<p> Given the increasing number of older adults in the population, the fact that about 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 will develop mild cognitive impairment, and the substantial individual, familial, and financial burden associated with such disorders, the need for innovative research examining cognitive impairment in older adults is evident. The present study used a microlongitudinal design to assess cognition and contextual factors that may affect cognition for 14 consecutive days using a daily diary method in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive function. This study design enables investigation of concurrent associations between variables, as well as providing unique information not gleaned from the traditional focus on mean values of cognition. The present study had two broad aims: 1) to compare variability in cognition in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment and 2) to investigate relationships between daily cognitive performance, variability in cognitive performance, and contextual factors that may influence daily cognitive performance and variability in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Results suggest there was sufficient intraindividual variability in daily cognition to warrant investigation of within-person associations. Furthermore, the contextual factors of pain, stress, and sleep were predictive of cognitive performance, but with significance and directionality of these associations depending on level of measurement (baseline, daily, or mean values). Finally, associations between contextual factors and cognition were frequently conditional upon baseline cognitive status. The findings highlight the need for continued examination of these associations to expand our understanding of cognition in older adults and to discover potential targets for interventions to attenuate cognitive decline.</p>

Individual Affect-Related Performance Zones (IAPZs) have been commonly estimated using a two-dimensional affect measures (arousal by pleasantness) as predictors of a unidimensional performance measure. Performance measures have been self-reported ratings of perceived overall performance or objective performance scores from competition (e.g., completion time, points total, etc.). IAPZs were determined through the multi-dimensional nature of affect and emotion but performance remained unidimensional. The purpose of this study was to use various dimensions of performance (i.e., anticipation, decision-making, and skill execution) to estimate IAPZs and compare them with the commonly used unidimensional measure, "overall performance." The self-reported affect (arousal and pleasantness) and performance (anticipation, decision-making, skill execution, overall performance) ratings of 9 college club bowlers during simulated competitions were used to estimate 8 probabilistic IAPZs for each bowler. The zone for each bowler was defined by the location and range of the affective intensity where optimal performances were more likely to occur than other performance types. Descriptive differences in IAPZ parameters (i.e., location, range, and probability) emerged at the group and individual levels. Each bowler presented 8 IAPZs that were unique across all bowlers. The 8 IAPZs for each bowler were somewhat different, giving evidence for within-bowler differences when using various dimensions of performance or affect. The ranges and probabilities of each zone were used in a repeated measures ANOVA to assess whether the outcomes of the three new performance dimensions (i.e., anticipation, decision-making, and skill execution) were statistically different from the traditional measure of overall performance across all bowlers. Results of the analysis showed non-significant effects for affect, performance dimension, and the affect by performance interaction on both outcome variables, range and probability. Though non- significant there were important descriptive differences both within and among bowlers' optimal zones. The findings revealed unique IAPZs for various performance dimensions, which implies more accurately determining the multidimensional nature of performance affect-related zones. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Education Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Fall Semester 2018. / November 13, 2018. / Bowling, Individual Affect-related Performance Zones, Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning, Optimal Zone, Performance Zone, Sport Psychology / Includes bibliographical references. / Gershon Tenenbaum, Professor Directing Thesis; Graig Chow, Committee Member; Nicole Gabana, Committee Member.

<p> Research on reward-driven learning has produced and substantiated theories of model-free and model-based reinforcement learning (RL), which respectively explain how humans and animals learn reflexive habits and build prospective plans. A highly developed line of work has unearthed the role of striatal dopamine in model-free learning, while the prefrontal cortex (PFC) appears to critically subserve model-based learning. The recent theory of meta-reinforcement learning (meta-RL) explained a wide array of findings by positing that the model-free dopaminergic reward prediction error trains the recurrent prefrontal network to execute arbitrary RL algorithms&mdash;including model-based RL&mdash;in its activations. </p><p> In parallel, a nascent understanding of a third reinforcement learning system is emerging: a non-parametric system that stores memory traces of individual experiences rather than aggregate statistics. Research on such <i>episodic learning</i> has revealed its unmistakeable traces in human behavior, developed theory to articulate algorithms underlying that behavior, and pursued the contention that the hippocampus is centrally involved. These developments lead to a set of open questions about (1) how the neural mechanisms of episodic learning relate to those underlying incremental model-free and model-based learning and (2) how the brain arbitrates among the contributions of this abundance of valuation strategies. </p><p> This thesis extends meta-RL to provide an account for episodic learning, incremental learning, and the coordination between them. In this theory of episodic meta-RL (EMRL), episodic memory reinstates activations in the prefrontal network based on contextual similarity, after passing them through a learned gating mechanism (Chapters 1 and 2). In simulation, EMRL can solve episodic contextual water maze navigation problems and episodic contextual bandit problems, including those with Omniglot class contexts and others with compositional structure (Chapter 3). Further, EMRL reproduces episodic model-based RL and its coordination with incremental model-based RL on the episodic two-step task (Vikbladh et al., 2017; Chapter 4). Chapter 5 discusses more biologically detailed extensions to EMRL, and Chapter 6 analyzes EMRL with respect to a set of recent empirical findings. Chapter 7 discusses EMRL in the context of various topics in neuroscience.</p><p>

<p> Organizational success is dependent on innovation, which is dependent upon the creation of new knowledge, and thus was an important area for new research. Architectural designers and environmental psychologists identified a causal relationship between a physical environment and the behavior of its occupants. The general problem was the absence of evidence-based guidance to plan employee workspace in organizational strategic decisions to support knowledge creation, organizational learning, and innovation. The specific problem for this research effort was to reduce the theoretical uncertainty concerning a wide range of physical space attributes and spatial arrangements, which enable or hinder knowledge functions. The concept of architectural determinism indicated architectural design affected human behavior as an independent variable of cause and effect. This study integrated the focused results of previous researchers on the separate features of the physical environment. This study gathered technical information about workspaces in various building structures for architects, organizational managers, and knowledge-workers to consider in construction projects for the selection of physical space attributes to enhance results as ideation and knowledge sharing. The theoretical lens included the organizational knowledge creation (OKC) theory and the socio-technical systems (STS) theory. This study explored the physical space attributes where 11 knowledge workers created new knowledge and shared their new knowledge with others. The participants contributed to both radical and incremental innovations, 64% and 36% respectively. This research followed the biographical narrative interpretive method open narrative interview style. Coding protocols separated the data for the actual physical space attributes experienced by knowledge creators and knowledge workers. The findings included, access, indoor environment quality (air quality, lighting, noise, thermal comfort), room characteristics (colors, condition, shape, type, and ceilings), biophilics, furnishings, pictures, technology, and windows (daylight and views). This study found how stimulation outside of ideation spaces, windows in ideation spaces, and standing and walking in collaboration spaces contributed to knowledge creation and sharing. Further, this study found why: windows, standing and walking, isolation and quiet rooms, pictures, daylight spectrum lighting, standing desks, and thermal comfort contributed to knowledge creation; and why soundproof collaboration spaces and thermal comfort contributed to knowledge sharing. Specific contributions of this research study expanded the understanding of how knowledge creators use window views to expand their mind space for new thoughts, and recommended future research on substitutions for the stimulation of window views. Furthermore, the role of isolation and quiet spaces to prevent the loss of knowledge creators&rsquo; train of thought requires future research when the knowledge creator is out walking to experience sensory stimulation while thinking. Future researchers should also explore use of the proposed triangulation instrument for a virtual focus group as a modified nominal group technique to expand use of triangulation to increase transparency and the usefulness of any qualitative research findings.</p><p>

<p> This thesis seeks to explore the association between ego threat and coping in terms of cognitive strategies and behavioral tendencies. Moreover, the current study is also intended to use attachment dimensions as an underlying mechanism to understand the impact of ego threat on coping. Within the internal working models of attachment theory, the current study seeks to examine two major questions: (1) what strategies individuals use to cope with ego threatening events: and (2) how attachment associates with coping strategies during various ego-threats conditions? The results had a significant impact when individuals were presented with ego threat scenarios suggest that individuals are most likely to use state coping of emotion focused disengagement followed closely by state coping disengagement while experiencing an ego-threat condition. However, all state coping strategies (e.g., state coping engagement, state coping disengagement, state coping problem focused engagement, state coping emotion focused engagement, state coping problem focused disengagement, and state coping emotion focused disengagement) had a significant impact when individuals were presented with ego-threat scenarios. The results of association between attachment dimensions and state coping strategies across ego-threat conditions were not significant. Further this study implies ego-threat conditions make it more likely for individuals to use dysfunctional coping strategies such as state coping disengagement and emotion focused disengagement. Overall, the study has implications for enhancing our understanding of internal working models of attachment and the tendency for ego-threat to impact coping strategies, emphasizes the potency of ego-threatening events as they impact self-view and efficacy of coping solutions.</p><p>

<p> Restricted by the dogma of many forms of Western religion and plagued by the spiritual emptiness of materialism pervading the current age, many seek direct, personal experience of the sacred. Following a hermeneutic methodology, this dissertation explores the relevance of the writings of Jung and others on synchronicity, as both phenomenon and principle, as a foundation for an alternative path promising an authentic spiritual life. Through an exploration of the principle of synchronicity, the study reveals the possibility of a cosmos permeated with meaning, of a path to the spiritualization of matter, and of a bridge between the disparate realms of the sacred and profane. The study finds that synchronicity as a spiritual path naturally leads to direct, authentic experience of the divine, supports the major tenets of the progressive spirituality movement, and reflects the synchronistic principles undergirding the Chinese tradition of Taoism. The principle of synchronicity is found to be a possible psychophysical law supporting the experience of consciousness as well as the process of individuation. The study concludes that Jung's synchronistic model of his psychology of religion dispels the charge of psychologism levied against analytical psychology. In the theory of synchronicity Jung has given depth psychology the means to potentially unite all of humanity in a common purpose: the creation of consciousness. In particular, synchronicity as a spiritual path can draw attention to the value of depth psychology for offering a resolution to the spiritual vacuum in the West. </p><p>

The current research applies Regulatory Focus Theory (Higgins, 1997) and a new framework for knowledge accessibility called Relevance of a Representation (Eitam & Higgins, 2010) to examine how the strength of promotion ideal goals (i.e. one's hopes and aspirations) and the strength of prevention ought goals (i.e. duties and responsibilities) can predict the accessibility of one's knowledge representations. It is proposed that strong promotion ideal goals will lead to the activation of knowledge representations presented as the potential for gain/non-gain, whereas strong prevention ought goals will lead to the activation of knowledge representations presented as the potential for non-loss/loss. Three studies examining these proposals are reported. Study 1a measured the chronic strength of participants' promotion ideal goals and prevention ought goals using an established questionnaire. Studies 1b and 2 experimentally manipulated the momentary strength of participants' promotion ideal goals or prevention ought goals by having participants write a brief essay that primed their ideals or their oughts. In all three studies, participants completed a synonym task. Half the synonym problems were presented as the potential to gain points for correct answers and not to gain points for incorrect answers; the other half were presented as the potential not to lose points for correct answers and to lose points for incorrect answers. Following the synonym task, participants completed a lexical decision task measuring accessibility (i.e. were asked to identify as quickly as possible whether a string of letters formed a word or not). Some of the letter strings were the target words from the synonym task and the other strings were not. Response latencies on the lexical decision task were used as a measure of accessibility. As predicted, all three studies found that, for participants with stronger promotion ideal goals, knowledge representations framed as the potential for gain/non-gain were more accessible than those framed as the potential for non-loss/loss. The relation between stronger prevention ought goals and knowledge accessibility was more complex. Study 1b found that both gain/non-gain and non-loss/loss framed synonyms were more accessible when the participants' had stronger prevention ought goals. Study 2, however, found that when participants were given feedback indicating that they were significantly exceeding the synonym task goal, then only non-loss/loss framed synonyms, as predicted, were more accessible. Implications of these findings for memory and learning processes are discussed.

This study examined the impact of two interventions on goal attainment: Goal attainment scaling (GAS) and coaching. Participants identified a goal they were motivated to pursue over the course of approximately 4 weeks. Half the participants received coaching to support their goal attainment and half did not, while all participants were randomly assigned to either a GAS or No-GAS condition. GAS is an interview technique in which the researcher (1) discusses how the goal articulated connects to the participant's "big picture" objective and (2) identifies potential "micro" outcomes that are specific and behavioral. GAS is a recognized outcome assessment technique originally created for the mental health field (Kiresuk & Sherman, 1968) but has been applied in numerous contexts over the past forty two years, including educational settings (Schlosser, 2004). It has been suggested that the technique may facilitate the goal attainment of participants, and recently that GAS may work well with coaching (Spence, 2007). This study was the first to examine the intersection of the two techniques' influence on goal attainment. Results indicate that the effectiveness of the interventions depended on the type of goal articulated by participants (career versus personal), whether it was a "big picture" or "micro" goal, and the degree of conscientiousness of participants.

This dissertation theorizes expressive sound in piano performance. It views the act of obtaining a desired sound as an act of subtly adjusting to continually changing conditions of sound production. It takes a performer's perspective, focusing on the personal experience of sound, as it is being created in performance. The sound of a piano performance is continually evolving, contingent on the acoustic environment, the characteristics of an instrument, and other circumstantial factors with which a pianist works in performance. Although the focus is on real-time performing experience, in the act of any particular performance, a pianist relies on robust previous experience. This dissertation particularly considers the dynamic, interactive loop of the conception, the making, and the hearing of sound in piano performance. The continued re-enaction of this loop is considered as grounding a specifically pianistic cognitive ability which draws on both the haptic and auditory experience of sound at the piano. My approach to piano playing is rooted in work in critical ethnography as well as theories of cognitive function. These two seemingly disparate areas of enquiry share important common ground in their treatment of conceptualization and experience as mutually definitive. An underlying theme throughout this research is the dynamic interplay between theoretical understanding and lived experience. The focus, however, is consistently on piano playing, seen as the act of engendering artistically charged sound through the interaction with a complex and versatile musical instrument, the acoustics of sound and space, and the expressive possibilities of personal experience.

The use of electroencephalography (EEG) to exam the electrical brain activity associated with reasoning provides an opportunity to quantify the functional and temporal aspects of this uniquely human capability, and at the same time expand our knowledge about what a given event-related potential (ERP) might measure. The question of what form of mental representation and transformational processes underlie human reasoning has been a central theme in cognitive psychology since its inception (Chomsky, 1957; McCarthy, 1955; Miller, 1956; Newell, Shaw, Simon, 1958). Two prominent, but competing views remain at the forefront of the discussion, one positing that human inference making is principally syntactic (Braine & O'Brien, 1998; Fodor, 1975; Pylyshyn, 1984; Rips, 1994), and the other that it is, fundamentally, semantic in nature (Gentner & Stevens, 1983; Johnson-Laird, 1983). The purpose of the proposed study is to investigate the neurophysiology of mental model (MM) and mental rule (MR) reasoning using high-density electroencephalography (EEG), with the goal of providing a characterization of the time course and a general estimate of the spatial dimensions of the brain activations correlated with these specific instances of two classic views of reasoning. The research is motivated by two questions: 1) Will violations of expectancy established by the devised MM and MR reasoning strategies evoke the N400 and P600 ERPs, respectively, and 2) Will topographical scalp distributions associated with each reasoning strategy suggest distinct psychological representations and processes? A finding of a N400 response in the MM condition suggests that reasoning about the relations between entities in the type of problems presented engages a network of cortical areas previously shown to be involved in processing violations of semantic expectancies in studies of language comprehension. By comparison, incongruent events in the MR condition are expected to evoke a bilateral anterior P600, a component previously associated with recognizing and restructuring syntactic anomalies or incongruities in sentence comprehension. If the hypothesized results are obtained they would provide potentially insightful information about the chronometry of mental processes associated with the different representations and inference making mechanisms postulated to support each mode of reasoning, and as well, broaden our understanding of the neural functionality associated with the N400 and P600 ERP.