Psi Chi Poster Session (2007 RMPA)
Conference: Psi Chi Rocky Mountain Regional Convention Program (2007)
Psi Chi Poster Session
4:30–5:30 p.m., Event Center 3/4
Chair: Melanie Domenech Rodríguez, Utah State University
A
Unable or Unwilling? The Role of Affiliation Motivation and Self-Stereotyping in Men's Empathic Accuracy
KARYN LEWIS and JESSI L. SMITH, Montana State University
This study examined men's motivation for empathic accuracy. Men who were randomly assigned to relive a rejection experience from their in-group (versus their out-group, or no rejection) showed improved empathic accuracy when the test was characterized as gender-appropriate compared to gender-inappropriate. The situational nature of men's empathic accuracy is discussed.
B
The Effects of Divorce on Adult-Children of Divorce
BARBARA A. FIORI, Metropolitan State College of Denver (CO)
The effects of divorce on adult-children of divorce were compared to adult-children of intact homes by measuring self-esteem, anxiety, and relationship regarding attachmentrelated anxiety and avoidance. One hundred forty three college students completed questionnaires. Results indicated that there were no differences between the two groups in the areas measured.
C
Finding Time for Fairy Tales: How Reading Children's Literature Contributes to Stress Reduction in College Students
BRADLEY MCCONNELL, CHARLENE PATE, and DANIEL JENKINS, Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)
Reading children's literature for fifteen minutes correlates with reduction in anxiety levels in college students. Fifty-five students were evaluated on anxiety levels, read children's literature for 15 minutes and were re-evaluated again after the reading. The findings that anxiety level was reduced were statistically significant at the .01 level.
D
Body Image and Perceived Male Body Attractiveness Throughout the Menstrual Cycle
LEAH M. JAPPE and RICK M. GARDNER, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
Body image perception, dissatisfaction, and male body-type preference were examined in three menstrual cycle phases. Thirty females were administered figural scales measuring ideal male body composition and psychophysical tests assessing body image. Perceived and ideal body size evaluations and male muscularity and fat mass preferences were unaffected by cycle phases.
E
2D: 4D and Physical Fitness: Evidence for the Mediating Effects of Prenatal Androgens on Sexually Selected Traits
ALAN LENZ and RACHEL HOLMAN, Texas A & M University–Corpus Christi
The relationship between finger digit ratios and direct measures of physical fitness were compared in 40 undergraduates. Participant's digit ratios, body composition, body-fat covariates, and performance on a cardiovascular step test were all assayed. Results implicate the significant effects of organizational prenatal androgens in relation to physical fitness.
F
Effects of Neonatal E. coli Infection on Microglial Proliferation and Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus
SARAH M. YOUNG, SONDRA T. BLAND, STACI D. BILBO, LINDA R. WATKINS, and STEVEN F. MAIER, University of Colorado at Boulder
RTo explore effects of neonatal infection on glial proliferation and neurogenesis in the developing rat hippocampus, E. coli was introduced with the proliferation marker BrdU on postnatal day 5 (P5). At P6, microglial cell proliferation was measured. Long-term effects on microglial and astroglial proliferation and neurogenesis were examined at P33.
G
The Effect of Suppressing Emotional Expression on Vagal and Cardiac Sympathetic Activation
MICHAEL DEVINE, DEJANA TINTOR, DAVID HERRING, MICHAEL FEIRSTEIN, DALILA PAZ, and MARY H. BURLESON, Arizona State University
The effects of instructions to conceal emotional expressions on vagal and cardiac sympathetic activation were examined. Seventy-three students viewed negative, neutral, and positive slides; half were instructed to conceal their facial expressions. Neither vagal activation nor cardiac sympathetic activation varied as a function of these instructions.
H
Lateralized Differences in Emotion Perception as a Function of Hostility and Stress
GINA MOLLET, Adams State College (CO), and DAVID HARRISON, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
The effects of hostility and stress on cerebral activation during an emotional perception task were examined. Thirteen high and thirteen low hostile men completed an emotional dichotic listening task before and after exposure to a cold pressor. Results indicated reduced cerebral laterality for emotion perception in high hostile men.
I
The Differences in Functional Abilities of Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia
GEORGE DANCEL, CARLA BARBALANCE, and LALEH RAZANI, California State University, Northridge
The difference in everyday functional ability was examined in patients with Alzheimer's and Vascular dementia. The results revealed that Alzheimer's patients outperformed Vascular patients on a shopping task which requires memory skills. The Vascular group outperformed the Alzheimer's group on tasks requiring financial skills which requires reasoning ability.
J
Neuroprotective Potential of Methamphetamine
CHRISTY WEEDEN, Montana State University; DAVID POULSEN, University of Montana; and ALEX BABCOCK; Montana State University
The neuroprotective efficacy of methamphetamine was evaluated using a rodent model of transient cerebral ischemia. Behavioral and histological assessment revealed that this drug can protect the hippocampus following ischemic insult. The mechanism of methamphetamine protection following stroke is currently being investigated.
K
The Effects of Voluntary Physical Activity and Enriched Environment on HPA axis Response to Chronic Audiogenic Stress
TARA NYHUIS, SARAH SASSE, CHER MASINI, JESSICA BABB, HEIDI DAY, SERGE CAMPEAU, University of Colorado at Boulder
To determine whether voluntary exercise improves stress adaptation because of the added environmental enrichment or the physical activity itself, the effects of enrichment or activity on adaptation to repeated noise stress in male rats was examined. Stress indices (plasma corticosterone and ACTH) were measured from blood collected after noise exposures.
L
Listening to Music: A Descriptive Study
CATHERINE WEIR, Colorado College
One hundred seventy participants reported their last musical experience and why the music was listened to. In general, music was heard while performing other activities (e.g., working, driving). The findings complement those of pager and archival studies in revealing a picture of everyday listening to music by Westerners.
M
Do Tattoos Alter Two-Point Touch Discrimination?
M. TODD ALLEN, University of Northern Colorado
Does the process of tattooing alter sensitivity to touch in the skin? A test of two-point touch discrimination on tattooed versus non-tattooed body parts was conducted. For both males and females, tattooed locations had significantly higher thresholds (i.e., less sensitivity) than the opposite non-tattooed locations.
N
Organic Produce: The Label or the Taste?
JESSICA RUCKER and SUE KRAUS, Fort Lewis College (CO)
Thirty students rated the taste of two samples of apple, one organic and one non-organic. Ten students were lied to about which apples were organic, ten given the truth, and ten given no information. Results suggest that both the organic label and actually being organic elicited higher ratings.
O
Do Temporal Judgment Tasks Recruit Working Memory?
JULIE S. BERGEN, Metropolitan State College of Denver; and CARLY A. YADON & DEANA DAVALOS, Colorado State University
It is under debate whether time perception involves working memory or if they are functionally separate processes. We investigated the potential relationship between working memory and time perception by having 64 participants complete four working memory tasks and one time perception task.