WHAT IS NORMAL COGNITIVE AGING?

При помощи Адденбрукской когнитивной шкалы (ACE-III), теста Струпа (ТС), Шкалы памяти Векслера (WMS) и Батареи лобной дисфункции (FAB) нами были обследованы 44 респондента практически здоровой «возрастной нормы» 52-95 лет. В зависимости от возраста выборка была разделена на две группы - в 1-ю вошли лица младше 65 лет (64 года включительно), 2-ю составили испытуемые старше 65 лет. Статистически достоверные различия результатов обследования респондентов двух групп посредством ACE-III обнаружены по показателю память и общему баллу методики, при этом по мере увеличения возраста снижался уровень показателей когнитивного функционирования, измеренных посредством ACE-III. Результаты сравнения данных обследования при помощи ТС свидетельствуют о снижении темпа работы в условиях нагрузки и ослаблении гибкости организации мыслительной деятельности и концентрации внимания, а также о повышенной интерференции у лиц старшей возрастной группы, обследованной нами. Корреляционный анализ данных ТС и возраста обследованных показал, что с возрастом происходит снижение когнитивного контроля над обработкой информации, нарастают интерферирующие воздействия, снижается точность и темп деятельности, а сама деятельность становится более ригидной. Результаты корреляционного анализа показателей WMS и возраста продемонстрировали снижение уровня психического контроля над деятельностью, ухудшение памяти в зрительной модальности, нарастание снижения оперативной памяти по мере его увеличения. По мере старения у обследованных здоровых испытуемых обнаружено ухудшение лобных (регуляторных) функций, оцененных при помощи FAB. Using the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III), the Stroop Test (ST), the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), we examined 44 respondents of an almost healthy «age norm» from 52 to 95 years old. Depending on age, the sample was divided into 2 groups, the first group included people under the age of 65 years (64 years old inclusive), the second group consisted of subjects over 65 years old. Statistically significant differences in the results of the survey of respondents of the two groups by the ACE-III were found in Memory and Total score indicators, while the level of cognitive functioning measured by the ACE-III decreased with age. The results of comparing the survey data using the Stroop Test indicate a decrease in the pace of work under load conditions and a weakening in the flexibility of organization of mental activity and concentration of attention, as well as increased interference in individuals of a more age group examined by us. Correlation analysis of the Stroop test data and the age of the examined showed cognitive control over information processing decreases, interfering influences increase, accuracy and pace of activity decrease, and the activity itself becomes more rigidas age increases. The results of the correlation analysis of the indicators of the WMS and age demonstrated a decrease in the level of mental control over activity, a deterioration of memory in the visual modality, and a progressive working memory reduction as age increases. With the growth of age, a decrease in frontal (executive) functions of healthy subjects, evaluated by the FAB, was found.

Western Racist Ideologies and the Nigerian Predicament

Racism is responsible for discrimination against some citizens in Nigeria. It influences government's policies and actions and militates against equity and equal opportunity for all. It has effaced indigenous values and ebbed the country into groaning predicaments of shattered destiny and derailed national development. Racism hinges on superciliousness and the assumed superiority of one tribe and religion over the others. These bring to the fore two forms of racism in Nigeria: institutional and interpersonal racisms. The Western selfish motive to dominate, marginalize, and sustain economic gains, political expansion, psycho-mental control, and socio-cultural devaluations escalated racism in Nigeria. Racist ideologies were entrenched through the selfish ventures of slave trade, colonialism and neo-colonialism, which enforced an unprecedented unjust harvest of impugnable systemic practices. Neo-colonial forces continue to promote ethnocentrism, cultural imperialism, and the dehumanization, exploitation, oppression, and suppression of Africans. Adopting a methodical approach of critical analysis, this article spotlights the negative effects of racism on Nigeria's development. However, the bristling challenges of racist ideologies can be resolved within the epistemological compass of gynist deconstruction approach to human thought and action for a better universe of one human race.

China’s “Gold Shield”: Monemonic Internet Practice Management Policy

Actualization of the past is a natural manifestation of need for reflection of historical memory for society; it also pushes elites to search for new forms of “mental control” over public consciousness. The research is devoted to the problem of keeping historical memory in the context of censorship on the Internet. The goal is to identify the symbolic effects of historical memory that arises as a result of narrative representations of history and cognitive mnemonic practices of network media and online Internet communities in the context of censorship. Result of this research was conceptualization of the notion for “cognitive mnemonic Internet practices”, their typology in accordance with the types of cognitive censorship of network media and a description of their symbolic effects. Concept of the Internet as a mnemonic system is theoretically grounded, a typology of censorship strategies is given as a factor affecting the displacement of some forms of historical memory from the public sphere of society and their expression in various network mnemonic practices. The case study analysis of modern Chinese network media allowed for conceptualization of the notion of “cognitive mnemonic Internet practices” and grounding the conclusions.

Mental Control of Musical Imagery in the Lab and Everyday Life: Combining Behavioral and Experience-Sampling Approaches

Mental control of musical imagery consists of two components: initiation—did you start it on purpose?—and management—did you alter, sustain, or end the experience after it began?. The present research examined these two components of mental control using both behavioral lab-based musical imagery tasks and self-reports of mental control in daily life using experience sampling methods. Both music students and members of the general university community participated. This project had four primary aims: (1) examining the relationship between initiation and management of musical imagery; (2) assessing how mental control abilities differ as a function of stimulus type; (3) describing perceptions of initiation and management in daily life; and (4) evaluating how well performance on lab-based behavioral tasks aligns with self-reported mental control in daily life. The findings suggest that initiation and management abilities are closely related, people perform equivalently when asked to control tonal stimuli and song stimuli, people generally report the ability to control musical imagery in daily life, and self-report and behavioral assessments of mental control of musical imagery show a modest association. These findings have implications for current understandings of control of musical imagery and identify several avenues for future research.

Advances in the mental control of a robotic hand

Introduction: The present article is the product of the research "Advances in the mental control of a robotic hand", developed at the University of Pamplona in the year 2019. Problem: Currently one of the main problems presented by robotic hand prostheses is the way in which the user indicates the movements to be performed. Given this, the best results have been obtained using invasive systems. Objective: The main objective of the system is to allow a person to control the movements and / or gestures of a robotic hand using their thoughts, in such a way that the control is as natural and precise as possible. Methodology: Use is made of a non-invasive, low-cost brain-computer interface (BCI) for the generation of control system references. Results: The performance of the system is directly subject to the user's ability to recreate actions or movements in their mind; the more defined your thinking, the better the control response. Conclusion: Mind control represents a new challenge for users, but as it is used, it becomes a more natural and precise control method, offering great control possibilities to people who make daily use of robotic hand prostheses. Originality: Through this research, an alternative is formulated for the control of hand prostheses, which does not require invasive systems and has the advantage of being low cost. Limitations: Frustration, stress and external noise are factors that directly affect the performance of the system.