Backward Conditioning Research Articles

Perks of blindness: Enhanced verbal memory span in blind over sighted adults

Blind individuals commonly use verbal encoding (i.e. text-to-speech) and memory-based strategies (i.e. serial recall) for situations in which sighted individuals use vision (i.e. finding items). These strategies may serve to train cognitive systems responsible for maintaining and manipulating verbal information. To test this hypothesis, we investigate whether early visual deprivation is linked to improved verbal short-term and working memory abilities, and thus might illustrate experience-dependent plasticity in memory systems. We also test whether the sensory modality for encoding information influences performance. Our data show that blind adults recalled more items on a verbal short-term memory span task than sighted participants. Furthermore, blind individuals performed equally well on auditory forward and backward conditions despite the fact that recalling items in reverse order is more difficult for the general population. However, the benefits of recalling items in reverse order did not extend to the tactile domain, specifically, a braille version of the short-term memory digit span task in blind individuals. Furthermore, we observed no differences between blind and sighted individuals on a more demanding auditory n-back task evaluating more complex working memory processes. We conclude that the memory benefits associated with blindness might be restricted to auditory-verbal short-term memory and likely reflect strategy use and practice.

P109. Backward Conditioning Indirectly Retrieves Threat Memories: Implications for Internalizing Psychopathology

In a therapeutic context, extinguishing contextual threat memories can be difficult, as direct exposure to the threatening context is often inaccessible, thus these memories must be indirectly retrieved. Unlike forward-conditioned (FW) cues, where an unconditioned stimulus (US) follows the cue, backward-conditioned (BW) cues are presented immediately after the US. BW cues do not become directly associated with the US, but may indirectly retrieve threat memories via activation of the conditioning context.

High Order Strong Stability Preserving MultiDerivative Implicit and IMEX Runge--Kutta Methods with Asymptotic Preserving Properties

In this work we present a class of high order unconditionally strong stability preserving (SSP) implicit two-derivative Runge--Kutta schemes and SSP implicit-explicit (IMEX) multi-derivative Runge--Kutta schemes where the time-step restriction is independent of the stiff term. The unconditional SSP property for a method of order $p>2$ is unique among SSP methods and depends on a backward-in-time assumption on the derivative of the operator. We show that this backward derivative condition is satisfied in many relevant cases where SSP IMEX schemes are desired. We devise unconditionally SSP implicit Runge--Kutta schemes of order up to $p=4$ and IMEX Runge--Kutta schemes of order up to $p=3$. For the multiderivative IMEX schemes, we also derive and present the order conditions, which have not appeared previously. The unconditional SSP condition ensures that these methods are positivity preserving, and we present sufficient conditions under which such methods are also asymptotic preserving when applied to a range of problems, including a hyperbolic relaxation system, the Broadwell model, and the Bhatnagar--Gross--Krook kinetic equation. We present numerical results to support the theoretical results on a variety of problems.

Welfare Index of Person with Disabilities in Indonesia, 2018

Most people with disabilities in Indonesia still live in vulnerable, backward, or poor conditions due to restrictions, obstacles, difficulties, and reduction or elimination of the rights of persons with disabilities. In realizing prosperity for all Indonesian people, it should be fair and not contain discriminatory elements, including persons with disabilities. For this reason, a measure of the achievement of the welfare of persons with disabilities is needed as evaluation support material in making plans and policies. This study aims to obtain the welfare factors of persons with disabilities and compile them into the Welfare Index of Persons with Disabilities (WIPD). The construction of the WIPD was carried out using the exploratory factor analysis method. Based on the results, 20 indicators formed five factors, namely accessibility, housing and access to information, physical and spiritual well-being, social relations and sanitation, and economic well-being. From the WIPD scores, it is known that there is a gap in WIPD achievement between the Western and the Eastern Region of Indonesia. For this reason, the government needs to prioritize inclusive development in provinces with very low and low WIPD achievements.

Changes in cerebral blood flow before, during, and after forward and backward walking in stroke patients trained using virtual reality walking videos with deliberately induced inaccuracies in walking speed estimations.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the effects of virtual reality (VR) training, with deliberately induced inaccuracies in walking speed estimations, on brain activity. [Participants and Methods] The study participants were 21 stroke patients, and the walking tasks involved forward and backward walking. While the VR walking speed was set at 3 km/h, estimation errors were induced by using an actual walking speed of 1 km/h during the walking tasks. Cerebral blood flow was measured using two functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) channels located over the left and right prefrontal cortices, to determine changes in oxyhemoglobin levels from the resting state. Cerebral hemodynamics were compared during and after the VR training. [Results] The backward walking task induced a significant increase in cerebral blood flow in the right prefrontal cortex during and after the VR training. No significant changes were observed during the forward walking task. [Conclusion] In the backward walking condition, greater activation of the right prefrontal cortex was observed during and immediately after the VR training. Watching VR may have led to inaccurate walking-speed estimations, necessitating postural control (which may be attributed to the activation of the prefrontal cortex) during walking.

Research on the Promotion Strategy of Scientific and Technological Innovation Ability in Guangdong Vocational Colleges from the Perspective of “Double High” Construction

Improving the technological innovation ability of vocational colleges is a necessary condition for more precise docking of industrial needs and deeper development of school-enterprise integration, which is of great significance for deepening the connotation of “double high” construction. After investigating the mode of improving the scientific and technological innovation ability of vocational colleges in Guangdong, the experience and practice are refined and summarized, and the factors affecting the development of the mode, such as the backward basic conditions of scientific research, the weak consciousness of teachers in scientific research, and the lack of effective mechanism to guarantee the continuous innovation ability of the school-enterprise collaborative innovation platform, are clarified. Some suggestions are put forward that vocational colleges should increase the investment in scientific research and the education of scientific and technological talents, create a good scientific research atmosphere and innovate the cooperation mechanism of scientific research between universities and enterprises.

Learning in Reverse: Dopamine Errors Drive Excitatory and Inhibitory Components of Backward Conditioning in an Outcome-Specific Manner

Learning in Reverse: Dopamine Errors Drive Excitatory and Inhibitory Components of Backward Conditioning in an Outcome-Specific Manner

Word order effect in collocation processing

AbstractCollocations are words associated because of their frequent co-occurrence, which makes them predictable and leads to facilitated processing. While there have been suggestions that collocations are stored as unanalysed chunks, other researchers disagree. One of the arguments against holistic storage is the fact that collocations are not fixed phrases, for example, their word order can vary. To explore whether reversed collocations retain the processing advantage that they have in their canonical form, we conducted two primed lexical decision experiments: Experiment 1 in English, and Experiment 2 in Lithuanian, an understudied language. We presented both forward and backward collocations and compared them to matched control phrases. We also explored which collocational measure (phrasal frequency, MI,t-score, or ΔP) worked as the best predictor of processing speed. We found a clear priming effect for both languages when collocations were presented in their forward form, which is in line with previous research. There was no priming for the backward condition in English, but a priming effect for it in Lithuanian, where the reversed word order is acceptable albeit marked. These results are not easily explained by holistic storage. As far as collocational measures are concerned, they all seem to perform reasonably well, with none of them being clearly better than the others.

Study on a horizontal axial flow pump during runaway process with bidirectional operating conditions

The ultra-low head pump stations often have bidirectional demand of water delivery, so there is a risk of runaway accident occurring in both conditions. To analyze the difference of the runaway process under forward runaway condition (FRC) and backward runaway condition (BRC), the whole flow system of a horizontal axial flow pump is considered. The Shear-Stress Transport (SST) k–ω model is adopted and the volume of fluid (VOF) model is applied to simulate the water surface in the reservoirs. Meanwhile, the torque balance equation is introduced to obtain the real time rotational speed, then the bidirectional runaway process of the pump with the same head is simulated. In addition, the vortex transport equation and swirl number are proposed to reveal the flow characteristics during the runaway process. The results show that the runaway process can be divided into five stages: the drop, braking, rising, convergence and runaway stages, according to the changing law of torque curve. In the rising stage, the pressure difference on the blade surface continues to increase, which contributes to the abnormal torque increase. In this stage, the flow hits the pressure surface (PS) at a faster speed enlarging the pressure on PS, and the flow separation takes place on the suction surface (SS) weakening the pressure on SS. During the convergence and runaway stage, the pulsation amplitude of torque and axial force under FRC is obviously larger than those under BRC. This is because the rotation frequency of the vortex rope is the same as main pressure fluctuation frequency in impeller under FRC, which enhances the pulsation amplitude. Whereas the vortices are broken due to the inhibitive effect from guide vanes under BRC.

Dynamics Versus Development in Numerosity Estimation: A Computational Model Accurately Predicts a Developmental Reversal.

Perceptual judgments result from a dynamic process, but little is known about the dynamics of number-line estimation. A recent study proposed a computational model that combined a model of trial-to-trial changes with a model for the internal scaling of discrete numbers. Here, we tested a surprising prediction of the model-a situation in which children's estimates of numerosity would be better than those of adults. Consistent with the model simulations, task contexts led to a clear developmental reversal: children made more adult-like, linear estimates when to-be-estimated numbers were descending over trials (i.e., backward condition), whereas adults became more like children with logarithmic estimates when numbers were ascending (i.e., forward condition). In addition, adults' estimates were subject to inter-trial differences regardless of stimulus order. In contrast, children were not able to use the trial-to-trial dynamics unless stimuli varied systematically, indicating the limited cognitive capacity for dynamic updates. Together, the model adequately predicts both developmental and trial-to-trial changes in number-line tasks.

A-159 Attention and Executive Function Predict Immediate and Delayed Verbal Memory in Healthy Youth: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract Objective Previous neuropsychological assessments have sought to understand the interrelatedness of cognitive functions when interpreting neuropsychological test performance (e.g., Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System; DKEFS), given that they rarely function in isolation. Test results may be misinterpreted if not contextualized within individuals’ overall cognitive profiles; therefore, the present study evaluated the impact of attention and executive function (EF) on verbal learning and memory (VLM) in a sample of healthy youth. Method Participants (n = 166, M age = 12.0 years, 79.5% male, M FSIQ = 109.6) completed a two-hour neuropsychological battery, including the Wide Range Assessment of Learning and Memory, 2nd Edition List Learning (LL), DKEFS Trail Making Test (TMT), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition Digit Span (DS) and Letter-Number Sequencing (LNS). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the impact of attention and EF on immediate and delayed VLM. Results Latent factors were estimated for attention/EF (DS Forward, DS Backward, LNS, and TMT Condition 4) and VLM (LL Trials 1–4), and the model converged with adequate model fit statistics (RMSEA = 0.064; CFI = 0.975; TLI = 0.963, SRMR = 0.039). Attention and EF predicted performance on both immediate and delayed VLM (ps < 0.001) when accounting for age. Conclusions The results demonstrated that attention and EF predicted immediate and delayed VLM in youth, suggesting that participants’ performance on VLM may be impacted by weaknesses in attention and EF. As a result, clinicians are recommended to examine patterns of performances across multiple cognitive domains when interpreting individual test scores. This is especially important in pediatric populations given the developmental changes the brain undergoes during childhood and adolescence.

Backward spatial perception can be augmented through a novel visual-to-auditory sensory substitution algorithm

Can humans extend and augment their natural perceptions during adulthood? Here, we address this fascinating question by investigating the extent to which it is possible to successfully augment visual spatial perception to include the backward spatial field (a region where humans are naturally blind) via other sensory modalities (i.e., audition). We thus developed a sensory-substitution algorithm, the “Topo-Speech” which conveys identity of objects through language, and their exact locations via vocal-sound manipulations, namely two key features of visual spatial perception. Using two different groups of blindfolded sighted participants, we tested the efficacy of this algorithm to successfully convey location of objects in the forward or backward spatial fields following ~ 10 min of training. Results showed that blindfolded sighted adults successfully used the Topo-Speech to locate objects on a 3 × 3 grid either positioned in front of them (forward condition), or behind their back (backward condition). Crucially, performances in the two conditions were entirely comparable. This suggests that novel spatial sensory information conveyed via our existing sensory systems can be successfully encoded to extend/augment human perceptions. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to spatial perception, sensory augmentation and sensory rehabilitation.

Covert capture and attenuation of a hippocampus-dependent fear memory.

Reconsolidation may be a viable therapeutic target to inhibit pathological fear memories. In the clinic, incidental or imaginal reminders are used to safely retrieve traumatic memories of experiences that occurred elsewhere. However, it is unknown whether indirectly retrieved traumatic memories are sensitive to disruption. Here we used a backward conditioning procedure to indirectly retrieve and manipulate a hippocampus-dependent contextual fear engram in male rats. We show that conditioned freezing to a backward conditioned stimulus is mediated by fear to the conditioning context, activates hippocampal ensembles that can be covertly captured and chemogenetically activated to drive fear, and is impaired by post-retrieval protein synthesis inhibition. These results reveal that indirectly retrieved contextual fear memories reactivate hippocampal ensembles and undergo protein synthesis-dependent reconsolidation. Clinical interventions that rely on indirect retrieval of traumatic memories, such as imaginal exposure, may open a window for editing or erasing neural representations that drive pathological fear.

Contrast effects in backward evaluative conditioning: Exploring effects of affective relief/disappointment versus instructional information.

Past studies of backward evaluative conditioning (EC) have found an assimilation effect, in that neutral conditional stimuli (conditional stimulus [CS]) were found to acquire the valence of co-occurring unconditional stimuli (US). Recent studies employing a concurrent forward and backward conditioning paradigm with instructions suggesting a contrastive relation between the US and the backward CS have resulted in contrast effects, in that backward CSs acquired valence opposite to the US. The current research investigated whether these effects were in fact due to the instructions highlighting the contrastive relation between the US and CS, or whether affective relief/disappointment experienced at US offset could account for this result. Consistent with the hypothesized role of instructions, backward CS contrast effects occurred only when instructions highlighted the valence of the US and attributed control of that US to the CSs. In contrast to the affective relief/disappointment hypothesis, no backward CS contrast effects were found without such instructions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Extraction and reimmobilization of used commercial lipase from industrial waste

In industrial application, immobilized lipase are typically not reused and served as industrial waste after a certain process is completed. The capacity on the reusability of the spent lipase is not well studied. This current study embarks on reusing the remaining lipase from the spent immobilized enzyme. Active lipases were recovered using a simple reverse micellar extraction (RME). RME is the extraction process of targeted biomolecules using an organic solvent and a surfactant. This method was the first attempt reported on the recovery of the lipase from the used immobilized lipase. RME of the spent lipase was done using the nonionic Triton X-100 surfactant and toluene. Various parameters were optimized to maximize the lipase recovery from the used immobilized lipase. The optimum forward extraction condition was 0.075 M KCl, and backward conditions were at 0.15 M Triton X-100/toluene (pH 6, 2 M KCl) with recovery of 66%. The extracted lipase was immobilized via simple adsorption into the ethanol pretreated carrier. The optimum conditions of immobilization resulted in 96% of the extracted lipase was reimmobilized. The reimmobilized lipase was incubated for 20 h in pH 6 buffer at 50 °C of water bath shaker. The reimmobilized lipase still had 27% residual activity after 18 h of incubation, which higher thermal stability compared to the free lipase. In conclusion, the free lipase was successfully extracted from the spent immobilized lipase and reimmobilized into the new support. It exhibited high thermal stability, and the reusability of the spent lipase will promote continued use of industrial lipase and reduce the cost of the manufacturing process.

Global trends in the reproduction of human capital in the tertiary education system

This article assesses global trends in higher education. Two tasks are central to this effort:1) research into higher as performing the macro-function of producing human capital;2) a comparison of the organization and financing of higher education in different countries.Our hypothesis is as follows. Along with the influence of the mental development of the population and the level of productive forces, we believe that the main difference in the effectiveness of higher education systems is a consequence of the regulatory influences of governments.Study of the contradictions accumulated in the course of continuous reform allows us to propose measures to improve systemic interaction. The article compares the organization of higher education in the USA, Great Britain, Japan, and Russia at various stages, from admission to universities, to employment of graduates, and the corresponding organization and funding of the educational process. Research results are these. Comparing the indicators of applicant selection suggests replacing the Unified State Exam in Russia with an indicator of the weighted average score of electronic diaries. The study of the learning process showed a tendency to replace pure sciences in curricula with applied sciences. Variants of increasing the share of education in pure sciences are proposed to extend the life of basic competencies of graduates in conditions of local backwardness and uncertainty in the development of regional labor markets. For organization and financing of higher education, the analysis suggests an incompatibility between the Bologna system as introduced in Russia, and the preserved course system of education, with its fixed structure of curricula and expulsion for academic failure.The article shows ways to eliminate this incompatibility, such as the transition to a subjectstatus system of education and re-teaching in the subject. This will eliminate the current situation of fining universities for each expelled student. Conclusions are provided about the need for an integrated approach to subsequent transformations based on the study of global trends in the development of higher education and the preservation of the advantages of the development of Russian higher education.

Changes in cerebral blood flow during forward and backward walking with speed misperception generated by virtual reality.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of speed misperception on brain activity, created by a speed difference between actual walking and virtual reality walking videos. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 20 healthy young people. The walking speed in the video was set to 3 km/h to induce an error, while the actual walking speed was 1 km/h. Cerebral blood flow was measured using an optical imaging brain function measurement device. Left and right prefrontal cortices were analyzed using two channels and oxyhemoglobin level change from rest was used as a cerebral blood flow index. A t-test compared the cerebral blood flow dynamics before, during, and after the virtual reality video viewing under forward and backward walking conditions. [Results] Regarding changes in oxyhemoglobin levels during walking after watching the virtual reality video, cerebral blood flow increased especially in the backward walking state, where the difference was large in the right prefrontal cortex. [Conclusion] The backward walking that caused misperception by virtual reality is an extraordinary movement compared to forward walking. Thus, it is necessary to voluntarily adjust the movement by the cerebral cortex, and it is thought that activation of the prefrontal cortex occurs.

Emergence of assimilation or contrast effects in backward evaluative conditioning does not depend on US offset predictability

Backward evaluative conditioning has been shown to result in assimilative effects where backward conditional stimuli (CS) acquire the valence of the unconditional stimulus (US) or in contrast effects where backward CSs acquire valence opposite to the US. The current experiments were designed to assess whether the nature of evaluative backward conditioning varies as a function of US offset predictability, manipulated by varying US duration (fixed vs. variable), US-CS overlap (overlap vs. no overlap), and the presence of a forward conditioning CS. Experiment 1 employed backward conditioning only (USPleasant-CS1; USUnpleasant-CS2) whereas Experiment 2 employed concurrent forward and backward conditioning (CS3-USPleasant-CS1; CS4-USUnpleasant-CS2). Backward CS assimilation effects emerged in both experiments and did not differ as a function of US duration. Presence of a forward CS reduced backward conditioning, in particular in the no US-CS overlap condition. These findings provide no support for the notion that the nature of backward CS evaluations varies as a function of US offset predictability and indicate that concurrent forward conditioning can modulate the extent of backward conditioning and the effect of US-CS overlap.

Chinese characters are read using not only visual but also writing motor information.

It has been suggested that mature reading systems consist of both a visual analysis decoding system and a motor gesture decoding system that facilitates reading by processing writing motor information. However, there is still uncertainty about the mechanisms and effectiveness of the latter system when reading Chinese characters. This study therefore aimed to provide empirical neural evidence for this phenomenon using a writing video as prompt in a delayed sequential same/different judgment task. We investigated whether and how the orthographic processing of target characters was modulated by the writing direction of the prompt (forward vs. backward) and the character repetition (repeat vs. nonrepeat) between the prompt and target characters. The results indicated that (a) the N170 component was more negative under the forward condition than under the backward condition; and (b) both writing direction and character repetition modulated the centro-parietal N200 component. These writing-direction effects were specific to Chinese characters--they did not apply to Korean characters, which are visually similar to Chinese characters but unfamiliar to the participants. These results suggest that the experience of learning Chinese might establish a motor gesture decoding system for reading, which begins to perform general orthographic representation at an early stage and works together with the visual analysis decoding system to achieve deep orthographic processing.

Irkutsk as a Potential Growth Point of Greening Processes in Russia

Greening has no alternatives in contemporary world. Yet in Russia another process is taking place – the weakening of environmental consciousness in the conditions of economic backwardness. Our hypothesis is that the only hope is connected with some local breakthroughs and one of them can occur in Irkutsk due to its geographic position. The proximity to the Lake Baikal must influence the mentality of the citizens, which has already been demonstrated once, in the time of Perestroyka. There existed an enormous public activity in Irkutsk with the slogans of closing Pulp and Paper Plant on the bank of Baikal. To analyse this idea, the geographic position is thoroughly considered. Also, a sociological survey was undertaken in the framework of our investigation. This survey showed the high level of Baikal patriotism, as well as some tendencies of forming consumer’s consciousness of the quality of the goods purchased. The market of environmentally-friendly products in Irkutsk was analysed, including the one of food supplements developed by local specialists. This market is in the initial stages of its existence, but it does exist and it is a source of hope.