Objectives: To use the evaluation of a specific brain function obtained by optical topography. This system uses a non invasive method to measure brain function, unlike other major systems. Methods: Twelve optical fibers were attached to the subject's head. Hemodynamic changes in the motor cortex were measured during finger tapping before and after alcohol intake for each ALDH2 genotype. Results: Different hemodynamic changes in the motor cortex were observed among the ALDH2 genotypes. Conclusions: Optical topography is a useful tool for evaluating specific brain functions. Further research is needed on the relations between various environmental factors and brain functions by optical topography.
brain function ; seconds ; Landscapes ; Pulmonary evaluation ; Function

An epileptic seizure can be induced by higher brain function or mental processes associated with emotion. The precipitation involves verbal, non-verbal and specific thinking with emotion. Some of these patients have symptomatic and focal epilepsies. Others were idiopathic epilepsies, where the hyperexcitable regions and systems provoked by some specific stimuli may produce epileptic seizures that results in symmetrical, asymmetrical, or even localized clinical manifestations. The understanding of precipitation of seizures by higher brain function may contribute to understanding of epileptogenesis and nosology of epilepsies.
brain function ; Seizures ; Comprehension ; Precipitation ; Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to compare executive functions in patients with Organic Brain Syndrome(OBS), Schizophrenia, Depression and normal control group with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Computer Version (WCST). METHODS: WCST was administered to 82 normal adults, 32 OBS patients, 29 schizophrenic patients, and 22 depressive patients. WCST 16 indices in four groups were compared, using ANOVA and posthoc comparison. WCST performance was examined by factor analysis on the 15 indices of WCST on total subjects and the factor scores were compared. RESULT: WCST 16 indices in mental disorders (OBS, Schizophrenia, Depression) were lower than those of control groups. Three factors were derived from the analysis. These consisted of 'perseveration', 'nonperseverative error' and 'inefficient sorting'. Comparing factor scores, differences in 'perseverative error' factor and 'inefficient sorting' factor were found. CONCLUSION: The impairment of higher cognitive functions, especially executive function impairment in OBS and schizophrenia, was qualitatively different from those of depression and normal control groups. WCST can differentiate specific pattern of executive function impairment in mental disorders.
Adult ; Brain ; Depression ; Executive Function* ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Schizophrenia ; Wisconsin*

Higher cognitive functions refer to the highest level of human intellectual functioning, including formation, reasoning, and executive functions. The executive functions can be conceptualized as having four components ; volition, planning, purposive action, and effective performance. Because higher cognitive functions represent the most advanced stages of intellectual development, they are often highly susceptible to the effects of brain injuries and mental disorders. The ability to perform effectively within the environment is determined in large part by an individual's adequacy in performing such higher-order function. Especially executive functions are necessary for appropriate, socially responsible, and effectively sell-serving adult conduct. Therefore, an assessment of the psychiatric patient's performance in these areas will provide useful diagnostic information, as well as information concerning social and vocational prognosis.
Adult ; Brain Injuries ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Prognosis ; Volition

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of subjective depressive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). METHODS: 36 patients with mTBI without structural abnormality in the brain imaging study were recruited. Participants were subdivided into two groups by a cutoff score of 70T in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Cognitive functions including intelligence, memory, and executive function were significantly lower in the <70T group compared to the > or =70T group. In addition, BDI scores were negatively correlated with performances in most of the neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: Patients group who scored 70T or more in the BDI showed significantly lower scores in most items of the neuropsychological tests. CONCLUSION: High subjective depression is associated with low neuropsychological performance in mTBI.
Brain Injuries ; Depression ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Neuroimaging

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the selective deficits of executive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury that in normal range of general intelligence level and aimed to analysis of the correlation between K-WAIS result and executive function. METHODS: 59 subjects were included in this study, who were diagnosed as mild traumatic brain injury(MTBI) and they have visited in neuropsychiatric department of Wonkwang University Hospital during from March, 2005 to September, 2010. For measurement of general intelligence quotient, the Korean-Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS) was administered and for measurement of executive intelligence quotient(EIQ), Executive Intelligence Test(EXIT) was administered. RESULTS: Of patients, 50.8% included at abnormal EIQ group. The patients of abnormal EIQ showed poorer full scale IQ(FIQ), performance IQ(PIQ) and in subscale that picture arrangement, digit symbol, digit span, block design, object assembly and comprehension were significantly different. In terms of relationships between K-WAIS and EIQ, FIQ and PIQ have positive correlation with EIQ. And in subscale, picture arrangement, digit symbol, digit span, block design, object assembly and comprehension show positive correlation with EIQ. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that MTBI patients with have normal range of general intelligence level may have deficit of executive function is common. The decline of FIQ, PIQ and some subscales of K-WAIS may suggest executive dysfunction in MTBI patients.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Comprehension ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Reference Values ; Wechsler Scales

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of plasma brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) concentraion in Kawasaki disease(KD) and to evaluate the relationship of BNP and Tissue doppler imaging(TDI) in ventricular function. METHODS: Plasma BNP concentration was obtained in the acute phases of KD(n=49) and non-KD(n=36). TDI and conventional echocardiography were performed in 49 patients in acute phase of KD. E' velocity, A' velocity at the lateral mitral annulus, interventricular septum, lateral tricuspid annulus were measured. RESULTS: The mean plasma BNP concentration in patients with KD in the acute phase was significantly higher than non-KD(61.1+/-100.9 pg/mL vs 13.2+/-9.5 pg/mL, P<0.05). There was significant negative correlation with BNP and E' velocity, E/E' ratio at lateral mitral annulus in the aucte phase of KD. CONCLUSION: The level of plasma BNP significantly increased in aucte phase of KD. But, there was no definite level of plasma BNP to diagnosis of KD. Diatolic ventricular function was decreased in acute phase of KD which BNP is elevated by TDI.
Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain* ; Plasma* ; Ventricular Function

The effect of the developed symmetric upper extremity motion trainer on the cortical activation pattern was investigated in three chronic hemiparetic patients using both fMRI and Fugl-Meyer test. The training program was performed at 1 hr/day, 5 days/week during 6 weeks. Fugl-Meyer tests were performed every two weeks during the training. fMRI was performed at 3T scanner with wrist flexion-extension in two different tasks before and after the training program: the only unaffected hand movement (Task 1) and passive movements of affected hand by the active movement of unaffected hand (Task 2). fMRI studies in Task 1 showed that cortical activations decreased in ipsilateral SMC but increased in contralateral SMC. Task 2 showed cortical reorganizations in bilateral SMC, PMA and SMA. Therefore, it seems that the cortical reorganization in chronic hemiparetic patients can be induced by the training with the developed symmetric upper extremity motion trainer.
Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Education ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Recovery of Function* ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety and cognitive function in the patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury(MTBI). METHODS: Thirty seven patients with MTBI were selected from those patients who had visited the Department of Neuropsychiatry of Wonkwang University Hospital from 2003 to 2007. To assess and quantify the somatic symptoms, depression and anxiety, Personality Assessment Inventory(PAI) was used. Assessment of cognitive function was carried out by using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS), Rey-Kim Memory Test, and Kims Executive Function Test. The effects of somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety on the cognitive function were evaluated by Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: Somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety, all showed inverse correlation to cognitive function. Specifically, 1) an increase in somatic symptoms was associated with a decrease in attention, verbal short term memory, verbal recall and recognition, and visual memory. 2) An increase in anxiety was associated with a decrease in verbal recall and recognition. 3) An increase in depression was associated with a decrease in cognitive function that requires high attention and verbal memory. CONCLUSION: The patients with MTBI displayed diverse symptoms ranging from cognitive impairment to somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Somatic and emotional symptoms were correlated with cognitive function(especially executive function). Importantly, this study raises the possibility of treating the cognitive impairment associated with MTBI by treating somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Depression ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Neuropsychiatry ; Personality Assessment

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test stage model in Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI) patients. According to the stage model, attention deficits which is basic stage in information processing lead to memory disturbance and subsequently affect higher-order cognitive function such as memory, decision-making, abstract thinking, and judgement related to executive function. Therefore, it was hypothesized that attention affect recall(retrieval efficacy) related to executive function mostly relative to other cognitive function, in TBI patients with low executive function. METHODS: Participants were referred to a TBI clinic and then was rated on K-WAIS and Executive Intelligence Test(EXIT). Participants were divided into two groups according to Executive IQ(EIQ) score, which of high function group(N=67) was more than 80(above low average) and of low function group(N=52) was under 80 (under borderline). To test the stage model, using hierarchical regression analysis, recall(retrieval efficacy) was regressed on 3 subscales(attention, verbal, visuospatial scale) after controlling for IQ according to each group. Furthermore, the mediation effect of attention between retrieval efficacy and verbal, visuospatial score was analyzed. RESULTS: In the low function group, only attention area predicted significantly recall(retrieval efficacy), indicating that lower attention were related to lower EIQ after controlling for IQ. In the high function group, no area predicted significantly retrieval efficacy. In the low function group, verbal and visuospatial scale did not predicted significantly retrieval efficacy, indicating that there was no evidences supporting the mediation model. CONCLUSION: Only attention affect retrieval efficacy in TBI patients with low executive function. But, the mediation effect of attention between retrieval efficacy and verbal and visuospatial scale was not tested in the low function group. These results implied that stage model was tested partially. In treating cognitive deficit in TBI patients, it is necessary to develop cognitive rehabilitation program based on stage model. Furthermore, it is necessary to necessary to test mediation model in the future study.
Automatic Data Processing ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Executive Function* ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Negotiating ; Rehabilitation ; Thinking