Electric source localization adds evidence for task-specific CNVs

This study was an attempt to replicate recent magnetoencephalographic (MEG) findings on human task-specific CNV sources (Basile et al., Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 90, 1994, 157-165) by means of a spatio-temporal electric source localization method (Scherg and von Cramon, Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 62, 1985, 32-44; Scherg and von Cramon, Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 65, 1986, 344-360; Scherg and Berg, Brain Electric Source Analysis Handbook, Version 2). The previous MEG results showed CNV sources in the prefrontal cortex of the two hemispheres for two tasks used, namely visual pattern recognition and visual spatial recognition tasks. In the right hemisphere, the sources were more anterior and inferior for the spatial recognition task than for the pattern recognition task. In the present study we obtained CNVs in five subjects during two tasks identical to the MEG study. The elicited electric potentials were modeled with four spatio-temporal dipoles for each task, three of which accounted for the visual evoked response and one that accounted for the CNV. For all subjects the dipole explaining the CNV was always localized in the frontal region of the head, however, the dipole obtained during the visual spatial recognition task was more anterior than the one obtained during the pattern recognition task. Thus, task-specific CNV sources were again observed, although the stable model consisted of only one dipole located close to the midline instead of one dipole in each hemisphere. This was a major difference in the CNV sources between the previous MEG and the present electric source analysis results. We discuss the possible basis for the difference between the two methods used to study slow brain activity that is believed to originate from extended cortical patches.     

Understanding Epistemic Relevance

Agents require a constant flow, and a high level of processing, of relevant semantic information, in order to interact successfully among themselves and with the environment in which they are embedded. Standard theories of information, however, are silent on the nature of epistemic relevance. In this paper, a subjectivist interpretation of epistemic relevance is developed and defended. It is based on a counterfactual and metatheoretical analysis of the degree of relevance of some semantic information i to an informee/agent a, as a function of the accuracy of i understood as an answer to a query q, given the probability that q might be asked by a. This interpretation of epistemic relevance vindicates a strongly semantic theory of information, according to which semantic information encapsulates truth. It accounts satisfactorily for several important applications and interpretations of the concept of relevant information in a variety of philosophical areas. And it interfaces successfully with current philosophical interpretations of causal and logical relevance.     

List strength effect without list length effect in recognition memory

The study of list length effects (adding items to a list affects memory for the other items) and list strength effects (strengthening some items in a list affects memory for the nonstrengthened items) is important to constrain models of memory. In recognition memory, a list length effect is generally found, whereas a list strength effect is not. Using the switched-plurality procedure in an old-new recognition task (e.g., study banana; test bananas), we found the opposite pattern. Length manipulations caused no change in memory performance, whereas strength manipulations did. The list strength effect was found when recollection was likely to operate at test (with switched-plurality lures). When recollection was unlikely to operate (with unrelated lures), the strength effect disappeared. The result was observed using both a size judgement task (which has previously produced positive list strength effects) and a pleasantness judgement task (which has not yielded list strength effects before).     

The theoretical and empirical links between bullying behavior and male sexual violence perpetration

Bullying experiences and male sexual violence (SV) perpetration are major public health problems, and while extant literature suggests that they may share some developmental correlates, there is no established empirical link between being a perpetrator or victim of bullying and SV perpetration in the literature. Nonetheless, some SV prevention programs in the U.S. include bullying prevention components for elementary and middle-school aged children. Research is needed to test the hypothesized links between bullying experiences and SV perpetration to determine whether bullying prevention programs are likely to prevent SV perpetration. The purpose of this paper is to present results from a review of research on each of these topics and to discuss the potential shared and unique risk and protective factors within a social-ecological framework. The paper concludes with suggested directions for future research.     

On the heritability of inspection time and its covariance with IQ: a twin study

Using the classical twin design, this study investigates the influence of genetic factors on the large phenotypic variance in inspection time (IT), and whether the well established IT–IQ association can be explained by a common genetic factor. Three hundred ninety pairs of twins (184 monozygotic, MZ; 206 dizygotic, DZ) with a mean age of 16 years participated, and 49 pairs returned approximately 3 months later for retesting. As in many IT studies, the pi figure stimulus was used and IT was estimated from the cumulative normal ogive. IT ranged from 39.4 to 774.1 ms (159±110.1 ms) with faster ITs (by an average of 26.9 ms) found in the retest session from which a reliability of .69 was estimated. Full-scale IQ (FIQ) was assessed by the Multidimensional Aptitude Battery (MAB) and ranged from 79 to 145 (111±13). The phenotypic association between IT and FIQ was confirmed (−.35) and bivariate results showed that a common genetic factor accounted for 36% of the variance in IT and 32% of the variance in FIQ. The maximum likelihood estimate of the genetic correlation was −.63. When performance and verbal IQ (PIQ & VIQ) were analysed with IT, a stronger phenotypic and genetic relationship was found between PIQ and IT than with VIQ. A large part of the IT variance (64%) was accounted for by a unique environmental factor. Further genetic factors were needed to explain the remaining variance in IQ with a small component of unique environmental variance present. The separability of a shared genetic factor influencing IT and IQ from the total genetic variance in IQ suggests that IT affects a specific subcomponent of intelligence rather than a generalised efficiency.     

Pregnancy in the workplace: Does pregnancy affect performance appraisal ratings?

Archival data were collected to examine bias effects in performance evaluation related to employee pregnancy. Prior survey research has suggested that many supervisors and co-workers hold negative views of pregnant employees. Performance appraisal ratings were collected before, during, and after pregnancy for employees taking maternity leave over a four year time frame. In addition, data was also collected from randomly selected control subjects, which were matched on job title and observation period. Contrary to expectations, performance appraisal ratings were found to increase during pregnancy when compared to before ratings and control group ratings. Potential explanations as well as suggestions for further research are discussed.     

Intimacy and marital depression: Interactional partners

The relationship between marital depression and lack of intimacy in a caring relationship is presented and supported with evidence from teh relevant literature. A case example is given to illustrate the therapeutic implications of this viewpoint.     

支持死后医疗数据捐赠：呼吁对个人健康数据的伦理利用

死后医疗数据捐赠对于科学研究的意义重大。但目前不存在有针对性的准则用于指导捐赠过程。如果死后医疗数据的使用缺乏监管可能会引发多种风险,一是给他人利益造成损害;二是造成数据的不规范使用。因此,应当类比现有捐献制度,允许并鼓励捐献死后医疗数据用于科学研究,并起草专门的捐赠准则。该准则的制定应当建立在遵循五大基本原则的前提下,主张以自愿参与的方式使用个人医疗数据,反对未经书面同意将数据用于以病例档案为基础的医学研究。