Digital Neuroscience Investigations: Research, Education and Outreach

1. Digital Neuroscience Investigations: Research, Education and Outreach Partial support was provided for this project by the National Science Foundation to the St. Olaf College Department of Psychology, under Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Grant DUE-00837906, to adapt and implement exemplary laboratory practices and materials for investigative psychophysiology laboratory experiences.

2. What is Digital Neuroscience? Digital Neuroscience is a new frontier of Neuroscience Digital signal processing replaces old analog approaches to brain and behavior studies

3. Research Goals NSF DUE-00837906 Grant Investigate psychophysiology lab experiences Improve Lab practices & materials Incorporate �Digital Neuroscience� at St. Olaf Nygaard Foundation Grant Feasibility Study �Igniting The Mind� Sponsors partnering between St. Olaf and High schools through the Trio program Partnering with The Bakken Museum of Electricity and Life & other industries in neuroscience New NSF Grant �Igniting The Mind� Pioneering Event Related Potential (ERP) wavelet analysis with St. Olaf Department of Physics with Mike Olson and Dr. Amy Kolan Independent Research: Facial Muscle Electromyogram and Disgust; Working Memory Investigations

4. Education Goals Modernization of Cognitive Science & Psychophysiology Lab Creation of lab curriculum

5. Phase I Process: Our process involved identifying and evaluating exemplary practice in psychophysiology neuroscience for our context through literature review, searching the internet including national and international exemplary sources, conducting site visits, and after comparative testing of equipment, selecting BioPac systems as best for our context. Phase I (summer of 2001) included adapting and implementing the exemplary practices in three ways: First, we began with the idea of psychophysiology as a theme of coherence that would start in the beginning course in psychology, continue in two middle courses and culminate in an advanced course and student/faculty research. Second, to stimulate student research, we began writing psychophysiology laboratory experience guidelines for the beginning course. In subsequent phases of the project we will be working to write similar material for the middle and advanced course. Student members of our team began conducting pilot study research. Third, national dissemination of exemplary products and practices is mandated by the NSF, so we began developing a web site as part of our approach to disseminate the exemplars we locate, as resources for other 4-year colleges and universities.Our process involved identifying and evaluating exemplary practice in psychophysiology neuroscience for our context through literature review, searching the internet including national and international exemplary sources, conducting site visits, and after comparative testing of equipment, selecting BioPac systems as best for our context. Phase I (summer of 2001) included adapting and implementing the exemplary practices in three ways: First, we began with the idea of psychophysiology as a theme of coherence that would start in the beginning course in psychology, continue in two middle courses and culminate in an advanced course and student/faculty research. Second, to stimulate student research, we began writing psychophysiology laboratory experience guidelines for the beginning course. In subsequent phases of the project we will be working to write similar material for the middle and advanced course. Student members of our team began conducting pilot study research. Third, national dissemination of exemplary products and practices is mandated by the NSF, so we began developing a web site as part of our approach to disseminate the exemplars we locate, as resources for other 4-year colleges and universities.

6. Phase I Components: We followed a three-part approach to identifying exemplary practice in psychophysiology. First, we selected specific phenomena of psychophysiology for our initial focus. Second, we studied the methods of psychophysiology to guide design of the laboratory and the procedural steps and processes involved in planning experiments. Third, we examined the history of the psychophysiology technology leading up to contemporary psychophysiology as background for state-of-the-art equipment we would purchase with NSF funding. We selected Gateway computers to be used with BioPac MP30 systems that make it possible to introduce students to all of the psychophysiological phenomena selected for initial focus, plus others that we will develop further during the project using an MP100 advanced system that was also purchased.We followed a three-part approach to identifying exemplary practice in psychophysiology. First, we selected specific phenomena of psychophysiology for our initial focus. Second, we studied the methods of psychophysiology to guide design of the laboratory and the procedural steps and processes involved in planning experiments. Third, we examined the history of the psychophysiology technology leading up to contemporary psychophysiology as background for state-of-the-art equipment we would purchase with NSF funding. We selected Gateway computers to be used with BioPac MP30 systems that make it possible to introduce students to all of the psychophysiological phenomena selected for initial focus, plus others that we will develop further during the project using an MP100 advanced system that was also purchased.

7. The Event Related Potential Component Breakdown Orientation response Occurs almost immediately after the stimulus Characterized as reflexive pre-identification response P300, P3 wave Associated with decision making, reaction and evaluation Typically characterized as a positive wave located roughly 300 ms after the stimulus

8. Catching an ERP Theory: Many ERPs combined are responsible for most all brainwaves. Therefore, random ERPs drop out if averaged over a period of time resulting in a stimulus specific ERP.

9. EEG Results with Strobe Pulses

11. Why Wavelet Analysis? The Need As opposed to Fourier analysis, using wavelets to analyze EEG will let us know exactly what and when particular events occur Habituation The second reason for wavelet analysis is because subjects adjust to the presentation stimulus resulting in a decrease in authenticity of the ERP wave

12. Foundations of Disgust Emotions are evolutionary responses Disgust evolved from a �bad taste� rejection Disgust has evolved from oral representations to moral aspects, such as death and cigarettes. (Rozin) We suggest handguns are in this category as well.

13. The Recruitment of Disgust in Handgun Moralization Questionnaire designed by Hertel, Huff, and Mensink Subjects rate agreement on scale of 1-5 with questions I like handguns. I don�t mind hearing people talk positively about handguns. Handguns are evil. It is immoral to have a handgun in the presence of a child.

14. The Physiology of Disgust in Handgun Moralization Using physiological techniques, subject�s responses can be validated Facial response to International Affective Picture System (IAPS) EMG sensors at zygomatic, corrugator and levator labii muscles (Vrana)

15. Working Memory Also known as short-term memory Example: Forgetting a phone number a few seconds after hearing it

16. Working Memory Working Memory:

17. Covert Oral Behavior Subvocalization: Occurs when subject speaks silently to self Can be measured through electromyography (EMG)

18. Major Theoretical Controversy: McGuigan vs. Baddeley

19. Baddeley�s Experiment Focused on working memory by testing participants retention and recall of syllables (Da Ta Sa La Na) During retention intervals he had participants do one of four activities (chewing, resting, tongue between teeth or counting) He also varied length of retention interval (0, 5, 10, 20 sec.)

20. Baddeley�s Prediction

21. McGuigan�s Prediction

22. Goals: Duplicate both Baddeley and McGuigan�s experiment Add four control conditions (chewing, tongue between teeth, resting, counting) Electromyography (EMG), Electrooculogram (EOG), Video Verify or refute Baddeley vs McGuigan Examine potential applications for subvocalization and other covert behavior

23. Goals (cont.): Examine potential applications for subvocalization and other covert behavior Education & Learning Disabilities Muscular disabilities

24. Outreach Goals: Igniting the Mind Our current NSF and Nygaard grants include a feasibility study on the impact of exposure to digital neuroscience to stimulate interest in science among minority, first-generation, low-income high-school and middle-school students. We are partnering with Upward Bound to create psychophysiology labs for high school students from Humboldt, Red Wing, and North High Schools this summer. Results of the feasibility study will be vital for new NSF grant we are writing this summer.

25. In the picture on the left, high school students are applying EMG sensors, demonstrating how easily they use the BioPac workstations. High school students can understand the lab manual and the psychophysiology theory behind it as well. The picture on the right contains some of the comments from the high school students, all of whom completed the lab. These are sophomore students, as well as senior high students who will be entering college this next year. �I think that this is 'kool'� It would be nice to learn more about everything.� �I thought is was fun and I wish we could do more.� The students were very interested in the simultaneous measurement of respiration, electrocardiogram, and electrodermal activity, referring to it as the �lie detector test.� Such interactions provides natural opportunities for discussing issues of reliability and validity in psychophysiological research.In the picture on the left, high school students are applying EMG sensors, demonstrating how easily they use the BioPac workstations. High school students can understand the lab manual and the psychophysiology theory behind it as well. The picture on the right contains some of the comments from the high school students, all of whom completed the lab. These are sophomore students, as well as senior high students who will be entering college this next year. �I think that this is 'kool'� It would be nice to learn more about everything.� �I thought is was fun and I wish we could do more.� The students were very interested in the simultaneous measurement of respiration, electrocardiogram, and electrodermal activity, referring to it as the �lie detector test.� Such interactions provides natural opportunities for discussing issues of reliability and validity in psychophysiological research.

26. Minds Ignited! Repeated successes reinforce sense of accomplishment, self- esteem, and intellectual empowerment.Repeated successes reinforce sense of accomplishment, self- esteem, and intellectual empowerment.

27. So What? A National Model is needed to ignite young minds of under- represented groups in scientific research and education We are looking for that model�