Master of Science / Department of Psychological Sciences / Lester Loschky / Film is a ubiquitous medium. However, the process by which we comprehend film narratives is not well understood. Reading research has shown a strong connection between eye-movements and comprehension. In four experiments we tested whether the eye-movement and comprehension relationship held for films. This was done by manipulating viewer comprehension by starting participants at different points in a film, and then tracking their eyes. Overall, the manipulation created large differences in comprehension, but only found small difference in eye-movements. In a condition of the final experiment, a task manipulation was designed to prioritize different stimulus features. This task manipulation created large differences in eye-movements when compared to participants freely viewing the clip. These results indicate that with the implicit task of narrative comprehension, top-down comprehension processes have little effect on eye-movements. To allow for strong, volitional top-down control of eye-movements in film, task manipulations need to make features that are important to comprehension irrelevant to the task.

Research interest in cerebral small vessel disease, which is manifested as lacunar infarct and white matter changes, has surged in the last decade. Small vessel disease has been increasingly recognized via neuroimaging to be highly prevalent among the elderly and more importantly; it is associated with cognitive impairment. Since the population worldwide is ageing, the cognitive burden associated with small vessel disease is foreseen to rise. This burden will be particularly great in China where the population is vast. However, data of cognitive impairment related to small vessel disease among Chinese is scarce. / The methods and results of these studies will be presented in the thesis. In brief, the author concluded that (1) among Chinese stroke patients with relevant subcortical lacunar infarct, underlying intracranial large artery disease should be looked for before attributing that the lacunar infarct is due to small vessel disease because of its not uncommon association with lacunar infarcts among Chinese; (2) half of the patients with stroke associated with small vessel disease complain of varying severity levels of cognitive impairment 3 months poststroke and executive dysfunction also affects functional activities; (3) thalamic lacunar infarct and left frontal lobe atrophy have small yet significant influences on cognitive performances; (4) cerebral atrophy predicts prestroke cognitive impairment; and (5) Chinese frontal assessment battery is a moderately valid, while executive clock drawing test is not a valid test in the evaluation of executive dysfunction among Chinese with small vessel disease. / This thesis aimed to present studies that were conducted by the author among Chinese stroke patients on this particular field. The aims of the studies were to evaluate the (1) frequency of relevant intracranial large artery disease among Chinese stroke patients having subcortical lacunar infarcts; (2) frequency and impact of cognitive impairment after stroke associated with small vessel disease; (3) neuroimaging determinants of cognitive performances after stroke associated with small vessel disease; (4) determinants of prestroke cognitive impairment in stroke associated with small vessel disease; and the (5) validity of frontal assessment battery and executive clock drawing test in assessing executive dysfunction among Chinese patients with small vessel disease. / Mok Chung Tong Vincent. / "April 2005." / Adviser: Lawrence Ka Sing Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3695. / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 180-197). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / School code: 1307.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier le développement des conduites temporelles et leurs changements en fonction des contextes et des capacités cognitives des enfants, afin de proposer un modèle des distorsions du jugement du temps. Un ensemble de 9 études expérimentales ont été réalisées dans cette thèse s’inscrivant dans 3 axes principaux. Axe 1 – Temps et neuropsychologie développementale. Cet axe a pour but d’examiner le rôle des capacités cognitives (attention, mémoire, vitesse de traitement) dans les distorsions du jugement du temps chez l’enfant. Pour cela, des enfants âgés de 5 à 8 ans, ainsi que des adultes, ont été soumis à des paradigmes de distracteur attentionnel et de double-tâche, avec des tâches concurrentes de nature différente, soit non-temporelle (discrimination de couleurs) soit temporelle (discrimination ou reproduction de durées). Les capacités des enfants étaient évaluées au moyen de différents tests neuropsychologiques. Les résultats montrent que les distorsions du temps (sous-estimation du temps) chez l’enfant sont liées à leurs capacités attentionnelles limitées, plus particulièrement à leurs capacités en termes d’attention sélective dans le cas de la double tâche et d’inhibition dans celui de la distraction attentionnelle. Ainsi, deux mécanismes attentionnels impactent le jugement du temps, l’un lié au déclenchement du traitement du temps « attentional switch » et l’autre aux ressources attentionnelles « attentional gate ». Néanmoins, quand le sujet doit traiter deux durées en parallèle, on n’observe pas de sous-estimation temporelle, voire au contraire une surestimation du temps. De plus, cette distorsion du temps n’est plus liée aux capacités cognitives de l’enfant, même s’il est plus difficile pour l’enfant de réaliser une seconde tâche temporelle qu’une seconde tâche non-temporelle. Cela suggère l’existence d’un système d’horloge interne (ou de plusieurs horloges) capable de traiter de façon indépendante de multiples durées. Cependant nos résultats montrent que des processus attentionnels interfèrent avec ce système, causant dès lors des distorsions temporelles. Axe 2 – Temps et contexte. Dans le cadre de cet axe, on a étudié l’influence du contexte temporel sur les distorsions du temps chez l’enfant et l’adulte, selon l’ordre de présentation des durées dans la séance expérimentale, leur modalité sensorielle (visuelle ou auditive), et la signification sociale du stimulus à estimer (état de l’autre). Les résultats montrent la forte influence des contextes sur le jugement des durées chez le jeune enfant. En effet, ils font preuve de plus grandes surestimations du temps quand les durées varient de modalité sensorielle d’un essai à l’autre. Leur jugement temporel est aussi plus influencé par la valeur des durées présentées auparavant. Ils sont également sujets à plus de distorsions temporelles, incorporant dans leurs estimations l’état perçu chez l’autre (mouvement, émotion), bien que l’acquisition explicite de la théorie de l’esprit accentue ces distorsions. De plus, nos résultats montrent que l’amplitude de ces distorsions du temps contextuelles est directement liée aux capacités cognitives de l’enfant, notamment de ses capacités d’attention et de mémoire de travail. Ces résultats témoignent de l’influence déterminante du développement des fonctions cognitives sur le jugement du temps. Axe 3 – Temps et modélisation. Dans ce 3ème axe, on a entrepris une modélisation en réseaux de neurones (Simple Reccurent Network et Multi-Layer Perceptron) permettant de proposer un nouveau modèle développemental du jugement du temps, alliant des processus automatiques d’horloge interne à des processus cognitifs interférents. Notre modèle permet de prédire de façon satisfaisante les distorsions du temps chez l’homme à différents âges. Notre modèle est donc apte à simuler les biais de jugement temporel sur la base des différences cognitives inter- et intra-individuelles. [...] / The aim of this thesis is to study the development of temporal behaviors and their changes according to children's contexts and cognitive abilities, in order to propose a model of the distortions of time judgment. A set of 9 experimental studies were carried out in this thesis belonging to 3 main axes. Axis 1 – Development of time and neuropsychology. This axis aims to examine the role of cognitive abilities (attention, memory, processing speed) in the distortions of time judgment in children. For this reason, children aged from 5 to 8 years, as well as adults, have been subjected to paradigms of attention distractor and double-task, with competing tasks of different natures, either non-temporal (color discrimination) or temporal (discrimination or reproduction of durations). Children's abilities were assessed using different neuropsychological tests. The results show that time distortions (underestimation of time) in children are related to their limited attentional abilities, particularly to their abilities in selective attention in the case of dual tasks and to that of inhibition in attentional distraction. Thus, two attentional mechanisms impact the judgment of time, one linked to the triggering of the "attentional switch" time processing and the other to the "attentional gate" attentional resources. Nevertheless, when the subject has to treat two durations in parallel, one does not observe temporal underestimation, contrarily, an overestimation of the time is revealed. Moreover, this distortion of time is no longer linked to the cognitive abilities of the child, although it is more difficult for the child to perform a second temporal task than a second non-temporal task. This suggests the existence of an internal clock system (or multiple clocks) capable of independently processing multiple durations. However, our results show that attentional processes interfere with this system, thus causing temporal distortions. Axis 2 - Time and context. Within the framework of this axis, we studied the influence of the temporal context on the distortions of time in the child and the adult, according to the order of presentation of the durations in the experimental session, their sensory modality (visual or auditory), and the social significance of the stimulus to be estimated (state of the other). The results show the strong influence of the contexts on the duration’s judgment in the young child. In fact, they show greater time overestimation when the durations vary from sensory modality from one trial to another. Their temporal judgment is also more influenced by the value of the durations presented previously. They are also subject to more temporal distortions, incorporating in their estimations the perceived state of the other (movement, emotion), although the explicit acquisition of the theory of mind accentuates these distortions. Moreover, our results show that the amplitude of these contextual distortions of time is directly related to the cognitive abilities of the child, notably of his attention and working memory abilities. These results testify to the determining influence of the development of cognitive functions on the judgment of time. Axis 3 - Time and modeling. In this third area, a series of neural networks (Simple Recutrent Network and Multi-Layer Perceptron) has been undertaken to propose a new developmental model of time judgment, combining automatic internal clock processes with interfering cognitive processes. Our model allows us to predict significantly the distortions of time in humans at different ages. Our model is therefore able to simulate temporal judgment bias based on inter and intra-individual cognitive differences. This original model should make it possible to systematically study the difficulties of time judgment in different contexts and in various populations with or without disorders.

A relatively new phenomenon in learning research called highlighting occurs when participants show a seemingly irrational preference to attribute a stronger cue-outcome association to a later presented perfect predictor when it is paired with an imperfect predictor than that of an earlier presented perfect predictor paired with the same imperfect predictor (Kruschke, 1996). Current research suggests that the highlighting effect depends on the ability to learn to shift attention away from an irrelevant cue toward a more relevant cue in order to reduce errors in causal judgment and preserve an earlier formed association (Kruschke, 2003). Much research has suggested that older adults have difficulty disengaging attention from irrelevant information, which could be problematic in the highlighting procedure (Cohn, Dustman, & Bradford, 1984; Tipper, 1991; Mutter, Naylor, & Patterson, 2005). However, the results of the current experiment suggest that older adults can learn attentional shifts in order to guide associative learning and reduce errors in causal judgments. These data prove to be a problem for many models of associative learning (e.g., Mackintosh, 1975; Rescorla & Wagner, 1972; Van Hamme & Wasserman, 1994), but support a model proposed by Kruschke (2006).

In modern democratic country, the complexity of public affairs is a difficult topic of public policy. Only admires the objective analysis technology is insufficient to in accordance to the complex public decision-making. Therefore, the public policy formulation needs the suitable political judgment. But populace's policy-making cognition mode then is the key to carry out the policy formulation. Today Taiwan society had the certain democratized degree and the economic basis, the populace had opportunity to participate in public affairs. As a result of is extremely insufficient in the participation public affairs training, the populace has not been able by rational when discuss the public subject that he faces. Here cognition is uncoordinated and possible to initiate the policy-making conflict. If we want to reduce the policy-making conflict to achieve higher policy-making quality, it is the necessary thorough understanding common populace's policy-making cognition mode. This research is based on the Cognitive Continuum Theory, take sets up a wetland park as the example, designs a quasi-experiment to directly compares efficacies of analytical, intuitive and quasi-rational cognition mode of the populace in the public decision-making. The research target lies in to regards the analytical cognition and the intuitive cognition is dichotomous proposes the counter-evidence, proved they are the beginnings and ends of the cognitive continuum. The findings showed that, (1) the characteristic policy-making judgment cognition mode of the populace to the wetland park judgment is a continuous distribution state. (2) The cognition identity of judgment method to be able to induce the cognition identity of the policy-making judgment. (3) The populace's policy-making judgment behavior has the analysis cognition identity that they can depend on analytical judgment method to carry on the policy-making judgment. (4) The policy-making cognition mode can come under cognition of identity influence the policy-making judgment method. The better correlation of judgment method and the goal cognition identity, the more consistent policy-making performance.

Within the framework of Pascual-Leone's Theory of Constructive Operators (TCO), 252 Zulu-speaking children in the 7-8 , 9-10 and 11-12 age-groups were tested four times on the FIT RAC 794, a measure of mental capacity or !i-power. Two hypotheses were investigated: (i) A "local" hypothesis (related to the fact that many black South African schoolchildren appear to struggle at school) was that 'all children have the same A-power. Performance differences are explained in terms of different learning experiences, which give rise to different repertoires of executive structures responsible for allocating M-power. It was predicted that on Trial 1 of the FIT children would underperform, but that with repeated exposure to the task they would develop the executives necessary for success. (ii) A "general" hypothesis sought to test the TCO's theoretical prediction that there is an age-linked developmental ceiling on performance, and that in spite of over-learning children will not perform beyond their age -determined M-power. As predicted the children underperformed on Trial 1. They reached criterion on Tri a1 2 and then overperformed on Tri a1 3 where performance reached a ceiling with no further significant improvement on Trial 4. The fact that chiIdren achieved scores above those predicted by the TCO on Trials 3 and 4 was explained in terms of non-M facilitating factors, developed as the result of over-exposure to the test. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1985.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and cognitive function in older adults Additionally, the study sought to determine if older adults adhering to ACSM PA guidelines would exhibit significantly better cognitive function than their less active peers. Thirty-five participants (M= 70.6 ± 4.6 years), 21 males and 14 females free of diagnosed cognitive disorders or prescribed psychotropic medications from the Muncie, IN. region were recruited for analysis. Resting heart rate, blood pressure, health history and basic body composition variables were evaluated to determine study eligibility. The Trail Making Task and Stroop Color and Word Test were used to assess cognitive function. Time spent in sedentary, light and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), energy expenditure and total steps were measured for a one-week period by accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3x) and questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionairre). Weekly MVPA was found to correlate significantly with Stroop Word (W) (r =.446, p = < .05), Stroop Color (C) (r =.389, p = < .05) and Stroop Color-Word (CW) (r =.609, p = < .05) performance outcomes. MVPA was also found to have a significant relationship with Trail Making Test Part B (TMTb) outcomes (r = -.358, p < .05). Energy expenditure was related with cognitive performance where W (r = .416, p = <.05), C (r = .424, p = < .05), CW (r = .656, p = < .05), TMTb (r = -.532, p = < .05) and difference between TMT Parts A and B (TMTdiff) (r = -.485, p = < .05) were significant. Total steps/week were strongly correlated to MVPAACC+ (r = .752, p = < .05) as well as CW scores (r = .388, p < .05). Women were shown to have a stronger relationship between MVPAACC+ and TMTb performance outcomes (r = .732, p < .05). Independent t-tests indicated that older adults participating in > 150 minutes of MVPA weekly perform better on Stroop W, C and CW (p = .003, p = .001, and p = .015, respectively) when compared to less active peers. Increased MVPA indicates improved cognitive performance outcomes in older adults when compared to less active peers. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

This thesis reports work relating to theoretical frameworks in the area of numerical cognition that have been developed by McCloskey, Caramazza & Basili (1985), Clark & Campbell (1991), Dehaene (1992) and Noel & Seron (1992). The associations between numerical cognition and memory processes in relation to the working memory model of Baddeley (1986) were investigated. The first study used the factor analytic method to elucidate the factor structure of the processes that underlie numerical cognition, and to investigate the various components of the working memory model in relation to arithmetic. A battery of 21 tests was administered to 100 participants. The contribution of the factor analytic study to the structure of numerical cognition is discussed. An examination of the factors (labelled 'access to representations' and 'working memory') identified specific aspects of numerical cognition that were investigated further using experimental methods. The data on magnitude comparisons of numbers and animals that have been found to load onto Factor 1 were reanalysed. Similar patterns were found with the two types of stimuli in some cases. This suggested that Dehaene's notion of a 'number line' might not be specific to numbers. To build on the investigation of magnitude comparisons two experiments were carried out using the dual task paradigm. The results confirmed that magnitude judgements are represented at the level of semantic processing and may not be specific to numbers. The subitizing circles test was also found to load onto Factor 1. This raised a question about the common processes that may be involved both in this test and in other tests loading on that factor. A dual task experiment was used to investigate that possibility. It appeared from the results that the verbally presented tasks in the control and experimental groups produced interference with the s ubitizing task. This result lent support for the view that subitizing is an early pre-lexical perceptual process, possibly based on canonical representations ofthe stimuli. Complex addition and multiplication loaded onto Factor 2, 'working memory' and a further dual task experiment was conducted to investigate the speCUlative view held by Aschraft (1995), that the visuo-spatial sketchpad may playa role in arithmetic problem solving. The results lent support for the view held by Aschraft (1995) of the involvement of the visual-spatial component of working memory in the calculation of multi-digit addition problems. Thus the research reported in this thesis has used a range of investigative techniques and data analysis, with the aim of clarifying the scope and the limitations of major recent models of numerical cognition and the role of working memory in numerical processing. The results of the research programme supported those models which link numerical cognition with other forms of mental processing by identifying specific ways in which diverse numerical processes such as magnitude comparison, subitizing and the calculation of multi-digit problems draw on forms of processing associated with other types of stimuli.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-212). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.