Importance of crack-propagation-induced ε-martensite in strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue of high-Mn austenitic steel

We investigated the roles of deformation-induced ε-martensitic transformation on strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue (LCF) through crack-propagation analysis involving a notching technique that used a focused ion beam (FIB) setup on Fe–30Mn–4Si–2Al austenitic steel. Using the FIB notch, we separated the microstructure evolution into macroscopic cyclic deformation-induced and crack-propagation-induced microstructures. Following this, we clarified the fatigue crack-propagation-induced ε-martensitic transformation to decelerate crack propagation at a total strain range of 2%, obtaining an extraordinary LCF life of 1.1 × 10⁴ cycles.     

Eye movements during scene inspection: A test of the saliency map hypothesis

Both attentional difficulties and rapid processing deficits have recently been linked with dyslexia. We report two studies comparing the performance of dyslexic and control teenagers on attentional tasks. The two studies were based on two different conceptions of attention. Study 1 employed a design that allowed three key components of attention--focusing, switching, and sustaining--to be investigated separately. One hypothesis under investigation was that rapid processing problems--in particular impaired ability to switch attention rapidly--might be associated with dyslexia. However, although dyslexic participants were significantly less accurate than their controls in a condition where they had to switch attention between two target types, the nature of the deficit suggested that the problem was not in switching attention per se. Thus, in Study 2, we explored an alternative interpretation of the Study 1 results in terms of the classic capacity-limited models of "central" attention. We contrasted two hypotheses: (1) that dyslexic teenagers have reduced cognitive resources versus (2) that they suffer from a general impairment in the ability to automatise basic skills. To investigate the automaticity of the shape recognition component of the task a similar attention paradigm to that used in Study 1 was employed, but using degraded, as well as intact, stimuli. It was found that stimulus degradation led to relatively less impairment for dyslexic than for matched control groups. The results support the hypothesis that dyslexic people suffer from a general impairment in the ability to automatise skills--in this case the skill of automatic shape recognition.     

Transgenic inhibition of neuronal calcineurin activity in the forebrain facilitates fear conditioning, but inhibits the extinction of contextual fear memories

It is unclear whether protein phosphatases, which counteract the actions of protein kinases, play a beneficial role in the formation and extinction of previously acquired fear memories. In this study, we investigated the role of the calcium/calmodulin dependent phosphatase 2B, also known as calcineurin (CaN) in the formation of contextual fear memory and extinction of previously acquired contextual fear. We used a temporally regulated transgenic approach, that allowed us to selectively inhibit neuronal CaN activity in the forebrain either during conditioning or only during extinction training leaving the conditioning undisturbed. Reducing CaN activity through the expression of a CaN inhibitor facilitated contextual fear conditioning, while it impaired the extinction of previously formed contextual fear memory. These findings give the first genetic evidence that neuronal CaN plays an opposite role in the formation of contextual fear memories and the extinction of previously formed contextual fear memories.     

Behold the voice of wrath: cross-modal modulation of visual attention by anger prosody

Emotionally relevant stimuli are prioritized in human information processing. It has repeatedly been shown that selective spatial attention is modulated by the emotional content of a stimulus. Until now, studies investigating this phenomenon have only examined within-modality effects, most frequently using pictures of emotional stimuli to modulate visual attention. In this study, we used simultaneously presented utterances with emotional and neutral prosody as cues for a visually presented target in a cross-modal dot probe task. Response times towards targets were faster when they appeared at the location of the source of the emotional prosody. Our results show for the first time a cross-modal attentional modulation of visual attention by auditory affective prosody.     

The role of words and sounds in infants' visual processing: from overshadowing to attentional tuning

Although it is well documented that language plays an important role in cognitive development, there are different views concerning the mechanisms underlying these effects. Some argue that even early in development, effects of words stem from top-down knowledge, whereas others argue that these effects stem from auditory input affecting attention allocated to visual input. Previous research (e.g., Robinson & Sloutsky, 2004a ) demonstrated that non-speech sounds attenuate processing of corresponding visual input at 8, 12, and 16 months of age, whereas the current study demonstrates that words attenuate visual processing at 10 months but not at 16 months (Experiment 1). Furthermore, prefamiliarization with non-speech sounds (Experiment 2) resulted in able processing of visual input by 16-month-olds. These findings suggest that some effects of labels found early in development may stem from familiarity with human speech. The possibility of general-auditory factors underlying the effects of words on cognitive development is discussed.     

非面孔物体倒置效应形成过程的认知神经机制

物体识别, 尤其是人造新异物体专家识别形成过程的神经机制是了解大脑可塑性的一个重要窗口。当前, 从行为学上或神经机制上探讨物体特定角度体验程度与物体专家识别形成关系的研究较少, 本项目采用事件相关电位与行为训练相结合的方法, 分别选择在社会生活中自然形成的某类物体识别专家和经人为训练形成的人造新异物体识别专家作为被试, 研究非面孔物体识别倒置效应从无到有、从小到大整个过程的脑机制。通过对倒置效应大小的操纵, 分离出专家识别状态下的ERP成分, 并分析专家识别形成过程的脑电动态变化过程, 探讨非面孔物体识别大脑可塑性变化的神经机制。在上述研究的基础上, 研究者试图提出物体特定角度体验程度与物体识别加工方式选择关系模型并完善当前物体识别整体布局加工连续量假设(configural processing continuum)理论。     

老年人加工速度的干预研究

对老年人加工速度进行干预, 旨在考察加工速度在老年期的可塑性。首先对46名60~79岁城市社区老年人实施前测, 包括两项加工速度测验(数字比较、图形匹配)、成套基本心理能力测验和老年人日常智力自我效能感问卷。然后, 干预组25名老年人接受每周一期(每期50min)共计5期的加工速度训练。训练内容为图形模式比较。所有被试在训练周期结束后接受后测, 并在后测结束4个月后接受追踪测验。结果表明, 能够通过加工速度干预显著提高老年人图形匹配测验成绩, 并对词汇流畅测验成绩有迁移作用, 但干预和迁移效果并未保持到4个月。与数字比较测验相比, 图形匹配测验能够更稳定地反映干预的效果。     

工作记忆刷新功能的可塑性

从工作记忆刷新功能的训练入手, 以不同人群为研究对象, 采用活动记忆任务, 从行为层面和认知神经层面探讨工作记忆刷新功能的可塑性。结果发现, 工作记忆刷新功能具有可塑性。具体表现为, 通过刷新功能训练, 个体在工作记忆刷新任务上的成绩提高。工作记忆刷新功能训练使得个体对刺激的识别能力增强, 对无关信息的抑制能力提高, 进而促使工作记忆中的更新能力得到提升。通过工作记忆刷新训练可以提高个体其它认知功能, 但是, 相对于认知能力稳定以及衰退的个体, 这种迁移效应在工作记忆能力发展个体中的表现更为明显。     

基于中央执行功能的儿童工作记忆可塑性机制

近期的研究发现儿童的工作记忆能力具有一定的可塑性。研究者采用双盲对照实验设计, 通过改编的工作记忆广度、N-back、活动记忆和GO-NOGO等任务对15岁以下的正常儿童和特殊儿童(多动症、智力低下等)的工作记忆能力进行训练, 训练的周期一般为15~30天不等, 每天训练时长约15~25分钟。研究结果发现, 工作记忆训练不仅可以提高儿童的工作记忆能力, 而且还可以迁移至其它高级认知功能(流体智力、数学能力等), 甚至可以改善多动症儿童的临床症状。研究者还发现这种训练效应可以保持3~6个月。通过工作记忆中央执行功能的训练, 是否可以促进儿童认知功能的发展？儿童认知功能的可塑性表现为短暂的提高还是促进认知发展？中央执行功能的训练如何影响儿童认知加工过程的发展？这些问题的回答对于近一步探索认知活动和认知神经的可塑性具有一定的理论意义。可以为工作记忆缺陷儿童的临床干预和治疗提供有效的工具, 具有实践意义。     

Brain plasticity and behavior

Although the brain was once seen as a rather static organ, it is now clear that the organization of brain circuitry is constantly changing as a function of experience. These changes are referred to as brain plasticity, and they are associated with functional changes that include phenomena such as memory, addiction, and recovery of function. Recent research has shown that brain plasticity and behavior can be influenced by a myriad of factors, including both pre- and postnatal experience, drugs, hormones, maturation, aging, diet, disease, and stress. Understanding how these factors influence brain organization and function is important not only for understanding both normal and abnormal behavior, but also for designing treatments for behavioral and psychological disorders ranging from addiction to stroke.