<p> We created 4 sequences of chess moves intended (and verified) as sufficiently good (2 sequences), in play quality, or bad (2 sequences) to induce contrast. In experiment 1, 24 experienced chess-players (USCF Elo > 1300) watched these sequences and rated them with regards to overall quality (&minus;100 to +100) and estimated Elo ratings, a proxy for play quality, of the players involved. In experiment 2, a different group of 24 experienced chess-players rated the sequences of chess games by &ldquo;How much better did the winner play than the loser?&rdquo; on a 1 to 7 scale. Results revealed negative contrast (experiment 1) and no evidence of condensation (experiments 1 and 2) as well as the potential that one&rsquo;s own actual Elo may have anchored the ratings given to one set of stimuli.</p>

<p> MBCT has been successful in preventing depressive relapse. However, its efficacy has not been studied in non-mental health settings for stress, affect, and level of mindfulness. In this study, participants were selected on a volunteer basis after enrolling in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) group at a health and wellness center. Prior to beginning the group, participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Positive/Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Participants completed the PSS, PANAS, and MAAS after week four, and at the completion of the eight-week course. Twenty-two participants were included in the study. Results were computed with a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Post hoc pairwise comparisons or paired-samples t-tests, where appropriate, were computed to examine the specificity of changes over time. Descriptive data was gathered including demographic data and homework compliance. The following two follow-up questions were included for further descriptive data: 1) On a scale of 1-10 (1 = not at all important, 10 =extremely important), how important has this program been for you? 2) Please say why you gave it that rating. Results revealed decreases in perceived stress, increased positive affect, decreased negative affect, and increased overall level of mindfulness by week eight. Qualitative data supported the empirical data. This data suggests MBCT may serve as a cost effective method for managing stress and providing useful skills in the daily lives of individuals in non-clinical and/or community populations.</p>

<p> Prior research has shown that people perceive items in a larger font size as being more memorable than items in a smaller font size. This perception leads to higher judgments of learning (JOLs; i.e., confidence ratings regarding the likelihood of recalling an item) for larger font size items than smaller font size items. Yet other research has shown that people recalled more when the information was presented in a smaller font than when it was presented in a larger font size. The present study examined if there are boundary conditions of font sizes affecting JOLs and actual recall performance. As we expected, the results show that JOLs increased as a function of the size category. The results also show that font size impacted recall performance such that items in the Smallest size category were recalled at a higher rate than items in the other three font size categories.</p>

<p> The neural substrate of interactions of working memory (WM) with socio-emotional processing is poorly understood in schizophrenia. This study builds on published papers using a delayed match to sample design to study the interaction of WM load with type of distracter (socially relevant faces vs. socially irrelevant geometric designs [FvG]) presented briefly during the WM maintenance period. Based on previously published findings, we hypothesize: (1) The FvG difference in brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the task maintenance period will be largest at the highest WM load. (2) Among schizophrenia/ schizoaffective patients and healthy controls the magnitude of the face vs. geometric design (FvG) contrast in brain activity in the amygdala during the task maintenance period will follow a quadratic pattern across WM load when averaged over face type. (3) Among schizophrenia patients, the magnitude of the FvG contrast in brain activity in the amygdala and DLPFC at the greatest WM load will be correlated with negative symptoms. </p><p> Individuals between the ages of 18-55 diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (N = 12) and non-psychiatric controls (N = 20) matched with the patients on age, gender, paternal education and paternal socioeconomic status underwent structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). To assess the effect of implicit socioemotional modulation on brain activity during WM, the effect of facial distraction on brain activation was assessed for WM of pseudowords at three syllable loads (1, 2, and 3) across several face valence types and contrasted with the effect of a geometric distracter. </p><p> Results: Although patients performed significantly above chance, they were less accurate than controls with no difference in response latency. When the FvG contrast was tested for response latency, we observed a significant quadratic effect of WM load in healthy controls but a linear effect among patients. Similar patterns were found for response accuracy but were not statistically significant. With regard to neural activity, we found a significant bilateral linear trend of percent signal change on WM load for the FvG contrast in the DLPFC. among controls, with brain activation to faces greater than activation to designs only at the highest WM load. In the amygdala we observed a significant bilateral quadratic effect of percent signal change on WM load for the FvG contrast in the control group. We observed a significant difference in neural activation patterns in patients compared to controls in the DLPFC and the amygdala. Specifically, in patients, we observed a quadratic instead of a linear trend in the DLPFC but only in the right hemisphere. In the amygdala, the patients displayed a quadratic trend also only in the right hemisphere. In neither controls nor patients did individual differences in the quadratic effect of brain activity in the amygdala correlate with the quadratic effect in response time or accuracy. Although the correlation between the magnitude of the quadratic trend in the right amygdala at the highest WM load with general psychopathology was moderately large in patients, neither this effect nor any other brain activation effects were significantly correlated with psychopathology. </p><p> Confirming hypothesis one, controls showed the largest difference in brain activity of the FvG contrast in the DLPFC during the maintenance period at the highest WM load. However, in patients we saw significantly decreased percent signal change in DLPFC at the highest WM load on the FvG contrast in the maintenance period. For hypothesis two we observed a quadratic pattern of WM load on the FvG contrast in the maintenance period for both controls and patients, although this effect was only present in the right hemisphere of patients. Furthermore, contrary to hypothesis 3 we did not observe significant correlations between symptom severity and the magnitude of the FvG contrast in brain activity in the amygdala and DLPFC at the greatest WM load. These results suggest a separate process of social-discrimination is taking place in controls. However, this process appears to be impaired in individuals with schizophrenia. This disruption may be due to poor integration of different brain areas and interhemispheric communication. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.) </p>

<p>Abstract Using concepts from cognitive science, this dissertation explored changes in perception among Montessori education leaders and traditional education leaders. Although Montessori education programs have grown as an option in the public school sector, their unique features in mainstream environments have brought to the fore serious challenges in understanding and communication between decision makers at the institutional level of public education and among Montessori academies. Nationally, Montessori education entities have fostered a strong momentum for improvement at the state policy level. However in some states, including California, differing perceptions still hinder inclusive decision making, resulting in lack of teacher credential recognition, denial of eligibility and funding. My study implemented a communication intervention through which an iterative conversation between both sides aimed to address perceptions and language and provide shared understandings. Using the challenge between Montessori and traditional public education and framed under the cognitive theories of mental models, framing, schemas, metaphors and embodiment, this intervention addressed whether perceptions can begin to shift when one is more fully informed at a deeper cognitive level. Incorporating a workshop intervention involving several modalities, my findings suggested a shift in perception which seemed to persist over time. The effects in shifting actors? perceptions of Montessori education were statistically significant and modest in terms of magnitude. I also found a weaker perceptual shift among traditional educators in California compared with peers in other states. I obtained specific suggestions for future iterations of kinesthetic learning, along with how to best share perspectives between Montessori and traditional leaders, along with possible collaborations between these pedagogies.

<p> This investigation explores the potential effect on perception of speech visual cues associated with Arabic gutturals (AGs) and Arabic emphatics (AEs); AEs are pharyngealized phonemes characterized by a visually salient primary articulation but a rather invisible secondary articulation produced deep in the pharynx. The corpus consisted of 72 minimal pairs each containing two contrasting consonants of interest (COIs), an emphatic versus a non-emphatic, or a guttural paired with another guttural. In order to assess the potential effect that visual speech information in the lips, chin, cheeks, and neck has on the perception of the COIs, production data elicited from 4 native Lebanese speakers was captured on videos that were edited to allow perceivers to see only certain regions of the face. Fifty three Lebanese perceivers watched the muted movies each presented with a minimal pair containing the word uttered in the video, and selected in a forced identification task the word they thought they saw the speaker say.</p><p> The speakers&rsquo; speech was analyzed to help explore what in their production informed correct identification of the COIs. Perceivers were above chance at correctly identifying AEs and AGs, though AEs were better perceived than AGs. In the emphatic category, the effect on perception of measurement differences between a word and its pair was submitted to automatic speech recognition. The machine learning models were generally successful at correctly classifying COIs as emphatic or non-emphatics across vowel contexts; the models were able to predict the probability of perceivers&rsquo; accuracy in identifying certain COIs produced by certain speakers; also, an overlap between the measurements selected by the computer and those selected by human perceivers was found. No difference in perception of AEs according to the part of the face that was visible was observed, suggesting that the lips, present in all of the videos, were most important for perception of emphasis. Conversely, in the perception of AGs, lips were not as informative and perceivers relied more on cheeks and chin. The presence of visible cues associated with the AEs, particularly in the lips, suggests that such visual cues might be informative for non-native learners as well, if they were trained to attend to them.</p>

<p> The current study investigated the effectiveness of using a brief mindfulness intervention for reducing test anxiety with college students, with the related goals of increasing level of mindfulness and increasing performance on a word list recall task. The effectiveness of incorporating an environmental cue, meant to act as a reminder for participants to engage in mindfulness, was also explored. Sixty-four college students were assigned to one of four groups: each group differed according to the presence or absence of the mindfulness training and environmental cue. Participants receiving mindfulness training could choose to participate in up to four 30-minute mindfulness training sessions over a two-week period. Each participant was assessed for level of test anxiety, level of mindfulness, and number of correct words recalled from a word list recall task both before and after the mindfulness training. Difference scores revealed no significant main effects or interactions related to the availability of mindfulness training or the presence of an environmental cue. However, both groups that received mindfulness training saw non-significant increases in level of mindfulness while decreases in mindfulness were seen for the groups that did not receive training. Exploratory analyses in regards to relationships found for both pre-test and post-test measures revealed significant correlations, such that as test anxiety scores decreased, mindfulness scores increased. Other interesting relationships included a positive correlation between test anxiety and the mindfulness Observing subscale, such that higher levels of test anxiety are associated with a student&rsquo;s increased ability to notice their inner experiences, and a negative correlation between the test anxiety Emotionality subscale and the mindfulness Nonjudging subscale, such that decreased autonomic responses, are associated with a student&rsquo;s increased ability to not judge those inner experiences. Implications for future research and limitations of the current study are discussed.</p>

A number of problems in psychology and neurology are discussed to orient the reader to a theory of neural integration. The importance is stressed of the comprehensive temporal and spatial integration of sensory, motor and motivational aspects of brain function. It is argued that an extended neural template theory could provide such an integration. Contemporary solutions to the problem of neural integration are discussed. The available knowledge concerning the structure of neural tissue leads to the description of a theory of neural integration which might provide such neural templates. Integrating Neurons are suggested to be organised in columns or pools. Sub-sets of Neurons are formed as a result of excitation and can preferentially exchange excitation. These sub-sets or Linked Constellations would act as spatial templates to be matched with subsequent states of excitation. Inhibition acts to restrict spike emission to the most highly activated sub-sets. An initial computer simulation represented a simple learning or classical conditioning situation. In a variety of test computer runs the performance confirmed the main predictions of the theoretical model. The model was then extended to include representation of instrumental, consummatory, motivational and other aspects of behaviour. The intention of these further simulations was not to demonstrate the predictions of prior formulations but rather to use the computer to develop simulations progressively able to represent behaviour. Difficulties were encountered which were remedied by incorporating rhythmic mechanisms. A number of different versions of the model were explored. It was shown that the models could be trained to produced a different response to discriminative cues, when those cues had previously signalled different contingencies of obtaining the opportunity to perform consummatory behaviour. A published experiment on the Spiral Illusion is reported, which confirmed predictions suggested by the model.

Two investigations were carried out to examine variations in cognitive and psychomotor performance, mood and state, during the menstrual cycle. In the first, ten normally cycling subjects were tested on four computerised cognitive and psychomotor tasks, eight times during one menstrual cycle. Measures of state were taken, using self-report, heart rate and time to basal skin potential. Subjects completed daily mood ratings and a retrospective mood questionnaire. At each testing session, subjects recorded the events of the last four days. The data were examined for the relationship between state and performance, state and mood, state and cycle phase, and between performance and phase. Self-reported arousal significantly increased in the premenstrual phase, and heart rate increased in the luteal phase of the cycle. There were few significant relations between state and performance, or performance and phase: those obtained could be explained aschance. Self-reported stress was greater with negative mood, yet overall there were few significant patterns between mood and state. Mood was found to be more strongly related to event than to cycle phase. A cyclical variation in mood was recorded on retrospective questionnaires much more frequently than on daily questionnaires. A second study investigated the differences between self diagnosed Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) sufferers and non sufferers, (both oral contraceptive users and normally cycling subjects), on mood, performance, state, and reaction to mild stress, at premenstrual or intermenstrual stages of the cycle. There were no differences between the subject groups on performance during the cycle, or reaction to stress. Self-reported stress and arousal increased premenstrually for all subjects. A few differences were found between the pill and non pill subjects, and between the PMS and non PMS subjects on mood ratings. PMS subjects scored significantly higher on the Neuroticism scale of the EPI than Non PMS subjects, and were more 'A type' in personality, on a Framingham A/B personality scale. Results were discussed in terms of compensatory effort and coping strategies.

18 severely malnourished Jamaican children (the Non-Intervention group), admitted to hospital between 6 and 24 months of age, were compared with a group of 21 well-nourished (Comparison) children of similar ages and social backgrounds, admitted during the same period. The malnourished children received the standard medical care and nutritional rehabilitation. Both groups were assessed at intervals on the Griffiths test and it was found that although they showed a similar pattern of change in developmental quotients (DQ) during the period of the study, the malnourished children obtained significantly lower scores than the well-nourished children at each test. The malnourished children developed at similar rates to the well-nourished children and therefore showed little sign of catching up in DQ. In behaviour observation sessions on admission to hospital, the malnourished children were more likely to be apathetic than the well-nourished children and the well-nourished children were more likely to cry and show acute distress when they were unattended in their cots. When given a set of toys, the groups were significantly different in the quality of their play, with the well-nourished children using more of a wider range of actions on more of the toys. Most of these differences had disappeared by discharge. A second group of 21 malnourished children (the Intervention group) participated in a structured programme of play activities in hospital, followed by weekly visits after discharge involving the mothers. 6 months after discharge, the Intervention group were significantly different from the Non-Intervention and the Comparison groups in general DQ on the Griffiths test. The Intervention children had caught up with the Comparison children on the Hearing and Speech and Hand-Eye Co-ordination subscales of the test, and were significantly ahead of the Non-Intervention children on the Performance subscale, but showed no significant advantage in Locomotor development. The interpretation and implications of these findings are discussed.