scholarly journals Fluid intelligence and naturalistic task impairments after focal brain lesions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verity Smith ◽  
Clara Pinasco ◽  
Jascha Achterberg ◽  
Daniel J Mitchell ◽  
Tilak Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Brain Lesions ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Complex Behaviour ◽  
Cognitive Components ◽  
Control Functions ◽  
Measured Volume

Classical executive tasks, such as Wisconsin card-sorting and verbal fluency, are widely used as tests of frontal lobe control functions. Since the pioneering work of Shallice and Burgess (1991), it has been known that complex, naturalistic tasks can capture deficits that are missed in these classical tests. Matching this finding, deficits in several classical tasks are predicted by loss of fluid intelligence, linked to damage in a specific cortical 'multiple-demand' (MD) network, while deficits in a more naturalistic task are not. To expand on these previous results, we examined the effect of focal brain lesions on three new tests - a modification of the previously-used Hotel task, a new test of task switching after extended delays, and a test of decision-making in imagined real-life scenarios. As potential predictors of impairment we measured volume of damage to a priori MD and default mode (DMN) networks, as well as cortical damage outside these networks. Deficits in the three new tasks were substantial, but were not explained by loss of fluid intelligence, or by volume of damage to either MD or DMN networks. Instead, deficits were associated with diverse lesions, and not strongly correlated with one another. The results confirm that naturalistic tasks capture cognitive deficits beyond those measured by fluid intelligence. We suggest, however, that these deficits may not arise from specific control operations required by complex behaviour. Instead, like everyday activities, complex tasks combine a rich variety of interacting cognitive components, bringing many opportunities for processing to be disturbed.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis Resulting in a Typology of Elementary Classroom Movement Integration Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Spyridoula Vazou ◽  
Collin A. Webster ◽  
Gregory Stewart ◽  
Priscila Candal ◽  
Cate A. Egan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Dose Intensity ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Movement Integration

Abstract Background/Objective Movement integration (MI) involves infusing physical activity into normal classroom time. A wide range of MI interventions have succeeded in increasing children’s participation in physical activity. However, no previous research has attempted to unpack the various MI intervention approaches. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review, qualitatively analyze, and develop a typology of MI interventions conducted in primary/elementary school settings. Subjects/Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to identify published MI interventions. Irrelevant records were removed first by title, then by abstract, and finally by full texts of articles, resulting in 72 studies being retained for qualitative analysis. A deductive approach, using previous MI research as an a priori analytic framework, alongside inductive techniques were used to analyze the data. Results Four types of MI interventions were identified and labeled based on their design: student-driven, teacher-driven, researcher-teacher collaboration, and researcher-driven. Each type was further refined based on the MI strategies (movement breaks, active lessons, other: opening activity, transitions, reward, awareness), the level of intrapersonal and institutional support (training, resources), and the delivery (dose, intensity, type, fidelity). Nearly half of the interventions were researcher-driven, which may undermine the sustainability of MI as a routine practice by teachers in schools. An imbalance is evident on the MI strategies, with transitions, opening and awareness activities, and rewards being limitedly studied. Delivery should be further examined with a strong focus on reporting fidelity. Conclusions There are distinct approaches that are most often employed to promote the use of MI and these approaches may often lack a minimum standard for reporting MI intervention details. This typology may be useful to effectively translate the evidence into practice in real-life settings to better understand and study MI interventions.

scholarly journals Transformation of Uncertain Linear Systems with Real Eigenvalues into Cooperative Form: The Case of Constant and Time-Varying Bounded Parameters

Algorithms ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Andreas Rauh ◽  
Julia Kersten
Keyword(s):  
Linear Systems ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Reachability Analysis ◽  
Interval Methods ◽  
Space Representation ◽  
Uncertain Parameters ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Similarity Transformations

Continuous-time linear systems with uncertain parameters are widely used for modeling real-life processes. The uncertain parameters, contained in the system and input matrices, can be constant or time-varying. In the latter case, they may represent state dependencies of these matrices. Assuming bounded uncertainties, interval methods become applicable for a verified reachability analysis, for feasibility analysis of feedback controllers, or for the design of robust set-valued state estimators. The evaluation of these system models becomes computationally efficient after a transformation into a cooperative state-space representation, where the dynamics satisfy certain monotonicity properties with respect to the initial conditions. To obtain such representations, similarity transformations are required which are not trivial to find for sufficiently wide a-priori bounds of the uncertain parameters. This paper deals with the derivation and algorithmic comparison of two different transformation techniques for which their applicability to processes with constant and time-varying parameters has to be distinguished. An interval-based reachability analysis of the states of a simple electric step-down converter concludes this paper.

Functional and structural MRI correlates of executive functions in multiple sclerosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 135245852110331
Author(s):  
Olga Marchesi ◽  
Raffaello Bonacchi ◽  
Paola Valsasina ◽  
Paolo Preziosa ◽  
Elisabetta Pagani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Cognitive Networks ◽  
Superior Cerebellar Peduncle ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Cerebellar Peduncle ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Background: Executive dysfunctions, including difficulties in attention, working memory, planning, and inhibition affect 15%–28% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Objectives: To investigate structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities underlying executive function (EF) in MS patients. Methods: A total 116 MS patients and 65 controls underwent resting-state (RS) and diffusion-weighted sequences and neuropsychological examination, including Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to test EF. Brain RS cognitive networks and fractional anisotropy (FA) from a priori selected white matter tracts were derived. Associations of WCST scores with RS functional connectivity (FC) and FA abnormalities were investigated. Results: In MS patients, predictors of working memory/updating were: lower corpus callosum (CC) FA, lower left working-memory network (WMN), right WMN RS FC for worse performance; lower executive control network (ECN), higher default-mode network (DMN), and salience network (SN) RS FC for better performance ( R2 = 0.35). Predictors of attention were lower CC genu FA, lower left WMN, and DMN RS FC for worse performance; higher left WMN and ECN RS FC for better performance ( R2 = 0.24). Predictors of worse shifting/inhibition were lower CC genu and superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) FA, lower left WMN RS FC for worse performance; and higher ECN RS FC for better performance ( R2 = 0.24). Conclusions: CC and SCP microstructural damage and RS FC abnormalities in cognitive networks underlie EF frailty in MS.

scholarly journals Fluid intelligence and naturalistic task impairments after focal brain lesions

Cortex ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verity Smith ◽  
Clara Pinasco ◽  
Jascha Achterberg ◽  
Daniel J. Mitchell ◽  
Tilak Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Brain Lesions

scholarly journals An Integrated Strategy for Autonomous Exploration of Spatial Processes in Unknown Environments

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 3663
Author(s):  
Valentina Karolj ◽  
Alberto Viseras ◽  
Luis Merino ◽  
Dmitriy Shutin
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Spatial Process ◽  
Spatial Processes ◽  
Simulated Environments ◽  
Robotic Exploration ◽  
Integrated Strategy ◽  
Holonomic Robot ◽  
Robotic Applications ◽  
Conflicting Goals

Exploration of spatial processes, such as radioactivity or temperature is a fundamental task in many robotic applications. In the literature, robotic exploration is mainly carried out for applications where the environment is a priori known. However, for most real life applications this assumption often does not hold, specifically for disaster scenarios. In this paper, we propose a novel integrated strategy that allows a robot to explore a spatial process of interest in an unknown environment. To this end, we build upon two major blocks. First, we propose the use of GP to model the spatial process of interest, and process entropy to drive the exploration. Second, we employ registration algorithms for robot mapping and localization, and frontier-based exploration to explore the environment. However, map and process exploration can be conflicting goals. Our integrated strategy fuses the two aforementioned blocks through a trade-off between process and map exploration. We carry out extensive evaluations of our algorithm in simulated environments with respect to different baselines and environment setups using simulated GP data as a process at hand. Additionally, we perform experimental verification with a mobile holonomic robot exploring a simulated process in an unknown labyrinth environment. Demonstrated results show that our integrated strategy outperforms both frontier-based and GP entropy-driven exploration strategies.

scholarly journals The relationship between executive functions and fluid intelligence in Parkinson's disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 2445-2452 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Roca ◽  
F. Manes ◽  
A. Chade ◽  
E. Gleichgerrcht ◽  
O. Gershanik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Group Performance ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test ◽  
And Control

BackgroundWe recently demonstrated that decline in fluid intelligence is a substantial contributor to frontal deficits. For some classical ‘executive’ tasks, such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Verbal Fluency, frontal deficits were entirely explained by fluid intelligence. However, on a second set of frontal tasks, deficits remained even after statistically controlling for this factor. These tasks included tests of theory of mind and multitasking. As frontal dysfunction is the most frequent cognitive deficit observed in early Parkinson's disease (PD), the present study aimed to determine the role of fluid intelligence in such deficits.MethodWe assessed patients with PD (n=32) and control subjects (n=22) with the aforementioned frontal tests and with a test of fluid intelligence. Group performance was compared and fluid intelligence was introduced as a covariate to determine its role in frontal deficits shown by PD patients.ResultsIn line with our previous results, scores on the WCST and Verbal Fluency were closely linked to fluid intelligence. Significant patient–control differences were eliminated or at least substantially reduced once fluid intelligence was introduced as a covariate. However, for tasks of theory of mind and multitasking, deficits remained even after fluid intelligence was statistically controlled.ConclusionsThe present results suggest that clinical assessment of neuropsychological deficits in PD should include tests of fluid intelligence, together with one or more specific tasks that allow for the assessment of residual frontal deficits associated with theory of mind and multitasking.

Kriterien der ethnischen Identität

1983 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-42
Author(s):  
Harald Haarmann
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Problem Area ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Large Measure ◽  
Individual Features ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual

SUMMARY Criteria for Ethnic Identity Despite numerous publications on theoretical and methodological issues regarding ethnic identity (ethnicity), many methodological problems relative to this topic remain insufficiently clarified. This article deals particularly with the problems involved in establishing and evaluating criteria of ethnic identity. The author assigns the complex of problems regarding ethnic identity significant status within a theory of the ecology of language. Specific points covered in methodological issues involving the formation of concepts and application of terminology involve: 1. problems of the weighting of distinctive features; 2. problems in the mutual boundary-marking between ethnic groups (i.e., problems of ethnic borders); 3. problems in the changeability of ethnic identity; 4. problems in the correlation of language and ethnicity; 5. problems of the polarity of subjective and objective features of ethnicity; 6. problems of multiple identities and the role of ethnic identity; 7. problems in the historical dimension of ethnic identity; 8. problems in the linking of groups within language communities of the same national identity. In international sociological and sociolinguistic research, unanimity of opinion exists only on the fact that ethnic identity cannot be characterized by a single feature but rather by a series of individual features (the accumulation of features). The priorities to be attached to the individual features are in large measure disputed. The author proceeds from the assumption that ethnic identities in real life are formed through a stronger or weaker dominance of individual features; they should be characterized accordingly. An unacceptable a priori evaluation or weighting of features is thus avoided. In the specific context of a long-term research program on the smaller language communities and ethnic languages of Europe, the author particularly examines the role of language in ethnicity. Contrary to most previous contributions to discussions of this problem area, the author distinguishes between the general linguistic affiliation as a characteristic of ethnic identity on the one hand (cf. the relationship in point 4) and the criterion of language-oriented group formations (cf. relationship in point 8). The problem area of the principle of language community is illustrated using the example of the Transcarpathian Gypsies in the Ukraine. RESUMO Kriterioj de la etna idento Malgraŭ multaj ĝisnunaj eldonajoj pri la etna idento (etneco), multaj metodaj pro-blemoj rilataj al tiu temaro restas nesufice klarigitaj. La jena artikolo aparte traktas la problemaron de la starigo kaj elvalorigo de kriterioj de la etna idento. La autoro al-jugas al la problemaro pri la etna idento gravan rangon interne de teorio pri la lingva ekologio. Apartaj punktoj, traktitaj en metodaraj demandoj, rilataj al la formado de konceptoj kaj la apliko de terminaro, estas: 1. problemaro pri la elvalorigo de karakteraj trajtoj; 2. problemaro de la reciproka limigo inter etnaj grupoj (t.e. problemoj pri etnaj limoj); 3. problemaro pri la šanĝebleco de la etna idento; 4. problemaro pri la rilato inter lingvo kaj etneco; 5. problemaro pri la polusigo de subjektivaj kaj objektivaj trajtoj de etneco; 6. problemaro de pluroblaj identoj kaj la rolo de etna idento; 7. problemaro ce la historia dimensio de la etna idento; 8. problemaro de la formiĝo de grupoj interne de lingvaj komunumoj de la sama nacia idento. En la internacia sociologia kaj socilingvistika esplorado, unuanimeco de opinio ekzistas nur pri la fakto, ke ne eblas karakterizi la etnan identon nur per unusola trajto, sed, male, per aro da opaj trajtoj (la kuniĝo de trajtoj). Oni grandparte disputas pri la prioritato, kiun oni aljuĝu al la opaj trajtoj. La autoro progresas ek de la asumo, ke la etnaj identoj en la vera vivo estas formitaj per, jen pli forta, jen pli malforta, rego de opaj trajtoj; oni karakterizu ilin lau tio. Tiel, oni evitas neakceptindan aprioran elvalorigon au elpezigon de trajtoj. En la aparta kunteksto de longdaura esplorprogramo pri la pli malgrandaj lingvaj komunumoj kaj etnaj lingvoj de Europo, la autoro aparte pristudas la rolon de la lingvo ce la etneco. Kontraue al la plejmultaj ĝisnunaj kontribuoj al diskutoj pri tiu problemaro, la autoro distingas inter la ĝenerala lingva aparteno kiel trajto de la etna idento unuflanke (komparu la rilton ce punkto 4) kaj la kriterion de la formigo de grupoj surbaze de lingvo (komparu la rilaton ce punkto 8). La problemaro de la prin-cipo de la lingva komunumo estas ilustrita per la ekzemplo de la transkarpataj ciganoj en Ukrajnio.

Do emotions affect insurance demand?

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianni Brighetti ◽  
Caterina Lucarelli ◽  
Nicoletta Marinelli
Keyword(s):  
Iowa Gambling Task ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Insurance Demand ◽  
Psychological Traits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cognitive Components ◽  
Insurance Consumption

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how psychological variables are related to real-life insurance consumption. Specifically, the authors focus on whether emotions and psychological traits can improve the predictability of insurance demand, taking traditional socioeconomic variables under control. Design/methodology/approach – The approach used was in-person survey, based on a traditional questionnaire, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and a psycho-physiological task (Iowa Gambling Task (IGT)). Findings – A selective role of emotions and psychological traits has been proven to exist when comparing different insurance policies. Life and casualty insurance are affected by emotional arousal to losses; indemnity insurance by fear of the unknown, whereas health insurance by impulsivity. Research limitations/implications – The findings indicate that individual insurance consumption may be amplified by not cognitive components. Future research should concentrate on testing the effect of further psychological traits related to pure risk coverage. Practical implications – The results may be of interest for insurers in order to know what drives insurance demand with respect to different kinds of pure risks. Social implications – For policymakers, it is important to understand how psychological factors affect consumer behavior in order to incorporate such perspective into modern insurance policy measures. An analysis of such factors may also increase the self-consciousness of insurance consumers and enrich consumer self-protection. Originality/value – The authors propose an interdisciplinary approach to analyze insurance demand and test different kinds of insurance coverage, suggesting not homogenous hedging behaviors in relation to specific ambiguous events.

scholarly journals Using Sociological Images to Develop the Sociological Imagination

2021 ◽  
pp. 0092055X2110545
Author(s):  
Georgiana Bostean ◽  
Lisa Leitz
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Regional University ◽  
Lower Division

We present a two-assignment series that developed students’ sociological imaginations and that could be done in a face-to-face or online course. The series used the Sociological Images blog and students’ own visual images (e.g., photographs) to meet course learning goals: (1) link sociological theories and concepts to social events/trends, (2) apply these ideas to real life by identifying sociologically relevant images in daily life, and (3) communicate sociological analysis in academic and popular written forms. The use of a blog encourages students to embrace public sociology. We present faculty and student assessment data (pretest from nonequivalent comparisons group) from six lower division sociology classes at a regional university (N = 157). Students entered with little a priori ability to examine images using a sociological lens, and students who completed the series successfully applied sociological concepts and theories to critically examine elements of their lives, achieving core sociology disciplinary learning goals.

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