Focused attention in three-dimensional space

The size of focused attention was assessed within a three-dimensional display. Subjects viewed random-dot stereogram displays in which they responded differentially to vertical and horizontal bars. Adjacent noise elements either were identical to the response target or specified the opposite response. The position of the noise elements was varied in depth according to binocular disparity. Interference by incompatible noise elements decreased with depth separation between the noise elements and response target. In addition, interference was greater for noise elements that were more distant from the observer than from the response target than it was for noise elements that were closer to the observer than to the response target. The implications of these results for a viewer-centered representation of focused attention in depth are discussed.     

Paired comparisons with individual differences

A model of Bradley-Terry type for paired comparisons is considered. In addition to the usual parameters, the model allows for individual parameters and corresponding parameters for the choice-alternatives. The model is applied to a set of data from a Danish investigation of the attitude of blue collar workers towards alternative social gains. The proposed model is finally compared to a model recently suggested by Schönemann and Wang.     

The impact of past relationships on interpersonal behavior: behavioral confirmation in the social-cognitive process of transference

This study extended research on transference in social perception (e.g., S. M. Andersen, I. Reznik, & L. M. Manzella, 1996) into the realm of social behavior by examining behavioral confirmation (e.g., M. Snyder, 1992) in transference. Each perceiver participated in a brief conversation with a naive target participant, who either did or did not appear to resemble the perceiver's own positively or negatively regarded significant other. Trained judges rated positive affect expressed in targets' behavior. As predicted, targets expressed more positive affect in their behavior when they allegedly resembled the perceiver's own positively versus negatively toned significant other, an effect not found in the control condition. This evidence demonstrates behavioral confirmation in transference, suggesting a means by which present relationships may resemble past ones.     

The diagnostic efficiency of the Rorschach Depression Index and the Schizophrenia Index: a review

This review focuses on the diagnostic efficiency of the new versions of the Rorschach Comprehensive System Depression Index (DEPI) and the Schizophrenia Index (SCZI). Clinical diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was chosen as the external validation criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall classification rates for the indices were presented from the studies or computed from the data when possible. The positive and negative predictive validity was estimated at three different base rates. As regards the DEPI the results showed a large variation in diagnostic performance as the index seemed to have relatively more success in identifying nonpsychotic and unipolar depression than psychotic and bipolar depression. The DEPI did not successfully identify depression among adolescent patients. As regards the SCZI the results more consistently indicated that the index effectively discriminates between psychotic and nonpsychotic patients and the predictive validity of both a positive and negative SCZI was found to be high.     

Hearing by eye: how much spatial degradation can be tolerated?

In the McGurk effect (McGurk and MacDonald, 1976 Nature 264 746-748), illusory auditory perception is produced if the visual information from lip movements is discrepant from the auditory information from the voice. A study is reported of the tolerance of the effect to varying levels of spatial degradation (videotaped images of a speaker's face were quantised by a mosaic transform). The illusory effect systematically decreased with an increase in the coarseness of the spatial quantisation. However, even with the coarsest level (11.2 pixels/face) the illusion did not completely disappear. In addition, those participants who did not experience the illusion nevertheless showed the effects of auditory-visual interaction in their clarity ratings of the auditory stimulus. It is concluded that auditory-visual interaction in visible speech perception is based on relatively coarse-spatial-scale information.     

Development and psychometric validation of the verbal affective memory test

We here present the development and validation of the Verbal Affective Memory Test-24 (VAMT-24). First, we ensured face validity by selecting 24 words reliably perceived as positive, negative or neutral, respectively, according to healthy Danish adults’ valence ratings of 210 common and non-taboo words. Second, we studied the test's psychometric properties in healthy adults. Finally, we investigated whether individuals diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) differed from healthy controls on seasonal changes in affective recall. Recall rates were internally consistent and reliable and converged satisfactorily with established non-affective verbal tests. Immediate recall (IMR) for positive words exceeded IMR for negative words in the healthy sample. Relatedly, individuals with SAD showed a significantly larger decrease in positive recall from summer to winter than healthy controls. Furthermore, larger seasonal decreases in positive recall significantly predicted larger increases in depressive symptoms. Retest reliability was satisfactory, rs?≥?.77. In conclusion, VAMT-24 is more thoroughly developed and validated than existing verbal affective memory tests and showed satisfactory psychometric properties. VAMT-24 seems especially sensitive to measuring positive verbal recall bias, perhaps due to the application of common, non-taboo words. Based on the psychometric and clinical results, we recommend VAMT-24 for international translations and studies of affective memory.     

Judging the animacy of words: The influence of typicality and age of acquisition in a semantic decision task

The age at which members of a semantic category are learned (age of acquisition), the typicality they demonstrate within their corresponding category, and the semantic domain to which they belong (living, non-living) are known to influence the speed and accuracy of lexical/semantic processing. So far, only a few studies have looked at the origin of age of acquisition and its interdependence with typicality and semantic domain within the same experimental design. Twenty adult participants performed an animacy decision task in which nouns were classified according to their semantic domain as being living or non-living. Response times were influenced by the independent main effects of each parameter: typicality, age of acquisition, semantic domain, and frequency. However, there were no interactions. The results are discussed with respect to recent models concerning the origin of age of acquisition effects.     

The influence of war on moral judgments about harm

How does war influence moral judgments about harm? While the general rule is “thou shalt not kill,” war appears to provide an exception to the moral prohibition on intentional harm. In three studies (n = 263, n = 557, n = 793), we quantify the difference in moral judgments across peace and war contexts, and explore two possible explanations for the difference. The findings demonstrate that third-party observers judge a trade-off of one life for five as more morally acceptable in war than in peace, especially if the one person is from an outgroup of the person making the trade-off. In addition, the robust difference in moral judgments across “switch” and “footbridge” trolley problems is attenuated in war compared to in peace. The present studies have implications for moral psychology researchers who use war-based scenarios to study broader cognitive or affective processes. If the war context changes judgments of moral scenarios by triggering group-based reasoning or altering the perceived structure of the moral event, using such scenarios to make decontextualized claims about moral judgment may not be warranted.     

Predictive minds in Ouija board sessions

Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences - Ouija board sessions are illustrious examples of how subjective feelings of control – the Sense of Agency (SoA) - can be manipulated in real life...     

Living with Long QT Syndrome: A Qualitative Study of Coping with Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a congenital disorder associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death; LQTS patients and their families are offered diagnostic or predictive genetic testing. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the psychosocial aspects of living with LQTS, to identify LQTS patients’ daily life challenges and coping strategies, and to describe their experiences with healthcare services. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven individuals who had been tested for long QT genetic mutation. Four of these participants had an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). The participants reported that early and gradually acquired knowledge of the syndrome was an advantage. They also reported experiencing worries and limitations in daily life, but their main concern was for their children or grandchildren. Healthcare providers’ minimal knowledge of LQTS resulted in uncertainty, misinformation, and even wrong advice regarding treatment. The results suggest that regional centers, with the appropriate expertise, should investigate and counsel LQTS patients and their families.