Comparison of brain mechanisms underlying the processing of Chinese characters and pseudo-characters: an event-related potential study

Most Chinese characters are composed of a semantic radical on the left and a phonetic radical on the right. The semantic radical provides the semantic information; the phonetic radical provides information concerning the pronunciation of the whole character. The pseudo‐characters in the study consisted of different sub‐lexical parts of real Chinese characters and consequently they also had the semantic radical and the phonetic radical. But they were not readable and had no actual meaning. In order to investigate the spatiotemporal cortical activation patterns underlying the orthographic, phonological and semantic processing of Chinese characters, we used event‐related brain potentials (ERPs) to explore the processing of Chinese characters and pseudo‐characters when 14 healthy Chinese college students viewed the characters passively. Results showed that both Chinese characters and pseudo‐characters elicited an evident negative potential peaking around 120 ms (N120), which appeared to reflect initial orthographic distinction and evaluation. Then, Chinese pseudo‐characters elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P220) than did Chinese characters 200–250 ms after onset of the stimuli. It was similar to the recognition potential (RP) and might reflect the integration processes of phonological and semantic processing on the basis of early orthographic information. Dipole source analysis of the difference wave (pseudo‐characters minus characters) indicated that a generator localized in the left temporal‐occipital junction contributed to this effect, which was possibly related to phonological and perceptual–semantic information integration. Between 350–450 ms, a greater negativity (N360) in pseudo‐characters as compared to characters was found over midline fronto‐central scalp regions. Dipole analysis localized the generator of N360 in the right parahippocampal cortex. Therefore, the N360 might be an N400 component and reflect the higher‐level semantic activation on the basis of orthographic, phonological and perceptual–semantic processing.     

Differentiation of stages in joke comprehension: Evidence from an ERP study

This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying joke comprehension using event‐related potentials (ERPs). Fourteen healthy college students were presented with the context of a story without its joke or nonjoke ending, and then, when the story ending was presented, they were asked to make a funny/unfunny judgment about these endings. The behavioral results showed that there was no significant difference between funny and unfunny items, which meant that subjects could understand funny items as easily as unfunny ones. However, the ERP results showed that funny items initially elicited a more negative ERP deflection (N350–450) over frontocentral scalp regions. Dipole analysis localized the generators in the left temporal gyrus and the left medial frontal gyrus; it is suggested that these areas might be involved in detecting the incongruent element in joke comprehension. Between 600 and 800 ms, funny items subsequently elicited a more negative ERP deflection (N600–800) over frontocentral scalp regions and a more positive ERP deflection (P600–800) over posterior scalp regions. Dipole analysis localized the generator in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), an area involved in the breaking of mental set/expectation and the forming of novel associations. Finally, funny items elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P1250–1400) over anterior and posterior scalp regions. Dipole analysis localized the generators in the middle frontal gyrus and the fusiform gyrus, areas that might be related to the affective appreciation stage in joke process. Unlike that of Coulson and Kutas (2001), the present study might support the hypothesis of a three stage model of humor processing (humor detection, resolution of incongruity and humor appreciation).     

Images of God and the imaginary in the face of loss: a quantitative research on Vietnamese immigrants living in Canada

ABSTRACT

This study examines the relationships between images of God, the imaginary and experiences of loss among Vietnamese immigrants living in Canada. One hundred twenty-nine participants completed four sets of questionnaires: a demographic questionnaire, a Questionnaire on God Image, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Davidson Trauma Scale. In the second phase, 32 participants were administered the AT.9 test (an archetypal test with nine elements). In this test, participants are asked to draw, using nine symbolic elements, and then write a story based on their drawing. Results showed that a positive perception of God negatively correlated with somatisation, anxiety and hostility, whereas negative God image was significantly related to high levels of emotional distress. Results also showed that the synthetic categories of the imaginary were associated with a positive perception of God; and were negatively associated with somatisation, intrusion and hyper-vigilance. Further discussions on the main findings will address cultural implications in the fields of Mental Health, Religion and Culture.     

Work-to-Life Spillover Effect of Leader–Member Exchange in Groups: The Moderating Role of Group Power Distance and Employee Political Skill

While prior studies have focused on the effect of leader–member exchange (LMX), representing a dyadic differentiated exchange relationship between a leader and followers, on employees’ job-related outcomes, how LMX at the group level influences one’s life domain has been ignored. The present study shifted attention to the relationship between LMX mean and employee life satisfaction as well as the boundary conditions. Using a sample of 471 employees from 53 groups and hierarchical linear modeling, we examined the cross-level main effect of LMX mean on life satisfaction and the moderation of group power distance and individual political skill. The results revealed that LMX mean had a work-to-life spillover effect on employee life satisfaction. Employee political skill positively moderated the relationship between LMX mean and life satisfaction, whereas group power distance negatively moderated the relation. Theoretical and practical implications were further discussed.     

无神论道德建设面临的问题

一、信仰制约在道德建设中的分量 什么叫道德?"道德归根到底是被人们的经济 条件所决定的评价人们的思想和行为的善与恶,光 荣与耻辱,公正与偏私的感觉、观念、原则和规范 的总和,它依靠社会舆论,社会习俗和人们内心信 念的力量,保证人们对它的遵守。"(孙国华主编:《法 学基础理论》,中国人民大学出版社,1987年版,第281页),在 这里,道德的来源和实现途径被分解成了社会舆 论、社会习俗和内心信念三个部分。内心信念是与     

一种广义的认知诊断Q矩阵修正新方法

本文提出了一种新的Q矩阵修正方法——两阶段法,该方法不仅适用于简化认知诊断模型,也适合于饱和的认知诊断模型,在实践应用中更具灵活性。模拟研究和实证研究表明：第一,两阶段方法整体上优于国际上知名的 法( de la Torre, et al., 2016);第二,两阶段方法受被试人数和Q矩阵的错误率影响较小,尤其在小样本时仍有相对理想的正确率;第三,实证数据研究表明,两阶段法修正后的Q矩阵与数据拟合更好,并且修正的Q矩阵能明显提高认知诊断测验的信度。     

分离型的多级评分认知诊断模型开发及其应用研究

本文基于DINO模型开发出一种分离型的多级评分认知诊断模型(P-DINO模型),并采用Monte Carlo模拟与实证研究相结合的范式,探讨了新模型的性能与有效性。结果表明:(1)P-DINO模型参数估计精度较好,参数估计的稳健性较强。(2)采用MCMC算法可以实现该模型的参数估计,估计结果较理想。(3)测验长度的增加能有效提高模型的判准率,被试人数的增加对判准率的提高相对较小,属性个数的增加会降低判准率。(4)在抑郁症状评估中,P-DINO模型的表现要优于DINO模型与传统的抑郁症状评估。     

Perceived racism, discrimination, and acculturation in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among black young adults

During young adulthood the suicide rate among Blacks rises dramatically and approaches that of the U.S. general population, requiring that prevention efforts include a focus on Black young adults. Although most research on suicidality among Blacks has focused on risk factors observed in the dominant culture, in this study the authors examined associations between perceived discrimination, racism, and acculturation with lifetime suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempt (SA) among Black young adults. Two hundred fifty Black or African American individuals aged 18-24 residing in a midsize northeastern city were recruited to participate through advertisements. Participants filled out self-report questionnaires. Logistic regressions were used to examine the association of each predictor with SI and SA. Greater perceived acculturation was associated with SI in univariate and multivariate models. There were no other statistically significant results concerning the predictors of interest. The link between perceived acculturation and SI is consistent with limited available data, indicating the need for further study including the potential mechanism(s) for the association. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on subjective measures.