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Cognitive Aspects (cognitive + aspect)
Selected AbstractsResolving the paradox of the active user: stable suboptimal performance in interactive tasksCOGNITIVE SCIENCE - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2004Wai-Tat Fu Abstract This paper brings the intellectual tools of cognitive science to bear on resolving the "paradox of the active user" [Interfacing Thought: Cognitive Aspects of Human,Computer Interaction, Cambridge, MIT Press, MA, USA],the persistent use of inefficient procedures in interactive tasks by experienced or even expert users when demonstrably more efficient procedures exist. The goal of this paper is to understand the roots of this paradox by finding regularities in these inefficient procedures. We examine three very different data sets. For each data set, we first satisfy ourselves that the preferred procedures used by some subjects are indeed less efficient than the recommended procedures. We then amass evidence, for each set, and conclude that when a preferred procedure is used instead of a more efficient, recommended procedure, the preferred procedure tends to have two major characteristics: (1) the preferred procedure is a well-practiced, generic procedure that is applicable either within the same task environment in different contexts or across different task environments, and (2) the preferred procedure is composed of interactive components that bring fast, incremental feedback on the external problem states. The support amassed for these characteristics leads to a new understanding of the paradox. In interactive tasks, people are biased towards the use of general procedures that start with interactive actions. These actions require much less cognitive effort as each action results in an immediate change to the external display that, in turn, cues the next action. Unfortunately for the users, the bias to use interactive unit tasks leads to a path that requires more effort in the long run. Our data suggest that interactive behavior is composed of a series of distributed choices; that is, people seldom make a once-and-for-all decision on procedures. This series of biased selection of interactive unit tasks often leads to a stable suboptimal level of performance. [source] The power of national symbols: the credibility of a dragon's efficacyNATIONS AND NATIONALISM, Issue 3 2002Margaret Sleeboom It is only when symbols gain meaning as effective triggers of associated sentiments in many linked contexts, including that of daily life, that they become powerful. It is what is perceived as the proved ability of the state to correct disobedience to its rule and violation to its sovereignty that commands commitment and loyalty, necessary for state symbols to become effective. As long as the link between symbol and effect can be made credible as a natural connection of cause and effect, by rational or irrational means, by folk narrative or academic theory, triggering the national symbol works in the mind of its believers. In this article I discuss the role of academics in the creation of national symbolism. Using some examples of historical and anthropological interpretations of the notion of the dragon, I argue that the cognitive aspect of nationalism is of crucial importance to the efficacy of national symbols. Thus arguments on the dragon' various shapes, origins and merits as totem, embryo and sea snake attach and support different symbolic and political meanings of the Chinese nation. [source] Factor structure of the Japanese Interpersonal Competence ScalePSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 2 2008Tomomi Matsudaira ma Aim:, Assessing social competence is important for clinical and preventive interventions of depression. The aim of the present paper was to examine the factor structure of the Japanese Interpersonal Competence Scale (JICS). Methods:, Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the survey responses of 730 participants. Simultaneous multigroup analyses were conducted to confirm factor stability across psychological health status and sex differences. Results:, Two factors, which represent Perceptive Ability and Self-Restraint, were confirmed to show a moderate correlation. Perceptive Ability involves a more cognitive aspect of social competence, while Self-Restraint involves a more behavioral aspect, both of which are considered to reflect the emotion-based relating style specific to the Japanese people: indulgent dependence (amae) and harmony (wa). In addition, Self-Restraint may be linked to social functioning. Both constructs may confound a respondent's perceived confidence. Conclusion:, Despite its shortcomings, the JICS is a unique measure of social competence in the Japanese cultural context. [source] Immediate effects of methylphenidate on cognitive attention skills of children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorderDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2005Jane Hood MSc This study investigated the immediate effects of stimulant medication (methylphenidate) on cognitive attention processes in children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirteen males and two females (mean age 9y 5mo, SD 18.3mo) with a diagnosis of ADHD and who were to be prescribed methylphenidate were assessed twice on one day with the Test of Everyday Attention for Children, a neuropsychological battery designed to tap different aspects of cognitive attention. Between assessments, the children were administered methylphenidate (10mg). Each child had at least average intelligence (IQ 80 or over, as measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - III UK) and was on no other medication. A group of 16 children, who were matched for age, sex, and intelligence, also performed the cognitive tests twice on the same day to control for practice effects of testing. At the first assessment, children with ADHD demonstrated significant impairments in several aspects of cognitive attention in comparison with the control group, particularly sustained attention. After administration of methylphenidate for the children with ADHD, they showed significant improvements in their performance on measures of cognitive attention compared to controls. The immediate effects of methylphenidate and the significance of measuring cognitive aspects of attention as well as behavioural measures are discussed. [source] Indigenous Ecological Knowledge as Situated Practices: Understanding Fishers' Knowledge in the Western Solomon IslandsAMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Issue 3 2009Matthew Lauer ABSTRACT In this article, we draw on research among fisherfolk of Roviana Lagoon, Solomon Islands, to examine certain epistemological assumptions of the "indigenous knowledge" concept. We describe how approaches to knowledge in Roviana differ from prevailing models of knowledge that distinguish between cognitive aspects and other modalities of knowing. For many Roviana fishers, ecological knowledge is not analytically separated from the changing contexts of everyday activities such as navigating and fishing. Inspired by Roviana epistemologies, we argue that a practice-oriented approach provides a more sympathetic and informative theoretical framework for understanding knowledge and its role in contemporary marine-resource conservation efforts. The theoretical and methodological implications of the perspective are illustrated with examples from an ongoing marine conservation project in the western Solomon Islands that integrates indigenous knowledge, remote-sensing techniques, and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. [source] Inhibitory control and spatial working memory in Parkinson's diseaseMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 10 2007Caroline Gurvich DPsych (Clin Neuro) Abstract Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have difficulty performing tasks relying on inhibitory control and working memory, functions of the prefrontal cortex. Eye movement paradigms can be used to investigate basic sensorimotor functions and higher order cognitive aspects of motor control. This study investigated inhibitory control and spatial working memory in the saccadic system of 13 individuals with mild-moderate PD and 13 age-matched controls. Tasks explored suppression of reflexive saccades during qualitatively different tasks, generation of express and anticipatory saccades, and the ability to respond to occasional, unpredictable ("oddball") targets that occurred during a sequence of well-learned, reciprocating saccades between horizontal targets. Spatial working memory was assessed using single and two-step (involving a visually guided saccade during the delay period) memory-guided tasks. Results for the PD group indicated an increased percentage of response selection errors during an oddball task, reduced suppression of inappropriate reflexive saccades during memory-guided tasks (but not during fixation or saccade-engagement tasks), and an increased percentage of express and anticipatory saccades. Spatial working memory was preserved in the PD group during single and two-step memory-guided tasks. These findings are consistent with dysfunction within fronto-striatal and prefrontal-collicular pathways influencing suppression and selection of eye movements. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society [source] The skin conductance orienting response to semantic stimuli: Significance can be independent of arousalPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Lilian Dindo Abstract The characteristics of stimuli that elicit skin conductance responses (SCRs) have been conceptualized in varied ways, with strong emphasis on the significance or arousing quality of stimuli. Our goal was to determine whether "significance" can be shown to have an effect on SCRs independent of "arousal," using words as stimuli. Ratings of words indicated that significance is partially independent of arousal. In Study 1, SCRs from 43 participants during presentation of 20 significant, nonarousing words with a negative valence that were either depression related or potentially self-referent and 20 nonsignificant words matched on valence and arousal showed a main effect of significance. In Study 2 (N=44), significant, nonarousing words were sampled more broadly to examine the effects of self-reference and valence. Significance, rather than just negativity or self-reference, elicited SCRs independently of arousal. SCRs to significant words may reflect cognitive and attentional processes that, in turn, might prove useful for the assessment of the cognitive aspects of anxiety. [source] Somatic awareness, uncertainty, and delay in care-seeking in acute heart failureRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 2 2006Corrine Y. Jurgens Abstract Symptom monitoring is difficult for heart failure (HF) patients. Difficulties physically sensing and determining symptom meaning may lead to uncertainty and delay treatment. Somatic awareness may provide insight into symptom monitoring ability. A model combining physical and cognitive aspects of the symptom experience was developed to examine factors affecting care-seeking among HF patients. Adults hospitalized with acute HF were interviewed and completed questionnaires measuring somatic awareness and uncertainty. HF symptom duration prior to admission measured delay. HF specific somatic awareness and symptom pattern predicted delay. Uncertainty correlated with somatic awareness, but did not predict delay. Few responded to early HF symptoms delaying until acutely ill. Development of interventions to improve symptom monitoring is needed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 29:74,86, 2006 [source] Comparative study of early interactions in mother,child dyads and care centre staff,child within the context of Chilean crèchesCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2010M. Pía Santelices Abstract Background Bowlby developed the concept of ,caregiver' to refer to significant adults with whom young children interact daily. Not only parents are considered significant caregivers but also the care centre staff where the child attends regularly. Within caregiver,infant interactions, sensitive response on the part of the adult is a key concept in the assessment of the quality of the relationship, as it integrates the experiences and emotions that will influence the attainment of a secure attachment and a favourable emotional, social and cognitive development in the child. Methods This study is a comparative analysis between the dyadic interactions between a child and its principal caregivers in the home and in the crèche; it is based on a group of 185 children between 8 and 24 months old, who attend a crèche regularly. The Care-Index instrument was used to assess interaction between children and adults, analysing sensitive response in the adults and cooperativeness in the children. Results The sensitive response of adults to children was complementary; mothers and primary caregivers showed greater sensitivity in the affective aspects of the interaction, while the care centre staff showed greater sensitivity in the cognitive aspects. The fact that caregivers show significant differences in response sensitivity is consistent with existing studies, as are corresponding significant differences in the children's cooperativeness, which demonstrates that a child could benefit from interacting with adults whose different skills could strengthen diverse aspects of health child development. Conclusions The presence of children in the crèche can be a positive experience in that it favours quality exchanges with the child, developing cognitive aspects of the interaction which are cultivated to a lesser degree by mothers or primary caregivers who principally develop affective aspects. [source] Deficits in Psychological Well-Being and Quality-of-Life in Minor Depression: Implications for DSM-VCNS: NEUROSCIENCE AND THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2010Andrew A. Nierenberg Objective: To examine deficits in psychological well-being (PWB) and quality-of-life (QOL) in minor depressive disorder (Min D). Method: Ninety-three subjects entering a treatment study for Min D were assessed using the QOL, Enjoyment and satisfaction questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), and the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS). Scores were compared with major depressive disorder (MDD) and normative community samples. Results: Even though subjects had mild depressive severity, Q-LES-Q total scores for the Min D sample averaged nearly two standard deviations below the community norm. Almost 40% of Min D cases had Q-LES-Q scores in the lowest 1% of the population. Responses to most Q-LES-Q items were closer to subjects with MDD than to community norms. Mean standardized PWB scores were extremely low for subscales of Environmental Mastery and Self-Acceptance, low for Purpose in Life and Positive Relations with others, but within the normal range for Personal Growth and Autonomy. QOL and PWB measures had low correlations with depressive symptom severity, and scores were similar in the presence or absence of a prior history of MDD. Conclusions: Mild depressive symptoms with Min D are associated with major deficits in QOL and PWB measures of environmental mastery and poor self-acceptance. Our findings suggest that diminished QOL and PWB may be intrinsic cognitive aspects of Min D with or without a history of MDD. It may be unnecessary in the DSM IV-TR to exclude the diagnosis of Min D if a subject has had a past episode of MDD. ,,Minor depression exists along a continuum of depression. ,,Deficits in psychological well-being and quality-of-life in minor depression are severe. ,,No difference in these measures if minor depression existed with or without a history of major depression. [source] | ||||||||||||||||