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The Association Between Ongoing Task Context and Target Action Influences Activity-Based Prospective Memory

Description

Prospective memory is defined as the process of remembering to do something at a particular point in the future after first forming a conscious intention. There are three types of prospective memory intentions; event-based, time-based and activity-based intentions. Research has suggested that activity-based is one of the dominant prospective memory…

Prospective memory is defined as the process of remembering to do something at a particular point in the future after first forming a conscious intention. There are three types of prospective memory intentions; event-based, time-based and activity-based intentions. Research has suggested that activity-based is one of the dominant prospective memory failures that people self-report yet there is little research on this area of prospective memory. The current study focuses on how activity-based PM is influenced by the association between the match of internal context and intended action. According to previous research, similar context between intention formation and retrieval has been shown to facilitate prospective memory, which increases the execution of intentions. Based on literature, we hypothesized that there would be higher intention completion when the internal context matches the intended action to be completed in the future. Results showed that internal context affected activity-based intention completion significantly. However the interaction between internal context and the intended action did not significantly affect intention completion. Although we did not get the hypothesized interaction, the means do cross over showing the interaction pattern is there. We decided to treat this as a pilot study and replicate it with a well-powered experiment consisting of 560 valid participants.

ContributorsEdrington, Alexis Adele (Author) / Brewer, Gene (Thesis director) / Presson, Clark (Committee member) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)

Created2015-12

Hippocampal Contributions to the Temporal Dynamics of Behavior

Description

The capacity to track time in the seconds-to-minutes range, or interval timing, appears to be at least partially dependent on intact hippocampal (HPC) function. The current dissertation sought to dissociate timed responses, non-timed responses, and motivational aspects of behavior in order to propose a role of the HPC in specific…

The capacity to track time in the seconds-to-minutes range, or interval timing, appears to be at least partially dependent on intact hippocampal (HPC) function. The current dissertation sought to dissociate timed responses, non-timed responses, and motivational aspects of behavior in order to propose a role of the HPC in specific timing sub-processes. In Chapter 2, effects of dorsal HPC (dHPC) lesions on temporal responding in a switch-timing task revealed a critical role of dHPC in the acquisition of interval timing criteria. Following dHPC lesions, the start time of responding was systemically shortened, in a manner that was enhanced and sustained when encoding a novel long interval, consistent with a memory-based account of dHPC function in timed responding. Chapter 3 investigated effects of chronic stress, which has been shown to reliably induce HPC dendritic retraction, on interval timing, utilizing response-initiated schedules of reinforcement, which facilitate deconvolution of timing and motivation. This revealed task-dependent effects on interval timing and motivation, where stress induced transient effects on motivation in a prospective timing task, but transient effects on the variability of timed responding in a retrospective timing task, consistent with an effect on memory function in interval timing. Chapter 4 sought to bring timed responding, motivation, and non-timed behaviors under stronger procedural control, through the implementation of a response-initiated timing-with-opportunity-cost task, in which a cost is imposed on temporal food-seeking by the presence of a concurrent source of probabilistic reinforcement. This arrangement garnered strong schedule control of behavior, and revealed individual-subject differences in the effects of reward devaluation, such that it affected motivation in some rats, but temporal responding in others. Using this methodology, Chapter 5 investigated initial temporal entrainment of behavior under pharmacological deactivation of dHPC and revealed its critical involvement in updating memory to new temporal contingencies. Together, data from this dissertation contrast with prior conclusions that the HPC is not involved in learning temporal criteria, and instead suggest that its function is indeed critical to encoding temporal intervals in memory.

ContributorsGupta, Tanya A. (Author) / Sanabria, Federico (Thesis advisor) / Conrad, Cheryl (Committee member) / Olive, Foster (Committee member) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)

Created2022

Differential Time Frequency Dynamics in Memory and Prioritization of Value-Directed Stimuli

Description

The ability to preferentially encode and later retrieve valuable information amidst a plethora of miscellaneous information is an essential aspect of human memory. Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain the enhanced ability to successfully encode high value items. These include the hypothesis that the prefrontal executive control processes are…

The ability to preferentially encode and later retrieve valuable information amidst a plethora of miscellaneous information is an essential aspect of human memory. Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain the enhanced ability to successfully encode high value items. These include the hypothesis that the prefrontal executive control processes are engaged for valuable information, producing elaborative rehearsal strategy. Another hypothesis is that greater attentional resources are allocated to higher value items via the reward driven mid-brain dopamine systems interacting with hippocampal and cortical areas to produce enhanced memory. To further understand the neural mechanisms of value on memory, electroencephalogram data under a value-directed remembering paradigm (VDR) was analyzed for oscillatory activity. During the task, participants encoded words assigned a different point value with the instruction to maximize the point value of recognized words during test. To analyze frequency activity during encoding, conditions of subsequent memory as subjective responses of either recollection (i.e., “remember”) and familiarity (i.e., “know”) were assessed. A possible way to observe the allocation of attention resources in the brain are alpha oscillations (8-15 Hz) which are thought to underlie this process. Participants demonstrated superior memory for high versus low value point items. Following the hypothesis that there is a greater recruitment of attentional resources for high value information, alpha oscillatory power in the occipital/temporal cortex displayed significantly more desynchronization for high value compared to low value conditions during encoding. As well, successful retrieval compared with unsuccessful retrieval and subsequent “remember” or “know” conditions resulted in a qualitatively different, more sustained desynchronization of alpha and other unanticipated frequency band oscillations during encoding that are discussed. Taken together, these findings support previous research for alpha-band desynchronization during encoding items of value into memory and potentially open paths to decouple value and memory driven processes.

ContributorsWilliams, Cole (Author) / Brewer, Gene (Thesis advisor) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Blais, Chris (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)

Created2022

A Mechanistic Account of the Relation between Working Memory Capacity and Fluid Intelligence

Description

Working memory capacity and fluid intelligence are important predictors of performance in educational settings. Thus, understanding the processes underlying the relation between working memory capacity and fluid intelligence is important. Three large scale individual differences experiments were conducted to determine the mechanisms underlying the relation between working memory capacity and…

Working memory capacity and fluid intelligence are important predictors of performance in educational settings. Thus, understanding the processes underlying the relation between working memory capacity and fluid intelligence is important. Three large scale individual differences experiments were conducted to determine the mechanisms underlying the relation between working memory capacity and fluid intelligence. Experiments 1 and 2 were designed to assess whether individual differences in strategic behavior contribute to the variance shared between working memory capacity and fluid intelligence. In Experiment 3, competing theories for describing the underlying processes (cognitive vs. strategy) were evaluated in a comprehensive examination of potential underlying mechanisms. These data help inform existing theories about the mechanisms underlying the relation between WMC and gF. However, these data also indicate that the current theoretical model of the shared variance between WMC and gF would need to be revised to account for the data in Experiment 3. Possible sources of misfit are considered in the discussion along with a consideration of the theoretical implications of observing those relations in the Experiment 3 data.

ContributorsWingert, Kimberly Marie (Author) / Brewer, Gene A. (Thesis advisor) / McNamara, Danielle (Thesis advisor) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Redick, Thomas (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)

Created2018

The Exploration of Neuroticism as a Mediating Mechanism Between Trauma & Alcohol Related Problems

Description

Eysenck’s (1967) biological model of personality suggests traits relate to meaningful functioning and structural variations regarding cortical and limbic brain regions. Neuroticism denotes the tendency to experience negative affect (i.e. anxiety, worry, tension, irritability) more frequently than others do (Eysenck 1956). Patock-Peckham & Lopez, 2010). Individuals higher on neuroticism have…

Eysenck’s (1967) biological model of personality suggests traits relate to meaningful functioning and structural variations regarding cortical and limbic brain regions. Neuroticism denotes the tendency to experience negative affect (i.e. anxiety, worry, tension, irritability) more frequently than others do (Eysenck 1956). Patock-Peckham & Lopez, 2010). Individuals higher on neuroticism have lower thresholds for a fight or flight response to stressors (Xin et al., 2017). Childhood trauma is associated with increased expression of neurotic traits in an alcohol dependent sample (Schwandt et al, 2013). However, to date, it remains unexplored in the existing literature as to whether or not neuroticism mediates any indirect links from facets of childhood trauma (e.g. emotional, sexual, physical, or neglect) or a supportive family on dysregulated drinking. Impaired control over alcohol use reflects drinking larger amounts and for greater periods than one originally intended (Heather et al., 1993). We fit a multiple-group structural equation model with 937 (465 women/472 men) university student volunteers on a model from trauma facets to alcohol use and problems with neuroticism and impaired control as potential mediators. Results: We found that higher levels of emotional abuse were directly linked to more neurotic symptoms among both cisgender sexes. In addition, we found that higher degrees of a supportive family were directly linked to less neuroticism among women only. Interestingly, neuroticism was directly linked to less alcohol use. Yet, when impaired control was a mediator of the neuroticism to alcohol use pathway, alcohol use increased. We also found that higher levels of supportive family were indirectly linked to less neuroticism and in turn, less impaired control over drinking among women only. However, higher levels of emotional abuse were indirectly linked to more alcohol-related problems through both more neuroticism and impaired control for both genders. Our results support that impaired control may be a key mediating mechanism to internalizing traits such as neuroticism in the alcohol use quantity/frequency pathway. Further, our results suggest that emotional abuse may be an important therapeutic target of intervention for those with comorbid internalizing and alcohol use disorders. NIH/NIAAA K01AA024160-01A1; Burton Family Foundation FP11815 to Julie Patock-Peckham.

ContributorsSalti, Nadeen (Author) / Patock-Peckham, Julie (Thesis director) / Infurna, Frank (Committee member) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)

Created2021-12

The direct & indirect links from facets of childhood trauma to arousability, impaired control, alcohol use, & alcohol-related problems.

Description

Hyper-arousal theory presumes that experiencing trauma can increase one’s sense of fight or flight responses or generalized sense of arousability (Riemann et al., 2010). While this theory has been examined in studies regarding insomnia (e.g. Schwandt et al., 2013) it has yet to be examine with dysregulated drinking outcomes such…

Hyper-arousal theory presumes that experiencing trauma can increase one’s sense of fight or flight responses or generalized sense of arousability (Riemann et al., 2010). While this theory has been examined in studies regarding insomnia (e.g. Schwandt et al., 2013) it has yet to be examine with dysregulated drinking outcomes such as impaired control over alcohol use. Impaired control over alcohol use (IC) reflects drinking beyond one’s own self-proscribed limits for one’s own drinking behaviors (Heather et al., 1993). According to multiple review papers on the topic (Leeman et al., 2012; 2014), IC is an understudied topic regarding alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Thus, we sought to explore a pathway from facets of childhood trauma (emotional, physical, & sexual abuse, & neglect) versus a supportive family to arousability to drinking outcomes (i.e. IC, alcohol use, & alcohol-related problems). Method: We fit a multiple-group structural equation model with 835 (368 women/ 467 men) university student volunteers. As our model failed the overall invariance test, χ2Δ (20 df) = 55.788, p < .001, we allowed our hypothesized model to moderate on sex. Results: The direct link from sexual abuse to both IC and alcohol-related-problems was stronger for men than women. Emotional abuse was directly linked to higher levels of arousability among women, whereas an emotionally supportive family was related to lesser degrees of arousability among men. Impaired control mediated the indirect link between higher levels of arousability and alcohol use for both sexes. Impaired control also mediated the indirect link between physical neglect and alcohol-related problems among both sexes. Higher levels of emotional abuse were indirectly linked to both more alcohol use & problems through increased arousability and in turn, more IC among women. Higher levels of sexual abuse were indirectly linked to more alcohol problems through higher degrees of impaired control among men. Conclusions: We found evidence in favor of the Hyper-arousability Theory regarding dysregulated drinking with a direct link between arousability and IC. While physical neglect appears to affect both sexes drinking behaviors, emotional abuse may play a stronger role for women than men, while sexual abuse may play a stronger role among men.

ContributorsOng, Annie (Author) / Patock-Peckham, Julie (Thesis director) / Infurna, Frank (Committee member) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)

Created2021-12

Diffusion Imaging Analysis of the Functional Heterogeneity in the Dopaminergic System: Correlates with Prospective Memory

Description

Dopamine neurons are essential for several aspects of cognition. Several decades of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) research have revealed that the deterioration of these neurons is associated with a wide range of cognitive deficits such as attention, motor coordination, and memory. The diversity of these deficits is a demonstration of the…

Dopamine neurons are essential for several aspects of cognition. Several decades of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) research have revealed that the deterioration of these neurons is associated with a wide range of cognitive deficits such as attention, motor coordination, and memory. The diversity of these deficits is a demonstration of the structural and functional heterogeneity within the dopaminergic system; projections from the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area to striatum have targets in the frontal and medial temporal cortices. It is known that prospective memory is negatively affected by PD, but whether the deficits originate from pathways that support attention, retrospective memory, working memory, and/or motor control has not yet been determined. For the current study, the goal is to estimate the structural integrity of these pathways by using diffusion-imaging analysis to then correlate these estimates with prospective memory performance within a standard event-based task. Two participant data sets were reported in the current study and compared with the global and target fractional anisotropy as well as seed connectivity. All the results reported here are preliminary.

ContributorsTerry, Jade (Author) / Brewer, Gene (Thesis advisor) / Ofori, Edward (Thesis advisor) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)

Created2022

Experimental Manipulation of Motivation and Self-Efficacy for Self-Control

Description

Self-control has been shown to be an important influence behind a variety of risk and protective behaviors, such as substance abuse. Although prior research points to the existence of multiple dimensions of self-control, this concept is not consistently defined and frequently only studied as a conglomerate in clinical research. The…

Self-control has been shown to be an important influence behind a variety of risk and protective behaviors, such as substance abuse. Although prior research points to the existence of multiple dimensions of self-control, this concept is not consistently defined and frequently only studied as a conglomerate in clinical research. The current study sought to examine how two experimental manipulations of subcomponents of self-control (motivation and self-efficacy) affect real-world consumptive behavior after accounting for executive function. Additionally, the validity and reliability of a brief state survey measure of perceived self-control capacity, internal motivation, and external motivation was tested. The goal was to examine how basic scientific principles involved in self-control translate into clinically relevant behaviors, which may inform understanding of momentary lapses in self-control behavior, potentially leading to novel prevention and intervention efforts. 94 college students completed a 1-2 hour laboratory protocol during which they completed survey and laboratory-based tasks of self-control and related behaviors, executive function, and ad libitum alcohol consumption. Results showed that the self-efficacy manipulation successfully increased perceived self-control capacity, although this did not lead to a significant reduction in consumption. The motivation manipulation neither increased motivation nor reduced consumption in this sample. However, the brief state survey measure of self-control subcomponents demonstrated strong test-retest reliability and distinction from trait self-control, demonstrating its viability for use in future research. By elucidating the relationships between specific mechanisms of self-control, laboratory-based tasks and manipulations, and real-world consumptive behaviors, prevention and intervention efforts for problems such as alcohol abuse may be tailored to the needs of the individual and made more impactful and cost-effective.

ContributorsPapova, Anna (Author) / Corbin, William R. (Thesis advisor) / Brewer, Gene (Committee member) / Karoly, Paul (Committee member) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)

Created2020

Neuropsychological Deficits of Facial Recognition

Description

This thesis project examines neuropsychological disorders with regards to facial recognition. It looks at the research significance as well as the regions of the brain involved in facial recognition. It reviews what these regions look like when they are healthy, and what they look like when they are impaired and…

This thesis project examines neuropsychological disorders with regards to facial recognition. It looks at the research significance as well as the regions of the brain involved in facial recognition. It reviews what these regions look like when they are healthy, and what they look like when they are impaired and their resulting function. In addition, the project looks at autism and schizophrenia which have as one their symptoms facial recognition disorder. As a result, the project dives into what goes on these patients which results in impaired facial recognition. The project also looks at the own-race bias, and how that relates to facial recognition. Finally, the project proposes an experimental proposal to identify the neural centers involved in facial recognition in patients with Alzheimer’s, drawing upon previous research on the subject. An actual experiment was not conducted due to the pandemic, but there is a section of expected results in the event that the experiment is run. The expected results are that patients with Alzheimer’s should have deficits in the N170 component, the N400 component, the hippocampus and a smaller region of the cortex involved with processing faces compared to healthy controls.

ContributorsSharma, Arjun (Author) / Goldinger, Stephen (Thesis director) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)

Created2022-05

Comparison of Monolinguals and Bilinguals in Their Ability to Manage Emotion

Description

A bilingual advantage has been found to exist within emotional intelligence (Yow & Markman, 2011; Alqarni & Dewaele, 2018; Taheri et al., 2019; Niedbala, 2021). However, emotional management is an aspect of emotional intelligence that has not been widely studied in relation to bilingualism. Here, we compare English-Spanish bilinguals and…

A bilingual advantage has been found to exist within emotional intelligence (Yow & Markman, 2011; Alqarni & Dewaele, 2018; Taheri et al., 2019; Niedbala, 2021). However, emotional management is an aspect of emotional intelligence that has not been widely studied in relation to bilingualism. Here, we compare English-Spanish bilinguals and English monolinguals in their ability to manage emotion. Two parts of an untimed online survey were administered, consisting of the Situational Test of Emotional Management – Brief (STEM-B) and Language Assessment Scales (LAS). Our goal was to determine whether a bilingual advantage exists within the context of emotional management. The data show that bilinguals significantly outperform monolinguals in managing emotion. Further research should examine the bilingual advantage in emotional intelligence in an effort to understand the structures that subtend the association between language and emotional management.

ContributorsYilmaz, Maia (Author) / Holloway, Steven (Thesis director) / McClure, Samuel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)

Created2022-05