Cognitive Processing of Drawing Abilities

This critical review examines constructional apraxia from a cognitive neuropsychological perspective. To our knowledge, van Sommers (1989) is the only researcher to present a global cognitive model of drawing abilities. He organizes it into two hierarchical systems: Marr's model of visual perception and a graphic production system. The latter comprises four hierarchically organized components: depiction decisions, production strategy, contingent planning, and articulatory and economic constraints. Van Sommers' model will be discussed in light of other models and on the basis of empirical neuropsychological studies (Farah, 1984; Kosslyn & Koenig, 1992; Roncato, Sartori, Masterson, & Rumiati, 1987; van Sommers, 1989). We find that: (1) the Kosslyn and Koenig visual perception model describes more accurately the perceptual components underlying copying than the visual perception system of van Sommers' drawing model, (2) Van Sommers' arguments in favor of a depiction processing as opposed to visual imagery are not convincing, (3) Van Sommers' assumption that a production strategy is a component is unclear, and (4) articulatory and economic constraints are not cognitive components, but constraints imposed during action programming. This literature review leads to a discussion of future research topics and the specificity of constructional apraxia.     

Self-Efficacy and the Prediction of Domain-Specific Cognitive Abilities

ABSTRACT We evaluated predictors of performance in 4 specific cognitive ability domains: verbal, numerical, spatial, and mechanical. The predictors were individual differences in self-efficacy beliefs, self-enhancement tendencies, and cross-domain abilities. Our university students' beliefs about their verbal, numerical, and spatial capabilities correlated well with their actual performance on standardized tests (verbal r =.33, numerical r =.27, spatial r =.36). In contrast, the students' self-efficacy for mechanical tasks did relatively poorly in predicting mechanical test performance ( r =.10). Most interesting were two other findings: (a) The best predictor of domain performance was level of cross-domain performance by far, even for mechanical tasks, and (b) self-enhancement tendencies added to cross-domain abilities and self-efficacy beliefs in the prediction of performance. The results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms explaining how one's score on a maximal performance task can be affected by self-efficacy beliefs and self-enhancement tendencies.     

Expanding the Nexus of Cognitive and Psychomotor Abilities

A study was conducted to expand the nexus of cognitive and psychomotor abilities. A cognitive aptitude battery and a psychomotor battery were administered to 429 military recruits. A confirmatory factor analysis yielded higher-order factors of general cognitive ability (g) and psychomotor/technical knowledge (PM/TK). PM/TK was interpreted as Vernon's (1969) practical factor (k:m). In the joint analysis of these batteries, g and PM/TK each accounted for about 31% of the common variance. No residualized lower-order factor accounted for more than 7% PM/TK influenced a broad range of lower-order psychomotor factors. The first practical implication of these findings is that psychomotor tests are expected to be at least generally interchangeable. A second implication is that the incremental validity of psychomotor tests beyond cognitive tests is expected to be small. These findings should help guide test developers and inform personnel selecting agencies regarding the expected utility of psychomotor tests.     

Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots

Grey parrots ( Psittacus erithacus ) solve various cognitive tasks and acquire and use English speech in ways that often resemble those of very young children. Given that the psittacine brain is organized very differently from that of mammals, these results have intriguing implications for the study and evolution of vocal learning, communication, and cognition.     

“调查方法的认知研究”思潮介评

现代意义的调查已有近百年的历史,它是官方统计、社会研究(如态度测量)与市场研究等常用的方法。在80年代以前,调查研究深受行为主义的影响,把问题看作是能引发被调查者的反应的刺激,即把问题作答(question-answering)看作是刺激一反应(S—R)过程。在60、70年代,一些领域的研究表明行为主义研究取向存在很多弱点,如语言学家发现     

Expectancy of Chinese Parents and Children's Cognitive Abilities

A total of 142 first grade and 188 fifth grade schoolchildren from Beijing were tested on 11 cognitive tasks. The parents of these children were surveyed with questionnaires to obtain family background materials, and were asked about their expectancies of their children's future careers and future educational achievements. It was found that fifth grade children from high career (professional) expectancy fathers tend to have better developed cognitive abilities, however there is no career expectancy effect on first grade children. Children from high school achievement expectancy fathers tend to have better developed cognitive skills, this educational expectancy effect is stronger for fifth grade children than first grade children. There is a general trend that the higher the educational level of the fathers, the higher expectancy they have for their children.     

基本心理能力老化的认知机制

基本心理能力老化机制是认知老化领域研究热点之一。横断研究与追踪研究表明, 感觉功能、加工速度、工作记忆等信息加工资源的衰退导致了基本心理能力的衰退。但由于相关研究不能进行因果推论, 基本心理能力老化的认知机制尚存在争论。因此本项目拟采用实验室研究和干预实验设计, 通过操纵感觉功能(知觉压力水平)、干预加工速度与工作记忆, 考察基本心理能力的年龄差异的变化, 以期为认知老化理论的深化和拓展提供实验依据。     

音乐训练对认知能力的影响

在当今社会中, 越来越多的儿童接受音乐训练, 试图通过音乐训练提高认知能力。针对认知活动中的语言能力、空间能力以及数学能力, 探究音乐训练与认知能力的关系, 试图为音乐教育提供实证依据。研究结果表明, 尽管音乐训练与认知能力的关系较为复杂, 但是, 音乐训练与个体的语言知觉和产生能力以及空间视觉化能力都存在正相关, 且在一定程度上可以提高这些认知能力。     

Examining Preschool Cognitive Abilities Using a CHC Framework

Although there has been a substantial growth in the number of published studies examining tests of cognitive abilities and using contemporary theories of cognitive abilities, to date none have done so with preschool cognitive tests. In this study the relation between cognitive ability measures for young children and Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory is examined. Tests and subtests from the Differential Ability Scales: Upper Preschool Level and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability-Revised with a sample of 158 children between 4 and 5 years of age were used in a series of joint factor analyses. Although a series of models were explored, the model representative of the CHC theory of cognitive abilities was best supported by the data. This provides evidence for a greater differentiation of young children's cognitive abilities than are typically interpreted. Results are discussed with regard to understanding the link between contemporary theories of intelligence and young children's cognitive abilities, as well as implications for intellectual assessment practices with young children.     

凯罗的认知能力模型述评

1　智力研究的相关与实验传统　　 1 957年 ,克隆巴赤在就任美国心理学会主席的著名演讲中指出 ,在科学方法上 ,现代心理学中一直存在着两个分支 ,一个是实验方法的分支 ,另一个是相关方法的分支 ,这种方法上的分歧在智力研究中表现得尤其明显。尽管当前的智力研究有对实验方法偏重的倾向 ,但这并非就意味着对相关方法的忽视或遗弃。事实仍如克隆巴赫所说的那样 ,在一些研究者吸收认识科学新成就 ,偏重实验方法的同时 ,另一些偏爱相关方法的研究者也在吸收当代认知神经科学研究的最新成果不断地改进着自己所属的研究传统。这不仅反映在以心…     

空间认知风格及其与空间能力的关系

人们完成各种空间任务时都表现出了显著的个体差异, 空间认知风格可以帮助解释这种差异。空间认知风格分为三种类型：界标型--只能表征显著的视觉特征, 不能表征相关空间信息, 空间能力最低; 路线型--可以表征显著的视觉特征和继时性的空间信息; 整体型--能够表征显著的视觉特征、继时性和同时性的空间信息, 空间能力最高, 且男性和低焦虑感水平的个体更多的属于该类型。根据空间认知风格, 更有针对性地指导学习者, 将有助于提高人们的空间能力。     

儿童情绪表达规则认知能力研究述评

情绪表达规则认知能力是儿童社会化过程中的一项重要发展任务,直接影响儿童社会交往能力和情绪情感的健康发展.研究首先对情绪表达规则的概念进行了界定,然后从研究内容和影响因素两个方面分析了该领域的研究现状.最后,从研究对象,内容和方法三个维度探讨了情绪表达规则研究本土化问题.     

Cognitive Abilities of Elite Nationally Ranked SCRABBLE and Crossword Experts

Theoretical models of working memory suggest that the simultaneous processing and storage of information is carried out either as separate or binded mechanisms. We explored working memory capacity and strategy in two elite groups of experts to test the separate versus binded hypotheses. Visuospatial and verbal abilities were measured in elite nationally ranked SCRABBLE and crossword experts and compared with college students matched on quantitative and verbal SAT scores, both exceeding 700 on average. SCRABBLE and crossword experts significantly outperformed college students on all cognitive measures. The crossword experts scored significantly higher on a test of analogies than SCRABBLE experts, but performance for cognitive ability tasks did not significantly differ between expert groups. The techniques and strategies used during competitive play, however, did differ significantly. Findings suggest that visuospatial and verbal working memory capacities of SCRABBLE and crossword experts are binded and occur at extraordinarily high levels. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.