Memory and metamemory for semantic information in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Several studies have been conducted on OCD patients' memory and metamemory performance in episodic tasks. However, there is a clear lack of research addressing these issues for semantic memory (i.e., retrieval of information from long-term memory). Although findings regarding a memory deficit is somewhat equivocal, the empirical evidence clearly demonstrates that OCD patients with primarily checking compulsions show reduced confidence in their memory performance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate memory and metamemory performance of checkers in semantic memory domain. We compared checker OCD patients, non-checker OCD patients and normal controls on their ability to retrieve answers to general knowledge questions with a recall as well as a recognition test. We also investigated prospective (feeling-of-knowing (FOK)) and retrospective (confidence) metamemory judgments. Checker OCs were not poorer in retrieving semantic information from long-term memory. Neither were they less confident about their ability to remember currently unrecallable information in the future (FOK judgments) or about the accuracy of retrieved information (confidence judgments). Moreover, accuracy of metamemory judgments were comparable across groups. Overall, our results revealed that checker OCs do not show a memory or metamemory deficit when semantic memory was concerned, suggesting that any memory and metamemory deficit may be special to recently experienced materials.     

Tactile sensitivity of children: effects of frequency, masking, and the non-Pacinian I psychophysical channel

Tactile perception depends on the contributions of four psychophysical tactile channels mediated by four corresponding receptor systems. The sensitivity of the tactile channels is determined by detection thresholds that vary as a function of the stimulus frequency. It has been widely reported that tactile thresholds increase (i.e., sensitivity decreases) as a function of age. However, there is controversial evidence with regard to the progressive loss of sensitivity starting from childhood. In this study, the tactile thresholds of children (n=9, ages 7-11 years) were measured and compared with the thresholds of young adults (n=11, ages 21-27 years). The stimuli consisted of sinusoidal bursts of mechanical displacements, which were applied to the left index fingertips of the participants by using a cylindrical probe (base area=0.126 cm2) without a contactor surround. Absolute thresholds were measured at frequencies of 2, 10, 40, 100, 250, and 500 Hz without masking. The absolute thresholds decreased at high frequencies and were similar to data from the literature except for some discrepancy because of methodological differences. In addition, the threshold of the non-Pacinian I channel was measured at 40 Hz by elevating the thresholds of the Pacinian channel by forward masking. The effects of forward masking in children were similar to results in young adults. In conclusion, there were no significant differences between the tactile thresholds of children and those of young adults at key frequencies: 40 Hz for the Pacinian and non-Pacinian I channels and 250 Hz for the Pacinian channel. These findings contradict the hypothesis that there is gradual loss of tactile sensitivity starting from childhood to early adulthood. The loss of sensitivity due to aging probably is more abrupt and occurs at a later age.     

Frontal and posterior ERPs related to line bisection

The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic nature of the cortical visuospatial attention processes during the line bisection test, which is sensitive to perceptual asymmetries. EEGs of 26 normal volunteers were recorded during the administration of a computerized line bisection test, which requires participants mark the midline of lines using a mouse. Two event-related potentials subsequent and time locked to the line presentations, namely, P300 and a positive slow wave, were obtained. Findings suggested that both potentials were related to the test performance, and the right hemisphere was more active. Analysis suggested a right parietotemporal and superior parietal locus for the P300 and right prefrontal activity for the positive slow wave. A dynamic asymmetrical activity was identified, such that after primary visual perception, spatial processing is then initiated in the right parietotemporal cortex and then proceeds to the right prefrontal cortex.     

The contributions of child–mother attachment,maternal parenting stress,and military status to the prediction of child behavior problems

Studies show that children with a military parent are at heightened risk of the development of behavior problems. However, there is limited work examining how other factors experienced by military families may also influence behavior problems. In the current study, we recruited three types of Canadian families with a preschooler: families with a deployed military member, families with a nondeployed military member, and nonmilitary families. We examined whether the nonmilitary parent's (in all cases the mother) parenting stress and attachment relationship with the child are associated with behavior problems, and whether deployment status further contributes to the prediction. Child–mother dyads participated in an observed attachment assessment, and mothers reported on their stress levels and their child's behavior. Results showed that both child attachment insecurity and parenting stress were associated with elevated levels of internalizing problems; however, only parenting stress was associated with conduct problems. Military deployment predicted higher levels of internalizing and conduct problems beyond the contributions of attachment and stress. Furthermore, having a father in the military (whether deployed or not) also contributed to internalizing problems. These findings shed light on how the military lifestyle impacts early childhood mental health through the complex interplay between various parts of their environment.     

ACACIA: an agent-based program for simulating behavior to reach long-term goals

We present ACACIA, an agent-based program implemented in Java StarLogo 2.0 that simulates a two-dimensional microworld populated by agents, obstacles and goals. Our program simulates how agents can reach long-term goals by following sensorial-motor couplings (SMCs) that control how the agents interact with their environment and other agents through a process of local categorization. Thus, while acting in accordance with this set of SMCs, the agents reach their goals through the emergence of global behaviors. This agent-based simulation program would allow us to understand some psychological processes such as planning behavior from the point of view that the complexity of these processes is the result of agent–environment interaction.     

Cognitive avoidance of intrusive memories and autobiographical memory: specificity, autonoetic consciousness, and self-perspective

Autobiographical memory (AM) specificity is impaired in depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Previous studies emphasised the role of cognitive avoidance of intrusive memories in this impairment. This study aimed to examine the association of cognitive avoidance of intrusive memories with specificity, autonoetic consciousness, and self-perspective. A total of 38 healthy participants were given the revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) and an AM task designed to assess positive and negative memories regarding specificity, autonoetic consciousness (remember/know procedure), and self-perspective (field/observer procedure). Taking into account age, verbal IQ, mood, harm avoidance, and executive resources, the IES-R avoidance subscale was negatively correlated with specificity and remember responses for positive memories, and with remember and field responses for negative memories. These findings suggest that cognitive avoidance of intrusive memories is associated with a decrease of the episodic components of AM retrieval.     

Behavioral Algebraization of Logics

We introduce and study a new approach to the theory of abstract algebraic logic (AAL) that explores the use of many-sorted behavioral logic in the role traditionally played by unsorted equational logic. Our aim is to extend the range of applicability of AAL toward providing a meaningful algebraic counterpart also to logics with a many-sorted language, and possibly including non-truth-functional connectives. The proposed behavioral approach covers logics which are not algebraizable according to the standard approach, while also bringing a new algebraic perspective to logics which are algebraizable using the standard tools of AAL. Furthermore, we pave the way toward a robust behavioral theory of AAL, namely by providing a behavioral version of the Leibniz operator which allows us to generalize the traditional Leibniz hierarchy, as well as several well-known characterization results. A number of meaningful examples will be used to illustrate the novelties and advantages of the approach. Presented by Daniele Mundici     

Resilience and vagal tone predict cardiac recovery from acute social stress

Previous studies showed that heart period decreases during and recovers after an acute stress. We investigated if individual predispositions and emotional priming influence heart period recovery after a speech stress task. Psychometric scales and resting cardiac vagal tone were used to measure individual traits. The presentation of a sequence of either pleasant or unpleasant pictures, as emotional primers, preceded the speech stress. Heart period was measured throughout the experiment. Stress induced tachycardia irrespective of emotional priming or traits. In the recovery period, participants with higher resting cardiac vagal tone or presenting higher resilience significantly reduced the heart acceleration. Furthermore, these traits interacted synergistically in the promotion of the recovery of heart period. Pleasant priming also improved recovery for participants with lower negative affect. In conclusion, the stress recovery measured through heart period seemed dependent upon individual predispositions and emotional priming. These findings further strengthen previous observations on the association between greater cardiac vagal tone and the ability to regulate emotion.     

Conflict monitoring and feature overlap: Two sources of sequential modulations

Recent findings demonstrating that the Simon effect diminishes when the preceding trial is a noncorresponding trial led researchers to develop two alternative accounts. The conflict monitoring account argues that the automatic activation from stimulus location information is under the regulation of a control mechanism, which adjusts the level of activation depending on conflict in the preceding trial. In contrast, the feature integration account holds that sequential modulations of the Simon effect can be attributed to the integration of stimulus and response features into event files. Previous research demonstrated a potential contribution to sequential modulations from both mechanisms. We use a four-choice task to extend these findings and to investigate the exact nature of the feature overlap effects. Both conflict monitoring and feature overlap effects were found to contribute to sequential modulations. However, the feature overlap effects did not conform to predictions of the feature integration account. We argue that the feature overlap effects are accounted for better by strategic shortcuts in response selection.     

Actions Pour l’intégration Socioprofessionnelle Des Travailleurs Issus De L’immigration: La Valorisation Identitaire Comme Mode d’Accompagnement Spécifique

In industrialized countries, economic problems linked to the changing world and working habits potentially impact all workers; however, immigrant workers experience additional difficulties owing to their status as foreigners or as people of foreign origin. While these employment obstacles are varied, the problems are not absolute and do not affect all foreign job seekers with the same intensity. Moreover, various attitudes can be effective when faced with certain obstacles. We call them “bypassing strategies”: the behaviour of foreign job seekers trying to negotiate these obstacles. This article presents and discusses several cases of adult training and job seeker support initiatives from French-speaking Belgium; within a specific context, these experiences are based on the concept of “professional and identity development” of immigrant workers.