Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
An Experimental Analysis of the Effects a Pitcher’s Protective “L” Screen has on Batter’s Performance
This study explores the affects a pitcher’s protective “L” screen has on batter’s performance. Five pitchers and ten batters from the Allegheny College baseball team participated in the experiment. The experiment was designed to detect any affects the pitcher’s “L” screen has on the batter’s ability to hit a baseball. The experiment investigated potential discriminative stimuli used by the batter that could be affected from the use of an “L” screen during live, indoor hitting simulations in a standard batting cage. The study was divided into two trials, one in which the pitcher used an “L” screen to pitch to the batter, and one in which the pitcher did not use an “L” screen. The dependent variable was measure of well-hit baseballs by the batter, or solid contact with the ball. The results of the experiment indicate that batter’s performance is significantly decreased when an “L” screen is used. This suggests that alternative methods to the “L” screen would be beneficial to batter’s performance during batting practice or live hitting simulations. The external validity of the experiment could be strengthened if more participants and trials were used, along with eliminating the constraints of performing the study in an artificial cage setting, as opposed to an actual baseball field.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
Investigating external pressure and interrogation techniques in relation to true and false confessions
Previous research has shown that participants are more likely to give false confessions when criminal interview techniques such as minimization (i.e. making a suspect’s crime seem less serious) are paired with a deal (i.e. an opportunity to confess in return for an avoidance of more serious punishment). However, there is no research literature on whether the likelihood to give a false confession could be influenced by the interpersonal pressure to confess before an accomplice. This study will seek to add to the literature by studying whether participants’ rate of false confessions can be influenced by this form of interpersonal pressure when compared to the type of pressure brought about by the extra personal influence to confess before a crime is reported to an authority figure. The current study had participants placed in situations where they could be considered ‘guilty’ or ‘innocent’; and they were accused of the “crime” of collaborating on problems with a confederate they were told to do by themselves. The experimenter then tried to elicit a confession while also using additional methods (i.e. minimization and deal). The rate of both true and false confessions related to the condition of guilt or innocence which participants were assigned. We found participants guilt or innocence significantly affected if they signed a confession or not.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Sarah Conklin
Exercise and Daytime Sleep Architecture
Exercise and daytime sleep influence nocturnal sleep; however, it remains unclear if exercise influences daytime sleep architecture (Tanaka, Taira, Arakawa, Urasaki, Yamamoto, Okuma, Uezu, Suqita, & Shirakawa, 2002). Twenty-five college students who either participated in a cardiovascular or weight lifting workout or who did not exercise completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, & Kupfer, 1989) before polysomnography was recorded and scored according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Iber, Ancoli-Israel, Chesson, & Quan, 2007). It was expected that cardiovascular exercise would facilitate and lengthen sleep more than weight lifting exercise or a sedentary lifestyle (Trinder, Paxton, Montgomery, & Fraser, 1985), although both exercise groups were expected to experience more stage three sleep and demonstrate better sleep quality on the PSQI (Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, & Kupfer, 1989) than the sedentary group. Although none of the group comparisons were significant, the sedentary group had displayed poorer sleep quality based on Global PSQI scores, fell asleep quicker than both exercise groups, spent more time in stages one and two of sleep, and slept the most during testing. The cardiovascular group had the best sleep quality scores and spent the least amount of time in stages one and two of sleep. The weight lifting group spent the least amount of time in stage three of sleep. The results suggest that exercise facilitates sleep quality, and thus exercisers may not benefit from or require as much daytime sleep as sedentary young adults.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Aimee Knupsky
The Effects of the Use of Figurative Language in Advertisements on Purchase Intent
Figurative language is commonly used in advertisements. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the use of simple and complex tropes in advertisements affects purchase intent. Fifty-two participants were asked to watch a video advertisement for a high involvement product (i.e., a laptop) and a low involvement product (i.e., an external hard dive). The ads contained either metaphors, hyperboles or no figurative language. The participants were then asked to complete a survey about their purchase intentions and attitudes toward the advertisement. It was hypothesized that consumers evaluating high involvement products would be more positively influenced by the use of figurative language in an advertisement than consumers evaluating low involvement products. This hypothesis was not supported. In addition, it was predicted that the use of figurative language in an advertisement would have a more positive influence on a consumer than not having figurative language in an advertisement. This hypothesis was partially supported. Finally, it was proposed that the use of complex tropes would affect those examining high involvement products while the use of simple tropes would affect those examining the low involvement products. This hypothesis was not supported.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Cross
The Effects of Oxytocin and Vasopressin on Social Recognition Behavior in a Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized as a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that can be described by a broad spectrum of symptoms, including: impairments in reciprocal social interactions, abnormal development and use of language, repetitive and ritualized behaviors, a narrow range of interests, and emotional reactivity. The Valproic Acid (VPA) rat model of Autism was the primary “test subject” in this study because previous research has questioned its validity. The current study focuses on one ASD symptom in particular; the deficit in social interactions and the VPA model. This deficit was tested using the social recognition paradigm (Ferguson et al., 2001). The effects of Oxytocin (OT) and Vasopressin (AVP) were applied to the VPA model to determine whether or not they increase social recognition among trials. Current research has indicated that OT and AVP may be key players in ASD. The problem is thought to lie within the neurohypophyseal system due to a molecular misregulation of the receptor through insufficient gene expression. The social recognition paradigm was performed with nine healthy mature adult VPA-Sprague Dawley rats. Olfactory investigation was measured in seconds for five, one minute trials after introduction of an ovariectomized female and on the fifth trial a novel female was introduced. An intramuscular injection of each neuropeptide was administered 15 minutes prior to the social recognition paradigm. Results indicated no social recognition among VPA rats, and an increased social recognition for VPA rats exposed to OT and AVP. Statistical significance was found between trials as well as for OT and VPA aJeff Cross trials. The results indicate a relation between each of the neuropeptides on social recognition, validating the VPA model.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: JW P. Heuchert
Animal Assisted Interventions, Anxiety and Personality
In this study examined the relationship between within-subjects anxiety scores, personality traits, and the effectiveness of animal assisted activities. Past research has had inconsistent results on whether animal assisted activities statistically significantly reduces anxiety levels, and research on why some people respond better than others is sparse. Using Speilberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (1983) to measure state anxiety, and the NEO-FFI (Costa & McCrae, 2004) to measure personality type, the relationship within anxiety scores was measured in conjunction with personality. Through correlation and analysis of variance, a sample consisting of 39 (35 female, 4 male) undergraduate students revealed a statistically significant decrease in anxiety level after contact with the therapy dog by (p<0.01), a positive correlation between difference scores and Neuroticism level by (p<0.01), and a negative correlation between difference scores and Extroversion levels by (p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between difference scores and Openness by (p<0.01), and no significance between Agreeableness and Conscientiousness and difference in anxiety scores.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on the Inflexible Behaviors of Autism
Many autism research studies have been devoted to studying social interaction and the ability to communicate but relatively few have been dedicated to researching restricted and ritualistic behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the environment on the ability to accomplish a reversal learning task, using an animal model of autism. Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats were prenatally exposed to sodium valproate (VPA), and twelve rats were prenatally exposed to saline. For each exposure group, half of the rats were housed in standard laboratory cages and the other half inhabited enriched environments, with various novel objects introduced twice weekly. All rats were trained until they acquired the behavior of turning down the right-arm of a T-maze to receive a food reinforcer. The reversal learning task occurred when the food reinforcer was placed down the left-arm of the T-maze. Latency and number of errors were recorded for each rat. Results showed that VPA rats had significantly greater latency to retrieve the reinforcer than the control group, regardless of environmental condition. Possible explanations and implications are discussed.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Aimee Knupsky
The Effects of Authority and Familiarity on Interruptions
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of authority and familiarity on positive and negative interruptions. Male dyads were formed as either friend (N=20) or stranger (N=20) groups and a leader was randomly assigned. Each pair group was asked to play a game where they discussed whether statements were true or false within a ten minute period of time. After ten minutes was up, the researcher entered and received the answers to the statements. These conversations, both during task as well as during the report to the researcher, were recorded by videotape and then coded for both positive and negative interruptions. After the ten minutes of conversation was complete, each participant completed a post-test questionnaire regarding their own as well as their partner’s behavior. Results show that overall, non-leaders made more interruptions than leaders. Non-leaders were involved in more positive and negative interruptions depending on whether it was during pair task or during the report to the researcher. However, in terms of familiarity, strangers did not play a significant role in interruptive behavior. When examining verbal interruptions, results suggest that future research should consider the ways in which authority is defined as well as the context in which familiarity variables are assessed.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Joshua Searle-White
Does a relationship exist between birth order, number of siblings and leadership style?
There has been a large amount of proposed theories and research done on the topic of birth order, number of siblings and their relationship to leadership style. Findings show that first-born children tend to become task-oriented in their leadership and later-born children tend to become more relationship-oriented in their leadership. This study examines the relationship between birth order, number of siblings and leadership style of a sample of undergraduate Allegheny College students enrolled in Psychology courses. The study split participants into first-born children and later-born children and examined three types of leadership styles. The Fiedler’s Least Preferred Coworker Scale was used to assess this relationship and a demographic questionnaire was used to obtain information on the participants’ sex, class year, birth order position, and number of siblings in their family. Results showed a significant difference between birth order position in relation to leadership style for participants scoring in the lower 50% range for task-oriented and participants scoring in the upper 50% for relationship-oriented. These ranges contained participants who are heavily set in their leadership style as opposed to those scoring towards the middle of the spectrum. All other results were not significant for those two measures.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Joshua Searle-White
Family Violence Levels and their Relationship with Child Abuse Potential
This study primarily explored the relationship between family violence levels and the mothers’ child abuse potential. A total of 33 mothers were examined in the study, all of whom were biological mothers of a child between the ages of 3 and 5. The measures included the Child Abuse Potential Inventory and the Conflict Tactics Scales – Couple Form R. In families with higher overall violence levels, the results indicated that these mothers had significantly higher potentials to abuse their children. No significant relationship was found between overall family violence levels and mothers’ problems with child and self or with mothers’ problems with family. Participants reporting frequent use of verbal aggression were found to be significantly likely to abuse their children, have problems with their child and self, and experience problems from others. Women describing high levels of minor and severe violence in their family were found to have significantly high potentials to abuse. This study also examined how closely related the mothers’ reports of their own violent acts were to their report of their partners’ corresponding violent acts. Results indicated that participants’ reports of their reasoning and verbal aggression conflict-resolving behaviors were significantly correlated with their reports of their partners’ same acts. No significant relationships were found between mothers’ reports of their own minor, severe, and overall violent behaviors and their reports of corresponding behaviors of their intimate partners.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Cross
The effects of pilocarpine-induced seizures on vascularity and astrocytes in the amygdala and hippocampus in rat animal models of autism and epilepsy
The goal of this experiment was to examine the effects of seizures on astrocyte domains, blood-brain barrier (BBB) blood vessels, and the cerebral vasculature in the amygdala and hippocampus in rat models of autism (VPA) and Control animals. A link has been made in human studies between epilepsy and autism, and this study used animal models of both to further explore this connection. Four treatment groups were used: VPA No Insult, VPA Insult, Control No Insult and Control Insult. A single IP injection of pilocarpine (160mg/kg) was administered to induce epilepsy for the insult groups and subjects were sacrificed after 12 hours. Evan’s Blue Perfusions, Fluororuby administration in the right lateral ventricle and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) staining allowed for the BBB, vasculature, and the number of GFAP positive astrocytes to be seen under a microscope. The results found that both VPA and Control subjects showed an increase in the average number of astrocytes after seizures, with Control subjects showing a larger increase in the average number of astrocytes compared to VPAs in the amygdala and with VPAs showing a larger increase in the average number of astrocytes in the hippocampus after seizures. A relationship was found between astrocyte proliferation and the average number of blood vessels in the BBB as a response to seizures in both the amygdala and hippocampus in VPA and Control subjects. Differences in astrocyte proliferation and the average number of blood vessels in the amygdala and hippocampus after seizures were found, with VPAs showing an increase in average blood vessels in the hippocampus and amygdala but Controls showing a decrease in average blood vessels both with the presence of astrocyte proliferation.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Aimee Knupsky
Computer-Mediated Communications In Classrooms: Effects Of Blogging And Podcasting On Information Recall
Although previous CMC research has examined student perceptions of its use in the classroom, few studies have examined the effect on student performance. The present study examined the effect of type of CMC (blog, podcast) on information recall. Thirty undergraduate students were asked to listen to a podcast and read a blog as many times as necessary until prepared for each quiz following the CMC, a post-test questionnaire was provided after the final quiz. The primary hypothesis was that students would learn more from a blog than a podcast. The results indicated that the blog was significantly more interesting than the podcast, the blog was significantly easier to follow than the podcast, the blog was significantly more comfortable to use than the podcast, and finally students’ significantly perceived they would learn more from the blog than the podcast. While students preferred blogging, recognition scores were equivalent aJeff Cross conditions. Overall, the results suggest the importance of considering factors other than students’ perceptions when exploring the effects that teaching methods, specifically those including CMC, have on the recall of information.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Amy Wiseman
Individual differences in attention on TOVA performance during noise
The TOVA, a continuous performance task, was completed by 37 Allegheny College students (14 males and 23 females) under silence (with noise-dampening headphones) and noise (constant stream of white noise from headphones, 70 dB). Participants also completed a second continuous performance task, the IVA+ Plus, and were split into groups of low, medium, and high attention on the basis of visual attention quotient score. Personality trait of extraversion-introversion was assessed with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, and a multitasking questionnaire assessed multitasking behaviors. The influences of sustained attention ability and extraversion were examined on overall sustained attention (ADHD score), impulsivity (commission errors), and inattention (omission errors). Compared to silence, there was no significant effect of noise on ADHD score or commission errors. Overall, participants had significantly less omission errors and less instances of impulsivity in silence than they did in noise (p < .05). Extraverts had fewer omission errors than introverts in both noise and silence. However, when silence was first, extraverts performed better than introverts in silence but worse than introverts in noise (p < .01)
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Joshua Searle-White
A Virtual Disorder: Internet Addiction and Whether or Not It should be Included in the DSM-V
A comprehensive review of Internet addiction research is necessary in order to determine the next step towards effectively dealing with problems associated with Internet use. This study attempts to assemble what is known about Internet addiction and, with this knowledge, recommend a course to effectively address the current concerns about excessive Internet use. This will include a recommendation for or against the inclusion of Internet addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V): a move that has been recommended by some researchers (J. J. Block, 2008). First, this study will prove the importance of researching Internet addiction. It will then explore what it means to be a mental disorder, review the literature on Internet addiction and finally pass judgment on whether or not Internet addiction is a true disorder.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Cross
The Effects of an Acute Pilocarpine Induced Seizure on Astrocytic Cell Populations and Cerebrovasculature in VPA and Control Sprague Dawley Rats
Autism, a pervasive developmental disorder is characterized by impairments in social interactions, difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, and increased restrictive and repetitive behaviors. Autism shows a 5 to 40 % comorbidity with epilepsy, which is categorized as having at least two unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy is caused by enhanced synchronous neuronal activity within the brain. Prenatal Valproic Acid exposure (376 mg/kg) created an animal model of autism while, pilocarpine (160 mg/kg) was used to induce temporal lobe epilepsy. It was hypothesized that acute pilocarpine induced status epilepticus would lead to cerebrovascular changes and increase the number of reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus and amygdala of VPA and control Sprague Dawley rats. Reactive astrocytes were labeled with anti-glial fibillary acidic protein and fluororuby was used to label endothetial cells lining the vasculature. Distinct trends were observed as a function of pilocarpine exposure. VPA animals were more vulnerable than controls while males were more susceptible than females. Cerebral vasculature frequency was increased in the hippocampus compared to the amygdala while more activated astrocytes were found in the amygdala than in the hippocampus. Overall, successful GFAP staining of activated astrocytes and intracerbroventricular injection of flurororuby was achieved for the first time at Allegheny College.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
Evaluation Of Art Therapy Techniques On The Treatment Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Art therapy is an extremely beneficial alternative therapy because it allows for the adaptation of treatment to all ages, cultures, and genders. It can become more structured through specific mediums such as; crayons, pencils, paint, chalk, charcoal used on paper, bark, soil, clay, and metal; the possibilities are endless. No matter how barren, dry, destroyed, advanced technologically, or politically restricted an environment; art therapy can be implemented. Post traumatic stress disorder is trigged by a traumatic event. It is often hard after a traumatic event for memories to be stored in a verbal manner, so non-verbal forms of communication become necessary. This study will explore why art therapy is the most beneficial treatment of those with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Jamison L. Drab
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
An Overview of the Field of School Psychology and Its Practices
School psychology is a rapidly growing field in the United States. Though some of its early practices date back to before the development of the education program in America, the field did not gain major interest until the 1960s and 1970s. Major developments in governmental programs dealing with education has paved the way for the field of school psychology. However, not much is known about the field by the general public. In a country that offers a free public education and with a constant push for a better education, it is important to understand how this field influences the education system and better its quality.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
Some Effects of Varied Training Delays on Delayed Matching-to-Sample in Humans
The present experiment used the delayed matching-to-sample procedure to determine whether the temporal distance between sample and comparison images could be examined as an inherent part of a sample stimulus. Allegheny College participants were trained to match images at a particular delay (i.e. 0.001, 15, 30, or 45 s) and were later tested during 5 trials to match 5 of the same images at delays of 0.001, 15, 30, 45, and 60 s. Given previous research (Sargisson and White, 2001) where it was determined that pigeons could be trained to most accurately match stimuli at delays other than 0 s, it was hypothesized that the present experiment’s participants during testing would make the maximum number of matching responses at a delay time that they were trained in comparison to all other nontrained delay values. It was found, however, that there was no significant main effect on image matching levels at the testing delays for each group nor was there a significant main effect of training delay or a significant interaction between the testing delay and the training delay, p>0.05. This implies that matching scores for each delay group at each testing delay did not differ greatly from one another. Thus, it was suggested that the temporal distance between the sample and comparison images was not an inherent part of the sample stimulus.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Deb Dickey
An Early Childhood Curricular Module About Dwarfism
The medical condition of dwarfism has a stigmatized history. Recently, efforts have been made to enforce positive images of individuals with dwarfism. At the same time, there is an increasing desire to teach children about diversity and acceptance. Research on cognitive development of preschool-aged children suggests that they are open to explanations about different concepts. Therefore, individuals must take advantage of preschoolers’ susceptibility to knowledge and create curricula about diversity. There is no set curriculum about dwarfism for preschoolers. This curricular module demonstrates an example of a potential curriculum to teach preschoolers about dwarfism.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Patricia Rutledge
The Effect of Goal Contents and Motives on Happiness of College Alumni
The current study investigated goal contents and the motives behind those goals for career choice and how they correlated with overall happiness. The study was designed as a replication of a 2004 study, and analyzed a group of college alumni. Intrinsic (e.g., community outreach, personal fulfillment) and extrinsic (e.g., pay, prestige, and power) were measured for goal contents and autonomous versus controlled feelings were measured for motives. Data was obtained from alumni who attended a small, selective liberal arts college (N=79). Participants completed the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale, which were combined to evaluate overall happiness; as well as 16 questions regarding personal career goals. Bivariate correlations were calculated for overall happiness, total autonomy, and total goal content as well as for individual goals, which made up the totals. While there were some significant correlations found between individual components of the study, no significant correlations were found between autonomy or goal contents and overall happiness. This research suggests that there may certain types of career goals that positively affect happiness as well as goals that negatively affect happiness.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
The Effect Of Casual Video Game Play On Working Memory Ability
In recent years video games have become a popular subject of research, ranging from demonization of violent games, to praise for the educational potential of video games. This study seeks to demonstrate a relationship between casual video game play, as practiced by students on a leisure schedule and increased working memory as measured by operation span. A moderate result was found for male participants and an overall significant effect was found, but no relationship was found in the female participants data. Participants in this study were undergraduate students enrolled at Allegheny College. Possible effects of sex differences are discussed.
Major: Psych/Other
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
The Effects of Long-term Exposure of Aspartame and High Fat Diets on Adult Female Sprague-Dawley Rats.
Alzheimer’s disease is recognized as one of the most rapidly expanding health concerns in America. Current research suggests that almost half of the population will develop this neurological disease after the age of 85. However, individuals who come from low socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to develop this disease. Differences in the level of education was initially thought to be the sole reason for this However, variation in general health habits appears to be a more accurate indicator of Alzheimer’s disease development among lower SES citizens. Diet patterns that seemed to coincide with Alzheimer’s disease consisted of very few fruits, a lot of meats, butter, cream, high-fat dairy products, and refined sugars. The goal this study was to determine if memory loss increases when the amounts of refined sugar and fat increase in a rat’s diet. The study was a 3×2 factorial in which diet was varied (aspartame diet, fatty diet, and standard diet), and directional signal were shown to rats (correct and incorrect identification). Rats were tested in a standard T-maze where percent error in the correct identification of directional cards was recorded. Subjects were exposed to their diets for at least 5weeks. A one-way ANOVA showed no significant difference in error between the three treatment groups. There was a significant difference between treatments for weight lost and gained (p<.05). Due to various finds about the importance of diet, BMI, genetics, and physical activity as indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, more research needs to be conducted on the effects of cardiovascular health (which includes all these risk factors) in relation to SES and susceptibility to neurodegeneration.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
Effects Of Greek Letter Organization Membership On Participation In Non-Greek Organizations
Looking exclusively at members of Greek Letter organizations at Allegheny College, a survey was administered to one hundred and eleven participants, all active members of an Allegheny Greek Letter organization. The hypothesis of this study was that the voluntary membership in a sorority or fraternity encourages active membership in other, non-Greek student organizations. The survey results revealed that for the most part membership in a Greek Letter organization had no effect on membership in other organizations. It was also discovered that the majority of participants were already active members of other organizations before joining their Greek Letter organization. Since there was a large difference between the amount of female and male participants in the sample, a sub-group of forty four participants was also examined.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Patricia Rutledge
The Role of Disinhibition Expectancies in the Association Between Campus Group Affiliation and Heavy-Episodic Drinking
Heavy-episodic drinking (HED) is positively correlated with positively-valenced expectancies of alcohol’s effects. Specifically, euphoric social and sexual disinhibition expectancies may be indirectly associated with more frequent HED. Alcohol disinhibition expectancies (ADEs) may relate to the high risk for HED of undergraduate Greek and/or intercollegiate athletic students. Archival data were obtained from a sample of N = 1,737 college students on: (1) student affiliation with campus organizations, (2) ADEs, and (3) HED. Regression analyses indicated a positive correlation of social and sexual disinhibition expectancies with HED. Associations between student group affiliations and ADEs were explored. The relationship between group affiliation and HED may not be direct.
Major: Neuroscience/VESA
Comp Advisor: Sarah Conklin
Adolescent Subjective Social Status and Response to Negative Stimuli & Health Symptoms
Subjective social status (SSS) was examined in relation to response time for pictorial stimuli and health symptoms. It was hypothesized that low SSS would be correlated with a bias to negative stimuli and would positively correlate with negative health symptoms. Participants completed the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status (Adler et al., 2000; Goodman et al., 2007), the Dot Probe Task (Shaver, 2006), and the Symptom Checklist-90-R (Derogatis & Lazarus, 1994). The hypothesis was not confirmed regarding the dot probe task; however, a number of correlations between low SSS and SCL-90-R scales were significant. The Global Severity Index (GSI), Paranoid Ideation, and Psychoticism scales were all significantly higher for low SSS than for medium SSS. The Hostility scale was significantly higher for low SSS than for medium and high SSS. These results suggest that low SSS was associated with a number of negative health symptoms.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Jeff Hollerman
Determination of how mice detect different frequencies and pulse widths of nasal CO2 by use of the electroolfactogram
Atmospheric CO2 is an important environmental cue that can signal the presence of food, predators, and environmental stress (Luo et al. 2009). In mice, a small subset of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that coexpress phosphodiesterase 2A (PDE2A), guanylyl cyclase D (GC-D), cGMP-sensitive cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, and carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) are responsible for the detection of CO2 (Hu et al. 2007). The purpose of the present investigation was to determine how these specialized cells can detect CO2 at concentrations as low as 0.066%, when mice expel 4% CO2 with each expiration. Electroolfactogram (EOG) was used to record from the olfactory mucosa of wild type mice to study the response characteristics to CO2 and the odorant propyl acetate. Mouse respiration was simulated by pulsing CO2 over the olfactory epithelium as a phasic wave that alternated between 0% and 4% CO2. The EOG signal was composed of a succession of negative deflections synchronized with the simulated respiratory rhythm. The EOG signal also demonstrated that the mechanism for CO2 detection is faster than the cAMP-mediated pathway used commonly for odorant detection. These results emphasize (1) the importance of taking into account the respiratory activity in studies on the functioning of the olfactory system; (2) provide insight into how mice can discriminate between low concentrations of CO2; and (3) explain the receptors ability to follow changes in CO2 due to respiratory cycles.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Other
Effects of the Ca2+-Activated Cl- Channel Blocker Niflumic Acid on Odor and CO2 Detection
CO2 is an essential olfactory signal for a variety of animal behaviors such as feeding, ventilation, mating, and avoiding predators (Sun et al., 2009; Sharabi et al., 2009). Although the detection of odorants has been well established, the olfactory CO2 transduction cascade is still a work in progress. The purpose of this study was to examine EOG responses in intact mice olfactory epithelium after the application of mammalian ringers or niflumic acid. The EOG is a negative electrical potential recorded at the surface of the olfactory epithelium and represents the summated generator potential in the olfactory receptor neurons. The goal of the experiment was to determine whether the Ca2+-activated Cl- channel used in odorant detection was also used in CO2 detection. In this study, EOG responses to both odorants and CO2 before and after the application of Ca2+-activated Cl- channel blocker niflumic acid, as well as mammalian ringers, were recorded. Application of niflumic acid significantly attenuated the EOG response to both odorants and varying CO2 concentrations. These results suggest that the same Ca2+-activated Cl- channel utilized in odorant transduction is also used to amplify the signal in CO2 detection. This study provides a greater understanding of olfactory CO2 chemoreceptors which have been suggested to play a role in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Filiano & Kinney, 1994).
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
Can mint-flavored treats do more than just freshen breath?:
An examination of the act of chewing gum and its potential effect on working memory
College students are always looking for ways to keep their brains alert and working at their full potential. Some students swear by caffeine or even regular naps, but some anecdotal evidence has made some primary and secondary school educators suggest that chewing gum or eating a piece of mint candy can improve cognitive functioning and lead to better grades. The present study sought to add to current research that suggests there is a positive relationship to the act of chewing gum and cognitive function (Stephens and Tunney, 2004). This study aims to examine this claim further by testing whether the act of chewing gum or the flavor of a gum sized piece of candy could be responsible for the any positive effects on cognitive function. Participants’ will perform a complex cognitive task (i.e. Working Memory) while doing a variety of activities related to the act of chewing gum and eating candy. The implications of the results in relation to improving cognitive functioning will be discussed.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Aimee Knupsky
Psycholinguistic Markers In Computer Mediated Communication: The Influences Of Topic On The Expression Of Sarcasm Markers In CMC
The goal of this study was to examine the various linguistic markers and strategies used to convey sarcasm over Computer Mediated Communication (CMC). Thirty participants took part in the study, discussed a sarcasm and a non-sarcasm inducing prompt and either knew or did not know the study was examining sarcasm. Participants conversed with an anonymous partner over America Online Instant Messenger and then filled out a post-test questionnaire. It was hypothesized that participants would use linguistic markers such as ellipsis, emoticons, and indicators of laughter such as lol/haha to indicate they were being sarcastic. It was found that while there was no significant difference in which linguistic markers participants used more often than others, patterns did exist as to which strategies were employed to indicate sarcasm.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
Situational Specificity To Tolerance And A Conditioned Compensatory Response To Ketamine In Sprague-Dawley Rats
Associative tolerance is often seen to be more pronounced in the presence of environmental stimuli that are associated with repeated administrations of a drug, leading to major complications with medical and illicit drug use. Due to a decline in the medical use of dissociative anesthetics, there is limited, if any, research pertaining to the effects of associative tolerance. The present study examined the potential for situational specificity and a conditioned compensatory response with repeated injections of ketamine in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The study consisted of two groups: the control, or saline, group (n=5), and the experimental, or ketamine group (n=5). A low dose of 35 mg/kg of ketamine was administered to the experimental group. Results showed evidence of situational specificity to tolerance; tolerance for the experimental group was more distinct in the conditioned environment compared to a novel environment. However, there was no evidence to support the expected conditioned compensatory response of hypersensitivity to pain.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Deb Dickey
Effect of Alcohol Intoxication Level and Gender on Regret After the College Hook Up
The focus of this study was to examine regret as a consequence of the college hook up. Specifically, whether or not level of alcohol intoxication and gender have any influence on regretful feelings. A survey was designed specifically for this study to look at alcohol intoxication level and feelings. Participants were presented with a scenario and they answered for their assigned character; women answered for the female character and men answered only for the male character. It was hypothesized that the female character in the survey who is more drunk than their partner, will have more regret than if she had a partner of equal or lesser alcohol intoxication. A second hypothesis surmised that the male character will not have regret as a consequence of the hook up. A total of 96 participants were used in this study; 48 females and 48 males. They ranged in age from 17-23 years with a mean age of 19.6 years. There was no significant finding for female characters who were more drunk. The female character in all conditions felt high levels of regret. The male character did have negative emotions; however, their experiences were predominantly positive.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
Ethanol Intoxication and Its Effects on Shock Avoidance Behavior in Sprague-Dawley Rats
A common phenomenon reported in humans intoxicated by ethanol is an experienced “sobering up” when they are presented with a stressful, scary, or aversive situation. The present study examined the performance of rats under an escape/avoidance schedule while intoxicated with three different percentages of alcohol (5%, 10%, and 20% solutions at 1 ml/kg), hypothesizing that if the phenomenon exists, then rats can avoid electric shock while intoxicated as well as they can while they are sober. The results supported the hypothesis; the rats avoided electric shock with no significant difference as compared to the saline solution. Anxiety, a major motivating operation, is discussed in terms of its effects on behavior and responding as a conjecture for the study’s results and as a proposed subject for further research.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Other
Investigation of the role of the cGMP-sensitive cyclic nucleotide-gated channel and guanylyl cyclase-D in the CO2 transduction pathway in mice
Mammals detect carbon dioxide (CO2), a fundamental environmental signal, within the nasal cavity. Detection of CO2 in mice occurs in a small subset of neurons within the olfactory epithelium that express guanylyl cyclase-D (GC-D), cGMP-sensitive cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, phosphodiesterase 2A, and carbonic anhydrase II (Hu et al. 2007). The exact role of each component is not completely understood. The role of the cGMP-sensitive CNG channels and GC-D was investigated by recording olfactory receptor responses to CO2 and odorants using electro-olfactograms (EOGs). It was hypothesized that inhibiting the cGMP-sensitive CNG channel would decrease the detection of CO2, but odorant detection would be unaffected. It was also hypothesized that GC-D knockout mice would not be able to detect CO2 but would be able to detect odorants. EOG responses to 0-50% CO2 and odorants were recorded from wild type mice before and after the topical application of a cGMP-pathway inhibitor, L-cis-diltiazem, on the olfactory epithelium. The results showed that inhibition of the cGMP-sensitive CNG channel with L-cis-diltiazem caused a significant decrease in the EOG response to CO2. These results suggest that the CNG channel is required for the detection of CO2, but blocking the channel with 0.1 mM L-cis-diltiazem still allowed for some detection of CO2. EOG responses to odorants after L-cis-diltiazem application resulted in an unexpected significant decrease from baseline. The EOG results with GC-D knockout mice suggest that GC-D may not be necessary for the detection of CO2. The GC-D knockout mice were able to detect CO2 as effectively as the wild type mice. Odorant detection was mostly intact in the knockout mice, as expected. These results emphasize the need for further investigation into the CO2 transduction pathway.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Cross
Fluoro-Ruby Labeling Assay Of The 6-OHDA Model Of Parkinson’s Disease Pre-Treated With A Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
This study was conducted to examine the effects of desipramine in the 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson’s Disease. The amount of destruction to dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway and righting latencies on the inverted geotaxis board were measures. Unilateral injections of 6-OHDA (8 μg free base in 4 μl ice cold saline containing 0.01% ascorbic acid, (2μl / 5min)) and Fluororuby (0.5μl of 4% solution, (0.4μL/min in 5 min)) in the Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SN) of the right hemisphere resulted a degeneration of DA neurons in the SN, as well as a loss of NE neurons. The Fluororuby injections concurrently labeled the SN as well as the DA axons projecting to the striatum. Desipramine (DMI) is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It protects the NE neurons from 6-OHDA and increases extracellular NE by selectively inhibiting reuptake of the NE terminals in the SN. NE is presumed to act as a compensatory agent for DA degeneration as neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), progress. Therefore, protecting NE neurons from 6-OHDA with the use of DMI should alleviate some motor deficits and increase FR labeling of DA neurons in the SN, as well as axons projecting to the striatum. Fluororuby alone was also injected into the left SN to label the neurons and the axons projecting to the striatum of a control hemisphere. Two groups were used in this study: a 6-OHDA/Fluororuby group, and a 6-OHDA /Fluororuby co-administered with DMI group. Response latencies on the inverted geotaxis test and the occurrence of FR labeled structures (FR+) were compared between the two groups. The DMI treated subjects were expected to have more FR+ and shorter response latencies due to the protective effects of DMI. The right SN in the DMI group showed more FR+ structures than the right SN of the 6-OHDA group. More FR+ structures were seen throughout the nigrostriatal pathway of the DMI group. The 6-OHDA group had longer righting latencies compared to the DMI group one week and three weeks after surgery. These results suggest that rats were able to make more axial movements by protecting the NE neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway with DMI administered 30 minutes prior to 6-OHDA exposure. Also more neurons survived in the SN and more FR+ structures were seen in the nigrostriatal pathway from DMI neuroprotection.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Sarah Conklin
The Effects Of The Nintendo WII On Mood
Research has demonstrated that the Nintendo Wii has had many positive physical benefits, such as lower limb mobility and better balance (Marmeleira et. al., 2008; Brumels, 2009). The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Nintendo Wii and mood, focusing on the difference between playing individually and playing with two other participants. The hypothesis of this study was that all of the participants would show an increase in mood after playing Nintendo Wii Bowling. However, the participants in the Wii socialization group would show a greater increased mood on the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire than the participants in the individual Wii group. The participants included thirty-eight female Allegheny College students, aged eighteen to twenty-two, recruited from Allegheny College Psychology classes. Measurements were obtained from participants before and after a twenty minute experimental session, using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire to assess mood. There was a significant interaction between playing the Nintendo Wii and mood; however, there was not a significant interaction between group size (individual or socialization) and mood.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Hollerman
Academic Advisor: Jeff Cross
The effect of delayed glial inhibition by minocycline on measures of spontaneous morphine withdrawal in Sprague-Dawley rats
Glial cells have been implicated as potential players in chronic pain, and have been linked to opioid analgesia, opioid tolerance, and opioid withdrawal. This study looks at the effect of the glial inhibitor minocycline on morphine withdrawal when administered in subjects with pre-established opioid dependency. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 15) were divided into control, SC minocycline injection, and IP minocycline injection groups. After establishing morphine dependence, subjects in the injection groups were given minocycline, following which all were allowed to lapse into spontaneous opioid withdrawal. Measures of several behavioral variables, locomotion, and a withdrawal severity score were used to see if there were differences between groups. In addition, measures of analgesia and body weight were assessed and compared. The results indicated an adverse effect of IP injections of minocycline, but a possible positive effect of SC injections as evidenced by attenuation of withdrawal-induced weight loss.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Joshua Searle-White
The Relationship Between First Names And Inference Of Depression Symptoms
The relationship between the judged severity of depression symptoms and the commonness and stereotypes of a person was explored with the hypothesis of uncommon names being rated more depressed. The independent variables were the commonality of a name (unusual and common) and gender. The dependent variable was the level of depression inferred using a questionnaire and description of a mildly depressed individual. One way ANOVAs and independent samples t-tests showed no significant differences in total scores between males and females, uncommon and common names, and an anonymous condition. An analysis of mean ratings for each individual question by commonality, gender, and name, only revealed females having higher possible friendship ratings. Likeability ratings were higher among common names and although it was close, the difference wasn’t statistically significant. Even though there was a lack of significance, there was a trend in the data for uncommon names to receive higher depression ratings.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Ozorak
The Psychology And Spirituality Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
This paper examines the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, which utilizes Buddhist mindfulness meditation and Yoga to reduce stress and decrease chronic pain, from the fields of both psychology and religious studies. Stress as a cultural problem leading to physical and mental problems, and MBSR’s potential to help, are discussed. Also explored is the cultural background of MBSR and its validity as both a religious practice and psychological technique. It is concluded that MBSR is in a unique position in the history of religion as both an entirely psychological technique while also acting as a religious practice.
Douglas R. Montgomery
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Hollerman
Using the MAM Developmental Model of Schizophrenia to Study the Therapeutic Effects of Estrogen on Deficient Sensorimotor Gating
Epidemiological studies have shown that, compared to men diagnosed with schizophrenia, women show first sign of psychotic symptoms on average 5 years later. In an attempt to model sensorimotor gating deficits in the rat, neurogenesis was briefly disrupted with methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) during late gestation at embryonic day 17 (E17). The aim of the current investigation was to explore the therapeutic effects of estrogen on eliminating, or at least reducing deficient sensorimotor gating in the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle response paradigm. Rats were tested at pre- and post-puberty in an automated startle apparatus for their startle responses to pseudorandom combinations of 110-dB acoustic pulses and 74-dB, 78-dB or 82-dB acoustic prepulses. As compared with the control-group rats, the MAM-treated rats showed no alterations in sensorimotor gating. In addition, treatment with 17β-estradiol did not cause an increase in PPI. The ineffectiveness of estradiol treatment to enhance PPI of acoustic startle could be because it influences other symptoms of the disorder or works in adjunct to antipsychotic drug treatment. However, a significant trend was observed, with MAM-treated (15 mg/kg) and MAM-treated (20 mg/kg) rats exhibiting less PPI on week 8 than on week 4. This suggests that something happened around the time of late adolescence or early adulthood to cause this phenomenon, similar to the temporal pattern of the emergence of symptoms in human patients.
Major: Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
Behavioral Characteristics and Myelination in Sprague-Dawley Rats Prenatally Exposed to Phencyclidine
Recent research has found irregular oligodendrocyte maturation in a rat model of schizophrenia. It was hypothesized that such rats would have less myelination, and that myelin would positively correlate with performance on behavioral assessments. This study examined the integrity of the corpus callosum in the frontal cortex and performance on pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) and a delayed alternation T-maze task in rats prenatally exposed to phencyclidine (PCP) compared to controls. Few differences were seen between groups; only average percent PPI was significantly different among females. This was attributed to an ineffectively low does of PCP. Area of the corpus callosum was strongly correlated with performance on the spatial alternation task but weakly correlated with PPI, implying that the frontal cortex may not directly mediate PPI.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Cross
The Neuroprotective Effects of an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Enriched Diet on Alzheimer Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects the elderly. The diagnosis of AD has been increasing over the past few decades and there is no cure for the disease. One way to reduce severity of AD is using different supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids that may have a neuroprotective effect. This study examined the neuroprotective effects of omega-3 fatty acid, specifically DHA, on spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rats (n= 8). Working memory was tested using the Morris Water maze. The animals where assigned to a placebo group or the DHA group and gavaged 450mg of either placebo or DHA. Histology was used to confirm vascular abnormalities using Evan’s Blue. The results showed that the DHA group had fewer bleeds as compared to control.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Hollerman
Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Neurobiological Effects Caused by the Postnatal Administration of Propionic Acid.
Propionic acid (PPA) is a weak organic acid found naturally in the gut of animals. Elevated levels have been found to associate with seizures, developmental delay symptoms, and gastrointestinal issues, all of which have been found in autistic patients. This study included the valproic acid animal model of autism (VPA), in conjunction with the postnatal administration of propionic acid, in order to examine the autism connection even further. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with PPA per orally and then observed in tests of object familiarity and locomotor activity for autistic-like behaviors. Overall, with regards to behaviors, rats who received both VPA and PPA treatments were found to be more autistic-like than their counterparts in the experiment. Histological procedures were also completed, yet results were limited. These findings concluded that more research involving PPA and VPA should be done in the future. There may be a relationship between the two acids and onset of autism, but the results from this study were not significant enough to make such a statement.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
Effects of an Acting Intervention on Self Confidence in College Students
This study examined the possibility of a correlation between acting intervention and self-confidence in college students between interactive and individual acting groups, as well as a control group performing simple math problems. Past research found a link between self-confidence and acting. 30 participants engaged in either one of these treatments or the control group and then completed the Personal Evaluation Inventory, which measures self-confidence. Findings showed some marginal significance of the difference between the experimental and control conditions. Limitations and recommendations for further research are also discussed.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Deb Dickey
Effect of Antecedent Yoga on the Sustained Attention of Preschool Children
The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of yoga on the sustained attention of preschool children. A visual discrimination Jeff Cross-out task was adapted for the present study to evaluate the participants’ sustained attention before and after a yoga session and before and after the control activity, story time. A comparison of the difference scores of each activity revealed that, although the data was not statistically significant, the trends of the raw data were consistent with the hypothesis that yoga increases the sustained attention of preschool children. However, the findings of this study suggest further research is necessary to confirm the relationship between yoga and sustained attention. Future studies interested in the benefits of practicing yoga in the classroom should consider larger populations and the relationship between sustained attention and age.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Deb Dickey
The effect of autism spectrum disorder on coping strategies used by parents:
A content analysis of two narratives
Despite the growing numbers of children being diagnosed with autism each year-limited attention has been paid to the way this diagnosis affects a family. Previous research had found that the ways that parents cope with autism is unique when compared to any other childhood disorder. The present study conducted a content analysis of two narratives written by parents of autistic children coding for specific coping mechanisms to see whether coping strategies change over time and/or are affected by family cohesion and adaptability level. Results were consistent with previous research and showed that coping strategies evolved over time and were dependent on family cohesion and adaptability level. The study concluded with a look at limitations as well as directions for future research.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding:
Effectiveness of Therapy with Horses for Children with Autism
The increase in diagnoses of autism has led to a greater evaluation of treatment possibilities. Animal-assisted therapies, specifically hippotherapy and therapeutic riding are discussed pertaining to additional treatment options for children diagnosed with autism. This study examined the effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding for children with autism, measuring verbal behavior, sociability, sensory responsiveness and behavior (Autism Research Institute, 2009). Parental guardians of the participants, one boy and one girl both age twelve, completed a treatment evaluation questionnaire at the beginning of therapeutic riding sessions and again at the end of an eight week period. A comparison of the pre and post evaluations on the effectiveness of treatment and behavior analyses indicated that there was no improvement in the children; however limitations in the study suggest a need for further research.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Joshua Searle-White
The Applicability Of Self-Defeating Personality Disorder For A Previous Victim Of Domestic Violence: A Case Study
In this research a case study was used to examine the applicability and validity of the proposed Self-Defeating Personality Disorder (SDPD) to a previous victim of domestic violence. Unstructured interviews were used to allow the participant, a middle-aged female, the most freedom in telling her story. There was insufficient evidence found to support the participant receiving a diagnosis of SDPD. Larger questions were raised about the role of love in self-defeating behavior, outcomes justifying a diagnosis, the environmental aspects contributing to self-defeating behavior, and the social construction of the SDPD diagnostic criteria.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
The Effects of Chronic Diazepam Withdrawal on Subsequent Ethanol Consumption, Withdrawal, and Induced Anxiolytic Behavior in Rats
The present study examined the effects of chronic diazepam withdrawal on (1) subsequent ethanol consumption in a free choice paradigm (FCP) between water and increasing concentrations of ethanol, and withdrawal syndrome and (2) subsequent ethanol-induced anxiolytic properties in an elevated plus maze (EPM). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a 21-day chronic diazepam (DZM) treatment (2 mg / kg / day, i.p.). Experiment 1, 24 hours after last DZM injection, employed the FCP with ethanol concentrations (v/v) increasing as follows: day 1, 2%; day 2, 4%; day 3, 6%; day 4, 8%; days 5-12, 10%. DZM pretreated rats consumed higher amounts of ethanol in FCP than SAL pretreated rats. Additionally, eight hours following the last session, DZM pretreated rats exhibited higher ethanol withdrawal symptoms. Experiment 2, five days after last DZM injection, exposed rats to four ethanol (ETH) doses (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 g/kg, i.p.) and then measured percent of time spent in and entries into open arms in the EPM. Overall, the present study supports that chronic DZM withdrawal facilitates increased ethanol consumption. Whether ethanol dependence is facilitated as well could not be determined, as DZM pretreated rats exhibited elevated ethanol withdrawal signs but did not exhibit ethanol-induced anxiolytic behavior.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
Effects Of Mood And Gender On Memory: A Study On Mood Dependent Memory
The focus of this study was to examine the effects of gender and mood on memory recall. This study was more specifically aimed at the phenomena of mood dependent memory and how it affects the recall of participants, both men and women, in different mood states. Prior research shows that people demonstrate better recall for a list of words when their mood at test matches closely with the one they had when they initially studied the list (Lewis, Critchley, Smith, & Dolan, 2005). Information regarding gender and memory show that there may be differences in the way men and women process emotions, and that women tend to have stronger physiological responses to emotions (MacRae, 1994 & Koch, Pauly, Kellerman, & et. al., 2007).Participants were shown a combination of two video clips, either positive or neutral, in order to study the effects of mood dependent memory participants were given a list of 30 words to study between the first and second clip and were then given two minutes to recall as many words from the word list they studied as they could remember. Recall scores were recorded for analysis. Results showed that Female participants had a significantly higher recall score than male participants. There was no significant difference between the three experimental conditions of mood. Results for this study were very different from the results that were expected. Contrary to previous research and what was hypothesized women had a higher overall recall score than men. The effect of mood dependent memory was not seen in this experiment due to the non-significant difference between mood conditions. The results indicate that perhaps mood dependent memory is not as concrete of a phenomenon as research suggests.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
Influence Of Violent Media On Imitative ‘Copycat’ Behavior
This project strived to examine the potential mechanisms behind how violent media may elicit copycat violent behavior in particular individuals. By looking specifically the mechanisms that could be responsible for some of the connections between violent media and real world examples of aggressive and violent copycat behavior, the hope is that this project could be useful in developing preventive measures to avert violent incidents such as those that occurred at Virginia Tech and Columbine. My analysis of real world cases and possible connections to the mechanisms discussed provided information that suggested that monitoring exposure to violent media in certain vulnerable individuals could help prevent violent ‘copycat’ behavior in specific instances.
Emilia D. Symoniak
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: JW P. Heuchert
Persuasive Peers: The Impact of School Type on Perceived Peer Pressure
There have been a number of studies on the effects of peer pressure, but only a small body of research exists on what influences the amount of peer pressure that adolescents experience. This study looked specifically at the role that public versus private and coed versus single sex high schools had on perceived peer pressure as well as the effect of attending a religiously-affiliated school. It was hypothesized that students who attended a private high school would report having experienced greater peer pressure than students who attended public school, with students from single-sex private high schools producing the highest scores. Also, students who attended a religiously-affiliated private high school were predicted to have experienced less negative peer pressure than students who attended a non-affiliated school. While none of the hypotheses were supported in the findings, the study does support some trends found in previous research done on peer pressure.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Hollerman
Effects of repetitive oral administration of postnatal propionic acid in rats: a possible animal model of late onset autism spectrum disorder
Propionic acid (PPA) is a short chain fatty acid and metabolic end product of enteric bacteria. It is found to cause locomotor and behavioral changes when given through intracerebroventricular infusion to rats. Children with late-onset autism have been reported to exhibit autistic symptoms and gastrointestinal problems at the onset of the condition after a period of otherwise normal development Administering PPA orally to rats at 5-weeks and 8-weeks was used to model the behavioral changes in late-onset autism. This model resulted in slightly increased locomotor activity and some qualitative change. This contributes to the body of research on developing PPA as an animal model of autism.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Rodney Clark
The Effects of Acute Administration of Cocaine and d-Amphetamine on Motor Functioning
Current research has indicated that psychomotor stimulants have the effect of amplifying motor functioning in rats. Psychomotor stimulants have been proven to be associated with increased alertness, concentration and reaction rates; and because of these studies an increase in motor activity and locomotor ability were improved. Studies have also shown that the application of psychomotor stimulants increase energy and decrease appetite in virtually all organisms that are under the influence of said drugs. The mechanism of action neurologically for stimulants like cocaine and d-amphetamine, acts as a reuptake inhibitor by blocking the reuptake of the neurotransmitters Dopamine, Serotonin, Epinephrine and Norepinephrine. This allows for these neurotransmitters to remain in the synaptic cleft for longer periods of time which ultimately affects the central and peripheral nervous system. The areas that are believed to be associated with increased motor activity are the nigrostriatal system and the mesolimbic system. Both of the experimental conditions in this study act on these areas. Additionally, the nucleus accumbens is also affected by these drugs with the same mechanism, and this area of the brain is associated with reward. The current study measured the proposed variable effects of cocaine and d-amphetamine on overall motor functioning among the subjects. Recent studies have revealed that increasing the application of psychomotor stimulants will result in an increased effect on motor functioning. Other studies also have publicized that cocaine has a greater impact on the increase in functioning, due to the aforementioned affects of increased energy and alertness when compared to amphetamines. Ultimately because of the effects these drugs have on organisms, these effects are believed to be inducing increase locomotor activity and overall motor functionality. This means faster maze times and an increase in natural reflexes along with many other results. The current study measured the effects of the two experimental conditions on motor functioning tests on the 3 subjects. A within subjects design was used during testing as each subject served as there own control, as they were treated by all levels of the experimental conditions. Each one of the subjects was first conditioned to each of the tests (stickmaze, wire grate, and hangtime) and then baseline tests were conducted. Then each of the subjects were injected first with cocaine intraperitoneally on an acute ascending order logarithmic schedule of 1, 3, 5.6, and 10 mg/kg. Moreover, each of the subjects were injected with the smallest dose then given two days off between injections then the same dose for 3 experimental testing days. Then each of the subjects was permitted a week resting period and then d-amphetamine injections began using the same testing regimen. The study tested the hypothesis that the injections of psychomotor stimulants would increase overall motor functioning based on their performance for each of the tests. It also tested the hypothesis that cocaine would have a superior enhancing effect on motor functioning in comparison to d-amphetamine. The results showed a significant relationship between baseline and experimental tests. The overall relationship being that the psychomotor stimulants improved motor functioning for 2 of the tests based on the ANOVA results that reveled a less the .05 relationship indicating significance. However, there was no significant relationship found between the two experimental conditions, at .05, using the same ANOVA tests likely due to the doses used for each drug, and/or the possibly of the subjects’ physical condition.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: DeLamarter
Selling Out Subculture: An Analysis of the Sponsors of the Vans Warped Tour
The purpose of this project was to examine youth consumer behavior at the Vans Warped Tour, which is an alternative rock festival that takes place annually in North America. Using Petty and Cacioppo’s Elaboration Likelihood Model of Persuasion (ELM), advertisements from both corporate and non-profit organizations were collected and analyzed for their content and aesthetic characteristics. The ads were representative of specific peripheral routes of persuasion and heuristic strategies, which further reinforces the findings of the ELM Additionally, this project was completed in conjunction with the Communication Arts Department and is a combined project.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Calion Lockridge
Issues of Masculinity and Femininity in Dance
Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the perception of specific types of dance movements as masculine or feminine in order to investigate the foundations of stereotypes of male dancers as being effeminate and/or homosexual.
Methods: 46 participants volunteered to view and judge 4 trials of 24 movement clips lasting approximately 5 seconds each in a single 20 minute session on one of 3 nights. The participants then completed a short survey about their gender, knowledge of dance history, dance courses taken at Allegheny College, and knowledge of Laban Movement Analysis.
Results: Participants judged the feminine clips as significantly more feminine than the masculine and non-gendered clips. They also judged the masculine clips as significantly more masculine than the non-gendered and feminine clips. Non-gendered clips were judged as significantly more masculine than the feminine clips and significantly less masculine than the masculine clips.
Discussion: Because there was a significant difference in the judgments between masculine and feminine clips, there is support for the argument that specific dance styles and movements contribute to historically evident and present stereotypes concerning male dancers and produce a certain kind of “filter” on the public’s assumptions of their effeminacy and homosexuality. The feminine movements used in ballet and contemporary dance, homosexual attraction to dance, and historical associations of the arts with women and effeminate and/or homosexual men all have a part in America’s perceptions of male dancers and assigning homosexuality as their “default” sexuality.
Major: Psychology/Neuroscience
Comp Advisor: Jeff Hollerman
Effect of prenatal exogenous corticosterone administration on sensorimotor gating and hippocampal size: potential relevance to schizophrenia.
Aberrant ventral hippocampal functioning may underlie the dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia. Hippocampal tissue loss has been observed in the methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) and prenatal stress animal models of schizophrenia, which may lead to this aberrant functioning. Behavioral impairments relevant to schizophrenia, such as deficits in sensorimotor gating, have also been expressed in these models. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of direct prenatal exogenous corticosterone administration on the development of behavioral and anatomical impairments relevant to schizophrenia as compared to the MAM animal model of schizophrenia. The MAM treatment group displayed higher percent of pre-pulse inhibition than controls; therefore, MAM was not successful at inducing impairments in sensorimotor gating. The corticosterone treatment group demonstrated a smaller percent of pre-pulse inhibition than controls at the highest pre-pulse; therefore, prenatal corticosterone produced a slight deficit in sensorimotor gating. The corticosterone and MAM treatment groups were found to have slightly smaller mean ventral hippocampal width than control, with the corticosterone group exhibiting the smallest width. Several slides indicated a missing ventral hippocampus in the corticosterone group where it should anatomically be located. These observations indicate that prenatal corticosterone may have affected the development of the ventral hippocampus, but additional research must be conducted.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Aimee Knupsky
The Effects of Written Grammar on Face-to-face Communication and Impressions
Grammar’s effects on both ratings of, and eye contact made when meeting, the author were studied. Participants were given writing prepared by the researcher to represent high or low grammar and rated the author. Participants met a confederate posing as the author and had a conversation. It was hypothesized that high grammar would cause higher ratings. This was supported for several traits. It was also hypothesized that high grammar would cause more eye contact in meeting the confederate. This was not supported. It was last hypothesized that ratings and eye contact by those given low grammar would increase after the conversation to match those given high grammar. This was supported for ratings but not for eye contact. Grammar affects impressions, but closer interaction can erase them.
Major: Psychology
Comp Advisor: Joshua Searle-White
Exploring The Role Of The Psychologist In The Administration Of Involuntary Antipsychotic Medication To Restore Competency To Stand Trial In Criminal Defendants
Restoring the competency to stand trial of mentally ill criminal defendants has remained a contentious issue within the areas of both legal and clinical research. Although past Supreme Court rulings permit the practice, psychologists are ethically obligated to refrain from participating in the forced administration of antipsychotic medication to incompetent trial defendants. Forced medication in these instances compromises the well-being of the defendant for the sake of furthering the government’s interest of adjudicating a criminal case. A review of the relevant case law and an exploration of the existing background knowledge will prove that research into more patient-centered competency restoration programs is warranted.