A disfluency descriptor digest for clinical use

A clinical form to be used in identifying which of a set of fluency eliciting techniques might be used most advantageously in therapy with individual stutterers is described.     

Motor perseverative behavior in adult stutterers and nonstutterers

The performances of 22 adult stutterers and 22 adult nonstutterers on motor tasks requiring the graphic reproduction of a sequence of alternating figures following the production of a series of nonalternating figures were studied. The finding that there were no differences in the performance of the two groups on the alternating motor tasks was interpreted as challenging the validity of previous observations that motor perseverative behavior exists in stutterers and is indicative of a central neurological deficit in that population.     

Clinical notes: Masking devices and The Edinburgh Masker—Clinical applications within a prison setting

This paper outlines portions of the writer's therapeutics in the field of stuttering with emphasis upon use of masking the hearing of stutterers as a part of a total therapeutic approach. Commencing with devices providing continuous noise to override the voice of the stutterer so that he cannot hear himself and, thus, eliciting fluency. Described is the use of the voice actuated Edinburgh Auditory Masker within an intensive stuttering program in a prison setting since September 1978. It is concluded that the use of masking and the Edinburgh device has been helpful and productive with severe stutterers.     

A semiautomatic system for preparing computer data cards

A system is described which eliminates manual coding and punching of computer data cards in a psychophysical experiment. Conventional relay logic is used to control the operation of a card punch and to enter data in selected card columns.     

The growth of the equidistance tendency over time

To determine the manner in which the equidistance tendency (ET) varies as a function of time, 10 Ss tracked the perceived position of a monocular test object viewed in a binocular field consisting of two rectangles which differed in perceived size and distance.Variables investigated were the temporal order of rectangle appearance and disappearance which determined whether or not opposingETs existed, luminance and repetition interval of the 20 msec test object. It was found thatET effects occur gradually over time, that opposingETs retard the rate at which the test object changes its perceived locus, and that elapsed time rather than total observation time was critical in determining how great a change in perceived locus of the test object occurred. Implications of these findings were discussed.     

Brightnesses,luminances, and Fechner’s paradox

Monocular brightnesses were varied, without varying monocular luminances, both by means of simultaneous contrast and by means of changes in the level of adaptation. Binocular brightness was shown to change in accord with monocular brightness, independent of monocular luminances.     

Effects of noise on sensitivity of introverts and extraverts to signals in a vigilance task

Forty Ss, previously classified as introverts or extraverts on the basis of scores on the Eysenck Personality Inventory, performed a visual vigilance task while being stimulated with noise at an intensity level of either 65 or 85 dB. Introverts given noise of 65 dB intensity showed an improvement in detection rate across trials, whereas introverts given noise of 85 dB intensity showed a decline in detection rate. Extraverts responded to noise of 65 dB intensity with a slight decrease in detection rate, but showed an improvement in detection over trials when noise of 85 dB intensity was given. When noise of the lower intensity was given, introverts showed greater sensitivity to signals than extraverts. When noise of the higher intensity was given, introverts and extraverts were equal in sensitivity. The results are discussed in terms of a hypothesized relationship between stimulation and arousal, with E-I as a moderator variable.