Diala Ammar

Estimation of Reach in Peripersonal and Extrapersonal Space: A Developmental View

This study explored the developmental nature of action processing via estimation of reach in peripersonal and extrapersonal space. Children 5 to 11 years of age and adults were tested for estimates of reach to targets presented randomly at seven midline locations. Target distances were scaled to the individual based on absolute maximum reach. While there was no difference between age groups for total error, a significant distinction emerged in reference to space. With children, significantly more error was exhibited in extrapersonal space; no difference was found with adults. The groups did not differ in peripersonal space; however, adults were substantially more accurate with extrapersonal targets. Furthermore, children displayed a greater tendency to overestimate. In essence, these data reveal a body-scaling problem in children in estimating reach in extrapersonal space. Future work should focus on possible developmental differences in use of visual information and state of confidence.

Visual Cues and Perceived Reachability.

A rather consistent finding in studies of perceived (imagined) compared to actual movement in a reaching paradigm is the tendency to overestimate at midline. Explanations of such behavior have focused primarily on perceptions of postural constraints and the notion that individuals calibrate reachability in reference to multiple degrees of freedom, also known as the whole-body explanation. The present study examined the role of visual information in the form of binocular and monocular cues in perceived reachability. Right-handed participants judged the reachability of visual targets at midline with both eyes open, dominant eye occluded, and the non-dominant eye covered. Results indicated that participants were relatively accurate with condition responses not being significantly different in regard to total error. Analysis of the direction of error (mean bias) revealed effective accuracy across conditions with only a marginal distinction between monocular and binocular conditions. Therefore, within the task conditions of this experiment, it appears that binocular and monocular cues provide sufficient visual information for effective judgments of perceived reach at midline.

Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development: A Cross-Cultural Study between American and Lebanese Children

Considerable efforts have been devoted to map the relations between the home environment and selected aspects of child’s development. A recent instrument was developed that aimed at assessing the affordances in the home environment, the AHEMD-SR. Although the AHEMD-SR gave insight into affordances in the home, it was focused on two specific populations from the United States and Portugal. Currently, there is limited research regarding the validity of this instrument when used in different cultures. The purpose of this study was to compare a sample of Middle Eastern children to the normative sample that was used to validate the AHEMD. Results showed a significance difference between the socioeconomic statuses between the groups. Concerning factor analysis, results showed that the Lebanese group had five factors loading as did the American/Portuguese sample but with variables loading differently. Interestingly, the Lebanese group showed higher scores for affordances inside the home such replica toys and games. Our findings show that the state of the environment may play a role in the affordances and development. Future work is needed to look at the specific loading and possible variables that may be included in the AHMED-SR to look at other cultures that may have other limitations.

Assessing Lebanese Children's Reactions to War-Related Stress.

This exploratory study investigates the psychological effect of the 2006 war on Lebanese children. A sample of 110 exposed and 105 nonexposed children (9–12 years) balanced for age and gender were assessed using Spielbergers State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The analysis aimed at investigating the effect of proximity, exposure to combat, and family loss on childrens anxiety levels. Results revealed no gender differences in anxiety level. Combat-exposed children were more anxious than nonexposed children. Children with primary family loss were significantly more anxious and stressed than controls. The association between traumatic war situations in Lebanon and anxiety could have implications for benchmarking, early detection, and preventive efforts.

Quality of life and coping strategies in Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis patients: A pilot study

Coping strategies used by Multiple Sclerosis patients play a key role in adjusting to the disease and affect their overall quality of life. This relationship has been investigated in developed countries, but none has been studied in developing ones such as Lebanon. Factors including barriers to health care delivery, economic pressure and political instability influence which coping strategies are used and often increases the use of negative coping mechanisms. The current pilot study explored the association between different coping strategies with quality of life and depression, anxiety, fatigue and social support in 34 Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis patients. Results indicated that Multiple Sclerosis patients using positive coping strategies had significantly higher scores of quality of life (U=46, p=.038) and social support (U=33.5, p=.011), and lower depression (U=44, p=.030) and anxiety levels (U=46.5, p=.038) as compared to those using negative coping strategies. Specifically, escape avoidance coping strategy was associated with poor quality of life scores (r=-.609, p<.0001) and high levels of depression (r=.534, p=.001), anxiety (r=.530, p=.001), and fatigue (r=.401, p=.019). Comprehensive assessment of Multiple Sclerosis taking into account coping strategies is needed to develop proper therapeutic interventions which increase quality of life. Future studies are required to confirm these results.

HIV/AIDS in Lebanese prisons: challenges and proposed actions

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to discuss the extent of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) crisis in Lebanese prisons, propose functional reforms for Roumieh prisons (the countrys largest male top-security prison), and outline the main challenges to HIV/AIDS prevention, intervention, and treatment. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH All recommendations were based on previous successful stories, international prison standards as well as cultural considerations. FINDINGS This paper argues that prevention and interventions starts within the prison community including inmates, guards, and other prison and provision of appropriate health care, education, and prison infrastructure. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS These strategies are not only important in limiting prevention and transmission of HIV/AIDS, but also contribute in optimizing quality of life within the prison system. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This paper is the first of its kind to discuss the prison situation in Lebanese prisons in terms of public health promotion and reforms.

Parent and Teacher Perceptions of Assessing Lebanese Children’s Reaction to War-Related Stress: A Survey of Psychological and Behavioral Functioning

This study explored the psychological and behavioral functioning of children from South Lebanon post July war 2006. The analysis aimed at investigating perceptions of parents and teachers on the effect of proximity to combat exposure and family loss on children’s behavior. Parents (200) and teachers (200) rated two groups of children (9-12 year olds) using Burk’s Behavior Rating Scales (Burk, 1977). Results indicated that both parents and teachers rated children exposed to combat higher than their counterparts. Overall, girls who experienced family loss scored higher than boys. Also, mothers rated children higher on behavioral disturbances, while teachers rated children higher on academic performance. These findings shed light on mother-child dyads. Suggestions for future investigations are discussed.

Testing the distinctiveness of visual imagery and motor imagery in a reach paradigm.

We examined the distinctiveness of motor imagery (MI) and visual imagery (VI) in the context of perceived reachability. The aim was to explore the notion that the two visual modes have distinctive processing properties tied to the two-visual-system hypothesis. The experiment included an interference tactic whereby participants completed two tasks at the same time: a visual or motor-interference task combined with a MI or VI-reaching task. We expected increased error would occur when the imaged task and the interference task were matched (e.g., MI with the motor task), suggesting an association based on the assumption that the two tasks were in competition for space on the same processing pathway. Alternatively, if there were no differences, dissociation could be inferred. Significant increases in the number of errors were found when the modalities for the imaged (both MI and VI) task and the interference task were matched. Therefore, it appears that MI and VI in the context of perceived reachability recruit different processing mechanisms.

DOES TARGET VIEWING TIME INFLUENCE PERCEIVED REACHABILITY

This study examined the influence of target viewing time on perceived (estimates of) reachability. Right-handed participants were asked to judge the simulated reachability of midline targets using their dominant limb in viewing conditions of 150 ms, 500 ms, 1 s and 2 s. Responses were compared to actual maximum reach. In reference to percent error, interestingly, the 150 ms condition revealed the least error at peripersonal targets and the most inaccuracy with distal (extrapersonal) targets. This condition was also distinct with a significant overestimation bias—a common observation in earlier studies. However, with increasing viewing time this bias was reduced. These data provide evidence that 150 ms is effective for estimating reach within ones general peripersonal workspace. However, with judgments distal from that point, more time enhanced accuracy, with 500 ms and 1 s being optimal. Overall results are discussed relative to perceptual effectiveness in programming reaching movements.

Motor imagery in reaching: is there a left-hemispheric advantage?

The study of motor imagery affords an attractive approach in the quest to identify the specific aspects of cognitive and neuromotor mechanisms and relationship involved in action processing. Here, the authors investigated the recently reported finding that compared to the left-hemisphere, the right brain is at a significant disadvantage for mentally simulating reaching movements. The authors investigated this observation with strong right-handers that were asked to estimate the imagined reachability of visual targets (presented at 150 ms) at multiple points at midline, right- and left visual field; responses were compared to actual maximum reaching distance. Results indicated that individuals are relatively accurate at imagined reachability, with no significant distinction between visual field responses. Therefore, these data provide no evidence to support the claim that the right hemisphere is significantly inferior to the left hemisphere in estimations of motor imagery for reaching. The authors do acknowledge differences in the experimental task and subject characteristics compared to earlier work using split-brain and stroke patients.