Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and affects over 6 million Americans 65 and older. In the absence of a cure, addressing modifiable risk factors could potentially reduce the risk of AD development. There is an established relationship between diet and AD risk. For example, studies in rodents found that highly processed Western diets are associated with cognitive impairment and increased amyloid-beta in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory. Conversely, plant-based diets like the Mediterranean diet (MD) have been shown to protect against cognitive impairment.

A key limitation in the scientific literature is that most animal studies have only examined the effects of extremely high-fat WD (providing over 40-60% kcal from fat), or a MD with only one or two key nutritional components. We aimed to fill a gap in the literature by designing a rodent diet that mimicked the typical American diet (TAD), rather than an exaggerated WD, and a macronutrient-matched MD. C57BL/6J mice were weaned onto one of the two diets at postnatal day 21. Following six months of diet, we conducted behavioral tests, including open field, elevated zero, and object-location memory task (OLMT). In comparison to the MD, mice consuming the TAD had decreased locomotor activity and exploratory behavior, increased anxiety-like behavior, and reduced spatial memory.

Motor preparation deficits are a feature of many neurological disorders in humans. Developing animal models to study deficits in motor preparation is essential to explore the potential therapeutic treatment avenues. Preparation for motor actions involves neural pathways that facilitate neuromuscular planning. In male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), song production is controlled by a system of brain areas that are analogous to those areas in humans controlling human speech and language. Neural activity in many of these brain areas precedes the execution of song motor sequences. We aimed to differentiate preparatory motor periods from song execution by interrupting female-directed and song produced in isolation (undirected song) with white noise playback. The amplitude and duration of the white noise was systematically varied along with the timing of playback occurring during song. Song respiratory motor gestures were measured in six birds experiencing the noise disruption events. Transition entropy analyses revealed increased variability in syllable progression in the presence of playback compared to undirected song without playback (control condition). There were significant differences in the frequencies of interruption, continuation, and termination for each syllable of directed and undirected song with playback compared to baseline (Χ2, ps < .05). We observed higher rates of interruption and motif disruption during introductory notes and early syllables as well as later syllables within a song motif. Ascertaining patterns of stereotypy and variability in zebra finch vocalizations can elucidate deficits in motor planning that contribute to autism spectrum disorder, speech apraxia, and other clinical disorders.

Existing literature has highlighted the competing roles of each family dynamics, the patterns of interactions among relatives, and discrimination on the self-esteem and occupational performance of African American and Caucasian populations individually. However, no research to date has examined whether these factors are interconnected. In this study, we aimed to assess the competing roles of family dynamics and experiences of discrimination across a cross-sectional survey. In the study, we surveyed a sample of 178 White and Black participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Simple mediation models indicated that higher levels of discrimination were associated with lower levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and resilience. Additionally, more positive familial relationships were associated with better outcomes on these measures for White participants alone. Furthermore, self-esteem was positively related to better self-reported occupational performance. That is, our results suggest that perceived discrimination is associated with lower self-esteem, which is then subsequently related to poorer occupational performance. Conversely, the results suggest the opposite pattern for family dynamics, with more positive familial relationships being associated with higher levels of self-esteem among White participants, which is, in turn, associated with better self-reported occupational performance. These findings emphasize the negative role of discrimination in fostering personal well-being and success in occupational settings.

Abstract
Research on non-verbal learning disordered (NVLD) children can lead to improvements or even overcome the learning difficulties and functional limitations the children experience. According to the latest measurement, the prevalence of non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD) is approximately 4% in the general population. 1 in 100 children in the United States have non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD), and 10 percent of the children of special learning disordered (SLD) populations are suffering from non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD). This disability is defined as a dysfunction of the brain’s right hemisphere functioning; this part of the brain processes nonverbal, performance-based information, including visual-spatial, organizational, and evaluative functions. Visual-motor control, dynamic balance, and bilateral coordination are also the most significant motor skill deficits in children with special learning disabilities (SLD). Participants (n = 20) with non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD) were randomly assigned to monoliteral and bilateral perceptual motor exercises (n = 10 per group). The children performed monolateral and bilateral perceptual motor exercises that were designed to improve neuropsychological profiles, manual dexterity, and visual-spatial performance measures. There was a significant difference in the average of right-hand dexterity, left-hand dexterity, and spatial memory after the intervention of monolateral and bilateral perceptual exercises (ps<.05). The study of using physical activity to enhance inter-hemispheric connection supports the hypothesis that there is right-hemisphere dysfunction in NVLD children. These results suggest integrating these interventions in educational and therapeutic settings would be helpful to children with NVLD and perhaps also for children with other learning disorders.

Throughout our evolutionary history, people have used social connections to enhance survival and reproduction, and consequently, the loss of these connections is very detrimental. Existing evidence has found that we have evolved sensitive neural and perceptual systems that detect and respond to threats of ostracism. This experience of distress when viewing another person being ostracized is referred to as vicarious ostracism. Recent work leans on the evolutionary perspective that being excluded by an ingroup member is costlier than being ostracized by an outgroup member. However, this research has produced somewhat conflicting findings, one that observing ostracism of ingroup members by outgroup members is more painful, while others have found the reverse. Further, little research has examined how experiences of vicarious ostracism influence the perceptions of and interactions with targets of ostracism. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the roles of group membership on an individual’s perceptions and observations of vicarious ostracism experiences, and also their thoughts of the person being ostracized. We hypothesized that observing an ingroup member being ostracized by an outgroup member would be seen as more prejudicial than an outgroup member being ostracized by ingroup members, which would, in turn, be related to a more positive view of the ingroup target that was ostracized.
Across two studies sampling Caucasian undergraduates (Study 1) and both Caucasian and African American adults via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk; Study 2), participants were presented with group-based ostracism vignettes, in which they read about a racial ingroup or outgroup member being ostracized by members of the ingroup or outgroup.
Then, participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing the degree to which they viewed the depicted ostracism as being attributable to prejudice by the sources, as well as their impression of the ostracism target. In both studies, regardless of race, we found that participants in the intergroup black condition viewed ostracism as more prejudicial and liked the target more than people who saw the ostracism in the intergroup white condition.
Further, we found that prejudicial attributions mediated the relationship between the depicted ostracism and participants’ impression of the target, such that when people viewed a black target being excluded by white sources, they rated the ostracism as more prejudicial, which in turn is associated with liking the target more.
Overall, these findings were opposite of our hypotheses and instead suggest that our evolved cognitions for processing experiences of group-based vicarious ostracism may be influenced by contemporary social norms and group dynamics. The implications of this research for understanding the ecological factors that influence behavioral and perceptual outcomes associated with vicarious ostracism, particularly within the context of intergroup conflict, will be discussed.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) research and clinical use demonstrate its efficacy in treating epilepsy, depression, migraines, and its potential to one day mitigate inflammation and improve working memory. However, variations in treatment outcomes indicate a need for further exploration into the individual factors that influence VNS sensitivity and responsiveness. The study aims to investigate how various individual factors like sex, body awareness, preterm birth, childhood socioeconomic status, childhood unpredictability, and adverse childhood experiences relate to sensitivity to VNS. A survey will administered to measure person-based variables of interest. Participants will undergo a VNS procedure involving a heart rate variability (HRV) recording during a baseline, stimulation, and recovery period. Some of our expected result are, individuals who were born prematurely will have higher sensitivity to VNS, and individuals who experienced more childhood stress will have lower sensitivity to VNS. The results of this study will improve future VNS clinical treatment and inform future VNS research pursuits.

It is commonly assumed that achieving financial success will remove many of the burdens associated with low socioeconomic status (SES). However, recent research suggests that individuals who transition from low to high SES environments are at even greater risk for poor health outcomes compared to those who remain in stably high SES environments and compared to those who remain in stably low SES environments. Although the underlying cause of these health outcomes are currently unknown, evidence from qualitative interviews of individuals experiencing upward mobility finds unique psychological stressors associated with transitioning from low to high SES. The current research was designed to experimentally examine the effect of upward mobility and childhood SES on psychological stress. Participants were randomly assigned to write about their life at a significantly higher SES than their childhood SES (upward mobility condition), or at the same SES as their childhood (no mobility condition) before reporting their psychological stress. Two studies were conducted in order to examine the effect of upward mobility in 1) a sample of undergraduate students and 2) to compare the effects of upward mobility in a sample of adults currently enrolled in college and never enrolled in college. Results revealed elevated psychological stress among participants in the upward mobility condition (vs. no mobility), but only among those who had low childhood SES. These findings suggest that upward mobility carries a psychological stress burden that uniquely impacts individuals from low SES environments.

Students wonder how to prepare for an upcoming exam, while instructors wonder how to best introduce materials to students. Research has found that practice testing after material is studied leads to better memory compared to other strategies like restudying (Rowland, 2014). Practice testing tends to be more effective when students recall material verbally or write it down (overt learning) compared to when they only mentally recall the material (covert learning; Tauber et al., 2018). Other research evaluates the value of pretesting individuals before they learn subject matter. Studies show that answering pretest questions before studying, even if people provide wrong answers, leads to beneficial learning outcomes compared to just studying material (Richland et al., 2009). We aimed to combine both research areas and investigate how covert and overt learning applies to pretesting: When taking a pretest, is it better to just think about the answer, or is it better to write it down? Undergraduate students at TCU were instructed to learn passages about the planet Saturn or Yellowstone National Park. For one of the passages, students simply read the passage (read-only condition). For the other passage, they were asked short-answer pretest questions about the passage prior to reading (pre-test condition). A random half of the participants complete their pretests overtly (typing their responses to the questions), whereas the other half of participants completed their pretests covertly (answering the questions in their mind). All participants completed a final multiple-choice test on the material they learned. Performance on this final test was higher for the pretest condition compared to the read-only condition, and this was true for both overt and covert pretesting. In strategy ratings made after the experiment, participants seemed to recognize that pretesting was more effective than learning because it helped them absorb relevant information while reading the passage. Our results suggest that pretesting is an effective learning strategy, even when learners do not provide articulated responses.

Scientific investigation of animal behavior often requires the collection of thousands of data files containing hundreds of hours of audio and video recordings. Analyzing these data is a tedious and time-consuming process, hindering the progress of experiments. Current software hastens this process, but substantial human effort is still required to sort data into categories of interest for specific research questions. This project will investigate whether machine learning algorithms can further enhance the efficiency of identifying categories of interest in songbird research. The first project will explore song recognition in audio data using spectrograms (spectrotemporal graphical representations of sound). The second project will explore video processing to track the location of an animal in arena.
A PyTorch based computer-vision model will be developed to identify instances of zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) song from video recordings. The model will be trained to recognize spectrograms of songs using labeled spectrograms representing songs collected in laboratory recording sessions. After the model is developed, it will be compared to a pre-existing template- matching algorithm to determine its relative speed and accuracy to the laboratory standard. To automate location tracking, a DeepLabCuts model will be trained to detect the location of zebra finches within recorded videos. Location tracking data will then be used to provide an estimate of how long each bird spent in regions of interest during a recording session. The model speed and accuracy will be validated by comparing the model results to human measurements (ground truth).
The development and testing of this software will help gauge the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in automating data analytic methods commonly used in animal research. If the new software proves effective, it can be further developed and deployed to facilitate future research. These methods may facilitate the process of scientific discovery by rapidly quantifying large data streams collected in modern scientific research fields.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and has been found to reduce anxiety-like behavior in rodents on an elevated plus maze (EPM) when injected, as well as in humans in both social anxiety and fear conditioning situations when consumed orally (Blessing et al., 2015). Pharmaceutical grade CBD is what is primarily used in research, but most people consume over-the-counter (OTC) CBD and there is a need to evaluate the benefits of its consumption (Chesney et al., 2020). In the current experiment, we explored the effectiveness of voluntary oral consumption of OTC CBD to reduce anxiety-like behaviors in rats using EPM and open field (OF) tests. Rats were given either 20 mg/kg of OTC CBD isolate or distilled water for 16 days prior to testing. On day 17, rats were placed on the EPM 2-hours after feeding for 5-minutes and on day 18, rats were placed on the OF in the same manner. The amount of time spent in the open vs. closed arms of the EPM and the center vs. outer portions of the OF was evaluated. If rats were less anxious (CBD group), then we expected that they would spend more time in the open arms of the EPM and center of the OF than the control group. The results will be discussed with respect to the grade of CBD, the administration route, and the type of test.

Narcan is an over-the-counter nasal spray used to reverse the effect of opioid overdoses. In 2022, approximately 110,000 fatalities resulted from opioid overdoses in the United States. Considering the high rates of opioid overdose fatalities, it is important to employ a community-based approach to the distribution of Narcan. To address this, a survey was distributed to individuals in a local Fort Worth community center (N = 5) to evaluate the utilization of Narcan. Following the survey, each participant was given one box (2 doses) of Narcan to take home. One month after the initial survey, participants completed a follow-up survey , indicating if they had used or given away the Narcan. While we do not expect the majority of participants to have used the Narcan within this timeframe , we expect to find high willingness to use Narcan in the case of an emergency. The distribution of Narcan can provide a resource to families as a precaution to prevent potential opioid related deaths in this community. Study implications highlight a greater need for community education and increased distribution of Narcan to improve public perceptions and reduce instances of opioid overdose in the Fort Worth community.

The Impact of Determined Behavior on Ratings of Determinism and Outlook
Cagney K., Nerz J., Jones S., & Leising K.J.
A deterministic position claims that all decisions are ultimately the result of external events (e.g., current conditions and past experiences). In contrast, indeterminism (free will) maintains that a decision can emanate solely from within (independent of external influences). Research has found that deterministic perspectives are rated as more negative than indeterminist perspectives, perhaps due to the loss of agency associated with determinism. This study examined whether manipulating the functional value of a behavior would alter ratings of a deterministic perspective, as well as, personal agency and optimism. Half of the participants were instructed to click a white box each time it appeared (i.e., determinism), and the other half were told to click the box whenever they wanted (i.e., indeterminism). Additionally, for half of the participants in each group, a response to the box changed its color (high behavioral utility), whereas, for the remaining participants, clicking the box did not change anything (low behavioral utility). Participants then assessed deterministic perspectives, and personal optimism and agency. It was hypothesized that high behavioral utility would attenuate the negative response to determinism. However, the results revealed that the determinism groups had a more negative view of determinism, regardless of the utility of their behavior. Those with less favorable views of determinism reported lower optimism, and those with lower optimism reported a lower sense of agency.

Felt-safety is the emotional and physical components of safety and fills the gap between knowing you are safe and feeling you are safe. Felt-safety is a critical aspect of development because it allows an individual to move from their lower functioning automatic brain to higher level centers capable of reasoning and learning. Youth who are in foster care, particularly youth in residential care settings, experience frequent change and many new environments. We investigated whether felt-safety levels could be increased in a local group home through “Life Skill” lessons. We used “Life Skill” lessons to help build the relational connections among residents and between residents and staff. Before undergoing “Life Skill” lessons participants took an online written assessment which measured: felt-safety using The Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS), attachment using The Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR), and psychological wellbeing using the Psychological-Wellbeing Scale (PWB). Our hypothesis was to see increases in felt-safety and gain evidence for best practices in increasing safety levels among youth in highly volatile environments. A second hypothesis was to see an increase in psychological wellbeing in connection to felt-safety. A Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test was used to determine significance between Time 1 and Time 2. Interestingly, there was found to be a significant decrease in felt-safety levels and the difference in psychological wellbeing was insignificant. Overall, this research helped quantify levels of felt-safety and wellbeing amongst youth in residential care.

Decades of research finds a relationship between low socioeconomic status (SES) in childhood and poor health outcomes in adulthood. However, recent evidence suggests individuals who experience upward socioeconomic mobility exhibit poorer health than those who remain in low SES environments throughout their lives. The current work examined the relationship between physical health and psychological stressors associated with upward socioeconomic mobility (i.e., financial insecurity, obligation to family, social isolation, and threat hypervigilance). Participants provided information about their childhood, current, and expected future SES to make upward socioeconomic mobility salient among individuals with low childhood SES. Then, participants reported their perceived psychological stress. Physical health markers (i.e., hear rate, blood pressure, inflammatory cytokine release) were measured throughout the study to examine physiological stress responses to upward socioeconomic mobility. Results reveal that psychological stressors faced by those experiencing upward socioeconomic mobility are associated with physiological responses which may contribute to poor health outcomes.

Narcan, also known by its generic name naloxone, is a life-saving medication used to reverse an overdose from opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications—when given in time after an overdose event. It works by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and can quickly restore normal breathing, working to prevent fatal outcomes. In our study, we administered a survey to participants at two sites in Tarrant County, one in the Las Vegas Trail community, and the other at the Fort Worth Central Bus Station. The survey consisted of questions measuring the attitudes, knowledge, and misconceptions of Narcan and substance use among people in Tarrant County. We expect to find high levels of stigma surrounding drug use and Narcan. Understanding attitudes about Narcan is crucial as it has a direct impact on public health by potentially saving lives through the reversal of opioid overdoses. Additionally, it plays a role in reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders and addiction, as attitudes toward Narcan can reflect broader societal views on these issues. Finally, community attitudes toward Narcan can influence how communities respond to overdoses and support individuals in recovery, making it essential to engage communities in overdose prevention and response efforts.

Just as there are many ways for people to be socially connected to each other, there are just as many ways to be isolated. A novel focus of empirical research, existential isolation describes the perception that one is alone in their experience of the world; that no one shares your perspective or can come close to understanding it. Existing literature find that experiences of existential isolation are associated with a host of negative wellbeing outcome, such as increased feelings of loneliness, death thought accessibility, depression and anxiety symptoms, and reduced self-esteem. Similarly, though more thoroughly empirically examined, social exclusion too represents a socially isolating experience that threatens our psychological and physical wellbeing. While theoretically distinct in several meaningful ways, existential isolation is often found to be comorbid with the feelings of interpersonal isolation that are common among socially excluded individuals. As such, the present study aimed to empirically examine the wellbeing outcomes shared by experiences of existential isolation and social exclusion, so as to better understand the unique effects that existentially isolating experiences may have on personal wellbeing. Recruiting a sample of 186 adult online via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), participants were randomly assigned to write about either an experience in which they felt existentially isolated, in which they were socially excluded, or their morning routine (i.e., a neutral control), and then complete questionnaires assessing their mental wellbeing. Results showed that participants in the existential isolation and social exclusion conditions both felt greater loneliness, existentially isolation, negative emotion, and need threat compared to participants in the neutral control condition, but similar to each other. Further, those who recalled a social exclusion experience also reported feeling greater threat to each of their fundamental social needs than those who recalled an existentially isolating experience. Therefore, the present results suggest that, within the domains of cognitive wellbeing, existential isolation and social exclusion share many negative outcomes, but social exclusion more severely impacts our fundamental social needs. The implications of these findings for research aiming to understand the cognitive and health outcomes associated with socially isolating experiences will be discussed.

Historically, women have been less willing to engage in short-term mating than men. However, hormonal birth control seems to change the reproductive costs associated with short-term sexual behaviors as women who use hormonal birth control exhibit short-term mating cognitions similar to men. Additionally, women who use hormonal birth control are much more sexually unrestricted than women who are naturally cycling. To date, there has been no research looking at how using hormonal birth control impacts women’s real-life sexual behaviors as all studies looking at the impacts of hormonal birth control on women’s mating behaviors have been surveys. Thus, the present research aims to examine the real-life impact of hormonal birth control on women’s sexual behaviors and more specifically, how using hormonal birth control impacts women’s short-term mating behaviors. We predict that women who use hormonal birth control will be more willing to say yes to engaging in uncommitted sexual behavior than women who are naturally cycling since women who use hormonal birth control are utilizing an environmental intervention that impacts the reproductive costs associated with short-term sexual mating. Data collection is ongoing.

Certain stimuli evoke reflexive responses, (e.g., jumping in response to a loud noise), which are typically adaptive (e.g., escaping a predator). However, when some of these eliciting stimuli are repeated and not followed by harm (e.g., a woodpecker pecking the bark of a tree), maintaining a strong response can be costly. Diminished responding to an eliciting stimulus after repeated presentations is referred to as habituation. A recovery of the response following habituation can occur when a novel stimulus (e.g., a context change) is presented. Previous research has found wheel running in rats habituates within daily sessions (Aoyama & McSweeney, 2001). We investigated whether pseudorandomly varying the order of two types of exercise within each session for 14 days (e.g., Day 1: running wheel -> open field (OF); Day 2: OF -> running wheel) would reduce habituation of wheel running in rats. Control rats were given the same order of 20-min access to a running wheel followed by 20-min access to the OF, or the reverse order for another group, during each session. It is hypothesized that the Experimental group will demonstrate slower habituation (i.e., more running) both within and across sessions. Results will be discussed in terms of the number of wheel rotations and the factors known to influence habituation.

Being socially rejected is a highly distressing experience that threatens our fundamental social needs. Social rejection activates highly sensitive threat detection and response systems that seek out sources of social recovery, or, when reaffiliation is unlikely, ways to avoid further rejection through social withdrawal. Existing research suggests that socially rejected individuals are more open to strategies that promote affiliation, such as giving more positive ratings to a student service that is advertised as helping students make friends. However, this increase in prosocial behavior is limited to likely sources of affiliation, and does not extend to unlikely sources (e.g., the person that rejected us, someone described as aggressive). To date, no research has tested prosocial responses to rejection within the context of intergroup contact, wherein an outgroup member may be viewed as an unlikely source of affiliation, compared to ingroup members. As such, the present study aimed to examine whether rejected individuals would express less interest in a social affiliation service if that service is centered around interactions with outgroup members. Participants consisted of 254 Caucasian undergraduate students, who were randomly assigned to write about a time in which they felt rejected, accepted, or about their morning routine (neutral control). Then, participants were presented with a flyer for a fictional student service that was described as trying to help students on campus form diverse friendships, and completed a questionnaire assessing their interest in using this service. As predicted, the results showed that there was no significant difference among the groups in interest in the diversity affiliation service. These results provide some preliminary support for our hypothesis that rejected individuals would not be any more interested in an affiliation service if that service involves contact with outgroup members. Implications of this work for the relationship between social rejection and intergroup perception and interaction will be discussed.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a virus that weakens the body’s immune system and reduces the body’s ability to fight against other infections. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, is a medication that can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 99%. Unfortunately, PrEP uptake is low, particularly among women. A contributing factor is the way that PrEP has been under-advertised to women. Tarrant County is a known national hot spot for new HIV infections. Thus, women’s focused sexual health education is essential in order to improve the health of our community. In the current study we developed an online educational tool regarding women’s sexual health. The educational tool was developed using Articulate360, an online software that can be utilized to create interactive educational modules. The curriculum contains an overview of HIV, risk factors for acquiring HIV, PrEP education and resources, and an overview of STIs and cervical cancer. The current study hopes to observe an increase in PrEP knowledge and a decrease in PrEP stigma among women in Tarrant County after they view the educational tool. This tool has far reaching implications to improve the sexual health knowledge of women in our community.

In 2023, over 650,000 people experienced homelessness in the United States. Homelessness is often associated with alcohol consumption, feelings of helplessness, and lack of social support. The purpose of this study is to identify alcohol use patterns in adults within the homeless community and its relationship to an individual's perceived social support (e.g. family, friends, and/or community). The current study collected surveys from 46 participants who regularly visit True Worth Place, asking participants questions related to alcohol consumption habits, perceived social support, and their living situation. We suspect that there will be a negative correlation between alcohol use and perceived social support. We believe that individuals with high alcohol use will be unlikely to seek help from family or friends, and that there is a perceived lack of support in general within the homeless community. This study’s results will provide us knowledge as to whether demographics such as age, gender, and ethnicity in homeless populations influence patterns of alcohol use and the social assistance they receive. This will help inform policy recommendations to improve support for those in the homeless community suffering from alcohol abuse.

Background: During the fourth quarter of 2023, Tarrant County reported 2,658 individuals experiencing homelessness, contributing to Fort Worth's 24th rank among American cities with a 22% increase in homelessness rates over the past three years. Homelessness is frequently linked to substance abuse, a lack of familial and social support, and mental illness. Understanding the factors contributing to alcohol use in high-risk populations, particularly the homeless community, is essential for comprehensive intervention strategies. This study aims to investigate alcohol use patterns and perceived social support levels among the local homeless community to identify potential predictors of detrimental alcohol use behaviors. Methods: A 15-minute survey was administered at True Worth Place of Homelessness over 2, 3-hour visits. 42 participants were recruited to evaluate alcohol usage patterns, homelessness information and social support levels. Upon completion of the survey, participants received hygiene kits consisting of toothpaste/toothbrush, comb, soap, deodorant floss, shampoo. Results/Findings: based on data collected from participants, the researcher projects that there will be a strong correlation between social support and homelessness, but not a correlation between alcohol abuse and social support. Conclusion/Implications: The projected findings offer insights into the intricate relationship between substance abuse patterns, wellbeing, and homelessness rates. These results can inform policymakers in developing targeted and effective programs to assist homeless individuals within the Tarrant County community.

Students frequently encounter challenging and complex concepts throughout their academic career. For example, organic chemistry courses often require students to learn how to identify different chemical compounds by their structure. Understanding these concepts is crucial for academic success. The present research explored practice testing as a strategy that could benefit this type of complex category learning. Prior research on practice testing and category learning has yielded mixed results. Jacoby and colleagues (2013) found that classification performance benefited from practice testing as compared to restudying categories. However, Babineau et al. (2022) did not find a benefit of practice testing for complex category learning. The current research explored the effect of practice testing on category learning to establish when practice testing benefits learning. Specifically, we examined two important components that may impact practice testing benefits; self-regulated study and the number of to-be learned categories. We manipulated the study strategy (practice testing versus study) and the learning context (experimenter-controlled versus self-regulated) between-participants during a complex category learning task. Throughout the task, participants learned to categorize organic chemistry compounds. Participants in the practice testing groups learned the chemical categories by classifying each exemplar into the correct category and received corrective feedback after each trial. Participants in the study groups studied the exemplars without practicing category classification nor did they get feedback on their learning. Participants were also assigned to a learning context condition. Participants in the experimenter-controlled groups learned the categories in a fixed interleaved order that was determined by the experimenter. Participants in the self-regulated group made their own decisions about which categories to study (compounds from the same category or compounds from different categories) after each trial. After completing the learning task, participants completed a novel classification test and a studied classification test on the categories they had just learned. To examine the impact of the number of categories, we also manipulated the number of to-be-learned categories (6 categories versus 3 categories; counterbalanced) within-participants. During one phase, participants learned to classify 6 chemical categories. During the other phase, participants learned to classify 3 different chemical categories. In this way, participants completed the learning phase and test phase twice, learning different chemical categories each time. The results revealed that practice testing can benefit complex category learning in some contexts. Practice testing was beneficial relative to studying when participants learned to classify 6 categories but not when participants learned to classify 3 categories. The benefit of practice testing on complex category learning was maintained for self-regulated learning and experimenter-controlled learning. The present results support the use of practice testing as an effective study strategy for complex categorical information. Specifically, students learning many categories at once are likely to see the biggest benefit of practice testing. Future research should examine ways in which practice testing could benefit learning fewer categories as well as additional boundary conditions for the effect of practice testing.

Introduction: The recovery capital model by David Best addresses personal and social resources that an individual possesses to bolster successful substance use treatment outcomes. The five dimensions of Best’s recovery capital model include: personal capital, social capital, community capital, unmet needs, and barriers. More recently, Best developed the REC-CAP assessment which attempts to measure all of the components to recovery capital. The REC-CAP tool serves as a longitudinal measure of recovery for clients. This study is interested in expanding the barriers domain of Best’s REC-CAP assessment to incorporate barriers that may not exist in the current assessment. Through investigation of barriers that clients might experience in recovery, the study will determine what barriers are not addressed in the current REC-CAP assessment and suggest amendments.

Methods: In this study, two focus groups will be held with 5-6 providers from two community partner locations. The focus groups will ask providers about the barriers their clients experience receiving substance use treatment. The focus groups will be recorded, transcribed, and qualitatively analyzed for reoccurring themes discussing barriers in treatment.

Results/Conclusion: Researchers hypothesize and anticipate discussion over medical mistrust of providers, stigma around treatment, and lack of perceived need of treatment as significant barriers mentioned by providers that are not currently addressed in the REC-CAP assessment.

Language is crucial to understanding human cognition, as it allows for conceptualization, more abstract thinking, and enables far greater capability for problem-solving, conveying ideas, symbolic thinking, and numerous other advanced cognitive actions. Human speech is learned motor behavior, and as such requires preparatory motor behavior (e.g., preceding a long bout of speech, people will take a deep breath). Songbirds, like zebra finches, produce song that is remarkably similar physiologically and neurologically to human speech, and also requires preparatory motor behavior and respiration. Understanding the relationships between different parts of song allows for greater understanding of the nature of learned vocalization. Using a pressure transducer and a surgically implanted cannula, we monitored air pressure during zebra finch song. Final analyses will assess the relationships between introductory notes and the first syllable of song. The relationships between notes will provide further information on the purpose of introductory notes in song, which may in turn aid our understanding of motor and cognitive preparation for speech.