Common principles in the lateralization of auditory cortex structure and function for vocal communication in primates and rodents

This review summarizes recent findings on the lateralization of communicative sound processing in the auditory cortex (AC) of humans, non-human primates and rodents. Functional imaging in humans has demonstrated a left hemispheric preference for some acoustic features of speech, but it is unclear to which degree this is caused by bottom-up acoustic feature selectivity or top-down modulation from language areas. Although non-human primates show a less pronounced functional lateralization in AC, the properties of AC fields and behavioural asymmetries are qualitatively similar. Rodent studies demonstrate microstructural circuits that might underlie bottom-up acoustic feature selectivity in both hemispheres. Functionally, the left AC in the mouse appears to be specifically tuned to communication calls, whereas the right AC may have a more 'generalist' role. Rodents also show anatomical AC lateralization, such as differences in size and connectivity. Several of these functional and anatomical characteristics are also lateralized in human AC. Thus, complex vocal communication processing shares common features among rodents and primates. We argue that a synthesis of results from humans, non-human primates and rodents is necessary to identify the neural circuitry of vocal communication processing. However, data from different species and methods are often difficult to compare. Recent advances may enable better integration of methods across species. Efforts to standardize data formats and analysis tools would benefit comparative research and enable synergies between psychological and biological research in the area of vocal communication processing

Caregiving Study Questionnaires

This brief survey assessed primary and secondary control strategy use among caregivers of a family member with dementia. Psychological well-being was also measured, including perceived stress, sense of control, life satisfaction, and recent emotions. Finally, sociodemographic information relevant to caregiving was collected

Molecular Cloning and Rare Cleavage Mapping of Human 2P, 6Q, 8Q, 12Q, and 18Q Telomeres

Large terminal fragments of human chromosomes 2p, 6q, 8q, 12q, and 18q were cloned using yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs). RecA-assisted restriction endonuclease (RARE) cleavage analysis of genomic DNA samples from 11 unrelated individuals using YAC-derived probes confirmed the telomeric localizations of the half-YACs studied. The cloned Fragments provide telomeric closure of maps for the respective chromosome arms and will supply the reagents needed for analyzing and sequencing these distal subtelomeric regions

Perceived Academic Control and Academic Emotions Predict Undergraduate University Student Success: Examining Effects on Dropout Intention and Achievement

It is difficult to demonstrate that safety-critical software is completely free of dangerous faults. Prior testing can be used to demonstrate that the unsafe failure rate is below some bound, but in practice, the bound is not low enough to demonstrate the level of safety performance required for critical software-based systems like avionics. This paper argues higher levels of safety performance can be claimed by taking account of: 1)external mitigation to prevent an accident: 2) the fact that software is corrected once failures are detected in operation. A model based on these concepts is developed to derive an upper bound on the number of expected failures and accidents under different assumptions about fault fixing, diagnosis, repair and accident mitigation. A numerical example is used to illustrate the approach. The implications and potential applications of the theory are discussed

The impact of emotions on practicum learning

Nine mature aged, experienced practitioners enrolled to gain a BSW qualification in social work were interviewed regarding a course requirement to complete the first placement. At the time of interview no recognition of prior learning for previous experience in the field was made possible for these students. As educators we had experienced considerable hostility from students who believed they should be exempt from completing this course requirement. This paper reports on interviews with the nine students, where we consider how student sentiment about completing the practice learning component might impact upon their learning experience. As anticipated, some students expressed strong negative views about being on placement. However, others were much more positive about the experience. These mixed views prompted us to explore further the relationship between emotion and practice learning. The article begins with a review of the literature concerning mature student engagement with tertiary education, followed by an overview of theory and research related to the ways feelings and emotion influence learning. Using passages from the interviews, expressions of participant anxiety, anger and excitement about the practicum are discussed with the view to extending discourse about practicum learning to include consideration of emotional intelligence and investment.<br /

Perceptions of Heat-Susceptibility in Older Persons: Barriers to Adaptation

The increase in the frequency of very hot weather that is a predicted consequence of climate change poses an emerging threat to public health. Extreme heat can be harmful to the health of older persons who are known to be amongst the most vulnerable in the community. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the ability of older persons to adapt to hot conditions, and barriers to adaptation. A qualitative study was conducted in Adelaide, Australia, involving focus groups and interviews with stakeholders including key personnel involved in aged care, community services, government sectors, emergency services and policy making. Findings revealed a broad range of factors that underpin the heat-susceptibility of the aged. These were categorized into four broad themes relating to: physiology and an age-related decline in health; socioeconomic factors, particularly those influencing air conditioning use; psychological issues including fears and anxieties about extreme heat; and adaptive strategies that could be identified as both enablers and barriers. As a consequence, the ability and willingness to undertake behavior change during heatwaves can therefore be affected in older persons. Additionally, understanding the control panels on modern air conditioners can present challenges for the aged. Improving heat-health knowledge and addressing the social and economic concerns of the older population will assist in minimizing heat-related morbidity and mortality in a warming climate

Inteligência emocional, gênero e clima familiar em adolescentes peruanos

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship of emotional intelligence and family environment. A cross-sectional and correlational study was executed, involved 127 adolescents in San Juan de Lurigancho District, Lima - Peru. Data obtained were on age, sex, and family structure. Measurements of family environment (FE) and emotional intelligence (EI) were made through an adapted version of the Family Environment Scale (FES) and a EI scale, respectively. Student's t test was used for the comparison of emotional intelligence scores by gender and family structure and Pearson's r for the correlation analysis between family environment and emotional intelligence. The analysis revealed gender differences in empathy (t = 3.445, p <.01) and social skills (t = 2.711, p <.01), where women presented higher scores than men. There were no gender differences in the total score of EI. There were also significant differences in self-regulation (t = 2.319; p <.05) and self-motivation (t = 2.713; p <.01) in adolescents from nuclear and non-nuclear families. Finally, a direct correlation between family environment and emotional intelligence was found (r = .632, p <.01).O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a relação entre a inteligência emocional e o clima familiar. Realizou-se um estudo transversal-correlacional no qual participaram 127 adolescentes do distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, em Lina, no Peru, onde obteve-se informação sobre sua idade, gènero e estrutura familiar. As medições do clima familiar (CF) e inteligência emocional (IE) foram feitas através de uma versão adaptada da escala do clima social familiar (FES) e uma escala de inteligência emocional. Utilizou-se o teste estatístico t de Student para a comparação das pontuações de inteligência emocional segundo o gênero e a estrutura familiar, e a r de Pearson para a análise de correlações entre o clima familiar e a inteligência emocional. Como resultado, foram encontradas diferenças de gênero em empatia (t = 3.445; p < .01) e habilidades sociais (t = 2.711; p < .01), onde as mulheres apresentaram pontuações mais altas do que os homens, mas não na pontuação total da inteligência emocional. Também, foram encontradas diferenças significativas na autorregulação (t = 2.319; p < .05) e automotivação (t = 2.713; p < .01) dos adolescentes de famílias nucleares e monoparentais e observou-se uma correlação direta entre o clima familiar e a inteligência emocional (r = .632; p < .01).El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la relación entre la inteligencia emocional y el clima familiar. Se realizó un estudio transversal-correlacional en el que participaron 127 adolescentes del distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, en Lima, Perú, donde se obtuvo información sobre su edad, género y estructura familiar. Las mediciones del clima familiar (CF) e inteligencia emocional (IE) se hicieron a través de una versión adaptada de la escala del clima social familiar (FES) y una escala de inteligencia emocional. Se utilizó la prueba estadística t de Student para la comparación de las puntuaciones de inteligencia emocional según el género y la estructura familiar, y la r de Pearson para el análisis de correlaciones entre el clima familiar y la inteligencia emocional. Como resultado, se encontraron diferencias de género en empatía (t = 3.445; p < .01) y habilidades sociales (t = 2.711; p < .01) -donde las mujeres presentaron puntuaciones más altas que los hombres-, pero no en la puntuación total de la inteligencia emocional. También, se encontraron diferencias significativas en la autorregulación (t = 2.319; p < .05) y automotivación (t = 2.713; p < .01) de los adolescentes de familias nucleares y monoparentales; y se observó una correlación directa entre el clima familiar y la inteligencia emocional (r = .632; p < .01)

The Smoking mind: a Psycho-cognitive perspective

Smoking behavior involves not only a biological addiction, but also psycho-cognitive components. This runs from smoking initiation, through to maintaining, attempts at quitting, and relapse. This perspective is an important element in studying and intervening in smoking behaviors. The main aim of this narrative review is to explore tobacco cigarette smoking behavior, considering the pivotal role of cognitive mechanisms embedded in decision-making and in risk judgment, with particular attention to the so-called Optimistic Bias (OB). The mechanisms through which this fallacy supports smoking initiation and continuance are explored, considering the transition from young to adult smokers and the case of light and intermittent smokers. Furthermore, additional cognitive mechanisms associated with the OB, which sustain smoking behavior and prevent the efficacy of smoking cessation, are described. Finally, a stimulus for reflection and for discussion about how the impact of the cognitive bias perspective in tobacco cigarette smoking is provided, focusing on how it could support tailored interventions, both in smoking initiation prevention in adolescents and young adults, as well as in smoking cessation in high-risk categorie