Widgets: A new set of parametrically defined 3D objects for use in haptic and visual categorization tasks

IntroductionMost research to date on human categorization ability has concentrated on the visual and auditory domains. However, a limited – but non-negligible – range of studies has also examined the categorization of familiar or unfamiliar (i.e., novel) objects in the haptic (i.e., tactile-kinesthetic) modality.ObjectiveIn this paper, we describe how we developed a new set of parametrically defined objects, called widgets, that can be used as 3D (or 2D) materials for haptic (or visual) categorization purposes.MethodWidgets are unfamiliar complex 3D shapes with an ovoid body and four types of elements attached to it (eyes, tail, crest, and legs). The stimulus set comprises 24 objects divided into four categories of six exemplars each (the files used for 3D printing are provided as Supplementary Material).ResultsWe also assessed and demonstrated the validity of our stimulus set by conducting two separate studies of haptic and visual categorization, involving participants of different ages: young adults (Study 1), and children and adolescents (Study 2). Results showed that humans can categorize our 3D complex shapes on the basis of both haptically and visually perceived similarities in shape attributes.ConclusionWidgets are very useful new experimental stimuli for categorization studies using 3D printing technology.     

Sex-specific variation in facial masculinity/femininity associated with autistic traits in the general population

Reports linking prenatal testosterone exposure to autistic traits and to a masculinized face structure have motivated research investigating whether autism is associated with facial masculinization. This association has been reported with greater consistency for females than for males, in studies comparing groups with high and low levels of autistic traits. In the present study, we conducted two experiments to examine facial masculinity/femininity in 151 neurotypical adults selected for either low, mid-range, or high levels of autistic traits. In the first experiment, their three-dimensional facial photographs were subjectively rated by 41 raters for masculinity/femininity and were objectively analysed. In the second experiment, we generated 6-face composite images, which were rated by another 36 raters. Across both experiments, findings were consistent for ratings of photographs and composite images. For females, a linear relationship was observed where femininity ratings decreased as a function of higher levels of autistic traits. For males, we found a U-shaped function where males with mid-range levels of traits were rated lowest on masculinity. Objective facial analyses revealed that higher levels of autistic traits were associated with less feminine facial structures in females and less masculine structures in males. These results suggest sex-specific relationships between autistic traits and facial masculinity/femininity.     

ERP components activated by the "GO!" and "WITHHOLD!" conflict in the random Sustained Attention to Response Task

The present study investigates the event related potential (ERP) components associated with the random version of the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). The random SART is a Go/No-Go task in which the No-Go target appears unpredictably and rarely. In the present experiment, the EEG was recorded from 58 electrodes with mastoids as reference. As expected, the N2 and P3 were larger in the No-Go trials compared to the Go trials, with the P3 more frontal for the No-Go trials compared to the Go trials. The functional role of the N2 and P3 in the No-Go trials is discussed comparing our results to the fixed SART results obtained by Dockree et al. [Dockree P. M., Kelly S. P., Robertson I. H., Reilly R. B., & Foxe J. J. (2005). Neurophysiological markers of alert responding during goal-directed behaviour: A high-density electrical mapping study. NeuroImage, 27, 587-601]. In addition, the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) was computed. The absence of an LRP in the No-Go trials suggests that a central inhibitory mechanism intervenes to prevent the preparation and execution of a dominant motor response.     

Towards a cognitive model of distraction by auditory novelty: The role of involuntary attention capture and semantic processing

Unexpected auditory stimuli are potent distractors, able to break through selective attention and disrupt performance in an unrelated visual task. This study examined the processing fate of novel sounds by examining the extent to which their semantic content is analyzed and whether the outcome of this processing can impact on subsequent behavior. This issue was investigated across five laboratory experiments in which participants categorized visual left and right arrows while instructed to ignore irrelevant sounds. The results showed that auditory novels that were incongruent with the visual target (e.g., word “left” presented before a right arrow) disrupted performance over and above congruent novels (semantic effect) while both types of novels delayed responses in the visual task compared to a standard sound (novelty effect). No semantic effect was observed for congruent and incongruent standards, suggesting that novelty detection is necessary for involuntary semantic processing to unravel. While the novelty effect augmented as the difference between novels and the standard increased, the semantic effect was immune to this variation. Furthermore, the novelty effect decreased across the task while the semantic effect did not. A general cognitive framework is proposed encompassing these new findings and previous work in an attempt to account for the behavioral impact of irrelevant auditory novels on primary task performance.     

Psychological and behavioral correlates of the SATAQ-3 with males

The current study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to investigate the factor structure of a revised version of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ-3) with a sample of undergraduate males. In addition to completing the SATAQ-3, participants completed various measures pertaining to body image, behavioral, and psychological constructs to examine concurrent and discriminant validity. CFA results indicated that the four factors of the SATAQ-3, Information, Pressures, Internalization-General, and Internalization-Athlete, represented the data well and better than an alternative 3-factor structure that combined the two Internalization subscales. All four factors demonstrated excellent concurrent and discriminant validity. Findings from this study support use of a slightly modified version of the SATAQ-3 with males. The present results also support the continued investigation of media influences as multidimensional constructs important to male body image.     

3D analysis of the body center of mass in rock climbing

The purpose of the present study was to search for common patterns and for differences in climbing strategies in a group of recreational climbers. Twelve participants were involved in the study. Each participant climbed a simple indoor route consisting of a 3m horizontal shift followed by a 3m ascent for five times. Climbers could choose their own style, their preferred speed and holds. Their motion was recorded through motion capture based on passive markers. Results suggested that two main climbing strategies were used: the first preferring agility over force and the second preferring force over agility. We also found that our best climbers tried to minimize power during all trials.     

急性应激对工作记忆的影响受工作记忆负荷调节:来自电生理的证据

急性应激如何影响工作记忆还不清楚。采用电影片断诱发被试的急性应激或中性状态后,让其完成数字N-back任务并同时记录脑电。结果发现,低负荷工作记忆诱发的P3显著大于高负荷工作记忆;在0-back任务中,急性应激组诱发的P3显著大于控制组;而在2-back任务中,这种差异不显著。这些结果表明急性应激对工作记忆的影响受工作记忆负荷调节,支持了双竞争理论模型。     

无空间线索化下视觉注意空间等级的ERP研究

采用事件相关电位技术考察无空间线索化下视觉注意资源的在不同空间等级的分布情况。在“预警信号-目标探测”范式下,目标刺激随机出现在直径视角为3.2°、6.4°以及9.6°的三个空间等级圆上。反应时结果显示：随着注意空间直径视角增大,对目标刺激的探测速度逐渐下降。脑电结果显示：三种条件下目标刺激诱发的早期N1和晚期P3成分产生了不同程度分离,主要表现为两成分的波幅随着注意空间视角增大而减小。这说明个体在无空间线索化下自动地对不同空间等级进行有选择性的资源分配。     

Crossing Borders: Multicultural Counseling With Puerto Rican Migrant Women

Puerto Rican migrant women require cultural‐specific counseling. The intersection of ethnicity, gender, culture, and sociopolitical contexts affects Puerto Rican migrant women's psychological coping and identity development. A psychology of place lens is used to discuss how numerous Puerto Rican migrant women nurture their identity development from borderlands (transfronterizas ) to transboricuas (trans–Puerto Rican). A case vignette illustrates the use of a multicultural counseling approach to address Puerto Rican migrant women's psychological needs. Las mujeres puertorriqueñas emigrantes requieren servicios de consejería culturalmente específicos. La intersección de etnicidad, sexo, cultura y contextos sociopolíticos afecta a la capacidad de afrontamiento y el desarrollo de la identidad de las mujeres puertorriqueñas emigrantes. Se usa el enfoque de la psicología de lugar para discutir cómo muchas mujeres puertorriqueñas emigrantes cultivan el desarrollo de su identidad de transfronterizas a transboricuas. Se usa la viñeta de un caso para ilustrar el uso de una aproximación multicultural a la consejería para tratar las necesidades psicológicas de las mujeres puertorriqueñas emigrantes.     

Backward masking interrupts spatial attention,slows downstream processing,and limits conscious perception

The attentional blink (AB) is a difficulty in correctly processing a target when it follows one or more other targets after a short delay. When no backward mask is presented after the last critical target, there is no or little behavioral AB deficit. The mask plays an important role in limiting conscious access to target information. In this electrophysiological study, we tested the impact of masking on the deployment and engagement of attention by measuring the N2pc and P3 components in an RSVP paradigm. We found that the presence of a mask in an AB paradigm reduced the amplitude of the N2pc, P3a, and P3b components. In addition to reducing encoding in memory, masking also reduced the effectiveness of the deployment and engagement of attention on the last target. We discuss the role of these findings in the context of current masking, consciousness, and AB models.