Estimation of a distribution function by an indirect sample

The problem of estimation of a distribution function is considered in the case where the observer has access only to a part of the indicator random values. Some basic asymptotic properties of the constructed estimates are studied. The limit theorems are proved for continuous functionals related to the estimation of F^n(x) in the space C[a, 1 - a], 0 < a < 1/2.Розглянуто задачу оцінювання функції розподілу у випадку, коли спостерігач має доступ лише до деяких індикаторних випадкових значень. Вивчено деякі базові асимптотичні властивості побудованих оцінок. У статгі доведено граничні теореми для неперервних функціоналів щодо оцінки Fn(x) у просторі C[a,1−a],0 < a < 1/2

Integral Functionals of the Gasser–Muller Regression Function

For integral functionals of the Gasser–Muller regression function and its derivatives, we consider the plug-in estimator. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimator are shown.Для інтегральних функцiоналiв Функції регресії Гассера-Мюллера та їх похідних розглядається оцінка, що підключається. Встановлено обґрунтованість та асимптотичну нормальність цієї оцінки

ЭЭГ БИОУПРАВЛЕНИЕ УЛУЧШАЕТ СФОКУСИРОВАННОЕ ВНИМАНИЕ ПРИ СИНДРОМЕ ДЕФИЦИТА ВНИМАНИЯ И ГИПЕРАКТИВНОСТИ

EEG biofeedback (so called neurofeedback) is considered as an efficacious treatment for ADHD. We propose that operant conditioning of EEG in neurofeedback training mode, aimed to mitigate inattention and low arousal in ADHD, will be accompanied by changes in EEG bands' relative power. Patients were 18 children diagnosed with ADHD. The neurofeedback protocol (“Focus/Alertness” by Peak Achievement Trainer, Neurotek, KY) used to train patients has focused attention training procedure, which according to specifications, represents wide band EEG amplitude suppression training. Quantitative EEG analysis was completed on each of 25 min long twelve sessions to determine the relative power of each of the EEG bands of interest throughout each session, and from the first session to the last session. Additional statistical analysis was performed to determine significant changes in relative power within sessions (from minute 1 to minute 25), and between sessions (from session 1 to session 12) for an individual patient. We performed analysis of relative power of Theta, Alpha, Low and High Beta, Theta/Alpha, Theta/Beta, and Theta/Low Beta and Theta/High Beta ratios. We performed also analysis between the “Focus”measure and changes in relative power of above EEG rhythms and their ratios. Additional secondary measures of patients’ post-neurofeedback outcomes were assessed using an audio-visual selective attention test (IVA + Plus) and behavioral evaluation scores from Aberrant Behavior Checklist. We found that, as expected, Theta/Low Beta and Theta/Alpha ratios decreased significantly from Session 1 to Session 12 and from minute 1 to minute 25 within sessions. The ‘Focus” measure of protocol showed high negative correlation with both Theta/Alpha and Theta/Beta ratios. The findings regarding EEG changes resulting from self-regulation training along with behavioral evaluations will help in elucidation of neural mechanisms of neurofeedback aimed to improve focused attention and alertness in ADHD.Электроэнцефалографическое биоуправление, или нейробиоуправление, – эффективная технология при лечении синдрома дефицита внимания и гиперактивности (СДВГ). Предполагалось, что оперантное обусловливание электроэнцефалографии (ЭЭГ) в тренинге нейробиоуправления, направленном на снижение невнимательности и низкой активности детей с СДВГ, будет сопровождаться изменениями относительной мощности в разных ЭЭГ-частотных диапазонах. Пациентами были 18 детей с диагнозом «синдром дефицита внимания и гиперактивности». Протокол нейробиоуправления (Focus/Alertness, Peak Achievement Trainer, Neurotek, KY), используемый для тренинга, включал обучающие процедуры фокусировки внимания, которые, согласно спецификации, представляли собой интерактивные процедуры, направленные на подавление амплитуды в широком ЭЭГ-диапазоне. Количественный анализ ЭЭГ был проведен для двенадцати 25-минутных сессий, чтобы определить относительную мощность каждого из интересующих частотных диапазонов ЭЭГ в ходе каждой сессии, а также с первой по последнюю сессию. Проведен дополнительный статистический анализ определения значимых изменений относительной мощности внутри сессии (от 1-й до 25-й мин) и в период между сессиями (от 1-й до 12-й мин) для конкретного пациента. Проанализированы относительная мощность в диапазонах тета, альфа, низкочастотного и высокочастотного бета, а также их соотношений: тета/альфа, тета/бета, тета/низкочастотный бета и тета/высокочастотный бета. Сравнивались динамика показателя «фокус» и изменения относительной мощности вышеперечисленных ритмов ЭЭГ и их соотношений.Дополнительные повторные измерения результатов нейробиоуправления у пациентов оценивались с использованием аудиовизуального теста селективного внимания (IVA + Plus) и поведенческих оценок из опросника Aberrant Behavior Checklist. Как и ожидалось, соотношения диапазонов тета/низкочастотный бета и тета/альфа значимо снижались с 1-й до 12-й сессии и с 1-й до 25-й мин внутри сессии. Показатель «фокус» в протоколе обнаружил высокую отрицательную корреляцию как с тета/альфа-, так и с тета/бета-коэффициентами. Полученные результаты, касающиеся изменений ЭЭГ вследствие обучения саморегуляции, наряду с поведенческими оценками могут способствовать выяснению нейрональных механизмов нейробиоуправления, направленных на увеличение фокусировки внимания и активности при СДВГ

Moral enhancement: do means matter morally?

One of the reasons why moral enhancement may be controversial, is because the advantages of moral enhancement may fall upon society rather than on those who are enhanced. If directed at individuals with certain counter-moral traits it may have direct societal benefits by lowering immoral behavior and increasing public safety, but it is not directly clear if this also benefits the individual in question. In this paper, we will discuss what we consider to be moral enhancement, how different means may be used to achieve it and whether the means we employ to reach moral enhancement matter morally. Are certain means to achieve moral enhancement wrong in themselves? Are certain means to achieve moral enhancement better than others, and if so, why? More specifically, we will investigate whether the difference between direct and indirect moral enhancement matters morally. Is it the case that indirect means are morally preferable to direct means of moral enhancement and can we indeed pinpoint relevant intrinsic, moral differences between both? We argue that the distinction between direct and indirect means is indeed morally relevant, but only insofar as it tracks an underlying distinction between active and passive interventions. Although passive interventions can be ethical provided specific safeguards are put in place, these interventions exhibit a greater potential to compromise autonomy and disrupt identity

EEG Biofeedback as a Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: Review, Rating of Efficacy, and Recommendations for Further Research

Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback has been employed in substance use disorder (SUD) over the last three decades. The SUD is a complex series of disorders with frequent comorbidities and EEG abnormalities of several types. EEG biofeedback has been employed in conjunction with other therapies and may be useful in enhancing certain outcomes of therapy. Based on published clinical studies and employing efficacy criteria adapted by the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, alpha theta training—either alone for alcoholism or in combination with beta training for stimulant and mixed substance abuse and combined with residential treatment programs, is probably efficacious. Considerations of further research design taking these factors into account are discussed and descriptions of contemporary research are given

Stronger Neural Modulation by Visual Motion Intensity in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Theories of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have focused on altered perceptual integration of sensory features as a possible core deficit. Yet, there is little understanding of the neuronal processing of elementary sensory features in ASD. For typically developed individuals, we previously established a direct link between frequency-specific neural activity and the intensity of a specific sensory feature: Gamma-band activity in the visual cortex increased approximately linearly with the strength of visual motion. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we investigated whether in individuals with ASD neural activity reflect the coherence, and thus intensity, of visual motion in a similar fashion. Thirteen adult participants with ASD and 14 control participants performed a motion direction discrimination task with increasing levels of motion coherence. A polynomial regression analysis revealed that gamma-band power increased significantly stronger with motion coherence in ASD compared to controls, suggesting excessive visual activation with increasing stimulus intensity originating from motion-responsive visual areas V3, V6 and hMT/V5. Enhanced neural responses with increasing stimulus intensity suggest an enhanced response gain in ASD. Response gain is controlled by excitatory-inhibitory interactions, which also drive high-frequency oscillations in the gamma-band. Thus, our data suggest that a disturbed excitatoryinhibitory balance underlies enhanced neural responses to coherent motion in ASD

The Power of an Infant\u27s Smile: Maternal Physiological Responses to Infant Emotional Expressions

Infant emotional expressions, such as distress cries, evoke maternal physiological reactions. Most of which involve accelerated sympathetic nervous activity. Comparatively little is known about effects of positive infant expressions, such as happy smiles, on maternal physiological responses. This study investigated how physiological and psychological maternal states change in response to infants\u27 emotional expressions. Thirty first-time mothers viewed films of their own 6- to 7-month-old infants\u27 affective behavior. Each observed a video of a distress cry followed by a video showing one of two expressions (randomly assigned): a happy smiling face (smile condition) or a calm neutral face (neutral condition). Both before and after the session, participants completed a self-report inventory assessing their emotional states. The results of the self-report inventory revealed no effects of exposure to the infant videos. However, the mothers in the smile condition, but not in the neutral condition, showed deceleration of skin conductance. These findings demonstrate that the mothers who observed their infants smiling showed decreased sympathetic activity. We propose that an infant\u27s positive emotional expression may affect the branch of the maternal stress-response system that modulates the homeostatic balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems