Cortical Activation Patterns in Art Making vs. Fine Motor Movement as Measured by EEG

This quantitative study explores the differences in cortical activation patterns when subjects create art versus when they engage in a rote motor task. It is hypothesized that a statistically significant difference occurs in cortical activity patterns during art making compared with non- creative rote motor behavior and that such differences can be detected and quantified with the electroencephalogram (EEG.) Ten consenting study subjects (one with formal art training, three with some art experience, and six with no art experience) underwent EEG recording at baseline (multiple measures) and with art making, and also with rote motor tasking. Baseline control recordings showed minimal changes in EEG while art making was associated with a persistent change from baseline of significant direction and amplitude involving both hemispheres, a change that was similar to the persistent change in EEG following rote motor tasks. These preliminary findings suggest that EEG may be a meaningful biomarker for cortical activation in the study of creative arts and points to further exploration using Mobile Brain Body Imaging (MoBI) in experimental designs. This system provides a reproducible, measurable, and quantitative methodology for evaluating brain activity and function in the study of the neuroscientific basis of creative arts, neuroaesthetics, and art therapy

Diversifying Physical Therapy: Recruitment and Retention of Under-represented Minorities to Improve Patient Outcomes

The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) has determined that physical therapy (PT) education and practice has fallen short of “representation of the general population”. This lack of diversity compromises access to rehabilitation among under-represented minorities (URM), thus perpetuating the suffering from disease. Using the ACAPT definition of URM, we encompass not only traditional racial and ethnic groups, but also low socioeconomic status, geographically underrepresented, and educationally disadvantaged groups. Lack of resources leads to decreased levels of physical activity, compounded by lack of access to care within URM areas, and has been linked to the perpetuation of sedentary diseases. The problem is magnified by the disproportionate prevalence of those diseases among URMs. As future physical therapists, we are working to better understand the drivers of our profession’s diversity problem, theorize solutions, and propose tangible steps to bring greater diversity to our profession and access to care for our communities. The following short term and long term goals are most relevant to eradicate these issues. Short term solutions include increasing cultural competency within our programs to improve URM student experiences and increasing competency for working professionals to address microaggressions, implicit bias, and cultural sensitivity. Long term solutions include increased recruitment of URMs within the realm of PT through admissions strategies, increased exposure of URMs to PT as a career option, and strategies for retention of URM students. Other long term strategies include reducing barriers to enrollment, reducing cost, and continued research on the topic in regards to PT

Affect for effect: emotion and prosocial change in Brecht's theatre

In this thesis, I meld theories of emotional expressiveness with concepts of Brecht’s dialectical theatre to examine the potentiality of fomenting prosocial change in spectators. I ask how Brecht’s theatre can become a more efficacious prosocial tool in cultures and communities. On Brecht’s stage, theatrical elements coalesce and collide with an emphasis on the social conditions of contradiction. This dissonance is embodied for both actor and spectator to actively critique during performance and promote synthesizing social transformation. For instance, Brecht’s concepts of Gestus and Haltung manifest both as the representation of role in society and the social contradiction of external human relations. Within Gestus and Haltung, emotion and affect via the face and body can be analyzed as a shaping force of social behavior that requires scrutiny from the actors on stage and the spectators being affected by these motivating expressions. I root this project in Brecht’s 1938 anti-fascist play, Fear and Misery of the Third Reich. The 25 playlets of Fear and Misery offer a cross-section investigation of daily German life under Nazi power and display how the violence and fear of fascism produces a miserable society. Psychophysiological constructions of fear are ubiquitous in Fear and Misery. Previous research posits more accurate recognition and interpretation of fear portrayals predicts prosocial behavior in others. In Brecht’s dialectical theatre, emotion and affect, along with other theatrical devices, must be considered and commented on by spectators to create a dialogue. Perhaps, most importantly, this performative discourse must realize that social conditions can and must change. Thus, I argue that the combination of expressions of fear and the anti-fascist material of Fear and Misery may tune a spectator to a motivated prosociality against fascism in self and society

Access to Justice software development, Participatory Action Research Methods and Researching the Lived Experiences of British Military Veterans

Participatory action research (PAR) methods aim to position the people who are most affected by the issue being studied as equal partners in the research process through a cyclical process of data gathering, data analysis, planning and implementing action and evaluation and reflection. In doing so, it ensures that the research better reflects participants’ ideas, priorities, and needs, thereby enhancing its validity and relevance and the support for the findings and proposed changes. Furthermore, it generates immediately applicable results. In this paper, we reflect on our experiences of developing the UK’s first access to justice platform for veterans and their families through an ongoing PAR project that brought together armed forces veterans, representatives from veterans' service providers, and the Veterans Legal Link team members comprising of legal academics, lawyers, sociologists, computer software designers and graphic designers to collect, interpret, and apply community information to address issues related to the delivery of access to justice. We present findings from Stages 1 and 2 of our three-stage iterative research process which includes the following steps: Understanding and cross-checking the lived experience of the veteran community (Stage 1), developing and testing a prototype of the access to justice platform (Stage 2) and creating the final product and giving real users an opportunity to use the platform (Stage 3). Data collection and analysis from Stage 1 of the study informed the themes that underpinned Stage 2. Specifically, data was collected through the following methods: co-facilitated focus group discussions, a web survey that was codesigned with veteran community stakeholders and remote and digitally enabled ethnographic research methods. We include several reflections that may help legal practitioners and researchers interested in applying PAR within the area of access to justice and the field of legal research

Demographics and Treatment Strategies Utilized During a Service-Learning Trip to a Medically Underserved Region: Guatemala 2019

Demographics and Treatment Strategies Utilized During a Service-Learning Trip to a Medically Underserved Region: Guatemala 2019 By Anna Chang, SPT, Alex Knapp, SPT, and Holly Roberts, PT, DPT, GCS, NCS BACKGROUND: Students in the Global Health Perspectives in Physical Therapy elective at the University of Puget Sound participated in a five-day service-learning trip. They partnered with a host organization to provide physical therapy services in Zacapa, Guatemala. PURPOSE: Synthesize demographic information and intervention plans to educate physical therapists and students to effectively evaluate and treat medically underserved populations abroad. METHODS: Age, gender, physical therapy diagnosis, and type of intervention were recorded for each patient evaluated or treated by UPS students at rehabilitation clinics during the five-day period. Percentages were extrapolated from this data to reflect the frequency of each appointment type. RESULTS: 106 patients were treated at five clinic sites with ages ranging from 4 months to 86 years old; 72% were orthopedic cases, 8.3% were neurological, and 20% were considered pediatric (ages 0 to 18). Neurologic categorization did not include pediatric diagnoses such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida. 54% of the population seen were female, 45% male. Therapeutic exercise was the most commonly utilized intervention (48% of cases), followed by manual interventions (35%). Medical supplies were provided for 17% of treated patients. Orthopedic cases were most common, 33% of conditions were for lower extremities, 36% involved upper extremity, 25% thoracic or lumbar pain, and 7% neck pain. CONCLUSION: The results of this descriptive inquiry suggest that students who participate in future service-learning experiences in Guatemala should have a robust understanding of upper extremity examination as well as manual therapy and therapeutic exercise intervention skills

Common Experiences and Beliefs Among Highly Active, Older Adults

Background: Research on correlates and determinants of physical activity has shown that age and motivation are associated with physical activity. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) provides a well-researched framework for understanding motivation, and proposes that the satisfaction of three primary psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness, fuels motivation for physical activity and promotes wellness. Purpose: Use SDT to identify experiences and beliefs that affect motivation for physical activity in older adults and provide a narrative approach to share their “movement stories.” Methods: Participants were recruited using nominated sampling and a public advertising campaign. Participants were at least 55-years old with International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores categorizing them as moderately-vigorously active. Data was collected using the Motives for Physical Activities Measure – Revised, Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale – General Measure, and via in-person interviews. Interviews were filmed and narratives created using Adobe. Interview scripts were analyzed by researchers and common themes coded. Results: Qualitative analysis showed participants expressed higher life satisfaction than frustration. Collectively, statements that expressed motivation were most common for competence (55), relatedness (33), autonomy (28), and interest/enjoyment (27). The least commonly mentioned motivation types were appearance (3) and fitness (13). Conclusion: Overall, active older adults showed greater satisfaction over frustration with basic psychological needs. Motivational factors influencing PA varied greatly among participants, but they shared many common beliefs and experiences. It was shown that motivation stemmed most strongly from competence, interest, and relatedness and those promoting PA within this age group should focus on these domains