Dissertations / Theses: 'Cognitive ability'

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Turic, Dragana. "Genetics of general cognitive ability." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2005. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/55617/.

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General cognitive ability (g) is a general mental ability to reason, solve problems, comprehend complex ideas, think abstractly, learn quickly and learn from experience. Currently used IQ tests are excellent predictors of g. Heritability estimates for g range between 0.30 and 0.75 making it one of the most heritable human behavioural traits. Many behavioural phenotypes, including g, can be described as complex traits. Inheritance of such traits is governed by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors contributing to total variance in g are likely to be numerous and additive in nature. In order to identify some of the genetic loci contributing to the total variance in g two approaches were employed. First, a genome-wide association study and second, candidate gene study. Genome-wide association study involved testing 1847 microsatellite markers with an average spacing of 2cM. Markers were initially screened on "original" DNA samples. This was followed by testing all positive findings on an independent "replication" sample set. Only one marker, D4S2460, was significant when all the stages of the study were completed. Investigation of candidate genes involved testing of known Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) promoter polymorphisms and Calcium/calmodulin dependant protein kinase II alpha (CaMKII-a) polymorphisms identified in our laboratories through mutation detection techniques. None of the polymorphisms in either of the two genes showed statistically significant association with a general cognitive ability.

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(UPC), Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Federico R. León, and León Andrés Burga. "How geography influences complex cognitive ability." Elsevier B.V, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10757/554348.

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federicorleone@gmail.com
Evolutionary explanations for geography's influence on complex cognitive ability (CCA) imply virtually immutable components of between-nation IQ differences. Their weight vis-à-vis the weight of situational components was evaluated through an analysis of a 194-country data set. Additive effects of absolute latitude (AL) and longitudinal distance from Homo sapiens' cradle (LDC) explain Northeastern Asian higher, Sub-Saharan African lower CCAs. AL exerts cognitive influence directly and through socioeconomic development and evolutionary genetics whereas LDC does through evolutionary genetics; however, this occurs differently in Africa-Near East- Europe and elsewhere. The findings are understood assuming supremacy of contemporary UVB radiation → hormonal and climatic → socioeconomic mediators of the AL–CCA linkage whose effects are moderated by heterogeneous genetic and cultural adaptations to radiation and climate. Geography's cognitive effects are dynamic and public-policy actions may modify them.
Funds for this researchwere provided by the Vicerrectorado de Investigación through the Research Center at Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL), Lima, Peru. We are indebted to Romain Wacziarg for making available to us the Spolaore- Wacziarg tables on genetic distance and Edvard Avilés for comments to an earlier version of the paper. FRL designed the study, drafted the manuscript, performed part of the analyses, and interpreted the findings. ABL performed the path analyses and approved the manuscript. The data set utilized in the research has been positioned at USIL's Repository and can be accessed through the following link: http://repositorio.usil.edu. pe/jspui/handle/123456789/1038.
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Kankkunen, Erika. "Cognitive ability and transitory productivity shocks." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Nationalekonomiska institutionen, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-388373.

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People who live in rural areas in low-income countries not only live in poverty, they also have to deal with an extremely variable income. In the absence of a well-functioning credit market, these fluctuations can be costly for households. This study aims to provide knowledge to the cost of these fluctuations, more precisely the study aims to answer how transitory weather shocks in Kenya affect children´s cognitive ability. Where weather shocks are assumed to be aggregated shocks that temporarily change the productivity in districts. The result from the study shows that drought, which can be seen as a negative shock, decrease the cognitive ability of children 11 to 16. The effect is marginally significant at the 10 percent level. No significant effect on cognitive ability is found for children aged 6 to 10. The result for older children is robust to alternative specifications. The study does not show any conclusive evidence on different effects on how boys and girls are affected by droughts.

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Vartanian, Oshin. "Cognitive Disinhibition and Creativity." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2002. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/VartanianO2002.pdf.

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Breaban, Adriana, de Kuilen Gijs van, and Charles N. Noussair. "Prudence, Emotional State, Personality, and Cognitive Ability." FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/621817.

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We report an experiment to consider the emotional correlates of prudent decision making. In the experiment, we present subjects with lotteries and measure their emotional response with facial recognition software. They then make binary choices between risky lotteries that distinguish prudent from imprudent individuals. They also perform tasks to measure their cognitive ability and a number of personality characteristics. We find that a more negative emotional state correlates with greater prudence. Higher cognitive ability and less conscientiousness is also associated with greater prudence.

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Keller, Markéta. "Systemic inflammation and late-life cognitive ability." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/21109.

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Objectives – Cognitive ageing is an inevitable part of human life. Research from disciplines such as epidemiology, medicine and neuroscience implicate a wide range of determinants in the pathophysiological processes that lead to clinical symptoms of neurodegeneration. Markers of systemic inflammation are postulated to play an important role in mechanisms underlying a neuro-pathological cascade, either directly, through neuro-inflammatory processes, or through the mediating effect of diseases that are associated with cognitive deficits, such as cardiovascular disease and variation and disruption to cerebral blood flow. This may be particularly important in people with type 2 diabetes, where the increased prevalence of vascular events and glycaemic upset along with elevated levels of various circulating biomarkers, have been implicated in accelerated cognitive decline. Increasingly, evidence suggests a contribution of vascular disease state in the development of Alzheimer’s disease in which inflammation could be a significant factor. Determining the direction of association between individual markers of inflammation and altered cognitive performance is important in order to understand the possible role of inflammation in the development of cognitive decline and to inform the development of preventive clinical interventions. Therefore investigating these risk factors in relation to the trajectory of age related cognitive decline is crucial; in this respect, longitudinal evidence, detecting change in cognitive performance over a defined period of time, is most appropriate. To date, the majority of evidence is inconclusive, predominantly due to methodological obstacles embedded in the prospective design of cognitive ageing studies and in the investigation of a complex disease state, such as insufficient follow up period and restricted cognitive assessment. Since associations reported from modelling late life cognitive change in epidemiological studies may be the result of confounding variables, such as gender, vascular risk factors/disease, education attainment and social status, investigating the causal nature of inflammatory mediators in cognitive decline, has proved more problematic. Additionally, even a casual association may be due to ‘reverse causation’. One method of unravelling such associations is through the use of genetic association, where the exposure variable of interest (such as genetic variants affecting plasma biomarker levels) is modelled against the outcome, thereby overcoming some of the problems of confounding and reverse causation inherent in non-genetic epidemiological studies. Aim – The primary aim of this thesis was to test for associations of baseline measures of acute-phase proteins (fibrinogen and C-reactive protein) and central pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin – 6 and tumour necrosis –α) with four-year change and estimated life-time change in cognitive ability in older people with type 2 diabetes. The second aim was to explore the association between fibrinogen-related SNPs (SNPs shown previously to be associated with altered plasma fibrinogen levels) and cognitive ability in the general population. Methods –Data from the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study (the ET2DS), a prospective epidemiological study of older people with type 2 diabetes were available, including that collected at a baseline clinic (2006-07) on 1066 participants, mean age 67.9 years (SD 4.2). For the present study, follow up cognitive assessment was carried out after four-years (2010-11) at which cognitive data was collected on 828 survivors. Cognitive ability at both time points was assessed using the same, comprehensive, seven neuropsychological tests battery, including measures of fluid as well as crystallised intelligence (vocabulary test). Principal component analysis was conducted to derive a general cognitive factor ‘g’ and a general inflammatory factor, derived from individual cognitive scores and from baseline measures of four inflammatory markers (fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, interleukin – 6 and tumour necrosis –α), respectively. Genotype and cognitive data were collected from seven, well-established population-based cohorts with clearly defined sampling frames and data collection procedures. Five cohorts comprised of community-dwelling elderly people, living in central Scotland (AAA Trial, n = 2061, EAS, n = 534; ET2DS, n = 1045; LBC 21, n = 517; LBC 36, n=1005) and two large were cohorts based in England (ELSA; n = 5458; and Whitehall II; n = 3400). In total, genotype and cognitive data were available for 14033 participants, age range between 60 to 80 years. In all studies cognition was assessed on three cognitive domains: memory, executive functioning and information processing. Compatibility of cognitive data allowed for calculation of a general cognitive factor ‘g’ that was comparable between all cohorts. The instrument variables consisted of 61 fibrinogen-related polymorphisms within 13 different loci. These were identified through a detailed literature search as well as through search of relevant, genetic databases. Results – in the ET2DS, the age and sex-adjusted analyses revealed statistically significant associations between raised plasma inflammatory markers and poorer ‘g’ at follow-up; this was observed for all biomarkers, with the strongest associations detected for IL-6 and the general inflammation factor (p values <0.001). These findings persisted in linear regression models of baseline biomarker levels with four-year cognitive change as well as estimated life-time change – here the general inflammatory factor and plasma IL-6 levels were the strongest predictors. Adjustment for conventional vascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease attenuated the associations of cognitive decline with fibrinogen, CRP and TNF-α; associations were largely attenuated in analyses assessing IL-6 and the general inflammation factor and tended to remain statistically significant. Meta-analysis was conducted in order to explore associations between pre-selected fibrinogen-related SNPs and impairment in general cognitive ability as indexed by ‘g’. The analysis identified five plasma fibrinogen-related SNPs that were significantly associated with impaired ‘g’ at the nominal threshold level of p < 0.05. These were: rs2070016 (FGB gene); rs2070016 (FGA gene); rs1800497 (ANKK1 gene); rs4251961 (IL1RN gene) and rs1130864 (CRP gene). Discussion – the results of the ET2DS indicate that in an elderly diabetic population, there is a significant relationship between baseline levels of circulating inflammatory markers and four-year cognitive change as well as estimated life-time cognitive decline. These associations were generally independent of common cardiovascular risk factors and events, suggesting a possible pathway where cytokine-induced activation of glial cells may be responsible for the consequent neuro-inflammatory processes resulting in declined cognitive ability. The lack of some associations may be due to a relatively short follow up period. The main strength of the ET2DS was the availability of prospective cognitive data, the large sample size and the use of a comprehensive cognitive battery, including a vocabulary test for crystallised intelligence and thus calculation of estimated life-time cognitive change. Genetic association analysis indicated a significant association between five preselected SNPs each located within different genes (in general, genes associated with inflammation), and impaired general cognitive ability. This provides some support for a causal role of inflammation in age-related general cognitive impairment. One of the major strength was the use of a large dataset and the applied methodological approach. Meta-analysis was conducted on raw, prospectively generated data, allowing determination of the cognitive phenotype variable.
The main outcomes of this thesis suggest that systemic inflammation may indeed be involved in aetiology of age-related cognitive decline, possibly via neuro-inflammation. Further epidemiological investigation should involve a measurement of biomarkers trajectories in modelling cognitive change. Use of a stronger genetic instrument for inflammatory biomarkers, modeled against cognitive decline rather than cognitive ability as in the current study could further advance knowledge of the bio-pathological mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline. Results could ultimately inform subsequent investigations in the form of a randomised control trial, testing an evidence-based anti-inflammatory clinical intervention in diabetic populations as well as the general populations.

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Knarr, Abram J. "Do Peripheral HUD Warnings Affect Driving Ability?" Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10750884.

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Heads Up Display (HUD) technologies are being developed to assist drivers and reduce safety hazards. The current study used the Lane Change Task (LCT) and a Peripheral Detection Task (PDT) divided into high and low workload tracks to assess effects of employing a HUD to alert drivers to moving objects in their periphery that are possible hazards. The intent of the current study was to determine whether visual warnings displayed in either color, flashing, or color and flashing formats, would improve detection of moving stimuli without adversely impacting driving ability. Results indicated that the PDT had no significant effect on LCT performance. However, significant main effects of warning format and workload on reaction times, false alarm rates, and sensitivity were obtained. Performance on the PDT task was best when the warnings were non-flashing and yellow, especially in the low workload condition. Explanations of performance on both tasks are discussed.

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Withdrawn, Theodore Reremoana Farquharson. "Factors associated with cognitive ability in middle childhood." Thesis, University of Auckland, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2292/2378.

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There has been considerable debate among cognitive psychologists and epidemiologists regarding which determinants of children’s intelligence are most important. Factors such as children’s diet, maternal stress and social support are important for general health and wellbeing, but have received little research attention in longitudinal studies involving cognitive outcomes. Few studies have examined the determinants of intelligence in children born small-for-gestational age (SGA) at term even though these children may be particularly vulnerable to poorer postnatal environments. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with cognitive ability in middle childhood in New Zealand (NZ) European children and children born SGA. The present research was conducted as part of the Auckland Birthweight Collaborative (ABC) study. Approximately half of the children in this study were born SGA (birthweight<10th percentile) and half were born appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA=birthweight>10th percentile). Information was collected from mothers and children on pregnancy, obstetric, socio-demographic, postnatal and dietary factors when the children were born (n=871), at one year (n=744), 3.5 years (n=550), and 7 years of age (n=591). Cognitive ability was assessed at 7 years using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Third Edition. For the total sample, the analyses utilised weighting to allow for the disproportionate sampling of children born SGA. Results showed that SGA and AGA children did not differ in intelligence at 7 years. Factors associated with intelligence included maternal pregnancy factors (e.g. hypertension), socio-demographic factors (e.g. paternal education), and postnatal factors (e.g. maternal social support). In general, the effects of environmental factors did not differ significantly for SGA children compared with AGA children. A number of dietary factors were also found to be significantly and positively associated with intelligence measures including higher intakes of breads and cereals and weekly fish consumption. In contrast, daily margarine consumption was associated with significantly lower intelligence scores, particularly in SGA children, and this is the first study to report this association. iii Dietary and “environmental” factors were stronger predictors of children’s intelligence in middle childhood than “biological” factors, such as infant’s birthweight. Importantly, most of the factors associated with intelligence that were identified in this study are potentially modifiable. Further research is needed to examine whether these factors continue to be associated with cognitive ability in later childhood.

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Gray, Colette Helen. "Cognitive arithmetic & mathematical ability : a developmental perspective." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.337034.

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Carl, Noah. "Cognitive ability and socio-political beliefs and attitudes." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2017. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:856fc58a-120f-4a51-a569-422e201e9f61.

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The contribution of this thesis is to demonstrate the importance of cognitive ability (and psychometric traits in general) for understanding the distribution of socio-political beliefs and attitudes within society. For at least the past hundred years, sociologists have sought to explain social phenomena primarily, or indeed exclusively, with reference to social structures that can be considered as external to the individual. While this explanatory paradigm has proved invaluable for understanding many social phenomena, it is not without theoretical deficiency. Certain phenomena can only be fully understood with reference to stable psychological differences between individuals--what psychometricians call individual differences. Toward this end, the present thesis addresses the following research questions. First, are generalized trust and political attitudes associated with cognitive ability? Second, what are the functional forms of any relationships between cognitive ability and socio-political beliefs and attitudes? Third, does cognitive ability explain variance in these traits over and above the effect of traditional sociological covariates, such as age, gender and socioeconomic status? Fourth, can psychometric differences between individuals help to explain one particular well-documented empirical regularity (of very large effect size), namely the fact that individuals with liberal and left-wing views are overrepresented in academia? The thesis comprises nine separate papers: the first two chapters examine generalized trust, while the subsequent seven focus on political attitudes. It concludes by summarising the main findings, discussing important limitations, and outlining avenues for further research.

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Lokasari, Andre. "Spatial ability cognitive model with ACT-R 6.0." [Ames, Iowa : Iowa State University], 2008.

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Phillips, Joanne. "New innovations in dementia research : from a new assessment of premorbid functioning to a review of the evidence base for post-diagnostic Cognitive Rehabilitation." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/28689.

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Background Dementia is a national priority for Scotland, and as such, fast and accurate diagnosis plus responsive and well-evidenced interventions post-diagnosis are key. Accurately estimating an individual’s level of premorbid functioning can be a crucial part of establishing that cognitive decline has taken place, enabling clinicians to be more confident and accurate in their diagnosis. Measures that assess premorbid ability should be able to 1) capture current ability in healthy controls and 2) resist the effects of cognitive decline when used in individuals with dementia. At the post-diagnostic stage, there is a growing evidence base for non-pharmacological, tailored interventions for individuals with dementia. However, the evidence base is limited, particularly so for Cognitive Rehabilitation. Objectives An empirical study was conducted in order to assess whether a newly developed measure that aims to capture lifelong cognitive reserve (the brain’s ability to withstand pathological change), the Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq), can capture premorbid ability. Three research questions were addressed; 1) does the CRIq capture current ability in healthy controls? 2) is it resistant to cognitive decline when used with a patient group with dementia? and 3) how does the CRIq compare to a traditional measure of premorbid ability, the NART (National Adult Reading Test)? Another focus of development and innovation in dementia research is that of post-diagnostic interventions. A systematic review was therefore conducted in order to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation for mild-moderate dementia (Alzheimer disease or mixed dementia) in relation to cognitive and functional outcomes. Due to the limited number of RCTs in this field precluding a clear understanding of the evidence base, the additional contribution of non-RCTs was also evaluated. Method For the empirical study N=20 healthy older controls and N=13 patients with dementia were recruited. In order to appropriately address the three research questions both groups were assessed using the NART, the CRIq and the MOCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). In addition, the control group were assessed on a measure of current ability, the WAIS-IV Perceptual Reasoning Index. For the systematic review of Cognitive Rehabilitation the CDCIG Specialised Register, ALOIS, was searched in order to identify relevant studies. In addition, previous reviews were searched to identify studies excluded on the basis that they were not an RCT. Results Results for the empirical study show both CRIq and NART were strongly correlated to current ability (performance on WAIS-IV PRI) in controls, although both significantly overestimated ability. CRIq performance was not affected by the presence of dementia whereas NART predicted premorbid ability was. CRIq and NART showed a different pattern of results between controls and patients, indicating that CRIq may more resistant to the effects of cognitive decline. Ten studies were identified for the systematic review; five RCT and five non-RCT. Study quality was assessed using a well-validated quality assessment tool, and indicated large variability. Eight of the ten studies reported a positive effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation. However, several studies were of poor quality and included aspects of other approaches in their intervention (e.g. Cognitive Training, Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy). Conclusions The empirical study found that CRIq over-estimated current ability in controls, but was resistant to cognitive decline in patients. The over-estimation of current ability may be accounted for by the CRIq being normed on an Italian population, thus not reflecting UK cultural norms (e.g. for length of schooling). When the NART and the CRIq were directly compared, the two measures were found to be related, but yet produced significantly different estimates of premorbid ability. This suggests that they may capture different facets of premorbid functioning, with the NART being primarily a verbal performance-based measure, and the CRIq capturing aspects of global cognitive functioning. Clinical implications include the potential utility of the CRIq for patients with language impairment. However the study conclusions are limited by a low N, and therefore have restricted generalisability. In the systematic review, the literature was exhaustively searched and evidence was found for the effectiveness of Cognitive Rehabilitation for mild-moderate Alzheimer disease and mixed dementia. Methodological limitations of the included studies are discussed, and clinical implications are identified. Both the empirical study and the systematic review highlight the need for greater research and development of methods by which dementia care is supported; through more effective methods of diagnosis, to a better evidence base for post-diagnostic interventions.

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Saxton, Judith. "Cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer's disease." Thesis, University of Reading, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.254512.

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Loring-Meier, Susan. "Sex differences in visual-spatial ability: Components of cognitive processing." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1997. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1490.

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Shenkin, Susan Deborah. "Life course influences on cognitive ability and cerebrovascular disease." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/25179.

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This thesis aimed to investigate life coarse influences on cognitive ability and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in older people. 110 community-dwelling subjects (70.0% female, mean age 78.2 (SD 1.4) years) born in Edinburgh hospitals between 1921 and 1926 had birth parameters (weight, length, placental weight) extracted from archives, underwent physical and neuropsychological tests, and imaging of brain volume, white matter lesions (WML) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). (1) Relationship between cognitive ability and structural brain indices. Cognitive ability (g) was associated with both whole brain volume (r = .24, P <.05) and intracranial area (r = .27, P <.01), suggesting the relationship between brain size and cognitive ability in old age is due to the persistence of this relationship from earlier life. (2) Relationships among early life factors (birth parameters, social class, the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene) and cognitive ability. There was an association between birth weight and cognitive ability in old age (Raven’s r = .20, P = .04; MMSE ρ = .23, P = .02), partly but not fully explained by this association in earlier life. Therefore, the prenatal environment may influence cognitive ability into old age. Social class correlated negatively with cognitive ability in childhood (ρ = .21, P = .02) but not later life (Raven’s ρ = -.09, P = .36): the influence of the shared environment decreases with time. APOEe4 was associated with worse performance on logical memory only. (3) Relationship among early life factors and CVD. Birth parameters, particularly placental weight, were associated with a history of CVD (t = -2.2, P = .04), WML load (ρ = -.23, P = .04), and DTI ( r ~ -.25, P = .03, FA frontal r = .36, P = .001), suggesting placental function may be important for the development and integrity of WM tracts. There was no association between either social class or APOEe4 and CVD.

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Ashton, Michael. "Cognitive ability and change in long-term chronic schizophrenia." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ39777.pdf.

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Trapani, Catherine Schuler. "Multilevel modeling of cognitive ability in highly functioning adults." Thesis, Fordham University, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3564971.

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The goal of this research was to study differences in cognitive performance on verbal and quantitative measures among subjects of different ages. Data was gathered on subjects ranging in age from 16 to 80 years of age from birth-cohorts from 1927 to 1990. In addition to year of birth, personal characteristics of gender, race/ethnicity and undergraduate area of study were obtained. Multilevel models were built that predict cognitive performance as a function of age, cohort and other non-independent personal characteristics . Verbal performance rises as the age of the test-taker rises; quantitative performance declines as the age of the test-taker rises. After controlling for the race/ethnicity and gender of the test-taker, there are both age and cohort effects for verbal and quantitative models. On the verbal measure, the cohort effect favors those test-takers born at an earlier time. There is an interaction between age and cohort on the quantitative measure. This data is secondary analysis and the records are from those test-takers who choose to take a consequential assessment. When the multilevel models are produced independently for those test-takers ages 20-39 and those ages 40-64, different results are seen between the two age groups. There is little difference in performance for 20-39 year olds on the verbal measure other than a positive effect for age at time of test. For the test-taker aged 40-64, there is a positive effect due to age, a positive cohort effect and a negative interaction effect between age and science study. Comparing the 20-39 year olds with the 40-64 year olds on the quantitative measure, the decline in performance for the older group is one-fourth the rate of decline in the younger group. For the quantitative measure, after controlling for age, there is a positive cohort effect for both age groups.

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Cyhlarova, Eva. "Schizotypy in children : associations with handedness and cognitive ability." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.418810.

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Danner, Daniel [Verfasser], and Dirk [Akademischer Betreuer] Hagemann. "Cognitive ability beyond IQ / Daniel Danner ; Betreuer: Dirk Hagemann." Heidelberg : Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, 2011. http://d-nb.info/1179230248/34.

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Doobay, Victoria. "The origin of cognitive peaks of ability in autism." Thesis, McGill University, 2014. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=121254.

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Individuals with autism demonstrate faster and more accurate performance (cognitive peaks) on the Block Design Task (BDT) subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (Caron et al., 2006). This study explored whether this cognitive peak originates from a perceptual origin. Twenty participants with autism and 20 typically developing participants completed a computerized reversed BDT on a touch-sensitive screen, by matching a centrally presented target with one of 4 surrounding probes, as quickly and accurately as possible. The visual attributes of the blocks were manipulated, either defined by texture, luminance (black/white), or traditional (red/white) information. The perceptual coherence of blocks was also manipulated, where low-coherence (LC) designs necessitated increased local analysis relative to high-coherence (HC). Results demonstrated that reaction times in the LC condition were significantly lower in the autism group for the luminance condition, and accuracy was significantly higher for the typically developing group in the HC luminance (black/white) condition. However, no significant between-group differences (i.e., peaks) were found for the texture condition. This attribute contingent performance suggests that the characteristic, higher-level visuo-spatial performance in autism, as exemplified by cognitive peaks, may at least in part have a perceptual origin.
Les personnes atteintes d'autisme ont des résultats supérieurs au test de perception visuelle ‘cubes' de l'Échelle d'Intelligence de Wechsler en ce qui a trait à la précision et la vitesse d'exécution (Caron et al., 2006). Cette étude avait pour but d'examiner si cette habileté cognitive était d'origine perceptuelle. Vingt participants souffrant d'autisme et 20 enfants non-autistes ont complété le test de cubes sur un écran tactile. L'objectif était de trouver la correspondance entre un cube situé au centre et quatre autres cubes avoisinants. Les attributs visuels de ces cubes étaient manipulés soit au niveau de leur texture, de leur brillance (noir/blanc), ou de leur couleur (rouge/blanc). La cohérence perceptuelle des cubes a été également manipulée de manière à ce que le design des cubes soit à cohérence faible nécessitant une analyse locale accrue par rapport au design à cohérence forte. Les résultats de cette étude ont révélé que la vitesse d'exécution était considérablement plus lente chez les participants autistes lorsque la brillance était manipulée et que le design des cubes était à cohérence faible. En contrepartie, les participants non-autistes ont montré une performance plus précise lorsque la brillance était manipulée et que le design des cubes était à cohérence forte. Cependant, aucune distinction considérable n'a été notée entre les deux groupes lorsque la texture des cubes a été manipulée. Ces résultats suggèrent que les habiletés visuelles et spatiales des individus autistes sont en partie d'origine perceptuelle.

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Paetzel, Fabian, and Rupert Sausgruber. "Cognitive Ability and In-group Bias: An Experimental Study." WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, 2018. http://epub.wu.ac.at/6448/1/WP265.pdf.

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We study the role of performance differences in a task requiring cognitive effort on in-group bias. We show that the in-group bias is strong in groups consisting of high-performing members, and it is weak in low-performing groups. This holds although high-performing subjects exhibit no in-group bias as members of minimal groups, whereas low-performing subjects strongly do. We also observe instances of low-performing subjects punishing the in-group favoritism of low-performing peers. The same does not occur in high-performing or minimal groups where subjects generally accept that decisions are in-group biased.
Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

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Tamargo, Jennifer M. "Cognitive underpinnings of preschoolers' ability to learn from others." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2009. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0041043.

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Baker, Christine M. "Effects of bilingualism on working memory ability." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1522557.

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Much evidence exists in support of the notion known as a bilingual advantage, the idea that some bilinguals benefit from an executive functioning system superior to monolinguals. The majority of research investigating the bilingual advantage lies in metalinguistic awareness, conflict resolution, and inhibition; however, this thesis examines working-memory abilities by comparing the performance of English monolingual and Spanish-English bilingual groups in a dual task paradigm, taxing lexical retrieval and memory maintenance and manipulation. Participants were asked to perform a lexical retrieval task eliciting high-frequency abstract nouns or adjectives while simultaneously memorizing an accumulating list of target abstract words to be later recalled. Although no difference in immediate recall between language groups was found, bilinguals remembered significantly more target words 5 days after testing. Evidence suggests that bilinguals may build new memory representations that are more resistant to decay than monolingual memory representations.

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Mauney, Lisa M. "Individual Differences in Cognitive, Musical, and Perceptual Abilities." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/13972.

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The increasing use of auditory graphs and sonifications in technology is leading to a wider variety of system users, which, in turn, suggests a need for research in how differences between individual listeners affect sound interpretation. As a first step in this arena, the current study investigates the question of whether or not cognitive abilities and musical experience predict frequency and tempo discrimination in individuals. Participants in the study were 30 undergraduate students from Georgia Institute of Technology and 20 adults from the Atlanta, Georgia community. In the cognitive ability session, participants completed the Operation Span (Ospan) task as a measure of working memory capacity and the Ravens Progressive Matrices task as a measure of spatial reasoning. In the auditory discrimination session, participants performed a tempo and a frequency discrimination task. Demographics on age, gender, handedness, years of playing a musical instrument, and years of formal musical training were also collected. A correlational analysis of all variables was performed. Paired-samples t-tests on the Weber fractions of the six threshold means were also performed to determine if there were any significant differences between the frequency thresholds and the tempo thresholds. Lastly, multiple hierarchical regressions were performed on each of the six dependent variables to identify significant predictors of frequency and tempo discrimination. The paired samples t-tests show a significant difference between 250 Hz and 840 Hz and between 250 Hz and 1600 Hz, a violation of Webers Law. However, this violation of Webers Law may be explained by the small sample size used in the study. The t-tests also show a significant difference between the means of 150 ms and 250 ms and between the means of 250 ms and 350 ms. The results of the regression analyses show that good performance on Ravens seems to predict lower thresholds at 1600 Hz. The results also show that good scores on Ospan appear to predict lower thresholds at 350 ms ICI. In addition to these significant predictors from the regression analyses, there are many significant correlations that provide further support that cognitive abilities are related to frequency and tempo discrimination.

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Houlihan, Michael Edward. "P300 and cognitive ability: Processing demands, equivocation, and speed of processing during simple cognitive tasks." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/6801.

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The hypothesis that individual differences in mental ability depend, in part, on the speed or efficiency of performing elementary cognitive tasks was examined. Performance and event-related potential measures were determined during the performance of a Sternberg memory scanning task with three levels of difficulty, a category matching task, and a synonym-antonym task. In each task two stimuli were presented sequentially on each trial. In the Sternberg task, the first stimulus was one, three, or five letters and is called the memory set. The second stimulus was a probe stimulus. A category name and a category exemplar were presented in each trial of the category matching task. The two stimulus words presented in each trial of the synonym-antonym task were either synonyms or antonyms. Reaction time, movement time, and reaction time standard deviation were all negatively correlated with intelligence at levels consistent with previous research. In the Sternberg task, P300 amplitude to the first stimulus increased as the number of items in the memory set increased, affirming that P300 amplitude is sensitive to demands for processing resources. P300 amplitude to the first stimulus was smaller for higher ability than lower ability subjects. This is consistent with the idea that lower ability subjects require greater processing resources than higher ability subjects. The ERP differences between higher and lower ability subjects to the first stimulus were greater at fronto-central electrode sites than at Pz where P300 is maximal. P300 amplitude to the target stimulus decreased as set size increased. This is consistent with the view that P300 amplitude is sensitive to changes in task difficulty. P300 amplitude to the second stimulus tended to be larger for the higher ability group, an effect that can be understood in terms of equivocation. P300 latency to both the first and second stimulus increased as the set size increased, affirming that P300 latency is a measure of the time required for stimulus evaluation and classification. Higher ability subjects displayed longer P300 latency to the first stimulus than lower ability subjects. The longer P300 latency to the first stimulus suggests that higher ability subjects devote more time to stimulus analysis and planning than lower ability subjects. The performance of higher ability subjects on these tasks was characterised by the more efficient deployment of processing resources and less equivocation than lower ability subjects. Speed of processing and speed of motor response were faster for higher ability than lower ability subjects.

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Leissner, Philip, and Karl Söderberg. "PREDICTORS OF MATH PERFORMANCE : DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS OF COGNITIVE ABILITY AND NEED FOR COGNITION." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Institutionen för psykologi, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-159235.

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I den här studien har vi undersökt huruvida Need for Cognition (NFC) skulle kunna mediera relationen mellan kognitiv förmåga och prestation i matte. Den svenska versionen av NFC-skalan, Mental Effort Tolerance Questionnaire (METQ) och en rad olika datorbaserade kognitiva tester administrerades till 128 svenska gymnasieelever (87 pojkar). Elevernas ålder varierande mellan 15 och 17 år (m = 15.93, SD = .29). Structural equation modelling användes för att undersöka de direkta och indirekta effekterna mellan de tre konstrukten. Resultaten visar att NFC inte medierade relationen mellan kognitiv förmåga och prestation i matte. Däremot bekräftar resultaten tidigare forskning som kopplar NFC till prestation i matte, samt den etablerade nära relationen mellan kognitiv förmåga och matte. Resultaten stärker ytterligare bevisen för reliabiliteten hos METQ-skalan i utbildningskontexter. Dessa resultat diskuteras i relation till studiedesign, urval samt till tidigare forskning och teori. Framöver uppmuntrar vi till framtida forskning för att undersöka de kombinerade effekterna från både kognitiva och icke-kognitiva prediktorer för prestation i skolan.

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Leung, Tsz-yan, and 梁芷欣. "Effects of cognitive training on enhancing verbal and visual-spatial working memory in older adults at risk of cognitive decline." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/208055.

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Pauly, Karen L. H. "Concurrent validity of the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Ability and the Differential Ability Scales." Online version, 2003. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2003/2003paulyk.pdf.

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Simpson, Sinombongo Mazulu. "The perfomance of South African pilots on cognitive ability assessment." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12813.

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In South Africa, the issue of lack of black pilot skills is a most talked about topic in commercial airlines. Airlines need to find the right set of skills and attitude to operate safely and successfully. Airline safety remains a topic of discussion, therefore airlines need ensure robustness of their selection processes. There are many requirements that a person has to meet before s/he can be offered a first officer job at an airline. The majority of the pilots in South Africa are white males. The study aimed to determine if there are statistically significant differences in cognitive ability test results between Black and White applicants for pilot positions with a South Africa airline. The test battery included a verbal reasoning test, numerical reasoning test, visual thinking, abstract reasoning test, spatial reasoning test, short term memory test, monitoring ability test, hand-eye coordination, sense of orientation test, reactivity test, and a multi-tasking test. The data were extracted with permission from a database maintained on behalf of the airline by an online test provider and subjected to a statistical analysis using measures of central tendency, and spread, in order to report on the significance of the differences between the groups. There is strong evidence that the White group performed better than the Black group on the majority of the tests. It is recommended that further research is done in order to determine the causes of these differences. A comparative study of results on other airlines’ recruitment selection tests and an exploratory study of the impact of socio-economic factors, education quality and language on cognitive ability tests are recommended.

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Gelbart, Daphne. "Cognitive abilities that underlie mathematics achievement : a high ability perspective." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/32533.

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In this study the cognitive abilities underlying math excellence among children are examined, with a focus on children of high mathematical ability. The relationship between cognitive functioning—as defined by the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory—and academic achievement among children who excel in mathematics is explored in order to understand-whether strong math skills correspond to any "typical" cognitive ability profile(s). Results suggest that Short-Term Memory, Working Memory, and Visual/Spatial Thinking are significant predictors of strong and specific achievement in math calculation skills, whereas Fluid Reasoning is a significant predictor of strong and specific achievement in math reasoning. The results outlined in this study may supplement the existing research body relating to the full range of mathematics ability.
Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate

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Alexander, Sandra G. Marshall Linda L. "Predicting long term job performance using a cognitive ability test." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2007. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-4010.

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Grainger, Garrett. "Effect of social exclusion and cognitive ability on workplace deviance." Honors in the Major Thesis, University of Central Florida, 2009. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETH/id/1263.

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This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your Honors Thesis, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by following the instructions on the distribution consent form at http://library.ucf.edu/Systems/DigitalInitiatives/DigitalCollections/InternetDistributionConsentAgreementForm.pdf You may also contact the project coordinator, Kerri Bottorff, at kerri.bottorff@ucf.edu for more information.
Bachelors
Sciences
Psychology

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Alexander, Sandra G. "Predicting long term job performance using a cognitive ability test." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2007. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4010/.

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This study focuses on the relationship of one cognitive ability test on long-term job performance as measured by personnel data. Archival data from over 3,000 employees at an international technology company were used to assess how aptitude test scores relate to both objective and subjective job performance measures. Supervisory performance ratings, level of promotion, and salary increase significantly contributed to variance in test scores; however, these results were inconsistent. Number of training courses did not have a significant relationship with test scores. Additionally, type of turnover did not moderate the relationship between aptitude test scores and job performance. These results indicate that although aptitude test score is related to long term job performance factors, other factors account for the majority of the variance. The implication is that aptitude should not be the sole consideration when predicting long term job success.

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Miller, Angela L. "Cognitive processes associated with creativity scale development and validation /." Muncie, Ind. : Ball State University, 2009. http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/763.

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Michel, Juna. "Enhancing the Ability of Adults with Mild Mental Retardation to Recognize Facial Expression of Emotions." ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1081.

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A critical element in the development of interpersonal skills is the ability to recognize facial expressions. However, in persons with mild mental retardation (PMR), social interactions based on the recognition of others' emotional states may be compromised. Guided by the theory of mind, which allows one to make inferences on someone's mental states, differentiate facts from friction, and process others' beliefs and intentions, this study determined if emotion training impacted future emotion recognition scores in a PMR population and whether the variables of gender, age, and baseline Facial Expression of Emotions Stimuli and Test (FEEST) scores predicted changes in emotion recognition. Secondary data from a group of trainees identified as having mild mental retardation who participated in an emotion recognition training program (n = 31) were assessed. A paired samples t test revealed no differences between the pre-and post- assessments as a function of training, and the multiple regression analysis revealed that gender, age, and baseline FEEST score did not predict changes in emotional recognition. These findings, despite their non significance, offer a unique contribution to the field of mental retardation and contribute to theory of mind research in PMR populations. Positive social change implications include the potential ability to identify ways to improve social skills and effective training models to foster social inclusion in PMR population.

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Doares, Lesli Michelle Wilcox. "Sex differences in creative achievement : a cognitive processing approach." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/29824.

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Hendershott, Karen L. "Concurrent validity of the Woodcock Johnson-Third edition Tests of Cognitive Ability and the Differential Ability Scales." Online version, 2000. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2000/2000hendershottk.pdf.

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Martinelli, Earl Nicholas. "A Dynamic Time Course of Cognitive Map Distortion." Thesis, Connect to title online (Scholars' Bank), 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/7892.

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Price, Thomas. "Genetic and environmental influences on verbal and nonverbal domains of cognitive ability and low cognitive ability : a study of 2-,3-, and 4-year - old twins." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.397788.

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Shi, Xiaoxiao, and Ning An. "Cognitive Ability and Psychological Biases : Perspective from Chinese stock individual investors." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Handelshögskolan vid Umeå universitet (USBE), 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-53702.

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Rönmark, Lovisa. "The Never Ending Shower : planning ability, intellectual disability and cognitive artifacts." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för datavetenskap, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-108845.

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Persons with intellectual disability have been found to perform more poorly on tasks, demanding the use of executive functions like planning, than their peers. This study investigated difficulties with planning, and how problems with planning ability can be supported by using cognitive artifacts to help performance on activities in everyday life, for adolescents with intellectual disability. The approach taken is one of situated cognition, where the natural environment plays a big role, to see if the same difficulties arise as results from traditional research has shown. The traditional view focuses a lot on executive functions, and experimental studies in controlled settings and often suggests interventions and practice of certain functions to get better abilities. Another way is to focus on the use of cognitive artifact, to support problematic abilities, and to get a well-rounded understanding of how the problems actually appear in everyday life, the alternative view of situated cognition is a way to go. The data was gathered through interviews and surveys with the individual’s parents and analyzed through categorization and a repeated measures ANOVA, with a bonferroni corrected post hoc test. Results show several problematic areas, and that there is a difference in how problematic these areas are estimated to be when it comes to planning in everyday situations. It is discussed how the natural contexts helps knowing what planning really means for the group, as well as how it can help finding properties in cognitive artifacts that can help raise the level of independence in planning related tasks.

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Kimber, J. A. "Elasmobranch electroreceptive foraging behaviour : male-female interactions, choice and cognitive ability." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2008. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/3494.

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Aspects of electroreceptive foraging behaviour were investigated in a benthic elasmobranch, Scyliorhinus canicula (small-spotted catshark). The findings build on current knowledge of sexual conflict in this species and provide novel information concerning differentiation ability, choice and cognition relating to elasmobranch electroreceptive foraging behaviour. Hierarchical catshark behaviours towards artificial, prey-type electric fields (E fields) following stimulation by food-derived scent were recorded under laboratory conditions. Experiment 1: Male-female interactions Foraging behaviour of single- and mixed-sex catshark groups were investigated using electroreception as a proxy for feeding levels. Results indicated significant reductions in foraging levels of being grouped with the opposite sex, in addition to higher responsiveness in females. These attributes are most likely consequences of differing reproductive strategies and resultant sexual conflict. Experiment 2: Choice Catsharks were trained to swim through narrow tunnels and upon exit were presented with two differing E fields simultaneously. Choices were recorded and analysed, and thereby their ability to distinguish between and/or show preferences for fields was determined. Differentiation ability was demonstrated by preferences for stronger rather than weaker direct current fields, and alternating rather than direct current fields. The fish were either unable to distinguish or showed no preference for artificial (electrodes) and natural fields (crabs). Experiment 3: Cognitive ability Response levels and changes in response levels over time of catsharks rewarded for responding to E fields were compared to those of catsharks that were not rewarded. Results demonstrated learning and habituation behaviour improving foraging efficiency over short time scales according to profitability of fields. Failure to retain altered behaviour after an interval indicated short memory windows. These attributes would prove beneficial in a variable environment. Given many elasmobranchs’ continuing population declines and increasing potential interactions with anthropogenic E fields, such information will hopefully benefit both fisheries managers and offshore renewable energy developers.

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Huff, Kyle. "The Effects of Mode of Administration on Timed Cognitive Ability Tests." NCSU, 2006. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-04132006-154702/.

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Although widely used, there exists very little published research on the equivalence of web-based cognitive ability tests used for employee selection to their original paper-and-pencil versions. This issue is even further complicated by the limited research into the effects of proctoring on these types of tests. To investigate this issue, data was analyzed from the Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) and the Wonderlic Personnel Test-Quicktest (WPT-Q). Using the Differential Functioning of Items and Test (DFIT) procedure, data from 325 paper-and-pencil WPT administrations were compared to 325 web-based proctored administrations of the test. To check for the effects of proctoring, 108 proctored administrations of the WPT-Q were compared to 104 unproctored administrations again using the DFIT procedure. The results indicate that although the differences in administration produced low levels of differential item functioning (DIF), there is enough DIF to warrant conducting new validation studies when the mode of administration is changed.

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Eliane, Correa Miotto. "Cognitive aspects of planning ability in patients with frontal lobe lesions." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.263808.

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Rindermann, Heiner, and Stefan Pichelmann. "Future Cognitive Ability: US IQ Prediction until 2060 Based on NAEP." Universitätsbibliothek Chemnitz, 2015. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:ch1-qucosa-188067.

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The US National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) measures cognitive competences in reading and mathematics of US students (last 2012 survey N = 50,000). The long-term development based on results from 1971 to 2012 allows a prediction of future cognitive trends. For predicting US averages also demographic trends have to be considered. The largest groups’ (White) average of 1978/80 was set at M = 100 and SD = 15 and was used as a benchmark. Based on two past NAEP development periods for 17-year-old students, 1978/80 to 2012 (more optimistic) and 1992 to 2012 (more pessimistic), and demographic projections from the US Census Bureau, cognitive trends until 2060 for the entire age cohort and ethnic groups were estimated. Estimated population averages for 2060 are 103 (optimistic) or 102 (pessimistic). The average rise per decade is dec = 0.76 or 0.45 IQ points. White-Black and White-Hispanic gaps are declining by half, Asian-White gaps treble. The catch-up of minorities (their faster ability growth) contributes around 2 IQ to the general rise of 3 IQ; however, their larger demographic increase reduces the general rise at about the similar amount (-1.4 IQ). Because minorities with faster ability growth also rise in their population proportion the interactive term is positive (around 1 IQ). Consequences for economic and societal development are discussed.

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Murray, Keelin Margaret. "Music, language and the signalling of cognitive ability : an empirical investigation." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/17899.

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First systematically discussed by Darwin (1871), theories of a musical precursor to language have seen a revival in recent years, with researchers such as Tecumseh Fitch, Stephen Brown, and Stephen Mithen invigorating the field. The view that language and music have an evolutionary relationship has been discussed in light of recent comparative, musicological, and biological findings. However, little empirical data have been presented to support such theories. This thesis aims to address this oversight, by presenting a novel experimental paradigm, which tests the prediction of a novel hypothesis for the evolution of language from a musical precursor. The aim of this thesis is to encourage discussion and provide a framework for the empirical investigation of music’s role in the evolution of language. As a first step to addressing this relative dearth of empirical research, a hypothesis is outlined which describes a stable system of signalling cognitive ability through the transmission of culturally-learned, complex, music-like sequences. This is not hypothesised to have been semantically meaningful, rather a system which supported the honest transmission of information about the abilities of potential allies. Such a learned sequential precursor (LSP) to language would require both increased cognitive capacity and an investment of time and energy in learning. These requirements ensured the honesty of signalling, and so perceivers of the LSP could use it as a reliable indicator of the cognitive ability of producers. This was a necessary stage in evolution, prior to protolanguage, in which individuals exhibited a complex learned, culturally-transmitted, music-like signalling system. Such a learned sequential precursor may have arisen through a pressure for the reliable indication of cognitive ability, brought about by environmental and social changes with the advent of Homo erectus. These social changes included a new urge to cooperate, and so this precursor is proposed to have emerged and developed through collaborative partner choice. Perceivers of the system used cues within the musical sequences in order to determine the quality of a producer as a collaborative partner. Empirical tests are presented, which support the hypothesised LSP. The first study tested the complexity aspect of the hypothesis, asking participants to rate complex and non-complex pieces of music according to how much they liked the piece, how familiar it sounded, how attractive and intelligent they found the person who created it, and how likely they were to choose to collaborate with this individual. It was found that complexity was preferred under all measures but one, that of familiarity. The second, main, study predicted that a correlation should be found between measures of cognitive ability that are relevant to musical learning (processing speed and intelligence) and measures of musical learning (ability to replicate and recall target pieces, and make creative pieces). This prediction was upheld, supporting the hypothesis that a learned sequential precursor could have acted as an honest signal of cognitive ability. No correlations were found between these abilities and a measure of physical quality, supporting the hypothesis that this system may have undergone social selection. The third study further tested the question of selection and choice, predicting that collaborative partner choice was key to the selection of this learned sequential precursor. Raters were asked to rate the sexual or collaborative ability of performers of pieces of music, based solely on their musical output. This study has yielded interesting tendencies, but no statistical support of the hypothesis that collaborative partner choice was more important than mate choice in this system. Taken together, these empirical studies support the hypothesis of a musical, learned sequential system of signalling cognitive ability. At the moment, the question of the selection of this precursor remains open, with hopes that further studies can address this question. The methodology used here draws together approaches from birdsong research, evolutionary psychology, and musicological research, in an attempt to prompt further interdisciplinary investigation into the role of music in the evolution of language.

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Perkins, Lisa. "The impact of cognitive neuropsychological impairments on conversational ability in aphasia." Thesis, Boston Spa, U.K. : British Library Document Supply Centre, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?did=1&uin=uk.bl.ethos.335014.

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McCauley, Randall Wayne. "Sex and handedness effects on two types of cognitive ability tasks." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1990. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/462.

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Butts, Evan Thomas. "Externalist epistemology and the constitution of cognitive abilities." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6293.

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Cognitive abilities have been invoked to do much work in externalist epistemology. An ability condition (sometimes in conjunction with a separate, anti-luck condition) is seen to be key in satisfying direction-of-fit and modal stability intuitions which attach to the accrual of positive epistemic status to doxastic attitudes. While the notion of ability has been given some extensive treatment in the literature (especially John Greco, Alan Millar and Ernest Sosa), the implications for these abilities being particularly cognitive ones has been given less attention. To rectify this oversight, I examine the debate over the nature of cognition from philosophy of cognitive science, paying particular attention to the debate between defenders of internalist theories (Fred Adams, Kenneth Aizawa and Rob Rupert) and externalist theories (so-called “extended mind” positions). Armed with substantive accounts of cognition, I argue that the epistemological externalist’s obligation to repudiate epistemological internalism forces her to adopt some sort of externalist account of cognition.

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Emmett, Daniel Warren. "Individual Ability to Learn a Parallel Processing Technique and Musical Aptitude." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5325.

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Correlations between music training and psychosocial skills, sensory abilities, and aspects of intelligence, are sorted into primary or secondary effects. Correlations between these areas of human development and music training lack support pertaining to the underlying cognitive networks that these processes rely on. Thus, this study was based on the work of Baddeley and Hitch's model of working memory, and implemented a test of parallel processing (Articulatory Suppression Task, AST), which measures proficiency of working memory systems. Individual differences therein, were compared with music aptitude. Participants were gathered throughout urban and rural regions of the state of Oregon. Half the participants received specific training on how to excel on AST, the other half received no training. The training was based on research showing musicians to be more proficient in rhythm, the phonological loop, and mental imagery. Group AST pretest/posttest scores and the Drake Musical Aptitude test scores were analyzed using 2-tailed t test and regression models for within-group and between-group variation. No significant difference between musical aptitude and participant ability to increase proficiency with parallel processing was found, however, the results indicated that music training influences proficiency with parallel processing in general, and there were indicators that a ceiling effect may have confounded the pretest-posttest range in scores. This supports findings of previous research that musical training has beneficial influences on mathematics, socio-emotional awareness, motor skills, language, and general intelligence, highlighting that positive social change may result if music were a core class in K-12 education.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cognitive ability'

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