Stimulus selectivity of figural aftereffects for faces

Viewing a distorted face induces large aftereffects in the appearance of an undistorted face. The authors examined the processes underlying this adaptation by comparing how selective the aftereffects are for different dimensions of the images including size, spatial frequency content, contrast, and color. Face aftereffects had weaker selectivity for changes in the size, contrast, or color of the images and stronger selectivity for changes in contrast polarity or spatial frequency. This pattern could arise if the adaptation is contingent on the perceived similarity of the stimuli as faces. Consistent with this, changing contrast polarity or spatial frequency had larger effects on the perceived identity of a face, and aftereffects were also selective for different individual faces. These results suggest that part of the sensitivity changes underlying the adaptation may arise at visual levels closely associated with the representation of faces.     

Using a computer simulation of three slot machines to investigate a gambler’s preference among varying densities of near-miss alternatives

The present article describes a software program in Visual Basic .NET designed to simulate three slot machines on a computer screen. This software is described in detail regarding utility, downloading, and usage; and data are presented illustrating the software’s potential for researchers interested in gambling behavior. A simulation of multiple slot machines such as this enables researchers to evaluate players’ preferences across various machines. In the highlighted experiment, 18 recreational slot machine players played the software for extra course credit and a chance at cash prizes. All participants played a version of the simulation in which every 5th response on average was a win, whereas the remaining trials were a loss. However, on those loss trials, a varying distribution of almost wins or near misses (i.e., two winning symbols on the payoff line and the final winning symbol directly above or below the payoff line) were presented in percentages of 15, 30, or 45. While no preferences across the three options could be predicted on the basis of reinforcement history alone, deviations from equal choices across the games were noted and appeared to be the result of the presentations of near-miss losing trials. Implications for a greater understanding of pathological gambling are presented.     

Do monkeys think in metaphors? Representations of space and time in monkeys and humans

Research on the relationship between the representation of space and time has produced two contrasting proposals. ATOM posits that space and time are represented via a common magnitude system, suggesting a symmetrical relationship between space and time. According to metaphor theory, however, representations of time depend on representations of space asymmetrically. Previous findings in humans have supported metaphor theory. Here, we investigate the relationship between time and space in a nonverbal species, by testing whether non-human primates show space–time interactions consistent with metaphor theory or with ATOM. We tested two rhesus monkeys and 16 adult humans in a nonverbal task that assessed the influence of an irrelevant dimension (time or space) on a relevant dimension (space or time). In humans, spatial extent had a large effect on time judgments whereas time had a small effect on spatial judgments. In monkeys, both spatial and temporal manipulations showed large bi-directional effects on judgments. In contrast to humans, spatial manipulations in monkeys did not produce a larger effect on temporal judgments than the reverse. Thus, consistent with previous findings, human adults showed asymmetrical space–time interactions that were predicted by metaphor theory. In contrast, monkeys showed patterns that were more consistent with ATOM.     

The Dark Triad and risk behavior

The Dark Triad traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—are theorized to facilitate short-term, exploitative social tactics. Thus, the Dark Triad traits should be positively related to (a) similar short-term-focused traits such as impulsivity and sensation-seeking, and (b) risky behaviors. In two studies (N > 1400), we examined the relationships among the Dark Triad traits and impulsivity and sensation-seeking. In Study 2, we incorporated risk behaviors, including blackjack betting and temporal discounting of money. Both studies showed positive relationships among the Dark Triad traits and impulsivity and sensation-seeking. Study 2 showed positive relationships among the Dark Triad traits, blackjack betting, and steeper temporal discounting. An experimentally manipulated ego threat in Study 2 marginally moderated the narcissism–discounting relationship; ego-threatened participants had a significantly positive relationship, whereas those who were not threatened showed no relationship. We discuss implications of the Dark Triad traits for understanding risk behavior.     

The affective consequences of cognitive inhibition: devaluation or neutralization?

Affective evaluations of previously ignored visual stimuli are more negative than those of novel items or prior targets of attention or response. This has been taken as evidence that inhibition has negative affective consequences. But inhibition could act instead to attenuate or "neutralize" preexisting affective salience, predicting opposite effects for stimuli that were initially positive or negative in valence. We tested this hypothesis by presenting trustworthy and untrustworthy faces (Experiment 1), strongly positive and negative photographs (Experiment 2), and monetary gain- and loss-associated patterns (Experiment 3) in a Go/No-Go task and assessing subsequent affective ratings. Evaluations of prior No-Go (inhibited) stimuli were more negative than of prior Go (noninhibited) stimuli, regardless of a priori affective valence. Ratings of No-Go stimuli also became increasingly negative (vs. increasingly neutral) when preexisting salience was increased via stimulus repetition (Experiment 4). Our results suggest inhibition leads to affective devaluation, not affective neutralization.     

Assaultive behavior resulting from marital conflict

Recent evidence shows that dangerous acts, especially serious ones, are highly likely to be directed against family members. This fact calls for interpersonal assessment of dangerous behavior. The present authors have undertaken preliminary study of fighting behavior (verbal and physical) between married couples. A semistructured interview procedure has been devised to establish the methods used by both partners in carrying on their disputes. The authors propose that there are three broad types of fighting patterns to be found:constant high—sustained level of balanced antagonism;unpredictable volatile—low level of overt antagonism with occasional difficult-to-predict highly violent episodes;steady escalation—increasing levels of violence over time. Data from one couple representing each pattern are presented to demonstrate different parts of the interview schedule.     

Concurrent task interference in stutterers: dissociating hemispheric specialization and activation

Using all four combinations of hand and foot, adult stutterers and nonstutterers performed a unimanual sequential finger tapping task together with a stimulus-contingent foot responding task. The two groups were similar in that both demonstrated more dual-task interference when using the ipsilateral than contralateral limb pairs. Contrary to a prediction based on a hypothesis that attributes stuttering to neural interference due to an ungated or unregulated activity flow between the hemispheres, stutterers did not show more interference than nonstutterers when using the contralateral limb pairs. The groups did differ, however, in terms of finger tapping interference associated with right- versus left-foot concurrent task responding. Nonstutterers showed more interference when using the left than right foot. This was interpreted in terms of the attentional demands that the foot responding task placed on a system with an inherent left-hemisphere attentional bias. The lack of a reliable difference in stutterers with respect to interference by the two feet is consistent with indications from other research that stutterers have a relatively labile system of hemispheric attention or activation. The results of the study are placed into the context of a general model of the brain mechanisms associated with stuttering.