Cognitive Context Research Articles

Integration of rate and phase codes by hippocampal cell-assemblies supports flexible encoding of spatiotemporal context.

Spatial information is encoded by location-dependent hippocampal place cell firing rates and sub-second, rhythmic entrainment of spike times. These rate and temporal codes have primarily been characterized in low-dimensional environments under limited cognitive demands; but how is coding configured in complex environments when individual place cells signal several locations, individual locations contribute to multiple routes and functional demands vary? Quantifying CA1 population dynamics of male rats during a decision-making task, here we show that the phase of individual place cells' spikes relative to the local theta rhythm shifts to differentiate activity in different place fields. Theta phase coding also disambiguates repeated visits to the same location during different routes, particularly preceding spatial decisions. Using unsupervised detection of cell assemblies alongside theoretical simulation, we show that integrating rate and phase coding mechanisms dynamically recruits units to different assemblies, generating spiking sequences that disambiguate episodes of experience and multiplexing spatial information with cognitive context.

Narrative reconstruction of events in novel translation: A case study of the English translation of Xuemo’s works

Drawing inspiration from Prince’s (2012) discourse on narrative events, this study investigates how translators reconstruct narrative events in novel translation. The results indicate that, in terms of narrative completeness, the addition of events such as detailed conflicts, background explanations, and narrative beginnings mitigates the cognitive disparity among target readers. This is achieved by furnishing them with the cultural knowledge necessary to decode text originating from a different cultural context. Regarding the temporal arrangement, the translator restructures the sequence of events by commencing with emotional events and reinstating the original chronological order to cater to target readers’ reading habits. Additionally, the reorganization of interconnected events according to thematic and character-based considerations enhances the readability of the target text. This research illuminates the significance of event reconstruction in novel translation and provides implications for both translators and scholars. By comprehending the effects of adding, rearranging, and reorganizing events, translators can adeptly adapt the narrative structure of a novel to align with the cognitive context and the reading preferences of readers in the target language.

A social cognition perspective on misophonia.

Misophonia is commonly classified by intense emotional reactions to common everyday sounds. The condition has an impact both on the mental health of its sufferers and societally. As yet, formal models on the basis of misophonia are in their infancy. Based on developing behavioural and neuroscientific research we are gaining a growing understanding of the phenomenology and empirical findings in misophonia, such as the importance of context, types of coping strategies used and the activation of particular brain regions. In this article, we argue for a model of misophonia that includes not only the sound but also the context within which sound isperceived and the emotional reaction triggered. We review the current behavioural and neuroimaging literature, which lends support to this idea. Based on the current evidence, we propose that misophonia should be understood within the broader context of social perception and cognition, and notrestricted within the narrow domain of being a disorder of auditory processing. We discuss the evidence in support of this hypothesis, as well as the implications for potential treatment approaches. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sensing and feeling: an integrative approach to sensory processing and emotional experience'.

COGNITIVE-MATRIX ANALYSIS AS A TOOL FOR EXPLORING CULTURAL IDENTITY OF A FICTION AUTHOR: A STUDY OF M. PORTER’S “A GRANDMOTHER BEGINS THE STORY”

The present paper belongs to a series of articles with a focus on ethnospecific concepts and identity construction in multicultural fiction from a cognitive-functional perspective. It seeks to take a new look on ethnospecific concepts, namely those which belong to an author’s idioconceptual subsystem, the latter being understood as a unique configuration of concepts in one’s mind, and constitute cognitive matrices. In accordance with N.N. Boldyrev’s research, the term «cognitive matrix» is used to denote a system of interconnected cognitive contexts which open onto different conceptual domains. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the potential of using cognitive-matrix analysis to reveal the connections between the cognitive contexts in the structure of an ethnospecific concept which unfold in a work of fiction, as well as the conceptual domains they are related to, on the one hand, and the many facets of an author’s cultural identity on the other. The paper outlines the results of the cognitive-matrix analysis of the concept BISON as represented in the novel “A Grandmother Begins the Story” by M. Porter, a Canadian writer of Métis background. Detail is given on several cognitive contexts in the structure of the concept in question pertaining to the following conceptual domains: NATURE, HISTORY, SPIRITUAL CULTURE, SPACE, TIME. The results obtained show that the ways in which the ethnospecific concept BISON functions in the text under consideration are affiliated with the writer’s identity and allow her not only to implement her creative ideas but also actualize her cultural identity in fiction.

Контекстуальные эвфемизмы как языковое средство манипулятивного воздействия в текстах характеристик (на материале немецкого языка)

The article is devoted to the study of euphemistic units, with the help of which the expression of a positive assessment in the texts of German characteristics from a previous job is achieved. The purpose of our study is to identify the euphemistic nature of individual words and phrases functioning in these texts, as well as the reasons for the appearance of a veiled nomination necessary for the formation of a hidden assessment of the utterance. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time words and expressions found in characteristics are considered in terms of their use to create a euphemistic effect and improve the formal evaluative orientation of the message. This approach makes it possible to expand the understanding of euphemization as a linguistic method of manipulative influence on the recipient. As a result of the analysis, it was revealed that, first of all, contextually conditioned euphemisms are used in the analyzed documents. These language tools, nominating the professional, business and personal qualities of a subordinate, are characterized mainly by ameliorative or neutral evaluation, which contributes to improving the professional image of an employee. To derive an implicit assessment in the semantic structure of lexical units, it is necessary to involve the cognitive context behind them, taking into account all the pragmatic parameters of the communicative situation.

Understanding Relations Between Product Icon Type, Feature Type, and Abstraction: Evidence From ERPs and Eye-Tracking Studys

The representation and recognition of icons play a crucial role in interface interaction efficiency and user experience within human–computer interaction. However, the intricate relationship between product icon types, feature types, and abstraction in cognitive contexts has yet to be clarified. This study aimed to delve into the cognitive mechanisms concerning practical and hedonic product icons across varying abstraction levels using EEG analysis. Moreover, it investigated how the explicitness and implicitness of these icons and their abstraction levels influence recognition efficiency via eye-tracking studies. In Experiment A, a high abstraction level led to prolonged reaction times (RTs), reduced accuracy rate (ACC), more negative N400, and decreased late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes. These outcomes suggested increased effort, heightened semantic conflict, and negative emotional engagement. Moreover, at middle abstraction levels, RTs were consistently longer for hedonic product icons compared to practical ones. Additionally, both N400 and LPP amplitudes were notably larger for hedonic product icons. In Experiment B, eye-tracking results revealed that compared with implicit features, the change of abstraction degree of explicit features is more likely to increase the number of fixation points and RTs of users. Specifically, functional explicit features wielded the greatest impact on overall icon cognitive efficiency. Synthesizing both experiments revealed significant differences in abstraction requirements for practical vs. hedonic product icons. A practical implication arises: moderate overall abstraction suits practical product icons, while higher abstraction suits hedonic ones. Among features, it’s essential to avoid excessive abstraction in functional and symbolic aspects, while simplifying or removing area line features and chamfered elements can be beneficial. This study contributes to Internet of Things (IoT) icon research, offering potential guidance for graphic designers in crafting user-friendly icons.

Mental capacity assessment in the multi-professional real world: a qualitative study of six areas of uncertainty.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 of England and Wales is a ground-breaking piece of legislation with reach into healthcare, social care and legal settings. Professionals have needed to develop skills to assess mental capacity and handle malign influence, but it is unclear how assessments are implemented in real world settings. Our previously reported survey found professionals juggling competing resources in complex systems, often struggling to stay up to date with law.The current follow-up study uses one-to-one interviews of professionals to characterise in detail six areas of uncertainty faced when assessing mental capacity, whilst suggesting ways to make improvements. Forty-four healthcare, social care and legal professionals were interviewed, using a semi-structured topic guide. Transcripts were analysed using framework analysis: a qualitative technique built to investigate healthcare policy. Our topic guide generated 21 themes. In relation to the six areas of uncertainty: 1) Many participants stressed the importance of capturing a holistic view, adding that their own profession was best-placed for this - although a medical diagnosis was often needed. 2) The presumption of capacity was a laudable aim, though not always easy to operationalise and occasionally being open to abuse. 3) There was cautious interest in psychometric testing, providing a cognitive context for decisions. 4) Undue influence was infrequent, but remained under-emphasised in training. 5) Multi-professional assessments were common, despite doubts about fitting these within local resources and the law. 6) Remote assessment was generally acceptable, if inadequate for identifying coercion. Practical constraints and competing demands were reported by professionals working within real world systems. Assessment processes must be versatile, equally applicable in routine and emergency settings, across diverse decisional types, for both generalist and specialist assessors, and able to handle coercion. Recognising these challenges will guide development of best practices in assessment and associated policy.

Age-dependent associations between RSA reactivity, affective and cognitive regulation, and psychopathology risk in young children exposed to varying levels of socioeconomic disadvantage.

This study examined autonomic nervous system activity (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) as a biomarker of psychopathology in an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample (N=57) of young children ages 4-7years. RSA was measured at baseline and across four standardized tasks designed to assess self-regulation in both affective (i.e., "hot") and cognitive (i.e., "cool") contexts during early childhood. Our findings reveal that age moderated RSA activity, such that reduced RSA suppression was associated with a heightened risk of externalizing problems among older children during "cool" and "hot" contexts; for younger children, only RSA suppression during "hot" contexts predicted externalizing risk. The influence of socioeconomic disadvantage did not moderate the relationship between RSA and the risk of psychopathology, and there were minimal associations between RSA suppression and internalizing symptoms at this age range. These results suggest that autonomic variability may be a more effective predictor of psychopathology risk in older children, perhaps as they transition into formal schooling and face increasingly complex cognitive and social demands. Findings have implications for the identification of psychopathology in early developmental periods when regulation over emotions becomes essential for academic and social success.

A Local-Ascending-Global Learning Strategy for Brain-Computer Interface

Neuroscience research indicates that the interaction among different functional regions of the brain plays a crucial role in driving various cognitive tasks. Existing studies have primarily focused on constructing either local or global functional connectivity maps within the brain, often lacking an adaptive approach to fuse functional brain regions and explore latent relationships between localization during different cognitive tasks. This paper introduces a novel approach called the Local-Ascending-Global Learning Strategy (LAG) to uncover higher-level latent topological patterns among functional brain regions. The strategy initiates from the local connectivity of individual brain functional regions and develops a K-Level Self-Adaptive Ascending Network (SALK) to dynamically capture strong connectivity patterns among brain regions during different cognitive tasks. Through the step-by-step fusion of brain regions, this approach captures higher-level latent patterns, shedding light on the progressively adaptive fusion of various brain functional regions under different cognitive tasks. Notably, this study represents the first exploration of higher-level latent patterns through progressively adaptive fusion of diverse brain functional regions under different cognitive tasks. The proposed LAG strategy is validated using datasets related to fatigue (SEED-VIG), emotion (SEED-IV), and motor imagery (BCI_C_IV_2a). The results demonstrate the generalizability of LAG, achieving satisfactory outcomes in independent-subject experiments across all three datasets. This suggests that LAG effectively characterizes higher-level latent patterns associated with different cognitive tasks, presenting a novel approach to understanding brain patterns in varying cognitive contexts.

Representation of the Samarkand text in the linguocognitive aspect

INTRODUCTION. The relevance of the study of the Samarkand text is due to the development of many issues related to the development of text theory and linguocognitive tradition in linguistics: the Samarkand text allows, on one toponym Samarkand, to identify a system of cognitive contexts, or conceptual thematic areas that underlie the formation of various meanings and senses that reflect information about certain facts and phenomena of reality associated with the toponym Samarkand. The purpose of the study is to establish the relationship of the toponym Samarkand with conceptual areas based on the identified characteristics and determine the status of the toponym as a special type of linguistic organization of knowledge.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The research material is poems in which the toponym Samarkand is presented. The collection of toponymic material is carried out using the continuous sampling method. The cognitive matrix method is used to describe the formats of toponymic knowledge.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Turning to the format of the cognitive matrix made it possible to show how universal human knowledge about the structure of the surrounding reality behind the toponymic unit Samarkand is formatted.CONCLUSION. The status of the toponym Samarkand as a special type of linguistic organization of knowledge is determined, the role of the prevailing conceptual and thematic areas that form the content of the Samarkand text is revealed.

Hypergraph of Functional Connectivity Based on Event-Related Coherence: Magnetoencephalography Data Analysis

We construct hypergraphs to analyze functional brain connectivity, leveraging event-related coherence in magnetoencephalography (MEG) data during the visual perception of a flickering image. Principal network characteristics are computed for the delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency ranges. Employing a coherence measure, a statistical estimate of correlation between signal pairs across frequencies, we generate an edge time series, depicting how an edge evolves over time. This forms the basis for constructing an edge-to-edge functional connectivity network. We emphasize hyperedges as connected components in an absolute-valued functional connectivity network. Our coherence-based hypergraph construction specifically addresses functional connectivity among four brain lobes in both hemispheres: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital. This approach enables a nuanced exploration of individual differences within diverse frequency bands, providing insights into the dynamic nature of brain connectivity during visual perception tasks. The results furnish compelling evidence supporting the hypothesis of cortico–cortical interactions occurring across varying scales. The derived hypergraph illustrates robust activation patterns in specific brain regions, indicative of their engagement across diverse cognitive contexts and different frequency bands. Our findings suggest potential integration or multifunctionality within the examined lobes, contributing valuable perspectives to our understanding of brain dynamics during visual perception.

Exploring the dynamic interplay between learning and working memory within various cognitive contexts.

The intertwined relationship between reinforcement learning and working memory in the brain is a complex subject, widely studied across various domains in neuroscience. Research efforts have focused on identifying the specific brain areas responsible for these functions, understanding their contributions in accomplishing the related tasks, and exploring their adaptability under conditions such as cognitive impairment or aging. Numerous models have been introduced to formulate either these two subsystems of reinforcement learning and working memory separately or their combination and relationship in executing cognitive tasks. This study adopts the RLWM model as a computational framework to analyze the behavioral parameters of subjects with varying cognitive abilities due to age or cognitive status. A related RLWM task is employed to assess a group of subjects across different age groups and cognitive abilities, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool (MoCA). Analysis reveals a decline in overall performance accuracy and speed with differing age groups (young vs. middle-aged). Significant differences are observed in model parameters such as learning rate, WM decay, and decision noise. Furthermore, among the middle-aged group, distinctions emerge between subjects categorized as normal vs. MCI based on MoCA scores, notably in speed, performance accuracy, and decision noise.

Romanticism: Manifestations and Motives in Alija Izetbegović’s Islam Between East and West for Ali Ezzat Begovic

Objectives: This study investigates romantic manifestations in Alija Izetbegović's "Islam Between East and West," aiming to comprehend the motives behind its notable presence. The book holds prominent value in intellectual and philosophical literature due to its precise analysis. This research is significant as the first to delve into this aspect.
 Methods: Employing an analytical approach, the study observes and interprets romantic manifestations in the book. Analyzing Izetbegović's sayings and using Western intellectual and philosophical sources, the research explores the intrinsic motives for the romantic elements.
 Results: The study, through the book, reveals prominent aesthetic principles and human values emerging as tools for world change and restoring personal worlds. Emphasizing Izetbegović's romantic manifestations, it highlights their role in igniting spiritual motives and enhancing a humanistic view.
 Conclusions: The research delves into the deep dimensions of romantic manifestations in "Islam Between East and West," moving beyond a common and superficial understanding. It recommends a reevaluation of romance in light of recent studies that reconsider its roots and humanistic principles, aligning with Izetbegović's values. Additionally, the study urges the use of various cognitive contexts for a comparative analytical study of artistic phenomena and their societal impact..

The effect of complex cognitive context on the dynamic stability during gait initiation in older women.

Changes in cognitive control are considered potential factors affecting voluntary motor movements during gait initiation (GI). Simulating environments with higher cognitive resource demands have an effect on the stability of GI task performance, which is of significant importance for assessing fall risk in the older adults and devising fall risk management measures in multiple environments. This study aims to reveal the influence of complex cognitive competitive environment with increased cognitive demands on the dynamic stability during GI in the older women. Twenty-three older females and twenty-three younger females performed walking tests under three conditions: voluntary initiation (SI), visual light reaction time task (LRT), and cognitive interference + visual light reaction time task (C + LRT). Eight cameras (Qualisys, Sweden, model: Oqus 600) and three force plates (Kistler, Switzerland, model: 9287C) are used to obtain kinematic and kinetic data. To recorde the trajectory of center of pressure (CoP) and the position of the foot placement, and compute the anterior-posterior (A-P) and medio-lateral (M-L) dynamic stability at the onset and end moments of the single-leg support by means of center of mass (CoM) and gait spatiotemporal parameters. Older women responded to the effect of complex environments involving cognitive competition on body stability by prolonging the lateral displacement time of the CoP during the anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) phase, reducing step length and velocity, and increasing step width and foot inclination angle. Complex initiation environments lead to competition for cognitive resources in the brain, resulting in decreased stability of GI motor control in older adults. The higher the complexity of the cognitive resource demands environment, the lower the stability of GI in older adults, and the greater the effect on their M-L stability at the onset of stepping.

Language Acquisition in Diverse Linguistic, Social, and Cognitive Contexts: A Paper Review and Synthesis of Multifaceted Theories

The paper titled "Language Acquisition in Diverse Linguistic, Social and Cognitive Circumstances," authored by Maria Garraffa, Maria Teresa Guasti, Theodoros Marinis, and Gary Morgan, published on October 24, 2018, the authors explore the process of language acquisition within various linguistic, social, and cognitive contexts. The work introduces a broader discussion on language acquisition research, shedding light on how individuals learn and use language and emphasizing its interaction with cognitive trade-offs, operant conditioning, and universal grammar theory. The paper review illuminates the interplay between environmental, cognitive, and linguistic factors in shaping language development in children across diverse linguistic settings.

Identificando el rol de la inteligencia emocional en las emociones de logro y en sus efectos sobre las estrategias de aprendizaje profundo en estudiantes universitarios

Emotional skills have been proposed as distal determinants of achievement emotions. However, the specific role they play in such emotions and their effects on learning has not been defined. The purpose of this comparative study is to provide an ex post facto assessment of emotional intelligence (EI) as a predictor of the enjoyment and anger expressed while studying and as a mediator and/or moderator of its effects on the use of deep learning strategies. A sample comprising 603 university students (85.7% women; Medad=25.16, SDedad=8.42) completed the Trait Meta-Mood State-24 to assess perceived EI, the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire-AEQ for enjoyment and anger, and the Deep Learning Strategies Questionnaire. The stepwise regression, multiple mediation, and moderation analyses conducted showed that EI explains enjoyment and anger, although its different skills predict them differently. Enjoyment increases the use of deep learning strategies, an effect that is partially mediated by emotional repair. In anger there is less use of these strategies, and this effect is partially mediated by high emotional attention with little emotional clarity and repair. Similarly, a medium and high level of EI moderates the negative effect of anger on the use of deep learning strategies. These results show the benefits of being emotionally intelligent since it mitigates the negative consequences of negative emotions, stressing the need to teach emotional skills or promote EI in educational and cognitive contexts.

ИНТЕРПРЕТАЦИОННЫЙ ПОТЕНЦИАЛ ПРЕЦЕДЕНТНЫХ ИМЕН В ЗАГОЛОВКАХ АНГЛОЯЗЫЧНЫХ НОВОСТНЫХ СТАТЕЙ

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the interpretive potential of precedent names derived from personal names in the English language. Previous studies in the theory of precedence have proved a precedent name to convey a complex of cultural and background information that allows it to be used as a common name occasionally in a specific context. We describe this complex of information as an anthroponymic matrix which includes several suggested cognitive contexts. In the process of our work, we have used the modern methods of cognitive linguistics to outline the multifaceted knowledge structure represented by a precedent name and discovered that it is nothing but a concept with its cognitive characteristics. The paper focuses on the crucial role of cognitive mechanisms in the process of a precedent name developing its occasional sense. This newly-formed sense has a certain effect on the perception of the text, in which the name performs its specific functions. The empirical data for this study has been gathered from online newspapers and Internet resources where a precedent name is used as a part of a headline. The authors of the paper have found out that in most cases a precedent name is able to convey both positive and negative evaluative meanings aimed at the formation of the reader’s opinion about the problem under discussion.

The role of discourse in the consruction of cognitive context model

The role of discourse in the consruction of cognitive context model

Re-embodiments and Mind-Extensions

Currently, humanity is experiencing an explosive growth in technological objects designed to improve the body and mind. The main objective of this article is to review two recent classificatory and explanatory systems to cognitive enhancement cybernetic technologies, including both wearable and implantable artifacts that reorganize human embodiment or extend the mind. I argue that an outdated model of the cognitive sciences serves as the basis for these revised systems and taxonomies. Taking an embodied approach to the cognitive sciences, I propose an alternative focus to classify cognitive enhancement cybernetic technologies. Specifically, by adopting a non-orthodox enactive approach to embodied cognition, I propose a new classificatory system that redefines the notion of the cybernetically enhanced human, restricting it to a purely cognitive context. Finally, I evaluate some philosophical implications of my system.

A Relevance Theory Analysis of Joe Biden's Interview on ABC’s Late-Night Talk Show

This research aims to conduct a relevance-theoretic analysis of an interview with American President Joe Biden on ABC's late-night talk show. Relevance Theory was developed by Sperber and Wilson (1986/1995) as an inference-based framework for understanding the cognitive interpretation of language. The model posits that in any given circumstance, the recipient must consider what others say relevant. The recipient must consider what others say is as relevant in any given circumstance. The descriptive-qualitative approach was used to illustrate how Biden constructs his sentences to provide the listener with sufficient evidence to grasp his intended meaning and how the listener employs comprehension strategies to understand the speaker's underlying meaning. Therefore, the research first reveals that Biden conveys his communicative goals clearly and gives enough supporting evidence for the receiver to deduce some of his intentions. Second, for effective communication, both parties must share cognitive context.