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Utah State University

2017

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Articles 31 - 60 of 125

Full-Text Articles in Education

Self-Stigma And Weight Loss: The Impact Of Fear Of Being Stigmatized, Jason Lillis, J. G. Thomas, Michael E. Levin, R. R. Wing Oct 2017

Self-Stigma And Weight Loss: The Impact Of Fear Of Being Stigmatized, Jason Lillis, J. G. Thomas, Michael E. Levin, R. R. Wing

Psychology Faculty Publications

The current study sought to examine whether two facets of weight self-stigma (fear of enacted stigma and self-devaluation) were associated with weight change and treatment engagement for 188 individuals participating in a 3-month online weight loss program. Fear of enacted stigma predicted less weight loss 3-months later after controlling for demographics, eating problems, and psychological symptoms. Self-devaluation did not predict weight loss. Neither weight self-stigma variable predicted engagement in the online program. These results add to the literature indicating the negative effects of weight self-stigma while highlighting the central role of fear of being stigmatized by others in this process.


Impaired Latent Inhibition In Gdnf-Deficient Mice Exposed To Chronic Stress, Mona Buhusi, Colten K. Brown, Catalin V. Buhusi Oct 2017

Impaired Latent Inhibition In Gdnf-Deficient Mice Exposed To Chronic Stress, Mona Buhusi, Colten K. Brown, Catalin V. Buhusi

Psychology Faculty Publications

Increased reactivity to stress is maladaptive and linked to abnormal behaviors and psychopathology. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) alters catecholaminergic neurotransmission and remodels neuronal circuits involved in learning, attention and decision making. Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is essential for the physiology and survival of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus. Up-regulation of GDNF expression during stress is linked to resilience; on the other hand, the inability to up-regulate GDNF in response to stress, as a result of either genetic or epigenetic modifications, induces behavioral alterations. For example, GDNF-deficient mice exposed to chronic stress exhibit …


Examining The Feasibility Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Self-Help For Problematic Pornography Viewing: Results From A Pilot Open Trial, Michael E. Levin, Scott T. Heninger, Benjamin G. Pierce, Michael P. Twohig Sep 2017

Examining The Feasibility Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Self-Help For Problematic Pornography Viewing: Results From A Pilot Open Trial, Michael E. Levin, Scott T. Heninger, Benjamin G. Pierce, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) self-help program for problematic pornography viewing (PV). A sample of 19 adults seeking help for problematic PV was recruited in an open trial. Participants reported adequate program acceptability, although only 45% of those completing post-assessment read at least half of the self-help book. Significant improvements on problematic PV and cognitive fusion were found over the 8-week intervention period, with effects sustaining at 8-week follow-up. Participants who read more improved more on PV problems and psychological inflexibility. Overall, an ACT self-help approach appears feasible and potentially efficacious for …


Speech Rhythm Entrainment In The Context Of Dysarthria, Stephanie A. Borrie Sep 2017

Speech Rhythm Entrainment In The Context Of Dysarthria, Stephanie A. Borrie

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.


Disaster Losses And Related Tax Rules, Jc Hobbs Sep 2017

Disaster Losses And Related Tax Rules, Jc Hobbs

Rural Tax Education

The dollar value of property losses due to fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, lightning, freezes, etc. can be substantial. Federal income tax regulations often provide relief by allowing deductions for losses of both business-use and personal-use property. This fact sheet describes losses to property, the process used to determine if you have a deductible loss, how insurance proceeds and cost share benefits are treated, and how to reconstruct records to document a loss. Examples help explain the rules that apply to property found on the farm including buildings, machinery, livestock, feed, supplies, personal residence and the contents and personal vehicles. A …


Delay Discounting As An Index Of Sustainable Behavior: Devaluation Of Future Air Quality And Implications For Public Health, Meredith S. Berry, Norma P. Nickerson, Amy L. Odum Sep 2017

Delay Discounting As An Index Of Sustainable Behavior: Devaluation Of Future Air Quality And Implications For Public Health, Meredith S. Berry, Norma P. Nickerson, Amy L. Odum

Psychology Faculty Publications

Poor air quality and resulting annual deaths represent significant public health concerns. Recently, rapid delay discounting (the devaluation of future outcomes) of air quality has been considered a potential barrier for engaging in long term, sustainable behaviors that might help to reduce emissions (e.g., reducing private car use, societal support for clean air initiatives). Delay discounting has been shown to be predictive of real world behavior outside of laboratory settings, and therefore may offer an important framework beyond traditional variables thought to measure sustainable behavior such as importance of an environmental issue, or environmental attitudes/values, although more research is needed …


Increased Hippocampal Probdnf Contributes To Memory Impairments In Aged Mice, Mona Buhusi, Chris Etheredge, Ann-Charlotte Granholm, Catalin V. Buhusi Aug 2017

Increased Hippocampal Probdnf Contributes To Memory Impairments In Aged Mice, Mona Buhusi, Chris Etheredge, Ann-Charlotte Granholm, Catalin V. Buhusi

Psychology Faculty Publications

Memory decline during aging or accompanying neurodegenerative diseases, represents a major health problem. Neurotrophins have long been considered relevant to the mechanisms of aging-associated cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Mature Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and its precursor (proBDNF) can both be secreted in response to neuronal activity and exert opposing effects on neuronal physiology and plasticity. In this study, biochemical analyses revealed that increased levels of proBDNF are present in the aged mouse hippocampus relative to young and that the level of hippocampal proBDNF inversely correlates with the ability to perform in a spatial memory task, the water radial arm maze …


Forms Of Science Capital Mobilized In Adolescents’ Engineering Projects, Amy Wilson-Lopez, Christina M. Sias, Allen Smithee, Indhira María Hasbún Aug 2017

Forms Of Science Capital Mobilized In Adolescents’ Engineering Projects, Amy Wilson-Lopez, Christina M. Sias, Allen Smithee, Indhira María Hasbún

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this multiple case study was to identify the forms of science capital that six groups of adolescents mobilized toward the realization of their self-selected engineering projects during after-school meetings. Research participants were high school students who self-identified as Hispanic, Latina, or Latino; who had received English as a Second Language (ESL) services; and whose parents or guardians had immigrated to the United States and held working class jobs. The research team used categories from Bourdieusian theories of capital to identify the forms of science capital mobilized by the participants. Data sources included transcripts from monthly interviews and …


Combining Intake And Iep Meetings: Evaluation Of The Effects Of Interagency Collaboration Between Vocational Rehabilitation And Special Educators, Katrina Cummings Aug 2017

Combining Intake And Iep Meetings: Evaluation Of The Effects Of Interagency Collaboration Between Vocational Rehabilitation And Special Educators, Katrina Cummings

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Collaboration between agencies has been shown to be an indicator of post-school success for individuals with disabilities. While it is shown to be important, collaboration between Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Special Educators (SPED) does not always occur. This project examined the effects of combining Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and intake interviews on the rate and satisfaction of collaboration and the understanding of the other agencies roles and responsibilities. Participants included four SPED teachers and two VR counselors. All participants worked with individuals with disabilities between the ages 15-22 years who attend public education in a school district in the western …


Tangible Property Regulations: Using The De Minimis Safe Harbor, Guido Van Der Hoeven Aug 2017

Tangible Property Regulations: Using The De Minimis Safe Harbor, Guido Van Der Hoeven

Rural Tax Education

In late 2013, the IRS issued new repair regulations that became effective as of January 1, 2014. Since the new repair regulations were issued, clarifying guidance has been and continues to be issued. The IRS issued Notice 2015–82 in late November 2015, which increased the de minimis amount from $500 to $2,500 beginning January 1, 2016. This increased amount is part of the repair regulations that were issued and found in Treas. Reg. § 1.263(a)–1(f)(1), which applies to taxpayers who do not have an applicable financial statement (AFS). Most farmers and ranchers will not have an AFS. The immediate tax …


Effective Chaperone Selection And Training For Enhanced Youth Experiences, Emily J. Anderson, Kelsey Roop, Stacey Macarthur Aug 2017

Effective Chaperone Selection And Training For Enhanced Youth Experiences, Emily J. Anderson, Kelsey Roop, Stacey Macarthur

4-H and Youth

This article identifies key strategies for selecting and training chaperones for youth programs. Although substantial research on volunteer core competencies and training exists, very little has been written to specifically address volunteers who serve in a chaperone capacity. We surveyed chaperones who had participated in an international youth development program to identify the most valuable personal characteristics of a successful chaperone and the most beneficial elements of a pre-event chaperone training program. The lists of these key characteristics and training topics can be used by Extension professionals in selecting chaperones and designing training opportunities for their own programs.


The Effects Of Training On Parent Knowledge And Expectations Of Student Postschool Outcomes, Robert Hunsaker Aug 2017

The Effects Of Training On Parent Knowledge And Expectations Of Student Postschool Outcomes, Robert Hunsaker

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Most students with disabilities have poor postschool outcomes related to employment or postsecondary education. Very few of these students gain meaningful jobs or go to college. A key predictor of successful postschool outcomes for students with disabilities is high parental expectations. This project examined the effects of parent training on transition agency services on increasing parents’ knowledge and expectations for postschool outcomes for their young adult with disabilities. Participants included English-speaking parents/guardians of young adults with disabilities from Alpine school district in Utah. Participants’ knowledge was measured by correct answers on identical pretests and posttests. Participants’ expectations were measured on …


From "Struggling" To "Example": How Cross-Age Tutoring Impacts Latina Adolescents' Reader Identities, Dustin H. Drake Aug 2017

From "Struggling" To "Example": How Cross-Age Tutoring Impacts Latina Adolescents' Reader Identities, Dustin H. Drake

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Educators and policy makers have shown a consistent concern over the achievement gap. In academic assessments, Latino students have demonstrated lower achievement than their peers, particularly in reading scores. Many researchers attribute the existence of the achievement gap to a school system that ignores Latino culture or perpetuates struggles in Latino students’ reading by being culturally insensitive. Multiple theorists suggest that school systems that better understand Latino identities will be better at instructing Latino students. Many programs, including Latinos in Action, have been implemented in attempts to close this gap. The Latinos in Action program utilizes Latino adolescents as peer …


Siblings Of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: Their Perspectives On Guardianship And Its Alternatives, Anna M. Brady Aug 2017

Siblings Of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: Their Perspectives On Guardianship And Its Alternatives, Anna M. Brady

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Adult siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are often on the front lines of supporting their brothers and sisters with IDD through caregiving and guardianship roles after their parents pass away. However, these siblings are often uninformed or under informed about ways that they can support their brothers and sisters. This study had the following three purposes: to determine what adult siblings of adults with IDD know about guardianship and its alternatives; to explore how adult siblings view guardianship and its alternatives; and to explore what adult siblings think about their role of being a guardian or …


Writing Attitudes And Practices Of Content Area Teachers After Participating In The Central Utah Writing Project Summer Institute, Joseph P. Anson Aug 2017

Writing Attitudes And Practices Of Content Area Teachers After Participating In The Central Utah Writing Project Summer Institute, Joseph P. Anson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study of four case studies looks at how secondary math, music, science, and social studies teachers' attitudes and classroom practices were affected by their participation in the Central Utah Writing Project (CUWP) summer institute. Participant interviews, observations, and artifacts were analyzed by looking at themes for effective professional development: a participant's personal interpretation of the experience (phenomenon), construction of one's own learning, active learning/participation in the professional development, the inclusion of authentic tasks, collaborative support community, inclusion of prior knowledge and/or experience, self-efficacy regarding one's own writing and the teaching of writing, motivation as a teacher, motivation as a …


The Anatomy Of Virtual Manipulative Apps: Using Grounded Theory To Conceptualize And Evaluate Educational Apps That Contain Virtual Manipulatives, Jennifer M. Boyer-Thurgood Aug 2017

The Anatomy Of Virtual Manipulative Apps: Using Grounded Theory To Conceptualize And Evaluate Educational Apps That Contain Virtual Manipulatives, Jennifer M. Boyer-Thurgood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This exploratory qualitative study used grounded theory to investigate the anatomy of educational apps that contain virtual manipulatives. For this study 100 virtual manipulatives within educational apps designed for the iPad were observed by the researcher in order to expand the explanations of and build theory about virtual manipulatives within apps. Affordance theory was used to frame all six phases of the study in which the researcher identified virtual manipulatives situated within educational apps, conducted observer-as-participant structured and unstructured observations, analyzed component data including field notes and memos using open and axial coding, created a conceptual framework, developed an evaluation …


Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition In Middle School: An Examination Of Three Instructional Conditions, David B. Lee Aug 2017

Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition In Middle School: An Examination Of Three Instructional Conditions, David B. Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The importance of vocabulary knowledge gained through incidental learning is well documented. The growth of incidental vocabulary knowledge is especially crucial for middle school students due to the complex words encountered in their studies. However, research on incidental vocabulary acquisition for middle school students is lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of three instructional conditions (reading, writing, and reading and writing) on incidental vocabulary acquisition and retention with middle school students in an English as a first language (L1) environment.

In this within subjects repeated measure study, 263 eighth-grade participants received treatment in three …


Effects Of Parent Training On Increased Knowledge And Changes In Perceptions Regarding Transition To Adulthood For Middle School Youth With Disabilities, Lauren E. Wright Aug 2017

Effects Of Parent Training On Increased Knowledge And Changes In Perceptions Regarding Transition To Adulthood For Middle School Youth With Disabilities, Lauren E. Wright

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Parents of children with severe/moderate disabilities experience uncertainty and a lack of knowledge as their children go through the transition to adulthood. Research has shown parents play a key role in their child's postschool outcome success and that parent training and beginning transition preparation early are key predictors. This study examined the effects of parent training on parents' knowledge, expectations, and action towards their child's transition to adulthood. Participants consisted of parents of middle school youth with severe/moderate disabilities. The study measured parent knowledge, expectations, and actions. Procedures involved (a) a pretest administered to parents on their transition knowledge, (b) …


Fundamental Features Of Fostering Teacher Collective Efficacy: Principals’ Attitudes, Behaviors, And Practices, Shelley Nordick Aug 2017

Fundamental Features Of Fostering Teacher Collective Efficacy: Principals’ Attitudes, Behaviors, And Practices, Shelley Nordick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes, practices, and behaviors of principals who foster teacher collective efficacy. The research questions were developed based upon Bandura’s social cognitive theory to include (a) what are the attitudes held by principals that influence TCE; (b) what are the behaviors enacted by principals that influence TCE; (c) what are the practices employed by principals that influence TCE. The study utilized a qualitative approach with a multisite case study design. The Collective Teacher Efficacy Scale developed by Goddard et al. was used to measure TCE of participating schools. The survey results were …


Building Community Using Experiential Education With Elementary Preservice Teachers In A Social Studies Methodology Course, Stephanie L. Speicher Aug 2017

Building Community Using Experiential Education With Elementary Preservice Teachers In A Social Studies Methodology Course, Stephanie L. Speicher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There is urgency for teacher educators to instruct preservice teachers in the core tenants of social justice education. This urgency is based upon the ever-growing shift in the American demographic landscape and the responsibility of educators to teach for equity, justice, identity and community within classrooms across the U.S. Preservice teachers report feeling inadequately prepared to educate for social justice when entering the formal classroom setting. Feelings of incompetence in social justice teaching pedagogy expressed among preservice teachers coupled with minimal examination in the literature of the effects of teacher education practices that aid in the readiness to teach for …


The Association Between Employment- And Housing-Related Financial Stressors And Marital Outcomes During The 2007-2009 Recession, Robert C. Stewart, Jeffrey P. Dew, Yoon Lee Jul 2017

The Association Between Employment- And Housing-Related Financial Stressors And Marital Outcomes During The 2007-2009 Recession, Robert C. Stewart, Jeffrey P. Dew, Yoon Lee

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

This study examined the association between recession-related employment problems, recession-related housing problems, and marital quality. It used a national sample of married couples between the ages of 18 and 55. The analyses revealed that housing problems were negatively associated with wives' reports of marital satisfaction and positively associated with wives' and husbands' reports of divorce proneness. Feelings of economic pressure fully mediated the association between housing problems and wives' marital satisfaction and housing problems and husbands' feelings of divorce proneness. Feelings of economic pressure only partially mediated the association between housing problems and wives' reports of divorce proneness. Interestingly, recession-related …


The Interaction Of Mindful Awareness And Acceptance In Couples Satisfaction, Jennifer Krafft, Jack Haegar, Michael E. Levin Jul 2017

The Interaction Of Mindful Awareness And Acceptance In Couples Satisfaction, Jennifer Krafft, Jack Haegar, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Past studies indicate that the awareness and acceptance facets of trait mindfulness both independently predict relationship satisfaction. However, this study hypothesized that the combination of awareness and acceptance might be a stronger contributor to relationship functioning than either in isolation. Regression analyses were used to test whether mindful awareness and acceptance interact in predicting couples satisfaction in a sample of dating or married college students (n = 138). Acceptance was positively associated with couples satisfaction, while awareness was unrelated. These two mindfulness facets interacted such that greater awareness was related to poorer satisfaction when acceptance was low, but was …


Collaborative Research: Scaffolding Pre-Service, Early Childhood Teachers To Debug Block-Based Programming, Brian R. Belland Jul 2017

Collaborative Research: Scaffolding Pre-Service, Early Childhood Teachers To Debug Block-Based Programming, Brian R. Belland

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.


A Comparison Of Discovered Regularities In Blood Glucose Readings Across Two Data Collection Approaches Used With A Type 1 Diabetic Youth, Victor R. Lee, Travis Thurston, Chris Thurston Jul 2017

A Comparison Of Discovered Regularities In Blood Glucose Readings Across Two Data Collection Approaches Used With A Type 1 Diabetic Youth, Victor R. Lee, Travis Thurston, Chris Thurston

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Type 1 diabetes requires frequent testing and monitoring of blood glucose levels in order to determine appropriate type and dosage of insulin administration. This can lead to thousands of individual measurements over the course of a lifetime of a single individual, of which very few are retained as part of a permanent record. The third author, aged 9, and his family have maintained several years of written records since his diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes at age 20 months, and have also recently begun to obtain automated records from a continuous glucose monitor.

Objectives: This paper compares regularities identified …


The Moderating Role Of Avoidance Behavior On Anxiety Over Time: Is There A Difference Between Social Anxiety Disorder And Specific Phobia?, Myriam Rudaz, Thomas Ledermann, Jürgen Margraf, Eni S. Becker, Michelle G. Craske Jul 2017

The Moderating Role Of Avoidance Behavior On Anxiety Over Time: Is There A Difference Between Social Anxiety Disorder And Specific Phobia?, Myriam Rudaz, Thomas Ledermann, Jürgen Margraf, Eni S. Becker, Michelle G. Craske

Psychology Faculty Publications

Theories of anxiety disorders and phobias have ascribed a critical role to avoidance behavior in explaining the persistence of fear and anxiety, but knowledge about the role of avoidance behavior in the maintenance of anxiety in social anxiety disorder relative to specific phobia is lacking. This study examined the extent to which avoidance behavior moderates the relationship between general anxiety at baseline and 18 months later in women with a diagnosed social anxiety disorder (n = 91) and women with a diagnosed specific phobia (n = 130) at baseline. Circumscribed avoidance of social and specific situations were clinician-rated …


Employment Of Family Members, C. Robert Holcomb Jul 2017

Employment Of Family Members, C. Robert Holcomb

Rural Tax Education

The use of family labor in the farm or ranch operation can pose a number of challenges for farm managers as they try to sort through the vast quantity of regulations. While the day-to-day human-relations components of managing family members in the farm/ranch operation will differ substantially from that of non-family labor, the focus of this fact sheet will address the income tax and regulatory aspects of employing family members.

Generally, the wages that you pay to family members who are also your employees are subject to social security (FICA) and Medicare taxes, federal income tax withholding, and under certain …


Evaluating An Adjunctive Mobile App To Enhance Psychological Flexibility In Acceptance And Commitment Therapy, Michael E. Levin, Jack Haegar, Benjamin G. Pierce, Rick A. Cruz Jul 2017

Evaluating An Adjunctive Mobile App To Enhance Psychological Flexibility In Acceptance And Commitment Therapy, Michael E. Levin, Jack Haegar, Benjamin G. Pierce, Rick A. Cruz

Psychology Faculty Publications

The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility and potential efficacy of a novel adjunctive mobile app designed to enhance the acquisition, strengthening, and generalization of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) skills being taught in therapy. A sample of 14 depressed/anxious clients receiving ACT used the ACT Daily app for two weeks in a pre-post, open trial design. Participants reported a high degree of program satisfaction. Clients significantly improved over the two-week period on depression and anxiety symptoms as well as a range of psychological inflexibility measures. Analyses of mobile app data indicated effects of …


What Are They Thinking? A National-Sample Study Of Stability And Change In Divorce Ideation, Alan J. Hawkins, Adam M. Galovan, Steven M. Harris, Sage E. Allen, Sarah M. Allen, Kelly M. Roberts, David G. Schramm Jun 2017

What Are They Thinking? A National-Sample Study Of Stability And Change In Divorce Ideation, Alan J. Hawkins, Adam M. Galovan, Steven M. Harris, Sage E. Allen, Sarah M. Allen, Kelly M. Roberts, David G. Schramm

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

This study reports on a nationally representative sample of married individuals ages 25–50 (N = 3,000) surveyed twice (1 year apart) to investigate the phenomenon of divorce ideation, or what people are thinking when they are thinking about divorce. Twenty-eight percent of respondents had thought their marriage was in serious trouble in the past but not recently. Another 25% had thoughts about divorce in the last 6 months. Latent Class Analysis revealed three distinct groups among those thinking about divorce at Time 1: soft thinkers (49%), long-term-serious thinkers (45%), and conflicted thinkers (6%). Yet, divorce ideation was not static; 31% …


Estimating The Impacts Of Climate Change And Potential Adaptation Strategies On Cereal Grains In The United States, Chengcheng J. Fei, Bruce A. Mccarl, Anastasia W. Thayer Jun 2017

Estimating The Impacts Of Climate Change And Potential Adaptation Strategies On Cereal Grains In The United States, Chengcheng J. Fei, Bruce A. Mccarl, Anastasia W. Thayer

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

Climate change induced alterations from historical patterns of precipitation, temperature, and atmospheric gases as well as increases in the frequency of extreme events is leading to alterations in global cereal production and its spatial distribution. Using a US agricultural sector model, we examine effects and acreage adaptation with an emphasis on wheat and the Pacific Northwest region. Use of a national sector model allows for analysis at the national as well as regional level. Generally, under climate change we find that the incidence of wheat production shifts northward in the Southern Great Plains, westward in Northern Great Plains and eastward …


Representational Precision In Visual Cortex Reveals Outcome Encoding And Reward Modulation During Action Preparation, Henk Van Steenbergen, Christopher M. Warren, Simone KüHn, Sanne De Wit, Reinout W. Wiers, Bernhard Hommel Jun 2017

Representational Precision In Visual Cortex Reveals Outcome Encoding And Reward Modulation During Action Preparation, Henk Van Steenbergen, Christopher M. Warren, Simone KüHn, Sanne De Wit, Reinout W. Wiers, Bernhard Hommel

Psychology Faculty Publications

According to ideomotor theory, goal-directed action involves the active perceptual anticipation of actions and their associated effects. We used multivariate analysis of fMRI data to test if preparation of an action promotes precision in the perceptual representation of the action. In addition, we tested how reward magnitude modulates this effect. Finally, we examined how expectation and uncertainty impact neural precision in the motor cortex. In line with our predictions, preparation of a hand or face action increased the precision of neural activation patterns in the extrastriate body area (EBA) and fusiform face area (FFA), respectively. The size of this effect …