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A Fiorentini

Publications and source records attributed to A Fiorentini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Electro-physiological investigation of edge-selective mechanisms of human vision.

This study investigates the spatial and temporal characteristics of human visual mechanisms that respond selectively to the polarity of edges. The technique was to record steady-state visual evoked-potentials (VEPs) while visually stimulating with a sawtooth waveform (a series of edges of the same polarity) periodically reversing in contrast (and hence edge-polarity) at a suitable frequency. To ensure that phase-locked VEPs resulted from polarity reversal (rather than local luminance modulation) the stimuli were randomly jittered to a new position between each contrast reversal. The jittered stimulus elicited strong and reliable second-harmonic modulation, usually about one-fifth the amplitude of standard VEPs under similar conditions. The amplitude and extrapolated thresholds of polarity-specific VEPs (relative to standard VEPs) did not vary with eccentricity (up to 10 degrees) or with stimulus orientation. The dependency on spatial frequency was similar to that of standard VEPs, but the polarity-specific VEPs tended to peak at lower temporal frequencies. Perhaps the clearest difference in the two types of VEPs was in the estimated response latency, about 140 msec for the polarity VEPs, compared with 90 msec for standard VEPs.

Contrast Sensitivity↗
PubMed1992

Development of temporal properties of pattern electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials in infants.

The postnatal development of the temporal properties of the responses to pattern contrast reversal has been studied by recording simultaneously the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and visual evoked potentials (PVEP) in infants 3-22 weeks old. The stimulus grating (0.5 c/deg) was either reversed in contrast sinusoidally at frequencies 4-10.5 Hz to study the temporal frequency function of steady-state responses, or square-wave reversed at 1 Hz to evaluate the peak latency of transient responses. Developmental changes of the shape and bandwidth of the temporal frequency function of both PERG and PVEP occur post-natally and are particularly pronounced between 13 and 20 weeks from birth, possibly indicating deferred maturation of classes of retinal and central neurons with higher temporal resolution. The peak latency of the PERG decreases during the age period tested to approach adult values towards the end of the fifth month. The rate of decrease of the peak latency of the PERG differs from that of the PVEP, indicating that post-retinal factors contribute largely to the maturation of the latter, especially in the earliest life period.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The effects of aging on the pattern electroretinogram and visual evoked potential in humans.

We have recorded patterns electroretinograms (PERGs) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) from 14 elderly subjects (mean age 72 yr) and 12 young subjects (mean age 21 yr) in response to stimulation by high contrast sinusoidal grating patterns of variable spatial frequency (at 9 Hz) and temporal frequency (at 1.7 c/deg). The major effect of aging on the PERG was an aspecific reduction in amplitude (of about 40%) at most spatial and temporal frequencies, together with a small but systematic phase lag. Control measurements suggest that senile miosis may be responsible for the phase lag, but not for the reduction in amplitude. The effects of aging on the VEP were more dramatic and depended on the spatial and temporal properties of the stimulus. VEP amplitudes (at 1.7 c/deg) were significantly lower for the aged at low temporal frequencies (below about 6 Hz), but were similar at high temporal frequencies. At 9 Hz, there was no effect of spatial frequency on VEP amplitude. At high temporal frequencies (above 10 Hz), the latencies of VEPs (estimated from the rate at which phase varied with temporal frequency) were similar for old and young (94 and 99 msec respectively). Below 10 Hz, however, the latencies of the old observers was much greater (153 compared with 108 msec). The second-harmonic phase of VEPs of the old but not the young decreased considerably with spatial frequency, by about 1.9 pi radians (52 msec) over the range from 0.5 to 11 c/deg. The selective reduction in amplitude at low temporal frequencies, the longer latencies at low temporal frequencies and the phase lag at high spatial frequencies are consistent with the hypothesis that mechanisms sensitive to high spatial and low temporal frequencies are selectively degraded by aging.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Potential hazards of tracheobronchial suctioning.

Tracheobronchial suctioning is a routine practice frequently carried out in intensive care units (ICUs). It is required when the normal coughing mechanism is inadequate or disrupted; for example, where there is underlying respiratory or neurological disease, or where the cough is deliberately suppressed by sedative, muscle relaxants or anaesthetic agents while a patient is undergoing intermittent positive pressure ventilation. The procedure is carried out via a nasotracheal, orotracheal or tracheostomy tube. During the performance of this intervention, the skilled nurse is aware of the risks to which the patient is exposed and endeavours to prevent or minimise possible complications. In the following account of complications that may occur during or as a result of the procedure these have been classified as immediate, intermediate and later complications, as shown in Table 2. The purpose is to stimulate greater awareness of the hazards involved in this common everyday practice in intensive care units.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed1991

Visual field asymmetries in pattern discrimination: a sign of asymmetry in cortical visual field representation?

A visual field asymmetry is described relative to the discrimination of mirror symmetric bars with ramp-like luminance profiles. Along the vertical meridian the discrimination is better performed for patterns oriented parallel to the meridian than for patterns oriented orthogonally at all eccentricities tested (2-8 deg). Along the horizontal meridian, the preference for radially oriented stimuli is present at 2 deg from the fovea, but vanishes at larger eccentricities. The meridional asymmetry thus revealed psychophysically may reflect asymmetries in the representation of the vertical and horizontal meridians in the human visual cortex.

Discrimination, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Development of contrast sensitivity and acuity of the infant colour system.

We have monitored the development of infant colour vision by measuring chromatic contrast sensitivity and acuity in eight young infants over a period of 6 months. Steady-state visual evoked potentials (VEPS) were recorded in response to both chromatic (red-green) and luminance (red-black or green-black) patterns that were reversed in contrast over time. For most infants, no response could be obtained to chromatic stimuli of any size or contrast before 5 weeks of age, although luminance stimuli of 20% contrast gave reliable responses at that age. When responses to chromatic stimuli first appeared, they could be obtained only with stimuli of very low spatial frequency, 20 times lower than the acuity for luminance stimuli. Both contrast sensitivity and acuity for chromatic stimuli increased steadily, more rapidly than for luminance stimuli. As the spectral selectivities of infant cones are similar to those of adults, the difference in rate of development of luminance and chromatic contrast sensitivity and acuity stimuli probably reflects neural development of the infant colour system.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Monocular deprivation in split-chiasm kittens does not impair the development of visuo-motor behaviour.

Development of visual acuity is known to be impaired by early monocular deprivation. This may be due to lack of visual experience or to abnormal binocular competition. We report here the results of behavioural experiments on monocularly deprived kittens in which the optic chiasm had been split. In these kittens it has been found that visual acuity of the deprived eye is as good as the visual acuity of the non-deprived eye, namely 2-2.5 c/deg.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The visual acuity of the lynx.

Visual evoked potentials were recorded from the occipital scalp of two anaesthetized Lynx (Lynx europea) in response to alternating gratings of various spatial frequencies and contrasts. The visual acuity of the Lynx was found to be around 5-6 c/deg, i.e. very close to the visual acuity of the cat and by far inferior to human acuity.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Acute meningococcaemia: a case study.

A 20-year-old female presented with sudden onset of abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting progressing to fever, tachycardia and mild hypotension. Within 12 hours, a petechial rash appeared on the face and abdomen, spreading to the extremities. Laboratory findings confirmed the diagnosis of acute meningococcaemia. Clinical features of endotoxic shock, vasculitis and skin necrosis rapidly ensued. Aggressive treatment to control the septicaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and unstable cardiovascular state ultimately proved successful. Approximately 6 weeks later, amputation of some of the digits and extensive skin grafting were carried out in the Regional Burns Unit. However, serious psychological side effects gradually began to appear which required urgent psychiatric intervention. For an active young woman the challenge of coping with such a severe illness and coming to terms with the disability and disfigurement resulting from it was almost overwhelming. It was, perhaps, particularly hard because of the threat posed to her ambition to complete her nursing education and become a nurse. Little was found in the nursing literature on acute meningococcaemia. But this illness provides considerable challenges not only to those who suffer from it, but also to those who nurse them. A final brief review of published literature on acute meningococcaemia and the clinical manifestations and outcome of it is provided for those who wish to know more about it.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Differences between fovea and parafovea in visual search processes.

Visual objects that differ from the surroundings for some simple feature, e.g. colour or line orientation, or for some shape parameters ("textons", Julez, 1986) are believed to be detected in parallel from different locations in the visual field without requiring a serial search process. Tachistoscopic presentations of textures were used to compare the time course of search processes in the fovea and parafovea. Detection of targets differing for a simple feature (line orientation or line crossings) from the surrounding elements was found to have a time course typical of parallel processing for coarse textures extending into the parafovea. For fine textures confined into the fovea the time course was suggestive of a serial search process even for these textons. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that parallel processing of lines or crossings is subserved by a coarse network of detectors with relatively large receptive field and low resolution. For the counting of coloured spots in a background of a different colour the parafovea has the same time requirements as the fovea.

Color Perception↗
PubMed1989

Electrophysiological evidence for interhemispheric transmission of visual information in man.

1. Electrophysiological evidence is presented of interactions between two stimuli (sinusoidal gratings of equal spatial frequency but different contrast, phase-reversed sinusoidally at different temporal frequencies) located on opposite side of, and within a few degrees from, the vertical meridian. 2. These interactions are revealed by a depression of the cortical visual evoked potential (VEP) evoked by the grating of lower contrast in the presence of the grating of higher contrast. They are similar to, albeit weaker than, those obtained with superimposed asynchronously modulated gratings. 3. The VEP reduction occurs also if the stimuli are presented dichoptically. 4. It does not occur if the gratings are located one above the other either on the same or on opposite sides of the vertical meridian. 5. The strength of the VEP reduction depends on the relative contrast of the two gratings and vanishes for spatial frequencies beyond 4 cycles/deg and temporal frequencies of the high-contrast grating beyond 10 Hz. 6. The results are in agreement with data on visual callosal connections in animals and confirm previous psychophysical findings (Berardi & Fiorentini, 1987) indicating the particular properties of the interhemispheric cross-talk between symmetric regions of the visual field astride the vertical meridian in man.

Brain↗
PubMed1988

Functional dissociation of the hemispheres in the discrimination of complex gratings near the vertical meridian.

It was previously shown that the discrimination of complex gratings differing in the spatial phase of their harmonic components is performed more accurately when the stimuli are presented in the left than in the right visual hemifield, provided that the stimuli are separated at least 2 deg from the vertical meridian (VM) and/or their spatial frequency exceeds 2 c/deg. Here we report measurements of reaction times (RT) for the discrimination of complex gratings presented laterally at various distances from the VM. The (choice) RTs are found to be longer in the right than in the left hemifield even for stimuli of low spatial frequency at 1 deg from the VM. This rules out the possibility that a naso-temporal overlap in the retino-cortical projection in man is exploited in "bridging the gap" between the two hemispheres in the discrimination of complex gratings.

Corpus Callosum↗
PubMed1987

Electrophysiological correlates of positive and negative afterimages.

We report here measurements of visual evoked potential (VEP) activity after induction of afterimages in human observers. Drifting gratings normally produce no measurable phase synchronized VEP. However, after an afterimage of a high contrast grating of the same orientation and spatial frequency of that of the drifting grating has been flashed on the retina. VEPs in synchrony with the drift frequency are produced. For up to about two minutes after the flash, the VEPs were all clustered in one phase, then declined for a minute or so, to reappear 180 degrees out of phase from the first VEPs. The first group of VEPs coincides with the percept of a positive afterimage, and the second with that of a negative afterimage. Possible explanations for the existence of positive and negative afterimages and the associated VEPs are considered.

Afterimage↗
PubMed1987

Interhemispheric transfer of visual information in humans: spatial characteristics.

1. The problem of the interhemispheric transfer of visual information in humans has been approached psychophysically, making use of a visual discrimination task that shows a clear left field advantage and is subject to the phenomenon of perceptual learning. 2. For this task (discrimination of complex gratings differing only by the relative spatial phase of their harmonic components) there is a left field advantage and a lack of interhemispheric transfer of learning effects at all spatial frequencies tested for stimuli removed at least 5 deg from either side of the vertical meridian. 3. For stimuli close to the vertical meridian, the left field advantage disappears and there is a complete transfer of learning effects, provided the fundamental spatial frequency is 2 cycles/deg or lower. 4. At higher spatial frequencies the left field advantage is maintained and the learning effects do not transfer from one visual hemifield to the other, even at +/- 0.5 deg from the vertical meridian, unless the contrast is very high. 5. The transfer of learning effects obtained for spatial frequencies of 2 cycles/deg or lower is peculiar to regions placed close to the vertical meridian and symmetrically located on either side of it. No transfer is obtained between non-overlapping regions on the same side of the vertical meridian. 6. These findings are consistent with an interhemispheric transfer of visual information, preferential for low spatial frequencies and high contrasts, in agreement with that found for callosal transfer in the cat (Berardi, Bisti & Maffei, 1987).

Corpus Callosum↗
PubMed1986

Impairment of stereoacuity in cats with oculomotor proprioceptive deafferentation.

Stereoacuity was measured with an operant conditioning technique in adult cats with unilateral deafferentation of oculomotor proprioception (section of the ophthalmic branch of the fifth cranial nerve). Binocular stereoacuity was found not to exceed monocular depth sensitivity, in contrast to what is obtained in normal cats. The results confirm previous findings and indicate a role of oculomotor proprioception in binocular depth perception of the cat.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Deafferentation of oculomotor proprioception affects depth discrimination in adult cats.

Depth discrimination was tested behaviourally in adult cats prior to and after chronic section of the ophthalmic branch of the Vth cranial nerve, that contains the majority of oculomotor proprioceptive fibers. Binocular depth discrimination was considerably impaired following either unilateral or bilateral oculomotor proprioceptive deafferentation.

Afferent Pathways↗