Effect of neurofeedback on hemispheric word recognition

We applied SMR/theta neurofeedback (NF) training at central sites of 20 Israeli children aged 10-12 years, half boys and half girls. Half of the subjects received C3 training and the other half C4 training, consisting of 20 half-hour sessions. We assessed the effects of training on lateralized lexical decision in Hebrew. The lateralized lexical decision test reveals an independent contribution of each hemisphere to word recognition (Barnea, Mooshagian, & Zaidel, 2003). Training increased accuracy and sensitivity. It increased left hemisphere (LH) specialization under some conditions but it did not affect interhemispheric transfer. Training did affect psycholinguistic processing in the two hemispheres, differentially at C3 and C4. Training also increased hemispheric independence. There were surprising sex differences in the effects of training. In boys, C4 training improved LH accuracy, whereas in girls C3 training improved LH accuracy. The results suggest that the lateralized NF protocol activates asymmetric hemispheric control circuits which modify distant hemispheric networks and are organized differently in boys and girls.     

Solidarity across group lines: Secondary transfer effect of intergroup contact,perceived moral distance,and collective action

We tested, in three studies, whether the generalization of contact effects from primary to secondary outgroups—the secondary transfer effect (STE)—occurs for collective action. The results supported a serial mediation model: contact with immigrants by advantaged group members (Italians: Study 1, N = 146, 121 females, M_age = 28.31 years; Study 3, N = 406, 239 females, M_age = 36.35; British people, Study 2, N = 160, 113 females, M_age = 32.31) was associated with lower perceived moral distance toward primary outgroups, which in turn was associated with more positive attitudes and greater collective action intentions toward primary outgroups, and lower perceived moral distance toward secondary outgroups. Lower perceived moral distance toward secondary outgroups and stronger collective action intentions toward the primary outgroup were associated with higher collective action intentions toward secondary outgroups (results were inconsistent for attitudes). We discuss the findings with a focus on how a consideration of perceived moral distance extends current theorizing, and the relevance of generalized prejudice for the STE.     

意义程度不同的对偶材料迁移效果的实验研究

通过两个对偶学习实验探讨了对偶材料的意义性对两种类型的迁移效果的影响 ,即刺激相同、反应不同的迁移类型和刺激不同、反应相同的迁移类型。从广州华南师范大学低年级随机选出 5 6名大学生 ,采取组内设计 ,自变量分无意义词对、抽象词对、具体词对三种水平 ;要求每名被试依次完成三种水平全部学习。依据前后学习成绩之差 ,考察三种水平下迁移效果的变化。结果表明 :当对偶材料意义性逐渐增大时 ,在刺激相同、反应不同的条件下 ,产生负迁移的程度逐渐增大 ;在刺激不同、反应相同的条件下 ,产生迁移的效果不受影响。     

TEACHING COMPUTER-BASED SPELLING TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND HEARING DISABILITIES: TRANSFER OF STIMULUS CONTROL TO WRITING TASKS

Computer-based instruction may yield widely useful handwritten spelling. Illustrative cases involved individuals with mental retardation and hearing impairments. The participant in Study 1 matched computer pictures and printed words to one another but did not spell the words to pictures. Spelling was then taught using a computerized procedure. In general, increases in the accuracy of computer spelling were accompanied by improvements in written spelling to pictures. Study 2 extended these results with a 2nd participant. After initial training, spelling improved in the context of a retrieval task in which the participant (a) wrote a list of the names of objects displayed on a table, (b) selected the objects from a shelf, and (c) returned the objects to the table. Nearly perfect accuracy scores declined on some retrieval trials conducted without a list, suggesting that the list may have served a mediating function during retrieval. Transfer of stimulus control of computer-based teaching to the retrieval task may have been attributable to the existence of stimulus classes involving pictures, objects, and printed words.     

Investigating Behavioral Dynamics With A Fixed-time Extinction Schedule And Linear Analysis

This paper describes the behavioral adaptation observed for 16 pigeons responding to a step transition in the reinforcement rate in a repeated-trial design. Within each trial, following exposure for a fixed period to a variable-interval schedule, there was an unsignaled change in the schedule to extinction. The step transition allowed an experimental test of the applicability of a linear analysis to steady-state dynamic behavior. The computations required for this test yielded, as an intermediate result, transfer functions for each of the 16 birds from 1 mHz to 256 mHz. The transfer functions obtained show greater responsiveness to lower frequencies (i.e., longer time-scale structures in the reinforcement schedule); hence, the pigeons have the characteristics of a low-pass filter. The outcome of the test is that some predictability of the pigeons' future behavior is possible.     

Language transfer and blocking in second language vocabulary learning

The influence of different vocabulary instructional techniques upon the acquisition of different language words was examined in two experiments. In Experiment 1, comparisons were made between the learning of Chinese and French words employing both paired-associate presentations and spacing procedures. The results supported the view that language transfer affects the acquisition of second language words, with more French words being learned than Chinese words. The superiority of the spacing procedure over the paired-associate presentation found in these results suggested that the spacing method diminished the adverse effects of blocking and thus enhanced learning. However, no significant interaction between the teaching procedures and different language words was detected. That is, under the spacing procedure, greater improvement in learning of Chinese words was not found. The experiment was thus modified by substituting the spacing procedure with aural feedback in Experiment 2. In this experiment, a significant interaction between these two factors was detected. That is, the recall for French was more than Chinese in the paired-associate condition, however, under the aural feedback, performance in Chinese was statistically equivalent to that in French. Hence, these findings may contradict the prediction of language transfer. It appears that the phenomenon of language transfer may be far less important in vocabulary learning than the use of a method of instruction which neutralises the negative effects of blocking.     

Reinforcement of probe responses and acquisition of stimulus control in fading procedures

Stimulus control of pigeons' key pecking was transferred from colors to lines by the method of stimulus fading. Fading was conducted with the addition of probes consisting of the line stimuli presented alone at each fading level. Probe responding was used to measure stimulus-control acquisition by the lines. Effects of reinforcement and nonreinforcement of probe responding upon acquisition of stimulus control were assessed using a single-organism repeated-acquisition design in which three fades were conducted serially. Probe responding was not reinforced in the first and third fade but was in the second. Reinforcement of probe responding substantially reduced the number of fading levels needed to complete fading. The outcome of a control experiment ruled out the possibility of accounting for these results in terms of the specific stimuli used in each fade or in terms of the sequential exposure to the three discriminations. Although probes permitted measurement of stimulus-control acquisition in fading, a measurement/acquisition interaction was also present.     

文本阅读过程中组织策略迁移的研究

探讨文章阅读中组织策略的迁移问题,包括3个实验。实验1探讨了阅读过程中组织策略对阅读保持的影响,结果表明,使用组织策略能明显地促进阅读文章的信息保持;实验2探讨了前后阅读文章内容有关情况下组织策略的迁移问题,结果表明,在提示的条件下,组织策略迁移可以发生;实验3探讨了在前后阅读文章内容无关情况下组织策略迁移是否可以实现,结果表明,在前后阅读文章内容无关条件下也可以产生组织策略的迁移。本研究结果表明,前后阅读的文章不管内容是否有关,如果它们都适合使用同一组织策略,在提示条件下就可以实现策略的迁移。     

审美概念学习效应与迁移的逻辑线路探究

以49名小学四年级学生和30名大学教师及研究生为实验对象,采用SMSD模式进行审美概念学习,结果发现这两组被试的审美理解和感受水平都有显著提高。对大学教师研究生组再作前审美概念(已学概念)之于后审美概念(未学概念)各因素影响情况的回归分析,得到四个回归方程,据此绘制出SMSD模式审美概念学习迁移模型图,归纳出平行迁移、纵向迁移、交叉迁移、小巡回迁移、大巡回迁移等若干逻辑线路。