Learning from maps: the role of visuo‐spatial working memory

The involvement of visuo‐spatial working memory (VSWM) in map learning was tested. While learning a map, participants were asked either to perform or abstain from a secondary interference task. Learning of the map was assessed by means of three different tasks (landmark positioning, pointing, route finding), each tapping a different type of spatial knowledge, namely, relative position knowledge, absolute position knowledge and route knowledge. Results showed that VSWM supports learning of absolute landmark positions but not learning of relative landmark positions. Moreover, VSWM appears to be involved in route learning. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Opinions of GP's Patients About Suicide,Assisted Suicide,Euthanasia, and Suicide Prevention: An Italian Survey

A survey about opinions on end‐of‐life issues of a population represented by 1,171 people in the waiting room of general practitioners' surgeries was conducted in a province of northern Italy. Most subjects did not consider suicide as a reasonable option even in cases of a serious and incurable disease. Moreover, subjects did not consider euthanasia as a possible option either; however, they did express an opposite attitude when considering euthanasia in a third‐person perspective. People with a personal history of suicidal behavior appear to present as a different population, overall expressing more open attitudes.