Continuous Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Impairs Inhibitory Control and Increases Alcohol Consumption

Previous research indicates that alcohol intoxication impairs inhibitory control and that the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) is a functional brain region important for exercising control over thoughts and behaviour. At the same time, the extent to which changes in inhibitory control following initial intoxication mediate subsequent drinking behaviours has not been elucidated fully. Ascertaining the extent to which inhibitory control impairments drive alcohol consumption, we applied continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (rDLPFC cTBS vs. control) to isolate how inhibitory control impairments (measured using the Stop-Signal task) shape ad libitum alcohol consumption in a pseudo taste test. Twenty participants (13 males) took part in a within-participants design; their age ranged between 18 and 27 years (M = 20.95, SD = 2.74). Results indicate that following rDLPFC cTBS participants’ inhibitory control was impaired, and ad libitum consumption increased. The relationship between stimulation and consumption did not appear to be mediated by inhibitory control in the present study. Overall, findings suggest that applying TMS to the rDLPFC may inhibit neural activity and increase alcohol consumption. Future research with greater power is recommended to determine the extent to which inhibitory control is the primary mechanism by which the rDLPFC exerts influence over alcohol consumption, and the degree to which other cognitive processes may play a role.     

An Exercise in Ethnic Identity Awareness

Ethnic identity encompasses self‐concept and self‐identification, a sense of belonging, and positive and negative attitudes toward one's ethnic group. The author describes an exercise that introduces and facilitates awareness of the concept of ethnic identity by illustrating, with real‐life experiences and examples, the multidimensionality of ethnic identity. La identidad Etnica abarca el concepto del ser y la identificación del ser, es un sentido de pertenencia, y de las actitudes positivas y negativas hacia el grupo étnico de cada uno. El autor describe un ejercicio que introduce y facilita el conocimiento del concepto de la identidad étnica ilustrando su multidimensionalidad con el uso de ejemplos y experiencias de vida diaria.     

The Incarcerated Female Felon and Substance Abuse: Demographics,Needs Assessment,and Program Planning for a Neglected Population

Incarcerated women (203 of 237) completed a needs survey designed by an inmate steering committee. The typical inmate was a European American mother of 2 children. Relevant programming (substance abuse education classes, self-study programs, didactic groups and workshops) is discussed.     

External locus of control in children of alcoholics.

The relationship of type of home of origin [alcoholic parent(s) versus nonalcoholic parent(s)] to locus of control was assessed. Perceived level of parental alcohol abuse (MAST score) did not predict 121 students' locus of control. However, external orientation was significantly and positively correlated with having a parent who drank heavily and scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and significantly and negatively correlated with the Rosenberg Self-esteem Inventory and the Possible Self Questionnaire.     

Gesture following deafferentation: a phenomenologically informed experimental study

Empirical studies of gesture in a subject who has lost proprioception and the sense of touch from the neck down show that specific aspects of gesture remain normal despite abnormal motor processes for instrumental movement. The experiments suggest that gesture, as a linguistic phenomenon, is not reducible to instrumental movement. They also support and extend claims made by Merleau-Ponty concerning the relationship between language and cognition. Gesture, as language, contributes to the accomplishment of thought.     

Null effect of mood as a semantic prime.

Semantic tasks, such as lexical decision making and word recognition, have not produced a mood priming effect. Earlier studies have been criticized because they included (a) mood induction techniques that required instruction to feel the mood, and (b) the use of overlearned tasks that did not require controlled processing. In this pair of experiments, the authors attempted to address these criticisms. However, the results of this study did not demonstrate a mood priming effect for happy and sad subjects who appraised sentence content as being happy or sad. The results of this study supported the dissociation of semantic and episodic memory.     

When sex isn't special: Priming onto a sex decision

Recognition of famous faces is speeded by prior exposure. This repetition priming has been shown for familiarity judgements (familiar/unfamiliar), semantic judgements (British/American), and naming. However, no benefit of priming has been found onto a sex judgement made to an image of a face. The absence of priming is normally explained by appealing to the fact that sex judgements can be made to a face without needing to access memory for that person, and that priming has its effects within the memory system. Here we ask subjects to make sex judgements to famous people's surnames (e.g., Tyson, Geldof), a task that requires them to access their memories for people. Under these conditions we observe the normal pattern of priming. We argue that structural, rather than episodic models of processing fit the data most naturally.     

Impact of the Talent Development Environment on Achievement Goals and Life Aspirations in Singapore

Producing successful athletes in Singapore is a high priority, and the financial rewards for those that make it are great. In light of such an extrinsically motivated structure, the purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of the talent development environment on the goal pursuits and life aspirations of young athletes. Intrinsic goal striving was predicted by a mastery approach and an environment that prioritized long-term development and fundamentals, and provided a good support network. On the contrary, a lack of quality preparation and understanding of athletes promoted extrinsic goal-striving, as did both performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals.