Cognitive Science Commons^™

Wired For Success: A Neurobiological Approach To Improving The Academic Outcomes Of Middle School Boys, Allison Emery

University Honors Theses

Male accomplishment in scholastic settings has been declining globally for the last decade, leading to long-term consequences for boys and men. Possible neurobiological underpinnings of the gender gap in education are discussed in this literature review. While male and female differences have, in the past, largely been considered socialized, recent science also confirms neurobiological variances between male and female development. These distinctions are assessed for their potential ties to the decline in male academic success, and are correlated to classroom practices, strategies and interventions meant to increase boys' engagement and performance.

An Analysis Of The Development Of Cognitive Control In Young Children Within An Auditory And Visual Modality., Lauren A. Schiro

LSU Master's Theses

The Dual Mechanisms of Cognitive Control Framework (DMC) posits that cognitive control is directed through two different modes: proactive and reactive control. Proactive control involves the maintenance and manipulation of information in preparation of a response while reactive control would involve little to no preparation until after a response prompt. The AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) is a cognitive control task that is often utilized in studies looking at proactive and reactive control as it measures context processing and goal maintenance. The aims of this study were to validate the auditory version of the AX-CPT and to then apply this task …

Evaluating The Effects Of Concussions And Tdcs On Executive Functioning In College Students, Macey Hoffman, Erin Dychdala

Neuroscience Summer Fellows

This PowerPoint presentation evaluates the effects of concussions and tDCS treatment on executive functioning in students at Ursinus College.

Prediction Of Mild Cognitive Impairment Status: Pilot Study Of Machine Learning Models Based On Longitudinal Data From Fitness Trackers, Qidi Xu, Yejin Kim, Karen Chung, Paul Schulz, Assaf Gottlieb

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Early signs of Alzheimer disease (AD) are difficult to detect, causing diagnoses to be significantly delayed to time points when brain damage has already occurred and current experimental treatments have little effect on slowing disease progression. Tracking cognitive decline at early stages is critical for patients to make lifestyle changes and consider new and experimental therapies. Frequently studied biomarkers are invasive and costly and are limited for predicting conversion from normal to mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use data collected from fitness trackers to predict MCI status.

METHODS: In this pilot study, fitness trackers were …

Cognitive Representation Of Mountaineering Risks And Its Change By Expertise, Shin Murakoshi, Kenta Mitsushita

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Various risks exist during mountaineering. Appropriate representation of characteristics of risks is the basis of survival in such extreme environments. The aim of the present study is to clarify cognitive representation of risks of mountaineering and individual difference according to the experience by psychometric approach. Ninety-seven mountaineers, consisting of top-class leaders and prospective leaders who participated in the training courses of the National Mountaineering Training Center in Japan, were asked to evaluate nine target mountaineering risks repeatedly with nine judgment scales, and the responses were analyzed using three-mode principal component analysis (3MPCA). As a result, two types of risks, sudden …

Brain-Age Prediction: Systematic Evaluation Of Site Effects, And Sample Age Range And Size, Yuetong Yu, Hao-Qi Cui, Shalaila S Haas, Faye New, Nicole Sanford, Kevin Yu, Denghuang Zhan, Guoyuan Yang, Jia-Hong Gao, Dongtao Wei, Jiang Qiu, Nerisa Banaj, Dorret I Boomsma, Alan Breier, Henry Brodaty, Randy L Buckner, Jan K Buitelaar, Dara M Cannon, Xavier Caseras, Vincent P Clark, Patricia J Conrod, Fabrice Crivello, Eveline A Crone, Udo Dannlowski, Christopher G Davey, Lieuwe De Haan, Greig I De Zubicaray, Annabella Di Giorgio, Lukas Fisch, Simon E Fisher, Barbara Franke, David C Glahn, Dominik Grotegerd, Oliver Gruber, Raquel E Gur, Ruben C Gur, Tim Hahn, Ben J Harrison, Sean Hatton, Ian B Hickie, Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol, Alec J Jamieson, Terry L Jernigan, Jiyang Jiang, Andrew J Kalnin, Sim Kang, Nicole A Kochan, Anna Kraus, Jim Lagopoulos, Luisa Lazaro, Brenna C Mcdonald, Colm Mcdonald, Katie L Mcmahon, Benson Mwangi, Fabrizio Piras, Raul Rodriguez-Cruces, Jessica Royer, Perminder S Sachdev, Theodore D Satterthwaite, Andrew J Saykin, Gunter Schumann, Pierluigi Sevaggi, Jordan W Smoller, Jair C Soares, Gianfranco Spalletta, Christian K Tamnes, Julian N Trollor, Dennis Van't Ent, Daniela Vecchio, Henrik Walter, Yang Wang, Bernd Weber, Wei Wen, Lara M Wierenga, Steven C R Williams, Mon-Ju Wu, Giovana B Zunta-Soares, Boris Bernhardt, Paul Thompson, Sophia Frangou, Ruiyang Ge, Enigma‐Lifespan Working Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Structural neuroimaging data have been used to compute an estimate of the biological age of the brain (brain‐age) which has been associated with other biologically and behaviorally meaningful measures of brain development and aging. The ongoing research interest in brain‐age has highlighted the need for robust and publicly available brain‐age models pre‐trained on data from large samples of healthy individuals. To address this need we have previously released a developmental brain‐age model. Here we expand this work to develop, empirically validate, and disseminate a pre‐trained brain‐age model to cover most of the human lifespan. To achieve this, we selected the …

Artificial Intelligence For Authentication Through Mental Profiling Technique, Nawaf Mazloum, Christine Abou-Saleh, Hassan Mazloum, Charles Anosike

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

A new approach to user authentication using mental profiling saw light, which is a technique that involves measuring an individual's cognitive abilities and psychological traits to create a unique profile, using Artificial Intelligence techniques. These profiles can then be used to identify users securely and efficiently, even in the presence of sophisticated attacks, by harnessing AI-driven systems for mental profile creation and user authentication.

After reviewing the existing literature on authentication and mental profiling, it presents a new mental profiling test that is specifically designed for authentication purposes. The test was evaluated on a sample of 100 users, and results …

Neuroscience And Organizational Trust: Biological Mechanisms For Enhanced Learning, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Individual representations of trust are deeply rooted in individual consciousness and serve as significant cognitive constraints, influenced by neural processes and psychiatric factors. This paper aims to highlight the often overlooked or under-operationalized role of human trust's biological agency within the context of organizational learning. From a psychiatric and neuroscience perspective, the paper proposes that through intentional management practices, the biological agency of trust, mediated by neural mechanisms, can act as a proxy for organizational learning. It suggests that adopting a more scientific approach to management, informed by an understanding of neural and psychiatric underpinnings, can enhance employee trust from …

Digimindready: Enhancing Military Readiness Through Edge Ai-Driven Wellness, Education, And Digital Discipline Via Privacy-First Mhealth Innovation, Md Mehedi Hasan

Master's Theses

Military personnel often find themselves in intense situations that require high focus. Successfully engaging in these dangerous missions means they must efficiently control cognitive load, manage overwhelming stress, and stay focused through distractions to perform at their best. Military training significantly focuses on human performance, which benefits military readiness. The 21st century has introduced unanticipated challenges to all, such as the adverse effects of excessive screen time, external distractions, and over-reliance on technology without being aware of digital discipline. Militaries are no exception. These challenges have become an emerging threat to military personnel's cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. On top …

Biofeedback Gaming For Substance Use Disorder, Rebecca L. Chevrel

University Honors Theses

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and stress are often predictive of one another, bidirectionally causal, and mutually intensifying. This thesis describes the bi-directional connection between physiological stress-modulating systems and Substance Use Disorder, and explores some emerging biofeedback stress-reduction gaming technology as a potential adjunct to recovery treatments. Improving autonomic balance, often described by Heart Rate Variability, has been shown to be beneficial for physical and psychological recovery, as well as improving self-control. For this reason, regular biofeedback for stress relief could be helpful in augmenting SUD treatment and preventing relapse. This exploration found that presenting it through a gaming lens may …

Attrition And Assimilation: The Neural Mechanisms Of Mandarin-English Bilingualism, Natalie Paige Robison

University Honors Theses

This line of research investigates attrition of native language (L1) Mandarin proficiency with increasing proficiency in English. English uses pitch to denote intonation (e.g., "it's there?" versus "it's there!"), while Mandarin additionally uses pitch to indicate word meanings; e.g., /he/ means "drink" when spoken with a high, level tone, or "river" when spoken with a rising tone. The present study delineates between two alternative explanations for the prior finding that English proficiency correlates with attrition of Mandarin tones, but not Mandarin vowels. This pattern could be explained by 1) assimilability of the Mandarin vowel contrasts used in the study into …

Exploring Cultural, Health, And Technology Intersections: A Focus On Migrant Experiences, Merna Mina, Sahij Gill

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

Despite the plethora of theories and frameworks addressing culture, health, and technology adoption, there remains a notable absence of a unifying theory that comprehensively encompasses all three aspects, particularly concerning newcomers. The Health Belief Model, for example, underscores individual perceptions and attitudes toward health yet fails to consider the intricate interplay between cultural factors and technology adoption among immigrant populations. The Healthy Immigrant Effect, which posits that immigrants often exhibit better health outcomes than native-born individuals, does not mention the role of technology on health outcomes. Acculturation theories, while shedding light on the adaptation process, often fall short of explaining …

Bridging The Gap Between Neuroscience And Education: What Are Teachers’ Perceptions Of Applying “Neuropedagogy” To High School Classrooms?, Hanan Rashwan

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers can use neurobiological explanations to evaluate students' behavior and performance and create more supportive learning settings in their school environment. There is a growing interest among educators regarding the potential benefits of incorporating neuroscience into teaching practices. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of how to effectively integrate cognitive neuroscience into teacher education programs to maximize its impact on student learning and teacher development. This study focuses on understanding teachers' views on the integration of neuroscience principles in educational settings by utilizing a questionnaire and interviews to gather data from participating teachers. The findings reveal that the …

Technocene, Vir Joseph Naidu

Masters Theses

Embodied human communication within the Anthropocene. Existing at the intersection of technology, and the body.

The design industry has developed technology that is, paradoxically, isolating. The exposure to a vast audience in the digital sphere has introduced new societal pressures, leading to a disconnection from our immediate surroundings, detached, and donning metaphorical masks. Technocene lives on the fringes of the discipline by blending conceptual thinking with practical application. Through curious, experimental artifacts, it prompts us to shed our masks and embrace vulnerability. Technocene endeavors to reimagine the human experience by acting as a discursive design project. It probes the boundaries …

Accessible Real-Time Eye-Gaze Tracking For Neurocognitive Health Assessments, A Multimodal Web-Based Approach, Daniel C. Tisdale

Master's Theses

We introduce a novel integration of real-time, predictive eye-gaze tracking models into a multimodal dialogue system tailored for remote health assessments. This system is designed to be highly accessible requiring only a conventional webcam for video input along with minimal cursor interaction and utilizes engaging gaze-based tasks that can be performed directly in a web browser. We have crafted dynamic subsystems that capture high-quality data efficiently and maintain quality through instances of user attrition and incomplete calls. Additionally, these subsystems are designed with the foresight to allow for future re-analysis using improved predictive models, as well as enable the creation …

The Application Of Bayesian Meta-Analytic Models In Cognitive Research On Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Nic Zapparrata

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Meta-analysis is the systematic review and quantitative synthesis of specific areas in literature and is an important quantitative tool for researchers interested in synthesizing a particular body of research. The current research used meta-analysis to investigate processing speed in two neurodevelopmental disorders. This dissertation consisted of four meta-analytic papers. The first paper was a meta-analysis that synthesized a large body of research on processing speed, measured via reaction time (RT) measures, in groups of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus age-matched neurotypical comparison groups. This research was motivated by two previous meta-analyses in the literature on processing speed …

Is Aggression In The Eye Of The Beholder?: An Eye-Tracking Study, Kemar P. Pickering

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The study of aggression offers opportunities to more deeply understand criminal behavior, personality and temperament. A deeper understanding of aggression has many implications in applied settings, including work, education and health. The knowledge gained may improve the treatment of behavioral misconduct and antisocial behavior. Additionally, the study of aggression has the potential to inform assessments of quality of life and development while offering information to guide early intervention and improve behavior trajectories.

Understanding aggression has many real-world applications, such as creating a better understanding of criminal activity, identifying who might be more likely to become a criminal, allowing for early …

Examining Visual Processing Of Hierarchical Figures Through Behavioral Measures And Pupillometry In Relation To Autistic Traits In Adults, Chloe Brittenham

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autistic traits in the general population are associated with differences in sensory processing, particularly within the visual domain. Previous studies examining global (i.e., overall gist) and local (i.e., detail) visual processing in relation to ASD have sometimes yielded contradictory findings yet converge on a common theme: slowed global processing and increased local bias associated with ASD. Despite this consensus, the mechanism underlying these differences remains unclear, whether it be differences in visual attention, higher or lower visual perception, and/or cognitive style. The use of traditional tasks and stimuli may further complicate the understanding of contributing …

Flanker Task Performance In Young And Older Adults: A Behavioral And Erp Study, Fatima Medrano

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Research suggests that as we get older, executive function abilities decline (Hasher & Zacks, 1988; Salthouse, 1996). One affected ability is that of inhibitory control, which aids in monitoring our responses to non-target stimuli or information. Current research on inhibition reveals inconsistencies across studies. Monitoring brain responses during the Flanker (used to measure inhibitory control) task may add valuable insight into the processes underlying group differences behaviorally, by studying the N200 and P300 event-related potentials which have been associated with inhibitory control processes. This study investigated whether there are differences between older and younger adults in inhibitory control and whether …

Pre-Stimulus Anticipation And Unconscious Fear Learning Disparities In Individuals With Varying Levels Of Anxiety, Anastasiya Rumyantseva Kharlamova

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The current study employed a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm to investigate the influence of pre-stimulus unconscious threat anticipation on subsequent fear responses in associative learning. Additionally, we explored the differences in pre-stimulus anticipation among individuals with varying levels of anxiety. Electrodermal response (EDA) was chosen as a primary measure due to its robustness in fear conditioning paradigms. Moreover, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was utilized to assess anxiety levels in participants. Twenty-seven subjects were recruited to determine if pre-stimulus skin conductance responses (SCR) would exhibit stimulus-specific patterns influenced by implicit cues (L-shaped configurations) that indicated an upcoming face or a house …

Fornix Integrity And Reaction Time To Novel Scenes And Objects In Visual Recognition Memory, Melissa Elder

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The fornix of the hippocampus may play an important role in working and long-term visual recognition memory. Data from a study on the role of hippocampal subfields in visual recognition memory was used here in conjunction with diffusion tensor imaging of the fornix to assess the relationship between the fornix integrity and behavioral performance, including percentage correct and reaction times. Two tasks were employed to separately evaluate working and long-term visual recognition memory, using a combination of indoor and outdoor naturalistic scenes and everyday objects. The subjects included 32 healthy adults, aged 18-44 years whose tensor imaging tractography was obtained …

Zoom Dysmorphia: An Eye-Tracking Study Of Self-View And Attention During Video Conferences, Kathleen H. Stimson

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

This study investigates Zoom Dysmorphia, a heightened self-awareness and self-criticism of perceived physical flaws due to prolonged self-view on video conferencing platforms, with associated behaviors resembling symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Drawing on Veale’s (2001, 2004) and Neziroglu’s (2004) cognitive-behavioral models of BDD and prior studies on BDD which suggest the development and maintenance of BDD through excessive self-focused attention and attentional bias, this study explores the potential cognitive and emotional implications of this phenomenon. Participants engaged in two mock video conferences with self-view enabled in one meeting and disabled the other for comparison. Eye tracking technology monitored their …

What We Hear In Voices: Identifying Dimensionality In Speech Stimuli Trait Impressions, Caroline W. Conway

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

Is there dimensionality in how people form impressions of speakers? The first portion of the study generated trait terms via text survey responses to recordings from the Emotional Speech Database (ESD). Following the analysis of this initial data, a second survey invited subjects to rate the speaker on a specific trait for each of many ESD recordings. The trait terms were selected from the text responses from the first survey that were most strongly correlated via a mixed-effects model with the speaker of each recording rather than the emotion or sentence. Following an exploratory factor analysis of the trait ratings …

Examining Differences In Concept Representation Across Similarity Spaces Between Humans And Large Language Models, Krishnachandra Nair

Computer Science Senior Theses

The replication of human concept representation is a critical task for the pursuit of artificial general intelligence. With the recent influx of large language models that demonstrate text-generation capabilities nearly on par with humans, the question stands on whether these large language models can capture concepts within language. We examine this question by exploring differences in concept representation across similarity spaces between humans and LLMs. We find that, while concept representation within LLMs does partially mimic human concept representation, LLMs are greatly limited by their dependence on semantic information and cannot therefore develop an understanding of human social code or …

Usefulness Of Current Patient-Reported Outcome Scales For Acl Injury: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of Stakeholder-Perceived Utility Of Specific Constructs And Items Across The Rehabilitation Timeline, Erich Petushek, Jed A. Diekfuss, Joseph D. Lamplot, Anne-Inger Mørtvedt, Lauren C. Hoey, Kevin Heo, Camryn B. Petit, Kim D. Barber Foss, Shayla M. Warren, Alexis B. Slutsky-Ganesh, Charles D. Kenyon, April L. Mcpherson, Michael E. Biller, Michael Newsome, Brian Jennings, John W. Xerogeanes, Gregory D. Myer

Michigan Tech Publications

BACKGROUND: Numerous patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been used in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), often with overlapping constructs of interest and limited content validity. Inefficient scale application increases burden and diminishes overall usefulness for both the patient and practitioner. PURPOSE: To isolate specific PROM items across a diverse set of constructs that patients and practitioners perceive as having the greatest value at various stages of recovery and return to sport (RTS) in patients after ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A combined 77 stakeholders participated in this 2-phase mixed-methods investigation. In phase 1, a total of 27 …

Resonant Perceptions: Exploring Autistic Aesthetics Through Embodied Cognition, James Hutson, Piper Hutson

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This study investigates the nuanced realm of aesthetic preferences among individuals with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) compared to neurotypical individuals, addressing a significant gap in understanding the diverse perceptual experiences within the neurodiverse community. The impetus for this study stems from the growing recognition of neurodiversity and the need to appreciate how individuals with ASC uniquely experience and interpret their environment, particularly in the context of aesthetics. Employing a dual-method approach, the research integrates data from comprehensive surveys and in-depth interviews to construct a comparative analysis of aesthetic preferences and experiences. Participants encompassed a broad demographic spectrum, ensuring a diverse …

Embodied Co-Regulation: A Neuroregulatory-Informed Dance/Movement Therapy Transition Intervention Method For Arousal Regulation For Adolescents In A Partial Hospitalization Program, Anamaria Guzman

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis introduces a novel Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) approach, focusing on nervous system arousal regulation during transitions between therapy groups. The core of the method involves a brief 5-minute exercise designed to modulate arousal levels, encompassing alertness and energy, aiming to establish a baseline homeostasis. Rooted in Polyvagal Theory and Developmental Neurobiology, the approach assumes the co-regulation of nervous systems within a group therapeutic setting. Two primary outcomes are self-assessed: 1) somatic experiences documented through narratives and 2) nervous system biodata measured using the Flowtime headband monitoring of brainwaves, heart rate, and other biomarkers. Results indicated that all six sessions …

Does Higher Socioeconomic Status Associate With Better Mental Health Outcomes Among Primary Caregivers In Rural China?, Wenwen Zhang

Master's Theses

This study explores the intricate relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the mental health outcomes of primary caregivers in rural China, focusing on the Early Childhood Development (ECD) context in Ya'an. Anchored in a major intervention project launched in 2023, the study critically examines the hypothesis that higher socioeconomic status correlates with lower levels of negative emotions among caregivers.

Utilizing cross-sectional data, the research investigates how educational attainment and household income influence caregivers' mental health, measured through the DASS-21 score in three dimensions: stress, anxiety, and depression. The findings reveal that higher household income and educational levels are significantly associated …

Euclidean Coordinates Are The Wrong Prior For Models Of Primate Vision, Garrison W. Cottrell

MODVIS Workshop

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are currently the best models we have of the ventral temporal lobe – the part of cortex engaged in recognizing objects. They have been effective at predicting the firing rates of neurons in monkey cortex, as well as fMRI and MEG responses in human subjects. They are based on several observations concerning the visual world: 1) pixels are most correlated with nearby pixels, leading to local receptive fields; 2) stationary statistics – the statistics of image pixels are relatively invariant across the visual field, leading to replicated features 3) objects do not change identity depending on …

Perceptual Grouping With Latent Noise, Ben Lonnqvist, Zhengqing Wu, Michael H. Herzog

MODVIS Workshop

Humans effortlessly group elements into objects and segment them from the background and other objects without supervision. For example, the black and white stripes of a zebra are grouped together despite vastly different colors. A thorough theoretical and empirical account of perceptual grouping is still missing – Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), which are considered leading models of the visual system still regularly fail at simplistic perceptual grouping tasks. Here, we propose a counterintuitive unsupervised computational approach to perceptual grouping and segmentation: that they arise because of neural noise, rather than in spite of it. We show that adding noise in …