Visual statistical learning produces implicit and explicit knowledge about temporal order information and scene chunks: Evidence from direct and indirect measures

We examined whether visual statistical learning (VSL) produced implicit and/or explicit knowledge about temporal order information and scene chunks, using a rapid serial visual presentation target detection task and a two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) familiarity test as indirect and direct measures of VSL, respectively. In the familiarization phase, participants viewed a visual stream of natural scenes consisting of four triplets (i.e., three images that always appeared in the same order). In the subsequent target detection task, participants were required to detect target items embedded in a stream of 12 images or 12 words representing each natural scene. In the final 2AFC familiarity test, participants observed two test sequences (statistically related triplets vs. unrelated foils) and decided whether the first or second sequence was more familiar based on the familiarization phase. In both test phases, we included the same (forward) and reverse (backward) order of scenes as presented during the familiarization phase to examine whether the expression of VSL was based on temporal order of scenes or scene chunks. The results of the target detection task showed a learning effect for both temporal order in the forward condition and chunks in the backward condition, irrespective of whether stimuli were images or words; in contrast, we did not observe a learning effect in the backward condition for scene images in the familiarity test. Our findings are compatible with a learning mechanism that has both implicit and explicit components based on temporal order information and scene chunks.     

Cross‐national comparisons of attitudes towards suicide and suicidal persons in university students from 12 countries

This paper reports the results of a comparative investigation of attitudes to suicide and suicidal persons in 5,572 university students from 12 countries. Participants filled out two scales measuring attitudes towards suicide and suicidal persons, a measure of psychological distress together with the questions about suicidal behavior. Results showed that the highest suicide acceptance scores were observed in Austrian, UK, Japanese and Saudi Arabian samples and the lowest scores were noted in Tunisian, Turkish, Iranian and Palestinian samples. While the highest social acceptance scores for a suicidal friend were noted in Turkish, US, Italian and Tunisian samples, the lowest scores were seen in Japanese, Saudi Arabian, Palestinian and Jordanian samples. Compared to participants with a suicidal past, those who were never suicidal displayed more internal barriers against suicidal behavior. Men were more accepting of suicide than women but women were more willing to help an imagined suicidal peer. Participants with accepting attitudes towards suicide but rejecting attitudes towards suicidal persons reported more suicidal behavior and psychological distress, and were more often from high suicide rate countries and samples than their counterparts. They are considered to be caught in a fatal trap in which most predominant feelings of suicidality such as hopelessness or helplessness are likely to occur. We conclude that in some societies such as Japan and Saudi Arabia it might be difficult for suicidal individuals to activate and make use of social support systems.     

中国人面部自然肤色色域范围及典型肤色色样的研制

分别采用一自Ａｕ－ＣＨ－１型自动测色仪及一台３０２Ｄ型自动测色仪对中国人的面部自然肤色,从新生婴儿直至老年人的色度特性进行了广泛取样的测定。测定人数共１６６８人,其中新生婴儿至２岁幼儿５０８人：３－１７岁的儿童及青少年５４８人;１８－７８岁的成年人及老年人６１２人。被测者的籍贯包括２６个省市,除汉族外,还包括蒙、臧、维,壮等１７个少数民族。少数民族的被测人数约占总被测人数的６％。首次确定了我国人的面部自然肤色的色域范围及皮肤反射率的分布范围。在此基础上研制成功具有我国人典型自然肤色色样一套。所得结果已被应用于电视、电影、摄影及照明等部门。     

The Impact of More Fully Implemented Guidance Programs on the School Experiences of High School Students: A Statewide Evaluation Study

Relationships between the statewide implementation of comprehensive guidance programs and the school experiences of high school students were explored. Data from 22,964 students attending 236 Missouri high schools were analyzed by using hierarchical linear modeling. Schools with more fully implemented model guidance programs had students who were more likely to report that (a) they had earned higher grades, (b) their education was better preparing them for their future, (c) their school made more career and college information available to them, and (d) their school had a more positive climate. Positive program effects were found after removing differences due to school enrollment size, socioeconomic status, and percentage of minority students in attendance. Results highlight the important roles school counselors play in promoting the central educational goals of their schools and support a comprehensive guidance program focus for university counseling faculty who train school counselors.     

Leadership emergence in task groups with egalitarian gender-role expectations

Although they differ in their explanations of the antecedents of gender-role expectations, gender role and expectation states theories agree that mixed-sex and initially leaderless task groups will confirm these expectations by selectively reinforcing male task participation and leadership emergence. Based upon this assumption held in common by the two theories, we hypothesized that groups whose members expressed significantly egalitarian gender-role expectations would reinforce male and female task participation and leadership emergence impartially. Analysis of data from 31 mixed-sex groups whose members expressed significantly egalitarian gender-role expectations, and who were racially and ethnically homogeneous, found that males participated more in group discussions and were more likely to be selected as task leaders. Male advantages were explained only partly by token effects and their advantages in task resources. Implications are suggested for theories of male and female role performance in initially leaderless groups.     

生命起源及生物进化问题的新观点——原始意识的产生及物质、意识的双轨制进化

目的：探讨单细胞个体存在原始意识和在生物进化过程中物质、意识的双轨制进化,并探讨这一新观念的重大意义;方法：把哲学观点与现代医学有机结合,通过对人的意识性的作用特点及产生过程加以分析,推论出动植物也具有意识属性,进一步推论认为：单细胞个体同样具有意识属性。以单细胞个体的生理活动特点及蛋白质的合成过程为例,论证单细胞个体内原始意识存在的生物学依据。结论：原始意识的存在是区别原始生物与非生物的根本标志,原始意识的诞生标志着生命的真正起源,生物进化是物质、意识的双轨制进化。     

增加卫生改革的伦理含金量——兼论卫生改革中的效率与公平

卫生改革需要有包括卫生改革伦理学理念在内的全方位改革理念的联手支撑。伦理含金量缺失或者不足,卫生改革实践就难以取得圆满成功。因此,目前展开的新一轮卫生改革,必须以“效率与公平合理兼顾”为核心准则,在完善政策、规划目标、组织实施等全过程中切实保证卫生改革伦理学理念准确到位和正常运作。     

Accounting for the computational basis of consciousness: a connectionist approach

This paper argues for an explanation of the mechanistic (computational) basis of consciousness that is based on the distinction between localist (symbolic) representation and distributed representation, the ideas of which have been put forth in the connectionist literature. A model is developed to substantiate and test this approach. The paper also explores the issue of the functional roles of consciousness, in relation to the proposed mechanistic explanation of consciousness. The model, embodying the representational difference, is able to account for the functional role of consciousness, in the form of the synergy between the conscious and the unconscious. The fit between the model and various cognitive phenomena and data (documented in the psychological literatures) is discussed to accentuate the plausibility of the model and its explanation of consciousness. Comparisons with existing models of consciousness are made in the end.     

50—90岁成人的短时记忆研究

本工作研究了102例50—90岁成人的短时记忆,其中85例进行了较详细的体格检查。以22例20—25岁青年的记忆检查作为对照,结果看到: 1.在图片自由回忆、逻辑故事识记、数字广度识记三个项目上,记忆都有随年龄增长而逐步减退的明显趋势; 2.识记逻辑故事时,对中心意义的记忆减退较分节记忆减退缓慢,顺背数字的记忆广度随年龄增长而减小较其他项目都要缓慢,表明老年记忆减退有其特点; 3.神经系统和心血管系统的病理性或老年性变化与记忆减退有关。