Lateralization in haptic processing: An apparatus for analyzing manual strategies

We describe an apparatus for testing laterality in haptic processing in the discrimination of nonsense shapes in humans or monkeys. The system, which permits either mono- or dichhaptic discrimination, automatically provides data on the measurement of accuracy along with information on hand exploratory strategies.     

Visual search for global/local stimulus features in humans and baboons

Fagot and Deruelle (1997) demonstrated that, when tested with identical visual stimuli, baboons exhibit an advantage in processing local features, whereas humans show the “global precedence” effect initially reported by Navon (1977). In the present experiments, we investigated the cause of this species difference. Humans and baboons performed a visual search task in which the target differed from the distractors at either the global or the local level. Humans responded more quickly to global than to local targets, whereas baboons did the opposite (Experiment 1). Human response times (RTs) were independent of display size, for both local and global processing. Baboon RTs increased linearly with display size, more so for global than for local processing. The search slope for baboons disappeared for continuous targets (Experiment 2). That effect was not due to variations in stimulus luminance (Experiment 3). Finally, variations in stimulus density affected global search slopes in baboons but not in humans (Experiment 4). Overall, results suggest that perceptual grouping operations involved during the processing of hierarchical stimuli are attention demanding for baboons, but not for humans.     

Associative learning in baboons (Papio papio) and humans (Homo sapiens): species differences in learned attention to visual features

We examined attention shifting in baboons and humans during the learning of visual categories. Within a conditional matching-to-sample task, participants of the two species sequentially learned two two-feature categories which shared a common feature. Results showed that humans encoded both features of the initially learned category, but predominantly only the distinctive feature of the subsequently learned category. Although baboons initially encoded both features of the first category, they ultimately retained only the distinctive features of each category. Empirical data from the two species were analyzed with the 1996 ADIT connectionist model of Kruschke. ADIT fits the baboon data when the attentional shift rate is zero, and the human data when the attentional shift rate is not zero. These empirical and modeling results suggest species differences in learned attention to visual features. Received: 30 May 1998 / Accepted after revision: 13 September 1998     

Feature memory and binding in young and older adults

Intact memory for complex events requires not only memory for particular features (e.g., item, location, color, size), but also intact cognitive processes for binding the features together. Binding provides the memorial experience that certain features belong together. The experiments presented here were designed to explicate these as potentially separable sources of age-associated changes in complex memory—namely, to investigate the possibility that age-related changes in memory for complex events arise from deficits in (1) memory for the kinds of information that comprise complex memories, (2) the processes necessary for binding this information into complex memories, or (3) both of these components. Young and older adults were presented with colored items located within an array. Relative to young adults, older adults had a specific and disproportionate deficit in recognition memory for location, but not for item or for color. Also, older adults consistently demonstrated poorer recognition memory for bound information, especially when all features were acquired intentionally. These feature and binding deficits separately contribute to what have been described as older adults’ context and source memory impairments.     

Postural determinants of frontal-position advantage in listening to speech

Previous work has shown that when a subject is seated with body, head, and eyes oriented in the same direction, speech coming from the front is better perceived than speech coming from other directions. The question asked was which segments of the body are critical in determining the advantage of the frontal position. It was found that the effect does not depend exclusively on the orientation of the head relative to the source, since the advantage is reduced not only when the head is deviated laterally towards a competing source, but also when the gaze or the trunk and the limbs are deviated in that direction. Frontal position advantage is thus not a purely acoustical or auditory phenomenon, but depends, at least partly, on interactions at deeper levels.     

Auto-évaluation des compétences en résolution de problèmes chez des adultes peu qualifiés

Dans le cadre de la métacognition, le but de cette étude est de décrire les relations entre le sentiment d'auto-efficacité d'adultes peu qualifiés et leur activité de résolution d'un problème logique. On demandait aux sujets d'estimer, avant et après résolution d'un problème de sériation, leur capacité à le résoudre, puis d'évaluer l'efficacité de différentes méthodes. Les résultats révèlent que la majorité des sujets ont un sentiment d'auto-efficacité positif. L'irréalisme des auto-évaluations de la moitié d'entre eux est lié à l'emploi de procédures rudimentaires et à un défaut du contrôle exécutif. La résolution du problème ne leur permet pas de réévaluer de façon réaliste leurs compétences dans ce problème. La discussion soulève la question des conditions d'une auto-évaluation réaliste. L'introduction de guidages métacognitifs dans la formation est abordée en conclusion.     

IBM PC/XT/AT and PS/2 Turbo Pascal timing with extended resolution

A Turbo Pascal timer with accuracy beyond 1 msec is described. Unlike some previous timers, this one does not interfere with the time-of-day clock, and works well on an unmodified IBM PC/XT.     

Early adolescent age and gender differences in patterns of emotional self-disclosure to parents and friends

This study explored adolescent age and gender differences in patterns of emotional self-disclosure to parents and friends. The sample consisted of 174 junior high school students between the ages of 12 and 15. Results revealed that females exhibited greater emotional self-disclosure to parents and peers than did males, and that emotional self-disclosure to friends was greatest among older adolescents. In addition, while younger adolescents preferred to disclose information about their emotional state to parents, older adolescents chose friends. Exploratory hierarchical regression analyses revealed that emotional disclosure to parents was most strongly associated with adolescent perceptions of the openness of family communication, family cohesion, and satisfaction with family relationships. Emotional disclosure to friends was associated with adolescent self-esteem in the peer context and identity development. The results are discussed in terms of the complementary socializing processes that may operate within the contexts of family and friends.     

Need-adapted treatment of schizophrenic processes: The essential role of family-centered therapy meetings

Need-adapted treatment is a psychotherapeutically oriented approach to psychoses that has been planned and is implemented individually in each case, combining different activities so that they meet the needs of each patient as well as the people making up her or his personal interactional network (usually the family). A systemic initial intervention, carried out as a conjoint session of the patient, the family members, and a team of 3–4 staff members is an essential part of this approach. The name therapy meeting was given to these sessions because of their notable therapeutic significance. Therapy meetings are often continued during the later phases of treatment to follow up the course of treatment and to reassess the therapeutic plans.     

Expecting tasks to help or hurt subsequent cognitive performance: Variability,accuracy, and bias in forecasted after-effects

After-effects on cognition—where a prior activity either benefits or hinders subsequent cognitive performance—are empirically inconsistent. Do people have insight into when their subjective energy and cognition will be helped or hurt by engaging in prior activities? Studies 1a and 1b (combined N  =  316) find that people expect more demanding and unenjoyable tasks to hinder their subsequent energy and cognitive performance, regardless of their willpower lay theory. Study 2 (N  =  167) examines the accuracy of these forecasts using a within-subject design. Participants’ forecasts of their future subjective states did predict their actual experienced subjective states, but participants were not able to accurately forecast their subsequent maths performance. Additionally, they significantly overestimated the detrimental effects of demanding prior activities on both subjective state and performance. Study 3 (N  =  210) found that participants’ overestimation of detrimental after-effects could result in unnecessary financial costs, suggesting these biased forecasts can have consequences.