Jure Bon
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty Member
Interhemispheric inhibition may play a role in the expression of bilateral deficit in force (BLD). This study investigated whether the degree of BLD is reflected in the nature of interhemispheric interaction during unilateral and... more
Interhemispheric inhibition may play a role in the expression of bilateral deficit in force (BLD). This study investigated whether the degree of BLD is reflected in the nature of interhemispheric interaction during unilateral and bilateral contractions. Subjects divided into three groups, 'bilateral' (n = 7), 'unilateral' (n = 5) and 'control' (n = 8), performed unilateral and bilateral maximal voluntary isometric knee extensions while receiving electrical stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation of the target and ipsilateral muscles. Main variables of interest included peak force for subsequent calculation of bilateral index, voluntary activation level (VAL), motor evoked potential amplitudes (MEPs) and silent period durations (SPs). BLD was noted only for the whole sample (p = 0.009), but not for any of the groups. VAL was significantly higher during bilateral compared to unilateral contractions (~97 vs. 92 %, p = 0.023), with no differences between groups. MEPs of target and ipsilateral muscles were significantly bigger during bilateral contractions (p = 0.042 and p = 0.022, respectively), with no differences between groups. No differences in SPs were observed. Higher values of MEPs and VAL during bilateral contractions, in conjunction with unaltered SPs, do not support the concept of inhibition related to BLD, but rather suggest the possibility of cortical facilitation. Based on the existing literature, this behavior may be specific to the lower limb musculature, but the possibility of sub-cortical or higher-order neural alterations cannot be excluded.
Research Interests:
The aim of the study was to investigate the validity of the Rorschach Perceptual Thinking Index (PTI) to detect psychotic perceptual and thought disturbance in a sample of Slovene psychiatric inpatients. Using a sample of 275 adult... more
The aim of the study was to investigate the validity of the Rorschach Perceptual Thinking Index (PTI) to detect psychotic perceptual and thought disturbance in a sample of Slovene psychiatric inpatients. Using a sample of 275 adult psychiatric inpatients of both sexes, we examined the differences between patients with psychosis (PP) and patients with no psychotic features (NP) from various diagnostic groups on the global PTI and its subcomponent variables. PPs obtained significantly higher PTI scores, indicating more disturbed perception and more thinking disturbance, than NPs. No differences were found for diagnostic differences within the PP and NP groups. Results are in accordance with previous studies of the PTI as a valid cross-cultural index of perceptual and thinking disturbance.