Grip width and the organization of force output

The authors investigated the structure of force production and variability as a function of grip configuration and width during precision grasping. Variability was studied in absolute (standard deviation) and relative (coefficient of variation) terms; in addition, the authors used approximate entropy to examine regularity. In Experiment 1, the participants (N = 14) used a 2-digit grasp (thumb, index), whereas in Experiment 2, the participants (N = 11) used a 3-digit grasp (thumb, index, middle). The level and regularity of force increased with grip width. The amount of variability was least at narrow grip widths for 2-digit grasping and greatest at narrow grip widths for 3-digit grasping. That pattern of findings is not necessitated by the mechanical equilibrium of grasping; thus, it also reflected adaptive neural reorganization of force output to task demands.     

The “Big Tent” of Community Psychology: Reactions to Paul Toro’s 2004 Presidential Address

This article summarizes discussions that took place following Paul Toros presidential address for the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA). Toro argued that community psychology and SCRA are big tents. He suggested growth through increasing the involvement of ethnic minorities, community practitioners, international colleagues, students and early career professionals and individuals from allied disciplines. Themes in the discussions included: the founding values of community psychology, diversity, and social action. Those present felt that the field was facing a mid-life crisis and needed to re-establish its identity. Newer professionals looked to their seasoned colleagues to help define and establish that identity, and involve them in the process. Respondents were supportive of increased involvement of individuals from oppressed groups and practitioners in SCRA. Less attention was paid to increasing the role of international colleagues, professionals from allied disciplines, and members of the community.     

Caregiver Knowledge and Adherence in Children With Sickle Cell Disease: Knowing is Not Doing

Though the impact of disease knowledge on adherence to medical recommendations has long been the focus of research, little of this research has focussed on sickle cell compliance in the child and adolescent population. The present study examined the relationship of caregiver knowledge of sickle cell disease (SCD) and children's adherence to prescribed behaviors. Though caregivers with high levels of knowledge of SCD were more likely to report higher levels of adherence, knowledge test score did not predict adherence for the majority of participants (72%). The effect of caregiver knowledge on reported adherence was greater among preadolescents (age ≤ 11) than adolescents (age ≥12). The relationship between knowledge and adherence may not be as strong or direct as is assumed in many theories of health behavior change.     

Recharging cognition with DC brain polarization

Electrical direct current (DC) has been applied to the human head throughout history for various reasons and with claims of behavioral effects and clinical benefits. This technique has recently been rediscovered and its effects validated with modern quantitative techniques and experimental designs. Despite the very weak current used, DC polarization applied to specific brain areas can alter verbal fluency, motor learning and perceptual thresholds, and can be used in conjunction with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Compact and safe, this old technique seems poised to allow major advances cognitive science and therapy.     

The Walter Reed palm-held psychomotor vigilance test

This field-portable reaction time test and analysis software run on devices using the Palm operating system. It is designed to emulate a test and commercial device widely used in sleep deprivation, shift work, fatigue, and stimulant drug research but provides additional capabilities. Experimental comparisons with the standard commercial device in a 40-hour total sleep deprivation study show it to be comparably sensitive to selected experimental variables. A Pocket PC-compatible version is under developement.     

Evolution and process of spiritual awakening: A grounded theory study

The present study used a constructivist grounded theory (CGT) approach to explore, examine and develop a grounded theory (GT) of spiritual awakening conceptualisation and process. The authors used the interview data of 34 eminent spiritual teachers who have written books on spirituality, led spiritual retreats and conducted lectures and trainings on spiritual quest. These participants come from diverse backgrounds (e.g., American, Asian, European and Mexican), trainings (e.g., Buddhism, Yoga, Hinduism, Taoism, Christianity and other mindfulness traditions) and professional experiences. The data analysis of the interviews led to the development of the spiritual awakening evolution (SAE) model, explaining the process and evolution of spiritual awakening. According to this model, spiritual awakening evolves through four phases: an initial transient shift in perception, further practice to support spiritual development, surrendering and a continuous journey of spiritual development. As spiritual awakening experiences are transcultural, the SAE model can inform counsellors' understanding of clients' spiritual needs and the meanings of those experiences. Implications for counsellor practitioners, counsellor preparation programmes and research are discussed.     

Thinking of threats: Economic threat appraisals and health threat appraisals predict differential racial attitudes during COVID-19

We examined whether perceptions of the health and economic threats posed by COVID-19 predict different patterns of intergroup attitudes, using data gathered during the early phase of the pandemic. Using data from 1339 geographically and politically diverse White US residents, we show that subjective economic threat predicted general anti-outgroup attitudes, while subjective health threat predicted negative attitudes towards both Asian and Latinx (“stereotypically foreign”) outgroups but not towards other outgroups. Among 303 geographically and politically diverse Black US residents, the pattern instead suggested that threat (regardless of type) was associated with reduced evaluative differentiation between racial ingroups and outgroups.     

Increasing the benefits of eye-tracking devices in divided visual field studies of cerebral asymmetry

A wide range of methods has been proposed for ensuring central fixation in divided visual field studies of cerebral asymmetry. We present some of the problems associated with ensuring central fixation and argue that objectively monitoring fixation location with an eye-tracking device can provide the only accurate and, therefore, acceptable technique. However, the mere use of this equipment does not overcome all of the problems associated with controlling fixation location, and previous studies have overlooked the importance of providing feedback on fixation accuracy and the role of visual attention. We propose a straightforward method of accommodating both these influences in studies using eyetracking devices to control fixation location.     

Visualizing the perisaccadic shift of spatiotopic coordinates

A point light source flickering on and off during a horizontal saccade projects a horizontal array onto the retina. The apparent visual direction of the tail end of the perceived (phantom) array reflects the amount of perisaccadic shift of spatiotopic coordinates that has been completed by the end of the saccade. Four men, saccading 8° to the right across a flashing light, judged the horizontal visual direction of the left (tail) end of the phantom array relative to the left end of a standard 8° array that had projected an image onto the retina before the saccade began. On average, the left ends appeared to be aligned when the last flash in the phantom array was imaged on the retina 7.4° to the right of the image of the left end of the standard array. This result implies that the shift of spatiotopic coordinates is virtually complete by the end of the saccade.