Advances in Cognitive Sciences
Year:2016 | Volume:18 | Issue:3 (71) |Papers Count:10

Introduction: Three types of images can be considered in the mind: Remembering images which have already been seen, making abstract image from all images of a concept already existing in the mind or creating new images for new concepts using existing images and concepts. “Creative Imagery” refers to the latter. Method: Computational modelling of Imagery – as a cognitive process – describes mechanisms and processes of imagery. It embodies the description based on computer science. In this paper, the process of human creative imagery is described using Islamic Philosophy approach.Results: According to the Islamic Philosophy, Imaginative faculty can compose and decompose concepts (existing in memory) and forms (existing in Imaginative Faculty) for Creative Mental Imagery. Role of Imaginative Faculty can be modeled with a multi-level probabilistic algorithm. As an example, running path of the algorithm for creating image of “tree with eye and mouth” is shown. The computational model is able to produce those images which human produce for the new concept.Conclusion: Creating new image uses composition of basic elements (forms and concepts). Thus for modelling creative imagery two fundamental aspects should be considered: Appropriate representation of forms and concepts and discovery and modeling mental processes combining these components.

Introduction: Several research has approved deficits in memory performance of patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Since the cause of the injury is multifaceted and complex, the type and extent varies from person to person. In addition to neurological factors, psychological factors, such as depression, may also be involved in the etiology. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of depression on retrospective, everyday and prospective memory performance of patients with MS. Method: In this Causal-Comparative research 52 patients with MS (26 depressed and 26 non-depressed patients) from Kashani hospital in Isfahan in 1391 & 1392 and 26 healthy controls were selected and were assessed through the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ) and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). The data were analyzed through using covariance.Results: The results indicated significant (p<0.008) differences in retrospective, everyday and prospective memory performance between depressed patients with MS and two other groups. But there was no significant difference between non-depressed patients with MS and healthy group.Conclusion: Psychological factors such as depression can influence on retrospective, everyday and prospective memory performance of MS patients. Depression can intensify memory deficits of patients with MS.

Introduction: Moral judgment is among the topics studied in the field of social cognition. Adopting a descriptive perspective, Moral Foundations Theory has introduced six foundations of care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression as the basis of morality, suggesting that the degree of people’s belief in each might differ from one culture to another. The current study aims to determine the pattern of reliance on moral foundations within an Iranian group’s mental representation of moralities, and examine its relationship to individuals’ demographic characteristics and the subject domain under question. Method: Participants were 172 Iranians above 18 years of age who were interviewed on three subjects of ideal society, immoral behaviors, and moral behaviors, and their responses were coded according to moral foundations. Statistical techniques of analysis of variance and regression were used for data analysis.Results: Overall, fairness, care and sanctity were the most frequent foundations, whereas loyalty and liberty were the least frequent of all. However, the pattern of foundation endorsement varied depending on the subject domain in question. Reference to different foundations was also predicted by a number of demographic variables.Conclusion: The observed pattern for salience of foundations among the Iranian group in this study had similarities with both Eastern and Western cultures. Results also point to the importance of considering the subject domain along with demographic variables to predict individuals’ reliance on moral foundations in describing their conception of morality.

Introduction: Many important problems require consideration of multiple constraints to find the best answer or course of action from a huge set of potential answers. The aim of this paper is to present some search algorithm as well as to determine the way in which the information retrieval processes interact within the semantic memory to produce an acceptable answer to these problems. Method: In this study, the method of hierarchical cluster analysis was used to find the distinctive clusters of concepts based on the semantic distance among concepts in Remote Associates Test. To determine the information retrieval pattern in each cluster, the regression analysis was used.Results: The findings show that a local search is facilitated by just one cue at a time in semantic memory network to reach a solution. If the search is unable to find the answer in the fetched cluster, the two-stage search strategy is launched to switch the cluster in order to find an appropriate solution. Moreover, in this study the implementation for a given algorithm was explained by the cognitive processes involved in retrieving, organizing and integrating information.Conclusion: Although the local search algorithm makes it possible to find the right solution, individual differences in cognitive processes for retrieving, organizing and integrating information from memory leads to differences among individuals’ solutions as well as their evolutionary epistemology.

Introduction: Cognitive problems, especially memory impairments are among the main features of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) on everyday memory in adolescents with PTSD. Method: A total of 12 quake-stricken adolescents with PTSD were selected based on their scores in the Impact of Event Scale- Revised (IES-R) and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) and divided into the experimental and control group randomly. The experimental group participated in 10-session CBT, while there was no intervention into the control group. In order to measure everyday memory, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test- Third Edition (RBMT-3) was used and the participants completed it in pre-test, post-test, & follow-up. Finally, the data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA.Results: The results indicated that CBT has significant effect on the improvement of the general memory index, the verbal memory index, and the prospective memory index, whereas there was no significant impact on the improvement of other essential indexes of everyday memory.Conclusion: The current results can provide promising evidence regarding the positive impact of CBT on the cognitive rehabilitation of the patients with PTSD.

Introduction: This study aims at a philosophical inquiry on the implications of coherence between cognition and emotion theory in education. Regarding that traditionally emotional components are considered as barriers to develop intellectual capacities of human beings, the main question is what educational principles can be introduced based on the coherence of cognition and emotion theory. Method: The research synthesis was used to develop basic statements for cognition and emotion relations, and the practical syllogism was used to formulate principles taken from coherence of cognition and emotion. Foundations of cognition and emotion were classified into 5 categories including: effect of cognition on emotion, effect of emotion on cognition, cognition and decision making, emotional interaction, and cognition and learning. Also, based on foundations and normative statements adapted from the goals of Iranian educational system, the principles were formulated in two sections; theoretical and practical.Conclusion: Cognitive explanation of interaction between cognition and emotion reveals that each cognitive processing has emotional components which can be utilized from cognitive capacities as well. So educators should consider two points in provision of educational opportunities: first, the efficacy of education can be enhanced through using capacities of emotional components, especially to education values and changing attitudes; second the emotional aspects of life can be rationalized by using cognitive capacities like reasoning.

Introduction: The study aimed to compare the effects of positive- and negative-induced false-memory and true-memory of people with anxiety-depression symptoms and normal individuals. Method: In this study, using post-test quasi-experimental design with control group, the participants first completed depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS) forms. Then, 29 individuals with depression-anxiety symptoms were selected as the experimental group and 29 participants without symptoms were selected as the control group. First, false-memory test in terms of normal mood was taken by members of both groups. Then the two groups in terms of positive and negative mood were assessed by false memory test. The results were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance.Results: The results showed that the experimental group and the control group were different in terms of recognition and false recall in positive and negative mood, while there was no difference between the two groups in terms of recall and correct recognition.Conclusion: Positive and negative mood along with depression-anxiety state increases false memory

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the mindfulness training on working memory and behavioral inhibition in adults with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Method: The design of this research was quasi experiment. For this, 28 undergraduate male students of Najafabad University were selected through convenience sampling and randomly divided in two groups. The N-BACK tests to measure working memory and GO/NOGO test was used to assess behavioral inhibition. Experimental group received 8 group sessions weekly and control group did not have any treatment. Data were analyzed in covariance by using SPSS16 software.Results: The covariance analysis was run and results showed that mindfulness training increased behavioral inhibition (p≤0.01). Also mindfulness training had no effect on working memory (p>0.05).Conclusion: In general, mindfulness training can be considered as an effective intervention in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.