Lateralized effects of target location on reaction times when preparing for manual aiming at a visual target

To elucidate the temporal characteristics of information processing for motor action differing in complexity in relation to both perceptual and cognitive information processing, we investigated whether the reaction times (RTs) to a visual target would be affected by task complexity (finger lifting or manual aiming), pre-cueing (with a pre-cue or without a pre-cue), or target location (five horizontal positions). Using the right hand, seven right-handed subjects performed two tasks, finger lifting and manual aiming at a target, with or without a pre-cue. The pre-cue announced the location of the target to be presented. An ANOVA showed significant interactions between task and location and between pre-cue and location with no significant interaction between task and pre-cue, indicating that the task-location interaction does not depend on whether or not a pre-cue is given. The manual-aiming RTs were longer than the finger-lifting RTs, and the effects of the target location on the RTs differed for finger lifting and manual aiming. It can be assumed that the longer RTs of manual aiming reflect the time for information processing that is needed when preparing for the aiming action per se, which is an extra movement performed in addition to the simple initiation of finger lifting. Differential RTs (DRTs) calculated by subtracting the finger-lifting RTs from the aiming RTs were therefore examined. The DRTs significantly differed for target locations (i.e., a lateralized effect), with the DRTs for an ipsilateral target appearing to be significantly shorter than those for contralateral and central targets. The lateralized effect appearing on the DRTs may be mediated by the processing of visual-spatial information about visual targets as motor preparations are made for manual aiming.     

Spontaneous atom mixing and unmixing in metallic nanoparticles

The behaviour of atom mixing and unmixing in metallic nanoparticles has been studied in situ by transmission electron microscopy, using particles in the Au₂Pb-Sn system. It is confirmed that not only spontaneous mixing but also spontaneous unmixing take place in Au₂Pb particles. At room temperature, spontaneous mixing of tin atoms into Au₂Pb particles takes place, and this mixing induces unmixing of lead from Au₂Pb, resulting in the formation of AuSn particles accompanied by lead precipitates.     

Reading performance in middle-aged adults with declines in accommodation

The present study investigated the effects of presbyopia on the reading ability of middle-aged adults in a Japanese reading context, using the rapid serial visual presentation paradigm. Japanese words, each consisting of three characters, were sequentially presented at the same location on a display screen. Participants were instructed to read the words aloud as accurately as possible, irrespective of their order within the sequence. Experiment 1 showed that the reading performance for the presbyopes was far worse for the near-viewing (35?cm) than for the far-viewing (70?cm) conditions when the words were presented at 0.4° in character size. Experiment 2 investigated in detail the effect of luminance contrast on reading at a viewing distance of 35?cm. The minimums of the exposure durations within which the participants could read the words above 89.9?% correct (minimum exposure duration) were 498?ms/word for the presbyopes and 134?ms/word for the nonpresbyopes, both of which values were obtained at 100?% contrast. The critical contrast??that is, the contrast that doubled the minimum exposure duration that had been obtained at 100?% contrast??was considerably higher for the presbyopes (39.2?%) than for the nonpresbyopes (16.4?%). However, the reading performance for the presbyopes was improved more than threefold when the contrast was increased to 100?% in both experiments. Thus, our results provide psychophysical evidence for the dependency of presbyopes?? reading on viewing distance and luminance contrast.     

解读曼殊五部曲

苏曼殊是清末民初萃集革命与刨作于一身的“奇人异僧”。从革命的角度说,他意志坚定,积极投身于孙中山领导的资产阶级民主革命,为推翻清朝统治和袁世凯帝制尽心竭力;从创作的角度说,他多才多艺,以风格独特的诗歌、小说、散、翻译、绘画树帜坛,赢得生前和身后无数读的击节和赞赏;从身份的角度说,他是个亦僧亦俗、亦侠亦儒的革命和艺家。他曾获得的桂冠大体停留在不大反映本质的“诗僧”、“情僧”、“风流和尚”、“革命和尚”等一类称号上,然而随着这位传奇的历史人物的“真面目”越来越清晰呈现于世,而不再继续充当人们揣测的对象。     

The Role of Gender and Ethnicity in Perceptions of Rape and Its Aftereffects

Caucasian-, Hispanic-, and Asian-American male and female students (n?=?764) attending a California (USA) public university reported their perceptions of sexual assault. After reading a rape vignette, participants gave their impressions of the victim; estimated time needed for recovery and treatment; and recommended a sentence for the assailant. Half of the sample received information regarding state sentencing guidelines. Relative to female participants, males perceived the victim as more responsible. Caucasian-American males had stronger reservation about the victim’s judgment. Males were less inclined to assign blame than were females. Ethnicity was the only factor influencing perceptions of recovery. Ethnicity and sentencing guidelines, but not gender, impacted imprisonment decisions. Issues impeding a unified theoretical understanding of perceptions of rape victims were considered.