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University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Psychology Faculty Research

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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Pandemic Upon Pandemic: Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With Hiv Coping And Thriving During The Peak Of Covid-19, Sherry Bell, Brandon Ranuschio, John M. Waldron, Lianne Barnes, Nadia Sheik-Yosef, Esmeralda Villalobos, Janelle Wackens, Renato M. Liboro May 2023

Pandemic Upon Pandemic: Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With Hiv Coping And Thriving During The Peak Of Covid-19, Sherry Bell, Brandon Ranuschio, John M. Waldron, Lianne Barnes, Nadia Sheik-Yosef, Esmeralda Villalobos, Janelle Wackens, Renato M. Liboro

Psychology Faculty Research

When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020, not only did it abruptly impede the progress that was being made toward achieving global targets to end the HIV pandemic, but it also created significant impacts on the physical and mental health of middle-aged and older men who have sex with men living with HIV. Utilizing a qualitative, community-based participatory research approach, we conducted semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with 16 ethnoracially diverse, middle-aged and older men who have sex with men living with HIV residing in Southern Nevada, to examine the different ways the COVID-19 pandemic directly impacted their physical and mental …


Sport And Mental Health Performance Optimization In An Adolescent Gymnast: A Case Evaluation, Davy Phrathep, Brad C. Donohue, Brenna N. Renn, John Mercer Dr., Daniel N. Allen Feb 2023

Sport And Mental Health Performance Optimization In An Adolescent Gymnast: A Case Evaluation, Davy Phrathep, Brad C. Donohue, Brenna N. Renn, John Mercer Dr., Daniel N. Allen

Psychology Faculty Research

The Optimum Performance Program in Sports (TOPPS) is a multi-component, sport-specific Family Behavior Therapy that has demonstrated improved sport performance, relationships, and mental health outcomes in adult and adolescent athletes with, and without, diagnosed mental health disorders in clinical trials. The current case trial demonstrates successful implementation of a novel component of TOPPS (i.e., talk aloud optimal sport performance imagery leading to dream mapping) in a biracial Latina and White adolescent gymnast without a mental health diagnosis. The participant demonstrated significant improvements from baseline to both post-treatment and 3-month follow-up in severity of mental health functioning, factors interfering with sports …


Adaptation In The Sensory Cortex Drives Bistable Switching During Auditory Stream Segregation, Nathan C. Higgins, Alexandra N. Scurry, Fang Jiang, David F. Little, Mounya Elhilali, Joel S. Snyder Feb 2023

Adaptation In The Sensory Cortex Drives Bistable Switching During Auditory Stream Segregation, Nathan C. Higgins, Alexandra N. Scurry, Fang Jiang, David F. Little, Mounya Elhilali, Joel S. Snyder

Psychology Faculty Research

Current theories of perception emphasize the role of neural adaptation, inhibitory competition, and noise as key components that lead to switches in perception. Supporting evidence comes from neurophysiological findings of specific neural signatures in modality-specific and supramodal brain areas that appear to be critical to switches in perception. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activity around the time of switches in perception while participants listened to a bistable auditory stream segregation stimulus, which can be heard as one integrated stream of tones or two segregated streams of tones. The auditory thalamus showed more activity around the time …


The Registration Continuum In Personality Disorder Studies: Theory, Rationale, And Template, Stephen D. Benning, Edward A. Smith Jan 2023

The Registration Continuum In Personality Disorder Studies: Theory, Rationale, And Template, Stephen D. Benning, Edward A. Smith

Psychology Faculty Research

Registration is a tool to increase the rigor of personality disorder research and its ability to reduce human suffering through improving people's lives. This article details the problems that exist without registrations, which revolve around a study's outcomes' dependence on the data rather than on the theory being tested. Registrations exist on a continuum underpinned by bipolar timing and unipolar disclosure dimensions, the latter of which poses myriad points of decisions for researchers to register. The registration process provides memory aids and guideposts for researchers through the course of a study, transparently maintains public trust in the scientific enterprise, and …


Auditory Affective Processing, Musicality, And The Development Of Misophonic Reactions, Solena Mednicoff, Sivan Barashy, Destiny Gonzales, Stephen D. Benning, Joel S. Snyder, Erin Hannon Sep 2022

Auditory Affective Processing, Musicality, And The Development Of Misophonic Reactions, Solena Mednicoff, Sivan Barashy, Destiny Gonzales, Stephen D. Benning, Joel S. Snyder, Erin Hannon

Psychology Faculty Research

Misophonia can be characterized both as a condition and as a negative affective experience. Misophonia is described as feeling irritation or disgust in response to hearing certain sounds, such as eating, drinking, gulping, and breathing. Although the earliest misophonic experiences are often described as occurring during childhood, relatively little is known about the developmental pathways that lead to individual variation in these experiences. This literature review discusses evidence of misophonic reactions during childhood and explores the possibility that early heightened sensitivities to both positive and negative sounds, such as to music, might indicate a vulnerability for misophonia and misophonic reactions. …


The Resilience Of Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men To Hiv/Aids: Southern Nevada Stakeholder Perspectives In The 21st Century, Renato M. Liboro, Sherry Bell, Brandon Ranuschio, Jenna Despres, Trinity Puno, Aruna Sedere, Nadia Sheik Yosef, Esmeralda Villalobos, Janelle Wackens, Lianne Barnes Jan 2022

The Resilience Of Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men To Hiv/Aids: Southern Nevada Stakeholder Perspectives In The 21st Century, Renato M. Liboro, Sherry Bell, Brandon Ranuschio, Jenna Despres, Trinity Puno, Aruna Sedere, Nadia Sheik Yosef, Esmeralda Villalobos, Janelle Wackens, Lianne Barnes

Psychology Faculty Research

This community report presents the findings and analysis of a survey that was part of the quantitative stage of a mixed-method Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project dedicated to examine the perspectives and lived experiences of racially and ethnically diverse, middle-aged and older men who have sex with men in Southern Nevada on factors that build and promote their resilience to HIV/AIDS. The CBPR project was conducted in collaboration with community partners such as the LGBTQIA+ Community Center of Southern Nevada, Southern Nevada Health District’s Ryan White Program, Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada, and numerous other agencies from Clark County …


Common Features In Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Substance Use Disorders, Personality, Temperament And Attachment—A Narrative Review, Yaniv Efrati, Shane W. Kraus, Gal Kaplan Jan 2022

Common Features In Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Substance Use Disorders, Personality, Temperament And Attachment—A Narrative Review, Yaniv Efrati, Shane W. Kraus, Gal Kaplan

Psychology Faculty Research

Do addictions share common traits of an “addictive personality” or do different addictions have distinct personality profiles? This narrative review examines the differences in the associations between substance use disorder (SUD) and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), on the one hand, and personality traits, attachment dispositions, and temperament, on the other hand. We found that both people with a SUD and people with CSBD tended to be more spontaneous, careless, and less reliable, to place self-interest above getting along with others, to show emotional instability and experience negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, and/or depression, to be less able to …


Awareness And Knowledge Of Aging And Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: Service User And Provider Perspectives And Experiences In Southern Nevada, Renato M. Liboro, Brandon Ranuschio, Sherry Bell, Jenna Despres, Trinity Puno, Aruna Sedere, Nadia Sheik Yosef, Esmeralda Villalobos, Janelle Wackens, Lianne Barnes Jan 2022

Awareness And Knowledge Of Aging And Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: Service User And Provider Perspectives And Experiences In Southern Nevada, Renato M. Liboro, Brandon Ranuschio, Sherry Bell, Jenna Despres, Trinity Puno, Aruna Sedere, Nadia Sheik Yosef, Esmeralda Villalobos, Janelle Wackens, Lianne Barnes

Psychology Faculty Research

This community report presents the findings and analysis of a survey that was part of the quantitative stage of a mixed-method Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project dedicated to examine the awareness and knowledge of racially and ethnically diverse, middle-aged and older people living with HIV/AIDS, and their healthcare and service providers from Southern Nevada, on aging, brain health, HIV/AIDS, and the condition known as HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder. The CBPR project was conducted in collaboration with community partners such as the LGBTQIA+ Community Center of Southern Nevada, Southern Nevada Health District’s Ryan White Program, Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada, and …


Community-Level Resources Bolstering Resilience To Hiv/Aids: Perspectives Of Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With Hiv/Aids, Renato M. Liboro, Tammy C. Yates, Charles Fehr, George Da Silva, Francisco Ibañez-Carrasco, Andrew Eaton, Daniel Pugh, Lori E. Ross, Paul A. Shuper Dec 2021

Community-Level Resources Bolstering Resilience To Hiv/Aids: Perspectives Of Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With Hiv/Aids, Renato M. Liboro, Tammy C. Yates, Charles Fehr, George Da Silva, Francisco Ibañez-Carrasco, Andrew Eaton, Daniel Pugh, Lori E. Ross, Paul A. Shuper

Psychology Faculty Research

Most prior research on resilience to HIV/AIDS has utilized quantitative tools (e.g., scales and surveys) to examine individual-level assets (e.g., self-efficacy, hope, optimism) that researchers believe represent or approximate resilience to HIV/AIDS with minimal consideration for the perspectives of men who have sex with men (MSM), the population that has remained at greatest risk of, and the most impacted by HIV/AIDS in North America since the 1980s. The aim of this qualitative study is to identify community-level resources that bolster resilience to HIV/AIDS based specifically on the perspectives and lived experiences of middle-aged and older (MAO) MSM living with HIV/AIDS. …


Artificial Intelligence: An Interprofessional Perspective On Implications For Geriatric Mental Health Research And Care, Brenna N. Renn, Matthew Schurr, Oleg Zaslavsky, Abhishek Pratap Nov 2021

Artificial Intelligence: An Interprofessional Perspective On Implications For Geriatric Mental Health Research And Care, Brenna N. Renn, Matthew Schurr, Oleg Zaslavsky, Abhishek Pratap

Psychology Faculty Research

Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare aims to learn patterns in large multimodal datasets within and across individuals. These patterns may either improve understanding of current clinical status or predict a future outcome. AI holds the potential to revolutionize geriatric mental health care and research by supporting diagnosis, treatment, and clinical decision-making. However, much of this momentum is driven by data and computer scientists and engineers and runs the risk of being disconnected from pragmatic issues in clinical practice. This interprofessional perspective bridges the experiences of clinical scientists and data science. We provide a brief overview of AI with the main …


The Assessment Of Physical Risk Taking: Preliminary Construct Validation Of A New Behavioral Measure, Edward A. Smith, Stephen D. Benning Oct 2021

The Assessment Of Physical Risk Taking: Preliminary Construct Validation Of A New Behavioral Measure, Edward A. Smith, Stephen D. Benning

Psychology Faculty Research

Risk taking is a complex heterogeneous construct that has proven difficult to assess, especially when using behavioral tasks. We present an exploratory investigation of new measure–the Assessment of Physical Risk Taking (APRT). APRT produces a variety of different outcome scores and is designed as a comprehensive assessment of the probability of success and failure, and magnitude of reward and punishment of different types of simulated physically risky behaviors. Effects observed on the simulated behaviors are hypothesized to reflect similar effects on real world physical risks. Participants (N = 224) completed APRT in a laboratory setting, half of whom had a …


Resetting Of Auditory And Visual Segregation Occurs After Transient Stimuli Of The Same Modality, Nathan C. Higgins, Ambar G. Monjaras, Breanne D. Yerkes, David F. Little, Jessica E. Nave-Blodgett, Mounya Elhilali, Joel S. Snyder Sep 2021

Resetting Of Auditory And Visual Segregation Occurs After Transient Stimuli Of The Same Modality, Nathan C. Higgins, Ambar G. Monjaras, Breanne D. Yerkes, David F. Little, Jessica E. Nave-Blodgett, Mounya Elhilali, Joel S. Snyder

Psychology Faculty Research

In the presence of a continually changing sensory environment, maintaining stable but flexible awareness is paramount, and requires continual organization of information. Determining which stimulus features belong together, and which are separate is therefore one of the primary tasks of the sensory systems. Unknown is whether there is a global or sensory-specific mechanism that regulates the final perceptual outcome of this streaming process. To test the extent of modality independence in perceptual control, an auditory streaming experiment, and a visual moving-plaid experiment were performed. Both were designed to evoke alternating perception of an integrated or segregated percept. In both experiments, …


The Heterogeneity Of Selective Mutism: A Primer For A More Refined Approach, Christopher A. Kearney, Melanie Rede Jun 2021

The Heterogeneity Of Selective Mutism: A Primer For A More Refined Approach, Christopher A. Kearney, Melanie Rede

Psychology Faculty Research

Selective mutism is a persistent and debilitating psychiatric disorder in which a child fails to speak in situations where speaking is expected. Although listed as an anxiety disorder, the multifaceted and heterogeneous nature of selective mutism indicates that a more accurate conceptualization may be as a neurodevelopmental disorder. This article serves as a primer of historical and clinical presentations, empirical clinical profiles, clinical distinctions, assessment, and treatment related to the complexity of selective mutism. The article includes a brief discussion of selective mutism within a developmental psychopathology perspective with an eye toward reformed efforts for prevention, assessment, and treatment regarding …


Mitigating Risks And Building Resilience To Hiv/Aids: Perspectives Of Hiv-Negative, Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men, Renato M. Liboro, Brandon Ranuschio, Sherry Bell, Tammy Yates, Lianne Barnes, Charles Fehr, George Da Silva, Jenna Despres, Francisco Ibañez-Carrasco, Andrew Eaton, Aruna Sedere, Trinity Puno, Paul A. Shuper, Lori E. Ross Jan 2021

Mitigating Risks And Building Resilience To Hiv/Aids: Perspectives Of Hiv-Negative, Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men, Renato M. Liboro, Brandon Ranuschio, Sherry Bell, Tammy Yates, Lianne Barnes, Charles Fehr, George Da Silva, Jenna Despres, Francisco Ibañez-Carrasco, Andrew Eaton, Aruna Sedere, Trinity Puno, Paul A. Shuper, Lori E. Ross

Psychology Faculty Research

Purpose: Although ample research has been conducted on resilience to HIV/AIDS, most studies have utilized quantitative methods and focused almost exclusively on people living with HIV/AIDS. A relatively untapped source of knowledge is the perspectives of HIV-negative, middle-aged and older men who have sex with men (MSM) who have been navigating risks and building resilience to HIV/AIDS since the 1980s. Our qualitative, community-based participatory research study examined the perspectives of HIV-negative, middle-aged and older MSM on factors that helped mitigate the risks of and build resilience to HIV/AIDS. Methods: In collaboration with community-based organizations, fourteen participants were recruited for in-depth …


The School Climate And Academic Mindset Inventory (Scami): Confirmatory Factor Analysis And Invariance Across Demographic Groups, Christopher A. Kearney, Ricardo Sanmartin, Carolina Gonzalvez Aug 2020

The School Climate And Academic Mindset Inventory (Scami): Confirmatory Factor Analysis And Invariance Across Demographic Groups, Christopher A. Kearney, Ricardo Sanmartin, Carolina Gonzalvez

Psychology Faculty Research

School climate is a multidimensional construct of the quality of a student’s academic environment, often subsuming dimensions such as safety, instructional practices, social relationships, school facilities, and school connectedness. Positive school climate has beneficial effects on a wide range of adjustment variables in youth, including academic achievement, mental health, school attendance and graduation, and school-based behavior. Studies regarding school climate assessment have burgeoned in recent years but remain marked by limited sample sizes, narrow developmental levels, restricted items, unclear psychometric strength across multiple demographic groups, and lack of integration with key student education contextual factors such as academic mindset and …


Individual Differences In Infants' Temperament Affect Face Processing, Jennifer L. Rennels, Andrea J. Kayl, Kirsty M. Kulhanek Jul 2020

Individual Differences In Infants' Temperament Affect Face Processing, Jennifer L. Rennels, Andrea J. Kayl, Kirsty M. Kulhanek

Psychology Faculty Research

Infants show an advantage in processing female and familiar race faces, but the effect sizes are often small, suggesting individual differences in their discrimination abilities. This research assessed whether differences in 6–10-month-olds’ temperament (surgency and orienting) predicted how they scanned individual faces varying in race and gender during familiarization and whether and how long it took them to locate the face during a visual search task. This study also examined whether infants viewing faces posing pleasant relative to neutral expressions would facilitate their discrimination of male and unfamiliar race faces. Results showed that infants’ surgency on its own or in …


Disease Salience Effects On Desire For Affiliation With In-Group And Out-Group Members: Cognitive And Affective Mediators, Murray Millar, Andrea Fink-Armold, Aileen Lovitt Jul 2020

Disease Salience Effects On Desire For Affiliation With In-Group And Out-Group Members: Cognitive And Affective Mediators, Murray Millar, Andrea Fink-Armold, Aileen Lovitt

Psychology Faculty Research

This study tested the hypothesis that threats related to infectious diseases would make persons less willing to affiliate with out-groups and that feelings of disgust and beliefs about the out-group members would mediate this effect. To test this hypothesis, American participants of European descent were presented with either a disease threat or control threat. Then they were shown a photograph of someone of the same race or different race. Participants were asked to indicate whether they would avoid the target person and to state their emotional and cognitive responses to the person. As predicted, disease salience decreased the desire to …


Regulation Of Gabaa Receptor Subunit Expression In Substance Use Disorders, Jeffrey S. Barker, Rochelle M. Hines Jun 2020

Regulation Of Gabaa Receptor Subunit Expression In Substance Use Disorders, Jeffrey S. Barker, Rochelle M. Hines

Psychology Faculty Research

The modulation of neuronal cell firing is mediated by the release of the neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobuytric acid), which binds to two major families of receptors. The ionotropic GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are composed of five distinct subunits that vary in expression by brain region and cell type. The action of GABA on GABAARs is modulated by a variety of clinically and pharmacologically important drugs such as benzodiazepines and alcohol. Exposure to and abuse of these substances disrupts homeostasis and induces plasticity in GABAergic neurotransmission, often via the regulation of receptor expression. Here, we review the regulation of GABAAR subunit expression in …


Older, Wiser, And Fiercer: Perspectives Of Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men On Their Resilience To The Risk And Impacts Of Hiv/Aids, Renato M. Liboro, Charles Fehr, George Da Silva, Lori E. Ross, Paul A. Shuper, Francisco Ibanez-Carrasco, Andrew D. Eaton, Daniel Pugh May 2020

Older, Wiser, And Fiercer: Perspectives Of Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men On Their Resilience To The Risk And Impacts Of Hiv/Aids, Renato M. Liboro, Charles Fehr, George Da Silva, Lori E. Ross, Paul A. Shuper, Francisco Ibanez-Carrasco, Andrew D. Eaton, Daniel Pugh

Psychology Faculty Research

Roughly forty years since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be the population most at risk of, and most affected by, HIV/AIDS in Canada, the United States, and innumerable low to high income countries worldwide. Despite this, many MSM remain HIV-negative today, and among MSM living with HIV, many have not only survived the clinical and social impacts of HIV/AIDS, but have also thrived, lived full lives, and fiercely advocated for their health care and social service needs.


Preliminary Psychometrics For The Executive Function Challenge Task: A Novel, “Hot” Flexibility, And Planning Task For Youth, Lauren Kenworthy, Andrew Freeman, Allison Ratto, Katerina Dudley, Kelly K. Powell, Cara E. Pugliese, John F. Strang, Alyssa Verbalis, Laura G. Anthony Mar 2020

Preliminary Psychometrics For The Executive Function Challenge Task: A Novel, “Hot” Flexibility, And Planning Task For Youth, Lauren Kenworthy, Andrew Freeman, Allison Ratto, Katerina Dudley, Kelly K. Powell, Cara E. Pugliese, John F. Strang, Alyssa Verbalis, Laura G. Anthony

Psychology Faculty Research

Objective: Executive functions (EF) drive health and educational outcomes and therefore are increasingly common treatment targets. Most treatment trials rely on questionnaires to capture meaningful change because ecologically valid, pediatric performance-based EF tasks are lacking. The Executive Function Challenge Task (EFCT) is a standardized, treatment-sensitive, objective measure which assesses flexibility and planning in the context of provocative social interactions, making it a “hot” EF task. Method: We investigate the structure, reliability, and validity of the EFCT in youth with autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder; n = 129), or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with flexibility problems (n = 93), and typically developing …


Cross-Cultural Work In Music Cognition: Challenges, Insights, And Recommendations, Nori Jacoby, Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis, Martin Clayton, Erin Hannon, Henkjan Honing, John Iversen, Tobias Robert Klein, Samuel A. Mehr, Lara Pearson, Isabelle Peretz, Marc Pearlman, Rainer Polak, Andrea Ravignani, Patrick E. Savage, Gavin Steingo, Catherine J. Stevens, Laurel Trainor, Sandra Trehub, Michael Veal, Melanie Wald-Fuhrmann Feb 2020

Cross-Cultural Work In Music Cognition: Challenges, Insights, And Recommendations, Nori Jacoby, Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis, Martin Clayton, Erin Hannon, Henkjan Honing, John Iversen, Tobias Robert Klein, Samuel A. Mehr, Lara Pearson, Isabelle Peretz, Marc Pearlman, Rainer Polak, Andrea Ravignani, Patrick E. Savage, Gavin Steingo, Catherine J. Stevens, Laurel Trainor, Sandra Trehub, Michael Veal, Melanie Wald-Fuhrmann

Psychology Faculty Research

Many foundational questions in the psychology of music require cross-cultural approaches, yet the vast majority of work in the field to date has been conducted with Western participants and Western music. For cross-cultural research to thrive, it will require collaboration between people from different disciplinary backgrounds, as well as strategies for overcoming differences in assumptions, methods, and terminology. This position paper surveys the current state of the field and offers a number of concrete recommendations focused on issues involving ethics, empirical methods, and definitions of “music” and “culture.”


Reconciling Contemporary Approaches To School Attendance And School Absenteeism: Toward Promotion And Nimble Response, Global Policy Review And Implementation, And Future Adaptability (Part 2), Christopher Kearney, Carolina Gonzálvez, Patricia A. Graczyk, Mirae Fornander Nov 2019

Reconciling Contemporary Approaches To School Attendance And School Absenteeism: Toward Promotion And Nimble Response, Global Policy Review And Implementation, And Future Adaptability (Part 2), Christopher Kearney, Carolina Gonzálvez, Patricia A. Graczyk, Mirae Fornander

Psychology Faculty Research

As noted in Part 1 of this two-part review, school attendance is an important foundational competency for children and adolescents, and school absenteeism has been linked to myriad short- and long-term negative consequences, even into adulthood. Categorical and dimensional approaches for this population have been developed. This article (Part 2 of a two-part review) discusses compatibilities of categorical and dimensional approaches for school attendance and school absenteeism and how these approaches can inform one another. The article also poses a multidimensional multi-tiered system of supports pyramid model as a mechanism for reconciling these approaches, promoting school attendance (and/or prevention of …


Utilizing The Community-Based Research Approach To Examine Mental Health And Support Services Issues Related To Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder, Renato M. Liboro Nov 2019

Utilizing The Community-Based Research Approach To Examine Mental Health And Support Services Issues Related To Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder, Renato M. Liboro

Psychology Faculty Research

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder is an emergent public health problem known to HIV researchers and scientists, but unfortunately, is a concern that still needs to be better recognized by people living with HIV and HIV service providers. Research studies have reported that between 30 to 50% of people living with HIV who have access to combination antiretroviral therapy are and will be affected by this disorder. This raises the need to find more appropriate research approaches for examining issues that will significantly impact people living with HIV experiencing or at risk of developing neurocognitive impairments. People living with …


Identification Of A Core Amino Acid Motif Within The Α Subunit Of Gabaars That Promotes Inhibitory Synaptogenesis And Resilience To Seizures, Anna J. Nathanson, Yihui Zhang, Joshua L. Smalley, Thomas A. Ollerhead, Miguel A. Rodriguez Santos, Peter M. Andrews, Heike J. Wobst, Yvonne E. Moore, Nicholas J. Brandon, Rochelle M. Hines, Paul A. Davies, Stephen J. Moss Jul 2019

Identification Of A Core Amino Acid Motif Within The Α Subunit Of Gabaars That Promotes Inhibitory Synaptogenesis And Resilience To Seizures, Anna J. Nathanson, Yihui Zhang, Joshua L. Smalley, Thomas A. Ollerhead, Miguel A. Rodriguez Santos, Peter M. Andrews, Heike J. Wobst, Yvonne E. Moore, Nicholas J. Brandon, Rochelle M. Hines, Paul A. Davies, Stephen J. Moss

Psychology Faculty Research

The fidelity of inhibitory neurotransmission is dependent on the accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) at the appropriate synaptic sites. Synaptic GABAARs are constructed from α(1-3), β(1-3), and γ2 subunits, and neurons can target these subtypes to specific synapses. Here, we identify a 15-amino acid inhibitory synapse targeting motif (ISTM) within the α2 subunit that promotes the association between GABAARs and the inhibitory scaffold proteins collybistin and gephyrin. Using mice in which the ISTM has been introduced into the α1 subunit (Gabra1-2 mice), we show that the ISTM is critical for axo-axonic synapse formation, the efficacy of GABAergic …


Strategies Employed By Community-Based Service Providers To Address Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Challenges: A Qualitative Study, Renato M. Liboro, Sean B. Rourke, Francisco Ibanez-Carrasco, Andrew Easton, Daniel Pugh, Claudia Medina, Allan Rae, Paul A. Shuper, Lori E. Ross Jan 2019

Strategies Employed By Community-Based Service Providers To Address Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Challenges: A Qualitative Study, Renato M. Liboro, Sean B. Rourke, Francisco Ibanez-Carrasco, Andrew Easton, Daniel Pugh, Claudia Medina, Allan Rae, Paul A. Shuper, Lori E. Ross

Psychology Faculty Research

Background: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and other causes of neurocognitive challenges experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) persist as public health concerns in developed countries. Consequently, PLWH who experience neurocognitive challenges increasingly require social support and mental health services from community-based providers in the HIV sector. Methods: Thirty-three providers from 22 AIDS service organizations across Ontario, Canada, were interviewed to determine the strategies they used to support PLWH experiencing neurocognitive difficulties. Thematic analysis was conducted to determine key themes from the interview data. Results: Three types of strategies were identified: (a) intrapersonal, (b) interpersonal, and (c) organizational. Intrapersonal strategies involved …


Measuring The Frequency Of Inner-Experience Characteristics By Self-Report: The Nevada Inner Experience Questionnaire, Christopher L. Heavey, Stefanie A. Moynihan, Vincent P. Brouwers, Leiszle Lapping-Carr, Alek E. Krumm, Jason M. Kelsey, Dio K. Turner Ii, Russell T. Hurlburt Jan 2019

Measuring The Frequency Of Inner-Experience Characteristics By Self-Report: The Nevada Inner Experience Questionnaire, Christopher L. Heavey, Stefanie A. Moynihan, Vincent P. Brouwers, Leiszle Lapping-Carr, Alek E. Krumm, Jason M. Kelsey, Dio K. Turner Ii, Russell T. Hurlburt

Psychology Faculty Research

Descriptive experience sampling has suggested that there are five frequently occurring phenomena of inner experience: inner speaking, inner seeing, unsymbolized thinking, feelings, and sensory awareness. Descriptive experience sampling is a labor- and skill-intensive procedure, so it would be desirable to estimate the frequency of these phenomena by questionnaire. However, appropriate questionnaires either do not exist or have substantial limitations. We therefore created the Nevada Inner Experience Questionnaire (NIEQ), with five subscales estimating the frequency of each of the frequent phenomena, and examine here its psychometric adequacy. Exploratory factor analysis produced four of the expected factors (inner speaking, inner seeing, unsymbolized …


We Provided Psychological First Aid After The Las Vegas Shooting – Here’S What We Learned., Michelle Paul, Heather Dahl, John A. Nixon, Noelle Lefforge Oct 2018

We Provided Psychological First Aid After The Las Vegas Shooting – Here’S What We Learned., Michelle Paul, Heather Dahl, John A. Nixon, Noelle Lefforge

Psychology Faculty Research

What is “psychological first aid”? How do mental health experts like you work side by side with traditional first responders? The goal of psychological first aid is to sooth, assist and help people function and cope in a healthy way in the wake of a traumatic event. It’s employed in the hours and days following the event, when people’s immediate needs, including medical care, as well as basic needs like food, shelter and water, must be met, along with their psychological and physical safety needs.


Developmental Seizures And Mortality Result From Reducing Gabaa Receptor Α2-Subunit Interaction With Collybistin, Rochelle M. Hines, Hans Michael Maric, Dustin J. Hines, Amit Modgil, Patrizia Panzanelli, Yasuko Nakamura, Anna J. Nathanson, Alan Cross, Tarek Deeb, Nicholas J. Brandon, Paul Davies, Jean-Marc Fritschy, Hermann Schindelin, Stephen J. Moss Aug 2018

Developmental Seizures And Mortality Result From Reducing Gabaa Receptor Α2-Subunit Interaction With Collybistin, Rochelle M. Hines, Hans Michael Maric, Dustin J. Hines, Amit Modgil, Patrizia Panzanelli, Yasuko Nakamura, Anna J. Nathanson, Alan Cross, Tarek Deeb, Nicholas J. Brandon, Paul Davies, Jean-Marc Fritschy, Hermann Schindelin, Stephen J. Moss

Psychology Faculty Research

Fast inhibitory synaptic transmission is mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) that are enriched at functionally diverse synapses via mechanisms that remain unclear. Using isothermal titration calorimetry and complementary methods we demonstrate an exclusive low micromolar binding of collybistin to the α2-subunit of GABAARs. To explore the biological relevance of collybistin-α2-subunit selectivity, we generate mice with a mutation in the α2-subunit-collybistin binding region (Gabra2-1). The mutation results in loss of a distinct subset of inhibitory synapses and decreased amplitude of inhibitory synaptic currents. Gabra2–1 mice have a striking phenotype characterized by increased susceptibility to seizures and early mortality. …


Barriers To Addressing Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (Hand): Community-Based Service Provider Perspectives, Renato M. Liboro, Francisco Ibanez-Carrasco, Sean B. Rourke, Andrew Easton, Claudia Medina, Daniel Pugh, Allan Rae, Lori E. Ross, Paul A. Shuper Feb 2018

Barriers To Addressing Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (Hand): Community-Based Service Provider Perspectives, Renato M. Liboro, Francisco Ibanez-Carrasco, Sean B. Rourke, Andrew Easton, Claudia Medina, Daniel Pugh, Allan Rae, Lori E. Ross, Paul A. Shuper

Psychology Faculty Research

HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) is an emergent public health issue in developed countries. Consequently, people living with HIV who experience HAND will increasingly require support from community-based HIV service providers. The objective of our qualitative study was to identify barriers service providers face in addressing HAND among people living with HIV. Thirty-three providers from 22 AIDS service organizations across Ontario, Canada, were interviewed. Using thematic analysis, three types of barriers were identified: (a) personal/professional, (b) service access, and (c) systemic. This paper draws attention to HAND-related obstacles that service providers encounter in their work and presents options to overcome them.


Racial Minority Immigrant Acculturation: Examining Filipino Settlement Experiences In Canada Utilizing A Community-Focused Acculturation Framework, Renato M. Liboro Jan 2018

Racial Minority Immigrant Acculturation: Examining Filipino Settlement Experiences In Canada Utilizing A Community-Focused Acculturation Framework, Renato M. Liboro

Psychology Faculty Research

By incorporating perspectives from Community Psychology into Berry’s (1997) acculturation framework from Cross-cultural Psychology, a more community-focused acculturation framework was developed and proposed in this essay. Elements from Community Psychology that focus on group-specific settings, community-level analysis, sociocultural resources, sociopolitical forces, and roles of grassroots organizations and host societies in challenging institutional power were consolidated into Berry’s acculturation framework to establish a new framework with a stronger community focus. In a theoretical application utilizing the new community-focused framework, socio-historical accounts of and discourse on Filipino experiences prior to the beginnings of the Filipino diaspora to Canada in the mid-1990s and …