Evaluation of physiological response and synchronisation errors during synchronous and pseudosynchronous stimulation trials.

Rhythm perception and synchronisation is musical ability with neural basis defined as the ability to perceive rhythm in music and synchronise body movements with it. The study aimed to check the errors of synchronisation and physiological response as a reaction of the subjects to metrorhythmic stimuli of synchronous and pseudosynchronous stimulation (synchronisation with an externally controlled rhythm, but in reality controlled or produced tone by tapping) Nineteen subjects without diagnosed motor disorders participated in the study. Two tests were performed, where the electromyography signal and reaction time were recorded using the NORAXON system. In addition, physiological signals such as electrodermal activity and blood volume pulse were measured using the Empatica E4. Study 1 consisted of adapting the finger tapping test in pseudosynchrony with a given metrorhythmic stimulus with a selection of preferred, choices of decreasing and increasing tempo. Study 2 consisted of metrorhythmic synchronisation during the heel stomping test. Numerous correlations and statistically significant parameters were found between the response of the subjects with respect to their musical education, musical and sports activities. Most of the differentiating characteristics shown evidence of some group division in the undertaking of musical activities. The use of detailed analyses of synchronisation errors can contribute to the development of methods to improve the rehabilitation process of subjects with motor dysfunction, and this will contribute to the development of an expert system that considers personalised musical preferences.

Analysis of the relationship between emotion intensity and electrophysiology parameters during a voice examination of opera singers.

OBJECTIVES: Emotions and stress affect voice production. There are only a few reports in the literature on how changes in the autonomic nervous system affect voice production. The aim of this study was to examine emotions and measure stress reactions during a voice examination procedure, particularly changes in the muscles surrounding the larynx. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material included 50 healthy volunteers (26 voice workers - opera singers, 24 control subjects), all without vocal complaints. All subjects had good voice quality in a perceptual assessment. The research procedure consisted of 4 parts: an ear, nose, and throat (ENT)­phoniatric examination, surface electromyography, recording physiological indicators (heart rate and skin resistance) using a wearable wristband, and a psychological profile based on questionnaires. RESULTS: The results of the study demonstrated that there was a relationship between positive and negative emotions and stress reactions related to the voice examination procedure, as well as to the tone of the vocal tract muscles. There were significant correlations between measures describing the intensity of experienced emotions and vocal tract muscle maximum amplitude of the cricothyroid (CT) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles during phonation and non-phonation tasks. Subjects experiencing eustress (favorable stress response) had increased amplitude of submandibular and CT at rest and phonation. Subjects with high levels of negative emotions, revealed positive correlations with SCMmax during the glissando. The perception of positive and negative emotions caused different responses not only in the vocal tract but also in the vegetative system. Correlations were found between emotions and physiological parameters, most markedly in heart rate variability. A higher incidence of extreme emotions was observed in the professional group. CONCLUSIONS: The activity of the vocal tract muscles depends on the type and intensity of the emotions and stress reactions. The perception of positive and negative emotions causes different responses in the vegetative system and the vocal tract. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):84-97.

Wearable-based human flow experience recognition enhanced by transfer learning methods using emotion data.

BACKGROUND: Flow experience is a specific positive and affective state that occurs when humans are completely absorbed in an activity and forget everything else. This state can lead to high performance, well-being, and productivity at work. Few studies have been conducted to determine the human flow experience using physiological wearable sensor devices. Other studies rely on self-reported data. METHODS: In this article, we use physiological data collected from 25 subjects with multimodal sensing devices, in particular the Empatica E4 wristband, the Emotiv Epoc X electroencephalography (EEG) headset, and the Biosignalplux RespiBAN - in arithmetic and reading tasks to automatically discriminate between flow and non-flow states using feature engineering and deep feature learning approaches. The most meaningful wearable device for flow detection is determined by comparing the performances of each device. We also investigate the connection between emotions and flow by testing transfer learning techniques involving an emotion recognition-related task on the source domain. RESULTS: The EEG sensor modalities yielded the best performances with an accuracy of 64.97%, and a macro Averaged F1 (AF1) score of 64.95%. An accuracy of 73.63% and an AF1 score of 72.70% were obtained after fusing all sensor modalities from all devices. Additionally, our proposed transfer learning approach using emotional arousal classification on the DEAP dataset led to an increase in performances with an accuracy of 75.10% and an AF1 score of 74.92%. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that effective discrimination between flow and non-flow states is possible with multimodal sensor data. The success of transfer learning using the DEAP emotion dataset as a source domain indicates that emotions and flow are connected, and emotion recognition can be used as a latent task to enhance the performance of flow recognition.

Electrophysiological predictors of hyperfunctional dysphonia.

BACKGROUND: The relation between the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and muscles of the vocal tract is of particular importance when considering the pathomechanism of a functional voice disorder. AIMS: The aim of this study was to record electrophysiological indicators from the ANS as well as the tone of the external laryngeal muscle and test whether together they could point to an enhanced risk of primary functional voice disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study material consisted of 81 people, 27 of whom were professional opera singers. None reported any voice complaints. The research comprised ENT and phoniatric examination, superficial electromyography (SEMG), and recording of physiological indicators (pulse rate, skin resistance). RESULTS: All subjects had a clear voice with no sign of vocal disability. Endoscopy revealed laryngeal hyperfunction in 26 people. SEMG revealed that the 26 had increased external laryngeal muscle tone during phonation, and this finding correlated with a change in certain electrophysiological indicators HRV, BVP, EDA. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that anomalies in electrophysiological parameters in individuals with subclinical symptoms of functional voice disorder may be at risk of developing fully symptomatic hyperfunctional dysphonia in the future. Vocal training, which differentiates singers and non-singers, is known to have an effect on subclinical hyperfunctional dysphonia. SIGNIFICANCE: By measuring indicators of hyperfunctional dysphonia, it may be possible to take remedial action before symptomatic dysphonia develops.

The relationships of psychological capital and influence regulation with job satisfaction and job performance.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The individual difference predictors of positive work attitudes and behaviors have been widely investigated in the field of positive organizational scholarship. However, to date, integrating studies linking positive psychological resources, such as Psychological Capital and influence regulation, with positive organizational outcomes are still scarce. Thus, the main aim of the present study was to examine the relationships of Psychological Capital and influence regulation with job satisfaction and job performance both at the individual and team levels. METHODS: Within the cross-sectional multi-source research involving both team leaders and team members from 34 different teams, we examined the relationships of Psychological Capital and influence regulation with job satisfaction and job performance. The relationships of the study variables were based on the positive organizational behavior and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, which suggest the positive relationships of distinct positive psychological resources with positive work outcomes. Accordingly, in addition to the widely accepted concept of Psychological Capital (PsyCap), we employed and analyzed the complimentary construct of influence regulation (i.e., the ability to intentionally share social influence with others in the workplace) both at the individual and group levels. RESULTS: The results of hierarchical linear modeling with 304 individuals from 34 teams from a diverse sample of Polish employees indicated that team members' PsyCap was positively linked to individual-level job satisfaction and two facets of job performance, i.e. creative performance and in-role performance. In contrast, no relationship was found between influence regulation and job satisfaction or job performance at both levels of analysis. CONCLUSION: With regard to positive interpersonal resources, the findings highlight the role of PsyCap in predicting job satisfaction and job performance and broaden the understanding of positivity in the workplace by introducing the construct of influence regulation. Also, based on the study results, managerial implications are discussed.

Optimism as a protective factor against the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic through its effects on perceived stress and infection stress anticipation.

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the recommended social isolation presented a challenge to people's mental health status. Optimism is a psychological factor that plays a key role in the evaluation of stressful situations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of perceived stress and Covid-19-related stress anticipation in the relationship between optimism and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Our sample included 1015 participants ranging in age from 18 to 79 years, 80% of whom were Spaniards. At the beginning of the worldwide pandemic, participants were confined to their homes for at least seven days and completed an online survey measuring various sociodemographic and psychological variables. We found an indirect effect of optimism on intrusion and hyperarousal through perceived stress and stress anticipation. In addition, we observed an indirect effect of optimism on avoidance through perceived stress. Finally, the results showed a significant indirect effect of optimism on the total post-traumatic stress symptoms score through perceived stress and stress anticipation. Our results indicate that positive beliefs inherent to optimism are related to less psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Symphony of Team Flow in Virtual Teams. Using Artificial Intelligence for Its Recognition and Promotion.

More and more teams are collaborating virtually across the globe, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further encouraged the dissemination of virtual teamwork. However, there are challenges for virtual teams - such as reduced informal communication - with implications for team effectiveness. Team flow is a concept with high potential for promoting team effectiveness, however its measurement and promotion are challenging. Traditional team flow measurements rely on self-report questionnaires that require interrupting the team process. Approaches in artificial intelligence, i.e., machine learning, offer methods to identify an algorithm based on behavioral and sensor data that is able to identify team flow and its dynamics over time without interrupting the process. Thus, in this article we present an approach to identify team flow in virtual teams, using machine learning methods. First of all, based on a literature review, we provide a model of team flow characteristics, composed of characteristics that are shared with individual flow and characteristics that are unique for team flow. It is argued that those characteristics that are unique for team flow are represented by the concept of collective communication. Based on that, we present physiological and behavioral correlates of team flow which are suitable - but not limited to - being assessed in virtual teams and which can be used as input data for a machine learning system to assess team flow in real time. Finally, we suggest interventions to support team flow that can be implemented in real time, in virtual environments and controlled by artificial intelligence. This article thus contributes to finding indicators and dynamics of team flow in virtual teams, to stimulate future research and to promote team effectiveness.

Affective State during Physiotherapy and Its Analysis Using Machine Learning Methods.

Invasive or uncomfortable procedures especially during healthcare trigger emotions. Technological development of the equipment and systems for monitoring and recording psychophysiological functions enables continuous observation of changes to a situation responding to a situation. The presented study aimed to focus on the analysis of the individual's affective state. The results reflect the excitation expressed by the subjects' statements collected with psychological questionnaires. The research group consisted of 49 participants (22 women and 25 men). The measurement protocol included acquiring the electrodermal activity signal, cardiac signals, and accelerometric signals in three axes. Subjective measurements were acquired for affective state using the JAWS questionnaires, for cognitive skills the DST, and for verbal fluency the VFT. The physiological and psychological data were subjected to statistical analysis and then to a machine learning process using different features selection methods (JMI or PCA). The highest accuracy of the kNN classifier was achieved in combination with the JMI method (81.63%) concerning the division complying with the JAWS test results. The classification sensitivity and specificity were 85.71% and 71.43%.

Hybrid System of Emotion Evaluation in Physiotherapeutic Procedures.

Nowadays, the dynamic development of technology allows for the design of systems based on various information sources and their integration into hybrid expert systems. One of the areas of research where such systems are especially helpful is emotion analysis. The sympathetic nervous system controls emotions, while its function is directly reflected by the electrodermal activity (EDA) signal. The presented study aimed to develop a tool and propose a physiological data set to complement the psychological data. The study group consisted of 41 students aged from 19 to 26 years. The presented research protocol was based on the acquisition of the electrodermal activity signal using the Empatica E4 device during three exercises performed in a prototype Disc4Spine system and using the psychological research methods. Different methods (hierarchical and non-hierarchical) of subsequent data clustering and optimisation in the context of emotions experienced were analysed. The best results were obtained for the k-means classifier during Exercise 3 (80.49%) and for the combination of the EDA signal with negative emotions (80.48%). A comparison of accuracy of the k-means classification with the independent division made by a psychologist revealed again the best results for negative emotions (78.05%).

[Dimensions of work ethic as predictors of strategies to cope with stress]. / Wymiary etyki pracy jako predyktory strategii radzenia sobie ze stresem.

BACKGROUND: The article presents the mutual relations between the components of work ethic and the strategies of coping with stress used by employees of different branches. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Work ethic was presented as a syndrome of the following attitudes: perceiving work as a moral value, treating work as a central value in life, and the belief in the importance of hard work that leads to success. This ethic also consists of the following components: unwillingness to waste time, disapproval of spare time (anti-leisure), willingness to delay gratification, willingness to act honestly at work (morality/ethic), and being independent (self-reliance). Coping strategies were presented as 3 dimensions (obtained by application of factor analysis of the questionnaire scales COPE (Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced)): proactive cognitive operations, avoidance of action and seeking support. RESULTS: The study conducted on 360 employees of different branches shows that the dimensions of the work ethic are moderately related to strategies emphasizing proactive cognitive operations and poorly related to seeking support and avoidance of action. At the same time, the relations between work ethic and avoidance of action are negative (higher work ethic is linked with lower tendency to avoid action). CONCLUSIONS: Predictors of proactive cognitive operations are unwillingness to waste time, treating work as a central value in life, willingness to act honestly at work (morality/ethic) and being independent (self-reliance). Med Pr 2017;68(6):711-724.

Vestibular schwannoma: dissection of the tumor and arachnoidal duplication.

INTRODUCTION: In vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery, the arachnoidal duplication, based on an epiarachnoidal origin of the tumor, is reputedly induced by medial growth of tumor and helpful in atraumatic dissection. This study was intended to verify the epiarachnoidal origin of VS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 49 human temporal bones (TBs) specimens. Twenty-two TBs from 18 patients with VS were selected. An additional series of 27 TBs without any tumor within the internal auditory meatus were also included. We identified the location of the meninges and the position of the transition zone inside the meatus and described the lateral extension of the subarachnoid spaces. RESULTS: In VS specimens, psammoma bodies were seen at the fundus along the arachnoidal layer. No connective tissue or protrusion of a psammoma body was observed between the nerves and the VS. High magnification failed to demonstrate any meningeal cleavage plane between the facial or cochlear nerve and the tumor. The subarachnoid space was visible within the internal auditory meatus and extended from the porus to the fundus. In every case, the transition zone, the vestibular ganglion, or the VS was located in the subarachnoid fluid space. CONCLUSION: We were not able to identify any layer between tumor and the intrameatal contents and did not observe any conjunctive-tissue capsule surrounding the intrameatal VS, as an epiarachnoidal tumor origin would suggest. These observations are in contradiction with the descriptions concerning the epiarachnoidal origin of VS.

Otosclerosis associated with Ménière's disease: a histological study.

A histological study of a pair of temporal bones was performed in a case of Menière's disease. A severe endolymphatic hydrops and extensive capsular otosclerosis bilaterally was found. Severe endolympathic hydrops results from otosclerotic endolympahtic duct occlusion. Our unique histopathological findings show that a causal association exists between these two entities.

The effect of the crimping of the piston to the long process of the incus on sound transmission in the middle ear of the temporal bone model / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of crimping of thepiston to the long process of the incus on sound transmission in the middle ear of the temporal bone model, and to use this information to guide stapes surgery and ossicular reconstruction. METHODS Seventeen temporal bone models was analyzed under different electromechanical stimulations. Scanning laser Doppler interferometry was used to measure the differences in sound conductivity due to the piston and the long process of the incus being crimped to a different degree. RESULTS The degree of crimping of the piston to long process of the incus was defined as either tight,loose or none. The classification was done by three physicians using endoscopic and scanning electron microscopic images. There was no significant disagreement among the doctors. Under 500 mV,800 mV,and 1200 mV of electromechanical stimulations,the degree of sound conductivity between the long process of the incus and piston was determined by scanning laser Doppler interferometry. A computer algorithm was developed in order to simulate acoustic stimulation by electromechanical stimulation. It has been found that the sound transmission loss was 2 dB,which was similar to the sound transmission loss of 3 dB within the incudostapedial joint. But the degree of crimping resulted in variabilities in this number. While the greatest loss was 28 dB,the average loss was 10 dB. CONCLUSION The optimal crimping between the long process of the incus and piston is tight,as it results in less sound transmission loss compared to the physiologic transmission loss within the incudostapedial joint.

[Sound transmission loss within the middle ear].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the amount of sound transmission loss in order to deeply understand the mechanism of middle ear sound transmission for ossicular reconstruction and for guidance of crimping between prosthesis and stapes on sound transmission in stapes surgery. METHODS: In order to get a correcting magnetic field 2 temporal bone models was used first. Temporal bone models was developed using 17 human temporal bones from fresh cadavers. To measure the sound transmission properties in the middle ear, 15 temporal bone models were detected by scanning laser Doppler interferometry with acoustical stimulation and electromechanical stimulation. An algorithm was developed to simulate acoustical stimulation with electromechanical stimulation. A sound transmission loss within the incudostapedial joint was detected by electromechanical stimulation in 10 temporal bone models. RESULTS: The average transmission loss within the incudostapedial joint remained 3 dB over the frequencies detected. CONCLUSIONS: There was a sound transmission loss within the incudostapedial joint, which was a physiological and protection way.

The anterior and superior malleal ligaments in otosclerosis: a histopathologic observation.

HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to assess, in otosclerosis, whether the anterior and superior malleal ligaments show histologic changes that can lead to reduced malleal mobility and eventual fixation, and also to evaluate whether these changes are related to the degree of histologic otosclerosis. BACKGROUND: Fixation of the malleus seems to be one of the most controversial clinical entities in the acquired condition of otosclerosis. It has even been postulated that persistent conductive deafness, or progression of conductive deafness after initial improvement after stapedotomy, could be due to unsuspected malleus fixation. METHODS: Fifty eight temporal bones with known otosclerosis and 43 normal temporal bones were selected. In addition, 10 temporal bones of fetuses and children were also studied. Otosclerosis of the footplate and otic capsule was graded as none, mild, moderate, and severe. The histologic changes in the ligaments also were graded from none to severe. RESULTS: The median ages of patients in the otosclerotic and normal groups were 62 and 60 years, respectively. In the anterior malleal ligament of the otosclerotic bones, 10% mild (+), 60% moderate (++), and 30% severe (+++) degrees of hyalinization were observed. In the anterior malleal ligament of the nonotosclerotic bones, 14% showed no hyalinization, 24% had only a tinge of hyalinization (minimal), 51% had mild (+) hyalinization, and 11% had moderate (++) hyalinization. Superior ligament hyalinization appears to be related to the severity of anterior ligament hyalinization. The severity of otosclerosis in the footplate or the otic capsule did not appear to be related to the severity of hyalinization. CONCLUSION: From this study, it is apparent that otosclerotic bones have a significantly high incidence of hyalinization of the anterior malleal ligament. This seems to be related to the duration rather than the severity of otosclerosis. It is important to properly evaluate malleal mobility during all stapes surgery.

Degeneration pattern of human first-order cochlear neurons.

In the present study, quantitative analysis of the cochlear neurons in the osseous spiral lamina, the modiolus and the internal auditory canal of the same cochlea was performed. Forty-five temporal bones were obtained from 25 patients and prepared by means of microdissection. Ten patients had age-related normal hearing (ARNH) assuming that the 5 children without audiogram had normal hearing. Fifteen patients had sensorineural hearing loss due to various causes. The present study has shown that in young individuals the numbers of cochlear neurons are almost identical at all 3 sites. In patients over 60 years with ARNH, the loss of peripheral nerve processes is always severer than the loss of central nerve processes. This finding suggests that the central processes degenerate at a much slower rate or not at all. Furthermore, 4 different peripheral degeneration patterns were described. The factors responsible for the different degeneration behaviors are still not understood and need further investigation.