Rapid visual information processing

FTND Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence RVIP rapid visual information processing NA not applicable DLPFC dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex Data shown for FTND and pack-years are means for the smokers Pack-years = packs of cigarettes smoked per day x number of years smoked... 

Lawrence and colleagues (2002) explored the neural substrates of nicotine effects on sustained attention using the rapid visual information processing (RVIP) task. Smokers (n = 15) received either placebo or 21-mg transdermal nicotine patch prior to testing. Matched nonsmokers (n = 14) were tested under similar conditions, but did not receive a nicotine patch. Relative to the placebo condition, the smokers in the nicotine condition demonstrated improved task performance and increased neural activity in the parietal and occipital cortices, the thalamus and caudate, and decreased activity in left frontal, anterior and posterior cingulate, insula, and left parahippocampal regions (see Fig. 3). As noted by the authors, previous studies... 

Fig. 3 Activation difference between the rapid visual information processing (RVIP) and control tasks in smokers after administration of placebo and nicotine patches. The graphs show the percent change in activation (from baseline) during performance of each task in smokers in the two drug conditions. After receiving nicotine, smokers demonstrated better task performance and more task-related activity in the parietal (A and B) and occipital (C and D) cortices compared to the parallel measures after they received placebo (Kumari et al. 2003)...

Lawrence et al, (2002) 15 Smokers fMRI/rapid visual information-processing 21-mg nic vs, placebo patch t Parietal and occipital ctx, thal, caudate... 

Nervous system Interferon alfa has been used to investigate pathways by which innate immune cytokines affect the brain and behavior [38 ]. There were reduced motor speed and reaction times and slower response times in the rapid visual information processing task in patients who were treated with interferon alfa and ribavirin. Reduced motor speed correlated with increased symptoms of depression and fatigue. 

Coull JT, Frith CD, Frackowiak RS, Grasby PM (1996) A fronto-parietal network for rapid visual information processing a PET study of sustained attention and working memory. Neuropsychologia 34(11) 1085-1095... 

An increase in theta and beta (particularly beta-2) activity and a decrease in alpha activity was found on Hypericum treatment. This electrical pattern is typical for antidepressant drugs [227]. Simultaneously, the latencies of visually and auditory evoked potentials between 100 ms and 190 ms decreased, indicating a more rapid general information processing. These effects reached their maximum at 4 weeks and remained stable during the last two weeks. 

Deary s studies indicate that there is a core ability to process information rapidly permitting an individual to discriminate between stimuli that is substantially related to measures of intelligence — particularly to measures of non-verbal intelligence. Deary s studies do not examine the panoply of potential discrimination measures that are related to intelligence. Auditory and visual... 

The fundamental use of the microscope in portland cement clinker analysis is to bring to the observer a visual appreciation of phase identities, sizes, conditions, and mutual relationships. With only a basic assemblage of equipment, microscopical analysis can be easily performed, in many cases within a few minutes. The rapidity with which potentially energysaving information can be acquired clearly renders the analysis economicallyjustifiable, especially in routine quality-control and trouble-shooting situations. In addition, the microscope has obvious value in scientific research in the manufacturing process. 

The strength of the CLSM technique lies in its potential to visualize cake structure and provide foulant characterization with minimal disruptions to the foulant cake. This technique is becoming rapidly adopted in the membrane community as a means to characterize biofilms formed during the filtration of biological material. Drawbacks still remain in the removal of the membrane sample from the feed solution and the potential for loosely bound layers to detach during the process. These loosely bound layers may still provide a significant hydraulic resistance that would not be captured in the CSLM analysis. More information on CSLM uses in membrane and membrane process characterization can be found in Chapter 4. 

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