An acceleration illusion caused by underestimation of stimulus velocity during pursuit eye movements: Aubert-Fleischl revisited

When the eyes pursue a fixation point that sweeps across a moving background pattern, and the fixation point is suddenly made to stop, the ongoing motion of the background pattern seems to accelerate to a higher velocity. Experiment I showed that this acceleration illusion is not caused by the sudden change in (i) the relative velocity between background and fixation point, (ii) the velocity of the retinal image of the background pattern, or (iii) the motion of the retinal image of the rims of the CRT screen on which the experiment was carried out. In experiment II the magnitude of the illusion was quantified. It is strongest when background and eyes move in the same direction. When they move in opposite directions it becomes less pronounced (and may disappear) with higher background velocities. The findings are explained in terms of a model proposed by the first author, in which the perception of object motion and velocity derives from the interaction between retinal slip velocity information and the brain's 'estimate' of eye velocity in space. They illustrate that the classic Aubert-Fleischl phenomenon (a stimulus seems to be moving slower when pursued with the eyes than when moving in front of stationary eyes) is a special case of a more general phenomenon: whenever we make a pursuit eye movement we underestimate the velocity of all stimuli in our visual field which happen to move in the same direction as our eyes, or which move slowly in the direction opposite to our eyes.     

An examination of the relationships among emotion management,interpersonal hassles,and depressive symptomatology

This study extended previous research by testing three models predicting depressive symptoms from emotion management (EM) and interpersonal hassles in a sample with a wide range of depression scores. Adults (n = 218) from sources including a depression internet site completed measures of interpersonal hassles, depression, and three aspects of EM (attention to, clarity of, and repair of emotions). Regression analyses supported a model in which lower clarity and repair scores and greater frequency of interpersonal hassles each contributed directly to depression scores. While lower attention to emotions was associated with fewer interpersonal hassles, it did not correlate significantly with depression scores. Moderation analyses did not support a model of EM components acting on depression by buffering effects of interpersonal hassles. A model of depression and hassles predicting EM difficulties was also considered; when both hassles and depression scores were entered to predict EM, only depressive symptoms uniquely predicted clarity and repair.     

Body Dissatisfaction, Dating, and Importance of Thinness to Attractiveness in Adolescent Girls

The primary aim of this study was to test a multivariate model of predictors of body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls in which psychological variables, beliefs about the importance of popularity with boys, and beliefs about the importance of thinness to attractiveness and dating were included. We also aimed to explore boys' perceptions of the importance of thinness for attractiveness. Grade 10 girls (n = 573) and boys (n = 145) completed questionnaires. Path analysis provided partial support for the model proposed. Dating did not predict body dissatisfaction, but a relationship between importance of popularity with boys and body dissatisfaction was fully mediated by the belief that boys see thinness as important in rating girls' attractiveness. Although girls underestimated the body size that is attractive to boys, over 85% of boys reported a girl's slimness influenced her attractiveness. Dating was not correlated with body mass index.     

Examination of a model of multiple sociocultural influences on adolescent girls' body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint

This study examined the perceived role of three types of sociocultural agents (peers, parents, and media) in influencing body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint in adolescent girls. Participants were 577 grade 10 girls from six schools who completed questionnaires in class and had height and weight measured. Two path analyses resulted in a similar pattern. While current body size strongly predicted ideal body size and body dissatisfaction, perceived influence of multiple sociocultural agents regarding thinness also had a direct relationship with body ideal and dissatisfaction. Dietary restraint was predicted directly from body dissatisfaction and sociocultural influences. Peers, parents, and media varied in their perceived influence. The findings support the idea that those girls who show the most body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint live in a subculture supporting a thin ideal and encouraging dieting.     

Test-retest reliability and construct validity of Contour Drawing Rating Scale scores in a sample of early adolescent girls

Test–retest and construct validity of Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS) scores were examined in 1056 Grades 7 and 8 girls. Questionnaires were completed four times, including retests at 2, 6 and 14 weeks. Test–retest reliability for current size, ideal size and current–ideal discrepancy mostly exceeded 0.70 (0.65–0.87, for the full sample, with higher rs for shorter retest periods). Ideal and current size ratings increased slightly over time. High correlations between perceived current figure and measured body mass index; moderate rs between current–ideal discrepancy and body dissatisfaction and restrained eating; and very low or no significant correlations with social desirability supported construct validity in this group. The study supported the use of the CDRS in early adolescent girls.     

Oculomotor control and occipital alpha activity: a review and a hypothesis

Findings relating occipital alpha rhythm with the visual system appear to be difficult to interprete. This is due to the fact that the discrimination between oculomotor control monitored by visual input and monitored by other factors — a distinction which is independent of the presence or absence of visual stimulation — has been widely neglected. A review of the available evidence leads to the conclusion that the inflow of visual information itself has no relation with occipital alpha activity. Blocking occurs only when such information serves also as a monitoring principle in oculomotor position control. Some implications of this hypothesis especially in relation to the concept of alertness and arousal in tasks demanding a high level of visual attention, such as car driving, are discussed.     

The relationships among the general attitude and belief scale,other dysfunctional cognition measures,and depressive or bulimic tendencies

This study assessed the relationships between the General Attitude and Belief Scale (GABS) and measures of 1) irrational beliefs derived from Ellis' older and newer theorizing, 2) reasoning errors based on Beck's theory, and 3) affective and behavioral disorder, specifically depression and bulimia. Female undergraduates (n=160) completed the GABS, Irrational Beliefs Scale, Irrational Beliefs Test, Rational Behaviors Inventory, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, Cognitive Error Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory, Center for Epidemiologic Studies — Depression Scale, and Bulimia Test. Results supported the internal consistency and construct validity of the GABS; progressively higher correlations were obtained with measures more similar to the GABS theoretically.Dr. Eleanor H. Wertheim is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. Zeffie Poulakis is associated with the Department of Psychology at La Trobe University where she completed her honours degree, B.B.Sc. (Hons).The authors thank Christine Brown for helping to recruit subjects and administer measures.     

Resistance to extinction in the goldfish following schedules of continuous and variable interval reinforcement

Four goldfish (Carassius auratus, comet) were reinforced with food when they intercepted a beam of light. Each fish performed on both CRF and VI 50-sec schedules. In subsequent extinctions, the CRF schedule produced more responses on the first day than did VI, but after the first day the post-CRF rate dropped much more rapidly. These results agree with those previously obtained in birds and mammals.     

Examination of a multi-factorial model of body-related experiences during pregnancy: the relationships among physical symptoms, sleep quality, depression, self-esteem, and negative body attitudes

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate relationships among women's body attitudes, physical symptoms, self-esteem, depression, and sleep quality during pregnancy. Pregnant women (N = 215) at 15–25 weeks gestation completed a questionnaire including four body image subscales assessing self-reported feeling fat, attractiveness, strength/fitness, and salience of weight and shape. Women reported on 29 pregnancy-related physical complaints, and completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In regressions, controlling for retrospective reports of body image, more frequent and intense physical symptoms were related to viewing the self as less strong/fit, and to poorer sleep quality and more depressive symptoms. In a multi-factorial model extending previous research, paths were found from sleep quality to depressive symptoms to self-esteem; self-esteem was found to be a mediator associated with lower scores on feeling fat and salience of weight and shape, and on higher perceived attractiveness.