Space aliens and nonwords: stimuli for investigating the learning of novel word-meaning pairs.

We describe a set of pictorial and auditory stimuli that we have developed for use in word learning tasks in which the participant learns pairings of novel auditory sound patterns (names) with pictorial depictions of novel objects (referents). The pictorial referents are drawings of "space aliens," consisting of images that are variants of 144 different aliens. The auditory names are possible nonwords of English; the stimulus set consists of over 2,500 nonword stimuli recorded in a single voice, with controlled onsets, varying from one to seven syllables in length. The pictorial and nonword stimuli can also serve as independent stimulus sets for purposes other than word learning. The full set of these stimuli may be downloaded from www.psychonomic.org/archive/.     

Pramipexole: augmentation in the treatment of depressive symptoms

We describe a retrospective case series of three patients, two with bipolar depression and one with unipolar depression. Pramipexole is a Food and Drug Administration-approved antiparkinsonian agent, which, when used to augment antidepressants, would be considered an off-label use and should be discussed with the patient. These patients had robust responses to pramipexole augmentation of their treatment regimen. All three patients had been taking an atypical antipsychotic. The depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.     

Simple visual reaction time,personality and strength of the nervous system: A signal-detection theory approach

Eysenck (1967) has reviewed evidence which suggests that introverts have a higher level of arousal than extraverts. Moreover, Gray (1967) has proposed that introverts have weak nervous systems, in the Russian terminology. Studies of simple reaction time such as that of Mangan and Farmer (1967) have posed problems for these views, but it is suggested that this may have been due to criterion differences between introverts and extraverts. In the present study a simple visual reaction-time task and a signal-detection task were conducted side by side. No significant differences between introverts and extraverts were found in measures of strength derived from the former, or measures of criterion derived from the latter. However, high N Ss were found to have a significantly lower value for Nebylitsyn's index of the slope of the reaction time/stimulus intensity function, thus supporting the view that high N Ss have relatively weak nervous systems.     

Point biserial correlation coefficient and its generalization

The problem of measuring the association between two characters, one quantitative and the other qualitative, is discussed. The formula for the large sample standard error of the point biserial correlation coefficient under general conditions is derived. The point multiserial correlation coefficient is introduced and some of its properties are examined. Tests of different hypotheses appropriate to these types of problems are formulated.I wish to pay my sincerest thanks to Dr. C. R. Rao, Dr. S. K. Mitra, and the reviewers for their valuable suggestions.     

Underlying Cognitions in Gambling Behavior Among University Students1

Differences in underlying cognitions across gambling tasks were examined. The South Oaks Gambling Screen, a measure of pathological gambling, was completed by 60 undergraduate students. They also played computer‐simulated games of roulette, slots, and blackjack in a laboratory setting. The “think‐aloud” procedure was used to reveal subjects' cognitions, which were subsequently categorized into cognitive heuristics. Individuals were classified as social gamblers with and without problems and probable pathological gamblers. Results reveal that certain heuristics, including references to an explanation of their losses, hindsight bias, personification of the dealer/machine, chasing behavior, and past experiences were most frequently endorsed by probable pathological gamblers. Empirical evidence supports that probable pathological gamblers are qualitatively different from social gamblers in their emitted verbalized cognitive heuristics.     

Effect of schizotypy on responding maintained by free-operant schedules of reinforcement

Deviations from otherwise reliable patterns of responding in human performance on schedules of reinforcement could be associated with personality characteristics, such as psychometrically-measured schizotypy. The present study examined differences between high and low scorers on four schizotypy subscales (unusual experiences, cognitive disorganisation, introvertive anhedonia and impulsive non-conformity) on a random-ratio (RR) and random-interval (RI) schedule of reinforcement. Results showed a higher rate of responding on the RR than RI schedule, consistent with the differences in performance normally observed between these schedules. However, these differences were dependant on whether or not participants scored high or low on the schizotypy subscales, as well as the specific schedule parameters between the schedules. Specifically, high scorers on the unusual experiences (UE) subscale of the O-LIFE(B) were the only group in Experiment 1 not to show a difference in schedule performance, suggesting high scores on this subscale are linked to altered RR and RI performance. Experiment 2 explored this finding further using different schedule parameters, and confirmed that high scorers in UE did not differ in response rates between the two schedules.