Belonging and Home

In this chapter, the authors discuss artifacts in which children explore belonging and home. The chapter defines the sense of belonging as a core feature of humanity and living together. The feeling of having a home and being at home is both an intimate and a socially shared aspect of belonging. The children expressed belonging to a wide range of spaces in their artifacts. This spatial span extends from macro to micro scale and indicates belonging based on spaces, social relations, and materiality. Even very young children can see and depict their belonging as multiple and including spatial and social dimensions. The analyzed artifacts reveal both concrete and symbolic approaches to belonging and home.

An integrated dataset of daily lake surface water temperature over Tibetan Plateau

Lake surface water temperature (LSWT) is a critical physical property of the aquatic ecosystem and an evident indicator of climate change. By combining the strengths of satellite-based observation and modelling, we have produced an integrated daily lake surface water temperature for 160 lakes across the Tibetan Plateau where in-situ observation is limited. The satellite-based lake-wide mean LSWT in the integrated dataset includes that for the daytime, night-time and for the daily mean for the period 2000–2017. The dataset is comparable with other satellite-based LSWT products (e.g., LSWT from AVHRR and ARC-Lake) and unique for its tempo-spatial span and resolution. Calibrated and validated against the satellite-based LSWT, complete and consistent daily LSWT dataset have been reconstructed and extended to the period 1978–2017 basing on the modified air2water model. According to the reconstructed LSWT dataset, it is found that annual LSWT of lakes in the Tibetan Plateau has increased significantly in the period 1978–2017 with increase rate ranging at 0.01 to 0.4 °C 10 a−1. The warming trends of the lakes are more evident in winter than in summer. The integrated dataset together with the methods introduced herein can contribute to the research community to explore water and heat balance changes and the consequent ecological effects at the Tibetan Plateau in the future researches. Data from this study are openly available via the Zenodo portal, with DOI https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5111400 (Guo et al., 2021).

How do we measure attention? Using factor analysis to establish construct validity of neuropsychological tests

We investigated whether standardized neuropsychological tests and experimental cognitive paradigms measure the same cognitive faculties. Specifically, do neuropsychological tests commonly used to assess attention measure the same construct as attention paradigms used in cognitive psychology and neuroscience? We built on the “general attention factor”, comprising several widely used experimental paradigms (Huang et al., 2012). Participants (n = 636) completed an on-line battery (TestMyBrain.org) of six experimental tests [Multiple Object Tracking, Flanker Interference, Visual Working Memory, Approximate Number Sense, Spatial Configuration Visual Search, and Gradual Onset Continuous Performance Task (Grad CPT)] and eight neuropsychological tests [Trail Making Test versions A & B (TMT-A, TMT-B), Digit Symbol Coding, Forward and Backward Digit Span, Letter Cancellation, Spatial Span, and Arithmetic]. Exploratory factor analysis in a subset of 357 participants identified a five-factor structure: (1) attentional capacity (Multiple Object Tracking, Visual Working Memory, Digit Symbol Coding, Spatial Span), (2) search (Visual Search, TMT-A, TMT-B, Letter Cancellation); (3) Digit Span; (4) Arithmetic; and (5) Sustained Attention (GradCPT). Confirmatory analysis in 279 held-out participants showed that this model fit better than competing models. A hierarchical model where a general cognitive factor was imposed above the five specific factors fit as well as the model without the general factor. We conclude that Digit Span and Arithmetic tests should not be classified as attention tests. Digit Symbol Coding and Spatial Span tap attentional capacity, while TMT-A, TMT-B, and Letter Cancellation tap search (or attention-shifting) ability. These five tests can be classified as attention tests.

The Relationship Between Facial Expression and Cognitive Function in Patients With Depression

Objective: Considerable evidence has shown that facial expression recognition ability and cognitive function are impaired in patients with depression. We aimed to investigate the relationship between facial expression recognition and cognitive function in patients with depression.Methods: A total of 51 participants (i.e., 31 patients with depression and 20 healthy control subjects) underwent facial expression recognition tests, measuring anger, fear, disgust, sadness, happiness, and surprise. The Chinese version of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), which assesses seven cognitive domains, was used.Results: When compared with a control group, there were differences in the recognition of the expressions of sadness (p = 0.036), happiness (p = 0.041), and disgust (p = 0.030) in a depression group. In terms of cognitive function, the scores of patients with depression in the Trail Making Test (TMT; p < 0.001), symbol coding (p < 0.001), spatial span (p < 0.001), mazes (p = 0.007), the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT; p = 0.001), category fluency (p = 0.029), and continuous performance test (p = 0.001) were lower than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. The accuracy of sadness and disgust expression recognition in patients with depression was significantly positively correlated with cognitive function scores. The deficits in sadness expression recognition were significantly correlated with the TMT (p = 0.001, r = 0.561), symbol coding (p = 0.001, r = 0.596), maze (p = 0.015, r = 0.439), and the BVMT (p = 0.044, r = 0.370). The deficits in disgust expression recognition were significantly correlated with impairments in the TMT (p = 0.005, r = 0.501) and symbol coding (p = 0.001, r = 0.560).Conclusion: Since cognitive function is impaired in patients with depression, the ability to recognize negative facial expressions declines, which is mainly reflected in processing speed, reasoning, problem-solving, and memory.

Individuals with congenital aphantasia show no significant neuropsychological deficits on imagery-related memory tasks

Aphantasia describes the experience of individuals who self-report a lack of voluntary visual imagery. It is not yet known whether individuals with aphantasia show deficits in cognitive and neuropsychological tasks thought to relate to aspects of visual imagery, including Spatial Span, One Touch Stocking of Cambridge, Pattern Recognition Memory, Verbal Recognition Memory and Mental Rotation. Twenty individuals with congenital aphantasia (VVIQ < 25) were identified and matched on measures of age and IQ to twenty individuals with typical imagery (VVIQ > 35). The only group differences found within the neuropsychological and visuo-spatial working memory tests were slower performance in the One Touch Stocking of Cambridge task during trials that had greater working memory load. These results suggest that the cognitive profile of people without imagery does not greatly differ from those with typical imagery when examined by group. However, observed group differences were apparent with increased working memory load. This raises questions about whether or not aphantasia represents a differences cognitive function or in conscious experience.

Distance and Potential Dependence of Charge Transport Through the P700 Reaction Center of Photosystem I

Photoinduced charge separation and transport through photosystem I (PSI) is an essential part of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. To investigate charge exchange processes mediated by the P700 reaction center of PSI, we have developed a strategy to functionalize gold electrodes with PSI complexes that orients and exposes their luminal side to the electrolyte. Bulk photoelectrochemical measurements demonstrate that PSI remains functional in a wide sample potential range around 0 mV/SSC. Electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM) imaging of individual complexes shows lateral sizes in agreement with the dimensions of PSI and an apparent height that is gated by the probe potential of ECTSM as reported for smaller globular redox proteins. This experimental setup enables ECSTM current-distance spectroscopic measurements that unequivocally correspond to the P700 side of PSI. In these conditions, we observe that the spatial span of the current is enhanced (the distance-decay rate β is reduced) through the solution at sample potential 0 mV/SSC and probe potential 400 mV/SSC. This process corresponds to hole injection into an electronic state that is available in the absence of illumination. We propose that a pair of tryptophan residues located near P700 and known to integrate the hydrophobic recognition site for plastocyanin may have an additional role as hole exchange mediator involved in charge transport through PSI.<br>

Distance and Potential Dependence of Charge Transport Through the P700 Reaction Center of Photosystem I

Photoinduced charge separation and transport through photosystem I (PSI) is an essential part of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. To investigate charge exchange processes mediated by the P700 reaction center of PSI, we have developed a strategy to functionalize gold electrodes with PSI complexes that orients and exposes their luminal side to the electrolyte. Bulk photoelectrochemical measurements demonstrate that PSI remains functional in a wide sample potential range around 0 mV/SSC. Electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM) imaging of individual complexes shows lateral sizes in agreement with the dimensions of PSI and an apparent height that is gated by the probe potential of ECTSM as reported for smaller globular redox proteins. This experimental setup enables ECSTM current-distance spectroscopic measurements that unequivocally correspond to the P700 side of PSI. In these conditions, we observe that the spatial span of the current is enhanced (the distance-decay rate β is reduced) through the solution at sample potential 0 mV/SSC and probe potential 400 mV/SSC. This process corresponds to hole injection into an electronic state that is available in the absence of illumination. We propose that a pair of tryptophan residues located near P700 and known to integrate the hydrophobic recognition site for plastocyanin may have an additional role as hole exchange mediator involved in charge transport through PSI.<br>

Working Memory Impairment as an Endophenotypic Marker in Patients with Schizophrenia: Failures in Encoding or Maintenance?

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Although working memory (WM) dysfunction has been proposed as a schizophrenia (SZ) endophenotype, the specific impaired component (encoding or maintenance) in patients and unaffected relatives remains inconclusive. We compared auditory-verbal and visuospatial WM in patients with SZ, unaffected siblings (USs), and healthy controls under 2 response conditions: immediate (encoding condition) and delayed (maintenance condition). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We included 22 participants per group, similar in age and gender. Three WM tests (Spatial Span, Backward Digit Span, and Letter-Number Span) were administered under both conditions in a counterbalanced manner to all participants. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Poorer performance was found in the SZ group for all tests (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). USs showed a better performance than patients, but worse than controls (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), except for the Backward Digit Span test, in which their performance was similar to that of the SZ group. The effect of the delayed response in all tasks was not significant in any group. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our results indicate that WM impairment, including auditory-verbal and visuospatial modalities, corresponds to a stable feature of the disease as it is present in USs, thus confirming its potential endophenotypic property in SZ patients. No effect of the delayed response was observed, suggesting failures in encoding in both patients and USs.

Early visual deprivation does not prevent the emergence of basic numerical abilities in blind children.

Studies involving congenitally blind adults demonstrated that visual experience is not a mandatory prerequisite for the emergence of efficient numerical abilities. It remains however unknown whether blind adults developed lifelong strategies to compensate for the absence of foundations vision would provide in infancy. We therefore assessed basic numerical abilities in blind and sighted children of 6 to 13 years old. We also assessed verbal and spatial working memory abilities and their relationship with mental arithmetic in both groups. Blind children showed similar or better numerical abilities as compared to the sighted. Blind children also outperformed their sighted peers in every task assessing verbal working memory and demonstrated a similar spatial span. The correlation between arithmetic and the spatial sketchpad was affected by the group while the correlations between arithmetic and the other two components (the central executive and the phonological loop) were not affected by early visual experience. Our data suggest that early blindness does not impair the development of basic numerical competencies in children but influences the associations between arithmetic and some working memory components.

The beneficial effects of physical exercise on visuospatial working memory in preadolescent children

<abstract> <p>The relationship between physical exercise and improvement in specific cognitive domains in children and adolescents who play sport has been recently reported, although the effects on visuospatial abilities have not yet been well explored. This study is aimed at evaluating in school-age children practicing artistic gymnastics the visuospatial memory by using a table version of the Radial Arm Maze (table-RAM) and comparing their performances with those ones who do not play any sport. The visuospatial performances of 14 preadolescent girls practicing artistic gymnastics aged between 7 and 10 years and those of 14 preadolescent girls not playing any sport were evaluated in the table-RAM forced-choice paradigm that allows disentangling short-term memory from working memory abilities. Data showed that the gymnasts obtained better performances than control group mainly in the parameters evaluating working memory abilities, such as within-phase errors and spatial span. Our findings emphasizing the role of physical activity on cognitive performances impel to promote physical exercise in educational and recreational contexts as well as to analyse the impact of other sports besides gymnastics on cognitive functioning.</p> </abstract>