• Title/Summary/Keyword: Cognitive functions

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The Effectiveness of Baking and Pastry Activity Program on Cognitive Function of Elderly with Dementia (제과제빵 활동프로그램이 치매노인의 인지기능에 미치는 효과)

  • Lee, Eun-Hee;Lee, Jung-Eun
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.21 no.7
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    • pp.544-554
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    • 2020
  • The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of baking and pastry activity programs on the cognitive function of the elderly with dementia. The study was carried out on 19 elderly with dementia who attended K city C daycare center and who provided consent. A total of 10 elderly were assigned to the experimental group, and the other nine were assigned to the control group. To test the effectiveness of the program, this research used the pretest-posttest control group design. The experimental group administered the program from January 2, 2017 to February 28, 2017. However, the control group did not undergo a separate program. Fisher's accuracy test was performed to identify the homogeneity of the experimental and control groups. Mann-Whitney U Test was conducted to identify the homogeneity of the cognitive functions of the experimental and control groups prior to the launch of the program. Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed-Rank and Mann-Whitney U Test were conducted to determine the effects of the program on the cognitive function of the elderly with dementia. As a result, the program verified the effect on the cognitive function of the elderly with dementia. According to these findings, the important issues and limitations of the research are discussed.

Differences in Physical fitness, Cognitive function, ADL, IADL, and Psychological variables according to the Elderly's participation in Physical activity (노인의 신체활동 참여에 따른 체력과 인지기능, ADL, IADL, 및 심리적 변인의 차이)

  • Choi, Jae-Won;Kim, Sang-Bum;Kang, Sung-Goo;Yoo, Ha-Na;Lee, Kyung-Ha
    • Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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    • v.38 no.3
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    • pp.786-800
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    • 2021
  • The subjects of this study were 463 people aged 65 and older in the senior welfare center in Seoul and Gyeonggi. The purpose of the study is to analyze the differences between physical fitness factors and cognitive functions, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and psychological variables in the participation of the elderly in physical activities. Data ware analyzed by frequency analysis, reliability analysis, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation analysis, with SPSS 25.0 statistics program. The results of this study are as follows. First, there are statistically significant differences in physical fitness, cognitive function, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and psychological factors such as depression and quality of life, depending on whether the elderly participate in physical activity. There were statistically significant differences in physical fitness, cognitive function, ADL, IADL, depression and quality of life, depending on the frequency of participation of older people in physical activity. A statistically significant difference in physical fitness appeared depending on the participation time of the elderly who participated in physical activity. Second, a study of the correlation between physical fitness and cognitive function, ADL, IADL, depression, and quality of life revealed a correlation for most factors. Based on these research results, it is necessary to develop a systematic arbitration strategy including physical activity for the successful aging of the elderly and the independent life of old age.

A Study on the Effect of Virtual Reality Intervention on Cognitive Function in Individuals With Stroke Through Meta-analysis (메타분석을 통한 뇌졸중 환자의 인지기능에 대한 가상현실 중재 효과 연구)

  • Kwon, Jae Sung
    • Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.7-22
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    • 2021
  • Objective : The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of virtual reality interventions (VRIs) on cognitive function in individuals with stroke through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Methods : We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) the last 10 years using academic databases. PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL were used for international studies, and DBpia, KISS, Kyoboscholar, and e-article were used for Korean studies. For the quantitative meta-analysis, subgroups of outcomes were classified into general cognitive function (G-CF), attention and memory (A&M), and executive function (EF). Results : Nine RCTs were analyzed. The total number of participants was 271 (140 in the experimental group). The effect size (Cohen's d) was estimated using a random effects model. The effect sizes of the outcome subgroups of were as follows: small to medium for G-CF (d=0.422; 95% CI: 0.101~0.742; p=0.010), small for A&M (d=0.249; 95% CI: -0.107~0.605; p=0.170), and medium for EF (d=0.666; 95% CI: 0.136~1.195; p=0.014). Conclusion : Considering the various stimuli provided by the virtual environment and the results from available research, virtual reality should be applied to interventions for integrated cognitive functions. In addition, it would be appropriate to be used as an additional intervention to traditional cognitive rehabilitation for stroke.

A Review of the Neurocognitive Mechanisms for Mathematical Thinking Ability (수학적 사고력에 관한 인지신경학적 연구 개관)

  • Kim, Yon Mi
    • Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.159-219
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    • 2016
  • Mathematical ability is important for academic achievement and technological renovations in the STEM disciplines. This study concentrated on the relationship between neural basis of mathematical cognition and its mechanisms. These cognitive functions include domain specific abilities such as numerical skills and visuospatial abilities, as well as domain general abilities which include language, long term memory, and working memory capacity. Individuals can perform higher cognitive functions such as abstract thinking and reasoning based on these basic cognitive functions. The next topic covered in this study is about individual differences in mathematical abilities. Neural efficiency theory was incorporated in this study to view mathematical talent. According to the theory, a person with mathematical talent uses his or her brain more efficiently than the effortful endeavour of the average human being. Mathematically gifted students show different brain activities when compared to average students. Interhemispheric and intrahemispheric connectivities are enhanced in those students, particularly in the right brain along fronto-parietal longitudinal fasciculus. The third topic deals with growth and development in mathematical capacity. As individuals mature, practice mathematical skills, and gain knowledge, such changes are reflected in cortical activation, which include changes in the activation level, redistribution, and reorganization in the supporting cortex. Among these, reorganization can be related to neural plasticity. Neural plasticity was observed in professional mathematicians and children with mathematical learning disabilities. Last topic is about mathematical creativity viewed from Neural Darwinism. When the brain is faced with a novel problem, it needs to collect all of the necessary concepts(knowledge) from long term memory, make multitudes of connections, and test which ones have the highest probability in helping solve the unusual problem. Having followed the above brain modifying steps, once the brain finally finds the correct response to the novel problem, the final response comes as a form of inspiration. For a novice, the first step of acquisition of knowledge structure is the most important. However, as expertise increases, the latter two stages of making connections and selection become more important.

Comparison of Cognitive Loads between Koreans and Foreigners in the Reading Process

  • Im, Jung Nam;Min, Seung Nam;Cho, Sung Moon
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.35 no.4
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    • pp.293-305
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    • 2016
  • Objective: This study aims to measure cognitive load levels by analyzing the EEG of Koreans and foreigners, when they read a Korean text with care selected by level from the grammar and vocabulary aspects, and compare the cognitive load levels through quantitative values. The study results can be utilized as basic data for more scientific approach, when Korean texts or books are developed, and an evaluation method is built, when the foreigners encounter them for learning or an assignment. Background: Based on 2014, the number of the foreign students studying in Korea was 84,801, and they increase annually. Most of them are from Asian region, and they come to Korea to enter a university or a graduate school in Korea. Because those foreign students aim to learn within Universities in Korea, they receive Korean education from their preparation for study in Korea. To enter a university in Korea, they must acquire grade 4 or higher level in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), or they need to complete a certain educational program at each university's affiliated language institution. In such a program, the learners of the Korean language receive Korean education based on texts, except speaking domain, and the comprehension of texts can determine their academic achievements in studying after they enter their desired schools (Jeon, 2004). However, many foreigners, who finish a language course for the short-term, and need to start university study, cannot properly catch up with university classes requiring expertise with the vocabulary and grammar levels learned during the language course. Therefore, reading education, centered on a strategy to understand university textbooks regarded as top level reading texts to the foreigners, is necessary (Kim and Shin, 2015). This study carried out an experiment from a perspective that quantitative data on the readers of the main player of reading education and teaching materials need to be secured to back up the need for reading education for university study learners, and scientifically approach educational design. Namely, this study grasped the difficulty level of reading through the measurement of cognitive loads indicated in the reading activity of each text by dividing the difficulty of a teaching material (book) into eight levels, and the main player of reading into Koreans and foreigners. Method: To identify cognitive loads indicated upon reading Korean texts with care by Koreans and foreigners, this study recruited 16 participants (eight Koreans and eight foreigners). The foreigners were limited to the language course students studying the intermediate level Korean course at university-affiliated language institutions within Seoul Metropolitan Area. To identify cognitive load, as they read a text by level selected from the Korean books (difficulty: eight levels) published by King Sejong Institute (Sejonghakdang.org), the EEG sensor was attached to the frontal love (Fz) and occipital lobe (Oz). After the experiment, this study carried out a questionnaire survey to measure subjective evaluation, and identified the comprehension and difficulty on grammar and words. To find out the effects on schema that may affect text comprehension, this study controlled the Korean texts, and measured EEG and subjective satisfaction. Results: To identify brain's cognitive load, beta band was extracted. As a result, interactions (Fz: p =0.48; Oz: p =0.00) were revealed according to Koreans and foreigners, and difficulty of the text. The cognitive loads of Koreans, the readers whose mother tongue is Korean, were lower in reading Korean texts than those of the foreigners, and the foreigners' cognitive loads became higher gradually according to the difficulty of the texts. From the text four, which is intermediate level in difficulty, remarkable differences started to appear in comparison of the Koreans and foreigners in the beginner's level text. In the subjective evaluation, interactions were revealed according to the Koreans and foreigners and text difficulty (p =0.00), and satisfaction was lower, as the difficulty of the text became higher. Conclusion: When there was background knowledge in reading, namely schema was formed, the comprehension and satisfaction of the texts were higher, although higher levels of vocabulary and grammar were included in the texts than those of the readers. In the case of a text in which the difficulty of grammar was felt high in the subjective evaluation, foreigners' cognitive loads were also high, which shows the result of the loads' going up higher in proportion to the increase of difficulty. This means that the grammar factor functions as a stress factor to the foreigners' reading comprehension. Application: This study quantitatively evaluated the cognitive loads of Koreans and foreigners through EEG, based on readers and the text difficulty, when they read Korean texts. The results of this study can be used for making Korean teaching materials or Korean education content and topic selection for foreigners. If research scope is expanded to reading process using an eye-tracker, the reading education program and evaluation method for foreigners can be developed on the basis of quantitative values.

Underlay Cooperative Cognitive Networks with Imperfect Nakagami-m Fading Channel Information and Strict Transmit Power Constraint: Interference Statistics and Outage Probability Analysis

  • Ho-Van, Khuong;Sofotasios, Paschalis C.;Freear, Steven
    • Journal of Communications and Networks
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.10-17
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    • 2014
  • This work investigates two important performance metrics of underlay cooperative cognitive radio (CR) networks: Interference cumulative distribution function of licensed users and outage probability of unlicensed users. These metrics are thoroughly analyzed in realistic operating conditions such as imperfect fading channel information and strict transmit power constraint, which satisfies interference power constraint and maximum transmit power constraint, over Nakagami-m fading channels. Novel closed-form expressions are derived and subsequently validated extensively through comparisons with respective results from computer simulations. The proposed expressions are rather long but straightforward to handle both analytically and numerically since they are expressed in terms of well known built-in functions. In addition, the offered results provide the following technical insights: i) Channel information imperfection degrades considerably the performance of both unlicensed network in terms of OP and licensed network in terms of interference levels; ii) underlay cooperative CR networks experience the outage saturation phenomenon; iii) the probability that the interference power constraint is satisfied is relatively low and depends significantly on the corresponding fading severity conditions as well as the channel estimation quality; iv) there exists a critical performance trade-off between unlicensed and licensed networks.

Types of Lexicographical Information Needs and their Relevance for Information Science

  • Bergenholtz, Henning;Agerbo, Heidi
    • Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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    • v.5 no.3
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    • pp.15-30
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    • 2017
  • In some situations, you need information in order to solve a problem that has occurred. In information science, user needs are often described through very specific examples rather than through a classification of situation types in which information needs occur. Furthermore, information science often describes general human needs, typically with a reference to Maslow's classification of needs (1954), instead of actual information needs. Lexicography has also focused on information needs, but has developed a more abstract classification of types of information needs, though (until more recent research into lexicographical functions) with a particular interest in linguistic uncertainties and the lack of knowledge and skills in relation to one or several languages. In this article, we suggest a classification of information needs in which a tripartition has been made according to the different types of situations: communicative needs, cognitive needs, and operative needs. This is a classification that is relevant and useful in general in our modern information society and therefore also relevant for information science, including lexicography.

The Development of Design and Evaluation Guidelines of Convenient Equipments of Farm Work for the Elderly

  • Son, Byung-Chang;Shin, Seung-Heon
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.451-458
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    • 2011
  • Objective: This study is to develop a design and evaluation guide to the ergonomic design of the farm working convenient equipments in order for the elderly to use them easily and safely. Background: The aging population has already increased in farm villages. But due to the usage of the farm working equipments that did not reflect the characteristics and functional changes of aging, accidents and patients with disease are increasing. Method: The study investigated the functional changes and physical, cognitive, and sensuous characteristics of the aged. By determining the criteria for classification of the convenient equipments by crop, and by finding out the items necessary for the ergonomic design, a guide to this study is proposed. Results: It is obvious that the physical, cognitive and sensuous functions change as the aging process continues. Therefore, for the design and evaluation of Control Panel, Control Lever, Frame Size, Shape, and Equipment Weight that are the necessary items for the ergonomic approach for the farm working equipments, such characteristics have to be reflected. Conclusion: Through this study, a guide to the design and evaluation of convenient equipments for the farm works that reflected the aging characteristics and functional changes has been proposed. Application: The result of this study is to expect not only designers but also related specialists to make the best use of it.

Centering Theory and Argument Deletion in Spoken Korean (센터링 이론과 대화체에서의 논항 생략 현상)

  • 홍민표
    • Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.9-24
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    • 2000
  • This paper analyzes the distribution and classification of unrealized arguments of a predicate often called zero pronouns. in spoken Korean. Based on the transcript of a one-hour-Iong dialogue. recorded from public radio stations. I present the statistical data on argument ellipsis in Korean with respect to the frequency of zero ronouns as well as the nature of their antecedents. I go further to review some of the previous efforts to identify the discourse- theoretic functions of zero-pronouns in the framework of Centering Theory. and propose that the zero-pronouns in spoken Korean be divided into center-insensitive vs. center-sensitive classes. I also point out a couple of language-particular idiosyncrasies found in Korean, such as morpho-syntactic elements and encyclopaedic knowledge. that interact with center management in on-going discourse and often lead to difficulties in applying the centering rules and constraints to Korean.

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How Language Locates Events

  • 남승호
    • Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.45-55
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    • 1999
  • This paper argues that the basic modes of spatial cognition can be best identified in terms of argument/participant location, and shows that natural language uses‘simple’types of semantic denotations to encode spatial cognition, and further notes that spatial expressions should be interpreted not as locating an event/state as a whole but as locating arguments/participants of the event. The ways of locating events/states are identified in terms of argument orientation(AO), Which indicates semantic patterns of linkiarticipant location. and shows that natural langrage uses ng locatives to specific arguments. Four patterns of argument orientation described here reveal substantial modes of spatial cognition. and the AO patterns are mostly determined by the semantic classes of English verbs combining with locative expressions, i.e., by the event type of the predicate. As for the denotational constraint of locatives, the paper concludes that semantic denotations of locative PPs are restricted to the intersecting functions mapping relations to relations.

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