scholarly journals An evidence-based method for examining and reporting cognitive processes in nutrition research

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew P. Pase ◽  
Con Stough
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Nutrition Research ◽  
Composite Scores

Cognitive outcomes are frequently implemented as endpoints in nutrition research. To reduce the number of statistical comparisons it is commonplace for nutrition researchers to combine cognitive test results into a smaller number of broad cognitive abilities. However, there is a clear lack of understanding and consensus as to how best execute this practice. The present paper reviews contemporary models of human cognition and proposes a standardised, evidence-based method for grouping cognitive test data into broader cognitive abilities. Both Carroll's model of human cognitive ability and the Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) model of intelligence provide empirically based taxonomies of human cognition. These models provide a cognitive ‘map’ that can be used to guide the handling and analysis of cognitive outcomes in nutrition research. Making use of a valid cognitive nomenclature can provide the field of clinical nutrition with a common cognitive language enabling efficient comparisons of cognitive outcomes across studies. This will make it easier for researchers, policymakers and readers to interpret and compare cognitive outcomes for different interventions. Using an empirically derived cognitive nomenclature to guide the creation of cognitive composite scores will ensure that cognitive endpoints are theoretically valid and meaningful. This will increase the generalisability of trial results to the general population. The present review also discusses how the CHC model of cognition can also guide the synthesis of cognitive outcomes in systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

A - 29 Language Differences in Neurocognitive Scores and Symptom Report in Professional Football Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-669
Author(s):  
Wagner R ◽  
Arends P ◽  
Varkovetski M ◽  
Naidu D ◽  
Mrazik M
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Symptom Scale ◽  
Symptom Report ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
Symptom Ratings ◽  
Composite Scores

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of language on neurocognitive test outcomes and concussion symptom ratings in professional football players. Methods Design/Setting - A retrospective cross-section analysis of 1546 male Canadian Football League (CFL) athletes was conducted using baseline data collected from the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) across the 2016–18 competitive seasons. Independent Variables - Participants (1546) were divided into three language categories, native English-speaking, bilingual – whose first language was English, and English as a second language (ESL). Years of education, age, and concussion history were entered as co-variates. Outcome Measure -The 5 Composite scores from ImPACT and the 22 symptoms from the post-concussion symptom scale (PCSS). Results Results of the MANCOVA showed no significant differences between language groups on any of the five ImPACT composite scores F(10, 3072) = 1.09, p = 0.36. The Kruskall-Wallis test revealed significant differences were found in three symptoms including dizziness [X2(2, 1486) = 32.85, p < 0.001)], sadness [X2(2, 1486) = 6.505, p = 0.04], and concentration [X2(2, 1486) = 11.01, p = 0.004)] with the bilingual and non-native English speakers having higher scores. Conclusions This study suggests that cultural and linguistic differences should be considered when administering CNTs. While differences in cognitive outcomes have not been consistently found across studies, differences in baseline symptom reports have been consistently demonstrated. Information pertaining to a patient’s level of acculturation and language proficiency is important for examiners when working with diverse populations. Continuing to develop language-specific normative databases is encouraged.

scholarly journals Towards a model-theoretic framework for describing the semantic aspects of cognitive processes

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 83-96
Author(s):  
Sergio Miguel Tomé
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Logic ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Mathematical Formulation ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Architectures

Semantics is one of the most challenging aspects of cognitive architectures. Mathematical logic, or linguistics, highlights that semantics is essential to human cognition. The Cognitive Theory of True Conditions (CTTC) is a proposal to implement cognitive abilities and to describe the semantics of symbolic cognitive architectures based on model-theoretic semantics. This article focuses on the concepts supporting the mathematical formulation of the CTTC, its relationship to other proposals, and how it can be used as a framework for designing cognitive abilities in agents.

scholarly journals The relationship between intelligence and orientation discrimination skills

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyriaki Mikellidou ◽  
Nefeli Lambrou ◽  
Ellada Georgiou ◽  
Marios Avraamides
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Orientation Discrimination ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Verbal Iq ◽  
Matrix Reasoning

AbstractWe investigate the notion that basic visual information is acting as a building block for more complex cognitive processes. Specifically, we measure individual orientation discrimination thresholds report good correlations against IQ, verbal-IQ and non-verbal IQ scores. Further we calculate correlations between the four WASI-II subtests and orientation discrimination thresholds, with Matrix Reasoning maintaining the strongest relationship, even when controlling for the effects of the other three subtests. Vocabulary raw scores which quantify the ability to describe verbally a specific word, showed the second strongest correlation, when controlling for the effects of Matrix Reasoning and Block Design, but not Similarities. Our results demonstrate that low-level visual abilities and high-level cognitive processes are more tightly interwoven together than previously thought, generating evidence to show that vision is tightly linked to human cognition.Statement of RelevanceVision is one of the building blocks of our world experience through thoughts, emotions and actions. It is undeniably the sense upon which we rely the most, while working, driving, reading a book, dancing. So, it should come as no surprise that the intelligence quotient (IQ), widely used in the modern world to assess the cognitive abilities of a person in relation to their age group correlates well with visual abilities. Previous studies have demonstrated that pitch and colour discrimination, motion discrimination and contrast discrimination abilities are tightly linked to IQ. In this study we demonstrate for the first time, that the simplest visual ability, orientation discrimination which is computed by neurons in the primary visual cortex is tightly linked to intelligence. We believe a simple and quick orientation discrimination task could be used as an index of intelligence in clinical populations and other species, in addition to traditional measures.

scholarly journals A meta-analysis of the worst performance rule

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Lena Schubert
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
General Intelligence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Robust Evidence ◽  
Fast Responses

The worst performance rule (WPR) describes the phenomenon that individuals' slowest responses in a task are more predictive of their intelligence than their fastest or average responses. Because the WPR supposedly amplifies in heavily g-loaded tasks and in samples whose cognitive abilities factor structure is dominated by a strong g-factor, it has been suggested that whatever mechanism is giving rise to the positive manifold may not promote peak performance, but may rather limit performance in a wide range of cognitive tasks. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to provide a meta-analytically determined estimate of the strength, consistency, and generalizability of the WPR. Across 19 studies containing 23 datasets with a total of 3,767 participants, there was robust evidence for the WPR. However, the increase in correlations across quantiles of the RT distribution did not follow a linear, but a logarithmic trend, suggesting that those cognitive processes contributing to fast responses in reaction time tasks are less strongly related to cognitive abilities (r = -.18) than other cognitive processes contributing to average (r = -.28) and slow responses (r = -.33). There was no evidence that the strength of the worst performance rule increased with greater mean reaction times, in tests of general intelligence, or in samples with lower or average cognitive abilities. Instead, it was attenuated in less intelligent samples and greater when correlated with speed instead of intelligence or memory tests. Hence, the WPR may not be as characteristic for g and may play a smaller role for theoretical accounts of the positive manifold than previously thought.

scholarly journals THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD TO INCREASE COGNITIVE CAPACITY: COGNITIVE OFFLOADING

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (21) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
External Resources ◽  
Cognitive Limitations ◽  
Metacognitive Processes ◽  
Cognitive Offloading ◽  
Psychology Literature

In the terms of cognitive abilities, the highest species is humans. However, human cognitive capacity is not unlimited. Internal and external resources are used to complete cognitive tasks. The concept of cognitive offloading refers to the methods used to increase cognitive performance. This study aims to bring this concept into Turkish psychology literature by presenting a general framework about the concept of cognitive offloading, which can be considered as new. Studies show that cognitive offloading is frequently used by humans. Evaluations made by metacognitive processes decide when to cognitive offloading. However, evaluations made by metacognitive processes are not always accurate. Cognitive limitations are sometimes exaggerated and cognitive offloading is used even if it is not needed. Although cognitive offloading causes increased performance, it also makes us susceptible to various performance failures such as false memory. Current studies have led up for many studies to get better understanding humans’ cognitive processes. Further studies on this subject will enable the understanding of human cognition and the use of this ability more effectively. Keywords cognitive offloading, intention offloading, metacognition, cognitive capacity, cognitive load

scholarly journals Constructive anthropomorphism: a functional evolutionary approach to the study of human-like cognitive mechanisms in animals

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1865) ◽  
pp. 20171616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Arbilly ◽  
Arnon Lotem
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Minimal Set ◽  
Theoretical Thinking ◽  
Apparent Similarity

Anthropomorphism, the attribution of human cognitive processes and emotional states to animals, is commonly viewed as non-scientific and potentially misleading. This is mainly because apparent similarity to humans can usually be explained by alternative, simpler mechanisms in animals, and because there is no explanatory power in analogies to human phenomena when these phenomena are not well understood. Yet, because it is also difficult to preclude real similarity and continuity in the evolution of humans' and animals’ cognitive abilities, it may not be productive to completely ignore our understanding of human behaviour when thinking about animals. Here we propose that in applying a functional approach to the evolution of cognitive mechanisms, human cognition may be used to broaden our theoretical thinking and to generate testable hypotheses. Our goal is not to ‘elevate’ animals, but rather to find the minimal set of mechanistic principles that may explain ‘advanced’ cognitive abilities in humans, and consider under what conditions these mechanisms were likely to enhance fitness and to evolve in animals. We illustrate this approach, from relatively simple emotional states, to more advanced mechanisms, involved in planning and decision-making, episodic memory, metacognition, theory of mind, and consciousness.

The Validity of Specific Cognitive Abilities for the Prediction of Training Success in Germany

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiebke Goertz ◽  
Ute R. Hülsheger ◽  
Günter W. Maier
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Personnel Selection ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mental Ability ◽  
Occupational Category ◽  
General Mental Ability ◽  
Training Success ◽  
Specific Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Better Than

General mental ability (GMA) has long been considered one of the best predictors of training success and considerably better than specific cognitive abilities (SCAs). Recently, however, researchers have provided evidence that SCAs may be of similar importance for training success, a finding supporting personnel selection based on job-related requirements. The present meta-analysis therefore seeks to assess validities of SCAs for training success in various occupations in a sample of German primary studies. Our meta-analysis (k = 72) revealed operational validities between ρ = .18 and ρ = .26 for different SCAs. Furthermore, results varied by occupational category, supporting a job-specific benefit of SCAs.

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