Search

Congenital amusia is as a neurodevelopment disorder primarily defined by impairment in pitch discrimination and pitch memory. Interestingly, it has been reported that individuals with congenital amusia also exhibit deficits in face recognition (prosopagnosia). One explanation of such comorbidity is that the neural substrates of pitch recognition and face recognition may be similar. To test this hypothesis, face recognition ability was assessed using the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT) and gray matter volume was determined through voxel-based morphometry (VBM) among participants with and without congenital amusia. As expected, participants with amusia performed worse on the CFMT test and showed reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), the superior temporal gyrus (STG), and the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in the right hemisphere, when compared with matched controls. Furthermore, correlation analyses demonstrated that the CFMT score was positively related to MTG, STG, and PCC GMV in all participants, while separate analyses of each group found a positive correlation of CFMT score and PCC GMV in amusics. These findings suggest that face recognition is associated with a widely distributed microstructural network in the human brain and the PCC plays an important role in both pitch recognition and face recognition in amusics. In addition, neurodevelopmental disorders such as congenital amusia and prosopagnosia may share a common neural substrate. • The findings provide evidence for the view that face recognition is associated with a widely distributed microstructural network in the brain. • The findings suggest the PCC plays an important role in both music perception and face recognition in amusics. • The findings provide evidence for the view neurodevelopmental disorders such as amusia and prosopagnosia may share a common neural substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-purity melting is critical for casting metallic glass components, which would be achieved by developing the induction skull melting (ISM) technology used in casting process. The melting process of metallic glass components during ISM is urgently desired to be understood, which is rare so far. Based on this, a full-scale coupling simulation model for ISM technology with finite element method (FEM) was proposed, which contains all physical fields engaged in the melting processes. Furthermore, the metallic glass melting process was experimentally and numerically investigated based on the full-scale coupling model. The distribution of the multi-physics field within the charge was elaborated based on the numerical simulation results, especially electromagnetic field contribution, heat transfer, meniscus shape and melt reflux zone. Furthermore, due to its high viscosity, a long holding time to improve melt homogeneity is necessary for metallic glass melt. The chief aim of this work is to understand of induction melting process for melting amorphous master alloys using induction skull melting technology and to provide a foundation for the casting method to form bulk metallic glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]