Event rate and reaction time performance in ADHD: Testing predictions from the state regulation deficit hypothesis using an ex-Gaussian model

According to the state regulation deficit (SRD) account, ADHD is associated with a problem using effort to maintain an optimal activation state under demanding task settings such as very fast or very slow event rates. This leads to a prediction of disrupted performance at event rate extremes reflected in higher Gaussian response variability that is a putative marker of activation during motor preparation. In the current study, we tested this hypothesis using ex-Gaussian modeling, which distinguishes Gaussian from non-Gaussian variability. Twenty-five children with ADHD and 29 typically developing controls performed a simple Go/No-Go task under four different event-rate conditions. There was an accentuated quadratic relationship between event rate and Gaussian variability in the ADHD group compared to the controls. The children with ADHD had greater Gaussian variability at very fast and very slow event rates but not at moderate event rates. The results provide evidence for the SRD account of ADHD. However, given that this effect did not explain all group differences (some of which were independent of event rate) other cognitive and/or motivational processes are also likely implicated in ADHD performance deficits.     

WISC-IV GAI and CPI profiles in healthy children and children with learning disabilities

IntroductionIn addition to the FSIQ, the General Ability Index (GAI) and the Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) are two ancillary scores that can be calculated for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. The GAI and the CPI have been proposed to assist in identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and thus to provide different views into individual's cognitive abilities.ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study is to provide the frequency of GAI/CPI score difference by direction, the frequency of FSIQ/GAI score difference, and the frequency of FSIQ/CPI score difference, for the French Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and Adolescents–Fourth Edition (WISC-IV).MethodThese frequencies are provided for a sample of healthy children (n = 483), and for a sample of children with learning disabilities (LD, n = 370). The GAI comprises verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning subtests, while CPI comprises working memory and processing speed subtests.ResultsResults indicated that the healthy sample performed better than the LD sample for all composite scores. The FSIQ was lower than the GAI for both groups and this difference was slightly larger for the LD sample (−1.35 points vs. −3.22 points). The GAI was higher than the CPI for both samples, but this difference was not significantly larger for the LD sample (4.2 points vs. 6.16 points). Finally, while the FSIQ was higher than the CPI for both groups, this difference was not larger for the LD sample (2.85 points vs. 2.95 points).ConclusionThese findings support the use of the GAI and the CPI, in addition to the FSIQ.     

一种可融入额外信息的机器学习诊断法

研究将PNN和曼哈顿距离、贝叶斯定理相结合,提出了一种相对简洁的可融入额外信息的认知诊断法MB-PNN,通过模拟和实证研究考察了MB-PNN的有效性和适宜性,得到以下结论:(1)M-PNN的判准率高于PNN,表明将PNN中的ED修改为MD是适宜的;(2)MB-PNN的判准率较M-PNN和PNN高,表明基于多种信息的判别较基于单一信息的判别更为精准;(3)MB-PNN保留了PNN原有的非参数优势,基本不受知识状态分布和样本容量影响;(4)MB-PNN最能区分不同类型的学生,在认知诊断评估实践中更为适宜。     

目击辨认研究概览

目击辨认的结果作为证据对于法庭判决具有重要意义。DNA证据显示辨认似乎不可靠,心理学家试图了解影响辨认准确性的因素。文章介绍了西方目击辨认研究的范式,估计变量和系统变量对辨认的影响,并分析目击辨认研究存在的理论缺乏和外部效度问题,从而为今后研究提供参考     

Psychological stress of bicycling with traffic: examining heart rate variability of bicyclists in natural urban environments

Understanding how road environments stress bicyclists (and prospective bicyclists) has important implications for road design and network planning. With the rise of wearable bio-sensing technology, the potential for measuring real-time environmental acute stress is emerging. In this naturalistic cross-over field experiment, we investigate bicyclist stress through heart rate variability (HRV). We examine the relationship between HRV and the road environment through a series of multilevel statistical models. Results suggest that participants’ HRV are only certain to differ on one (the local road) of five road environments tested. The differences in participants’ HRV between two collectors and two arterials are far more tenuous. We discuss the validity of HRV and other biometrics for assessing stress and discuss how HRV and other biometrics might help improve our understanding of bicyclists’ perceptions of road environments.     

学习率的心理现实性及其对项目选择的影响

项目选择一直是元认知控制研究中的热点问题。本研究以不同难度和分值的计算题为实验材料,通过两个实验探讨学习率的心理现实性及其对项目选择的影响。实验1中,在不限时条件下,被试者需要完成不同难度的计算题并赋予不同分值。实验2中,在限时条件下,通过变化计算题的难度和分值设计了三种不同学习率的项目,被试只能选择其中一种项目来计算以获得更高的分值。研究表明：第一,当项目所用时间增多时,被试对该项目所赋分值就增大,而时间（难度）与分值的比例是不变的,即学习率是相同的;第二,被试倾向于选择学习率更高的项目来完成计算任务,而当学习率相同时,被试倾向于优先选择高分困难项目。研究证实了学习率的心理现实性,并确定了学习率是项目选择的主要依据。     

Increasing compliance with wearing a medical device in children with autism

Health professionals often recommend the use of medical devices to assess the health, monitor the well-being, or improve the quality of life of their patients. Children with autism may present challenges in these situations as their sensory peculiarities may increase refusals to wear such devices. To address this issue, we systematically replicated prior research by examining the effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) to increase compliance with wearing a heart rate monitor in 2 children with autism. The intervention increased compliance to 100% for both participants when an edible reinforcer was delivered every 90 s. The results indicate that DRO does not require the implementation of extinction to increase compliance with wearing a medical device. More research is needed to examine whether the reinforcement schedule can be further thinned.     

Heart rate and blood pressure responses to a competitive role‐playing game

The effects of the outcome of competitive encounters on physiological parameters have been studied, especially testosterone levels, but hardly on other systems that, however, present a high sensitivity to stress. This study assessed the effect of a competitive game on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in a sample of university students. In addition, the influence of anxiety and attributions of the outcome was also explored. Only winners significantly showed a rise in HR during the competition followed by a decrease along the posttask phase in addition to more internal attributions. On the contrary, the average HR for losers during the competition was lower compared with their baseline values. No differences depending on the outcome were found in BP. The cardiovascular response as well as the subjective interpretation of the outcome suggest a more active strategy employed by winners vs. a more passive strategy of losers. Future studies should specifically investigate the importance of coping strategies for psychophysiological adaptation to contests and for the outcome reached. This would permit an advance in the understanding of the role of individual differences in the processes of stress and in associated diseases. Aggr. Behav. 27:351–359, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

放松训练和腹式呼吸对应激的影响

探讨腹式呼吸和放松训练对应激引起的T波幅度降低和心率升高的对抗作用。被试为 3组 38名女大学生。结果表明 :(1)放松训练和腹式呼吸均能显著促进T波幅度升高和对抗应激时T波幅度的降低 ,但腹式呼吸的效果优于放松训练。 (2 )应激会引起心率的显著上升和T波幅度的显著降低。 (3)心率不是测量放松训练和腹式呼吸效果的敏感指标。结论 :腹式呼吸和放松训练可以有效地缓解心血管系统的应激反应