Reliabilism and imprecise credences

Philosophical Studies - What is it for an imprecise credence to be justified? It might be thought that this is not a particularly urgent question for friends of imprecise credences to answer. For...     

Predicting changes in teenage drug use: the role of intention-behavior discrepancy

This research investigated the role of intention-behavior discrepancy in predicting changes in drug use by American teenagers. The tested behavior included drinking alcohol, smoking cannabis, and taking hard drugs. Data were collected from 1,177 young adolescents at two time points separated by one year. Two sets of analysis were performed--a multitrait-multimethod latent variable model and longitudinal analyses. The results of longitudinal analyses indicated that, although young adolescents were legally and socially prohibited from engaging in drug-taking activities, some of them intended to use drugs. This discrepancy between behaviors and intentions decreased neither drug-taking behaviors nor intentions to use drugs over time; on the contrary, it increased adolescents' illegal drug use and intention to engage in such behaviors as predicted by Brehm's reactance theory. This discrepancy factor was a better predictor of later drug-taking behavior and positive intentions to use drugs than early intentions alone. The best predictor of later behavior and intentions was prior drug use.     

Recollection reduces unitised familiarity effect

Two types of encoding tasks have been employed in previous research to investigate the beneficial effect of unitisation on familiarity-based associative recognition (unitised familiarity effect), namely the compound task and the interactive imagery task. Here we show how these two tasks could differentially engage subsequent recollection-based associative recognition and consequently lead to the turn-on or turn-off of the unitised familiarity effect. In the compound task, participants studied unrelated word pairs as newly learned compounds. In the interactive imagery task, participants studied the same word pairs as interactive images. An associative recognition task was used in combination with the Remember/Know procedure to measure recollection-based and familiarity-based associative recognition. The results showed that the unitised familiarity effect was present in the compound task but was absent in the interactive imagery task. A comparison of the compound and the interactive imagery task revealed a dramatic increase in recollection-based associative recognition for the interactive imagery task. These results suggest that unitisation could benefit familiarity-based associative recognition; however, this effect will be eliminated when the memory trace formed is easily accessed by strong recollection without the need for a familiarity assessment.     

加工水平及词对类型在新异联系形成中的作用

该研究采用过程分离方法和知觉辨认方法探讨不同加工水平和词对类型在新异联系形成中的作用。结果表明,深加工是形成非相关词对间联想启动的条件之一。另外,具体词对的联想启动没有表现出加工水平效应,出现了内隐和外显记忆的分离现象,提示不同的词对类型与加工水平间存在着交互作用,当联系程度较紧时,并不一定需要语义加工,而联系程度不紧时,语义加工则是必要的。     

梨状皮层或苍白球损毁对大鼠空间认知能力的影响

在Ｍｏｒｒｉｓ迷宫中,梨状皮层或苍白球损毁大鼠的空间认知作业成绩较显著低于控制组,搜索目标以趋向式策略为主,与正常大鼠搜索策略的差异提示：①梨状皮层和苍白球参与了空间认知加工;②在图认知系统中梨状皮层和苍白球居辅助层次。     

Minimax d-optimal designs for item response theory models

Various different item response theory (IRT) models can be used in educational and psychological measurement to analyze test data. One of the major drawbacks of these models is that efficient parameter estimation can only be achieved with very large data sets. Therefore, it is often worthwhile to search for designs of the test data that in some way will optimize the parameter estimates. The results from the statistical theory on optimal design can be applied for efficient estimation of the parameters.A major problem in finding an optimal design for IRT models is that the designs are only optimal for a given set of parameters, that is, they are locally optimal. Locally optimal designs can be constructed with a sequential design procedure. In this paper minimax designs are proposed for IRT models to overcome the problem of local optimality. Minimax designs are compared to sequentially constructed designs for the two parameter logistic model and the results show that minimax design can be nearly as efficient as sequentially constructed designs.     

Gray matter density negatively correlates with duration of heroin use in young lifetime heroin-dependent individuals

Numerous studies have documented cognitive impairments and hypoactivity in the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices in drug users. However, the relationships between opiate dependence and brain structure changes in heroin users are largely unknown. In the present study, we measured the density of gray matter (DGM) with voxel-based morphometry in 30 lifetime heroin-dependent individuals who had abstained from drug use for 5 months, and 34 healthy participants. The DGM of the prefrontal, temporal and cingulate cortices significantly decreased in heroin addicts relative to the healthy group. Critically, partial correlation analysis, which controlled for age, education and gender factors as well as nicotine use and heroin abstinence duration, showed that the duration of heroin use negatively correlated with the DGM in heroin-dependent individuals. These results provide compelling evidence for structural abnormality in heroin-dependent individuals and further suggest that duration of heroin use is a critical factor leading to brain damage.     

Avengers,assemble the literature! A multi-study review of consumption,environmental values,and planetary health research

Mother Earth is dying. Humanity needs to step up. Otherwise, the planet we call home will soon be uninhabitable. The destiny of our planet inarguably depends on consumers, as their choices have the power to turn them into eco-superheroes (sustainable consumption) or eco-villains (unsustainable consumption). This article aims to review the current progress of consumption research and propose strategies to inspire consumers to embrace their inner eco-warrior spirit, fostering sustainable behavior that protects the environment and supports human well-being. To achieve this, this article employs an integrative approach, merging a meta-perspective on theoretical development with a multi-study methodological approach. Harnessing the power of scientometrics, this article delivers meta-insights from a multi-study analysis on consumption trends in relation to environmental values (micro-perspective; Study 1) and planetary health (macro-perspective; Study 2). These findings pave the way for future research and intervention strategies designed to nurture ecological sustainability and unleash the eco-warrior in every consumer.     

心理词典中范畴化现象研究综述

范畴化是心理词典研究中一个非常有趣的现象。该文综述了这一现象的主要理论模型和相关的认知神经科学研究。文章对该研究领域的各种争论及各种理论模型的优缺点进行了讨论,并简要分析了范畴化现象的神经解剖学（脑结构基础及其功能）和神经生理学（事件相关电位的各种成分及其时间进程）的研究进展。