Understanding Of Cognition Research Articles

Criticism of the guidelines of cartesian philosophy by Ch. Pierce

The article intends to show the significance of Ch. Peirce’s ideas for the development of contemporary philosophy, to find out the main directions of his criticism of the principles of Cartesian and more broadly modern philosophy (where it comes from Descartes) and to consider the positive program of his philosophy, which he offers as an alternative to Modern philosophy. Peirce starts from a pragmatic and semiotic approach to human nature, consciousness and cognition. Thanks to this approach, he managed to undermine the key ideas of the modern understanding of cognition, human, language, namely: individualism, linguistic atomism, dogmatism, dualism, representationism, nominalism, foundationalism, etc. And, instead, to propose a new theory of knowledge, a new ontology and anthropology. Peirce asserts the indirectness of human cognition by signs (linguistic, cultural, sensory), the impossibility of introspection and intuition, advocates holism, fallibilism, pragmatism, realism, synechism, inferentialism and offers a new understanding of the personality — all this makes him a relevant and contemporary thinker. Peirce’s ideas offer a fresh perspective on modern scientific practice. Peirce’s rethinking of the foundations of knowledge puts him alongside many thinkers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The development of his ideas can be seen in modern anthropology, epistemology, research on artificial intelligence, semiotics, etc. The article is divided into four subsections, which are devoted to the main directions of Peirce’s criticism of Descartes’ philosophy: in the first — against Descartes’ skeptical methodology, Peirce puts the concept of fallibilism and the principle of belief, in the second — Peirce denies the possibility of intuition and proves the indirectness of our cognition by signs, in the third — it is about the advantages of the semiotic and communicative approach over individualism and linguistic atomism, in the fourth — Descartes’ nominalism and dualism, Peirce contrasts the realist approach and his theory of synechism, as well as semiotic anthropology.

Abstract P5-08-01: Pilot study of a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurement strategy to determine impact of screening for minimal residual disease (MRD) in high-risk breast cancer survivors

Abstract Background: Patients treated for early stage breast cancer (BC) have a 30% lifetime risk of developing metastatic disease. Numerous studies have demonstrated that dormant bone marrow disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) are independently associated with risk of recurrence and death, yet interventions targeting these cells are lacking. The PENN-SURMOUNT (Surveillance Markers of Utility for Recurrence after (Neo)adjuvant Therapy) Screening Study was launched in 2016 to screen high risk BC survivors for DTCs using bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and identify eligible DTC positive patients for clinical trials. Given the novelty of this approach, we concurrently developed and pilot tested a PRO measurement strategy to study how the screening method of BMA and disclosure of DTC results impacts early-stage BC patients. Methods: PENN-SURMOUNT is a single center prospective, longitudinal cohort study examining BM and blood biomarkers of MRD among patients within 5 years of BC diagnosis who have high risk criteria (positive axillary nodes, triple negative biology, ER+ with Oncotype Dx ≥ 25 and/or high risk Mammaprint, or pathologic residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy). From May 2019 – August 2021, we recruited patients on SURMOUNT to complete PRO surveys at baseline (T0), after BMA (T1), and after disclosure of DTC results (T2). Surveys were administered in paper form initially, then electronic form starting Feb 2021. PRO survey instruments were selected through literature review, followed by consensus among multidisciplinary clinical and research experts and patient advocates. PRO measures assess recurrence distress (Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors, QLACS), illness intrusiveness (Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale, IIRS), and decision making (Decision Regret Scale). Additional survey items assess tolerability of the BMA and patients’ risk perception and cognitive understanding after DTC results disclosure. Descriptive statistics summarize PRO survey compliance and responses at T0, T1, and T2 in the total population and the population who reported longitudinal data for T2. Results: 61 of 66 eligible patients on the SURMOUNT trial enrolled in the PRO pilot study and completed a baseline survey, of which 47 (77%) tested negative for DTCs. Mean completion rates were 0.92 at T0, 0.85 at T1, and 0.56 at T2. After electronic survey implementation, completion rates increased to 0.94 (T0), 0.97 (T1) and 0.81 (T2). At T0, 36 (59%) patients reported a high risk perception of developing BC recurrence at 5 years and 42 (69%) during their lifetime. Mean T0 recurrence distress using the QLACS subscale was 14.6 (SD 6.3) out of possible score 4-28, compared to an expected mean of 11.42 (SD 5.48) in a general survivorship population. Mean T0 illness intrusiveness was 27.3 (SD 13.9) out of possible score 13-91. At T1, approximately 85% of patients agreed that they correctly understood the purpose of the bone marrow procedure and what the procedure would entail. 44 (72%) of patients reported a maximum pain score <= 4 in the week post-procedure and 42 (69%) reported the BMA was same or better than expected tolerability. Exploratory subset analysis of patients with complete longitudinal data at T2 (n = 34) showed average scores of 13.4 (SD 6.0), 30.1 (SD 14.0), and 2.8 (SD 6.2) for recurrence distress, illness intrusive, and decision regret scores (scale 0-100), respectively. At T2, 26 (76%) of patients reported no decision regret for undergoing testing for DTCs; 27 (79%) reported feeling less anxious after DTC results disclosure. Conclusions: Participants of PENN-SURMOUNT perceived risk of recurrence as high. The BMA procedure was well-tolerated and better than expected among the majority of this cohort, and most did not regret having undergone BMA after DTC status disclosure. Longitudinal completion rates were low, limiting assessment of PROs at later time points, a major focus of future work in this setting. Citation Format: Tara Kaufmann, Patrick Chang, Shoshana Rosenberg, Elizabeth Frank, Brian Hobbs, Lauren J. Bayne, Isoris Nivar, Brooke L. Goodspeed, Killian M. Rohn, Emily M. Kugler, Kevin Fox, Susan Domchek, Angela Bradbury, Payal Shah, Hayley Knollman, Rachel C. Jankowitz, Igor Makhlin, Amy S. Clark, Lewis A. Chodosh, Angela DeMichele, Katherine Goodfellow. Pilot study of a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurement strategy to determine impact of screening for minimal residual disease (MRD) in high-risk breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-08-01.

Environmental sound research today: Perception, cognition, applications

Environmental sounds, defined as semantically rich acoustic signals different from speech or music, are ubiquitous in daily living. Environmental sound research in various forms has been long embedded into many areas of acoustics including noise control, bioacoustics, music, signal processing, speech communication, and psychoacoustics. However, environmental sounds have been typically investigated in the limited context of specific lines of inquiry unique to each of these areas. In this fractured research landscape, there is also a growing body of work which focuses on ecological aspects and elucidates the neurobiological bases of environmental sound perception and cognition. We will review main questions addressed in recent work, including existing theoretical and methodological challenges and opportunities, and suggest directions for developing a more comprehensive framework for future environmental sound research and applications. A better understanding of environmental sound perception and cognition can in turn have practical implications for many diverse areas of acoustics and related fields.

Exploration of human cognitive universals and human cognitive diversity.

In this editorial, the editors briefly introduce the aims of the Special Issue. If the goal of the scientific field of Cognitive Psychology is to improve our understanding of human cognition, then research needs to be conducted on a much broader slice of humanity than it has mostly been doing. The first aim of this Special Issue was to examine cognitive processes in populations that are different from the typical Western young adult samples often used in previously published studies. Studies in this issue therefore included both non-WEIRD participants as well as WEIRD participants who process information using different sensory experiences (e.g., individuals who are deaf). The second aim was to amplify - where possible - the research of scholars from less well-represented regions. The authors of the studies were affiliated with a diverse range of academic institutes and frequently included partnerships between Western and non-Western investigators.

The power of photographs in framing contests

The power of photographs in framing contests

She succeeded despite lack of ability or resources: Children's consideration of constraint in beliefs and reasoning about academic achievement.

High achievers vary in terms of the constraints and difficulties they encounter on the road to success. The present study investigates whether and how children consider the constraints one overcomes in their beliefs and reasoning about academic achievement. Four- to nine-year-olds (N = 98, 57 girls, 41 boys) and their parents (N = 92, 80 females, 12 males) of Han ethnicity in China were asked whether they believed someone could choose to overcome internal constraints (i.e., lack of ability) or external constraints (i.e., lack of educational resources) to achieve academic success. They were then presented with two story characters who both achieved high exam scores. One of the characters had to overcome internal or external constraints to achieve a high exam score, whereas the other did not face these constraints. Participants were asked about their inferences (i.e., the level of effort) and comparative evaluations of the two characters. Clear developmental changes were found: With age, children increasingly believed that one could choose to overcome constraints to achieve academic success and inferred that the character who overcame these constraints worked harder than the character who did not experience such constraints. Children also increasingly evaluated the character who overcame constraints more favorably than the character who did not experience such constraints. These findings advance research in children's cognitive understanding of achievements and abilities by revealing that, as children get older, they gradually recognize the possibility and positivity of overcoming constraints to achieve success. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Between Michigan and Rochester: Identity-based thinking is cognitively primary

This article synthesizes a large body of research in the social and cognitive sciences to develop a distinctly cognitive understanding of political identity. Building on dual-process and computational theories of mind, the article defends three claims about the mental and behavioral implications of identity in political domains: (1) identity-based thinking is people’s default (often fast, automatic, and cognitively inaccessible) way of mentally representing politics and of drawing inferences based on those representations; (2) people are not limited to identity-based thinking and can sometimes learn to override it via slow, volitional, and conscious reasoning; and (3) the cognitive complexity of identity-based thinking is in-between the levels of mental sophistication that the Michigan and Rochester Schools in political science posit. This account of political identity illuminates, inter alia, why even low-information voters can quickly identify their political allies and opponents, why even high-information politicians can misperceive their constituents, why affective polarization has been increasing in the United States in recent decades, and why many normative theories of justice advise people to override identity-based thinking.

A Study on Death Education in Preparation for Old Age Grief and Death from the Perspective of Thanatology (The Study of Death and Dying)

The purpose of this study is to suggest death education in preparation for grief and death in old age from the perspective of Thanatology (the study of death and dying). In our rapidly aging society, the increase in the number and proportion of the elderly population means that the end of life that the elderly population will soon face, that is, the preparation for death, is urgently needed. The need for education to prepare the elderly for grief and death of the is increasing. A research problem was set. 1) How do participants perceive grief and death in old age? 2) What changes did the participants who received death education prepare for grief and death in old age experience in terms of cognitive and emotional aspects? 3) How do participants who received death education to prepare for grief and death? in old age perceive grief and death?For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted to find out the perceptions of the participants, to observe them both before and after death education. The participants were two people, a 78-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman, and the necessity of death education was suggested by analyzing the cases of the two people through the experiment. When asked what good things and hard things happened in their lives and what they thought of their lives, the two participants answered that they were anxious, regretful, and lamented over some things before death. Through interactive education using the Hoy model, cognitive understanding and emotional attitude changes were observed. Cognitive and emotional changes were clear, while a better understanding of the topic led to positive attitudinal changes. The in-depth interview question was the same: “What good and bad things happened in your life, how do you view your life?” The answer was to look at oneself positively and acknowledge oneself by reconstructing the past rather than regretting it. In addition, the subject changed from denying and despairing of about the given reality and gave an answer reflecting an attitude of acceptance of reality as it is.As a result of the study, after education, the feelings of grief were alleviated and the participants began to see themselves and their environment from a new perspective. In addition, they let go of guilt and became more aware of themselves, their cognitive and emotional attitudes changed to positive ones, and they began to show an attitude of accepting reality. In conclusion, it is suggested that such interactive education is necessary to relieve the grief and despair of the elderly and for the establishment of a social support system, as well as personal support, considering the psychological and emotional situation of the elderly.

Differential associations of the two higher-order factors of mindfulness with trait empathy and the mediating role of emotional awareness

Empathy enables us to understand the emotions of others and is an important determinant of prosocial behavior. Investigating the relationship between mindfulness and empathy could therefore provide important insights into factors that promote interpersonal understanding and pathways that contribute to prosocial behavior. As prior studies have yielded only inconsistent results, this study extended previous findings and investigated for the first time the associations of two important factors of mindfulness (Self-regulated Attention [SRA] and Orientation to Experience [OTE]) with two commonly proposed components of empathy (cognitive empathy and affective empathy). Using a community sample of N = 552 German-speaking adults, the two mindfulness factors were differentially associated with cognitive and affective empathy. SRA correlated positively with cognitive empathy (r = 0.44; OTE: r = 0.09), but OTE correlated negatively with affective empathy (r = − 0.27; SRA: r = 0.11). This negative association was strongest for one specific aspect of affective empathy, emotional contagion. Revisiting previously reported mediating effects of emotion regulation, we found that emotional awareness mediated the associations with both components of empathy, but only for SRA. Together, these findings imply that mindfulness benefits the cognitive understanding of others’ emotions via two distinct pathways: by promoting emotional awareness (SRA) and by limiting the undue impact of others’ emotions on oneself (OTE).

A metaphorical advantage for bilingual children? Understanding figurative meaning by L2 and L3 EFL learners.

This study compared school-aged monolingual and bilingual English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners in terms of understanding metaphors on recall, multiple-choice, and reasoning tasks. It also examined the relationship between cognitive capacity and understanding metaphors on different measures. A hundred and thirty Persian-Turkish early bilinguals and 122 monolingual Persian-speaking EFL learners took three different tests of metaphor comprehension and the Figural Intersections Test, a test of cognitive capacity. Bilinguals outperformed monolinguals in terms of cognitive capacity and understanding metaphors on two of the tasks, though with a small effect size. Furthermore, there was a significant positive relationship between cognitive capacity and the scores on the multiple-choice and reasoning tests, but not the recall test. Results suggest that bilingual L3 learners have an edge in understanding metaphors, reflecting a cognitive advantage.

Quantitative spatiotemporal evolution of port-hinterland connection using truck trajectory data: case analysis

ABSTRACT This study proposes a new framework for evaluating the spatiotemporal characteristics of port-related hinterlands and their connection with seaports using truck trajectory data. The framework was applied to a case study of the Port of Rizhao in Shandong province, China. The ‘STOP-MOVE’ model and density-based spatial clustering of applications analysis were used to identify truck stopping points, which were found to be closely related to the activity of the export-oriented economic condition. The number of trucks serving factories showed a strong correlation with the GDP of cities, with a Pearson correlation index of 0.923. The main hinterland with a solid connection to the Port of Rizhao is found to be located in the southern region of Shandong province, such as the cities of Linyi and Jining. This connection is influenced by the disruption of working days due to the Chinese New Year holidays and the convenience of logistics determined by the local economic structure. The strong port-hinterland connection at the provincial and municipal levels is found to be weak at the county level. This framework can potentially be used to evaluate port-hinterland connections in other regions and deepen understanding of hinterland cognition.

Exploring the Quantum Nature of Human Cognition: Integrating Quantum Cognitive Science and Advanced Cognitive Assessment through the Verbovisual Cognitive Function Screening Tool (VCFST)

The Verbovisual Cognitive Function Screening Tool (VCFST) is a cognitive screening tool that aims to evaluate cognitive abilities by drawing upon established theories such as dual-coding theory, common coding theory, propositional theory, and ideomotor theory. However, recent developments in quantum cognitive science offer promising applications to enhance the assessment model. This article explores the utilization of quantum cognition concepts within the VCFST and discusses its implications for cognitive assessment. Quantum cognitive science is an emerging interdisciplinary field that applies principles from quantum physics to the study of human cognition. It suggests that cognitive processes may not adhere strictly to classical logic and linear thinking but can exhibit characteristics of quantum phenomena such as superposition, entanglement, and contextuality. By incorporating quantum concepts into cognitive assessment, a more nuanced understanding of complex cognitive processes can be achieved.The VCFST, with its focus on verbovisual factors and comprehensive assessment of cognitive domains, can benefit from the integration of quantum cognitive science principles. Superposition, borrowed from quantum physics, implies that individuals can simultaneously perceive and attend to multiple stimuli. By considering the superposition of verbovisual stimuli within the VCFST, a more accurate representation of cognitive abilities can be obtained, capturing the simultaneous processing of different types of information. Entanglement, another key principle of quantum cognition, can be applied to evaluate the interconnectedness of cognitive domains within the VCFST. Analogous to entangled particles, changes in one cognitive domain may influence others. By assessing the impact of changes in one domain on performance in other domains, the VCFST can provide a holistic understanding of cognitive functioning. Contextuality, a fundamental concept in quantum cognition, emphasizes the role of context in shaping cognitive processes. By incorporating contextuality into the VCFST, contextual cues can be introduced, and stimulus presentation can be varied to reflect real-world cognitive demands. This approach enables a more ecologically valid measure of cognitive abilities, considering the influence of context on cognitive processing. Embracing quantum cognitive science principles in the VCFST offers several advantages, including capturing the complexity of cognitive processes, accounting for non-linear dynamics, and exploring potential quantum-like effects within human cognition. Future research can further refine the VCFST by conducting quantitative studies to assess the efficacy of incorporating quantum concepts into cognitive assessment and developing computational models inspired by quantum cognitive science.The utilization of quantum cognitive science concepts within the VCFST shows promise for advancing cognitive assessment practices. By incorporating principles such as superposition, entanglement, and contextuality, the VCFST can provide a comprehensive and nuanced evaluation of cognitive abilities. Further research in quantum cognitive science and the refinement of assessment methodologies can contribute to the development of more advanced and accurate cognitive assessment tools, facilitating personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative conditions. The integration of quantum cognitive science into cognitive assessment represents an exciting frontier that can revolutionize our understanding of human cognition.

“We go fast - It's their fuel”: Understanding energy efficiency operations on ships and marine vessels

While the maritime sector seeks to reduce its climate footprint with operational measures, onboard energy efficiency is confronted with internal and external constraints. The objective of the current study was to improve understanding of ship crew's cognition, emotion, and motivation regarding energy-efficient operations in the face of a complex system. Utilizing a mixed method approach, we conducted an interview study onboard a container vessel (N = 14) and an online survey of seafarers (N = 74). Using Thematic Analysis for the interview data, we identified four themes (Stressors, Strategies, Influence, and Motivation), with the latter two themes explored with rating data in the survey. This revealed that concerns for the environment or one's shipping company were motivating, that the perception of conflicting orders or lack of knowledge were perceived as hindering, and that influence was seen as split between external stakeholders and onboard crews. We discuss how our findings and concepts such as psychological basic needs can be used to develop decision support systems or inform policy, especially by increasing transparency and understandability, e.g. of constraints such as charter contracts.

Dry response and acclimated characteristics of people ascending the Tibetan Plateau

Due to a long period of low humidity, exposure to the dry environment of the Tibetan Plateau can cause skin and respiratory diseases and threaten human health. To examine the characteristics of acclimatization response to humidity comfort in visitors to the Tibetan Plateau based on an examination of the targeted effect and mechanism of the dry environment. A scale corresponding to local dryness symptoms was proposed. Eight participants were selected to conduct a two-week plateau experiment and a one-week plain experiment under six humidity ratios, respectively, to explore the characteristics of dry response and acclimatization of people entering the plateau. The results indicate that duration has a significant effect on human dry response. On the sixth day after entering Tibet, the degree of dryness reached the maximum, and acclimatization to the plateau environment began on the 12th day. The sensitivity of different body parts to the change in a dry environment was different. When the indoor humidity ratio increased from 9.04 g/kg to 21.77 g/kg, the symptoms of dry skin were most significantly relieved by 0.5 units of scale. After de-acclimatization, the degree of dryness in the eyes was most significantly alleviated, reducing by nearly one scale. The analysis of human symptom indicators in a dry environment shows that subjective and physiological indices are influential and essential in measuring human comfort in a dry environment. This study extends our understanding of dry environment responses and cognition of human comfort and lays a solid foundation for humid built environments in the plateau.

Preliminary Assessment of Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) Cognition Using Digital Cognition Testing Software and Touchscreen Technology

Studies of nonhuman primate cognition have traditionally employed subjects from the monkey (Cercopithecoidea) and ape (Hominidae) lineages, with relatively much less examination of the phylogenetically intermediate gibbons (Hylobatidae). To begin to rectify this gap in our understanding of primate cognition, we used a short-term training and testing method to preliminarily evaluate siamang gibbon (Symphalangus syndactylus) performance on a battery of standardized cognitive tasks, using Monkey CANTAB cognition testing software (Lafayette-Campden Neuroscience) and a computer touchscreen apparatus. Five different operant tasks examining distinct perceptual and cognitive functions were used to train and test each subject over a period of five weeks. Over 1900 cognitive testing trials were completed with three subjects. Despite limited training and testing opportunity, all siamangs achieved proficiency scores well above chance (> 65%) in both Concurrent Discrimination and Spatial Working Memory tasks. Over the limited training opportunities available, our subjects did not achieve proficiency in Delayed Match-to-Sample, Paired Associates Learning, or Conditional Visual Discrimination tasks; however, subjects did exhibit (to varying degrees) improved performance in these tasks, suggesting that additional training may lead to higher proficiency and that siamangs demonstrate effective, task-based learning capabilities. We present one of the first successful tests of a hylobatid ape using touchscreen cognitive testing methods and demonstrate that hylobatids can be evaluated using the same methods now commonly employed in tests of other nonhuman primates. Further, our testing regime proved to be behaviorally rewarding for our subjects, suggesting that hylobatids may benefit from advanced forms of interactive cognitive enrichment.

Impact of Cognitive Disturbances and Clinical Symptoms on Disability in Patients with Paranoid Schizophrenia: A Study of a Bulgarian Clinical Sample.

108 patients with schizophrenia were included (66 male and 42 female). Their average age was 38.86 ± 10.02 years and the disease duration was 12.80 ± 8.20 years, with mean disease onset of 24 years. Clinical symptoms were assessed with the PANSS, and cognitive performance was measured using a seven-item neurocognitive battery. The disability level of the subjects was assessed using the World Health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHO-DAS 2.0). The relation between the variables studied was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) at a probability level of p < 0.05. An increase in symptom severity resulted in worsening of the "participation in society" (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), "life activities-household" (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), and "getting along with people" (r = 0.59, p < 0.01) WHO-DAS 2.0 domains. Positive symptoms (13.89 ± 3.48) correlated strongly with "getting along with people" (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), "life activities-household" (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), and "participation in society" (r = 0.62, p < 0.01), and negative symptoms (14.25 ± 4.16) with "participation in society" (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) and "life activities-household" (r = 0.48, p < 0.01). Symptoms of disorganization (15.67 ± 4.16) had the highest impact on "life activities-household" (r = 0.81, p < 0.01), "getting along with people" (r = 0.56, p < 0.05), and "participation in society" (r = 0.65, p < 0.01). Episodic memory (r = -0.28, p < 0.01) was remotely related to comprehension and communication. The information processing speed (rs = 0.38, p < 0.01), visual memory (rs = -0.30, p < 0.01), and focused executive functions showed moderate correlations with all domains on the WHO-DAS 2.0 scale (rs = 0.38, p < 0.01). Attention (rs = -0.33, p < 0.01) was moderately related to community activities. Semantic (rs = -0.29, p < 0.01) and literal (rs = -0.27, p < 0.01) verbal fluency demonstrated weak correlations with "cognition-understanding", "getting along with people", and "participation in society". Symptoms of disorganization and disturbed executive functions contribute most to disability in patients with schizophrenia through impairment of real-world functioning, especially in social interactions and communication. Severe clinical symptoms (negative and disorganization-related ones) as well as deficits in executive function, verbal memory, and verbal fluency cause the biggest problems in the functional domains of interaction with other people and participation in society.

Abstraction in storytelling

Abstract Discussions of storytelling and narrative have encompassed abstraction in different ways including master narratives (Bamberg, 1997) and storylines (Harré &amp; van Lagenhove, 1998). These discussions, however, have often viewed storytelling and abstraction as a binary distinction, rather than a spectrum where speakers move between different levels of abstraction when recounting experiences. This article argues for a nuanced approach to abstraction in storytelling that considers how specific details of stories – namely, actors, actions, contexts, and time – are excluded or abstracted in the recounting of experience, with a link between increased abstraction and implied moral judgement. The article first outlines the theoretical basis for this argument, and then shows specific examples of abstraction taken from stories about religious experience. Finally, the productive implications of a nuanced view of abstraction are outlined, including for narrative and discourse analysis, for understanding of storytelling and cognition, and for critical analysis of racist language.

Inclusion of cross-sectional and radiological images for better understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy and decreasing the risk of adverse events during dry needling in undergraduate physiotherapy students.

Since there is an increasing rate of physiotherapists using invasive procedures during the clinical practice, understanding the cross-sectional anatomy and radiological images is essential for ensuring patients' safety during these interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the students' opinion of including cross-sectional and radiological images to traditional methodologies, to evaluate whether these additional resources improve their ability to identify musculoskeletal structures in radiological images and their understanding of neurovascular and visceral structures related with specific muscles to be avoided during invasive procedures. First-year undergraduate physiotherapy students were enrolled in the study. A brief online survey asking about their opinion about the use of cross-sectional and radiological images as complementary resources was built. In addition, two open-answer tests (before and after the inclusion of these resources) were conducted to evaluate their ability to identify correctly musculoskeletal structures in magnetic resonance and ultrasound images and to evaluate their awareness of high-risk structures related with specific muscles. One-hundred-thirty-two students returned the online survey and one-hundred-forty-eight completed all the tests. In general, students opined cross-sectional images to be of utility for learning anatomy (81.8%) and radiological images (93.9%) and felt they benefited from cross-sectional and ultrasound images (78.0%). All tests showed significant improvements after the inclusion of these complementary resources (all, p < 0.001) except for trunk structures in MRI (p=0.777). The implementation of anatomical cross-sectional and radiological images resulted in better understanding of radiological images and better cognition of possible risk during invasive procedures.

“Sharing in people's pain is not an easy thing to do”: Cognitive Behavioural Therapists' understandings of compassion in the workplace

AbstractObjectivesCompassion is central to the aim of improving patient care and staff well‐being within healthcare systems. To inform service development, explorations of experiences and meanings of compassion are needed. This study explored cognitive behavioural therapists' understandings of compassion within their work environment.DesignA qualitative study was conducted using semistructured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).MethodsData were obtained from five practicing cognitive behavioural therapists.ResultsTwo superordinate themes were developed, each with two subordinate themes. CBT therapists reported entering the profession with intrinsic motivation to care for others. They further developed an interest in compassion with exposure to clients and ongoing professional development in compassion‐focused therapy (CFT). Compassionate work environments helped to facilitate compassionate practice; however, for many, workplaces were perceived to lack compassion. Challenges were encountered when negative workplace interactions left therapists feeling fatigued, distressed and demoralised. There was a desire for recognition and to be seen as more than a “work machine,” the experience of which was a threat to retaining therapists within the profession.ConclusionsCurrent recruitment and training processes are producing staff with skills and motivation to deliver compassionate care. However, lack of compassion within workplaces can be a barrier to actioning these skills and motivations. Research needs to focus on how to effectively implement and run systems that are compassionate for both staff and clients. To provide compassionate care, staff need work environments that show compassion to them. These findings provide some insights into and practical suggestions regarding how this can be achieved.

Enactivism Meets Mechanism: Tensions & Congruities in Cognitive Science

Enactivism advances an understanding of cognition rooted in the dynamic interaction between an embodied agent and their environment, whilst new mechanism suggests that cognition is explained by uncovering the organised components underlying cognitive capacities. On the face of it, the mechanistic model’s emphasis on localisable and decomposable mechanisms, often neural in nature, runs contrary to the enactivist ethos. Despite appearances, this paper argues that mechanistic explanations of cognition, being neither narrow nor reductive, and compatible with plausible iterations of ideas like emergence and downward causation, are congruent with enactivism. Attention to enactivist ideas, moreover, may serve as a heuristic for mechanistic investigations of cognition. Nevertheless, I show how enactivism and approaches that prioritise mechanistic modelling may diverge in starting assumptions about the nature of cognitive phenomena, such as where the constitutive boundaries of cognition lie.