Cooperative tapping: Time control under different feedback conditions

The same isochronous tone sequence was presented simultaneously to two mutually isolated subjects. In half the trials, accentuation in this sequence was accomplished by doubling the duration of the first and then of every fourth tone; in the other half, by doubling the frequency of those tones. The subjects’ task was to follow the rhythm of the resulting four-tone patterns by finger tapping to tone onsets. There were four auditory feedback (FB) conditions: (1) no FB; (2) FB from the subject’s own motor responses; (3) “alien” FB from the motor responses of the other pair member who, in turn, was listening to FB from his/her own tapping; (4) mutually “crossed” FB, where each pair member listened to FB from the tapping of the other. Tap onsets regularly preceded stimulus onsets. The observed order of the amount of this anticipation (from least to greatest) was: (1) own FB, (2) no FB, (3) alien FB, and (4) crossed FB. No mutual dynamic influence between simultaneously performing subjects was-detected. Anticipation was more pronounced for sequences that were accentuated by frequency rather than by duration changes. The type of accent also influenced timing of intertap intervals in the rhythmic patterns. For the frequency accent, regular timing was produced, whereas for the durational accent, shortening of the second and lengthening of the fourth (the last) intertap interval were observed. The presence and source of feedback as well as the character of accentuation are therefore relevant factors in the timing of auditorally controlled rhythmic motor behavior.     

Regressive myopathy with myasthenic syndrome in idiopathic gluten enteropathy]

The authors report on a case of sprue myopathy with myasthenic syndrome. Pathophysiological ideas are discussed and the necessity of complex examinations in myopathy-syndromes is emphasized.     

Psychoacoustic evaluation of musical sounds

A review is given of several basic aspects of musical sounds, i.e., the perception of duration, the perception of sound impulses as events within temporal patterns, timbre, the equivalence of sensational intervals, roughness, and the pitch qualities of complex sounds. Selected examples illustrate how psychoacoustic results can contribute to the evaluation of musical sounds and to the understanding of the perception of music.     

Neuropsychological problem-solving skills in the elderly

This article describes the performance of a representative sample of 110 participants aged from 65 to 75 years. Participants completed the Trail-Making Test, Tactual Performance Test, and Booklet Category Test. Results confirmed that previously established cutoff scores used to determine impairment are not appropriate for this age group. Significant sex differences were found for the Tactual Performance Test and Booklet Category Test. Mean scores presented in this article provide useful normative standards for the three aforementioned tasks when given to patients aged from 65 to 75 years.     

Differential relationships in the association of the Big Five personality traits with positive mental health and psychopathology

According to the two continua model of mental health, psychopathology and positive mental health (emotional, psychological, and social well-being) are related but distinct continua. This study investigates the two continua model by examining whether psychopathology and positive mental health show differential associations with the Big Five personality traits. The paper draws on data of the representative LISS panel (CentERdata). Participants (N = 1161; age 18-88) filled out questionnaires on personality, psychopathology, and positive mental health. Personality traits were differentially related to psychopathology and positive mental health, supporting the two continua model. Emotional stability (reversed neuroticism) is the main correlate of psychopathology, whereas the personality traits extraversion and agreeableness are uniquely associated with positive mental health.