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European Archives of... Jan 2022Cochlear implantation became a valid hearing rehabilitation option in common cavity deformity. This study aimed to assess the audiological and speech outcomes of... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Cochlear implantation became a valid hearing rehabilitation option in common cavity deformity. This study aimed to assess the audiological and speech outcomes of cochlear implantation in common cavity deformity patients and to address the surgical aspect used in this population.
METHODS
A comprehensive systematic literature review based on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline from database inception through April 2020. Eighteen published articles including 138 patients with common cavity deformity met the inclusion criteria. These articles studied the surgical techniques and the audiological outcomes of cochlear implantation in patients with common cavity deformity in English language.
RESULTS
Trans-mastoid labyrinthotomy was the common surgical approach in these patients. The average speech intelligibility rating and categories of auditory performance scores in common cavity deformity were lower than in normal cochlea subjects (p < 0.05), and non-significant (p > 0.05) compared with other types of inner ear malformations.
CONCLUSION
Patients with common cavity deformity who underwent cochlear implantation showed a beneficial audiological and speech outcome. However, their performance is highly variable. Therefore, pre-operative counseling of the parents is necessary. The surgical approaches should be individualized according to clinical, radiological, and surgical findings.
Topics: Cochlear Implantation; Cochlear Implants; Ear, Inner; Humans; Speech Intelligibility; Speech Perception; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34052873
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-06884-5 -
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review Apr 2023This paper presents a systematic review of the empirical literature that uses dual-task interference methods for investigating the on-line involvement of language in... (Review)
Review
This paper presents a systematic review of the empirical literature that uses dual-task interference methods for investigating the on-line involvement of language in various cognitive tasks. In these studies, participants perform some primary task X putatively recruiting linguistic resources while also engaging in a secondary, concurrent task. If performance on the primary task decreases under interference, there is evidence for language involvement in the primary task. We assessed studies (N = 101) reporting at least one experiment with verbal interference and at least one control task (either primary or secondary). We excluded papers with an explicitly clinical, neurological, or developmental focus. The primary tasks identified include categorization, memory, mental arithmetic, motor control, reasoning (verbal and visuospatial), task switching, theory of mind, visual change, and visuospatial integration and wayfinding. Overall, the present review found that covert language is likely to play a facilitative role in memory and categorization when items to be remembered or categorized have readily available labels, when inner speech can act as a form of behavioral self-cuing (inhibitory control, task set reminders, verbal strategy), and when inner speech is plausibly useful as "workspace," for example, for mental arithmetic. There is less evidence for the role of covert language in cross-modal integration, reasoning relying on a high degree of visual detail or items low on nameability, and theory of mind. We discuss potential pitfalls and suggestions for streamlining and improving the methodology.
Topics: Humans; Cognition; Language; Problem Solving; Cues; Speech; Memory, Short-Term
PubMed: 35996045
DOI: 10.3758/s13423-022-02144-7 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Dec 2021Although behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is classically defined by behavioral and socio-emotional changes, impairments often extend to other cognitive... (Review)
Review
Although behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is classically defined by behavioral and socio-emotional changes, impairments often extend to other cognitive functions. These include early speech and language deficits related to the disease's core neural disruptions. Yet, their scope and clinical relevance remains poorly understood. This systematic review characterizes such disturbances in bvFTD, considering clinically, neuroanatomically, genetically, and neuropathologically defined subgroups. We included 181 experimental studies, with at least 5 bvFTD patients diagnosed using accepted criteria, comparing speech and language outcomes between bvFTD patients and healthy controls or between bvFTD subgroups. Results reveal extensive and heterogeneous deficits across cohorts, with (a) consistent lexico-semantic, reading & writing, and prosodic impairments; (b) inconsistent deficits in motor speech and grammar; and (c) relative preservation of phonological skills. Also, preliminary findings suggest that the severity of speech and language deficits might be associated with global cognitive impairment, predominantly temporal or fronto-temporal atrophy and MAPT mutations (vs C9orf72). Although under-recognized, these impairments contribute to patient characterization and phenotyping, while potentially informing diagnosis and management.
Topics: Atrophy; Frontotemporal Dementia; Humans; Language; Language Development Disorders; Neuropsychological Tests; Speech
PubMed: 34673112
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.015 -
Brain Sciences Jul 2021Interpersonal distance (IPD) plays a critical role in a human being's social life, especially during interpersonal interaction, and IPD is non-verbal social information... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Interpersonal distance (IPD) plays a critical role in a human being's social life, especially during interpersonal interaction, and IPD is non-verbal social information and not only provides silent cues but also provides a secure space for personal relationships. IPD has been a research field of neural studies from the recent decade, researches had provided behavior and neural correlates of IPD.
OBJECTIVES
This review aims to summarize the experimental paradigms of IPD-neural research, to reveal the neural activity processes associated with it, and to explore the correlation between IPD-neural activity and IPD-behavior.
METHODS
We conducted a standardized systematic review procedure, including the formal search method be adopted to seek out any type of studies related to IPD and brain, then devised them into categories to make a systematic review.
RESULTS
17 articles met the inclusion criteria of the review, 5 event-related potential (ERP) studies measured the amplitude and latencies of ERPs, and 12 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies provided the neural activation during IPD tasks. In addition, the passive IPD experimental paradigm is the main experimental paradigm for exploring neural activity in IPD cognition, with the parietal lobe, motor areas, prefrontal lobe, and amygdala being the main brain areas involved. Functional connections between the identified brain regions were found and have a moderate correlation with IPD behavior.
CONCLUSIONS
This review provides the neural activity of the IPD interaction process. However, the insufficient ecological validity of IPD tasks and ignore the initiative of people in IPD interaction. Therefore, there is a large research space on this topic. The work of the current systematic review contributed to linking the external performance and inner neural activities of IPD.
PubMed: 34439634
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11081015 -
Schizophrenia Research Feb 2020Voice atypicalities have been a characteristic feature of schizophrenia since its first definitions. They are often associated with core negative symptoms such as flat... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Voice atypicalities have been a characteristic feature of schizophrenia since its first definitions. They are often associated with core negative symptoms such as flat affect and alogia, and with the social impairments seen in the disorder. This suggests that voice atypicalities may represent a marker of clinical features and social functioning in schizophrenia. We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the evidence for distinctive acoustic patterns in schizophrenia, as well as their relation to clinical features. We identified 46 articles, including 55 studies with a total of 1254 patients with schizophrenia and 699 healthy controls. Summary effect sizes (Hedges'g and Pearson's r) estimates were calculated using multilevel Bayesian modeling. We identified weak atypicalities in pitch variability (g = -0.55) related to flat affect, and stronger atypicalities in proportion of spoken time, speech rate, and pauses (g's between -0.75 and -1.89) related to alogia and flat affect. However, the effects were mostly modest (with the important exception of pause duration) compared to perceptual and clinical judgments, and characterized by large heterogeneity between studies. Moderator analyses revealed that tasks with a more demanding cognitive and social component showed larger effects both in contrasting patients and controls and in assessing symptomatology. In conclusion, studies of acoustic patterns are a promising but, yet unsystematic avenue for establishing markers of schizophrenia. We outline recommendations towards more cumulative, open, and theory-driven research.
Topics: Aphasia; Bayes Theorem; Humans; Schizophrenia; Speech; Voice
PubMed: 31839552
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.11.031 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2023Semantic and Phonological fluency (SF and PF) are routinely evaluated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are disagreements in the literature regarding... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Semantic and Phonological fluency (SF and PF) are routinely evaluated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are disagreements in the literature regarding which fluency task is more affected while developing AD. Most studies focus on SF assessment, given its connection with the temporoparietal amnesic system. PF is less reported, it is related to working memory, which is also impaired in probable and diagnosed AD. Differentiating between performance on these tasks might be informative in early AD diagnosis, providing an accurate linguistic profile.
OBJECTIVE
Compare SF and PF performance in healthy volunteers, volunteers with probable AD, and patients with AD diagnosis, considering the heterogeneity of age, gender, and educational level variables.
METHODS
A total of 8 studies were included for meta-analysis, reaching a sample size of 1,270 individuals (568 patients diagnosed with AD, 340 with probable AD diagnosis, and 362 healthy volunteers).
RESULTS
The three groups consistently performed better on SF than PF. When progressing to a diagnosis of AD, we observed a significant difference in SF and PF performance across our 3 groups of interest (p = 0.04). The age variable explained a proportion of this difference in task performance across the groups, and as age increases, both tasks equally worsen.
CONCLUSION
The performance of SF and PF might play a differential role in early AD diagnosis. These tasks rely on partially different neural bases of language processing. They are thus worth exploring independently in diagnosing normal aging and its transition to pathological stages, including probable and diagnosed AD.
Topics: Humans; Semantics; Alzheimer Disease; Verbal Behavior; Neuropsychological Tests; Linguistics
PubMed: 37482994
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-221272 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Jan 2024Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) are computer-generated animated humanlike characters that interact with users through verbal and nonverbal behavioral cues. They... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) are computer-generated animated humanlike characters that interact with users through verbal and nonverbal behavioral cues. They are increasingly used in a range of fields, including health care.
OBJECTIVE
This scoping review aims to identify the current practice in the development and evaluation of ECAs for chronic diseases.
METHODS
We applied a methodological framework in this review. A total of 6 databases (ie, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and Web of Science) were searched using a combination of terms related to ECAs and health in October 2023. Two independent reviewers selected the studies and extracted the data. This review followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) statement.
RESULTS
The literature search found 6332 papers, of which 36 (0.57%) met the inclusion criteria. Among the 36 studies, 27 (75%) originated from the United States, and 28 (78%) were published from 2020 onward. The reported ECAs covered a wide range of chronic diseases, with a focus on cancers, atrial fibrillation, and type 2 diabetes, primarily to promote screening and self-management. Most ECAs were depicted as middle-aged women based on screenshots and communicated with users through voice and nonverbal behavior. The most frequently reported evaluation outcomes were acceptability and effectiveness.
CONCLUSIONS
This scoping review provides valuable insights for technology developers and health care professionals regarding the development and implementation of ECAs. It emphasizes the importance of technological advances in the embodiment, personalized strategy, and communication modality and requires in-depth knowledge of user preferences regarding appearance, animation, and intervention content. Future studies should incorporate measures of cost, efficiency, and productivity to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits of using ECAs in health care.
Topics: Middle Aged; Humans; Female; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Communication; Chronic Disease; Voice; Atrial Fibrillation
PubMed: 38194260
DOI: 10.2196/47134 -
Disability and Rehabilitation Dec 2022This review was intended to provide an overall picture of work conducted during the last decade to assess the impact of behavioral intervention strategies on people with... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This review was intended to provide an overall picture of work conducted during the last decade to assess the impact of behavioral intervention strategies on people with disorders of consciousness (i.e., comatose state, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness, or minimally conscious state). The intervention strategies considered were those not based on music or including music as a component of the intervention package.
METHODS
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist, a scoping review was carried out to identify and provide a synthesis of eligible studies published in English during the 2010-2021 period. Three databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were employed for the literature search.
RESULTS
Forty studies met the inclusion criteria. Those studies were grouped into three categories based on whether they assessed the effects of: (i) verbal stories/messages, (ii) multiple stimulation, and (iii) response-contingent stimulation. Then, a narrative synthesis of the studies of each of the three categories was provided to specify the types of patients involved, the intervention and assessment conditions implemented, and the outcome attained.
CONCLUSIONS
The evidence reported in most of the studies might be considered encouraging and convincing. Even so, it might be very difficult to view the evidence of the various studies cumulatively and make general/conclusive statements due to a number of differences in the intervention conditions applied.Implications for rehabilitationAn informative picture of the studies using behavioral interventions with people with disorders of consciousness is essential to any professional working in the area.Such picture can be highly useful in providing a view of the intervention strategies used for those people, of the variations existing within and across strategies, and of the evidence available.An analysis of the strategies, their implementation and their effects may provide new insights for improving those strategies and eventually increasing their impact.The individuals charged with the implementation process (e.g., family members or nurses) may have a relevant influence on the overall impact of the strategy.
Topics: Humans; Consciousness; Behavior Therapy
PubMed: 34613851
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1985634 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Apr 2023Beliefs that are too rigid and misadjusted may legitimize interpersonal relationships marked by verbal, physical, or sexual violence. A systematic literature review was... (Review)
Review
Beliefs that are too rigid and misadjusted may legitimize interpersonal relationships marked by verbal, physical, or sexual violence. A systematic literature review was performed to identify the existence of maladaptive beliefs (MBs) in interpersonal relationships of young adults and their association with problematic behaviors. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, studies were obtained through a search in multiple databases: EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Web of Science. Of the 1,280 articles retrieved, 42 were retained for further analysis and 15 were considered eligible for inclusion. In addition, seven studies were added through manual search, leading to a final sample of 15 articles, published between 1964 and 2021. Only empirical studies with quantitative methodologies were included. Objectives, sample (age in years), sample type, country of origin of studies, instruments, control group, and results and main conclusions were extracted from each study. Results suggest the existence of MBs that may legitimize antisocial behavior and violence, whether physical, sexual, gender, domestic, or in intimate relationships. Some intervention programs were also identified, with different approaches with a reasonable degree of efficacy in changing these beliefs or in reducing the rates of recidivism by the aggressors.
Topics: Humans; Young Adult; Violence; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Counseling; Interpersonal Relations
PubMed: 34405741
DOI: 10.1177/15248380211038684 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Aug 2023Although insulin resistance (IR) and cardiometabolic syndrome are prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), only a few studies have attempted to precisely assess... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Although insulin resistance (IR) and cardiometabolic syndrome are prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), only a few studies have attempted to precisely assess the degree and clinical impact of IR in BD.
METHODS
A comprehensive search was conducted from multiple research databases through May 2022, following a pre-defined protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022359259). We extracted neuroimaging, cognition, illness course, and treatment response findings from individuals with BD with evidence of IR compared with euglycemic BD individuals.
RESULTS
Of 1436 identified articles, 10 reports fulfilling inclusion criteria were included (n = 1183). BD patients with IR displayed worse composite verbal memory scores and worse executive function and exhibited smaller hippocampal volumes along with prefrontal neurochemical alterations compared to euglycemic BD patients. Fixed-effect meta-analysis revealed that BD patients with impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) were more likely to develop a chronic and rapid cycling course when compared with euglycemic BD patients (k = 2, OR = 2.96, 95 % CI 1.69-5.17, OR = 2.88, 95 % CI 1.59-5.21, p < 0.001, respectively), with a trend for significantly lower Global Assessment of Functioning scores (k = 5, MD = -4, 95 % CI -8.23-0.23, p = 0.06). BD patients with IGM displayed a higher rate of poor response to mood stabilizers when compared with euglycemic BD patients (k = 2, OR = 6.74, 95 % CI 1.04-43.54, p = 0.04).
LIMITATIONS
Cross-sectional design and small sample sizes of studies included limit the generalizability of results.
CONCLUSION
IR is associated with worse clinical outcomes of BD and inadequate treatment response. Implementing strategies to prevent and treat IR in BD is crucial to improve the prognosis of such a difficult-to-treat population.
Topics: Humans; Bipolar Disorder; Cross-Sectional Studies; Executive Function; Immunoglobulin M; Insulin Resistance; Insulin
PubMed: 37086806
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.068