Poster Session
RD 204, 206, & 213 – 10:15– 11:15 am
19 posters
RD 204
1. Diana Martinez, Dan O’Connell, Maria Cuervo, Ashley Bautista, Luz Garcini, Alfonso Mercado, Tony Payan, Thomas McDade, & Amanda Venta. Somatization in Immigrants at the Texas-Mexico Border: The Combined Role of Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms.
School: University Of Houston
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Amanda Venta
This study explores trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and somatization in 297 asylum-seeking Latinx immigrants. Findings show trauma exposure predicts somatization only in individuals with moderate to high PTSS. These findings highlight the need for culturally informed healthcare approaches to address mental and physical health disparities in immigrant populations.
2. Hannah Laflen & Stephanie Afful. Winning the Game, Losing Control: An Analysis of Athletic Identity, Aggression, and Risky Sexual Behavior.
School: Lindenwood University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Afful
Keeping athletes safe has remained a priority in sports participation, yet research consistently shows that outside of sports, athletes display violent and aggressive behavior. In this study, college athletes reflected on athletic or academic identity and then completed measures of aggression, sports history, and risky sexual behaviors.
3. Autum Goforth. Impact of Innovative Enrichment Programs on Attitudes Towards STEM/Multimedia.
School: Arkansas State University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Karen L. Yanowitz
This research explores the relationship between an enrichment program focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Multimedia content and the impact it has on students’ attitudes towards the fields. The study utilizes a mixed method approach to examine shifts. Findings revealed positive attitude changes following the program.
4. Sang Nguyen, Emily A. Velandia, Aglaia M. Margaris, & Meghan E. McDevitt-Murphy. Differences in Depression Severity Based on the Developmental Timing of Trauma Exposure.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Meghan E. McDevitt-Murphy
This study investigated whether depression severity differs among college students depending on when their worst traumatic event occurred (early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, or adulthood). There were no statistically significant differences between groups. This finding aligns with literature proposing that trauma’s impact on depression may be pervasive rather than timing-dependent.
5. Sara Batts, Seth Hatchett, Saman Sargolzaei, &. Ann Gathers. Mental Imagery & Selective Attentional Control: An Investigation into Their Connection Using EEG.
School: University of Tennessee at Martin
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ann Gathers
This study seeks to examine the role of mental imagery generation abilities and its relationship with selective attentional control on an EEG level. We hypothesize individuals with stronger mental imagery generation abilities will produce increased beta and theta activity. Conversely, individuals with lower generation abilities may produce weaker brain waves.
6. Tatum Alexandria Terrell. Comparing Undergraduate Students Self-Regulated Learning During Video-Based and Text-Based Instruction.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shelbi L. Kuhlmann
This study examines self-regulated learning (SRL) in video- vs. text-based instruction. Preliminary results show video-based learners performed slightly better and benefited from metacognitive monitoring. Findings suggest video instruction may enhance SRL and learning outcomes. Further research with a larger sample will provide deeper insights at the MSPC.
RD 206
7. Karlie E. Seltzer. Fear and Oral Health in Dentistry.
School: University of Tennessee at Martin
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Joe Ostenson
The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of dental fear, oral health, and oral health awareness in college students through an online survey. The only significance (p < .05) found was a correlation between higher dental fear scores and lower oral health scores.
8. Eliza Nickleberry. How does lesbian/bisexual identity affect lesbian/bisexual perception?
School: University of Tennessee at Martin
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Youngjin Kang
We collect data from biologically female participants who are currently in a homosexual relationship We examine how much they identify as bisexual or lesbian. We then ask these participants to hypothetically identify another person as bisexual or lesbian based on three dimensions of sexual orientation identification.
9. Blake Robinson, Christy LaFlamme, Edith Almanza Fuerte, & Heather Mefford. RNU4-2 Recurrent Pathogenic Variant Identified in Severe Pediatric Epilepsy Cohort.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Heather Mefford
RNA splicing disruptions, particularly in RNU4-2, are implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and epilepsy. Screening 1,300 individuals with severe pediatric epilepsy, we identified one case (<0.1%) with a recurrent RNU4-2 variant. Our findings suggest a lower prevalence than previously reported, emphasizing the need for further investigation into its mutational landscape.
10. Tyras M. Watkins, Jr. Dopamine Release in Social vs Unsocial Mice.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Deranda Lester
This study investigates how social vs unsocial behavior influences dopamine release in mice. Using in vivo amperometry, this study will also examine sex differences in dopaminergic responses to cocaine, aiming to clarify the relationship between social interaction and drug reward processing in the brain.
11. Zoey Sanders & Karen L. Yanowitz. Inspiring Young Minds Through TinkerFaire Sci-Fest: A Thematic Analysis of Survey Responses.
School: Arkansas State University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Karen L. Yanowitz
A thematic analysis was done for an open-response question given to adult attendees exiting a science festival. Most adults described the best part of their day as watching their children’s enjoyment. The rest of the adult attendees noted the best part of their day was other experiences.
12. Michelle Baggiore, Madison Rogers, & Cheryl Bowers. GPA and Quality Time with Friends.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cheryl Bowers
Are you more likely to have a high GPA if your friends do? Studies show that homophily (i.e., similar traits shared between those in a group) is common among friends. This study aimed to determine if this was true for GPAs in a friend group.
RD 213
13. Nate Foley. Stress and Coping Mechanisms.
School: University of Tennessee at Martin
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Natasha Varnick
College is considered the most stressful time in a person's life and naturally students will look for ways to cope. However, some coping mechanisms are more harmful than others. It is hypothesized that students with more stress will use unhealthy coping mechanisms. Research is still in progress.
14. Allison Skaggs & Angie MacKewn. Age & Type of Crime Related to Mock-Jury Sentencing.
School: University of Tennessee at Martin
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Angie MacKewn
This study examines how defendant age and type of crime influence sentencing decisions in a mock jury experiment. Using age-specific crime scenarios, we analyze bias in jury decision-making. Findings will highlight how perceptions of youth shape sentencing outcomes, informing future legal and psychological research.
15. Carissa Lurie. How Instagram Use and Childhood Trauma Influence Body Image.
School: Cumberland University
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Chelsea Sterne
The purpose of the study is to determine how Instagram usage and childhood trauma influence university freshmen’s view on body image.
16. Mary Dabney Wepfer Baker, Aglaia M. Margaris, Emily A. Velandia, Mia A. Chambers, & Meghan E. McDevitt-Murphy. The Impact of Post-Battle Experiences on Post-Deployment Family Emotional Support.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Meghan E. McDevitt-Murphy
Post-battle experiences have been associated with psychological distress and interpersonal impairment. We examined associations between post-battle experiences, engagement in overt combat, and family emotional support. Additionally, we conducted a hierarchical regression model to determine if post-battle experiences explained unique variance in family emotional support. Results and implications will be discussed.
17. Karla Mendoza, Caitlin Mills, & Mya Urena. Evaluating the Avoidance of Positive Romantic Partners in Potentially Depressed Individuals Using the Reward Devaluation Theory.
School: Christian Brothers University & University of Minnesota
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Caitlin Mills
This study investigated whether there would be a relationship among individuals with higher depressive symptoms (N = 200) and avoidance of positive romantic relationships using a novelty task and accompanying measures. Our findings suggest further validation of our novelty task could return a positive relationship among our variables, however, further research must be conducted.
18. Elaine Candice Mooney, David Aaron Heath, & Stephanie Huette. Investigating Mental Simulation and Mental Imagery Using Sentence-Picture Verification.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Huette
This study hypothesized a similarity between automatic modes of understanding and deliberate imagination. In a sentence-picture verification task with(out) explicit instructions to visualize, participants read a sentence that implied the features of an item and responded to a picture that (dis)agreed with the implication. Results and implications will be discussed.
19. Shaima Issa. Examining Anxiety-Related Behaviors Induced by Social Versus Drug Reward Conditioning.
School: The University of Memphis
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Deranda Lester
This study examines anxiety-related behaviors on non-reward conditioning days (off-days) during CPP with either cocaine or social interaction. We hypothesize that mice will display heightened anxiety-like behaviors during cocaine CPP to social CPP, and that the occurrence of anxiety-related behaviors are related to reward sensitivity. Findings may clarify the link between anxiety and reward, informing treatments for reward-related disorders.