HUMANITY IN NATURE: CONSERVING YET CREATING

Abstract. Developing a scientifically grounded philosophy of cosmic evolution, and using the moral norm of completeness as dynamic harmony, this paper argues that humans are a part of nature in both its conserving and emergent aspects. Humans are both material and cultural, instinctual-emotional and rational, creatures and creators, and carriers of stability and change. To ignore any of the multifaceted aspects of humanity in relation to the rest of nature is to commit one of a number of fallacies that are grounded in a dualistic-conquest mentality. Examples of some new developments in philosophy and theology, metaphorical images, and ritual show how to overcome dualism in favor of a dynamic harmony of humanity within nature.     

PHILOSOPHICAL AND THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS ON RECENT NEUROBIOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES

Abstract. Recent progress in neurophysiology research has created a certain uneasiness in the modes of explanation. Starting with body experiences this research has progressed to borderline experiences and confronts us anew with the age-old mind-body problem. At this point science is especially exposed to the dangers of reductionism as they have been spelled out by Carl Jung. Evolution, understood not as the deployment of pre-existing properties of matter but as the continued emergence of new realities which integrate and transform the pre-existing realities, may lead to a more profound understanding of humanity, which came into being through the emergence of mind. Archetypes and the human religious dimension or the capability to experience God may be the most significant mark of this emergence.     

Use of contextual information in the formation of cognitive maps

To investigate the importance of context and presentation of serial order of information in the formation of cognitive maps, subjects were shown slides of pairwise relationships between items and then asked to construct a map. Two context conditions were used: a spatial condition in which the item pairs appeared in the same location on the screen as they would appear in a slide of the entire map and a nonspatial condition in which all item pairs appeared centered on the screen. Information order was either chain, in which new information could be immediately added to the representation, or nonchain, in which brief storage was required. The results indicated that both spatial context and chain order enhance performance. In addition, spatial information reduces the effect of serial order, perhaps by allowing subjects to relate new information to the context itself if they cannot relate it to previous information.     

Visual control of discrete aiming movements

An experiment is reported which investigated the visual control of discrete rapid arm movements. Subjects were required to move as rapidly as possible to several target width-movement distance combinations under both visual and non-visual conditions. The movement time (MT) data were supportive of Fitts' Law in that MT was linearly related and highly correlated to the Index of Difficulty (ID). MT was also similar for different target width-distance combinations sharing the same ID value. The error rate analysis, which compared visual to non-visual perfromance, indicated that vision was only used, and to varying degrees, when MT exceeded 200 ms (3.58 ID level). There was some evidence that vision was differentially used within target width-distance combinations sharing the same ID. Estimates of endpoint variability generally reflected the results of the error rate analysis. These results do not support the discrete correction model of Fitts' Law proposed by Keele (1968).     

A 64-station computer-assisted teaching and research facility

A 64-subject computer-controlled laboratory for use in research and as a teaching aid is described. The laboratory hardware includes an 8K minicomputer, a 64-channel input multiplexor, and a video display generator. The software includes a complete operating system and an easy-to-use programming language. The entire laboratory, including the computer, was built for under $12,000.     

Signal identification: The comparison of two competitive theories

Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics - On each of a series of random trials, 10 observers had to identify which of two possible tones of different amplitude had been presented. Two theories...     

PROSS: A process control programming language

PROSS, a programming language for small- and medium-scale process control computers, is presented. The PROSS language, whose structure and syntax were expressly designed for ease of use by psychologists, is summarized and exemplified in a sample procedure. The structure of an existing PROSS compiler is briefly summarized.     

The relationship between binocular brightness matches and luminance difference discriminability of successively presented light flashes1

Measurements of monocular ΔI and PSE as a function of the ISI between two 2-deg foveal fields successively presented to the same retinal area were obtained for two Standard durations, using the method of constant stimuli. Binocular brightness matches of the stimuli revealed that detection of a difference occurred whenever a constant difference (in log mL) in matching luminance existed. The implication of the results was that ΔI is related to the rate of change of brightness with changes in test-field luminance.     

DADTA VI: A minicomputer-based video control system for the analysis of behavioral and electrophysiological data

A computer-automated testing apparatus for monkey and human subjects is described. This dual-computer system generates programmable color video displays and permits on-line collection of behavioral and electrophysiological data. Video displays are generated by an Apple II minicomputer linked via a serial transmission port to a general-purpose laboratory computer (DEC PDP-11/34). Control of event sequences is determined by serial interaction between the two computers. Software (programs) for the collection and analysis of event-related brain potentials data is described, and the experimental and clinical applications of this DADTA VI (Discrimination apparatus for discrete-trial analysis, Version 6) for neuropsychology are discussed.