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Gambino G, Giglia G, Schiera G, Di Majo D, Epifanio MS, La Grutta S, Lo Baido R, Ferraro G, Sardo P. Haptic Perception in Extreme Obesity: qEEG Study Focused on Predictive Coding and Body Schema. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120908. [PMID: 33255709 PMCID: PMC7760572 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Haptic perception (HP) is a perceptual modality requiring manual exploration to elaborate the physical characteristics of external stimuli through multisensory integrative cortical pathways. Cortical areas exploit processes of predictive coding that collect sensorial inputs to build and update internal perceptual models. Modifications to the internal representation of the body have been associated with eating disorders. In the light of this, obese subjects were selected as a valid experimental model to explore predictive coding in haptic perception. To this purpose, we performed electroencephalographic (EEG) continuous recordings during a haptic task in normally weighted versus obese subjects. EEG power spectra were analyzed in different time intervals. The quality of haptic performance in the obese group was poorer than in control subjects, though exploration times were similar. Spectral analysis showed a significant decrease in theta, alpha and beta frequencies in the right temporo-parietal areas of obese group, whereas gamma bands significantly increased in the left frontal areas. These results suggest that severe obesity could be characterized by an impairment in haptic performances and an altered activation of multisensory integrative cortical areas. These are involved in functional coding of external stimuli, which could interfere with the ability to process a predicted condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuditta Gambino
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.S.); (D.D.M.); (R.L.B.); (G.F.); (P.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Giglia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.S.); (D.D.M.); (R.L.B.); (G.F.); (P.S.)
- Euro Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology-I.E.ME.S.T., 90139 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Girolamo Schiera
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.S.); (D.D.M.); (R.L.B.); (G.F.); (P.S.)
| | - Danila Di Majo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.S.); (D.D.M.); (R.L.B.); (G.F.); (P.S.)
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Maria Stella Epifanio
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Sabina La Grutta
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy;
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Rosa Lo Baido
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.S.); (D.D.M.); (R.L.B.); (G.F.); (P.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Ferraro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.S.); (D.D.M.); (R.L.B.); (G.F.); (P.S.)
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Pierangelo Sardo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.G.); (G.S.); (D.D.M.); (R.L.B.); (G.F.); (P.S.)
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90129 Palermo, Italy;
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Zago M, Matic A, Flash T, Gomez-Marin A, Lacquaniti F. The speed-curvature power law of movements: a reappraisal. Exp Brain Res 2017; 236:69-82. [PMID: 29071361 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-017-5108-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Several types of curvilinear movements obey approximately the so called 2/3 power law, according to which the angular speed varies proportionally to the 2/3 power of the curvature. The origin of the law is debated but it is generally thought to depend on physiological mechanisms. However, a recent paper (Marken and Shaffer, Exp Brain Res 88:685-690, 2017) claims that this power law is simply a statistical artifact, being a mathematical consequence of the way speed and curvature are calculated. Here we reject this hypothesis by showing that the speed-curvature power law of biological movements is non-trivial. First, we confirm that the power exponent varies with the shape of human drawing movements and with environmental factors. Second, we report experimental data from Drosophila larvae demonstrating that the power law does not depend on how curvature is calculated. Third, we prove that the law can be violated by means of several mathematical and physical examples. Finally, we discuss biological constraints that may underlie speed-curvature power laws discovered in empirical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrka Zago
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Adam Matic
- Behavior of Organisms Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH, Av Ramón y Cajal, Alicante, Spain
| | - Tamar Flash
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Alex Gomez-Marin
- Behavior of Organisms Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH, Av Ramón y Cajal, Alicante, Spain
| | - Francesco Lacquaniti
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Systems Medicine, Medical School, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy. .,Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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Whisking mechanics and active sensing. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 40:178-188. [PMID: 27632212 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We describe recent advances in quantifying the three-dimensional (3D) geometry and mechanics of whisking. Careful delineation of relevant 3D reference frames reveals important geometric and mechanical distinctions between the localization problem ('where' is an object) and the feature extraction problem ('what' is an object). Head-centered and resting-whisker reference frames lend themselves to quantifying temporal and kinematic cues used for object localization. The whisking-centered reference frame lends itself to quantifying the contact mechanics likely associated with feature extraction. We offer the 'windowed sampling' hypothesis for active sensing: that rats can estimate an object's spatial features by integrating mechanical information across whiskers during brief (25-60ms) windows of 'haptic enclosure' with the whiskers, a motion that resembles a hand grasp.
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Catavitello G, Ivanenko YP, Lacquaniti F, Viviani P. Drawing ellipses in water: evidence for dynamic constraints in the relation between velocity and path curvature. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:1649-57. [PMID: 26838360 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4569-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Several types of continuous human movements comply with the so-called Two-Thirds Power Law (2/3-PL) stating that velocity (V) is a power function of the radius of curvature (R) of the endpoint trajectory. The origin of the 2/3-PL has been the object of much debate. An experiment investigated further this issue by comparing two-dimensional drawing movements performed in air and water. In both conditions, participants traced continuously quasi-elliptic trajectories (period T = 1.5 s). Other experimental factors were the movement plane (horizontal/vertical), and whether the movement was performed free-hand, or by following the edge of a template. In all cases a power function provided a good approximation to the V-R relation. The main result was that the exponent of the power function in water was significantly smaller than in air. This appears incompatible with the idea that the power relationship depends only on kinematic constraints and suggests a significant contribution of dynamic factors. We argue that a satisfactory explanation of the observed behavior must take into account the interplay between the properties of the central motor commands and the visco-elastic nature of the mechanical plant that implements the commands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Catavitello
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation, via Ardeatina, 306-00179, Rome, Italy
- Centre of Space BioMedicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Yuri P Ivanenko
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation, via Ardeatina, 306-00179, Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesco Lacquaniti
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation, via Ardeatina, 306-00179, Rome, Italy
- Centre of Space BioMedicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Viviani
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation, via Ardeatina, 306-00179, Rome, Italy
- Centre of Space BioMedicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
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La Scaleia B, Zago M, Lacquaniti F. Hand interception of occluded motion in humans: a test of model-based vs. on-line control. J Neurophysiol 2015; 114:1577-92. [PMID: 26133803 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00475.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Two control schemes have been hypothesized for the manual interception of fast visual targets. In the model-free on-line control, extrapolation of target motion is based on continuous visual information, without resorting to physical models. In the model-based control, instead, a prior model of target motion predicts the future spatiotemporal trajectory. To distinguish between the two hypotheses in the case of projectile motion, we asked participants to hit a ball that rolled down an incline at 0.2 g and then fell in air at 1 g along a parabola. By varying starting position, ball velocity and trajectory differed between trials. Motion on the incline was always visible, whereas parabolic motion was either visible or occluded. We found that participants were equally successful at hitting the falling ball in both visible and occluded conditions. Moreover, in different trials the intersection points were distributed along the parabolic trajectories of the ball, indicating that subjects were able to extrapolate an extended segment of the target trajectory. Remarkably, this trend was observed even at the very first repetition of movements. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of model-based control, but not with on-line control. Indeed, ball path and speed during the occlusion could not be extrapolated solely from the kinematic information obtained during the preceding visible phase. The only way to extrapolate ball motion correctly during the occlusion was to assume that the ball would fall under gravity and air drag when hidden from view. Such an assumption had to be derived from prior experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara La Scaleia
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy;
| | - Myrka Zago
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Lacquaniti
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; and Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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Mijatović A, La Scaleia B, Mercuri N, Lacquaniti F, Zago M. Familiar trajectories facilitate the interpretation of physical forces when intercepting a moving target. Exp Brain Res 2014; 232:3803-11. [PMID: 25142150 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-014-4050-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Familiarity with the visual environment affects our expectations about the objects in a scene, aiding in recognition and interaction. Here we tested whether the familiarity with the specific trajectory followed by a moving target facilitates the interpretation of the effects of underlying physical forces. Participants intercepted a target sliding down either an inclined plane or a tautochrone. Gravity accelerated the target by the same amount in both cases, but the inclined plane represented a familiar trajectory whereas the tautochrone was unfamiliar to the participants. In separate sessions, the gravity field was consistent with either natural gravity or artificial reversed gravity. Target motion was occluded from view over the last segment. We found that the responses in the session with unnatural forces were systematically delayed relative to those with natural forces, but only for the inclined plane. The time shift is consistent with a bias for natural gravity, in so far as it reflects an a priori expectation that a target not affected by natural forces will arrive later than one accelerated downwards by gravity. Instead, we did not find any significant time shift with unnatural forces in the case of the tautochrone. We argue that interception of a moving target relies on the integration of the high-level cue of trajectory familiarity with low-level cues related to target kinematics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonija Mijatović
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
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