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Articles 811 - 840 of 1681

Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Marital Satisfaction, Error-Observation, And The Brain: Harmful Or Beneficial Effects Of Spouse Observation?, Chelsea Romney, Michael Larson Feb 2016

Marital Satisfaction, Error-Observation, And The Brain: Harmful Or Beneficial Effects Of Spouse Observation?, Chelsea Romney, Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Romney, Chelsea Marital Satisfaction, Error-observation, and the Brain: Harmful or Beneficial Effects of Spouse Observation? Faculty Mentor: Larson, Michael, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Introduction Rewarding marital relationships are associated with many positive outcomes in one’s physical and mental health (Robles, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2003). These benefits include improved cardiovascular functioning (Kiecolt-Glaser, & Newton, 2001), decreased depression risk (Robins & Reiger, 1991), higher self-reported levels of happiness (Proulx & Snyder-Rivas, 2013), and overall lower rates of mortality (Manzoli, Villari, Pirone & Boccia, 2007). Furthermore, positive health outcomes are not only due to marital status, but also to the quality of one’s …

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Receiving Reward’S Effect On Ego-Depletion, Travis Johnson, Michael J. Larson, Phd Feb 2016

Receiving Reward’S Effect On Ego-Depletion, Travis Johnson, Michael J. Larson, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent research suggests that willpower–the capacity to exert self-control–is a limited resource that is depleted after exertion (Job, Dweck & Walton, 2010). We aimed to explore the influence of ego-depletion on how we process rewards and punishment. Ego depletion specifically refers to the idea that self-control or willpower draws upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up (i.e., depleted) after cognitive exertion. For example, an experiment performed by Kathleen Vohs and Todd Heatherton (2000) demonstrated how ego depletion was relevant in how it affected chronic dieters compared to non-dieters. Their results showed that dieters, in responding …

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Electrophysiological Testing Of Iterhemispheric Transfer In Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Nathan Alder, Michael J. Larson, Phd Feb 2016

Electrophysiological Testing Of Iterhemispheric Transfer In Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Nathan Alder, Michael J. Larson, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A key issue in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI; also known as concussion) research is the identification and validation of a cost-effective, physiological measure that accurately identifies individuals who have experienced a mild TBI, is robust against motivation difficulties, and aids in the prediction of which individuals will experience persisting cognitive or emotional side effects. Nearly two million cases of TBI occur each year (Langlois, Rutland-Brown, & Thomas, 2004). Mild TBI is considered a major health concern (Ragnarsson, 2002) and can be associated with some long-term functional deficits including memory decline and decreased job satisfaction (Carroll et al., 2004; Iverson, …

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Cognitive Control And Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Katherine Slinn, Michael Larson Feb 2016

Cognitive Control And Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Katherine Slinn, Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was an in-depth statistical analysis of previously collected data in order to explore the hypothesis that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with a decrease in the ability to regulate behavior and to apply top-down cognitive control. OCD has been diagnosed in approximately 2.2 million Americans, typically appearing in early adulthood. Approximately half of these cases show severe functional impairment (Kessler, Chiu, Demler, & Walters, 2005). Obsessions are defined as unwanted and recurrent thoughts or impulses, and compulsions are repetitive behaviors that are driven by these obsessions, such as ordering or counting (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). 20% to 30% …

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Electrophysiological Testing Of Iterhemispheric Transfer In Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Nathan Alder, Michael J. Larson Feb 2016

Electrophysiological Testing Of Iterhemispheric Transfer In Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Nathan Alder, Michael J. Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A key issue in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI; also known as concussion) research is the identification and validation of a cost-effective, physiological measure that accurately identifies individuals who have experienced a mild TBI, is robust against motivation difficulties, and aids in the prediction of which individuals will experience persisting cognitive or emotional side effects. Nearly two million cases of TBI occur each year (Langlois, Rutland-Brown, & Thomas, 2004). Mild TBI is considered a major health concern (Ragnarsson, 2002) and can be associated with some long-term functional deficits including memory decline and decreased job satisfaction (Carroll et al., 2004; Iverson, …

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Cognitive Control And Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Katherine Slinn, Michael Larson Feb 2016

Cognitive Control And Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Katherine Slinn, Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was an in-depth statistical analysis of previously collected data in order to explore the hypothesis that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with a decrease in the ability to regulate behavior and to apply top-down cognitive control. OCD has been diagnosed in approximately 2.2 million Americans, typically appearing in early adulthood. Approximately half of these cases show severe functional impairment (Kessler, Chiu, Demler, & Walters, 2005). Obsessions are defined as unwanted and recurrent thoughts or impulses, and compulsions are repetitive behaviors that are driven by these obsessions, such as ordering or counting (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). 20% to 30% …

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Marital Satisfaction, Error-Observation, And The Brain: Harmful Or Beneficial Effects Of Spouse Observation?, Chelsea Romney, Michael Larson Feb 2016

Marital Satisfaction, Error-Observation, And The Brain: Harmful Or Beneficial Effects Of Spouse Observation?, Chelsea Romney, Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Romney, Chelsea Marital Satisfaction, Error-observation, and the Brain: Harmful or Beneficial Effects of Spouse Observation? Faculty Mentor: Larson, Michael, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Introduction Rewarding marital relationships are associated with many positive outcomes in one’s physical and mental health (Robles, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2003). These benefits include improved cardiovascular functioning (Kiecolt-Glaser, & Newton, 2001), decreased depression risk (Robins & Reiger, 1991), higher self-reported levels of happiness (Proulx & Snyder-Rivas, 2013), and overall lower rates of mortality (Manzoli, Villari, Pirone & Boccia, 2007). Furthermore, positive health outcomes are not only due to marital status, but also to the quality of one’s …

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Receiving Reward’S Effect On Ego-Depletion, Travis Johnson, Michael J. Larson, Phd Feb 2016

Receiving Reward’S Effect On Ego-Depletion, Travis Johnson, Michael J. Larson, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent research suggests that willpower–the capacity to exert self-control–is a limited resource that is depleted after exertion (Job, Dweck & Walton, 2010). We aimed to explore the influence of ego-depletion on how we process rewards and punishment. Ego depletion specifically refers to the idea that self-control or willpower draws upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up (i.e., depleted) after cognitive exertion. For example, an experiment performed by Kathleen Vohs and Todd Heatherton (2000) demonstrated how ego depletion was relevant in how it affected chronic dieters compared to non-dieters. Their results showed that dieters, in responding …

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Impact Of Major Depressive Disorder On Memory Specificity And Resting-State Fmri, Kayla Alder, Dr. Brock Kirwan Feb 2016

Impact Of Major Depressive Disorder On Memory Specificity And Resting-State Fmri, Kayla Alder, Dr. Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Previous research suggests that those with depression have altered brain structures compared to control participants. For example, depressed individuals have smaller hippocampal volumes than those not diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (Brown, Rush & McEwen, 1999). The hippocampus plays a major role in memory, especially by storing different stimuli as separate and distinct memories in the brain (Yassa & Stark, 2011). This process of storing the stimuli separately correctly is known as pattern separation (PS). Depressed individuals also have reduced neurogenesis (the birth and growth of new neurons in adulthood) in the hippocampus compared to controls. Those diagnosed with …

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Effects Of Exercise On Food-Related Cognition, Tyshae Davis, Michael J. Larson Feb 2016

Effects Of Exercise On Food-Related Cognition, Tyshae Davis, Michael J. Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Since the Yerkes-Dodson theory was initially put forward (as early as 1906), multiple theorists have suggested an inverted-U relationship between physiological arousal and cognitive performance. Literature on this topic, however, is mixed, with some studies showing evidence supporting the inverted-U relationship and others showing a more linear relationship. Exercise and food-related cognition is one area where the inverted-U hypothesis could be applied. Some studies have shown that high-intensity exercise induces an acute, but temporary suppression to hunger and energy intake compared to low-intensity exercise (King, Tremblay, & Blundell, 1997) and that high-intensity exercise favors negative energy balance to a greater …

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Polymorphisms Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene And The Association With Stress, Randall Beck, Michael J. Larson Feb 2016

Polymorphisms Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene And The Association With Stress, Randall Beck, Michael J. Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Polymorphisms in the GR gene are an interesting and important area of research as these polymorphisms may be associated with an attenuated ability to cope with stress. This project bridged an unexplored gap between cellular and environmental stress and the expression of the GR gene—specifically the Bcl1 polymorphism of the GR gene. Cellular stress is any damage caused to the cell that alters its ability to function properly (Milisav, 2011). The Bcl1 polymorphism has what are known as C and G alleles that are genotyped as either homozygous GG, homozygous CC, or heterozygous CG (Srivastava et al., 2011). The homozygous …

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The Effects Of Chronic Ethanol In Δ Knockout Mice, Zachary Gardner, Scott Steffensen Feb 2016

The Effects Of Chronic Ethanol In Δ Knockout Mice, Zachary Gardner, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Substance abuse is a prolific problem with serious consequences. Specifically, alcohol abuse is the third leading cause of preventable mortality in the world (Mokdad et al., 2004). Each year the far-reaching effects of alcohol abuse cost the United States several hundred billion dollars annually (Office of National Policy, 2004). Treatment for individuals who suffer from this crippling disease is limited. In order to develop effective treatments we need to know more about the mechanisms of addiction and the changes that occur in the brain as a person becomes addicted.

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The Effects Of Chronic Ethanol In Δ Knockout Mice, Zachary Gardner, Scott Steffensen Feb 2016

The Effects Of Chronic Ethanol In Δ Knockout Mice, Zachary Gardner, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Substance abuse is a prolific problem with serious consequences. Specifically, alcohol abuse is the third leading cause of preventable mortality in the world (Mokdad et al., 2004). Each year the far-reaching effects of alcohol abuse cost the United States several hundred billion dollars annually (Office of National Policy, 2004). Treatment for individuals who suffer from this crippling disease is limited. In order to develop effective treatments we need to know more about the mechanisms of addiction and the changes that occur in the brain as a person becomes addicted.

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Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species In Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Tyler Ekins, Scott Steffensen Feb 2016

Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species In Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Tyler Ekins, Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is a problem that continues to cause much harm across the United States. The cost of METH use in 2005 alone was estimated to be 23.4 billion dollars (Nicosia et al., 2009). Other societal costs of METH abuse include suicide attempts, premature death, increased health care expenses, loss of workplace productivity, incarceration, child maltreatment, foster care, violent crime, and theft (Nicosia et al., 2009). Understanding the mechanism by which METH acts on the brain is the first step in being able to synthesize a pharmacotherapeutic method to treat METH addiction.

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Effects Of Exercise On Food-Related Cognition, Tyshae Davis, Michael J. Larson Feb 2016

Effects Of Exercise On Food-Related Cognition, Tyshae Davis, Michael J. Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With the emergence of positive psychology at the turn of the century a greater focus has been centered on understanding and improving individual well-being. Various techniques, including gratitude journaling, have been shown to reframe individual perspective and promote well-being. Theories and studies have shown that relationships are a key component of happiness, but techniques to aid participants in reframing towards a relational perspective have been absent to date. This study tests the technique of relational journaling and its effect on participant well-being against daily event and gratitude journaling.

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Polymorphisms Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene And The Association With Stress, Randall Beck, Michael J. Larson Feb 2016

Polymorphisms Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene And The Association With Stress, Randall Beck, Michael J. Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Polymorphisms in the GR gene are an interesting and important area of research as these polymorphisms may be associated with an attenuated ability to cope with stress. This project bridged an unexplored gap between cellular and environmental stress and the expression of the GR gene—specifically the Bcl1 polymorphism of the GR gene. Cellular stress is any damage caused to the cell that alters its ability to function properly (Milisav, 2011). The Bcl1 polymorphism has what are known as C and G alleles that are genotyped as either homozygous GG, homozygous CC, or heterozygous CG (Srivastava et al., 2011). The homozygous …

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Planet Earth As A Museum Engaging Students With A’ Gps Enabled Tour, Kyle Clements, Peter Rich Feb 2016

Planet Earth As A Museum Engaging Students With A’ Gps Enabled Tour, Kyle Clements, Peter Rich

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The rise of smartphone and tablet devices has increased the availability of GPSenabled technology for learning activities to students. For the first time ever, these devices have also combined GPS technology with powerful handheld computers. Despite widespread use of these devices, little has been done to implement this technology into education (Wallace, 2009; Christie, 2007). For the past several years, students enrolled in Physical Science at Brigham Young University have had the opportunity to explore Provo’s Rock Canyon on a guided tour. The goal of this project was to create a GPS enabled version of this tour and receive student …

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The Pioneering Of School Counseling In Uganda, Stefani Smith, Timothy Smith Feb 2016

The Pioneering Of School Counseling In Uganda, Stefani Smith, Timothy Smith

Journal of Undergraduate Research

School counseling is a relatively unfamiliar profession in Uganda and has only recently begun to catch the attention of school administrators. But even now in Uganda, it is often a position that is regarded as one that can be performed without professional training. This project aimed to pioneer the profession of professional school counseling in Uganda, employing more Ugandans, and helping students succeed in secondary school. We looked to evaluate the attitude towards counselors in the schools from students and administrators, as well as to support the profession of school counseling in Uganda.

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Finding The Oxtr Gene In Titi Monkeys, Hannah Page, James D. Higley Feb 2016

Finding The Oxtr Gene In Titi Monkeys, Hannah Page, James D. Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I came across a compelling research question while doing an internship at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC) three years ago. I was working in the Lab for the Comparative Neurobiology of Monogamy (I’ve always been a huge fan of monogamy), and chatting with some of the researchers about oxytocin, AKA the “cuddle hormone”. I soon learned that the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR), which is found in humans and non-human primates, and correlates with social bonding measures such as parent-infant bonding time in overall social behavior, but surprisingly, it had not been sequenced a primate species studied for its …

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Partner Preference In Victims Of Sexual Aggression, Jacob Tengelsen, Robert Ridge Feb 2016

Partner Preference In Victims Of Sexual Aggression, Jacob Tengelsen, Robert Ridge

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The project that Dr. Ridge and I have been working on has produced several interesting results, some of which are academic, and many of which are personal. Through this report, I will summarize the impact that this project has had on me as a researcher and the steps Dr. Ridge and I have taken to conduct this research in an ethical and objective manner. Next, I will briefly summarize the results of our study. I will then discuss plausible interpretations of the data found, future possibilities with this kind of research, and limitations. For a more comprehensive background and understanding …

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The Pre-Requisites Of Peer Education: What Really Matters?, Zach White, Philip Rash, Phd Jan 2016

The Pre-Requisites Of Peer Education: What Really Matters?, Zach White, Philip Rash, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Peer education is well established as an effective means of supporting first-year students in their transition to the university experience (Shook & Keup, 2012) (Esplin, Seabold, & Pinegar 2012). In large part, the success of peer education programs depends on the selection of peer educators, but very little research has been conducted to investigate how specific pre-requisites correlate to peer educator success. This project seeks to understand the correlation between the five pre-requisites for peer educator selection identified by Terrion and Leonard (2007) and peer educator success within the First-year mentoring program at Brigham Young University.

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An Examination Of The Relative Accuracy Of Family Cancer History Knowledge And Perceptions Of Spousal Influence In A Younger Population, Emily Hartung, Wendy Birmingham Jan 2016

An Examination Of The Relative Accuracy Of Family Cancer History Knowledge And Perceptions Of Spousal Influence In A Younger Population, Emily Hartung, Wendy Birmingham

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, yet many people are not aware of their own personal familial risk. This may be especially true in younger individuals in the population. According to the American Cancer Society, over 1.5 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and over 500,000 cancer deaths will occur this year. Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly 1 in every 4 deaths. Survival rates vary by type and stage at diagnosis but early detection through screening improves survival odds and healthier behaviors …

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An Online Treatment Program To Treat Compulsive Pornography Use: A Pilot Study, Devin Petersen, Tyler Pedersen Jan 2016

An Online Treatment Program To Treat Compulsive Pornography Use: A Pilot Study, Devin Petersen, Tyler Pedersen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Online pornography use among college students is frequent and extensive. Studies indicate that roughly 90% of male college students access online pornography with nearly half doing so weekly or daily (Carroll, 2008). Although there is debate about the ultimate effects that frequent pornography viewing may have, some studies have found that heavy users (roughly 10% of viewers) can spend more than one hour per day accessing pornography with negative effects on mental health (depression, anxiety), social relationships, and work performance among others. Data available through BYU CAPS indicate that approximately 10% of all clients seeking mental health counseling at CAPS …

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Counseling Attitudes And Stigma Among Polynesian Americans, Timothy B. Smith, G. E. Kawika Allen, Ofa Hafoka Jan 2016

Counseling Attitudes And Stigma Among Polynesian Americans, Timothy B. Smith, G. E. Kawika Allen, Ofa Hafoka

Faculty Publications

There is a paucity of research on the mental health of Pacific Islanders living in the U.S., including those of Polynesian descent. This study examined coping strategies, attitudes towards seeking mental health counseling, public and self-stigma towards seeking professional help, and psychological adjustment among 638 Polynesian Americans. On average, participants held neither favorable nor unfavorable attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help, but Polynesian American men endorsed moderate self-stigma about mental illness and Polynesian American women endorsed high levels of public stigma about mental illness. Women showed relatively more favorable attitudes than men about seeking help from professional mental health providers. …

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Prospective Memory And Pregnancy, Storm Atwood, C. Brock Kirwan Jan 2016

Prospective Memory And Pregnancy, Storm Atwood, C. Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Memory is separated into two parts; one is procedural memory in which processes such as riding a bike are stored, the second is declarative memory or factual memory (Mickes, Wixted Shapiro, & Scarff, 2009, p.754). Many soon-to-be mothers report difficulty with their declarative memory and find that they are unable to recall facts or information, even things they have recently learned. Previous studies have found that pregnant women’s recall is impaired but recognition is the same as non-pregnant controls (Sharp, Brindle, Brown, & Turner, 1993, p. 209; Brett, & Baxendale, 2001, p. 345). This project will be a follow-up study …

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Rhesus Macaque Scar Tissue As It Relates To Aggression Rates And The Oxytocin Receptor Gene, Riley Barrington, Dee Higley Jan 2016

Rhesus Macaque Scar Tissue As It Relates To Aggression Rates And The Oxytocin Receptor Gene, Riley Barrington, Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This research project originally started out with the purpose of correlating aggression rates in rhesus macaque monkeys with the level and type of oxytocin receptor that that monkey possessed. Blood samples were to be taken, level of scarring and wounds analyzed, and observations done to predict their average level of aggressive activity. Oxytocin has been implicated in a number of pro-attachment behaviors, including bonding with pair-mates and offspring, but has conversely been shown to increase aggressive behaviors toward those who pose a threat to either of the afore mentioned. Because Rhesus macaques are notoriously aggressive, I was interested in seeing …

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The Impact Of Physical Activity On Memory: Recognition Differentiation Between Stimuli, Seth Spencer, C. Brock Kirwan Jan 2016

The Impact Of Physical Activity On Memory: Recognition Differentiation Between Stimuli, Seth Spencer, C. Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many studies have shown a correlation between physical exercise and healthy cognitive processing. It has been shown extensively that regular exercise has a positive impact on brain health. One example is a study that linked increased exercise with greater performance on as shown via a Stroop Color-Word test [1]. Similarly, regular exercise has been shown to be related to improved memory and object recognition [2]. Another study has shown that even a single session of exercise can alter functional connectivity in the brain as measured by the resting-state fMRI [3]. The problem with this literature is an utter lack of …

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Psychotherapy Utilization And Presenting Concerns Among Polynesian American College Students, G. E. Kawika Allen, Timothy B. Smith, Jon Cox, Ofa Hafoka, Derek Griner, Mark Beecher Jan 2016

Psychotherapy Utilization And Presenting Concerns Among Polynesian American College Students, G. E. Kawika Allen, Timothy B. Smith, Jon Cox, Ofa Hafoka, Derek Griner, Mark Beecher

Faculty Publications

This study examined psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, reported distress levels, and psychotherapy outcomes among Polynesian American students presenting for services at a counseling center at a large inter-mountain university on the mainland U.S. We collected data at intake, during therapy sessions, and at termination for 415 Polynesian American students over a 17-year period. Utilization results indicate no difference, but Polynesian American students were equally likely to utilize counseling services as European American students but were more likely to drop out earlier than European American students. At intake these students presented with shared higher numbers of presenting concerns and greater levels …

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Exploring The Effects Of Contextual Elements On Memory Specificity, Cassie Widdison, Brock Kirwan Jan 2016

Exploring The Effects Of Contextual Elements On Memory Specificity, Cassie Widdison, Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Regions of the brain, such as the medial temporal lobe (MTL), including the hippocampus and the adjacent MTL cortex, facilitate recognition memory performance (Squire, Stark, & Clark, 2004). The hippocampus is known for its ability to encode and retrieve memories through two processes called pattern separation and pattern completion (Mcclelland, Mcnaughton, & Oreilly, 1995). Pattern separation is a computational process in which the memory representations of similar stimuli are made as dissimilar as possible. This allows one to recall differences between old stimuli and similar, but novel stimuli. Pattern completion is a computational process where a memory representation is retrieved …

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Infant Aggression In Rhesus Macaques, Stephen Anderson, Dr. James Higley Jan 2016

Infant Aggression In Rhesus Macaques, Stephen Anderson, Dr. James Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Temperament is defined as a pattern of behaviors that remain stable and show continuity over time and across different contexts (Clarke & Boinski, 1995). These behavioral patterns can be observed early in life, and can serve as a predictor of future behaviors (Weinstein & Capitanio, 2008). Temperamental differences are largely a result of interaction effects between genetic and environmental factors. These interactions can be complex, and there is a great need to better understand the nature of those interactions (Clarke & Boinski, 1995). The purpose of this project (which is still ongoing) is to better understand the features of early …

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