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Attention, Perception & Psychophysics Jun 2024Attention has a significant effect on time perception, as a person's perception of duration varies depending on the object of one's attention, even when the visual...
Attention has a significant effect on time perception, as a person's perception of duration varies depending on the object of one's attention, even when the visual stimulus is consistent. This study aimed to identify the effects of directing participants' attention after a stimulus has disappeared on time perception, as prior studies have examined only pre-stimulus direction. The stimulus used comprised two overlapping figures - one large and one small. After the stimulus was removed, participants were asked to judge the length of the presentation time and shape of one of the two figures. Consequently, the participants perceived a longer presentation duration when their attention was directed to a large figure than when directed to a small figure. This finding suggests that even after an event has occurred, the time perception of the event changes depending on the feature receiving one's attention.
PubMed: 38926217
DOI: 10.3758/s13414-024-02918-2 -
International Ophthalmology Jun 2024The aim of this study was to evaluate the lamina cribrosa curvature index in different types of glaucoma in comparison with clinical findings and conventional...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the lamina cribrosa curvature index in different types of glaucoma in comparison with clinical findings and conventional measurement methods.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Patients older than 18 years who were followed up in Glaucoma Unit of Department of Ophthalmology at Fırat University Faculty of Medicine, whose disease had been under control at least for 1 year, who had at least three reliable visual fields, whose refractive error was between - 6 and + 5 diopter and who did not have any disease other than glaucoma that would affect the visual field, were included in the study. Clinical and demographic characteristics, visual field, optical coherence tomography and lamina cribrosa curvature index (LCCI) results were evaluated. The study patients were divided into six groups: early-stage primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) as group 1 and intermediate-advanced stage POAG as group 2, pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma (PEXG) as group 3, normal tension glaucoma (NTG) as group 4, ocular hypertension patients whom subsequently developed POAG as group 5 and healthy control as group 6.
RESULTS
A total of 189 eyes of 101 patients were included in our study. Forty-seven patients were male (46.5%) and 54 were female (53.5%). The mean age was 62.43 ± 1.49 years. LCCI, mean deviation (MD), visual field index (VFI), pattern standard deviation (PSD) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) values were analyzed in all groups and Pearson correlation analysis showed statistically significant correlation between PSD and RNFL measurements with LCCI values in all groups. MD value was correlated with LCCI in groups 2, 3 and 4, while VFI value was correlated with LCCI in all groups except group 5. When the groups were compared with each other according to the Post-Hoc Tamhane test, LCCI measurement showed statistically significant results in accordance with MD, VFI, PSD and RNFL values.
CONCLUSION
The LCCI assessment is mostly consistent with conventional tests. In this study, in which different types of glaucoma and healthy subjects were examined simultaneously, LCCI shows promise as a detailed and reliable assessment method.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Middle Aged; Visual Fields; Optic Disk; Intraocular Pressure; Aged; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Nerve Fibers; Adult; Follow-Up Studies; Glaucoma
PubMed: 38926206
DOI: 10.1007/s10792-024-03190-x -
Ceska a Slovenska Oftalmologie :... 2024The main aim of this study is to evaluate the anatomical and functional results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM),...
AIM
The main aim of this study is to evaluate the anatomical and functional results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), membrane blue staining and subsequent expansile gas tamponade (perfluoropropane) in the treatment of idiopathic macular hole (IMH).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The retrospective analysis consisted of 100 eyes of a total of 100 patients (61 women and 39 men) with IMH, operated on at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Slovak Medical University and University Hospital Bratislava from 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2024, using 25-gauge PPV with ILM peeling and perfluoropropane tamponade (C3F8) of 15% concentration. After surgery, the patients were required to remain in a face-down position for at least one week. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), minimal linear diameter (MLD) on optic coherence tomography, macular hole closure type and occurrence of complications were evaluated. The obtained results were expressed with the use of arithmetic averages and displayed in graphs.
RESULTS
Primary closure of macular hole was achieved in 93 patients (93%). The most frequently occurring type of closure was 1A. After surgery, the BCVA of all patients improved, from an average value of 0.101 preoperatively to 0.300 one year after surgery. In all groups of patients (regardless of the size of the macular hole before surgery), during the one-year follow-up period there was a gradual increase in BCVA with its stabilization by 6 months. The main factors that influenced postoperative BCVA were the preoperative values of MLD and BCVA.
CONCLUSION
PPV with ILM peeling and perfluoropropane tamponade is an effective treatment for idiopathic macular holes with a success rate of more than 90%. This surgical procedure, associated with a relatively low number of complications, brings patients a definite improvement of BCVA.
Topics: Humans; Vitrectomy; Retinal Perforations; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Aged; Fluorocarbons; Visual Acuity; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38925904
DOI: 10.31348/2024/20 -
Ceska a Slovenska Oftalmologie :... 2024This retrospective clinical study evaluates the results of surgical treatment of patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia of the divergence excess type. The study...
AIM
This retrospective clinical study evaluates the results of surgical treatment of patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia of the divergence excess type. The study compares the results of surgery delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic (patients underwent the surgery after the age of eight), versus a group of younger children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The objective angle of deviation and quality of binocular functions were examined. The follow-up period was six months after surgery. The patients were divided into two groups according to age: 4-7 years and 8-13 years. Each group included 20 patients. The second group comprised patients whose surgery was postponed due to restrictions on elective surgery during the ongoing pandemic. The surgery took place at the University Hospital in Pilsen. Angle of deviation and binocular functions were examined before surgery, postoperatively, and three and six months after surgery. Data were collected retrospectively and statistically processed. The main values were plotted in charts.
RESULTS
Accordance between the angle of deviation before surgery in both groups was statistically demonstrated. During the six-month follow-up period, the median angle of deviation was statistically without proof of disparity between the groups. Six months after surgery, an objective angle of deviation within the limit ±5 degrees was achieved in 65% of patients from the first group and in 75% from the second group. Binocular vision before surgery was statistically without proof of difference between both groups. However the statistical processing demonstrated a difference between the two groups six months after the surgery. Better binocular functions were achieved by the younger children in the first group.
CONCLUSION
The objective deviation angle was comparable in both study groups prior to surgery as well as six months after the surgery. The first group of younger patients attained a higher quality of binocular functions within the six-month follow-up period compared to children operated on after the age of eight. This claim was statistically verified.
Topics: Humans; Child; Exotropia; Retrospective Studies; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Male; Female; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; COVID-19; Vision, Binocular
PubMed: 38925902
DOI: 10.31348/2024/19 -
Ceska a Slovenska Oftalmologie :... 2024The authors present a case of a thirty-eight-year-old patient with Alport syndrome. The patient had several ocular symptoms of the disease and has been treated for...
The authors present a case of a thirty-eight-year-old patient with Alport syndrome. The patient had several ocular symptoms of the disease and has been treated for systemic problems in connection with Alport syndrome since he was fifteen years old. At that age the patient also underwent a kidney transplant in order to deal with renal insufficiency. To date, he still uses immunosuppressants and antihypertensives. Furthermore, the patient suffers from perceptive deafness. The patient visited our clinic in 2021 with a request to solve his high refractive error, in which the diopters were so high that it was not possible to place them in spectacles. The patient's best corrected visual acuity was 0.6 with -8.0sph/-4.0cyl/ax15 in the right eye and 0.7partim with -8.0sph/-4.0cyl/ax155 in the left eye. The autorefractometer values were -6.25sph/-6.75cyl/ax17 in the right eye and -6.75sph/-6.5cyl/ax155 in the left eye. During the eye examination we found a number of ocular manifestations that are typical of Alport syndrome. On the cornea there were opacities as a residue of corneal erosions, and at one of the following check-ups we also found a newly developed corneal erosion. Subsequently, we found an anterior lenticonus and incipient cataract. Upon performing OCT, a typical temporal macular atrophy was evident. Fundus examination in artificial mydriasis showed just a minimal manifestation of fleck retinopathy. Due to the clinical manifestation we decided to perform cataract surgery and implant a monofocal toric intraocular lens in both eyes. There were no complications during the operations, however the surgeon registered a non-standard structure of the lens capsule. The capsule was more fragile, and performing capsulorhexis was much more complicated. A week after the surgery, higher cylinder diopters were still present. A decrease of the higher diopters was noticeable one month after surgery. The time interval between the first operation and the second operation was one month. The patient was highly satisfied with result, and uncorrected visual acuity improved by over four lines. After surgery the patient needed low diopters for near as well as far distance. In the case of this patient, the ocular manifestations were detected and treated in adulthood. Nevertheless, early detection of ocular symptoms of Alport syndrome in young patients before renal failure could lead to timely start of the treatment and delay a possible renal transplant. In case of any suspicion of Alport syndrome it is advised to send the patient to a pediatrician, and at an older age to an internal medicine specialist, for further examination.
Topics: Humans; Nephritis, Hereditary; Male; Adult; Refractive Surgical Procedures; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 38925900
DOI: 10.31348/2024/28 -
Ceska a Slovenska Oftalmologie :... 2024The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of Ozurdex® (DEX) implant in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) in real-world clinical practice, and to...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of Ozurdex® (DEX) implant in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) in real-world clinical practice, and to determine the correlation between known OCT biomarkers and the effect of treatment.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This retrospective study included 42 eyes of 33 patients (16 women, 17 men) treated with DEX at the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of Palacký University and University Hospital Olomouc for DME indication between 2020 and 2023. Follow-up examinations were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months after the first DEX application. The main assessed parameters were: best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), central retinal thickness (CRT), OCT biomarkers. The results were subsequently statistically evaluated.
RESULTS
At the first follow-up after DEX application, there was an average decrease in CRT of 186 ±146µm and a gain of 3 ±7 letters. Positive morphological and functional responses were observed in 39 eyes (92.9%) and 23 eyes (54.8%) respectively. The disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL) biomarker was initially present in 41 eyes (97.6%), with reduction or disappearance observed in 13 eyes (31%) post-application. Eyes with ellipsoid zone disruption (EZ disruption) had an average initial BCVA of 49.6 letters, compared to 57.8 letters in the group without this biomarker. The mean gain in BCVA was +8.7 letters in treatment-naive eyes and +2.1 letters in previously treated eyes. Chronic DME was less frequent in treatment-naive (n = 1, 14.3%) compared to previously treated eyes (n = 28, 84.8%). All these results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). An increase in IOP post-DEX application occurred in 9 patients (21.4%).
CONCLUSION
Our results confirm DEX as a safe and effective treatment option for DME. Treatment-naive patients achieved better functional outcomes. We confirmed ellipsoid zone disruption (EZ disruption) as a negative biomarker. Additionally, we demonstrated the capacity of DEX to reduce disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL).
Topics: Humans; Macular Edema; Male; Female; Diabetic Retinopathy; Dexamethasone; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Aged; Intravitreal Injections; Drug Implants; Visual Acuity; Glucocorticoids; Tomography, Optical Coherence
PubMed: 38925895
DOI: 10.31348/2024/29 -
Ceska a Slovenska Oftalmologie :... 2024To compare functional and anatomical outcomes between the inverted flap technique and conventional removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in the surgical...
AIM
To compare functional and anatomical outcomes between the inverted flap technique and conventional removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in the surgical management of idiopathic macular hole (IMH).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated the anatomical and functional results in 67 eyes of 65 patients operated on for IMH. The patients were operated on either using the conventional ILM peeling technique (first group) or with the inverted ILM flap technique (second group). 43 eyes of 41 patients were included in the first group, 24 eyes of 24 patients in the second group. We indicated for surgery only patients with IMH stage 2-4 according to the Gasse classification. Best corrected visual acuity (VA) was always determined before and two months after surgery. Furthermore, a comparison of both techniques was made according to the average letter gain after surgery, and the effect of surgery was evaluated using OCT with regard to whether IMH closure succeeded. For both techniques, 25G PPV with SF6 tamponade was performed.
RESULTS
Hole closure took place in 41 eyes with conventional ILM removal. In one eye, the hole did not close even after reoperation with the same technique. Median ETDRS letter gain was 7.0. VA remained the same in 2 eyes (4.7%), worsened in 7 cases (16.2%), and improved in all other cases (79.0%). In 16 eyes (37.2%), VA improved by 2 or more lines of ETDRS charts. Using the inverted flap technique, the hole was closed in all 24 monitored eyes. Median ETDRS letter gain was 9.5. VA remained the same in 2 eyes (8.3%), worsened in 2 cases (8.3%), and improved in all other cases (83.3%). In 12 eyes (50.0%), VA improved by 2 or more lines of ETDRS charts. There were no serious complications intraoperatively or postoperatively.
CONCLUSION
Our study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of both methods. Although the results were not statistically significant, the inverted flap technique recorded a greater ETDRS letter gain (9.5 vs. 7.0) and proportion of closed holes (100% vs. 95.3%) compared to the conventional ILM peeling technique in our set of eyes.
Topics: Humans; Surgical Flaps; Retrospective Studies; Retinal Perforations; Visual Acuity; Vitrectomy; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Aged
PubMed: 38925893
DOI: 10.31348/2024/31 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Jun 2024Early detection of cognitive impairment or dementia is essential to reduce the incidence of severe neurodegenerative diseases. However, currently available diagnostic...
BACKGROUND
Early detection of cognitive impairment or dementia is essential to reduce the incidence of severe neurodegenerative diseases. However, currently available diagnostic tools for detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia are time-consuming, expensive, or not widely accessible. Hence, exploring more effective methods to assist clinicians in detecting MCI is necessary.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we aimed to explore the feasibility and efficiency of assessing MCI through movement kinetics under tablet-based "drawing and dragging" tasks.
METHODS
We iteratively designed "drawing and dragging" tasks by conducting symposiums, programming, and interviews with stakeholders (neurologists, nurses, engineers, patients with MCI, healthy older adults, and caregivers). Subsequently, stroke patterns and movement kinetics were evaluated in healthy control and MCI groups by comparing 5 categories of features related to hand motor function (ie, time, stroke, frequency, score, and sequence). Finally, user experience with the overall cognitive screening system was investigated using structured questionnaires and unstructured interviews, and their suggestions were recorded.
RESULTS
The "drawing and dragging" tasks can detect MCI effectively, with an average accuracy of 85% (SD 2%). Using statistical comparison of movement kinetics, we discovered that the time- and score-based features are the most effective among all the features. Specifically, compared with the healthy control group, the MCI group showed a significant increase in the time they took for the hand to switch from one stroke to the next, with longer drawing times, slow dragging, and lower scores. In addition, patients with MCI had poorer decision-making strategies and visual perception of drawing sequence features, as evidenced by adding auxiliary information and losing more local details in the drawing. Feedback from user experience indicates that our system is user-friendly and facilitates screening for deficits in self-perception.
CONCLUSIONS
The tablet-based MCI detection system quantitatively assesses hand motor function in older adults and further elucidates the cognitive and behavioral decline phenomenon in patients with MCI. This innovative approach serves to identify and measure digital biomarkers associated with MCI or Alzheimer dementia, enabling the monitoring of changes in patients' executive function and visual perceptual abilities as the disease advances.
Topics: Humans; Cognitive Dysfunction; Male; Female; Aged; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Hand; Aged, 80 and over; Surveys and Questionnaires; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 38924786
DOI: 10.2196/48777 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Jun 2024Considerable debate exists about the interplay between auditory and motor speech systems. Some argue for common neural mechanisms, whereas others assert that there are...
Considerable debate exists about the interplay between auditory and motor speech systems. Some argue for common neural mechanisms, whereas others assert that there are few shared resources. In four experiments, we tested the hypothesis that priming the speech motor system by repeating syllable pairs aloud improves subsequent syllable discrimination in noise compared with a priming discrimination task involving same-different judgments via button presses. Our results consistently showed that participants who engaged in syllable repetition performed better in syllable discrimination in noise than those who engaged in the priming discrimination task. This gain in accuracy was observed for primed and new syllable pairs, highlighting increased sensitivity to phonological details. The benefits were comparable whether the priming tasks involved auditory or visual presentation. Inserting a 1-h delay between the priming tasks and the syllable-in-noise task, the benefits persisted but were confined to primed syllable pairs. Finally, we demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach in older adults. Our findings substantiate the existence of a speech production-perception relationship. They also have clinical relevance as they raise the possibility of production-based interventions to improve speech perception ability. This would be particularly relevant for older adults who often encounter difficulties in perceiving speech in noise.
PubMed: 38924165
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15179 -
Cognitive Science Jun 2024Experiments on visually grounded, definite reference production often manipulate simple visual scenes in the form of grids filled with objects, for example, to test how...
Experiments on visually grounded, definite reference production often manipulate simple visual scenes in the form of grids filled with objects, for example, to test how speakers are affected by the number of objects that are visible. Regarding the latter, it was found that speech onset times increase along with domain size, at least when speakers refer to nonsalient target objects that do not pop out of the visual domain. This finding suggests that even in the case of many distractors, speakers perform object-by-object scans of the visual scene. The current study investigates whether this systematic processing strategy can be explained by the simplified nature of the scenes that were used, and if different strategies can be identified for photo-realistic visual scenes. In doing so, we conducted a preregistered experiment that manipulated domain size and saturation; replicated the measures of speech onset times; and recorded eye movements to measure speakers' viewing strategies more directly. Using controlled photo-realistic scenes, we find (1) that speech onset times increase linearly as more distractors are present; (2) that larger domains elicit relatively fewer fixation switches back and forth between the target and its distractors, mainly before speech onset; and (3) that speakers fixate the target relatively less often in larger domains, mainly after speech onset. We conclude that careful object-by-object scans remain the dominant strategy in our photo-realistic scenes, to a limited extent combined with low-level saliency mechanisms. A relevant direction for future research would be to employ less controlled photo-realistic stimuli that do allow for interpretation based on context.
Topics: Humans; Speech; Male; Female; Eye Movements; Adult; Young Adult; Visual Perception; Attention; Photic Stimulation
PubMed: 38924126
DOI: 10.1111/cogs.13473