Modeling differentiation of cognitive abilities within the higher-order factor model using moderated factor analysis

Receptive foreign language proficiency is usually measured with reading and listening comprehension tasks. A novel approach to assess such proficiencies – viewing comprehension – is based on the presentation of short instructional videos followed by one or more comprehension questions concerning the preceding video stimulus. In order to evaluate a newly developed viewing comprehension test 485 German high school students completed reading, listening, and viewing comprehension tests, all measuring the receptive proficiency in English as a foreign language. Fluid and crystallized intelligence were measured as predictors of performance. Relative to traditional comprehension tasks, the viewing comprehension task has similar psychometric qualities. The three comprehension tests are very highly but not perfectly correlated with each other. Relations with fluid and crystallized intelligence show systematic differences between the three comprehension tasks. The high overlap between foreign language comprehension measures and between crystallized intelligence and language comprehension ability can be taken as support for a uni-dimensional interpretation. Implications for the assessment of language proficiency are discussed.     

A Study of Blocking and Overshadowing in Filial Imprinting

The occurrence of blocking and overshadowing in filial imprinting was investigated in junglefowl chicks (Gallus gallus spadiceus). When subjects were exposed to a novel object in the presence of a familiar one, imprinting on the novel object was impaired in one of two experimental groups (Experiment 1). When subjects were exposed to two objects from the beginning, imprinting on each object was impaired (Experiment 2). These results suggest that phenomena resembling blocking and overshadowing in conditioning may occur in imprinting. The fact that overshadowing was much more prevalent and convincing than blocking is discussed by referring to processes involved in the formation of internal representations. It is suggested that processes connecting these representations to the executive system of filial behaviour may follow the rules of associative learning.     

Parental Loss and Family Violence as Correlates of Suicide and Violence Risk

Seventy-nine psychiatric inpatients were administered a battery of psychometric instruments that obtained information about early parental loss, exposure to family violence, and behavioral problems in themselves and in their first-degree relatives. These variables were correlated with suicide and violence risk measures. Suicide risk significantly correlated with all family variables whereas violence risk correlated with behavioral problems both in oneself and in one's first-degree relatives. Moreover, suicidal and/or violent patients had experienced maternal loss significantly more frequently than the nonsuicidal/nonviolent patients. In the suicidal/violent group, age of patient at death of parents was significantly lower than in the nonsuicidal/nonviolent group. Finally, family violence was significantly correlated with behavioral problems in self and in first-degree relatives. Findings are interpreted according to the authors' theoretical model of aggression regulation.     

Interlimb coordination following stroke

Studies investigating whether simultaneous bilateral movements can facilitate performance of the impaired limb(s) of stroke patients have returned mixed results. In the present study we compared unilateral limb performance (amplitude, cycle duration) with performance during an interlimb coordination task involving both homologous (both arms, both legs) and non-homologous (one arm, one leg) limbs in stroke participants (n=7) and healthy age-matched controls (n=7). In addition, the effect of on-line augmented visual feedback on interlimb coordination was investigated. Participants performed cyclical flexion-extension movements of the arms and legs in the sagittal plane paced by an auditory metronome (1 Hz). Movement amplitudes were larger and cycle durations shorter during homologous limb coordination than non-homologous coordination. Compared with unilateral movements both groups had reduced movement amplitudes and the stroke group increased cycle duration when interlimb coordination tasks were performed. These effects were most evident during non-homologous (arm and leg) coordination. No evidence of facilitation of the impaired limb(s) was found in any of the interlimb coordination conditions. Augmented visual feedback had minimal effect on the movements of control participants but lead to an increase of cycle duration for stroke participants.