• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.47-53
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• 2023

PURPOSE: A visual feedback method was proposed to induce brain stimulation in a stroke patient, and among them, there was a treatment using a mirror. On the other hand, mirror therapy focuses only on the functional changes in body movements, and analysis of neurophysiological mechanisms of brain activity is lacking. In addition, studies on evaluating the activity and response generated in specific brain regions during visual feedback training using mirrors are insufficient. METHODS: Fifteen healthy adults (male: 10, female: 5, Years: 23.33 ± 1.23), who were right-handed were recruited. By attaching the C3, Cz, and C4 channels in the sensorimotor cortex using an electroencephalogram, training was performed under the conditions without mirror-based visual feedback (No-condition) and with visual feedback (Tasks-condition). At this time, the immediate activity of the mu-rhythm in response to training was separated and evaluated. RESULTS: The tasks-condition of C3, Cz, and C4 channels activated the relative mu-rhythm rather than the no-condition, and all showed significant differences (p < .05). In addition, in all channels at the start time, the tasks-condition was more active than the no-condition (p < .05). The activity of the cortical response was higher in the tasks-condition than in the no-condition (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The mu-rhythm activity can be evaluated objectively when visual feedback using a mirror is applied to healthy subjects, and a basic analysis protocol is proposed.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.117-132
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• 2013

Recent developments in embodied cognition suggest that people process environmental information by using their bodily state and mental simulation. The focus of embodiment theory is that cognitive processing is based on the interaction among the body, the mind, and the world. Based on embodied theories of cognition, the authors predict that when the representation of marathon running is activated, bodily feedback such as tiredness and thirst will occur because mental simulation of marathon running contains sensorimotor representation of marathon running. As a result, it is predicted that participants primed with marathon runner will have more desire to have products that enable thirsty-quenching. Specifically, this research proposes that consumers' tendency to adopt the perspective of others influences embodied cognition, since perspective taking leads people to assimilate their own self-judgments and behaviors toward the cognitive representations of others. An experiment reveals that both perceptual and cognitive perspective taking tendencies moderate how participants respond to the contextual cues. The effect of perspective taking is moderated by whether participants are prompted to adopt a first-person view or a third-person view. In detail, among the high perspective takers, those in the marathon-first-person condition drink more the mineral water than those in the marathon-third-person condition, who in turn drink more the mineral water than those in the control condition. Among the low perceptual perspective takers, however, there are no significant differences in the amount of mineral water intake. This research delivers important insights for advertising messages. When being exposed to an advertisement, high perspective taking consumers may be more engaged in the advertised message than low perspective taking consumers, which in turn high (vs. low) perspective taking consumers' tendency to respond behaviorally consistent with the message may be higher. Based on the findings of this research, if the message induces the high perspective taking consumers to have a first- (vs. third-) person view, this effect may be stronger. Moreover, if the advertising message contains behaviors, such as using the target product, inducing consumers to mimic the behaviors seems to bring more behavioral responses which marketers intend.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.125-132
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• 2023

This study investigated the effects of continuous Singing Bowl healing on brainwaves and autonomic nervous system responses. The variations in brainwaves were measured during 45-minute sessions in eight participants, before and after Singing Bowl healing sessions to assess the changes in brainwaves before and after five weeks of Singing Bowl healing treatment. BioBrain BIOS-S8 was used to obtain brainwave measurements. Electrodes were placed on six channels: F3, F4, T3, T4, P3, and P4. A standard limb lead I with electrodes was used for electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements. Using the collected brainwave data, changes in brain waves were observed before and after five weeks of Singing Bowl healing. Beta waves, alpha waves, and sensorimotor rhythm were found to have reduced, while theta waves, delta waves, and the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals in heart rate variability had increased. These results indicate that continuous Singing Bowl healing over five weeks can stabilize brainwaves, activate the autonomic nervous system, and increase the relaxation-inducing effects of the parasympathetic nervous system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.468-471
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• 2009

Objective : The adolescent presentation of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is well-recognized, but continues to pose significant diagnostic and management controversies. The authors conducted a retrospective study of clinical outcomes after surgical intervention in 24 school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS. Methods : All 83 patients with a lipomyelomeningocele (LMMC) underwent untethering surgery for caudal cord tethering between 1987 and 2007. The clinical charts and follow-up data were reviewed. Of these patients, 24 school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS were studied with respect to the clinical, radiologic, pathologic features, and surgical outcomes. Results : Untethering procedures were performed in 24 patients (age range, 7-25 years) for TCS of various origins (lipoma, lipomyelomeningocele, and tight filum terminale). Specific circumstances involving additional tugging of the already tight conus, and direct trauma to the back precipitated the onset of symptom in 50% of the patients. Diffuse and non-dermatomal leg pain, often referred to the anorectal region, was the most common presenting symptom. Progressive sensorimotor deficits in the lower extremities, as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction, were also common findings, but progressive foot and spinal deformities were noted less frequently. The most common tethered lesions were intradural lipomas, thickened filum and fibrous band adhesions into the placode sac. The surgical outcome was gratifying in relation to pain and motor weakness, but disappointing with respect to resolution of bowel and bladder dysfunction. Of the 24 patients with TCS, pre-operative deficits improved after surgery in 14 (58.3%). remained stable in 8 (33.4%). and worsened in 2 (8.3%). Conclusion : The pathologic lesions of tethered cord syndrome in school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults, are mostly intradural lipomas and tight filum. It is suggested that the degree of cord traction results in neurologic dysfunction in late life due to abnormal tension, aggravated by trauma or repeated tugging of the conus during exercise. Early diagnosis and adequate surgical release might be the keys to the successful outcome in school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.103-108
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• 2019

Although the Korean Armistice Agreement resulted in complete cessation of the hostilities of the Korean War, it also initiated a rule that obligates Korean men to compulsorily participate in military service. However, psychological factors such as anxiety, stress, and negative perception among the young participants joining the military lead to inefficiency in training and performance. Several types of media production companies have been tasked to deal with this problem. However, their tools have not adequately addressed the root causes of the psychological distress. Stress rates are still high among the youth. This paper offers a method of reducing anxiety and psychological stress among those joining the military. It also aims to help improve concentration and cope with the pessimism of military life. The study measured the increase in concentration as well as the changing rate of anxiety and psychological stress in the participants of two experimental groups. A significant result with t = 2.487, p = 0.042, and 95% confidence levels was revealed by analyzing the data pertaining to the experimental group that was directly exposed to the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) wave implying that this brain wave alleviated feelings of anxiety and psychological stress. The method proposed in this paper can thus be applied to mitigate stress in soldiers and help them with their personal and military lives. Further interdisciplinary experiments examining the associations between the electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram are required.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.21-34
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• 2019

This study was an examination of the relevance and clinical significance of electroencephalographic (EEG) indexes (e.g., mental/physical stress and attention) and indexes of heart rate variability (HRV) with regard to cognitive function and physiological health conditions in elderly people. A device was used to record two-channel EEGs of the frontal lobe and a one-channel ECG simultaneously. Subjects were 76 people average aged 73. The significant findings are as follows: First, subjects whose intrinsic alpha rhythm had high amplitude, regardless of peak, showed higher resistance to mental stress and lower physical stress than did subjects with low-amplitutde intrinsic alpha rhythm. Second, HRV, SDNN, and RMSSD indexes showed strong positive correlations between the two groups of subjects regardless of the division of groups. Third, the alpha asymmetry of the left and right sides of the brain in subjects with low-amplitude intrinsic alpha rhythm was larger, and the delta/alpha ratio (reflecting physical stress) and theta/sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) ratio (showing the decline in attention) were bigger. Fourth, the subjects in whom intrinsic alpha rhythm peak occurred during slow rhythm had a higher theta/SMR ratio than did subjects whose peak occurred during fast rhythm, which was related to a steeper decline in attention. Therefore, the presence or absence of intrinsic alpha rhythm peak and amplitude on quantitative EEG may be an index reflecting the cognitive function and physiological health of elderly people.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.194-198
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• 2015

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronically progressive or relapsing symmetric sensorimotor disorder presumed to occur because of immunologic antibody-mediated reactions. To understand the clinical courses of CIDP, we report variable CIDP courses in children with respect to initial presentation, responsiveness to medical treatment, and recurrence interval. Four patients who were diagnosed with acute-onset and relapsing CIDP courses at Severance Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea, were enrolled in this retrospective study. We diagnosed each patient on the basis of the CIDP diagnostic criteria developed in 2010 by the European Federation of Neurological Societies/Peripheral Nerve Society Guidelines. We present the cases of four pediatric patients diagnosed with CIDP to understand the variable clinical course of the disease in children. Our four patients were all between 8 and 12 years of age. Patients 1 and 2 were diagnosed with acute cerebellar ataxia or Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome as initial symptoms. While patients 1 and 4 were given only intravenous dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg/day) for 5 days at the first episode, Patients 2 and 3 were given a combination of intravenous immunoglobulin (2 g/kg) and dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg/day). All patients were maintained with oral prednisolone at 30 mg/day, but their clinical courses were variable in both relapse intervals and severity. We experienced variable clinical courses of CIDP in children with respect to initial presentation, responsiveness to medical treatment, and recurrence interval.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.347-353
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• 2008

Purpose: Cortical reorganization has an important role in the recovery of stroke. We analyzed the compensatory cerebral and cerebellar perfusion change in patients with unilateral cerebral infarction using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Materials and Methods: Fifty seven $^{99m}TC-Ethylene$ Cystein Diethylester (ECD) cerebral perfusion SPECT images of 57 patients (male/female=38/19, mean age=$56{\pm}17\;years$) with unilateral cerebral infarction were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into subgroups according to the location (left, right) and the onset (acute, chronic) of infarction. Each subgroup was compared with normal controls (male/female=11/1, mean age=$36{\pm}10\;years$) in a voxel-by-voxel manner (two sample t-test, p<0.001) using SPM. Results: All 4 subgroups showed hyperperfusion in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex, but not in the contralateral cerebral cortex. Chronic left and right infarction groups revealed hyperperfusion in the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex, meanwhile, acute subgroups did not. Contralateral cerebellar hyperperfusion was also demonstrated in the chronic left infarction group. Conclusion: Using $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ SPECT, we observed ipsilateral cerebral and contralateral cerebeller hyperperfusion in patients with cerebral infarction. However, whether these findings are related to the recovery of cerebral functions should be further evaluated.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.341-350
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• 2016

Background: Prenatal exposure to infectious and/or inflammatory insults can increase the risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorder such as bipolar disorder, autism, and schizophrenia later in life. We investigated whether Valeriana fauriei (VF) treatment alleviates prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits and social interaction impairment induced by maternal immune activation (MIA). Methods and Results: Pregnant mice were exposed to polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid (5 mg/kg, viral infection mimic) on gestational day 9. The adolescent offspring received daily oral treatment with VF (100 mg/kg) and injections of clozapine (5 mg/kg) for 30 days starting on the postnatal day 35. The effects of VF extract treatment on behavioral activity impairment and protein expression were investigated using the PPI analysis, forced swim test (FST), open field test (OFT), social interaction test (SIT), and immunohistochemistry. The MIA-induced offspring showed deficits in the PPI, FST, OFT, and SIT compared to their non MIA-induced counterparts. Treatment with the VF extract significantly recovered the sensorimotor gating deficits and partially recovered the aggressive behavior observed in the SIT. The VF extract also reversed the downregulation of protein expression induced by MIA in the medial prefrontal cortex. Conclusions: Our results provide initial evidence of the fact that the VF extract could reverse MIA-induced behavioral impairment and prevent neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.3 s.70
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• pp.486-491
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• 2005

Physical activity can improve sensorimotor recovery after peripheral nerve injury. Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) is highly correlated with neuronal development and axonal regeneration and present in large quantities in the axonal growth cone. Using immunofluorescene staining and anterograde and retorgrade techniques, we identified enhanced axonal regrowth in distal stump of the sciatic nerve 3-14 days after crush injury in rats with treadmill training. We also carried out western blot to investigate GAP-43 protein expression in injured sciatic nerve. GAP-43 protein levels were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerve 3, 7 and 14 days compared with sedentary group. Thus, the present data provide a new evidence that treadmill training promoted axonal re-growth after injury and increased GAP-43 protein levels in the regenerating nerve.