Flow is a mental state characterised by a feeling of energised focus, complete involvement and success when fully immersed in an activity. The dimensions of and the conditions required for flow to occur have been explored in a broad spectrum of situational contexts. The close relationship between flow and peak performance sparked an interest in ways to induce flow. However, any process of flow induction requires a measure to trace the degree to which flow is in fact occurring. Self-reports of the flow experience are subjective and provide ad hoc information. Psycho-physiological measures, such as EEG, can provide objective and continuous indications of the degree to which flow is occurring. Unfortunately few studies have explored the relationships between psycho-physiological measures and flow. The present study was an attempt to determine the EEG correlates of flow under conditions of peak performance. Twenty participants were asked to perform a continuous visuomotor task 10 times. Time taken per task was used as an indicator of task performance. EEG recordings were done concurrently. Participants completed an Abbreviated Flow Questionnaire (AFQ) after each task and a Game Flow Inventory (GFI) after having finished all 10 tasks. On completion, performance times and associated flow scores were standardised where after the sample was segmented into a high flow - peak performance and a low flow - low performance level. Multi-variate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted on the performance, flow and EEG data to establish that a significant difference existed between the two levels. In addition, a one-way analysis of variance between high and low flow data was conducted for all variables and main effects were established. Inter-correlations of all EEG data at both levels were then conducted across four brain sites (F3, C3, P3, O1). In high flow only, results indicated increased lobeta power in the sensorimotor cortex together with a unique EEG pattern showing beta band synchronisation between the prefrontal and sensori-motor areas and de-synchronisation between all other areas, while all other frequencies (delta, theta, alpha, lobeta, hibeta, and gamma) remained synchronised across all scalp locations. These findings supported a theoretical neuropsychological model of flow. / Psychology / D. Com. (Consulting Psychology)

Contexte : Jusqu’à 90% des fumeurs qui tentent d’arrêter de fumer vont rechuter dans l’année suivant la date d’arrêt. L’impulsivité, au même titre que le « craving », a démontré être un bon facteur de prédiction de la rechute tabagique. Ainsi, la présente étude visait à évaluer, à l’aide de la neuroimagerie fonctionnelle, l’influence de l’impulsivité sur les mécanismes neuronaux du « craving » de la cigarette. Parmi les régions cérébrales impliquées dans le « craving » de la nicotine, les cortex préfrontal dorsolatéral, orbitofrontal et cingulaire sont d’importantes structures dans les processus de contrôle de soi. Méthodes : 31 fumeurs chroniques ont passé une session de neuroimagerie durant laquelle ils devaient regarder des images appétitives de cigarettes et des images neutres. Ils ont ensuite dû inscrire le « craving » ressenti à la vue des images et répondre à un questionnaire portant sur les traits de personnalité de l’impulsivité (BIS-11). Résultats : Tel qu’attendu, le score d’impulsivité était positivement corrélé au « craving » rapporté par les participants à la vue d’images de cigarettes. Au niveau cérébral, plus les fumeurs présentaient de forts traits d’impulsivité, moins grande était l’activité du cortex cingulaire postérieur (CCP) durant le « craving ». Enfin, l’activité du CCP présentait une connectivité fonctionnelle négative avec l’insula, le cortex préfrontal dorsolatéral et le cortex cingulaire antérieur. Conclusions : Comme le CCP est le siège des processus de mentalisation et de référence à soi, nous suggérons que plus les fumeurs étaient impulsifs, moins ils prenaient conscience de leur état et moins ils en exerçaient un contrôle, donc plus ils ressentaient de forts « cravings ». En poussant plus loin, nos résultats mettent l’accent sur l’aspect identitaire (le soi, les mémoires autobiographiques) et l’aspect d’introspection en toxicomanie : deux avenues à explorer. / Background: 90% of cigarette smokers attempting to quit smoking relapse by one-year following their quit date. Impulsivity, as well as cue-induced cravings, have been shown to be good predictors of relapse for tobacco smoking; however, no study to date has examined their interaction and its neural substrates. The goal of this study was to determine the neural influence of trait impulsivity during functional imaging of cue-induced cigarette cravings. Among the brain regions involved in nicotine craving, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal as well as the cingulate cortex all play a significant role in self-control processes. Methods: Thirty-one chronic smokers passively viewed appetitive smoking-related and neutral images while being scanned. Participants also reported their level of craving and completed the BIS-11, a measure of trait impulsivity. Results: As hypothesized, we observed a significant positive relationship between impulsivity scores and reported craving. Impulsivity scores were negatively correlated with activity in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). The insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex presented a negative connectivity with the PCC. Conclusions: Given that the PCC is involved in mentalization and self-relevant processing, it is possible that greater trait impulsivity in smokers is associated to a lower tendency to understand and use one’s mental and physical state to guide behavior. This may weaken their capacity for self-control and consequently, promotes more automatic and stronger cue-elicited smoking urges. Furthermore, our results highlight the important but undervalued role of identity (the self and autobiographic memories) and mindfulness in addiction.

Esta dissertação apresenta o estudo arqueológico e etnoarqueológico dos conjuntos cerâmicos provenientes de sítios arqueológicos históricos - Tacaimbó 1 e Tacaimbó 2 - e dos conjuntos cerâmicos etnográficos produzidos em comunidades locais, ambos do Agreste Central Pernambucano. Adotando uma abordagem etnoarqueológica para a análise de sítios arqueológicos históricos, através de perspectivas descolonizadas e multivocais, discutimos o papel do arqueólogo na valorização dos conhecimentos tradicionais. Esta valorização é fundamental para a construção das identidades locais e para a elaboração de narrativas históricas alternativas que incluam estas populações historicamente marginalizadas. Concluindo, a partir da análise tecnológica dos conjuntos cerâmicos arqueológicos e etnográficos elaboramos uma matriz de correlatos para artefatos cerâmicos de produção local/regional, contribuindo para a caracterização dos mesmos e para as discussões arqueológicas sobre variabilidade artefatual. / This dissertation is resulted from an archaeological and ethnoarchaeological research study of pottery sets from historical archaeological sites - Tacaimbó 1 and Tacaimbó 2 - and of ethnographic pottery sets produced on local communities, both from Agreste Central region (Pernambuco state, Brazilian Northeast). Using an ethnoarchaeological approach for the historical archaeological sites analysis, and the decolonized and multivocal perspectives, the role of the archaeologist on traditional knowledge valuation was discussed. This valuation is a fundamental aspect for the local identities construction and formulation of an alternative historical narrative, which include these historically marginalized populations. In conclusion, from the technological analysis of archaeological and ethnographic pottery sets, a matrix of correlates for local and regional production of pottery artifacts was proposed, contributing to its characterization and for the archaeological discussions of artefactual variability

Two decades of event-related potential (ERP) research have established that the most consistent correlates of the onset of visual consciousness are the early visual awareness negativity (VAN), a negative component in the N2 time range over posterior electrode sites, and the late positivity (LP), a positive component in the P3 time range over fronto-parietal electrode sites. A review by Koivisto & Revonsuo (2010) had looked at 39 studies and concluded that the VAN is the earliest and most reliable correlate of visual phenomenal consciousness, whereas the LP probably reflects later processes associated with reflective/access consciousness. However, an “early” vs. “late” debate still persists. This thesis provides an update to that earlier review. All ERP and MEG studies that have appeared since 2010 and directly compared ERPs of aware and unaware conditions are considered. The result corroborates the view that VAN is the earliest and most consistent signature of visual phenomenal consciousness, and casts further doubt on the LP as an ERP correlate of consciousness. Important new methodological, empirical, and theoretical developments in the field are described, and the empirical results are related to the theoretical background debates.

Doctor of Clinical Psychology / Obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms occur in a variety of clinical conditions, but the underlying pathogenesis of these symptoms remains elusive. Few neuropsychological investigations have compared idiopathic Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) with patient groups where OC symptoms are acquired. The present study investigated the neuropsychological correlates of OC symptoms in OCD and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a neurodegenerative illness in which OC symptoms are often acquired. Neuroimaging in OCD has consistently implicated the frontal-striatal-thalamic circuit, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia. These areas overlap considerably with the sites of cerebral pathology found in FTD. OCD has been associated with a number of neuropsychological deficits, with most consistent findings pointing towards impaired executive function (EF), and less commonly reported deficits in visual memory and visuospatial ability. The neuropsychological hallmark of FTD is deficits in EF. However in both OCD and FTD, the relationship between cognitive deficits and OC symptoms remains unclear. Further, the extent to which OC symptoms are comparable between the groups is ambiguous. Part I of the present study compared 19 OCD subjects to 20 age, education and IQ-matched healthy controls on a battery of neuropsychological tests of all major cognitive domains with emphasis on EF. A measure of Theory of Mind (ToM) thought to be sensitive to orbitofrontal function was also administered. OCD subjects performed worse than controls on a measure of visual memory, visuospatial reasoning and on only one measure of EF. OCD symptom subtypes, as measured by the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI), were not correlated with any cognitive deficits. No group differences in ToM were found. It is suggested that prior research has overestimated the severity and significance of EF deficits in OCD. Part II of the study compared 9 FTD participants with 10 matched healthy controls on the same neuropsychological test battery and OC symptom measures. In addition, a measure of compulsive behaviours used in neurological populations was administered to carers. While the incidence of OC symptoms was comparable to reports in previous studies (78%), the OCI was not sensitive in the detection of OC symptoms in FTD. The similarities and differences in OC symptoms between the two patient groups are discussed.

The research reported in this thesis examines some aspects of upward influence behaviours at work, and in particular, the relationship between type of influence behaviours used and a number of potential correlates, including sex of agent, sex of target, sex-role identity, locus of control, job level, job type (secretarial worker or not) and educational level of agent. To examine these relationships. 64 male and 173 female white-collar workers (at AS01 to AS06 levels, or equivalent) in three large organisations in Canberra (A.C.T.) were surveyed, with a questionnaire containing measures of influence behaviours, attitudes to influencing upwards at work, a measure of sex-role identity, and a measure of locus of control beliefs, as well as demographic information. The data gathered from this survey was analysed using univariate, bivariate. and multivariate methods. Results showed limited support for stereotypical differences between males and females in influence behaviours used, and no support for hypotheses involving sex of target, sex-role identity, or secretarial workers. Influence behaviours previously identified as having positive outcomes for the agent were found in this study to be significantly associated with job level and educational level; influence behaviours previously identified as having negative outcomes for the agent were significantly associated with the tendency to explain outcomes in terms of control by powerful others, and with a sex-role identity characterised by negative masculinity traits. These findings suggest the importance of both structural and personal factors in choice of upward influence strategies at work. Suggestions for further research are provided.

A combined view of the human brain and computer-generated virtual realities is motivated by recent developments in cognitive neuroscience and human-computer interaction (HCI). The emergence of new theories of human brain function, together with an increasing use of realistic human-computer interaction, give reason to believe that a better understanding of the relationship between human brains and virtual realities is both possible and valuable. The concept of “presence”, described as the subjective feeling of being in a place that feels real, can serve as a cornerstone concept in the development of such an understanding, as computer-generated presence is tightly related to how human brains work in virtual realities. In this thesis, presence is related both to theoretical discussions rooted in theories of human brain function, and to measurements of brain activity during realistic interaction. The practical implications of such results are further developed by considering potential applications. This includes the development and evaluation of a prototype application, motivated by presented principles. The theoretical conception of presence in this thesis relies on general principles of brain function, and describes presence as a general cognitive function, not specifically related to virtual realities. Virtual reality (VR) is an excellent technology for investigating and taking advantage of all aspects of presence, but a more general interpretation allows the same principles to be applied to a wide range of applications. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to study the working human brain in VR. Such data can inform and constrain further discussion about presence. Using two different experimental designs we have investigated both the effect of basic aspects of VR interaction, as well as the neural correlates of disrupted presence in a naturalistic environment. Reality-based brain-computer interaction (RBBCI) is suggested as a concept for summarizing the motivations for, and the context of, applications building on an understanding of human brains in virtual realities. The RBBCI prototype application we developed did not achieve the set goals, but much remains to be investigated and lessons from our evaluation point to possible ways forward. A developed use of methods and techniques from computer gaming is of particular interest. / Ett kombinerat perspektiv på den mänskliga hjärnan och datorgenererade virtuella verkligheter motiveras av den senaste utvecklingen inom kognitiv neurovetenskap och människa-datorinteraktion (MDI). Framväxten av nya teorier om den mänskliga hjärnan, tillsammans med en ökande användning av realistisk människa-datorinteraktion, gör det troligt att en bättre förståelse för relationen mellan mänskliga hjärnor och virtuella verkligheter är både möjlig och värdefull. Begreppet "närvaro", som i detta sammanhang beskrivs som den subjektiva känslan av att vara på en plats som känns verklig, kan fungera som en hörnsten i utvecklingen av en sådan förståelse, då datorgenererad närvaro är tätt kopplat till hur mänskliga hjärnor fungerar i virtuella verkligheter. I denna avhandling kopplas närvaro både till teoretiska diskussioner grundade i teorier om den mänskliga hjärnan, och till mätningar av hjärnans aktivitet under realistisk interaktion. De praktiska konsekvenserna av sådana resultat utvecklas vidare med en närmare titt på potentiella tillämpningar. Detta inkluderar utveckling och utvärdering av en prototypapplikation, motiverad av de presenterade principerna. Den teoretiska diskussionen av närvaro i denna avhandling bygger på allmänna principer för hjärnans funktion, och beskriver känslan av närvaro som en generell kognitiv funktion, inte specifikt relaterad till virtuella verkligheter. Virtuell verklighet (virtual reality, VR) är en utmärkt teknik för att undersöka och dra nytta av alla aspekter av närvaro, men en mer allmän tolkning gör att samma principer kan tillämpas på ett brett spektrum av applikationer. Funktionell hjärnavbildning (fMRI) användes för att studera den arbetande mänskliga hjärnan i VR. Sådant data kan informera och begränsa en vidare diskussion av närvaro. Med hjälp av två olika försöksdesigner har vi har undersökt både effekten av grundläggande aspekter av VR-interaktion, och neurala korrelat av störd närvaro i en naturalistisk miljö. Verklighets-baserad hjärna-dator interaktion (reality-based brain-computer interaction, RBBCI) föreslås som ett begrepp för att sammanfatta motiv och kontext för applikationer som bygger på en förståelse av den mänskliga hjärnan i virtuella verkligheter. Den prototypapplikation vi utvecklade uppnådde inte de uppsatta målen, men mycket återstår att utforska och lärdomar från vår utvärdering pekar på möjliga vägar framåt. En vidare användning av metoder och tekniker från dataspel är speciellt intressant.

District and campus leaders face enormous challenges as they try to address the ever-widening achievement gap. With increased accountability, the achievement gap-- which exists between students of color and students of poverty and their White, middleclass counterparts--is becoming impossible to ignore. Nationally, demographics are shifting toward a society of color and school campuses are following suit. Students are not getting easier to educate. Yet while schools across the nation bemoan their student populations as 'hard to educate,' there are some notable districts consistently having success with these student populations. However, there is almost no research on these schools. Their successes are nearly unknown to the educational world. Therefore, this study sought to examine the practices utilized on these campuses and the role of district and campus leadership in guiding the teachers of these student populations. The theoretical framework was the deficit-thinking paradigm and the Effective Schools Correlates. The study investigated schools that (1) earned high ratings in their state accountability system (2) named Blue Ribbon Schools and (3) were Title I award winning schools because they had gone from low performing schools with few systems in place to high performing schools with many systems in place. The study focused on the Area Superintendent of Area 10 and two elementary principals. This study was a mix method qualitative and quantitative study that involved only one urban school district: Martin Luther King Independent School District, one of the fifteen largest districts in the southwest part of the United States. This was a case study, which is an intensive description and analysis of a phenomenon or social unit such as an individual, group, institution, or community. The case is a bounded, integrated system (Stake, 1995; Merriam, 1998). Data collection included interviews, observations, and a reflective journal. Findings revealed that there are six prongs these schools had in common to go from low performing to high performing schools as well as earn distinction and awards. Acquiring these six prongs is called Creating a Culture of Success for Students of Color and Students of Poverty. There are also six conditions that permeate low performing schools; these schools once had these conditions on their campuses, but overcame them to become high performing. These conditions are called the Labyrinth of Solitude for Students of Color and Students of Poverty. As school districts and schools attempt to create a culture of accountability where high expectations and a sense of urgency prevail--conditions necessary to close the achievement gap and move from the deficit-thinking paradigm and its deleterious impact on achievement toward the Normed-Opportunity Paradigm--universities and school districts can use this research data to help superintendents, central office personnel, campus principals, teachers, as well as prospective teachers and administrators to move schools and school districts forward and help close the achievement gap. / text

Contexte : Jusqu’à 90% des fumeurs qui tentent d’arrêter de fumer vont rechuter dans l’année suivant la date d’arrêt. L’impulsivité, au même titre que le « craving », a démontré être un bon facteur de prédiction de la rechute tabagique. Ainsi, la présente étude visait à évaluer, à l’aide de la neuroimagerie fonctionnelle, l’influence de l’impulsivité sur les mécanismes neuronaux du « craving » de la cigarette. Parmi les régions cérébrales impliquées dans le « craving » de la nicotine, les cortex préfrontal dorsolatéral, orbitofrontal et cingulaire sont d’importantes structures dans les processus de contrôle de soi. Méthodes : 31 fumeurs chroniques ont passé une session de neuroimagerie durant laquelle ils devaient regarder des images appétitives de cigarettes et des images neutres. Ils ont ensuite dû inscrire le « craving » ressenti à la vue des images et répondre à un questionnaire portant sur les traits de personnalité de l’impulsivité (BIS-11). Résultats : Tel qu’attendu, le score d’impulsivité était positivement corrélé au « craving » rapporté par les participants à la vue d’images de cigarettes. Au niveau cérébral, plus les fumeurs présentaient de forts traits d’impulsivité, moins grande était l’activité du cortex cingulaire postérieur (CCP) durant le « craving ». Enfin, l’activité du CCP présentait une connectivité fonctionnelle négative avec l’insula, le cortex préfrontal dorsolatéral et le cortex cingulaire antérieur. Conclusions : Comme le CCP est le siège des processus de mentalisation et de référence à soi, nous suggérons que plus les fumeurs étaient impulsifs, moins ils prenaient conscience de leur état et moins ils en exerçaient un contrôle, donc plus ils ressentaient de forts « cravings ». En poussant plus loin, nos résultats mettent l’accent sur l’aspect identitaire (le soi, les mémoires autobiographiques) et l’aspect d’introspection en toxicomanie : deux avenues à explorer. / Background: 90% of cigarette smokers attempting to quit smoking relapse by one-year following their quit date. Impulsivity, as well as cue-induced cravings, have been shown to be good predictors of relapse for tobacco smoking; however, no study to date has examined their interaction and its neural substrates. The goal of this study was to determine the neural influence of trait impulsivity during functional imaging of cue-induced cigarette cravings. Among the brain regions involved in nicotine craving, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal as well as the cingulate cortex all play a significant role in self-control processes. Methods: Thirty-one chronic smokers passively viewed appetitive smoking-related and neutral images while being scanned. Participants also reported their level of craving and completed the BIS-11, a measure of trait impulsivity. Results: As hypothesized, we observed a significant positive relationship between impulsivity scores and reported craving. Impulsivity scores were negatively correlated with activity in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). The insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex presented a negative connectivity with the PCC. Conclusions: Given that the PCC is involved in mentalization and self-relevant processing, it is possible that greater trait impulsivity in smokers is associated to a lower tendency to understand and use one’s mental and physical state to guide behavior. This may weaken their capacity for self-control and consequently, promotes more automatic and stronger cue-elicited smoking urges. Furthermore, our results highlight the important but undervalued role of identity (the self and autobiographic memories) and mindfulness in addiction.

Active school transport (AST; e.g. the use of non-motorized modes such as walking and cycling to travel to/from school) is an inexpensive, accessible and environmentally-friendly source of physical activity (PA). This dissertation addresses two overarching objectives: 1) to measure the relationships of AST with PA and health-related outcomes; and 2) to examine the correlates of AST immediately before and after the transition from primary to secondary school (the “school transition”). First, a systematic review revealed increasing evidence showing that AST is associated with greater daily PA levels, and that cycling to/from school is associated with higher cardiovascular fitness. Cycling for transportation (not only for school trips) was also associated with lower values for total cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio in the nationally-representative 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Moreover, the present dissertation provides preliminary evidence suggesting that AST may help attenuate the decline in PA across the school transition. However, the relationship between AST and body composition indicators remains unclear. With respect to the correlates of AST, distance was the strongest barrier to AST at both time points, but several road safety concerns, and the perception of having too much stuff to carry were also associated with engagement in motorized travel. At follow-up, AST was more common in children whose parents owned less than 2 cars. In contrast, children were more likely to engage in AST if their parents reported that they chose to live in their current neighbourhood so that their children could walk or bike to school. The associations of neighbourhood walkability (as measured with the Walk Score® application) with AST and PA were generally stronger after the school transition. While AST may improve health among children and youth, an ecological approach targeting multiple levels of influence will likely be needed to alleviate current barriers to AST.