Modulation of functional connectivity using neurofeedback and its effects on behaviour

The brain is composed of several functionally specialized areas. Communication between these brain regions serves as the main substrate for complex cognitive processes and behaviours that require a continuous integration of information. The kind of interaction concluding between disparate brain regions both, time-locked to, or independent of external events can be indexed by functional communication. There is abundance of literature suggesting the modulation of the underlying functional communication between different brain regions by manipulating the behaviour i.e. different variations in motor tasks and cognitive tasks. But, the outcome of all these studies only suggests the correlative nature of the task induced functional communication without suggesting the causal relation. In the presented dissertation, we have trained healthy participant to volitionally modulate their functional connectivity between the target brain regions using real-time magnetoencephalography neurofeedback (rt-MEG Neurofeedback) and assessed its effects on behavioural outcome. Together with literature reports, our result hint towards a causal relationship between changes of functional connectivity and changes in perceptual and behavioural performance. In the first study, 30 healthy participants learned to modulate their functional connectivity between primary motor cortices using real-time neurofeedback. Effects of the training on the behavioural outcome was assessed by investigating their motor performance prior and after the training. We conclude from this study that the increase of the functional communication between the two primary motor cortices results in the deterioration of the motor performance in a bimanual finger tapping task. In the second study, 8 healthy participants learned to modulate their fronto-parietal communication using a ViBM paradigm in neurofeedback setup. Effect of the training on the perceptual threshold were assessed. We demonstrated that the modulation of the fronto-parietal communication is feasible and does influence participants’ perceptual thresholds suggesting that the improvement in the fronto-parietal communication does reduce the perceptual threshold measured before (Pre-test) and after (Post-test) the neurofeedback training. This doctoral dissertation provides evidence supporting a causal relation between the modulation of functional connectivity and behaviour and perception and thus provides new insights in the intra-cortical communication and thus in the hierarchical organization of the human brain

The use of information technology in meeting instructional needs for special education

Information technology (IT) is now widely available in many countries, particularly in Malaysian schools, to assist special education teachers in many ways.However, the available literature worldwide suggests that most preparatory programs for teachers do not sufficiently equip them with IT skills.This study investigated the use of IT in meeting instructional needs for special education curriculum. The study explored the main curriculum domains for special teachers’ instructional needs, analyzed their current level of computer and IT knowledge and its usage in meeting their teaching needs.A mixed-method approach using questionnaires and interviews was used in the study. Questionnaires were sent to 120 special education professionals in 15 schools and education centers in Selangor, Malaysia.The findings indicate that the cognitive and communication domains were the principal areas for instructional needs.Professionals in supporting roles expressed a desire for a significant amount of IT based resources for the communication domain (p<0.05).Knowledge of the World Wide Web was statistically significant among female professionals, those in supporting roles, and Bachelor’s or Master’s degree holders (p<0.05).Current usage of IT-based resources indicated that the World Wide Web was quite significant among female professionals and those in supporting roles (p<0.05).Professionals with Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees also reported current usage of the World Wide Web and online databases as significant. Foresighted education managers could plan for clear future guidelines for providing the right IT infrastructure; systematic and regular IT training programs as well as reliable technical support services for their teaching staff

Examining the relationship between competitive capability and perceived service quality in university libraries

As modern Information Technology has created a way to a variety of information service opportunities, many options other than the conventional library service are available for users. A stiff competition has emerged among information service providers and therefore university library professionals too have to think of their competitive advantage. Service quality has gained a high concern as a strategy for developing the competitive position of an organization and many studies in different fields have established a strong relationship between service quality and competitive advantage. Viewing inversely, some practitioners contemplate that the competitive position of resource capabilities can influence the improvement of service quality. In order to examine the relationship between competitive position and the service quality in a university library context, an exploratory survey was employed utilizing a VRIO based questionnaire and LibQUAL+ based instrument with 89 library professionals selected from 15 state university libraries in Sri Lanka. The study reveals that there is a moderate positive correlation between two variables (r = .286, n= 66, p = .020). As the relationship is moderate, further studies seem essential to support the hypothesis. The large percentage of residuals indicates that there are more factors contributing to the service quality in university libraries. This study deploys a robust process to develop a measuring instrument for a competitive position in university libraries and uncovers many research areas in the field

Reference Services in the Digital Age 1

Reference services have always been a key element in libraries. They provide personalized guidance to library users in accessing appropriate information resources to meet their needs. With the amount and complexity of information increasing, the need to differentiate useful information from misinformation, and the rising needs and expectations of users, reference services are even more important today than before. Fortunately, technology offers opportunities to provide and enhance these services. This paper describes some of the emerging digital reference services, including e-mail and web forms, text-based chat services, web-camera based services, ask-a-….. services, digital robots, and collaborative services. The future of digital reference services is also explored. A library plays different roles for different people. To some, it is a place to read books for relaxation and newspapers to keep up to date; to others it is a place to do research; to others still, it is a place for seeking information in response to a particular need. Today, th

Information needs of international students at a Malaysian University

The number of students studying away from their home countries is increasing. These students face various challenges when studying abroad, including meeting their information needs. This study investigated the information needs of international students at the University of Malaya. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to 70 students, of whom 54 (77.1%) responded. It was found the main information needs were related to the university, the faculty, and their programs of study. The students used the library in attempting to meet their information needs, although the frequency of library usage was generally low. The main barriers in seeking information were language related, and unfamiliarity with the library or-ganization and mission. Language proficiency appeared to be a barrier in being able to meet the information needs. Although the majority of the students considered themselves to be computer and Internet literate, but that did not have a relationship on the problems they faced in meeting the information needs