Saccadic eye movements as a marker of mental disorders.

It is accepted that the formulation of the motor program in the brain is not only the perceptual and motor function but also the cognitive one. Therefore it is not surprising that the execution of saccadic eye movements can by substantially affected be the on-going mental activity of a given person. Not only the distribution of attention, but also the focusing the attention may influence the main gain of saccades, their accuracy.

Age-Related Cognitive Impairment as a Sign of Geriatric Neurocardiovascular Interactions: May Polyphenols Play a Protective Role?

It is known that endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases implicated also in cognitive decline. Experimental studies pointed to the fact that the modification of NO levels via NOS activity may affect the blood pressure level as well as several higher nervous functions-for example, learning and memory. There are emerging evidences from in vitro and animal studies suggesting that polyphenols may potentially have a protective effect on the development of neurodegenerative diseases and may improve cognitive function as well as positively affecting the blood pressure regulatory mechanisms.

Electrophysiological evidence of the effect of natural polyphenols upon the human higher brain functions.

Objective: Several natural polyphenols exert effects upon the cardiovascular as well as nervous system. In vitro and animal studies suggest that polyphenols may potentially affect the human cognitive function. The aim was to study the effect of Provinols™, the polyphenolic compounds isolated from red wine, upon the human higher brain functions.

Central and peripheral correlates of eye movements in selected mood disorders.

Objectives: Abnormalities and disturbances of saccadic and pursuit eye movements were studied in several mental disorders and diseases. Certain irregularities in the particular oculomotor behaviour have been proposed they may correspond with specific type of mental disorder. It was our aim to contribute to this question by analyzing the bioelectrical correlates of the visual-oculomotor integration in patients suffering from panic disorder and from depressive symptoms.

The physiological actions of isoflavone phytoestrogens.

Isoflavones are a subgroup of phytoestrogens, natural plant substances with structure similar to 17-beta-estradiol and capable of binding to estrogen receptors (ERs). Isoflavones possess higher affinity to ERbeta than to ERalpha and may have a potency to activate both genomic and non-genomic estrogen signaling pathways. In addition, isoflavones interact with the metabolism of steroid hormones.