Memory for recent behavior in the pigeon

Variations of the symbolic delayed-matching-to-sample procedure were used to study a pigeon's memory for a small number of pecks. In the first experiment a choice of a left or right sidekey after a delay or retention interval was reinforced if a bird had not pecked at all or had pecked exactly once, before the delay, respectively. In the second experiment a choice of a red or green sidekey, regardless of its position, was reinforced if a bird had not pecked at all or had pecked exactly twice, respectively. In the first experiment a bird could orient toward the correct choice during the delay, whereas it could not in the second experiment. In a third experiment a feature-probing method was used to study a pigeon's memory for a number of pecks in the context of certain other pecks. The results showed that a pigeon can remember a small number of pecks for one-half to one minute or more and that the percent correct is a decreasing function of the log retention interval. When a second number of pecks is different from the first number, memory for the first number lasts only a few seconds. When a second number is the same, memory lasts considerably longer. The more recent number of pecks is remembered better. The results are interpreted in terms of a theory which holds that a reinforcer, in general, may act on a subjects' memory for recent behavior to generate patterns of behavior.     

数量表征的符号特异性和符号非特异性

数量表征(numerical representation)指与特定数量相联系的心理表征。长期以来抽象的数量表征假说占据主导地位, 但随着自动化加工范式和脑成像技术的发展, 数量表征存在符号特异性的证据已不断涌现。其中, 最近有两个理论认为数量表征可能同时存在符号特异性和符号非特异性。计算的模型假说提出非符号数量和符号数字在总和编码阶段具有符号特异性, 而在之后的位置编码阶段具有符号非特异性。双重编码的延伸假说则认为数量表征在自动编码阶段具有符号特异性, 然后在有意编码阶段, 受任务要求影响, 数量表征向实时的抽象表征过渡。已有大量行为和神经基础研究为以上假说提供了证据, 但数量表征动态变化的内在机制和脑区还有待探索, 未来应该在发展、跨文化、自动加工范式与神经成像相结合、单细胞记录技术等方向继续开展数量表征研究。     

Johnsen on Brains in Vats

This is a response to a recent Philosophical Studies article by Bredo Johnsen, in which he makes a number of criticisms of Putnamian anti-skeptical arguments.     

Using Skills Gained Through Volunteerism in Job Searches: A Workable Strategy

A number of recent theoretical and empirical articles have examined various aspects of volunteerism. Research which has established the increasing importance of career development as a primary goal of many volunteers has largely been concerned with individuals already established in their careers. This article extends current research by focusing on recent or soon-to-be college graduates. It integrates career-development volunteerism research with recent work from the job search literature. The paper includes specific suggestions for obtaining volunteer experience which targets employer-identified desirable job skills.     

Epistemic Blame and the New Evil Demon Problem

Philosophical Studies - The New Evil Demon Problem presents a serious challenge to externalist theories of epistemic justification. In recent years, externalists have developed a number of...     

Microcomputers and Psychometric Assessment

A general overview is presented of recent developments in the field of automated psychometric assessment, with special emphasis on microcomputer-based systems. The potential advantages and disadvantages of computerised assessment in comparison to more traditional methods are discussed in some detail, and particular reference is made to a recent large-scale validation study of a microcomputer-based system. Minimum system requirements for this type of application are briefly outlined and a number of example applications are listed. Finally, consideration is given to likely future trends in this area.     

Financializing epistemic norms in contemporary biomedical innovation

Synthese - The rapid, recent emergence of new medical knowledge models has engendered a dizzying number of new medical initiatives, programs and approaches. Fields such as evidence-based medicine...     

Normative perceptions in relation to substance use and HIV-risky sexual behaviors of college students

In this study, 410 college students completed a survey assessing their personal substance use patterns and sexual behavior and their perceptions of other students' substance use and sexual behavior. Two parallel sets of questions were presented to reflect the two contextual conditions of being drunk or high versus being not drunk or high. Results indicated that number of recent sexual partners and normative perceptions of HIV-risky sexual behavior were the strongest predictors of personal HIV-risky behavior when not drunk or high. HIV-risky behavior when drunk or high was predicted by personal substance use as well as by number of recent partners and normative perceptions of peer sexual behavior. These findings suggest that HIV-prevention programs for college students should aim to correct overinflated perceptions of other students' high-risk sexual behavior.     

Cortical bases of speech perception: evidence from functional lesion studies

Functional lesion studies have yielded new information about the cortical organization of speech perception in the human brain. We will review a number of recent findings, focusing on studies of speech perception that use the techniques of electrocortical mapping by cortical stimulation and hemispheric anesthetization by intracarotid amobarbital. Implications for recent developments in neuroimaging studies of speech perception will be discussed. This discussion will provide the framework for a developing model of the cortical circuitry critical for speech perception.     

A-symmetric confirmation and anthropic skepticism

Synthese - In recent years, anthropic reasoning has been used to justify a number of controversial skeptical hypotheses (both scientific and philosophical). In this paper, we consider two prominent...     

Intuitionistic Conditional Logics

Journal of Philosophical Logic - Building on recent work by Yale Weiss, we study conditional logics in the intuitionistic setting. We consider a number of semantic conditions which give rise, among...     

Quantum gravity,timelessness, and the contents of thought

Philosophical Studies - A number of recent theories of quantum gravity lack a one-dimensional structure of ordered temporal instants. Instead, according to many of these views, our world is either...     

Recent Theological Interpretations of Evolution

Abstract

In this article I give special attention to recent responses particularly by Roman Catholic scholars to the question, “How should Christian theology take into serious consideration the scientific theory of biological evolution?” To do this I will explore a number of key areas where recent scholarship has made considerable progress in response to this question and at the same time raised new insights into additional questions.     

Sequential estimations of time

Sequential estimations of intervals stored and reproduced by either counting or not counting are compared in experiments with single and repeated presentation of the standard interval. In a non-counting condition the estimates show a negative correlation with the last occurring trial throughout the series after one presentation of the standard. Consequently, in an ongoing process the capacity for (the storage and) the recall of time appears to be limited to the most recent event corresponding with the previous estimate. Correlations are lacking when the standard is presented after every estimate because the most recent information is an external constant. The correlations with the last trial recur when relatively long intervals are used, stored on the basis of various sensory cues. When the difference between the number of these cues is minimized, the correlation disappears. Counting never shows sequential correlations since it favors the coding and storage of time as a number of subjective units. The temporal equivalent of that number is constructed from trial to trial, a representation of the complete interval is not available and the subject does not remember his counting rate.     

Are beats gestures unrelated to meaning of verbal production? Comment on Mizuguchi's view

In a recent note, Mizuguchi (2006) stated that beats are not directly related to the meaning of the production of speech. We report a number of studies that suggest the existence of a clear relationship between beats and significant parts of co-occurring speech.     

分数认知的“整数偏向”研究:理论与方法

整数偏向普遍存在于分数认知中,它指儿童在应用分数知识时,常使用先前形成的有关整数的独立单元计数图式来解释分数的倾向。学者们提出了先天约束假设、未分化量假设和学习的负迁移假设分别从先天和后天角度对其成因做了解释。以往研究常采用纸笔测验或口语报告揭示它的存在,近年来有研究采用了心理数字线假设的相关效应考查了成人的整数偏向,使其研究方法和被试得以扩展。在该领域,今后应在定义、理论解释、研究方法以及教学干预方面加强研究。     

癌症疼痛心理社会干预治疗的研究进展

癌症疼痛是一种复杂和多维的感受,与心理和社会因素相互影响。本文回顾近期国内外相关研究指出,许多重要的社会心理因素与疼痛有关,包括心理压力、应对方法、社会支持以及社会经济因素,它们是疼痛管理的难点。近期的国内外研究表明缓解癌痛的心理社会干预措施包括：疼痛教育、应对技能训练和催眠等,它们对疼痛治疗管理是有益的补充,同时抗抑郁药物应用对疼痛治疗有益。     

Observations on Chiang’s “new” theory of geometrical illusions

Several observations are reported which conflict with predictions derived from a recent theory of illusions presented by Chiang. It was concluded that Chiang’s analysis of the processes underlying contour formation is inadequate to explain a number of illusions such as the Poggendorff and the Muller-Lyer.     

Note on the computation of product-moment correlation coefficients

This paper describes a systematic plan for computing all of the product-moment correlation coefficients among a number of variables that has been taught by Professor Toops for many years. It offers several advantages over a scheme presented by Kossack in a recent issue of this journal.     

In defence of virtue epistemology

In a number of recent papers Duncan Pritchard argues that virtue epistemology’s central ability condition—one knows that p if and only if one has attained cognitive success (true belief) because of the exercise of intellectual ability—is neither necessary nor sufficient for knowledge. This paper discusses and dismisses a number of responses to Pritchard’s objections and develops a new way of defending virtue epistemology against them.