DSpace Community: Natural Science

2008-2009 Journal title list

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:14:52 GMT

Title: 2008-2009 Journal title list

Authors: Jin X., Guo

Description: 2008-2009 journal title list.

Hemispheric dominance of first and second language: a Transcranial Doppler study

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:14:53 GMT

Title: Hemispheric dominance of first and second language: a Transcranial Doppler study

Authors: Ware, Elise Lauren

Abstract: Immigration, international trade, multicultural families: these are all situations where one might observe incidences of multilingualism today. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers worldwide. A clear understanding the neural components of this phenomenon could have numerous educational and cultural implications. In this study, I tested the hypothesis that proficiency will have a significant effect on the extent of hemispheric language dominance of second language. It was additionally hypothesized that within the left hemisphere, a higher level of activation would be present for second language. Transcranial Doppler sonography was sampled in 10 healthy, right-handed, volunteers who had been exposed to both the French and English languages. There were no statistically significant effects of language proficiency on hemispheric language dominance. There were no statistically significant differences in extent of activation for second language.

Description: A thesis submitted to the Washington College Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Science degree requirements. April 2007

Effects of media stimuli on the cognitions and opinions of college students from divorced and non-divorced families

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:09:57 GMT

Title: Effects of media stimuli on the cognitions and opinions of college students from divorced and non-divorced families

Authors: Talbot, Sarah Joelle

Abstract: This experiment was designed to measure the effect of a media message about divorce on the cognitions, opinions, and self esteem of college students from divorced and non-divorced families. After viewing a speaker which portrayed divorce in either a positive or negative way, participants filled out a variety of questionnaires, including opinion surveys, the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale(PANAS). It was found that participants with divorced parents or participants who viewed the pro-divorce speech were generally more accepting of divorce than those who watched the anti-divorce speech or who had married parents.

Description: A Senior Thesis submitted to the Washington College Department of Psychology in Partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.

Attention and memory capability when influenced by stress and alcohol

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:05:53 GMT

Title: Attention and memory capability when influenced by stress and alcohol

Authors: Syed, Zarina

Abstract: Attention and Memory Capability when influenced by Stress and Alcohol Attention and memory are two cognitive functions of the human brain. Memory functions in the same respect. Memory as previously mentioned is the retention of memory and the ability to report back that memory. In low doses alcohol has been shown in studies to improve the attentional ability of subjects. The test was given twice for each group; however the group given alcohol never received the test before the alcohol was given. The testing was done using two separate experiments which measured reaction time among the subjects. There is a large discrepancy between the group given alcohol and the group not given alcohol. So if the subject groups, both given and not given alcohol, had had a larger percentage of males that might have affected the results. There were three subject groups for the experiment. All subjects were subjected to test that measured alcohol intake, three tests to measure ADHD and six that measured their cognitive functioning in terms of their attention span. The subjects where tested twice, once before alcohol was given and once after. The only subjects used were females. Stress can also cause problems with attention. This article was just talking about how stress affected the rats’ ability to show attention, but what about how the stress affected other parts of the rat’s cognitive function. Stress is known to affect memory function. Kleen et al. looked at the effect of chronic stress on spatial memory functions. However depending on the type if memory affected stress could have the potential to increase the memory consolidation process. In order to test this theory there were two subject groups used in the experiment. One group received emotion-related stress and the other as the control group did not. Jelicic suggested that the amount of cortisol released would increase as stress was introduced to a subject during a memory task. Subjects were also asked to report what they believed their personal level of stress was during the experiment. As memory was affected by stress, alcohol has also been shown to have a negative effect on memory forming. In the article, Alcohol Attenuates Load-related Activation During a Working Memory Task: Relation to Level of Response to Alcohol. IT was proposed that when alcohol is present that the subjects would show a lower response level to memory tasks and would be unable to report correct memories when tested some time after the experiment had been completed.

Description: A Senior Capstone Experience thesis submitted to the Washington College Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the Bachelor of Arts/Sciences degree requirements. Thesis Advisor: Dr. Christian Reich