It is well established that people experience a decline in cognitive functions, such as selective attention (SA), as they get older. SA is the ability to focus on task-relevant information and suppress task-irrelevant information. The Stroop task has been used to assess SA. In the current study, the neural correlates of SA were investigated using functional MRI-Stroop task with cognitively normal older adults (NC), patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current study reanalyzed previous master student’s data, due to the disagreement in analyzing the data. In the fMRI data analysis, the contrast of correct responses in the naming incongruent color (SC) condition minus correct responses in the reading incongruent word (RW) condition (SC-RW) in series 2a and 2b was reanalyzed using an event-related analysis. The current Stroop experiment was in a block design with four series: series 0, series 1, series 2a and 2b. In behavioral analysis, the performance of the word-reading task was expected to be significantly better than the color-naming task in series 1, series 2a and 2b because the belief that reading incongruent color word was always an easier task than the color-naming task. The results from behavioral analysis showed that significant more errors were made in reading incongruent color words in series 2a and 2b than in series 1. In the functional MRI data analysis, although brain activation associated with inhibition was expected in the contrast of SC-RW of series 2a & 2b, the results did not show any brain activation. The unexpected results could be due to the RSE that was elicited by the task switching paradigm of series 2a and 2b. The results suggest that the current Stroop task adapted from the Stroop Neuropsychological Screening Test may not yield a Stroop interference effect of sufficient magnitude to be detected with fMRI in the contrast of SC-RW of series 2a and 2b. / Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-24 11:33:28.83

The main focus of this investigation was to examine the automaticity of facial expression recognition through valence judgments in a modified photo-word Stroop paradigm. Positive and negative words were superimposed across male and female faces expressing positive (happy) and negative (angry, sad) emotions. Subjects categorized the valence of each stimulus. Gender biases in judgments of expressions (better recognition for male angry and female sad expressions) and the valence hypothesis of hemispheric advantages for emotions (left hemisphere: positive; right hemisphere: negative) were also examined. Four major findings emerged. First, the valence of expressions was processed automatically (robust interference effects). Second, male faces interfered with processing the valence of words. Third, no posers' gender biases were indicated. Finally, the emotionality of facial expressions and words was processed similarly by both hemispheres.

Thesis advisor: Lisa Feldman Barrett / The aim of the present study was to examine whether individual differences in Time Insensitivity are related to subjective experiences of emotion and cognitive performance. Sixty-five undergraduates (52% female) completed self-report measures of cognitive flexibility and provided subjective self-reports of emotions following two time pressured cognitive tasks. As predicted, Time Insensitivity was related to self-reported cognitive flexibility, better cognitive performance during a time pressured task, as well as less negative subjective experience in response to these tasks. The results of the present study suggest that Time Insensitivity may have some beneficial outcomes. Limitations and implications for future directions are discussed. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2004. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Psychology. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Mindfulness exercises have been reported to increase performance for a number of different populations; however there are no reports that have investigated the effects of brief mindfulness exercises on data collection. This study will exposed participants to a brief mindfulness exercise and subsequently measure participants’ ability to accurately take data on high rate behavior. A concurrent multiple baseline design was used with three participants. During baseline phases participants recorded data on the occurrence of congruent and incongruent stimuli within a Stroop presentation. Treatment phases contained a brief mindful eating video and then participants completed the Stroop presentation. Data sheets completed by the participants were scored for overall accuracy, as well as accuracy for congruent and incongruent stimuli. Participants completed a Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) at the end of all sessions. Results indicated that MAAS scores increased during mindfulness sessions for all participants when compared to baseline phases. Overall accuracy as well as accuracy for congruent and incongruent stimuli in the Stroop presentation increased for all three participants compared to baseline sessions. The findings from this research have potential applications for improving performance for data collection methods and increasing self-reported mindfulness.

No description available.

No description available.

O objetivo da presente tese foi verificar a influência do enxágue bucal com carboidrato (CHO) sobre o desempenho no exercício físico predominantemente aeróbio realizado após uma atividade cognitiva frequentemente utilizada para induzir a fadiga mental. Sete homens fisicamente ativos participaram do estudo (idade: 26 ± 5 anos; estatura: 176,0 ± 8,3 cm; massa corporal: 73,6 ± 7,4 kg e gordura corporal: 14,3 ± 3,7 %, VO2 pico: 43,9 ± 6,5 ml.kg-1.min-1, Wpico: 268 ± 23,8 W) realizaram o Stroop Incongruente para indução da Fadiga Mental (FM) ou assistiam a um documentário pelo mesmo período de tempo (controle, CON). Após a tarefa eles realizaram um exercício de carga constante (~55%Wpico) até exaustão. Em cada uma das condições FM e CON os voluntários utilizavam o enxágue bucal (10s) com CHO ou placebo (PLA). No pre-exercício, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para glicose entre as diferentes condições. A frequência cardíaca apresentou aumento após todas as intervenções, assim como a fadiga percebida (P = 0,001, ES = 0,49), mas sem efeito de condição. O effect size foi moderado para essa variável, sugerindo que o aumento na fadiga percebida foi maior na condição FM (75%) quando comparado a condição CON (60%). A motivação não apresentou diferença entre as condições. Porém, houve uma tendência (0,07) a ser maior na condição DOC. Houve uma redução de 7,8% no tempo até exaustão na condição FM comparado ao CON, entretanto, essa diferença não foi estatisticamente significante. A frequência cardíaca, percepção subjetiva do esforço, fadiga percebida e eletromiografia do músculo vasto lateral aumentaram em função do tempo, sem diferença entre as condições. Com base nesses achados, pode-se concluir que a FM produz apenas um pequeno efeito deletério no exercício físico prologado e que o enxágue com CHO não era capaz de influenciar nessas condições experimentais. Possivelmente, isso se deve ao fato de ambas as intervenções estudadas (FM e enxágue com CHO) produzirem apenas pequenas alterações nas variáveis fisiológicas e perceptivas antes do exercício físico / The aim of this thesis was verify the influence of carbohydrate mouth rinse (CHO) on endurance performance after cognitive activity frequently used to induce mental fatigue. Seven health men (age: 26 ± 5 years; height: 176.0 ± 8.3 cm; weight: 73.6 ± 7.4 kg; and corporal fat: 14.3 ± 3.7%, VO2peak: 43.9 ± 6.5 ml.kg-1.min-1, Wpeak: 268.0 ± 23.8 W) performed an Incongruent Stroop to induce mental fatigue (FM) state or watched a documentary (control, CON) prior to endurance exercise. Following, they performed a workload exercise (~55%Wpeak) until exhaustion with CHO or placebo (PLA) mouth rinse (10s). In the pre-exercise, there was no significant difference for blood glucose between conditions. There was a main effect of distance for heart rate and perceived fatigue, but without interaction (P > 0.05) or condition (P > 0.05) effects. However, there was a moderate effect size for perceived fatigue (ES = 0,49), suggesting a possible relevant increase in perceived fatigue in the FM condition (75%) when compared to CON condition (60%). Although did not reach a significance level, the motivation tended (P = 0.07) to be greater in DOC condition. There was a reduction of 7.8% in time to exhaustion in FM condition compared to CON, however did not reach a significance level (P > 0.05). During exercise, the heart rate, rating perceived exertion, perception of fatigue and electromyography of the vastus lateralis increased over time (P < 0.05), but without interaction (P > 0.05) or condition (P > 0.05) effects. These results suggest that FM produce only a small deleterious effect in the prolonged physical exercise and that carbohydrate mouth rinse was not able to influence the endurance performance at all experimental conditions. Possibly, this is due to the fact of the experimental interventions (FM and carbohydrate mouth rinse) produced only discrete changes in the physiological and perceptual variables before endurance exercise

O objetivo da presente tese foi verificar a influência do enxágue bucal com carboidrato (CHO) sobre o desempenho no exercício físico predominantemente aeróbio realizado após uma atividade cognitiva frequentemente utilizada para induzir a fadiga mental. Sete homens fisicamente ativos participaram do estudo (idade: 26 ± 5 anos; estatura: 176,0 ± 8,3 cm; massa corporal: 73,6 ± 7,4 kg e gordura corporal: 14,3 ± 3,7 %, VO2 pico: 43,9 ± 6,5 ml.kg-1.min-1, Wpico: 268 ± 23,8 W) realizaram o Stroop Incongruente para indução da Fadiga Mental (FM) ou assistiam a um documentário pelo mesmo período de tempo (controle, CON). Após a tarefa eles realizaram um exercício de carga constante (~55%Wpico) até exaustão. Em cada uma das condições FM e CON os voluntários utilizavam o enxágue bucal (10s) com CHO ou placebo (PLA). No pre-exercício, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para glicose entre as diferentes condições. A frequência cardíaca apresentou aumento após todas as intervenções, assim como a fadiga percebida (P = 0,001, ES = 0,49), mas sem efeito de condição. O effect size foi moderado para essa variável, sugerindo que o aumento na fadiga percebida foi maior na condição FM (75%) quando comparado a condição CON (60%). A motivação não apresentou diferença entre as condições. Porém, houve uma tendência (0,07) a ser maior na condição DOC. Houve uma redução de 7,8% no tempo até exaustão na condição FM comparado ao CON, entretanto, essa diferença não foi estatisticamente significante. A frequência cardíaca, percepção subjetiva do esforço, fadiga percebida e eletromiografia do músculo vasto lateral aumentaram em função do tempo, sem diferença entre as condições. Com base nesses achados, pode-se concluir que a FM produz apenas um pequeno efeito deletério no exercício físico prologado e que o enxágue com CHO não era capaz de influenciar nessas condições experimentais. Possivelmente, isso se deve ao fato de ambas as intervenções estudadas (FM e enxágue com CHO) produzirem apenas pequenas alterações nas variáveis fisiológicas e perceptivas antes do exercício físico / The aim of this thesis was verify the influence of carbohydrate mouth rinse (CHO) on endurance performance after cognitive activity frequently used to induce mental fatigue. Seven health men (age: 26 ± 5 years; height: 176.0 ± 8.3 cm; weight: 73.6 ± 7.4 kg; and corporal fat: 14.3 ± 3.7%, VO2peak: 43.9 ± 6.5 ml.kg-1.min-1, Wpeak: 268.0 ± 23.8 W) performed an Incongruent Stroop to induce mental fatigue (FM) state or watched a documentary (control, CON) prior to endurance exercise. Following, they performed a workload exercise (~55%Wpeak) until exhaustion with CHO or placebo (PLA) mouth rinse (10s). In the pre-exercise, there was no significant difference for blood glucose between conditions. There was a main effect of distance for heart rate and perceived fatigue, but without interaction (P > 0.05) or condition (P > 0.05) effects. However, there was a moderate effect size for perceived fatigue (ES = 0,49), suggesting a possible relevant increase in perceived fatigue in the FM condition (75%) when compared to CON condition (60%). Although did not reach a significance level, the motivation tended (P = 0.07) to be greater in DOC condition. There was a reduction of 7.8% in time to exhaustion in FM condition compared to CON, however did not reach a significance level (P > 0.05). During exercise, the heart rate, rating perceived exertion, perception of fatigue and electromyography of the vastus lateralis increased over time (P < 0.05), but without interaction (P > 0.05) or condition (P > 0.05) effects. These results suggest that FM produce only a small deleterious effect in the prolonged physical exercise and that carbohydrate mouth rinse was not able to influence the endurance performance at all experimental conditions. Possibly, this is due to the fact of the experimental interventions (FM and carbohydrate mouth rinse) produced only discrete changes in the physiological and perceptual variables before endurance exercise

Social anxiety disorder is the third most common mental disorder with the lifetime prevalence rate of 13.3% in the US population. Typically, it causes significant impairment in a wide range of functioning and follows a chronic, unremitting course if untreated. Over the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in clinical research aimed at examining underlying mechanisms maintaining social anxiety. One line of research has investigated attentional biases in social anxiety, using various cognitive experiment paradigms, including the emotional Stroop and the modified dotprobe tasks. However, overall findings are equivocal about the nature of attentional biases in social anxiety and several methodological problems limit the interpretability of the data. The present study examined attentional biases associated with social anxiety using a new research paradigm in the field of anxiety disorders: the inattentional blindness paradigm. This paradigm presents a social cue in the absence of the subjects’ expectation while they are engaged in a cognitively demanding task, thereby enabling the more purely attentional aspect of information processing to be examined reducing the influence of potential response biases or effortful strategies. Two independent experiments were conducted using nonclinical student samples consisting of individuals high in social anxiety (HSAs) versus individuals low in social anxiety (LSAs) based on the static and sustained inattentional blindness tasks. Overall, results revealed that HSAs were more likely to detect or identify a socially-threatening cue, relative to LSAs; whereas LSAs were more likely to detect or identify a non-threatening social cue, relative to HSAs. These findings were observed only in the presence of a bogus-speech manipulation. These data suggest the promising utility of the inattentional blindness paradigm in investigating attentional biases in social anxiety and perhaps other psychopathological conditions. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. / text

In a series of two experiments, the first involving 121 participants and the second 114, I investigated whether level of racial prejudice is related to performance on a cognitive task and helping behavior in participants who had just interacted with the target of their prejudice. The moderating effect of control was tested and, unlike previous research, the responses of African-American participants were studied too. It was proposed that when people interact with the target of their prejudice, they will experience stress and the aftereffects of stress will lead to a decrement in Stroop task performance and a lower likelihood of helping someone in need. Control was believed to moderate this effect such that those given control would suffer less of a performance decrement and would help more often. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and logistic regression. Racial prejudice was found to affect European-American but not African-American Stroop performance following the interracial interaction. Control moderated this effect and also influenced whether someone helped a person in need.