The Function of Neural Synchrony Between Speakers and Listeners During Language Comprehension

When listening to someone tell a story, do we adopt the mental life of the speaker in the service of understanding? For example, if a friend tells you a harrowing tale about the time they were chased by a masked man down an alley, do you spontaneously imagine yourself in your friend’s place? If so, is the brain activity of the speaker similar to your own brain activity as the passive listener? This study is designed to examine the extent to which neural activity in speakers and listeners spontaneously becomes aligned during natural communication. To test this, we recruit vivid storytellers and measure EEG and other physiological signals (e.g., activity of facial muscles involved in smiling and frowning, pulse, and skin conductance) that capture the state of speakers’ brains and bodies in real time as they tell a series of unrehearsed, emotional stories. The same set of measurements is later made in participants as they listen to each of the previously recorded stories. The correlation between speaker and listener on each of these measures will be used to address the consequences of neural synchrony during language comprehension. Specifically, we ask whether synchrony of this sort predicts (1) how well the listener understands and remembers the story, (2) how strongly their mood is influenced by the story, and (3) the degree to which emotions induced by the story affect the listener’s ability to perceive emotion in visually presented faces. The findings from this research will inform our understanding of the role that neural synchrony plays in naturalistic communication

Determining U.S. Citizens\u27 Attitude Toward The Environment: An Econometric Analysis Of The New Environmental Paradigm (NEP)

This paper develops econometric models to address two objectives: (i) examining whether or not the demographic and socio-economic profiles play any role in explaining US citizens’ attitude toward environmental/ecological state of our planet, and (ii) determining whether such attitudes are significantly related to economic, environmental and social behaviors. US citizens’ attitudes toward ecological state of our planet are measured using the 15 questions from the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP). The level of agreement to the New Environmental Paradigm statements were measured by the Seven-Point-Likert scale. Incorporating various dimensions of our planet’s ecological problems/issues, the NEP measures whether respondents are optimistic or pessimistic about our planet’s ecological state. Findings of this research show how demographic and socio-economic variables do impact the US citizen’s environmental attitude and also how such attitudes are related. Although further researches are needed in order to corroborate the results, the outcomes of this research might interest market researchers as green market is a growing segment and also it might be useful to policymakers for targeted environmental awareness campaigns

The Politics of Care: An Analysis of the Lives and Stories of Black Birth Workers in New York City

“The Politics of Care: An Analysis of the Lives and Stories of Black Birth Workers in New York City\u27\u27 examines the complex relationship between Black birth workers and the state. Black birth work, traditionally, has existed as resistance to state policies and actors that limited Black women’s reproductive freedom. In New York City, where Black maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes are comparable to the national average, the state has mobilized to produce the Citywide Doula Initiative, a program designed to provide free birth worker support to families in financial need. Considering the violent relationship between birth workers and the state, I investigate the ways that Black birth workers who work in New York City, negotiate their politics while engaging in imperative life-saving work. By listening to the stories of birth workers, I learned about their unique lives, dreams and passion for the crucial work that they do in addition to their limitations. I argue that Black birth workers are radical actors who engage in labor that resists medical racism and obstetric violence regardless of the terrain. I unpack the limitations and strengths of the multifaceted decision that birth workers must make, whether they work within the system or try to dismantle it

It's OK not to be OK: Shared Reflections from two PhD Parents in a Time of Pandemic

Adopting an intersectional feminist lens, we explore our identities as single and co‐parents thrust into the new reality of the UK COVID‐19 lockdown. As two PhD students, we present shared reflections on our intersectional and divergent experiences of parenting and our attempts to protect our work and families during a pandemic. We reflect on the social constructions of ‘masculinities’ and ‘emphasized femininities’ as complicated influence on our roles as parents. Finally, we highlight the importance of time and self‐care as ways of managing our shared realities during this uncertain period. Through sharing reflections, we became closer friends in mutual appreciation and solidarity as we learned about each other’s struggles and vulnerabilities

Optical frequency measurement of the 1S-3S two-photon transition in hydrogen

This article reports the first optical frequency measurement of the $1\mathrm{S}-3\mathrm{S}$ transition in hydrogen. The excitation of this transition occurs at a wavelength of 205 nm which is obtained with two frequency doubling stages of a titanium sapphire laser at 820 nm. Its frequency is measured with an optical frequency comb. The second-order Doppler effect is evaluated from the observation of the motional Stark effect due to a transverse magnetic field perpendicular to the atomic beam. The measured value of the $1\mathrm{S}_{1/2}(F=1)-3\mathrm{S}_{1/2}(F=1)$ frequency splitting is $2 922 742 936.729 (13) \mathrm{MHz}$ with a relative uncertainty of $4.5\times10^{-12}$. After the measurement of the $1\mathrm{S}-2\mathrm{S}$ frequency, this result is the most precise of the optical frequencies in hydrogen