The very same thing: Extending the object token concept to incorporate causal constraints on individual identity

The contributions of feature recognition, object categorization, and recollection of episodic memories to the re-identification of a perceived object as the very same thing encountered in a previous perceptual episode are well understood in terms of both cognitive-behavioral phenomenology and neurofunctional implementation. Human beings do not, however, rely solely on features and context to re-identify individuals; in the presence of featural change and similarly-featured distractors, people routinely employ causal constraints to establish object identities. Based on available cognitive and neurofunctional data, the standard object-token based model of individual re-identification is extended to incorporate the construction of unobserved and hence fictive causal histories (FCHs) of observed objects by the pre-motor action planning system. It is suggested that functional deficits in the construction of FCHs are associated with clinical outcomes in both autism spectrum disorders and later-stage stage Alzheimer's disease.     

Anticipatory Planning of Sequential Hand and Finger Movements

ABSTRACT

Hand movements may be anticipatorily planned to reach an immediate target and at the same time facilitate movements to subsequent targets. Researchers have proposed that in anticipatory planning, information about subsequent targets needs to be processed to engage in the planning of the next movement. To test this hypothesis, the authors varied the information 48 participants had about to-be-executed two-step hand and finger movement sequences prior to a choice reaction signal. Movements were initialized faster if participants had advance information about the second target of the sequence than if participants had no advance information at all. The results imply that movement segments to late targets in a movement sequence may be at least partially planned, even if information about earlier targets is not yet available.     

Predicting retirement preparation through the design of a new measure

Researchers' capacity to investigate retirement planning behaviour is impeded by the lack of rigorous measurement within the literature. For this study, a comprehensive measure based on the reflexive planning domains of public protection, self‐insurance, and self‐protection was developed and evaluated in a sample of 174 employees aged ≥45 years. Variables of gender, age, income and core self‐evaluations were examined for their influence on planning effort in each of the three domains. Results indicated a clean, three‐factor structure for retirement planning behaviours. All variables emerged as predictors of planning effort in one or more domains. Implications of results for future research into retirement planning and the targeting of planning interventions are discussed.     

预立医疗照护计划在重症医学科中的应用研究进展

基于目前我国医疗压力较大,过度治疗现象突出等问题,站在现代医学观念和辩证思维角度来思考如何合理且有效地利用现有的医疗资源,减少不必要且增加患者痛苦的治疗,减轻患者家庭负担,让患者有尊严地离开。同时,借鉴国外经验结合我国文化背景对预立医疗照护计划的可行性和必要性进行阐述,对国内外预立医疗照护计划实施的现状进行对比,并分析国内外预立医疗照护计划实施差异的原因,提出针对性的措施,以期为我国重症医学科推行预立医疗照护计划提供建议,促进安宁疗护的进一步发展。     

生前预嘱二十年变迁：从临床试验谈起

通过检索Clinicaltrial及Clinicalkey网站2000年~2020年生前预嘱相关的临床试验项目,以其为切入点,探讨生前预嘱相关临床试验的数量、研究类型与方法、受试者类别、干预方式、研究内容等方面的变化趋势,比较分析阻碍生前预嘱在我国推广实施的文化、制度、宣传、人员等方面的因素。借鉴国外生前预嘱发展变革经验,并立足我国基本国情、伦理文化以及医疗环境等特点,从完善法律制度、加强资助、加大宣传力度、提升科研质量等方面提出建议,以期促进生前预嘱在我国的推广发展。     

Antecedents and consequences to perceived career goal–progress discrepancies

Informed by a goal setting and self-regulation perspective, we tested a model of perceived career goal–progress discrepancies (i.e., perception of progress made towards achieving career goals relative to where one should be if the goals were to be attained), which proposed that negative feedback from significant others predicts career goal–progress discrepancies, which, in turn, predicts levels of career-related distress. The model also proposes that active feedback seeking strengthens the relationship between feedback from significant others and goal–progress discrepancies, and that career self-regulatory behaviours (career exploration and planning) weaken the relationship between career goal–progress discrepancies and career distress. Using a sample of 420 young adults (mean age = 20.3 years, 73% female), we found that feedback from significant others was related to both career goal–progress discrepancies and career distress, career goal–progress discrepancies were related to career distress, and goal–progress discrepancies partially mediated between feedback from significant others and career distress. Supporting the moderated effects, goal–progress discrepancies were higher at higher levels of negative feedback for those more actively seeking feedback, and career distress was lower at lower levels of discrepancy for those more engaged in exploration and planning.     

Back to the future: autobiographical planning and the functionality of mind-wandering

Given that as much as half of human thought arises in a stimulus independent fashion, it would seem unlikely that such thoughts would play no functional role in our lives. However, evidence linking the mind-wandering state to performance decrement has led to the notion that mind-wandering primarily represents a form of cognitive failure. Based on previous work showing a prospective bias to mind-wandering, the current study explores the hypothesis that one potential function of spontaneous thought is to plan and anticipate personally relevant future goals, a process referred to as autobiographical planning. The results confirm that the content of mind-wandering is predominantly future-focused, demonstrate that individuals with high working memory capacity are more likely to engage in prospective mind-wandering, and show that prospective mind-wandering frequently involves autobiographical planning. Together this evidence suggests that mind-wandering can enable prospective cognitive operations that are likely to be useful to the individual as they navigate through their daily lives.     

学习因素诊断测验在苏南地区的试用报告

本研究引进日本学习因素诊断测验(Diagnostic Test of Achievement Factor,简称DTAF),分别对苏南地区中小学学生进行抽样测验,以验证该测量工具在中国大陆的适用情况。研究结果表明：DTAF具有良好的信度、效度。以各分量表为单位的项目分析结果表明,DTAF的绝大多数题目之间结构紧密,具有很高的鉴别力。学习动机、学习计划、学习技能、学习环境对学生学习结果具有重要影响,本文对此展开了讨论。