Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Famous Names Discrimination Task As A Biomarker Of Alzheimer's Disease Risk: An Erp Study, Elizabeth Rose Paitel

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Current ERP research emphasizes age- and pathology-related declines in neural processing in the form of attenuated amplitudes and prolonged latencies. Notably, there is a gap in the ERP literature regarding neural processing trajectories in the time between healthy young adulthood and clinical MCI/AD samples. fMRI research, however, has demonstrated periods of increased, compensatory activation in healthy, cognitively intact APOE ɛ4 carriers both during resting state and event-related tasks (Bondi, Houston, Eyler, & Brown, 2005; Evans et al., 2014; Filippini et al., 2009; Rao et al., 2015), consistent with compensatory theories of cognitive aging (Cabeza, 2002; Park & Reuter-Lorenz, 2009; Reuter-Lorenz …

Examining The Durability Of Peers For Adolescents With Asd: Maintenance Of Neurological And Behavioral Effects, Bridget Kathleen Dolan

Dissertations (1934 -)

To date, there are no known published studies that have assessed the maintenance of treatment effects in the context of neurological changes and their relationship to behavioral outcomes following a social skills intervention for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The few studies that have incorporated long-term assessment into their design have focused exclusively on sustained behavioral responses to treatment. Individuals with ASD across the lifespan exhibit aberrant neural activity, which is thought to underlie social skill deficits noted in persons on the spectrum. Thus, this study sought to examine the impact of a social skills intervention, the Program for …

Aging, Executive Function, Fronto-Parietal Network Cortical Thickness: Insights From Cognitive Reserve, Katherine Reiter

Dissertations (1934 -)

Cognitive reserve (CR) indexes the nonlinear relationship between neurological insult and behavioral change. CR is manifested in both static factors (e.g., childhood environment, education) and modifiable lifestyle factors, (e.g., leisure activities). Detailed investigation of the influence of CR on cortical thickness, which indexes neuropathology, and cognitive functioning could be particularly important in understanding the heterogeneity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While memory decline is the hallmark of AD, executive functioning (EF) decline often predates memory changes, making EF an important target for investigating CR influences. The current study examines the relationship of CR and genetic risk for AD (ε4) on EF …

Objective And Subjective Influences On Cognitive Performance In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Natalie E. Benjamin

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an increasingly common chronic illness in children and adolescents that can result in short- and long-term health complications. Disease management can be a particular challenge for adolescents seeking autonomy from caregivers. Recently, there has been a significant increase in adolescents’ use of diabetes-related technology to aid in blood glucose (BG) management and insulin administration. Individuals with T1DM also experience symptoms related to their BG levels, and these symptoms can serve as indicators of out-of-range BG levels and guide management decisions. Although research shows that diabetes-related health factors can affect cognitive functioning, no existing research …

Reinforcement Learning, Error-Related Negativity, And Genetic Risk For Alzheimer's Disease, Christina Marie Figueroa

Dissertations (1934 -)

Reinforcement learning (RL) has been widely used as a model of animal and human learning and decision-making. The neural networks underlying RL involve many of the same structures primarily affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) such as the hippocampus. Yet, RL and non-invasive evaluation of its neural underpinnings have been underutilized as a framework for understanding disease pathology and its pre-clinical states. This study aimed to provide a novel approach for assessing subtle changes in asymptomatic apolipoprotein-E (APOE) carriers and non-carriers. Electroencephalography was collected from forty APOE genotyped older adults (Male n = 11; Mage = 79.30; Meducation = 14.88 years) …

A Mobile Health Approach To Assist Veterans Reintegrating Into Civilian Life, Rizwana Rizia

Dissertations (1934 -)

Civilian reintegration is the process of transitioning from military service to civilian life. For any active or reserve member of armed force, reintegration into civilian life can be very challenging. The reintegration phase has far larger impact than just a change in profession. It is actually a change in every aspect of life, which includes changes in lifestyles, responsibilities, home life, communities and much more. If a veteran is unable to survive the challenges of civilian reintegration it can adversely impact his or her personal and social life. Furthermore, in the long run it may even result in serious psychological …

Video Game Interventions To Improve Cognition In Older Adults, David E. C. Marra

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Cognitive abilities decline as part of the normal aging process. Various non-pharmacological interventions are being studied in an effort to ameliorate this cognitive decline. Some of these interventions include computerized cognitive training, such as neuropsychological software (i.e., brain training games) and video games. A previous study in our lab found that older adults who played a brain training game or a video poker game showed similar cognitive gains. The purpose of the present study was to follow the methodological procedures of our previous study to try and determine if the positive effects seen for the brain training program and video …

A Neurobiological Pathway That Mediates Stress-Induced Drug Use, Oliver Vranjkovic

Dissertations (1934 -)

Cocaine addiction represents a tremendous health and financial burden on our society and the high rate of relapse to cocaine use in abstinent addicts represents a major barrier to effective therapy. Thus, understanding the factors that contribute to relapse and the underlying neurobiological processes is important for guiding the development of treatment for addiction. Stressful life events often trigger drug use in recovering addicts. The contribution of stress to drug use is problematic due to the unpredictable and often uncontrollable nature of stress. A growing literature indicates that norepinephrine and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) in the brain play key roles …

Stay-At-Home-Fathers Navigating Depression: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study, William Douglas Meyers Caperton

Dissertations (1934 -)

Evidence suggests that the practices through which men are socialized to become masculine may serve both to restrict their potential in ways that lead to psychological distress, and also to restrict the ways in which they respond to such distress (Addis & Mahalik, 2003; Mahalik, Good, Tager, Levant, & Mackowiak, 2012; O’Neil, 2008). While we are beginning to understand masculine depression (Cochran & Rabinowitz, 2000; Magovcevic & Addis, 2008) and paternal depression (Paulson & Bazemore, 2010; Ramachandani & Psychogiou, 2009), almost nothing is known about how SAHFs experience depression, nor their experiences and beliefs regarding help-seeking and psychotherapy. The trend …

Role Of Shared Care In The Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms And Self-Care In Patients With Heart Failure, Susan Cole

Dissertations (1934 -)

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition affecting over 5 million Americans. Heart failure accounts for over 32 billion dollars in total cost each year, and is the most common cause of hospitalization for persons 65 years of age or older. Patients with HF experience poor self-care, are at risk for depressive symptoms, and have high rates of 30-day hospital readmissions. Social support influences depressive symptoms, self-care, and hospital readmissions. Shared care was used to operationalize social support. Shared care is a system of three relationship processes communication, decision making, and reciprocity, used to exchange social support. The purpose of …

Neural Plasticity In Response To Intervention In Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sheryl Jayne Stevens

Dissertations (1934 -)

Current theories of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) suggest that they may develop from the transactional interaction between biological risk factors and environmental processes (Dawson et al., 2009). Due to the brain’s experience-expectant nature, one’s degree of social exposure may have a significant impact on their brain development and behavioral presentation. In addition to the primary critical neurodevelopmental period identified in early childhood, recent research has demonstrated a second period of substantial neurodevelopment during the adolescent period (Sisk & Foster, 2004). This study investigated the neural and behavioral impact of participation in an empirically validated behavioral intervention (The Program for the …

Stressor-Induced Increase In Muscle Fatigability Of Young Men And Women Is Predicted By Strength But Not Voluntary Activation, Manda L. Keller-Ross, Hugo M. Pereira, Jaclyn Pruse, Tejin Yoon, Bonnie A. Schlinder-Delap, Kristy A. Nielson, Sandra Hunter

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This study investigated mechanisms for the stressor-induced changes in muscle fatigability in men and women. Participants performed an isometric-fatiguing contraction at 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until failure with the elbow flexor muscles. Study one (n = 55; 29 women) involved two experimental sessions: 1) a high-stressor session that required a difficult mental-math task before and during a fatiguing contraction and 2) a control session with no mental math. For some participants (n = 28; 14 women), cortical stimulation was used to examine mechanisms that contributed to muscle fatigability during the high-stressor and control sessions. Study two …

Supervisees' Experiences Of Ruptures In Multicultural Supervision: A Qualitative Study, Laura Lubbers

Dissertations (1934 -)

As the paradigmatic shift of multiculturalism emerges in counseling, the constructs of culture and context warrant examination in the supervision process. With an understanding that conflict is inevitable in supervision relationships particularly when cultural topics are being discussed, investigation into the process of ruptures and rupture repair as they take place within multicultural supervision is warranted. Despite the attention paid to addressing culture in supervision, surprisingly little empirical attention has focused on supervisee experiences of ruptures in multicultural supervision. This study sought to provide a deeper understanding of supervisees' experiences of ruptures in multicultural supervision. Twelve participants were interviewed regarding …

Parent Attributional Style And Early Termination From Child And Parent Therapy, Ryan James Mattek

Dissertations (1934 -)

ABSTRACT

PARENT ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE AND EARLY TERMINATION

FROM CHILD AND PARENT THERAPY

Ryan J. Mattek, M.A.

Marquette University, 2013

Behavior problems are prevalent in young children and represent a threat to a child's typical development. These early behavior problems are even more common in children from low-income, urban settings. If left untreated, such challenging behaviors may become ingrained and lead to later more severe behaviors including aggression, violence, and anti-social behaviors. Research has demonstrated that participation in child and parent therapy (CPT) programs significantly reduces problematic child behaviors while increasing positive behaviors in both the child and the parent. However, …

Predictors Of Retention In Physical Therapy: Client-, Disease-, And Treatment-Related Factors, Marc A. Silva

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Research Exchange Conference

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study are to (1) document the incidence of veterans who prematurely terminate physical therapy before medically indicated, and (2) identify reliable predictors of treatment retention and attrition. The potential benefit of this study is the identification of reliable variables that predict who is at risk for terminating physical therapy prematurely, which may lead to targeted interventions designed to increase treatment retention. RESEARCH DESIGN: This study will be a retrospective design involving a review of medical records of veterans receiving referral to physical therapy. METHODOLOGY: Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) will be used to examine the effects …

Language Outcome After Left Anterior Temporal Lobectomy In Patients With Discordant Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Intracarotid Sodium Amobarbital Testing Results, Julie K. Janecek

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Research Exchange Conference

Language Outcome after Left Temporal Anterior Lobectomy in Patients with Discordant Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Intracarotid Sodium Amobarbital Testing Results Rationale: Previous research has examined concordance rates between Wada and fMRI language lateralization indices (LIs) and has yielded variable results with limited post-surgical language outcome data. Therefore, additional evidence of the concurrent and predictive validity of fMRI LIs is needed. We will calculate Wada/fMRI LI concordance rates in the largest sample to date, investigate predictors of discordance and examine the ability of each procedure to predict language outcome in discordant cases. Methods: A consecutive series of 229 presurgical epilepsy …

Pretreatment Client Characteristics And Treatment Retention In An Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Shauna Elizabeth Fuller

Dissertations (1934 -)

The effectiveness and efficacy of substance abuse treatment is well established. At the same time, clients often prematurely drop out of substance abuse treatment, negatively impacting their chances of achieving favorable outcomes. Investigating variables associated with treatment retention has become increasingly important considering one of the most robust findings in substance abuse treatment outcome research is the positive relationship between the amount of time spent in treatment and post-treatment outcomes (e.g., decreased drug/alcohol use, decreased criminal activity, improved social functioning). This study examined the relationship between pre-treatment client characteristics and treatment drop-out among 273 adults who were admitted to intensive …

The Sensitivity And Psychometric Properties Of A Brief Computer-Based Cognitive Screening Battery In A Depression Clinic, S A. Langenecker, A Caveney, B Giordani, E A. Young, Kristy Nielson, L J. Rapport, L A. Bieliauskas, M J. Mordhorst, S Marcus, N Yodkovik, K Kerber, S Berent, J K. Zubieta

Kristy Nielson

At present, there is poor accuracy in assessing cognitive and vegetative symptoms in depression using clinician or self-rated measures, suggesting the need for development of standardized tasks to assess these functions. The current study assessed the psychometric properties and diagnostic specificity of a brief neuropsychological screening battery designed to assess core signs of depression; psychomotor retardation, attention and executive functioning difficulties, and impaired emotion perception within an outpatient psychiatry setting. Three hundred eighty-four patients with mood disorders and 77 healthy volunteers participated. A large percentage of patients met diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder alone (49%) or with another comorbid …

Medial Temporal Lobe Activity For Recognition Of Recent And Remote Famous Names: An Event-Related Fmri Study, K Douville, J L. Woodard, M Seidenberg, S K. Miller, C L. Leveroni, Kristy Nielson, M Franczak, P Antuono, S M. Rao

Kristy Nielson

Previous neuroimaging studies examining recognition of famous faces have identified activation of an extensive bilateral neural network [Gorno Tempini, M. L., Price, C. J., Josephs, O., Vandenberghe, R., Cappa, S. F., Kapur, N. et al. (1998). The neural systems sustaining face and proper-name processing. Brain, 121, 2103–2118], including the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and specifically the hippocampal complex [Haist, F., Bowden, G. J., & Mao, H. (2001). Consolidation of human memory over decades revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Nature Neuroscience, 4, 1139–1145; Leveroni, C. L., Seidenberg, M., Mayer, A. R., Mead, L. A., Binder, J. R., & Rao, S. …

Destructive Hostility: The Jeffrey Dahmer Case: A Psychiatric And Forensic Study Of A Serial Killer, Jeffrey Jentzen, George Palermo, L. Thomas Johnson, Khang-Cheng Ho, K. Alan Stormo, John Teggatz

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

We were involved as forensic experts in the case of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. We discuss the scene and victim autopsy findings, with a brief consideration of the basic emotion of hostility. These findings support the thesis that at the basis of this serial killer's behavior were primary unconscious feelings of hate that he had channeled into a sadistic programmed destruction of 17 young men. The interview of the serial killer, the photographic scene documentation, and the autopsy findings stress the ambivalent homosexuality of the killer, his sexual sadism, his obsessive fetishism, and his possible cannibalism and necrophilia.