Olfactory detection thresholds in man under conditions of rest and exercise

Detection thresholds for seilen odorants were measured under conditions of rest and exercise. The test panel comprised six males with previous experience in odor detection. Exercise was maintained constant by using a modified bicycle positioned within the context of an air-dilution olfactometer. The effects of exercise were idiosyncratic for Ss: odor sensitivity was increased in some Ss, decreased in some, and not changed in others. Results of these experiments are discussed in terms of intra-subject variance within sessions and from session to session. In addition, two test techniques—one a fixed series and the other a tracking procedure—were evaluated for rapid estimation of an odor threshold. The tracking procedure facilitated prompt detection of changes in sensitivity for individual Ss.     

The physical factor structure of random forms and their judged complexity1

This study relates the perceived complexity of 2fl random forms to their physical factor structure. Ten principal axes, accounting for 94 per cent of the total variance of 24 physical measures, were rotated using the Varimax criterion. Factor scores for each form were correlated with the complexity ratings of the forms by each of 11 Ss. A single factor accounted for most of the variance in the complexity ratings. This factor was best described by four physical measures: the number of turns in the form, the length of the perimeter, the perimeter squared to area ratio, and the variance of the internal angles of the form.     

Choice reaction and unequal stimulus frequencies in an absolute judgment situation

Previous investigators have reported discrepant results for Ss in a choice reaction time (CRT) situation when stimuli are not equi-probable. Sixty Ss participated in an absolute judgment CRT task under three conditions of equi-probable stimuli and three of unequally probable stimuli. The results indicate that previous findings may be determined by a threshold dependent upon the effect of unequal stimulus frequencies and the utilities of different response strategies.     

The physical factor structure of random forms and their judged complexity

This study relates the perceived complexity of 20 random forms to their physical factor structure. Ten principal axes, accounting for 94 per cent of the total variance of 24 physical measures, were rotated using the Varimax criterion. Factor scores for each form were correlated with the complexity ratings of the forms by each of 11 Ss. A single factor accounted for most of the variance in the complexity ratings. This factor was best described by four physical measures: the number of turns in the form, the length of the perimeter, the perimeter squared to area ratio, and the variance of the internal angles of the form.     

Position reversal training in the virginia opossum: Evidence for the acquisition of a learning set

To obtain an estimate of the learning ability of opossums, five tame ones were trained on a series of position reversals to a criterion. With 4 trials per day there was no consistent improvement over a series of 15 reversals. When each daily session was increased to as many trials as needed to reach criterion, errors dropped sharply, indicating the formation of a position learning set. Upon return to 4 trials per day, 3 of 4 animals continued to perform with few errors, showing transfer of learning set. Opossums do more poorly than rats on this task, which is in agreement with the relative phyletic level of the two species.     

Comment on “The Angry Patient”

This article formulates the main problem of the angry patient treated by Dr. Curtis as one of poor ego functioning. This is possibly of neuropsychological origin. Treatment would be training to strengthen ego functions and the patient–therapist relationship would be task oriented. The anger is not dealt with directly except as it interferes with the training. It is predicted that as the ego becomes stronger, the anger will become more controllable. There is some question of whether this patient would be able to cooperate with such a program.