Paradoxical cross-over due to attention to high or low spatial frequencies

The mechanisms underlying the right hemisphere's dominance for spatial and attentional functions lacks a comprehensively explanation. For example, perceptual biases, as observed in line bisection and related tasks, might be caused by an attentional asymmetry or by perceptual processes such as a specialization of the left and right hemisphere for high and low spatial frequencies (SFs), respectively. Here we used the gratingscales task to measure perceptual bias in SF judgements, and we cued participants' attention either to high or low SFs. Participants showed a leftward bias when comparing the high SF components of the stimulus, and a rightward bias when comparing the low SF components-opposite to what would be expected from a hemispheric lateralization for SFs. Two control experiments used different strategies to manipulate the width of the attentional window. However, we observed no influence on perceptual bias, thus ruling out the possibility that the results in Experiment 1 were due to differences in attentional window size. These data support the idea of an attentional asymmetry underlying perceptual bias. Our results provide novel support for the role of attentional asymmetry in perceptual biases.     

How do people apprehend large numerosities?

People discriminate remarkably well among large numerosities. These discriminations, however, need not entail numerical representation of the quantities being compared. This research evaluated the role of both non-numerical and numerical information in adult judgments of relative numerosity for large-numerosity spatial arrays. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that judgments of relative numerosity were affected by the amount of open space in the arrays being compared. Further, the accuracy of verbal estimates of the numerosities of the arrays made upon completion of the comparison task bore little relation to performance on that task. Experiment 2, however, showed that numerical estimates for individually presented arrays were affected in much the same way by open space within or around the edges of the array as were the comparative judgments examined in Experiment 1. The findings suggest that adults heuristically utilize non-numerical cues as well as numerical information in apprehending large numerosities.     

无意识元认知调控下的策略转换

通过两位数乘法算式答案判别任务研究无意识元认知调控下策略转换的的认知加工特征。整个算式答案判别任务分为两种策略使用情境：一种为只可以使用尾数策略的任务情境;另一种为既可以使用尾数策略,又可以使用奇偶策略的任务情境。实验结果表明：1）无意识元认知具有高选择性、高效性和高潜力,能在策略使用情境转变之后,快速察觉并选择使用更为简单、高效的奇偶策略;2）尾数策略使用的强大思维定势阻止奇偶策略的意识化,致使绝大多数被试未能发现任务情境的变化而在内隐状态下使用了奇偶策略;3）策略在内隐或外显状态下使用具有同等效力,策略内隐使用具有高效性和高潜力。     

学习困难儿童的元记忆监测与控制特点

以有无意义联系的两种中文词对为材料,采用2×3×2混合实验设计,对小学三到五年级学习困难儿童的元记忆监测、控制水平与学优儿童之间的差异及其发展特点进行研究。结果表明：1．学习困难儿童在三种元记忆监测判断等级上均显著低于学优儿童。2．学习困难儿童具有元记忆控制能力,但其控制水平相对低于学优儿童。3．学习困难儿童的元记忆监测判断和学习时间分配之间存在交互影响。4．学习困难儿童的元记忆监测和控制水平存在较为复杂的发展特点。据此得出结论认为,学习困难儿童的元记忆监测与控制能力都比学优儿童差,同时也表现出一定的发展趋势。     

移动窗口条件下阅读过程中字词识别特点的研究

采用“移动窗口”技术对中文阅读过程中的字词识别进形了初步的探讨。被试是８名大学生,阅读材料为８篇科学文章。结果发现,在移动窗口条件下,词的注视时间受词频、词中字数等词本身特性,词在理解文章中的重要性以及句子界限效应、文章难度等来自阅读理解的高级过程的影响。移动窗口技术可以在一定程度上较真实地探讨阅读中字词的连续加工过程。     

An inexpensive 1-millisecond experiment control interface for IBM PCs and its user-friendly control language

An inexpensive, professionally manufactured, digital I/O experiment control interface for any PC-compatible computer is described. It plugs into a standard printer port and provides 1-msec accuracy for up to 4 inputs and 22 outputs. It also allows experiment control procedures to be written in an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use Experiment Control language (ECBASIC). In addition to many instructions specifically designed to simplify behavioral research, ECBASIC provides for transparent collection and storage of event logs.     

Creating a hypertext markup language document for an information server

This paper briefly overviews the World-Wide Web. It then provides a short tutorial on the use of the hypertext markup language to publish information on the web. Hypertext markup language is a special page-layout language that was developed to help make creating and retrieving information on the web consistent and efficient. Hyperlinks within hypertext markup language make the language especially powerful because they enable the browser to transparently retrieve images, movies, or audio files from virtually any computer on earth simply by clicking on an item displayed on the monitor.     

内隐学习策略的存在及其外显转化

该研究采用＂乘法算式答案正误判断的实验室任务＂,以＂奇偶检查策略＂为具体策略研究对象,探查内隐奇偶检查策略的存在及其自动性特征。实验结果表明：（1）奇偶检查策略可以以内隐方式存在,但经过不断练习可最终上升到意识层面;（2）奇偶检查策略的外显和内隐使用表现出各自独立的优势效应。外显学习策略的优势效应主要表现在正确算式判断任务中,而内隐学习策略则在错误算式判断任务中表现出＂内隐优势效应＂的趋势;（3）内隐奇偶检查策略的人为外显化并不能促使个体增加使用该策略的频率,也不能有效提高策略的执行效率。