The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of swimming training on brain function after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Therefore, this study was examined on neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of hippocampus using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label proliferating cells and assessed the neurological response following focal cerebral ischemia in rats using neurological motor behavioral test. In an observer-blinded fashion, twenty male Sprague-Dawley (280~310 g, 7 weeks old) rats were divided into four groups: MCAO plus swimming group (ME, =5), MCAO plus control group (MC, =5), SHAM plus swimming group (SE, =5), SHAM plus control group (SC, =5). The results of this study were as follows: 1) The limb placing time before and after swimming in the ME group were significantly longer than the MC group (p<.05), the SE group were significantly longer than the SC group (p<.01). 2) The balance beam scores before and after swimming in the ME group was higher than the SE group, the MC group was higher than the SC group but was not significantly different (p>.001). 3) The foot fault index before and after swimming training in ME group was significantly lower (i.e., improved) than the MC group (p<.001) and the SE group (p<.001), the SE group was significantly lower (i.e., improved) than the SC group (p<.001). 4) The mean number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus in the ME group was significantly higher than the MC group (p<.001) and the SE group (p<.01). The MC group and the SE group was significantly higher than the SC group (p<.001). 5) There was significantly correlation between limb placing time and number of BrdU-positive cells on swimming training, there was positive correlation (r=.807, p<.0001) and between foot fault index and BrdU-positive cells number, there was negative correlation (r=-.503, p<.05). However, between balance beam scores and BrdU-positive cells number, there was no correlation. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the role of swimming training improves behavioral motor function probably by enhancing cell proliferation in that hippocampus. This study provides a model for investigating the stroke rehabilitation that underlies neurogenesis and functional ability.

본 연구는 뇌반구 이론에 입각해 뇌반구 우세성에 따라 학업성취, 자아개념 및 성취동기의 차이를 밝히고자 하였다. 연구대상은 대전광역시 소재 고등학교 1개교의 2학년 학생 189명이었다. 본 연구에서는 측정도구로 뇌반구 우세검사, 자아개념 검사, 성취동기검사를 사용하였다. 뇌반구 우세성은 좌뇌 우세형, 우뇌 우세형, 전뇌형 세집단으로 분류하였다. 주된 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 우뇌 우세형이 좌뇌 우세형 및 전뇌형에 비해 학업 성취도 및 능력에 대한 자아개념이 낮게 나타났다. 우뇌 우세형이 좌뇌형에 비해 성취동기가 낮게 나타났다. 이런 결과는 현재 학교에서 수리, 논리 중심의 좌뇌형 주제, 과목에 초점을 맞춘 교육을 하기 때문인 것으로 생각된다.

We assessed whether the use of a symmetrical upper limb motion trainer in daily repetitive training for a 6-week period reduced spasticity and improved motor function in three chronic hemiparetic patients. Upper limb motor impairment and disability were measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Manual Muscle Test (MMT), respectively. The electromyography (EMG) of the affected hand was recorded during isometric wrist flexion and extension. In all patients, FMA and MMT scores were significantly improved after the 6-week training. However, MAS scores of the affected wrist spasticity did not change considerably. Onset and Offset delays in muscle contraction significantly decreased in the affected wrist. The co-contraction ratio of flexor and extensor muscles significantly increased after the 6-week training. Onset and offset delays of the muscle contraction and co-contraction ratio correlated significantly with the patients' FMA. This study showed that repetitive, symmetric movement training can improve upper limb motor functions and abilities in chronic hemiparetic patients. Also, the EMG assessment of motor response is likely to provide insights into mechanisms and treatment strategies for motor recovery in chronic hemiparetic patients.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the presence of ipsilesional movement deficit, with segmental performance in each proximal or distal upper extremity. The visuoperceptual complex task of the ipsilesional upper extremity was investigated in patients with unilateral brain damage and a control group of healthy sex-age-matched controls. Tracking movements were tested in the proximal and distal upper extremities. Movements were measured by the accuracy index, which was normalized to each subject's own range of motion and took into account any differences between subjects in the excursion of the tracking target. The findings revealed that stroke patients experienced difficulties with tracking movement of both proximal and distal segments in the upper extremities on the so-called "non-affected side", irrespectively of the extent of patient's age, time since onset, or severity of contralateral upper extremity. Therefore, the unilateral brain damage affected ipsilateral motor function of the proximal and distal upper limbs in the performance of complex motor tasks, requiring central processing and the higher order cognitive function in the integrity of both hemispheres.

As an attempt to develop new functional health beverage by using medicinal herb, green ginger(Zingiber officinale Roscoe), we investigated the effect of Zingiber officinale on blood pressure and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of rats with Zingiber officinale extracts. Zingiber officinale extract increase rCBF significantly. The drink produced consisted of Zingiber officinale extract 1.825%, maltitol syrup 17.0%, citric aicd 0.06%, ascorbic acid 0.02%, stevioside 0.001%, ginger flavor 0.11% and water. Brix, pH and acidity of product were 13.7, 4.4 and 0.09, respectively. This drink had good score by the sensory evaluation. The above results showed that development of such functional beverage using Zingiber officinale can used as a functional material improving blood circulation in beverage industry.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulates cortical excitability beyond the duration of the rTMS trains themselves. Depending on rTMS parameters, a lasting inhibition or facilitation of cortical excitability can be induced. Therefore, rTMS of high or low frequency over motor cortex may change certain aspects of motor learning performance and cortical activation. This study investigated the effect of high and low frequency subthreshold rTMS applied to the motor cortex on motor learning of sequential finger movements and brain activation using functional MRI (fMRI). Three healthy right-handed subjects (mean age 23.3) were enrolled. All subjects were trained with sequences of seven-digit rapid sequential finger movements, 30 minutes per day for 5 consecutive days using their left hand. 10 Hz (high frequency) and 1 Hz (low frequency) trains of rTMS with 80% of resting motor threshold and sham stimulation were applied for each subject during the period of motor learning. rTMS was delivered on the scalp over the right primary motor cortex using a figure-eight shaped coil and a Rapid(R) stimulator with two Booster Modules (Magstim Co. Ltd, UK). Functional MRI (fMRI) was performed on a 3T ISOL Forte scanner before and after training in all subjects (35 slices per one brain volume TR/TE = 3000/30 ms, Flip angle , FOV 220 mm, matrix, slice thickness 4 mm). Response time (RT) and target scores (TS) of sequential finger movements were monitored during the training period and fMRl scanning. All subjects showed decreased RT and increased TS which reflecting learning effects over the training session. The subject who received high frequency rTMS showed better performance in TS and RT than those of the subjects with low frequency or sham stimulation of rTMS. In fMRI, the subject who received high frequency rTMS showed increased activation of primary motor cortex, premotor, and medial cerebellar areas after the motor sequence learning after the training, but the subject with low frequency rTMS showed decreased activation in above areas. High frequency subthreshold rTMS on the motor cortex may facilitate the excitability of motor cortex and improve the performance of motor sequence learning in normal subject.

Objective : This study was conducted to assess the changes in the functional levels of affected upper extremities after treating patients with brain injury by intensive CIMT (Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy). Method : Design was single-subject experimental reversal design (A-B-A). Subjects was 6 persons with brain injury (F: 1, M: 5), mean age (57.0±9.6). Intensive CIMT was performed over 6 hours a day for 2 weeks. Box and block test and nine hole pegboard were used for assessment of affected upper extremity function before and after intervention. Results : Compared baseline 1, functional level in both intervention and baseline 2 revealed improved functional levels. In addition, carry over effect was shown in baseline 2 period. Conclusion : Intensive CIMT based on task-oriented activity is considered to be effective because it decrease the time to use the paretic limb and thereby overcomes the “learned nonuse”.

이 연구는 일본 중서부 지방에서 1996년 겨울철에 발생한 뇌우의 관측 자료를 분석한 것이다. 관측기간 중 35 회의 뇌우가 발생하였으며 발생된 뇌 방전 수는 4426개였다. 관측된 뇌 방전 수를 뇌 방전 종별로 구분하여 그 발생비율을 구하였고, 뇌 방전의 종류와 기압배치와의 관계도 분석하였다. 그 결과 구름 뇌 방전의 비율은 약 78%이었으며, 양극성 낙뢰가 42.3%로 나타났다. 동계의 낙뢰활동은 미약하나 0∼5시에 가장 강하였다. 또한, 낙뢰는 북서 계절풍이 강한 경우에 활발하게 발생되고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 다중뇌와 다지점 낙뢰의 분석결과 평균 다중도는 1.4이고, 평균 다지점 낙뢰는 1.2로 나타났다.

뇌기능 장애 환자에서 자세균형 제어능력의 저하는 보행 및 일상생활동작 수행 등에 어려움을 초래하며 이에 대한 정확한 평가 및 치료를 위하여 일상의 환경변화와 유사한 상황을 제공하고 이에 따른 자세균형 조절 능력을 파악하는 것이 중요하다. 본 연구는 뇌기능 장애 환자에서 가상적 움직이는 환경에 따른 자세균형 조절 기능을 정확히 평가하고 환경의 움직임이 자세균형 조절에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 15명의 뇌기능 장애 환자들과 정상인 15명을 대상으로 실생활과 유사한 환경의 조성을 위하여 HMD를 이용한 가상 환경 움직임(Virtual Moving Surround)을 네 가지 다른 패턴으로 제공하였다. 자세동요의 정도는 힘판을 이용하여 신체압력중심의 변화를 전체이동거리, 동요주파수, 최대 빈도 COP 위치로 측정하였으며 가상 환경의 차이에 따른 변화를 비교 분석하였다. 연구결과 검사 재검사 신뢰도평가에서 일관된 분석결과를 나타냈고 뇌 기능장애 환자와 정상인의 분석에서는 두 그룹간의 차이를 확인할 수 있었다. 특히 전후로 빠르게 변하는 가상 환경에서 가장 큰 자세동요를 나타내었고 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있었다. 본 연구를 통해 뇌기능 장애 환자에서 가상 환경 변화가 자세균형 조절에 미치는 영향을 확인할 수 있었으며 이러한 환자들을 위한 치료와 평가 환경 조성 등에도 유용한 자료로 쓰일 수 있을 것으로 사료된다