Unilateral control of bilaterally symmetrical movement as factor in lateralization of speech.

A number of bilaterally symmetrical motor patterns, preformed in their basic topography at brainstem levels, are most efficiently guided through unilateral input. This concept is related to the lateralization of speech.     

Genetically-determined abnormal behavior in dogs: Some implications for psychiatry

This paper discusses the neglect of behavioral genetics by psychiatry; summarizes experiments on a stable and an unstable strain of the pointer dog (reported in detail in a companion article); and points up the value of the obtained results for models of mental illness. The importance of genetically-determined extreme variations in temperament in shaping the individual's responses to particular environments is emphasized. These variations occur spontaneously among animals, and probably are relatively favored for procreation among civilized man and domesticated animals. Various dimensions of temperament and of inborn perceptual, cognitive, and integrational deficiencies are placed alongside early experience and later-life stresses, as equally important in contributing to mental breakdowns.     

Genetically-determined abnormal behavior in dogs: Results of behavioral tests

Starting with relatively stable and with very timid purebred pointer stock, we have accumulated data on exploratory activity, reactions to a loud noise, and reactions to friendly and threatening humans which demonstrate clear-cut strain differences. These differences appear as early as 2 months on some tests, and later at early maturity on others. A general factor of fear or timidity explains most of the atypical behavior of the unstable animals. Further, the consistency of results over three generations of offspring suggests a relatively simple mode of autosomal inheritance.     

Effect of person on nervous,stable and crossbred pointer dogs

Through selective mating and line breeding of pointer dogs we have developed and continued two strains which are fairly behaviorally distinct. We now have data accumulating from the crossing of these two lines. Although the offspring from the crosses are still young, it can be seen that some stable male parents have had nonenvironmental, i.e., genetic, effects. The offspring are in many respects like their nervous mothers, but in some behavior, notably social behavior, they can be mistaken for the stable strain of dog. Heart rates have mimicked those of the nervous mothers and seem in no way influenced by the stable ancestry in “Effect of Person” tests. There is a marked difference between stable and unstable dogs in the effect of “Person” on heart rate: the unstable dogs show practically no cardiac response to “Person” (petting), whereas the normal dogs show the usual marked bradycardia to petting.     

A coefficient of imbalance for content analysis

This article presents a Coefficient of Imbalance applicable to any type of communication that may be classified into favorable content, unfavorable content, neutral content, and non-relevant content. The combined influence of the average presentation of relevant content and the average presentation of total content is reduced to two components, the coefficients of favorable imbalance and of unfavorable imbalance. A precise definition of imbalance is developed and measured against ten criteria.The authors wish to express their appreciation to Mr. Harold Elsten, Dr. Natan C. Leites, and Mr. Ithiel Pool for valuable suggestions and criticisms.     

A technique for correlating measurable traits with freely observed social behaviors

In much research in social psychology it is impractical to get quantitative measure of the degree of effectiveness of certain social behaviors, yet associates can sense that effectiveness sufficiently well to detect those who manifest the behavior in very high or in very low degree. This paper develops a technique of biserial correlation from wide-spread classes to deal statistically with such situations, develops standard error formulas for it, and points to a wide range of usefulness for this type of technique.