فصلنامه تازه های علوم شناختی
سال هفدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 67، پاییز 1394)

Neurocognitive evaluations have revealed that patients with obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) may manifest similar deficits in neuropsychological functions as patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The purposeof thepresent studywas to investigate the neurocognitive function of planning in OCD and OCPD patients. To investigate the problem-solving function in different subject groups, 25 OCPD patients, 20 OCD patients and 25 healthy subjects, aging 20 to 50 years, were recruited. All participants underwent the Tower of London (TOL) test. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) indicated significant differences between OCD and OCPD patients in terms of planning. In addition, findings suggested significant differences between patients with OCD and healthy subjects also OCPD and healthy subjects with regards to their planning function. Our results indicated that patients with OCD and OCPD have comparable range of cognitive impairments in problem-solving domain versus controls.

The relationship between quantity and space has indicated in many studies. In European people bigger numbers are associated with right and small numbers with left side Understanding the nature of number processing in is important for developing math curriculums and rehabilitation of dyscalculia. This study is aimed to better understand the number representation in Iranian university students. Thirty students participated in this study. They were asked to complete a two block computerized parity task. Each trial was started with a cross in center of screen. Then the cross was replaced by one of the numbers of 0 to 9.. In first block they pressed left Shift bottom for even numbers and right for odd numbers. The second block was reverse. The order of blocks was counterbalanced alternatively for all participants. Analysis of variance showed higher reaction time for right hand (F=12.16, p=0.002). Also even numbers were processed faster than odds (F=24.10, p=0.001). Magnitude analysis showed slower processing for numbers 0, 1, 9 and faster processing for 8 (p<0.05). Interaction of parity × response side was significant (F=6.48, p=0.001). Post hoc analysis showed significant different between 8 and 9 (p<0.001) but not between other numbers (p>0.05). Interaction of magnitude × response side was significant (F=8.32, p=0.001). Results showed faster response in parity task (about 18ms). Influence of magnitude of numbers on response time was significant only between 0 and 1 and other numbers. This means that magnitude has no automatic effect on response time in parity task. Oddity and MARC effects also were seen. This study did not support the SNARC effect in Iranian people. In summary it is concluded that mental representation of numbers in Iranian people is similar to Hebrew and different from other studied languages. Findings of this study could verify the effect of writing direction on number representation as a cultural product.

Previous investigations have indicated that low amplitude of feedbackrelated negativity (FRN) in response to negative feedback is associated with high-trait anxiety. The present research attempted to study the amplitude of FRN upon decisionmaking for self and other in risky situations (comprising self-win, other-win, self-loss, other-loss conditions) in individuals who demonstrate low- and high-trait anxiety. The Spielberger’s state-trait anxiety inventory was used to screen 260 students. Based on the cut-off values, 21 individuals with low- and high- trait anxiety (11 and 10 subjects, respectively) were enrolled in the gambling task with their EEG being concurrently recorded. The current study used a new version of gambling task in which participants were instructed to choose from two options (small/losses or large/wins). Accordingly, each choice was followed by a feedback indicating relevance to self or others. Our findings suggested that in low-anxiety group, only loss and win had significant effects on FRN amplitude, whereas in high-anxiety group, the interaction effect of win-loss and self-others was found to be significant. On the other hand, individuals with high anxiety were found to be sensitive to loss of others while individuals with low anxiety were only sensitive to the loss condition (either self or other). individuals with high-anxiety are biased in processing of the social context. These findings would suggest changes in therapeutic approaches to alter attention bias in anxious patient in stimulus perception stage and would emphasize on modifying the interpretation of others as a potential threat in social situations.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of metacognition based education on emotional regulation and mathematical and educational emotion among junior high school students in Tehran. The statistical population comprised all high school students in Tehran in the academic year of 2013 among whom 30 students were selected through multi-step clustered random sampling method. Participants were assigned to either test or control groups following the pretestpost test experimental design (15 students were assigned to test group and 15 to the control group). The test group received interventions related to meta-cognition based education for 10 sessions of 45 minutes in a two-week period of time. The applied tools were emotional regulation questionnaires and progress-math emotions. The obtained data were analyzed using the multi-variable covariance analysis (MANCOVA). Findings demonstrated a significant difference between groups. Similarly, results from the single variable research showed a meaningful difference between the two variables. The strategies emerged from meta-cognitive trainings largely focus on knowledge of observing, planning and controlling. As such, meta-cognitive strategies would be expected to assist a more favorable observation on evoked emotions within a defined context and lead to their appropriate organization and management.

Theory of mind is one of the challenging topics in developmental psychology. The aim of this research was to study the reliability and validity of Theory of Mind Inventory among children in Iranian population. The study population included 490 children (244 males and 246 females) enrolled through random cluster sampling method. The mean age of participants was 6±2.02 years. The Theory of Mind Inventory was answered by the participant’s mothers in one session. Obtained data were processed using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for scale’s reliability and confirmatory factor analysis for scale’s validity. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient showed that the Hutchins’s Theory of mind Inventory retains a high reliability (0.77) in all three levels including primary (0.9), basic (0.68) and advanced (0.74). Factor analysis, using several indexes showed that the model has a strong fitness in determining factors in the primary level as expressed by Hutchins. Moreover, the normalization findings showed median scores of 19, 17.94 and 15 in primary, basic and advanced levels, respectively. No difference in theory of mind was noted between boys and girls. Results showed that the Theory of Mind Inventory retains an acceptable reliability and validity in Iranian children. The tool can be used by researchers and developmental psychology professionals to measure and empower the theory of mind in children.

The current study investigated the underlying relationship between the concepts of wisdom in two different theoretical approaches. Data were obtained from a sample of 155 Tehran citizens over the age of 18 who were randomly selected trough the multi-stage cluster sampling method. The study used two scales including the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (comprising critical experience, emotion regulation, reminiscence and reflectiveness, openness, humor) and Wisdom-Related Performance(comprising factual knowledge, procedural knowledge, life span contextualism, relativism of values and recognition and management of uncertainty). Obtained data were analyzed using the canonical correlation demonstrating little variance between the two sets of variables of wisdom. Current findings indicated some similarities and differences between the two approaches to the concept of wisdom. However, part of such differences in approaches to wisdom appear to originate from the weigh given to each aspect of the concept by theorists and researchers.

PTSD is known to be associated with various cognitive characteristics which seem to play an important role in its symptoms. The schema theory may be useful paradigm explaining some of these characteristics. The present study attempted to investigate the Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) in PTSD. This research recruited sex- and age-matched subjects who were submitted to three groups including PTSD، non-PTSD and normal (non-traumatized). Assessment tools were Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-II)، Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI)، Early Maladaptive Schema (YSQ) as well as the Impact of Event Questionnaire (IES-R). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and independent sample t-test. Results showed that Participants with PTSD in comparison to other groups demonstrate higher scores on most EMSs such as emotional deprivation، abandonment، social isolation، mistrust/abuse، vulnerability to harm or illness، emotional inhibition and insufficient selfcontrol. In addition، the PTSD group demonstrated significantly elevated scores in BDI-II and BAI. Based on the present findings، schema theory appears to play an important part in the psychopathology and treatment of PTSD.