Biomedical subjects

Barry Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to Barry Gordon.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Semantic fields in low-functioning autism.

Restricted semantic fields and resultant stimulus overselectivity are often thought to be typical of low-functioning autism, as is a strong visual processing preference. However, these conclusions may in part be an artifact of testing methodology. A 12-year-old, low-functioning and nonverbal autistic boy was tested on an auditory word-to-picture selection task. The picture foils were chosen to have visual features, semantic features, both, or neither in common with the correct answer. Errors were made more often to semantically than to visually related items, and he showed generalization to items that had not been explicitly trained. This is taken as evidence that his semantic fields are broader than otherwise apparent, and that he was capable of expanding his semantic representations independently of specific training.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2002

Optimizing parameters for terminating cortical afterdischarges with pulse stimulation.

PURPOSE: We previously reported that brief pulses of electrical stimulation (BPSs) can terminate afterdischarges (ADs) during cortical stimulation. We investigated conditions under which BPS is more likely to suppress ADs. METHODS: We analyzed parameters altering BPS effectiveness on 200 ADs in seven patients with implanted subdural electrodes. RESULTS: The odds of BPSs stopping ADs was 8.6 times greater at primary sites (directly stimulated electrodes) than at secondary sites (adjacent electrodes) (p = 0.016). BPS applied within 4.5 s after onset of AD had 2 times greater odds of stopping ADs (p = 0.014). BPS applied when AD voltage was negative was 1.9 times more likely to stop ADs (p = 0.012). ADs with rhythmic pattern responded best (p < 0.0001). BPS stopped 100% of ADs not starting immediately after localization stimulus (LS) versus 29% of those starting immediately (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: BPS is more likely to terminate ADs at primary electrodes, if given early, if applied to the negative peak of the AD waveform, if AD has a rhythmic pattern, and if AD did not start immediately after LS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Right Hemisphere Language Dominance in a Right-Handed Patient with Late-Onset Seizures.

Right hemisphere language dominance is rare in right-handed individuals and usually the result of language transfer associated with early left hemisphere pathology. We studied a 33-year-old right-handed man, with a normal MRI scan, who developed left frontal lobe seizures at age 15 years. Language lateralization testing by intracarotid amobarbital injection and dichotic listening showed the patient to be strongly right hemisphere language dominant. The clinical features of this patient do not fit the profile of pathology-induced language transfer, but instead suggest that he was right hemisphere language dominant before developing seizures. This case underscores the importance of language lateralization testing in patients who are candidates for seizure surgery, even if they are strongly right-handed and have late-onset seizures, features usually associated with left hemisphere language dominance. One implication is that the incidence of right hemisphere language dominance in the right-handed population may be underestimated.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1984

Differentiating psychiatric readmissions from nonreadmissions.

This study tracked a cohort of 550 discharged state hospital patients through an entire publicly-funded mental health aftercare system. Data from hospital and community agency records indicate that neither social-demographic nor clinical characteristics successfully differentiated psychiatric readmissions from nonreadmissions. Use of aftercare services--in terms of the variety available and their relevance to discharged patients' assessed needs--had the greatest influence on predicting the likelihood of readmission.

Adolescent↗