Longitudinal changes in behavioral approach system sensitivity and brain structures involved in reward processing during adolescence

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 48(5) of Developmental Psychology (see record 2012-09244-001). Figure 2 was distorted in production. The correct version is presented in the erratum.] Adolescence is a period of radical normative changes and increased risk for substance use, mood disorders, and physical injury. Researchers have proposed that increases in reward sensitivity (i.e., sensitivity of the behavioral approach system [BAS]) and/or increases in reactivity to all emotional stimuli (i.e., reward and threat sensitivities) lead to these phenomena. The present study is the first longitudinal investigation of changes in reward (i.e., BAS) sensitivity in 9- to 23-year-olds across a 2-year follow-up. Support was found for increased reward sensitivity from early to late adolescence, and evidence was found for decline in the early 20s. This decline is combined with a decrease in left nucleus accumbens (Nacc) volume, a key structure for reward processing, from the late teens into the early 20s. Furthermore, we found longitudinal increases in sensitivity to reward to be predicted by individual differences in the Nacc and medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) volumes at baseline in this developmental sample. Similarly, increases in sensitivity to threat (i.e., behavioral inhibition system sensitivity) were qualified by sex, with only females participants experiencing this increase, and predicted by individual differences in lateral OFC volumes at baseline. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).     

Motilin-and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in a psychophysiological stress experiment on patients with functional dyspepsia

Background  The aim of the study was to compare plasma motilin-like immunoreactivity (MOT-LI) and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) during a controlled psychophysiological experiment. Method  25 patients (12 men, 13 women), age 24–50, with recurrent FD, and 25 pair-wise sex- and age-matched community control subjects were studied. In an experiment, after a rest period, subjects were studied during a 15-min stress interview. The aim of the interview was to elicit anxiety. Before and during the intervention blood samples were drawn for peptide analyses. Outcome measures were the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, fasting blood glucose, heart rate and blood pressure as well as the subjects’ self-ratings on visual analogue scales. The plasma concentrations of MOT-LI and NPY-LI are given as anti-logarithms. Results  Mean plasma MOT-LI concentration was 7.3 (CI: 5.7–9.4) pmol/L in the patient group, and 7.9 (CI: 6.1–10.2) pmol/L in the control group. Mean plasma NPY-LI concentration was 14.2 (CI: 12.3–16.4) pmol/L in the patient group, and 13.4 (CI: 11.8–15.3) pmol/L in the control group. Using ANCOVA (covariates: group, gender, age, body mass index and smoking) MOT-LI was related to lower indigestion symptomatology (p<0.04) and positive change in joyfulness during the interview (p<0.03). In the patient group delta motilin correlated with increased joyfulness (p<0.03) and decreased sadness (p<0.03). The NPY-LI increase during the interview was related to higher fasting blood glucose before the interview (p<0.01) and a stronger increase in systolic blood pressure during the test (p<0.05). Conclusion: During a stress interview plasma MOT-LI is positively related to less indigestion symptomatology and joyfulness, while changes in plasma NPY-LI were positively related to sympathetic nervous system activity, but not to gastrointestinal symptoms.     

古代中国人人格结构的因素探析

以古代典籍《史记》为材料,按词汇法构建了具有相当信度和效度的古代中国人人格描述词单,施测于118名专家及研究生,令他们对《史记》中记载的102名古代中国人作评定,经由因素分析获取了以仁为核心,由仁、智、勇、隐4个因素组成的古代中国人人格维度。进而用内容分析的方法验证了该维度的稳定性,并结合中国传统哲学思想,对仁、智、勇、隐4个因素的内涵作了深入的剖析和阐释。     

国外关于进化心理学的研究

进化心理学是近年在西方心理学中出现的一种新的研究取向,目前仍没有一个明确的概念和系统的理论。其基本主张是：过去是理解心理机制的关键;功能分析是理解心理机制的主要途径;心理机制是在解决问题的过程中演化形成的模块性是心理机制整体组织的特性;人的行为是心理机制和环境互动作用的结果。进化心理学从诞生之日起,就引起了各种各样的争议,赞成者认为：①心理学会成为更多的达尔文主义的理论建构;②进化心理学将使心理学走向统一;③进化心理学向传统社会科学提出了挑战。反对者认为：①进化心理学是一种不成熟的科学;②进化心理学是一种貌似科学的研究取向。     

国外军事心理学研究现状分析

为了解国外军事心理学研究的动态和研究领域,本文对1980年至2009年国际军事测量学会（IMTA）发表的论文进行了系统分析。结果显示,军人心理选拔等七个领域的文献数量占总数的85.7%;在近30年的文献中,关键词训练与教育、工作绩效、选拔、工作分析等出现频率最高,超过文献总数的58.0%;在近10年的文献中,关键词选拔、领导力、工作分析、工作绩效、离职和人因素等前8项出现频率最高,合计达70.2%。军人心理选拔、军事领导和组织行为、军事临床心理等方面越来越受到军事心理学研究者的重视。     

Maturation of EEG power spectra in early adolescence: a longitudinal study

This study investigated the fine-grained development of the EEG power spectra in early adolescence, and the extent to which it is reflected in changes in peak frequency. It also sought to determine whether sex differences in the EEG power spectra reflect differential patterns of maturation. A group of 56 adolescents were tested at age 10 years and then at two further time-points approximately 18 months apart. The EEG was recorded during both eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions and Fourier transformed to provide estimates of absolute and relative spectral power at 0.5 Hz intervals from 0.5 to 40 Hz. The peak alpha frequency for each individual at each time-point was also determined for relative spectral power. Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis was used to determine the combination of electrodes and frequencies that showed developmental change, or differed between the sexes. As a function of age, absolute delta and theta frequencies power decreased, and relative alpha2 and beta frequencies increased, replicating the standard findings of a decrease in lower, and increase in higher, frequencies with age. A small but significant increase in peak alpha frequency with age was detected. Moreover PLS analysis performed with individual alpha frequencies aligned to 10 Hz suggested that the age-related increase seen in alpha2 relative power was driven by changes in the peak frequency. Although males demonstrated higher alpha power than females, there were no sex differences in peak frequency, suggesting that there may be more to sex differences in EEG power than simply different rates of maturation between the two sexes.     

1980-2009年国内眼动研究的文献计量分析

对收录在中国期刊网和中国优秀博硕士学位论文全文数据库中的370篇眼动研究文献(1980—2009年)进行计量学分析,结果表明:(1)国内眼动研究从2003年起呈现快速增长趋势;(2)以阅读方面的实证研究为主,主要以大学生为研究对象,以中文阅读材料和图片为研究材料,以Eyelink-Ⅱ和ASL-504眼动仪为研究工具,重点关注眼动指标和阅读指标;(3)天津师范大学是国内眼动研究的重要力量;(4)成果发表以心理学期刊为主,其中《心理科学》发表最多;(5)合作研究已成为眼动研究的主要形式,但核心作者群尚未形成;(6)大多数眼动研究受到各类项目资助。     

论江泽民对社会主义精神文明建设的理论贡献

"精神文明建设是促进社会全面进步的保证、事关中华民族优秀文化传统的发扬光大"是江泽民对社会主义精神文明建设地位的新认识;"与市场经济相适应、继承优良传统与弘扬时代精神相结合、先进性要求与广泛性要求相结合"是江泽民建设社会主义精神文明的基本原则;"以德治国"方略、"文化利益"共享、"主旋律"教育、"促进人的全面发展"是江泽民建设社会主义精神文明的特色内容;"关注文化多样性的现实、高度重视理论建设、重视网络技术和各种文化载体的运用"是江泽民对社会主义精神文明建设途径的新探索。     

The Flexibility of Gua and Yao—Based on an Interpretation of Yizhuan

In Yizhuan’s interpretation of The Book of Changes, the book’s fundamental concepts, xiang 象 (images) and ci 辞 (words), play different roles. Concepts, including yin and yang, firmness and gentleness, sancai 三才 (three fundamentals), and the wuxing 五行 (five active elements), are used to interpret The Book of Changes through the interpretation of images, while the core Confucian values, such as benevolence and righteousness, are used to interpret The Book of Changes because of their connection with words of gua and yao. In order to expand the meaning of the words of gua and yao, Yizhuan sometimes connects words with images; in other occasions, however, it simply takes these words as independent guides. The Confucian scholars who wrote Yizhuan, therefore, not only revered the classic, but also used it to send their own message. Out of reverence, they “shu 述 (recited)”; in using it, they “zuo 作 (created)”. The combination of recitation and creation made the words of gua and yao very flexible in the process of interpretation, while the interpretation changed the meaning of the classic to a great extent.     

情绪如何引发暴力犯的攻击?基于情绪调节理论的解释

本文基于情绪调节理论, 以暴力犯为被试, 通过2项研究探究了情绪在攻击产生过程中的作用。研究1采用改编的反应时竞争范式测量个体攻击行为。结果发现, 情绪调节动机在负性情绪与攻击间起完全中介作用, 证实了负面情绪状态下, 暴力犯会为了调节情绪而实施攻击。研究2进一步表明, 攻击的确能起到调节情绪的作用。具体来说, 在暴力犯群体中, 实施反应性攻击之后, 会伴随着正性情绪的提升和负性情绪的下降; 实施主动性攻击之后, 个体的正性情绪和负性情绪都会提升。文章从对攻击结果的预期和攻击的实际效果两个角度, 对攻击的情绪调节理论进行了验证, 为情绪在攻击产生过程中的作用提出了新的解释。今后的研究和实践过程中, 应设法避免个体通过攻击调节情绪, 引导其使用合理的方式调节情绪以减少攻击行为的产生。