The moderating role of arousal on the seductive detail effect in a multimedia learning setting

Arousal has been found to increase learners' attentional resources. In contrast, seductive details (interesting but learning‐irrelevant information) are considered to distract attention away from relevant information and, thus, hinder learning. However, a possibly moderating role of arousal on the seductive detail effect has not been examined yet. In this study, arousal variations were induced via audio files of false heartbeats. In consequence, 100 participants were randomly assigned to a 2 (with or without seductive details) × 2 (lower vs. higher false heart rates) between‐subjects design. Data on learning performance, cognitive load, motivation, heartbeat frequency, and electro‐dermal activity were collected. Results show learning‐inhibiting effects for seductive details and learning‐enhancing effects for higher false heart rates. Cognitive processes mediate both effects. However, the detrimental effect of seductive details was not present when heart rate was higher. Results indicate that the seductive detail effect is moderated by a learner's state of arousal.     

Are seductive details seductive only when you think they are relevant? An experimental test of the moderating role of perceived relevance

We investigated whether seductive details (i.e., interesting but irrelevant adjuncts) are harmful to learning only when students (mistakenly) think that they are relevant. We therefore conducted a study in which participants (N = 86) learned either without seductive details (control condition) or with seductive details—in the latter case with or without being informed about the seductive details' irrelevance. In line with our hypotheses, only participants who were not informed about the irrelevance of seductive details revealed worse learning outcomes than those in the control condition, thereby revealing a seductive details effect. Extraneous cognitive load, but not perceived time pressure, mediated the negative effects of being uninformed about the irrelevance of seductive details on learning outcomes. Taken together, our results suggest that the perceived relevance of seductive details is a boundary condition of the seductive details effect.     

阅读过程中的词跳读及其产生的认知机制

在阅读过程中,读者并不会注视每一个词,而是不断地跳过很多词。在英文阅读中至少有30%的词被跳读,在中文阅读中近50%的字词被跳读。那么被跳读的字词是否得到加工,何时得到加工,是当前阅读过程中眼动控制模型关心的基本问题：具体包括（1）词跳读是基于副中央凹处词汇的完全识别还是部分识别后发生;（2）中央凹加工负荷是否影响对下一个词的跳读;（3）副中央凹和中央凹加工效率与词跳读的关系是什么;（4）较低水平的视觉信息（如词长、复杂性）和较高水平的语言信息（如词频、预测性）如何交互作用决定一个词的跳读。文章对上述问题进行系统分析,最后结合中文阅读中书写系统的特点,对未来中文阅读中词跳读研究进行了展望。     

Executive functioning and memory as potential mediators of the episodic feeling-of-knowing accuracy

The study focused on the cognitive determinants of the accuracy of feeling-of-knowing (FOK) judgments made on episodic memory information. An individual differences approach was used on a sample of healthy older adults assessed on an episodic FOK task and on several neuropsychological measures. At a global level of analysis of FOK accuracy, the contributions of four general cognitive processes--episodic memory, executive functioning, fluid intelligence and processing speed--were examined concurrently. Stepwise regression analyses showed that executive functioning accounted for the major part of variance on FOK accuracy, followed by a significant contribution of episodic memory. After controlling for executive and memory involvement, fluid intelligence and processing speed no longer accounted for significant variance. At a more detailed level of analysis of FOK accuracy, the contributions of three specific executive processes--shifting, updating and inhibition--were assessed. The results revealed shifting function as the primary executive process engaged in the production of accurate FOK judgments in episodic memory. Some hypotheses are put forward to better understand the central role of executive functioning in the production of accurate FOK judgments.     

Academic Processing Speed Mediates the Influence of Both Externalizing Behavior and Language Skills on the Academic Skills of Students with Emotional Disturbance

The results from previous research suggest that there is a relatively small (albeit statistically significant) relationship between the externalizing behavior and academic skills of students with emotional disturbance (ED). Researchers have also found that the majority of these students have language deficits that hinder their academic performance. The purposes of this study were to investigate the mediating role of academic processing speed (i.e., academic fluency) on the relationship between: (a) The externalizing behavior and academic skills of K-12 students with ED; and (b) language skills and academic skills of students with ED. Results indicate that academic processing speed mediated the influence of both language skills and externalizing behavior on academic skills of this population. The findings, limitations, and implications were discussed.     

Testing for selectivity in the dependence of random variables on external factors

Random variables A and B, whose joint distribution depends on factors (x,y), are selectively influenced by x and y, respectively, if A and B can be represented as functions of, respectively, (x,S_A,C) and (y,S_B,C), where S_A,S_B,C are stochastically independent and do not depend on (x,y). Selective influence implies selective dependence of marginal distributions on the respective factors: thus no parameter of A may depend on y. But parameters characterizing stochastic interdependence of A and B, such as their mixed moments, are generally functions of both x and y. We derive two simple necessary conditions for selective dependence of (A,B) on (x,y), which can be used to conduct a potential infinity of selectiveness tests. One condition is that, for any factor values x,x^′ and y,y^′,

s_xy≤s_xy^′+s_x^′y^′+s_x^′y,     

不受知觉负载调节的注意捕获效应：生态信息的作用

快速探测到环境中具有生态意义的信息是适应性行为的一种重要表现。本研究采用注意捕获范式检验具有生态意义的信息是否能够被注意系统自动化加工。具体而言, 我们考察对负性面孔中的生态意义信息的加工是否受任务和知觉负载的影响。在实验一中, 我们发现负性面孔相对于中性面孔在高低知觉负载下的注意捕获能力没有显著差异, 表明负性面孔在高低负载下都具有加工优先性。为了分离刺激突显性与生态意义二个因素对实验结果的影响, 在实验二中, 我们将负性面孔刺激替换为具有突显性但不含有生态信息的颜色块刺激, 发现颜色块在高知觉负载下的注意捕获效应显著低于低负载, 即知觉负载能够显著影响其注意捕获能力, 表明负性面孔在实验一中的效应应归因于其本身携带的生态信息。由此, 本研究展示了具有生态意义的视觉刺激能够得到视觉系统的自动化加工。     

平面广告中图形与文本加工差异的眼动研究

记录被试在观看不同文本位置的平面广告时的眼动轨迹,探讨了广告中文本和图形加工的差异性、文本在广告中的不同位置(左上、左下、右下、右上)的加工差异、人们对广告图片及文字的评价与其眼动指标是否具有一致性以及与再认成绩的相关程度等。结果表明,(1)瞳孔大小是比较敏感的指标,在观看广告时,文本的位置及评价水平都可以引起瞳孔大小的改变：而不会对注视时间产生影响。(2)人们对文本和图形的加工方式上存在差异,它不仅表现在眼动指标上,同时也表现在再认成绩上。广告中适当的文字有助于广告内容的记忆。     

干扰子的激活、抑制及其加工时程

针对有关干扰子激活和抑制加工的时程研究存在的分歧,采用干扰效应和负启动效应双指标,探讨不同知觉负载水平下干扰子的激活和抑制及其加工时程问题。结果显示：在同一实验条件下采用干扰效应和负启动效应双指标可将干扰子加工过程分离为激活和抑制两个阶段;激活加工时程发生在选择性注意早期,抑制加工时程发生在选择性注意的早期至中期之间。这一结果与Lavie等的推测及认知神经科学研究成果均有异同。     

Failure to loose fear: The impact of cognitive load and trait anxiety on extinction

Exposure therapy is an effective technique for fear reduction. However, whether effective exposure requires attentional allocation to the feared situation remains a debated clinical issue. In the present study, the impact of attention allocation in extinction was investigated in an experimental conditioning study. Through a between-subjects manipulation of cognitive load, we created a condition in which participants could allocate their attention to the feared stimulus during extinction (low load condition), and a condition in which attentional allocation was impaired (high load condition). The influence of cognitive load on extinction was examined by comparing electrodermal responses and verbal ratings for the conditioned stimuli in the two extinction load conditions. The results show less successful extinction in the high load condition than in the low load condition. However, this effect was found only in low anxious participants, and it was prominent only on the skin conductance responses. The present results suggest that extinction is not automatic but requires cognitive resources.