PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “sensorimotor function”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources

[Effect of the depth of anesthesia on the postoperative course].

An assessment of the influence of several variables during the perioperative period revealed a cause-determining correlation between the explanatory variables age, body size, weight, duration of operation, loss of blood, and pain level and the physiologic variables adrenaline, total protein, blood glucose level, transferrin, cholinesterase and immunoglobulin G that could be statistically be proven. An evaluation of the influence of the depth of anesthesia on this cause-determining correlation demonstrated significant advantages for a deep level of anesthesia. The depth of anesthesia should be seen as an influential factor during the perioperative period. Anesthesia should therefore not be regarded simply as analgesia and loss of consciousness; rather, one should stress the psychophysiological attenuation and its negative influence on the sensorimotor functions that are accompanied by changes in physiology. The central organ of regulation controls the physiological levels of the organism, and changes in brain function result in changes in physiology. During the perioperative period, rapid and programmed functional mechanisms that are controlled by more primitive parts of the brain and thus are not influenced by individual inappropriate decisions of the "higher" brain centers are needed for the patient's convalescence. This would explain the advantage of a deep level of anesthesia. The usual grading of stages of anesthesia according to Güdel provides little help in this respect; therefore, an assessment of the depth of anesthesia using EEGs and evoked potentials should be combined with an evaluation of physiological variables at several other levels of the organism such that further information can be obtained on the conditions existing at the onset of the postoperative course.

Adolescent↗

NMDA receptors mediate poly- and monosynaptic potentials in motoneurons of rat embryos.

We determined the contribution of glutamate receptor subtypes to developing excitatory synaptic transmission in isolated spinal cord of rat embryos. Using electrophysiological and morphological techniques, we studied the pattern of development of synapses between dorsal root afferents and motoneurons in lumbar spinal cords of 15- to 21-d-old rat embryos. Motoneuron dendritic fields and afferent projections onto motoneurons were identified by labeling with HRP. Afferents first entered the gray matter at Day 15 of gestation, and by Day 16 they terminated close to motoneuron dendritic trees. Afferent axons projected onto motoneuron dendritic fields at Day 17, when boutons were detected on motoneuron dendrites that were crossed by afferent axons. To determine the time course of formation of functional sensorimotor synapses and their pharmacological properties, a dorsal root was stimulated while recording intracellularly from segmental motoneurons. At Day 16, excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) with long latencies, slow rates of rise, and long durations were recorded. The amplitudes of these EPSPs increased with membrane depolarization and in the absence of extracellular Mg2+. These EPSPs were blocked by D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) and ketamine, which are selective antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. These findings suggest that initial synaptic transmission in embryonic motoneurons is mediated solely by NMDA receptors. Short-latency EPSPs with fast rates of rise were first recorded in most motoneurons by Day 17. These EPSPs were composed of fast- and slow-rising potentials. The slow component was blocked by APV, while the fast component was eliminated by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and kynurenate. This indicates that the short-latency EPSPs are mediated by both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. Dose-response curves of motoneurons to L-glutamate, NMDA, and kainate demonstrated that motoneurons are sensitive to these agonists prior to the formation of synapses between afferents and motoneurons. Motoneuron responses to NMDA and kainate increased immediately after the onset of short-latency EPSPs. This increased sensitivity could be due to extracellular factors influenced by growing sensory axons or intrinsic properties of differentiating motoneurons.

Animals↗

Relations between sensorimotor attainments and development of language comprehension in retarded children.

Although cognitive precursors of language production have received considerable attention, the relationship between cognitive development and language comprehension is still largely unknown. We report here on an investigation into the relationship between sensorimotor attainments and receptive language skills in normal and retarded infants aged 12-26 months. A major goal of this study was to translate some current notions about onset of representational language and its cognitive prerequisites into some clinically useful procedures both for early diagnosis and treatment of disabled infants. The Uzgiris-Hunt ordinal scales and receptive language tests were administered to 32 infants with motor delay and to 15 normal infants matched for chronological age. Comparison of the resulting scores indicated significant differences in favor of the normal infants on the six Uzgiris-Hunt scales and on the receptive language measures. The cognitive profile of the retarded infants was not homogeneous, some sensorimotor areas (object permanence, vocal and gestural imitation, schemes in relation to objects) showing later onset and slower development than others. Evidence for the parallel emergence of representational ability in language and thought was not as strong as stated by Piagetian theorists. No single stage of sensorimotor functioning prerequisite to language comprehension could be discerned, especially in the retarded infants, who showed considerable gaps between the two domains.

Age Factors↗

Synaptic plasticity and learning: selective impairment of learning rats and blockade of long-term potentiation in vivo by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist AP5.

This paper reports a series of 5 experiments concerned with a possible role for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in certain types of learning. The results show that chronic intraventricular infusion of the NMDA receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (D,L-AP5) caused an impairment of spatial but not of visual discrimination learning in rats. Such selectivity of the learning impairment occurred despite widespread distribution of the drug throughout the CNS. AP5 sometimes caused a disturbance of sensorimotor function during learning, but one experiment addressing whether this disturbance could be responsible for the spatial learning impairment established that it was statistically independent. Another experiment showed that AP5 did not affect the retention of previously acquired spatial information. These behavioral effects were all obtained with a concentration of AP5 that, in a final study, was found to be sufficient to block hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in vivo without affecting normal synaptic transmission. Taken together, these observations (1) implicate NMDA receptors in certain types of learning, and (2) extend recent work showing that saturation of LTP causes an anterograde spatial amnesia (McNaughton et al., 1986). A preliminary report of parts of this work has been published (Morris et al., 1986a).

Animals↗

Pharmacological basis for the use of nimodipine in central nervous system disorders.

Nimodipine, a Ca2+ antagonist with cerebrovasodilatory and anti-ischemic effects, binds to rat, guinea pig, and human brain membranes with high affinity (less than 1 nM). Only at higher concentrations has nimodipine been reported to block the release of some neurotransmitters and hormones from neuronal tissue. Nimodipine has no consistent effect on brain oxygen consumption or cortical ATP or phosphocreatine levels, although the ischemia-induced fall of brain ATP levels in gerbils or the lowering of intracellular brain pH in rabbits with focal cerebral ischemia were antagonized by the drug. In rats and baboons with middle cerebral artery occlusion, nimodipine was found to reduce neurological deficits without an increase in intracranial pressure or brain edema. Electrophysiological studies with nimodipine suggested a direct neuronal action. In rabbit dorsal root ganglion cells, concentrations as low as 20 nM were reported to block inward Ca2+ currents. Recent studies have suggested that nimodipine may also improve memory in brain-damaged or old rats, restore sensorimotor function and abnormal walking patterns of old rats, and accelerate acquisition of associative learning in aging rabbits. Blockade of age-related changes in Ca2+ fluxes in rat hippocampal neurones by nimodipine in vitro pointed to neuronal plasma membrane as the site of nimodipine action. The therapeutic usefulness of nimodipine appears not to be limited to cerebral ischemia, but may include dementia, age-related degenerative diseases, epilepsy, and ethanol intoxication.

Aging↗

Placement from community-based mental retardation programs: how well do clients do after 8 to 10 years?

The placement success and quality of life of 85 mentally retarded persons placed into independent housing and competitive employment 8 to 10 years ago was evaluated. Three groups emerged on the basis of the clients' current programmatic status, living-work placement, and financial status. A number of variables were found to discriminate between successful and unsuccessful living and work outcomes, including family involvement, social-emotional behavior, number of disabilities, sensorimotor functioning, symbolic operations, and auditory-visual processing. For assessed quality of life, significant correlates included family involvement, income, number of disabilities, and age. Those who were successful had a higher assessed Quality of Life Index than those who were unsuccessful.

Activities of Daily Living↗

[Comparative value of anorectal manometry and electrocardiography in the diagnosis of diabetic autonomic neuropathy].

Searching for silent anorectal autonomic neuropathy, we investigated the anorectal sensorimotor function in 79 continent diabetics. Thirty four per cent of the patients had a basal anal sphincter pressure lower than 40 mm Hg N = 54.5 +/- 15.5 mm Hg and 11 p. 100 had a threshold of conscious rectal sensation higher than 20 ml (N less than or equal to 20 ml). An electrocardiogram was performed and the change in heart rate resulting from successive deep breaths was recorded for each patient. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed when cardiac frequency did not change with ventilation. This was reflected by a ratio E/I (largest RR space during expiration on the electrocardiogram to the shortest during inspiration) close to one. Compared to cardiac criteria for autonomic neuropathy, the sensitivity of anorectal manometry in the detection of diabetic autonomic neuropathy was 77.2 p. 100 and specificity was 82 p. 100. Low basal anal sphincter pressure in asymptomatic diabetics seems to be a sensitive and specific criteria for the assessment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy and correlates closely with cardiac criteria.

Adult↗

[Event-related slow potentials (ERSPs) of the brain in cases of temporal psychomotor and petit mal status].

Two cases have been studied by means of the usual method for eliciting CNV (S-1.5 OR 1 SEC-S-operant response) during and after the end of an episode of prolonged epileptic twilight state with almost continuous strictly unilateral temporal lobe discharge. From the clinical viewpoint in both cases the twilight state, lasting respectively about 12 and 48 hours, was characterized by a slightly clouded consciousness and moderate impairment of awareness and of psychic performances, at times associated with simple and complex psychomotor automatism and hallucinations. The EEG recorded an almost continous left temporal discharge of pseudorhythmic mixed slow waves and sharps. The third case had typical prolonged petit mal states with continuous spike-and-slow-wave activity, impaired intellectual and motor performances (very long reaction time etc.). In this patient for eliciting ERSPs, besides the standard method, we have used a paradigm in which S consisted of a colored slide, with various semantic contents, remaining visible for 5 seconds on a screen. At the trials of the standard paradigm during the epiliptic twilight state, all patients showed they had understood the signal to interrupt (S loud repetitive tone) in the shortest time possible and could clearly distinguish them from the S. The operant response was almost always made with sufficient precision and sometimes with fairly short reaction time, especially by the patients with temporal psychomotor status. During the episodes of prolonged clouded consciosness in all series of trials administered to the patients, no negative slow potential shifts were observed in the averaged EEG recordings obtained from F-T, F-T or F, FCZ and referred to to linked mastoids. On repetition of the examinations some time after the end of the epileptic twilight state, fairly normal ERSPs were obtained in all cases. Taking also into account the results of previous researches, these studies show that the temporal lobe and "centrencephalic" epileptic discharges, under certain conditions, may influence negatively the neurophysiological mechanisms which contribute to the information of complex contingent connections and which also underly the particular attentional, cognitive and sensorimotor functions involved in the inhibiting the appearance of ERSPs probably related to more specific perceptual and integrative functions. Some AA. maintain that negative slow potential shifts express the functional activity of the brain structures, particularly of determined cerebral cortex regions, involved not only in attentional, perceptual, cognitive and psychomotor functioning, but also in information processing (memory recording mechanism). Hence, the negative influence of prolonged temporal lobe or meso-diencephalic epileptic discharges on these structures may explain the almost complete amnesia that patients generally show at the termination of this kind of twilight state.

Adult↗

Neurobehavioral changes in adult Fischer 344 rats exposed to dietary levels of chlordecone (Kepone): a 90-day chronic dosing study.

Chlordecone (Kepone) given in the diet at 10 and 30 ppm for 90 days to adult male Fischer 344 rats produced significant behavioral changes. Rats were tested in a battery of behavioral screening tests for sensorimotor functions at 30, 60, and 90 days of dosing, and 30 days postdosing. Body weight loss was significant by 90 days of dosing with 30 ppm chlordecone; no weight change was seen at the lower dose. Variable effects on grip strength were seen during and after dosing. The magnitude of startle responsiveness to an air puff stimulus was significantly increased by 30 days of dosing in the 30 ppm dose group. Both 10 and 30 ppm doses produced increased responsiveness to an acoustic stimulus by 60 days of dosing. Negative geotaxis and tail flick response to thermal stimulation did not change. By 30 days postdosing, significant behavioral alterations still persisted in startle responsiveness.

Animals↗

Incremental exposure facilitates adaptation to sensory rearrangement.

The rate of adaptation to unusual patterns of vestibular stimulation is enhanced if the final stimulus level is achieved gradually rather than in a single step (6,7). Measurements of adaptation to visual rearrangement elicited by stepwise and single-step exposure indicate that incremental exposure also facilitates adaptation to visual rearrangement; adaptation is diminished when the optical displacement is varied nonsystematically during exposure. Enhancement of adaptation to unusual patterns of sensory stimulation by incremental exposure may reflect a general principle of sensorimotor function.

Adaptation, Ocular↗

Relationship between language and sensorimotor development of Down syndrome and nonretarded children.

The relationship between sensorimotor and language development of Down syndrome and nonretarded children was investigated. The Ordinal Scales of Psychological Development (Uzgiris & Hunt, 1975) and the Receptive and Expressive Emergent Language (REEL) scale (Bzoch & League, 1970) were administered to 18 Down syndrome and 18 nonretarded children who had matched developmental ages of approximately 17 months. Comparison of the resulting scores indicated that although there were no differences between the groups on four subscales of the Uzgiris-Hunt, there were significant differences in favor of the nonretarded children on the Vocal Imitation subscale of the Uzgiris-Hunt and on Receptive and Expressive measures of the REEL. These results indicate that Down's syndrome children are delayed in their language development compared to nonretarded children of the same developmental age. This language delay appears to be related to deficiencies in vocal imitation skills but is not related to general sensorimotor functioning.

Child, Preschool↗

[Value of the stereoscopic tests in the detection of sensorimotor anomalies in children].

Limitations and advantages of the stereotests are briefly discussed. In this trial, two stereotests (TNO and Frisby) have been tested in 3 groups of patients: group 1 was composed of 180 cases with normal binocular vision; group 2 of 312 patients with known ocular motility disorders: group 3 of 186 patients with unknown sensorimotor status. The utility of the two stereotests in detecting ocular motility disorders and/or amblyopia is uncertain when used alone. Because of a high number of false positives and false negatives the tests are best used in conjunction with other clinical tests of ocular sensorimotor function.

Adolescent↗

Lingual mechanoreceptive information. L. An evoked-potential study of the central projections of hypoglossal nerve afferent information.

Afferents present in the distal hypoglossal nerve of the rhesus monkey include fibers derived from lingual muscle spindles. Using the evoked-potential technique in rhesus monkeys, the objective of this study was to determine whether the medial lemniscus (ML) represents the rostral projection path for hypoglossal afferent information. Responses evoked by low-intensity stimulation of the XIIth nerve were recorded with bipolar macroelectrodes at medullary, pontine, and midbrain levels in pentobarbital or urethane anesthestized animals. Results indicate that fibers related to XIIth nerve afferents ascend in association with the contralateral ML. This projection mediates the contralateral thalamic and cerebrocortical potentials shown in previous studies to be evoked by XIIth nerve stimuli. The role this projection may play in tongue sensorimotor function is discussed. Results also demonstrate the presence of contralateral responses in the medial portion of the pontine reticulotegmental nucleus. These medially located potentials were isolated from responses evoked from the ML by intervening unresponsive electrode tracks suggesting that a component of the lemniscal projection may terminate in the "face zone" of this precerebellar relay.

Afferent Pathways↗

Response of caudate neurons to stimulation of intrinsic and peripheral afferents in normal, symptomatic, and recovered MPTP-treated cats.

Cat caudate nucleus (CD) neurons were tested for changes in spontaneous activity, response to peripheral sensory stimuli (tactile, auditory, and visual), and electrical stimulation of monosynaptic afferents (pericruciate cortex and nucleus centralis lateralis) in normal cats and in the same cats after induction of and spontaneous recovery from parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). After normal baseline data were collected, cats were given MPTP (7.5 mg/kg, 5-7 d) to induce a parkinsonian syndrome consisting of rigidity, akinesia, and decreased orienting to sensory stimuli. During this symptomatic period, the mean spontaneous activity of CD units increased (6.20 spikes/sec vs 2.25 spikes/sec in normal cats). In these same animals, the percentage of units responding to peripheral sensory stimulation was significantly decreased (compared to normal) while the percentage of units responding to electrical stimulation of monosynaptic afferents increased. By 6 weeks after MPTP administration, cats had recovered gross motor and sensorimotor function and CD unit recordings were reinitiated. In functionally recovered animals, all electrophysiological measures returned to levels resembling those seen in normal animals. These data suggest that the processing of peripheral sensory information is an important part of basal ganglia function and that the sensory responsiveness of the CD may reflect the overall motor condition of the animal. The changes observed in the responsiveness of CD neurons to direct electrical stimulation of monosynaptic afferents may indicate that the defect in the processing of polysynaptic sensory information observed in the striatum in parkinsonian animals may be occurring, at least in part, extrastriatally.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

[L1-2 lumbar disc herniation: a case report].

A 49-year-old female presented a two-year history of pain in the right thigh and lower back. Neurological examination on admission demonstrated weakness of the right iliopsoas and quadriceps, hypesthesia on the right L1-2 dermatome. Radiological examination including myelography, CT myelography and discography disclosed an L1-2 herniated disc. Sagittal MRI also revealed an L1-2, an L4-5 and L5-S1 protruded disc. A posterior microdiscectomy (Love's method) was performed for the L1-2 disc. A controlateral protruded disc which compressed the L-2 nerve root was identified and partially removed. The postoperative myelography showed residual disc. The patient was free from pain and regained normal sensorimotor function. Love's posterior microdiscectomy has a disadvantage in that the operative field is limited. Careful surgical procedure was needed to avoid injury to nerve roots and the cauda equina in a tight L1-2 lumbar canal.

Diskectomy↗

The effects of D-cycloserine and MK-801 on the performance of rats in two spatial learning and memory tasks.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of modulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor on learning and memory. Thus, the performance of rats treated with D-cycloserine, a partial agonist at the glycine recognition site of the NMDA receptor complex, and MK-801, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, either alone or concurrently were assessed in radial arm maze and water maze tasks. Administration of MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) impaired acquisition in the water maze (increased escape latency and distance) and working memory in the radial arm maze (increased re-entries) in rats. Moreover, in the radial arm maze, MK-801 disrupted locomotion (increased latencies and decreased arm entries per minute) and impaired the acquisition of reference memory (increased number of errors) performance of rats. D-Cycloserine (0.03, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) had no effects on acquisition or memory performance of control or MK-801-treated rats in either of these tasks. However, D-cycloserine (0.03, 0.3, 3.0 mg/kg) reversed the MK-801-induced disruption in locomotion. Furthermore, 3.0 mg/kg D-cycloserine increased behavioral activity and also decreased the time needed to complete the task in control animals. To conclude, our results suggest that the consequences of NMDA receptor modulation on learning and memory processes and sensorimotor functions may be functionally different or have distinct anatomical locations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Lissencephaly in two Lhasa Apso dogs.

Lissencephaly, a congenital absence of cerebrocortical convolutions, was discovered in 2 Lhasa Apso dogs by clinical and pathologic evaluation. Neurologic abnormalities, which became evident within the 1st year of life, included behavioral, visual, and convulsive disorders. The neurologic abnormalities were mild or delayed in onset after birth, indicating the dog is less dependent on the cerebral cortex for sensorimotor function than is man.

Animals↗

Lower extremity paralysis after operative laparoscopy from conversion disorder. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic complications are rarely associated with laparoscopic procedures, and most nerve injuries are transient palsies. We present the first case of paraplegia following gynecologic laparoscopy. CASE: A 34-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 0-1-1-0, with long-standing infertility, underwent an uncomplicated laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for a persistent ovarian cystadenoma. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient developed bilateral lower extremity paralysis. She regained her sensorimotor function in one extremity within hours, while both motor and sensory functions, but not proprioception, were deficient in the other extremity in a pattern of distribution that was inconsistent and paradoxical. Diagnostic studies to evaluate the patient's central and peripheral nervous systems and evoked sensory potentials were all normal. The patient's indifference to her persistent yet paradoxical neurologic deficits was a clue to her diagnosis. In the absence of an organic lesion to account for the patient's symptoms, the diagnosis of conversion disorder was made. CONCLUSION: Neurologic complications following laparoscopy are rare, generally involving nerve palsies from local injury. This is the first report of lower extremity paralysis after laparoscopy. Although conversion disorder is rare, it may occur in the gynecologic setting owing to its prevalence in women and especially in the presence of underlying affective disorders.

Adult↗