title: Measuring Auditory Thresholds in Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus Vulpecula)

authors: Osugi, Mizuho

subjects: Audiogram

abstract: A total of 9 brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were trained to perform a two-manipulanda, conditional discrimination task.  The possums learned to press a right lever in the presence of a tone (80 dB(A)) during tone-on trials, and a left lever in the absence of the tone on tone-off trials.  Overall sessions of 11 conditions contained tone frequency between 100 Hz and 35 kHz were tested.  Each condition contained training and then probe sessions.   In training sessions, the possums were presented with tone-on and tone-off trials, pseudo-randomly.  Once the possums responded with over 90% accuracy for five consecutive sessions, then probe sessions were introduced.  Probe sessions were similar to the training sessions, except that the tone intensity for tone-on trials was reduced by 8 dB(A) across blocks of 20 trials until their response accuracy in a block fall below 60% or reached 24 dB(A).  Data were analysed using overall percentages correct and log d analysis.  Both measures indicated that overall response accuracy decreased for all possum as tone intensity reduced.  Based on these data analyses, threshold values were calculated using the criterions at 75% correct and a log d of 0.48.  The threshold values for each possum and across all possums were plotted as a function of the tone frequency to produce an audiogram.  A curvilinear regression was fitted for each threshold values.  The functions of both measures were very similar.  Both audiograms showed that the possums could hear the tones between 100 Hz and 35 kHz, and were most sensitive to tones between 15 and 20 kHz.  This experiment involved many difficulties with producing and measuring tones especially outside of human hearing range.  Due to these difficulties, several problems and concerns were raised during the experiment, these were discussed in this study and also recommendations for future research were then presented.

text: Measuring Auditory Thresholds in Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus Vulpecula) A total of 9 brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were trained to perform a two-manipulanda, conditional discrimination task.  The possums learned to press a right lever in the presence of a tone (80 dB(A)) during tone-on trials, and a left lever in the absence of the tone on tone-off trials.  Overall sessions of 11 conditions contained tone frequency between 100 Hz and 35 kHz were tested.  Each condition contained training and then probe sessions.   In training sessions, the possums were presented with tone-on and tone-off trials, pseudo-randomly.  Once the possums responded with over 90% accuracy for five consecutive sessions, then probe sessions were introduced.  Probe sessions were similar to the training sessions, except that the tone intensity for tone-on trials was reduced by 8 dB(A) across blocks of 20 trials until their response accuracy in a block fall below 60% or reached 24 dB(A).  Data were analysed using overall percentages correct and log d analysis.  Both measures indicated that overall response accuracy decreased for all possum as tone intensity reduced.  Based on these data analyses, threshold values were calculated using the criterions at 75% correct and a log d of 0.48.  The threshold values for each possum and across all possums were plotted as a function of the tone frequency to produce an audiogram.  A curvilinear regression was fitted for each threshold values.  The functions of both measures were very similar.  Both audiograms showed that the possums could hear the tones between 100 Hz and 35 kHz, and were most sensitive to tones between 15 and 20 kHz.  This experiment involved many difficulties with producing and measuring tones especially outside of human hearing range.  Due to these difficulties, several problems and concerns were raised during the experiment, these were discussed in this study and also recommendations for future research were then presented.

year: 2008

title: Driving with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder: Influences of Demand and Arousal in Real Traffic

authors: Randell, Nastassia Jane Saviah

subjects: Driving

abstract: Previous research has indicated a critical role of task demand in determining driving outcomes amongst individuals with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These findings are derived predominantly from laboratory simulations. The objective of the present study therefore was to investigate the relationship between factors influencing demand and arousal in real traffic, and the performance of drivers medicated (n = 15) and unmedicated for ADHD (n = 12), compared to a control group (n = 17). Self-reported data relating to risky driving behaviours and driving history, and symptoms of ADHD in adulthood were collected. To determine the influence of demand on driving performance and errors, participants navigated a route incorporating rural, urban, residential, and highway environments. Relative to controls, unmedicated ADHD drivers employed fewer safe driving skills (p < .05), committed more inattentive (p < .05), and impatient driving errors (p < .01), and reported engaging in more frequent aggressive violations (p < .05). ADHD was associated with higher rates of crashes (p < .01) and multiple crashes (p = .05). Attesting to the efficacy of stimulant treatment, medicated ADHD driver performance in the present study was comparable to, if not better than controls. While unmedicated drivers undervalued the risk related to driving behaviours predictive of poor outcomes, medicated ADHD drivers largely overestimated the severity of their risky driving (p < .01). Demand was found to significantly impact the performance of unmedicated ADHD drivers particularly. Attention was best during high demand, urban driving. As environmental demand declined, more frequent attentional lapses occasioned increased impairment to performance (p < .01). Relative to drivers of automatic vehicles, high demand manual driving was linked with better hazard detection (p < .05) and overall performance (p < .05) amongst medicated drivers, and safer following distances amongst unmedicated ADHD drivers (p < .05). Apparently distinct driving styles were also revealed between ADHD subtypes. This is the first study to document the impact of factors influencing task demand on ADHD driver performance in real traffic. Further exploration of the present findings could prove fundamental for future strategies of behavioural intervention.

text: Driving with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder: Influences of Demand and Arousal in Real Traffic Previous research has indicated a critical role of task demand in determining driving outcomes amongst individuals with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These findings are derived predominantly from laboratory simulations. The objective of the present study therefore was to investigate the relationship between factors influencing demand and arousal in real traffic, and the performance of drivers medicated (n = 15) and unmedicated for ADHD (n = 12), compared to a control group (n = 17). Self-reported data relating to risky driving behaviours and driving history, and symptoms of ADHD in adulthood were collected. To determine the influence of demand on driving performance and errors, participants navigated a route incorporating rural, urban, residential, and highway environments. Relative to controls, unmedicated ADHD drivers employed fewer safe driving skills (p < .05), committed more inattentive (p < .05), and impatient driving errors (p < .01), and reported engaging in more frequent aggressive violations (p < .05). ADHD was associated with higher rates of crashes (p < .01) and multiple crashes (p = .05). Attesting to the efficacy of stimulant treatment, medicated ADHD driver performance in the present study was comparable to, if not better than controls. While unmedicated drivers undervalued the risk related to driving behaviours predictive of poor outcomes, medicated ADHD drivers largely overestimated the severity of their risky driving (p < .01). Demand was found to significantly impact the performance of unmedicated ADHD drivers particularly. Attention was best during high demand, urban driving. As environmental demand declined, more frequent attentional lapses occasioned increased impairment to performance (p < .01). Relative to drivers of automatic vehicles, high demand manual driving was linked with better hazard detection (p < .05) and overall performance (p < .05) amongst medicated drivers, and safer following distances amongst unmedicated ADHD drivers (p < .05). Apparently distinct driving styles were also revealed between ADHD subtypes. This is the first study to document the impact of factors influencing task demand on ADHD driver performance in real traffic. Further exploration of the present findings could prove fundamental for future strategies of behavioural intervention.

year: 2015

title: Mana whenua, mana tangata: Raukawa ake, Raukawa iho

authors: Peni, Tamati

subjects: Raukawa

abstract: Mā te whakapapa, ngā tohu whenua, ngā pae whenua, ngā mātākōrero, ngā kōrero tuku iho, ka whakatere te takenga mai o ngā ariā me ngā mātāpono o Raukawa.  Ina te matapakinga, ka tīkaro hoki i ngā āhuatanga o tuawhakarere me ngā āhuatanga o te ao hurihuri kia tūhono i ngā matapakinga he aha rānei te Raukawatanga me te pātai he aha hoki ōna pānga ki te ao whai muri ake i te taunaha i ngā take Tiriti.  Nā te whānui rawa me te kaha tīni haere o te taiwhanga nei, ka whakawhāiti te rangahau ki ngā whakamautanga o Raukawa ki ngā pae whenua tawhito, ā, ka whītikihia te aronga ki nāianei, ki te ao hurihuri.

I seek to explore the ideological grounding of Raukawa through whakapapa, land marks, boundaries, oral history, and tradition.  Through this, a simultaneous extraction of traditional and contemporary themes are used to bridge new and old ways of being and what impact this has on being Raukawa in a post-settlement setting.  Because of the vastness and changing nature of this environment, I narrow my focus to how Raukawa maintained traditional boundaries and draw on its relevance to modern Raukawa development today.

text: Mana whenua, mana tangata: Raukawa ake, Raukawa iho Mā te whakapapa, ngā tohu whenua, ngā pae whenua, ngā mātākōrero, ngā kōrero tuku iho, ka whakatere te takenga mai o ngā ariā me ngā mātāpono o Raukawa.  Ina te matapakinga, ka tīkaro hoki i ngā āhuatanga o tuawhakarere me ngā āhuatanga o te ao hurihuri kia tūhono i ngā matapakinga he aha rānei te Raukawatanga me te pātai he aha hoki ōna pānga ki te ao whai muri ake i te taunaha i ngā take Tiriti.  Nā te whānui rawa me te kaha tīni haere o te taiwhanga nei, ka whakawhāiti te rangahau ki ngā whakamautanga o Raukawa ki ngā pae whenua tawhito, ā, ka whītikihia te aronga ki nāianei, ki te ao hurihuri.

I seek to explore the ideological grounding of Raukawa through whakapapa, land marks, boundaries, oral history, and tradition.  Through this, a simultaneous extraction of traditional and contemporary themes are used to bridge new and old ways of being and what impact this has on being Raukawa in a post-settlement setting.  Because of the vastness and changing nature of this environment, I narrow my focus to how Raukawa maintained traditional boundaries and draw on its relevance to modern Raukawa development today.

year: 2013