published_or_final_version / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This research investigated the precision with which spatial information can be maintained in memory and reproduced as well as factors which may effect these emerging abilities. To study this, ten males and ten females in each of first, third, fifth, and seventh grades participated in three drawing tasks under two conditions (match and recall). The tasks involved the presentation of a 4" straight line or a 2" x 2" right angle drawn on an 8" white disc. Subjects were asked to draw a line exactly the same size and in the same place (static), after an imagined rotation, or after an imagined bending or unbending of the line (transformation) on an 1" white disc. Several mixed design analyses of variance with repeated measures on the task variables were run. First graders made significantly more errors than all other subjects. Third and fifth graders differed little and both performed significantly less accurately than seventh graders. Performance on the rotation task and the transformation task did not differ significantly with performance on both yielding more error than performance on the static task. The match condition generally proved easier than the recall condition, straight lines led to less error than bent lines, and orientation information was more accurately preserved than metric information. The requirements of the task, i.e., no change, change in position, or a change in form, interacted with both the stimulus type and the type of information preserved. Grade level also interacted significantly with task and stimulus type. When determining how spatial abilities emerge and the accuracy with which spatial information can be dealt, task demands, stimulus characteristics, and type of information being measured must be considered along with the developmental changes.

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The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of family sculpting on perceptual agreement among family members. Thirty families, each consisting of a father, a mother, and a child twelve years old or older, from areas of northern Utah and eastern Idaho participated in the study. The following instruments were administered to all individuals: a biographical questionnaire containing items regarding age, sex, occupation, education, number of years married for parents, and birth order position for children; the Interpersonal Check List in which each family was to describe him/ herself and the other members of the family; the Family Life Questionnaire which measures satisfaction in the family; and, finally, the experimental group was also administered the Subjective Check List which is a self report measure of the subject's experience with the experimental treatment. Three hypotheses were made regarding the effect that family sculpting would have on perceptual agreement among family members in the experimental groups: 1. There would be no significant difference between experimental and control groups in terms of perceptual agreement among family members after family sculpting as measured by the Interpersonal Check List. 2. There would be no significant difference between the low-satisfaction experimental group and the control group in terms of perceptual agreement among family members after family sculpting as measured by the Interpersonal Check List. 3. There would be no significant difference between the high-satisfaction experimental group and the control group in terms of perceptual agreement among family members after family sculpting as measured by the Interpersonal Check List. To test the hypotheses, analyses of covariance were computed for pre and posttest scores on all eight scales of the Interpersonal Check List, and on the Family Life Questionnaire. It was found that when the pretest means were held constant there was a difference on posttest means between the group which received family sculpting and the group that did not, on five of the twenty-four analyses. As a result of these findings all three hypotheses were rejected. However, notwithstanding a difference did exist, an examination of the unadjusted and adjusted means showed paradoxical results in that the level of perceptual agreement for the group which received family sculpting increased in three instances and decreased in two instances. Thus, it was determined that family sculpting may have facilitated changes in the perceptions of family members, however, it was not found to be effective in increasing perceptual agreement among family members. Further consideration would suggest that, in terms of a therapeutic approach, these possible changes in perception may be of value in breaking down maladaptive family communication patterns and establishing more adaptive ones.

In an attempt to find meaningful predictors of the ability to interpret Rorschach protocols by clinicians, a paradigm change (Kuhn, 1962) was instigated by using as predictors the scores of the perceptual organizational abilities of 30 subjects, and their ratings of favorableness toward the Rorschach in terms of its usefulness as a clinical tool. The subjects were first year, graduate psychology students, and the Haptic Visual Discrimination Test (HVDT) was the instrument used to measure perceptual organization. A multiple linear regression analysis was computed, and the data supported the hypothesis that perceptual organization and favorableness are of significant predictive value (R = .54, F(2, 27) = 5.43, p = .01). The standardized beta for usefulness was .47 (p = .008) and the HVDT beta was .33, (p = .05). The results were interpreted as applying to Rorschach validity research methodology and pedagogy.

For both the CAVETM and the adaptable technology possessed by the University of New Orleans, crystal eye glasses are used to produce a stereoscopic view, and an ascension flock of birds tracking system is employed for tracking of the user's head position and position of a wand in 3D space. It is argued that with these immersive technologies along the use of gestures and hand movements should provide a more natural interface with the immersive virtual environment. This allows a more rapid and efficient set of actions to recognize geometry, interaction with a spatial environment, the ability to find errors, or navigate through an environment. The wand interface is used to provide an improved means of interaction. This study quantitatively measures the differences in interaction when compared with traditional human computer interfaces. This work uses competitive usability in four different Benchmarks: 1) navigation, 2) error detection/correction, 3) spatial awareness, and 4) a “shopping list” of error identifications. This work expands on [Butler & Satter's, 2005] work by conducting tests in the CAVETM system, rather than principally employing workbench technology. During testing, the testers are given some time to “play around” with the CAVETM environment for familiarity before undertaking a specific exercise. The testers are then instructed regarding tasks to be completed, and are asked to work quickly without sacrificing accuracy. The research team timed each task, counted errors, and recorded activity on evaluation sheets for each Benchmark test. At the completion of the testing scenarios involving Benchmarks 1, 2, 3, or 4, the subjects were given a survey document and asked to respond by checking boxes to communicate their subjective opinions.

Nelson and Palmer (2007) concluded that figures/figural properties automatically attract attention, after they found that participants were faster to detect/discriminate targets appearing where a portion of a familiar object was suggested in an otherwise ambiguous display. We investigated whether these effects are truly automatic and whether they generalize to another figural property-convexity. We found that Nelson and Palmer's results do generalize to convexity, but only when participants are uncertain regarding when and where the target will appear. Dependence on uncertainty regarding target location/timing was also observed for familiarity. Thus, although we could replicate and extend Nelson and Palmer's results, our experiments showed that figures do not automatically draw attention. In addition, our research went beyond Nelson and Palmer's, in that we were able to separate figural properties from perceived figures. Because figural properties are regularities that predict where objects lie in the visual field, our results join other evidence that regularities in the environment can attract attention. More generally, our results are consistent with Bayesian theories in which priors are given more weight under conditions of uncertainty.

A água é o principal componente do ser humano, a falta desse elemento pode resultar em consequências negativas, como o comprometimento do funcionamento de órgãos e sistemas ou até a morte. Considerando a hidratação um hábito essencial para a saúde do corpo, qual a sua relação com a saúde vocal? O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se as mudanças no estado de hidratação sistêmica dos indivíduos influenciam na qualidade vocal antes e após o uso contínuo da voz. Participaram desse estudo 13 indivíduos do sexo masculino, estudantes da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos da Universidade de São Paulo USP, com média de idade de 21,31 ± 2,10 anos e IMC de 22,44 ± 2,04 kg/\'M POT.2\'. Os participantes foram submetidos a três avaliações não consecutivas em diferentes estados de hidratação sistêmica. Avaliação 1, hidratados, para tanto, os indivíduos foram orientados a ingerir a quantidade de 3,0 litros de água no dia anterior a avaliação e 1,5 litros na manhã do dia da avaliação. Avaliação 2, desidratados, os indivíduos foram orientados a não ingerir água ou líquidos das 22:00 horas do dia anterior até a manhã do dia da avaliação. Avaliação 3, desidratação por exercício físico, a orientação de ingestão de água foi igual a Avaliação 2 e para induzir ainda mais a desidratação, os indivíduos foram submetidos a exercício em esteira por 40 minutos. Nas 3 avaliações os procedimentos foram: gravação da voz em computador, para posteriores avaliações acústica e perceptivo-auditiva da voz; e coleta de urina, para verificação dos estados de hidratação. Para a análise da urina foram utilizados dois métodos: a gravidade específica e coloração da urina. Para a análise acústica da voz foi utilizado o programa MDVP com as medidas da frequência fundamental, jitter, shimmer e proporção harmônico ruído utilizando-se a vogal /a/ sustentada. A avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz foi realizada por uma fonoaudióloga especialista em voz, por meio das gravações da contagem de números. Os resultados da análise da urina confirmaram os diferentes estados de hidratação sistêmica e apresentaram forte correlação entre os métodos da gravidade e da coloração da urina. Os resultados da análise acústica indicaram valores de jitter acima da referência na desidratação tanto antes como após o uso contínuo de fala; maior valor médio de jitter antes da leitura no 9 estado de desidratação; aumento da frequência fundamental após leitura no estado de desidratação. Não foram observadas alterações significativas nas medidas de shimmer e na proporção harmônico ruído. A avaliação perceptivo-auditiva apontou melhora da qualidade vocal após leitura no estado de hidratação. As mudanças vocais observadas nos diferentes estados de hidratação sistêmica confirmaram que a hidratação traz benefícios para a voz. / Water is the main component of the human being, the lack of this element can result in negative consequences such as impaired functioning of organs and systems or even death. Considering hydration as an essential habit to the health of body, which is its relationship with vocal health? The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in systemic hydration status of individuals can influence the voice quality before and after continuous use of voice. In this study, 13 male students of the School of Engineering of the University of São Paulo-USP, with a average age of 21.31 ± 2.10 years and BMI 22.44 ± 2.04 kg/\'M POT.2\'. The participants were subject to three, nonconsecutive assessments, at different status of systemic hydration: Evaluation 1, hydrated, the subjects were instructed to drink 3 liters of water the day before the evaluation and 1.5 liters in the morning of the evaluation. Evaluation 2, dehydrated, subjects were instructed not to drink water or liquids from 10pm the day before until the morning of the evaluation. Evaluation 3, dehydration by physical exercise, the orientation of water intake was equal to evaluation 2 and to induce further dehydration, the subjects were subjected to a treadmill exercise during 40 minutes. At the 3 evaluations, the procedures were: voice recording on computer for subsequent acoustic and auditive-perceptual evaluations and urine collect to verify the hydration levels. For the urine analysis were used two methods: the specific gravity of the urine and its color. For the acoustic voice analysis the program MDVP was used to measures of fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer and harmonic noise using the sustained vowel /a/. The auditive-perceptual evaluation of voice was performed by a Speech Therapist specialized in voice studies, through the recordings of the counting numbers. The results of urine analysis confirmed the different levels of hydration and both specific gravity and color of the urine showed a strong correlation. The results of acoustic analysis indicated jitter values above the reference in the dehydration both before and after reading, higher average jitter value before reading in the state of dehydration, also increasing fundamental frequency. There were no significant changes in measures of shimmer and harmonic noise. 11 The perceptual assessment of voice quality showed a improvement after reading during the state of hydration. Vocal changes observed in the different states of systemic hydration confirmed that hydration is beneficial to the voice.

Research presented in this dissertation has the central aim of applying a novel method of source localization called beamforming to neuromagnetic recordings for characterizing dynamic spatiotemporal activity of sensorimotor brain processes in subjects during rhythmic auditory stimulation, self-paced movement, and two sensorimotor coordination (synchronization and syncopation) tasks known to differentiate on the basis of behavioral stability. Each experimental condition was performed at different rates resulting in 26 experimental runs per subject. Event-related neural responses were recorded with a whole-head MEG system and characterized in terms of their phase-locked (evoked) and non-phase-locked (induced) activity within the brain using both whole-brain analysis and region of interest (ROI) analysis. The analysis of the auditory conditions revealed that neural activity within extraauditory areas throughout the brain, including sensorimotor cortex, is modulated by rhythmic auditory stimulation. Additionally, the temporal profile of this activity was markedly different between sensorimotor and auditory cortex, possibly revealing different physiological processes, entrained within a common network for representing isochronic auditory events. During self-paced movements cycle-by-cycle dynamics of induced neural activity was measured and consistent neuro-modulation in the form of event-related desynchronization (ERD) and synchronization (ERS) was observed at all rates investigated (0.25 - 1.75Hz). ERD and ERS modulations exhibited dynamic scaling properties on a cycle-by-cycle basis that depended on the period of movement. Activity in the beta- and mu-bands also exhibited patterns of phase locking between sensorimotor locations. Phase locking patterns exhibited abrupt decreases with increases in movement rate. / During sensorimotor coordination tasks, the effect of temporal positioning of the auditory stimulus was apparent within sensorimotor cortical sites. This finding offers direct source level support for previous sensor level analysis revealing a differentiation of functional specificity for mu- and beta-band activity (Chen, Ding, Kelso, 2003; Jantzen, Fuchs, Mayville et al., 2001; Mayville, Fuchs, Ding et al., 2001), and may be reflective of specific coupling mechanisms between auditory and sensorimotor networks. The beamformer analysis applied within this dissertation successfully characterized large-scale neural networks during a variety of rhythmic perceptual, motor, and sensorimotor tasks resulting in the general message that information processes across disparate parts of the brain from different sensory, motor, and cognitive modalities appear to have the ability for widespread integration. / by Paul Ferrari. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.