Distributed Feedforward and Feedback Processing across Perisylvian Cortex Supports Human Speech

Speech production is a complex human function requiring continuous feedforward commands together with reafferent feedback processing. These processes are carried out by distinct frontal and posterior cortical networks, but the degree and timing of their recruitment and dynamics remain unknown. We present a novel deep learning architecture that translates neural signals recorded directly from cortex to an interpretable representational space that can reconstruct speech. We leverage state-of-the-art learnt decoding networks to disentangle feedforward vs. feedback processing. Unlike prevailing models, we find a mixed cortical architecture in which frontal and temporal networks each process both feedforward and feedback information in tandem. We elucidate the timing of feedforward and feedback related processing by quantifying the derived receptive fields. Our approach provides evidence for a surprisingly mixed cortical architecture of speech circuitry together with decoding advances that have important implications for neural prosthetics.

Enactivism and Correctional Science: An Analysis of Forensic Treatment of Agency in a Neoliberal Climate

<p>In correctional practice, as primarily informed and driven by the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) practice framework of Bonta and Andrews (2017), theoretical explanations of agency bear significance in their representation and consequent treatment of ‘criminal’ agents. Due to a state of ‘theoretical illiteracy’ however, this domain remains largely divorced from the insights offered by current affective science (Ward, 2019). The purpose of this paper is to outline key principles offered within an ‘enactive’ paradigm; a contemporary strand of cognitive science that depicts cognition as embodied, embedded and enactive, ultimately submitting a relational cognitive-affective agency, constituted of habits of bodies and minds (Maise & Hanna, 2019; Ward, Silverman & Villalobos, 2017). Enactivism offers various elements that contrast with traditional internal ‘cognitivist models’ of agency, which inform mainstream correctional practice; these include the active, affective and social nature of cognition, which as is illustrated, lends emphasis to the impact of prevalent ideologies, through institutions, upon agents (Maise & Hanna, 2019). In this project I outline current correctional treatment of agency, as it stands in contrast to insights offered by enactive accounts, and as embedded in a broader neoliberal context. Therefore I provide some critical examination of the relationship between psychological theory and neoliberal ideology, specifically focusing on principles of individualism and self-governance it is purported to cultivate. In conclusion I maintain that the RNR provides a thin representation of agency that is driven by an internal and limited perspective of functioning that precludes aspects essential to the personhood of agents including its active, affective and phenomenological nature. As embedded in a neoliberal context, I argue that this significantly limits rehabilitative practice, and reifies an abstraction of mindedness from material and social contexts. A pluralistic approach to rehabilitation is therefore necessary, including the enactive and related perspectives expounded in this piece, in order to provide explanation and therefore practice beyond entrenched normative assumptions of agency and human function.</p>

Enactivism and Correctional Science: An Analysis of Forensic Treatment of Agency in a Neoliberal Climate

<p>In correctional practice, as primarily informed and driven by the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) practice framework of Bonta and Andrews (2017), theoretical explanations of agency bear significance in their representation and consequent treatment of ‘criminal’ agents. Due to a state of ‘theoretical illiteracy’ however, this domain remains largely divorced from the insights offered by current affective science (Ward, 2019). The purpose of this paper is to outline key principles offered within an ‘enactive’ paradigm; a contemporary strand of cognitive science that depicts cognition as embodied, embedded and enactive, ultimately submitting a relational cognitive-affective agency, constituted of habits of bodies and minds (Maise & Hanna, 2019; Ward, Silverman & Villalobos, 2017). Enactivism offers various elements that contrast with traditional internal ‘cognitivist models’ of agency, which inform mainstream correctional practice; these include the active, affective and social nature of cognition, which as is illustrated, lends emphasis to the impact of prevalent ideologies, through institutions, upon agents (Maise & Hanna, 2019). In this project I outline current correctional treatment of agency, as it stands in contrast to insights offered by enactive accounts, and as embedded in a broader neoliberal context. Therefore I provide some critical examination of the relationship between psychological theory and neoliberal ideology, specifically focusing on principles of individualism and self-governance it is purported to cultivate. In conclusion I maintain that the RNR provides a thin representation of agency that is driven by an internal and limited perspective of functioning that precludes aspects essential to the personhood of agents including its active, affective and phenomenological nature. As embedded in a neoliberal context, I argue that this significantly limits rehabilitative practice, and reifies an abstraction of mindedness from material and social contexts. A pluralistic approach to rehabilitation is therefore necessary, including the enactive and related perspectives expounded in this piece, in order to provide explanation and therefore practice beyond entrenched normative assumptions of agency and human function.</p>

Individual differences in mental imagery in different modalities and levels of intentionality

Mental imagery is a highly common component of everyday cognitive functioning. While substantial progress is being made in clarifying this fundamental human function, much is still unclear or unknown. A more comprehensive account of mental imagery aspects would be gained by examining individual differences in age, sex, and background experience in an activity and their association with imagery in different modalities and intentionality levels. The current online study combined multiple imagery self-report measures in a sample (n = 279) with a substantial age range (18–65 years), aiming to identify whether age, sex, or background experience in sports, music, or video games were associated with aspects of imagery in the visual, auditory, or motor stimulus modality and voluntary or involuntary intentionality level. The findings show weak positive associations between age and increased vividness of voluntary auditory imagery and decreased involuntary musical imagery frequency, weak associations between being female and more vivid visual imagery, and relations of greater music and video game experience with higher involuntary musical imagery frequency. Moreover, all imagery stimulus modalities were associated with each other, for both intentionality levels, except involuntary musical imagery frequency, which was only related to higher voluntary auditory imagery vividness. These results replicate previous research but also contribute new insights, showing that individual differences in age, sex, and background experience are associated with various aspects of imagery such as modality, intentionality, vividness, and frequency. The study’s findings can inform the growing domain of applications of mental imagery to clinical and pedagogical settings.

Topical Review: Vision and Gait in Older Adults: A Clinician’s Perspective

Gait is an important human function, and vision is the dominant sensory input used during gait. Vision aids pathfinding decisions and provide ongoing sensory feedback to maintain appropriate balance and prevent falls. Eye care providers who wish to effectively address the impact of vision impairment on the risk of falling will customize their management plan based on specific impairments. This article provides an overview of normal sensory integration as it applies to gait, with an emphasis on vision. It also presents an evidence-based review of visual dysfunctions that cause falls, as well as strategies to reduce falls in adults with visual impairment, with emphasis on patients over age 65.

Impaired Learning From Errors and Punishments and Maladaptive Avoidance—General Mechanisms Underlying Self-Regulation Disorders?

Self-regulation (SR) is an important human function that relates to quality of life in multiple domains including mental health. Previous studies have found important correlates of low SR including impulsivity and poor emotional regulation; however, underpinnings of low SR are incompletely understood. Individuals low in SR frequently engage in maladaptive behaviors (substance abuse, procrastination, etc.) despite negative consequences. This phenomenon suggests that impaired learning from errors and punishments may be important mechanisms underlying low SR. Consistently, previous studies observed impaired error processing in a wide spectrum of individuals with low SR and impaired learning from errors and punishments in SR-related disorders. We also note a possible role for poor emotional regulation and refer to concepts suggesting that engaging in maladaptive behaviors may serve as short term emotion regulation strategies aimed at avoiding or alleviating negative affect. We speculate on transdiagnostic factors underlying poor SR. We propose that impaired error processing (possibly related to striatal functioning) may prevent subjects with low SR from learning from errors and punishments and thus learning better SR skills or tendencies. Additionally, impaired coping in emotionally challenging situations, possibly related to prefrontal-cortical functioning, may lead to maladaptive avoidance. Moreover, maladaptive behaviors may be reinforced by the temporary decreases in negative affect and rewarding values of behaviors. Given existing knowledge gaps, we call for more extensive research and describe possible directions and challenges for future studies.

Theory of Dining

Dining, the activity of eating food, is a basic human function. A theory of dining is offered focused on dining at home, in the local community, and while traveling far away from home. Dining is the process of consuming food, regardless of geography, culture, or era; however, human behaviors do vary depending on the setting. A historical overview of restaurants and dining in different areas of the world is presented to provide a background for the theory. Use of the theory for managers is suggested.

Immediate Effects of Myofascial Release Technique on Muscle Flexibility, Vertical Jump Height in Recreational Badminton Players

Introduction: In the life of a normal human function or in doing activity of daily living muscular flexibility plays an important role. Flexibility is the ability of a joint or series of joints to move through an unrestricted, pain free range of motion. A limitation in the muscular flexibility leads to several musculoskeletal overuse injuries in players life and remarkably affect a person’s level of function. Myofascial Release (MFR) is a manual soft tissue technique that is frequently used in physical therapy for the flexibility purpose. Aim: To find out the immediate effects of MFR on muscle flexibility, vertical jump height in recreational badminton players. Materials and Methods: This was a case control study design with total of 60 recreational badminton players were recruited for the study during July 2018 to May 2019 for 10 months. All the subject was assigned into three groups as per the selected muscle like quadriceps, hamstring and calf muscle. Vertical jump height Knee flexion angle Popliteal Angle (PA) distance from the wall (Lunge test) was measured pre-intervention and post intervention. MFR technique was applied as an intervention. Paired sample t test was used to find out the immediate effect. Results: Quadriceps and hamstring play a significant effect in vertical jump height and the flexibility of the muscles increases after the administration of MFR. Vertical jump height for quadriceps group (p<0.029) showed extremely significant improvement. Flexibility of quadriceps (p<0.001), hamstring (p<0.001) and calf (p<0.001) also showed significant differences. Conclusion: The study concluded that MFR has immediate effect on increasing muscle flexibility and muscle power.

Why Is Change Hard?

This book chapter will first introduce theories in social and cognitive psychology to describe the process of change. The social intuitionist model (Haidt, 2001) is applied to illustrate how communication operates in human function. When confronted by the need to change, individuals respond first from intuition, and only after our response do, we acquire rational justification. Additionally, this chapter provides explanations of traumatic brain functions from the neuroscience perspective. Practitioners have to recognize both the intuitive and deliberative process when working with individuals who experience trauma with physiological reactivity. This chapter also discusses strategies to reduce traumatic stress and restore the proper balance between the rational and emotional brain.

Inference and Search on Graph-Structured Spaces

How do people learn functions on structured spaces? And how do they use this knowledge to guide their search for rewards in situations where the number of options is large? We study human behavior on structures with graph-correlated values and propose a Bayesian model of function learning to describe and predict their behavior. Across two experiments, one assessing function learning and one assessing the search for rewards, we find that our model captures human predictions and sampling behavior better than several alternatives, generates human-like learning curves, and also captures participants’ confidence judgements. Our results extend past models of human function learning and reward learning to more complex, graph-structured domains.