Electrophysiological Correlates of Shyness Affected by Facial Attractiveness

Previous neurological studies of shyness have focused on the hemispheric asymmetry of alpha spectral power. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have focused on the interaction between different frequencies bands in the brain of shyness. Additionally, shy individuals are even shyer when confronted with a group of people they consider superior to them. This study aimed to reveal the neural basis of shy individuals using the delta-beta correlation. Further, it aimed to investigate the effect of evaluators’ facial attractiveness on the delta-beta correlation of shyness during the speech anticipation phase. We recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) activity of 94 participants during rest and anticipation of the public speaking phase. Moreover, during the speech anticipation phase, participants were presented with high or low facial attractiveness. The results showed that, as predicted, the delta-beta correlation in the frontal region was more robust for high shyness than for low shyness during the speech anticipation phase. However, no significant differences were observed in the delta-beta correlation during the baseline phase. Further exploration found that the delta-beta correlation was more robust for high facial attractiveness than low facial attractiveness in the high shyness group. However, no significant difference was found in the low-shyness group. This study suggests that a stronger delta-beta correlation might be the neural basis for shy individuals. Moreover, high facial attractiveness might enhance the delta-beta correlation of high shyness in anticipation of public speaking.

Breastmilk as a Multisensory Intervention for Relieving Pain during Newborn Screening Procedures: A Randomized Control Trial

The study aim was to explore the effects of multisensory breastmilk interventions on short-term pain of infants during newborn screening. This is a randomized controlled trial. A total of 120 newborns were recruited and assigned by randomization to one of three treatment conditions: Condition 1 = routine care (gentle touch + verbal comfort); Condition 2 = breastmilk odor + routine care; or Condition 3 = breastmilk odor + taste + routine care. Pain was scored with the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS). Data were collected from video recordings at 1 min intervals over the 11 phases of heel sticks: phase 1, 5 min before heel stick without stimuli (baseline); phase 2 to phase 6 (during heel stick); and phase 7 to phase 11 (recovery). Generalized estimating equations compared differences in pain scores for newborns over phases among the three conditions. Compared with the routine care, provision of the odor and taste of breastmilk reduce NIPS scores during heel sticks (B = −4.36, SE = 0.45, p < 0.001 [phase6]), and during recovery (B = −3.29, SE = 0.42, p < 0.001 [phase7]). Our findings provide new data, which supports the use of multisensory interventions that include breastmilk odor and taste in combination with gentle touch and verbal comfort to relieve pain in infants undergoing newborn screening.

Idiosyncratic multisensory reweighting as the common cause for motion sickness susceptibility and adaptation to postural perturbation

Numerous empirical and modeling studies have been done to find a relationship between postural stability and the susceptibility to motion sickness (MS). However, while the demonstration of a causal relationship between postural stability and the susceptibility to MS is still lacking, recent studies suggest that motion sick individuals have genuine deficits in selecting and reweighting multimodal sensory information. Here we investigate how the adaptation to changing postural situations develops and how the dynamics in multisensory integration is modulated on an individual basis along with MS susceptibility. We used a postural task in which participants stood on a posturographic platform with either eyes open (EO) or eyes closed (EC) during three minutes. The platform was static during the first minute (baseline phase), oscillated harmonically during the second minute (perturbation phase) and returned to its steady state for the third minute (return phase). Principal component (PC) analysis was applied to the sequence of short-term power density spectra of the antero-posterior position of the center of pressure. Results showed that the less motion-sick a participant is, the more similar is his balance between high and low frequencies for EO and EC conditions (as calculated from the eigenvector of the first PC). By fitting exponential decay models to the first PC score in the return phase, we estimated, for each participant in each condition, the sluggishness to return to the baseline spectrum. We showed that the de-adaptation following platform oscillation depends on the susceptibility to MS. These results suggest that non motion-sick participants finely adjust their spectrum in the perturbation phase (i.e. reweighting) and therefore take longer to return to their initial postural control particularly with eyes closed. Thus, people have idiosyncratic ways of doing sensory reweighting for postural control, these processes being tied to MS susceptibility.

Comparing the Transfer Effects of Three Neurocognitive Training Protocols in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Single-Case Experimental Design

The current study used behavioural and electroencephalograph measures to compare the transferability of three home-based interventions — cognitive training (CT), neurofeedback training (NFT), and CT combined with NFT — for reducing symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). Following a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design, twelve children were randomised to a training condition. Each child completed a baseline phase, followed by an intervention phase. The intervention phase consisted of 20 sessions of at-home training. Tau-U analysis and standardised visual analysis were adopted to detect effects. Results showed that CT improved inhibitory function and NFT improved alpha EEG activity and working memory. The combined condition, which was a reduced ‘dose’ of CT and NFT, did not show any improvements. The three conditions did not alleviate AD/HD symptoms. While CT and NFT may have transfer effects on executive functions, considering the lack of improvement in symptoms, this study does not support CT and NFT on their own as a treatment for children with AD/HD.

Reducing Blindism Behavior with Self Management Technique for Blind Students in Class VIII at SLB-A YKAB Surakarta

This study aims to find out the influence of self management techniques in reducing blindism behavior owned by visually impaired students in class VIII at SLB-A YKAB Surakarta. This research is a quantitative research using experimental research design with a single subject or Single Subject Research (SSR). The subjects of this study were visually impaired students of class VIII at SLB-A YKAB Surakarta. The data collection techniques that used in this study were the observation of participants and non-participants. Data analysis techniques used are visual analysis techniques in conditions and visual analysis between conditions. The results of experiments in the baseline phase were conducted as many as four sessions, obtained blindism frequency data in students as many as 20, 19, 21 and 21 times. This shows that the trend of the blindism behavior of educated participants was increased with a stability level of 100%, so that intervention was needed. The intervention phase was carried out in eight sessions and data on the frequency of blindism on students were 16, 12, 11, 11, 10, 9, 9 and 9 times. Referring to the data, it can be seen that the trend of decline and the level of stability of the data obtained was 87.5%. So that it can be concluded that self management techniques can reduce blindism behavior for visually impaired students in class VIII at SLB-A YKAB Surakarta.

Oral Antibiotic Prophylaxis Lowers Surgical Site Infection in Elective Colorectal Surgery: Results of a Pragmatic Cohort Study in Catalonia

Background: The role of oral antibiotic prophylaxis (OAP) and mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) in the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) after colorectal surgery is still controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of a bundle including both measures in a National Infection Surveillance Network in Catalonia. Methods: Pragmatic cohort study to assess the effect of OAP and MBP in reducing SSI rate in 65 hospitals, comparing baseline phase (BP: 2007–2015) with implementation phase (IP: 2016–2019). To compare the results, a logistic regression model was established. Results: Out of 34,421 colorectal operations, 5180 had SSIs (15.05%). Overall SSI rate decreased from 18.81% to 11.10% in BP and IP, respectively (OR 0.539, CI95 0.507–0.573, p < 0.0001). Information about bundle implementation was complete in 61.7% of cases. In a univariate analysis, OAP and MBP were independent factors in decreasing overall SSI, with OR 0.555, CI95 0.483–0.638, and OR 0.686, CI95 0.589–0.798, respectively; and similarly, organ/space SSI (O/S-SSI) (OR 0.592, CI95 0.494–0.710, and OR 0.771, CI95 0.630–0.944, respectively). However, only OAP retained its protective effect at both levels at multivariate analyses. Conclusions: oral antibiotic prophylaxis decreased the rates of SSI and O/S-SSI in a large series of elective colorectal surgery.

The Role of Free Spins in Slot-machine Gambling

<p>Slot-machine gambling is disproportionately associated with problem gambling. It is therefore important to develop an understanding of how the programming and features of slot machines influence gambling. The current research programme investigated a major feature of many slot machines which has so far been neglected by experimental research – the free-spins bonus feature. The first major focus of this research was a series of experiments that investigated whether participants prefer to play a slot-machine simulation with a free-spins bonus feature. In each experiment participants gambled on two simulations, one with a free-spins feature and a similar machine without free spins. Following this, participants could switch between the same simulations and the number of spins they made on each simulation was measured. Participants preferred the free-spins simulation, but only when the free-spins feature incorporated an increased rate of wins, music, animations, and graphics advertising the presence of the free-spins feature. In the final experiment investigating preference, we investigated whether responding was influenced by whether participants gambled with hypothetical money, or credit that could be exchanged for tangible rewards. Participants preferred the complex free-spins simulation similarly regardless of what they were gambling with, but selected larger bet amounts and gambled for longer when gambling with hypothetical money. The second major focus of this research programme was an investigation of whether free-spins features cause increased gambling persistence – a hallmark of disordered gambling. We developed a new persistence-measuring task which was adapted from research investigating Behavioural Momentum Theory. Participants gambled on two simulations in a multiple schedule design. An initial baseline phase consisted of four alternations of each component, one of which had the complex free-spins feature demonstrated to increase preference in the earlier experiments. Baseline phases then alternated with disruption phases where video-clips were embedded into the top right corner of the simulations. The rate at which participants gambled during baseline was compared to the rate at which they gambled when the videos were present, with bigger relative decreases in response rate during the disruption phases indicating less persistence. The free-spins feature did not cause participants to gamble more persistently. Further experiments also assessed whether different frequencies of wins caused participants to gamble more persistently, and results indicated that they did not. The findings of this research programme have implications for Behavioural Momentum Theory, suggesting that comparing response rate during disruption to response rate during baseline is not highly sensitive to small differences in reinforcement schedules. The findings are also relevant for slot-machine legislation, providing an indication that limiting or removing free-spins features may reduce player enjoyment without reducing persistent gambling. Furthermore, the task developed in the persistence investigation provides a useful tool which can be used to investigate how other features of slot machines influence persistence. Future research could, for example, investigate how free-spins features interact with other slot-machine features to influence gambling behaviour.</p>

The Role of Free Spins in Slot-machine Gambling

<p>Slot-machine gambling is disproportionately associated with problem gambling. It is therefore important to develop an understanding of how the programming and features of slot machines influence gambling. The current research programme investigated a major feature of many slot machines which has so far been neglected by experimental research – the free-spins bonus feature. The first major focus of this research was a series of experiments that investigated whether participants prefer to play a slot-machine simulation with a free-spins bonus feature. In each experiment participants gambled on two simulations, one with a free-spins feature and a similar machine without free spins. Following this, participants could switch between the same simulations and the number of spins they made on each simulation was measured. Participants preferred the free-spins simulation, but only when the free-spins feature incorporated an increased rate of wins, music, animations, and graphics advertising the presence of the free-spins feature. In the final experiment investigating preference, we investigated whether responding was influenced by whether participants gambled with hypothetical money, or credit that could be exchanged for tangible rewards. Participants preferred the complex free-spins simulation similarly regardless of what they were gambling with, but selected larger bet amounts and gambled for longer when gambling with hypothetical money. The second major focus of this research programme was an investigation of whether free-spins features cause increased gambling persistence – a hallmark of disordered gambling. We developed a new persistence-measuring task which was adapted from research investigating Behavioural Momentum Theory. Participants gambled on two simulations in a multiple schedule design. An initial baseline phase consisted of four alternations of each component, one of which had the complex free-spins feature demonstrated to increase preference in the earlier experiments. Baseline phases then alternated with disruption phases where video-clips were embedded into the top right corner of the simulations. The rate at which participants gambled during baseline was compared to the rate at which they gambled when the videos were present, with bigger relative decreases in response rate during the disruption phases indicating less persistence. The free-spins feature did not cause participants to gamble more persistently. Further experiments also assessed whether different frequencies of wins caused participants to gamble more persistently, and results indicated that they did not. The findings of this research programme have implications for Behavioural Momentum Theory, suggesting that comparing response rate during disruption to response rate during baseline is not highly sensitive to small differences in reinforcement schedules. The findings are also relevant for slot-machine legislation, providing an indication that limiting or removing free-spins features may reduce player enjoyment without reducing persistent gambling. Furthermore, the task developed in the persistence investigation provides a useful tool which can be used to investigate how other features of slot machines influence persistence. Future research could, for example, investigate how free-spins features interact with other slot-machine features to influence gambling behaviour.</p>

Influence of a Socially Assistive Robot on Physical Activity, Social Play Behavior, and Toy-Use Behaviors of Children in a Free Play Environment: A Within-Subjects Study

Background: Play is critical for children’s physical, cognitive, and social development. Technology-based toys like robots are especially of interest to children. This pilot study explores the affordances of the play area provided by developmentally appropriate toys and a mobile socially assistive robot (SAR). The objective of this study is to assess the role of the SAR on physical activity, play behavior, and toy-use behavior of children during free play.Methods: Six children (5 females, Mage = 3.6 ± 1.9 years) participated in the majority of our pilot study’s seven 30-minute-long weekly play sessions (4 baseline and 3 intervention). During baseline sessions, the SAR was powered off. During intervention sessions, the SAR was teleoperated to move in the play area and offered rewards of lights, sounds, and bubbles to children. Thirty-minute videos of the play sessions were annotated using a momentary time sampling observation system. Mean percentage of time spent in behaviors of interest in baseline and intervention sessions were calculated. Paired-Wilcoxon signed rank tests were conducted to assess differences between baseline and intervention sessions.Results: There was a significant increase in children’s standing (∼15%; Z = −2.09; p = 0.037) and a tendency for less time sitting (∼19%; Z = −1.89; p = 0.059) in the intervention phase as compared to the baseline phase. There was also a significant decrease (∼4.5%, Z = −2.70; p = 0.007) in peer interaction play and a tendency for greater (∼4.5%, Z = −1.89; p = 0.059) interaction with adults in the intervention phase as compared to the baseline phase. There was a significant increase in children’s interaction with the robot (∼11.5%, Z = −2.52; p = 0.012) in the intervention phase as compared to the baseline phase.Conclusion: These results may indicate that a mobile SAR provides affordances through rewards that elicit children’s interaction with the SAR and more time standing in free play. This pilot study lays a foundation for exploring the role of SARs in inclusive play environments for children with and without mobility disabilities in real-world settings like day-care centers and preschools.

Analyzing Baseline Phase Data

This chapter discusses the analysis of the baseline phase. The baseline serves as the comparison for information collected during subsequent phases. It allows the researcher or practitioner to determine if the target behaviors are changing in a desirable or undesirable direction. Two different types of baselines are presented, concurrent and reconstructed. In a concurrent baseline, data are collected simultaneously, while other assessment activities are being conducted. A reconstructed baseline is an attempt to approximate naturally occurring behavior based on memories or case records. Issues related to comparing phases are discussed and illustrated, including stability of the baseline, trending data, and autocorrelation (or serial dependency). Guidance is provided on how each of these can be assessed and addressed, including the transformation of highly autocorrelated data. Examples are provided throughout to illustrate each concept.