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Are Juvenile Domestic Pigs (Sus Scrofa Domestica) Sensitive To The Attentive States Of Humans? The Impact Of Impulsivity On Choice Behaviour, Christian Nawroth, Mirjam Ebersbach, Eberhard Von Borell

Attention Collection

Previous studies have shown that apes, dogs and horses seem to be able to attribute attentive states to humans. Subjects chose successfully between two persons: one who was able to see the animal and one who was not. Using a similar paradigm, we tested a species that does not rely strongly on visual cues, the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica). Subjects could choose between two unfamiliar persons, with only one showing attention, in three different conditions (body, head away, body turned - head front). Subjects (n = 16) only showed a tendency towards …

Conceptualising The Impact Of Arousal And Affective State On Operant Conditioning, Melissa J. Starling, Nicholas Branson, Denis Cody, Paul D. Mcgreevy

Animal Training and Obedience Collection

Animal training relies heavily on an understanding of species-specific behaviour as it integrates with operant conditioning principles. Following on from recent studies showing that affective states and arousal levels may correlate with behavioural outcomes, we explore the contribution of both affective state and arousal in behavioural responses to operant conditioning. This paper provides a framework for assessing how affective state and arousal may influence the efficacy of operant training methods. It provides a series of three-dimensional conceptual graphs as exemplars to describing putative influences of both affective state and arousal on the likelihood of dogs and horses performing commonly desired …

When The Cradle Falls: The Subversion, Secrets, And Sentimentality Of Lullabies, Lauren R. Castro

Music

No abstract provided.

The Case For Conscientiousness: Evidence And Implications For A Personality Trait Marker Of Health And Longevity, Tim Bogg, Brent W. Roberts

Psychology Faculty Research Publications

Purpose Recent initiatives by major funding agencies have emphasized translational and personalized approaches (e.g., genetic testing) to health research and health management. While such directives are appropriate, and will likely produce tangible health benefits, we seek to highlight a confluence of several lines of research showing relations between the personality dimension of conscientiousness and a variety of health-related outcomes.

Methods Using a modified health process model, we review the compelling evidence linking conscientiousness to health and disease processes, including longevity, diseases, morbidity-related risk factors, health-related psycho-physiological mechanisms, health-related behaviors, and social environmental factors related to health.

Conclusion We argue the …

Motivating Operations In Drug-Discrimination, Amin Duff Lotfizadeh

Dissertations

Motivating operations (MO) play an important role in learning and performance. According to the behavior analytic conceptualization, MOs alter the probability of responses that lead to relevant reinforcers and alter the reinforcing “value” of those reinforcers (e.g., Michael, 1982, 1993). Recent research suggests that one way in which MOs influence stimulus control is by influencing the control of behavior by discriminative stimuli. Interestingly, in studies with nonhumans, such an effect is commonly observed when lights and tones are used as discriminative stimuli, but not when drugs are used. Procedural differences across studies involving the species studied, the measurement system used …

Effects Of Proton Radiation And Pomegranates On Hippocampus And Behavior, Melissa S. Dulcich

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Exposure to ionizing radiation may have deleterious effects on physical and mental health, with an increased risk of proton radiation for astronauts traveling outside Earth's atmosphere into lower earth orbit. In animal models, radiation has been shown to suppress neurogenesis in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus, a key area for learning and memory. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that compounds found in fruits and vegetables (e.g. polyphenols) may offer some protection against the cellular effects of radiation. Few studies have looked at the effects of proton radiation on the central nervous system, even though proton radiation is the most prevalent …

Sexual Trauma, Attachment, And Dissociation In Eating Disorder Populations, Kelly Cauley Rivinius

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The current study examined the process by which attachment influences dissociation in the presence of sexual trauma history. Sixty-two female individuals completed measures of attachment, trauma, and dissociation as a part of the intake assessment process the first week of their admission to a partial hospitalization program for treatment of an eating disorder. These archival data (2006 – 2013) were hand scored and coded by the researcher to ensure consistency across measures. Multiple mediations in parallel and moderated mediations in parallel were run using Hayes’ (2012) bootstrapping PROCESS macros. Consistent with predictions derived from the literature, sexual trauma significantly predicted …

Experiences Of Male Saudi Arabian International Students In The United States, Molly Elizabeth Heyn

Dissertations

Despite the increasing presence of Saudi Arabian international college students in American higher education, the literature regarding the experience of Saudi students in the United States is limited. This qualitative study explored and described the lived experiences of 9 male Saudi Arabian international college students studying in the United States. All the participants had studied in the United States for at least 2 years and were regularly admitted international students at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Moustakas’s (1994) phenomenological data analysis approach guided the data collection and analysis. The participants shared their lived experiences and the meaning of those …

When Boys Hurt: A Pilot Study On Adolescent Males With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Danessa Mayo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The current literature on nonsuicidal self-injury among male adolescents is lacking in amount and level of understanding in comparison to females. The purpose of this study is to determine the gender differences in treatment outcomes for adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy outpatient program. A total of 65 adolescent males and females from ages 12-18 who successfully graduated from the program were available for this study. Results show that the overall group of male and female patients reported a significant improvement in their levels of distress from baseline to post-treatment. Quantitative analyses conducted between male and female …

Locating The Social Ladder Across Cultures And Identities, Michael W. Kraus, Jacinth J. X. Tan, Melanie B. Tannenbaum

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

It is rare to have the opportunity to write a theory paper on a topic that, we believe at least, will become a very important part of psychological research in the future. That this target article has sparked such a high level of sophistication in the commentaries is indicative of this possibility; psychologists have truly arrived at the forefront of the social class discussion, and we are very excited to be a part of it! In the spirit of moving forward this discussion, each of the commentaries raises a number of important points that intersect with our own theory. Engaging …

The Social Ladder: A Rank-Based Perspective On Social Class, Michael W. Kraus, Jacinth J. X. Tan, Melanie B. Tannenbaum

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Scholars across the social sciences have studied social class for centuries. In this review, we suggest that social class is a fundamental means by which individuals are ranked on the social ladder of society. A rank-based perspective on social class shines light on several future areas of research: Specifically, understanding how social class ranks individuals vis-à-vis others leads to predictions about how class is signaled in interactions, influences social cognition and health, is shaped by global economic inequality trends, and changes across the life course. Importantly, our theory highlights the potential of experimental manipulations of social class rank for testing …

Educational Services For Tibetan Students With Disabilities In India: A Case Study, Britany Anne Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

This case study describes services for students with disabilities at Karuna Home in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India. Karuna Home is a residential rehabilitation center for students with cognitive or physical disabilities whose parents are Tibetan refugees. The study triangulated data from interviews, observations, and school documents to describe educational policies and procedures, and cultural attitudes toward disability. Results show that the Karuna Home program is undergirded by Buddhist thought and theology regarding care and concern for those in difficult circumstances. The school serves students with a range of mild to severe disabilities and is fully staffed, but teachers and other service …

Session 3-3-C: The National Longitudinal Study Of Gambling Behaviour (Nlsgb): Preliminary Results, Andrew Dellis, Andre Hofmeyr, Harold Kincaid, Don Ross

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Introduction

The NLSGB tracked 300 gamblers over a 15-month period.

A comprehensive survey instrument was compiled to analyse factors that might influence changes in risk of gambling problems over time.

The study was conducted in the four major metropolitan areas of South Africa: Johannesburg, Tshwane, Durban and Cape Town. We will discuss the study’s design and implementation and some preliminary results.

Session 2-1-C: Amphetamine Effects And The Possible Role Of Sesitization In Pathological Gambling, Martin Zack Phd

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Background

Addiction is a brain disorder caused by chronic exposure to drugs (Leshner, 1997)

Pathological Gambling (PG) shares many features of drug addiction (Holden 2001; Petry, 2006; Potenza, 2006)

PG may be caused by chronic exposure to gambling

Neuroplasticity (Tamminga and Nestler, 2006)

Sensitization (increased dopamine; DA) response to drug or environmental signals for reward (Robinson and Berridge, 2001)

Robust sensitization: Repeated low-dose amphetamine

Prefrontal Neurons Of Opposite Spatial Preference Display Distinct Target Selection Dynamics., Therese Lennert, Julio C Martinez-Trujillo

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Neurons in the primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of one hemisphere are selective for the location of attended targets in both visual hemifields. Whether dlPFC neurons with selectivity for opposite hemifields directly compete with each other for target selection or instead play distinct roles during the allocation of attention remains unclear. We explored this issue by recording neuronal responses in the right dlPFC of two macaques while they allocated attention to a target in one hemifield and ignored a distracter on the opposite side. Forty-nine percent of the recorded neurons were target location selective. Neurons selective for contralateral targets (58%) …

Risks Factors And Resiliency In Secondary School Students After The Bp Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Walt W. Hammerli Dr.

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on students of two coastal Louisiana secondary schools. Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory was used as a framework to understand how exposure, gender, socioeconomic status, and resilience interact to influence the impact of the spill on students. Cross-sectional questionnaires were administered to 155 high school students in May 2012 and 225 middle school students in January 2013 out of 1247 possible for a return rate of about 30%.

Results showed that exposure groups differed significantly on students’ Impact of Event Scale (IES; …

The Big White Envelope : Addressing Anxiety In Young Children Through A Story, Emily Bramowitz

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper examines the role of literature in mitigating anxiety in young children. It focuses on school-related anxiety, specifically the worried feelings among many children at the start of a new school. Embedded in the text is a children's book about a young girl's anticipation about the start of kindergarten.

The Olive Branch Program : A Proposal For Outreach To Survivors Of Trauma Highlighting The Restorative Potential Of Nature-Based Cultural Settings, Mariana I. Swick

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Addresses the long-term implications of sexual assault-related trauma on the lives of women survivors and demonstrates how nature-based cultural institutions can support the needs of this population throughout recovery. The study proposes the adoption of The Olive Branch Program (a hypothetical outreach program) by local nature-based cultural institutions in light of the long term needs of women survivors on various pathways towards recovery. In addition, the study proposes ways for cultural institutions to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, address issues of accessibility, and offer socially relevant programming.

A Study & Original Material On Peer Relationships & Concepts Of Friendship In Very Young Children, Maia A. Cannon

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Explores theory, observation, and practice dealing with friendship issues among three to four year old preschoolers. It sketches a portrait of the age group using general developmental and socio-cultural theories, and concludes that social emotional adjustment and relationships are crucial to young children's development. Also includes an original picture book by the author.

Anterior And Posterior Types Of Neuropsychological Deficits In Parkinson’S Disease: A Subgroup Classification Of Cognitive Outcome, Megan M. Risi

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibit cognitive deficits. Recent studies suggest there are distinct cognitive profiles of PD characterized by deficits in abilities that are dependent upon anterior versus posterior areas of the brain. While anterior-based deficits are more prevalent, posterior-based deficits are more predictive of the future occurrence of dementia in PD. The purpose of the current project was to examine these cognitive profiles in more detail. Performance on six tests of anterior function and six tests of posterior function was examined in 34 non-demented PD participants and 27 healthy control participants matched for age and education. Results showed …

The State Of The Research: Meta-Analysis And Conceptual Critique Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Ryan Lance Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers studying the long-term cognitive sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have produced disparate results. Some studies have shown little to no long-term cognitive effects while others have shown that persistent cognitive sequelae continue to affect a subgroup of patients. Meta-analysis has been used to try to integrate these contrasting results to foster a coherent understanding of the cognitive outcomes following mTBI. However, previous meta-analyses of long-term cognitive sequelae have used studies from a period of mTBI research where methodological rigor has been called into question (Carroll, Cassidy, Holm, Kraus, & Coronado, 2004). Using studies from this period, meta-analysts …

The Role Of Gesture In Spatial And Non-Spatial Learning In Children And Adults, Gwendolyn Marrin, Amanda Olsen

Psychology Student Work

The purpose of this study was to identify whether gesture differentially affects spatial or non-spatial language comprehension and memory in both children and adults. Previous research (i.e. Goldin-Meadow, 1996, 2001; McNeill, 1992, 2005) examines only the role of gesture in learning without addressing development. For this study, participant’s baseline gesture rate is recorded and then stories containing either spatial or non-spatial components are read to the participants. Participants then receive factual and convergent comprehension questions. While answering, they either gesture naturally, are required to gesture, or are told not to gesture. A three-term inference problem task (Knauff & Johnson-Laird, 2002) …

To Live Is To Die: The Effect Of Mortality Salience On Memory And Fear Of Death, Tony F. Bergamini

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Terror Management Theory proposes that the threat of death produces existential terror, which accentuates the need for security. This effect of mortality salience awareness of death-is well documented for non-conscious thoughts of death (Martens, Burke, Schimel, & Faucher, 2011). The objective of this study, then, is to measure anxiety-or fear of death-in reaction to non-conscious as well as conscious thoughts of death by manipulating the valence (positive vs. negative) and content (death vs. non-death) of a story that participants read. I measured any changes reported in fear of death before and after reading the story. Participants also wrote about their …

An Investigation Of Gender Differences In Pro-Environmental Attitudes And Behaviors, Sonja Plavsic

Honors Scholar Theses

Environmental responsibility has become an increasing concern in today's world. "Green" practices have become the norm with a growth in recycling options on school campuses and in cities, emissions restrictions for cars, and many brands positioning themselves as eco-friendly. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are gender differences regarding pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors among college students as predicted by socialization and social role theories, ecofeminism, and social norms. Participants were 313 University of Connecticut students (124 male, 189 female) who took part in an online survey measuring their attitudes towards the environment and conservation behavior. This …

Differential Behavioral Effects Of Ketamine Between Adolescent And Adult Sprague-Dawley Rats, Maria A. Greenwood

Theses and Dissertations

The dissociative anesthetic ketamine has been subject to growing abuse worldwide, particularly in adolescents. This project compared the effects of ketamine in conditioned place preference and intravenous self-administration in adolescent (PND 28-50) and adult (>PND70) Sprague-Dawley rats. Cocaine served as a positive control. In CPP, adolescents demonstrated preferences for ketamine, while adults developed an aversion. In the self-administration procedure, adults acquired the behavior more rapidly, but there was no difference in the percentage of subjects reaching acquisition nor in responding under a progressive ratio schedule for either drug. The CPP results suggest that adolescents have a greater sensitivity to …

Examining The Effects Of D-Amphetamine On Discounting In Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (Shr), Daniel Joseph Peterson

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

This experiment examined d-amphetamine’s effect on discounting of delayed and probabilistic outcomes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), a purported animal model of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with two control strains. Stimulants such as d-amphetamine are commonly administered in humans diagnosed with ADHD, thus resulting in increases in self-controlled responding on delay tasks. However, very little has been done examining the effects of d-amphetamine on delay tasks using the SHR strain, a purported animal model of ADHD. Recent research has also suggested that responses on delay and probability discounting procedures are mediated by the same underlying mechanism in animal models (Green, …

The Effects Of Caffeine And Rapid Eye Movement (Rem) Sleep Deprivation On Free Operant Responding Under A Vi 30-S Schedule Of Reinforcement, Curtis Allen Bradley

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Past research has shown that the effects of 96 hr of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Deprivation (REMSD) on positively reinforced behavior is dependent upon the schedule of reinforcement maintaining the behavior. One one hand, lean schedules of reinforcement after REMSD maintained low rates of behavior. On the other hand, rich schedules of reinforcement after REMSD maintained behavior at baseline levels. Other research has shown that the use of stimulants reversed the effects of REMSD on operant tasks. The current study investigated the effects of caffeine on rats’ lever pressing after 96-hr REMSD. During baseline, doses of vehicle were administered 15 …

Effects Of Chronic Marijuana Use On Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, And Cognitive Performance, Lauren Nicole Whitehurst

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Marijuana use has been linked to various circadian related activities like sleep and cognitive performance (Bolla et al., 2002; 2008; Budney et al., 2002; Cohen-Zion et al., 2010; Iverson et al., 2005; Meier et al., 2012; NIDA, 2012; Pope & Yugulen-Todd, 1996; WHO, 2013). Animal literature suggests a connection between marijuana use and altered circadian rhythms; however, the effect has not yet been studied in humans (Acuna-Goycolea et al., 2010; Sanford et al., 2008). The present study seeks to examine the effect of chronic marijuana use on circadian function in humans and extend the knowledge surrounding marijuana’s effect on neurocognition …

The Effect Of Skeletal Muscle Mass On Basal Metabolic Rate In College-Age Males 2013, Chase Vaughn

Master's Theses

There are many misconceptions within the fitness community. One such misconception is that an increase in muscle mass will have a large increase in basal metabolic rate, yet this may not be the best way for successful weight loss. The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of the correlation between skeletal muscle mass and basal metabolic rate. The hypothesis tested was that basal metabolic rate is strongly correlated with skeletal muscle mass. The participants were college-aged males (n =17). Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was estimated using the skin-fold circumference model (SFCM): SMM (kg) = Ht (0.00744 CAG2 …

The Effects Of Music On Concentration, Logan Rizzo

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

This study covered the origins of music and discussed the various implementations of music into our everyday society. We still do not quite understand how one comes to have a preference for music, although through research we have made some really good estimates regarding how one chooses a favorite. Researchers have proposed the ideas that music preference is chosen based on context as well as overall mood of the listener, but suggest maybe there is a more in depth reason. Using the idea of musical preference, we have studied performance on a variety of tasks including, but not limited to; …