Exploring associations between gaze patterns and putative human mirror neuron system activity

The human mirror neuron system (MNS) is hypothesized to be crucial to social cognition. Given that key MNS-input regions such as the superior temporal sulcus are involved in biological motion processing, and mirror neuron activity in monkeys has been shown to vary with visual attention, aberrant MNS function may be partly attributable to atypical visual input. To examine the relationship between gaze pattern and interpersonal motor resonance (IMR; an index of putative MNS activity), healthy right-handed participants aged 18-40 (n = 26) viewed videos of transitive grasping actions or static hands, whilst the left primary motor cortex received transcranial magnetic stimulation. Motor-evoked potentials recorded in contralateral hand muscles were used to determine IMR. Participants also underwent eyetracking analysis to assess gaze patterns whilst viewing the same videos. No relationship was observed between predictive gaze and IMR. However, IMR was positively associated with fixation counts in areas of biological motion in the videos, and negatively associated with object areas. These findings are discussed with reference to visual influences on the MNS, and the possibility that MNS atypicalities might be influenced by visual processes such as aberrant gaze pattern

Playing games with good farming: exploring the potential impact of disease control policies on farmer's cattle purchasing practices

This paper explores how understandings of what constitutes ‘good farming’ play a significant role in shaping farmers' cattle purchasing decisions. The purchasing of cattle has been shown to be one of the most significant biosecurity risks resulting in disease transmission and translocation. As a result, biosecurity policy makers have sought to develop behavioural interventions to reduce disease risks associated with cattle purchasing. In other policy areas, notions of ‘good farming’ have been shown to influence farmers' decision-making, and reflect the role of heuristics and social norms in behavioural theory. A scenario-based cattle purchasing game was developed to compare the potential impact of different ways of measuring and visualising ‘good farming’ to reduce the spread of animal disease (specifically bovine Tuberculosis). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of farmers' purchasing rationales given during the game suggested that cattle purchasing is shaped by a strategy of ‘fitting the system’ in which cattle are primarily selected on the basis of being able to fit existing farming systems. Symbols of good farming pictured in cattle sales adverts – such as good stockmanship, and cleanliness – were important elements of this strategy. Attempts to quantify aspects of good farming were welcomed but not fully trusted. Good farming status was nevertheless more important than financial incentives when deciding which cattle to purchase. In conclusion, the paper highlights the relevance of these findings for biosecurity policy makers seeking to use behavioural insights to manage animal disease

Investigating mirror system (MS) activity in adults with ASD when inferring others' intentions using both TMS and EEG

ASD is associated with mentalizing deficits that may correspond with atypical mirror system (MS) activation. We investigated MS activity in adults with and without ASD when inferring others’ intentions using TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and mu suppression measured by EEG. Autistic traits were measured for all participants. Our EEG data show, high levels of autistic traits predicted reduced right mu (8–10 Hz) suppression when mentalizing. Higher left mu (8–10 Hz) suppression was associated with superior mentalizing performances. Eye-tracking and TMS data showed no differences associated with autistic traits. Our data suggest ASD is associated with reduced right MS activity when mentalizing, TMS-induced MEPs and mu suppression measure different aspects of MS functioning and the MS is directly involved in inferring intentions

Good methods for good farmers? Mapping the language of good farming with “diligent farmers” in Hong Kong

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordData availability: Data will be made available on request. The research data supporting this publication are provided within this paper.This paper explores two questions facing the use of the concept of the ‘good farmer’ in rural studies: what are the most appropriate methods to understand good farming; and what is the relevance of the concept in non-western countries? The paper explores these issues in the context of pig farmers' biosecurity decisions and daily disease management practices in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Specifically, we argue that to broaden the relevance of the good farming concept, we need to devise specific methodologies to capture the relational practices among farmers, non-human life forms and substances that construct the ‘good farmer’ meaning in different cultural contexts. Firstly, we consider the language of ‘good farming’, its possible translations, potential meanings and alternative phrases used amongst Chinese-speaking farmers. Secondly, we develop a farmer-oriented methodology to analyse how these locally specific translations of good farming are constructed and used in relation to the management of animal disease. Drawing on 12 farmers' mapping and their interview discussion, we develop a narrated mapping methodology in which the creation of farm maps acts as a device to illustrate and talk about biosecurity and good farming. This visual method triangulates the graphical data with subsequent interview data of farmers' maps. From this we show how the idea of the ‘diligent farmer’ has much stronger resonance in Hong Kong than good farming. Farm maps identify specific symbols of diligence, highlighting values of productivism, environmentalism and social relationships. The mapping methodology also reveals the performative work involved in becoming a diligent farmer. In conclusion, the paper considers the broader methodological implications for the concept of good farming, suggesting that cultural linguistic differences need to be recognised in the concept, and arguing for further methodological advancement.Wellcome Trus

Is badger culling associated with risk compensation behaviour amongst farmers ?

Background: Risk compensation theory suggests that behaviours are modified in response to interventions that remove risks by substituting them with other risky behaviours to maintain a risk equilibrium. Alternatively, risk reduction interventions may result in spill-over behaviours that seek to minimise risks further. In response to badger culling that seeks to remove the risk of bovine tuberculosis to cattle, this paper assesses evidence for these behavioural risk responses amongst farmers. Methods: Data from the Randomised badger culling trial was reanalysed, comparing farmers’ cattle movement practices in proactive and reactive culling areas, and control areas during and after the trial using zero-inflated negative binomial regression. Results: analysis found no strong evidence of risk compensation behaviours amongst farmers who experienced proactive culling. Strong evidence for a reduction in cattle movements in reactive culling areas was found. Results indicate high levels of inertia within farming systems in relation to cattle purchasing. Limitations: Data does not account for the risk of cattle purchases and reflects previous policy regimes. Evidence from recent badger culling interventions should be analysed. Conclusion: Proactive badger culling was not associated with risk compensation behaviours, whilst reactive badger culling was associated with decreased risk taking amongst farmers

Speech discrimination difficulties in high-functioning autism spectrum disorder are likely independent of auditory hypersensitivity

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), characterized by impaired communication skills and repetitive behaviors, can also result in differences in sensory perception. Individuals with ASD often perform normally in simple auditory tasks but poorly compared to typically developed (TD) individuals on complex auditory tasks like discriminating speech from complex background noise. A common trait of individuals with ASD is hypersensitivity to auditory stimulation. No studies to our knowledge consider whether hypersensitivity to sounds is related to differences in speech-in-noise discrimination. We provide novel evidence that individuals with high-functioning ASD show poor performance compared to TD individuals in a speech-in-noise discrimination task with an attentionally demanding background noise, but not in a purely energetic noise. Further, we demonstrate in our small sample that speech-hypersensitivity does not appear to predict performance in the speech-in-noise task. The findings support the argument that an attentional deficit, rather than a perceptual deficit, affects the ability of individuals with ASD to discriminate speech from background noise. Finally, we piloted a novel questionnaire that measures difficulty hearing in noisy environments, and sensitivity to non-verbal and verbal sounds. Psychometric analysis using 128 TD participants provided novel evidence for a difference in sensitivity to non-verbal and verbal sounds, and these findings were reinforced by participants with ASD who also completed the questionnaire. The study was limited by a small and high-functioning sample of participants with ASD. Future work could test larger sample sizes and include lower-functioning ASD participants

Investigating mirror system (MS) activity in adults with ASD when inferring others\u27 intentions using both TMS and EEG

ASD is associated with mentalizing deficits that may correspond with atypical mirror system (MS) activation. We investigated MS activity in adults with and without ASD when inferring others’ intentions using TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and mu suppression measured by EEG. Autistic traits were measured for all participants. Our EEG data show, high levels of autistic traits predicted reduced right mu (8–10 Hz) suppression when mentalizing. Higher left mu (8–10 Hz) suppression was associated with superior mentalizing performances. Eye-tracking and TMS data showed no differences associated with autistic traits. Our data suggest ASD is associated with reduced right MS activity when mentalizing, TMS-induced MEPs and mu suppression measure different aspects of MS functioning and the MS is directly involved in inferring intentions