Lump detection in simulated human breasts

Sixteen observers palpated silicone models of human breasts containing lumps 1.6-12.1 mm in diameter. Detectability depended on the size of the lump, producing a systematic psychometric function. In eight observers who participated in three or more sessions, performance improved with practice, with most improvement occurring within one or two 26-trial sessions. Three-week retention measures disclosed no appreciable decrease in performance, but a significant correlation was found between the number of lumps detected and duration of trial (p < .01). There was no difference in performance between four observers who used their preferred hands and four observers who used their nonpreferred hands. These data establish that examination of breast models for the detection of lumps simulating cancer is a task amenable to experimental analysis.     

Role and justice considerations in the attribution of responsibility to a rape victim

This study was designed to assess the extent to which social role and “just world” considerations would affect perceptions and attributions of responsibility to a rape victim. The rape victim was either a topless-bottomless dancer, a social worker, or a Catholic nun, and she was either acquainted or unacquainted with her assailant. In the acquainted condition, the dancer was attributed the greatest and the nun the least amount of responsibility, indicating that social role factors can govern the range of attributional judgments which might be made in any given instance. However, unacquainted victims were ascribed more responsibility for the rape than were acquainted victims, a difference which was significant when the victim was the nun. The latter findings are discussed in terms of Lerner's just world hypothesis. Significant sex differences were found in subjects' perceptions of and responses to the rape incident and, contrary to earlier findings, no relationship was found between victim attractiveness and punitiveness toward the wrongdoer.     

Standardized playroom measures as indices of hyperactivity

A group of 16 children from a normal community population was compared with two groups of 16 children referred for clinical evaluation of hyperactivity. These three groups were matched on age, sex, and race. One of the clinic groups was matched with the community sample on IQ and social class as well, while the children in the other clinic group were mentally retarded and of somewhat lower social class. All children were observed in a standardized playroom for two 15-minute sessions, one under free play instructions and the other under instructions restricting activity and toy-changing behavior. The two groups of children referred for evaluation of hyperactivity had significantly higher playroom activity scores than controls under both instructional conditions and significantly higher toy-change scores under restrictive instructions. Parental ratings of activity were also significantly higher in both clinic groups than in the community group. The mentally retarded clinic sample did not differ from the other clinic sample on any of the measures of activity or toy switching.A preliminary version of this article was presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois, August 30, 1975, as part of a Symposium on Hyperactive Children: Assessment, Treatment, and Outcome. This research was supported by U. S. Public Health Service, Maternal and Child Health Project No. 916 and by Grants HD-03110 and ES-01104.     

Visual recognition memory for large and small binary pictures.

Recognition memory for pictures was tested using matrices of 0s and 1s as stimuli in two experiments. In the first experiment dimensionality of matrices was varied (5 X 5 and 10 X 10 matrices). The results showed better recognition memory for 10 X 10 matrices. The second experiment investigated the importance of certain areas, such as center or surround, using 10 X 10 matrices only. The results suggested that neither center nor surround is given unusual weight.     

Electromagnetic articulography: use of alternating magnetic fields for tracking movements of multiple points inside and outside the vocal tract

The purpose of this paper is to present a new electromagnetic device which uses alternating magnetic fields for tracking movements of multiple points inside and outside the vocal tract. It is biologically safe, noninvasive, it does not interfere with speech movements, allows for multiple recording in the same subject, and for easy collection of large amounts of data. It is especially suitable for evaluation of patients with speech motor impairments.     

Sleep in the dove Zenaida asiatica

Electrographic and behavioral observations were made in five adult birds of the genus Zenaida asiatica. Five different vigilance states were quantitated: (1) Active waking (Aw) was characterized by constant behavioral activity; the nuchal electromyogram was tonically active with bursts associated to movements. The electroencephalographic pattern was low voltage and high frequency. (2) Quiet waking (Qw) was characterized by diminished behavioral activity and the EEG pattern was similar to that of Aw. (3) Drowsiness (D) was characterized by behavioral calm. Frequency of cerebral activity diminished progressively, but there were short periods of desynchronization corresponding to brief awakenings. (4) Slow wave sleep (SWS); during this period there was behavioral rest and EEG pattern of continuous slow waves and the nuchal EMG was tonically reduced. Spindles of sleep were not observed. (5) Paradoxical sleep (SP), behaviorally characterized by phasic manifestations consisting of noddings originated by rapid falling down of head and bursts of rapid eye movements. EEG activity was like that of waking state. EMG activity was maintained at the same level as during SWS but sometimes it decreased lightly. Total atonie was not observed. Sleep percentages were higher when recordings were done during the nocturnal period.     

Isolation-dependent enhancement of 2-[14C]deoxyglucose uptake in the forebrain of zebra finch males

In a previous study (H. J. Bischof & K. Herrmann (1986), Behavioral Brain Research, 21, 215-221) we demonstrated that four forebrain areas of the zebra finch male are activated in situations which arouse the animal, for example when the birds are chased around the cage or when they are exposed to a female. These areas, the hyperstriatum accessorium-dorsale (HAD), a part of the medial neo-hyperstriatum (MNH), the lateral neo-hyperstriatum (LNH), and a portion of the caudal archi-neostriatum (ANC), show enhanced 2-[14C]deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake according to the experimental situation. On the basis of these experiments, we examined whether the activation of the areas is correlated with motor activity and is influenced by different isolation times prior to a 2-DG experiment, where courtship of the male birds is elicited by exposing them to a female zebra finch. For this purpose, we isolated male zebra finches for 1 day, 1 week, or 8 weeks, respectively, before we injected the 2-DG and exposed the birds to a female. During the experiment, besides other activities, the number of song motifs performed by the bird and the frequency of changing perches was recorded. Our experiments demonstrate that there is a weak negative correlation between motor activity and 2-DG uptake, and a positive correlation between isolation time and 2-DG uptake. We suggest that long isolation blocks courtship behavior by some unknown mechanisms, and that the "internal drive" of the animal, which possibly corresponds with the activity of the four forebrain areas, is enhanced by isolation and by the fact that the birds do not perform the consummatory behavior. Our results also demonstrate that the 2-DG method can show up small differences in the internal state of an animal, which cannot easily be detected by behavioral measurements.     

Relational frame theory,acceptance and commitment therapy,and a functional analytic definition of mindfulness

The present article interprets mindfulness from the point of view of the effects of language and cognition on human action. Relational Frame Theory is described to show how human suffering is created by entanglement with the cognitive networks made possible by language. Mindfulness can be understood as a collection of related processes that function to undermine the dominance of verbal networks, especially involving temporal and evaluative relations. These processes include acceptance, defusion, contact with the present moment, and the transcendent sense of self. Each of these components of mindfulness are targeted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and there is some evidence that they underlie the therapeutic changes induced by this approach. The relation between the present approach to mindfulness and other approaches is discussed.