On a changing perspective illusion within Vermeer's The Music Lesson

The effect of line of sight on the perception of spatial configuration has been investigated in a well-known painting (The Music Lesson by Vermeer) and in two control patterns. In experiment 1, subjects indicated the perceived inclination of two major contours which defined the sidewall-floor and backwall-floor joints in (i) a projected image of the painting, (ii) a three-line representation of the major spatial elements of the painting, and (iii) a three-dimensional wire model of these same contours, when standing in each of eighteen positions on a line running parallel to the surface of the screen. Results indicated a significant change in the perception of the sidewall-floor, but not of the backwall-floor contour, as viewing angle changed, in both the painting and the three-line representation. However, the angular setting in the latter case was significantly less than when the painting was used, ie subjects underestimated the depicted inclination. Settings for the wire model did not deviate with viewing angle and reflected geometrically correct adjustments. In experiment 2, the results of experiment 1 were confirmed using enantiomorphs. These findings are discussed in the light of other view-dependent illusions in paintings.     

Memory aberrations, transliminality, and delusional ideation

This study investigated the relationships between cognitive-perceptual personality dimensions (transliminality and delusional ideation) and self-report measures of memory error (Oblivion Scale and the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire). 100 full- and part-time psychology undergraduate students completed the measures (18 men and 82 women; M = 19.3 yr., SD = 4.4). A positive correlation was found between transliminality and reported memory aberrations (Oblivion Scale scores) and also between transliminality and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire scores. Correlations were positive between Peters, et al. Delusions Inventory and the self-report memory measures. Transliminality and Peters, et al. Delusions Inventory scores predicted the number of memory aberrations or slips reported on the Oblivion Scale and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire. To explore whether transliminality explained additional variance to that accounted for by the Peters, et al. Delusions Inventory, forward regression was applied and showed aspects of transliminality not accounted for by Peters, et al. Delusions Inventory did not explain additional variance within the self-report memory measures.     

The forked tongue and edge detection in snakes (Crotalus oreganus): an experimental test

Many stimulus-detection systems are lateralized to allow for simultaneous comparison of paired stimuli. It has been hypothesized that the deeply forked tongue of snakes and some derived lizards functions as a chemical edge detector where cues gathered by each tine are kept separate to provide two points of lateral odor assessment by the central nervous system via vomeronasal input. While following a chemical trail, one time can be on the trail, the other off, and such differential information prompts the snake to turn back to the trail. The authors tested this hypothesis in rattlesnakes within a predatory context by unilaterally severing the vomeronasal nerves. If edge detection is used by snakes during prey trailing, then unilateral denervation should disrupt trailing ability. The authors found no change in the seven separate trailing parameters measured. Therefore, they found no support for the edge detection hypothesis as it applies to prey trailing behavior. Instead, the deeply forked tongue may represent a chemosensory specialization to increase odor-sampling area, with snakes and derived lizards detecting only the concentration of chemical trails.     

Changes in Cognitive Function During Substance Use Disorder Treatment

This study investigated the pattern of acute cognitive function of an ecologically valid sample of 58 consecutively admitted adults completing a 24 day residential/day substance use disorder treatment program at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and its change over the 24 days of monitored abstinence. Participants were assessed at entry with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Form A and at treatment conclusion with the RBANS Form B and with the Similarities subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) and the Trail Making A and B tests at both time points. There were significant (p < 0.002) improvements in the RBANS Immediate Memory, Attention, and Total Index scores over the course of treatment and on the Similarities subtest and the Trail Making A and B tests with effect sizes ranging between 0.37 and 0.56. There was greater cognitive performance increase for participants in the lower versus upper quantiles at treatment entry on all cognitive measures.     

Consumer behaviour in restructured electricity markets

With many electricity markets around the world now open to retail competition, it is increasingly valuable to understand the attitudes, motivations and behaviour of residential electricity purchasers. Drawing upon two sets of survey results from an Ontario (Canada) community, this paper answers two questions. First, what ‘kinds’ of people are more or less likely to switch electricity supplier? Secondly, what motivates those who are more or less likely to switch electricity supplier? After answering these questions, the paper advances marketing strategies for new retail electricity suppliers and proposes business plans for established municipal electric utilities. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications Ltd.     

Combining nonoverlap and trend for single-case research: Tau-U

A new index for analysis of single-case research data was proposed, Tau-U, which combines nonoverlap between phases with trend from within the intervention phase. In addition, it provides the option of controlling undesirable Phase A trend. The derivation of Tau-U from Kendall's Rank Correlation and the Mann-Whitney U test between groups is demonstrated. The equivalence of trend and nonoverlap is also shown, with supportive citations from field leaders. Tau-U calculations are demonstrated for simple AB and ABA designs. Tau-U is then field tested on a sample of 382 published data series. Controlling undesirable Phase A trend caused only a modest change from nonoverlap. The inclusion of Phase B trend yielded more modest results than simple nonoverlap. The Tau-U score distribution did not show the artificial ceiling shown by all other nonoverlap techniques. It performed reasonably well with autocorrelated data. Tau-U shows promise for single-case applications, but further study is desirable.     

Seasonal Variations in Color Preference

We investigated how color preferences vary according to season and whether those changes could be explained by the ecological valence theory (EVT). To do so, we assessed the same participants’ preferences for the same colors during fall, winter, spring, and summer in the northeastern United States, where there are large seasonal changes in environmental colors. Seasonal differences were most pronounced between fall and the other three seasons. Participants liked fall‐associated dark‐warm colors—for example, dark‐red, dark‐orange (brown), dark‐yellow (olive), and dark‐chartreuse—more during fall than other seasons. The EVT could explain these changes with a modified version of Palmer and Schloss’ (2010) weighted affective valence estimate (WAVE) procedure that added an activation term to the WAVE equation. The results indicate that color preferences change according to season, as color‐associated objects become more/less activated in the observer. These seasonal changes in color preferences could not be characterized by overall shifts in weights along cone‐contrast axes.     

Child‐Centered Group Play Therapy With African American Boys at the Elementary School Level

Culturally sensitive counseling interventions are needed for African American boys in elementary school. Two important components of counseling African American boys are honoring the African worldview and building self‐confidence. Child‐centered group play therapy is a common intervention for elementary school children. In this article, the authors describe how child‐centered group play therapy with African American boys at the elementary school level honors the African worldview and facilitates their self‐confidence. Counseling implications and recommendations for research are discussed.