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Background and aim: The goniometric measurement is a simple and common method for assessment of movements and joints in the rehabilitation clinics that the survey of sensitivity and reliability level has an important role for the therapists.  The aim of this study was to investigate inter-rater reliability of goniometric measurements of the pronation and supination movements
Material and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study twelve healthy student boys were participated.  The candidates were asked to sign an informed consent.Goniometric measurements were carried out by the two experienced physiotherapists to assess the forearm supination and pronation. The dominant limb was evaluated in supine position during the test. The correlation coefficient test was used for inter rater reliability.
Results: The coefficient correlation was high between the two raters, (for supination, r=0.931 and for pronation r=0.875).  The results showed that the coefficient correlation of supination was higher than pronation.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the inter-rater reliability of goniometric measurements of the pronation and supination movements were high, also  the level of reliability for supination was higher than pronation.

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 Background and aim: Nowadays, importance of multidimensional approach in evaluating of stuttering  is obvious. Stuttering aspects evaluation provided by speech situation checklist. In this study, validity and reliability of this checklist is performed on stuttering and non- stuttering  (6-11 years old) pupils. 

Material and methods: In this research, 43 stutterer and 45 non-stutterer pupils were evaluated.

After equalization of questionnaire to Persian language, emotional reaction & speech disruption questionnaire were completed according to their attitude . In order to test validity, four methods were used. Data were analyzed by parametric and non-parametric statistical tests

Results: Comparison of score average of speech disruption and emotional reaction tests showed significant difference between stutter and non-stutter groups for Persian language children (p<0.05). Emotional reaction and speech disruption checklist (Persian version) has high test-retest (p=0.000,Icc>0.86) and internal validity (p=0.000,α >0.93).

Conclusion: Persian equalized speech disruption and emotional reaction tests have high validity and reliability. it might be useful to differentiate stuttering pupil among normal ones.  

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Background and aim: Muscles are involved in complex and three dimensional activities. Timing and response to onset of external trigger need to perception and processing of data in central nervous system. The propose of this study is to determine reaction time, pre motor time and motor time with and without external load in healthy subjects. 

Material and methods: Twenty healthy subjects contributed in this study. Isoinertial dynamometer was used to assess complicated motions in sagital, frontal and transverse planes from full flexion, rotation and lateral flexion to right side to opposite direction inclusive full extension, rotation and lateral flexion to left side without and with 25 and 50% MVE. Reaction time, pre motor time, motor time, and maximum torque were also measured.

Results: Following combined motions,  reaction time and pre motor time were increased by external load (25 and 50% MVE). Lateral flexion showed more changes than extension (P<0.001). By increasing load, particularly in extension time and maximum torque were changed (P<0.001).

 Conclusion: Reaction time and pre motor time in combined motions are affected under extension and lateral flexion motions. Rotation has less effect on combined motions. Motions occur in sagital and frontal plane more than transverse plane. 

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Background and Aim: Children with speech and language disorders have a reduced diadochokinesis rates.. The purpose of this study was to compare the oral diadochokinesis with rate of speech and reading in normal students.
Materials and Methods: One hundred of fifth grade female students were participated in this descriptive - comparative study. All subjects were native speakers of persion who passed an informal screening test of articulation and speech. None of subjects had a history of speech, hearing, behavioral and neurological disorders. The subjects were asked to read a text of their book, tell a story and perform some oral diadochokinesis tasks (flecher`s criterion).The time was measured by Cool Edit. Descriptive statistics and compared t-test were used for analysis .
Results : the syllable / tâ /had the highest rate of diadochokinesis , while the syllables /pa/ and / kâ/ were in the next orders ( 3.96,4.01, 4.52).The rate of reading was higher than the rate of talking. There was a significant relationship between the reading rate and diadochokinesis in / kâ / (P=0.02) and / pâtâkâ / (P=0.02)
Conclusion: the results indicate that there is no relation between the rate of speech and diadochokinesis but there is a significant relation between Reading rate and diadochokinesis in some tasks..

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 Background and aim: Dyslexia is a language learning disorder which leads to some impairment in written language including reading and spelling. Children with dyslexia are mostly suffering in areas like Morphology, Phonology, semantic and pragmatic. Thus the main purpose of this study is to investigate the morphological awareness, as a significant aspect in reading components (Speed, accuracy and understanding) in which the children are impaired. 

Material and Methods: In the current study, 27 dyslexic students and 57 normal students in second grade of primary school participated. Existence of dyslexia was determined through administrating a reading test of "Nama", and in order to be sure that none of the students of normal group has language deficit, the language development test "TOLD" was administrated on normal students. In order to assess morphological knowledge of participants, a morphological awareness test was administrated too. In addition to determine the reading speed, accuracy and comprehension, the "NAMA" subtests were employed. Data obtained, were analyzed with the help of inferential statistical methods such as linear Pearson correlation coefficient test, Spearman test, Normal Kolmogrov - Smirnov test, T-test and linear regression test (ANOVA).

Result: Correlation coefficient between morphological awareness and reading speed in whole sample was calculated to be -0.9158, that of morphological awareness and reading accuracy was 0.9514, and that of morphological awareness and reading comprehension was 0.926. This shows significant correlation among morphological awareness and components of reading skill. While the same correlation coefficients, in dyslexic children were respectively -0.689, 0.1403 and 0.1062. It shows that there was not significant relationship in dyslexic children. The T-test also indicated that morphological awareness, reading comprehension skills, reading speed and reading accuracy skills had significant meaningful differences between two groups.

Conclusion: morphological awareness, reading speed, accuracy and comprehension, were in a lower level among dyslexic children in comparison with normal children, and this can be regarded as one linguistic aspect that can be effectual in reading speed, accuracy and comprehension. However among the dyslexic children whose difficulties were limited to the word level (e.g. dyslexic group sample), morphological awareness did not have any influence on their reading skills.Key words: Morphological awareness, reading speed, reading accuracy,reading comprehension, dyslexia

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Background and aim: Flexible flat foot is a common deformity in lower extremity, the foot arch collapses and the ground reaction forces does not apply properly to the foot. Backward walking is a common rehabilitive technique and is utilized to improve strength and balance. The purpose of this present study is to compare the salient points vertical ground reaction force measurements in flat foot patients while walking forward and backward with those of healthy subjects using a force plate system.
Materials and methods: 10 flexible falt foot female subjects  and 10 healthy female  subjects were  recruited to participate in this study. Each Subject walked 5 times forward and 5 times backward and the vertical ground reaction force was measured by a force platform.
Results: The results of this present study suggest a significant difference in kinetic pattern of forward walking compared to backward walking in both healthy and flexible flat foot participants. The force related to first peak of vertical ground reaction force was significantly less in forward walking compared to backward walking (p=0.000). Whereas the force related to trough and second peak of vertical ground reaction force were significantly high in forward walking compared to backward walking (p=0.000).
Conclusion: The results of this study show that backward walking changes the ground reaction force compared to forward walking and the main characteristic of this difference is due to decrease of forces applied to the heel of foot which may be important in flat foot patients.

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Background and aim: Human knee joints experience very large loads and motions during regular daily, occupational and sport activities. Consequently, they are at high risk of being exposed to injuries and degeneration. Osteoarthritis and ligament injuries often inflict knee joints causing considerable pain and loss of productivity involving thus significant human and economic costs. Hence, biomechanics of human knee joints has been the focus of many investigations with the primary aim to improve understanding of joint function in normal and perturbed conditions. The existing prevention and treatment programs have been based on such studies.
Material and Methods: Due to inherent costs, limitations, difficulties and ethical concerns associated with in vivo and in vitro cadaveric studies, finite element model studies have been developed as effective, powerful and complementary tools to investigate knee joint biomechanics subject to internal and external mechanical conditions affecting its normal function.
Results: The advantage of finite element method in study of joint biomechanics lies in its robustness to incorporate complex 3D joint geometry, intricate boundary and loading conditions and materials with nonhomogeneous and nonlinear properties.
Conclusion:This article reviews important model studies, presents their relevant results and discusses some of the promising future directions.

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Background and aim: Virtual Reality is a computer technology with virtual environment and objects, which people manipulate virtual environment through active participation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of practice in virtual environment on upper limb function of children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy.
Materials and Methods: In this single blinded, randomized, controlled trial, 16 children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy were evaluated in a simple random sampling of Ahvaz city in 2 groups (virtual reality and control). Treatment protocol consisted of one and half hours sessions of practice in virtual environment for 4-week, every other day. Measures were conducted pre, post and 3-month after the treatment period by Pediatrics Motor Activity Log and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor proficiency. Sample randomization and data analysis by analysis of variance with repeated measures were conducted by SPSS-16 software in alpha level set at 0.05.
Results: Subjects in virtual reality group showed significant improvement (p<0.01) in post-test measures (bruininks-oseretsky test of motor proficiency, speed and dexterity: mean change from 0.25±0.06 to 1.22±0.23). Results were retained for both groups in follow up session.
Conclusion: Virtual reality technology through intensive and repetitive practice in an interactive and motivational environment is a promising method to improve upper limb function of children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

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Background: Flexible flat foot is a congenital common deformity in lower extremity associated with ligamentus laxity. This deformity may cause hammer toe, heel spur, inflammation of achille tendon, early muscle fatigue during sport, foot imbalance and pain in leg, knee and hip. The use of insole with medial arch support considered as one of the common treatments for patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a composite insole, Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) with Poron layer on ground reaction force on subjects with flexible flat foot in comparison with common EVA insole.

Materials and Methods: Fifty two subjects (14 Male and 38 female) between 18-40 years of age with flexible flat foot participated in this study. Twenty six subjects received Poron insole (EVA with Poron layer) and 26 subjects received common EVA insole. After assessment each subject asked to walk with normal speed across two force plate in two conditions, walking with insole and shoe and walking without insole. Then each subject asked to use insole for forty hours during two weeks. Vertical ground reaction force in the first session and after two weeks was assessed.

Results: Impact force and first peak of vertical ground reaction force (F₁) with Poron insole in comparison with shoe significantly increased in second session (P<0.05). The second peak (F₃) with common insole in comparison with shoe significantly increased in second session (P<0.05). Significant reduction was noted in first peak (F1) with common insole in second session in comparison with first session (P<0.05). There was no observable significant difference in two groups before and after intervention.

Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study show that both insoles change vertical ground reaction force in comparison with shoe alone. But using a composite Poron Layer on EVA insole has not demonstrated a significant difference with common arch support insoles. Therefore application of Poron Silicon layer on EVA insole by itself can not show a significant reduction of ground reaction force.

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Background and aim: One of the common problems in elderly people is falling. The effort to identify environmental risk factors at home and their modifications may control falls and injury in the elderly. Home FAST as a valid and reliable screening tool is used to identify elderly at risk of falling at home and in society.
Materials and methods : International quality of life assessment (IQOLA) was used for validity and reliability of Home fast. After forward and backward translation , the questionnaire was evaluated for content validity by 5 occupational therapists. Sixty participants aged over 65 were randomly selected through five geographical regions of Tehran. Inter-rater and test-retest with one week interval were conducted by two occupational therapists.
Results: Agreement among experts about the validity of screening tool of Home FAST (χ²= 25.008) were more than 96%.The correlations of test-retest with relative and absolute coefficients were high (ICC = 0.72 and SEM = 0.89). Also, the correlation coefficients between the raters with absolute and relative (ICC = 0.88 and SEM = 0.54) were significant, indicating the high reliability of this test.
Conclusion: This study shows the reliability and validity of the test are high. Since, test items are conformable to fall prevention goals, these results can be expected. The tool can be used by professionals.

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Background and Aim: Whole Body Vibration (WBV), as a new exercise modality, can improve neuromuscular performance but, there is no study to assess the effects of WBV on the reaction time as an indicator of muscular performance especially in upper extremity muscles. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the immediate effects of WBV on timing parameters of upper extremity muscles. 

Materials and Methods: Forty healthy young women were randomly assigned in two groups of intervention (with WBV) and control (without WBV). In the intervention group, timing parameters (Reaction time (RT), Premotor time (PMT), Motor time (MT)) were measured by using EMG before and after the vibration (5 sets of 30seconds at 5 mm amplitude and 30 Hz frequency) session. The same protocol but without vibration was used for control group.

Results: Whole body vibration did not alter the RT significantly (P=0.253). Premotor time was increased significantly only in the triceps muscle (P=0.006). There was also a significant difference (P=0.003) in MT of the serattus anterior muscle between two groups.

Conclusion: It seems that WBV can induce different effects on upper extremity muscles. Whole body vibration has not any significant effects on the total RT 

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Background and Aim: Measurement of reaction time and anticipation skill are used widely in therapeutic exercises or sport programs. Improvement of anticipation skill  and reaction time in any exercise or activity that need fast and correct reaction time for deciding and doing a suitable movement, can improve the motor control and its strategies as well as central processing. There is a need for an easy-to-use program that can run reaction time tasks and anticipation skills with no special experiments. There is no system for objective measurement of above variables in our country, so designing and construction of a system for reaction time test and anticipation skill estimation was carried out.

 Materials and Methods: A system that consist of software, lap top, LCD and key board was designed. The software of the system had two subsystems for measuring reaction time and estimating anticipation skill.

Results: By use of the above equipments, 6 tests of video choice reaction time, audio choice reaction time, video complex choice reaction time, audio complex choice reaction time, high speed anticipation skill and low speed anticipation skill were performed. Structural and content validity of the system was estimated very high.

 Conclusion: Current system can use in many therapeutic and sport centers simply and provide basic data about motor control strategies. By use of it, there is a better judgment about effectiveness of various treatments and sport-men selection, too.

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Background and Aim: Perceptual abilities (reaction time and anticipatory skill) are essential for successful performance in daily activities. Training in dynamic and unpredicted sport domains such as volleyball might make changes in perceptual abilities of athletes compared to non-athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare reaction time and anticipatory skill of volleyball players versus non-athletes.

 Materials and Methods: Eleven female volleyball players and 11 female non-athletes participated in this study. Auditory choice reaction time, auditory complex choice reaction time, visual choice reaction time, visual complex choice reaction time, anticipatory skill of the high speed of the ball and anticipatory skill of the low speed of ball of both groups were analyzed by a software (Speed Anticipation Reaction Test (SART)).

Results: Statistical analysis did not show any significant differences between two groups in both auditory reaction time tests (P> 0.05). However, volleyball players showed better results in visual choice reaction time, visual complex choice reaction time, anticipatory skill of the high speed of the ball and anticipatory skill of the low speed of ball tests (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: Volleyball players acquire extensive knowledge of sport specific patterns of perceptual abilities due to experiences within the volleyball domain and due to the efficient extraction of this knowledge in similar conditions such as, computerized neurocognitive tests, they have superior perceptual skills than non-athletes.

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Background and Aim: Reading skill is necessary for academic achievement, that deaf children have problems in this skill due to hearing impairment. Use of cochlear implant can improve auditory inputs. The aim of this study was to investigate the reading skills of children with cochlear implants and comparing that with normal ones.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive - analytic study was done on 24 children with cochlear implant and 24 normal ones that was selected from second and third grades students of Tehran primary schools. Children's reading performance was assessed by Nama reading test and the data were analyzed using T-test, linear regression and Pearson correlations.

Results: The results showed that the means of reading scores of normal children were significantly greater than the cochlear implanted ones (P<0.01). Also, there was a significant relationship between reading skills and period of cochlear implant (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Cochlear implanted children showed weaker performance in reading skills than normal ones due to less access to auditory and Phonological information. It seems that early surgery and cochlear implant before the age of language learning can be partially compensated reading defects of deaf children.

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  Background and Aim: Hearing impairment in critical period of speech and language development is caused defects in oral and written language. The aim of this study is to use a test for comparing the reading skills of elementary fifth grade hearing and moderately severe hearing loss students in public schools.
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 10 hearing impaired children selected from the total number of fifth grade moderately severe hearing loss students' community (public schools) based on the inclusion criteria and compared with 10 hearing children that were matched according to grade, as a control group. In order to gather the data, reading and writing tests for school students was used. Data analysis was done through SPSS-16.
Results: The findings indicated that hearing impaired children on auditory discrimination skills (P=0.001), word auditory memory (P=0.034) sentence auditory memory (P<0.001), phonological blending (P=0.034), phonological segmentation (P=0.012) and text reading comprehension (P=0.044) were significantly weaker than the control group, but they had similar function in other skills.
Conclusion: Children with hearing impairment have the same function in tasks based on visual processing to normal children, whereas, in tasks based on auditory and phonological processing are weaker than them. Keywords: Reading skills, Hearing loss children, Public schools

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Background and Aim: Reading disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with deficits in cognition and motor skills. According to available studies, the brain structure in thesechildren is intact, but the brain function is abnormal. So, neurofeedback as a new treatment, can improve brain function in this disorder through regulating abnormalities of electroencephalogram (EEG). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of neurofeedback balance protocol (to inhibit 4-7 Hz while reinforcing 15-18 Hz at electrode sites O1 and O2) on EEG and balance performance in children with reading disorder.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a single subject design in 20 sessions. Participants were 4 children (1girl and 3 boys) aged between 8-12 years old who completed twelve 30-min neurofeedback sessions. Repeated measurements were performed during the baseline, treatment and follow-up by means of 2nd subtest of BOTMP for balance performance and EEG for brain waves changes.

Results: The results showed that the effect of treatment on balance performance was high (Cohen’d > 0.8) in all subjects but there were no significant changes in absolute power of brain waves.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that neurofeedback balance protocol can improve balance in children with reading disorder and may be more treatment sessions are needed for significant brain waves changes.

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Abstract

Background and Aim: Proprioceptive problems, visuospatial deficits and muscle weakness are the main causes of weight bearing asymmetry and postural control impairment in chronic hemiparesis patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between center of pressure parameters in quiet standing with eyes open and closed and functional balance tests and symmetry index in these patients.

Materials and Methods: In this correlation study, 16 stroke patients (mean age: 52.937±10.109 years), were selected by simple non-probability sapling. Force plate, Functional Reach and Timed Up and Go tests and scales were used in order to investigate postural sway parameters in quiet standing, functional balance and symmetry index, respectively.

Results: Moderate to high significant correlation was obtained between Timed Up and Go test and symmetry index and most of the postural sway parameters in eyes closed condition, while Functional Reach test had only moderate significant correlation with standard deviation of velocity (anterior-posterior) and phase plane total. Also symmetry index showed moderate correlation with most of the postural sway parameters.

Conclusion: Current study demonstrates the role of vision and task in correlation between center of pressure parameters, balance tests and symmetry index.

Key words: Correlation, Symmetric weight bearing, Postural sway, Functional Reach, Timed Up and Go, Force plate, Quiet standing

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Background and Aim: Some of the patients with chronic low back pain commonly do not experience full recovery with the conventional physical therapy. It is revealed that may be there are some items in subjects with low back, which are not studied well till now. Since there are some evidences about breathing pattern disorder in low back pain patients, the purpose of this study was to compare between some important breathing pattern index in non-specific chronic low back pain and healthy subjects .

  

Materials and Methods : In this descriptive analysis study, there were 16 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain and 16 healthy subjects. Both groups were matched and selected by some of the demographic characteristics. Respiratory data including respiratory rate, volumetric, time depended and chemical index were calculated by K4b2 instrument.

  

Results: They have significant differences in some of the respiratory parameters including respiratory rate, inspiration and expiration times and total time of respiration between two groups, whereas inspiration total time ratio, volumetric and chemical index do not have significant differences.

  

Conclusion: Existence of disorders in some parameters of respiratory patterns in patients with low back pain are revealed that survey of respiratory system in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain can be effective in diagnosis and treatment process in physiotherapy centers.

  

Keywords: Low back pain, Breathing, Respiratory chemistry.

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Background and Aim: An immaculate review of the literature reveals some changes on the vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) in ACL deficient knee subjects. However, the details are not clear yet. The current study aimed to study these changes in the ACL-deficient and apparently healthy knees of the coper and non-coper ACL-deficient knee subjects in comparison with the normal knees.

Materials and Methods: Sixteen unilateral ACL-torn subjects included 8 copers and 8 non-copers were recruited in this quasi-experimental study and were compared with 16 normal knee subjects (8 subjects matched to each coper and non-coper groups). All subjects walked barefoot and with their preferred speed in a 6-meter walkway and placed their wanted foot on the platform of a Zebris pedobarograph tool. The patients were asked to place their injured and healthy feet separately on the platform. The control group placed their foot matched to the ACL-deficient legs on the platform. The testes were repeated so much to have five acceptable trials. The outcome measures included the peak F1Z, F2Z, F3Z of the vertical ground reaction force values and the times to reach these peak values as well as total stance time of the tested feet.

Results: The results showed only a significant lower F₁Z value in the non-coper ACL-deficient knee subjects (p=0.008). No significant changes were shown in the F₂Z, F₃Z or the times reach to F₁Z, F₂Z and F₃Z values (p>0.05). The stance time of the coper ACL-deficient knee subjects increased significantly in the non-coper ACL-deficeint knee subjects when compared to the coper and healthy knees (p=0.005).

Conclusion: The reduced F1Z of the vertical ground reaction force at initial contact as well as increased total stance time seen only in non-coper ACL-deficient knee subjects reveals inadequate compensatory mechanism in these patients as a counter force stress at initial contact and weight bearing. However, the coper ACL-deficient knee subjects compensated these forces with good strategies and walked very similar to the control group.

Keywords: Vercial ground reaction force (VGRF), Time to peak vertical ground reaction force components, Coper & non-coper ACL-deficient knee subjects, Pedobarography.

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Background and Aim: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a novel technique for inhibition or excitation of brain cortical area. Dichotic listening test is a simple instrument to determine dominant ear and brain hemisphere for processing of verbal stimuli. This study aimed to determine changes in right ear advantage(REA), after applying inhibitory rTMS protocol on left Broca area.

 

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive - cross-sectional study, we compared the performances of 14 right handed normal adult Persian speakers with normal auditory and no history of psychiatric or neurological disorders. TMS was applied at 1 Hz with 90% motor threshold, for 10 minutes (600 pulses) on left Broca's area. The right ear advantage index was assessed pre and post rTMS using dichotic listening test.

  

Results: Finding of the present study showed no significant difference on right ear advantage index pre and post rTMS using paired t-test.

 

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the use of inhibitory rTMS protocol on the left Broca area , has no effect for shifting in the right ear advantage. For interpretation of the results, it could be stated that it may be the protocol was used in this study isn't sufficient enough to inhibit left hemisphere for linguistic processing. Another reason could be the lack of sufficient sensitivity of Dichotic Listening test to show changes in hemisphere function after TMS. However, to provide clearer description, using functional brain imaging techniques and TMS together could be helpful.

 

Key words: Trancranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Lateralization, REA, Linguistic processing, Dichotic listening