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ENeuro Jun 2024In measurement, a reference frame is needed to compare the measured object to something already known. This raises the neuroscientific question of which reference frame...
In measurement, a reference frame is needed to compare the measured object to something already known. This raises the neuroscientific question of which reference frame is used by humans when exploring the environment. Previous studies suggested that, in touch, the body employed as measuring tool also serves as reference frame. Indeed, an artificial modification of the perceived dimensions of the body changes the tactile perception of external object dimensions. However, it is unknown if such a change in tactile perception would occur when the body schema is modified through the illusion of owning a limb altered in size. Therefore, employing a virtual hand illusion paradigm with an elongated forearm of different lengths, we systematically tested the subjective perception of distance between two points [tactile distance perception (TDP) task] on the corresponding real forearm following the illusion. Thus, the TDP task is used as a proxy to gauge changes in the body schema. Embodiment of the virtual arm was found significantly greater after the synchronous visuotactile stimulation condition compared with the asynchronous one, and the forearm elongation significantly increased the TDP. However, we did not find any link between the visuotactile-induced ownership over the elongated arm and TDP variation, suggesting that vision plays the main role in the modification of the body schema. Additionally, significant effect of elongation found on TDP but not on proprioception suggests that these are affected differently by body schema modifications. These findings confirm the body schema malleability and its role as a reference frame in touch.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Virtual Reality; Touch Perception; Young Adult; Adult; Illusions; Distance Perception; Proprioception; Body Image; Forearm
PubMed: 38844346
DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0244-23.2024 -
Journal of Vision Jun 2024Ensemble processing allows the visual system to condense visual information into useful summary statistics (e.g., average size), thereby overcoming capacity limitations... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Ensemble processing allows the visual system to condense visual information into useful summary statistics (e.g., average size), thereby overcoming capacity limitations to visual working memory and attention. To examine the role of attention in ensemble processing, we conducted three experiments using a novel paradigm that merged the action effect (a manipulation of attention) and ensemble processing. Participants were instructed to make a simple action if the feature of a cue word corresponded to a subsequent shape. Immediately after, they were shown an ensemble display of eight ovals of varying sizes and were asked to report either the average size of all ovals or the size of a single oval from the set. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants were cued with a task-relevant feature, and in Experiment 3, participants were cued with a task-irrelevant feature. Overall, the task-relevant cues that elicited an action influenced reports of average size in the ensemble phase more than the cues that were passively viewed, whereas task-irrelevant cues did not bias the reports of average size. The results of this study suggest that attention influences ensemble processing only when it is directed toward a task-relevant feature.
Topics: Humans; Attention; Cues; Young Adult; Male; Female; Photic Stimulation; Adult; Memory, Short-Term; Reaction Time; Size Perception; Form Perception; Psychomotor Performance; Pattern Recognition, Visual
PubMed: 38842835
DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.6.5 -
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Jun 2024The study investigates the impact of social media reviews and brand identity on consumer preferences in the non-surgical aesthetics products across different...
INTRODUCTION
The study investigates the impact of social media reviews and brand identity on consumer preferences in the non-surgical aesthetics products across different generations. It highlights the evolving landscape of aesthetic medicine and surgery, driven by technological advancements and a cultural shift towards individual well-being. The research aims to explore the interplay between generational preferences, the influence of social media, and the role of brand identity in shaping consumer decisions.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was employed, with a sample size of > 5000 participants stratified across various generational cohorts. The study utilized an online questionnaire to capture both quantitative and qualitative insights into consumer behaviour, with statistical analysis performed to identify patterns and relationships.
RESULTS
Analysis of 5850 responses revealed distinct generational preferences and behaviours. Social media engagement varied significantly across generations, with younger cohorts placing a higher emphasis on online reviews. The study also found that brand identity's influence is diminishing in decision-making processes, with consumers increasingly relying on peer reviews and social media content.
CONCLUSION
The findings highlight a pivotal shift in the non-surgical aesthetics consumer market, emphasizing the growing importance of social media and peer reviews over traditional brand identities. Importantly, the study underscores the critical need for integrating patient safety and evidence-based practice within marketing strategies. As consumer preferences evolve towards valuing transparency and authenticity, non-surgical aesthetics providers must prioritize these elements, ensuring that their services are not only appealing but also grounded in safety and scientific validity.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV
"This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ."
PubMed: 38839613
DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-04109-8 -
Journal of Vision Jun 2024The primary symptom of visual snow syndrome (VSS) is the unremitting perception of small, flickering dots covering the visual field. VSS is a serious but poorly...
The primary symptom of visual snow syndrome (VSS) is the unremitting perception of small, flickering dots covering the visual field. VSS is a serious but poorly understood condition that can interfere with daily tasks. Several studies have provided qualitative data about the appearance of visual snow, but methods to quantify the symptom are lacking. Here, we developed a task in which participants with VSS adjusted parameters of simulated visual snow on a computer monitor until the simulation matched their internal visual snow. On each trial, participants (n = 31 with VSS) modified the size, density, update speed, and contrast of the simulation. Participants' settings were highly reliable across trials (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.89), and they reported that the task was effective at stimulating their visual snow. On average, visual snow was very small (less than 2 arcmin in diameter), updated quickly (mean temporal frequency = 18.2 Hz), had low density (mean snow elements vs. background = 2.87%), and had low contrast (average root mean square contrast = 2.56%). Our task provided a quantitative assessment of visual snow percepts, which may help individuals with VSS communicate their experience to others, facilitate assessment of treatment efficacy, and further our understanding of the trajectory of symptoms, as well as the neural origins of VSS.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Male; Female; Visual Fields; Young Adult; Photic Stimulation; Middle Aged; Contrast Sensitivity; Perceptual Disorders; Visual Perception; Computer Simulation; Vision Disorders
PubMed: 38837169
DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.6.3 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Dec 2024To determine the influencing factors of Chinese parents' intention and behavior for children to receive live attenuated influenza vaccine during the 2022-2023 influenza...
To determine the influencing factors of Chinese parents' intention and behavior for children to receive live attenuated influenza vaccine during the 2022-2023 influenza season. A theoretical model was developed and included seven constructs, and structural equation modeling was used to test 11 hypotheses. From October 2022 to December 2023, a survey was conducted across 38 medical institutions in four Chinese cities and their subordinate districts, counties, and rural areas. Parents who accompanied their children for vaccinations were selected through a randomization process based on their child's medical card numbers. Measures were taken to minimize method bias, including a diverse geographical representation and random sampling. The survey resulted in the collection of 936 valid responses, exceeding the recommended sample size for structural equation model analysis and providing robust statistical inferences. During the study period, 936 respondents were included in the study. Perceived ease of use was verified to be a predictor of perceived usefulness and perceived value. Perceived usefulness was verified as a predictor of perceived value and behavioral intention. Knowledge was a significant antecedent of perceived value and risk perception of influenza disease. Risk perception of influenza disease was proved to be a significant predictor of perceived value and self-reported vaccination behavior. Perceived value significantly affected behavioral intention, and behavioral intention significantly affected self-reported vaccination behavior. Six demographic variables significantly moderate the theoretical models. The low vaccination coverage of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) among children in China suggests a need for a deeper understanding of the factors that influence vaccination rates. Particularly, effective strategies are necessary from policymakers and practitioners to elevate childhood LAIV coverage.
Topics: Humans; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human; Parents; Female; Male; Vaccines, Attenuated; China; Adult; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Child; Vaccination; Surveys and Questionnaires; Middle Aged; Child, Preschool; Young Adult; Intention; Vaccination Coverage
PubMed: 38835204
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2356343 -
Journal of Vision Jun 2024The spectral locus of unique yellow was determined for flashes of different sizes (<11 arcmin) and durations (<500 ms) presented in and near the fovea. An adaptive...
The spectral locus of unique yellow was determined for flashes of different sizes (<11 arcmin) and durations (<500 ms) presented in and near the fovea. An adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope was used to minimize the effects of higher-order aberrations during simultaneous stimulus delivery and retinal imaging. In certain subjects, parafoveal cones were classified as L, M, or S, which permitted the comparison of unique yellow measurements with variations in local L/M ratios within and between observers. Unique yellow shifted to longer wavelengths as stimulus size or duration was reduced. This effect is most pronounced for changes in size and more apparent in the fovea than in the parafovea. The observed variations in unique yellow are not entirely predicted from variations in L/M ratio and therefore implicate neural processes beyond photoreception.
Topics: Humans; Photic Stimulation; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells; Fovea Centralis; Color Perception; Retina; Adult; Ophthalmoscopy
PubMed: 38833255
DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.6.2 -
Frontiers in Neurorobotics 2024During the last few years, a heightened interest has been shown in classifying scene images depicting diverse robotic environments. The surge in interest can be...
INTRODUCTION
During the last few years, a heightened interest has been shown in classifying scene images depicting diverse robotic environments. The surge in interest can be attributed to significant improvements in visual sensor technology, which has enhanced image analysis capabilities.
METHODS
Advances in vision technology have a major impact on the areas of multiple object detection and scene understanding. These tasks are an integral part of a variety of technologies, including integrating scenes in augmented reality, facilitating robot navigation, enabling autonomous driving systems, and improving applications in tourist information. Despite significant strides in visual interpretation, numerous challenges persist, encompassing semantic understanding, occlusion, orientation, insufficient availability of labeled data, uneven illumination including shadows and lighting, variation in direction, and object size and changing background. To overcome these challenges, we proposed an innovative scene recognition framework, which proved to be highly effective and yielded remarkable results. First, we perform preprocessing using kernel convolution on scene data. Second, we perform semantic segmentation using UNet segmentation. Then, we extract features from these segmented data using discrete wavelet transform (DWT), Sobel and Laplacian, and textual (local binary pattern analysis). To recognize the object, we have used deep belief network and then find the object-to-object relation. Finally, AlexNet is used to assign the relevant labels to the scene based on recognized objects in the image.
RESULTS
The performance of the proposed system was validated using three standard datasets: PASCALVOC-12, Cityscapes, and Caltech 101. The accuracy attained on the PASCALVOC-12 dataset exceeds 96% while achieving a rate of 95.90% on the Cityscapes dataset.
DISCUSSION
Furthermore, the model demonstrates a commendable accuracy of 92.2% on the Caltech 101 dataset. This model showcases noteworthy advancements beyond the capabilities of current models.
PubMed: 38831877
DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2024.1398703 -
Trends in Hearing 2024The extent to which active noise cancelation (ANC), when combined with hearing assistance, can improve speech intelligibility in noise is not well understood. One...
The extent to which active noise cancelation (ANC), when combined with hearing assistance, can improve speech intelligibility in noise is not well understood. One possible source of benefit is ANC's ability to reduce the sound level of the direct (i.e., vent-transmitted) path. This reduction lowers the "floor" imposed by the direct path, thereby allowing any increases to the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) created in the amplified path to be "realized" at the eardrum. Here we used a modeling approach to estimate this benefit. We compared pairs of simulated hearing aids that differ only in terms of their ability to provide ANC and computed intelligibility metrics on their outputs. The difference in metric scores between simulated devices is termed the "ANC Benefit." These simulations show that ANC Benefit increases as (1) the environmental sound level increases, (2) the ability of the hearing aid to improve SNR increases, (3) the strength of the ANC increases, and (4) the hearing loss severity decreases. The predicted size of the ANC Benefit can be substantial. For a moderate hearing loss, the model predicts improvement in intelligibility metrics of >30% when environments are moderately loud (>70 dB SPL) and devices are moderately capable of increasing SNR (by >4 dB). It appears that ANC can be a critical ingredient in hearing devices that attempt to improve SNR in loud environments. ANC will become more and more important as advanced SNR-improving algorithms (e.g., artificial intelligence speech enhancement) are included in hearing devices.
Topics: Humans; Hearing Aids; Signal-To-Noise Ratio; Speech Intelligibility; Noise; Perceptual Masking; Speech Perception; Computer Simulation; Acoustic Stimulation; Correction of Hearing Impairment; Persons With Hearing Impairments; Hearing Loss; Equipment Design; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
PubMed: 38831646
DOI: 10.1177/23312165241260029 -
Complementary Therapies in Clinical... Aug 2024Yoga practice can increase blood flow in the genital area, increase muscular strength, and improve body perception, which is related to sexual function. This study aimed... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Yoga practice can increase blood flow in the genital area, increase muscular strength, and improve body perception, which is related to sexual function. This study aimed to summarize the available evidence about the effects of yoga on sexual function in adults.
METHODS
Systematic searches of five databases were conducted from inception to April 28, with the last update on September 28, 2023. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared yoga with nonintervention control groups on sexual function in adults. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool 2, and the GRADE approach, respectively. Summary effect size measures were calculated using a random-effects model estimation and are reported as standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. Reporting followed the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
Ten RCTs that comprised 730 adults (range mean age, 26.64-68.2 years; 680 [93.2 %] women) were included. For the primary outcome, yoga intervention was associated with a significant small improvement in sexual function (-0.31; -0.47 to -0.15, p = 0.0002), with some concerns about risk of bias in nine RCTs (90%) and low-certainty evidence. Subgroup analyses revealed that yoga interventions performed by women (-0.36; -0.52 to -0.21, p < 0.00001), healthy individuals (-0.38; -0.59 to -0.16, p = 0.0006), or middle-aged individuals (-0.44; -0.63 to -0.25, p < 00001) significantly improved sexual function compared with control groups.
CONCLUSION
Yoga was associated with a small improvement in sexual function compared with nonintervention control groups in adults. However, high-quality, larger RCTs are required to draw more definitive conclusions.
Topics: Yoga; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Female; Adult; Male; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Middle Aged; Sexual Behavior; Aged
PubMed: 38830273
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101864