Life Sciences Commons^™

Sense Of Community And Space, Amanda Corona

Celebration of Learning

Sense of community (SOC) is defined as a person’s experience of a group or specific area (Kenkmann et al, 1996). Physical spaces can affect SOC; small colleges have higher SOC on average than universities (Lounsbury & DeNeui, 1996). A person’s identity, especially ethnic identity, can also influence SOC (Rivas-Drake, 2012; Liu, 2005). However, there is less work on the intersection of physical space and ethnic identity (Devlin et al, 2008). This raises the questions: how does the experience of a community space affect someone’s SOC, and would it vary by ethnicity?

The relationship between communal spaces and identity can be …

How Auditory And Visual Working Memory Tasks Affect Misophonic Response Levels, Erin Ansusinha, Melette Devore, Dr. Daniel Corts

Celebration of Learning

Misophonia is characterized by an extreme aversion towards auditory triggers, such as chewing, tapping, and other repetitive sounds, making ignoring or directing attention away from the sounds nearly impossible. It is not classified as a psychological disorder, but it is associated with significant, reflexive emotional disturbances. Studies have shown that the anterior insular cortex (AIC), an area involved in detecting irregularities or errors, functions differently in people with misophonia, which translates to difficulty in controlling emotional reactions. The present study examines how misophonic reactions might interact with cognition with particular attention to how cognitive demands may exacerbate the emotional response. …

Effect Sizes In Task-Based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Tyler Kellett

Celebration of Learning

Task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (t-fMRI) techniques have changed the way scientists probe the neurological mechanisms underlying behavior. However, there are many problems surrounding t-fMRI especially underpowered studies leading to misleading effect sizes. This study is using a recent large data collection study, the Human Connectome Project, to investigate effect sizes in specific regions of the brain involving working memory. Previous studies have come up with relatively small effect sizes due to small sample sizes and large regions of interest (ROI). This study is concentrated on using more precise ROI called parcels to find larger effect sizes.

Effect Of Proficiency Level On The Neural Responses Of Students Learning Spanish As A Second Language, Haley West

Celebration of Learning

This study examines the effect of Second Language proficiency on the hemispheres of the brain. This will tell us if and how the brain processes a second language differently. Comparisons explore English versus Spanish listening tasks, and right versus left hemisphere activation in students with varying proficiencies in the Spanish program at Augustana. This is one of the first experiments to use the new in-house electroencephalography (EEG) technology in the Augustana neuroscience program.