Global ETD Search

151	Frontal Alpha and Beta EEG Power Asymmetry and Iowa Gambling Task Performance Amoss, Richard Toby 15 July 2009 (has links) Frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha (α) asymmetry may index the activation of lateralized affect and motivation systems in humans. Resting EEG activation was measured and its relationship to Iowa gambling task (IGT) performance was evaluated. No effects were found for α power asymmetry. However, beta (β) power asymmetry, an alternative measure of resting EEG activation, was associated with the number of risky decisions made in the early portion of the task. Additionally, IGT deck selection patterns suggest there are at least three distinct performance styles in healthy individuals. Interestingly, β power asymmetry contradicts performance predictions based on accepted frontal asymmetry affect and motivation models. Performance Emotion Frontal asymmetry Electroencephalography Iowa gambling task Motivation Psychology
152	Examining the Trajectory of Change in Sex Communications between African American Female Parents and their Children Chow, Louis K 16 July 2009 (has links) Parent child communications about sex play an important role in influencing adolescent’s sexual behaviors and attitudes. The present study was conducted to examine how sexual communications between African American mothers and their children change over a period of three years in the areas of sex education, communication about risk reduction, and child and parent report of responsiveness. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses found significant linear or curvilinear trajectory in communication with sons and daughters in all areas. Gender differences were found such that daughters received more communication than sons. Furthermore, daugthers’ sexual maturation was found to be associated with a decrease in the rate of decline of communication about general sex information. For sons, mothers decreased in rates of responsiveness as sons got older; however, as sons’ sexual maturation increased, rates of declining responsiveness slowed down. Parent child communications about sex African American families Hierarchical linear modeling Sexual maturation Psychology
153	Natural Mentors and African American Girls' Sexual Efficacy Ogley-Oliver, Emma J. F. 17 July 2009 (has links) Despite decreasing rates of teen pregnancy within the U.S., rates remain high for African American girls (Guttmacher Institute, 2006). Comprehensive youth development programs aim to address teen pregnancy. This study examined the role of natural mentors in relation to participation in Cool Girls, Inc. and girls’ sexual efficacy among middle school girls. Furthermore, the quality of natural mentor relationship was assessed. Results provide no support that participation in the program and the presence of a natural mentor significantly affects sexual efficacy. Furthermore, the quality of natural mentor relationship did not significantly increase girls’ sexual efficacy. However, while not explicitly hypothesized, older girls reported significantly higher sexual efficacy. Limitations and strengths of the study are discussed. Directions for future research and intervention are suggested. Teen pregnancy Self-efficacy Asset building Middle school girls Youth development programs Resilience Psychology
154	Building Positive Future Orientations: The Role of Natural Mentors in the Lives of African American Girls Mualuko, Mwende K 14 August 2009 (has links) The purpose of the current study is determine if the presence of a natural mentor, and/or the quality of relationship within protégé-mentor relationships, predicts the development of Future Orientation (FO) among African American girls living in conditions of risk. A sample of 160 girls of African descent was recruited from 6 elementary and middle schools. An exploratory factor analysis of 19 FO items suggested a 2-factor model consisting of (1) motivation and (2) planning. The model did not support the third expected factor, evaluation. The presence of natural mentors failed to predict concurrent levels of FO. Relationship quality did significantly predict concurrent levels of FO. Post-hoc analyses indicated that the consistent presence of a natural mentor predicted the development of FO. Post-hoc analyses also indicated the relationship quality with one’s, significantly predicted the development of FO among consistently mentored girls. Methodological limitations and implications for future research are discussed. African American girls Gender Ethnicity Poverty Relationship quality Natural mentors Evaluation Planning Motivation Future orientation Psychology
155	The Role of GABAergic Transmission in Mediation of Striatal Local Field Potentials (LFPs) Seiscio, Andrew R 15 May 2008 (has links) In the present study, electrophysiological and behavioral effects of compromised Gama-Aminobutyric Acid (GABAergic) transmission were investigated in adult Rhesus macaque monkeys (N=2). GABAergic transmission was perturbed in the putamen by administration of a GABAa receptor antagonist, gabazine (10 and 500 μM), via a microdialysis-local field potential (MD-LFP) probe. Resultant changes in striatal local field potentials (LFPs) were measured as an assay of synchrony. Gabazine perfusion evoked discrete large amplitude spikes in LFPs in all subjects, and the frequency and shape of individual spikes were concentration-dependent. Pre-treatment with the GABAa receptor agonist, muscimol (100 μM) blocked the gabazine-induced events, confirming a role for GABAa receptors in the effects. Behavioral manifestations of gabazine treatment were observed only at the maximum concentration. Unusual facial movements suggested aberrant electrical activity was propagated from striatum to motor cortex, perhaps via reentrant circuits. These results support a role for GABAergic transmission in segregation of striatal circuits. Rhesus macaque synchronized oscillatory discharge gabazine local field potentials Psychology
156	Exploring the Relationship between Racial Factors and Critical Social Analysis among a Group of African American Youth Green, Brandeis H. 01 December 2009 (has links) The aim of this study was to investigate the contributions of racial identity and racial socialization beyond peer and parental influence, to the development of critical social analysis in African American youth. Young people perceive injustice and inequality in their world in varying ways. The recognition of societal inequalities, or the development of critical social analysis may be a contributing factor to activism for youth. Factors such as sense of agency, parental and peer influence and intellectual curiosity have previously been explored as contributors to activism for African American youth (Watts, 1999). Study results indicated support for the link between racial identity, racial socialization and a specific factor of critical social analysis. Implications of the findings as well as future directions are discussed. African American Activism Sociopolitical development Critical consciousness Social analysis Youth Psychology
157	The Cross Race Effect: The Influence of Stereotypicality on Memory Errors Knuycky, Leslie Riddick 01 December 2009 (has links) In eyewitness identification cases, suspect misidentification is the leading factor attributed to wrongful convictions (Scheck, Neufeld, & Dwyer, 2000), thus, it is of applied importance to identify factors that contribute to the false recollection of faces. One potential factor addressed in the current study was whether face memory and subsequent identification for other-race-faces is biased by the degree to which a target face posses facial features associated with ethnic identity. Individual differences in level of processing (global, local) and prejudice were tested as potential mechanisms contributing to biased judgments. In Experiment 1 a standard face recognition task revealed that prejudice, level of processing, and face-type interacted to predict recognition bias. In Experiment 2 results showed that positive misidentifications (i.e., choosing an incorrect foil) were more likely when a stereotypical versus non-stereotypical Black actor was witnessed committing the crime. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications. Cross-race effect Face recognition Face identification Face memory Stereotypicality Psychology
158	An Examination of the Influence of Stress and Coping on Psychosocial Functioning in Caregivers of Children with Sickle Cell Disease Welkom, Josie S. 01 December 2009 (has links) Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 out of every 600 African-American newborns (NHLBI, 2006). Research suggests that caregivers of children with SCD are at risk for maladjustment. The purpose of this current study was to build upon previous research regarding stress and coping of parents of children with SCD. Additionally, novel information regarding the effects of racial identity was explored. Participants included 103 caregivers (M = 41.1 years old, SD = 8.04 years) of children with SCD. Parents completed a demographic form, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18, Pediatric Inventory for Parents, Coping Health Inventory for Parents, and the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity. Results revealed that increases in caregiver stress associated with parenting a chronically ill child were accompanied by increases in caregiver psychosocial maladjustment. Caregiver coping did not significantly predict functioning nor moderate the stress-adjustment relation. Exploratory analysis revealed significant associations between parents’ racial identity and parenting stress. Sickle Cell Disease Caregivers Parents Stress Coping Racial identity African Americans Psychology
159	2008 U.S. Presidential Election: Persuasive YouTube Interactions About War, Health Care, and the Economy Zimmerman, Lindsey 01 December 2009 (has links) Persuasive appeals posted to United States presidential candidates’ YouTube videos were coded using a grounded theory mixed-methods design. 37,562 comments about education, energy, Iraq, health care, the economy, and the presidential debates were randomly collected by date and time for three studies using coding analysis: pilot, presidential primaries, and the presidential election. Seven argument types were identified and theoretically refined according to dual process models of persuasion: reason-based, candidate-based, emotion-based, endorsements, enthusiasmheuristic, other-interest and self-interest. Theoretical comparisons and hypothesis testing of argument types were conducted by issue and election event. Consistent with impression involvement, reason-based appeals were more frequent during the primaries, whereas consistent with value and outcome involvement, emotion- and candidate-based appeals were more frequent during the election. Persuasion Dual process models Internet Agenda-setting Media United States Psychology Politics Iraq war Economy Health care Reason Emotion Self-interest Altruism YouTube Grounded theory Psychology
160	Investigating the Role of Emotion Perception in the Adaptive Functioning of Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Hudepohl, Margaret B. 01 December 2009 (has links) Cognitive functioning has historically been used to predict adaptive outcomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorders; however, research shows that it does not adequately predict these outcomes. Therefore, the current study explored the role of emotion perception in the adaptive functioning of individuals with ASDs. Emotion perception was assessed using the DANVA-2, which has audio and static face stimuli, and the DAVE, dynamic, audio-visual emotion movies. Adaptive functioning was assessed using the Vineland-II Socialization, Communication, and Daily Living domains. Results indicated that individuals with ASDs demonstrated significant impairments in both adaptive functioning and emotion perception compared to typical individuals. Findings did not demonstrate a relationship between emotion perception and adaptive functioning, controlling for IQ. Future research should broaden the approach when investigating possible mechanisms of change for adaptive outcomes to include exploration of social perception more broadly, of which emotion perception is one component, and its relationship with adaptive outcomes. Autism spectrum disorders Adaptive functioning Emotion perception Dynamic emotion stimuli Social perception Psychology

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