Russell＇s Paradox of Predicates

Russell＇s letter to Frege of June 16, 1902 contains the famous paradox of the class of all classes which are not members of themselves as well as a second paradox of the predicates that cannot be predicated of themselves. The latter paradox arises out of Russell＇s theory of classes and class concepts in Principles of Mathematics.     

Strange Affinities in the Search for Personalized Health: New Age Practices and Genetic Testing

A prominent focus of New Age beliefs and practices has always been health and healing—including the use of holistic healing, power crystals, homeopathy, and complementary and alternative medicine. Given its association with modern science and medicine, genetic testing would seem to run counter to New Age alternative medical practices. On the other hand, the use of at-home genetic health tests and the use of such New Age alternative medical practices could both be motivated by a desire for personalized healthcare. Using data generated from a survey fielded on a probability sample of U.S. adults, we examine associations between individuals’ use of at-home genetic health tests and their use of power crystals and acupuncture or other homeopathic medicine. Logistic regression models find that those who use power crystals or homeopathic medicine have significantly greater odds of having used an at-home genetic health test. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of the direct-to-consumer genetic testing market and the relationship between science, religion, and spirituality more broadly.     

Aspects pragmatiques de la communication et du langage chez des enfants typiques et des enfants ultérieurement diagnostiqués autistes

The aim of this study is to show that the analysis of pragmatic aspects of communication can allow to locate communicative dysfunctions before the diagnosis of autism is established. The identification of these dysfunctions can be done retrospectively through the analysis of the first gestures and early words. Home movies from children having autism and control ones are collected when they were one, two and three-years old. Data analysis takes into account both forms of communicative gestures and words and functions. Differences between the two groups as a less variety of functions used by children having autism and a fall in their results after the age of two are discussed as possible indicators for an early detection of autism.     

虚拟现实技术应用于神经心理评估的研究概述

传统神经心理评估的实验控制和生态效度的平衡问题日益受到研究人员的关注,而新兴的虚拟现实(Virtual Reality,VR)技术为问题的改善带来了希望,它不仅可以模拟现实环境并支持被试的直接交互,而且能对传统测试进行再现和扩展。它所形成的评估系统能对刺激的内容和表象、任务的复杂度和被试的响应进行灵活控制,所获取的信息更丰富、准确。在初步评估注意过程(注意、单侧空间忽略)、记忆(前瞻记忆、情景记忆、空间记忆、地形定向)和执行功能方面已获得了令人满意的效果。然而目前VR评估的应用仍存在技术和设备方面的不足,以及对评估者和被试不同操作要求的局限,因此今后除了要规范化现有VR评估系统,还应该进一步发展基础条件来推动系统的广泛应用。     

Psychological Factors Associated with a Better Quality of Life Following Head-Up Tilt Testing

Quality of life (QoL) is reduced in patients with recurrent vasovagal (VVS) or unexplained syncope (US). Little is known concerning the natural evolution of QoL following diagnosis. Psychological factors contributing to QoL improvement, such as psychological distress and self-efficacy remain to be explored. The objective of this study is to examine whether QoL changes 2 months and 6 months following head-up tilt (HUT) testing as well as to determine whether psychological factors are predictive of changes in QoL. Seventy-three patients undergoing HUT for recurrent syncope were interviewed 1 month before as well as 2 months and 6 months following HUT, using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Pre-HUT QoL was significantly worse than at the 2-month (p = 0.000) and 6-month follow-ups (p = 0.000). Psychological distress at baseline was associated with worse QoL 2 months post-HUT (Beta = .280; p = .024), independently of socio-demographic and clinical factors. Improved self-efficacy at follow-up predicted improvements in QoL (Beta = −.186; p = .023). Two and 6 months post-HUT, QoL is mproved in patients with recurrent syncope. Better QoL is predicted by low psychological distress and a heightened sense of self-efficacy following HUT. Strategies for enhancing self-efficacy and reducing psychological distress could be an efficient way to promote QoL in patients suffering from recurrent syncope.     

Production blocking and idea generation: Does blocking interfere with cognitive processes?

Production blocking (group members must take turns expressing their ideas) is an important cause of productivity loss in brainstorming groups. However, it is not yet clear why production blocking has this detrimental effect. We hypothesized that delays between the generation and articulation of ideas, arising when group members wait for their turns, interfere with the cognitive process of generating ideas. In three experiments, production blocking was simulated for individuals working at computer terminals. Production blocking interfered with idea generation in two ways. First, it disrupted the organization of idea generation when delays were relatively long. Second, it reduced the flexibility of idea generation when delays were unpredictable. Implications for group information processing are discussed.     

Test-retest reliability of psychophysiological assessment

Thirty subjects participated in a study of the test-retest reliability of five psychophysiological assessment procedures: habituation. Quiz Electrocardiogram, anger imagery, aversive slides and startle. The procedures were presented in identical fashion, 2 weeks apart. Skin conductance level and response, heart rate, vasomotor response, skin temperature, frontalis and forearm electromyogram, respiration rate. and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded continuously. The following analyses were performed on Test-Retest data: correlations, baseline changes, profile similarity, and stability of ranked standardized physiological scores. Significant but modest Test-Retest correlations were found for skin conductance level and response, skin temperature, respiration rate, heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Absolute scores were more often stable than change scores. All baselines were stable from Test to Retest. Four baselines and four test procedures had Test-Retest Profile Similarity Index scores indicating reliability. Chi-square analyses of Retest ranks of standardized physiological scores showed that the two most and least responsive measures accounted for Test-Retest stability. Conclusions were: (a) Psychophysiological response patterns are reliable for baselines and procedures, and single psychophysiological measures (especially absolute scores) are moderately stable; (b) Traditional (correlational) estimates of the reliability of single psychophysiological responses are limited by individual-response stereotypy, but multivariate analysis of response pattern provides a better index of reliability.