scholarly journals The failures of functionalism (for memory)

2021 ◽  
pp. 201-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Robins

In Memory: A Self-Referential Account, Fernández offers a functionalist account of the metaphysics of memory, which is portrayed as presenting significant advantages over causal and narrative theories of memory. In this paper, I present a series of challenges for Fernández’s functionalism. There are issues with both the particulars of the account and the use of functionalism more generally. First, in characterizing the mnemonic role of episodic remembering, Fernández fails to make clear how the mental image type that plays this role should be identified. Second, I argue that a functionalist approach, which appeals to the overall structure of the memory system and tendencies of mental state types, is ill-suited to the metaphysical question about episodic remembering that is of interest to the causal and narrative theorists with which Fernandez engages. Fernández’s self-referential account of memory has many other virtues, but functionalism is a poor fit for episodic remembering.

2004 ◽  
Vol 62 (2a) ◽  
pp. 206-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Roberto de Brito-Marques ◽  
José Eulálio Cabral-Filho

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that schooling can influence performance in cognitive assessement tests. In developing countries, formal education is limited for most people. The use of tests such as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), could have an adverse effect on the evaluation of illiterate and low education individuals. OBJECTIVE: To propose a new version of MMSE as a screening test to assess Illiterate and low education people. METHOD: A study was carried out enrolling 232 individuals, aged 60 or more of low and middle socio-economic classes. Three groups were studied: Illiterate;1-4 schooling years; 5-8 schooling years. The new version (MMSEmo) consisted of modifications in copy and calculation items of the adapted MMSE (MMSEad) to Portuguese language. The maximum possible score was the same in the two versions: total, 30; copy, 1 and calculation, 5. RESULTS: In the total test score ANOVA detected main effects for education and test, as well as an interaction between these factors: higher schooling individuals performed better than lower schooling ones in both test versions; scores in MMSE-mo were higher than in MMSE-ad in every schooling group. CONCLUSION: Higher schooling levels improve the perfomance in both test versions, the copy and calculation items contributing to this improvement. This might depend on cultural factors. The use of MMSE-mo in illiterate and low school individuals could prevent false positive and false negative cognitive evaluations.


2020 ◽  
pp. 147-163
Author(s):  
Pietro Cipresso ◽  
Javier Fernández Alvarez ◽  
Giuseppe Riva ◽  
Laura Calvillo

Author(s):  
Κρυσταλλένια Διμηνίδου ◽  
Δέσποινα Mωραΐτου ◽  
Γεωργία Παπαντωνίου

Η παρούσα έρευνα αποσκοπούσε να εξετάσει την άμεση επίδραση του άγχους εξέτασης στη Δοκιμασία Σύντομης Γνωστικής Εκτίμησης (ΔΣΓΕ, MMSE Mini Mental State Examination), καθώς και την τυχόν έμμεση επίδραση της ηλικίας και βασικών βιοδεικτών που συνδέονται με το γνωστικό γήρας στη ΔΣΓΕ, μέσω του άγχους εξέτασης. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 60 άτομα και των δύο φύλων, ηλικίας άνω των 55 ετών. Οι συμμετέχοντες κλήθηκαν να απαντήσουν αρχικά σε μια σειρά ερωτήσεων που αφορούσαν τα ατομικάδημογραφικά τους χαρακτηριστικά καθώς και το αν έχουν διαγνωστεί ή μη ως υπερτασικοί, υπερχοληστεριναιμικοί ή/και διαβητικοί. Στη συνέχεια, τους ζητήθηκε να απαντήσουν σε ερωτηματολόγιο σχετικό με το άγχος που γενικά νιώθουν πριν, κατά τη διάρκεια και μετά από μια εξέταση των γνωστικών τους ικανοτήτων. Οι γνωστικές τους ικανότητες εξετάστηκαν μέσω της ΔΣΓΕ. Η στατιστική ανάλυση των δεδομένων που συγκεντρώθηκαν, έδειξε ότι το άγχος εξέτασης επιδρά στην επίδοση στη ΔΣΓΕ. Ειδικότερα, βρέθηκε ότι από τις δύο βασικές διαστάσεις του άγχους εξέτασης μόνον η συναισθηματικότητα επιδρά άμεσα κι αρνητικά στην επίδοση στη ΔΣΓΕ, ενώ η ανησυχία όχι. Η ηλικία και ο βιοδείκτης «διαβήτης» φάνηκε ότι επιδρούν επίσης αρνητικά στην επίδοση στη ΔΣΓΕ. <br />στόσο η επίδρασή τους είναι μόνον άμεση και όχι έμμεση, μέσω του άγχους εξέτασης. Μάλιστα, ο διαβήτης επιδρά άμεσα τόσο στη ΔΣΓΕ όσο και στη συναισθηματικότητα, εξαλείφοντας την επίδραση της συναισθηματικότητας στη ΔΣΓΕ.


Author(s):  
Slobodan Savovic ◽  
Vladimir Pilija ◽  
Slobodanka Lemajic ◽  
Maja Buljcik ◽  
Dejan Nincic ◽  
...  

The sense of smell is the least examined of all senses. The significance of the organs of smell is in their influence on the mental state as well as on the vegetative, visceral and sexual functions. The objective of this experiment was to define the influence of sex on the olfactory function. It was performed on 120 subjects (60 females and 60 males) divided into three age groups (20 - 30; 31 - 40; 41 - 50 years of age). The experiment was carried out by the Fortunato-Niccolini olfactometric method using six odorous experimental substances: A - anethol, PH - phenyl-ethyl-alcohol, C citral, M - menthol, V- vanillin and P - pyridine, the thresholds of perception (TP) and identification (TI) being defined for each odorous substance. The examined females had slightly lower thresholds of perception (TP) and identification (TI) in relation to the males of the same age group. However, the differences were not statistically significant except for the group of subjects between 41 and 50 years of age where the females, being in the pre-menopause, had significantly better olfactory functions. The results can be explained by the weakening of the olfactory power as a result of ageing in both sexes, however, the females still experienced the protective role of sex hormones.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (04) ◽  
pp. 318-329
Author(s):  
Marie Moore Channell ◽  
Rebekah Bosley

AbstractChildren with Down syndrome (DS) have both strengths and difficulties in speech, language, and social communication. Mental state language—the ability to discuss others' perspectives such as their thoughts, feelings, and intentions—represents a foundational social communicative skill that is delayed in many children with DS, even into the school-age years. The purpose of this article is to review the evidence base on mental state language development in school-age children with DS, focusing in particular on assessment and intervention. We discuss assessment procedures that are both age appropriate and developmentally appropriate for this population. We also present preliminary data highlighting the role of caregivers in supporting mental state language development in school-age children with DS through shared storytelling. We propose that interventions aimed at supporting mental state language development in DS should include a focus on caregiver–child shared storybook reading, even in the school-age years. Therefore, we discuss key considerations for clinicians when teaching caregivers strategies for supporting mental state language and social communication in children with DS.


Physiotherapy ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina Morga ◽  
Justyna Traczyk ◽  
Klaudyna Wittenbeck ◽  
Agnieszka Zygmont

AbstractThe aim of the review was to find the factors correlated to the state of mental and physical health of the elderly as well as the factors, behaviours and activities that can be influenced and potentially modified. We performed an analysis of results of research conducted in many places all across the world among the persons after the age of 50. The results of this research indicate a significant role of physical activity in functioning of the elderly. They show how it influences their performance of everyday activities, their mood and health. We discuss the research taking into account the diagnostic tools used, the interventions performed and their effectiveness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Hasrini Sari ◽  
Lidia Anggraeni

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh desain visual post Instagram dalam hal tipe gambar, tagar, jumlah likes, dan caption berupa informasi harga, terhadap tingkat atensi visual pemirsa, dan intensi pembelian. Keempat elemen tersebut dihipotesiskan akan mempengaruhi atensi visual pemirsa, dan pada akhirnya mempengaruhi intensi membeli. Metode desain eksperimen digunakan untuk menguji hipotesis dengan alat bantu eye tracker untuk mengukur atensi visual. Instagram dari sebuah perusahaan UKM yang menjual tas tangan (pouch) digunakan sebagai objek penelitian. Delapan stimulus berpasangan (gambar produk dan konsumen) yang merupakan dummy post Instagram dirancang berdasarkan hipotesis penelitian, dan satu pasang stimulus post Instagram yang ada saat ini digunakan sebagai kontrol. Empat puluh partisipan dipaparkan kesembilan stimulus menggunakan pendekatan within subject design. Dari hasil statistik deskriptif, ditemukan bahwa partisipan lebih menyukai tipe gambar produk, dan stimulus yang paling disukai yang menampilkan caption keterangan harga, hashtag serta jumlah likes yang banyak. Uji statistik inferensial menunjukkan adanya perbedaan tipe gambar (gambar produk dan gambar konsumen) dan jumlah likes mempengaruhi tingkat atensi visual pemirsa, serta tidak ada hubungan antara tingkat atensi terhadap tampilan Instagram dengan intensi membeli.  Abstract[Role Of Image Type, Hashtag, Number Of Likes And Pricing Information On Instagram Against Intensi Buying] This research is intended to investigate the influence of visual design of Instagram concerning picture type, hashtag, number of likes, and price information, on intention to buy. These elements are suggested to influence visual attention of the audience, and ultimately influence the intention to buy. Experiment design method is implemented to test the hypotheses using an eye tracker device to measure visual attention. An Instagram post from an SME offering pouch is used as a research object. Eight paired of dummy Instagram posts (the product picture and the consumer picture) are designed to test the research hypotheses, and a pair of existing Instagram post acts as a control stimulus. Forty participants are exposed to all of the stimuli using a within-subject design approach. Descriptive statistic analysis shows that participants like product picture more than consumer, and stimulus containing price information, hashtag, and many likes. Inferential statistic analysis shows that picture type and likes all influence visual attention and no significant relationship between visual attention and intention to buy.Keywords: Intention to buy; visual attention; statistic inferensia; desain eksperimen


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