Backward walking: a simple reversal of forward walking?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether backward walking represented a simple temporal reversal of forward walking and, hence, could be controlled by a reversed cycling of the same group of neurons. Electromyographic (EMG), joint angle, joint moment, and joint muscle power patterns were compared for forward and backward walking, in 6 subjects. The joint angle patterns with the time-base of the backward walking reversed were similar, with the exception of the ankle. The moment patterns were similar except for the knee, whereas the joint muscle powers were almost reversed-polarity images of each other. This suggests that somewhat similar muscle activation patterns could be used to produce both modes of locomotion, but the temporal cycling of muscle contraction would be reversed: Concentric muscle activity in forward walking would become eccentric activity in backward walking, and visa versa. The EMG results generally supported these findings.     

Acupuncture and emotion: the influence of acupuncture anesthesia on the sensory and emotional components of pain

Objective indices (heart rate, perspiration quantity, finger plethysmograph curves, and facial expression) and subjective indices (sensory and emotional subject reports) were recorded for 25 young Chinese adults (16 men, 9 women) during and after the simultaneous application of a strong pain stimulus and either foot classical (alloneural points Tsusanli and Yanglingchuan) or hand classical (alloneural points Hegu and Neiguan) acupuncture. Both forms of acupuncture were equally effective, showing that stimulation of the same nerve is not essential for pain relief. Acupuncture assuaged the emotional, but not the sensory, response to the painful stimulation.     

汉字词笔划数对短时记忆容量的影响

短时记忆容量的测量有两种主要观点,即组块说和复诵回路说。本报告通过三项实验表明对汉字词短时记忆容量的测量应考虑字词的笔划复杂性。实验一使用频率相同的少笔划和多笔划汉字相比较,笔划少的字比笔划多的字记忆广度大;实验二用笔划数相近但音节长度不同的日本汉字相比较,发现音节长短对容量影响无显著差别;第三项实验是语音掩蔽对汉字词视听短时记忆的影响。结果表明视、听容量都下降,但视觉仍比听觉好。再一次指出汉字词短时记忆容量的测量应考虑其视觉特点。最后对汉字词笔划复杂性影响短时记忆容量的可能原因进行了讨论。     

视觉诱发电位(VEP)对不同频率条纹的反差敏感性

本实验利用条纹发生器产生正弦调制的条纹作视觉刺激,用NICOLETCA—1000平均仪,从枕骨隆起上方沿中线5cm处记录瞬态视觉诱发电位。实验用四种不同反差,十种空间频率,四名被试。结果表明瞬态视觉诱发电位(C_1—C_2)的峰值随反差的增加而变化,其在空间频率上有一定的分布,最敏感处落在3—5C/deg。在阈上刺激时,被试个体有差异,但分布趋势相似,最敏感处也为3—5C/deg,这和心理物理实验获得的调制传递函数(MTF)结果很吻合。从实验结果可以看到(C_1—C_2)值对反差变化是敏感的,它反映了人视觉系统对不同空间频率上的反差敏感性,可以把它与MTF相类比。     

关联负变化(CNV)与反应时的关系

本实验采用选择性叠加方法,研究了关联负变化(Contingent NegativVariation以下简称CNV)与反应时的关系。证明:最长、最短反应时差异显著时,相对应的CNV面积差异也显著。CNV的这种差异主要表现在CNV面积的后半部分。对形成这种现象的原因作了讨论。     

Multidimensional scaling reveals two dimensions of thermal pain

The Individual Differences Scaling (INDSCAL) model of multidimensional scaling was used to explore the dimensions of thermal pain. The observers made 66 similarity judgments to all pairs of 12 different thermal stimulus intensities ranging from zero to noxious. Analysis of the data revealed a two-dimensional group stimulus space. The major dimension ordered the stimuli with respect to their intensity. This quantitative, strength-of-sensation dimension may be interpreted as indicating how weak or strong a stimulus feels, apart from any secondary qualities of warmth or pain. The second dimension was related to the qualitative aspects of the stimuli. This bipolar dimension contained two attributes: a pain attribute ranging from just detectable warmth to painful, and a warm-hot attribute running from just detectable warmth to hot. This study demonstrates the utility of the INDSCAL approach to the understanding of pain and offers a new technique for answering the age-old question concerning the number and qualities of the dimensions underlying the pain experience.     

仪表显示器盘面的颜色对检察速度的影响

本文以心理物理实验为基础,从工程心理学角度寻求不同颜色(篮、黄、绿、灰)仪表盘面对检察速度的影响,为制定仪表显示器和集中控制室内的建筑和照明设计提供实验根据。     

两例先天性无痛症患者的心理生理特点研究 Ⅰ.情绪特点

本工作研究两例先天性无痛症患者的心理特点,主要是其情绪特点,以探讨疼痛和情绪的关系,并借以检验疼痛学说的意义。例一,女,10岁,智力略低于正常,艾森克少年儿童人格问卷表评定人格正常。与身体损伤有关的恐惧感明显缺乏,但与社会和教育影响有联系的恐惧感却甚于正常儿童。情绪急躁,易发作暴发性脾气而不能控制。在突然刺激(强光、强铃声)下的反应和正常儿童相近。例二,男,13岁,智力明显落后,人格评定正常,各种恐惧感均明显缺乏。情绪经常呈明显欣快状态。突然刺激下有口语惊吓和动作反应但无相应的面部表情和植物性神经系统的变化。两例均有无目的的多动作表现。看来疼痛和情绪有某种关系,但本结果并不能证实疼痛的情绪学说。     

Resource scarcity aggravates ingroup bias: Neural mechanisms and cross-scenario validation

Previous studies examining the relationship between ingroup bias and resource scarcity have produced heterogeneous findings, possibly due to their focus on the allocation of positive resources (e.g. money). This study aims to investigate whether ingroup bias would be amplified or eliminated when perceived survival resources for counteracting negative stimuli are scarce. For this purpose, we exposed the participants and another confederate of the experimenters (ingroup/outgroup member) to a potential threat of unpleasant noise. Participants received some ‘relieving resources’ to counteract noise administration, the amount of which may or may not be enough for them and the confederate in different conditions (i.e. abundance vs. scarcity). First, a behavioural experiment demonstrated that intergroup discrimination manifested only in the scarcity condition; in contrast, the participants allocated similar amounts of resource to ingroup and outgroup members in the abundance condition, indicating a context-dependent allocation strategy. This behavioural pattern was replicated in a follow-up neuroimaging experiment, which further revealed that when contrasting scarcity with abundance, there was higher activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as well as stronger functional connectivity of the ACC with the empathy network (including the temporoparietal junction and medial prefrontal cortex) for ingroup compared to outgroup members. We suggest that ACC activation reflects the mentalizing process toward ingroup over outgroup members in the scarcity condition. Finally, the ACC activation level significantly predicted the influence of resource scarcity on ingroup bias in hypothetical real-life situations according to a follow-up examination.