scholarly journals Reach preparation enhances visual performance and appearance

2013 ◽  
Vol 368 (1628) ◽  
pp. 20130057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Rolfs ◽  
Bonnie M. Lawrence ◽  
Marisa Carrasco
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Target Location ◽  
Discrimination Performance ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Visual Sensitivity ◽  
Visual Performance ◽  
Forced Choice Task ◽  
Reach Movements ◽  
Saccade Preparation ◽  
The Impact

We investigated the impact of the preparation of reach movements on visual perception by simultaneously quantifying both an objective measure of visual sensitivity and the subjective experience of apparent contrast. Using a two-by-two alternative forced choice task, observers compared the orientation (clockwise or counterclockwise) and the contrast (higher or lower) of a Standard Gabor and a Test Gabor, the latter of which was presented during reach preparation, at the reach target location or the opposite location. Discrimination performance was better overall at the reach target than at the opposite location. Perceived contrast increased continuously at the target relative to the opposite location during reach preparation, that is, after the onset of the cue indicating the reach target. The finding that performance and appearance do not evolve in parallel during reach preparation points to a distinction with saccade preparation, for which we have shown previously there is a parallel temporal evolution of performance and appearance. Yet akin to saccade preparation, this study reveals that overall reach preparation enhances both visual performance and appearance.

Comparison of a preferred versus non-preferred waterpipe tobacco flavour: subjective experience, smoking behaviour and toxicant exposure

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor L Leavens ◽  
Leslie M Driskill ◽  
Neil Molina ◽  
Thomas Eissenberg ◽  
Alan Shihadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Smoking Behaviour ◽  
Toxicant Exposure ◽  
P Values ◽  
Smoking Topography ◽  
Exhaled Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Survey Questionnaires

IntroductionOne possible reason for the rapid proliferation of waterpipe (WP) smoking is the pervasive use of flavoured WP tobacco. To begin to understand the impact of WP tobacco flavours, the current study examined the impact of a preferred WP tobacco flavour compared with a non-preferred tobacco flavoured control on user’s smoking behaviour, toxicant exposure and subjective smoking experience.MethodThirty-six current WP smokers completed two, 45-minute ad libitum smoking sessions (preferred flavour vs non-preferred tobacco flavour control) in a randomised cross-over design. Participants completed survey questionnaires assessing subjective smoking experience, exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) testing, and provided blood samples for monitoring plasma nicotine. WP smoking topography was measured continuously throughout the smoking session.ResultsWhile participants reported an enhanced subjective smoking experience including greater interest in continued use, greater pleasure derived from smoking, increased liking and enjoyment, and willingness to continue use after smoking their preferred WP tobacco flavour (p values <0.05), no significant differences were observed in nicotine and carbon monoxide boost between flavour preparations. Greater average puff volume (p=0.018) was observed during the non-preferred flavour session. While not significant, measures of flow rate, interpuff interval (IPI), and total number of puffs were trending towards significance (p values <0.10), with decreased IPI and greater total number of puffs during the preferred flavour session.DiscussionThe current study is the first to examine flavours in WP smoking by measuring preferred versus control preparations to understand the impact on subjective experience, smoking behaviour and toxicant exposure. The pattern of results suggests that even this relatively minor manipulation resulted in significant changes in subjective experience. These results indicate a possible need for regulations restricting flavours in WP tobacco as with combustible cigarettes.

scholarly journals Qualitative and quantitative assessment of magnetic vestibular stimulation in humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 353-361
Author(s):  
Rebecca S. Dewey ◽  
Rachel Gomez ◽  
Chris Degg ◽  
David M. Baguley ◽  
Paul M. Glover
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Quantitative Measure ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Clinical Test ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The sensation of phantom motion or exhibition of bodily sway is often reported in the proximity of an MR scanner. It is proposed that the magnetic field stimulates the vestibular system. There are a number of possible mechanisms responsible, and the relative contributions of susceptibility on the otolithic receptors and the Lorentz force on the cupulae have not yet been explored. This exploratory study aims to investigate the impact of being in the proximity of a 7.0 T MR scanner. The modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance (mCTSIB) was used to qualitatively ascertain whether or not healthy control subjects who passed the mCTSIB in normal conditions 1) experienced subjective sensations of dizziness, vertigo or of leaning or shifting in gravity when in the magnetic field and 2) exhibited visibly increased bodily sway whilst in the magnetic field compared to outside the magnetic field. Condition IV of the mCTSIB was video recorded outside and inside the magnetic field, providing a semi-quantitative measure of sway. For condition IV of the mCTSIB (visual and proprioceptive cues compromised), all seven locations/orientations around the scanner yielded significantly more sway than at baseline (p < 0.01 FDR). A Student’s t-test comparing the RMS velocity of a motion marker on the upper arm during mCTSIB condition IV showed a significant increase in the amount of motion exhibited in the field (T = 2.59; d.f. = 9; p = 0.029) compared to outside the field. This initial study using qualitative measures of sway demonstrates that there is evidence for MR-naïve individuals exhibiting greater sway while performing the mCTSIB in the magnetic field compared to outside the field. Directional polarity of sway was not significant. Future studies of vestibular stimulation by magnetic fields would benefit from the development of a sensitive, objective measure of balance function, which can be performed inside a magnetic field.

scholarly journals Effect of post-stroke spasticity on voluntary movement of the upper limb

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadar Lackritz ◽  
Yisrael Parmet ◽  
Silvi Frenkel-Toledo ◽  
Melanie C. Baniña ◽  
Nachum Soroker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Target Location ◽  
Distance Measure ◽  
Movement Time ◽  
Motor Impairment ◽  
Reach To Grasp ◽  
Motion Patterns ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Elbow Motion

Abstract Background Hemiparesis following stroke is often accompanied by spasticity. Spasticity is one factor among the multiple components of the upper motor neuron syndrome that contributes to movement impairment. However, the specific contribution of spasticity is difficult to isolate and quantify. We propose a new method of quantification and evaluation of the impact of spasticity on the quality of movement following stroke. Methods Spasticity was assessed using the Tonic Stretch Reflex Threshold (TSRT). TSRT was analyzed in relation to stochastic models of motion to quantify the deviation of the hemiparetic upper limb motion from the normal motion patterns during a reaching task. Specifically, we assessed the impact of spasticity in the elbow flexors on reaching motion patterns using two distinct measures of the ‘distance’ between pathological and normal movement, (a) the bidirectional Kullback–Liebler divergence (BKLD) and (b) Hellinger’s distance (HD). These measures differ in their sensitivity to different confounding variables. Motor impairment was assessed clinically by the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for the upper extremity (FMA-UE). Forty-two first-event stroke patients in the subacute phase and 13 healthy controls of similar age participated in the study. Elbow motion was analyzed in the context of repeated reach-to-grasp movements towards four differently located targets. Log-BKLD and HD along with movement time, final elbow extension angle, mean elbow velocity, peak elbow velocity, and the number of velocity peaks of the elbow motion were computed. Results Upper limb kinematics in patients with lower FMA-UE scores (greater impairment) showed greater deviation from normality when the distance between impaired and normal elbow motion was analyzed either with the BKLD or HD measures. The severity of spasticity, reflected by the TSRT, was related to the distance between impaired and normal elbow motion analyzed with either distance measure. Mean elbow velocity differed between targets, however HD was not sensitive to target location. This may point at effects of spasticity on motion quality that go beyond effects on velocity. Conclusions The two methods for analyzing pathological movement post-stroke provide new options for studying the relationship between spasticity and movement quality under different spatiotemporal constraints.

Light Up Your Life! The Impact of Task Lighting on Visual Performance and Quality of Life in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512515308p1
Author(s):  
Martha Sanders ◽  
Caila Frassetto ◽  
Catherine Hill ◽  
Kyeana Martone ◽  
Niamh Butler
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Performance ◽  
Task Lighting ◽  
The Impact

The Impact Factor and APAQ

2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-126
Author(s):  
Greg Reid ◽  
Dale A. Ulrich
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Impact Factor ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Sport Science ◽  
Journal Citation Reports ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Journal Citation

The impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the “average article” in a journal has been cited in a particular year or period (Journal Citation Reports; http://jcr.isihost.com). Specifically, it is the ratio of the number of articles from the journal cited over a given time period to the number of articles published by that journal during the same period. It is an objective measure of the journal’s importance, especially when compared to others in the same field. The purpose of the present study was to compare the impact factor of APAQ to 11 other journals in sport science, special education, and rehabilitation. The impact factor of APAQ compares quite favorably to most other journals in sport science, special education, and rehabilitation. However, it is strikingly different in 1998 and 1999, and therefore scholars should monitor it closely in the next few years while remembering it is only one estimate of journal prestige.

scholarly journals Human agency beliefs influence behaviour during virtual social interactions

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Caruana ◽  
Dean Spirou ◽  
Jon Brock
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Human Agency ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Intentional Stance ◽  
Agency Beliefs ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, with the emergence of relatively inexpensive and accessible virtual reality technologies, it is now possible to deliver compelling and realistic simulations of human-to-human interaction. Neuroimaging studies have shown that, when participants believe they are interacting via a virtual interface with another human agent, they show different patterns of brain activity compared to when they know that their virtual partner is computer-controlled. The suggestion is that users adopt an “intentional stance” by attributing mental states to their virtual partner. However, it remains unclear how beliefs in the agency of a virtual partner influence participants’ behaviour and subjective experience of the interaction. We investigated this issue in the context of a cooperative “joint attention” game in which participants interacted via an eye tracker with a virtual onscreen partner, directing each other’s eye gaze to different screen locations. Half of the participants were correctly informed that their partner was controlled by a computer algorithm (“Computer” condition). The other half were misled into believing that the virtual character was controlled by a second participant in another room (“Human” condition). Those in the “Human” condition were slower to make eye contact with their partner and more likely to try and guide their partner before they had established mutual eye contact than participants in the “Computer” condition. They also responded more rapidly when their partner was guiding them, although the same effect was also found for a control condition in which they responded to an arrow cue. Results confirm the influence of human agency beliefs on behaviour in this virtual social interaction context. They further suggest that researchers and developers attempting to simulate social interactions should consider the impact of agency beliefs on user experience in other social contexts, and their effect on the achievement of the application’s goals.

scholarly journals Awareness and Integration: Understanding the Challenges of Inferring Multisensory Integration Outside of Awareness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Daniel Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Attention ◽  
Multisensory Integration ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Visual Masking ◽  
Target Location ◽  
Visual Awareness ◽  
Visual Speech ◽  
Emotional Prosody ◽  
Perceptual Awareness ◽  
Spatial Cueing

<p>Multisensory integration describes the cognitive processes by which information from various perceptual domains is combined to create coherent percepts. For consciously aware perception, multisensory integration can be inferred when information in one perceptual domain influences subjective experience in another. Yet the relationship between integration and awareness is not well understood. One current question is whether multisensory integration can occur in the absence of perceptual awareness. Because there is subjective experience for unconscious perception, researchers have had to develop novel tasks to infer integration indirectly. For instance, Palmer and Ramsey (2012) presented auditory recordings of spoken syllables alongside videos of faces speaking either the same or different syllables, while masking the videos to prevent visual awareness. The conjunction of matching voices and faces predicted the location of a subsequent Gabor grating (target) on each trial. Participants indicated the location/orientation of the target more accurately when it appeared in the cued location (80% chance), thus the authors inferred that auditory and visual speech events were integrated in the absence of visual awareness. In this thesis, I investigated whether these findings generalise to the integration of auditory and visual expressions of emotion. In Experiment 1, I presented spatially informative cues in which congruent facial and vocal emotional expressions predicted the target location, with and without visual masking. I found no evidence of spatial cueing in either awareness condition. To investigate the lack of spatial cueing, in Experiment 2, I repeated the task with aware participants only, and had half of those participants explicitly report the emotional prosody. A significant spatial-cueing effect was found only when participants reported emotional prosody, suggesting that audiovisual congruence can cue spatial attention during aware perception. It remains unclear whether audiovisual congruence can cue spatial attention without awareness, and whether such effects genuinely imply multisensory integration.</p>

scholarly journals Relationship between systolic blood pressure and decision-making during emotional processing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Jacqueline Andree Betka ◽  
David Watson ◽  
Sarah N Garfinkel ◽  
Gaby Pfeifer ◽  
Henrique Sequeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Emotional states are expressed in body and mind through subjective experience of physiological changes. In previous work, subliminal priming of anger prior to lexical decisions increased systolic blood pressure (SBP). This increase predicted the slowing of response times (RT), suggesting that baroreflex-related autonomic changes and their interoceptive (feedback) representations, influence cognition. Alexithymia is a subclinical affective dysfunction characterized by difficulty in identifying emotions. Atypical autonomic and interoceptive profiles are observed in alexithymia. Therefore, we sought to identify mechanisms through which SBP fluctuations during emotional processing might influence decision-making, including whether alexithymia contributes to this relationship. Methods Thirty-two male participants performed an affect priming paradigm and completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Emotional faces were briefly presented (20ms) prior a short-term memory task. RT, accuracy and SBP were recorded on a trial-by-trial basis. Generalized mixed-effects linear models were used to evaluate the impact of emotion, physiological changes, alexithymia score, and their interactions, on performances. Results A main effect of emotion was observed on accuracy. Participants were more accurate on trials with anger primes, compared to neutral priming. Greater accuracy was related to increased SBP. An interaction between SBP and emotion was observed on RT: Increased SBP was associated with RT prolongation in the anger priming condition, yet this relationship was absent under the sadness priming. Alexithymia did not significantly moderate the above relationships. Conclusions Our data suggest that peripheral autonomic responses during affective challenges guide cognitive processes. We discuss our findings in the theoretical framework proposed by Lacey and Lacey (1970).

Word-Final Disfluencies in a School-Age Child: Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Naomi Eichorn ◽  
Sidney Donnan
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Accurate Diagnosis ◽  
Clinical Profile ◽  
School Age ◽  
Timely Access ◽  
Clear Communication ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Disfluencies associated with stuttering generally occur in the initial position of words. This study reviews data from a school-age child with an atypical stuttering profile consisting predominantly of word-final disfluencies (WFDs). Our primary goals were to identify patterns in overt features of WFDs and to extend our understanding of this clinical profile by focusing on aspects of stuttering that lie beneath the surface. Method Analyses explored the patterns and distributions of the child's observable stuttering behaviors, in addition to his awareness, perceptions, and subjective experience of stuttering. Results Findings indicated that the WFD profile consists of relatively consistent and distinct overt features. We also found that, in many ways, the child perceived the impact of his disfluencies much like other children who stutter, even though his disfluencies manifested in a less common form. Conclusion Findings suggest the need for increased awareness of the varied forms stuttering may take in order to ensure accurate diagnosis, clear communication to clients and parents, and timely access to appropriate intervention.

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