ADVANCES IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE
Year:2020 | Volume:22 | Issue:3|Papers Count:13

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral play therapy and theory of mind training on cognitive flexibility in students with special learning disabilities with and without comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methods: The study’ s population consists of students with special learning disabilities of girls and boys aged 10 to 12 years in Ahvaz. Among them, 40 people (20 people for each of the experimental and control groups in such a way that each group consisted of an equal number of students with special learning disabilities with impaired attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and without it) were selected by targeted sampling method. Moreover, they were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The Wisconsin card test was used to collect information. The research method was experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The first experimental group was trained in the theory of mind, the second experimental group was treated with cognitive-behavioral play therapy, and the control group was included in the waiting list for intervention. Data were analyzed using a single-variable covariance analysis statistical test. Results: The results showed that the theory of mind training and cognitive-behavioral play therapy were effective in improving students’ cognitive flexibility (P<0. 01). However, there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of the two interventions (P<0. 05). The results also revealed that comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder moderated the effectiveness of these interventions. Conclusion: According to these interventions, it is suggested that such programs be implemented by holding training workshops in order to give therapists the opportunity to have sufficient knowledge in this field.

Congenital heart disease is the most common fetal disease and the second leading cause of death in infants and children. This study aimed to identify the key psychological and biological factors affecting the psychological outcomes of these children. Methods: This study was correlational. The study’ s participants included all children aged 8-12 years with congenital heart disease of cyanosis type and their mothers who referred to Shahid Rajaee Heart Hospital. A random sampling method was considered including 338 children and their parents. The Shallice (1982) Tower of London test, performed on children, and the Nolen-Hoeksema (1999) Rumination Response Scale and the Rutter (1967) Behavioral Scale, were answered by mothers, were used to collect data. The mothers of these children also answered two questions about the mother’ s perception of the severity of the illness and the severity of the child’ s physical limitations. The disease information was extracted from children’ s records. Data analysis was performed in SPSS-25 software using the stepwise multiple regression method. Results: According to the results, maternal rumination, maternal perception, and severity of physical limitation predicted 16% of the child’ s anxiety/depression. Mother’ s rumination and child’ s problem solving predicted 13% of the aggression/hyperactivity variable. Rumination and problem solving predicted 10% of antisocial behavior and 7% of child social maladaptation. Rumination predicted 8% of attention deficits and eventually hospitalizations predicted 2% of problem solving. Among these variables, maternal rumination of depression symptoms had the highest predictive power while the number of hospitalizations had the least predictive power. Conclusion: Psychological factors, especially maternal factors, played a more crucial role in the psychological outcomes of children than the factors related to surgery.

Diabetes is among the commonest chronic diseases, as well as the greatest health problem in all nations. The present research was designed and conducted to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on temperament and character dimensions, food craving among obese women with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The present research was a semi-experimental, including pre-test and post-test with a control group. The current research’ s statistical population included all the obese married women with type 2 diabetes registered as members of the diabetes association of Gonbad-e-Kavoos town in 2018 who had active cases in the association. The study sample included 40 patients who, based on inclusion-exclusion criteria, were selected by the available sampling method and were assigned into two experiment and control groups (20 subjects per group). Sessions Schema Therapy was held for ten 120-minute sessions for the participants of the experiment group. The research tool was the Temperament and Character dimensions and the Food Craving questionnaire. The research data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance analysis in SPSS-22. Results: The findings indicated that schema therapy significantly increased the Temperament and Character dimensions and decrease food craving for the experimental group in the post-test phase (P<0. 01). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that due to the significant effect of schema therapy on temperament and character dimensions and food cravings in obese women with type 2 diabetes, this treatment can be a good intervention option for the treatment of such individuals.

Introduction: The present study aims to investigate the role of explicit confidence versus implicit in the context of studying how to set the strategy of multi-stage decisions. In this study, two-stage decision-making has been used as a suitable context to examine this difference. This issue is significant because the formation of confidence has been one of the most crucial questions posed. This study aims to provide a better view of confidence and its effect on the different elements of decision-making. Methods: This research was an experimental study with a within-subject design. The experiments were done on a sample of 12 people (10 man, 22-36 years old), selected through convenience sampling. Each participant completed a total of 528 tests in four blocks of random dot motion. Participants had to make two consecutive perceptual decisions simultaneously with the answer. They announced their degree of certainty with a visual saccade. The testing and data analysis was done in MATLAB. Results: The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that reducing the motion strength in the first decision leads to increasing the response time of the second decision. Besides, a higher level of confidence in the first decision leads to an increase in the second decision’ s response time. The results of the Wilcoxon test indicated that the confidence of the first decision has a greater effect on the response time of the second decision in comparison to the effect of the accuracy of the first decision on the response time of the second decision. Conclusion: When the confidence level of each decision is consciously reported, simultaneously with their responses, it has the same effect on the strategy’ s setting as the lack of reporting uncertainty. Accordingly, it can be concluded that in the context of multi-stage perceptual decisions, explicit and implicit confidence act similarly.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most major causes of disability, especially cognitive problems and mortality worldwide. The present study aims to investigate the effect of cognitive rehabilitation for improving cognitive function with RehaCom software in patients with traumatic brain injury. Methods: The sample of the present study consisted of 40 patients with TBI selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned in experimental and control groups (n=20). The results were analyzed using multivariable analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Research tools included RehaCom cognitive rehabilitation software and continuous performance test (CPT-II). The rehabilitation software was given to the experimental group for eight weeks and three sessions per week for 30 minutes to perform the intervention. Results: The results showed that cognitive rehabilitation training with RehaCom software significantly improved divided attention (P<0. 01) and continuous attention (P<0. 05) in the experimental group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that cognitive rehabilitation with RehaCom software improves the attention of patients with traumatic brain injury and can be used as a complementary treatment method.

Introduction: One of the topics discussed in psychology is how people respond to physical illnesses. That could lead to many problems. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on the perception of disease and worry in patients with illness anxiety disorder. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design. A sample of 45 patients with anxiety disorder selected by purposive sampling and divided into two experimental groups (schema therapy and treatment based on acceptance and commitment) and a control group (15 people in each group). Then, 12 sessions of 90-minute schema therapy and 8 sessions of 90-minute therapy based on acceptance and commitment were performed in the experimental groups. The instruments used were the Pennsylvania Worry Questionnaire and Disease Perception Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and univariate analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that schema therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy effectively reduced worry and illness perception of patients with anxiety disorder but there was no significant relationship between these two treatments. Conclusion: Given the role of beliefs and thoughts in anxiety disorder, it is recommended that therapists consider schema therapy and acceptance-based therapy to reduce symptoms of anxiety and illness perception.

Introduction: Cognitive neuroscience has developed several indicators and tools for use in education. It has also led to the discovery of neuro-markers to assess learning and individual differences. The present study aimed to investigate individual differences in mathematical skills using event-related potentials. Methods: Thirty-eight right-handed participants were assigned into two groups of high and low math skills. After that, their electroencephalograms were recorded during the completion of a number verification task. The accuracy scores, reaction times, and peak amplitude of the negativity in the 200-400 ms time window were analyzed. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that the high skill group performs better in the accuracy and reaction time than the low skill group (P<0. 001). The amplitude of the study’ s ERP component was significantly higher in the high skill group at the parietal area, whereas in the low skill group, the component was more prevalent in frontal and prefrontal areas. Besides, there was a significant difference between the peak amplitude of anterior and posterior areas in the low skill group, while no such difference was observed in the high skill group. Conclusion: In general, students with different math skills demonstrated different brain activity and the negative component in the time window of the 200-400 ms was different for individual differences in math performance.

Introduction: The inability to concentrate on a specific topic in the presence of distracting factors is of evident symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Controlled simulation of such factors through immersion in real environments by Virtual Reality (VR) technology can be effective to improve attention. The study aims to design and validate a VR-based software package to decrease the effect of distraction factors and improve ADD symptoms. Methods: The VR-based software package comprises 18 short panoramic footages with pre-determined scenarios, each of which includes the main topic and some irrelevant distracting factors. The intervention procedure includes watching two footages per session and answering the related questions. For content validation, five attention psychotherapists and five VR experts were selected on purpose, and after applying their revisory comments, the results of the validation questionnaires were analyzed to obtain the Cohen’ s Kappa coefficient. For introductory intervention, the population comprised all female students with ADD in grade six of the elementary school in 2017-18 academic years in Isfahan, Iran. A limited sample of 14 people was selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to equal experimental and control groups. The intervention was carried out for the experimental group in nine sessions, while the control group was on the waiting list. All subjects’ parents completed the SNAP-IV questionnaires before and after the intervention period, and the results were analyzed the using non-parametric Mann– Whitney U test in SPSS-23. Results: Cohen’ s Kappa coefficient of 0. 83 shows acceptable content validity. The Mann– Whitney U test indicated the effectiveness of VR-based software package on improving attention in students with ADD (F=-3. 232, P=0. 001). Conclusion: Simulating real distracting factors in an immersive VR platform can lead to an improvement in attention and reduce ADD symptoms. Moreover, customizing the virtual environment based on the subject’ s demands can provide an ideal therapy plan.

Introduction: In this study, a hybrid brain-computer interface for the classification of right and left-hand motor imagery using the deep learning method is presented to increase accuracy and performance. A hybrid brain-computer interface is designed to achieve a way of communicating between the brain and an external device for patients such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Therefore, the user can control the external device such as a wheelchair without using any organs of the body and only using the brain. Methods: Two electroencephalographic and near-infrared spectroscopy signals were recorded from 29 healthy men and women, and pre-processing of the signals was done to eliminate noise. The wavelet transform was used to obtain the scalogram as two-dimensional images for both of the signals, and images were inserted separately from each region of the brain and the merge region into the pre-trained convolutional neural network to extract features, classification, and prediction of left and right-hand motor imagery. Results: The results for a combination of scalogram images of Frontal-Central and Central-Parietal regions in electroencephalographic signal reached 88%, for near-infrared light spectroscopy reached 85% and for the merge of two scalogram images reached 90%. Conclusion: The combination of scalogram images and the deep learning method used in this study reached significant improvement in the prediction accuracy of right and left-hand motor imagery for wheelchair motion control.

Introduction: Physicalism is a view that believes that everything is physical and considers phenomenal consciousness as a physical phenomenon. The present study aims to show through the Zombie conceivability argument raised by Chalmers that phenomenal consciousness is not a physical phenomenon. As a result, it is a claim of false physicalism is false. Methods: This study is based on the study of the main and primary sources about this matter and has attempted to obtain some results about phenomenal consciousness through conceptual analysis, philosophical, and rational arguments. Results: According to the zombie conceivability argument, a creature that is physically like a human but lacks phenomenal consciousness is conceivable. Accordingly if this creature is conceivable then it is possible, and the possibility of this creature shows that phenomenal consciousness is not a physical phenomenon. This argument first indicates by proposing the epistemological gap between physical and phenomenal realms that there is no epistemic entailment from physical facts to facts about phenomenal consciousness. Thus, one can be imagined without the other, and then it argues for a modal gap between the two realms, that is, there may be physical properties but no phenomenal consciousness. Finally, this gap argues for the ontological gap between the physical properties and the phenomenal consciousness and shows there is no ontological implication between the physical properties and the phenomenal consciousness, and the physical properties do not necessitate phenomenal consciousness. Conclusion: Phenomenal consciousness and physical properties are ontologically independent. Phenomenal consciousness is not a physical phenomenon; therefore the claim of physicalism is false.

Introduction: The memory-based cognitive training program has special attention to cognitive ability and communication skills in deaf students. The present study aimed to determine the effect of the memory-based cognitive training on the cognitive ability and communication skills of deaf students. Methods: This study was a semi-experimental kind with pre-test, post-test design, and control group. The participants included 26 female deaf students. Participants were selected by convenience sampling method from Mir deaf high school in Isfahan city. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, each group consisted of 13 students. The experimental group participated in a memory-based cognitive training program in ten sessions, but the control group did not participate in this program. The research instruments were the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (2003) and the Burton communication skills questionnaire (1990). Data were analyzed by MANCOVA. Results: The results indicated that memory-based cognitive training had a significant effect on the cognitive ability and communication skills of students (P<0. 0001). Conclusion: According to the findings, a memory-based cognitive training program improved the cognitive ability and communication skills of deaf students. So, this program can be used to improve the cognitive ability and communication skills of these students and paying attention to the memory-based cognitive training program is effective and useful.

Introduction: Self-efficacy is one of the most important cognitive abilities in which defect leads to failure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of optimistic attribution style training on self-efficacy of normal and dyslexic boys of fourth grade in Isfahan city. Methods: The study design was experimental with pre-test, post-test, follow-up and control group. After screening based on Cattell’ s Intelligence Test (1973), Seligman’ s Children Attribution Style Questionnaire (1984), Bazrafshan Moghadam Dyslexia Checklist (1997) and Kormi Nouri and Moradi Reading and Dyslexia test (2005), from the population of fourth grade male students in Isfahan city, 60 students were selected in a multi-stage random manner. Thirty normal students were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups and 30 dyslexic students were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. After performing a pre-test including bandura’ s self-efficacy questionnaire (2006) and presenting the optimistic attributional style training, post-test and follow-up test were performed. Results: The results of the analysis of variance with repeated measures showed that optimistic attribution style training was effective on the general self-efficacy and social skills and emotional reactions subscales of the experimental groups in post-test and one-month follow-up test (P<0. 05). This training was effective on the academic self-efficacy of the normal experimental group and the reading self-efficacy of the experimental dyslexic group in both post-test and follow up (P<0. 05), but it was not effective on the reading self-efficacy of the normal experimental group and the academic self-efficacy of the experimental dyslexic group in post-test and follow up (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Optimistic attribution style training can improve normal and dyslexic boys’ self-efficacy, and this program can be used to improve children’ s self-efficacy.