Combined action of diazepam and d-amphetamine on fixed-interval performance in cats

Cats trained under a fixed-interval 5-min schedule of milk presentation were injected with diazepam, amphetamine, and combinations of amphetamine and diazepam. Diazepam increased overall response rate as a function of the dose and disrupted the temporal pattern of responding. Low doses of amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) usually increased the response rate; higher doses (1 to 2 mg/kg) either decreased the response rate or had little effect. Amphetamine always disrupted the temporal pattern of responding, even though it did not affect the overall rate. When doses of amphetamine that increased the response rate or left it unchanged were combined with diazepam, a potentiated increase in response rate occurred. When doses of amphetamine that decreased the response rate were combined with diazepam, the amphetamine-induced rate decreases were reversed at least partially. Less clear potentiation of disruption of the temporal pattern of responding was observed when amphetamine and diazepam were combined.     

On memory for metaphor

Three experiments investigated how metaphors are represented in memory and the effects on memory of variables known to affect metaphor comprehension. Ten theoretically relevant dimensions were examined. In Experiments 1 and 2, free recall across a variety of orienting tasks was consistently and positively predicted by the rated imageability of metaphoric topics (sentence subjects) and the rated number of interpretations for each metaphor. The number of interpretations effect was reversed in the cued recall task of Experiment 3, as metaphors with fewer interpretations were remembered better. These and other results supported previous suggestions that memory for metaphor involves wholistic representations akin to metaphoric grounds. They also revealed consistent differences in the roles of several variables in comprehension and memory for metaphor.     

A note on behavior tolerance to meprobamate

Behavioral tolerance to meprobamate was demonstrated in a cat, on an FI schedule, without behavior taking place during the chronic treatment. Behavioral factors, such as the development of corrective patterns of behavior, do not explain behavioral tolerance in this case.     

Fine's Fragmentalist Interpretation of Special Relativity

In “Tense and Reality”, Kit Fine ( 2005 ) proposed a novel way to think about realism about tense in the metaphysics of time. In particular, he explored two non‐standard forms of realism about tense (“external relativism” and “fragmentalism”), arguing that they are to be preferred over standard forms of realism. In the process of defending his own preferred view, fragmentalism, he proposed a fragmentalist interpretation of the special theory of relativity (STR), which will be our focus in this paper. After presenting Fine's position, we will raise a problem for his fragmentalist interpretation of STR. We will argue that Fine's view is in tension with the proper explanation of why various facts (such as the Lorentz transformations) obtain. We will then consider whether similar considerations also speak against fragmentalism in domains other than STR, notably fragmentalism about tense.     

The Presence of Self-Stigma,Perceived Stress,and Suicidal Ideation among Selected LGBT Filipinos

Minority group members experience what is known as “minority stress,” by which individuals suffer stress because of their membership in stigmatized social categories. In turn, minority stress may lead to self-stigmatization. This occurs when minority group members experience a sense of shame created by the view of the majority culture and then incorporate the majority opinion into their self-image. Because it is cumulative with the stress an individual is already experiencing, self-stigmatization may become a significant stressor itself, possibly contributing to the development of suicidal ideation. A total of 609 self-identified LGBT individuals were asked to answer a battery of psychological tests to assess the interrelationships between self-stigma, perceived stress, and suicidal ideation. As expected, perceived stress predicted suicidal ideation, whereas self-stigmatization predicted both perceived stress and suicidal ideation. Structural equation modeling confirms the predictive value of self-stigma together with perceived stress in determining the suicidal ideation present among LGBT Filipinos. Self-stigma exerted a direct effect upon suicidal ideation not accounted for by perceived stress.     

Cognitive Social Learning Variables and the Characteristics of Leaders1

This study explored the potential of a person × situation approach to identifying the characteristics of leaders in a voluntary community organization. A set of variables based on Mischel's “cognitive social learning variables” was operationalized to provide variables which assess the characteristics of individuals in relation to the specific context in which some emerge as leaders. This set of variables was compared with a larger set of traditional demographic and personality variables. Analyses indicated the approximate statistical comparability of the two sets. Advantages of the cognitive social learning approach for understanding and intervening in leader emergence and development in voluntary community organizations are discussed.