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The Neuropsychological Functioning Of Older Adults Pre- And Post-Cognitive Training With A Brain Plasticity-Based Computerized Training Program, Shannon M. Sorenson
The Neuropsychological Functioning Of Older Adults Pre- And Post-Cognitive Training With A Brain Plasticity-Based Computerized Training Program, Shannon M. Sorenson
Graduate Masters Theses
The present study evaluates the effectiveness of Posit Science Cortex™ with Insight Drive Sharp™ as a tool for improving neuropsychological functioning in a normal aging sample. The purpose of the DriveSharp™ training program is to help an individual improve his or her visual attention and useful field of view. Each exercise continually adapts to the individual’s performance so that the training is always at an appropriate level for that specific person. Thirty-two healthy older adult participants were randomly assigned to either the active intervention group (DriveSharp™) or a waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group were required to engage …
The Use Of Time-Out With Escape Extinction To Reduce Noncompliance Maintained By Escape Or Attention, Shelly Renee Benshoof
The Use Of Time-Out With Escape Extinction To Reduce Noncompliance Maintained By Escape Or Attention, Shelly Renee Benshoof
Dissertations
The present study examined the effectiveness of Time-Out with Escape Extinction (TO-EE) to reduce escape-maintained noncompliance and attention-maintained noncompliance through the use of four contingency reversal designs in a clinical setting. Four parent-child dyads served as participants. Screening procedures identified four children with low levels of compliance to first time issued, parent instructions. Functional analysis procedures identified two children who exhibited escape-maintained noncompliance and two children who exhibited attention-maintained noncompliance to serve as participants. Parents were trained in the implementation of screening, functional analysis, baseline, TO-EE, and contingency reversal procedures. Results indicated that TO-EE is effective at establishing compliance levels …
A Test Of Prinz's Air Theory: Is Attention Sufficient For Conscious Emotion?, Anais F. Stenson
A Test Of Prinz's Air Theory: Is Attention Sufficient For Conscious Emotion?, Anais F. Stenson
Philosophy Theses
Jesse Prinz proposes that attended intermediate-level representations (AIRs) are sufficient for conscious awareness. He extends this claim to emotion, arguing that attention is the mechanism that separates conscious from unconscious emotions. Prior studies call this entailment into question. However, they do not directly address the intermediate-level requirement, and thus cannot decisively refute the AIR theory of consciousness. This thesis tests that theory by manipulating participants’ attention to different features of subliminally processed words while recording both behavioral and electroencephalogram (EEG) data. Both measures suggest that subliminally processed stimuli are attended according to participants’ conscious intention to complete a task. In …
Individual Differences In Temperament And Cognitive Biases In Middle Childhood: Vulnerability To Internalizing Psychopathology, Patricia L. Jordan
Individual Differences In Temperament And Cognitive Biases In Middle Childhood: Vulnerability To Internalizing Psychopathology, Patricia L. Jordan
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
A multi-trait multi-method study was conducted exploring associations between individual differences in child temperament and cognitive vulnerability for depression and anxiety. Two-hundred and five 7-year-old children and their parents participated. Low positive emotionality and high negative emotionality predicted a depressogenic attributional style as well as attentional biases for positive and sad stimuli. Individual differences in child fearfulness were also associated with attentional biases to threat-related information. Associations between child cognitive vulnerability and parental history of depression and anxiety were also explored, as well as associations between child internalizing symptoms and (1) child temperament and (2) cognitive vulnerability. Paternal, but not …
Applying Visual Attention Theory To Transportation Safety Research And Design: Evaluation Of Alternative Automobile Rear Lighting Systems, Scott Mcintyre
Applying Visual Attention Theory To Transportation Safety Research And Design: Evaluation Of Alternative Automobile Rear Lighting Systems, Scott Mcintyre
All Dissertations
This experiment applies methodologies and theories of visual search and attention to the subject of conspicuity in automobile rear lighting. Based on these theories, this experiment has four goals. First, it is proposed that current research methods used to investigate rear lighting are inadequate and a proposed methodology based on the visual search paradigm is introduced. Second, demonstrate that current rear lighting on automobiles does not effectively meet the stated purpose of regulators. Third, propose a more effective system for increasing the conspicuity of brake lamps. A fourth goal is to validate and extend previous simulator research on this same …
Neuropsychological Functioning, Parenting Behaviors, And Healthcare Behaviors Among Youth With Spina Bifida, Lauren Kelly O'Hara
Neuropsychological Functioning, Parenting Behaviors, And Healthcare Behaviors Among Youth With Spina Bifida, Lauren Kelly O'Hara
Dissertations
Objective This study was designed to examine whether neurocognitive functioning (attention and executive functions) and parenting behaviors (acceptance, behavioral control and psychological control) are associated with medical adherence and autonomy among preadolescents and adolescents with spina bifida. Methods Questionnaire and observational data were collected from a sample of 8 to 15 year olds with spina bifida (n = 139) and their mothers, fathers, and teachers. Youth also completed neuropsychological testing. Results Youth with spina bifida demonstrated impairment on measures of attention and executive function, based on questionnaire and test data. Attention, executive function, and parenting behaviors were associated with medical …
Interaction Of Long- And Short-Term Memory On Selective Attention During Timbre Discrimination, Eva Garcia
Interaction Of Long- And Short-Term Memory On Selective Attention During Timbre Discrimination, Eva Garcia
Dissertations and Theses
The present study investigated the effects of short- and long-term memory on processes of selective attention during timbre discrimination. Pitch served as the distractor dimension, held constant on standard trials and deviating from the standard frequency on distractor trials. Short-term memory was operationalized as levels of covariate context: Within a block of trials, pitch deviants (p=.28) were either absent (baseline condition), varied orthogonally (filtering condition) or systematically (positive and perfect conditions) with timbre values. Long-term memory was operationalized as levels of psychophysical context: Within a block of trials, the range of pitch change was psychophysically equated with timbre change in …
The Influence Of Positive Affect And Anxiety On Attention And Creativity, Rafal Skiba
The Influence Of Positive Affect And Anxiety On Attention And Creativity, Rafal Skiba
Dissertations and Theses
The study examined naturally occurring effects of positive affect and anxiety (exam stress at different points in the semester) on attentional performance and creative abilities of undergraduate students. The mood of participants was measured by PANAS and STAI questionnaires. Their attention was tested on the Eriksen Flanker Task, and creativity on the Remote Associates Test (RAT) and Compound Word Problems (CWP). One of the main goals of this study was to verify the prediction based on the Broaden and Build theory of positive resources by Fredrickson (2001). Although the mood manipulation used in this study, that is, placing both testing …
Memory Profiles In Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment And Their Associations With Other Cognitive Domains And Functional Abilities, Timothy J. O'Brien
Memory Profiles In Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment And Their Associations With Other Cognitive Domains And Functional Abilities, Timothy J. O'Brien
All ETDs from UAB
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is thought to represent the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. Current criteria for amnestic-MCI do not specify the nature of memory impairments, which could be in learning or retrieval of information in verbal or visual domains. While 1.5 standard deviations (SD) below normative samples has been accepted to define cognitive impairment, this standard may be relatively stringent, or may lack specificity to identify mild functional impairment. Baseline data for 71 individuals with consensus-diagnosed MCI enrolled in the Measuring Independent Living in the Elderly Study (MILES) was utilized to investigate patterns of verbal and visual learning and …
Examining Reliability And Validity Of The Roadsign Perception Test, Justin Hull Ory
Examining Reliability And Validity Of The Roadsign Perception Test, Justin Hull Ory
LSU Master's Theses
The Road Sign Perception Test (RSPT) is a newly developed assessment procedure related to driver advisement, and its psychometric properties have not yet been examined systematically. The present study examined the construct validity and the reliability of RSPT measurements. Cronbach’s α and test-retest reliability statistics were completed, as were correlations reflecting on the test’s construct validity. Results indicated that the RSPT possesses marginal test-retest reliability, adequate internal consistency for duration of stimulus presentation and for specific stimuli, but low for number of signs presented. RSPT performance was significantly correlated with convergent variables measuring aspects of attention, working memory, and spatial …
Mood And Creativity: The Mediating Role Of Attention, Viktoria Tidikis
Mood And Creativity: The Mediating Role Of Attention, Viktoria Tidikis
Psychology Theses & Dissertations
Within literature there are two opposing views regarding the role of emotions in the creative process. The most commonly held view contends that positive emotions enhance creativity, while negative emotions stifle it; yet, some studies show an opposite trend. To help resolve this conundrum, this research examined the mediating effect of attention on the relationship between mood and creativity. The results showed that positive deactivating and negative activating emotions led to broader attention, while positive activating and negative deactivating emotions caused narrowing of attention. Furthermore, the creative process is not uniform in its requirements of attentional breadth; some creative tasks …