Cross-modal and non-sensory influences on auditory streaming

Carlyon et al (2001 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 27 115-127) have reported that the buildup of auditory streaming is reduced when attention is diverted to a competing auditory stimulus. Here, we demonstrate that a reduction in streaming can also be obtained by attention to a visual task or by the requirement to count backwards in threes. In all conditions participants heard a 13 s sequence of tones, and, during the first 10 s saw a sequence of visual stimuli containing three, four, or five targets. The tone sequence consisted of twenty repeating triplets in an ABA - ABA ... order, where A and B represent tones of two different frequencies. In each sequence, three, four, or five tones were amplitude modulated. During the first 10 s of the sequence, participants either counted the number of visual targets, counted the number of (modulated) auditory targets, or counted backwards in threes from a specified number. They then made an auditory-streaming judgment about the last 3 s of the tone sequence: whether one or two streams were heard. The results showed more streaming when participants counted the auditory targets (and hence were attending to the tones throughout) than in either the 'visual' or 'counting-backwards' conditions.     

The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ): Normative data and latent structure in a large non-clinical sample

The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ; Smith, Della Sala, Logie, & Maylor, 2000) was developed to provide a self-report measure of prospective and retrospective memory slips in everyday life. It consists of sixteen items, eight asking about prospective memory failures, and eight concerning retrospective failures. The PRMQ was administered to a sample of the general adult population (N = 551) ranging in age between 17 and 94. Ten competing models of the latent structure of the PRMQ were derived from theoretical and empirical sources and were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The model with the best fit had a tripartite structure and consisted of a general memory factor (all items loaded on this factor) plus orthogonal specific factors of prospective and retrospective memory. The reliabilities (internal consistency) of the Total scale and the Prospective and Retrospective scales were acceptable: Cronbach's alpha was 0.89, 0.84, and 0.80, respectively. Age and gender did not influence PRMQ scores, thereby simplifying the presentation and interpretation of normative data. To ease interpretation of scores on the PRMQ, tables are presented for conversion of raw scores on the Total scale and Prospective and Retrospective scales to T scores (confidence limits on scores are also provided). In addition, tables are provided to allow users to assess the reliability and abnormality of differences between an individual's scores on the Prospective and Retrospective scales.     

Divergent ethical perspectives on the duty-to-warn principle with HIV patients

This article presents the case of an HIV-positive client who reported having sexual relations with an unknowing partner. The issue raised is whether the therapist was required to warn the unknowing partner, similar to the Tarasoff mandate that is imposed on therapists. The case is analyzed from an ethical framework similar to that presented by Beauchamp and Childress (1994). Two opinions are presented, each leading to different conclusions about whether the therapist should inform the unknowing partner. It is concluded that although such analysis is valuable in aiding the therapist in his or her decision-making process, no clear professional standard for the management of the problem is evident.     

Why liberals should accept financial incentives for organ procurement

Free market libertarians have long supported incentives to increase organ procurement, but those oriented to justice traditionally have opposed them. This paper presents the reasons why those worried about justice should reconsider financial incentives and tolerate them as a lesser moral evil. After considering concerns about discrimination and coercion and setting them aside, it is suggested that the real moral concern should be manipulation of the neediest. The one offering the incentive (the government) has the resources to eliminate the basic needs that pressure the poor into a willingness to sell. It is unethically manipulative to withhold those resources and then offer payment for organs. Nevertheless, the poor have been left without basic necessities for 20 years since the passage of the prohibition on incentives. As long as the government continues to withhold a decent minimum of welfare, liberals should, with shame, cease opposing financial incentives for organ procurement.     

The Dissociative Factor in Symptom Reports of Rheumatic Patients with and Without Fibromyalgia

The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dissociation and its relationships to symptom reporting in fibromyalgia (FM) and other rheumatic disorders (non-FM). The participants were 73 women with FM and 85 relatively matched women with other rheumatic disorders. The participants were administered the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Profile Of Mood States (POMS), and a 50-item medical checklist. The prevalence of dissociation (DES q 25) was significantly higher in FM patients(30.1%) compared to other rheumatic disorders (7.0%). Symptom reporting correlated with measures of dissociation in both patient groups (FM:R = 0.42, p < .001; non-FM:R = 0.44, p < .001), when controlled for age, depression, and anxiety. A regression analysis confirmed the strong linkage between somatic variation and dissociation. The results suggest that dissociation is a problem for a substantial segment of patients with fibromyalgia and that dissociation is related to certain physical symptoms of fibromyalgia. Dissociation offers a different perspective on medically unexplained symptoms and may need to be addressed in future research.     

Repeated-measures contrasts for "multiple-pattern" hypotheses

Contrast analysis of repeated-measures data generally focuses on hypotheses when only 1 pattern of results is of theoretical interest. This article articulates a framework for contrast analysis in repeated-measures contexts in which researchers have hypotheses relevant to 1 potential pattern or multiple potential patterns of results. For example, a researcher might ask whether participants exhibit a pattern of (a) immediate symptom reduction or (b) delayed symptom reduction. Alternatively, the researcher might ask whether 2 or more groups exhibit 2 or more patterns to differing degrees. Building on the familiar logic and computational procedures for 1-pattern hypotheses, the authors present a contrast analysis framework that integrates analysis of 1-pattern and multiple-pattern hypotheses and accommodates 1 group or multiple groups of participants.     

New lessons from knockout mice: The role of serotonin during development and its possible contribution to the origins of neuropsychiatric disorders

Serotonin (5-HT) modulates numerous processes in the central nervous system that are relevant to neuropsychiatric function and dysfunction. It exerts significant effects on anxiety, mood, impulsivity, sleep, ingestive behavior, reward systems, and psychosis. Serotonergic dysfunction has been implicated in several psychiatric conditions but efforts to more clearly understand the mechanisms of this influence have been hampered by the complexity of this system at the receptor level. There are at least 14 distinct receptors that mediate the effects of 5-HT as well as several enzymes that control its synthesis and metabolism. Pharmacologic agents that target specific receptors have provided clues regarding the function of these receptors in the human brain. 5-HT is also an important modulator of neural development and several groups have employed a genetic strategy relevant to behavior. Several inactivation mutations of specific 5-HT receptors have been generated producing interesting behavioral phenotypes related to anxiety, depression, drug abuse, psychosis, and cognition. In many cases, knockout mice have been used to confirm what has already been suspected based on pharmacologic studies. In other instances, mutations have demonstrated new functions of serotonergic genes in development and behavior.     

r equivalent: A simple effect size indicator

The purpose of this article is to propose a simple effect size estimate (obtained from the sample size, N, and a p value) that can be used (a) in meta-analytic research where only sample sizes and p values have been reported by the original investigator, (b) where no generally accepted effect size estimate exists, or (c) where directly computed effect size estimates are likely to be misleading. This effect size estimate is called r(equivalent) because it equals the sample point-biserial correlation between the treatment indicator and an exactly normally distributed outcome in a two-treatment experiment with N/2 units in each group and the obtained p value. As part of placing r(equivalent) into a broader context, the authors also address limitations of r(equivalent).     

Stress within a bicultural context for adolescents of Mexican descent

Folkman and Lazarus's theory of stress and coping was used to develop a measure assessing the perceived stress within a bicultural context. Middle school students of Mexican descent (N = 881) reported their perceived stress from intergenerational acculturation gaps, within-group discrimination, out-group discrimination, and monolingual stress. Although immigrant youths reported more total number of stressors, U.S.-born youths reported more stress from needing better Spanish and impact of parents' culture. Immigrant youths reported more stress from needing better English in school. Higher stress was associated with more depressive symptoms for both U.S.-born and immigrant youths. Although this study has identified some elements of stress, it has not identified positive coping mechanisms of the bicultural context for Latino youths.     

The effects of depression on the emotional responses of Spanish-speaking Latinas

Emotional responses (physiology, self-report, and facial expression) of 12 depressed and 10 nondepressed Spanish-speaking Latinas during sad and amusing film clips of human and animal content were compared. Depressed Latinas demonstrated less electrodermal reactivity across all the film clips and displayed fewer social smiles during the amusing-human film clip than nondepressed Latinas. No differences emerged for cardiovascular measures, reports of emotion, or facial expressions of happiness and negative emotion. Observed differences in electrodermal reactivity are similar to results from previous studies of Anglo Americans, suggesting that reduced electrodermal activity may be linked to depression across cultures. The findings also suggest that, for Latinas, depression may selectively alter expressions that serve interpersonal functions.