Sensory effects of action observation: Evidence for perceptual enhancement driven by sensory rather than motor simulation.

Recent neurophysiological and behavioral studies suggest that the brain simulates the sensorimotor processing of observed actions. The relative contributions of sensory and motor simulation in this process remain unclear. Here, we use the well-established phenomenon of sensorimotor gating as a hallmark of motor representation. Perceived intensities of external stimuli are routinely suppressed during motor preparation and execution. Therefore, motor simulation should result in reduced perceptual intensity of sensory stimuli delivered during action observation. We obtained magnitude estimates for vibrotactile stimulation of the upper lip during observation of silent speech (lip-reading). Perceptual enhancement was consistently found across three experiments. The effect appeared to be specific to the observed action, somatotopically organized, and distinct from general attentional and response biases. We conclude that action observation produces perceptual enhancement. The experience of observing others’ actions may be driven more by sensory simulation than by motor simulation

Virtual 3D Modeling of Two Historic Barns in Bulloch County, GA: Both barns are southwest of Statesboro

This service-learning work is part of a larger project consisting in laser scanning and producing virtual, three-dimensional, computer-based, detailed models of eight (8) historic barns in Bulloch County, GA. The resulting spatial models (point clouds) will assist in the historical preservation of these now delicate and aging structures. In particular, this authoring group of students is currently working and focusing on two of those eight barns: (i) Bonnie Dekle Howard\u27s Barn, and (ii) Remer Dekle\u27s Barn. Both barns are southwest of Statesboro, near Register, GA. After completion, the models will be donated to Dr. Brent W. Tharp who represents both, the Bulloch County Historical Society and the Georgia Southern Museum. This project gave our Civil Engineering and Construction team an opportunity to assist and serve our community in a service-learning format while understanding and learning state-of-the-art laser scanning techniques and their post-processing tasks

Potential anxiogenic effects of cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists/inverse agonists in rats: Comparisons between AM4113, AM251, and the benzodiazepine inverse agonist FG-7142

Cannabinoid CB1 inverse agonists suppress food-motivated behaviors, but may also induce psychiatric effects such as depression and anxiety. To evaluate behaviors potentially related to anxiety, the present experiments assessed the CB1 inverse agonist AM251 (2.0-8.0 mg/kg), the CB1 antagonist AM4113 (3.0-12.0 mg/kg), and the benzodiazepine inverse agonist FG-7142 (10.0-20.0 mg/kg), using the open field test and the elevated plus maze. Although all three drugs affected open field behavior, these effects were largely due to actions on locomotion. In the elevated plus maze, FG-7142 and AM251 both produced anxiogenic effects. FG-7142 and AM251 also significantly increased c-Fos activity in the amygdala and nucleus accumbens shell. In contrast, AM4113 failed to affect performance in the plus maze, and did not induce c-Fos immunoreactivity. The weak effects of AM4113 are consistent with biochemical data showing that AM4113 induces little or no intrinsic cellular activity. This research may lead to the development of novel appetite suppressants with reduced anxiogenic effects. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP

Development of the Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale

The authors present the development of the Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale (ELICSES). The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) present a rationale for the ELICSES, (b) review statistical analysis procedures used to develop the ELICSES, and (c) offer implications for future research and counselor education. © The Author(s) 2013