A computer-controlled system for the recording modification and presentation of two-channel musical stimuli

This paper describes a computer-based system for the on-line experimental use of musical stimuli. The system is in two sections. The first records in digital form two successive monophonie keyboard performances and combines them into a two-part musical stimulus consisting of bass and treble melodic lines. This musical stimulus can be modified in one or more ways by means of an editing program. The second part of the system presents the modified stimulus to the subject and records his reaction time to particular target notes. The system can be expanded to allow the merging of a larger number of melodic lines into a single polyphonic form or can be modified to produce precisely controlled two-channel tonal stimuli.     

Proactive inhibition as a function of orienting task characteristics

Two release from proactive inhibition experiments were conducted, in which orienting tasks were employed to direct subjects' attention to particular features of words. Experiment 1 employed two such tasks which emphasized either semantic or nonsemantic features, while both orienting tasks in Experiment 2 directed attention to semantic features of words. Although significant release was obtained with a change in task in these experiments, the level was considerably lower in Experiment 2 than in Experiment 1. The data were interpreted in terms of a theoretical orientation that emphasizes item differentiation as a major determinant of retrieval probability. It was argued that the degree of differentiation depends to some extent on the specific tasks employed and the extent to which they direct attention to different word features.     

Anxiety, anxiety disorders, tobacco use, and nicotine: a critical review of interrelationships

Smoking is highly prevalent across most anxiety disorders. Tobacco use increases risk for the later development of certain anxiety disorders, and smokers with anxiety disorders have more severe withdrawal symptoms during smoking cessation than smokers without anxiety disorders. The authors critically examined the relationships among anxiety, anxiety disorders, tobacco use, and nicotine dependence and reviewed the existing empirical literature. Future research is needed to better understand the interrelationships among these variables, including predictors, moderators, and mechanisms of action. Increased knowledge in these areas should inform prevention efforts as well as the development and improvement of smoking cessation programs for those with anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.     

General processes, rather than "goals," explain imitation errors

The goal-directed theory of imitation (GOADI) states that copying of action outcomes (e.g., turning a light switch) takes priority over imitation of the means by which those outcomes are achieved (e.g., choice of effector or grip). The object < effector < grip error pattern in the pen-and-cups task provides strong support for GOADI. Experiment 1 replicated this effect using video stimuli. Experiment 2 showed that shifting the color cue from objects to effectors makes imitation of effector selection more accurate than imitation of object and grip selection. Experiment 3 replicated this result when participants were required to describe actions. Experiment 4 indicated that, when participants are imitating and describing actions, enhancing grip discriminability makes grip selection the most accurately executed component of the task. Consistent with theories that hypothesize that imitation relies on task-general mechanisms (e.g., the associative sequence learning model, ideomotor theory), these findings suggest that imitation is no more or less goal directed than other tasks involving action observation.     

Complexity in the relationships among the subdimensions of extraversion and job performance in managerial occupations

The present study investigated differential relationships, nonlinear relationships, and multiplicative relationships among the subdimensions of extraversion (agency and affiliation) and job performance (getting ahead and getting along) for a sample of 179 managers. We found that: (i) agency was positively related to getting ahead performance, whereas affiliation was unrelated to getting ahead; (ii) agency had an inverted‐U relationship with getting along performance; and (iii) there was a multiplicative effect of agency and affiliation on getting along. The findings provide insight into the nature of the relationship between extraversion and managerial performance, the level of breadth at which to represent these variables for optimal prediction and explanation, and the use of extraversion measures for selection purposes.