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Biomedical subjects

J J Fino

Publications and source records attributed to J J Fino.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The Mozart effect: distinctive aspects of the music--a clue to brain coding?

The goal of this study was to determine distinctive aspects of Mozart music that may explain the "Mozart Effect," specifically, the decrease in seizure activity. As many as 81 musical selections of Mozart, but also 67 of J.C. Bach, 67 of J.S. Bach, 39 of Chopin and 148 from 55 other composers were computer analyzed to quantify the music in search of any distinctive aspect and later to determine the degree to which a dominant periodicity could be found. Long-term periodicity (especially 10-60 sec, mean and median of 30 sec), was found often in Mozart music but also that of the two Bachs, significantly more often than the other composers and was especially absent in the control music that had no effect on epileptic activity in previous studies. Short-term periodicities were not significantly different between Mozart and the Bachs vs. the other composers. The conclusion is that one distinctive aspect of Mozart music is long-term periodicity that may well resonate within the cerebral cortex and also may be related to coding within the brain.

Brain↗
PubMed1998

The "Mozart effect" on epileptiform activity.

The "Mozart Effect," using the Piano Sonata in D Major (K.448), was examined in patients with seizures. In 23 of 29 instances significant decreases in epileptiform activity were noted from patients even in coma, with status epilepticus or with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs). The effect may be immediate or require 40-300 sec to manifest itself. The change in the amount of ictal activity in one patient in coma was from 62% before the music to 21% during Mozart. Amplitudes of these discharges also have often decreased. Examples of PLEDs on both temporal areas are shown in which the effect was only on the left temporal area but in other patients only on the right temporal area. Brain maps during the music showed theta and alpha activity decreased on the central areas, while delta waves increased on the frontal midline area. The basis of this effect is likely that the superorganization of the cerebral cortex with its highly structured radial columns seen throughout both hemispheres may resonate with the superior architecture of Mozart's music.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Characteristics of travelling waves under various conditions.

In this mapping study, the goal was to investigate in 10 subjects the phenomenon of the travelling waves (TW), especially of alpha activity, under conditions of (1) rest, (2) calculations, (3) emotional experience and (4) pain. The TW during wakefulness usually arose from the areas with the highest amplitude of alpha, called major peaks, for both positive (pos.) and negative (neg.) polarities. These areas were Pz (pos. and neg.) at rest, O2 (pos.) and Pz (neg.) during calculation, O1 (pos.) and O2 (neg.) during emotion and T6 (pos.) and O1 (neg.) during pain. When differences were determined between the latter 3 conditions and the resting state, a focal event-related desynchronization (ERD) became evident on T5 during math, on Pz during emotion and on both CP areas during pain. Surrounding the areas of ERD were areas of event-related synchronization (ERS). The TW were related to phase differences between the different electrode locations, seen more frequently with the pos. polarity, and more often with emotion or calculation. The direction of the TW was most often toward the midline during rest, from the right to midline (calculation), from the left to midline (emotion) and from the midline to the left (pain). Changes on one side of the head were often associated with opposite types of changes on the other side. Sleep spindles were also analyzed showing the major peaks on Fz and F4 with pos. polarities often seen anteriorly and neg. polarities posteriorly. TW were also seen with spindles, more often with the positive polarity. The direction was usually from the midline for the positive polarity and toward the midline for the neg. phase. The phenomenon of the TW is discussed, especially its possible neurophysiological significance as a means of transmitting information throughout the brain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Topographic analysis of visual evoked potentials from flash and pattern reversal stimuli: evidence for "travelling waves".

In this mapping study of the entire scalp area, the responses to flash (FL) and pattern reversal (PR) stimuli were studied in 34 normal subjects. The N70, P100, N135 and P180 were similar from both stimuli but with some differences in amplitude and latency, especially the variability of the latency of P100 from FL. A polarity inversion was usually seen for all components, especially at opposite ends of the scalp and a zero-potential was noted for all four components near Cz Pz. Evidence is seen that the frontal N100 is likely not the other end of a dipole involving the posterior P100. Lateral components as P120, N150 and N200 were also described. The major finding was evidence of "travelling" waves that appear to move in both the AP and PA directions throughout the scalp that eventually arrive on the posterior regions and appear as N70, P100, N135 and P180.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Changes in reactivity during the 6/second spike and wave complex.

This study on a patient with the WHAM form of the 6/sec spike and wave complex shows significant delays in reaction time and increased variability when stimuli were presented during the complex and within 1 second after it, especially when the pattern was high in amplitude and short in duration, and also during theta bursts without the spike component. The similarities and differences between this pattern and the 3/sec spike and wave complex are discussed.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1991

The effect of spikes and spike-free epochs on topographic brain maps.

Maps of foci, when no discharges nor obvious slow activity were included in the map, usually (84%) showed changes within the focus itself and also in adjacent areas (58%) and often (47%) in the mirror region. An increase in activity was more often seen in the more active foci, especially in the delta and beta 2 ranges, and decrease in activity was usually seen with inactive foci. When discharges were included in the maps, an increasing number was associated with an increase at the main focus in all ranges, especially in delta and beta 1, but much less often in beta 2. The amount of electrical charge required for a change in the map with spikes was approximately 40 nanocoulombs (nC) for the first and second changes, increasing to around 50 nC with adjacent or separate foci. "Artificial" spikes produce more delta activity than other frequency ranges and the FFT of various pulses show maximal amplitudes at the slowest frequencies.

Brain Mapping↗
PubMed1990

The sharp theta rhythm on the occipital areas of prematures (STOP): a newly described waveform.

This study on 500 prematures and neonates with conceptional ages (CA) of 23-49 wks describes the STOP pattern (sharp theta on the occipitals of prematures). STOP is similar to PT theta (premature temporal theta) in configuration, but is faster in frequency, lower in amplitude, more often unilateral, aside from the obvious difference in location. The incidence (%) was highest at the youngest age, decreasing to zero near term, and the amount (number of bursts) was greatest at 25 wks (CA). Three different parts appear in the incidence and amplitude curves, and these three parts may be related to changes in the laterality of the pattern. In the youngest age these rhythms are mainly bilateral, in the older neonates they are unilateral and are either for the ages between those extremes. STOP is seen more often in active sleep, but is reduced in incidence in patients with abnormal slow waves, ictal or immature patterns. Right-sided STOP was more frequently associated with abnormal EEGs, especially in males with right-sided sharp waves, often noted in the patients with seizures and intraventricular hemorrhages.

Electroencephalography↗
PubMed1989

The visual evoked potentials to the light emitting diode compared to the flash and pattern reversal stimulus.

Light-emitting diode (LED), flash (FL) and pattern reversal (PR) stimuli were used to elicit visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in 16 normal subjects (32 eyes) and 39 patients (78 eyes) with signs of visual system abnormality. Latencies and amplitudes (plus standard deviations) of 5 components of each response, correlation coefficients of the normal and abnormal responses and false negatives and positives are presented for the 3 kinds of stimuli. The data show that responses to LED stimuli are very similar to those of FL stimuli and should be useful in the operating room to monitor the visual pathways, if various endogenous factors known to affect late responses can be stabilized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Premature temporal theta (PT theta).

A distinctive pattern called premature temporal theta (PT theta) was studied in 436 infants, ranging in age from 24 to 46 weeks. The pattern is seen in early prematurity, maximizes at 29-31 weeks and then diminishes and disappears near term. Usually the pattern is found independently on both temporal areas, but with a right-sided preference. Patients without PT theta or with a significantly low amount had either neurological or non-neurological (medical) conditions. With age there is a tendency for an increase in frequency and a decrease in amplitude. Five different peaks in the amount of this pattern are seen at approximately every month. Unilateral PT theta tends to be seen in older babies, more often on the right side and with an abnormal EEG. An abnormal EEG is usually associated with a delay in both the appearance and disappearance of this wave form. PT theta is also associated mainly with REM or active sleep. A polynomial rather than an exponential or power function best describes these data with changes of age. PT theta may arise from the inferior temporal gyrus and/or especially the transverse gyrus.

Electroencephalography↗
PubMed1987

Usefulness of different stimuli in visual evoked potentials.

The goal of this study was to determine the relative usefulness of the flash (FL), pattern reversal (PR) of 56', and PR of 28' in 62 patients (pts) with either MS (34) or non-MS (28) compared with normals (19). An abnormal visual evoked potential was found in 58%, 69%, and 81% of the eyes tested in possible, probable, and definite MS and in 88% of the non-MS group. The 28' PR produced the most abnormal responses, the greatest number with either greater than 3 standard deviations (SD) from the mean or greater than 2 SD in both MS and non-MS groups. The FL was second best at producing the most abnormal responses, but more often produced the only abnormality (29), compared with 28' PR (11). The 56' PR produced the only abnormality in none of the MS pts and in only one of the non-MS pts. In all categories (most abnormal, greater than 3 SD, greater than 2 SD, the only abnormality of greater than 3 SD or greater than 2 SD, and other peaks abnormal), the 28' PR was usually by far the best stimulus for definite (and probable) MS, but equally as effective was the FL in the possible MS pts Our data suggest the usefulness of 28' and not 56' PR, but the FL is especially useful in pts with possible MS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

A review of generators of the brainstem auditory evoked potential: contribution of an experimental study.

The goal of this paper is to briefly review the evidence for the generator(s) of each wave of the brainstem auditory evoked potential. An experimental study is included that adds data relevant to the question of generators. Thus, the distributions of amplitude and latency are plotted throughout the scalp for each of the positive and negative waves (16) of this potential (20 normal ears). For amplitudes, seven are maximal on the midline with five on Cz (IN, IV, V, VN, and VIN) and two on FZ (I' and IIIN); two are on the ipsilateral side (II and VIIN), and seven are maximal on the contralateral side (I, IIN, III, VI, VII, VIII, and VIIIN). For latency to peak, none is earliest on the midline; only five are on the ipsilateral side (I', III, IIIN, IV, and VIIN), and all the rest are on the contralateral side. The falloff from the maximal amplitude is rectilinearly related to the square of the distance from the peak, but this relationship is not the "inverse square law." These data are then discussed with reference to the possible generators of each wave.

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1985

The relationship between visual seizures and visual evoked potentials.

We have studied a patient (pt) in status epilepticus with visual seizures (szs) arising focally from the right occipital area and have recorded the visual evoked potential (VEP) to three different stimuli under three different conditions (during, between and with no szs). The pt experienced "sparkling" in the contralateral visual field as the sz and the intensity of the "sparkling" was directly related to the frequency of the ictal activity recorded on the EEG. During the szs the VEPs could still be recorded, but the amplitude of the P100 was higher on the contralateral side with pattern reversal (PR) stimuli, and with flashes (FL) the positive peak after the P100 was less evident on the ipsilateral side. Latencies to these latter two positivities were generally shorter than in normals, with much greater standard deviations ipsilaterally with FL and contralaterally with PR, especially during the actual szs. The relationship between VEP generation and visual sz phenomena is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The significance of the negativities in the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP).

This study was designed to investigate the negativities of the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), especially to determine if they represented a part of a composite waveform together with a given positivity. Subjects (10) and patients (56) provided the data, mainly in the form of correlation coefficients of latency and amplitude values, trace by trace comparisons of multiple responses from the same subject and the specific grouping of abnormal waves from the patient population. The results show that the strongest relationships of latency and amplitude involved completely different pairs of waves, that the negative and positive values often changed in opposite directions, and that no pair of waves of opposite polarity were typically abnormal together. Thus, the negativities are not generally associated with given positivities and likely have their own generators.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Neurophysiological studies on conjoined twins.

EEG, VEP and BAEP studies were performed on conjoined (craniopagus parieto-occipitalis) twins, born prematurely without any common neural tissue, but with shared venous channels and contiguous posterior poles. At thirty-three wks (CA) the EEG of one of the twins showed higher amplitudes and less quiescence, suggesting a more mature cerebrum but the same twin also showed longer latencies in the BAEP, suggesting a less mature brainstem. Sleep spindles at four and a half months frequently occurred at the same time in both of the twins, at times synchronous and at other times with a latency of onset 0.5-0.8 sec from one to the other, providing further evidence for a circulating "sleep-promoting factor". VEPs were recorded that were distinctive of each of the twins. Flash stimulation of one twin produced VEPs in the other that were characteristic, not of the stimulated twin, but of the other, suggesting that evoked responses from one area can activate non-volume conducted responses from another region characteristic of that latter region, presumably by physical contiguity alone.

Brain↗
PubMed1984

The effect of light sleep on the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP).

This study dealt with the latency and amplitude changes in the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) measured during periods from wake to light sleep, after stimulating both ears of 16 subjects. All 13 latencies (positive and negative) increased from the central vertex electrode (referred C7 vertebra) with statistical significance from peak VI (and II), and 8 of 13 latencies increased from the (ipsilateral) ear electrode with statistical significance from negative peak V. Furthermore, a significant decrease in amplitude occurred in peak V (ear) and in peak VIII (Cz and ear). Finally, the more typical recording of vertex to ipsilateral ear showed all 13 latencies increasing in the sleep state and nonparametric statistics showed significance in 6 of these latencies. The assumption that the latencies and amplitudes do not change from the waking to the sleeping state should be reconsidered.

Brain Stem↗