Positive Technology Journal

A 12 month full-time contract for a research post will be available in the Department of Psychology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milano, Italy . The contract will start in June 2008. The contract can be renewed for further 12-month periods.

Project

The post is connected to a project entitled "Cognitive and communication processes in media use” and is completely funded by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. The project is being led by Professor Alessandro Antonietti (www.antonietti.psycholab.net)

Requirements: PhD in Psychology or allied disciplines 

Language skills: fluent English (written and speech).
A clear interest in the topic of the project and proven qualifications for doing research.

The research activities will be based in the Department and Faculty of Psychology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milano (www.unicatt.it).

Salary
The salary is 1,345.00 euros per month. The salary is free from taxes. An insurance deduction (5.00%) might be applied (it depends on the nationality of the candidate).

Applications
The official announcement will be delivered at the end of March 2008. The application forms and further details will available in April 2008 from the website of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (http://www.unicatt.it/)

Candidates will apply by sending the following documents:
- the application forms - curriculum vitae including list of publications
- the research design (approximately 6 page written in English) that the candidate would carry out.

Alessandro Antonietti Professor of Cognitive Psychology
Head of the Department of Psychology
(Tel) +39-02-72342909 (Fax) +39-02-72342280
(E-mail) alessandro.antonietti@unicatt.it

(Postal address) Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milano, Italy

Electroencephalographic (EEG) Measurements of Mindfulness-based Triarchic Body-pathway Relaxation Technique: A Pilot Study.

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2008 Jan 24;

Authors: Chan AS, Han YM, Cheung MC

OBJECTIVE: The "Triarchic body-pathway relaxation technique" (TBRT) is a form of ancient Chinese mindfulness-based meditation professed to give rise to positive emotions and a specific state of consciousness in which deep relaxation and internalized attention coexist. The purpose of this study was to examine the EEG pattern generated during the practice of this mindfulness exercise, and compare it to music listening which has been shown to induce positive emotions. METHODS: Nineteen college students (aged 19-22 years) participated in the study. Each participant listened to both the TBRT and music audiotapes while EEG was recorded. The order of presentation was counterbalanced to avoid order effect. Two EEG indicators were used: (1) alpha asymmetry index, an indicator for left-sided anterior activation, as measure of positive emotions, and (2) frontal midline theta activity, as a measure for internalized attention. RESULTS: Increased left-sided activation, a pattern associated with positive emotions, was found during both TBRT exercise and music conditions. However, only TBRT exercise was shown to exhibit greater frontal midline theta power, a pattern associated with internalized attention. CONCLUSIONS: These results provided evidence to support that the TBRT gives rise to positive emotional experience, accompanied by focused internalized attention.

Effect of mental imagery on the development of skilled motor actions.

Percept Mot Skills. 2007 Dec;105(3 Pt 1):803-26

Authors: Fontani G, Migliorini S, Benocci R, Facchini A, Casini M, Corradeschi F

To test the effect of imagery in the training of skilled movements, an experiment was designed in which athletes learned a new motor action and trained themselves for a month either by overt action or by mental imagery of the action. The experiment was carried out with 30 male karateka (M age = 35 yr., SD = 8.7; M years of practice = 6, SD = 3) instructed to perform an action (Ura-Shuto-Uchi) that they had not previously learned. The athletes were divided into three groups: Untrained (10 subjects who did not perform any training), Action Trained (10 subjects who performed Ura-Shuto-Uchi training daily for 16 minutes), and Mental Imagery (10 subjects who performed mental imagery training of Ura-Shuto-Uchi daily for 16 minutes). The subjects were tested five times, once every 7 days. During each test, they performed a series of 60 motor action trials. In Tests 1, 3, and 5, they also performed a series of 60 mental imagery trials. During the trials, an electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), muscle strength and power, and other physiological parameters were recorded. The results differed by group. Untrained subjects did not show significant effects. In the Action Trained group, training had an effect on reactivity and movement speed, with a reduction of EMG activation and reaction times. Moreover, muscle strength, power, and work increased significantly. The Mental Imagery group showed the same effects on muscle strength, power, and work, but changes in reactivity were not observed. In the Mental Imagery group, the study of Movement Related Brain Macropotentials indicated a progressive modification of the profile of the waves from Test 1 to Test 5 during imagery, showing significant variations of the amplitude of the waves related to the premotor and motor execution periods. Results show that motor imagery can influence muscular abilities such as strength and power and can modify Movement Related Brain Macropotentials, the profile of which potentially could be used to verify the effectiveness of motor imagery training.

Effect of mental imagery on the development of skilled motor actions.

Percept Mot Skills. 2007 Dec;105(3 Pt 1):803-26

Authors: Fontani G, Migliorini S, Benocci R, Facchini A, Casini M, Corradeschi F

To test the effect of imagery in the training of skilled movements, an experiment was designed in which athletes learned a new motor action and trained themselves for a month either by overt action or by mental imagery of the action. The experiment was carried out with 30 male karateka (M age = 35 yr., SD = 8.7; M years of practice = 6, SD = 3) instructed to perform an action (Ura-Shuto-Uchi) that they had not previously learned. The athletes were divided into three groups: Untrained (10 subjects who did not perform any training), Action Trained (10 subjects who performed Ura-Shuto-Uchi training daily for 16 minutes), and Mental Imagery (10 subjects who performed mental imagery training of Ura-Shuto-Uchi daily for 16 minutes). The subjects were tested five times, once every 7 days. During each test, they performed a series of 60 motor action trials. In Tests 1, 3, and 5, they also performed a series of 60 mental imagery trials. During the trials, an electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), muscle strength and power, and other physiological parameters were recorded. The results differed by group. Untrained subjects did not show significant effects. In the Action Trained group, training had an effect on reactivity and movement speed, with a reduction of EMG activation and reaction times. Moreover, muscle strength, power, and work increased significantly. The Mental Imagery group showed the same effects on muscle strength, power, and work, but changes in reactivity were not observed. In the Mental Imagery group, the study of Movement Related Brain Macropotentials indicated a progressive modification of the profile of the waves from Test 1 to Test 5 during imagery, showing significant variations of the amplitude of the waves related to the premotor and motor execution periods. Results show that motor imagery can influence muscular abilities such as strength and power and can modify Movement Related Brain Macropotentials, the profile of which potentially could be used to verify the effectiveness of motor imagery training.

The suppressive influence of SMA on M1 in motor imagery revealed by fMRI and dynamic causal modeling.

Neuroimage. 2007 Dec 8;

Authors: Kasess CH, Windischberger C, Cunnington R, Lanzenberger R, Pezawas L, Moser E

Although motor imagery is widely used for motor learning in rehabilitation and sports training, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Based on fMRI data sets acquired with very high temporal resolution (300 ms) under motor execution and imagery conditions, we utilized Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM) to determine effective connectivity measures between supplementary motor area (SMA) and primary motor cortex (M1). A set of 28 models was tested in a Bayesian framework and the by-far best-performing model revealed a strong suppressive influence of the motor imagery condition on the forward connection between SMA and M1. Our results clearly indicate that the lack of activation in M1 during motor imagery is caused by suppression from the SMA. These results highlight the importance of the SMA not only for the preparation and execution of intended movements, but also for suppressing movements that are represented in the motor system but not to be performed.