Browsing by Subject "Neuroplasticity"

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    A case for mindfulness practice in fostering multicultural competence in counseling
    (2014-08) Tourek, Samuel Christopher
    Clear and alarming disparities in mental health service and utilization exist between ethnic minorities and non-minorities. Research in the field of counseling psychology has been vigilant in naming this issue, and multicultural counseling competence (MCC) has been identified as an essential, ethical component to best practice in therapy. However, despite these efforts, action has been inadequate and slow to address the needs of substantial portions of the population. A contributing factor in the delay to amend these disparities is the lack of clarity about exactly what constitutes MCC, and how it is achieved, demonstrated and/or experienced. The present study offers mindfulness meditation as a potential vehicle for cultivating multicultural competence in therapists. Research in the field that combines MCC and mindfulness is virtually non-existent. As such, this study explores the relationship between MCC and mindfulness among 123 therapists at college and university counseling centers across the country. Survey data collected included demographic information, and the completion of the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey- Counselor Edition- Revised Outcome (MAKSS-CE-R) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Correlation and regression analyses were conducted for all participants and also for White-identified participants only. Data analysis revealed that positive relationships do exist between the MAKSS-CE-R and the FFMQ, and also between their respective subscales. Exploratory analyses revealed Gender to be a significant moderator of FFM-Observing when predicting MAKSS-CE-R-Total score among all participants and among White-identified participants. FFM-Non-judging was also moderated by Gender as a significant predictor variable among White-identified therapists. Results suggest that MCC and mindfulness are related, and that mindfulness may account for a respectable amount of the variance in MCC score as measured by the MAKSS-CE-R.
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    Neuromodulation Using Primed Paired Associative Stimulation
    (2017-10) Frost, Kate
    Purpose: Neuroplasticity governs mechanisms of cortical reorganization, adaptation and recovery following neural injury. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) alters neuroplasticity by pairing peripheral nerve and cortical stimuli which induces spike-timing-dependent-like plasticity. Preceding a principal bout of PAS that intends to weight plasticity in one direction (e.g. facilitatory) with a priming bout of PAS that intends to weight plasticity in the opposite direction (e.g. suppressive) may deploy homeostatic synaptic mechanisms resulting in a greater change from baseline corticospinal excitability. Exploring principles of homeostatic synaptic plasticity using all combinations of priming and principal suppressive PAS (PASLTD), facilitatory PAS (PASLTP) and sham PAS (PASSHAM), this study explores the efficacy of primed PAS as a method of neuromodulation and investigates a relationship between individual characteristics and response to PAS. Methods: Thirty-one healthy individuals were randomized into and completed one of two experiments. Experiment 1 (n=15, age 23.60 ± 2.33 years) investigated priming of PASLTD using a cross-over of the following four interventions separated by at least one-week washouts: 1. PASSHAM→PASLTD; 2. PASLTP→PASLTD; 3. PASLTD→PASLTD; 4. PASSHAM→PASSHAM. Experiment 2 (n=16, age 22.25 ± 2.28 years) investigated priming of PASLTP using a similar four-intervention cross-over of 1. PASSHAM→PASLTP; 2. PASLTD→PASLTP; 3. PASLTP→PASLTP; 4. PASSHAM→PASSHAM. The primary outcome for both experiments was the average peak-to-peak amplitude of 20 motor evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded at baseline and 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes following intervention. Secondary outcomes included presence of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and the latency of MEPs collected using an anterior-posterior current flow across the central sulcus. Results: In Experiment 1, the PASLTP→PASLTD intervention produced a significant increase from baseline corticospinal excitability. Nonresponders had a significantly higher presence of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. In Experiment 2, no intervention produced a significant change from baseline excitability. Priming did not convert individual nonresponders to responders for any PAS intervention. Discussion: Our results highlight the complexity of synaptic plasticity and the difficulty in harnessing mechanisms of plasticity to augment neuromodulation strategies. Individual characteristics may influence response to PASLTD and optimal protocols may need to be established for stratified groups.