• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.384-391
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• 2006

Variation of brain dynamics under Zen meditation has been one of our major research interests for years. One issue encountered is the inaccessibility to the actual meditation level or stage as a reference. In this paper, we propose an alternative strategy for investigating the human brain in response to external flash stimuli during Zen meditation course. To secure a consistent condition of the brain dynamics when applying stimulation, we designed a recording of flash visual evoked potentials (F-VEPs) based on a constant background EEG (electroencephalograph) frontal $\alpha-rhythm$ dominating activities that increase significantly during Zen meditation. Thus the flash-light stimulus was to be applied upon emergence of the frontal $\alpha-rhythm$. The alpha-dependent F-VEPs were then employed to inspect the effect of Zen meditation on brain dynamics. Based on the experimental protocol proposed, considerable differences between experimental and control groups were obtained. Our results showed that amplitudes of P1-N2 and N2-P2 on Cz and Fz increased significantly during meditation, contrary to the F-VEPs of control group at rest. We thus suggest that Zen meditation results in acute response on primary visual cortex and the associated parts.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.481-488
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• 1994

In this paper a study of neuro-pathway estimation based on visual and somatosensory evoked potential is given. The evoked potentials which are caused by visual and somatosensory stimulation are detected by an average method. The forward problem that is estimating a scalp potential from a given electrical source in the brain is solved by using a triple concentric spherical shell model of the head and a single current dipole model of the neuron activity. The inverse problem which calculates a source position is solved by a least square fit between the model predicted potential and a given evoked potential measurement. The similarities between estimated sensory neuro-pathways and physiological brain function regions are verified.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.212-217
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• 2007

As a preliminary study for the development of electrical stimulation strategy of artificial retina, we set up a method fur the reconstruction of input intensity variation from retinal ganglion cell(RGC) responses. In order to estimate light intensity variation, we used an optimal linear filter trained from given stimulus intensity variation and multiple single unit spike trains from RGCs. By applying ON/OFF stimulation(ON duration: 2 sec, OFF duration: 5 sec) repetitively, we identified three functional types of ganglion cells according to when they respond to the ON/OFF stimulus actively: ON cell, OFF cell, and ON-OFF cell. Experiments were also performed using a Gaussian random stimulus and a binary random stimulus. The input intensity was updated once every 90 msec(i. e. 11 Hz) to present the stimulus. The result of reconstructing 11 Hz Gaussian and binary random stimulus was not satisfactory and showed low correlation between the original and reconstructed stimulus. In the case of ON/OFF stimulus in which temporal variation is slow, successful reconstruction was achieved and the correlation coefficient was as high as 0.8.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.285-292
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 8 direction incline and rotation exercise on pain and dynamic balance in the patients with chronic low back pain(CLBP). 20 patients who were diagnosed with CLBP were included for the study. 10 patients(experimental group) were treated by modality{Hot Pack(H/P), Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation(TENS), Ultra Sound(U/S)} and then performed 8 direction incline and rotation exercise. The other 10 patients(control group) were only treated by modality. The therapeutic intervention was taken three times a week for 6 weeks. Dynamic balance was assessed by Star Excursion Balance Test(SEBT) and pain was assessed by Visual Analog Scale(VAS). VAS scores of both groups were decreased. However, the experimental group was more significantly decreased than the control group. The dynamic balance of both groups was significantly increased in anterior, posterior, medial, lateral direction. But experimental group was more significantly increased than the control group. In conclusion, 8 direction incline and rotation exercise was effective on pain and dynamic balance in CLPB.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the most effective stimulating electrode in Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) for pain relief, and to apply to the treatment of Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Methods We included 45 participants who met the inclusion criteria. DOMS of both Triceps Surae Muscles were experimentally induced through eccentric contractions. 24-hours after induction of DOMS, who scored more than 40 mm in visual analogue scale (VAS) were randomly assigned into three groups (n=44). In 15 of them, needle electrodes were inserted into BL57, BL56. In 15 of them, surface electrodes were applied on the same points and the others were treated with manual acupuncture. The effects of pain relief were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), mechanical pain threshold (MPT), surface electromyography (SEMG). Results In VAS, group comparison had no significant difference after all treatments had done. The difference in VAS between the time before the treatment was started (Day 2) and after all treatments were completed was greater in Acupuncture group than that of needle-electrode group. In MPT, there was no significant difference among groups. Electrical contraction decreased significantly at 2nd before-after treatment comparison in needle-electrode MENS group. But fatigue scores were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions The results suggest that the types of electrodes has no significant effect on microcurrent therapy in DOMS.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the effects on vision care program including traditional Korean treatment for elementary school students. Methods: 172 eyes of eighty-six older elementary students underwent a vision care program, including traditional Korean treatment, for 3 months between March 2010 and June 2010. The vision care program included health education, such as lifestyle modification, vision strengthening exercises and a course of treatment with traditional Korean methods. Traditional Korean treatment covered periocular acupuncture point stimulation, periauricular acupuncture point stimulation and herbal drug therapy. All patients were examined for visual acuity and auto-refraction and filled out a satisfactory questionnaire about ocular discomforts and quality of life before and after treatments. Results: Patients with mild myopia (-0.75~-2.00) were 61 (35.5%), and 46 (26.7%) were emetropia (${\pm}0.50$ or less). After treatment, uncorrected visual acuity in both eyes was $0.77{\pm}0.46$, which was lower than that before treatment ($0.82{\pm}0.51$), but corrected visual acuity was $0.98{\pm}0.21$, which was higher than that before treatment ($0.93{\pm}0.28 $). About the refractive change, the emetropia group showed a slightly myopic shift while the mild myopia group intended to reduce the myopic error. However, this was not statistically significant. The scales of eyeball pain or discomfort decreased significantly from $17.59{\pm}22.5$ before treatment to $10.28{\pm}17.80$ after treatment, and the scales of the quality of life increased from $1.85{\pm}1.25$ before treatment to $2.25{\pm}1.30$ after treatment. Most patients (90.7%) were satisfied with their treatment results. Conclusions: The vision care program including traditional Korean treatment for elementary school students was effective to improve corrected visual acuity in both eyes and delay the progression of school myopia. In addition, it helped to reduce eyeball pain and discomfort and ultimately to enhance quality of life. Long-term follow-up studies will be needed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1918-1920
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• 2005

The color and structure of urban constructions is a factor of urban landscape and shows their characteristics. Hence the modern buildings with their materials and external appearance makes up the urban image. But still yet, it was not easy to evaluate the value of visual landscape of buildings with objective measuring method. Most of all, it depends on the subjective estimation of a few talented or high educated experts with a sense of beauty. In relation to this kind of problems, it was tried here in this study to analyse the human response of brain wave pattern (EEG) with use of SD method, while the tested persons watched the urban landscape constructed in a visual reality. The tested persons were 10 adult males and females with no color blindness and intact cognitive function. Light source with color filter was used for color environment in chamber room. The signal of EEG is analysed digitally and grouped into the $\alpha$ and $\beta$ waves. The result showed that relative power of $\alpha$ wave ratio increased in natural landscape scenary clearly. From these results it was possible to evaluate the human response, which was affected by urban color and structure stimulation and it might be useful as an indicator of visual cognition amenity toward the design of urban construction environment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2006

The color and structure of urban constructions is a factor of urban landscape and shows their characteristics. Hence the modern buildings deal with their materials and external appearance as an important factor, making up the urban image. But it was nearby impossible to evaluate the value of visual landscape with objective measuring method. Most of all, it depends on the subjective estimation of a few talented or high educated experts with a sense of beauty. Such kinds of estimation can in some cases include arbitrary interpretations. In relation to this kind of problems, it is tried here in this study to analyse the human response of brain wave pattern (EEG) with use of SD method, while the tested persons watch the urban landscape scenery constructed in a visual reality. The tested persons were 20 adult male and female with no color blindness and intact cognitive function. Light source with color filter was used for color environment in a dark soundproof chamber. The signal of EEG is analysed digitally and grouped into the ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ waves. The result showed that relative power of ${\alpha}$ wave ratio increased in the natural landscape scenery with blue and green color. From these results it was possible to evaluate the human response, which is affected by urban and natural color and structure stimulation and it might be useful as an indicator of visual cognition amenity toward the design of urban construction environment.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.298-311
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine 1) the relationship between the vegetable eating behavior of care givers and that of children, 2) the effectiveness of nutrition education with vegetable playing using direct visual stimulating programs on vegetable eating behavior of preschool children, and 3) the times and period of nutrition education with vegetable playing for significant changes on vegetable eating behavior. A total number of 56 individuals, aged 42 to 66 months old, participated in this study in which three kinds of vegetables (30 g)/meal were served per individual, and vegetable eating behavior was measured by the residue on the dish during 5 weeks (25 days). To the simple visual stimulating group, vegetable dish was served without education, and other groups included education 1 group (nutrition education 1 time/week), education 2 group (nutrition education 2 times/week), and education 3 group (nutrition education 3 times/week) with simple visual stimulation by the vegetable dish. The results showed 1) the significant relationship (P<0.001) between the vegetable eating behavior of the care giver and that of children by analysis of the questionnaire, 2) the effectiveness of nutrition education using vegetable playing on vegetable eating behavior of preschool children (P<0.05), and 3) the significant changes in vegetable eating behavior by the 3rd week in the education 3 group. This study shows that food neophobia caused behavior problems in children regarding vegetable eating and repeated exposure was able to reduce food neophobia.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.509-516
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• 2013

As the visual fatigue induced by 3D visual stimulation has raised some safety concerns in the industry, this study aims to quantify the visual fatigue through the means of measuring the facial temperature changes. Facial temperature was measured for one minute before and after watching a visual stimulus. Whether the visual fatigue has occurred was measured through subjective evaluations and high cognitive tasks. The difference in the changes that occurred after watching a 2D stimulus and a 3D stimulus was computed in order to associate the facial temperature changes and the visual fatigue induced by watching 3D contents. The results showed significant differences in the subjective evaluations and in the high cognitive tasks. Also, the ERP latency increased after watching 3D stimuli. There were significant differences in the maximum value of the temperature at the forehead and at the tip of the nose. A previous study showed that 3D visual fatigue activates the sympathetic nervous system. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is known to increase the heart rate as well as the blood flow into the face through the carotid arteries system. When watching 2D or 3D stimuli, the sympathetic nervous system activation dictates the blood flow, which then influences the facial temperature. This study is meaningful in that it is one of the first investigations that looks into the possibility to measure 3D visual fatigue with thermal images.