Race categorization modulates holistic face encoding

Recent studies have shown that same-race (SR) faces are processed more holistically than other-race (OR) faces, a difference that may underlie the greater difficulty at recognizing OR than SR faces (the "other-race effect"). This article provides original evidence suggesting that the holistic processing of faces may be sensitive to the observers' racial categorization of the face. In Experiment 1, Caucasian participants performed a face-composite task with Caucasian faces, Asian faces, and racially ambiguous morphed face stimuli. Identical morphed face stimuli were processed more holistically when categorized as SR than as OR faces. Experiment 2 further suggests that this finding was not underlain by strategic or training effects. Overall, these results support the view that one's categorization of a face as belonging to the same or another race plays a critical role in the holistic processing of this face.     

Neuromagnetic signals associated with reading a kanji character formed by combining two kanji radicals

To find out which brain regions are responsible for the mental construction and recognition of a kanji character initiated by visually presented kanji radicals, rather than by information retained in the memory, a left hen radical and the corresponding right tsukuri radical were simultaneously presented randomly to either the left or right visual field of seven subjects. Thirty left hen radicals and the corresponding right tsukuri radicals were prepared as stimuli; this combination formed over 500 real or pseudo kanji characters. Instead of their usual left and right positions, the left hen radical was always presented above the right tsukuri radical. As quickly and correctly as possible, the subjects released a key when two kanji radicals constituted a single real kanji character and released another key otherwise. We recorded neuromagnetic responses as well as accuracy and reaction time. Left visual field superiority was observed as regards accuracy. This is in good agreement with previous neuropsychological results. Equivalent current dipoles were localized mainly in the left and/or right occipitotemporal regions (ventral visual pathways), the bilateral occipitoparietal regions (dorsal visual pathways) including the supramarginal region, and the areas surrounding the left superior temporal cortex. We suggest that these regions are related to reading and the mental construction of a kanji character from its radicals.     

How Animals Classify Friends and Foes

A model of stimulus equivalence, which describes how non-similarity-based categories are formed, is used to describe aspects of animal social and communicative interactions such as kinship, friendship, coalitions, territorial behavior, and referential calling. Although this model was originally designed to deal with stimulus relations in linguistic behavior, it can be readily applied to understanding the cognitive mechanisms that underlie social as well as nonsocial categorizations in numerous taxa. This approach provides a new, parsimonious, and experimentally based understanding of how animals without language deal with problems of classification in their environment.     

Facial expressions and subjective assessments of emotions

There was conducted an experimental comparison of the objective (FaceReader 4.0) and subjective assessment of the severity of emotions on different scales. As objects, 18 short (no more than 2 s) videos were used, on which the same person (actress) expressed the given emotions by pronouncing the word “Yes”. These stimuli were selected based on previously conducted subjective scaling experiments. We used (1) a direct subjective quantitative assessment of each video clip separately for each of the parameters selected in the FaceReader 4.0 program (neutral, happy, angry, disgust, fear, sad, surprise) – the severity of the corresponding emotion was evaluated in points; (2) a direct subjective assessment of each video clip for each of the parameters allocated in the 4-dimensional spherical model of emotions (bad – good; confidence – surprise; attraction; defensive reaction: fear – aggression); (3) the methodology of the Semantic Differential Scaling (SD) by C. Osgood; (4) the PXLab Self-Assessment-Manikin Scales. As a result, the relationship of all the scales used was investigated and it was shown that the objective qualification of emotions (using the FaceReader 4.0 program) does not coincide with the results of subjective assessment of the same samples.     

伪装情绪的人际影响及其作用机制

伪装情绪是指在情绪交互的过程中, 人们展现实际不存在的积极或消极情绪, 放大亦或是压抑原本的情绪。伪装情绪是一种策略选择的结果, 表现者所展现的情绪在当下可能并未发生, 但却能在某种程度上令人信服。目前关于伪装情绪的研究比较分散, 对于伪装情绪人际影响及其作用机制还存在着一定争议。现有文献多从博弈过程、亲社会行为情境、组织情境和领导效果四个方面对伪装情绪的人际效应进行探讨, 其中相关的机制包括情绪接受者的情感反应及“以己度人”的内心过程。未来的研究可以从情绪接受者、群体伪装、伪装情绪效价、认知神经机制以及文化等方面, 对伪装情绪展开深入系统性的研究。     

Between Recognition and Mis/Nonrecognition: Strategies of Negotiating and Performing Identities Among White Muslims in the United Kingdom

This article explores white British Muslim experiences of, and strategic performative responses to, the (mis/non)recognition of their seemingly incompatible religious and ethnic identities. Based on in-depth interviews (N = 26), it highlights how the different identity categories they hold relate to one another, influencing processes of perceived recognition in interactional contexts. White British Muslims perceive their ethnic and religious identities to be (mis/not) recognized in complex and contradictory ways. Their identities are affirmed, denied, erased, and/or incorrectly ascribed, sometimes simultaneously, by relevant others in different contexts. Performative strategies such as the adoption, maintenance, or removal of identity markers are used consciously and agentically in attempts to take back control over how their identities are (mis/not) recognized. At times deliberate performative acts leading to misrecognition are orchestrated by white Muslims themselves to not only minimize the risk of experiencing possible harm or marginalization but also to transgress and challenge norms. They also assert their multiple identities as a response to (mis/non)recognition and claims of their identities being incompatible, regardless of the repercussions that may result in them being placed at the margins of, or excluded from, their ingroups.     

No Benefit of Eye-Closure Rehearsal in a Unimodal Recognition Memory Test for Word Items

Recent studies have suggested that closing the eyes helps memory retrieval in recall tests for audiovisual clips that contain multimodal information. In two experiments, we examined whether eye-closure improves recognition memory performance for word lists presented unimodally (i.e., visually or aurally). In the encoding phase, participants saw or heard a list of unrelated, meaningful word items. After a fixed retention interval of 1 week (Experiment 1, n = 110) and 5 min (Experiment 2, n = 44), the participants were asked to mentally rehearse the items with their eyes open or closed, and then they performed a recognition test. The results revealed no effect of eye-closure rehearsal on recognition performance. We discuss the possible reasons why no eye-closure benefit was found in recognition memory tests for unrelated word items.     

公民情感的法律确认:立法伦理的应有视域

公民情感的法律确认是基于公民行为选择中两难困境的应对之策。这一立法实践有其学理和历史的依据。将公民情感的法律确认纳入立法伦理的视域,将不仅有助于良法的创制,而且还因其逻辑地排除了司法活动的情感障碍和为公民奠定了守法的情感基础而有利于良法的有效实现。