scholarly journals Introspection confidence correlates with EEG decoding of self-generated thoughts and meta-awareness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naya Polychroni ◽  
Maria Herrojo Ruiz ◽  
Devin B. Terhune
Keyword(s):  
External Environment ◽  
Alpha Power ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Neural Representations ◽  
Distribution Of Power ◽  
Listening Task ◽  
Multivariate Pattern ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Experiential State

AbstractThe neurophysiological bases of mind wandering (MW) – an experiential state wherein attention is disengaged from the external environment in favour of internal thoughts, and state meta-awareness are poorly understood. In parallel, the relationship between introspection confidence in experiential state judgements and neural representations remains unclear. Here, we recorded EEG whilst participants completed a listening task within which they made experiential state judgments and rated their confidence. Alpha power was reliably greater during MW episodes, with unaware MW further associated with greater delta and theta power. Multivariate pattern classification analysis revealed that MW, and meta-awareness can be decoded from the distribution of power in these three frequency bands. Critically, we show that individual decoding accuracies positively correlate with introspection confidence. Our results reaffirm the role of alpha oscillations in MW, implicate lower frequencies in meta-awareness, and are consistent with the proposal that introspection confidence indexes neurophysiological discriminability of representational states.

scholarly journals Alpha oscillations govern interhemispheric spike timing coordination in the honey bee brain

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1921) ◽  
pp. 20200115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzvetan Popov ◽  
Paul Szyszka
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Spike Timing ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Gamma Activity ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Brain Signals ◽  
Spontaneous Oscillation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Neuronal Spikes

In 1929 Hans Berger discovered the alpha oscillations: prominent, ongoing oscillations around 10 Hz in the electroencephalogram of the human brain. These alpha oscillations are among the most widely studied brain signals, related to cognitive phenomena such as attention, memory and consciousness. However, the mechanisms by which alpha oscillations affect human cognition await demonstration. Here, we suggest the honey bee brain as an experimentally more accessible model system for investigating the functional role of alpha oscillations. We found a prominent spontaneous oscillation around 18 Hz that is reduced in amplitude upon olfactory stimulation. Similar to alpha oscillations in primates, the phase of this oscillation biased both timing of neuronal spikes and amplitude of high-frequency gamma activity (40–450 Hz). These results suggest a common role of alpha oscillations across phyla and provide an unprecedented new venue for causal studies on the relationship between neuronal spikes, brain oscillations and cognition.

The Study on the Relationship between Hypercompetition and Organizational Innovation: The Role of Organizational Learning

2011 ◽  
Vol 467-469 ◽  
pp. 1236-1240
Author(s):  
Hang Biao Shang ◽  
Guo Shuang Tian ◽  
Cai Ping Song ◽  
Yu Kun Cao ◽  
Li Rong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Formation Mechanism ◽  
Organizational Innovation ◽  
External Environment ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Macroeconomic Environment ◽  
Main Factor

This paper studies on the formation mechanism of how organizational innovation is established and developed. We built a model including envirnomental change, organizational learning and organizational innovation. Using the empirical study as a sample of 194 enterprises the results of this paper show that (1) the external environment factors have no direct effent on organizational innovation. The main factor of organizational innovation driven is organizational learning. (2) the industry of environmental change on the organizational learning have a significant impact to organizational learning and changes in the macroeconomic environment had no significant effect to organizational learning.

scholarly journals ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF E-BUSINESS IN MALAYSIA: THE MODERATING ROLE OF EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-17
Author(s):  
Sabrinah Adam ◽  
Mohd Khairuddin Ramliy ◽  
Ai Chin Thoo ◽  
Adaviah Mas’od ◽  
Farrah Merlinda Muharam
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Underlying Basis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

There has been relatively little research that examines the relationship between the external environment and their consequences on the organizational performance of e-business in developing countries. This research represents an attempt to do so from the Malaysian e-business perspectives. This research examines the relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and organizational performance and on the role of the external environment as a moderator between the relationships. The consideration of putting moderator factors in this research allows more precise descriptions of the relationship between the two variables mentioned and the outcome of the research. This study was grounded by Resource-Based View theory as the underlying basis. This study adopted a quantitative approach where 400 questionnaires were distributed to the target population and 381 were returned. Structural Equation Modelling was performed on the quantitative data using SMART PLS 3.0. The quantitative findings indicated that entrepreneurial orientation variables of innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness and autonomy have significant effects on financial and non-financial organizational performance. However, the moderating effect of the external environment on the relationship was found not significant. This study concluded that entrepreneurial orientation and the external environment are vital to promoting the organizational performance of e-business in Malaysia. These findings able to serve as a guideline for e-business owners or founders to improve their organizational performance thus compete in the digital sphere.

scholarly journals The Inter-Relationship between Innovation Capability and SME Performance: The Moderating Role of the External Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9132
Author(s):  
Qinghua Fu ◽  
Muhammad Safdar Sial ◽  
Muhammad Zulqarnain Arshad ◽  
Ubaldo Comite ◽  
Phung Anh Thu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
External Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Endogenous Variables ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Crucial Part

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial part in a country’s economic growth and sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between innovation and the performance of SMEs. An external environmental factor acts as a moderating variable between the exogenous and endogenous variables. Data were collected from 350 textile SMEs operating in Pakistan using a cross-sectional study design through self-administered questionnaires. Of these, only 335 surveys were valid for further analysis. The structural equational modeling technique was used for analyzing the data and testing the hypotheses that innovation and the external environment affect an SME’s performance. The results indicate a significant association between innovation and SME performance, and the external environment has a moderating impact on innovation and SME performance. This paper offers valuable recommendations to senior managers and owners of SMEs to consider the innovation and external environment as crucial factors when assessing their SME’s performance. This study contributes towards the body of knowledge on this subject and can help practitioners and researchers explore the effects of innovation and the external environment on the performance of SMEs.

scholarly journals Alpha oscillations link action to cognition: An oculomotor account of the brain's dominant rhythm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzvetan Popov ◽  
Gregory A. Miller ◽  
Brigitte Rockstroh ◽  
Ole Jensen ◽  
Nicolas Langer
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Oculomotor Control ◽  
Alpha Power ◽  
Foveal Vision ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Human Primate

Power modulations in alpha oscillations (8-14Hz) have been associated with most human cognitive functions and psychopathological conditions studied. These reports are often inconsistent with the prevailing view of a specific relationship of alpha oscillations to attention and working memory (WM). We propose that conceptualizing the role of alpha oscillations in oculomotor control resolves this inconsistency. This proposition is based on a review of results across species (human Npooled=295, one non-human primate, honey bee N=5), experimental conditions (rest, attention, and working memory), and recording techniques (EEG, ECOG, eye-tracking, and MEG) that encourage the following relationships between alpha oscillations and eye-movement control: (i) saccade initiation prompts power decrease in brain circuits associated with saccadic control; (ii) the direction of a saccade is consistent with alpha lateralization, both during task and resting conditions; (iii) the phase of alpha activity informs saccade occurrence and biases miniature eye movements during fixation (e.g. fixational tremor); and (iv) oculomotor action differentiates WM load. A new theory on how alpha oscillations link oculomotor action to cognition is proposed. Generalizing across tasks and species: low oculomotor activity is associated with high alpha power and vice versa. Alpha oscillations regulate how long to look at a given target and how fast to saccade to a next. By ensuring steady gaze position, any potential input outside foveal vision is 'suppressed'.

scholarly journals Developing “place leadership” when hierarchical accountability is omnipresent: the case of English sub-national government

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Ferry ◽  
Mark Sandford
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
News Media ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Relations ◽  
Power And Control ◽  
Distribution Of Power ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe relationship between central and sub-national (local) government is contentious around distribution of power and control. There is a specific concern when a (local) place has power devolved, but centralised hierarchical accountability pervades.Design/methodology/approachThis paper addresses that concern by considering recent innovative developments around place-based accountability arrangements in England, through analysis of official reports and news media.FindingsThe article illustrates aspirations towards accountability to the local electorate clash with hierarchical accountability that remains an omnipresent mechanism of central control. It is suggested, accountability forums be developed to blend hierarchy and the place leadership role of directly elected mayors. This could enable local accountability to the electorate, whilst taking account of the context of specific regional level complexities.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers to consider issues of place leadership and place based accountability within the framework of hierarchical accountability for central and local government relations.

scholarly journals The role of glucosylceramide and glucosylceramide synthase in liver disease: from bench to bedside

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Gan ◽  
Su Jun Zheng ◽  
Xiao Rong Mao ◽  
Jun Feng Li
Keyword(s):  
Liver Diseases ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Important Class ◽  
Theoretical Level ◽  
Glucosylceramide Synthase ◽  
Sphingosine 1 Phosphate ◽  
Key Enzyme ◽  
Ceramide 1 ◽  
The Relationship

The cell membrane, which is lipid-rich, is not only a simple mechanical barrier but also an important and complex component of the cell. It also communicates with the external environment. Sphingomyelin is an important class of phospholipids in the membrane that performs many functions. Interest in sphingomyelin-based liposomes, which are a critical component of cell membranes, have become the focus of intense study in recent years. Through additional research, the function of sphingomyelin and its derivatives in diseases can be gradually elucidated. Sphingomyelin consists of ceramide and its derivatives including ceramide-1-phosphate glucosylceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate. The metabolism of glucosylceramide is regulated by glucosylceramide synthase (EC: 2.4.1.80) which is the key enzyme in the glycosylation of ceramide. The activity of glucosylceramide synthase directly affects the level of glucosylceramide in cells which in turn affects the function of cells and may eventually lead to diseases. Recently, the relationship between glucosylceramide and its metabolic enzymes, with diseases has become a relatively new area of study. The purpose of this paper is to address the relationship between glucosylceramide, glucosylceramide synthase, and their possible association with liver diseases at the theoretical level.

scholarly journals Decomposing the role of alpha oscillations during brain maturation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Tröndle ◽  
Tzvetan Popov ◽  
Nicolas Langer
Keyword(s):  
Peak Frequency ◽  
Brain Maturation ◽  
Alpha Power ◽  
Eeg Signal ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Signal Component ◽  
Neurophysiological Studies ◽  
Aperiodic Signal ◽  
Alpha Peak

AbstractDuring childhood and adolescence, the human brain undergoes various micro- and macroscopic changes. Understanding the neurophysiological changes within this reorganizational process is crucial, as many major psychiatric disorders emerge during this critical phase of life. In electroencephalography (EEG), a widely studied signal component are alpha oscillations (~8-13 Hz), which have been linked to developmental changes throughout the lifespan. Previous neurophysiological studies have demonstrated an increase of the alpha peak frequency and a decrease of alpha power to be related to brain maturation. The latter results have been questioned by recent developments in EEG signal processing techniques, as it could be demonstrated that aperiodic (non-oscillatory) components in the EEG signal conflate findings on periodic (oscillatory) changes, and thus need to be decomposed accordingly. We therefore analyzed a large, openly available pediatric dataset of 1485 children and adolescents in the age range of 5 to 21 years, in order to clarify the role of alpha oscillations and aperiodic signal components in this period of life. We first replicated previous findings of an increase of alpha peak frequency with age. Our results further suggest that alpha oscillatory power decreases with increasing age, however, when controlling for the aperiodic signal component, this effect inverted such as the aperiodic adjusted alpha power parameters significantly increase with advanced brain maturation, while the aperiodic signal component flattens and its offset decreases. Thus, interpretations of these oscillatory changes should be done with caution and incorporate changes in the aperiodic signal. These findings highlight the importance of taking aperiodic signal components into account when investigating age related changes of EEG spectral power parameters.

scholarly journals How will market orientation and external environmnet influence the performance among SMEs in the agri-food sector in Malaysia?

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norzalita Abd Aziz ◽  
Norjaya Mohd Yasin
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Market Orientation ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Marketing Orientation ◽  
Competitor Orientation ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract  Many researchers have explored the relationship between market orientation and firm performance in manufacturing and services industries but such studies in agri-food SMEs are scarce. Previous research conducted has conceptually and empirically supported the notion that market orientation  independently  or collectively have positive correlations with  the business  performance of organization (such as Narver and Slater, 1990; Jaworski and Kohli, 1993; Lee and Peterson, 2000). The aim of this paper is to examine the marketing practices and the marketing orientation-business performance relationship among SMEs in agri-food sector in Malaysia.  This study also investigated the role of the external environment in the market orientation-performance linkage. From an analysis of a survey data of 102 agri- food organizations, three dimensions namely customer-competitor orientation, inter-functional coordination and information dissemination extracted from factor analysis result of market orientation. The study revealed that customer-competitor orientation and information dissemination were positively related to business performance. In terms of the role of external environment, two dimensions produced by factor analysis, market-technology turbulence and competitive intensity did not moderate the relationship between market orientation and business performance. Findings are discussed and implications are highlighted. Keywords: Market Orientation, External Environment, Business Performance 

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