Jude Buckley

Cognitive control in the self-regulation of physical activity and sedentary behavior

Cognitive control of physical activity and sedentary behavior is receiving increased attention in the neuroscientific and behavioral medicine literature as a means of better understanding and improving the self-regulation of physical activity. Enhancing individuals’ cognitive control capacities may provide a means to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior. First, this paper reviews emerging evidence of the antecedence of cognitive control abilities in successful self-regulation of physical activity, and in precipitating self-regulation failure that predisposes to sedentary behavior. We then highlight the brain networks that may underpin the cognitive control and self-regulation of physical activity, including the default mode network, prefrontal cortical networks and brain regions and pathways associated with reward. We then discuss research on cognitive training interventions that document improved cognitive control and that suggest promise of influencing physical activity regulation. Key cognitive training components likely to be the most effective at improving self-regulation are also highlighted. The review concludes with suggestions for future research.

Reading the Wrong Way with the Right Hemisphere

Reading is a complex process, drawing on a variety of brain functions in order to link symbols to words and concepts. The three major brain areas linked to reading and phonological analysis include the left temporoparietal region, the left occipitotemporal region and the inferior frontal gyrus. Decreased activation of the left posterior language system in dyslexia is well documented but there is relatively limited attention given to the role of the right hemisphere. The current study investigated differences in right and left hemisphere activation between individuals with dyslexia and non-impaired readers in lexical decision tasks (regular words, irregular words, pseudowords) during functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Results revealed the expected hypo-activation in the left posterior areas in those with dyslexia but also areas of overactivation in the right hemisphere. During pseudoword decisions, for example, adults with dyslexia showed more right inferior occipital gyrus activation than controls. In general the increased activation of left-hemisphere language areas found in response to both regular and pseudowords was absent in dyslexics. Laterality indices showed that while controls showed left lateralised activation of the temporal lobe during lexical decision making, dyslexic readers showed right activation. Findings will inform theories of reading and will have implications for the design of reading interventions.

Tension-Type Headache: A Life-Course Review

Background: Tension-type headache is the most prevalent primary headache type worldwide and is associated with a wide spectrum of disability. Although progress has been made in understanding the complex mechanisms that lead to the pathogenesis of tension-type headache, to date there are no clear-cut markers of what makes tension-type headache unique. Due to a relative lack of research (compared to migraine), the pathophysiology of tension-type headache is not well understood and there are gaps in the epidemiological data, particularly from Australasia. Objective: To provide a structured narrative review of the prevalence and correlates of tension-type headache, with focus on a birth cohort of young adults from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS) in New Zealand. Method: A review of the literature was conducted to identify the epidemiological, diagnostic, methodological and pathophysiological factors that contribute to tension-type headache being a specific entity. Results: Findings suggest that prevalence rates of TTH vary across global region, age, gender and method of assessment. A wide range of risk factors for TTH was identified, and recent advances in genetic and neurobiological research have increased understanding of the etiology of TTH. Few longitudinal studies have been conducted on TTH. Conclusion: Further longitudinal epidemiological research is needed to help distinguish tension-type headache from migraine, particularly in young people. Identifying the specific markers of tension-type headache is a first step towards developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Competition and cooperation with virtual players in an exergame

Twocross-sectional studies investigated the effects of competition andcooperationwith virtual players on exercise performance in an immersive virtual reality (VR) cycle exergame. Study 1 examined the effects of: (1) self-competition whereby participants played the exergamewhile competing against a replayof theirprevious exergame session (Ghost condition), and (2) playing the exergame with a virtual trainer present (Trainer condition) on distance travelled and calories expendedwhile cycling. Study 2 examined the effects of (1) competitionwith a virtual trainer system (Competitive condition) and (2) cooperation with a virtual trainer system (Cooperative condition). Post exergame enjoyment and motivation were also assessed. The results of Study 1 showed that the trainer system elicited a lesser distance travelled than when playing with a ghost or on one’s own. These results also showed that competing against a ghost was more enjoyable than playing on one’s own or with the virtual trainer. There was no significant difference between the participants’ rated enjoyment and motivation and their distance travelled or calories burned. The findings of Study 2 showed that the competitive trainer elicited a greater distance travelled and caloric expenditure, and was rated as more motivating. As in Study 1, enjoyment and motivation were not correlated with distance travelled and calories burned. Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrate that a competitive experience in exergaming is an effective tool to elicit higher levels of exercise from the user, and can be achieved through virtual substitutes for another human player. Subjects Human-Computer Interaction, Emerging Technologies

Working memory availability affects neural indices of distractor processing during visual search

Working memory and selective attention are traditionally viewed as distinct processes in human cognition. However, increasing research demonstrates significant overlap between these constructs such that as working memory availability decreases, individuals perform worse on attention-based tasks. To date, the neural mechanisms involved in this interaction are unknown. We measured three candidate lateralized event-related potential components (N2pc, Ptc, and SPCN) to observe the effects of increased working memory load on selective processing of targets and distractors. We found that increased working memory load impaired the processing of distractors, but not targets, and this was reflected in attentuation of the Ptc to distractors. We also found that individual performance on the task is related to the neural response to both targets and distractors. This study suggests that working memory availability impacts individuals’ ability to disengage from irrelevant stimuli, and that individual differences in visual search ability under load are related to both target and distractor processing.

Choice predicts the feedback negativity

Choosing the appropriate response given the circumstance is integral to all aspects of human behavior. One way of elucidating the mechanisms of choice is to relate behavior to neural correlates. Electrophysiological evidence implicates the ERP feedback-negativity (FN) and the P300 as promising neural correlates of reward processing, an integral component of learning. However, prior research has not adequately addressed how the development of a preference to select one option over another (choice preference) relates to the FN and the P300. We assessed whether variation in choice preference predicted the FN and P300 amplitude within subjects. We used a discrete-trials two-alternative choice procedure, where the reinforcer rate for each option was dependently scheduled by a concurrent variable interval. The reinforcer ratio for selecting each option was varied between sessions. Choice was quantified using both the generalized matching law sensitivity and the log odds of staying on the same versus switching to the other alternative (stay preference). The relationship between stay preference, FN, and P300 amplitudes was assessed using the innovative application of hierarchical Bayesian linear regression. The results demonstrate that stay preference was controlled by the reinforcer ratios and credibly predicted the FN amplitude but not P300 amplitude. The findings are consistent with the view that reinforcers may guide behavior by what they signal about future reinforcement, with the FN related to such a process.

Evaluating sensory feedback for immersion in exergames

Exercise video games show promise as a tool for increasing physical activity by providing intrinsic motivation to play the game. Immersion is an aspect of gaming which can lead to increased motivation and enjoyment. Due to the recent rise of consumer level Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), high levels of immersion are possible. In this paper, we evaluate different forms of sensory feedback in an immersive exergame played using an Oculus Rift HMD. We evaluate resistance feedback in the exercise itself, haptic feedback with wind, and sound feedback. Our study shows that all three kinds of feedback increase immersion when compared with no additional feedback, and that sound and wind feedback also increase enjoyment and motivation. Sound feedback is significantly more motivating and immersive than wind and resistance feedback. Combining all three feedback types produces better results than any single feedback type on its own. Exercise performance does not significantly change with the feedback types, although more calories are spent with resistance feedback due to the slightly increased difficulty of the exercise.