Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Coordinates Contextual Mental Imagery for Single-Beat Manipulation during Rhythmic Sensorimotor Synchronization.

Flexible pulse-by-pulse regulation of sensorimotor synchronization is crucial for voluntarily showing rhythmic behaviors synchronously with external cueing; however, the underpinning neurophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) plays a key role by coordinating both proactive and reactive motor outcomes based on contextual mental imagery. To test our hypothesis, a missing-oddball task in finger-tapping paradigms was conducted in 33 healthy young volunteers.

Action-rule-based cognitive control enables efficient execution of stimulus-response conflict tasks: a model validation of Simon task performance.

Introduction: The human brain can flexibly modify behavioral rules to optimize task performance (speed and accuracy) by minimizing cognitive load. To show this flexibility, we propose an action-rule-based cognitive control (ARC) model. The ARC model was based on a stochastic framework consistent with an active inference of the free energy principle, combined with schematic brain network systems regulated by the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), to develop several hypotheses for demonstrating the validity of the ARC model.

Fear-related visual stimuli do not promote internal focus of attention in older adults.

Background: The influence of internal focus (IF) on postural balance needs to be determined when assessing fall risk in older adults. Moreover, the mechanism through which IF is triggered should be elucidated.

Research Question: Does fear unrelated to threats to postural balance modulate IF during postural control?

Methods: The participants were 16 community-dwelling older adults.

Effect of Eye-Object Distance on Body Sway during Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation.

Gazing at objects at a near distance (small eye-object distance) can reduce body sway. However, whether body sway is regulated by movement in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction remains unclear. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) can induce body tilting in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction.

Comparison of physical activities of female football players in junior high school and high school.

[Purpose] This study aimed to compare physical activities between junior high school and high school female football players in order to explain the factors that predispose to a higher incidence of sports injuries in high school female football players. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-nine female football players participated. Finger floor distance, the center of pressure during single limb stance with eyes open and closed, the 40-m linear sprint time, hip abduction and extension muscle strength and isokinetic knee flexion and extension peak torque were measured.

The effects of various visual conditions on trunk control during ambulation in chronic post stroke patients.

Downward gazing is commonly observed among patients after a stroke during standing or walking as they struggle to maintain equilibrium. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of fixed gazing and downward gazing on trunk control ability during gait. Sixteen subjects after a stroke (age: 51.

Relationships between problematic behaviors and motor abilities of children with cerebral palsy.

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine whether motor abilities of children with cerebral palsy are related to their problematic behaviors. [Subjects] The subjects were children with mental retardation who were undergoing physical therapy. [Methods] Twenty-one examiners, 13 physical therapists, and 8 occupational therapists treated and examined the subjects by using the Japanese version of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist.

The role of physical therapists in introducing assistive products for the home-bound elderly disabled.

[Purpose] This study explored the roles of physical therapists (PTs) in introducing assistive products, which are essential for living securely and stably at home, and examined how PTs can fulfill these roles more efficiently and effectively. [Subjects and Methods] A questionnaire on introducing assistive products was administered to PTs working at randomly selected hospitals, health-care facilities for the elderly requiring long-term care, home-visit nursing stations, and other such facilities and to PTs providing physical therapy directly to the home-bound elderly disabled. The subjects of the study were 77 PTs who returned valid responses.

Relationships between Gross Motor Abilities and Problematic Behaviors of Handicapped Children in Different Age Groups.

[Purpose] In this study, we examined problematic behaviors of independent-walking and non-independent-walking handicapped children in the infant, school child and adolescent development phases, using the Japanese version of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC-J) to determine if such behaviors relate to their gross motor abilities. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 86 handicapped children who were receiving physical therapy. The subjects were classified into three groups by age.

Comparison of problematic behavior according to the ryouiku techou standard.

[Purpose] We compared problematic behaviors of children according to the severity of their mental retardation (MR) of intellect as categorized by the Ryouiku Techou in this study, to investigate the influence of MR of intellect on children's problematic behaviors. [Subjects] The subjects were 86 mentally retarded children undergoing physical therapy at hospitals and other facilities. [Methods] The examiners were 13 physical therapists and 8 occupational therapists who worked at the hospital and knew the children well.

Influence of gaze distance and downward gazing on postural sway in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Gaze distance and head flexion suppress postural sway in healthy subjects. However, the effects of these factors on stroke patients have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of gaze distance and downward gazing on postural sway in stroke patients.

A case of graft infection 10 years after ascending aorta replacement.

A 52-year-old man was admitted with anemia and slight fever, which he had for the last 2 months. He had undergone replacement of the ascending aorta for acute aortic dissection 10 years previously. Echocardiography demonstrated a flailing thin structure in the anterior wall of the ascending aorta corresponding to the proximal portion of the prosthetic graft.

A case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with sepsis and congestive heart failure--first autopsy report on Japan--.

An 84-year-old man was referred to the emergency department with severe dyspnea. Based on his physical findings, electrocardiogram, X-ray and echocardiographic findings, congestive heart failure was suspected and drip infusion of prophylactic heparin against intracardiac thrombosis was commenced together with dopamine, nitroglycerin and furosemide. Diuresis occurred and the pulmonary congestion ameliorated remarkably.

A case of severe respiratory depression due to cibenzoline overdosage induced by a transient renal dysfunction.

A 69-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of severe general fatigue and progressive systemic muscle weakness. He had taken 300 mg/day of cibenzoline for his sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) for years. At the end of June 2001 he began to feel general fatigue, which slowly progressed to systemic muscle weakness and walking disturbance.