Task Scores Research Articles

Dual-Task Interference in the Assessment of Listening Effort Before and After Cochlear Implantation in Adults: A Longitudinal Study.

This study aimed to assess the magnitude and direction of dual-task interference in a listening effort dual-task paradigm in individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss before and in the short- and long-term after cochlear implantation. The study sample consisted of 26 adult candidates for cochlear implantation with severe-to-profound hearing loss. The dual-task paradigm consisted of a primary speech understanding task, conducted in a quiet condition, and a favorable and unfavorable noise condition on the one hand and a secondary visual memory task on the other hand. The dual-task effect for both tasks and the derived patterns of dual-task interference were determined. Participants were evaluated at four test moments: before cochlear implantation and at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after implantation. Across all listening conditions, a shift was observed from patterns of dual-task interference with worse and stable scores for the primary speech understanding task in the dual-task condition compared to the baseline condition before implantation, toward patterns in which stable or better scores were obtained, respectively, for the primary task in the dual-task condition after implantation. This indicates that more attention could be allocated to the primary speech understanding task during the dual-task condition after implantation, implying a decreased listening effort. A decreased listening effort was found after cochlear implantation. This study provides additional insights into the evolution of dual-task interference after cochlear implantation. It highlights the importance of interpreting both the primary and secondary tasks using a dual-task paradigm in the assessment of listening effort.

The Power of Movement: Linking Physical Activity with Nutritional Health and Blood Sugar Balance in a Dalmatian Type 2 Diabetic Population.

Regular physical activity (PA) and Mediterranean diet (MeDi) adherence independently improve glycemic control and clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study examined the associations between PA, body composition (BC), MeDi adherence, and glycemic control in Dalmatian T2DM patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital of Split (November-December 2023) during an open call for T2DM patients. Data collected included blood/urine samples, blood pressure, BC, and anthropometrics. MeDi adherence and PA were assessed via the Mediterranean Diet Service Score and the International PA Questionnaire-Short Form. Among 252 participants (median age: 67 years, IQR: 60-73; 51.6% women; median T2DM duration: 10 years, IQR: 6-20), PA levels were low (31.4%, N = 79), moderate (45.2%, N = 114), and high (23.4%, N = 59), with uniformly low MeDi adherence across groups. Low PA was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and lower phase angle (PhA). PA negatively correlated with fat mass (FM; %) and visceral adiposity. Positive BMI predictors included FM (kg), total body water, visceral fat level, and PhA, while fat-free mass, intracellular water, and FM (%) were negative predictors. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was the only positive predictor of the total metabolic equivalent of the task score. PA enhances BC and metabolic health, but inadequate MeDi adherence limits these benefits in the T2DM population. To optimize glucose control and health outcomes, public health initiatives must emphasize MeDi adherence and a combination of aerobic and resistance training.

Are Current Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Fit for Purpose to Evaluate Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty?

The optimal procedure for isolated end-stage medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA) remains uncertain, with debate persisting between unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate current outcome measures in knee arthroplasty (KA) and explore how evolving patient populations and technological advancements may necessitate the use of different patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for evaluating UKA. While UKA offers potential advantages over TKA in early pain relief and functional outcomes, most randomised control trials using traditional PROMs have failed to show definitive superiority. The recent introduction of robotic assistance may have further enhanced the benefits of UKA. However, it remains uncertain whether the advantages outweigh the higher revision rates associated with UKA. Although traditional PROMs, such as the Oxford Knee Score or Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, were designed for the KA population of 30 years ago, they continue to be employed today. The current KA population, particularly those undergoing UKA, are typically younger, physically fitter, and have higher functional demands than those for whom traditional PROMs were originally designed. As a result, these PROMs are now limited by ceiling effects. High-performance PROMs, such as the Forgotten Joint Score-12 or the metabolic equivalent of task score, have recently been utilised for high-demand patients and do not have postoperative ceiling effects. Return to work and sport are also important outcomes that are often overlooked for younger, high-demand patients. Future studies should aim to define the differences between UKA and TKA populations, identify patient factors that predict UKA success, and validate high-performance PROMs for UKA. This will provide deeper insights into the functional benefits of UKA and TKA, enabling patients and surgeons to make more informed decisions regarding implant selection.

Detection of odorants in odour mixtures among healthy people and patients with olfactory dysfunction.

Target odorant detection in mixtures has been shown to become more difficult as the number of background odorants increases and falls below chance level in mixtures with 16 components. Our aim was to investigate target odorant detection in mixtures among healthy people and compare it between dysosmic patients and age- and gender-matched controls. Participants underwent extensive olfactory testing and performed two target odorant detection tasks. Eugenol ('clove') and phenylethanol (PEA, 'rose') were target odorants for all participants, whereas a third target was randomised. For each target odorant in task one (task two), there were four steps. Mixtures contained two (three) odorants in the first step and up to seven (eight) odorants in the fourth step. In each step, participants were asked to choose the sample with the target odorant from the three (two) jars presented. The study included 90 healthy people and 40 patients. As expected, probability of successful target odorant detection decreased as the number of odorants in the mixture increased. However, even when there were seven (eight) odorants in the mixture, around 50% (50%) of healthy people detected Eugenol and around 30% (40%) detected PEA. Furthermore, both distributions of successful target odorant detection differed from the expected binominal distribution of chance (p< 0.001). Patients performed worse at detecting Eugenol or PEA at each step than controls. Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between task scores and olfactory function. In conclusion, target odorant detection is influenced by the target odorant, number of background odorants, and individual olfactory function.

Cumulative blood pressure load and cognitive decline in older adults: An observational analysis of two large cohorts.

Cumulative blood pressure metrics may provide greater precision for measuring temporal risk exposure, especially in later life where data are mixed regarding associations of high blood pressure (BP) on cognitive function. We examined the relationship between greater cumulative exposure to high BP in later life and several domains of cognitive function. Individual cognitive assessment scores and BP measurements in older adults (age ≥70 years) at baseline and over approximately 8 years of follow-up were available in the population-based Canadian Victoria Longitudinal Study (VLS) and Swedish Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies (H70). Linear mixed models were used to quantify associations between cumulative systolic and diastolic BP and change in cognitive scores. Each additional 100mmHg increase in cumulative BP was related to greater decline in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) List A, trials 1-5 total score over follow-up: -0.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.32, -0.13) for systolic BP and -0.41 (95%CI -0.58, -0.23) for diastolic BP. Similarly increases cumulative systolic and diastolic BP were related to greater declines Digit Symbol Substitution Task (DSS) scores: -0.59 (95%CI -0.80, -0.38) and -1.04 (95% CI -1.40, -0.67), respectively. There were no associations of cumulative BP and temporal changes in general cognition, other measures of verbal episodic memory, or semantic fluency. Higher cumulative BP is associated with greater declines in RAVLT measured immediate memory span and complex attention, information processing speed and visuospatial scanning in older adults, but the scale of change is small. Additional research is required to further define these relationships and identify opportunities for prevention.

Relationship among Story-retelling Ability, Naming and Memory in Healthy Elderly Adults

Objectives: Cognitive decline due to aging is known to decrease discourse production in healthy elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation among story retelling, naming, and memory abilities in healthy elderly adults, and to investigate the influence of these abilities on story retelling ability. Methods: Fifty-four healthy elderly people participated in the study and performed tests of story retelling, confrontational naming, verbal fluency, subjective memory, and verbal memory. Results: First, the percentage of correct responses in the confrontational naming task and the number of correct responses in the supermarket items and letter categories of the verbal fluency task were significantly correlated with the information unit (IU) analysis scale of story retelling. Second, the score of subjective memory, as well as the immediate and delayed recall scores of the verbal memory tasks were significantly correlated with all scales of the IU analysis. Finally, the regression analysis confirmed that the number of correct responses of the supermarket items, subjective memory, and delayed recall scores had a significant effect on story retelling ability. Conclusion: The present study utilized IU analysis to identify the association between story retelling, naming and memory abilities, and these results are significant in that they provide an important basis for clinical assessment and intervention strategy development.

Development of electronic portfolios to assess concept mastery and creative thinking on project-based acid-based concepts

The purpose of the study was to develop an electronic portfolio instrument to assess concept mastery and creative thinking on project-based acid-base materials. The research participants are class XI, who will study acid-base materials. This research uses the 4D Research and Development model which are carried out up to stage 3 (Define, Design, and Development). On the define stage, a literature study, a field survey, material analysis, indicator analysis, and task analysis were conducted. The design stage designed grids and assessment rubrics, the preparation tasks consisting of four: making papers, practicum reports, posters, and concept maps. The design stage compiled an electronic portfolio instrument. The developmental stage conducts quality tests: initial development test, expert validity test obtained a CVR value of 1.00, reliability test with inter-rater obtained a Cronbach Alpha value between 0.652 and 1.000. After the electronic portfolio instrument was valid and reliable, a limited trial was conducted with N-Gain scores of task 1, task 2, task 3, and task 4, respectively: 0.17 (low), 0.13 (low), 0.46 (medium), and 0.32 (medium). The overall average of the pretest and posttest N-Gain scores is 0.90, with a higher category. This electronic portfolio instrument based on Project-Based Learning (PjBL) is expected to help teachers assess tasks on concept mastery and students' creative thinking on acid-based materials.

Within-subject reliability, occasion specificity, and validity of fluctuations of the Stroop and go/no-go tasks in ecological momentary assessment

Following the (revised) latent state–trait theory, the present study investigates the within-subject reliability, occasion specificity, common consistency, and construct validity of cognitive control measures in an intensive longitudinal design. These indices were calculated applying dynamic structural equation modeling while accounting for autoregressive effects and trait change. In two studies, participants completed two cognitive control tasks (Stroop and go/no-go) and answered questions about goal pursuit, self-control, executive functions, and situational aspects, multiple times per day. The sample (aged 18–30 years in both studies) consisted of 21 participants (14 female) in the pilot study and 70 participants (48 female) in the main study. Findings indicated poor within-subject reliability for the Stroop task error rate and reaction time difference between congruent and incongruent trials and moderate to good within-subject reliability for the go/no-go task error rate and reaction time. Occasion specificity—the systematic variance accounted for by state residuals—was at a modest level (between 1.4% and 11.1%) for the Stroop error rate and reaction time difference, and at a moderate level (between 16.1% and 37.2% for the go/no-go error rate and reaction time) in the two studies. Common consistency—the variance accounted for by latent trait variables—was at a moderate to high level for all of the investigated scores. Indicative of construct validity, the Stroop and go/no-go task error rates correlated positively with each other on the within- and between-subject level. Within-subject correlations between task scores and subjective self-control measures were very small and mostly nonsignificant.

The Combination of the Use of Customization and Personalization in a Three-Tier Test: Individualization vs. Non- Individualization

This study proposed a three-tier test (T3), where students were not only asked to give answers and reasons for their answers but also to engage in review questions. Furthermore, an individualized three-tier test (IT3) was implemented by incorporating customization and personalization into the T3. The T3 was utilized in Group A while the IT3 was used in Group B. Both tests were applied to help students learn English grammar. An empirical study was conducted to examine the varied reactions of these two groups, in terms of test performance, task performance, and learning behavior. Regarding test performance, Group B outperformed Group A. Regarding task performance, Group B obtained higher task scores than Group A. Regarding learning behavior, Group A tended to rely on a single scaffolding hint iteratively whereas Group B preferred utilizing various scaffolding hints concurrently. These results suggested that the IT3 was relatively beneficial to students. The aforementioned findings could provide guidance for the effective implementation of online tests.

Individual differences in processing multisensory information predict presence in different virtual reality environments

One of the most notable aspects of using a head mounted display is the feeling of being ‘within’ the digitally created virtual world. Technological advances across the fields of computer science and engineering have helped to increase this sense of presence. However, there remain wide variations between individuals, which are only just beginning to be captured at a theoretical level. One potential explanation for these individual differences may be how individuals process multisensory information. In this paper we detail two studies which explored whether performance on two different multisensory tasks (the pip and pop and a redundant signals task), predict some of these differences in self-reported presence. In study 1 (N = 32), clear correlations between the multisensory task (pip and pop) and presence scores were found using an underwater simulation. This provided the first indication that individuals that were positively influenced by illusory audiovisual conjunctions were also those that had the strongest sense of presence. Study 2 (N = 68) expanded upon these results, finding again that multisensory integration (within a redundant signals task) was related to self-reports of presence using a different VR experience. In addition, it was found that this relationship could be moderated by either providing a unisensory or multisensory VR experience. Together these results suggest that individual differences in the efficiency of multisensory integration may provide an additional level of explanation not currently accounted for within theoretical models of presence formation.

Nutrition literacy and its relationship with diet quality and quality of life among white-collar employees: a study from Türkiye

BackgroundNutrition literacy is an important component of health and healthy eating behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine the nutrition literacy (NL) status of white-collar employees and its relationship with adherence to the Mediterranean diet, anthropometric measurements, and lifestyle behaviors, including eating habits, dietary intake, and physical activity level.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 3459 white-collar employees aged 18–65 who lived in Türkiye. A questionnaire prepared by the researchers was used to obtain information about the demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of the participants. Evaluation Instrument of Nutrition Literacy on Adults (EINLA) was used to assess NL, the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) was used to assess diet quality, and the Quality of Life Test Short Form-36 (SF-36) was used to determine quality of life. Data analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0 program.ResultsWith an average age of 24.3 ± 10.5 years and 50.7% women, women presented higher nutrition literacy than men did (p < 0.001). Most participants held university or postgraduate degrees with medium to high income levels and the majority demonstrated sufficient NL. Compared with other participants, those with adequate NL had significantly higher Mediterranean diet adherence, and SF-36 physical (77.27 ± 16.26), and mental (65.45 ± 17.00) scores (p < 0.001). Negative correlations were found between the EINLA score and BMI (r=-0.082), waist circumference (r=-0.072), hip circumference (r=-0.036), waist/hip ratio (r=-0.074), and waist/height ratio (r=-0.056) (p < 0.05). Additionally, weak positive correlations were observed between the EINLA score and the SF-36 physical (r = 0.158) and mental scores (r = 0.088), as well as the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) score (r = 0.042) (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrated that NL is a significant predictor of anthropometric measurements and healthy lifestyle behaviors including dietary habits, and quality of life among adults. Nutrition literacy can enable individuals to make informed choices and thus contribute to the prevention of many noncommunicable chronic diseases.

“Who” Is the Best Creative Thinking Partner? An Experimental Investigation of Human–Human, Human–Internet, and Human–AI Co‐Creation

ABSTRACTRecent research suggests that working with generative artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, can produce more creative outcomes than humans alone. However, does AI retain its creative edge when humans have access to alternative information sources, such as another human or the internet. We explored this question in a between‐group experiment with 202 German participants across four conditions (human–human dyads, human–Internet, and two human–AI groups with basic or specific instructions) and four creativity tasks (two alternate uses tasks, a consequences task, and a problem‐solving task). Results showed that the human–human condition obtained higher creativity scores in the divergent thinking tasks than the remaining groups. No significant between‐group differences were observed in the problem‐solving task. Moreover, interacting in human dyads made people more creatively confident, an effect not observed in the other groups. In addition, we compared human‐rated outcomes with AI‐based automated scoring (Ocsai). Interestingly, notable discrepancies emerged between the AI assessment and the human‐judged results, raising concerns about AI's susceptibility to “elaboration bias.” These findings highlight the benefits of human collaboration for creativity and call for further studies about the reliability and potential biases of AI in evaluating creative performance.

Comparing the reliability of performance task scores obtained from rating scale and analytic rubric using the generalizability theory

In the performance assessment, unbiased and accurate scorings depend not only on raters but also on accuracy of scoring keys. It could be confusing to choose the type of scoring key for educators in most situations. The study aims to find whether there is a difference between ratings with rating scale and analytic rubric and to compare reliability of scores given by the same raters with both scoring keys to the same performance tasks using generalizability theory. The results of this study would be a guide for implementers to determine the type of scoring keys for scoring performances. By the analyses, results reveal that scores obtained with the rating scale have higher reliability compared to scores obtained from the analytic rubric. Interviews related to both scoring keys reveal that for the scoring of performance tasks of teacher candidates, the rating scale is economic in terms of time.

Sex differences in the relationship between physical activity and cognition as mediated by leukocyte telomere length: a UK Biobank study

AbstractBackgroundEvaluating sex differences in modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease could provide valuable information regarding the mechanisms by which these factors confer risk. Physical activity is a risk factor that has been shown to positively impact both telomere length, a marker of cellular age, and cognition. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether telomere length mediates the association between physical activity and cognition differently by sex.MethodParticipants from the UK Biobank were included in the sample based on availability of demographic variables, physical activity questionnaires, leukocyte telomere length, and cognitive measurements (Fluid Intelligence (FI), Numeric Memory (NM), Reaction Time (RT)). Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) scores were derived from self‐report questionnaires following the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) guidelines. Relative leukocyte telomere length was measured by quantitative PCR and adjusted for technical variation by the UK Biobank. The indirect effect of physical activity on cognition via telomere length was evaluated using causal mediation analyses in R. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, and Townsend Deprivation Index (Figure 1). A priori sex‐stratified models were used to examine sex differences.ResultThe sample included 374,761 adults (52.2% women, mean age±SD = 56.3±8.12 years, see Table 1). Linear regression analyses identified negative associations between weekly physical activity measures (i.e., summed MET minutes of all activity p&lt;0.05*, MET minutes of moderate activity p&lt;0.001***) and telomere length in men. This negative relationship was similarly found in women (MET minutes of walking p&lt;0.05*), except for MET minutes of vigorous activity where a positive relationship with telomere length was observed (p&lt;0.05*). In men, telomere length mediated the relationship between MET minutes of moderate activity and FI scores (p&lt;0.001***), whereas in women this was only seen for walking (p = 0.04*). The association between vigorous activity and performance on the NM task was mediated by telomere length in women only (p = 0.04*). Lastly, telomere length mediated the relationship between RT performance and summed minutes of all activity in men only (p&lt;0.001***).ConclusionTelomere length mediates the relationship between physical activity and cognition differently in men and women based on the intensity level of the physical activity.

The Impact of Neighborhood‐Level Area Deprivation on Picture Naming Ability and Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease

AbstractBackgroundThe cortex responsible for language processing is among the earliest areas affected by Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), manifesting speech and language abnormalities even before formal diagnosis. Language decline in AD is clinically significant, often parallel to a loss in basic daily living abilities. Research endeavors to detect AD early through automated speech analysis, emphasizing the need to comprehend factors influencing language disruption. Previous studies suggest that higher socioeconomic status (SES) may mitigate dementia and cognitive impairments. Our study explores the link between neighborhood‐level area deprivation and language decline in AD patients.MethodWe utilized data from the University of Pennsylvania’s Integrated Neurodegenerative Disease Database (INDD). Inclusion criteria encompassed consensus diagnoses from multiple assessments for AD patients and individuals with normal cognition. Subjects' address information facilitated the derivation of State and National Area Deprivation Index (ADI) ranks based on 12‐digit Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes. Our analysis employed weighted linear mixed effects models to assess the impact of ADI Ranks on Boston Naming Task performance across patients with or without AD and among AD patients at various stages post‐symptom onset (2‐8 years).ResultOur analysis revealed an inverse relationship between ADI National and State Ranks and Boston Naming Scores, evident in both AD and non‐AD individuals. AD patients consistently demonstrated lower Boston Naming Task scores than their counterparts, with disparities widening as ADI Ranks increased. In AD patients, language decline correlated with disease progression, occurring earlier and intensifying with higher ADI National and State Ranks. These findings concur with prior research, underscoring the predictive utility of the Boston Naming Test for cognitive decline.ConclusionOur study unveils the complex interplay between area deprivation and language decline in AD patients. Those residing in more deprived areas experienced accelerated language deterioration, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic disparities. These insights advance discussions on early AD detection and intervention strategies, underscoring environmental factors' role in disease trajectories and the potential for targeted interventions to enhance patient care.

Using a visual attentional task and eye-tracking to investigate the effects of pre-takeover resource engagement on attention restoration in conditionally automated driving

Objective Attention forms the foundation for the formation of situation awareness. Low situation awareness can lead to driving performance decline, which can be dangerous in driving. The goal of this study is to investigate how different types of pre-takeover tasks, involving cognitive, visual and physical resources engagement, as well as individual attentional function, affect driver’s attention restoration in conditionally automated driving. Methods A two-phase study was conducted. In phase one, a visual attentional task was employed to measure the attentional function of driver. In phase two, a driving simulator experiment was conducted, where participants experienced a typical sequence of automated driving, takeover and manual driving. Three pre-takeover tasks were designed to divert drivers’ attentional resources, including a visual-cognitive task, a visual-physical task, and a monitoring task (control group). Eye-tracking metrics, including pupil and gaze behavior, along with driving behavior, were assessed as dependent variables. Results The visual-cognitive task showed the highest percentage of pupil dilation and significantly increased participant’s response time, but it also had a positive effect on subsequent attention restoration. Moreover, the attentional task scores were positively correlated with horizontal gaze scanning and negatively correlated with takeover response time. Conclusions Pre-takeover tasks with cognitive resource engagement proves to be superior for attention restoration in conditionally automated driving. The drivers with better attentional function are able to reduce recovering time. These findings make it possible to predict drivers’ attentional state by identifying type of pre-takeover tasks in conditionally automated vehicles. Based on this, the attentive user interfaces could be adaptively adjusted to provide valuable cues, ensuring a safe transition.

Association of daily physical activity with pulmonary artery pressure in HFpEF and HFmrEF NYHA class III patients: a pilot trial-feasibility and first results.

Supervised physical exercise has been shown to benefit patients with heart failure with preserved/mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF/HfmrEF) by improving symptoms and diastolic function. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between unsupervised daily physical activity and changes in daily pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in patients with stable NYHA class III heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 45% or higher. Daily physical activity was monitored over a 3-month period using a Holter-ECG with an accelerometer that calculated an activity-associated, heart rate-derived metabolic equivalent of task (MET) score. PAP was measured using an implanted sensor in 17 patients. During 3months of PAP monitoring in parallel with Holter ECG in our HF patients (median age 77 [IQR 72-79.5] years, LVEF 55 [49-56] %, mean cardiac index 1.9 ± 0.3), mean, diastolic, and systolic PAP remained unchanged. Patients engaged in unsupervised daily activity with a mean MET score of 5.0 ± 1.2 and a median daily duration of 41 [13-123] minutes. Intensity of daily activity was associated with a higher diastolic PAP on the following day (R2 = 0.017, p = 0.003), particularly in female patients and those with pulmonary hypertension (PH) (female: R2 = 0.044, p = 0.002; PH: R2 = 0.024, p = 0.004). Patients with longer daily activity durations had lower systolic and mean PAP (p = 0.038 and p = 0.048) and a similar diastolic PAP (p = 0.053) after 3months. Tracking changes in daily PAP based on intensity and duration of unsupervised daily activity using implanted sensors and a PocketECG® is feasible. While daily activity duration was not directly linked to diastolic PAP on the first day after daily activity, intensity, especially in female and PH patients, was associated with increased diastolic PAP. In addition, longer daily activity, rather than higher intensity, might be more important for lowering PAP in the long term. Further research in larger trials is warranted to confirm these findings.

United States-China differences in cognition and perception across 12 tasks: Replicability, robustness, and within-culture variation.

Cultural differences between the United States and China have been investigated using a broad array of psychological tasks measuring differences between cognition, language, perception, and reasoning. Using online convenience samples of adults, we conducted two large-scale replications of 12 tasks previously reported to show differences between Western and East Asian cultures. Our results showed a heterogeneous pattern of successes and failures: five tasks yielded robust cultural differences, while five showed no difference between cultures, and two showed a small difference in the opposite direction. We observed moderate reliability for all multitrial tasks, but there was little relation between task scores. As in prior work, cross-cultural differences in cognition (in those tasks showing differences) were not strongly related to explicit measures of cultural identity and behavior. All of our tasks, data, and analyses are openly available for reuse, providing a foundation for future studies that seek to establish a robust and replicable science of cross-cultural difference. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessment of first-touch skills in robotic surgical training using hi-Sim and the hinotori surgical robot system among surgeons and novices

PurposeSurgeons’ adaptability to robotic manipulation remains underexplored. This study evaluated the participants’ first-touch robotic training skills using the hinotori surgical robot system and its simulator (hi-Sim) to assess adaptability.MethodsWe enrolled 11 robotic surgeons (RS), 13 laparoscopic surgeons (LS), and 15 novices (N). After tutorial and training, participants performed pegboard tasks, camera and clutch operations, energizing operations, and suture sponge tasks on hi-Sim. They also completed a suture ligation task using the hinotori surgical robot system on a suture simulator. Median scores and task completion times were compared.ResultsPegboard task scores were 95.0%, 92.0%, and 91.5% for the RS, LS, and N groups, respectively, with differences between the RS group and LS and N groups. Camera and clutch operation scores were 93.1%, 49.7%, and 89.1%, respectively, showing differences between the RS group and LS and N groups. Energizing operation scores were 90.9%, 85.2%, and 95.0%, respectively, with a significant difference between the LS and N groups. Suture sponge task scores were 90.6%, 43.1%, and 46.2%, respectively, with differences between the RS group and LS and N groups. For the suture ligation task, completion times were 368 s, 666 s, and 1095 s, respectively, indicating differences among groups. Suture scores were 12, 10, and 7 points, respectively, with differences between the RS and N groups.ConclusionFirst-touch simulator-based robotic skills were partially influenced by prior robotic surgical experience, while suturing skills were affected by overall surgical experience. Thus, robotic training programs should be tailored to individual adaptability.

Metacontrol Regulates Creative Thinking: An EEG Complexity Analysis Based on Multiscale Entropy.

Previous studies have shown that creative thinking is associated with metacontrol, but its neural basis is unknown. The present study explored the neural basis of both by assessing EEG complexity through multiscale entropy. Subjects were engaged in a metacontrol task and an Alternative Uses Task, grouped according to task performance, and the EEG was analysed by multiscale entropy. The results showed that EEG complexity was significantly higher in the high-metacontrol and high-creativity groups than in the low-metacontrol and low-creativity groups, respectively, at high time scales. The metacontrol adaptability score and multipurpose task score were significantly and positively correlated with the EEG complexity at multiple electrode sites. It suggests that metacontrol and creativity are dependent on the activation of long-duration neural networks.