Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 28 in total

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  1. Perumal R, Tan I
    IUBMB Life, 2007 Jul;59(7):465-8.
    PMID: 17654123
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  2. Lee LW, Wheldall K
    Dyslexia, 2011 Feb;17(1):19-37.
    PMID: 21241030 DOI: 10.1002/dys.421
    Malay is a consistent alphabetic orthography with complex syllable structures. The focus of this research was to investigate word recognition performance in order to inform reading interventions for low-progress early readers. Forty-six Grade 1 students were sampled and 11 were identified as low-progress readers. The results indicated that both syllable awareness and phoneme blending were significant predictors of word recognition, suggesting that both syllable and phonemic grain-sizes are important in Malay word recognition. Item analysis revealed a hierarchical pattern of difficulty based on the syllable and the phonic structure of the words. Error analysis identified the sources of errors to be errors due to inefficient syllable segmentation, oversimplification of syllables, insufficient grapheme-phoneme knowledge and inefficient phonemic code assembly. Evidence also suggests that direct instruction in syllable segmentation, phonemic awareness and grapheme-phoneme correspondence is necessary for low-progress readers to acquire word recognition skills. Finally, a logical sequence to teach grapheme-phoneme decoding in Malay is suggested.
    Matched MeSH terms: Verbal Learning/physiology*
  3. Cacha LA, Poznanski RR
    J Integr Neurosci, 2011 Dec;10(4):423-37.
    PMID: 22262534
    In earlier models, synaptic plasticity forms the basis for cellular signaling underlying learning and memory. However, synaptic computation of learning and memory in the brain remains controversial. In this paper, we discuss ways in which synaptic plasticity remodels subcellular networks by deflecting trajectories in neuronal state-space as regulating patterns for the synthesis of dynamic continuity that form cognitive networks of associable representations through endogenous dendritic coding to consolidate memory.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology
  4. Hasan S, Shamsuddin SM
    Comput Intell Neurosci, 2011;2011:121787.
    PMID: 21876686 DOI: 10.1155/2011/121787
    Multistrategy Learning of Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is commonly implemented in clustering domain due to its capabilities in handling complex data characteristics. However, some of these multistrategy learning architectures have weaknesses such as slow convergence time always being trapped in the local minima. This paper proposes multistrategy learning of SOM lattice structure with Particle Swarm Optimisation which is called ESOMPSO for solving various classification problems. The enhancement of SOM lattice structure is implemented by introducing a new hexagon formulation for better mapping quality in data classification and labeling. The weights of the enhanced SOM are optimised using PSO to obtain better output quality. The proposed method has been tested on various standard datasets with substantial comparisons with existing SOM network and various distance measurement. The results show that our proposed method yields a promising result with better average accuracy and quantisation errors compared to the other methods as well as convincing significant test.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  5. Amin H, Malik AS
    Neurosciences (Riyadh), 2013 Oct;18(4):330-44.
    PMID: 24141456
    Human memory is an important concept in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Our brain is actively engaged in functions of learning and memorization. Generally, human memory has been classified into 2 groups: short-term/working memory, and long-term memory. Using different memory paradigms and brain mapping techniques, psychologists and neuroscientists have identified 3 memory processes: encoding, retention, and recall. These processes have been studied using EEG and functional MRI (fMRI) in cognitive and neuroscience research. This study reviews previous research reported for human memory processes, particularly brain behavior in memory retention and recall processes with the use of EEG and fMRI. We discuss issues and challenges related to memory research with EEG and fMRI techniques.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology
  6. Damodaran T, Hassan Z, Navaratnam V, Muzaimi M, Ng G, Müller CP, et al.
    Behav Brain Res, 2014 Dec 15;275:252-8.
    PMID: 25239606 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.09.014
    Cerebral ischemia is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in aging populations, due to the frequent occurrence of irreversible brain damage and subsequent loss of neuronal function which lead to cognitive impairment and some motor dysfunction. In the present study, the real time course of motor and cognitive functions were evaluated following the chronic cerebral ischemia induced by permanent, bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (PBOCCA). Male Sprague Dawley rats (200-300g) were subjected to PBOCCA or sham-operated surgery and tested 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks following the ischemic insult. The results showed that PBOCCA significantly reduced step-through latency in a passive avoidance task at all time points when compared to the sham-operated group. PBOCCA rats also showed significant increase in escape latencies during training in the Morris water maze, as well as a reduction of the percentage of times spend in target quadrant of the maze at all time points following the occlusion. Importantly, there were no significant changes in locomotor activity between PBOCCA and sham-operated groups. The BDNF expression in the hippocampus was 29.3±3.1% and 40.1±2.6% on day 14 and 28 post PBOCCA, respectively compared to sham-operated group. Present data suggest that the PBOCCA procedure effectively induces behavioral, cognitive symptoms associated with cerebral ischemia and, consequently, provides a valuable model to study ischemia and related neurodegenerative disorder such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Maze Learning/physiology
  7. Goh HT, Gordon J, Sullivan KJ, Winstein CJ
    J Mot Behav, 2014;46(2):95-105.
    PMID: 24447033 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2013.868337
    The aim of this study was to examine the validity of a 2-choice audio-vocal reaction time (RT) probe task for measuring the changes in attentional demand during practice and learning of a discrete motor task. Twenty participants practiced the motor task across 3 days and were probed with the RT task during either the preparation or execution phase of the primary task. As practice progressed, participants improved in the primary task performance and shortened the RTs to the probe task. This indicated that less attention was required to plan and execute the movement and suggested that the RT probe task was a sensitive and valid tool to measure changes in attentional demands across practice. The authors implemented several additional experimental controls to address possible confounders including unintentional learning of the probe task, primary-secondary task trade-off effects, and compliance with task priority instructions. These experimental controls further ensured the validity of the probe paradigm and interpretability of the dual-task cost findings. Our experimental methods provided confirmatory evidence for the validity of the 2-choice RT task as a means to assess attentional demands during motor learning.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  8. Parsi S, Pandamooz S, Heidari S, Naji M, Morfini G, Ahmadiani A, et al.
    Neuroscience, 2015 Jan 22;284:99-106.
    PMID: 25270904 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.09.045
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive and irreversible cognitive and memory impairment. The discovery of familial forms of AD (fAD) in association with specific gene mutations facilitated the generation of numerous rodent models. These models in turn proved valuable for the study of molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis, and facilitated translational research and preclinical drug development. This study aimed to introduce a new rat model of AD simulating some aspects of the sporadic cases of disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Maze Learning/physiology
  9. Obaidellah UH, Cheng PC
    Percept Mot Skills, 2015 Apr;120(2):535-55.
    PMID: 25706345 DOI: 10.2466/24.PMS.120v17x6
    The study investigated the effects of chunking and perceptual patterns that guide the drawings of Rey complex figure. Ten adult participants (M age=22.2 yr., SD=4.1) reproduced a single stimulus in four drawing modes including delayed recall, tracing, copying, and immediate recall across 10 sessions producing a total of 400 trials. It was hypothesized that the effect of chunking is most obvious in the free recall tasks than in the tracing or copying tasks. Measures such as pauses, patterns of drawings, and transitions among patterns of drawings suggested that participants used chunking to aid rapid learning of the diagram. The analysis of the participants' sequence of chunk production further revealed that they used a spatial schema to organize the chunks. Findings from this study provide additional evidence to support prior studies that claim graphical information is hierarchically organized.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  10. Harun N, Hassan Z, Navaratnam V, Mansor SM, Shoaib M
    Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2015 Jul;232(13):2227-38.
    PMID: 25616583 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-3866-5
    RATIONALE: Mitragynine (MG) is the primary active alkaloid extracted from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa or kratom and exhibits pharmacological activities mediated by opioid receptors. The plant has been traditionally used for its opium and psychostimulant-like effects to increase work efficiency or as a substitute in the self-treatment of opiate addiction.

    OBJECTIVES: The present study was performed to investigate the discriminative stimulus effects of MG in rats. The pharmacological mechanism of MG action and its derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG) with a specific focus on opioid receptor involvement was examined in rats trained to discriminate morphine from vehicle. In order to study the dual actions of MG, the effect of cocaine substitution to the MG discriminative stimulus was also performed in MG-trained rats.

    METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were trained to discriminate MG from vehicle in a two-lever drug discrimination procedure under a tandem variable-interval (VI 60') fixed-ratio (FR 10) schedule of food reinforcement.

    RESULTS: Rats acquired the MG discrimination (15.0 mg/kg, i.p.) which was similar to the acquisition of morphine discrimination (5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) in another group of rats. MG substituted fully to the morphine discriminative stimulus in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting pharmacological similarities between the two drugs. The administration of 7-HMG derivative in 3.0 mg/kg (i.p.) dose engendered full generalisation to the morphine discriminative stimulus. In addition, the MG stimulus also partially generalised to cocaine (10.0 mg/kg, i.p.) stimulus.

    CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that the discriminative stimulus effect of MG possesses both opioid- and psychostimulant-like subjective effects.

    Matched MeSH terms: Discrimination Learning/physiology
  11. Salim MA, van der Veen FM, van Dongen JD, Franken IH
    Biol Psychol, 2015 Sep;110:50-8.
    PMID: 26188154 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.07.001
    Psychopathy has been associated with behavioral adaptation deficits, which might be associated with problems in feedback and reward processing. In the present study, we examined the relation between psychopathic traits and reward processing in a passive gambling task. A total of 39 male participants who scored high (HP) and 39 male participants who scored low (LP) on the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM), total score were tested. Feedback-related Event-Related Potentials (ERPs; i.e., P2, FRN, and P3) on predicted and unpredicted rewards and reward omissions were compared between both groups. It was found that in HP individuals, the P2 was enhanced for predicted rewards and reward omissions, but not for unpredicted stimuli. Moreover, HP individuals as compared to the LP individuals demonstrated a generally reduced P3 amplitude. The FRN amplitude, however, did not differ between the two groups. In addition, HP individuals showed enhanced reward sensitivity on the self-report level. Taken together, these findings suggest that HP individuals show enhanced sensitivity to early and reduced sensitivity to later markers of processing reinforcement learning signals, which points in the direction of compromised behavioral adaptation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology
  12. Amin HU, Malik AS, Kamel N, Chooi WT, Hussain M
    J Neuroeng Rehabil, 2015;12:87.
    PMID: 26400233 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-015-0077-6
    Educational psychology research has linked fluid intelligence with learning and memory abilities and neuroimaging studies have specifically associated fluid intelligence with event related potentials (ERPs). The objective of this study is to find the relationship of ERPs with learning and memory recall and predict the memory recall score using P300 (P3) component.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  13. Abd Rashid N, Hapidin H, Abdullah H, Ismail Z, Long I
    Brain Behav, 2017 06;7(6):e00704.
    PMID: 28638710 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.704
    INTRODUCTION: REM sleep deprivation is associated with impairment in learning and memory, and nicotine treatment has been shown to attenuate this effect. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of DREAM protein in learning and memory processes. This study investigates the association of DREAM protein in REM sleep-deprived rats hippocampus upon nicotine treatment.

    METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to normal condition, REM sleep deprivation and control wide platform condition for 72 hr. During this procedure, saline or nicotine (1 mg/kg) was given subcutaneously twice a day. Then, Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess learning and memory performance of the rats. The rats were sacrificed and the brain was harvested for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.

    RESULTS: MWM test found that REM sleep deprivation significantly impaired learning and memory performance without defect in locomotor function associated with a significant increase in hippocampus DREAM protein expression in CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG regions and the mean relative level of DREAM protein compared to other experimental groups. Treatment with acute nicotine significantly prevented these effects and decreased expression of DREAM protein in all the hippocampus regions but only slightly reduce the mean relative level of DREAM protein.

    CONCLUSION: This study suggests that changes in DREAM protein expression in CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG regions of rat's hippocampus and mean relative level of DREAM protein may involve in the mechanism of nicotine treatment-prevented REM sleep deprivation-induced learning and memory impairment in rats.

    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology
  14. Qaid E, Zakaria R, Sulaiman SF, Yusof NM, Shafin N, Othman Z, et al.
    Hum Exp Toxicol, 2017 Dec;36(12):1315-1325.
    PMID: 28111974 DOI: 10.1177/0960327116689714
    Impairment of memory is one of the most frequently reported symptoms during sudden hypoxia exposure in human. Cortical atrophy has been linked to the impaired memory function and is suggested to occur with chronic high-altitude exposure. However, the precise molecular mechanism(s) of hypoxia-induced memory impairment remains an enigma. In this work, we review hypoxia-induced learning and memory deficit in human and rat studies. Based on data from rat studies using different protocols of continuous hypoxia, we try to elicit potential mechanisms of hypobaric hypoxia-induced memory deficit.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  15. Auer T, Dewiputri WI, Frahm J, Schweizer R
    Neuroscience, 2018 May 15;378:22-33.
    PMID: 27133575 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.04.034
    Neurofeedback (NFB) allows subjects to learn self-regulation of neuronal brain activation based on information about the ongoing activation. The implementation of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) for NFB training now facilitates the investigation into underlying processes. Our study involved 16 control and 16 training right-handed subjects, the latter performing an extensive rt-fMRI NFB training using motor imagery. A previous analysis focused on the targeted primary somato-motor cortex (SMC). The present study extends the analysis to the supplementary motor area (SMA), the next higher brain area within the hierarchy of the motor system. We also examined transfer-related functional connectivity using a whole-volume psycho-physiological interaction (PPI) analysis to reveal brain areas associated with learning. The ROI analysis of the pre- and post-training fMRI data for motor imagery without NFB (transfer) resulted in a significant training-specific increase in the SMA. It could also be shown that the contralateral SMA exhibited a larger increase than the ipsilateral SMA in the training and the transfer runs, and that the right-hand training elicited a larger increase in the transfer runs than the left-hand training. The PPI analysis revealed a training-specific increase in transfer-related functional connectivity between the left SMA and frontal areas as well as the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) for right- and left-hand trainings. Moreover, the transfer success was related with training-specific increase in functional connectivity between the left SMA and the target area SMC. Our study demonstrates that NFB training increases functional connectivity with non-targeted brain areas. These are associated with the training strategy (i.e., SMA) as well as with learning the NFB skill (i.e., aMCC and frontal areas). This detailed description of both the system to be trained and the areas involved in learning can provide valuable information for further optimization of NFB trainings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  16. Yusoff NHM, Mansor SM, Müller CP, Hassan Z
    Behav Brain Res, 2018 06 01;345:65-71.
    PMID: 29499286 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.02.039
    Mitragynine is the major alkaloid found in the leaves of M. speciosa Korth (Rubiaceae), a plant that is native to Southeast Asia. This compound has been used, either traditionally or recreationally, due to its psychostimulant and opioid-like effects. Recently, mitragynine has been shown to exert conditioned place preference (CPP), indicating the rewarding and motivational properties of M. speciosa. Here, the involvement of GABAB receptors in mediating mitragynine reward is studied using a CPP paradigm in rats. First, we examined the effects of GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) on the acquisition of mitragynine (10 mg/kg)-induced CPP. Second, the involvement of GABAB receptors in the expression of mitragynine-induced CPP was tested. We found that the acquisition of mitragynine-induced CPP could be blocked by higher doses (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) of baclofen. Baclofen at a high dose inhibited locomotor activity and caused a CPP. Furthermore, we found that baclofen (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) also blocked the expression of mitragynine-induced CPP. These findings suggest that both, the acquisition and expression of mitragynine's reinforcing properties is controlled by the GABAB receptor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Spatial Learning/physiology
  17. Chiroma SM, Hidayat Baharuldin MT, Mat Taib CN, Amom Z, Jagadeesan S, Adenan MI, et al.
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2019 Jan;109:853-864.
    PMID: 30551539 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.10.111
    BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the commonest cause of dementia among the aged people. D-galactose (D-gal) is a senescence agent, while aluminium is a known neurotoxin linked to pathogenesis of AD. The combined administration of rats with d-gal and aluminium chloride (AlCl3) is considered to be an easy and a cheap method to obtain an animal model of AD. The plant Centella asiatica (CA) is reported to exert neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this study explored the protective effects of CA on cognition and brain ultrastructure in d-gal and AlCl3 induced rats.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were exposed to d-gal 60 mg/kg/b.wt/day + AlCl3 200 mg/kg/b.wt/day and CA (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/b.wt/day) and 1 mg/kg/b.wt/day of donepezil for 70 days. Different cognitive paradigms viz. T maze spontaneous alternation, modified elevated plus maze and novel object recognition test, were used to evaluate full lesions of the hippocampus, spatial learning and memory and non-spatial learning and memory respectively. Nissl's staining was used to determine the survival of hippocampus CA1 pyramidal cells, while transmission electron microscopy was used to check the ultrastructural changes.

    RESULTS: The results revealed that d-gal and AlCl3 could significantly impair behavior and cognitive functions, besides causing damage to the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in rats. In addition, it also caused ultrastructural morphological alterations in rat hippocampus. Conversely, co-administration o;f CA, irrespective of the dosage used, alleviated the cognitive impairments and pathological changes in the rats comparable to donepezil.

    CONCLUSION: In conclusion the results suggest that CA could protect cognitive impairments and morphological alterations caused by d-gal and AlCl3 toxicity in rats. Biochemical and molecular studies are ongoing to elucidate the probable pharmacodynamics of CA.

    Matched MeSH terms: Maze Learning/physiology
  18. Hajar MS, Rizal H, Kueh YC, Muhamad AS, Kuan G
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019 Jul 02;16(13).
    PMID: 31269644 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132331
    Brain breaks is a physical activity (PA) video designed for school settings that is used to stimulate student's health and learning. The purpose of this study is to measure the effects of brain breaks on motives of participation in PA among primary school children in Malaysia. Purposive sampling was used to divide 159 male and 176 female students aged 10 to 11 years old, mean (standard deviation (SD)) = 10.51 (0.50), from two schools in Kelantan, Malaysia into intervention (n = 183) and control (n = 152) groups. Students undertook brain breaks activities on school days (five minutes per session) spread out for a period of four months. Mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the students' motives of participation in PA for pre-, mid-, and post-tests using the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale-Youth-Malay (PALMS-Y-M). Mixed factorial ANOVA showed significant changes in enjoyment, F(2, 392) = 8.720, p-value (ηp2) = 0.001 (0.043); competitiveness, F(2, 195) = 4.364, p-value (ηp2) = 0.014 (0.043); appearance, F(2, 392) = 5.709, p-value (ηp2) = 0.004 (0.028); and psychological condition, F(2, 392) = 4.376, p-value (ηp2) = 0.013 (0.022), whereas mastery, affiliation, and physical condition were not significant (p < 0.05). Further post-hoc analysis revealed a significant downward trend in the control group (p < 0.05). Brain breaks is successful in maintaining students' motives for PA in four of the seven factors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
  19. Subramaniam SR, Khoo CS, Raymond AA, Che Din N, Syed Zakaria SZ, Tan HJ
    J Clin Neurosci, 2020 Mar;73:31-36.
    PMID: 32094071 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.02.003
    The objective of this study is to determine prevalence and factors leading to verbal learning and memory dysfunction among patients with epilepsy. A total of 211 subjects were recruited. Their verbal memory was assessed by Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). This test was further subdivided into four major spheres for analysis, namely the verbal learning, interference list, immediate memory and delayed memory. All data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Among the 211 patients, 55% (n = 116) had focal seizures and the remaining 45% (n = 95) had generalized seizures. Prevalence of verbal learning and memory impairment was high at 39.97% overall, and found most commonly in patients with focal impaired awareness seizures. Verbal learning and immediate memory dysfunction were significantly lower in focal impaired awareness group compared to others. Age more than 50 years, exposure to three or more antiepileptic drugs and use of carbamazepine more than 1000 mg a day were the predictors in poor verbal memory outcome. No statistical difference was observed in the mean RAVLT scores among the gender and hand dominance groups. Between patients with and without electroencephalogram changes as well as brain magnetic resonance imaging changes, the mean RAVLT scores showed no statistically significant difference. Verbal learning and memory impairment is prevalent among the epilepsy patients. The consequences of the memory impairment can be as debilitating as the seizure control. RAVLT is a reliable and practical test in the clinical setting.
    Matched MeSH terms: Verbal Learning/physiology*
  20. Babini MH, Kulish VV, Namazi H
    J Med Internet Res, 2020 06 01;22(6):e17945.
    PMID: 32478661 DOI: 10.2196/17945
    BACKGROUND: Education and learning are the most important goals of all universities. For this purpose, lecturers use various tools to grab the attention of students and improve their learning ability. Virtual reality refers to the subjective sensory experience of being immersed in a computer-mediated world, and has recently been implemented in learning environments.

    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of a virtual reality condition on students' learning ability and physiological state.

    METHODS: Students were shown 6 sets of videos (3 videos in a two-dimensional condition and 3 videos in a three-dimensional condition), and their learning ability was analyzed based on a subsequent questionnaire. In addition, we analyzed the reaction of the brain and facial muscles of the students during both the two-dimensional and three-dimensional viewing conditions and used fractal theory to investigate their attention to the videos.

    RESULTS: The learning ability of students was increased in the three-dimensional condition compared to that in the two-dimensional condition. In addition, analysis of physiological signals showed that students paid more attention to the three-dimensional videos.

    CONCLUSIONS: A virtual reality condition has a greater effect on enhancing the learning ability of students. The analytical approach of this study can be further extended to evaluate other physiological signals of subjects in a virtual reality condition.

    Matched MeSH terms: Learning/physiology*
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