Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting And Teaching Responsible Leadership In Software Engineering, Devender Goyal, Luiz Fernando Capretz

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

As software and computer technology is becoming more prominent and pervasive in all spheres of life, many researchers and industry folks are realizing the importance of teaching soft skills and values to CS and SE students. Many researchers and leaders, from both academic and non-academic world, are also calling for software researchers and practitioners to seriously consider human values, like respect, integrity, compassion, justice, and honesty when building software, both for greater social good and also for financial considerations. In this paper, we propose and wish to promote teaching soft skills, values, and responsibilities to students, which we term as …

Structural Alterations In Cortical And Thalamocortical White Matter Tracts After Recovery From Prefrontal Cortex Lesions In Macaques, Ramina Adam, David J. Schaeffer, Kevin Johnston, Ravi S. Menon, Stefan Everling

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Unilateral damage to the frontoparietal network typically impairs saccade target selection within the contralesional visual hemifield. Severity of deficits and the degree of recovery have been associated with widespread network dysfunction, yet it is not clear how these behavioural and functional brain changes relate with the underlying structural white matter tracts. Here, we investigated whether recovery after unilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) lesions was associated with changes in white matter microstructure across large-scale frontoparietal cortical and thalamocortical networks. Diffusion-weighted imaging was acquired in four male rhesus macaques at pre-lesion, week 1, and week 8-16 post-lesion when target selection deficits largely recovered. …

Integrating Numerical Cognition Research And Mathematics Education To Strengthen The Teaching And Learning Of Early Number, Zachary Hawes, Rebecca Merkley, Christine L. Stager, Daniel Ansari

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

BACKGROUND: Research into numerical cognition has contributed to a large body of knowledge on how children learn and perform mathematics. This knowledge has the potential to inform mathematics education. Unfortunately, numerical cognition research and mathematics education remain disconnected from one another, lacking the proper infrastructure to allow for productive and meaningful exchange between disciplines. The present study was designed to address this gap. AIM: This study reports on the design, implementation, and effects of a 16-week (25-hour) mathematics Professional Development (PD) model for Kindergarten to Grade 3 educators and their students. A central goal of the PD was to better …

Muting, Not Fragmentation, Of Functional Brain Networks Under General Anesthesia, Corson N. Areshenkoff, Joseph Y. Nashed, R. Matthew Hutchison, Melina Hutchison, Ron Levy, Douglas J. Cook, Ravi S. Menon, Stefan Everling, Jason P. Gallivan

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

© 2021 Changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) under general anesthesia have been widely studied with the goal of identifying neural signatures of consciousness. This work has commonly revealed an apparent fragmentation of whole-brain network structure during unconsciousness, which has been interpreted as reflecting a break-down in connectivity and a disruption of the brain's ability to integrate information. Here we show, by studying rs-FC under varying depths of isoflurane-induced anesthesia in nonhuman primates, that this apparent fragmentation, rather than reflecting an actual change in network structure, can be simply explained as the result of a global reduction in FC. Specifically, …

Shared Neural Circuits For Visuospatial Working Memory And Arithmetic In Children And Adults, Anna A. Matejko, Daniel Ansari

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Visuospatial working memory (VSWM) plays an important role in arithmetic problem solving, and the relationship between these two skills is thought to change over development. Even though neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that VSWM and arithmetic both recruit frontoparietal networks, inferences about common neural substrates have largely been made by comparisons across studies. Little work has examined how brain activation for VSWM and arithmetic converge within the same participants and whether there are age-related changes in the overlap of these neural networks. In this study, we examined how brain activity for VSWM and arithmetic overlap in 38 children and 26 adults. …

Sensory Function And Psychological Factors In Children With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1, Emma E. Truffyn, Massieh Moayedi, Stephen C. Brown, Danielle Ruskin, Emma G. Duerden

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Objective: To assess thermal-sensory thresholds and psychosocial factors in children with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS-I) compared to healthy children. Methods: We conducted quantitative sensory testing on 34 children with CRPS-I and 56 pain-free children. Warm, cool, heat, and cold stimuli were applied to the forearm. Children with CRPS-I had the protocol administered to the pain site and the contralateral-pain site. Participants completed the self-report Behavior Assessment System for Children. Results: Longer pain durations (>5.1 months) were associated with decreased sensitivity to cold pain on the pain site (P =.04). Higher pain-intensity ratings were associated with elevated …

Interplay Between Social Media Use, Sleep Quality, And Mental Health In Youth: A Systematic Review, Rea Alonzo, Junayd Hussain, Saverio Stranges, Kelly K. Anderson

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications

Social media applications are increasingly prominent among youth. This systematic review provides a comprehensive assessment of the literature on the relationship between active social media use, sleep quality, and common mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and psychological distress) among youth. MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE and Scopus were searched for observational studies investigating this relationship among youth (aged 16–25). Thirty-six cross-sectional studies and six prospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Among cross-sectional studies, significant associations between excessive social media use with poor mental health outcomes (n = 33), poor sleep quality (n = 24), and significant associations between poor sleep quality …

Skin And Muscle Receptors Shape Coordinated Fast Feedback Responses In The Upper Limb, Christopher J. Forgaard, Sasha Reschechtko, Paul L. Gribble, J. Andrew Pruszynski

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

© 2021 Elsevier Ltd Despite many real-world examples where skin and muscle receptors must function in concert to support movement control, responses based on these sensory modalities are usually separated from one another in laboratory studies. Proprioception is often considered the domain of muscle receptors, whereas the skin's function is often assumed to be discriminative touch. This distinction understates the extent to which sensory feedback from skin and muscle work together to shape successful movement control. Here we review the functional characteristics and similarities between fast feedback responses of the upper limb originating from muscle stretch and skin slip. We …

Kindergarteners' Symbolic Number Abilities Predict Nonsymbolic Number Abilities And Math Achievement In Grade 1, Nathan T. Lau, Rebecca Merkley, Paul Tremblay, Samuel Zhang, Stefanie De Jesus, Daniel Ansari

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Research has shown that two different, though related, ways of representing magnitude play foundational roles in the development of numerical and mathematical skills: a nonverbal approximate number system and an exact symbolic number system. While there have been numerous studies suggesting that the two systems are important predictors of math achievement, there has been substantial debate regarding whether and how these basic numerical competencies may be developmentally interrelated. Specifically, the causal direction of their relation has been the subject of debate: whether children's approximate number abilities predict later symbolic number abilities (the mapping account) or the other way around (the …

The Validity Of The Test Of Memory Malingering (Tomm) With Deaf Individuals., Cathy J Chovaz, V Lynn Ashton Rennison, Dominica O Chorostecki

Psychology

OBJECTIVE: Administration of performance validity tests (PVT) during neuropsychological assessments is standard practice, with the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) being a commonly used measure. The TOMM has been well validated in hearing populations with various medical and psychiatric backgrounds. A major gap in the literature is the use of the TOMM amongst culturally Deaf individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their first and preferred language. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of the TOMM with this population to determine if there may be differences related to the use of semantic knowledge and recall …

Chronic Stress Physically Spares But Functionally Impairs Innate-Like Invariant T Cells, Patrick Rudak, Colleague S

Data and Test Instruments

The deleterious effects of psychological stress on mainstream T lymphocytes are well documented. However, how stress impacts innate-like T cells is unclear. We report that long-term stress surprisingly abrogates both T helper 1 (TH1)- and TH2-type responses orchestrated by invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. This is not due to iNKT cell death because these cells are unusually refractory to stress-inflicted apoptosis. Activated iNKT cells in stressed mice exhibit a ‘‘split’’ inflammatory signature and trigger sudden serum interleukin10 (IL-10), IL-23, and IL-27 spikes. iNKT cell dysregulation is mediated by cell-autonomous glucocorticoid receptor signaling and corrected upon habituation to predictable stressors. …

Depressive Cognition On Twitter., David J A Dozois

Psychology Publications

No abstract provided.

Grasping Performance Depends Upon The Richness Of Hand Feedback., Prajith Sivakumar, Derek J Quinlan, Kevin M Stubbs, Jody C Culham

Psychology Publications

Although visual feedback of the hand allows fast and accurate grasping actions, little is known about whether the nature of feedback of the hand affects performance. We investigated kinematics during precision grasping (with the index finger and thumb) when participants received different levels of hand feedback, with or without visual feedback of the target. Specifically, we compared performance when participants saw (1) no hand feedback; (2) only the two critical points on the index finger and thumb tips; (3) 21 points on all digit tips and hand joints; (4) 21 points connected by a "skeleton", or (5) full feedback of …

A Cognitive-Behavioral Group Intervention For Parents Of Youth With Chronic Pain: Development, Feasibility, And Preliminary Effectiveness., Soeun Lee, Kim Edwards, C. Meghan Mcmurtry

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Caregiving for a youth with chronic pain is associated with unique stressors. Parents can play important roles for youth coping and functional outcomes, although parents often report uncertainty about how to support their youth and may benefit from learning evidence-based strategies. However, few parent-targeted interventions for pediatric chronic pain exist, particularly delivered within a group format. Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe the development of a parent-targeted group intervention within an outpatient interdisciplinary pediatric chronic pain clinic and to assess preliminary feasibility and effectiveness. Method: The development and content of the intervention are described in detail. …

Sociodevelopmental Challenges Faced By Young People With Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review, Abigail Jones, Line Caes, C. Meghan Mcmurtry, Christopher Eccleston, Abbie Jordan

Paediatrics Publications

OBJECTIVE: Map the current literature investigating autonomy development, identity development, and peer relationships in young people aged 10-24 years with chronic pain. METHODS: A scoping review method was used to systematically search four databases (APA PsycNET, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cinahl) for peer-reviewed articles. Search results were screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure they met the objective. Eligible papers were assessed for quality, their data relating to the objective were extracted, and results are synthesized. RESULTS: Searches returned 3,815 papers after the removal of duplicates, with 42 papers included in the full review. The majority of papers …

A Study Of Risk Factors Predicting School Disruption In Children And Youth Living In Ontario, Shannon L. Stewart Dr., Valbona Semovski, Sun Li

Education Publications

School disruption (SD) places students at risk of early school departure and other negative psychological outcomes. Based on the data derived from a sample of Ontario children and youth, this study aims to identify risk factors associated with SD among 1,241 school-aged students. A logistic regression model revealed that substance use, family functioning, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and experiencing bullying, significantly predicted SD. Substance use and family functioning resulted in the largest contributions to SD when holding other variables constant. This study provides supporting evidence of risk factors predicting SD and suggests that mental health and school personnel should consider family …

Intrinsic Functional Clustering Of Ventral Premotor F5 In The Macaque Brain, Saloni Sharma, David J. Schaeffer, Kasper Vinken, Stefan Everling, Koen Nelissen

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

© 2020 Neurophysiological and anatomical data suggest the existence of several functionally distinct regions in the lower arcuate sulcus and adjacent postarcuate convexity of the macaque monkey. Ventral premotor F5c lies on the postarcuate convexity and consists of a dorsal hand-related and ventral mouth-related field. The posterior bank of the lower arcuate contains two additional premotor F5 subfields at different anterior-posterior levels, F5a and F5p. Anterior to F5a, area 44 has been described as a dysgranular zone occupying the deepest part of the fundus of the inferior arcuate. Finally, area GrFO occupies the most rostral portion of the fundus and …

Effects Of Phase Regression On High-Resolution Functional Mri Of The Primary Visual Cortex, Olivia W. Stanley, Alan B. Kuurstra, L. Martyn Klassen, Ravi S. Menon, Joseph S. Gati

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

High-resolution functional MRI studies have become a powerful tool to non-invasively probe the sub-millimeter functional organization of the human cortex. Advances in MR hardware, imaging techniques and sophisticated post-processing methods have allowed high resolution fMRI to be used in both the clinical and academic neurosciences. However, consensus within the community regarding the use of gradient echo (GE) or spin echo (SE) based acquisition remains largely divided. On one hand, GE provides a high temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) technique sensitive to both the macro- and micro-vascular signal while SE based methods are more specific to microvasculature but suffer from lower tSNR …

Interpersonal Polyvictimization: Addressing The Care Planning Needs Of Traumatized Children And Youth, Shannon L. Stewart Dr., Natalia Lapshina, Valbona Semovski

Education Publications

Background: Exposure to maltreatment has a detrimental impact on both physical and mental health. However, research on the relationship between polyvictimization and care planning needs is scarce.

Objectives: This study investigated the associations between interpersonal polyvictimization and care planning needs for children and youth, controlling for sex and age differences.

Participants and Settings: The sample included 18,701 children and youth (M_age = 12.33, SD_age = 3.53) between 4 and 18 years. Participants were recruited from over 58 mental health agencies, facilities, and schools in Ontario, Canada between November 2012 and February 2020.

Methods: Multivariate binary logistic …

Schrödinger Filtering: A Precise Eeg Despiking Technique For Eeg-Fmri Gradient Artifact, Gabriel B. Benigno, Ravi S. Menon, Hacene Serrai

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

In EEG data acquired in the presence of fMRI, gradient-related spike artifacts contaminate the signal following the common preprocessing step of average artifact subtraction. Spike artifacts compromise EEG data quality since they overlap with the EEG signal in frequency, thereby confounding frequency-based inferences on activity. As well, spike artifacts can inflate or deflate correlations among time series, thereby confounding inferences on functional connectivity. We present Schrödinger filtering, which uses the Schrödinger equation to decompose the spike-containing input. The basis functions of the decomposition are localized and pulse-shaped, and selectively capture the various input peaks, with the spike components clustered at …

Cracking The Code Of Place Value: The Relationship Between Place And Value Takes Years To Master, Pierina Cheung, Daniel Ansari

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Place value, which underlies the meanings of multidigits, encompasses the principle of position and base-10 rules. To understand 65, one needs to know that the digits 6 and 5 occupy different positions and thus represent ordered values of different magnitudes (i.e., the principle of position) and that the value of each position is determined by base-10 rules (i.e., the rightmost position is 100, followed by 101, 102, etc.). Without the principle of position, children cannot construct meanings for multidigits. Previous studies have shown that children do not know the exact value of digit positions until the early elementary school years, …

L-Theanine Prevents Long-Term Affective And Cognitive Side Effects Of Adolescent Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure And Blocks Associated Molecular And Neuronal Abnormalities In The Mesocorticolimbic Circuitry, Marta De Felice, Justine Renard, Roger Hudson, Hanna J. Szkudlarek, Brian J. Pereira, Susanne Schmid, Walter J. Rushlow, Steven R. Laviolette

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Chronic adolescent exposure to Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is linked to elevated neuropsychiatric risk and induces neuronal, molecular and behavioral abnormalities resembling neuropsychiatric endophenotypes. Previous evidence has revealed that the mesocorticolimbic circuitry, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway are particularly susceptible to THC-induced pathologic alterations, including dysregulation of DAergic activity states, loss of PFC GABAergic inhibitory control and affective and cognitive abnormalities. There are currently limited pharmacological intervention strategies capable of preventing THC-induced neuropathological adaptations. L-Theanine is an amino acid analog of L-glutamate and L-glutamine derived from various plant sources, including green tea leaves. L-Theanine has previously been …

The Multiplicity Of Caregiving Burden: A Qualitative Analysis Of Families With Prolonged Disorders Of Consciousness., Laura E Gonzalez-Lara, Sarah Munce, Jennifer Christian, Adrian M Owen, Charles Weijer, Fiona Webster

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Objective: To understand the multiple and sometimes conflicting roles substitute decision makers (SDMs) of individuals in a vegetative state (VS), minimally conscious state (MCS), or with locked-in syndrome (LIS) perform while caring for a loved one and the competing priorities derived from these roles.Methods: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews using a constructive-grounded theory design. Twelve SDMs, who were also family members for 11 patients, were interviewed at two time points (except one) for a total of 21 in-depth interviews.Results: Participants described that caregiving is often the central role which they identify as their top priority …

Sharing Voxelwise Neuroimaging Results From Rhesus Monkeys And Other Species With Neurovault, Andrew S. Fox, Daniel Holley, Peter Christiaan Klink, Spencer A. Arbuckle, Carol A. Barnes, Jörn Diedrichsen, Sze Chai Kwok, Colin Kyle, J. Andrew Pruszynski, Jakob Seidlitz, Xu Feng Zhou, Russell A. Poldrack, Krzysztof J. Gorgolewski

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

© 2020 The Authors Animal neuroimaging studies can provide unique insights into brain structure and function, and can be leveraged to bridge the gap between animal and human neuroscience. In part, this power comes from the ability to combine mechanistic interventions with brain-wide neuroimaging. Due to their phylogenetic proximity to humans, nonhuman primate neuroimaging holds particular promise. Because nonhuman primate neuroimaging studies are often underpowered, there is a great need to share data amongst translational researchers. Data sharing efforts have been limited, however, by the lack of standardized tools and repositories through which nonhuman neuroimaging data can easily be archived …

Anxiety And Depression In Canada During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A National Survey., David J. A. Dozois, Mental Health Research Canada

Psychology Publications

Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health problems in Canada. The COVID-19 pandemic will likely result in a large increase in the incidence and prevalence of anxiety and depression and experts are already warning of an “echo pandemic” of mental health problems. The objective is this research was to explore how Canadians are managing with the COVID-19 outbreak and determine the impact of the pandemic on levels of anxiety and depression. A nationally representative sample of 1,803 participants completed an online survey that was offered in both official languages. The percentage of respondents who indicated that their anxiety …

The Importance Of Social Connectedness: From Interpersonal Schemas In Depression To Relationship Functioning And Well-Being, David J. A. Dozois

Psychology Publications

In this article, a program of research is described, which began with a focus on depression. A number of studies have demonstrated that negative self-schemas, particularly for interpersonal content, are well organized and appear to represent stable vulnerability factors for depression. Fortunately, this negative interpersonal structure is also modifiable through effective treatments (both psychological and pharmacological). An important extension of this research has involved investigating the impact of schemas on interpersonal phenomena (e.g., excessive reassurance seeking) and the formation of schemas about others (e.g., romantic partners). The dyadic partner-schema model, which articulates how self- and partner-schemas impact relationship functioning, is …

Understanding Stability In Cognitive Neuroscience Through Hacking's Lens, Jacqueline A. Sullivan

Philosophy Publications

Ian Hacking instigated a revolution in 20th century philosophy of science by putting experiments (“interventions”) at the top of a philosophical agenda that historically had focused nearly exclusively on representations (“theories”). In this paper, I focus on a set of conceptual tools Hacking (1992) put forward to understand how laboratory sciences become stable and to explain what such stability meant for the prospects of unity of science and kind discovery in experimental science. I first use Hacking’s tools to understand sources of instability and disunity in rodent behavioral neuroscience. I then use them to understand recent grass-roots collaborative initiatives aimed …

Somatic Symptom Disorder, Conversion Disorder, And Chronic Pain: Pediatric Clinician Perspectives, Kim R. Edwards, C. Meghan Mcmurtry, Bruce Dick, Rebecca Lewinson, Amrit Dhariwal, Joel Katz

Paediatrics Publications

Objectives: The appropriateness and relevance of somatic symptom disorder and conversion disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) diagnoses are in question as they relate to pediatric chronic pain. This survey-based study on pediatric chronic pain explores how these psychiatric diagnoses are made and perceived and how treatment of patients is approached by Canadian health care professionals working in pediatric chronic pain clinics. Method: Health care professionals (N = 50) completed the survey, which contained both qualitative and quantitative items. Results: Of participants, 88% reported moderate/advanced training in pain, whereas only 26% reported moderate/advanced training in somatic symptom disorder and conversion disorder. …

Vulnerability Pathways To Mental Health Outcomes In Children And Parents During Covid-19, Jala Rizeq, Daphne J. Korczak, Katherine Tombeau Cost, Evdokia Anagnostou, Alice Charach, Suneeta Monga, Catherine S. Birken, Elizabeth Kelley

Paediatrics Publications

We examined pathways from pre-existing psychosocial and economic vulnerability to mental health difficulties and stress in families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from two time points from a multi-cohort study initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic were used. Parents of children 6–18 years completed questionnaires on pre-COVID-19 socioeconomic and demographic factors in addition to material deprivation and stress due to COVID-19 restrictions, mental health, and family functioning. Youth 10 years and older also completed their own measures of mental health and stress. Using structural equation modelling, pathways from pre-existing vulnerability to material deprivation and stress due to COVID-19 restrictions, mental health, …

Stratified Care Vs Stepped Care For Depression: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial, Jaime Delgadillo, Shehzad Ali, Kieran Fleck, Charlotte Agnew, Amy Southgate, Laura Parkhouse, Zachary D. Cohen, Robert J. Derubeis, Michael Barkham

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications

Importance: Depression is a major cause of disability worldwide. Although empirically supported treatments are available, there is scarce evidence on how to effectively personalize psychological treatment selection. Objective: To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 2 treatment selection strategies: stepped care and stratified care. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multisite, cluster randomized clinical trial recruited participants from the English National Health Service from July 5, 2018, to February 1, 2019. Thirty clinicians working across 4 psychological therapy services were randomly assigned to provide stratified (n = 15) or stepped (n = 15) care. In stepped care, patients sequentially access …