Introduction: A Cognitive Science Slam in Honor of Guy Van Orden

Illusory depth perception experienced in driving simulators is afforded by monocular depth information contained in visual displays. Presumably binocular convergence and binocular disparity, though useful for depth perception in real environments, may poorly contribute to illusory depth in a driving simulator. Instead, they may generate conflicting information by revealing the distance of the display screen and its flatness. Nevertheless, illusory depth induced by monocular information contained in visual displays usually produces enough immersion and realism to create the illusion of driving in a real environment.

Many authors have noted improved depth perception in paintings, photographs, and even in drawings when viewed monocularly. However, this effect, known as monocular advantage, has never been explored in driving simulation. The purpose of this experiment was to assess whether the effect might exist in driving simulation. It was expected that drivers would perceive distances in depth better and more accurately with a monocular than with a binocular viewing of the display. Distance estimates were evaluated for two types of driving maneuvers referred to as alignment and bisection. Results showed that when significant performance differences between monocular and binocular viewing conditions occurred, target cars were perceived farther in depth and more accurately using monocular vision.

Alternative viewing conditions using both eyes are discussed at the end of the article.     

Human food preferences and cultural identity: The case of Aragón (Spain)

This research aims to analyze the relationship between sociocultural values and human food preferences. The latter, as shown in this paper, are greatly influenced by cultural identity. This work stems from a theoretical context that originated in Europe and the United States towards the mid‐twentieth century, within the field of the anthropology of food. A qualitative and quantitative analysis has been performed in the Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón (Spain). Research methods include focus groups, in‐depth interviews, participant observation, and a questionnaire that was handed out to a representative sample of the Aragonese population (816 people over 21 years of age; confidence level of 95.5% and error margin of ±3.5). Regarding the research outcome, a highly significant qualitative and quantitative connection has been found between food selection and cultural identity. In other words, people prefer to consume foods that are symbolically associated with their own culture, in order to reinforce their sense of belonging. Although this study has been carried out in Aragón, it is our belief that the results can be generalized to other areas. The originality and interest of our findings are notable considering that, to date, few works have analyzed the sociocultural factors motivating food behavior. Moreover, these results could be used by public and private organizations to meet objectives such as health promotion and product marketing.     

Effect of Short-Term Training on Reaching Behavior in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of short-term training on reaching behavior in infants at the onset of reaching. The study was a single-blind, parallel group design, randomized controlled clinical trial. Thirty healthy infants were randomly assigned to a social control group (n = 15) or a reaching training group (n = 15). Infants began the study up to 3 days after the onset of reaching and were assessed three times across 2 days: pretraining (before training), posttraining 1 (after 1 session of training), and posttraining 2 (after 3 sessions of training). The reaching training group received 3 sessions of training by a physical therapist while the control group received a similar amount of time sitting in the therapist's lap. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures analyses of variance, and independent-samples tests with Bonferroni adjustments. Short-term training resulted in increased frequency of object contacts, shorter and smoother reaches, and improved hand positioning. The few short training sessions likely provided opportunities for infants to explore and learn to select movements from their existing movement repertoire. These results demonstrate that adaptive changes in infants' novel behaviors can emerge rapidly, and highlight the need for increased understanding of how to most effectively time early interventions.     

Self-Induced Water Intoxication in a Psychiatric Asylum: A Case Study of Diagnostic Categorization and Regulation

In this article, we examine the regulation of psychiatric patients becoming intoxicated from drinking excessive amounts of liquids at a large psychiatric asylum in Canada. We analyze how medical staff created a formalized diagnostic category and a specialized ward for its treatment. We consider the institutional context in which “water intoxication” was developed as a diagnostic category and we examine the impact of this diagnosis on the regulation of asylum patients. Finally, we discuss the patients’ opposition to treatment as well as the impact of “water intoxication” on their self-identity and institutional status.     

Entrevista con L. Weiskrantz

RESUMEN

L. Weiskrantz, director del departamento de psicología experimental de la Universidad de Oxford, ha sido uno de los investigadores más relevantes en el campo de los “procesos cognitivos” (de memoria y percepción) en primates y en el intento de aplicación de los hallazgos de ese campo a las amnesias humanas. Pilar Ferrándiz habla con él sobre su investigación y el enfoque general de la enseñanza de la psicología en Oxford. Entre los temas suscitados podemos destacar su interés por la neuropsicología y el estudio de pacientes neurológicos o las diferentes funciones de estructuras cerebrales similares en monos y humanos y, en otro orden de cosas, el enfoque del curso introductorio que el autor imparte en Oxford y el problema de la especialización en psicología, relacionando ambos con la situación de los estudiantes de los primeros cursos de esta disciplina en España. Los comentarios de Pilar Ferrándiz acerca del autor y su obra introducen la entrevista.     

Buenos y malos ejemplos en categorías naturales

RESUMEN

Con esta investigación Pilar Soto se plantea establecer unas primeras normas de la representatividad de miembros pertenecientes a diversas categorías naturales y comprobar si los límites de la categoría están o no claramente definidos. La autora comienza resaltando la importancia del proceso de categorización, centrándose fundamentalmente en el trabajo de Rosch y colaboradores. A continuación describe los objetivos, método y resultados del estudio, señalando en la discusión que no sólo se han replicado los resultados de Rosch (en el sentido de que los sujetos son capaces de establecer juicios sobre la representatividad) sino que, al menos en algunos casos, la estructura interna es semejante para sujetos de medios lingüísticos distintos, sugiriendo que estudiar los errores de inclusión puede aclarar algunos aspectos de la formación de categorías.     

Personalidad,estrategias cognitivas y tiempo de inspección

Resumen

En el presente trabajo se han empleado las medidas cronométricas de Tiempo de Inspección (TI) y Tiempo de Reacción (TR) para estudiar los efectos de las diferencias individuales en extroversión sobre una tarea de discriminación perceptual. Para ello se utilizaron dos grupos de sujetos que habían obtenido puntuaciones máximas y mínimas en la dimensión Extroversión del Test EPI de Eysenck, H.J. Se postuló que los extrovertidos obtendrían un TI más corto que los introvertidos y asimismo un TR también más corto, de acuerdo a los modelos de Brebner (1980) y Tous (1986). Los resultados indicaron que, si bien existieron diferencias entre extrovertidos e introvertidos en cuanto a las medidas cronométricas, estas diferencias dependieron del uso diferencial de estrategias de resolver la tarea que fueron utilizadas por estos sujetos.     

Keys to the development of the role of grandparents in current Spanish society / Claves para el desarrollo del rol de abuelo y abuela en la sociedad española actual

Abstract

Current demographic changes and work-family reconciliation difficulties in Spain have resulted in an increase in the arrangement of grandparents caring for their grandchildren. However, in order to ensure that the relationship between both generations is a privileged interaction that promotes successful ageing, furthering our knowledge of the challenges that this field of study faces is necessary. On this basis, the purpose of this article is to review the theories regarding this family relationship, which, together with the empirical research into this area, comprise the basis of a three-pronged proposal that includes the keys or challenges to studying the role of grandparents: (1) the heterogeneity and multidimensionality in the study of this role; (2) the complex interaction of positive and negative aspects that produce significant ambivalence in grandparents as a reaction to their experiences in this role; and (3) the influence of the baby boom generation grandparents’ new characteristics.     

The clinical revolution of the ‘wise baby’

In an historical context focused on a close examination of the complex relationship between Freud and Ferenczi, the author shows Ferenczi's contribution to the evolution of psychoanalysis. He describes how his ideas and his therapeutic sensitivity anticipated modern clinical thought (for example, Winnicott and Bion), especially the understanding of borderline and narcissistic pathology. The paper considers the following topics: transference and countertransference; early affectivity; the different psychic trauma; phenomena connected with dissociation; the healing factor of the analysis.     

Are emotional intelligent workers also more empathic?

This paper analyzes whether emotional intelligence and self‐monitoring are related to empathy among a sample of workers in both the public and private employment sectors. Two hundred and forty‐two employees (42.5% men and 57.5% women) with a mean age of 35.21 years (SD = 10.07, range 18–61) completed a questionnaire that measured the variables of interest. The results showed that emotion regulation, a dimension of emotional intelligence, accounts for most of the variance of empathy, followed by the ability to understand emotions and the management of others' emotions. Furthermore, gender did not yield any moderator effect on the relations among emotional intelligence, self‐monitoring and empathy. We conclude that the intrapersonal aspects of emotional intelligence, in particular, emotion regulation, help explain the empathy of workers. The implications of these findings are discussed herein.