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Cognitive abilities in reptiles and relevant research methodology
Polonyiová, Alexandra ; Němec, Pavel (advisor) ; Landová, Eva (referee)
Reptiles are a neglected group in the study of cognitive abilities of Amniota. Due to their phylogenetic relationship with birds and mammals, knowledge about reptile brains and cognition is important to understanding their evolution in other amniote groups. In this thesis, I summarized the literature on cognitive abilities in reptiles, which focuses on spatial orientation, such as orientation based on visual cues or compass navigation, associative learning, mainly visual discrimination and operant conditioning, and social learning. It has been shown that some reptilian species are capable of flexible behaviour and, given the right methodology, can successfully solve a number of cognitive tasks. I also briefly treated the size and structure of reptile brains, providing the neural substrate for these abilities. Keywords: reptile, cognitive abilities, brain size, brain structure, spatial orientation, associative learning, social learning
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Testing of Recognizing Spatial Intelligence
Malý, Tomáš ; Škutková, Helena (referee) ; Sekora, Jiří (advisor)
This thesis deals with measurement issues in psychology, specifically online diagnostics of spatial abilities. It gives a brief look on psychological construct of intelligence and methods of measuring it, currently in the context of the most spread theory of intelligence C-H-C (Cattell- Horn-Carroll). This thesis focuses on ability called „Visualization“, that is understood as the ability to process visual perceptions and manipulate them in our imagination. The thesis includes functional software, which is made for online computer testing of spatial abilities in children of preschool, or school age.
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Development of cognitive abilities in the Czech Republic based on data of SHARE
Sirotková, Lucie ; Malá, Ivana (advisor) ; Sobíšek, Lukáš (referee)
This master thesis deals with the description and analysis of the cognitive abilities of persons over 50 years of age in the Czech Republic. The aim of this work is to present the readers the panel data and their use in the analysis of cognitive abilities. For the purpose of the analysis, data from Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) are used. In the theoretical part, panel data, cognitive abilities and SHARE survey are generally described. The practical part is divided into four parts. The first one deals with descriptive analysis of individual blocks from the cognitive function module published in the SHARE. Characteristics: age, gender, education and the number of activities are then described, whose impact on cognitive abilities is tested. The third part focuses on the construction of an index of cognitive abilities. The main part of the thesis is focused on the use of panel data analysis for the modeling of dependence between the index of cognitive abilities and other characteristics. In total, three different models are compiled, which are subsequently compared to each other and tested on new data. The results show that age has a great impact on cognitive abilities. Furthermore, there is a proven impact of education and the number of activities carried out. The influence of gender is only significant in two of the three models.
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Participation of the speech therapist on comprehensive care of people with the syndrome of dementia
Zábranská, Nicola ; Klenková, Jiřina (advisor) ; Mužáková, Monika (referee)
The dissertation deals with issues of the dementia syndrome and the speech therapy as a part of its therapy. It describes basic types of dementia, risk factors affecting its formation, diagnostics including the most famous diagnostic tests, the general treatment of dementia, and institutions, where the care for people with dementia could be realized. Subsequently it namely focuses on the speech intervention for this group of people. As a part of this dissertation a workbook with the plan for the treatment of impaired communication abilities in dementia was created. Tests were carried out with four individuals with dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. The results, even evaluated just subjectively, show that this plan might be appropriate as a cornerstone of speech intervention for people with dementia, which in our country is not very broadly spread in our country. Keywords: dementia, cognitive abilities, speech therapy, Alzheimer's disease, communication, homes with special regime
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Cognitive and aggressive behaviours in the annual killifish, Nothobranchius orthonotus
Kubická, Lucie ; Reichard, Martin (advisor) ; Horký, Pavel (referee)
I used annual killifish Nothobranchius orthonotus to investigate two separate questions related to behavioural aspects of their life history. The first study focused on spatial cognitive ability of two N. orthonotus populations that originated from temporary pools that varied in their expected duration due to differences in annual precipitation patterns (dry and humid region). Test of cognition was based on the ability to learn to find food in a dichotomous test. It was assumed that learning ability differs between populations when tested in young and old age along with their difference in captive lifespan. Additionally, association between cognitive ability and other life history traits was tested. It was found that: (1) there was no difference in the ability to learn spatial task between populations; (2) both populations had similar lifespan with no cognitive decay in older age, and older fish from dry region population had committed even less errors in the learning task than they did as young fish; (3) fish were able to effectively learn the task but (4) solitary fish had lower learning ability than group-reared fish; (5) longer- living fish were quicker learners; (6) high resting metabolic rate was associated with more effective learning; (7) hesitant fish found the food reward in learning task...
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Effects of early-life stress on development of cognitive abilities
Lukavská, Markéta ; Landová, Eva (advisor) ; Svoboda, Jan (referee)
Stress is a major factor affecting both current and long-term performance of the organism to certain situations. Stress can hormonally influence some neuronal axis, particularly frontal lobe, hippocampus and amygdale, through the activation of HPA axis and its feedback. Changes in these regions of the brain during postnatal ontogeny can significantly affect individual behaviour and cognition. The mentioned effect of stress on cognitive functions is influenced, in particular, by the timing of the impact of stress due to postnatal ontogeny of the above mentioned regions of the brain. In addition to this timing is necessary to take into account a whole range of other factors such as predictability and the level of control above stress situations. A summary of all of these factors affects the specific impact on cognition of the individual will be a stressor. An acute or a long-term mild stress (i. e. sensory stimulation) increases the individual's cognitive abilities. On the contrary, too strong, non-predictable or uncontrollable stress has a negative effect on cognitive performance. Unfortunately, it is not easy to determine a reliable marker of the stress situation. In the postnatal period in mammals, we meet with the so-called hypo-responsive period which is characterized by stress resistance and...
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Influence of the natural environment on the development of motor and cognitive abilities of preschool age.
Havířová, Martina ; Opravilová, Eva (advisor) ; Havlová, Jana (referee)
This work deals with the effect the natural environment on the development of motor and cognitive abilities of preschool age. The aim is to determine the effect of education in the natural environment to the level of motor skills and knowledge of preschool children. The theoretical part describes the characteristics of preschool age. Acquaints with the development of motor skills and their training in the natural environment. It also deals with the cognitive component of the preschool child's personality and the possibilities of its development in the countryside. Zooms problems of education in a forest environment, types of learnin and methods of training in the various components of the child's personality just in a forest. The practical part is a qualitative research method used is a questionnaire survey among kindergarten teachers to determine the most commonly used educational environment, the method standardized test for 4-6-year old children to determine the level of motor skills of the children, and the method of diagnostic interview, which examined the effect of natural environments on children's knowledge. Results in agreement with reported literature confirm the positive influence of education in the natural environment for the development of several components of the child's personality.
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Psychological testing in personnel psychology: competency-based selection of hospitality leaders
Šafr, Martin ; Wagnerová, Irena (advisor) ; Štikar, Jiří (referee)
This thesis deals with one of the most debated topics of the Personnel Psychology - the personnel selection. The aim of the thesis is to provide an exhaustive overview of the designing process of the selection procedures with special attention being paid to the various methods of selecting employees. Attention was primarily paid to the effort that the knowledge of the otherwise common methods of selecting employees be put in the new framework and the latest ways of their application. Particular emphasis has been put upon the new approaches to the method of interview, cognitive abilities testing, detection of individual personality at work and new methods in designing assessment centers. An interesting chapter is the use of emotional factors as selection criteria and the application of the attachment theory to work. Considerable extent of the thesis is also devoted to the methods of job analysis and competency modeling, their comparison and applications. Based on the previous theoretical treatise the empirical part attempts at creating a competency model for senior executives in the hotel industry and proposes possible ways of its practical use.
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The cognitive abilities of dogs
Tieslová, Markéta ; Fiala Šebková, Naděžda (advisor) ; Chmelíková, Eva (referee)
Cognitive skills of dogs is a very complex and broad topic. They consists of some distinctive parts which have to be studied deeply and as a consequence to interconnect the pieces of knowledge. To begin with, we start our analyses with the anatomical and physiological aspect of the dog´s brain function and its particular sences which are cruicial for learning about the world and its understanding. We continue with the processing of the gained stimuli. For the dog to be able to use their gained knowledge for further life, they necessarilly have to be able to remember them. This is why we touch the boundary to the memory part.
The proper learning and motivation themselves are one of the biggest issues. It is the motivation which leads the dog to the learning. Certainly, domestication and cooperation with the dog´s new partner - man - has had a great influence on the cognitive skills during the evolution. The dog had to learn to differenciate the human signals as well as to read in the human face. We could perfectly point out on the wide range of differences in the bahaviour understanding of wolves and comtemporary domesticated dogs.
While studying the cognitive skills of dogs we are facing a complex and wide sets of test which are to clarify dog´s thinking and problem solving. Based on those tests, the dog is seen as a very intellingent and at the same time independent creature, which understands very quickly and which can handle many sitiations in a flexible and complex way. The dog can also use its experience for their benefit.
Cognitive dysfunction Syndrom by dogs is a distinctive chapter. Of course, the biggest influence on the dysfunction to come clear and be displayed is the age of the dog. After their 8 years the efficiency and life standard deteriorate drastically. It is necesarry to determine and detect such dysfunction and start to compensate it. Either by suitable and appropriate medical cure or by regular trainings with the owners. The truth is that the majority of owners still do not pay full attention to the worsing condition of their dog. What is more, they do not know about it nor do they have motivation and taste fot testing in veterinary premises. As a matter of fact, it is important to bring the education there, especially to the owners of older dogs .
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How the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) recognizes enemies
NĚMEC, Michal
This study investigates two questions about anti-predator behaviour of the red-backed shrike. 1) Is the red-backed shrike able to assess the differing dangers represented by various types or species of predators? 2) How does the red-backed shrike recognize the predator? We found, that the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) adjusts its anti-predator behaviour by assessing the potential threat to themselves from different predator species and by assessing the chance of a successful attack. Further, we found that the presence of general raptor salient features is absolutely necessary for proper categorisation of the intruder as a predator, whereas the natural species-specific colouration in itself is an insufficient cue.
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