Journal of Cognitive Science Research (JCSR)

Recent advancements in neurophysiological recording technologies have led to significant complexities in managing large-scale neural data, creating potential bottlenecks in the storage, sharing, and processing within the neuroscience community. To address these challenges, we developed the Big Neuronal Data Framework (BNDF), a distributed high-performance computing (HPC) solution. BNDF leverages open-source big data frameworks, Hadoop and Spark, to offer a flexible and scalable architecture. We tested BNDF on three large-scale electrophysiological datasets from nonhuman primate brains, demonstrating improved runtimes and scalability due to its distributed design. In comparative analyses against MATLAB, a widely used platform, BNDF showcased over five times faster performance in spike sorting, a common task in neuroscience. This significant speed advantage highlights BNDF’s potential to enhance the efficiency of neural data processing and analysis, making it a valuable tool for researchers navigating the complexities of modern neural datasets. Overall, BNDF represents a promising approach to streamline the handling of extensive neural data in the field of neuroscience.

Previous research has identified correlations between individual differences, such as age, and perceptual processes. However, the specific roles of these factors in face and house detection and the categorization of ambiguous stimuli remain inadequately understood. To address this issue, we employed a face/house categorization task to investigate how participants of different ages perceive human agents versus non-natural objects amidst varying levels of visual noise (40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%). Our results revealed that older participants exhibit longer reaction times (RT) in face detection under low-noise, ambiguous conditions (40% noise)—pointing toward a selective effect of age on face processing rather than on other object categories, such as houses.

The study reported in this paper aimed at developing and validating a family-based mental empowerment program to enhance cognitive processes, psychological hardiness, and academic performance of slow learners. The present study was fundamental in nature. The statistical population included psychologists and exceptional children's education specialists, family education instructors, and parents of slow learners in Tehran. The sample population consisted of three professors in psychology and exceptional children's education from the University of Tehran, three family education instructors, and three mothers of slow learners, selected through purposive sampling. The validation process of the studied program was carried out in five steps (reviewing theoretical foundations, reviewing previous research and existing programs, developing program content, validating the content, and explaining the program validation). The Delphi method was used for program content development, triangulation and Lawshe's content validity index were employed for content validity determination, and the expert agreement percentage method was used for determining the program’s reliability. The overall content validity coefficient of the sessions stood at 85%, and the program’s reliability coefficient was 86%. The family-based mental empowerment program aimed at enhancing cognitive processes, psychological hardiness, and academic performance of slow learners demonstrated high validity and reliability. Therefore, this program can be used to improve the cognitive and academic status of slow learners.

The present research is conducted to determine the effectiveness of Unified protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents (UP-A) on empathy and perceived social support, in bilingual middle school students. The statistical population of this study was comprised of bilingual students who studied of Tehran International School in the academic year of 2021-2022. A purposive method was used to select a sample of 30 students, and then they were randomly divided into two groups, experimental and control groups, each of 15 students. A semi-experimental research method with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test design was used for both experimental and control groups. The experimental group received family-centered psycho-education based on emotion regulation between the pre-test and post-test. Two questionnaires, the EmQue-CA and MSPSS were employed, to measure empathy and perceived social support, respectively. A mixed variance analysis with repeated measures was the technique for data analysis. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the scores of empathy and perceived social support of the students between the two groups in post-test and follow-up test compared to the pre-test (p < 0.05). Considering the vulnerability of adolescents to psychological harm due to difficulties regulating emotions, UP-A programs with an emphasis on emotion regulation can be particularly suitable for the effective prevention of a wide range of psychological disorders and seems effective in enhancing student empathy and perceived social support. Therefore, implementing UP-A in schools would be a wise preventive measure against emotional problems of adolescents

The aim of this research was to compare the effectiveness of an aerobic exercise program, a mindfulness training program, and a integration of aerobic exercise and mindfulness training on the academic performance of fourth-grade female students. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design including a control group. The statistical population consisted of all fourth-grade female students from public elementary schools in Amol city during the academic year 2020-2021, from which 90 students were selected through convenience sampling and assigned to four groups: aerobic exercise program, mindfulness training, integration of aerobic exercise and mindfulness, and a control group (each experimental group consisting of 23 participants and the control group consisting of 21 participants). Subsequently, 18 sessions of 30-minute training were designed and conducted every other day. To collect data in the pre-test and post-test, the Academic Performance Questionnaire by Fam and Taylor (EPT) was used. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and SPSS22 software. The results indicated a significant difference in the academic performance of participants in all three groups: aerobic exercise program (Eta=0.59), mindfulness training (Eta=0.49), and the integration of aerobic exercise and mindfulness (Eta=0.56) compared to the control group (P≤0.05). However, participants in the integration group of aerobic exercise and mindfulness performed better than the other two training groups. These results suggest that integrating mindfulness training and aerobic exercise can be an effective strategy for improving the academic performance of fourth-grade female students.

The intergroup bias makes us to place a greater value on our group members than other group members. In society, people sort themselves into groups and sometimes they label other groups as weak and incompetent. In some situations, minority groups are viewed as threats by majority groups when they differ too much from them. The effects of such attitudes and behaviors can be profound on society and communications, and lead to discrimination against outgroups and a social division. In this study, we review literature in this area in order to find practical ways to reduce prejudice and in-group bias. We discuss related influencing factors such as intergroup contact, intergroup acceptance, intergroup similarities, social norms, status of a group, and size. This study provides some significant takeaways include the relationship between anxiety and in-group bias and our tendency to behave less prejudiced in times of confidence and less stress; as well as the effect of revealing intergroup similarities through education and social media. Other procedures are also listed that can be used by everyone especially policymakers and researchers to find and develop effective approaches to improve societies by overcoming in-group bias. Other methods are also listed that can be used by everyone especially policymakers and researchers to find and develop effective approaches to improve societies by overcoming in-group bias.