The quality of political information

The article conceptualizes the quality of political information and shows how the concept can be used for empirical research. I distinguish three aspects of quality (intelligibility, relevance, validity) and use them to judge the constituent foundations of political information, that is component claims (statements of alleged facts) and connection claims (argumentative statements created by causally linking two component claims). The resulting conceptual map thus entails six manifestations of information quality (component claimintelligibility, connection claim intelligibility, component claimrelevance, connection claim relevance, component claim validity, and connection claim validity). I explain how the conceptual map can be used to make sense of the eclectic variety of existing research, and how it can advance new empirical research, as a guide for determining variation in information quality, as a conceptual template for the analysis of different types of political messages and their common quality deficiencies, and as a generator of new research questions and theoretical expectations

Dynamical model of sequential spatial memory: winnerless competition of patterns

We introduce a new biologically-motivated model of sequential spatial memory which is based on the principle of winnerless competition (WLC). We implement this mechanism in a two-layer neural network structure and present the learning dynamics which leads to the formation of a WLC network. After learning, the system is capable of associative retrieval of pre-recorded sequences of spatial patterns.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to PR

Combinatorial control of temporal gene expression in the Drosophila wing by enhancers and core promoters

Abstract Background The transformation of a developing epithelium into an adult structure is a complex process, which often involves coordinated changes in cell proliferation, metabolism, adhesion, and shape. To identify genetic mechanisms that control epithelial differentiation, we analyzed the temporal patterns of gene expression during metamorphosis of the Drosophila wing. Results We found that a striking number of genes, approximately 50% of the Drosophila transcriptome, exhibited changes in expression during a time course of wing development. While cis-acting enhancer sequences clearly correlated with these changes, a stronger correlation was discovered between core-promoter types and the dynamic patterns of gene expression within this differentiating tissue. In support of the hypothesis that core-promoter type influences the dynamics of expression, expression levels of several TATA-box binding protein associated factors (TAFs) and other core promoter-associated components changed during this developmental time course, and a testes-specific TAF (tTAF) played a critical role in timing cellular differentiation within the wing. Conclusions Our results suggest that the combinatorial control of gene expression via cis-acting enhancer sequences and core-promoter types, determine the complex changes in gene expression that drive morphogenesis and terminal differentiation of the Drosophila wing epithelium.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112935/1/12864_2012_Article_4965.pd

Active versus passive acquisition of spatial knowledge while controlling a vehicle in a virtual urban space in drivers and non-drivers

Historically real world studies have indicated a spatial learning advantage for active explorers of environments over those whose experience is more passive; a common contrast is made between car drivers and passengers. An experiment was conducted to explore the dual hypotheses that active explorers learn more about the layout of a virtual environment than passive observers and that real world car drivers will learn more regardless of their experimental Active/Passive status. Consistent with earlier studies in VEs, there was no benefit from activity (controlling exploration/movement), arguably because input control competes with spatial information acquisition. However, the results showed that Drivers were more accurate than Non-Drivers at indicating the positions of target locations on a map, in both active and passive conditions and had better route scores than Non-Drivers in the passive condition. It is argued that driving experience may convey a spatial learning advantage over and above activity per se

Doing what others do: norms, science, and collective action on global warming

Does rhetoric highlighting social norms or mentioning science in a communication affect individuals’ beliefs about global warming and/or willingness to take action? We draw from framing theory and collective-interest models of action to motivate hypotheses that are tested in two large web-based survey-experiments using convenience samples. Our results show that attitudes about global warming, support for policies that would reduce carbon emissions, and behavioral intentions to take voluntary action are strongly affected by norm- and science-based interventions. This has implications for information campaigns targeting voluntary efforts to promote lifestyle changes that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The Co-occurrence of child and intimate partner maltreatment in the family: characteristics of the violent perpetrators

This study considers the characteristics associated with mothers and fathers who maltreat their child and each other in comparison to parents who only maltreat their child. One hundred and sixty-two parents who had allegations of child maltreatment made against them were considered. The sample consisted of 43 fathers (Paternal Family—PF) and 23 mothers (Maternal Family—MF) who perpetrated both partner and child maltreatment, together with 23 fathers (Paternal Child—PC) and 26 mothers (Maternal Child—MC) who perpetrated child maltreatment only. In addition, 2 fathers (Paternal Victim—PV) and 23 mothers (Maternal Victim—MV) were victims of intimate partner maltreatment and perpetrators of child maltreatment and 7 fathers (Paternal Non-abusive Carer—PNC) and 15 mothers (Maternal Non-abusive Carer—MNC) did not maltreat the child but lived with an individual who did. Within their family unit, 40.7% of parents perpetrated both intimate partner and child maltreatment. However, fathers were significantly more likely to maltreat both their partner and child than mothers and mothers were significantly more likely to be victims of intimate partner violence than fathers. PF fathers conducted the highest amount of physical and/or sexual child maltreatment while MC and MV mothers perpetrated the highest amount of child neglect. Few significant differences between mothers were found. PF fathers had significantly more factors associated with development of a criminogenic lifestyle than PC fathers. Marked sex differences were demonstrated with PF fathers demonstrating significantly more antisocial characteristics, less mental health problems and fewer feelings of isolation than MF mothers. MC mothers had significantly more childhood abuse, mental health problems, parenting risk factors and were significantly more likely to be biologically related to the child than PC fathers. This study suggests that violent families should be assessed and treated in a holistic manner, considering the effects of partner violence upon all family members, rather than exclusively intervening with the violent man

Odor supported place cell model and goal navigation in rodents

Experiments with rodents demonstrate that visual cues play an important role in the control of hippocampal place cells and spatial navigation. Nevertheless, rats may also rely on auditory, olfactory and somatosensory stimuli for orientation. It is also known that rats can track odors or self-generated scent marks to find a food source. Here we model odor supported place cells by using a simple feed-forward network and analyze the impact of olfactory cues on place cell formation and spatial navigation. The obtained place cells are used to solve a goal navigation task by a novel mechanism based on self-marking by odor patches combined with a Q-learning algorithm. We also analyze the impact of place cell remapping on goal directed behavior when switching between two environments. We emphasize the importance of olfactory cues in place cell formation and show that the utility of environmental and self-generated olfactory cues, together with a mixed navigation strategy, improves goal directed navigation

sLoreta Neurofeedback Targeting Attention Networks in Table Tennis Athletes Modulates Neural Connectivity and Enhances Visual-Spatial Attention

The aim of this study was firstly to identify alpha band EEG sources playing a functional role in the performance differences between elite and amateur table tennis players use of visuo-spatial cues to guide response selection. EEG was recorded from 206 elite and amateur table tennis athletes from across the International Table Tennis Federation. EEG was obtained during eyes closed (EC) and eyes open rest (EO) and during a 4-minute video task (VT). The VT was filmed from the player’s perspective to simulate match-play against a top 100 world ranked player. Participants imagined playing against the on-screen player. Players also completed a visuo-spatially cued version of the Go-NoGo continuous performance task (vsCPT). eLORETA compared EEG source activity between an age and gender matched sample of 16 elite and 16 amateur players. Activity at maximal source differences was then correlated with behavioural vsCPT performance measures. EEG source differences between elite and amateur players reached a maximum between 10.50 and 11.75 Hz (upper alpha) in the VT condition with loci in right BA6 (supplementary motor area, sensory selection for motor control) and right BA13 (insula cortex, salience detection). Source activity estimates correlated significantly with superior processing speed and perceptual sensitivity under increased processing demands on the vsCPT. Upper alpha synchronisation in right BA6 and right BA13 when actively processing an opponents’ match specific motion is greater in elite than amateur players and indicates superior visuo-spatial guided response selection. Secondly, we sought to use Neurofeedback (NFB) training, a form of operant conditioning based on reward-learning, to produce measurable changes in the efficiency of visual spatial attention networks within a group of aspiring elite table tennis athletes within an associated region of interest, right BA40. The relationship of learning during sLoreta NFB (sLNFB) training to a strengthening of connectivity in the targeted cortical network was measured by the EEG activity of fifteen adolescent table tennis players. A learning index was used to establish a relationship between sLNFB training, learning, and post-sLNFB EEG. A motor decision (Go-NoGo) task was undertaken pre- and post-NFB training to determine if changes in cortical activity translated to improved visuo-spatial cued motor control performance. Results indicated significant changes in cortical activity in regions related to visuo-spatial and motor processing in addition to regions directly related to learning. Increased response inhibition accuracy on Go-NoGo task was strongly and significantly correlated to post NFB changes in brain activity. We concluded that the current sLNFB protocol changes cortical activity throughout functionally connected nodes of task-relevant networks. Furthermore, some of these changes are directly related to behavioural performance enhancement depending on cognitive processing within these networks. The findings provide support for sLNFB training as a tool for enhancing visuo-spatial and motor processing performance in aspiring elite table tennis players