Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-147). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 185-194). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Cognitive demands for postural control in younger and older adults were examined under conditions of postural threat. Age-related differences emerged in the distribution of attention for postural control in conditions of postural threat. Specifically, porutral compensations were implented to reduce cognitive demands for postural control. In addition, it was determined that the effect of performing a secondary cognitive task on postural control was altered when the potential consequences of instability were increased. Younger adults were found to maintain postural control and improve secondary task performance in conditions of increased threat whereas postural control in older adults improved at the expense of secondary task performance. In older adults, postural control may be prioritized under conditions that increase arousal and the consequences of imbalance. These findings have implications for reducing falls in elderly populations, as they reveal that the ability to adequately perform concurrent tasks is compromised when environmental factors threaten balance in elderly populations. / xi, 113 leaves ; 28 cm.

The effects of postural threat on postural control among younger and older adults were examined. Fifteen younger (YA;8 females and 7 males; mean age 22.00 + 2.17 years) and fifteen older (OA; 10 females and 5 males; mean age 69.98 + 5.35 years) adults performed quiet standing and forward reaching under four conditions of postural threat. Postural threat was achieved by the manipulation of height (low(0.43m) and high (1.4m)) and stepping constraint (unconstrained (0.91m from the anterior edge of an elevating platform) or constrained (0m from the anterior edge of an elevating platform). Younger and older adults demonstrated conservative modifications to postural control that may reduce the likelihood of a fall in tenuous conditions. Interestingly, age-related differences emerged in the mechanism of achieving these accomodations to postural threat. Our findings indicate that older adults may adopt more proximal postural strategies under condtion of postural threat. The shift toward a more proximal postural strategies under conditions of postural threat. The shift toward a more proximal control of balance may reflect the age-related declines in the ability to control the movement of the trunk. Although these adaptations appear benefical to older adults, the possibility exists for detrimental consequences to postural recovery following a balance disturbance. / xi, 173 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

The purpose of this study was to attempt to determine if skilled dancers instructed to concentrate on sustaining balance while performing a simple balance task would experience ironic effects of thought control and a subsequent performance decrement under conditions of distraction utilizing a within subjects design. Sixteen skilled dancers were divided into two groups. Each group was pre-tested for time on balance for three trials on the 1"I13 balance task, and then alternately exposed to treatment 1 (a set of concentration instructions) and treatment 2 (the same set of concentration instructions with the introduction of a taped anti-rhythmic drum beat playing loudly in the background). Both groups were post-tested after the administration of each treatment, A 2x3 ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor revealed no significant differences between post test scores for each of the two treatments. The nonsignificant results contradict prior cognitive research conducted using the Ironic theory of Thought Control developed by D.M. Wegner. Results suggest the need for further research in the motor domain testing this theory with attempts to identify factors which mediate motor performance. / School of Physical Education

Thesis (MPhysio)--University of South Australia, 1999

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--La Crosse, 2009. / Title from signature page. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2005 / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 101 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Johns Hopkins University, 1932. / Vita. "Pigeons were selected as subjects for this investigation."--P. 26. Published also as Comparative psychology monographs, v. 9, serial no. 45, February, 1934. Bibliography: p. 45-48.

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.