3,041 research outputs found
Spontaneous and cued gaze-following in autism and Williams syndrome
No full textBackground: From a young age the typical development of social functioning relies upon the allocation of attention to socially relevant information, which in turn allows experience at processing such information and thus enhances social cognition. As such, research has attempted to identify the developmental processes that are derailed in some neuro-developmental disorders that impact upon social functioning. Williams syndrome (WS) and Autism are disorders of development that are characterized by atypical yet divergent social phenotypes and atypicalities of attention to people. Methods: We used eye tracking to explore how individuals with WS and Autism attended to, and subsequently interpreted, an actor’s eye gaze cue within a social scene. Images were presented for three seconds, initially with an instruction simply to look at the picture. The images were then shown again, with the participant asked to identify the object being looked at. Allocation of eye-gaze in each condition was analyzed by ANOVA and accuracy of identification was compared with t-tests. Results: Participants with WS allocated more gaze time to face and eyes than their matched controls both with and without being asked to identify the item being looked at; while participants with Autism spent less time on face and eyes in both conditions. When cued to follow gaze, participants with WS increased gaze to the correct targets, while those with Autism looked more at the face and eyes but did not increase gaze to the correct targets, while continuing to look much more than their controls at implausible targets. Both groups identified fewer objects than their controls. Conclusions: The atypicalities found are likely to be entwined with the deficits shown in interpreting social cognitive cues from the images. WS and Autism are characterised by atypicalities of social attention that impact upon socio-cognitive expertise but importantly the type of atypicality is syndrome-specific
Deborah Harkness Book Talk and Signing
No full textThe Z. Smith Reynolds Library Lecture Series presents a talk and book signing by Deborah Harkness, author of the bestselling novels A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night. Deborah is a featured author at the 9th annual Bookmarks Festival of Books. Her Wake Forest appearance is co-sponsored by Bookmarks and ZSR Library as part of the Bookmarks Authors in Schools program
Cognitive load in face-to-face interactions: Evidence from neurodevelopmental disorders
No full textWhen thinking, especially about cognitively demanding material, we often avert our gaze from the face of our interlocutor or other potentially distracting aspects of the visual environment (eg Glenberg, Schroeder, & Robertson, 1998; Phelps, Doherty-Sneddon, Warnock, 2006). Reasons why we might look away from faces in particular are that they are 'capturing', hard to ignore and physiologically arousing. Here we investigate whether: people with Williams Syndrome (WS) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) avert their gaze in response to cognitive demands placed upon them; and whether participants with WS experience increased physiological arousal associated with looking at faces. ASD is a well known developmental disorder which is associated with a number of emotional and intellectual difficulties. Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder which in terms of social functioning has been referred to as the 'other end of the spectrum' compared to individuals with ASD (Brock, Einav & Riby, in press). The proposed work has significant practical and clinical implications. For example while atypical patterns of eye gaze are reported in ASD our understanding of why this occurs remains limited, as do the cognitive implications of social skills training for this population
Exploring face perception in disorders of development: evidence from Williams syndrome and autism
No full textIndividuals with Williams syndrome (WS) and autism are characterized by different social phenotypes but have been said to show similar atypicalities of face-processing style. Although the structural encoding of faces may be similarly atypical in these two developmental disorders, there are clear differences in overall face skills. The inclusion of both populations in the same study can address how the profile of face skills varies across disorders. The current paper explored the processing of identity, eye-gaze, lip-reading, and expressions of emotion using the same participants across face domains. The tasks had previously been used to make claims of a modular structure to face perception in typical development. Participants with WS (N=15) and autism (N=20) could be dissociated from each other, and from individuals with general developmental delay, in the domains of eye-gaze and expression processing. Individuals with WS were stronger at these skills than individuals with autism. Even if the structural encoding of faces appears similarly atypical in these groups, the overall profile of face skills, as well as the underlying architecture of face perception, varies greatly. The research provides insights into typical and atypical models of face perception in WS and autism
Author Deborah Heffernan of Bridgton describes how secret plans to have a Queen
No full textAuthor Deborah Heffernan of Bridgton describes how secret plans to have a Queen Anne bonnet-top high boy built for her husband Jack Heffernan turned into a community affair, while yet remaining a secret. The actual design and construction of the high boy fell on Bob Dunning, with the help cabinetmaker Greg Marston. Others involved on the project included Mary and Don Johnson and their sons Tom and Eric. With descriptive details of elements included in the highboy
Lifestyle, glucose regulation and the cognitive effects of glucose load in middle-aged adults
No full textInterventions aimed at improving glucose regulatory mechanisms have been suggested as a possible source of cognitive enhancement in the elderly. In particular, previous research has identified episodic memory as a target for facilitation after either moderate increases in glycaemia (after a glucose drink) or after improvements in glucose regulation. The present study aimed to extend this research by examining the joint effects of glucose ingestion and glucose regulation on cognition. In addition, risk factors associated with the development of poor glucose regulation in middle-aged adults were considered. In a repeated measures design, thirty-three middle-aged adults (aged 35–55 years) performed a battery of memory and non-memory tasks after either 25 g or 50 g glucose or a sweetness matched placebo drink. To assess the impact of individual differences in glucose regulation, blood glucose measurements were taken on four occasions during testing. A lifestyle and diet questionnaire was also administered. Consistent with previous research, episodic memory ability benefited from glucose ingestion when task demands were high. Blood glucose concentration was also found to predict performance across a number of cognitive domains. Interestingly, the risk factors associated with poor glucose regulation were linked to dietary impacts traditionally associated with poor health, e.g. the consumption of high-sugar sweets and drinks. The research replicates earlier work suggesting that task demands are critical to the glucose facilitation effect. Importantly, the data demonstrate clear associations between elevated glycaemia and relatively poor cognitive performance, which may be partly due to the effect of dietary and lifestyle factors
Lecture: Author Deborah Eisenberg reads from her story, "Some Other, Better Otto" Nov. 2 at Vanderbilt University
No full textIncludes descriptive metadata provided by producer in MP3 file: "Listen to author Deborah Eisenberg read from her story 'Some Other, Better Otto' from her collection Twilight of the Superheroes on Nov. 2 in Buttrick Hall. Introducing Eisenberg is Nancy Reisman, assistant professor of English.
Feminismo (2019) de Deborah Cameron
No full textFeminism is a small compilation of the debates that have run through the movement, especially in the West. Narrated in a simple and entertaining style, based on compilations of different themes, studies and references, it addresses the main questions of feminism and exposes the answers that have been provided from different positions.
TECHNICAL SHEET OF THE BOOK
Title: Feminism. Author: Cameron, Deborah. Translation: Tercero, Maria Enguix. Publisher: Alianza Editorial. Language: Spanish. Pages: 176. Year: 2019. Place: Madrid. EBOOK ISBN: 978-84-9181-541-9. Original title: Feminism. 1st edition in English, 2018, Great Britain. Profile Books LTD.Feminismo es una pequeña compilación de los debates que han atravesado al movimiento, especialmente en occidente. Narrado en un estilo simple y llevadero, en base a recopilaciones de distintos temas, estudios y referentes, va abordando los principales interrogantes del feminismo y exponiendo las respuestas que se han brindado desde diferentes posiciones.
FICHA TÉCNICA DE LA OBRA
Título: Feminismo. Autora: Cameron, Deborah. Traducción: Tercero, María Enguix. Editorial: Alianza Editorial. Idioma: Castellano. Páginas: 176. Año: 2019. Lugar: Madrid. ISBN ebook: 978-84-9181-541-9. Título original: Feminism. 1° edición en inglés, 2018, Gran Bretaña. Profile Books LTD
Deborah Cheetham \u27It’s not over till the Black Lady Sings\u27.
No full textThis year’s annual Nulungu lecture at the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Broome Campus will be delivered by Deborah Cheetham, Indigenous Soprano, actor and author of the internationally acclaimed play, White Baptist Abba Fan. She is a graduate of the NSW Conservatorium of Music and Julliard School of Music.
Since her international debut in 1997 Ms Cheetham has performed in the theatres and concert halls of United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and throughout Australia. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Ms Cheetham performed her original composition, Dali Mana Gamarada.
During the 2001 Centenary of Federation celebrations Ms Cheetham performed in several major events including the January 1st Concert in Sydney’s Centennial Park when she appeared as a soloist and speaker. She performed with Argentine tenor, Jose Cura at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup in 2003. This was broadcast to a worldwide audience of more than one billion. In 2005, Deborah added to her list of international credit engagements in Paris, including performances at the Australian Embassy and the La Cigale in the Marais
In 2006 Deborah was a recipient of the Australia Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts fellowship. The fellowship enabled Deborah to write, direct and produce a 21st century Australian opera, Pecan Summer. The work created opportunities and demonstrated the talents of Indigenous singers and musicians, actors, writers and technicians.
On 22nd February this year Deborah performed the national anthem at the memorial service for the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires. Of the service Deborah said , ‘Joined by a massed choir of over 500 voices I was honoured to pay my respect to the victims and survivors of these terrible fires by singing Advance Australia Fair.’
Deborah will be delivering the Nulungu Lecture at the Broome Campus of The University of Notre Dame, 88 Guy Street, Broome, on Thursday 20 August at 5.00pm. The Nulungu Reconciliation Lecture is to be an annual event on the Broome Campus where key speakers will be invited to address issues of Reconciliation that shape contemporary Aboriginal and Australian thought and experience. The title of Deborah’s lecture is It’s not over till the Black Lady Sings
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