ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4917-105X
Current Organisation
University of Newcastle Australia
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In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Psychology | Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology | Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology) | Motor Control | Learning, Memory, Cognition And Language | Sensory Processes, Perception And Performance | Social and Community Psychology
Nervous system and disorders | Behavioural and cognitive sciences | Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences | Biological sciences |
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-1993
Publisher: IEEE
Date: 2005
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-08-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1469-8986.2009.00954.X
Abstract: The study investigated event-related EEG potentials during concurrent performance of interlimb coordination and visual oddball tasks by younger and older adults. Coordination task difficulty was equated between age groups by allowing participants to perform the task at self-determined frequencies. The litude of the P3b component of the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by visual task targets showed a different pattern across midline sites (Fz, Cz, Pz) for younger and older adults. While younger adults showed a parietal maximum, P3b litudes in older adults did not differ across midline site, with lower litudes at central and parietal sites than younger adults but higher litude at the frontal site. Younger adults also had significantly shorter P3b latency than older adults. The results suggest that older adults may rely more on cognitive control of their movements than younger adults.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-2006
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJPSYCHO.2009.01.009
Abstract: There are two dominant theories of affective picture processing one that attention is more deeply engaged by motivationally relevant stimuli (i.e., stimuli that activate both the appetitive and aversive systems), and two that attention is more deeply engaged by aversive stimuli described as the negativity bias. In order to identify the theory that can best account for affective picture processing, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 34 participants during a modified oddball paradigm in which levels of stimulus valence, arousal, and motivational relevance were systematically varied. Results were partially consistent with motivated attention models of emotional perception, as P3b litude was enhanced in response to highly arousing and motivationally relevant sexual and unpleasant stimuli compared to respective low arousing and less motivationally relevant stimuli. However P3b litudes were significantly larger in response to the highly arousing sexual stimuli compared to all other affective stimuli, which is not consistent with either dominant theory. The current study therefore highlights the need for a revised model of affective picture processing and provides a platform for further research investigating the independent effects of sexual arousal on cognitive processing.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-1997
DOI: 10.1016/S0741-8329(96)00210-8
Abstract: Two experiments investigated long-term verbal memory performance in groups of 20-year-old heavy (HSDs) and light social drinkers (LSDs), in the presence and absence of a pharmacological challenge (lorazepam 2 mg). In Experiment 1 (n = 13), a verbal learning task was presented visually and it was found that lorazepam significantly impaired delayed verbal recall performance in both groups. Experiment 2 (n = 14) assessed the effect of presenting the verbal learning task in the auditory compared to the visual modality. Both groups' performance on the delayed trials of the visually presented task was reduced in the lorazepam treatment. However, in the auditory presented task, lorazepam reduced 30-min delayed recall performance in the HSDs but not in the LSDs. The differential effect of lorazepam on HSDs compared to LSDs on delayed recall performance when material is presented in the auditory modality may suggest that frequent heavy social drinking results in changes in CNS functioning.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-1993
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-07-2009
DOI: 10.1007/S00221-009-1943-X
Abstract: The difficulty of a visual three stimulus and a bimanual coordination task was manipulated by varying discrimination difficulty (easy, hard) and coordination mode (in-phase, anti-phase) respectively. Electroencephalographic activity was recorded from 32 sites whilst participants (n = 16) completed four dual-task conditions in counterbalanced order. Longer reaction time and lower accuracy were found for the hard relative to the easy visual task and, for the hard visual task, accuracy was lower under anti-phase relative to in-phase conditions. Amplitude and latency of event-related potential components P3a and P3b were recorded and measured. There was a reduction in P3b litude and increase in P3a litude for the hard visual task overall and a further reduction in frontal P3b litude under the more demanding anti-phase condition. For the easy visual task, however, P3b and P3a litude were greater under the anti-phase relative to in-phase coordination condition at left hemisphere frontal sites. These findings suggest that the attentional cost of stabilising anti-phase bimanual coordination is largely associated with top-down automatic processes subserved by the frontal attentional network.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-1993
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2002
Abstract: The aims of the current investigation were (1) to examine the ethical and professional conflicts experienced by Tasmanian registered nurses in attempting to provide optimal pain management, and (2) to examine nurse satisfaction with their professional relationship with physicians and with their level of involvement in pain management. A total of 1,015 registered nurses completed a 21-item survey examining ethical and professional conflicts encountered during patient pain management. Data also were gathered investigating nurse satisfaction with their involvement in and professional relationship with physicians during pain management. The respondents who felt adequately consulted by physicians were significantly more likely to instigate the consultation process than the respondents who felt that they were not adequately consulted by physicians about their patient's pain status. This was marked in relation to the need for increased pain relief medications. Nurses who did not feel adequately consulted by physicians were significantly more likely to experience ethical conflicts such as concerns about undermedication and patient reluctance to report pain. Nurses' concerns related to ethical conflicts concerning effective pain management are affected by their relationship with physicians. Education, for both nurses and physicians, concerning the role of the nurse in the workplace will help to ensure that these conflicts do not arise. Guidelines concerning the level of patient care at which consultation is necessary will ensure fewer conflicts and greater nurse satisfaction in the workplace.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-1992
DOI: 10.1016/0301-0511(92)90034-R
Abstract: The present research investigated the effects of a minor tranquillizer (temazepam) on P300 in a paradigm that may be relevant for traffic behaviour. Because accident scenes have not been used previously in P300 research, Experiment 1 (n = 8) examined whether the P300 elicited by safe traffic scenes and scenes of imminent road accidents were sensitive to the probability of occurrence. Event-related potentials were recorded from C3, Cz, C4, P3, Pz and P4 within an oddball paradigm. The type of stimulus to which subjects responded (pictures of imminent accidents or safe road scenes) was crossed with the probability (0.1 or 0.5) of the relevant (to which a response was required) event. The results indicated that P300 litude increased with decreasing probability of the relevant stimulus and that P300 was most pronounced at Pz. Experiment 2 (n = 12) employed a drug treatment (10 mg temazepam) and a placebo treatment (100 mg Vitamin E). An oddball paradigm with a probability of the relevant stimulus of 0.1 was used and P300 was recorded from Cz, C3, C4, Pz, P3 and P4. Generally, the ingestion of temazepam decreased P300 litude and increased P300 latency at all sites. Reaction time, on the other hand, was not influenced by drug administration. The data demonstrate the clear effect of minor tranquillizers on the psychological processes associated with P300.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOPSYCHO.2007.12.007
Abstract: The effect that motivationally relevant stimuli have on processes of attentional engagement and disengagement was investigated during two modified peripheral cueing paradigms. Sexual, mutilation, threatening, and neutral stimuli served as peripheral cues in both experiments. Responses were made to target location in Experiment 1 (N=19 female) and target identity in Experiment 2 (N=18 female). As indexed by enhanced target-evoked P1 and P3b component litudes, target processing was facilitated by the presentation of sexual and mutilation stimuli in both experiments. This facilitation in response to targets cued by sexual and mutilation stimuli occurred regardless of whether cueing was valid or invalid as demonstrated by the non-significant cue validity x picture-type interaction. As such, the processes of attentional engagement (as inferred by responses to validly cued targets) and attentional disengagement (as inferred by responses to invalidly cued targets) were not differentially affected by the motivational relevance of the preceding cue. These results indicate that in a non-clinical s le, participants can shift attention rapidly to process information following the onset of motivationally relevant stimuli at attended (valid) and unattended (invalid) locations and that target processing is facilitated by the presence of appetitive and aversive cues.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.BANDL.2015.10.008
Abstract: To investigate facilitatory and inhibitory processes during selective attention among adults with good (n=17) and poor (n=14) phonological decoding skills, a go/nogo flanker task was completed while EEG was recorded. Participants responded to a middle target letter flanked by compatible or incompatible flankers. The target was surrounded by a small or large circular cue which was presented simultaneously or 500ms prior. Poor decoders showed a greater RT cost for incompatible stimuli preceded by large cues and less RT benefit for compatible stimuli. Poor decoders also showed reduced modulation of ERPs by cue-size at left hemisphere posterior sites (N1) and by flanker compatibility at right hemisphere posterior sites (N1) and frontal sites (N2), consistent with processing differences in fronto-parietal attention networks. These findings have potential implications for understanding the relationship between spatial attention and phonological decoding in dyslexia.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-03-2013
DOI: 10.1111/ACER.12086
Abstract: It has been argued that consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) causes a subjective underestimation of intoxication and an increased level of risk-taking behavior. To date, however, there is mixed support for AmED-induced reductions in perceived intoxication, and no objective assessment of risk-taking following AmED consumption. Consequently, the present study aimed to determine the effect of alcohol and energy drink (ED) consumption on subjective measures of intoxication and objective measures of risk-taking. Using a placebo-controlled, single-blind, cross-over design, participants (n = 28) attended 4 sessions in which they were administered, in counterbalanced order: 0.5 g/kg alcohol, 3.57 ml/kg ED, AmED, and a placebo beverage. Participants completed the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale and a Subjective Effects Scale at baseline and 30 and 125 minutes postbeverage administration risk-taking was measured using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Participants reported greater subjective intoxication, impairment, and sedation after active relative to placebo alcohol consumption, with no interactive AmED effects. However, a significant moderate magnitude increase in stimulation ratings was observed in the AmED relative to alcohol, ED, and placebo conditions. There was no independent effect of alcohol, or interactive effect with ED, on the BART. A significant, yet small magnitude, increase in risk-taking was evident in active relative to placebo ED conditions. The interactive effect of AmED appears restricted to perceived stimulation, with alcohol-induced increases in subjective intoxication occurring regardless of presence or absence of ED. Engagement in risk-taking behavior was only increased by ED consumption however, this effect was only of small magnitude at these doses, alcohol consumption, with or without EDs, did not affect risk-taking. Further research assessing the dose-dependent effects of AmED on objectively measured risk-taking behavior could clarify whether the ED effect increases with higher doses and whether an interactive effect is observed with higher alcohol doses.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-1993
DOI: 10.1016/0741-8329(93)90004-8
Abstract: The P300 component of the event-related potential (ERP) and reaction time (RT) were recorded during a simulated driving task using an oddball paradigm. ERPs and RTs were recorded from heavy social drinkers (n = 11) and low social drinkers (n = 11). A pharmacological challenge (lorazepam-ATIVAN) was administered to both groups in a double-blind procedure. In both groups, P300 litude was reduced and RT was increased by the presence of lorazepam however, heavy social drinkers had longer latency P300 than low social drinkers regardless of the drug condition. The P300 litude results are consistent with reduced information processing being induced by lorazepam, or with reduced effectiveness of the eliciting stimuli. On the other hand, the P300 latency results suggest that P300 latency may reflect deficits in information processing induced by alcohol abuse or may have preceded the alcohol abuse. The P300 latency results are consistent with heavy social drinkers occupying an early point on the hypothesized continuum of alcohol-related brain damage.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 20-11-2011
DOI: 10.1093/SCAN/NSQ089
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2002
DOI: 10.1007/S00213-002-1220-1
Abstract: Lorazepam has been found to consistently impair performance on both episodic and perceptual priming tasks, whereas other benzodiazepines have shown perceptual priming to be preserved. However, it has recently been postulated that benzodiazepines may exert time-dependent effects on implicit memory processes after research findings indicated some benzodiazepines, other than lorazepam, impair performance on priming tasks when tested at the time of peak plasma concentration level after benzodiazepine administration. To compare time-dependent effects of lorazepam and oxazepam on implicit memory tasks, specifically perceptual priming and procedural learning. Thirty-three healthy female undergraduates were randomised to one of three time groups (pre-peak, peak, post-peak) and administered placebo, 2.5 mg lorazepam, and 30 mg oxazepam, in counterbalanced order, at 1-week intervals. Assessments included word-stem completion (perceptual priming) and rotary pursuit (procedural learning) tasks. At all time intervals, lorazepam but not oxazepam significantly impaired perceptual priming but procedural learning was preserved under both drugs. These findings are consistent with previous research showing a differential effect of lorazepam in impairing perceptual memory but the notion that benzodiazepines exert time-dependent effects on implicit memory processes was not supported.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2012.12.021
Abstract: While the performance-enhancing effects of energy drinks are commonly attributed to caffeine, recent research has shown greater facilitation of performance post-consumption than typically expected from caffeine content alone. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to investigate the independent and combined effect of taurine and caffeine on behavioural performance, specifically reaction time. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, within-subjects design, female undergraduates (N=19) completed a visual oddball task and a stimulus degradation task 45min post-ingestion of capsules containing: (i) 80mg caffeine, (ii) 1000mg taurine, (iii) caffeine and taurine combined, and (iv) matched placebo. Participants completed each treatment condition, with sessions separated by a minimum 2-day washout period. Whereas no significant treatment effects were recorded for reaction time in the visual oddball task, facilitative caffeine effects were evident in the stimulus degradation task, with significantly faster reaction time in active relative to placebo caffeine conditions. Furthermore, there was a trend towards faster mean reaction time in the caffeine condition relative to the taurine condition and combined caffeine and taurine condition. Thus, treatment effects were task-dependent, in that independent caffeine administration exerted a positive effect on performance, and co-administration with taurine tended to attenuate the facilitative effects of caffeine in the stimulus degradation task only.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2004
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-03-1998
Abstract: Many studies have failed to determine a systematic dose-response relationship across different cognitive tasks between caffeine and EEG power spectra. However, a nonlinear approach to EEG analysis, which reconstructs a multi-dimensional state space from each electrode recording, can be used to compute the number of active degrees of freedom in the signal (the correlation dimension, D2), and can be interpreted as a measure of signal complexity. This study attempted to determine a consistent dose-response relationship between caffeine and EEG D2, across six oral caffeine doses (100-600 mg), with each subject acting as their own control, to create a probabilistic bias against finding any consistent linear or nonlinear dose-response relationship across different cognitive tasks. The experiment (n = 10) was conducted with three within-subjects explanatory variables, 2 (experimental, placebo) x 8 (caffeine level) x 4 (type of cognitive task performed), with EEG D2 as the response variable, measured from Fz, F3, F4 and Cz. A significant three-way interaction was found [F(21,245.3) = 3.65, P = 0.001]. Regression analyses revealed a linear trend for the response variable across trials for the placebo condition (average R2 = 0.54), whereas linear+quadratic trends explained an average 30% of the variance for the experimental condition, compared to 0.01% for the linear fit, indicating a robust quadratic dose-response relationship between caffeine and EEG D2. Three conditions had positive quadratic co-efficients, and one condition had a negative quadratic co-efficient. These results are discussed in terms of the implications for brain dynamics, and with respect to recent criticisms of the computation of D2 from EEG.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 1993
DOI: 10.1007/BF02246970
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.BANDL.2009.09.002
Abstract: Previous research suggests a relationship between spatial attention and phonological decoding in developmental dyslexia. The aim of this study was to examine differences between good and poor phonological decoders in the allocation of spatial attention to global and local levels of hierarchical stimuli. A further aim was to investigate the relationship between global/local processing and electrophysiological indices (N1, N2) of spatial attention in these groups. Good (n=18) and poor (n=16) phonological decoders were selected on the basis of non-word reading ability. Participants responded to either the global or local level of hierarchical stimuli presented in the left or right visual field in a sustained attention task. Poor phonological decoders showed slower RT relative to good phonological decoders regardless of whether attention was directed to either global or local processing levels. This was accompanied by a lack of task-related modulation of the posterior N1 and N2 Event-Related Potential (ERP) components, suggesting differences in the early allocation of spatial attention and later perceptual processing respectively. Poor decoders also showed greater N2 litude overall, suggestive of compensatory processing at later perceptual stages. There was preliminary evidence for sex differences in hemispheric lateralisation, with a reversal of hemispheric lateralisation observed among male and female poor phonological decoders. These findings have important implications for the understanding of the relationship between spatial attention and phonological decoding in developmental dyslexia.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2005
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOPSYCH.2005.01.004
Abstract: Gut-derived peptides, such as peptide YY (PYY) and ghrelin that regulate the initiation and termination of meals, could play a role in the altered eating behavior of patients with bulimia nervosa (BN). Therefore, we aimed to assess plasma PYY and ghrelin responses to a test meal in symptomatic bulimics. Ten healthy women and nine women with BN underwent blood s le collections before and after the ingestion of a test meal of 1300 Kcal (with 15% carbohydrates, 10% proteins, and 75% fat) at 12:00 noon. Plasma total PYY, ghrelin, insulin, and glucose were assayed. As compared with healthy women, bulimics exhibited a significantly blunted increase of circulating PYY (p < .007) and a significantly reduced suppression of plasma ghrelin (p < .0004) after the test meal. No significant differences emerged in food-induced plasma insulin and glucose changes between the two groups. Plasma ghrelin suppression after the meal was significantly correlated with plasma PYY increase. We replicated our previous findings of an altered ghrelin response to food ingestion in people with BN and showed for the first time a blunted PYY increase after food consumption in these patients. These findings support the occurrence in BN of a profound dysregulation of some peripheral regulatory mechanisms involved in the short-term regulation of feeding behavior that might be involved in the pathophysiology of their binge eating behavior.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-07-2013
DOI: 10.1111/ACER.12202
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-1991
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-01-2018
DOI: 10.1111/EJN.13810
Abstract: Attention to motion stimuli and correct motion perception are vital for road safety. Although cannabis use has been associated with increased road crash risks, there is limited research on attentional processing of moving stimuli in cannabis users. This study investigated the neural correlates of the three-stimulus oddball task in cannabis users (n = 18) and non-users (n = 23) in response to moving stimuli. Stimulus contrast was under 16% against a low luminance background (M luminance < 16 cd/m
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-1993
DOI: 10.1007/BF02244897
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2003
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1984
DOI: 10.1016/0028-3932(84)90009-5
Abstract: Contrast sensitivity functions were measured for normal and specifically disabled readers in experiments which varied either field size or luminance level. The nature of the differences between groups was unaffected by field size, implying that spatial summation in specifically disabled readers is normal. Increasing luminance, however, increased the range over which disabled readers are less sensitive than normal readers. The results are discussed in terms of possible differences in underlying mechanisms.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2003
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-11-2009
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2003
DOI: 10.1053/JPMN.2003.4
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1982
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-1997
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1077(199705/06)12:3<249::AID-HUP865>3.0.CO;2-J
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2014.01.003
Abstract: There have been repeated calls from health professionals and policy-makers to clarify the side-effects of the increasingly popular consumption trend of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED). There is a dearth of research assessing the differential effects of AmED relative to alcohol by comparing self-reported psychological and physiological outcomes whilst under the influence of these substances. The aim of the present study was to examine the acute effects of a moderate alcohol and energy drink (ED) dose on self-reported psychological and physiological outcomes. Using a single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 28 adults completed four sessions where they were administered: (i) 0.50g/kg alcohol, (ii) 3.57mL/kg ED, (iii) AmED, and (iv) placebo. Participants independently completed the Profile of Mood States and a Somatic Symptom Scale at baseline and at 30 and 125min after beverage administration. Breath alcohol concentration peaked at .068% and .067% in the alcohol and AmED conditions, respectively. There were no interactive alcohol and ED effects on self-reported psychological outcomes. Treatment effects for physiological outcomes generally only related to alcohol or ED administration, with the exception of a moderate magnitude decrease in heart palpitation ratings following alcohol relative to AmED. Decreased muscular tension ratings were evident when the two constituents were consumed separately relative to placebo. The results provide evidence of few subjective changes in physiological and psychological state after consuming AmED relative to alcohol. The majority of treatment-based changes arose from the independent effects of alcohol or ED, rather than being modified by their interaction. However, research extending into higher dosage domains is required to increase outcome generalisability for consumers in the night-time economy.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 21-03-2022
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.2304/PLAT.2011.10.2.128
Abstract: Students' understanding of the nature of science (NOS), and the degree to which they perceive their discipline to be part of science, are critical to their academic development in psychology. In Study 1, 650 first-year psychology students from three universities in Australia completed the Psychology as a Science (PAS) questionnaire, an adjective checklist relating to science and psychology, and the Science Knowledge and Attitudes (SKA) scale. Results confirmed the limited value of the PAS to identify components of the NOS, but indicated that students view psychology to be a science within a few weeks of the commencement of their study at university. Three factors underlying the SKA scale were identified: naïve view of science (NVS), social and cultural perspective (SCP), and knowledge of refutability (KR). In Study 2, 622 students at the University of Tasmania completed the SKA and items relating to their beliefs about studying. Scores on the three factors were correlated with beliefs about studying, scores on KR increased with years of study, and scores on NVS decreased with years of study. These data suggest that our educational practices do in fact lead to appropriate changes in students' NOS understanding in a manner consistent with the learning outcomes underpinning psychology graduate attributes.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 09-2004
DOI: 10.1375/BECH.21.3.173.55994
Abstract: Behavioural avoidance tests (BATs) are a cornerstone of objective assessment of phobias. However, live BATs have several disadvantages. They are practically difficult and time-consuming to set up and are not standardised. This study examined two computer-delivered BATs (using slide and video presentations of phobic stimuli respectively): first, in respect to their ability to discriminate fearfuls from nonfearfuls, and second, in terms of convergent validity with a live BAT and the Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ). Sixty-four low ( n = 32) and high ( n = 32) spider-fearful undergraduate participants were administered the three BATs in counterbalanced order. Results showed that subjective anxiety on all BATs was highly discriminative of low and high spider-fearfuls. The number of steps completed did not discriminate between phobics and nonphobics on the computer BATs. However, there was good convergent validity between the live BAT, the SPQ and both computer-delivered BATs on subjective anxiety. Overall, the live BAT gives a clearer indication of avoidance behaviour while the video BAT assesses subjective anxiety across a wider range of steps. The development of computer-delivered BATs that reliably measure avoidance is necessary before contemplating them as an alternative to a live BAT.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 22-12-2015
Abstract: Students’ increasing use of text messaging language has prompted concern that textisms (e.g., 2 for to, dont for don’t, ☺) will intrude into their formal written work. Eighty-six Australian and 150 Canadian undergraduates were asked to rate the appropriateness of textism use in various situations. Students distinguished between the appropriateness of using textisms in different writing modalities and to different recipients, rating textism use as inappropriate in formal exams and assignments, but appropriate in text messages, online chat and emails with friends and siblings. In a second study, we checked the examination papers of a separate s le of 153 Australian undergraduates for the presence of textisms. Only a negligible number were found. We conclude that, overall, university students recognise the different requirements of different recipients and modalities when considering textism use and that students are able to avoid textism use in exams despite media reports to the contrary.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOPSYCHO.2010.05.004
Abstract: Functional differences between speech and non-speech within the irrelevant sound effect were investigated using repeated and changing formats of irrelevant sounds in the form of intelligible words and unintelligible signal correlated noise (SCN) versions of the words. Event-related potentials were recorded from 25 females aged between 18 and 25 while they completed a serial order recall task in the presence of irrelevant sound or silence. As expected and in line with the changing-state hypothesis both words and SCN produced robust changing-state effects. However, words produced a greater changing-state effect than SCN indicating that the spectral detail inherent within speech accounts for the greater irrelevant sound effect and changing-state effect typically observed with speech. ERP data in the form of N1 litude was modulated within some irrelevant sound conditions suggesting that attentional aspects are involved in the elicitation of the irrelevant sound effect.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 25-03-2009
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2000
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEULET.2006.02.043
Abstract: Previous behavioural studies have provided a framework for understanding coordination dynamics using traditional dual-task methodology. The central cost associated with stabilising bimanual coordination patterns has been inferred from performance trade-offs during the concurrent performance of a probe reaction time (RT) task. The present study aimed to provide a direct measure of central cost by assessing electrophysiological correlates of performance trade-offs under dual-task conditions. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 16 participants while an anti-phase bimanual coordination task and a visual three-stimulus task were performed under single task conditions and under dual-task conditions in which either task was prioritised. The visual task required a foot response to low probability target stimuli, while low probability distracter and high probability standard stimuli were ignored. Consistent with previous research, there was a performance trade-off between pattern stability and RT to visual targets when the coordination task was prioritised relative to when the visual task was prioritised. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in central P3a litude elicited by distracter stimuli and parietal P3b litude elicited by target stimuli. These findings indicate that prioritisation and thus stabilisation of the motor task reduced the amount of central erceptual and automatic attentional resources available to perform the visual task providing insight into CNS mechanisms that constrain the coordination of movement through the allocation of attentional resources.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 06-2001
Abstract: The efficacy of prolonged single sessions of live graded exposure (LGE) and computer-aided vicarious exposure (CAVE) for spider phobia was examined in a single-blind, controlled trial. Forty participants diagnosed with specific phobia (spiders) received a prolonged single-session treatment of either therapist-aided LGE comprising exposure only or CAVE, or were assigned to a waiting list. Phobic symptomatology was measured at pre- and post-treatment, and at 1-month follow-up on a range of behavioural and subjective assessments. The results showed that the single-session therapist-aided LGE was superior to both CAVE and the waiting-list control. In contrast with previous findings of comparability between LGE and CAVE, and superiority of CAVE over placebo, the present study found no significant differences between the CAVE and waiting-list groups, with the exception of subjective units of distress, providing little support for single-session CAVE treatment.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2000
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-06-2014
DOI: 10.3758/S13415-014-0309-4
Abstract: Musical chords are arguably the smallest building blocks of music that retain emotional information. Major chords are generally perceived as positive- and minor chords as negative-sounding, but there has been debate concerning how early these emotional connotations may be processed. To investigate this, emotional facial stimuli and musical chord stimuli were simultaneously presented to participants, and facilitation of processing was measured via event-related potential (ERP) litudes. Decreased litudes of the P1 and N2 ERP components have been found to index the facilitation of early processing. If simultaneously presented musical chords and facial stimuli are perceived at early stages as belonging to the same emotional category, then early processing should be facilitated for these congruent pairs, and ERP litudes should therefore be decreased as compared to the incongruent pairs. ERPs were recorded from 30 musically naive participants as they viewed happy, sad, and neutral faces presented simultaneously with a major or minor chord. When faces and chords were presented that contained congruent emotional information (happy-major or sad-minor), processing was facilitated, as indexed by decreased N2 ERP litudes. This suggests that musical chords do possess emotional connotations that can be processed as early as 200 ms in naive listeners. The early stages of processing that are involved suggest that major and minor chords have deeply connected emotional meanings, rather than superficially attributed ones, indicating that minor triads possess negative emotional connotations and major triads possess positive emotional connotations.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-1996
DOI: 10.1111/J.1469-8986.1996.TB01070.X
Abstract: To investigate the effects of heavy social drinking on sober cognitive processing, event‐related potentials were recorded from 13 heavy social drinkers and 13 light social drinkers in the presence and absence of a pharmacological challenge (i.e., lorazepam). Event‐related potentials were elicited by a task reuqiring continuous recognition memory for visually presented words. The heavy social drinkers exhibited shorter P2 latencies than the light in the task) versus “new” words. Lorazepam increased motor reaction time to correctly identified old words and produced a deficit in recognition memory only in the light social drinkers. Light social drinkers had an increased P300 latency anda larger P300 litude to new words in the lorazepam treatment. The differences in cognitive functioning evident between heavy and light social drinkers were reflected in event‐related potential deviations and appear to indicate a tolerance in heavy social drinkers to the effects of lorazepam.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2003
DOI: 10.1016/S0278-2626(03)00203-3
Abstract: The present research investigated the separate and interactive effects of the minor tranquilizer, temazepam, and a low dose of alcohol on the litude and latency of P300 and on reaction time. Twenty-four participants completed four drug treatments in a repeated measures design. The four drug treatments, organised as a fully repeated 2 x 2 design, included a placebo condition, an alcohol only condition, a temazepam only condition, and an alcohol and temazepam combined condition. Event-related potentials were recorded from midline sites Fz, Cz, and Pz within an oddball paradigm. The results indicated that temazepam, with or without the presence of alcohol, reduced P300 litude. Alcohol, on the other hand, with or without the presence of temazepam, affected processing speed and stimulus evaluation as indexed by reaction time and P300 latency. At the low dose levels used in this experiment alcohol and temazepam appear not to interact, which suggests that they affect different aspects of processing in the central nervous system.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-1986
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2000
DOI: 10.1002/1099-0909(200010/12)6:4<231::AID-DYS175>3.0.CO;2-3
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-1996
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.BANDL.2005.04.009
Abstract: Cognitive processing of lexical and sub-lexical stimuli was compared for good and poor adult phonological decoders. Sixteen good decoders and 16 poor decoders, average age 19 years, silently read 150 randomly computer presented sentences ending in incongruous regular, irregular, or nonwords and 100 congruent filler sentences. Electro-encephalographic recordings were made from the final word of each incongruous sentence. Although no significant group differences were found, good decoders showed specialised hemispheric word recognition processing at P200 and P300. Nonwords elicited greater N200 and P300 litudes for both good and poor decoders. Larger litude P200s were elicited by poor decoders when processing nonwords. These findings provide evidence for separable lexical and sub-lexical procedures and support a psychophysiological basis for a core phonological deficit in poor phonological decoders.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2001
DOI: 10.1016/S0005-7916(01)00019-2
Abstract: The efficacy of computer-aided vicarious exposure (CAVE) for the treatment of spider phobia in children was evaluated in a single blind, randomised, controlled trial. Twenty-eight participants, aged 10-17 years, received three 45-min sessions of either Live graded exposure (LGE), CAVE or were assigned to a Waitlist. Phobic symptomatology was measured at pre- and post-treatment, and at one month follow-up on a range of behavioural and subjective assessments. The results showed the superiority of the LGE treatment over the CAVE and Waitlist conditions. Effect sizes support CAVE treatment as being superior to the Waitlist and resulting in reductions of phobic symptomatology.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-11-2010
Start Date: 2004
End Date: 06-2008
Amount: $200,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2015
End Date: 12-2017
Amount: $443,900.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity