mice. F. vulgare might prove to be a useful memory restorative agent in the treatment of dementia seen in the elderly.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.27
• /
• pp.7.1-7.7
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Modafinil is a waking drug prescribed to narcolepsy patients, but its usage among healthy individuals is increasing to enhance their alertness or to mitigate fatigue. This study was conducted to investigate practical use and toxic effects on neuro-immune interaction of modafinil. Methods: This study reviewed the significance of psychoactive drugs, and discussed the benefits and risks of the application of modafinil, which seems to be ideal as an anti-psychotic or anti-fatigue agent. Results: Modafinil is known to have less or no adverse effects than those found in traditional psychostimulants such as amphetamine, methylphenidate or cocaine. It can be applied as an anti-psychotic or anti-fatigue agent. However, the waking mechanism of modafinil is yet to be fully revealed. Recent studies reported that modafinil may be subject to abuse and addiction. In addition prolonged sleeplessness induces stress responses and impairs immune function. Conclusions: Modafinil can be used by anyone, who wishes to work late, stay awake, enhance their cognitive reactions, or brighten their moods. Users may already be under a great level of stress, i.e. cancer patients or soldiers in a battle field. A psychoneuroimmunological approach is thus needed to investigate the multi-functional effects of modafinil.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.123-143
• /
• 2009

This study examined factors of presence using the experimental method. The design of this study was to analyze presence through the dimensions of character agents(text, voice, 2D, 3D, reality character dimension and gender) for e-learning platforms that used new technology-based content. There were 232 experimental participants in the study. This study was designed to measure their cognitive awareness of presence by agent dimensions in the first level to measure the presence level in the types of users. The results showed that there were significant correlation between types of users and presence. However there were no statistically significant results on dimensions. In addition, there were significant differences on character gender, voice or non-voice, text or non-text and character dimensions.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.1156-1166
• /
• 2022

In this study, we examined voice shopping interaction in which consumers can be involved in the decision-making process. Sixteen kinds of voice shopping interaction were designed with differences in the existence of screen/product involvement/conversation style. Their effects on trust, cognitive load, satisfaction, and continuous intention to use were evaluated through a survey experiment. The main effect of conversation style was significant, and it was found that the more deeply involved users have higher trust. The interaction effect between conversation style and product involvement was also significant. Low involvement product buyers had the most positive user experience from the conversation style that included 'Ask for preference,' while high involvement product buyers had the most positive user experience from the conversation style that included both 'Ask for preference' and 'Question and Answer.' The main effect and interaction effect of the existence of screen was not significant. The results indicate that a positive user experience can be obtained when users are deeply involved in consumer decision-making, especially in purchasing high-involvement products.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.10 no.9
• /
• pp.2492-2500
• /
• 2009

This study was carried to examine overall psychopathological patterns of the Vietnam Civil War Veterans(Agent Orange patients)and Korean Civil War veterans(wounded soldier) using Rorschach tests. Test protocols of were compared with those of twenty Vietnam Civil War Veterans group and twenty-one Korean Civil War veterans. Rorschach protocols were administrated, scored, analysed according to the Exner's comprehensive system. Specifically, each Rorschach variable was divided into 3 clusters(e.g., core section, response determinants, and several special indices. The results of t-tests between the Vietnam Civil War Veterans group and the Korean Civil War veterans showed that Vietnam Civil War Veterans group were characterized as 1)cognitive rigidity, 2) ineffective problem solving, 3)emotional represion, 4)hypervigilance, 5)anxiety and 6) depressive tendency. These patterns suggest that still Vietnam Civil War Veterans experience the past trauma and lasting psychological seguela. Other implications and limitations of this study were discussed.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.469-476
• /
• 2020

Modeling and Simulation (M&S) systems which deal with situational complexity often require human involvement due to the high-level decision-making that is necessary for ship movement, navigation, control center management, shipping company logistics, meteorological system information, and maritime transportation GIS. In order to properly simulate maritime traffic, it is necessary to accurately model the human decision-making process of the ship officer, including aspects of the ship officer's behavioral tendencies, personal navigation experience, and pattern of voyage errors, as this is the most accurate way in which to reproduce and predict realistic maritime traffic conditions. In this paper, which looks at agent-based maritime traffic simulation, we created a basic survey in order to conduct behavior analysis on ship operators' collision avoidance strategies. Using the information gathered throughout the survey, we developed an agent-based navigational behavior model which attempts to capture the behavioral patterns of a ship officer during an instance of ship collision. These results could be used in the future in further developments for more advanced maritime traffic simulation.