Language is a hallmark of human cognition—a rich and flexible method of representing the world around us. As such, language provides an invaluable resource to human infants: a way of gaining insight into the representations that guide adult cognition. In this dissertation, I explore how language influences infants’ cognition as...
Life stories are strong predictors of identity, since the specific narratives adults tell about themselves represent individual differences in personality characteristics. One way researchers analyze these life stories in adults is by measuring the story’s coherence, which is comprised of a clear context, a linear chronology, and an explanation of...
Problems in interpersonal functioning are a major concern. In adults, interpersonal dysfunction is often investigated as it relates to personality disorders (PDs). In fact, researchers have argued that a core of interpersonal dysfunction is what defines personality disorders (Hopwood, Wright, Ansell, & Pincus, 2013). This is perhaps most evident for...
Speech contains a variety of temporal and spectral features that occur simultaneously in the signal, each of which conveys unique information that is essential for its accurate interpretation. As the bridge between the auditory periphery and the cortex, the brainstem can be thought of as a connection that must respond...
Stem cells show great promise as cellular replacement and drug delivery therapies for a number of neurological disorders. This dissertation examines embryonic and adult types of stem cells, their plasticity, and mechanisms governing their development (Chapters 1-5). Our studies illustrate that leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signaling and bone morphogenetic protein...
A half-century of high revenues from petroleum export has failed to elevate more than a small percentage of Nigerians above the poverty level. The failure to manage the vicissitudes of global oil markets, and to grow other sectors of the economy, has led to constant budget deficits and unsustainable national...