Dataset: Correlations between holistic processing, Autism Quotient, extroversion, and experience and the own-gender bias in face recognition

These data support a publication. The submitted abstract is: The variability in the own-gender bias (OGB) in face-recognition is thought to be based on experience (Herlitz & Lovén, 2013) and the engagement of expert face processing mechanisms for own-gender faces. Experience is also associated with personality characteristics such as extraversion and Autism, yet the effects of these variables on the own-gender bias has not been explored. We ran a face recognition study exploring the relationships between opposite-gender experience, holistic processing (measured using the face-inversion effect, composite face effect, and the parts-and-wholes test), personality characteristics (extraversion and Autism Quotient) and the OGB. Findings did not support a mediational account where experience increases holistic processing and this increases the OGB. Rather, there was a direct relationship between extraversion and Autism Quotient and the OGB. We interpret this as personality characteristics having an effect on the motivation to process own-gender faces more deeply than opposite-gender faces

Effects of cognitive aging on attentional engagement during route learning - Experimental data

Route learning is a common navigation task affected by cognitive aging. Here we present a novel experimental paradigm to investigate whether age-related declines in executive control of attention contributes to route learning deficits. A young and an older participant group was repeatedly presented with a route through a virtual maze comprised of twelve decision points (DP) and non-decision points (non-DP). To investigate attentional engagement with the route learning task, participants had to respond to auditory probes at both DP and non-DP. Route knowledge was assessed by showing participants screenshots or landmarks from DPs and non-DPs and asking them to indicate the movement direction required to continue the route. Results demonstrate better performance for DPs than for non-DPs and slower responses to auditory probes at DPs compared to non-DPs. As expected we found slower route learning and slower responses to the auditory probes in the older participant group. Interestingly, differences in response times to the auditory probes between DPs and non-DPs can predict the success of route learning in both age groups and may explain slower knowledge acquisition in the older participant group

Rock art

Website of the Swedish Rock Art Archive (SHFA). Access to material related to the thesis can be requested from here. This thesis examines rock art documentation methods within the field of archaeology, starting with traditional analogue methods and moving through to digital documentation methods. It then introduces analytical processes which allow us to get more from the 3D models created by digital documentation. A key theme in the thesis is that of democratisation and accessibility. By focusing on these concepts through the lens of Scandinavian rock art, the author suggests several improvements that could be made to the overall workflow of documenting and analysing carved panels. Digital recording methods have been suggested to be more democratic than traditional methods, and this is explored within the discussion of this thesis, as well as how this can be improved in the long term. Rock art is found all over world in various forms, and is an endangered heritage both due to climate change and vandalism. It is important that it is documented before it is lost, and also as a resource for evaluating change over time. Visualising rock art is an important strategy for both displaying and evaluating carvings, and also for the discovery of new carvings. One of the intentions of this thesis is to democratise the documentation, visualisation and analysis of these carvings. The thesis comprises of twelve published articles and a supporting narrative which cover a wide range of digital recording methods and visualisation techniques as well as more theoretical aspects of Bronze Age Scandinavian rock art. It also includes articles about democratic methods, and democratisation in general. This thesis presents a large body of work which incorporates both methodological and theoretical works that have contributed to our understanding of Scandinavian Bronze Age rock art studies, and which can be applied to multiple topics