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[Parallel visual processing characteristics in healthy alexithymic subjects. Administration of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the parallel visual information test].

Alexithymia is a concept created by Sifneos and characterized by an inability to find words to describe feelings or emotions. The phenomenon seems to be also related to a poverty of cognitive and symbolic processes (de Bonis, 1986). Alexithymia was first studied in psychosomatic disorders, then in several other somatic disorders as chronic bronchitis, chronic pain, obesity, abuse disorders. It also appears in non medically ill subjects. The french validation of the Toronto alexithymia Scale (TAS) in general population (n = 786) has shown 8.14% alexithymia frequency. The TAS is a 26-items self-report measure rated on a five-point likert scale. In the study we use the TAS and we refer to a visual test: the Parallel Visual Information Processing Test (PVIPT), involving the connexionist theory in the neuropsychological approach of alexithymia. The neuropsychological model is based on cerebral hemispheric specialization: emotions are localized in the right hemisphere and verbal expression depends on the left hemisphere in right-handed persons. The model posits that alexithymia is related to a lack of connection between the two cerebral hemispheres. It explains the deficit to verbally articulate emotions. The aim of our study is to compare the quality of cognitive and symbolic process (PVIPT) in alexithymic and non alexithymic subjects in general population. 773 students are tested with the TAS. We find 47 alexithymic subjects (6.08%). 22 alexithymic subjects and the control group (35 non alexithymic subjects) are evaluated with the PVIPT. Results are coherent with our previous studies on alexithymia in somatic disorders on one hand and alexithymia in neurological disease on the other hand. Theorical model, clinical observation and experimental results tend to define congruent hypothesis relative to the anxious pathology, supporting the reflexion and the research in the domain of the emotional disorders.

Adolescent↗

Phospholipase C-beta1 is present in the botrysome, an intermediate compartment-like organelle, and Is regulated by visual experience in cat visual cortex.

Monoclonal antibody Cat-307 identifies a 165 kDa neuronal protein expressed in the cat visual cortex during the period of sensitivity to alterations in visual experience (). Dark-rearing, which prolongs the sensitive period, also prolongs the expression of the Cat-307 protein. The Cat-307 protein localizes to an organelle, here called the botrysome (from the Greek botrys, cluster of grapes), that is located between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. The botrysome is composed of small ring-shaped profiles with electron-dense coats. The size and morphology of the rings and their coats are similar to those described for ER to Golgi transport vesicles. Biochemically, the Cat-307 protein cofractionates with microsomes and partitions with subunits of the coatomer proteins that coat ER-to-Golgi transport vesicles. Partial amino acid sequencing reveals that the Cat-307 protein is phospholipase C-beta1, the G-protein-dependent phosphodiesterase that hydrolyses phosphatidylinositol 4,5 biphosphate into inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate and diacylglycerol after the stimulation of a variety of neurotransmitter receptors at the cell surface. These results suggest a role for phospholipase C-beta1 and the botrysome in developmental plasticity and provide a possible link between receptor activation at the cell surface and protein transport during neuronal development.

Animal Husbandry↗

Modular organization of occipito-temporal pathways: cortical connections between visual area 4 and visual area 2 and posterior inferotemporal ventral area in macaque monkeys.

The modular organization of cortical pathways linking visual area 4 (V4) with occipital visual area 2 (V2) and inferotemporal posterior inferotemporal ventral area (PITv) was investigated through an analysis of the patterns of retrogradely labeled cell bodies after injections of tracers into V4 and PITv. Although cytochrome oxidase or other stains have failed to yield reliable independent anatomical markers for cortical modules beyond V1 and V2, V4 and PITv seem to have modular compartments with specific patterns of cortico-cortical connectivity. Tracer injections of V4 labeled cells in V2 (1) thin stripes exclusively, (2) interstripes exclusively, or (3) specific combinations of interstripe and thin stripe subcompartments. These labeling patterns suggest (1) that there is a complicated organization of inputs to V4, (2) that projections from V2 to V4 display a submodular selectivity, and (3) that projections from V2 to V4 display some degree of cross-stream convergence. Consistent with this framework, extensive regions of PITv provide feedback projections to interstripe-recipient portions of V4, whereas more restricted portions of PITv provide feedback to thin stripe-recipient portions of V4. Similarly, the feedforward projection from V4 to PITv often arose from multiple cell clusters across a wide expanse of V4. When distinguishable fluorescent tracers were injected into two PITv sites separated by 3-5 mm, a variety of projection patterns was observed in V4. In most cases, labeled cells were found in multiple, interdigitating, nonoverlapping clusters of 1-3 mm width, whereas in other cases the two labeled fields were highly intermixed. These results suggest that V4 and PITv contain functional modules that can be characterized by the specific patterns of segregated and convergent projections they receive from lower cortical areas. These specific patterns of intercortical input, in conjunction with intrinsic cortical circuitry, may endow extrastriate cortical neurons with new and more complex receptive field properties.

Animals↗

[Simultaneous recording of visually evoked potentials (VEP) and registration of simple visual reaction times (RT) in the maximum range of ethanol influence (author's transl)].

The method of simultaneous recording of visual-evoked response (1 occipit-vertex) and simple reaction time to periodic foveal visual stimuli of 1/" per sec was applied to 16 normal individuals. On two successive days the conditions were kept constant except for an independent variable, i.e., ethanol with an average peak of 1.32%; the range of 0.1% below the peak being examined. The amplitude of the component N2-P3 (120-170 msec after the stimuli) was depressed in all individuals. The latencies of N2 and P3 were increased concurrently. The latency of P3, for example, was increased by 10.7% (P less than or equal 0.01) and that of the means of simultaneously recorded reaction time by 14.8% (P less than or equal 0.01). The amount of the increase, however, showed no significant correlation between the two when using Spearman's correlation coefficient and t-test.

Ethanol↗

Visual resolution and sensitivity of single cells in the primary visual cortex (V1) of a nocturnal primate (bush baby): correlations with cortical layers and cytochrome oxidase patterns.

1. This study describes the response properties of V1 cortical cells in a nocturnal primate and examines the receptive field organization of these cells in relationship to anatomically defined layers and cytochrome oxidase (CO) rich blobs and CO poor interblob compartments. Visual resolution and contrast sensitivity are consistent with other physiological and behavioral measures in this species. Comparisons are made with response properties of the same zones in macaque monkey, as well as of area 17 of a distantly related species (cat) that also occupies a nocturnal niche. 2. The responses of single cells to drifting sinusoidal gratings were recorded in V1 (striate cortex) of anesthetized, paralyzed bush babies (Galago crassicaudatus). Cells tended to be grouped with respect to ocular dominance, orientation preference, and direction selectivity. There was a high proportion of monocularly driven cells as in macaque monkey. Only 6% of the cells were nonoriented. These were poorly tuned complex cells and bore no resemblance to nonoriented lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)-like cells reported in layer IV of macaque monkeys. Unidirectional cells were most frequently encountered in cortical layers that receive input from the magnocellular layers of the LGN. 3. Cells were classified as simple (31%) or complex (69%) according to standard criteria. Simple cells were significantly more narrowly tuned than complex cells for both orientation and spatial frequency. Complex cells had significantly higher average optimal spatial frequencies and spatial frequency cutoffs than simple cells. Contrast sensitivity of simple and complex cells averaged 38 and 34, respectively. Spatial resolution and sensitivity of these cells matches behavioral measures in bush baby. The spatial and temporal resolution of bush baby cells are similar to those of cats, which is likely related to the nocturnal niche of both species. 4. Cells in supragranular (I-III) and infragranular (V, VI) layers differed significantly in their response characteristics. The cells in the supragranular layers had significantly higher contrast sensitivity than did the cells in the infragranular layers. Cells in the supragranular layers likewise had higher temporal frequency cutoffs, significantly lower optimal spatial frequencies, lower spatial frequency cutoffs, and tighter orientation tuning than did cells in the infragranular layers. 5. Properties of cells in individual layers and CO blob and interblob compartments also showed differentiation. Layer III had the narrowest orientation and spatial frequency tuning with the tightest tuning in layer IIIC (IVB).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Binocular visual perception in strabismics studied by means of visual evoked responses.

Ten normal subjects and 14 patients with comitant esotropia were examined by means of pattern visual evoked responses (VER) under monocular and binocular viewing conditions. When both eyes were stimulated together a VER summation was noted both in normals and in strabismics with small-angle deviation and anomalous retinal correspondence (ARC). This is considered as an objective proof of binocularity. Patients with large-angle strabismus and/or suppression of the image of the deviated eye did not show summation. The significance of summation and its relationship with binocular vision was analyzed by recording binocular VER in normals in which diplopia was artificially induced and in strabismics who spontaneously exhibited double vision. A simple way for differentiating normals from strabismics by means of VERs is presented, considering that the presence or absence of summation per se does not achieve this result. This method is based on the anteposition in front of the fixing eye of neutral filters of increasing density. Summation disappears in strabismics with much weaker filters than in normals (0.5 versus 1.6 log. unit).

Electrophysiology↗

Differential responsiveness of cells in the visual zones of the cat's LP-pulvinar complex to visual stimuli.

Multiple visual field representations are contained within the feline LP-pulvinar complex; regions differentiated by their afferent and efferent connectivity patterns as the striate-, tecto- and retino-recipient zones. Cell responses from these visuotopic zones were investigated in immobilized cats under N2O/O2 supplemented with pentobarbitone or Althesin, using spot, bar and textured stimuli. Response fields recorded within the LP-pulvinar complex were classified as diffuse, concentric, movement-, direction- or orientation-sensitive. Concentric receptive fields were further classified as sustained (X), transient (Y) or tonic/phasic W-cells. Direction- and movement-sensitive cells predominated in the striate- and tecto-recipient zones, respectively. Motion of noise fields, or noise bars against an identical stationary noise background elicited vigorous responses from cells in the striate zone, many showing a preference for noise stimuli. In contrast, cells from the tectal zone and other divisions of the LP-pulvinar complex were insensitive to noise. The retino-recipient zone at the lateral margin of the pulvinar nucleus was characterized by cells with concentric receptive fields, the majority exhibiting properties similar to W-cells in the LGNd. The evidence supports the notion of functional subdivision within the LP-pulvinar complex corresponding to the visuotopically organized regions defined by their connectivity patterns. Consideration of the retino-recipient zone as an extension of the LGNd-MIN complex is discussed.

Animals↗

Testing of concentric visual field constriction by means of scotopic visually evoked potentials.

Using scotopic visually evoked potentials (VEP), an objective test of concentric absolute field defects is presented. At 0.8 log units above the mean VEP threshold, the full field, the central area of 50 degrees diameter, and the complementary peripheral field were flash stimulated. In 13 normal subjects the peripheral VEP response was larger in amplitude and shorter in latency compared to the central response. In four cases of concentric field restriction due to hysteria and malingering, the same results were found. In three cases of retinitis pigmentosa and advanced glaucoma, the peripheral VEP sensitivity was worse than the central one or no response could be found. The amount of stray light was estimated as the difference of the thresholds for central and peripheral stimulation (1.6 to 1.8 log units) in a patient with a residual central field of 20 degrees.

Adolescent↗

Focal lesions of visual cortex--effects on visual evoked potentials in rats.

Focal lesions were placed in the visual cortex of Long-Evans hooded rats, immediately below skull screw recording electrodes. Lesions were produced by heat, and extended an average depth of about 0.9 mm below the cortical surface. Evoked potentials recorded from the electrode overlying the cortical lesion were compared with simultaneously recorded potentials from a contralateral homotopic site. The effects of the lesion were selective. Flash-evoked potential peaks P1, P2, and N2 were depressed by the lesion, and peaks N1 and P3 were augmented; peak N3 was unaffected. Pattern reversal evoked potential peak N3 was depressed by the lesion, and peaks N1 and P2 were made more distinct. The results emphasized that different peaks have different generators, and suggest in particular that flash-evoked potential peaks P1 and N2, and peak N3 of the pattern reversal-evoked potential require the superficial layers of the cortex.

Animals↗

Emergence of functional circuits in ferret visual cortex visualized by optical imaging.

The emergence of functional lateral interactions in ferret visual cortex was monitored using high speed optical imaging of voltage-sensitive dye signals in brain slices. Prior to the time of eye opening, lateral activation was restricted to a narrow columnar region. During the week following eye opening, the extent of lateral propagation of activity more than doubled. Selective interruption of specific pathways in the slice, combined with pharmacological and anatomical experiments, determined that this lateral propagation was mediated by horizontal projections made within layer 2/3. These results indicate that functional horizontal interactions emerge only after axons begin branching and in parallel with, but not prior to, the refinement of orientation selectivity.

Age Factors↗

Visual cortex: a cat's-eye view of the visual system.

Optical imaging data show that the cat's visual cortex contains patches of cells that respond to low spatial and high temporal frequencies; outside the patches, cells respond to high spatial and low temporal frequencies. The results suggest a possible anatomical substrate for psychophysically defined spatial frequency channels.

Animals↗

The sequential processing of visual motion in the human electroretinogram and visual evoked potential.

Mechanisms of motion vision in the human have been studied extensively by psychophysical methods but less frequently by electrophysiological techniques. It is the purpose of the present investigation to study electrical potentials of the eye (electroretinogram, ERG) and of the brain (visual evoked potential, VEP) in response to moving regular square-wave stripe patterns spanning a wide range of contrasts, spatial frequencies, and speeds. The results show that ERG amplitudes increase linearly with contrast while VEPs, in agreement with the literature, show an amplitude saturation at low contrast. Furthermore, retinal responses oscillate with the fundamental temporal stimulus frequency of the moving pattern while brain responses do not. In both the retina and the brain, the response amplitudes are tuned to certain speeds which is in agreement with the nonlinear correlation-type motion detector. Along the ascending slopes (which means increasing amplitudes) of the tuning functions, the ERG curves overlap at all spatial frequencies if plotted as a function of temporal stimulation frequency. The ascending slopes of the tuning functions of the VEP overlap if plotted as a function of speed. The descending slopes (which means decreasing amplitudes) of the tuning functions show little (ERG) or no (VEP) overlap and the waveforms at high speeds approach pattern-offset-onset responses. These observations suggest that in the retina motion processing along the ascending slopes of the tuning curves takes place by coding the temporal stimulation frequency which depends on the spatial frequency of the moving pattern. In the brain, however, motion processing is by speed independent of spatial frequency. Simple calculations show that the VEP information is decoded from the ERG signal into a speed signal.

Contrast Sensitivity↗

Visual field defects in diabetic children without retinopathy. Relation between visual function and microalbuminuria.

The effects of diabetes on retinal function before the onset of clinically detectable retinopathy have been investigated with several methods. Our aim is to evaluate the usefulness of computerized perimetry in early diagnosis of retinal sensitivity impairment in lack of fluorescein angiographic signs of diabetic retinopathy. Seventy diabetic children and adolescents, 39 normoalbuminuric and 31 microalbuminuric patients, and 70 normal subjects were investigated with static computerized perimetry. Normoalbuminuric patients showed functional parameters similar to those of controls, while microalbuminuric patients had a significant reduction of mid-peripheral light sensitivity in comparison with both normoalbuminuric children and controls. Our data suggest that an impaired light sensitivity, in mid-periphery of the visual field, is present in diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria.

Adolescent↗

The asymmetrical visual evoked potential to pattern reversal in one half field and its significance for the analysis of visual field defects.

The consistency of the major positive component (P100) of the full-field pattern-reversal response provides a clinically valuable and objective means of detecting visual field defects. Its normally symmetrical distribution about the midline of the occipital scalp results from the summation of two highly asymmetric half-field responses, each of which shows the positive component well lateralised with a widespread distribution on the ipsilateral side. Stimulation of each eye in patients with bitemporal and homonymous hemianopias results in two characteristic patterns of asymmetry, named 'crossed' and 'uncrossed' respectively, in which the major positivity is consistently recorded on the side ipsilateral to the preserved half field. Recordings from a patient after occipital lobectomy confirm the authors' previous suggestion that although the major positive component is recorded from the ipsilateral scalp the typical asymmetric half-field response is generated in the contralateral hemisphere.

Action Potentials↗

Effect of body temperature on visual evoked potential delay and visual perception in multiple sclerosis.

Seven multiple sclerosis patients were cooled and four heated, but evoked potential delay changed in only five out 11 experiments. Control limits were set by cooling eight and heating four control subjects. One patient gave anomalous results in that although heating degraded perceptual delay and visual acuity, and depressed the sine wave grating MTF, double-flash resolution was improved. An explanation is proposed in terms of the pattern of axonal demyelination. The medium frequency flicker evoked potential test seems to be a less reliable means of monitoring the progress of demyelination in multiple sclerosis patients than is double-flash campimetry or perceptual delay campimetry, although in some situations the objectivity of the evoked potential test would be advantageous.

Body Temperature↗

Correlation of CAT scan and visual field defects in vascular lesions of the posterior visual pathways.

Thirty-nine patients with various types of isolated homonymous hemianopias resulting from ischaemic lesions in the posterior parts of the cerebral hemisphere was examined by CAT scanning. Most had localised low density lesions withing the distribution of the posterior cerebral artery. The location of the lesion (deduced from a separate anatomical study of postmortem brain cut in the plane of the CAT scanner) was correlated with visual field defects. Lesions giving rise to quadrantic defects were smaller than those causing total hemianopias; lower quadrantic defects tended to occur in superior cuts and vice versa. Macular sparing was associated with survival of the occipital pole in some instances. Bilateral cases had a higher prevalence of associated defects.

Adult↗