Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Augmented tongue ultrasound for speech therapy

A team of researchers developed a system that displays tongue movements in real time, using machine learning algorithms to control an articulatory talking head. This 'visual biofeedback' system can help patients with articulation disorders correct pronunciation problems faster.

SourceCNRS·JournalSpeech Communication·DateOct 13, 2017

The wrong first step to revive athletes in cardiac arrest

Research suggests that clearing the airway to prevent 'tongue swallowing' can delay crucial chest compressions, leading to increased mortality rates. In analyzed videos of athlete cardiac arrests, only 38% showed chest compressions, highlighting a critical gap in resuscitation protocols.

SourceElsevier·JournalHeart Rhythm·DateSep 19, 2017

Why can't monkeys speak?

A computer model revealed monkeys could easily produce many different sounds, implying a basic form of spoken language could have evolved without changes in vocal anatomy. Monkeys' ability to vocalize was found to be unrelated to their speech capabilities.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 9, 2016

The feel of food

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara discovered a single cell responsible for detecting food texture in fruit flies. This neuron sends signals based on the hardness of food, enabling the fly to determine whether to eat or not. The study also identified a critical protein TMC that plays a key role in mechanosensation.

That new baby isn't imitating you

Researchers tested young infants' imitation of facial and hand gestures, finding no evidence of innate ability to copy adults. Babies may learn to imitate through observation of others mimicking them.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 5, 2016

Precise method underlies sloppy madness of dog slurping

Dogs drink by accelerating their tongues to create a water column, whereas cats use steady inertia. Researchers used photography and laboratory simulations to study dog lapping, finding that dogs' sloppy-looking actions are high-speed movements optimizing fluid acquisition.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 14, 2015

Chameleons' eyes are not so independent

Researchers discovered that chameleons' eyes do not move completely independently, but instead have cross-talk between the eyes, similar to binocular vision. The study showed that chameleons can track objects moving in opposite directions before deciding which object to target.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJul 8, 2015

Requiem for an ancient tongue worm

Researchers have discovered a 425-million-year-old fossil of an ancient tongue worm parasite, providing significant insights into the origins of parasitism. The new species, Invavita piratica, is remarkably well-preserved and has been found attached to its host animal, an ostracod, in Herefordshire, England.

SourceYale University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 21, 2015

Stick out your tongue

A neural network-based system combines symptom descriptions with digital tongue images for diagnosis, identifying signs of illness such as discoloration and texture changes. The system can detect a range of conditions including common colds, flu, and digestive issues, with potential expansion to include eye images.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology·DateDec 5, 2014

Clinical trial shows tongue-controlled wheelchair outperforms popular wheelchair navigation system

A new clinical study shows that a tongue-controlled wheelchair can access computers and execute commands faster than sip-and-puff systems, with equal accuracy. The Tongue Drive System enables people with tetraplegia to maneuver their wheelchairs better than those using traditional assistive technologies.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 27, 2013

Bats use blood to reshape tongue for feeding

Researchers discovered that nectar-feeding bats use blood flow to erect tiny hair-like structures on their tongues, allowing them to gather nectar from flowers. This unique technology enables the bats to slurp up nectar quickly and efficiently.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 6, 2013

Tongue analysis software uses ancient Chinese medicine to warn of disease

Researchers developed a computer software that combines ancient practices with modern medicine by analyzing images of the tongue, indicating potential health issues. The software distinguishes between tongues showing signs of hot or cold zheng, which is associated with various symptoms such as fever, chills and loose stool.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalEvidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine·DateMay 25, 2012

To get the full flavor, you need the right temperature

A new study by Dr. Gary Pickering and colleagues from Brock University found that changes in food temperature alter the intensity of sour, bitter, and astringent tastes but not sweetness. The research involved 74 participants who tasted sweet, sour, bitter, and astringent solutions at varying temperatures.

SourceSpringer·JournalChemosensory Perception·DateMay 14, 2012

The peculiar feeding mechanism of the first vertebrates

A team of researchers analyzed new conodont fossils and developed a 3D model of their feeding mechanism, revealing that these ancient vertebrates used teeth on upper lips and tongue to grasp food. The findings confirm the primitive nature of conodonts and suggest a common ancestor with lampreys.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2011