Global/local processing of hierarchical visual stimuli in a conflict–choice task by capuchin monkeys (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sapajus</Emphasis> spp.)

In the last two decades, comparative research has addressed the issue of how the global and local levels of structure of visual stimuli are processed by different species, using Navon-type hierarchical figures, i.e. smaller local elements that form larger global configurations. Determining whether or not the variety of procedures adopted to test different species with hierarchical figures are equivalent is of crucial importance to ensure comparability of results. Among non-human species, global/local processing has been extensively studied in tufted capuchin monkeys using matching-to-sample tasks with hierarchical patterns. Local dominance has emerged consistently in these New World primates. In the present study, we assessed capuchins’ processing of hierarchical stimuli with a method frequently adopted in studies of global/local processing in non-primate species: the conflict–choice task. Different from the matching-to-sample procedure, this task involved processing local and global information retained in long-term memory. Capuchins were trained to discriminate between consistent hierarchical stimuli (similar global and local shape) and then tested with inconsistent hierarchical stimuli (different global and local shapes). We found that capuchins preferred the hierarchical stimuli featuring the correct local elements rather than those with the correct global configuration. This finding confirms that capuchins’ local dominance, typically observed using matching-to-sample procedures, is also expressed as a local preference in the conflict–choice task. Our study adds to the growing body of comparative studies on visual grouping functions by demonstrating that the methods most frequently used in the literature on global/local processing produce analogous results irrespective of extent of the involvement of memory processes.     

Early markers of lexical stress in visual word recognition

The goal of the present study was to investigate the time-course of suprasegmental information in visual word recognition. To this aim we measured event-related brain potentials (ERPs) during a simple lexical decision task in Italian. Two factors were manipulated: Stress dominance (the most frequent stress type) and stress neighborhood consistency (the proportion and number of existent words sharing orthographic ending and stress pattern). Participants were presented with target words either bearing dominant (on the penultimate syllable; 'graNIta,' 'seNIle,' slush, senile) or non-dominant stress (on the antepenultimate syllable; 'MISsile,' 'BIbita,' missile, drink), and either having a consistent (graNIta, MISsile) or an inconsistent stress neighborhood (seNIle, BIbita). Our results showed in the initial stages of processing an effect that we interpreted as an early orthographic marker of stress neighborhood in interaction with dominance. Later, from 250 ms after target onset, a marker of the lexical stress difference also emerged. The role of stress assignment in word recognition is discussed.     

Are Children Attracted to Play Elements with an Open Function?

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the degree to which play elements have an “open function”, and whether children are attracted to them. The architect van Eyck hypothesized that play elements with an open function attract playing children because such elements do not suggest a certain type of behavior and are, thus, likely to stimulate the children’s creativity. Children of three different age groups (5-6, 7-8, and 11-12?years of age) played freely in a Parkour playground that consists of play elements that were supposed to vary in the degree of having an open function. Based on the judgments of parents on what action children will mainly perform on each of the elements, we concluded that the play elements indeed differed in the degree of having an open function. The play behavior, however, revealed that the children were less attracted to elements with an open function. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

The relationship between maladaptive personality functioning and problematic technology use in adolescence: A cluster analysis approach

In the last two decades, scientific research has explored the problematic use of internet, videogames and mobile phones. However, there is still little consistent knowledge regarding the co-occurrence of problematic technology use and the role of maladaptive personality characteristics in adolescence. The present study aimed to investigate adolescents' styles of technology use with a cluster analysis approach focusing on personality functioning. The sample comprised 408 Italian adolescents (46.3% males) aged 11 to 18 years (M _age = 13.80; SD = 2.08). Data were collected using the Internet Addiction Test, the Videogame Dependency Scale, the Test of Mobile-Phone Dependence Brief Form and the Personality Inventory for DSM5 Brief Form. Results provided a four-cluster solution based on the co-occurrence of problematic technology use. The four clusters were labeled as follows: cluster 1: “Above average internet and mobile-phone use”; cluster 2: “Below average technology use”; cluster 3: “Above average videogame use”; and cluster 4: “Problematic technology use.” Analyses on demographic variables (e.g., gender and age) demonstrated significant differences between the four groups. Adolescents with high levels of problematic technology use reported greater overall personality dysfunction than the other three groups. This finding supported our hypothesis on maladaptive personality functioning in adolescents at risk for addiction. Finally, the Antagonism domain played a specific role in differentiating the severity of adolescents' involvement in technology use. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to plan preventive interventions as well as therapeutic treatments.     

Evaluation of the psychometrics properties of the alarm distress baby scale among 122 Brazilian children

The Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) aims at assessing infant withdrawal behavior. A previous validation study revealed acceptable reliability and validity indices. The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the scale in a larger sample from a culturally different population. Pediatricians evaluated the behavior of 122 infants, 2 and 19 months old, using the ADBB during routine physical consultation. Four investigators (two pediatricians and two nurses not specialized in pediatric care) examined video recordings of the evaluations. Results showed good interrater reliability coefficients among pediatricians and poor correlation when all professionals were grouped together. Test–retest reliability revealed good intraexaminer agreement (r = 0.91). The pediatricians' evaluation using the ADBB was compared with a psychiatric examination to investigate the scale's criterion validity. The cutoff point of 5 provided the best clinical validity (sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 81%). Results from construct validity showed that the scale had three dimensions. Comparison of the factor solution with other construct validity studies of the same instrument revealed similarities and differences. Results suggest that the ADBB may be a useful screening instrument to detect signs of psychiatric alterations related to withdrawal behavior in primary care services, and it is likely to provide consistent information.     

The riddle of the Rotating-Tilted-Lines illusion

Gori and Hamburger (2006, Perception 35 853-857) devised a new visual illusion of relative motion elicited by the observer's motion. We propose that the systematic error of direction discrimination found by Lorenceau et al (1993, Vision Research 33 1207 - 1217) can explain this illusion. The neural correlate of such a systematic error with respect to the two types of neurons in the primary visual cortex, namely end-stopped and contour cells, is discussed.     

Affective incoherence: when affective concepts and embodied reactions clash

In five studies, the authors examined the effects on cognitive performance of coherence and incoherence between conceptual and experiential sources of affective information. The studies crossed the priming of happy and sad concepts with affective experiences. In different experiments, these included approach or avoidance actions, happy or sad feelings, and happy or sad expressive behaviors. In all studies, coherence between affective concepts and affective experiences led to better recall of a story than did affective incoherence. The authors suggest that the experience of such experiential affective cues serves as evidence of the appropriateness of affective concepts that come to mind. The results suggest that affective coherence has epistemic benefits and that incoherence is costly in terms of cognitive performance.     

Knowing too much: using private knowledge to predict how one is viewed by others

People have more information about themselves than others do, and this fundamental asymmetry can help to explain why individuals have difficulty accurately intuiting how they appear to other people. Determining how one appears to observers requires one to utilize public information that is available to observers, but to disregard private information that they do not possess. We report a series of experiments, however, showing that people utilize privately known information about their own past performance (Experiments 1 and 2), the performance of other people (Experiment 3), and imaginary performance (Experiment 4) when intuiting how they are viewed by others. This tendency can help explain why people's beliefs about how they are judged by others often diverge from how they are actually judged.