Advances in Cognitive Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:12 | Issue:2 (46)|Papers Count:11

Objective: Stress and emotion play significant roles in the quality of human life; therefore, the presentation of a suitable model of them is useful in understanding these mental states. Method: Behavioral and Emotional activities are associated with the limbic system. Therefore, we will first describe parts of the brain which are important in emotional reactions, including the cortex, thalamus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, locus coeruleus, hippocampus and hypothalamus. Thereafter, we will describe a general cognitive map for this brain state. This cognitive map exhibits the basic role of neuronal and hormonal systems in processing emotional stress. Results: By describing the necessary relations and characteristics, a computational model was executed in simulink Matlab toolbox, and different experiments were carried out in order to determine the validity of the model.Conclusion: Results showed that during emotional stress, the orbitofrontal cortex reduces the stress and prevents it from continuing. Also, the computational model could describe brain function in emotional stress; therefore, it can be used in larger models as a subsystem.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess decision making disorders in opioid dependents in riskful situations, using cognitive modeling. First, the decision making process of participants (treatment-seeking dependents and the normal group) was evaluated using the Farsi version of Iowa gambling task; and then the data were analyzed using cognitive modeling. Different models of decision making in riskful situations in the gambling task were designed based on reinforcement learning and gambling task circumstances. In the next step, the models were simulated in gambling task environment and were separately fitted on the data of both groups. Thereafter, the model with higher correspondence with the subject behavior in each group was determined. Results: Both the group of treatment-seeking dependents (n=127) and the control group (n=130) showed a weak performance in the task (pure scores lower than 10). In addition, the performance of the dependent group was weaker than that of the normal group (p<0.07). Modeling results indicated that the optimum model in both groups was the model that was focused only on the frequency of reward and punishment (not on their size), in the assessment of different choices. Sensitivity revealing method revealed that the optimum model for the dependent group, in addition to merely focusing on the frequency of reward and punishment, is affected by harm-avoidance more than the control group. Conclusion: The above-mentioned results indicate that the reason for the low scores obtained in both groups, is ignoring the size of reward and punishment and focusing on their frequency. Moreover, the reason for the lower output in the dependent group in comparison with the control group is a lack of balance between harm avoidance and reward dependence and a bias toward harm avoidance. The mentioned bias toward harm avoidance could be associated with the specific circumstances of treatment seeking drug dependents.

Objective: In this research, executive functions of bipolar patients and the effect of chronicity on them were investigated. Method: In an ex post facto research, 99 participants were selected via simple nonrandom or convenience sampling, and were divided into three groups: chronic bipolar patients (n=33), first episode bipolar patients (n=33), and healthy controls (n=33). Subjects were evaluated using Color-Word Stroop, Wisconsin card sorting, Continuous Performance, and Digit Span sub scale tests. Results: The results of one way analysis of variance indicated the significant presence of deficits in bipolar groups compared to the normal group; however there was no significant difference between chronic and first episode patients. Conclusion: Results indicated the lack of effect of chronicity on executive functions in bipolar patients.

Objective: To investigate the predictors of life satisfaction in a sample of Iranian students. Method: 236 students (175 females and 61 males) participated in this study. All subjects completed self-esteem, Big Five Inventory, perceived social support and positive and negative affect scales. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: The results of the present study showed that among major personality traits neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness could significantly predict hedonic balance among students. In addition, results of hierarchical regression indicated that self-esteem could predict hedonic balance beyond the big five factors of personality, while perceived social support failed to do so. Conclusion: Big Five personality traits and self-esteem are significant predictors of hedonic balance in Iran, like in many other countries.

Objective: Various abnormal behaviour patterns can be conceptualized as extremes in the five personality traits present in normal people. Among clinical personality disorders, schizotypal personality is least accounted for by the five-factor model. The aim of the present study is to explore the associations of the schizotypal personality with the five factor model of personality in Iran. Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study and was conducted in an experimental research context. A group of 319 normal participants were randomly selected, and answered to schizotypal personality (STA) and Big Five Inventory (BFI) scales. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. Results: Results indicated that schizotypal personality has positive correlation with neuroticism and negative correlation with extraversion. Regression analysis based on the present results indicated that even though conscientiousness and agreeableness are not by themselves related to schizotypy, they need to be added to neuroticism and extraversion for its development. Neuroticism, in males, and extraversion, in females had more power in prediction of schizotypal traits, compared to other personality traits. Conclusion: Results were discussed in light of previous research findings with clinical samples, including schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia. The role of gender should be emphasized in the relation between schizotypal traits and schizophrenia.

Objective: Depression is the most prevalent co-morbid disorder in epilepsy and determines the highest variance in quality of life scores of patients with epilepsy. Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is the most effective psychotherapy method for treatment of depression. The purpose of this project was to determine the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy on the depression of intractable epileptic patients in Isfahan; while focusing on dysfunctional attitudes related to epilepsy. Method: 20 patients with chronic, poorly controlled seizures and mild to moderate clinical depression were randomly assigned to one experimental (N=10) and one control (N=10) group. Eight weekly sessions of CBT with focus on cognitive restructuring, modification of cognitive distortions and training of behavioral techniques was administered to the experimental group. Hamilton scale for depression (HRSD) was used as the pre-test and post- test for both two groups. Results: Data analysis showed a significant post-test decrease in depression scores in the experimental group. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) with focus on dysfunctional attitudes related to epilepsy, is remarkably effective as a complementary therapy in reduction of co-morbid depression in epileptic patients.

Objective: Drug craving is the main core feature of drug use and relapse. Methamphetamine is a common stimulant in Iran which evokes severe craving in cue exposure. The major aim of the present study is to design and develop a tool for the measurement of craving induced by verbal cues in methamphetamine abusers. Method: In the first step, 15 abusers identified 133 words that induced craving in them. In the next steps the words were divided into seven clusters (drugs, related items, instruments, places, performances, moods, and individuals), and were then incorporated into a Likert scale questionnaire along with 16 neutral words. The questionnaires were administered to 30 participants who were randomly selected from INCAS clinic based on DSM-IV-TR criteria for methamphetamine dependency. Demographics and methamphetamine abuse profiles were obtained based on ASI-Lite; and the inductive power of the words were evaluated subsequently. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS-16 using descriptive statistical methods. Results: The results indicated that the words; methamphetamine, drug, substance, money, glass tube, wallet, pipe, lighter, foil, place of drug purchase, bachelor flat, room of drug use, visiting friends, family argument, sexual arousal, craving, anger, depression, co-abuser, fellow-user and methamphetamine dealer were cues with the highest degree of induction. The list of words was thus prepared. Thereafter, in order to assess attentional bias and drug craving, 24 verbal cues were divided into four six-word groups and were introduced along with two neutral groups for administering in addiction Stroop task and the computer program for assessing attentional bias. Conclusion: Ecologically validated drug craving assessment tasks not only provide research potentials in this field, but can also be used in the design and execution of psychological interventions for “relapse prevention”. In this study, a series of these cues and their potentials were introduced and evaluated.

Rapid development of neuroimaging techniques in recent years has provided excellent opportunity for researchers in better understanding the structure and function of the human brain. In light of these advanced technologies, findings of brain researchers have resulted a wave of new insights about thinking, emotion, motivation, learning and development, which have in turn influenced existing explanations about educational issues. Therefore, many neuroscientists and educators claim that establishing a link between neuroscience and education could play a major implementations in the improvement of knowledge, policy and practice in education. Valid educational applications and implementations from neuroscience finding also support this claim. Nevertheless, some critics believe that there is only a limited relationship between neural functions and educational practice; and the gap between neuroscience and education is so far that establishing a direct link between them is impossible, and that disciplines such as “cognitive psychology” and “cognitive neuroscience” should be used as mediators to establish this link. However, from the educational viewpoint, educational science as an applied science naturally tends to benefit from neuroscience as well as other descriptive sciences (e.g. psychology and sociology). This will be possible through the extraction of educational principles from neuroscientific foundation of education. Therefore, establishing a link between these two fields is both possible and necessary. Integrating “educational philosophy", "educational sociology" and "educational psychology" with “educational neuroscience” can help the improvement of knowledge, policy and practice of education. However, the most important principle that required serious consideration is the cautious and prudent in interpretation and applying of brain research findings in educational contexts. To this end, a basis for constructive cooperation and interaction between neuroscientists and educational researchers should be provided; and the integration of cognitive neuroscience and educational neuroscience should be incorporated into the curricula of educational science and teacher education.