Martin Feldman

Potential changes associated with rapid eye movement in the calcarine cortex

Abstract Saccadic eye movements, quick phases of nystagmus, and blinks induced prominent potential changes in the rostral calcarine cortex of the monkey. Slow eye movement did not induce these potential changes. Calcarine potential changes disappeared in darkness and could be induced by passive eye movement. The latency and amplitude of the calcarine responses was related to the amount of light energy which reached the retina. The amplitude was also dependent on the size of the rapid eye movements which induced the potential changes. Contrast in the external visual fields had no apparent effect on the amplitude of these potentials. This is different from lambda waves which disappear or are markedly attenuated when contrasts are removed from the external visual fields. Calcarine potential changes were present at levels of illumination which were in the scotopic range, and increased in size between 10 and 25 min after animals began to dark-adapt to low light levels. They were not affected by foveal destruction. It is likely that they arose largely as a result of activity in rods in the periphery of the retina.

Alterations of the corneo-fundal potential of the eye during sleep.

Abstract The pattern of alteration of the corneo-fundal potential (CFP) of the human eye during the night of sleep was found to be similar in 15 subjects. During the first 30 min of entry into darkness and the onset of sleep CFP alterations were of large magnitude. A 28% decrease was followed by a 49% increase above the CFP level in standard illumination. These changes are probably a reflection of the process of dark adaptation of the retina. They are not influenced by the level of alertness. Throughout the remainder of the night of sleep the CFP changes are reliable and predictable. After the first hour the level of CFP is only slightly above that in bright illumination prior to sleep onset. Between 1.5 and 6 h the CFP increases in a linear manner. Once the level after 90 min is determined, the actual level after 6 h may be accurately predicted utilizing a linear model. Thus, for practical purposes the sensitivity of the amplifier of a DC recording system may be fixed after the initial pre-sleep calibration in standard room lighting and the level of elevation noted after 90 min.

The persistence of visual or auditory percepts as symptoms of irritative lesions of the cerebrum of man

SummaryIn this series of patients the persisting visual or auditory percepts were re-experienced immediately or were “replayed” many hours or even up to a day or more following the original stimulus. The persisting percepts were almost always experienced in the defective visual or auditory space contralateral to the responsible cerebral lesion. These patients usually had clinical evidence of cerebral irritation and seizures. When clinical seizures were controlled medically and stopped, so then did the persistent visual and auditory sensations. These spontaneous phenomena which we observed clinically were similar to the experiences elicited when the cerebrum of conscious man was stimulated through implanted electrodes. It seems that either spontaneous irritation of the brain or electrical excitation of the cerebrum of conscious man may induce “replays” of previous visual or auditory percepts which then appear as reality.ZusammenfassungBei den vorgängig beschriebenen Patienten werden Stunden und sogar 1 Tag nach dem ursprünglichen Reiz persistierende visuelle und Gehörssensationen wieder empfunden und immer wieder „abgespielt“. Die persistierenden Wahrnehmungen wurden so gut wie immer im ausgefallenen Gesichtsfeld bzw. Gehörsfeld, also kontralateral von der hierfür verantwortlichen cerebralen Läsion empfunden. Im allgemeinen hatten die Patienten klinische Hinweise für cerebrale Reizzustände und epileptische Anfälle. Sofern die klinische Epilepsie medikamentös kontrolliert wurde und keine Anfälle mehr auftraten, verschwanden auch die persistierenden Gehörs- und optischen Sensationen. Diese Spontanphänomene, die wir klinisch beobachten konnten, waren vergleichbar mit denjenigen, welche durch implantierte Elektroden experimentell am wachen Patienten erzeugt werden können. Es scheint also, daß sowohl spontane Reizherde des Gehirns als auch elektrische Reizung desselben beim Menschen das Nacherleben bzw. „Abspielen“ von früher wahrgenommenen optischen und visuellen Wahrnehmungen bewirken kann, die dann als durchaus real empfunden werden.

Comprehensive lifestyle interventions in the community: A preliminary analysis

In a 6-month prospective study designed to retard the aging process, we examined the effects of comprehensive lifestyle modifications in 52 participants aged 31 to 78 years, who were free of clinically overt disease. The group adhered to a low-fat vegetarian diet supplemented with antioxidant nutrients, engaged in regular aerobic exercise (power-walking or jogging), and received motivational support. Statistical analysis of objective data shows a trend of optimization of weight and lipid values. Overall, the group lost an average of 2.95 kg, or 4.4% of starting weight; total cholesterol (TC) decreased 7.7%; LDL-C, 12%; and TC/HDL-C ratio, 9%. Analysis by age and gender shows no significant differences in trends. When grouped by objective parameter, maximal effect is found in those with greatest deviation from a normal value at baseline. Subjective assessments showed significant improvement in energy levels and physiological functioning. Although more well-defined studies are needed, we conclude that lifestyle modifications can optimize health status and level of physiologic functioning, and may be instituted by adults of all age groups with prior medical approval.

Nutrition and Lifestyle Intervention on Mood and Neurological Disorders

This group study explored how an intervention of diet and lifestyle, including a vegan diet, fruit and vegetable juicing, nutritional supplements, regular exercise, and destressing techniques, would affect 27 subjects with anxiety, depression, poor memory, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, history of stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Several subjects had overlapping conditions. Videotaped testimonials were obtained describing subjective results. Testimonials stated multiple benefits across all conditions addressed by the study, with subjects often reporting substantial benefits. These results demonstrate that an intervention of diet, juicing, supplements, exercise, and lifestyle may provide considerable benefits for all conditions addressed.

Perception — Auditory Perseveration: Palinacousis: Persistent or Recurring Auditory Sensations

electronystagmography could serve as an invaluable aid in differentiating dysmetric dyslexia from the other organic forms of dyslexia and the monorganic psychogenic and faulty teaching dyslexias as Well. The information obtained from the completed study should lead to an improved classification for dyslexia based upon neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and pathogenetic principles, with corresponding psychological, pedagogical, and medical treatment techniques, i.e., the use of cerebellar-vestibular harmonizing agents alone or in combination with low doses of methylphenidate for the prevention and treatment of dysmetric dyslexia. Postscript: The authors have recently succeeded in proving the dysmetric dyslexic hypothesis by means of a new, rapid, highly accurate (98%) and specific dysmetric dyslexic mass screening procedure which can detect cerebellar-vestibular dysfunction and dysmetric dyslexia in prekindergarten (4 to 5-yearolds) and beginning school children without the need for the ti me-co nsumi ng. d if f icu I t , and cumbersome Barany caloric stimulation. The details of the procedure, which takes 2-5 minutes, and statistical validation will form the basis and subject matter of a second paper.