Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 2001. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 62-03, Section: B, page: 1616. Director: William Froming.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 2002. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 62-12, Section: B, page: 5952. Adviser: Michael Dunn.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 2002. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-11, Section: B, page: 5546. Adviser: Amy Wisniewski.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: B, page: 7701. Adviser: Charles H. Hillman. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-116) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--The University of Alabama, 2007. / (UMI)AAI3286156. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-10, Section: B, page: 7015. Adviser: Philip A. Bishop.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2003. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 64-02, Section: B, page: 0957. Chairs: Lana A. Tiersky; Juliana R. Lachenmeyer. Available also in print.

Since the pioneering work of Altman in the late 60's, much has been learned about the generation of neurons in the adult brains of several species, including mice, rats, and humans. An underlying assumption is that these newborn neurons acquire their energy, in the form of glucose, in a similar manner to mature neurons: via glucose transporters. Using BRDU and double immunohistochemistry, we investigated the relationship between hippocampal neurogenesis and glucose transporters, as well as monocarboxylate transporters. Unexpectedly, the results suggest that newborn neurons do not acquire their energy via the major glucose transporters (1, 3, 4, and 8), nor via either monocarboxylate transporter tested (1 and 2). Future studies will have to resolve whether lesser known glucose transporters carry this function or if other mechanisms are used to provide metabolic energy to newborn neurons.

Temporal, kinematic and kinetic patterns of independent walking (IW) in toddlers have been characterized in various studies with postural control identified as a critical component influencing the coordination between gait mechanisms to maintain a dynamic equilibrium. Variations in parameters across development indicate that toddlers possess more adult-like integration capabilities in locomotor control after 4 to 5 months of independent walking (Bril & Breniere, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992). However, whether this integration would be influenced in a subtle complex locomotor task, obstacle crossing remains unknown. This study examined locomotor modulation during obstacle crossing in eight healthy toddlers (six males and two females; mean height = 80.6 cm) with 1 to 8 months IW experience. At least five trials of unobstructed walking (UW) and obstacle crossing (OC) were recorded using a Vicon motion analysis system (Oxford Metric Ltd, Oxford, UK). Lower extremity trajectories during unobstructed walking and while crossing a visible fixed obstacle were analyzed (Visual3D Motion Analysis System, C-motion Inc., Rockville, Maryland. US). As months of walking increased, segmental trajectories over the obstacle appeared to be more consistent. With 4- to 5-month IW toddlers displaying more adult-like OC patterns. This tendency was reflected by less variability of leading and trailing toe-to-obstacle distance (TD) and crossing stride length (SL). As IW experience increased, safety and stability were improved as the leading and trailing toe clearance distance over the obstacle (TC), knee flexion, crossing step length (SL), and heel distance (HD) increased accordingly. The most dramatic changes of these variables occurred after 4 to 5 months IW. In addition, success rate increased as months of walking suggested that better integrated postural control was achieved.

<p> This phenomenological study used a qualitative, hermeneutic analysis to explore the lived experiences of the moments of psychological change in five women and one man recovering from alcoholism. Interviews with the participants were coded thematically and analyzed in relation to a psychic movement that initiated sobriety. The data were compared to the process of transformation in the myth of <i>Inanna&ndash;Queen of heaven and earth</i> as a metaphor for psychic movement. Jung&rsquo;s concepts of matter, spirit, and the psychoid function of the archetype were explored through a Post-Jungian approach, which also incorporated current research in neuroscience. Based on the analysis, the results suggest the psychoid nature of the archetype to be a function of an organically anchored archetype/primordial image analogous to implicit, dormant neural ensembles/representations in the body. These underlying representations or images activate cognitive/spirit and emotional/matter processes, and energy charges ideas, emotions, and feelings, either separately or together. Images are then released, producing cognitive and/or emotional responses. The analysis revealed that ambiguous energy charges are responsible for less complete cognitive, emotional, or feeling images, observable in unfinished sentences, phrases, words, and pauses in narration. The analysis also discovered how spiritual material supports the suggestion that cognitive and emotional processes are present at the same time in a psychophysical process releasing images, which produce thoughts, emotions, and feelings. The findings also indicate that raising awareness of how these cognitive, emotional, and feeling images interchangeably play a role in recovery could be a therapeutically beneficial approach when working with recovering addicts.</p><p>

<p> Sensory systems are believed to take advantage of the properties of natural stimuli. Natural images, for example, follow normality and a power-law which are reflected in the dynamics of visual cells. In order to better understand the vestibular system we examined natural human motion. We measured torso and head angular velocities of human subjects who walked, jogged, and climbed a staircase. Angular velocity distributions of the head and torso were fit well by Cauchy distributions, while power spectral densities did not follow a power law. We found that neither a power law nor a two-line-segment fit were sufficient to fit power spectral densities of angular velocity. Increases in power at the gait frequency and its harmonics are not well fit by lines. Differences between torso and head motion show a more evenly distributed reduction of angular velocities, presumably by the neck, in the semicircular canal frame of reference. Coherence between torso and head angular velocity did not show a linear relationship over all frequencies, but did suggest a linear relationship at the fundamental gait frequency and its harmonics. Reduction in angular velocity between the torso and head was then modeled by an adaptive linear filter. Results were mixed and depended on subject, condition, and axis. Qualitatively, predictions of angular velocity were good, capturing both the amplitude and periodicity of the actual head velocity. Finally, initial results were replicated while normalizing gait cycles using linear length normalization. Natural walking and running conditions were compared to treadmill walking and running. Subjects showed significantly different peak velocities during natural and treadmill conditions despite similar movement speeds. Coherence was also different between natural and treadmill conditions. These results provide evidence that natural and treadmill locomotion are treated differently, possibly due to the lack of visual input during treadmill locomotion. Subjects also walked with their heads turned to either the left or right, separating direction of motion and direction of the head. Angular velocity during these conditions show that head direction is not important for stabilizing the head, suggesting that efference copies play a role in head stabilization.</p><p>