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Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

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Office of Undergraduate Education

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Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 26

A Study Exploring the Relationship Between Racial Discrimination, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress on Sleep Quality

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-12) Rampally, Lolasri

Prior studies have shown that discrimination experiences have a positive association on adults' symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress as well as on their sleep patterns. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress appear to be associated with age, with younger adults experiencing higher levels of discrimination than older adults. The findings of this study may aid in evaluating the validity of prior literature and also exploring this further by studying the relationship between discrimination and symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety with gender as a moderating variable. The present study is the first to examine COVID-19's effects on symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, sleep patterns, and discrimination, which may have been caused by the pandemic. A total of 582 people between the ages of 18 and 79 participated in this study. In part 1 of the study, participants were asked to complete online questionnaires such as DASS for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, PSQI for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, DI for discriminatory index, and general questions about how their lives have been affected by COVID-19. After 48 hours, the participants take part in the second part of the experiment, during which they complete a questionnaire about stress coping strategies and a memory test for the images they've seen in the first part of the experiment. Three hierarchical regression analyses are performed to investigate whether adding variables such as DI, age and gender could significantly increase the variance accounted for in the outcome/criterion variables (i.e., PSQI and DASS). While there is a statistically significant relationship between DASS and PSQI, DI and DASS with age as a moderator, and DI and DASS with gender, the inclusion of the interaction terms for DI and gender or DI and age were not statistically significant indicating that there is no interaction effect which explains variance above and beyond the two independent variables separately. Future studies may modify parts of this study to observe race-related differences, such as increasing the sample size or changing the DI by adding race as a moderator variable.
Overgeneral autobiographical memory in depression: a three-level meta-analysis

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-12) Weiss-Cowie, Samuel Aaron

Overgeneral Autobiographical Memory (OGM) is a frequently studied phenomenon in major depressive disorder (MDD). Although there exist several meta-analyses on OGM and MDD, their emphasis on clinically diagnosed current depression leaves open question about the severity of OGM in subthreshold and remitted depression. In addition, numerous studies of OGM have remained unconsidered due to a focus on one testing paradigm, the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT). To address these gaps, we conducted a meta-analysis on OGM in MDD that included remitted, subthreshold, and currently depressed samples and incorporated non-AMT studies. In addition, we used three level models for the first time, which enabled robust variance analyses including multiple effect sizes from each study while controlling for dependencies across those effect sizes. With results from a total of 67 published and unpublished works, ours is the largest meta-analysis to date on OGM in depression. We simultaneously identified decreased autobiographical memory specificity (g = -0.73) and increased categoricity (g = 0.77) for depressed individuals compared to controls. Moderator analyses suggested that OGM is more severe in current, clinical MDD than subthreshold and remitted depression, while OGM is similarly severe for positive, neutral, and negative memories. Our results resolve longstanding debate surrounding the relationship between valence and OGM while emphasizing the importance of utilizing a broader range of testing paradigms and considering non-clinical depression in future work.
The Role of Sleep Spindles and Theta Rhythms in Associative Memory Consolidation of Healthy Young Adults

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-12) Tolosa, Anabella

The purpose of this study was to examine sleep EEG in healthy young adults ages 18-25 years old. The Dreem2 wearable device was used to collect data.
Clinical Indicators that Predict Motor Recovery Post-Stroke

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-05) Noone, Amulya

One of the leading causes of long-term disability in adults is stroke. Stroke occurs due to disruptions in the blood supply in the brain resulting from a blockage or bleed. These disruptions can lead to impaired upper extremity motor function. Typically, patients participate in rehabilitation to regain lost motor function through training. However, it remains difficult to predict the expected level of recovery for each patient post-stroke. Improving prediction accuracy has the potential to increase the efficacy of therapy, influence therapeutic practices, and encourage stroke survivors to continue training. PREP2 is one algorithm that has shown promise in predicting upper-extremity outcomes in New Zealand. However, it is unclear if PREP2 can be successfully applied in the United States. The three goals of this study were to assess the feasibility of implementing PREP2 in the United States, determine whether currently collected clinical outcome measures could be used to better predict recovery post-stroke, and investigate relationships between nonmotor domains and motor recovery. To assess feasibility, we conducted a retrospective chart review of patients admitted with stroke to Emory University Hospital. We collected measures regarding stroke characteristics, patient demographics, and progression of recovery. Some of these measures include patient age, National Institute of Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, and Shoulder Abduction and Finger Extension (SAFE) scores. Using the collected data, Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) scores, a measure of upper extremity motor function, were estimated. Additionally, we conducted a correlational analysis to investigate the relationship between currently taken outcome measures and recovery post-stroke as well as between motor recovery post-stroke and nonmotor domains: speech and sensory impairment. Findings suggest it is feasible to implement PREP2 as the core metrics (e.g., SAFE, NIHSS) are collected on appropriate timelines. Additionally, SAFE scores were the only measure correlated with motor recovery post-stroke. We found no significant correlations between nonmotor domains and motor recovery. These findings are significant because they help refine the algorithm to ensure it is appropriate for the healthcare system in the United States. Additionally, research into nonmotor domains can add another layer to the algorithm leading to more accurate predictions of recovery.
Sex-related differences in resolving proactive interference during associative memory tasks

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-05) Quadri, Ayesha

Prior studies have shown that males and females perform differently on a variety of memory tasks. It is suggested that certain biological factors can lead to sex-related differences in cognitive decline, memory, and learning. The present study explores this further by examining the performance of males and females on associative memory tasks when exposed to proactive interference (PI). The findings of this study may aid in understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in overcoming interference and improving memory. This study utilized 49 individuals (F = 26, M = 23) between the ages of 18 and 77. The participants were asked to complete associative memory tasks while exposed to varying levels of interference (high interference, low interference, or no interference). During the encoding portion of the memory task, participants were asked to determine the ease in which two images presented together could be imagined. During the retrieval portion of the memory task, participants were asked to recall which associate category (face or scene) the presented object was most recently paired with in the encoding phase. Electroencephalography (EEG) data was also collected while the participants completed the memory tasks, but due to time-constraints and limitations introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, this data was not analyzed. A 3x2 repeated measures ANOVA conducted found a significant main effect of interference on memory accuracy, but no significant difference in the effects of interference on the memory accuracy of both sexes. Additionally, no interaction between interference conditions and sex was found. However, a paired samples t-test found significant differences in memory accuracy between the three interference conditions used in this study. Given this, future studies may modify components of this study to observe sex-related differences, such as changes to the associative memory task or an increase in the sample size. In the future, the potential analysis of EEG data may shed light onto differences in neural activity between the two sexes when exposed to PI.
Sex-related Differences in Aging and Metamemory

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-05) Homsy, Vanessa

Metamemory, knowledge of one’s memory capabilities, is an important measure for learning and cognitive functioning in addition to having clinical relevance, such as being used as a diagnostic tool in cognitive diseases. There have been mixed findings on the preservation of metamemory in age, though most research suggests that it is indeed preserved. However, research has not fully broached the question of whether males and females differ in metamemory accuracy with age. The current study analyzes sex differences in metamemory through an associative memory task. Participants (Males =14, Females =8) were asked to encode 120 word-picture pairs, with pictures being either of houses or faces. Judgements of learning (JOLs) were used after each association as a measure of their metamemory. The JOLs were categorized as either confident or not confident. After a series of behavioral tests, participants went into a functional magnetic resonance imaging machine (fMRI) for the retrieval portion, where they were shown learned words and had to choose the picture associate. Due to time constraints, fMRI scans were unable to be analyzed. A multiple linear regression model for the impact of sex, confidence, and the interaction of sex and confidence on percent correct at retrieval was performed. The model revealed that all three predictor variables, including sex (p < 0.01), were accurate predictors of percent correct at retrieval, with females having worse metamemory accuracy than males. The results provide novel evidence that metamemory preservation in age differs between the sexes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sample size of this study is small and thus future studies should further look into sex as a predictor of metamemory accuracy with age, as well as potential neural correlates such as gray matter volume and functional connectivity.
The neurological effects of subgoal-based learning

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-05) Ibrahim, Dania

The inclusion of subgoals in instructional materials has been shown to help learners be more successful solving novel problems. However, there are no studies on the neurological effects of this learning methodology. Cognition can be quantified as changes in alpha, beta, and theta waves in the frontal cortex on electroencephalogram (EEG) readings. This study is designed to determine whether subgoal learning leads to stronger neural engagement compared to a learner just memorizing steps. Fifty neurotypical college students from the Georgia Institute of Technology will be recruited to partake in this educational study. Participants will wear an EEG throughout the entirety of the experiment. Each participant will be given a set of instructions on how to complete physics problems dealing with motion and Rubik’s cube conceptual learning tasks. Participants will be given step by step instructions; half of the participants will have those instructions enhanced with subgoals that provide the purpose for groups of steps. These conditions will be randomly assigned. After being given time to learn the concepts, participants in both conditions will be asked to complete identical sets of motion and Rubik’s cube tasks while verbally explaining their thought process. EEG readings will be observed and analyzed to determine whether there was a greater increase in power of alpha, beta, and theta waves throughout the learning and problem-solving portions for participants in the Subgoal Condition relative to the No-Subgoal condition. It is hypothesized that the Subgoal Condition will show greater increases in alpha, beta, and theta waves overall, and that theta waves will show a particularly strong increase at the moment of subgoal completion. Data collection will begin once COVID safety measures are put in place.
Investigating the experimental contexts in which people with high confidence have high accuracy

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-05) Jin, Sunny

Metacognitive ability describes one’s ability to discern the accuracy of one’s previous decisions by attributing high confidence values to correct decisions and low values for incorrect decisions. This study aimed to determine the experimental conditions under which confidence- accuracy correlations are the strongest, indicating an overall greater metacognitive ability of subjects testing under those conditions than in others. To this end, this study investigated confidence-accuracy correlation across subjects for 143 cognitive neuroscience experiments from the Confidence Database on Open Science Framework. Using their respective across-subject correlations, this study determined for these experiments whether their correlation strengths differed between each other by their unique experimental design characteristics. This was done in an effort to investigate how these characteristics influence the strength of the correlation obtained and thus subjects’ metacognition. A significant, positive mean correlation was found from all subsets, following the general trend in confidence-accuracy correlation. It was also found that correlations between experiments of different categories, specifically perception and memory, are significantly different, with mixed-type experiments having the highest correlations. There was a significant effect of confidence range on confidence-accuracy correlation, but no significant effect of feedback, number of subjects, minimum trials per subject, maximum trials per subject, number of tasks times conditions, or number of difficulty levels. Future studies are needed to further investigate the effects of the design characteristics for which this study could not find a significant difference. By finding the right combinations of design characteristics for good metacognition, these combinations could be translated and applied to real-world settings in which high confidence-accuracy calibration is desired.
Gamma-frequency entrainment using audiovisual 40 Hz flicker

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-05) Gurram Thimmugari, Rahulkrishna

Neural oscillations, or brain waves, are endogenous rhythms of synchronized electrical activity that are the result of communication between large groups of cortical and/or subcortical neurons. Using entrainment methodologies, neural oscillations can be exogenously modulated in a non-invasive manner. One such methodology is gamma-frequency audiovisual stimulation, referred to here as “flicker”. Building on previous work which has shown that flicker can significantly improve Alzheimer’s Disease pathology, the present work tests the effects of flicker on memory and attention in healthy adults. Using the Rapid Series Visual Presentation (RSVP) behavioral task, we found statistically significant improvements in response time as a result of 40 Hz stimulation, with an effect size (using Cohen’s d) of 0.7026 when compared to No Stimulation and 0.5233 when compared to Random stimulation. We also found that Random stimulation, which delivers the same amount of stimulation as 40 Hz but on the minute timescale (while being asynchronous at the millisecond scale), increases False Alarm Rate (FAR), which is the rate at which subjects answer “Yes” on the RSVP task when the correct answer is “No”. Using the Signal Detection Model, these results were linked to the stimulation conditions affecting either the sensory and/or decision processes through either synchroneity/asynchroneity or through a power effect, i.e., sheer amount of stimulation. However, to support these speculations about the neural processes belying the behavioral results will require neuroimaging data. The key direction to take this study in the future would be to gather neuroimaging data, likely EEG.
Minority Stress, Sleep Quality, and Episodic Memory Performance in LGBTQ+ Adults

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-05) Campbell, Jessica E.

The main goal of this study was to investigate the impact of minority stress on the sleep quality and episodic memory performance of LGBTQ+ adults. This was done by collecting data from 70 participants (n = 39 LGBTQ+; n = 31 heterosexual) measuring sleep quality, minority and generalized stress, and episodic memory performance. The results found that generalized stress does act as a mediating variable potentially acting as a mechanism explaining the impact of sleep quality on memory consolidation.