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The Acute Effects of High-Intensity Exercise on Spatial Memory
No full textBackground: High-intensity exercise provides the greatest benefits to memory. Existing research primarily investigates the effects of chronic exercise interventions on spatial memory, but whether acute high-intensity exercise benefits spatial memory is unknown.
Methods: 10 males and 10 females (23 ± 2 y) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: 1) sprint interval training (SIT); or 2) no exercise control (CTRL). Before and after the participants’ treatment, spatial memory was assessed using a virtual-reality (VR) hedge maze. Participants were tasked to learn and remember the location of six objects from various start locations, found in the maze during the spatial navigation task. Spatial memory was assessed immediately after treatment and then again 48 hours following the treatment session. Absolute angular error (AE), the angle between the actual location of an object and the estimated location of an object was calculated to quantify participants’ performance (i.e., hippocampal function) on the spatial memory task.
Results: The SIT group exhibited a decrease in AE (i.e., better spatial memory) from pre- and post-treatment to the 48-hour follow-up (p \u3c .001), while there was no improvement in spatial memory in the CTRL group. Moreover, the improvements within the SIT group were only demonstrated at one of the start locations (p = .002), indicating that learning was not consistent at all start locations in the maze.
Conclusion: A single session of SIT led to no discernable improvements in spatial memory immediately post-exercise, however, improved spatial memory was exhibited 48 hours following the experimental session
Examining The Mental Health Experiences of LGBTQ+ Identifying Muslim Students in Ontario’s Post-Secondary Institutions
Get PDFThis qualitative study explores the unique mental health experiences of Ontario’s LGBTQ+ Muslims in post-secondary settings. The study looks at how LGBTQ+ Muslim students’ mental wellness (i.e., sense of belonging, feeling affirmed in their intersecting identities of being Muslim and belonging to LGBTQ+ community) is affected as they try to navigate systemic barriers and make space for themselves in various settings (i.e., academic, LGBTQ+ affirming spaces, Muslim-specific spaces, student services) on campuses in Ontario, Canada. The study sample consists of four LGBTQ+ identified Muslim students across post-secondary institutions in Ontario and participants discussed their emotional, mental, and sense of belonging experiences on campus. Participants provide suggestions on improving the available support offered through their institutions. Key results from the thematic analysis of data suggest that the participants’ mental health are negatively impacted due to experiencing exclusion at various levels at educational institutions and such experiences impact their identity as LGBTQ+ Muslim students. Furthermore, institutions offer limited supports and resources. As a result, LGBTQ+ Muslim students seek resources outside of campuses, as well as peer support, to cope with these experiences of exclusion and sense of “unbelonging.” Additionally, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ+ Muslim students experience both positive and negative outcomes, such as loss of access to in-person communities on campus and connecting with other LGBTQ+ Muslims across the globe via online platforms. Participants recommend that culturally competent training for staff and faculty at these institutions be applied to create more inclusive and accessible spaces on campus
Pluralism, Political Creeds, and Competing Ontologies: Faith Leaders as a Resource for Navigating Polarization
Get PDFSinging Common Ground: Inshallah Offers an Embodied Response to Polarization to an Interfaith Audience
Get PDFWomen Guitar Orchestra Conductors, 1885 to Present, Part 1
Get PDFPassion, innovation, musicianship: these are reflected in the careers and offerings of women and the guitar. As I continue my research on women’s contributions to guitar orchestras, I became interested in discovering how many women have led guitar orchestras since they began in the 1800’s and learn what women today are experiencing in this role. Guitar orchestras have played an important role in many musicians’ development throughout its history, but unfortunately women have been often unacknowledged and under-represented in this ensemble format’s leadership roles.
This article includes a list I have compiled of women guitar orchestra conductors (past/present), will discuss the contributions of Madame Sidney Pratten, Olga Pierri, and Vahdah Olcott-Bickford, and the results of a survey I conducted to develop a sense of what women’s experiences have been leading this type of ensemble, if the music education they received provided adequate training, what support they received from peers and/or school administration (if their orchestra was a school ensemble)
“If somebody takes the time to listen”: Understanding the risks and reasons for cannabis use among youth who have experienced psychosis
No full textThe legalization and commercialization of cannabis in Canada has renewed concerns among mental health professionals regarding its effects on young people with mental health difficulties. Early and frequent use of the main cannabis constituent Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) increases risk for developing psychosis in vulnerable populations, and consumption is common among youth in Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) programs. Continued THC use after an episode of psychosis is associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, though a secondary cannabis component, cannabidiol (CBD), may have therapeutic or harm reduction potential. While many young people in EPI services use THC despite clinical advice to abstain, their views toward its risks and benefits are not well understood. Further, the social context surrounding cannabis use among youth who have experienced psychosis has been understudied due to the emphasis on quantitative methods in the cannabis and psychosis literature.
This dissertation addresses gaps in the literature by focusing on the risks, motivations for use, and social context related to cannabis use among youth who have experienced psychosis, including the history of stigma and discrimination toward cannabis users and people with experiences of psychosis, and the current sociopolitical environment that affects them. Particular attention is given to factors associated with the emergence of psychosis, including traumatic stress, immigration, racial discrimination, and economic disadvantage. To better understand the views of cannabis-consuming youth who have experienced psychosis, a qualitative study blending Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with Qualitative Description was conducted with a sample (n=15) of young people in Ontario EPI programs. This study investigated participants’ reasons for using cannabis, perceptions of risk, and views toward its impact on their relationships with friends and family. The study also explored perspectives on CBD, THC concentrates, cannabis education, and harm reduction. The findings shed light not only on the personal and social meanings participants ascribed to this drug, but also its effects on their quality of life. The purpose of this dissertation is to further research related to cannabis and psychosis while simultaneously illuminating the voices of youth in EPI programs and informing strategies to improve mental health practice with this population. Implications for service provision, cannabis education, harm reduction, and future research are provided
“You do not need to be skinny or look like an athlete to still live a healthy life”: Exploring anti-fat bias within health-related undergraduate programs
No full textAnti-fat bias negatively influences well-being, particularly for fat people. This bias is present in healthcare and fitness contexts, where emphasis on bodies and weight are salient. Healthcare and fitness professionals often re-learn anti-fat bias in their education through a weight-centric paradigm of health, which frames weight as a primary indicator of health (good or bad), an individual responsibility, and a direct reflection of individual behavioural choices (i.e., diet and exercise). The failure to control one’s weight within societally acceptable levels is seen as a moral failure rather than resulting from complex factors relating to the social determinants of health (i.e., environment, economic status, education). Healthcare and fitness professionals may then hold anti-fat bias towards their patients, perpetuating negative health outcomes. Additionally, fat students in these programs may experience anti-fat bias through course curricula and school environments. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 46 fat students in undergraduate health-related programs to understand the effect anti-fat bias had on their well-being. Students reported how healthism and a weight-centric model of health manifested in curricula, as well as the ways in which they struggled with body self-consciousness and concerns about not belonging in their programs due to their weight. However, they recognized the complexities of health, discussing appreciation for holistic health frameworks. Results highlight the importance of addressing anti-fat bias at post-secondary institutions and the need for systemic interventions at program levels to better equip the next generations of healthcare and fitness professionals to appropriately and compassionately approach weight and body size
PROTECTING NOT PROTESTING: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCE, PERCEPTIONS, AND MOTIVATIONS OF LAND DEFENDING IN CANADA
Get PDFIndigenous people hold a respectful and reciprocal relationship with the land, which is central to their cultures and societies. However, the appropriation of traditional lands lies at the heart of settler colonialism. This has resulted in a prolonged struggle by Indigenous people and their allies against land dispossession for settler occupation and resource extraction that has shaped historical and contemporary Indigenous land defence movements. This research explores the experiences and challenges faced by Indigenous people who engage in land defence in Canada, focusing on their strategies, resilience and motivations in protecting the land. The study draws on Absolon’s (2010) Indigenous Wholistic Theory (IWT), visualized as a medicine wheel, to frame the interconnectedness of individual, family, community, nations, society, and creation. By using a combination of conversational method and narrative analysis, this qualitative research study captures the lived experiences of Indigenous people who engage in land defence, providing a comprehensive understanding of their interactions with colonial systems and law enforcement. Findings reveal that Indigenous land protectors often face extreme violence and criminalization from police, white community members, and the broader society, highlighting the ongoing colonial practices by the Canadian government. Despite these challenges, Indigenous people are motivated by cultural, spiritual, and communal responsibilities, striving for Mino-bimaadisiwin – living the good life. This research contributes to the academic discourse on Indigenous land defence by offering insights into Indigenous perspectives and the broader implications of their efforts. It calls for a shift beyond current public discourse, supporting Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protection. The findings of this study emphasize the need for continued dialogue and solidarity to foster a new narrative of understanding and support for Indigenous land defence initiatives