Auditory Priming for Nonverbal Information: Implicit and Explicit Memory for Environmental Sounds

Three experiments examined repetition priming for meaningful environmental sounds (e.g., clock ticking, tooth brushing, toilet flushing, etc.) in a sound stem identification paradigm using brief sound cues. Prior encoding of target sounds together with their associated names facilitated subsequent identification of sound stems relative to nonstudied controls. In contrast, prior exposure to names alone in the absence of the environmental sounds did not prime subsequent sound stem identification performance at all (Experiments 1 and 3). Explicit and implicit memory were dissociated such that sound stem cued recall was higher following semantic than nonsemantic encoding, whereas sound priming was insensitive to manipulations of depth encoding (Experiments 2 and 3). These results extend the findings of long-term repetition priming into the auditory nonverbal domain and suggest that priming for environmental sounds is mediated primarily by perceptual processes.     

Spatiotemporal boundaries of linear vection

Thresholds for the perception of linear vection were measured. These thresholds allowed us to define the spatiotemporal contrast surface sensitivity and the spatiotemporal domain of the perception of rectilinear vection (a visually induced self-motion in a straight line). Moreover, a Weber’s law was found, such that a mean relative differential threshold in angular velocity of about 41% is necessary to perceive curvilinear vection. This visually induced self-motion corresponds to the sensation of moving in a curved path. It is proposed that curvilinear vection is induced when the apparent velocity difference is detectable. The spatiotemporal domain of perception of rectilinear vection and its spatiotemporal contrast surface sensitivity are centered on low spatial frequencies. Concurrently, the values which correspond to the relative differential thresholds of curvilinear vection are low spatial frequencies. Accordingly, the peripheral ambient visual system seems to be involved in perceiving linear vection. It is argued further that the central ambient system might also be involved in the processing of linear vection.     

Varying the temporal placement of a drinking opportunity in a fixed-interval schedule.

Three rats, lever pressing for food delivered on a fixed-interval 128-s schedule, were presented with a 16-s opportunity to drink from a retractable water source. The temporal placement of the water probe within the reinforcement cycle was varied sequentially, in steps of 16 s. Although the lever-pressing pattern was modulated by the intercalated water probe, water consumption during the probe itself was a decreasing function of time from the following reinforcer. These results were interpreted as evidence against the notion that schedule-induced drinking is a "ubiquitous" phenomenon and are congruent with results from other "intruded stimulus" experiments.     

Vasopressin, glucose homeostasis, and sucrose taste preferences

Previous research indicates that vasopressin-containing (LE) rats are capable of adapting to the stress of food restriction, whereas vasopressin-deficient (DI) rats cannot adapt to this stressor. It has been postulated that abnormalities in glucose metabolism may be one of the factors leading to the demise of food-restricted DI rats. The present study was conducted to determine if taste preferences are altered in DI animals and if the presentation of exogenous glucose, in the form of sucrose solutions, can ameliorate the effects of the stress of food restriction. Four different concentrations of sucrose solutions were presented to LE and DI rats under the food-restricted condition. In both strains, an 8% sucrose solution was preferred over 0%, 16%, and 32% concentrations, with DI rats consuming more of this concentration than LE rats. Thus, when DI rats had the opportunity of maintaining glucose homeostasis by exogenous supplements, they maintained body weight, displayed no stomach pathology, and survived.     

Memory trace development along a coarse-to-fine dimension; a study supporting a progressively finer attributes theory

This study presents two experiments that demonstrate that the memory trace of a tobe-remembered item develops along a dimension (continuum) from coarse/general to fine/specific. Similarly, forgetting is shown to be a reverse movement along this dimension from fine to coarse, as increasingly less fine attributes are lost. The attribute acquisition pattern of this Progressively Finer Attributes Theory is robust and predictable, valid for experimentally unstructured (Experiment 2) as well as experimentally structured (Experiment 1) material.     

Work-Relationship Values and Gender Role Differences in Relation to Career-Marriage Aspirations

This study of female and male undergraduate business majors explored the relationship of their preferred future career-marriage arrangement to their relationship and work values, work motivation, and gender role orientation Results indicate that the dual-career, career-job, and career-home groups showed significant differences on these dimensions. Additionally, sex and gender role differences reflected cultural stereotypes of achievement orientation in men and barriers to career pursuits of women. The results are discussed in terms of interpersonal, intrapersonal, and societal factors underlying career-marriage aspirations. Implications for practitioners and suggestions for future research are given.     

Circular definitions,circular explanations,and infinite regresses

This paper discusses some of the ways in which circular definitions and circular explanations entail or fail to entail infinite regresses. And since not all infinite regresses are vicious, a few criteria of viciousness are examined in order to determine when the entailment of a regress refutes a circular definition or a circular explanation.I would like to thank Professors Robert Tully, Howard Sobel, and Derek Allen for their constructive comments.     

Using sociometric measures to predict help seeking behaviors of youth in a positive peer culture program

Sociometric measures were used to predict help seeking behaviors of youth in a residential treatment center. Seventeen female adolescents with conduct disorders were asked to choose three peers in their group who were most popular, similar, and competent. These sociometric measures were correlated with the degree to which the participants would seek help from their peers across four problem scenarios representing actual situations encountered in residential settings. A multiple linear regression analysis suggested that sociometric measures of “competence” was the best predictor of intentions to seek help across the problem scenarios. Discussion focused on the implications of using sociometric measures within a residential treatment setting.