Cognitive Psychology Journal

Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation intervention on executive functions (problem solving style, memory) and reducing depression in patients with immunodeficiency (HIV)

Ahmad Torabi

HIV is associated with extensive physical and psychological consequences, significantly affecting the quality of life of patients. Cognitive rehabilitation is a novel intervention aimed at improving cognitive and psychological functioning in these individuals. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation intervention on reducing depression, improving working memory, and enhancing attention in patients with immune deficiency. This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest control group design and was conducted in Izeh, Iran, in 2023. A total of 30 patients with HIV were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 participants per group). Instruments included the Beck Depression Inventory, Working Memory Assessment, and Continuous Performance Test to measure attention. The experimental group underwent 12 sessions of cognitive rehabilitation (60 minutes each, three times a week), while the control group received no intervention. Posttests were administered to both groups after the intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) in SPSS.23. The results showed that cognitive rehabilitation significantly reduced depression and improved working memory and attention in the experimental group compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.001). These findings suggest that cognitive rehabilitation is an effective approach for enhancing cognitive and psychological outcomes in patients with immune deficiency and can be utilized in therapeutic settings.

The effect of wearing a face mask during the covid-19 pandemic on face perception in children with autism spectrum disorder

Khatereh Borhani

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of wearing a face mask on face perception in children with autism spectrum disorders. 18 children (13 boys, 5 girls) with high functioning autism and normal intelligence in the age range of 7 to 12 years old (M_age = 9.917, SD = 1.7342) participated in the research using an available sampling method. The participants in this research performed a face recognition and discrimination task that included familiar and unfamiliar faces for the child. During the task, the number and duration of fixations in the areas of interest (AOI) were recorded by an eye tracker. Finally, the dependent t-test method was used to analyze the collected data. The results showed that when comparing familiar and unfamiliar faces with face mask, as well as, when comparing familiar and unfamiliar faces without face mask, the number and duration of fixations in the different AOIs are not significantly different. Also, for familiar and unfamiliar faces separately, the number and duration of fixations in the eye area was not significantly different from the face mask area. The pattern of the results obtained from comparing familiar faces with and without face mask was similar to the pattern of the results obtained from the comparison of unfamiliar faces with and without face mask. Overall, the findings indicate that the face mask has a similar effect on the pattern of looking at familiar and unfamiliar faces. Furthermore, the way we look at the eye area is almost comparable to that of the face mask area.

Application of Captain's Log Computerized Cognitive Training Program for improvement of change blindness and response selection ability in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Sajjad Rezaei

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disturbance. Besides drug therapy's effectiveness, non-drug treatments like cognitive therapies, particularly computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (CBCR), are gaining much attention today. This study assessed the applicability and the effectiveness of the Captain's Log software on improving change blindness and response selection in children with ADHD. The design was single-group quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test. Before and after the implementation of CBCR, the change detection and Simon effect tasks were performed through CogLab software to measure levels of change blindness and response selection, respectively. Six boys from Babol, aged 7 to 12 years old were selected through purposive sampling and received 10 sessions of CBCR twice a week with each session lasting 40 to 45 minutes. The results of the Wilcoxon test indicated that these children improved their response score in change blindness with flicker (z=-2.041 , exact p<0.05); In addition, the response time to this test was significantly reduced (z=-1.782,exact p<0.05). However, the correct response score did not show significant improvement in the non-flicker condition (z=-1.732, exact p>0.05). Also, the time required for this test did not decrease significantly (z=-1.572 , exact p>0.05). The response selection ability for spatial congruence condition had a significant decrease in speed (Z=-2.201, exact p<0.05); But in the case of spatial incongruence, no significant improvement was observed (z=-1.363, exact p>0.05). Results indicate relying on the brain plasticity and considering the repetition of cognitive operations that lead to increased cognitive skills, change blindness can be improved. These interventions were somewhat successful in increasing the desirable pausing behavior in response selection for ADHD children.

The structural model of academic performance based on multiple intelligences with the mediating role of executive functions (sustained attention, processing speed, planning and working memory) in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Mahnaz Akhavan

The aim of the present study was to provide a structural model of academic performance based on multiple intelligences with the mediating role of executive functions (sustained attention, processing speed, planning, and working memory) in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The method of correlational research was structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the research included all boys between the ages of 12 and 17 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and their mothers who had visited psychological centers in Tehran from 1400 to 1403. To collect data, the McKenzie’s Multiple Intelligences Questionnaire (1999) and the learning, executive, and attention function scale of Castellanos et al. (2018) were used. The data was analyzed by structural equation modeling. The findings showed that the research model has a favorable fit and sustained attention, processing speed and planning have a mediating role between mathematical intelligence and academic performance, processing speed, planning and working memory have a mediating role between visual-spatial intelligence and academic performance, sustained attention and working memory have a mediating role between musical intelligence and academic performance, also working memory have a mediating role between bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal intelligence with academic performance. The use of educational strategies of multiple intelligences in schools and educational centers is recommended to increase the executive functions of sustained attention, processing speed, planning and active memory, and as a result, the academic success of adolescent students with ADHD.

The Relationship Between Parenting Styles and Creativity: The Mediating Role of Executive Functions

Zahra Hashemi

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between parenting styles and creativity, emphasizing the mediating role of executive functions among students. This research was a correlational study. The study population included all the students of Al-Zahra University (S) in the academic year 1402-1403, from which 245 students were selected using the access method. To collect data, Baumrind’s parenting styles questionnaire, Abedi’s creativity assessment test, and Najati’s cognitive abilities questionnaire were used. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation test and structural equation modeling with the help of Amos24 and spss22 software. The research findings indicated that there is a positive and significant relationship between parenting styles and creativity and executive functions (P<0.01). Also, the model of the mediating role of executive functions had a good fit in the relationship between parenting styles and creativity. As a result, it can be said that the variable of executive functions has a significant mediating role in the relationship between parenting styles and creativity. Therefore, it is necessary to help strengthen children's creativity through their executive functions by informing parents about various parenting styles.

A Comparison of the efficacy of metacognitive therapy, solution-focused therapy and endurance exercises on problem-solving styles of female students with Social anxiety disorder

Kourosh Goodarzi

The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy, solution-oriented therapy, and endurance exercises on the problem-solving styles of female students with social anxiety disorder. The design of this research is a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a heterogeneous control group and a one-month follow-up. The statistical population was female students of the second level of high school in the three educational districts of Kermanshah in the academic year 1401-1402. From this population, 60 students with social anxiety were selected by screening and according to the criteria for entering the study. They were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 15 people (three experimental and one control). The research tools included social anxiety questionnaires (Kanor, 2000) and problem-solving styles (Dzurila et al., 2002). The data were analyzed with SPSS23 software and analysis of variance and Benferoni's post hoc test. The findings showed that metacognitive therapy, solution-oriented therapy, and endurance exercises increased efficient problem-solving styles and decreased ineffective problem-solving styles in people with social anxiety (P≤0.05) and among the three treatments, metacognitive therapy in efficient problem-solving styles and metacognitive and solution-oriented treatment in ineffective problem-solving styles were more effective than endurance exercises (P≤0.05). Based on these findings, it can be said that all three treatment models can be used in the Iranian clinical sample.

The Structural Model of Cognitive Depression Based on Early Maladaptive Schemas with the Mediation of Personality Traits in Students

Bahare Mohammadi

This study aimed to determine the structural model of cognitive depression based on early maladaptive schemas with the mediation of cognitive processing of personality traits in students. The research method was correlational and based on structural equation modeling. A sample of 300 students from Tehran universities was selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI, 1961), Young’s Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire (1998), Cognitive Processing Questionnaire, and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling in SPSS version 25 and AMOS version 22. The results showed that the proposed model did not exhibit an adequate fit. Direct effect analysis indicated that early maladaptive schemas had a significant positive impact on cognitive depression and personality traits. However, the examination of indirect effects revealed that early maladaptive schemas did not mediate cognitive depression through the cognitive processing of personality traits. Overall, the findings suggested that early maladaptive schema components can directly influence students' cognitive depression, but this effect is not significant through the mediation of cognitive processing of personality traits.