Functional representation of 3d space in endogenous attention shifts

The aim of this study was to explore whether the attentional system, as far as an endogenous orienting is concerned, allocates resources along the sagittal plane and whether such a process is affected by, and is likely to be based on, different functional representations of 3D space in the brain. Several models make a main action-based distinction between representations of peripersonal space and of those extrapersonal space. Accordingly, if attention has to move from one representation to another, it should be possible to observe a decrease in performance during such a transition. To test this hypothesis three experiments were run in which participants performed a cued detection task. Cue stimuli were informative and were centrally located around the fixation point. Target stimuli were displayed at four different depth planes. In the first experiment, assuming that the border between the peripersonal space and the extrapersonal space was at 1 m from the observer, half the target stimuli were located in the peripersonal space and half in the extrapersonal space. The fixation point was located at 1 m from the observer. In the second experiment, the fixation point was moved at 2 m from the observer in order to rule out the possible effects of ocular motor programming. In the third experiment, in order to rule out effects related to the spatial layout of target stimuli (i.e., centre of mass effect) two target stimuli were located in the peripersonal space and six in the extrapersonal space. In all the experiments, besides a validity effect, we observed greater reaction times when attention shift was across spatial representations than when it was within the same representation. The implications for action-oriented models of attention are discussed.     

继承传统适应时代面向未来——《道风集》增订本介绍

10年前,上海道教协会编辑出版了陈莲笙道长的著述《道风集——道教的发展和道士的修养》。今天,在陈道长九秩松寿的日子里,又出版了这本书的增订本,可以说是锦上添花。增订本《道风集》与初版《道风集》相比,内容上更加充实,增加了陈道长近十年来的著述;编排上作了修正,并加入了许多珍贵的照片,使整本书显得更为生动,不仅具有阅读价值,而且增加了收藏价值。该书由上海辞书出版社出版,大32开,封面上印有陈老道长的大幅道装照片,装帧上显得大气且富有道教文化气息。