Showing papers by "Yu-Cheng Pei published in 2014"

The neural basis of tactile motion perception

Abstract: The manipulation of objects commonly involves motion between object and skin. In this review, we discuss the neural basis of tactile motion perception and its similarities with its visual counterpart. First, much like in vision, the perception of tactile motion relies on the processing of spatiotemporal patterns of activation across populations of sensory receptors. Second, many neurons in primary somatosensory cortex are highly sensitive to motion direction, and the response properties of these neurons draw strong analogies to those of direction-selective neurons in visual cortex. Third, tactile speed may be encoded in the strength of the response of cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents and of a subpopulation of speed-sensitive neurons in cortex. However, both afferent and cortical responses are strongly dependent on texture as well, so it is unclear how texture and speed signals are disambiguated. Fourth, motion signals from multiple fingers must often be integrated during the exploration of objects, but the way these signals are combined is complex and remains to be elucidated. Finally, visual and tactile motion perception interact powerfully, an integration process that is likely mediated by visual association cortex.

Sedative Music Facilitates Deep Sleep in Young Adults

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the effect of sedative music on the different stages of the sleep cycle in young adults with various sleep latencies by using polysomnography (PSG). Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover study. Setting: Sleep center of a teaching hospital. Participants: Young adults with different sleep latencies. Poor sleepers (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥5) were excluded. Interventions: Each participant stayed one night in the sleep center for adaptation and on each of the following two nights was assigned to (1) music and (2) control (without music) conditions in random order. In the music condition, sedative music composed by certified music therapists was played on a compact disc player for the first hour the participant was in bed. Outcome measures: Sleep measures recorded with PSG, including sleep latency and durations of sleep stages. Results: Twenty-four young adults (mean±standard deviation, 24.5±2.6 years) participated. They were classified into the...

Cricothyroid muscle dysfunction impairs vocal fold vibration in unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Abstract: Objectives/Hypothesis The relevance of the cricothyroid (CT) muscle in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) remains controversial. To clarify the functional significance of the CT muscle in patients with UVFP, the confounding effect of the severity of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury should be taken into consideration. In the present study, quantitative laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) was used to measure the severity of paralysis of the thyroarytenoid-lateral cricoarytenoid (TA-LCA) muscle complex to allow the functional contribution of the CT muscle to be determined. Study Design Cross-sectional study performed in an otolaryngology outpatient clinic. Methods Thirty-one patients with a main diagnosis of UVFP were recruited. The main outcome measures included LEMG examination, quantitative LEMG analysis of the TA-LCA muscle complex, UVFP-related quality-of-life questionnaire (Voice Outcome Survey [VOS]), voice acoustics analysis, videolaryngostroboscopy, and general quality-of-life questionnaire (Short Form-36 Health Survey [SF-36]) assessments. Results The vocal cord position did not differ between patients with and without CT muscle impairment. Patients with both TA-LCA and CT paralysis showed poorer vocal fold vibration (P = .048) and higher fundamental frequency (P = .02), and the VOS and SF-36 were both poorer compared with patients with only TA-LCA paralysis. Conclusions Although the vocal cord position was not influenced by CT muscle function, coexisting CT muscle paralysis may damage the voice by impairing vocal fold vibration in UVFP patients. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 124:201–206, 2014

Glottal gap as an early predictor for permanent laryngoplasty in unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Abstract: Objectives/Hypothesis To assess the possible predictive factors for permanent laryngoplasty (PL) in patients with acute unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), and to assess the effects of early vocal cord hyaluronic acid injection. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods Patients diagnosed with UVFP within the previous 6 months were enrolled. Initial and follow-up videolaryngostroboscopy, voice laboratory analysis, laryngeal electromyography, and Voice Outcome Survey were performed. Results Fifty newly diagnosed UVFP patients were recruited. Eight were excluded after 12 months of follow-up and data for 42 patients were analyzed. In patients treated conservatively, the glottal gap was measured on presentation. Normalized glottal gap area (NGGA) was the only predictor of PL (P = 0.036) according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. A cutoff value of 7.36 resulted in sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 80.0% for predicting future PL. The PL rate was significantly higher in patients with an initial NGGA > 7.36 compared with ≤ 7.36. (6/9 vs. 1/13; χ2 = 6.71; P = 0.010). Among patients with an initial NGGA > 7.36, those who accepted early hyaluronic acid injection had a significantly lower rate of PL (1/11 vs. 6/9; χ2 = 7.21; P = 0.007) and better social and emotional role functioning at follow-up. Conclusions The glottal gap on presentation is a robust early predictor of PL. Early, office-based hyaluronic acid intracordal injection can reduce the need for PL in patients with a large NGGA. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 124:2125–2130, 2014

Tactile motion stimulator device

Abstract: A tactile motion stimulator device comprises a stimulator unit, a rotational speed controlling motor, an L-shaped rotating arm, a finger holding unit, a bracket, an orientating controlling motor, a spiral shaft and a height controlling motor. An end of an axis of the rotational speed controlling motor is located through the center of the stimulator unit. The rotational speed controlling motor controls the rotational speed and the rotational direction of the stimulator unit. An end of the L-shaped rotating arm is putted the rotational speed controlling motor. The finger holding unit is located around the stimulator unit and is putted a finger of a user. The bracket supports the finger holding unit and pierces through another end of the L-shaped rotating arm and makes the L-shaped rotating arm pivot on the bracket. The height controlling motor is connected to the spiral shaft and controls the height of the stimulator unit.