Universal Organization of Resting Brain Activity at the Thermodynamic Critical Point

Thermodynamic criticality describes emergent phenomena in a wide variety of complex systems. In the mammalian brain, the complex dynamics that spontaneously emerge from neuronal interactions have been characterized as neuronal avalanches, a form of critical branching dynamics. Here, we show that neuronal avalanches also reflect that the brain dynamics are organized close to a thermodynamic critical point. We recorded spontaneous cortical activity in monkeys and humans at rest using high-density intracranial microelectrode arrays and magnetoencephalography, respectively. By numerically changing a control parameter equivalent to thermodynamic temperature, we observed typical critical behavior in cortical activities near the actual physiological condition, including the phase transition of an order parameter, as well as the divergence of susceptibility and specific heat. Finite-size scaling of these quantities allowed us to derive robust critical exponents highly consistent across monkey and humans that uncover a distinct, yet universal organization of brain dynamics

SMALL CHANGE - BIG DIFFERENCE

Starting in a well known theorem concerning medians of triangle and using the ‘What If Not?’ strategy, we describe an example of an activity in which some relations among segments and areas in triangle were revealed. Some of the relations were proved by means of Affine Geometry

Developing mental rotation ability through engagement in assignments that involve solids of revolution

Spatial ability is essential for succeeding in the STEM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines, especially mental rotation. Research points out that spatial ability is malleable, and therefore calls for developing learners’ ability by engaging them in appropriate assignments, starting from kindergarten. Given this, our paper presents several assignments designed for mathematics prospective teachers with the aim of fostering their mental rotation skills. Specifically, these assignments deal with solids of revolution, three-dimensional shapes formed by revolving a planar shape about a given axis that lies on the same plane

An Information Maximization Approach to Overcomplete and Recurrent Representations

The principle of maximizing mutual information is applied to learning overcomplete and recurrent representations. The underlying model consists of a network of input units driving a larger number of output units with recurrent interactions. In the limit of zero noise, the network is deterministic and the mutual information can be related to the entropy of the output units. Maximizing this entropy with respect to both the feedforward connections as well as the recurrent interactions results in simple learning rules for both sets of parameters. The conventional independent components (ICA) learning algorithm can be recovered as a special case where there is an equal number of output units and no recurrent connections. The application of these new learning rules is illustrated on a simple two-dimensional input example

Academic Self-Efficacy and its Relationship to Psychological Happiness among Counseling Program students Afield Study in the Faculty of Education at Tishreen University

The research aimed to identify the degree of academic self-efficacy, and the degree of psychological happiness among counseling program students in the faculty of education at Tishreen university, as well as the relationship between the academic self-efficacy and psychological happiness among counseling program students, also the difference in the degree of academic self-efficacy and psychological happiness  according to variables (sex, and study year). In order to achieve the objective of the research, the descriptive approach was used. a sample of the research consisted (236) students, for the academic  year 2019/2020, and two measures were applied. the first of (academic self-efficacy consisted of (36) paragraph, and the second measure psychological happiness and consisted of (42) paragraph. The research reached several results, the most important of which are: -        The degree of academic self-efficacy among the sample of counseling program students was high, and the degree of psychological happiness among the sample of was middle. -       There is an positive relationship between the academic self-efficacy and psychological happiness among counseling program students in the faculty of education at Tishreen university. -       There are statistically significant differences about of the degree of academic self-efficacy among counseling program students according to variable sex in fervor of the female, also there are statistically significant differences according to variable of study year in fervor of the third and fourth years. -       There are no statistically significant differences about of the degree of psychological happiness among counseling program students according to variables (sex, study year). هدف البحث إلى تعرف درجة تواجد الكفاءة الذاتية الأكاديمية ودرجة تواجد السعادة النفسية لدى أفراد عينة البحث من طلبة الارشاد النفسي في كلية التربية بجامعة تشرين، وكذلك تعرف العلاقة بين الكفاءة الذاتية الأكاديمية والسعادة النفسية لدى أفراد العينة، إضافة إلى تعرف الفرق في الكفاءة الذاتية الأكاديمية والفرق في السعادة النفسية تبعاً لمتغيري (الجنس، والسنة الدراسة). ولتحقيق هدف البحث اسُتخدم المنهج الوصفي، واشتملت العينة على (236) طالباً وطالبة للعام الدراسي 2019/2020، وطبق عليها مقياسين؛ الأول: (الكفاءة الذاتية الأكاديمية؛ وتكون من (36) فقرة، والثاني مقياس السعادة النفسية؛ وتكون من (42) فقرة). وتوصل البحث إلى عدة نتائج أهمها: - إن درجة تواجد الكفاءة الذاتية الأكاديمية لــدى أفراد عينة البحث جاءت بدرجة مرتفعة. - إن درجة تواجد السعادة النفسية لدى أفراد عينة البحث جاءت بدرجة متوسطة. - توجد علاقة طردية بين درجات عينة البحث على مقياس الكفاءة الذاتية الأكاديمية ودرجاتهم على مقياس السعادة النفسية. - يوجد فرق ذو دلالة إحصائية حول درجة تواجد الكفاءة الذاتية الأكاديمية لدى أفراد عينة البحث تبعاً لمتغير الجنس لصالح الإناث، كما وجدت فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية تبعاً لمتغير السنة الدراسية لصالح السنوات الثالثة والرابعة. - لا توجد فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية لدى أفراد عينة البحث في درجة تواجد السعادة النفسية تبعاً لمتغيري (الجنس، والسنة الدراسة)

The Barriers that faced the Working of the Psychological Counselors in light of the Syrian Crisis - Afield Study in Schools "Second Cycle" of basic Education in Lattakia Governorate

The current research tackles the Barriers that faced the Working of the Psychological Counselors in light of the Syrian Crisis at Schools "Second  Cycle" of basic Education in Lattakia Governorate. Differences in their views on the Barriers that faced are attributed to the following variables (scientific and educational qualification, years of experience). In order to achieve the objective of the research, the descriptive method was used. The sample included (204) psychological counselors in Schools "Second  Cycle" of basic Education in Lattakia Governorate for the academic year 2018/2019. The reached several results, the most important of which: -              The total degree of Barriers that faced the Working of the Psychological Counselors in light of the Syrian Crisis at Schools "Second  Cycle" of basic Education in Lattakia Governorate from their point of view came to a medium degree. -              There were no statistically significant differences between the average estimation of the members of the research sample on the Barriers that faced their Working according to the variable years of experience. -              There are statistically significant differences between the average of the assessment of the members of the research sample on the Barriers that faced their Working according to the scientific and educational qualification in favor of the post graduating.   تناول البحث الحالي المعوقات التي تواجه عمل المرشدين النفسيين في ظل الأزمة السورية في مدارس الحلقة الثانية من التعليم الأساسي في محافظة اللاذقية، والتعرف إلى الفروق في المعوقات من وجهات نظرهم تبعاً للمتغيرات الآتية (عدد سنوات الخبرة، والمؤهل العلمي والتَّربوي). ولتحقيق هدف البحث اسُتخدم المنهج الوصفي، واشتملت عينة البحث على (204) مرشداً ومرشدة في مدارس الحلقة الثانية من التعليم الأساسي في محافظة اللاذقية للعام الدراسي (2018/2019). صممت استبانة احتوت على خمسة مجالات، وهي (المعوقات المدرسية، المعوقات الخاصة بالمرشدين النفسيين، المعوقات الخاصة بالإشراف التربوي للإرشاد النفسي، المعوقات الخاصة بالطلبة، المعوقات الخاصة بالمجتمع المحلي). توصل البحث إلى مجموعة من النتائج أهمها: • جاءت الدَّرجة الكليَّة للمعوقات التي تواجه عمل المرشدين النفسيين في ظل الأزمة السورية في مدارس الحلقة الثانية من التعليم الأساسي في محافظة اللاذقية من وجهة نظرهم بدَّرجة متوسطة. • لم تظهر فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين متوسطات تقدير أفراد عينة البحث حول المعوقات التي يواجهونها تبعاً لمتغير عدد سنوات الخبرة. • وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين متوسطات تقدير أفراد عينة البحث حول المعوقات التي يواجهونها تبعاً لمتغير المؤهل العلمي والتَّربوي لصالح حملة الدراسات العليا

The emergence of synaesthesia in a Neuronal Network Model via changes in perceptual sensitivity and plasticity

Synaesthesia is an unusual perceptual experience in which an inducer stimulus triggers a percept in a different domain in addition to its own. To explore the conditions under which synaesthesia evolves, we studied a neuronal network model that represents two recurrently connected neural systems. The interactions in the network evolve according to learning rules that optimize sensory sensitivity. We demonstrate several scenarios, such as sensory deprivation or heightened plasticity, under which synaesthesia can evolve even though the inputs to the two systems are statistically independent and the initial cross-talk interactions are zero. Sensory deprivation is the known causal mechanism for acquired synaesthesia and increased plasticity is implicated in developmental synaesthesia. The model unifies different causes of synaesthesia within a single theoretical framework and repositions synaesthesia not as some quirk of aberrant connectivity, but rather as a functional brain state that can emerge as a consequence of optimising sensory information processing

Population rate codes carried by mean, fluctuation and synchrony of neuronal firings

A population of firing neurons is expected to carry information not only by mean firing rate but also by fluctuation and synchrony among neurons. In order to examine this possibility, we have studied responses of neuronal ensembles to three kinds of inputs: mean-, fluctuation- and synchrony-driven inputs. The generalized rate-code model including additive and multiplicative noise (H. Hasegawa, Phys. Rev. E {\bf 75} (2007) 051904) has been studied by direct simulations (DSs) and the augmented moment method (AMM) in which equations of motion for mean firing rate, fluctuation and synchrony are derived. Results calculated by the AMM are in good agreement with those by DSs. The independent component analysis (ICA) of our results has shown that mean firing rate, fluctuation (or variability) and synchrony may carry independent information in the population rate-code model. The input-output relation of mean firing rates is shown to have higher sensitivity for larger multiplicative noise, as recently observed in prefrontal cortex. A comparison is made between results obtained by the integrate-and-fire (IF) model and our rate-code model.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures, accepted in Physica A (revised version of arXiv:0706.3489