In the Developmental Intelligence Laboratory, we are interested in understanding fundamental cognitive mechanisms of human intelligence, human learning, and human interaction and communication in everyday activities. To do so, we collect and analyze micro-level multimodal behavioral data using state-of-the-art sensing and computational techniques. One of our primary research aims is to understand human learning and early development. How do young children acquire fundamental knowledge of the world? How do they select and process the information around them and learn from scratch? How do they learn to move their bodies and to communicate and interact with others? Learning this kind of knowledge and skills is the core of human intelligence. To understand how human learners achieve the learning goal, the primary approach in our research is to attach GoPro-like cameras on the head of young children to record egocentric video from their point of view. Using this innovative approach, we've been collecting video data of children’s everyday activities, such as playing with their parents and their peers, reading books with parents and caregivers, and playing outside. We've been using state-of-the-art machine learning and data mining approaches to analyze high-density behavioral data. This research line will ultimately solve the mystery on why human children are such efficient learners. Moreover, the findings from our research will be used to help improve learning of children with developmental deficits. A complimentary research line is to explore how human learning can teach us about how machines can learn. Can we model and simulate how a human child learns and develops? To this end, our research aims at bridging and connecting developmental science in psychology and machine learning and computer vision in computer science.
Chronic pain is linked to changes in cognitive function. However, little is known about its influence on number sense, despite the fact that intact numerical-spatial processing is a prerequisite for valid scale-based pain assessments. This study aimed to elucidate whether number sense is changed in chronic pain (CP), to determine if changes have an impact on pain assessments using pain rating scales and what patient factors might contribute.
N=42 chronic pain patients and n=42 matched controls were analyzed (age range: 33-68 years). Numerical-spatial abilities were investigated by using number line tasks, where participants either estimated the position of a given number (position marking) or the value of a predefined mark (number naming). Pain intensity was assessed using numerical rating (NRS), verbal rating (VRS) and visual analogue scales (VAS). Additional measures included attention and working memory, verbal intelligence, medication and depression. Results revealed that in number naming, patients deviated more from expected responses than controls, and that VAS scores were significantly higher than both NRS and VRS and correlated with deviations in position making. Changes in number naming were predicted by pain intensity, sex and IQ but not by attention, memory or opioid medication.
This article presents new insight on which cognitive mechanisms are influenced by chronic pain with the focus on numerical spatial abilities. It could therefore provide useful knowledge in developing new pain assessment tools specifically for patients suffering from chronic pain.
"We are the agents of our own experience and we can change our experiences in simple ways, including: Sleeping and eating well Putting ourselves in certain contexts and not other contexts Widening our emotional vocabulary to help us label experiences in a more empowering way Learning how to wield that knowledge in a very fluid, contextually appropriate way"
An agent capable of general intelligence approximates the
knowledge level on an
unbounded set of problems with little inherent knowledge of the domain.
The capabilities needed to support general
intelligence are not generally known (although many have been
empirically determined
to be of significant importance; e.g.,
learning)
Additionally, no theory exists for determining either the
necessary or sufficient structures needed to support particular capabilities
and certainly not to support general intelligence
(although see
Unified Theories of Cognition for work in
developing such theories)
Our species, Homo Sapiens, is the being who thinks. But we are also the beings who learn, and the beings who experience a rich spectrum of affective emotional states.
"An action is considered intentional if the agent has (a) a desire for an outcome, (b) a belief that the action will lead to the outcome, (c) an intention to perform the action, (d) skill to perform the action, and (e) awareness while performing it."
The basic questions that have driven me from my undergraduate years until now have concerned the relationship between language, cognition and consciousness.
The EDRL research group works around a theoretical strain (embodied cognition), a methodological line (design-based research), and a disciplinary emphasis (mathematics). Thus, the laboratory hosts the full cycle of design-research projects that are geared to contribute to theory and practice of multi-modal mathematical learning and reasoning as well as to design theory.
Ampakines capable of improving cognition by enhancing brain activity under normal circumstances may also have the potential to reduce the harmful or unwanted effects of sleep deprivation. (CX717 by Cortex Pharmaceuticals)
Armodafinil (Nuvigil®) is an eugeroic drug made by Cephalon, FDA-approved 6/15/2007. Clinical trials for its use in bipolar disorder, cognition in schizophrenia, excessive fatigue in Parkinson's & cancer, begin. Patent expires 2023.
"Today, with affordable storage, effortless retrieval and global access, remembering has become the default, for us individually and for society as a whole."