Advances in Cognitive Sciences
Year:2005 | Volume:6 | Issue:3-4|Papers Count:18

Objective: To normalize the Abedi Creativity Test (CT) in high schools of the schooling region No. 6 of Tehran. Method: CT was administered to students from 36 high schools randomly selected over the schooling region No. 6 of Tehran. A total of8l9 students were selected, 410 male and 409 female students. The instrument was examined for the internal consistency, and testretest reliability. The Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) was used as the criterion for concurrent validity of the CT. Results: Test-retest reliability coefficients of the CT subscales for fluency, 0.023; elaboration, 0.444; originality, 0.614; and flexibility, 0.595 were obtained. The internal consistency coefficient for the CT ranged from 0.48 to 0.68 (mean 0.59). The low internal consistency of some subscales may be due to the small number of items and the heterogeneous nature of the questions. The correlation coefficients between the subscales of the TTCT and the CT for fluency, 0.468; elaboration, -0.195; originality, 0.424; and flexibility, 0.361 (mean 0.265) were obtained. This low-level relation could be due to intrinsic problems in administering and scoring the TTCT, or it could be an indication of the major differences between the constructs measured by two instruments, or a combination of both of these factors. Comparisons of the means for boys and girls showed there was no significant difference in fluency, originality, and flexibility subscales between boys and girls, but there was a significant difference in elaboration between two groups: girls were higher than boys in elaboration subscale. Conclusion: The required time for TTCT administration and scoring limits its application to large scale assessments of creativity. The CT requires less time for administration and scoring, and hence can be an alternative to the TTCT; provided that its concurrent validity is improved, it could be used for group administration.

Objective: Based on the current theories of the relation between cognition and affect and the contemporary positive psychology movements, the present research assessed the effectiveness of induced positive affect on the level of positive affect and on high- versus low- dopamine-sensitive cognitive tasks (DSCTs versus LDSTs). Method: In a controlled experiment, the subjects who' were 30 students of psychology at Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, were selected through sequential sampling and were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control) of 15 individuals. The subjects in the experimental group were given an unanticipated small gift, and were tested for the level of positive affect and cognitive function with high (Stroop and similarities) and low (associative and visual memory) dopamine sensitive tasks. Results: The results showed that inducing positive affect significantly increased the level of positive affect and facilitated DSCTs (except the Stroop test I, automatic attention) better than LDSTs. Conclusion: The findings of the study support the dopamine neuropsychological theory regarding the effects of positive affect on cognitive functions. The results also have some theoretical and practical implications in clarifying the interaction between cognition and affect, and the role of positive affect in improving cognitive functioning and problem solving skills in social relations. Comparing the effectiveness of different methods of inducing positive affect, and measuring the impact on a wider range of cognitive functions in different populations in future studies would endorse the theories on effects of mood on cognition.

Objective: In recent years, determining the extent to which the factors such as the amount of reward or punishment, their frequency, delay in delivery, and the odds of reward or punishment can affect riskful decision making have been a subject of interest 0 the cognitive science researchers. The present study assessed the effect of the amount and frequency of win/lose on subjects. Method: For this cross-sectional/analytical study, first, 110 male first-grade high school students were assessed using the simplified Persian version of the Iowa Gabling task, in 2 separate groups. Results: Findings from both steps of the task showed the subjects preferred cards Band D (losing less frequently, larger sums) (in the original having average choices of30. 10 and 31. 90 out of 100 choices for each person) to cards A and C (losing more frequently, smaller sums) (original test average choices of 18.14 and 19.86);in a way that the total score, which indicates the subject's inclination toward advantageous cards (D and C) as compared to disadvantageous cards (A and B), was reduced to 3.5. This also held true for the average selection time from the deck; the subjects used the Band D decks faster than the A and C decks. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the superiority of the frequency of losing over the sums lost; that is, the studied subjects did not discriminate between the cards that lost different sums at similar frequencies, but with the cards that lost similar sums at different frequencies (low, high) they were' significantly inclined to less frequently losing cards. This finding is different from other studies, implying different strategies in riskful decision making.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of parazosin (alpha-l adrenergic receptor antagonist), yohimbine (alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist), bicuculline (GABAA receptor antagonist), CGP35348 (GABAB receptor antagonist), and lidocaine (calcium channel blocker) on the analgesic effect of carbamazepine on white NMRI-mice, in the both phases of the formalin test. Method: In this interventional experiment, the analgesic effects of carbamzepine, prazosin, yohimbine, bicuculline, CGP35348, and lidocaine were tested by performing an intraperitoneal injections during the formalin test. Also the effect of the mentioned drugs on the analgesic effect of carbamazepine was assessed. The formalin test was used as a model of chronic pain, in which formalin 0.5% was infused into the plantar surface of the mouse foot as the painful stimulus animal's response was observed. Data at minutes 0-5 were considered as measures of acute pain, data at minutes 5-16 were considered as the chronic pain. Results: Different doses of intraperitoneal injections of carbamazepine (3, 5,7, 15,30 mg/kg), lidocaine (5, 10,20 mg/kg), prazosin (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg/kg), yohembine (0.25, 0.5 mg/kg), bicuculline (1, 3, 5 mg/kg), and CGP35348 (100, 200 mg/kg) showed analgesic effects in the both phases of the formalin test. The analgesic effect of carbamazepine was not influenced by injection of other medications except lidocaine. Simultaneous administration of lidocaine augmented the analgesic effect of carbamazepine in the first phase of the formalin test but not the second. It should be mentioned that the administration of bicuculline (0.75 mg/kg) was associated with induction of hyperalgesia in the second phase, probably by blocking a group of GABA receptors and thus inducing pain. Conclusion: With regard to the effect of lidocaine on carbamazepine in the acute phase it is suggested that at least a part of the analgesic effect of the carbamazepine is related to a sodium channel mechanisms.

Objective: Hippocamp is a major reward-based learning center. Considering broad distribution of GABAA receptors in CA1 region of dorsal hippocamp, one can guess that they might play a role in reward-based learning. In the present study, the effects of bilateral intra-hippocampal injections of either GABAA receptor agonist or antagonist on the acquisition and - expression of morphine - induced conditioned place preference were evaluated in vitro on male Wistar rats. Method: In this interventional in vitro experiment, adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-240 grams were used. All of the study animals were bilaterally cannulated in their CA1 regions of dorsal Hippocamp by a stereotaxic machine. After a recovery period, they all underwent conditioning training and induced "conditioned place preferene" (CPP). The method used for CPP included a 5-day course with the following three separate phases: 1- preconditioning phase; 2- conditioning phase; and 3- testing or reward - expression phase. Results: Subcutaneous injection of different doses of morphine in a frequency - based method induced a conditioned place preference (CPP). Injection of mosimol as a GABAA receptor agonist in CA1 regions could significantly suppress morphine - induced CPP. Bilateral injections of different doses of bicoculine into the CA1 regions of hippocamp, together with an ineffective dose of morphine resulted in the induction of a significant CPP. Mosimol or bicoculine alone did not have any effect on place conditioning. Our findings also disclosed that the induced reaction by bilateral injection ofmosimol into the CA1 regions could be reversed if pre-treated with bicoculin. On the other hand, bilateral injections of mosimol into the CA1 regions could be reversed if pre-treated with bicoculin. On the other hand, bilateral injections of mosimol or bicoculing into the CA1 regions significantly reduced - expression of morphin - induced CPP; however, it did not affect movement activities in the test phase. Conclusion: Results of the present study revealed that GABAA receptors of the CA1 region of hippocampe play an important role in the acquisition and expression of morphine- induced conditioned place preference.

Objective: the present study evaluated the executive functions of organization, decision making planning, and inhibition in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Method: For this cross- sectional/analytical study, 60 primary school students were recruited by random sampling into 2 groups: 30 children with DCD (based on DSM-IV criteria), with mean age of 8.2 years; 30 normal children with the mean age of 8.5 years. Data were collected using Basic Motor Ability Tests and Coolidge Personality and Neuropsychological Inventory, and the Ravon Test of Intelligence. Data were analyzed using t-test. Results: Children with DCD differ from the normal children in executive functions of organization and decision making; however there was no significant difference in their function of inhibition from normal. Conclusion: In regard with these findings, the following strategies are suggested to overcome the executive function deficits: emphasizing the individual work after school; using organizational tools like the alarm clock, calendar, and computer; emphasizing learning thinking and problem solving skills; prescribing psychostimulants.

Objective: To determine the life time frequency of mood disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: 85 patients with multiple sclerosis (45 females and 40 males) aged 18-65 years, were selected through convenience sampling and were evaluated using the semi- structured clinical interview (SCID) based on the DSM-IV criteria. Data analysis was done with the chisquare and Mann - Whitney tests. Results: The life time frequency of mood disorders was 34.5% in psatients with multiple sclerosis; 15.6 of which had depressive disorder NOS; 8.2% had bipolar I disorder; 5.9% had major depressive disorder; 2.4% had bipolar disorder NOS; 1.2% had dysthymic mood disorder; 1.2% bipolar IT disorder. Conclusion: The collective frequency of mood disorders in individuals with multiple sclerosis is considerable with bipolar mood disorders contributing more that expected. Since most of the these disorders can be successfully treated, clinicians should beware of and be sensitive to the timely diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the psychiatric disorders in patients with MS.

Objective: This experiment was designed and administered to study the effect of cognitive exhaustion and emotional intelligence on cognitive problem sloving performance. Method: In this controlled trial, 120 male and female students who scored between one standard deviation above and below the mean emotional intelligence on the Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS) were selected from 408 examinees, and were randomly assigned to 8 groups of 15 participants. The experiment consisted of two phases: In the first phase, participants in the control and experimental groups were exposed to controllable and uncontrollable discriminative tasks. In the second phase, for comparison, the groups were exposed to problem solving tests. Data analysis was done using the three-way ANOVA test. Results: Performances of the subjects with different emotional intelligence were not similar. That is, the higher the emotional intelligence, the better performance on problem solving tasks. There was no difference between boys and girls regarding their level of emotional intelligence. Problem- solving in female subjects was more influenced by cognitive exhaustion (compared to males). The problem - solving ability in the subjects with cognitive exhaustion was not a function of their level of emotional intelligence. Conclusion: Considering the findings, it seems necessary to focus on the role of variables of cognitive exhaustion and emotional intelligence in the studies of individuals' performance in solving cognitive problems.

Objective: The increasing popularity of computer games among children and aodlescents has prompted researchers to study the cognitive, emotional and behavioral effects of these games on their users. The objective of the present research was to assess the effect of computer games on the ability of mental rotation. Mental rotation is a special ability by means of which an individual can visualize the final appearance of a two- or three- dimensional object, after it is rotated to a certain degree around an axis. Method: In this interventional study which was carried out on 162 secondary school students (aged 12-13 years), a researched- designed questionnaire was distributed by means of which the degree of acquaintance of the sample group with the computer game "Tetris' was determined. Then 60 subjects were randomly selected from the group and were divided into four study and control groups, each comprising 15 subjects. First, all four groups simultaneously took a pre-test mental rotation test. Next, two groups of examinees, one comprising boys and the other comprising girls, played "Tetris' during six 30- minute sessions. Immediately after the training, all four groups took a post-test. The obtained information was analyzed by means of dependent and non dependent t-tests. Results: The results showed that the ability of mental rotation was not significantly different of mental rotation increased in the adolescents, and the girls achieved higher scores than boys. Conclusion: Models of environmental, social and biological phenomena conclude that spatial abilities in general and mental rotation in particular are more flexible in girls and women in comparison with boys and men.

Objective: Psychological debriefing has been used to prevent symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from different traumatic events. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been effective in treatment of PTSD, too. This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of psychological debriefing and cognitive-behavioral group therapy. Method: In a before-after trial (field study), 174 survivors of Barn earthquake with PTSD symptoms who did not require pharmacological treatment for PTSD or other psychiatric disorders were enrolled. They attended one session of psychological debriefing and three sessions of group cognitive-behavioral therapy. PTSD symptoms were assessed by CAPS before, immediately after and 3 months following the intervention. The results were analyzed using paired t-test and repeat ANOVA before and after the intervention. Results: Of 174 subjects, 50 dropped out for migration or personal preferences. Following the intervention, the frequency of PTSD symptoms changed markedly in the short run; however, the severity of symptoms was statistically meaningful in the short run (immediately after the intervention). The change in the mean avoidance symptoms was statistically significant, but the intervention had no effect on re-experience (long term) and hyper arousal (short- and long term). Conclusion: Interventions including a session of psychological debriefing and three sessions of group cognitive-behavioral therapy may be effective in reducing some PTSD symptoms (like avoidance) after the earthquake, but has no effects on hyper arousal symptoms.

Objective: This research investigated several questions and hypotheses, the most important of which was: the relationship between learning aims (of students, families, teachers and classroom) and self-handicapping. Method: The target population of this cross-sectional/analytical survey was all students at first to third high school grades in Isfahan. The sample consisted of 190 girl and boy students, randomly chosen from 20 schools over 5 city quarters. The research instruments were the adjusted learning models scales. Results: The final results of this research indicated that the variables of student mastery, student performance avoidance, classroom mastery, and classroom performance avoidance had a meaningful relationship with self-handicatpping in boys. In girls, it was shown that student mastery, classroom performance, and parents mastery were asociated with self- handicapping. Also, it was indicated that boys use self- handicapping strategies significantly more than girls do. Conclusion: It is suggested that the system of education be inclined towards relying on the students' progress with qualifications and their level of mastery in the study subjects rather than class rankings and scores; and focus on students' progress and reward their learning improvement and curiosity.