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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Skill Learning Strengthens Cortical Representations Of Motor Sequences., Tobias Wiestler, Jörn Diedrichsen Jul 2013

Skill Learning Strengthens Cortical Representations Of Motor Sequences., Tobias Wiestler, Jörn Diedrichsen

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Motor-skill learning can be accompanied by both increases and decreases in brain activity. Increases may indicate neural recruitment, while decreases may imply that a region became unimportant or developed a more efficient representation of the skill. These overlapping mechanisms make interpreting learning-related changes of spatially averaged activity difficult. Here we show that motor-skill acquisition is associated with the emergence of highly distinguishable activity patterns for trained movement sequences, in the absence of average activity increases. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants produced either four trained or four untrained finger sequences. Using multivariate pattern analysis, both untrained and trained sequences could …


Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior To Examine Residential Substance Abuse Workers' Intention To Use Evidence-Based Practices, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane, Megan Lovett Jul 2013

Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior To Examine Residential Substance Abuse Workers' Intention To Use Evidence-Based Practices, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane, Megan Lovett

Peter Kelly

There is considerable discrepancy between what is considered evidence-based practice (EBP) and what is actually delivered in substance abuse treatment settings. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB) is a well-established model that may assist in better understanding clinician’s intentions to use EBPs. A total of 106 residential substance abuse workers employed by The Salvation Army participated in the current study. The workers completed an anonymous survey that assessed attitudes toward EBP and examined the constructs within the TpB. A linear regression analysis was used to predict clinicians’ intentions to use EBPs. Overall, the model accounted for 41% of the variance …


Neurons In The Pontomedullary Reticular Formation Signal Posture And Movement Both As An Integrated Behavior And Independently, Benedicte Schepens, Paul Stapley, Trevor Drew Jan 2013

Neurons In The Pontomedullary Reticular Formation Signal Posture And Movement Both As An Integrated Behavior And Independently, Benedicte Schepens, Paul Stapley, Trevor Drew

Dr Paul J Stapley

We have previously suggested that the discharge characteristics of some neurons in the pontomedullary reticular formation (PMRF) are contingent on the simultaneous requirement for activity in both ipsilateral flexor muscles and contralateral extensors. To test this hypothesis we trained cats to stand on four force platforms and to perform a task in which they were required to reach forward with one forelimb or the other and depress a lever. As such the task required the cat to make a flexion movement followed by an extension in the reaching limb while maintaining postural support by increasing extensor muscle tonus in the …


Invited Review: Caseins And The Casein Micelle: Their Biological Functions, Structures, And Behavior In Foods, C Holt, J A. Carver, H Ecroyd, D C. Thorn Jan 2013

Invited Review: Caseins And The Casein Micelle: Their Biological Functions, Structures, And Behavior In Foods, C Holt, J A. Carver, H Ecroyd, D C. Thorn

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

A typical casein micelle contains thousands of casein molecules, most of which form thermodynamically stable complexes with nanoclusters of amorphous calcium phosphate. Like many other unfolded proteins, caseins have an actual or potential tendency to assemble into toxic amyloid fibrils, particularly at the high concentrations found in milk. Fibrils do not form in milk because an alternative aggregation pathway is followed that results in formation of the casein micelle. As a result of forming micelles, nutritious milk can be secreted and stored without causing either pathological calcification or amyloidosis of the mother's mammary tissue. The ability to sequester nanoclusters of …