Two perspectives on response monitoring: Perfectionism-related variations and post-response adaptation

The cognitive system needs to monitor actions to ensure that the intended actions are successfully executed and to intervene when deviations from the intended actions are detected. In two studies, we investigated systematic variations of response monitoring between (Study 1) and within (Study 2) individuals. We assessed response monitoring using electrophysiological markers. The error/correct negativity (Ne/c) and the error/correct positivity (Pe/c) are both components of the event-related potential that occur within 300 ms after a motor response. Usually, they have higher peak amplitudes following errors compared to correct responses. In Study 1, we related these indicators of response monitoring to two dimensions of perfectionism and found that individuals who strive for flawlessness purely because they are afraid of being evaluated negatively by others (evaluative concern perfectionists) displayed less error-specific early response monitoring (indicated by the Ne/c) than non-perfectionists and individuals who set themselves high goals and are internally motivated to perform flawlessly (personal standards perfectionists). In Study 2, we linked the single-trial peak estimates of the Ne/c and Pe/c amplitudes to indicators of post-response adaptation derived by a diffusion model decompo¬sition of post-response times and accuracies. We found that early response monitoring reflected by the Ne/c was associated with a higher decision threshold and a greater focus on task-relevant features on the subsequent trial. The Pe/c, on the other hand, was associated with a lower decision threshold when speed was relevant. The interplay of Ne/c- and Pe/c-related processes may thus ensure that subsequent responses are as fast and as accurate as possible by adjusting the decision threshold. The thesis points out how future research could benefit from integrating both levels of response monitoring by investigating how individual differences as described in Study 1 modulate basic post-response adaptation mechanisms as delineated in Study 2

Nothing wrong about change: the adequate choice of the dependent variable and design in prediction of cognitive training success

Background Even though investigating predictors of intervention success (e.g Cognitive Training, CT) is gaining more and more interest in the light of an individualized medicine, results on specific predictors of intervention success in the overall field are mixed and inconsistent due to different and sometimes inappropriate statistical methods used. Therefore, the present paper gives a guidance on the appropriate use of multiple regression analyses to identify predictors of CT and similar non-pharmacological interventions. Methods We simulated data based on a predefined true model and ran a series of different analyses to evaluate their performance in retrieving the true model coefficients. The true model consisted of a 2 (between: experimental vs. control group) x 2 (within: pre- vs. post-treatment) design with two continuous predictors, one of which predicted the success in the intervention group and the other did not. In analyzing the data, we considered four commonly used dependent variables (post-test score, absolute change score, relative change score, residual score), five regression models, eight sample sizes, and four levels of reliability. Results Our results indicated that a regression model including the investigated predictor, Group (experimental vs. control), pre-test score, and the interaction between the investigated predictor and the Group as predictors, and the absolute change score as the dependent variable seemed most convenient for the given experimental design. Although the pre-test score should be included as a predictor in the regression model for reasons of statistical power, its coefficient should not be interpreted because even if there is no true relationship, a negative and statistically significant regression coefficient commonly emerges. Conclusion Employing simulation methods, theoretical reasoning, and mathematical derivations, we were able to derive recommendations regarding the analysis of data in one of the most prevalent experimental designs in research on CT and external predictors of CT success. These insights can contribute to the application of considered data analyses in future studies and facilitate cumulative knowledge gain

Predicting participants’ attitudes from patterns of event-related potentials during the reading of morally relevant statements – An MVPA investigation

Morality and language are hardly separable, given that morality-related aspects such as knowledge, emotions, or experiences are connected with language on different levels. One question that arises is: How rapidly do neural processes set in when processing statements that reflect moral value containing information? In the current study, participants read sentences about morally relevant statements (e.g., ‘Wars are acceptable’) and expressed their (dis)agreement with the statements while their electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. Multivariate pattern classification (MVPA) was used during language processing to predict the individual's response. Our results show that (1) the response (‘yes’ vs. ‘no’) could be predicted from 180 ms following the decision-relevant word (here acceptable), and (2) the attitude (pro vs. contra the topic) could be predicted from 170 ms following the topic word (here wars). We suggest that the successful MVPA classification is due to different brain activity patterns evoked by differences in activated mental representations (e.g. valence, arousal, etc.) depending on whether the attitude towards the topic is positive or negative and whether it is in accordance with the presented decisive word or not

A atividade física na integração entre a Universidade e a Comunidade: ações extensionistas em dança, ginástica e esporte adaptado na Unicentro, Guarapuava-PR

Anais do 35º Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul - Área temática: SaúdeÉ consenso a importância da prática regular de atividades físicas, seja para a saúde física, psicológica ou social da população em geral. Este texto objetiva apresentar ações realizadas por três projetos de extensão, vinculados ao Departamento de Educação Física da Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, UNICENTRO, Campus de Guarapuava, que promovem práticas diferenciadas de atividades físicas, voltadas às áreas de dança, ginástica e esporte adaptado. O projeto de dança promove a produção artística e cultural na área da dança, demonstrando a sua importância para a formação profissional em Educação Física. O projeto de ginástica propicia a prática da Ginástica Rítmica a crianças e adolescentes de escolas da região. Por fim, o projeto de esporte adaptado proporciona a prática do basquetebol em cadeira de rodas à atletas com deficiência física. Os três projetos têm cumprido com os objetivos propostos, levando a comunidade acadêmica e geral a promoção da saúde através da prática de atividades físicas diferenciadas, contribuindo para o fortalecimento da Extensão Universitária no campo da Educação Físic

Parallel and serial task processing in the PRP paradigm: a drift–diffusion model approach

Even after a long time of research on dual-tasking, the question whether the two tasks are always processed serially (response selection bottleneck models, RSB) or also in parallel (capacity-sharing models) is still going on. The first models postulate that the central processing stages of two tasks cannot overlap, producing a central processing bottleneck in Task 2. The second class of models posits that cognitive resources are shared between the central processing stages of two tasks, allowing for parallel processing. In a series of three experiments, we aimed at inducing parallel vs. serial processing by manipulating the relative frequency of short vs. long SOAs (Experiments 1 and 2) and including no-go trials in Task 2 (Experiment 3). Beyond the conventional response time (RT) analyses, we employed drift–diffusion model analyses to differentiate between parallel and serial processing. Even though our findings were rather consistent across the three experiments, they neither support unambiguously the assumptions derived from the RSB model nor those derived from capacity-sharing models. SOA frequency might lead to an adaptation to frequent time patterns. Overall, our diffusion model results and mean RTs seem to be better explained by participant’s time expectancies

Face Perception and Narcissism: Variations of Event-Related Potential Components (P1 & N170) with Admiration and Rivalry

Previous studies have demonstrated that highly narcissistic individuals perceive themselves as grandiose and devaluate and sometimes overvalue others. These results are mainly based on behavioural data, but we still know little about the neural correlates underlying, such as perceptional processes. To this end, we investigated event-related potential components (ERP) of visual face processing (P1 and N170) and their variations with narcissism. Participants (N = 59) completed the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire and were shown pictures of their own face, a celebrity's face, and a stranger's face. Variations of P1 and N170 with Admiration and Rivalry were analysed using multilevel models. Results revealed moderating effects of both narcissism dimensions on the ERP components of interest. Participants with eitherhighAdmiration orlowRivalry scores showed a lower P1 amplitude when viewing their own face compared with when viewing a celebrity's face. Moreover, the Self-Stranger difference in the N170 component (higher N170 amplitude in the Self condition) was larger for higher Rivalry scores. The findings showed, for the first time, variations of both narcissism dimensions with ERPs of early face processing. We related these effects to processes of attentional selection, an expectancy-driven perception, and the mobilisation of defensive systems. The results demonstrated that by linking self-report instruments to P1 and N170, and possibly to other ERP components, we might better understand self- and other-perception in narcissism

Neural correlates of error detection during complex response selection: Introduction of a novel eight-alternative response task

Error processing in complex decision tasks should be more difficult compared to a simple and commonly used two-choice task. We developed an eight-alternative response task (BART), which allowed us to investigate different aspects of error detection. We analysed event-related potentials (ERP; N = 30). Interestingly, the response time moderated several findings. For example, only for fast responses, we observed the well-known effect of larger error negativity (N-e) in signalled and non-signalled errors compared to correct responses, but not for slow responses. We identified at least two different error sources due to post-experimental reports and certainty ratings: impulsive (fast) errors and (slow) memory errors. Interestingly, the participants were able to perform the task and to identify both, impulsive and memory errors successfully. Preliminary evidence indicated that early (N-e-related) error processing was not sensitive to memory errors but to impulsive errors, whereas the error positivity seemed to be sensitive to both error types

Intra-cyclic analysis of the front crawl swimming technique with an inertial measurement unit

Sports scientists and coaches strive to identify and analyse performance relevant parameters and to optimize them in the training practice. In swimming, this process is time-consuming and requires expensive and professional video equipment, which is currently considered the gold standard. Since inertial measurement units (IMUs) are increasingly interesting for athletes, are more easily accessible and are less disturbing to wear, they offer an ideal alternative to classic video-supported motion analysis. In addition, IMUs provide further data of interest to scientists and trainers. The present study aims to transfer the findings from the video analysis data to the data measured with an IMU. The focus is on the frontal crawl and its key movements, body roll, angular velocity and forward acceleration in relation to their intra-cyclic variations. Ten athletes from regional to national level swam 100 m front crawl and the video recording was combined with the IMU to analyse the key positions and find similarities and differences between the swimmers. The findings are the basis for an automatic pattern recognition system to provide coaches and scientists with immediate feedback on the execution of movements and to decide which parameters should be specifically trained to improve performance.This research was funded as part of a project supported by the Federal Institute for Sports Science (BISp), funding code ZMVI4-070801/19-21