http://hdl.handle.net/1803/206 Sat, 18 May 2013 08:19:11 GMT 2013-05-18T08:19:11Z http://hdl.handle.net/1803/5060 Title: Impact of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on Brain Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy Authors: Aschner, Amir; Maitre, Nathalie L. Abstract: Few studies have examined the effects of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) in children or its effects beyond sensory-motor domains. Evidence from adult populations suggests that CIMT is linked with cortical restructuring and could have effects on speech, language deficits, and sensory-perceptual processes, domains typically affected by cerebral palsy (CP). Using a five-day camp model, CIMT effects were tested on children age 5-12 with CP using behavioral measures and two event-related potential (ERP) paradigms –speech sound perception and picture-word matching. Data were collected at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 6 months after the camp. We found that paretic limb function improved after CIMT, and ERP waveform patters changed significantly to reflect faster processing and improved organization. These changes persisted at 6 months follow-up. Description: Examined the effects of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on sensory-motor and sensory-perceptual domains as well as speech and language processing. Requirement of PSY 296b - Honors Research, taught by Professor Megan Saylor. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1803/5060 2012-03-29T05:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1803/4724 Title: Neurocognitive Effects of Treatment of Pediatric Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Neuroimaging Analysis Authors: Livesay, Kate Abstract: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent form of cancer diagnosed in children. The current survival rate is approximately 85% and has been rising over the last two decades. The standard treatment regimen involves intrathecal chemotherapy in addition to corticosteroid drugs. Intrathecal chemotherapy has been shown to cause neurocognitive effects in executive function and IQ. The current study investigates differences in brain activation patterns that could account for the differences in neurocognitive function observed between ALL survivors and healthy controls. In this study, neurocognitive function of ALL survivors was assessed using a test battery that consisted of the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS). ALL survivors showed significant deficits on these tests compared to matched, healthy controls. Survivors demonstrating the poorest performance on this battery participated in the neuroimaging component of the study in which brain activation during an inhibitory control task, the Simon task, was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). ALL survivors demonstrated a compensatory mechanism of cortical recruitment during the Simon task, while performing worse than their matched, healthy controls. There was a significant difference in activation between survivors and healthy controls in the anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24), as predicted, although no differences were found between groups in the prefrontal cortex. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1803/4724 2008-04-04T05:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1803/1111 Title: Effect of striatal and extrastriatal D2-receptor BP on memory and symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder Authors: Patterson, Katherine A. Abstract: The integrity of particular dopaminergic projections via the striato-thalamiccortical feedback loop potentially influences specialized aspects of cognition and psychopathology. Research has identified a role for striatal D2 receptors in the cognitive impairments and psychopathological symptoms associated with disorders of the schizophrenia spectrum. Recent developments in PET neuroimaging methods currently permit visualization of D2/D3 receptors in extrastriatal regions. This study evaluated potential correlations between the regional D2/D3 receptor BP in striatal and extrastriatal areas and psychopathological symptoms and memory performance. Significant correlations were observed between particular regions of D2/D3 receptor BP and both verbal and visual memory sub-scales of the Wechsler Memory Scale-III. Description: Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Honors Program in the Psychological Sciences Under the direction of David H. Zald Sun, 01 Apr 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1803/1111 2007-04-01T05:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1803/827 Title: Effect of binocular rivalry suppression on contrast change detection Authors: Hubert-Wallander, Bjorn Abstract: In their 2004 study, Watanabe et al. measure the detectability of contrast increment probes during rivalry dominance and suppression by plotting threshold versus contrast (TvC)functions, finding significant elevation of detection thresholds during suppression. But what about contrast decrements, a probe that actually makes the target image harder to see? Here I review the literature on binocular rivalry and probe studies and measure the effect of two new probe types on detection thresholds. Results show that contrast decrement probes produce a very different pattern of detection thresholds than their increment counterparts. Extrapolating from these results, I also theorize on the effect of suppression on the underlying contrast response function (CRF). Description: Thesis performed under the direction of Dr. Randolph Blake of the Dept. of Psychology at Vanderbilt University. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1803/827 2008-04-01T05:00:00Z