Response probability and response latency to threshold electrocutaneous stimuli

A comparison was made between two measures of somatosensory sensitivity, response probability, and reaction time to electrocutaneous constant current pulses of 350-microsec duration. The psychometric functions are steeper than those obtained for other sensory modalities. Similarly, the reaction-time/intensity functions are also steeper than those obtained in other modalities, i.e., larger decreases in reaction time as a function of small increases in stimulus intensity. Ss exposed to a broad stimulus range, including high intensities, yield psychometric and reaction time functions displaced into a higher intensity region than when they are exposed to a narrow low-intensity range of stimuli. The data are discussed in terms of a decision-theory model of reaction time.     

Soviet views on Mao and Maoism

In their criticism of Maoism, contemporary Soviet philosophers follow the basic structure of the orthodox presentation of Marxism — Leninism and use the whole panoply of polemical tools which the Leninist heritage offers them. Thus far, this anti — Maoism is generally maladroit and often self-contradictory.     

Some motivational properties of sensory stimulation in psychotic children

The purpose of this experiment was to assess the reinforcing properties of sensory stimulation for autistic children. Three different types of sensory stimulation were used: music, visual flickering stimulation (e.g., strobe light), and visual movement (e.g., windshield wiper). In a given session, one of the three kinds of sensory stimulation was presented for 5 sec contingent upon the children's bar pressing (FR5). In Phase I, which was designed to assess the differential reinforcement value of these events, four children participated in sessions with each of the sensory events. In Phase II, designed to assess variables influencing the maintenance of responding for the sensory events, two children continued to participate in sessions with their preferred sensory event until satiation occurred. The results showed the following: (1) Sensory events could be used as reinforcing stimuli to produce a high rate of responding which was relatively durable over time: (2) the reinforcement function of the sensory events was idiosyncratic across children. with one child preferring one kind of sensory event, and another child preferring a different kind; (3) there was substantial variability in daily response rates: and (4) when a child satiated on a particular sensory event, a relatively small change in the sensory event was sufficient to recover a high rate of responding. The results of this study suggest that sensory reinforcers can profitably be used in behavior therapy with autistic children.     

Memory functioning as related to developmental changes in bases of organization

Two series of object drawings classifiable according to either color or conceptual category were used: one to assess dimensional salience and the other to assess free recall, clustering, and cued recall. Parallel shifts in dimensional salience and the dominance of these dimensions as organizing principles in memory were investigated in nursery school and second- and fifth-grade children. Nursery school children manifested color salience, whereas the two older groups manifested conceptual salience. Above chance clustering according to the salient dimension in each age group and some increase in the size of organization units as a function of age were found. Within age groups, neither amount nor dimension or clustering were related to amount of recall. In each group, more words were accessed by salient than by nonsalient cues. Effectiveness of nonsalient cues depended on the order of presentation for young children, whereas for older chilren they were ineffective regardless of order. Implications of these findings for encoding and retrieval processes in children were discussed.     

Monitoring system for infant movement,vocalization, and nurse interaction

An instrument which monitors and records certain behaviors of the neonate is described. By means of an air-inflated mattress and pressure transducer, the instrument measures whole-body movement. By means of a crib-located microphone, the device measures vocalizations. In addition, the presence and activity of nurse or observer are also monitored and recorded as part of the complete record. Except for the mattress and transducers, the monitor is completely self-contained, even including in its 8½-in.-high x 19-in.-wide size a 10-channel event recorder.     

Cognitive training in academically deficient ADDH boys receiving stimulant medication

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 16-week intensive cognitive training program in stimulant-treated, academically deficient ADDH boys. Cognitive training focused exclusively on academic skills and tasks, and included attack strategy training as well as self-monitoring and self-reinforcement of problem-solving behaviors and response accuracy. Control groups included remedial tutoring plus medication, and medication alone. Despite the scope of the program, the results provided no support for the notion that academically based cognitive training ameliorates the performance and achievement of academically deficient ADDH youngsters. Further, this intervention did not enhance self-esteem or attributional perceptions of academic functioning. There was poor agreement between teacher ratings of academic competence and test score changes. The lack of concordance between measures, and the scarcity of academically deficient ADDH children are discussed.Preparation of this article was supported in part by National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH30822.     

Some deleterious consequences of the act of recollection

Two experiments investigated the impact of responding to recognition test items that do not include a correct alternative. In Experiment 1, subjects who were given exclusively incorrect response alternatives were less likely than control subjects to favor the correct alternatives on a second recognition test. Analysis of subjects’ responses indicated that commitments, rather than distractor familiarity, was the main source of this effect. In Experiment 2, an impairing effect of committing to an incorrect alternative was observed even when the initial distractors were excluded from the final test. Thus, this decreased performance cannot simply be attributed to a bias toward remaining consistent. One interpretation of these results is that committing to a distractor causes subjects to remember a false detail that can interfere with their later ability to access the original information. Other potential theoretical and applied implications of these results are explored.     

Sex and achievement domain: Cognitive patterns of success and failure

Subjects (N=439) were asked to write an account of an achievement of failure, and to describe it in terms of locus of standards (internal-external), conceptual focus (process-impact), and initial expectations for success (or failure). Additionally, accounts were classified on the basis of achievement domain (personal, interpersonal, mastery). Analyses of variance [2 (sex)×3 (domain)] for each cognitive measure revealed few sex differences. However, cognitive responses did vary as a function of achievement domain. Main effects for domain were observed under success instructions for locus of control (p<.0002) and under failure instructions for locus of control (p<.05), conceptual focus (p<.05), and expectations (p<.06). Interaction effects of sex and achievement domain were observed on locus of standards for success (p<.0002) and initial expectations preceding failure (p<.025), indicating that women were more responsive to domain differences than were men. Discriminant analyses indicated that cognitions were more readily patterned in terms of achievement domain than sex. Elaboration and incorporation of the concept of domain in cognitive models of achievement is suggested.     

Congruence,personality pattern,and satisfaction in college women

One hundred and twenty-nine female undergraduates took the Barron's Ego Strength Scale, the Levenson Locus of Control Scale, and the Holland VPI. Congruence scores were calculated using three-letter codes from the VPI and expressed major choice. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that congruent subjects were significantly more consistent and reported higher levels of certainty and perceived congruence. No satisfaction differences were found. Results are discussed with respect to Holland's theory and previous research on the correlates of congruent person-environment interactions.     

Communication and reasoning skills of deaf and hearing signers

Six tests of intellectual performance were administered to 25 deaf and 21 hearing adult signers. The two groups were not significantly different on tests of Lip Reading and Reception of Signed English but the hearing subjects were superior on tests of non-verbal reasoning and perceptual speed. The hearing were greatly superior on a test of verbal reasoning.