A full-head model to investigate intra and extracochlear electric fields in cochlear implant stimulation.

Despite the widespread use and technical improvement of cochlear implant (CI) devices over past decades, further research into the bioelectric bases of CI stimulation is still needed. Various stimulation modes implemented by different CI manufacturers coexist, but their true clinical benefit remains unclear, probably due to the high inter-subject variability reported, which makes the prediction of CI outcomes and the optimal fitting of stimulation parameters challenging. A highly detailed full-head model that includes a cochlea and an electrode array is developed in this study to emulate intracochlear voltages and extracochlear current pathways through the head in CI stimulation.

The Value of Subjective Olfactometry as a Predictive Biomarker of Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Background: Olfactory disorders (ODs) are reported to be an early non-motor sign before the onset of deterioration in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This systematic revision aims to review the current literature and the value of subjective olfactometry (SO) in the early diagnosis of cognitive decline and NDs.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA framework.

How does the electric field induced by tDCS influence motor-related connectivity? Model-guided perspectives.

Over the last decade, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been applied not only to modulate local cortical activation, but also to address communication between functionally-related brain areas. Stimulation protocols based on simple two-electrode placements are being replaced by multi-electrode montages to target intra- and inter-hemispheric neural networks using multichannel/high definition paradigms..

Impact of SNR, peripheral auditory sensitivity, and central cognitive profile on the psychometric relation between pupillary response and speech performance in CI users.

Despite substantial technical advances and wider clinical use, cochlear implant (CI) users continue to report high and elevated listening effort especially under challenging noisy conditions. Among all the objective measures to quantify listening effort, pupillometry is one of the most widely used and robust physiological measures. Previous studies with normally hearing (NH) and hearing-impaired (HI) listeners have shown that the relation between speech performance in noise and listening effort (as measured by peak pupil dilation) is not linear and exhibits an inverted-U shape.

Analysis of Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Long-Lasting Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Although smell and taste disorders are highly prevalent symptoms of COVID-19 infection, the predictive factors leading to long-lasting chemosensory dysfunction are still poorly understood.

Methods: 102 out of 421 (24.2%) mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients completed a second questionnaire about the evolution of their symptoms one year after the infection using visual analog scales (VAS).

Usefulness of bilateral mucoplasty plus reboot surgery in severe type-2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Background: Although extended endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) constitutes an alternative approach in patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), the surgical techniques proposed so far do not allow for an optimal control of the disease. This study introduces bilateral mucoplasty as a complementary technique to extended ESS such as reboot surgery, analyzing its benefits in healing and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with severe Type-2 CRSwNP were selected for a prospective cohort study in two surgery groups: reboot surgery plus bilateral mucoplasty versus reboot surgery only.

Electrically evoked auditory cortical responses elicited from individually fitted stimulation parameters in cochlear implant users.

Objective: To investigate electrically evoked auditory cortical responses (eACR) elicited from the stimulation of intracochlear electrodes based on individually fitted stimulation parameters in cochlear implant (CI) users.

Design: An eACR setup based on individual fitting parameters is proposed. A 50-ms alternating biphasic pulse train was used to stimulate apical, medial, and basal electrodes and to evoke auditory cortical potentials (N1-P2 complex).

A comprehensive analysis of the impact of head model extent on electric field predictions in transcranial current stimulation.

MRI-based head models are used to predict the electric field (E-field) in the brain in transcranial current stimulation. The standard field of view of clinical MRI often only covers the head down to the skull base, which has usually lead to models truncated at the level of the nose. Although recent pipelines can artificially extend the head model to the neck, the need for implementing full head models preserving skull holes such as the foramen magnum remains controversial.

Loss of Smell and Taste Can Accurately Predict COVID-19 Infection: A Machine-Learning Approach.

The COVID-19 outbreak has spread extensively around the world. Loss of smell and taste have emerged as main predictors for COVID-19. The objective of our study is to develop a comprehensive machine learning (ML) modelling framework to assess the predictive value of smell and taste disorders, along with other symptoms, in COVID-19 infection.

A Computational Analysis of the Electric Field Components in Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.

Realistic electric field (E-field) models of the brain have cast doubt on classical targeting approaches used in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). In apparent contradiction with physiological results, modeling studies predict similar or even higher E-field values in regions between the electrodes distant to the presumed targeted areas. As an explanation, not only the magnitude, but the direction of the E-field over specific cortical structures, have been shown to be determinant for the stimulation outcome.