In this study, we examined preoperative verbal cognitive capacity in 11 deafened adults who were ... more In this study, we examined preoperative verbal cognitive capacity in 11 deafened adults who were cochlear implant candidates and reexamined level of speech understanding after 6-8 months' experience with the implant. Verbal cognitive performance in the implant group was compared in a group of normal hearing subjects and in a nonimplanted group of deafened adults. The three groups performed on par with each other with one exception: The individuals in the cochlear implant group and the nonimplanted group of deafened adults performed significantly worse than those of normal hearing in tasks in which use of internal speech is a key feature (i.e., rhyme judgement and lexical decision tasks). Postoperative observations of the implanted individuals' level of speech understanding suggest that it is possible to predict the level of speech understanding by means of a preoperative cognitive assessment. The characteristics of three verbal cognitive abilities proved to be critical indicators of 6-8 months' postoperative outcome: internal speech functioning, speed of verbal information processing, and working memory capacity-the first factor proved the most decisive. We discuss the results with respect to direct versus indirect predictors of outcomes from cochlear implant operations and the effect of auditory deprivation on deafened adults' capability to process auditory information.
Linear frequency ramps of a continuous pure tone have been used as stimuli, and behavioral thresh... more Linear frequency ramps of a continuous pure tone have been used as stimuli, and behavioral thresholds for frequency change (DLF) as well as the slow cortical potentials evoked by such ramps have been studied on listeners with normal hearing and with various types of hearing losses. A group with cochlear hearing losses showed elevated DLFs as compared to the normal group by an average factor of 3, independent of ramp duration (10-500 ms). Corresponding to this finding, the slow evoked cortical potentials of the cochlear group had longer N1 latencies at small frequency ramps than those of the normal group. However, at larger ramps, this difference disappeared and turned into the opposite relation at the largest ramps. This result has been verified by a psychoacoustical method, indicating the existence of 'recruitment of pitch change'. In a number of subjects with retrocochlear lesions, the evoked cortical responses to frequency ramps were significantly different from those of the normal group as well as of the group with cochlear lesions.
Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, Dec 1, 1989
This study investigated the putative relationship between visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and spe... more This study investigated the putative relationship between visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and specific aspects of speechreading. The nature and constraints of the relationship between VEPs and cognitive functioning was also examined. The original finding of Shepherd, DeLavergne, Frueh, and Clobridge (1977) that visual-neural speed (VN 130) predicts speechreading skill was not replicated. However, the picture is rather complex in that we find significant correlations for some context-free word discrimination and sign-alphabet testing conditions. These correlations occur only for the VN 130/P 200 peak-to-peak amplitude measure, not for neural speed. Nevertheless, visual-neural speed (VN 130 and P 200) was relevant to certain aspects of long-term memory access (i.e., letter matching, and to complex short-tenn memory function (i.e., reading span, Baddeley, Logic, Nimmo-Smith, & Brereton, 1985).
Purpose To investigate whether the tickling inside the nose before a light-induced sneeze in susc... more Purpose To investigate whether the tickling inside the nose before a light-induced sneeze in susceptible individuals is correlated to a recordable local activity or not. Methods Seven healthy volunteers, three with a history of light-induced sneezing, were stimulated with stroboscopic light or a strong halogen lamp. Recording was done with an evoked potential averaging technique via intranasal electrodes placed in such a way that they substantially reduced the strong electrical response from the retina. Results Despite an adequate light stimulus, no reproducible electrical activity could be recorded from any of the members in any experiment. Conclusion Light-induced sneezing is presumably a central phenomenon. The electrical activity travels through the optic pathways straight to the trigeminal nucleus and the tickling is a referred sensation. A genetic variation in the distance between the optic pathways (colliculus superior) and the mesencephalic part of the trigeminal nucleus may explain why light-induced sneezing is more common in certain families and races.
In this study, we examined preoperative verbal cognitive capacity in 11 deafened adults who were ... more In this study, we examined preoperative verbal cognitive capacity in 11 deafened adults who were cochlear implant candidates and reexamined level of speech understanding after 6-8 months' experience with the implant. Verbal cognitive performance in the implant group was compared in a group of normal hearing subjects and in a nonimplanted group of deafened adults. The three groups performed on par with each other with one exception: The individuals in the cochlear implant group and the nonimplanted group of deafened adults performed significantly worse than those of normal hearing in tasks in which use of internal speech is a key feature (i.e., rhyme judgement and lexical decision tasks). Postoperative observations of the implanted individuals' level of speech understanding suggest that it is possible to predict the level of speech understanding by means of a preoperative cognitive assessment. The characteristics of three verbal cognitive abilities proved to be critical indicators of 6-8 months' postoperative outcome: internal speech functioning, speed of verbal information processing, and working memory capacity-the first factor proved the most decisive. We discuss the results with respect to direct versus indirect predictors of outcomes from cochlear implant operations and the effect of auditory deprivation on deafened adults' capability to process auditory information.
Linear frequency ramps of a continuous pure tone have been used as stimuli, and behavioral thresh... more Linear frequency ramps of a continuous pure tone have been used as stimuli, and behavioral thresholds for frequency change (DLF) as well as the slow cortical potentials evoked by such ramps have been studied on listeners with normal hearing and with various types of hearing losses. A group with cochlear hearing losses showed elevated DLFs as compared to the normal group by an average factor of 3, independent of ramp duration (10-500 ms). Corresponding to this finding, the slow evoked cortical potentials of the cochlear group had longer N1 latencies at small frequency ramps than those of the normal group. However, at larger ramps, this difference disappeared and turned into the opposite relation at the largest ramps. This result has been verified by a psychoacoustical method, indicating the existence of 'recruitment of pitch change'. In a number of subjects with retrocochlear lesions, the evoked cortical responses to frequency ramps were significantly different from those of the normal group as well as of the group with cochlear lesions.
Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, Dec 1, 1989
This study investigated the putative relationship between visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and spe... more This study investigated the putative relationship between visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and specific aspects of speechreading. The nature and constraints of the relationship between VEPs and cognitive functioning was also examined. The original finding of Shepherd, DeLavergne, Frueh, and Clobridge (1977) that visual-neural speed (VN 130) predicts speechreading skill was not replicated. However, the picture is rather complex in that we find significant correlations for some context-free word discrimination and sign-alphabet testing conditions. These correlations occur only for the VN 130/P 200 peak-to-peak amplitude measure, not for neural speed. Nevertheless, visual-neural speed (VN 130 and P 200) was relevant to certain aspects of long-term memory access (i.e., letter matching, and to complex short-tenn memory function (i.e., reading span, Baddeley, Logic, Nimmo-Smith, & Brereton, 1985).
Purpose To investigate whether the tickling inside the nose before a light-induced sneeze in susc... more Purpose To investigate whether the tickling inside the nose before a light-induced sneeze in susceptible individuals is correlated to a recordable local activity or not. Methods Seven healthy volunteers, three with a history of light-induced sneezing, were stimulated with stroboscopic light or a strong halogen lamp. Recording was done with an evoked potential averaging technique via intranasal electrodes placed in such a way that they substantially reduced the strong electrical response from the retina. Results Despite an adequate light stimulus, no reproducible electrical activity could be recorded from any of the members in any experiment. Conclusion Light-induced sneezing is presumably a central phenomenon. The electrical activity travels through the optic pathways straight to the trigeminal nucleus and the tickling is a referred sensation. A genetic variation in the distance between the optic pathways (colliculus superior) and the mesencephalic part of the trigeminal nucleus may explain why light-induced sneezing is more common in certain families and races.
Uploads
Papers by Stig Arlinger