Theories of Visual and Auditory Attention Essay example -- Neurology

It is essential that humans focus on specific objects as they would not be able to perform one action at a time, and humans see their world in objects. Another purpose of attention is so that actions can be directed and controlled (Allport, 1987 cited in Naish 2010). It is important to research this in order to optimise health and safety and performance in occupational fields and make further discoveries in clinical neuropsychology. Some debates rage around how we attend to objects through our auditory and visual processes. Early selection theorists argue that all extraneous information is filtered out at an early stage and is ignored completely. The brain has limited capacity to deal with all the stimuli surrounding the object. From this Broadbent (1958 cited in Naish 2010) devised his influential Filter Theory, an early selection theory in auditory research. Treisman (1980 cited in Naish 2010) was an attenuation theorist and her Feature Integration Theory was also extremely i nfluential, arguing some extraneous material is attended to before filtering. This essay will explore both theories and their contribution to our understanding of perception. It will make comparisons between the theories and the two senses. It will conclude that the research has made major contributions, but none has provided sufficient evidence to fully address the issues. Whether superfluous information is attended to or not, might depend on volume. Whilst some auditory researchers were interested in the Cocktail Party effect (how we focus on one conversation over others at a noisy party), Broadbent’s main interest was research for the UK Military. A notable project for him was considering how fighter pilots could pick out relevant radio mess... ...tudies in neuroscience could make a contribution to the debate by revealing the serial and/or parallel processing of the brain in detecting brain pathways and oscillations (Schyns 2011). More natural studies could be considered using brain imaging during normal day to day lives to increase ecological validity, across modalities. Works Cited Driver, J. (2001) ‘A selective review of selective attention research from the past century’ British Journal of Psychology 92, pp53-78 Naish, P. (2010) ‘Attention’. In Kaye (Ed) Cognitive Psychology (2nd edition): The Open University: Padstow. Pp29-59 Schyns PG, Thut G, Gross J (2011) ‘Cracking the Code of Oscillatory Activity’. PLoS Biol 9(5): e1001064. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001064 Shinn-Cunningham, B. G. (2008) ‘Object-based auditory and visual attention, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol.12, no.5, pp.182–6.

Relationship between continental drift and the formation of the Earth’s Oceans

1) Explain the relationship between continental drift and the formation of the Earth’s Oceans?-The relationship between continental drift and the formation of the Earth’s Oceans stems from plate movement that occurred on Earth. There is a theory that all the continents were once all one big piece of land named Pangaea, and over millions and millions of years the land of Pangaea started to split apart into many different continents. It divided Panthalassa, the large global ocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea, into many different oceans instead of just one big one and now we have many various oceans around the world.2) How did volcanoes affect the origins of the seas?-Volcanoes affected the origins of the seas because many gasses are released during a volcantic eruption including water vapor. Water vapor was the main contributor to where the primary ocean waters originated from. This is because the water vapor condensates after being gassed out of the volcano es, once the condensation occurs then precipitation is created.3) Describe the hydrologic cycle as if you were a particle of water going through it.If I were a particle traveling though the hydrologic cycle I would being by floating on top of the ocean and soaking up the suns heat, slowly after absorbing the heat I would lift up into the air as water vapor. After chilling in the sky for a little bit I would find a nice crowded dark cloud to sit inside and eventually once it got too full I would fall back onto the ground as a snow flake on to a tall mountain. After resting on the mountain all winter once spring came along I would melt off the side of the mountain and into a lake.

The Tally Stick

â€Å"The Tally Stick† ENLT 121-2 It is not always feasible to express ones love for another human being simply through words or ordinary actions. Jarold Ramsey wrote a poem that demonstrates how simple markings and items can have priceless meanings to them. â€Å"The Tally Stick† is a poem that explains the symbolic intricacies of a stick that he has created for his wife of many years and more to come. The poem begins showing the analogy between their marriage and the general physiology of the stick itself.Ramsey carved their â€Å"lives in secret† (2) to show that his work of art and their memories should remain mysterious. Both the stick and their marriage are beautiful to the public eye, but he only wants the two of them to know the details of why it is so precious. The stick is carved in â€Å"mountain mahogany† (3) which is both very durable and free of voids present in common woods. This quality of both wood and love is exemplified by â€Å"hard an d rare† (3) to symbolize the strength and preciousness of both.Line 5 makes the transition from Ramsey discussing the quality of their love to positively reminiscing their lives together by â€Å"touching and handling† (5) the stick as opposed to observing it. This is what makes the tally stick so meaningful; a couple would ordinarily revisit their marriage by opening a scrapbook, whereas Ramsey has created an artifact that can be felt in addition to observed to stir up more powerful emotions. The most beloved part of the marriage to Ramsey is the actual ceremony itself.The â€Å"intricate notch† (6) at the beginning of the stick, which he explains is â€Å"our wedding† (7), demonstrates how much he values the matrimonial ceremony between them. This intricacy is created where grains â€Å"converge and join† (6) which can be personified to a man and woman becoming one—their convergence making them larger and more whole than they were as indivi duals. He values this moment so dearly that he can give specific details of the wedding such as â€Å"who danced† (9). Because he can recall so many details of this day, the details of the stick are readable even â€Å"with a thumb† (9).This deep grain was chosen to represent this occasion to symbolize its significance, but more importantly because those grains are permanent in the wood just as their love is permanent. There are two specific symbols that Ramsey etched into the stick symbolizing two unavoidable events: life and death. The first symbols carved were â€Å"little arrowheads† (10), and Ramsey explicitly says they symbolize the â€Å"births of our children† (11). Arrowheads were essential for the sustainment of life in ancient times, therefore Ramsey chose them to represent his children that bring life to him and his wife.Along with the arrowheads are â€Å"heavy crosses† (12) which also explicitly represents the loss of their parents an d friends. In the bible, Jesus was forced to suffer by carrying his own heavy cross before crucifixion; the crosses on the stick symbolize both the suffering of Ramsey and his wife and the deaths of their loved ones. Not only does Ramsey include the influential moments of their lives through etchings, but uncontrollable events are also present on the stick. He included â€Å"Events, History† (15) because occurrences outside marriage do have a slight impact on how a couple lives together.These events affected them much less than those such as the birth of their children, and he symbolizes this by marking them as â€Å"random hashmarks† (15). These small scratches were placed sporadically against the â€Å"swirling grain† (16); the swirling grain is more precious and has a direction and purpose on the stick, whereas the hashmarks were chiseled randomly simply to present a reminder to him and his wife. Ramsey goes into detail about two historical events represented by the hashmarks.The â€Å"Year the World Went Wrong† (17) refers to around 1961 – the year the United States sent troops into Vietnam which eventually escaladed into the Vietnam War including China, Russia, and France. Other hashmarks on the stick are the â€Å"Great Men fell† (18). This is mentioned after the ‘Year the World Went Wrong’ which means that these days occurred after 1961, yet were relatively close to that time period. It is possible that men who ‘fell’ (died) included Kennedy in 1963, Malcom X in 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.All four of those men profoundly impacted America and it is likely Ramsey and his wife grieved over their deaths together. In spite of these horrible events occurring, the love between Ramsey and his wife â€Å"run through it all† (19) both in reality and in the grains on the stick. We know that their marriage persevered because their â€Å"lengthening r unes† (19) ran through the hash marks (19), meaning their growing characteristics and companionship as a couple were not affected by these tragedies but instead continued on their natural course.The final stanza returns to the present time and describes the unfinished state of the tally stick. Ramsey believes that he and his wife are approaching death by indicating the stick is whittled â€Å"nearly end to end† (20). While the stick is almost completely whittled, there is in fact still space left, showing his desire to create more memories with his wife so they can be carved on. Although the stick was carved out of â€Å"hard† (4) mahogany, the current state is â€Å"delicate as scrimshaw† (21) because of the amount of wood carved away by memories.It is so delicate that it would not â€Å"bear you up† (21), simply emphasizing the stick’s physical weakness—not even able to support the weight of his wife if she used it as a cane. The fin al stanza is the first time that Ramsey admits his marriage is realistic and not perfect. Outside of the beautiful carvings is wood that has been smoothened simply by handling it. The phrases â€Å"Regrets have polished it† (22) and â€Å"hand over hand† (22) are both used to symbolize times of dispute in the marriage.The effort and friction required to hold the stick by hand while carving it has ‘polished’ it, which is analogous to the effort needed to work through hardships and ‘regrets’ of the marriage. In addition to the Tally Stick’s current state, the final stanza expresses Ramsey’s desires for the remainder of his marriage and life. Ramsey only wants to reminisce meaningful life events with his wife, which are represented by their â€Å"unforgotten wonders† (23). The fingers will feel â€Å"sign after sign† (25) on the stick, which have already been established as memorable events earlier in the poem.Ramsey w ants this remembrance to be innocent and enjoyable as â€Å"children on a trail† (24), like kids playing on a trail in the forest. He does not wish to talk about the hardships in his marriage, as seen through the phrase â€Å"talk softly† (26), clearly indicating a peaceful conversation that would not include any regrets. The final phrase of the poem is the â€Å"eyes go blind† (27). The most provoking thought of this last line does not refer to simply losing vision, but rather is an analogy to dying together so that neither of them has to experience life without the other.Ramsey ends the poem with this desire to express how dearly he loves his wife. â€Å"The Tally Stick† demonstrates how Ramsey’s love for his wife can be objectified through an artwork that he has created. The medium for the masterpiece and the symbols on it are carefully selected so that every part of the stick is significant. The marriage, the milestones, and the hardships of th eir lives together are engraved on the stick, yet Ramsey makes it clear which parts are of most importance to him through detail and emphasizes that he truly believes in the phrase â€Å"until death do us part†.

Ford Pinto & Social Capital essays

Ford Pinto & Social Capital essays The Ford Pinto fiasco in the 1970s led to an unprecedented court case in which the prosecution brought charges of reckless homicide against the Ford Motor Company, the first time a corporation had been charged with criminal conduct in the United States (Gioia, p. 115). Buckling under pressure from pending lawsuits, increasingly strident governmental regulations, and a persistent media, the Ford Motor Corporation finally recalled all Pintos sold between 1970 and 1976. What really inspired Ford to recall the explosive vehicles was, however, the clear fact that the negative attention they were receiving in the media impinged on their profit margins. Mismanagement of the Pinto problem led to a decline in Fords reputation and thus eroded their perceived social capital. What Lee Iacocca did not foresee when he refused to improve the design of the vehicle was the inherent value of social capital: the implied trust between consumers and corporations. Iacocca had assumed that price would be the sole motivator for purchasing the Pinto and that, in spite of the frequent explosions, consumers would pay the price. Placing a dollar-value on human life, estimated at around $200,000 at the time, Ford worked out a cost-benefit analysis that implied that cutting safety costs outweighed possible losses due to injury or death. The cost-benefit analysis conducted by Ford did not include the value of social capital. Defined by Fukuyama as trust and including virtues like truth telling, meeting obligations, and reciprocity, social capital was the missing link in the Ford Motor Companys infamous equation (p. 99). Had Iacocca measured the long-term benefits of engendering consumer trust through safe vehicles, Ford might have averted the negative economic repercussions of the Pinto recalls including the subsequent bad publicity. Underestimating the value of social capital undermined the companys integr...

Seven Essential Ingredients of a Good Working Relationship

Seven Essential Ingredients of a Good Working Relationship While it’s not always easy to get along with your coworkers, it’s a worthwhile endeavor: good working relationships are more important than ever in today’s increasingly collaborative work environments. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be easier said than done. It’s not impossible, however. Get a proactive jump on forming positive workplace relationships by implementing these seven simple yet productive methods. 1. Communication CountsOpen lines of communication are critical to all relationships - both in and out of the office. Different people have different needs and preferences. Understanding your co-workers’ needs and delivering on them can help you not only enjoy a better working relationship, but also maximize productivity.Does he/she prefer email, phone or face-to-face meetings? Are daily check-ins preferable to weekly updates? Establishing ground rules for how and when you’ll communicate eliminates confusion, irritation, and other ne gative emotions in the workplace.2. Show RespectJust as your work is your top priority, so are your fellow co-workers’ roles and responsibilities of equal priority to them. Be on time to meetings, treat everyone with courtesy, and honor the time and space of others.3. Be PositiveWhile there’s a time and place for venting, the workplace during work hours is not it. Avoid complaining about your boss and co-workers on the job. Not only does this damage others’ perception of you as a professional person, but it also promote a culture of negativity.Rather than becoming part of the problem, commit to becoming part of the solution. If workplace problems are prevalent, brainstorm ideas toward their solution. This is far more productive than griping to anyone who will listen and risking your own reputation in the process.4. Listen UpEveryone has the potential to make a difference in the workplace - regardless of level or position. Encourage and welcome ideas from others , and refrain from disparaging or belittling them.This doesn’t mean you have to accept and implement bad ideas, but it does mean treating people - and their ideas - with the same courtesy with which you’d want to be treated.Plus, you never know when someone’s idea will turn into an unexpected solution for an ongoing challenging.5. Speak UpYou have a unique set of knowledge, expertise and ideas. Sharing these with your team members not only has potential to make positive change, but also gives your co-workers a better sense of who you are and what you have to offer.In addition to sharing your ideas, it’s also essential to share your gratitude. If a fellow employee has helped out with a task or made a positive contribution to a project, acknowledging their efforts can go a long way to building a sense of teamwork.6. Be AccountableAs Big Bird himself famously crooned, â€Å"Everyone makes mistakes.† Errors are a fact of life. In most cases, theyâ₠¬â„¢re recoverable. What’s not recoverable? Making a mistake and putting the blame on another co-worker. If you miss a deadline or mess up an assignment, own it.Conversely, when co-workers miss deadlines or mess up assignments, don’t sell them out to management. Give them the opportunity to remedy their mistakes, and offer your assistance along the way. Your support when they need it now may mean their support when you need it later.7. Follow UpAlong the same lines as being accountable, it’s also essential to follow up on your obligations. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If you’re unable to complete the promised task, promptly inform your co-worker or boss. Again, missing deadlines is understandable, but attempting to cover up or run from setbacks may lead to disaster. Trust between co-workers is paramount, and following up on your commitments is an essential component in developing trust.While you and your co-workers may never be b esties, there’s no reason you can’t overcome personal differences and work together as a team. These seven tips and tricks can get you on track to professional relationships which aren’t just tolerable, but fulfilling.

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 140

Essay Example In order for firms to compete globally, it is important for managers to understand the nature of global markets (244). Competition is worldwide, and therefore it is imperative that companies understand the kind of goods and services that can give them a competitive advantage over other global industries. In addition, the productivity of labor can also affect the economic boundaries of firms. For example, industries with limited labor generally concentrate on producing basic commodities, while those with high expertise focus on producing advanced goods and services. Thus, the availability of labor affects the cost of production, which in turn re-defines trade (Samuelson & Marks, 245). In global markets, the prevailing exchange rate is as well important when computing the cost of production, because it ultimately influences the costs of exports and imports (Samuelson & Marks, 246). Another important factor is the competitive market condition. Indeed, one of the aspects managers consider when making decisions is how they can compete within markets. Depending with market environments, they consider factors that can cause barriers to their entry or even affect how they establish their prices. In a competitive market environment, for example, organizations have to consider the number of firms in the market, how prices are established, and if they can have control over them (Samuelson & Marks, 281). Finally, the application of e-commerce and technology are significantly re-defining trade in many areas, particularly cost economies. These methods facilitate customer increase because they have the potentials to reach a large population, and also offer a variety of online services, which ultimately leads to cost savings for the firms (Samuelson & Marks,

Texting While Driving Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Texting While Driving - Research Paper Example The irony in the story notwithstanding the lesson is clear that texting while driving is a dangerous practice and the more one does it the more likely they are to end up in a crash. Taking cognizance of the fact that driving by itself is dangerous, allowing texting, which has been proven to increase ones chances of losing control of a vehicle, is illogical, irresponsible and different from allowing drunk driving. Each day 15 people are killed while over 1200 are injured in car crashes that involve a distracted driver, whereby these distractions involve taking one’s eyes of the road, hands of the wheel or focusing on something else besides driving. What do all this distractions have in common is that any driver driving and texting will have to engage in at least one or all of these distractions at some point during the writing; the more they text, the more likely they are to veer off the road or hit another car, pedestrian or object. In this paper, it will be proven through res earch and statistical data as well as logical reasoning that texting while driving is a dangerous practice that needs to be curbed with all urgency. Due to the increased availability of mobile phones and other hand held devices;  texting and driving has been on the increase in the last few years; studies have attested to the increasing number of accidents related to texting. Statistics reveal that in the year 2009 more than 54,000 people died, as a result of distractions while driving with 240 000 being injured as a result of the same (â€Å"Injury Prevention & Control†¦"). This resulted to AAA launching a campaign to ensure that texting and driving were outlawed in all the American states without exemption in an effort to mitigate the often-dire consequences of texting while driving (AAA). They registered a considerable level of success since after the ban was implemented in California, the percentage of drivers texting went down by approximately 70 percent (AAA). In June 2 012 a Massachusetts teen was sentenced to serve one year in jail for involvement in deadly car while writing a text, under the new state laws that criminalize injuring someone while texting and driving (Conan). In ten American States, talking on hand held devices are not allowed while 32 ban cellphone usage by novice drivers, while 39 have banned texting and driving. It is worth noting that more states have banned texting while driving than taking and receiving calls by both seasoned and novice drivers; this is because with time people are realizing how fatal the simple action of sending a text can be. Ironically, the texts are often inconsequential messages that were not necessarily urgent such as a discussion about what one had for lunch or sharing jokes; thus it begs the question whether such trivial interactions are worth risking life and limb. Texting while driving has been proven seriously impair the drivers reaction speed on road, considering that drivers often have to make s plit second decisions which at time involve life and death, this poses a consummate risk to themselves and other or road user in their way. Consider a study carried out at the Texas Transportation Institute; 42 drivers were asked to drive while texting on an 11 mile test track and they were required to stop when they saw a flashing light, the experiment was also done when they were not texting. The researchers recorded the reaction times in the different cases, and according to this study, drivers