Perceptuomotor compatibility in pursuit tracking of two-dimensional movements

In a previous article, we reported an investigation of visuomanual pursuit tracking of unpredictable two-dimensional targets. This article extends the study to the tracking of predictable stimuli. In both investigations, the target trajectory was elliptical. The experimental factors we varied were the orientation of the major axis of the ellipses (horizontal or vertical), the period of the movement (9.65 to 1.61 s), and the law of motion (natural vs. transformed). In the natural condition (L), the motion results from the combination of harmonic functions, as would be the case if the target were generated by a human. In the transformed (T) condition, the law of motion departs systematically from this natural model. The main results of the study are as follows: (a) Satisfactory performance is achieved only in the natural condition. Pursuit movements obey the same constraints observed in spontaneous movements. (b) Predictability affects significantly the average delay between target and pursuit. (c) Each component of the pursuit movements depends on both components of the targets. Thus, two-dimensional tracking generalizes significantly the classical one-dimensional condition. (d) The simple model developed previously to describe performance with unpredictable targets can be generalized to cover the present case as well.     

A metric for integrating theoretically related but statistically uncorrelated constructs

When considering psychological constructs in a pairwise fashion, a 2 x 2 category system, based on median splits, is often adopted for analytic convenience. If theoretical focus is on an individual's integration of the two constructs, then categorical procedures are subject to information loss and unreliability in high density regions of the data. A continuous metric is proposed which ameliorates these problems and is suitable for correlational analyses. The construct of psychological androgyny is used for illustrative purposes.     

从生物学观点看衰老

在人和动物的生理学研究中,大多数生物学家集中注意于成熟有机体,把它作为体内所有系统最恰当的整合模式,并且作为测定人和动物的生理或病理离差程度的一个标准。换句话说,发育和衰老这两个过程通常是以成熟有机体为正常背景来分析的。虽然,有可能应用生理学指标来表示从胎儿到成熟的转变,但从成熟转变到衰老则较难捉摸。本世纪初的生理学家Charles Minot提出一种观点,认为衰老是生命连续过程的一个主要部分,并且与发育是分不开的。     

The effect of timeout on performance on a variable-interval schedule of electric-shock presentation

Responding was maintained in squirrel monkeys under variable-interval schedules of electric shock presentation when a period of timeout followed each response-dependent shock. Response rate decreased when timeout duration was decreased, and responding ceased when timeout was eliminated. These results indicate that under certain conditions, a shock-free period following each response-produced shock is necessary to maintain responding.     

Development of verbal control over bizarre gestures of retardates through imitative and nonimitative reinforcement procedures

Two retardates, manifesting hand gestures and minimal instructional control, were trained by imitative reinforcement procedures to imitate a response that was in contrast to gesturing. Next, with the contrast response continuing to be imitatively reinforced, gesturing was reduced by nonimitative reinforcement procedures; while providing facial and gesture cues, the adult said, "Do not do this". Imitative and nonimitative procedures were found to have the same effects on the contrast response as on the gesturing response, such that imitative procedures increased both responses, whereas nonimitative procedures decreased both. Nonperformance of gesturing was further maintained when (1) explicit verbal directions for nongesturing were superimposed upon the demonstrational-facial-verbal cues as these collective stimuli were faded out and (2) food reinforcers for nongesturing were gradually removed while social consequences continued to be administered.     

Recall memory for visually presented chess positions

A series of three experiments replicated and extended earlier research reported by Chase and Simon (1973), de Groot (1965), and Charness (Note 1). The first experiment demonstrated that the relationship between memory for chess positions and chess skill varies directly with the amount of chess-specific information in the stimulus display. The second experiment employed tachistoscopic displays to incrementally "build" tournament chess positions by meaningful or nonmeaningful chunks and demonstrated that meaningful piece groupings during presentation markedly enhance subsequent recall performance. The third experiment tested memory for one of two positions presented in immediate sequence and demonstrated that explanations based on a limited-capacity short-term memory (Chase & Simon, 1973) are not adequate for explaining performance on this memory task.     

Fixed-interval work habits of Congress

The rate at which Congress passes bills during its legislative session exhibits a fixed-interval pattern: the rate of passage is extremely low three to four months after commencement followed by a positively accelerated growth rate that continues until the time of adjournment. This scalloped configuration appears uniformly in each of the eight Congresses sampled, from 1947 to 1968, and in both sessions of each Congress.     

创造性潜能评述

E.P.Torrance教授是当前美国创造力研究中最有影响的权威之一。他在本文中提出了创造性思维的一个新的研究范畴——超越理性、推理的思维。文章对这种思维下了定义,对它的内容作了介绍,并进行了分析论述,以及对它的评价方法作了探讨。本文讨论的内容在当前国际间的兴趣和注意正在高涨并引起了广泛深入的研究。     

分析哲学的两种图象

我将从我所喜爱的哲学的一般性解释开始。也就是说,我将要对我所理解的分析哲学的本性作出说明,并且同时还要实践这种哲学。当然,“哲学”这样一个大名称并不总是在一切时候都仅仅意谓着完全相同的东西。就是在现在,它也并不是对每一个人都意谓着一个并且同一个东西。这一点可以用许多方式来说明。奇怪的是,通过英语诗歌也能够对此作出说明。“philosophy”(哲学)这个词在英语诗歌中的出现并不是非常频繁。〔与其它的词,例如“love”(爱)以及“death”(死)相比,它出现的次数要少得多。〕但是,有的时候它的确出现了。在密尔顿的假面剧《科玛斯》(Comus)中,一个角色说道:“神圣的哲学是多么迷人呵!”