Adaptation to direction-dependent visuo-motor rotations and its decay in younger and older adults

We studied adaptation to a direction-dependent visuo-motor rotation in adults of early and late working age. For hand movements to the right, visual motion of the cursor on a monitor was rotated clockwise, for forward movements rotation of the cursor motion was zero, and for directions in-between rotation was intermediate. In contrast to previous studies, in which adaptation was more difficult (larger visuo-motor rotation, larger number of targets during practice) and the older age group was of higher age, we found no age-related deficit of adaptation. However, consistent with previous studies we found an age-related impairment of explicit knowledge of the visuo-motor rotation and no age-related differences of aftereffects. Across periods of not performing the task for 24 h and of performing the task for a prolonged period of time without visual feedback, we observed a decay of adaptation which did not depend on age. The present findings cast doubts on the prevalent interpretation of age-related impairments of adaptation in the absence of age-related changes of aftereffects as resulting from intentional strategic corrections, which become less efficient at higher age.     

Adaptation to a nonlinear visuomotor amplitude transformation with continuous and terminal visual feedback

The control of a cursor on a computer monitor offers a simple means of exploring the limits of the plasticity of human visuomotor coordination. The authors explored the boundary conditions for adaptation to nonlinear visuomotor amplitude transformations. The authors hypothesized that only with terminal visual feedback during practice, but not with continuous visual feedback, humans might develop an internal model of the nonlinear visuomotor amplitude transformation. Thus, 2 groups were engaged in a sensorimotor adaptation task receiving either continuous or terminal visual feedback during the practice phase. In contrast to expectations, adaptive shifts and aftereffects observed in visual open-loop tests were linearly related to target amplitudes for both groups. Although the 2 feedback groups did not differ with respect to adaptive shifts and aftereffects, terminal visual feedback resulted in stable visual open-loop performance for an extended period, whereas movement errors increased after continuous visual feedback during practice. The benefit of continuous visual feedback, on the other hand, was faster closed-loop performance, indicating an optimization of visual closed-loop control.     

Executive Functioning and Engagement in Physical and Relational Aggression among Children with ADHD

Although evidence suggests that executive functioning (EF) impairments are implicated in physically aggressive behavior (e.g., hitting) these cognitive impairments have rarely been examined with regard to relational aggression (e.g., gossip, systematic exclusion). Studies also have not examined if EF impairments underlie the expression of aggression in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and if child gender moderates risk. Children with and without clinical elevations in ADHD symptoms (N = 124; ages 8–12 years; 48 % male) completed a battery of EF tests. Parent and teacher report of ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms and teacher report of engagement in physical and relational aggression were collected. Models tested the unique association of EF abilities with physical and relational aggression and the indirect effect through the expression of ADHD or ODD behaviors; child gender was also tested as a moderator. EF impairment was uniquely associated with physical aggression, but better EF ability was associated with relational aggression. For boys, poor EF also was indirectly associated with greater physical aggression through the expression of ADHD behaviors. However, ADHD symptoms were unrelated to relational aggression. ODD symptoms also predicted physical aggression for boys but relational aggression for girls. Results suggest that there are multiple and distinct factors associated with engagement in physical and relational aggression and that better EF may actually promote relational aggression. Established models of physical aggression should not be assumed to map on to explanations of relational aggression.     

How semantic memory structure and intelligence contribute to creative thought: a network science approach

The associative theory of creativity states that creativity is associated with differences in the structure of semantic memory, whereas the executive theory of creativity emphasises the role of top-down control for creative thought. For a powerful test of these accounts, individual semantic memory structure was modelled with a novel method based on semantic relatedness judgements and different criteria for network filtering were compared. The executive account was supported by a correlation between creative ability and broad retrieval ability. The associative account was independently supported, when network filtering was based on a relatedness threshold, but not when it was based on a fixed edge number or on the analysis of weighted networks. In the former case, creative ability was associated with shorter average path lengths and higher clustering of the network, suggesting that the semantic networks of creative people show higher small-worldness.     

Day-level transformational leadership and followers’ daily level of stress: a moderated mediation model of team cooperation,role conflict,and type of communication

This study contributes to the literature on leadership by linking day-level transformational leadership behaviour with employees’ daily level of stress. A first-stage moderated mediation framework consisting of team cooperation, role conflict, and type of daily communication is introduced to specify how and when leaders’ transformational behaviour is related to followers’ daily stress. Two hundred five participants took part in a diary study over five consecutive working days and provided information on their leaders’ transformational behaviour, team cooperation, role conflict, type of communication with supervisors, as well as information on their daily level of stress. Results show that transformational leader behaviour is significantly related to followers’ level of stress on a day-to-day basis. This relationship is mediated by team cooperation, but not by role conflict. The type of communication moderates this mediation framework. If only indirect means of communication are used, the negative indirect relation between transformational leader behaviour via team cooperation on daily stress is strengthened. The results are discussed in the context of leadership literature, and the implications for future research as well as practice are presented.     

The death of handwriting: secondary effects of frequent computer use on basic motor skills

The benefits of modern technologies such as personal computers, in-vehicle navigation systems, and electronic organizers are evident in everyday life. However, only recently has it been proposed that the increasing use of personal computers in producing written texts may significantly contribute to the loss of handwriting skills. Such a fundamental change of human habits is likely to have generalized consequences for other basic fine motor skills as well. In this article, the authors provide evidence that the skill to produce precisely controlled arm-hand movements is related to the usage of computer keyboards in producing written text in everyday life. This result supports the notion that specific cultural skills such as handwriting and typing shape more general perceptual and motor skills. More generally, changing technologies are associated with generalized changes of the profile of basic human skills.     

Loneliness,Depressive Symptomatology,and Suicide Ideation in Adolescence: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses

The paper presents the first known longitudinal study of the relationship between loneliness, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation in adolescence, in a stratified sample of high school students (Time 1 N = 1009; 57 % female; Time 2 N = 541; 60 % female). Cross-lagged structural equation modeling indicated that depressive symptoms led to more loneliness across time, whereas loneliness did not predict higher levels of depressive symptoms across time. Loneliness was found to be a correlate of depressive symptoms at the cross-sectional level, independent of gender, other demographic factors, multiple psychosocial variables, and social desirability. Loneliness did not predict suicide ideation over time or at the cross-sectional level, when controlling for depressive symptoms. Gender did not predict loneliness, depressive symptoms or suicide ideation across time. Future longitudinal studies of the relationship between loneliness, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation in adolescence should use more extensive designs.     

Dissociation predicts poor response to Dialectial Behavioral Therapy in female patients with Borderline Personality Disorder

A substantial proportion of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) patients respond by a marked decrease of psychopathology when treated with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). To further enhance the rate of DBT-response, it is useful to identify characteristics related to unsatisfactory response. As DBT relies on emotional learning, we explored whether dissociation-which is known to interfere with learning- predicts poor response to DBT. Fifty-seven Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) patients (DSM-IV) were prospectively observed during a three-month inpatient DBT program. Pre-post improvements in general psychopathology (SCL-90-R) were predicted from baseline scores of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) by regression models accounting for baseline psychopathology. High DES-scores were related to poor pre-post improvement (β = -0.017 ± 0.006, p = 0.008). The data yielded no evidence that some facets of dissociation are more important in predicting DBT-response than others. The results suggest that dissociation in borderline-patients should be closely monitored and targeted during DBT. At this stage, research on treatment of dissociation (e.g., specific skills training) is warranted.     

��bertragung und Gegen��bertragung

The article presents a modern concept of transference and countertransference in the context of psychodynamic psychotherapy. The concept of transference is contrasted with the therapeutic relationship and the work relationship. The main part of the article discusses the concept of countertransference with the typical countertransference complications and considerations about countertransference and interpretation technique. The advantages of a countertransference-focused interpretation technique, especially in the case of seriously disturbed patients, are described in detail.     

Intolerance to delayed reward in girls with multiple suicide attempts

Impulsivity has been conceptualized as influencing the expression of suicidal behavior. Adolescence is a developmental period characterized both by a relatively high rate of suicide attempts and a high level of impulsivity. The current study examined two behavioral measures (delay reward and disinhibition) and one self-report measure of impulsivity among girls with suicide attempt histories. Girls with multiple suicide attempts performed more impulsively on measures of delayed reward, and had higher self-ratings of depression and aggression than girls with either one or no suicide attempts. The multiple attempter girls' preference for immediate gratification may directly increase vulnerability to suicidal acts in the context of distressing states or indirectly increase risk by creating poor life experience over time.