音乐与语言的认知神经科学研究进展

回顾了近年来对音乐与语言的认知神经科学的研究结果.神经影像学研究表明音乐与语言可能拥有一些共同的神经机制;而对脑损伤病人的研究则表明两者可能同时拥有分离的、各自独立的神经基础.文章对这两类研究做了总结和比较,探讨了相关的理论模型,并对今后的研究趋势作出了展望.     

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK FOR ISLAMIC COGNITIVE THEORIES

The Islamic psychology (IP) community in Europe has recently witnessed a heated debate about the credentials required to participate in the theoretical substantiation of IP and Islamically integrated psychotherapy and counseling. This debate has provided convenient circumstances for Muslim psychologists and Islamic scholars alike to rethink their roles within the flourishing movement. Specifically, the discussions hint toward the importance of adopting a collaborative research methodology for IP, in particular for basic research. The methodology of choice will need to define the necessary qualifications and responsibilities of scholars and psychologists in a collaborative research process (personal collaboration) and evince its capability to appropriately marry knowledge and data, diverging research methods, and perspectives, concepts, and theories from Islamic studies and contemporary psychology (content‐related collaboration). Here, we devise and offer a case illustration of an Islamic Psychology Basic Research Framework (coined the SALAAM Framework). This framework uses the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS) Model of Interdisciplinary Research, developed by the IIS at the University of Amsterdam. Our first aim is to appropriate the IIS model for the IP literature by applying the model's research process phases and technique for the integration of disparate bodies of knowledge—that is, the identification of common ground—to methodological approaches in the contemporary IP literature. Our second aim is to exemplify the devised SALAAM Framework using the relatively unexplored area of Islamic cognitive theories (ICTs), which remain underdeveloped in contemporary psychological literature, primarily because of a lack of commensurability with the nomenclature of contemporary psychology. We thus provide a primer on the potential scope of ICTs. Toward the end of this article, we discuss the potential of the project of interdisciplinary construction of Islamic psychological theory, and the ability of the SALAAM Framework to establish a research program in IP that centers on cognition. We finally offer our reflections on the distinctiveness of Islamic psychologies in comparison to mainstream and Christian psychology.     

ANCIENT CHINESE THEORIES OF LANGUAGE

It is a commonplace hope of much modern philosophy that philosophy be understood as intimately related to language. The bridge between philosophical doctrines and language is typically erected by explaining various substantive views in e.g. ontology, logic, epistemology, ethics, etc., as presupposing a certain view of language, its function, its significance, etc. Insofar as this view is helpful, understanding Chinese philosophy should be no exception. Behind some of the ethical, metaphysical or epistemo-logical doctrines, we should be able to find views about language which themselves can be explained by certain general features of Chinese language and accepted philosophical practice. These, naturally, would be most interesting and informative where they provide a contrast with the views which historically were dominant in Western philosophy.     

ORGANISMIC PROCESSES FOR NEO-PIAGETIAN THEORIES: A DIALECTICAL CAUSAL ACCOUNT OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

The paper criticizes some epistemological presuppositions of Piaget's and of neo-Piagetian's work, in particular, the psycho-Logical principle. This principle is contrasted with a more valid psycho-dialectical one. It is suggested that a dialectical-constructivist (i.e., causal-dynamic) perspective offers a causal theoretical framework for cognitive development that is superior to that of Piaget and many neo-Piagetians. I outline criteria for evaluating causal developmental theories, and point out deficiencies in Piaget's and neo-Piagetian's stage theories vis-à-vis the criteria. An organismic theory of constructive operators - a dialectical/causal theory - is introduced as a remedy for these deficiencies. I focus on a modular model of mental attention that is constituted by four dynamically interacting functional systems. These systems together explain the ‘beam’ of mental attention and its phenomenological/behavioural effects. I claim that the stages of cognitive development are caused by growth of mental attention. The validity of this model is supported by data on a motor performance task (Rho task). The Rho data show: (a) the existence of stage-wise plateaus in children's performance at ages congruent with the redefined Piagetian stages; (b) the psychological structures which, driven by mental attention (M-capacity), are responsible for performance on the task, appear to be located in the left hemisphere of the brain. These findings, predicted by the dialectical theory of mental attention, highlight its causal-predictive power.     

PHILOSOPHICAL THEORIES OF PRIVACY: IMPLICATIONS FOR AN ADEQUATE ONLINE PRIVACY POLICY

Abstract: This essay critically examines some classic philosophical and legal theories of privacy, organized into four categories: the nonintrusion, seclusion, limitation, and control theories of privacy. Although each theory includes one or more important insights regarding the concept of privacy, I argue that each falls short of providing an adequate account of privacy. I then examine and defend a theory of privacy that incorporates elements of the classic theories into one unified theory: the Restricted Access/Limited Control (RALC) theory of privacy. Using an example involving data‐mining technology on the Internet, I show how RALC can help us to frame an online privacy policy that is sufficiently comprehensive in scope to address a wide range of privacy concerns that arise in connection with computers and information technology.     

THE COGNITIVE IMPLICATIONS OF STUDIES ON FACIAL ASYMMETRY: A GENERAL DISCUSSION

This General Discussion surveys studies on asymmetry and neuropsychological deficits in the production of several kinds of facial activities, with the main purpose of scrutinizing the field in search of its contribution to neuropsychology considered as a particular domain (or method) of cognitive psychology. In this respect, four points are emphasized: the object of research (cognitive processes, not brain mechanisms), the information-processing approach of a complex process of which the facial behavior is only the overt end-product, the specificity of mechanisms underlying facial expression, and the single-case methodology.     

LANGUAGE INDICES IN THE MEASUREMENT OF COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY: IS COMPLEXITY LOQUACITY?

Within an accepted measurement system of the construct termed cognitive complexity, an analysis of the relationship between cognitive complexity scores and such indices of verbal complexity as number of tokens, type-token ratio, and noun-verb/adjective-adverb ratio was conducted. Writing samples used to measure cognitive complexity were obtained and analyzed for verbal complexity. Results indicate that number of tokens account for 33 percent of the variance in cognitive complexity followed by noun-verb/adjective-ad verb ratio (8 percent) and the type-token ratio (1 percent). Results are discussed relative to the potential for loquacity to impact the measurement of cognitive complexity.     

THE LANGUAGE OF PARTICIPATION AND THE LANGUAGE OF RESISTANCE1

Language and gestures define the involvement of low-status groups with authorities either as joint participation in policymaking or as conflict. Policies that seriously deprive non-elites are often politicized, encouraging the perception that all affected by them participated in their formulation. This perception is problematic and often misleading, for formal decision-making procedures chiefly reflect extant inequalities in the ability of participants to achieve their values and to influence public opinion. It is those who can exercise influence outside the context of formal proceedings who wield real power; but formal proceedings remain vital rituals, for they symbolize participation and democracy and so marshal public support and compliance. The poor lack the informal sanctions and other resources that confer influence, with the important exception that they can create disorder and thereby threaten elites; but in becoming politicized they renounce that political weapon.     

论数学能力的研究与认知理论的关系

本文对关于数学能力的实质的心理学研究作了历史的回顾,其中包括心理计量学、认知科学和心理学中的认知发展等几个领域的研究工作。文中揭示了在这几个领域的研究中存在着的几个共同问题。作者认为需要假借这些不同的研究领域中的研究方法,创造新的信息加工的方法以揭示数学能力及其发展的实质。     

THE WORLD OF NONWORK: SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR JOB RE-DESIGN EFFORTS1

The compensatory and spillover models of adjustment to work are described. Data from a pharmaceutical firm and two different research and development organizations are examined to illustrate the operation of these two models. Evidence of both the compensatory and spillover models were found for several different groups of workers. Furthermore, some groups of workers displayed complex combinations of both compensatory and spillover adjustments to their work experiences. Implications of these results for job re-design efforts are described.     

LANGUAGE BASIS OF READING DISABILITIES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND REMEDIATION

In this paper, we present a brief overview of the language basis of reading and reading disabilities. First, we describe the Simple View of Reading, a model of reading that comprises two primary components, word recognition and language comprehension. We then review research showing that language problems underlie most difficulties children have learning to read. Lastly, we discuss implications of these findings for early identification and remediation of reading disabilities.     

双语控制的神经基础及其对第二语言教学的启示

双语加工和控制的认知神经科学研究发现,与一般性执行功能有关的最关键的脑区前额皮层,以及其它的相关脑区及神经基础如前扣带回、基底神经节和下顶叶等参与了双语语言理解和语言产生的双语控制中。这些研究成果对于利用第二语言促进认知控制能力的发展,以及利用认知控制训练促进高效率的第二语言教学有着重要的启示。     

A DAY AT DEVELOPMENTAL DOWNS: SPORTSCAST FOR RACE #2 - NEO-PIAGETIAN THEORIES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

This article discusses the neo-Piagetian theories of cognitive development proposed by Robbie Case, Andreas Demetriou and Anastasia Efklides, Kurt Fischer, Jeffrey Farrar, Graeme Halford, Juan Pascual-Leone, Michael Shayer, and Robert Siegler. Each theory is discussed in terms of its basic assumptions, and propositions regarding structure, process, novelty and automatization, context, and mechanisms of development. Then some general conclusions are drawn about the enterprise of neo-Piagetian theorizing as a whole.     

TAKING SCIENCE SERIOUSLY WITHOUT SCIENTISM: A RESPONSE TO TAEDE SMEDES

In responding to Taede Smedes, I first examine his thesis that the recent dialogue between science and religion has been dominated by scientism and does not take theology seriously. I then consider his views on divine action, free will and determinism, and process philosophy. Finally I use the fourfold typology of Conflict, Independence, Dialogue, and Integration to discuss his proposal for the future of science and religion.