Memory for timing visual and auditory signals in albino and pigmented rats

The authors hypothesized that during a gap in a timed signal, the time accumulated during the pregap interval decays at a rate proportional to the perceived salience of the gap, influenced by sensory acuity and signal intensity. When timing visual signals, albino (Sprague-Dawley) rats, which have poor visual acuity, stopped timing irrespective of gap duration, whereas pigmented (Long-Evans) rats, which have good visual acuity, stopped timing for short gaps but reset timing for long gaps. Pigmented rats stopped timing during a gap in a low-intensity visual signal and reset after a gap in a high-intensity visual signal, suggesting that memory for time in the gap procedure varies with the perceived salience of the gap, possibly through an attentional mechanism.     

Visual guidance of intercepting a moving target on foot

How do people walk to a moving target, and what visual information do they use to do so? Under a pursuit strategy, one would head toward the target's current position, whereas under an interception strategy, one would lead the target, ideally by maintaining a constant target-heading angle (or constant bearing angle). Either strategy may be guided by the egocentric direction of the target, local optic flow from the target, or global optic flow from the background. In four experiments, participants walked through a virtual environment to reach a target moving at a constant velocity. Regardless of the initial conditions, they walked ahead of the target for most of a trial at a fairly constant speed, consistent with an interception strategy (experiment 1). This behavior can be explained by trying to maintain a constant target-heading angle while trying to walk a straight path, with transient steering dynamics. In contrast to previous results for stationary targets, manipulation of the local optic flow from the target (experiment 2) and the global optic flow of the background (experiments 3 and 4) failed to influence interception behavior. Relative motion between the target and the background did affect the path slightly, presumably owing to its effect on perceived target motion. We conclude that humans use an interception strategy based on the egocentric direction of a moving target.     

The fragile X mental retardation protein, FMRP, recognizes G-quartets

Fragile X mental retardation is a disease caused by the loss of function of a single RNA-binding protein, FMRP. Identifying the RNA targets recognized by FMRP is likely to reveal much about its functions in controlling some aspects of memory and behavior. Recent evidence suggests that one of the predominant RNA motifs recognized by the FMRP protein is an intramolecular G-quartet and that the RGG box of FMRP mediates this interaction. Searching databases of mRNA sequence information, as well as compiled sequences of predicted FMRP targets based on biochemical identification, has revealed that many of these predicted FMRP targets contain intramolecular G-quartets. Interestingly, many of the G-quartet containing RNA targets encode proteins involved in neuronal development and synaptic function. Defects in the metabolism of this set of RNAs, presumably in the translation of their protein products, is likely to underlie the behavioral and cognitive changes seen in the disease.     

Delay discounting in current and never-before cigarette smokers: similarities and differences across commodity,sign, and magnitude

Research has found that nicotine-dependent individuals delay discount monetary gains at a higher rate than matched controls. Delay discount rates, however, have also been found to vary across within-subject variables such as the magnitude of the outcome (e.g., 10 dollars or 1,000 dollars), whether the outcome constitutes a gain or a loss, and the commodity being evaluated (e.g., money or health). The present study comprehensively investigated the differences in delay discounting between current and never-before cigarette smokers and across these within-subject variables. Both groups exhibited a magnitude, sign, and commodity effect. Current smokers' delay discount rates for monetary outcomes, however, were higher than never-before smokers across all magnitudes and both signs. This trend was also found for delayed health outcomes, but failed to reach significance.     

The benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being

Mindfulness is an attribute of consciousness long believed to promote well-being. This research provides a theoretical and empirical examination of the role of mindfulness in psychological well-being. The development and psychometric properties of the dispositional Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) are described. Correlational, quasi-experimental, and laboratory studies then show that the MAAS measures a unique quality of consciousness that is related to a variety of well-being constructs, that differentiates mindfulness practitioners from others, and that is associated with enhanced self-awareness. An experience-sampling study shows that both dispositional and state mindfulness predict self-regulated behavior and positive emotional states. Finally, a clinical intervention study with cancer patients demonstrates that increases in mindfulness over time relate to declines in mood disturbance and stress.     

The role of central and peripheral vision in postural control during walking

Three hypotheses have been proposed for the roles of central and peripheral vision in the perception and control of self-motion: (1) peripheral dominance, (2) retinal invariance, and (3) differential sensitivity to radial flow. We investigated postural responses to optic flow patterns presented at different retinal eccentricities during walking in two experiments. Oscillating displays of radial flow (0 degree driver direction), lamellar flow (90 degrees), and intermediate flow (30 degrees, 45 degrees) patterns were presented at retinal eccentricities of 0 degree, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, or 90 degrees to participants walking on a treadmill, while compensatory body sway was measured. In general, postural responses were directionally specific, of comparable amplitude, and strongly coupled to the display for all flow patterns at all retinal eccentricities. One intermediate flow pattern (45 degrees) yielded a bias in sway direction that was consistent with triangulation errors in locating the focus of expansion from visible flow vectors. The results demonstrate functionally specific postural responses of both central and peripheral vision, contrary to the peripheral dominance and differential sensitivity hypotheses, but consistent with retinal invariance. This finding emphasizes the importance of optic flow structure for postural control regardless of the retinal locus of stimulation.     

Agricultural research organizations: The assessment and improvement of performance

Public sector national agricultural research organizations (NARO)s are confronting the need to demonstrate performance, accountability, and results to maintain support and funding from investors. Current evaluation practices in NAROs are not performance oriented, nor are they applied at the organization level. A performance assessment system for NAROs is presented that integrates productivity and outcome evaluation with the assessment of key management activities influencing research outputs and impact. The system allows managers to record output levels over time and identify management weaknesses.     

Book reviews

The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History. Rodney Stark, 1996 Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press xiv + 247 pp., US$24.95, £16.95 ISBN 0–691–02749–8

Church Watch: Christianity in the Countryside. Leslie J. Francis, 1996 London: SPCK 248 pp., £9.99 ISBN 0–281–04951–3

Strategic Church Leadership. Robin Gill & Derek Burke, 1996 London: SPCK vii + 96 pp., £9.99 ISBN 0–281–04901–7

’Nice When They Are Young’: Contemporary Christianity in Families and Schools. Mairi Levitt, 1996 Aldershot: Avebury viii +171 pp., £32.50 ISBN 1–85972–388–8

Die Sekten‐Kinder. Kurt‐Helmuth Eimuth, 1996 Freiburg: Herder Verlag 239 pp., DM 19.80 (pb) ISBN 3–451–04397–1

The Good Heart: His Holiness the Dalai Lama Explores the Heart of Christianity—and of Humanity. H.H. The Dalai Lama, 1997. London: Rider xiv + 207pp., £9.99 (pb) ISBN 0–7126–7275–3

Scientists as Theologians: A Comparison of the Writings of Ian Barbour, Arthur Peacocke & John Polkinghome. John Polkinghorne, 1996 London: SPCK 95 pp., £9.99 ISBN 0–281–04945–9

Psychiatry and Religion: Context, Consensus and Controversies. Dinesh Bhugra, ed., 1996 London, New York: Routledge 236 pp., £50.00, US$65.00 ISBN 0–415–08955–7 (hb)

Ethical Issues in Six Religious Traditions. Peggy Morgan & Clive Lawton, eds, 1996 Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press 278 pp., £14.95 (pb) ISBN 0–7486–0709–9

Religious Institutions and Women's Leadership: New Roles Inside the Mainstream. Catherine Wessinger, ed., 1996 Columbia: University of South Carolina Press x +434 pp., US$24.95 ISBN 1–57003–073–1

Traveller in Space: In Search of Female Identity in Tibetan Buddhism. June Campbell, 1996 London: Athlone Press 225 pp., £17.95 ISBN 0–485–11494–1

Forbidden Revolutions: Pentecostalism in Latin America, Catholicism in Eastern Europe. David Martin, 1996 London: SPCK 96 pp., £7.99 ISBN 0–281–04999–8

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Soviet State (1939–1950) Bohdan R. Bociurkiw, 1996 Edmonton, Toronto: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press 310 pp., Ca$39.95(hb) ISBN 1–895571–12‐X

Qur'an, Liberation & Pluralism: An Islamic Perspective of Interreligious Solidarity against Oppression. Farid Esack, 1997 Oxford: Oneworld Publications xii + 288 pp., 3 Appendices + Glossary + Bibliography; £14.99, US$22.95 ISBN 1–85168–121–3

A Sociological Analysis of the Theology of Quakers: The Silent Revolution Studies in Religion and Society Volume 34 Pink Dandelion, 1996 Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press xxxiv +417 pp., £59.95 ISBN 0–7734–8807–3

Counting the Days to Armageddon: The Jehovah's Witnesses and The Second Presence of Christ Robert Crompton, 1996 Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. 160 pp., £22.50 ISBN 0–2276–7939

Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft. James R. Lewis, ed., 1996 Albany, NY: State of New York University Press vi + 423 pp., US$19.95 (pb) ISBN 0–7914–2890–7

The Divine Versus The Asurian: An Interpretation of Indo‐European Cult and Myth. Michael York, 1995 Bethesda, MD: International Scholars Publications 635 pp., US$94.95 ISBN 1–57309–029–8     

Spectral fissioning in phonemic transformations

Listeners presented with a repeated sequence of brief (30- to 100-msec) steady-state vowels hearphonemic transformations—they cannot identify the vowels, but they perceive two simultaneous utterances that differ in both phonemic content and timbre (Warren, Bashford, & Gardner, 1990). These utterances consist of either English words or syllables that occur in English words. In the present study, we attempted to determine whether the two percepts represent alternative interpretations of the same formant structures, or whether different portions of the vowels are used for each verbal organization. It was found that separate spectral regions are employed for each verbal form; Components below 1500 Hz were generally used for one form, and components above 1500 Hz for the other. Hypotheses are offered concerning the processes responsible for the verbal organization of the vowel sequences and for the splitting into two spectrally limited forms. It appears that the tendency to organize spectral regions separately competes with, and can overcome, the tendency to integrate the different spectral components of speech into a single auditory image. A contralateral induction paradigm was used in a procedure designed to quantitatively evaluate these opposing forces of spectral fission and fusion.     

Auditory induction: Reciprocal changes in alternating sounds

When portions of a sound are replaced by a potential masker, the missing fragments may be perceptually restored, resulting in apparent continuity of the interrupted signal. This phenomenon has been examined extensively by using pulsation threshold, auditory induction, and phonemic restoration paradigms in which two sounds, the inducer and the inducee, are alternated (ABABA ... ), and the conditions required for apparent continuity of the lower amplitude inducee are determined. Previous studies have generally neglected to examine concomitant changes produced in the inducing sound. Results from the present experiments have demonstrated decreases in the loudness of inducers using inducer/inducee pairs consisting of tone/tone and noise/noise, as well as the noise/speech pairs associated with phonemic restorations. Interestingly, reductions in inducer loudness occurred even when the inducee was heard as discontinuous, and these decreases in loudness were accompanied by graded increases in apparent duration of the inducee, contrary to the conventional view of auditory induction as an all-or-none phenomenon. Under some conditions, the reduced loudness of the inducer was coupled with a marked alteration in its timbre. Especially profound changes in the inducer quality occurred when the alternating stimuli were tones having the same frequency and differing only in intensity-it seems that following subtraction of components corresponding to the inducee, an anomalous auditory residue remained that did not correspond to the representation of a tone.