Direct estimates of processing delays in the attentional blink

 When two targets (T1 and T2) are presented in rapid succession, identification of T2 is often impaired (attentional blink: AB). The two-stage model accounts for the AB deficit by assuming that: (a) T2 is delayed in Stage 1 while Stage 2 is busy processing T1, and (b) T2 is vulnerable to masking while delayed. We report converging evidence for the model by evaluating these assumptions independently of the AB deficit itself. The results show that: (a) response times for T2 identification decreased as the lag between T1 and T2 was increased; (b) response times for T2 decreased across lags only if T1 was masked; and (c) accuracy of T2 identification increased as the stimulus-onset asynchrony between T2 and the trailing mask was increased. Received: 4 February 1999 / Accepted: 26 July 1999     

When similarity leads to sparing: probing mechanisms underlying the attentional blink

When two targets are embedded in a temporal stream of distractors, second-target identification is initially impaired and then gradually improves as inter-target interval lengthens (attentional blink; AB). Notably, in about half of the published studies, this deficit is partially ameliorated when the targets follow one another directly, a condition known as “lag-1 sparing”. Here, we probe the impact of target-distractor similarity on lag-1 sparing, with the surprising finding that while high similarity impairs second-target accuracy at all subsequent lags, it actually improves accuracy when the targets follow one another directly. We suggest that this improvement reflects the positive influence of over-committing resources to target processing in the AB.     

The Second Incompleteness Theorem and Bounded Interpretations

In this paper we formulate a version of Second Incompleteness Theorem. The idea is that a sequential sentence has ‘consistency power’ over a theory if it enables us to construct a bounded interpretation of that theory. An interpretation of V in U is bounded if, for some n, all translations of V-sentences are U-provably equivalent to sentences of complexity less than n. We call a sequential sentence with consistency power over T a pro-consistency statement for T. We study pro-consistency statements. We provide an example of a pro-consistency statement for a sequential sentence A that is weaker than an ordinary consistency statement for A. We show that, if A is ${{\sf S}^{1}_{2}}$ , this sentence has some further appealing properties, specifically that it is an Orey sentence for EA. The basic ideas of the paper essentially involve sequential theories. We have a brief look at the wider environment of the results, to wit the case of theories with pairing.     

The attentional blink with targets in different spatial locations

When two targets (T1 and T2) are displayed in rapid succession, accuracy of T2 identification varies as a function of the temporal lag between the targets (attentional blink, AB). In some studies, performance has been found to be most impaired at Lag 1—namely, when T2 followed T1 directly. In other studies, T2 performance at Lag 1 has been virtually unimpaired (Lag 1 sparing). In the present work, we examined how Lag 1 sparing is affected by attentional switches between targets displayed in the same location or in different locations. We found that Lag 1 sparing does not occur when a spatial shift is required between T1 and T2. This suggests that attention cannot be switched to a new location while the system is busy processing another stimulus. The results are explained by a modified version of an attentional gating model (Chun & Potter, 1995; Shapiro & Raymond, 1994).     

Measuring Spirituality as a Universal Human Experience: A Review of Spirituality Questionnaires

Spirituality is an important theme in health research, since a spiritual orientation can help people to cope with the consequences of a serious disease. Knowledge on the role of spirituality is, however, limited, as most research is based on measures of religiosity rather than spirituality. A questionnaire that transcends specific beliefs is a prerequisite for quantifying the importance of spirituality among people who adhere to a religion or none at all. In this review, we discuss ten questionnaires that address spirituality as a universal human experience. Questionnaires are evaluated with regard to psychometric properties, item formulation and confusion with well-being and distress. Although none of the questionnaires fulfilled all the criteria, the multidimensional Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire is promising.     

Does maternal prenatal stress adversely affect the child's learning and memory at age six?

Prenatal maternal stress has been shown to affect postnatal development in animals and humans. In animals, the morphology and function of the offspring's hippocampus is negatively affected by prenatal maternal stress. The present study prospectively investigated the influence of prenatal maternal stress on learning and memory of 112 children (50 boys, 62 girls, Age: M=6.7 years, SD=8.4 months), with the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL). Maternal stress levels were determined three times during pregnancy by self-report questionnaires. Furthermore, maternal saliva cortisol samples were used as a measure of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Results of hierarchical multivariate regression analyses showed that maternal life events measured during the first part of pregnancy were negatively associated with the child's attention/concentration index, while controlling for overall IQ, gender, and postnatal stress. No associations were found between prenatal maternal cortisol and the offspring's learning and memory.