Abstract: Recent advances in cognitive neuroscience have allowed a step forward in perceiving the processes involved in learning from the point of view of acquiring new information or the modification of existing mental content. The evoked potentials technique reveals how basic brain processes interact to achieve adequate and flexible behaviours. The objective of this work, using evoked potentials, is to study if it is possible to distinguish if a patient suffers a specific type of learning disorder to decide the possible therapies to follow. The methodology used in this work is to analyze the dynamics of different brain areas during a cognitive activity to find the relationships between the other areas analyzed to understand the functioning of neural networks better. Also, the latest advances in neuroscience have revealed the exis-tence of different brain activity in the learning process that can be highlighted through the use of non-invasive, innocuous, low-cost and easy-access techniques such as, among others, the evoked potentials that can help to detect early possible neurodevelopmental difficulties for their subsequent assessment and therapy. From the study of the amplitudes and latencies of the evoked potentials, it is possible to detect brain alterations in the learning process, specifically in dyscalculia, to achieve specific corrective measures for the application of personalized psycho-pedagogical plans that allow obtaining an optimal integral development of the affected people.
Abstract: Empathy has been an important issue in psychology, education, as well as cognitive neuroscience. Empathy has two major components: cognitive and emotional. Cognitive component refers to the ability to understand others’ perspectives, thoughts, and actions, whereas emotional component refers to understand how others feel. Empathy can be induced, attitude can then be changed, and with enough attitude change, helping behavior can occur. This finding leads us to two questions: is attitude change really necessary for prosocial behavior? And, what roles cognitive and affective empathy play? For the second question, participants with different psychopathic personality (PP) traits are critical because high PP people were found to suffer only affective empathy deficit. Their cognitive empathy shows no significant difference from the control group. 132 college students voluntarily participated in the current three-stage study. Stage 1 was to collect basic information including Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R), Attitude Scale, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and demographic data. Stage two was for empathy induction with three controversial scenarios, namely domestic violence, depression with a suicide attempt, and an ex-offender. Participants read all three stories and then rewrite the stories by one of two perspectives (empathetic vs. objective). They would then complete the VAS and Attitude Scale one more time for their post-attitude and emotional status. Three IVs were introduced for data analysis: PP (High vs. Low), Responsibility (whether or not the character is responsible for what happened), and Perspective-taking (Empathic vs. Objective). Stage 3 was for the action. Participants were instructed to freely use the 17 tokens they received as donations. They were debriefed and interviewed at the end of the experiment. The major findings were people with higher empathy tend to take more action in helping. Attitude change is not necessary for prosocial behavior. The controversy of the scenarios and how familiar participants are towards target groups play very important roles. Finally, people with high PP tend to show more public prosocial behavior due to their affective empathy deficit. Pre-existing value and belief as well as recent dramatic social events seem to have a big impact and possibly reduce the effect of the independent variables (IV) in our paradigm.
Abstract: A robotic arm and hand controlled by simulated
neurons is presented. The robot makes use of a biological neuron
simulator using a point neural model. The neurons and synapses are
organised to create a finite state automaton including neural inputs
from sensors, and outputs to effectors. The robot performs a simple
pick-and-place task. This work is a proof of concept study for a
longer term approach. It is hoped that further work will lead to
more effective and flexible robots. As another benefit, it is hoped that
further work will also lead to a better understanding of human and
other animal neural processing, particularly for physical motion. This
is a multidisciplinary approach combining cognitive neuroscience,
robotics, and psychology.
Abstract: Psychopathic disorders are taking an important part in
judge sentencing, especially in Canada. First, we will see how this
phenomenon can be illustrated by the high proportion of psychopath
offenders incarcerated in North American prisons. Many decisions in
Canadians courtrooms seem to point out that psychopathy is often
used as a strong argument by the judges to preserve public safety.
The fact that psychopathy is often associated with violence,
recklessness and recidivism, could explain why many judges consider
psychopathic disorders as an aggravating factor. Generally, the judge
reasoning is based on Article 753 of Canadian Criminal Code related
to dangerous offenders, which is used for individuals who show a
pattern of repetitive and persistent aggressive behaviour. Then we
will show how, with cognitive neurosciences, the psychopath’s
situation in courtrooms would probably change. Cerebral imaging
and news data provided by the neurosciences show that emotional
and volitional functions in psychopath’s brains are impaired.
Understanding these new issues could enable some judges to
recognize psychopathic disorders as a mitigating factor. Finally, two
important questions ought to be raised in this article: can exploring
psychopaths ‘brains really change the judge sentencing in Canadian
courtrooms? If yes, can judges consider psychopathy more as a
mitigating factor than an aggravating factor?
Abstract: The aim of this study was to test whether the Attention
Networks Test (ANT) showed temporal decrements in performance.
Vigilance tasks typically show such decrements, which may reflect
impairments in executive control resulting from cognitive fatigue.
The ANT assesses executive control, as well as alerting and
orienting. Thus, it was hypothesized that ANT executive control
would deteriorate over time. Manipulations including task condition
(trial composition) and masking were included in the experimental
design in an attempt to increase performance decrements. However,
results showed that there is no temporal decrement on the ANT. The
roles of task demands, cognitive fatigue and participant motivation in
producing this result are discussed. The ANT may not be an effective
tool for investigating temporal decrement in attention.
Abstract: This article presents the development of a neural
network cognitive model for the classification and detection of
different frequency signals. The basic structure of the implemented
neural network was inspired on the perception process that humans
generally make in order to visually distinguish between high and low
frequency signals. It is based on the dynamic neural network concept,
with delays. A special two-layer feedforward neural net structure was
successfully implemented, trained and validated, to achieve
minimum target error. Training confirmed that this neural net
structure descents and converges to a human perception classification
solution, even when far away from the target.
Abstract: In recent years linguistic research has turned
increasing attention to covert/overt strategies to modulate authorial
stance and positioning in scientific texts, and to the recipients'
response. This study discussed some theoretical implications of the
use of rhetoric in scientific communication and analysed qualitative
data from the authoritative The Cognitive Neurosciences III (2004)
volume. Its genre-identity, status and readability were considered, in
the social interactive context of contemporary disciplinary discourses
– in their polyphony of traditional and new, emerging genres.
Evidence was given of the ways its famous authors negotiate and
shape knowledge and research results – explicitly appraising team
work and promoting faith in the fast-paced progress of Cognitive
Neuroscience, also through experiential metaphors – by presenting a
set of examples, ordered according to their dominant rhetorical
quality.