The role of meaning in contextual cueing: Evidence from chess expertise

In contextual cueing, the position of a search target is learned over repeated exposures to a visual display. The strength of this effect varies across stimulus types. For example, real-world scene contexts give rise to larger search benefits than contexts composed of letters or shapes. We investigated whether such differences in learning can be at least partially explained by the degree of semantic meaning associated with a context independently of the nature of the visual information available (which also varies across stimulus types). Chess boards served as the learning context as their meaningfulness depends on the observer's knowledge of the game. In Experiment 1, boards depicted actual game play, and search benefits for repeated boards were 4 times greater for experts than for novices. In Experiment 2, search benefits among experts were halved when less meaningful randomly generated boards were used. Thus, stimulus meaningfulness independently contributes to learning context–target associations.     

There goes the neighbourhood: Contextual control over the breadth of lexical activation when reading aloud

There are currently two computational accounts of how the time to read pseudohomophones (like BRANE) and their nonword controls (like FRANE) varies with changes in context. In Reynolds and Besner's (2005) account, readers vary the breadth of lexical activation in response to changes in context. A competing account proposed by Kwantes and Marmurek (2007 Kwantes, P. and Marmurek, H. 2007. Controlling lexical contributions to the reading of pseudohomophones. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14: 373–378. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and independently by Perry, Ziegler, and Zorzi (2007 Perry, C., Ziegler, J. C. and Zorzi, M. 2007. Nested incremental modeling in the development of computational theories: The CDP+ model of reading aloud. Psychological Review, 114: 273–315. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) has readers varying their response criterion in response to changes in context. The present work adjudicates between these two accounts by examining how the effect of neighbourhood density changes as a function of list context when reading pseudohomophones aloud. The results of an experiment and simulations from a leading computational model support the lexical breadth account, but are inconsistent with the response criterion account.     

The Role of Trauma in Conduct Disorder

Summary

Trauma is proposed as a key to understanding the development and persistence of conduct disorder, in conjunction with other contributing factors. Trauma history is ubiquitous in the conduct disordered population, and trauma effects can help to account for many features of conduct disorder, including lack of empathy, impulsivity, anger, acting-out, and resistance to treatment. The current standard of care fails to fully address trauma, which may partially explain the low success rate of extant treatment approaches. A trauma-informed perspective is introduced to current models of conduct disorder. Research, prevention, and treatment implications are discussed.     

Blended courage: Moral and psychological courage elements in mental health treatment seeking by active duty military personnel

We propose that seeking mental health care in an environment with heightened stigma may combine elements of both psychological and moral courage. Interviews of 32 active duty US Army personnel about their process of seeking current mental health care were analyzed for themes of voluntary action, personal risk, and noble or worthwhile goals (benefits). Risks and benefits were divided into internal risks and benefits, characteristic of psychological courage; and external risks and benefits, characteristic of moral courage. Concerns about external risks were themes in all narratives, while concerns about internal risks were themes in only about half of narratives. Both internal and external benefits of treatment were themes in approximately three-quarters of the narratives, whereas doubts about internal (but not external) benefits were also expressed at a similar rate. Thus, participants described an act of blended courage, with social risks of moral courage taken for wellness goals of psychological courage.     

结核病诊治进展与科技革命

现代科技革命极大地促进了结核病各方面的发展.微生物学和免疫学的发展,揭示了结核病的病因、发病机制、病理生理的本质,分子生物学技术使结核病的基础研究不仅停留在器官、细胞水平,而是深入到蛋白质、核酸、基因的水平;基因治疗的方法可望从根本上治疗结核病.高新技术的产物如X线照片、电子计算机断层扫描、纤维支气管镜检查和新药的出现等极大地提高了临床诊治的能力.借助于各种先进的医疗设备而进行精确的诊断,基因治疗将成为一种崭新的治疗手段.     

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Postamputation Chronic Pain: A Case Report

Limb amputation has a significant impact on an individual, not only physically but emotionally. Consequences of both traumatic and atraumatic amputations are vast and can result in functional disability, impaired emotional functioning, and changes in overall quality of life. These consequences may be further complicated by the development of chronic pain. Traditional management of postamputation chronic pain often involves invasive procedures and pharmacotherapy. While research notes behavioral interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a viable treatment alternative for chronic pain, there is no literature supporting CBT for postamputation chronic pain. In this case report, we present a 63-year-old male lower limb amputee complicated with chronic pain who experienced pain reduction and improved quality of life following manualized treatment with CBT for chronic pain. Treatment took place over 12 sessions with fidelity (93%) being measured throughout to ensure accurate utilization of the treatment manual. As part of the treatment manual, self-report measures (Pain Rating Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pain Outcomes Questionnaire, and subjective units of distress) were used throughout to track patient progress. All measures showed improvement with the biggest gains being seen in pain ratings and pain catastrophizing.     

诊疗最优化原则的伦理学探析

讨论了诊疗最优化原则的伦理学意义:它充分体现了医学的宗旨、医学职业道德理想和对患者的无私关爱,有利于纠正医疗卫生行业的时弊,昭示着医疗卫生改革发展的方向。针对实践中遇到的阻力和困惑,作者提出了促进最优化原则实施的五点建议。     

评价恐惧理论及相关研究述评

社交焦虑认知行为模型将负面评价恐惧作为社交焦虑的核心特征, Weeks和Heimberg提出评价恐惧概念并认为, 无论是正面评价恐惧还是负面评价恐惧, 都是社交焦虑的核心特征。Watson和Friend提出负面评价恐惧至今已有40年, 负面评价恐惧的测量工具、遗传特质、注意偏向及其在学习等领域中的应用已有相关研究。而正面评价恐惧的研究才刚刚开展。评价恐惧测量工具的完善、研究内容的拓展、临床干预的充实、跨文化研究的加强等都是未来的研究方向。     

Predictors of Symptom Outcome in Interpretation Bias Modification for Dysphoria

Interpretation Bias Modification (IBM) interventions have been effective in reducing negative interpretation biases theorized to underlie depressive psychopathology. Although these programs have been highlighted as potential short-term interventions for depression, mixed evidence has been found for their effects on depressive symptoms. There is a need to examine attitudes towards training as well as individual difference factors that may impact symptom outcomes for IBM depression interventions. Seventy-two dysphoric young adults were randomly assigned to receive either an IBM targeting negative interpretation bias in personal evaluations or interpersonal situations or a healthy video control (HVC) condition. Compared to those who received HVC, participants in the IBM condition reported lower negative interpretation bias at posttreatment. No differences between conditions were found for symptom outcomes. Greater perceived treatment credibility and expectancy were associated with better treatment outcomes for both the IBM and HVC groups. Within the IBM group, a greater tendency toward assimilation with treatment scenarios was significantly associated with better treatment outcomes for both depressive and anger symptoms. This effect was unique from treatment credibility and expectancy. Pretreatment psychological reactance did not predict treatment response for either condition. Implications and future research directions are discussed.     

Resurgence is greater following a return to the training context than remaining in the extinction context

The present study examined whether resurgence of a previously reinforced target response upon removing alternative reinforcement would be greater when (1) returning to the original training context (ABA context changes) versus (2) remaining in the analogue treatment context in which the alternative response was differentially reinforced (ABB context changes). Experiment 1 arranged reinforcement of button pressing with points exchangeable for money in university students. Experiment 2 arranged reinforcement of lever pressing with food for rats. Experiment 3 arranged reinforcement of responses to a touchscreen with small bites of food with children diagnosed with ASD. Overall, resurgence of target responding tended to be greater when returning to the original training context (A) than when remaining in the analogue treatment context (B). These findings suggest context changes with differential reinforcement treatments could exacerbate the recurrence of problem behavior resulting from reductions in treatment integrity through failure to reinforce appropriate behavior.