Word segmentation by alternating colors facilitates eye guidance in Chinese reading

During sentence reading, low spatial frequency information afforded by spaces between words is the primary factor for eye guidance in spaced writing systems, whereas saccade generation for unspaced writing systems is less clear and under debate. In the present study, we investigated whether word-boundary information, provided by alternating colors (consistent or inconsistent with word-boundary information) influences saccade-target selection in Chinese. In Experiment 1, as compared to a baseline (i.e., uniform color) condition, word segmentation with alternating color shifted fixation location towards the center of words. In contrast, incorrect word segmentation shifted fixation location towards the beginning of words. In Experiment 2, we used a gaze-contingent paradigm to restrict the color manipulation only to the upcoming parafoveal words and replicated the results, including fixation location effects, as observed in Experiment 1. These results indicate that Chinese readers are capable of making use of parafoveal word-boundary knowledge for saccade generation, even if such information is unfamiliar to them. The present study provides novel support for the hypothesis that word segmentation is involved in the decision about where to fixate next during Chinese reading.     

未来工作自我清晰度对主动职业行为的影响——一个有调节的中介模型

基于主动性行为模型和生涯建构理论探讨未来工作自我清晰度对主动职业行为的影响机制。采用主动职业行为量表、未来工作自我清晰度量表、生涯适应力量表、同事支持量表对广深两地13所民营企业的195名员工进行调查分析。结果显示:(1)未来工作自我清晰度影响主动职业行为;(2)生涯适应力在其中起到部分中介作用;(3)同事支持在中介模型的前半路径起到调节作用。     

Online Module for Carrier Screening in Ashkenazi Jewish Individuals Compared with In-Person Genetics Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To increase accessibility to genetics services for low-urgency patients seeking Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) carrier screening, we designed an interactive computer (IC) module that provides pre-test genetics education and allows genetics professionals to order the test without meeting the patients beforehand. We compared this module with in-person genetic counseling (GC) using a randomized trial. AJ individuals were randomized to undergo genetics education via the IC module (n = 26) or GC (n = 28). We compared post-interventional genetics knowledge, perceived genetic risk, and anxiety between the two groups, after accounting for pre-interventional scores, using ANCOVA. Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test was used to compare post-interventional satisfaction. Post-interventional genetics knowledge, risk perception, or anxiety were not significantly different between the two groups after accounting for baseline scores (p = 0.50–0.54), although the data are inconclusive regarding the module’s non-inferiority at a 5% margin. Post-intervention satisfaction scores were generally higher in the GC group than the IC module group. Our IC module has the potential to improve access to clinical genetics services for patients and staff, but it is not suitable for all AJ patients and cannot completely replace the benefits of in-person consultations.     

Quantity discrimination in fish species: fish use non-numerical continuous quantity traits to select shoals

Fish typically prefer to live in big shoals due to the associated ecological benefits. Shoaling is a behavior that depends on the ability to quantitatively discriminate. The fundamental mechanism involved in quantity discrimination determines whether fish can discriminate a shoal using numerical discrete cues (e.g., number of shoal members), non-numerical continuous traits (e.g., total body surface area) or both; however, the mechanism is currently a controversial topic. In the present study, we used a spontaneous choice experiment to test whether guppy (Poecilia reticulata), zebrafish (Danio rerio), Chinese crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis) rely on continuous (i.e., body surface area) or discrete (i.e., number of shoal members) information for shoal selection by altering the body surface area (cumulative body surface area ratio of 3:2 or 1:1) between two stimulus shoals with a different number of members (2 individuals vs 3 individuals). All four fish species preferred to shoal with the stimulus shoal with the larger cumulative surface area even if the shoal had fewer members; however, fish showed no shoal preference when the cumulative surface body areas of both stimulus shoals were equal. Furthermore, qingbo did not numerically discriminate between a shoal with 1 individual and a shoal with 3 individuals when the cumulative surface areas of both stimulus shoals were equal; however, qingbo showed a preference for the shoal with the larger cumulative surface area when the two stimulus shoals each had 3 individuals. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that all four fish species relied only on non-numerical continuous quantity information for shoal selection, at least under a difficult task (i.e., 2 vs 3).     

虚拟社会心理学：现实, 探索及意义

虚拟世界成为人类日常生活的一个重要组成部分, 对人的思想、感情和行为产生不同程度的影响, 对这些问题的研究逐渐成为社会心理学领域一个新的研究范式。我们认为, 虚拟社会心理学研究的热点问题和重要结论主要关注人在虚拟世界中的自我表现, 虚拟的人际关系、虚拟团体表现, 及虚拟世界中的创造性合作。研究发现, 虚拟社会心理学既有与现实世界一致的地方, 也有很多独特的现象, 有必要成为中国心理学家关注的一个新研究领域。     

情感韵律在真假句子加工上的差异：来自ERPs的证据

采用事件相关电位(ERP)技术探讨语义-情感韵律的神经生理机制。六种基本情绪类型的韵律分两种条件呈现给被试,即假句子的韵律预期偏差条件和真句子的语义-韵律预期偏差条件。研究结果表明两种预期偏差是纯粹的价独立,无论情感价正性还是负性都会得出相同的ERP效应;六种情感韵律都诱发了右单侧化的ERP正波效应,而语义-情感韵律都诱发了早期双侧化分布的ERP负波效应。本研究进一步证实了情感韵律和语义-情感韵律加工的时间进程的差异性;同时,无论是有语义的真句子和无语义的假句子,情感韵律都能够提高表达的目的意图。     

高中生家庭亲密度与安全感的相关研究

目的探讨高中生家庭亲密度与安全感的相关关系。方法采用家庭亲密度和适应性量表和安全感量表对120名高中生进行施测。结果①男女高中生在家庭亲密度上存在显著差异,女生的家庭亲密度显著高于男生,安全感总分及其两个因子的得分,男女生之间不存在显著差异;②独生子女与非独生子女在家庭亲密度,安全感及其两个因子上均不存在显著差异;③高中生的家庭亲密度与安全感及两个因子分别存在显著性正相关。结论良好的家庭亲密关系有利于高中生人际安全感以及对生活掌控能力的形成。     

Is playing exergames really exercising? A meta-analysis of energy expenditure in active video games

This article reports a meta-analysis of energy expenditure (EE) of playing active video games (AVGs). In particular, heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), and EE were assessed and three moderators for the effects of AVGs--types of AVG, player age, and player weight status--were analyzed. The results show that playing AVGs significantly increased HR, VO2, and EE from resting. The effect sizes of playing AVGs on HR, VO2, and EE were similar to traditional physical activities. AVG type and player age were significant moderators for the effects of AVGs. The finding suggests that AVGs are effective technologies that may facilitate light- to moderate-intensity physical activity promotion.     

Knowledge-sharing intention in a virtual community: a study of participants in the Chinese Wikipedia

This study proposes a model for evaluating virtual community members' knowledge-sharing intention toward Chinese Wikipedia. The results of this study reveal that knowledge-sharing intention is influenced directly by attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, whereas anticipated reciprocal relationships and enjoying helping are positively related to attitude; sense of self-worth and peer influences are positively related to subjective norms; and self-efficacy and resource-facilitating conditions are positively related to perceived behavioral control on knowledge sharing.