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Biomedical subjects

L Stark

Publications and source records attributed to L Stark.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

An intrinsic mechanism for the oscillatory contraction of muscle.

A new model based on the theory of dynamical systems is proposed for the intrinsic random or systems is proposed for the intrinsic random or pseudo-random mechanism underlying certain types of muscular tremor. The active length-tension curve of the individual sarcomere, in conjunction with the passive length-tension relation is a map from length to tension with an observed time delay between length change and resulting tension change. The passive length tension relation is assumed to instantaneously relate this tension change back to a change in length. The stability properties of this iterated interval map are investigated by means of computer simulation and computation of the Lyapunov exponent and the bifurcation tree. The resulting analysis is related to experimental tremor data in the literature in terms of period doubling, bifurcation points, and "chaotic" behavior. The model appears to have its most fruitful application in understanding the insect type and isometric mammalian types of tremor.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Dynamics of accommodation: measurements for clinical application.

Accommodation dynamics have not been used in clinical diagnosis as have eye movement and pupillary dynamics; the difficulty of clinical observation is matched by limitations in measurement methods. An instrument suitable for clinical use is described that allows measurement of step response latencies and especially time constants. With computer analysis, phase plane trajectories, and noise spectra can be quickly obtained also. The utility of these dynamical parameters for clinical diagnosis is illustrated by a study of changes of time constants with age in prepresbyopia.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1985

Systems model for pupil size effect. II. Feedback model.

The human pupillary control system has been the subject of interest to biologists and engineers as an example of a sensorimotor reflex which can be embedded in a control system paradigm. We present a nonlinear feedback model whose compact structure allows us to hypothesize possible physiological mechanisms which generate the proper behavior of the pupil system. The important pupil responses, including pupil size effect, asymmetry, and response the high-frequency stimuli, are defined. This model was simulated on a digital computer and comparisons to the paradigm experimental responses were performed, demonstrating a fit to each of the observed conditions. Improvements on previous models are discussed.

Feedback↗
PubMed1985

Roles of the elements of the triphasic control signal.

In fast (time-optimal) movements about many joint systems, the triphasic EMG pattern has been observed. Although the first agonist burst obviously initiates the movement, the roles of the second and third bursts, appearing in the antagonist and agonist respectively, have been less clear. In this study, the timing of experimentally measured EMG signals led to construction of a three-pulse control signal that produced an accurate simulation of experimentally measured time-optimal head rotations using a sixth-order nonlinear model in conjunction with an optimization algorithm. By ablating pulses from the model control signal and observing the resulting dynamics, the roles of the three pulses can be assessed. As a result, the pulses can be designated PA, the action pulse (for the first agonist burst), PB, the braking pulse (for the antagonist burst), and PC, the clamping pulse (for the second agonist burst). Comparison of dynamic parameters from the simulated movements revealed strategies used to generate control signals for movements of various speeds.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1985

Effects of applied vibration on triphasic electromyographic patterns in neurologically ballistic head movements.

Vibration of agonist or antagonist muscle tendon produced changes in the triphasic electromyographic pattern of neck muscles; EMG signals were rectified, averaged, and also integrated by planimetry. The triphasic EMG envelopes obtained during fast horizontal head rotation showed unmodified early agonist pulse, the action pulse (PA), under all conditions; increased antagonist pulse, the braking pulse (PB), only with antagonist muscle vibration; and increase of late agonist pulse, the clamping pulse (PC), only with agonist muscle vibration. Vibration experiments can be considered as a model for studying interactions between central and peripheral effects on control of normal movements.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1985

Eye movements during reading: further case reports.

Eye movements during reading and nonreading tasks were measured in four patients having either Friedreich's ataxia, congenital dyslexia, acquired dyslexia with quadrantanopia, or acquired dyslexia with hemianopia. Abnormalities included saccadic intrusions, abnormally large dynamic overshoots, increased fixation duration and number of fixations, and/or reduced reading rate. The results clearly demonstrate the importance of objective eye movement recording for the precise specification of the abnormal reading pattern in patients with neurological dysfunctions.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Paradoxic pupillary constriction in a patient with congenital stationary night blindness.

Paradoxic pupillary constriction to an "off-step" of light was studied in a 35-year-old woman with congenital stationary night blindness. ERG was of the Schubert-Bornschein type (scotopic B-wave absent); fundi were normal for a high myope. Paradoxic constrictions were larger in response to full field and peripheral off-steps from low photopic levels than from higher photopic levels. The patient's "on response" was smaller in magnitude and slower in both latency and dynamics than the on-response of normal subjects. Pupillary hippus was larger in magnitude and more peaked in the patient than in normal subjects. Steady-state (tonic) pupil size increased paradoxically with increased light level over the range 1-2 log fL.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A preliminary investigation of the information carrying potential of voluntary eye movements.

This paper reports the preliminary findings of a study on the information carrying potential of voluntary eye movements. An ocular communication device, originally developed at the Denver Research Institute, was used to determine how fast information can be transmitted by voluntary eye movements. The tentative findings are that: a maximum information throughput of roughly 10 bits/s is possible and the DRI device merits further development. The primary relevance of this study is to the development of communication aids for the severely handicapped.

Communication Devices for People with Disabilities↗
PubMed1984

Accommodative disfacility presenting as intermittent exotropia.

Accommodative disfacility and intermittent exotropia are two common clinically-observed ocular abnormalities. However, records of individual system dynamics are rare and mechanisms for possible interactive effects between the accommodation and the vergence system remain obscure in cases of system dysfunction. We present objective, quantitative, static and dynamic records of accommodation, vergence and related system responses in a symptomatic patient having accommodation disfacility and intermittent exotropia and propose that these two conditions worked in a pathogenic symbiotic manner.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1983

Botulin ophthalmoplegia. Clinical and oculographic observations.

Two patients with botulin ophthalmoplegia had rapid quivering eye motions during attempts to refixate laterally placed objects; these abnormal eye movements occurred in conjunction with a disjunctive limitation of range of eye movements. Oculographic examination showed that the quivering motions were composed of multiple hypometric saccades, many of which had subnormal and stuttering velocities. By blocking acetylcholine release into myoneural junctions, botulin toxin seems to limit the duration of saccadic burst innervation reaching ocular muscle.

Botulism↗
PubMed1983

Saccadic intrusions in Alzheimer-type dementia.

Horizontal eye-movement responses of four patients with Alzheimer-type dementia were recorded using the infrared oculographic technique. Abnormally frequent saccadic intrusions occurred during the fixation and slow, smooth pursuit tasks in all four patients. Saccadic intrusions have previously been reported in the literature to occur in normals, in strabismus, in patients with certain neurological disorders, and in schizophrenic patients. This is the first report of a group of Alzheimer-type dements with an eye movement abnormality which cannot be regarded as an ocularmotor reflection of diffuse cerebral dysfunction.

Aged↗