Contributions of second language proficiency and interpreting experience to cognitive control differences among young adult bilinguals

The present study investigates how two important aspects of bilingualism, second language (L2) proficiency and language interpreting experience, contribute to cognitive control differences among young adult bilinguals. By requiring participants to complete the Flanker task (testing inhibition in cognitive control) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST; testing mental set shifting in cognitive control), we compared four groups of Chinese–English bilinguals who varied in L2 proficiency and interpreting experience. The results showed that there was no significant group difference across all groups in the Flanker task. However, in the WCST, although there was no group difference between bilinguals differing in L2 proficiency, there was a significant difference between groups differing in interpreting experience, including groups differing in years of interpreting training. The results indicate that language interpreting experience, as part of bilinguals' language use ecology, significantly contributes to mental set shifting enhancement in cognitive control among young adult bilinguals. The findings motivate further research into the processing mechanism involved in language interpreting.     

B. F. Skinner and G. H. Mead: on biological science and social science.

Skinner's contributions to psychology provide a unique bridge between psychology conceptualized as a biological science and psychology conceptualized as a social science. Skinner focused on behavior as a naturally occurring biological phenomenon of interest in its own right, functionally related to surrounding events and, in particular (like phylogenesis), subject to selection by its consequences. This essentially biological orientation was further enhanced by Skinner's emphasis on the empirical foundations provided by laboratory-based experimental analyses of behavior, often with nonhuman subjects. Skinner's theoretical writings, however, also have affinity with the traditions of constructionist social science. The verbal behavior of humans is said to be subject, like other behavior, to functional analyses in terms of its environment, in this case its social context. Verbal behavior in turn makes it possible for us to relate to private events, a process that ultimately allows for the development of consciousness, which is thus said to be a social product. Such ideas make contact with aspects of G. H. Mead's social behaviorism and, perhaps of more contemporary impact in psychology, L. Vygotsky's general genetic law of cultural development. Failure to articulate both the biological and the social science aspects of Skinner's theoretical approach to psychology does a disservice to his unique contribution to a discipline that remains fragmented between two intellectual traditions.     

论内隐学习在二语习得中的作用

简要地介绍了内隐学习的内涵、机制等内容,进而分析其在二语习得语音、词汇、语法、阅读和写作中的作用。     

Case report of stuttering acquired in association with phenytoin use for post-head-injury seizures

Previous research indicates that stuttering and deficits in motor performance may be associated with the use of phenytoin (Dilantin). The present report concerns a case of stuttering acquired in association with phenytoin use for post-head-injury seizures. The extent and nature of dysfluencies and the motor performance of speech and nonspeech muscle systems were evaluated over an extended period during which changes in anticonvulsant medication were made. Reductions in dysfluency levels and improved motor performance were observed following a medication change from phenytoin to carbamazepine. Performance on tests assessing nonmotor functions, such as memory and attention, was equivalent before and after the medication change. The apparent association between dysfluency levels, motor performance deficits, and phenytoin suggest that in the present case stuttering resulted in part from a general impairment in motor control.     

One answer to the demand for accountability: Selection utility as an investment decision

An examination of selection utility models demonstrates that they bear a considerable resemblance to capital budgeting models well established in the finance literature. Five applications of capital budgeting to selection utility are suggested and discussed. Capital budgeting concepts are recommended as a rich source of further practical and theoretical development of selection Utility models.     

A physiologically motivated model for change detection in audition

Burbeck & Luce (Perception & Psychophysics, 1982, 32 (2), 117–133) argue that their simple reaction time data is best accounted for by the parallel operation of a change and a level detector. Here a specific example of such a compound model is tested. The primary focus is on the change detector which is modeled after a post inhibitory rebound (PIR) neuron. PIR neurons are plausible candidates for the “off” units found throughout the auditory system. The level detector is assumed to be a simple leaky integrator. Computer simulations of the compound model are compared to simple reaction time data. The results, although not without some deficiencies, support the model.     

On the nature of processes governing defensive burying of aversive flavors and odors in rats

Four experiments are reported which investigated the processes which contribute to the failure of rats to bury fluids that have acquired aversive properties through pairings with lithium chloride toxicosis. Fluids that failed to provide strong olfactory stimulation were avoided but not buried. These solutions, however, produced higher order conditioning of odor-bearing solutions which were buried readily. Various control experiments indicated that these effects depended upon the odorous qualities of the stimulus and not upon simple novelty effects or changes in gustatory stimulation. These data indicate that the inability of aversive gustatory cues to produce burying reflects a constraint on motivational or S-R learning processes.     

Structured personality test item characteristics and validity

Using the structured personality test item as the unit of analysis, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the relationship between validity and a variety of other test item parameters. Of particular interest was the relationship of test item criterion validity to negative keying and to negative wording. By drawing a distinction between negative keying and negative wording it was demonstrated that the use of balanced scales to control acquiescence need not result in a reduction in item criterion validity. Whereas the use of negative wording has in the past reduced validity, data demonstrated that positively worded, negatively keyed items did not. In addition, results indicated that clear, moderately short, relevant test items tended to be the most empirically valid.