ERP evidence of attentional somatosensory processing and stimulus-response coupling under different hand and arm postures.

We investigated (1) the effects of divided and focused attention on event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited by somatosensory stimulation under different response modes, (2) the effects of hand position (closely-placed vs. separated hands) and arm posture (crossed vs. uncrossed forearms) on the attentional modulation of somatosensory ERPs, and (3) changes in the coupling of stimulus- and response-related processes by somatosensory attention using a single-trial analysis of P300 latency and reaction times.

Dehydrogenative Synthesis of 2,2'-Bipyridyls through Regioselective Pyridine Dimerization.

2,2'-Bipyridyls have been utilized as indispensable ligands in metal-catalyzed reactions. The most streamlined approach for the synthesis of 2,2'-bipyridyls is the dehydrogenative dimerization of unfunctionalized pyridine. Herein, we report on the palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative synthesis of 2,2'-bipyridyl derivatives.

Synthesis of partially and fully fused polyaromatics by annulative chlorophenylene dimerization.

Since the discovery by Ullmann and Bielecki in 1901, reductive dimerization (or homocoupling) of aryl halides has been extensively exploited for the generation of a range of biaryl-based functional molecules. In contrast to the single-point connection in these products, edge-sharing fused aromatic systems have not generally been accessible from simple aryl halides via annulation cascades. Here we report a single-step synthesis of fused aromatics with a triphenylene core by the palladium-catalyzed annulative dimerization of structurally and functionally diverse chlorophenylenes through double carbon-hydrogen bond activation.

C-H Functionalization of Azines.

Azines, which are six-membered aromatic compounds containing one or more nitrogen atoms, serve as ubiquitous structural cores of aromatic species with important applications in biological and materials sciences. Among a variety of synthetic approaches toward azines, C-H functionalization represents the most rapid and atom-economical transformation, and it is advantageous for the late-stage functionalization of azine-containing functional molecules. Since azines have several C-H bonds with different reactivities, the development of new reactions that allow for the functionalization of azines in a regioselective fashion has comprised a central issue.

Modulation of somatosensory processing in dual tasks: an event-related brain potential study.

The amplitudes of the event-related brain potentials (ERPs) have been associated with the amount of attentional resources. The present study investigated whether force production type (increasing or decreasing force) in a visuomotor force tracking task modulates the ERPs elicited in a somatosensory oddball task performed simultaneously, whether stimulus-response coupling assessed by a single-trial analysis of P300 latency is modulated by the concurrent performance of the tasks, and whether dynamic visuomotor coordination rather static coordination is sensitive to the ERP modulation. In the dual-task condition, the subjects tracked a target line moving on the display with another line representing the force generated by the grip of their left hand, while executing the somatosensory oddball task with the right hand.

Dual-task repetition alters event-related brain potentials and task performance.

Objective: We examined the modulation of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and the accuracy of sensori-motor coordination on short-term repetition of the concurrent performance of a somatosensory discrimination (oddball) task and a visuo-motor tracking task.

Methods: The subjects concurrently performed visuomotor tracking and somatosensory oddball tasks. In the dual-task condition, the subjects performed the visuomotor tracking and somatosensory oddball tasks concurrently for about an hour.

Synthesis of super hard Ni-B/diamond composite coatings by wet processes.

Ni-B/diamond composite coatings were prepared using electrophoretic deposition and electroless deposition methods, leading to extremely high hardness which is comparable to hard coatings prepared by dry processes.

Long-term motor practice induces practice-dependent modulation of movement-related cortical potentials (MRCP) preceding a self-paced non-dominant handgrip movement in kendo players.

Effects of long-term motor practice on movement-related brain activities were investigated by measuring from the scalp, movement-related cortical potentials (MRCP) associated with self-paced right (dominant) and left (non-dominant) brisk handgrip movements with a 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in 8 elite kendo players (kendo group) and 8 healthy young adults (control group). The kendo players had engaged in regular practice since childhood. Three components of MRCP were obtained from all subjects.

Effects of habitual moderate exercise on response processing and cognitive processing in older adults.

We examined the effects of habitual moderate exercise on central information processing in older individuals using the reaction time (RT) and P3 component of event-related brain potentials (ERP). The present study was designed to assess cognitive function by comparing groups of 20 older individuals (69.20 +/- 1.

Changes in arousal level by differential exercise intensity.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of exercise intensity on arousal level.

Methods: Twelve subjects (22-33 years) performed a S1-S2 reaction time task consisting of warning stimulus (S1) and imperative stimulus (S2) in a control condition, and again after low, medium, and high intensity pedaling exercises. During this task, contingent negative variation (CNV) and spontaneous electroencephalogram before S1 were measured as indicators for arousal level.

Resource allocation and somatosensory P300 amplitude during dual task: effects of tracking speed and predictability of tracking direction.

Objective: The amount of attentional resources allocated to a task is determined by the intrinsic demands, also denoted as task load or difficulty of the task. Effects of resource allocation on the somatosensory N140 and P300 were investigated in an inter-modal situation using a dual-task methodology.

Methods: Under a dual-task condition, subjects concurrently performed a visuomotor tracking task and a somatosensory oddball task, while they performed just the oddball task under an oddball-only condition.

Differential influences of exercise intensity on information processing in the central nervous system.

The influence of exercise intensity on information processing in the central nervous system was investigated using P300 and no-go P300 event-related potentials. Twelve subjects (22-33 years) performed a go/no-go reaction time task in a control condition, and again after high-, medium-, and low-intensity pedaling exercises. Compared to the control condition, P300 amplitude decreased after high-intensity pedaling exercise and increased after medium-intensity pedaling exercise.

Somatosensory event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with stopping ongoing movement.

The somatosensory event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with stopping ongoing movement and increasing muscular tension were examined. 14 healthy right-handed volunteers, 10 men and 4 women (21-29 years old, M age +/- SD, 24.1 +/- 2.