BackgroundPitch identification had yielded unique response patterns compared to other auditory skills. Selecting one out of numerous pitches distinguished this task from detecting a pitch ascent. Encoding of numerous stimuli had activated the intraparietal sulcus in the visual domain. Therefore, we hypothesized that numerosity encoding during pitch identification activates the intraparietal sulcus as well.MethodsTo assess pitch identification, the participants had to recognize a single pitch from a set of four possible pitches in each trial. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) disentangled neural activation during this four-pitch-choice task from activation during pitch contour perception, tone localization, and pitch discrimination.ResultsPitch identification induced bilateral activation in the intraparietal sulcus compared to pitch discrimination. Correct responses in pitch identification correlated with activation in the left intraparietal sulcus. Pitch contour perception activated the superior temporal gyrus conceivably due to the larger range of presented tones. The differentiation between pitch identification and tone localization failed. Activation in an ACC-hippocampus network distinguished pitch discrimination from pitch identification.ConclusionPitch identification is distinguishable from pitch discrimination on the base of activation in the IPS. IPS activity during pitch identification may be the auditory counterpart of numerosity encoding in the visual domain.
Abstract-The relation between hypochondriaeal attitudes, thermal pain threshold, and attentional bias toward pain was examined in a non-clinieal population (N = 28). Attentional bias was operationalized with a eoncentration-performance test, which subjects performed while connected to a pain stimulator. Subjects were informed that they would receive a painful stimulus du ring the second part of the test, while the first part was introdueed as pain-free. The pain stimulus was never applied during the test phase. The expeetancy of a forthcoming pain stimulus reduced the performance of high hypochondriaeal subjects in both parts of the test. Low hypochondriacal subjects, on the other hand, displayed significantly better performance in the first, pain-free compared to the seeond, pain-related part of the test. Thermal pain thresholds were assessed at four measuring sites (thenar, neck, collar-bone, abdomen), but no relations with hypochondriasis sum scores and locus of pain stimulation were found. A stepwise multiple regression of pain threshold by individual lllness Attitude Seal es (lAS) led to 66% of the varianee being explained by the scales 'concern about pain', 'worry about iIIness', and 'disease phobia'. Results are discussed in terms of amplifying somatic style, preoccupation with or atlentional bias toward bodily symptoms, and experimental induction of a hypochondriacal state. INTROOUCTIONONE WA Y of understanding hypochondriasis is as an amplifying somatic style [1]. It is assumed that hypochondriacs augment normal body sensations, and for this reason experience normal bodily sensations as more noxious and more intense than non hypochondrial subjects. Studies found that hypochondriasis or disease phobia is associated with lowered thresholds for e1ectrical [2] or ischemic pain [3], heightened perceptual sensitivity [4], increased awareness of cardiac activity [5], somatosensory amplification [6], and enhanced sensitivity to iIIness cues [7, 8]. Other studies indicate that subjects characterized as high monitorers or sensitizers showed more hypochondriacal complaints, reported more physical symptoms, and displayed more abnormal iIIness behavior than low monitorers or repressors [9]. Reinforcement from family members, friends, or care-takers could play an important role in the development and maintenance of an amplifying somatic style and associated ilIness behavior. The family is believed to be particularly important in reinforcing hypochondriacal attitudes and behavior [1].Attention is seen as a factor able to alter the perceived intensity and level of distress associated with several bodily processes including pain [10], and one could assume that hypochondriacal subjects focus more attention on bodily sensations [1,11,12]. However, no studies so far have examined attentional bias towards aversive bodily sensations in hypochondriacal subjects. Ahles er al. [13] tried to investigate the effect of attention on the perception of pain in subjects with high and 10w body Address for eorrespondence: Or Paul Pauli,
BackgroundCognitive deficits are a substantial burden in clinical depression. The present study considered dysfunction in the right-hemispheric attention network in depression, examining alertness and visuospatial attention.MethodsThree computerized visuospatial attention tests and an alertness test were administered to 16 depressive patients and 16 matched healthy controls.ResultsAlthough no significant group effect was observed, alertness predicted reduced visuospatial performance in the left hemifield. Furthermore, sad mood showed a trend towards predicting left visual field omissions.ConclusionsDecreased alertness may lead to lower left hemifield visuospatial attention; this mechanism may be responsible for a spatial bias to the right side in depression, even though treatment of depression and anxiety may reduce this cognitive deficit.
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