Unconscious processing of coarse visual information during anticipatory threat

Rapid detection of threats has been proposed to rely on automatic processing of their coarse visual features. However, it remains unclear whether such a mechanism is restricted to detection of threat cues, or whether it reflects a broader sensitivity to even neutral coarse visual information features during states of threat. We used a backward masking task in which participants discriminated the orientation of subliminally presented low (3 cpd) and high (6 cpd) spatial frequency gratings, under threat (of shock) and safe conditions. Visual awareness of the gratings was assessed objectively using an additional localization task. When participants were unaware of the gratings, above chance and improved discrimination of low-spatial frequency gratings was observed under threat compared to safe trials. These findings demonstrate unconscious processing of neutral coarse visual information during threat state, supporting the view that automatic threat detection may rely on a general facilitation of coarse features irrespective of threat content.     

词边界信息和词频在汉语阅读中的作用

利用Eyelink2000眼动仪,记录27名本科生阅读时的眼动轨迹。句子中插入四种空格(正常无空格、词间空格、字间空格和非词空格)标记词边界信息,并操纵目标词的词频,以考察词边界信息和词频在汉语阅读中的作用。结果表明:(1)插入非词空格对低频词的干扰作用大于高频词,插入字间空格能促进低频词的加工;(2)被试对低频词的加工难度均大于高频词;(3)汉语阅读的基本加工单位为词而不是汉字。     

学习、频率和结构方式对汉字知觉干扰效应的影响

知觉干扰存效应是指之前更模糊的刺激的呈现对之后同一模糊刺激的识别的抑制。实验-考察了学习和频率、实验二考察了学习和结构方式对汉字知觉干扰存效应的影响。结果发现：1．汉字与图片一样,不存在材料有限现象,在学习和不学习条件下,汉字识别中均存在知觉干扰效应;2．学习以及频率和结构方式对汉字知觉干扰效应的影响也不显著;3．频率、学习和结构方式对汉字识别的影响显著。这些结果似乎表明当激活超过一定的水平时,和汉字激活水平有关的因素对知觉干扰效应不再起作用。失匹配假说可更好的解释激活水平的作用以及材料有限现象。     

Auditory stimulation affects apparent motion1

Abstract: In two experiments, we investigated how the number of auditory stimuli affected the apparent motion induced by visual stimuli. The multiple visual stimuli that induced the apparent motion on the front parallel plane, or in the depth dimension in terms of the binocular disparity cue, were accompanied by multiple auditory stimuli. Observers reported the number of visual stimuli (Experiments 1 and 2) and the displacement of the apparent motion that was defined by the distance between the first and last visual stimuli (Experiment 2). When the number of auditory stimuli was more/less than that of the visual stimuli, observers tended to perceive more/less visual stimuli and a larger/smaller displacement than when the numbers of the auditory and visual stimuli were the same, regardless of the dimension of motion. These results suggest that auditory stimulation may modify the visual processing of motion by modulating the spatiotemporal resolution and extent of the displacement.     

图-图干扰范式中语义效应的眼动研究*

采用眼动方法,在图-图干扰范式中探讨了干扰图的频率和语义类型对语义判断的影响。结果发现:(1)语义一致性的主效应显著,与目标图语义一致的干扰图获得的注视时间长于与目标图语义不一致的干扰图,证实了语义干扰效应的存在,与Dell的交互激活模型相吻合。(2)干扰图命名的词汇频率主效应不显著,未发现显著的频率效应,对词汇选择竞争假设提出质疑。     

Three-dimensional model of performance anxiety: Tests of the adaptive potential of the regulatory dimension of anxiety

ObjectivesTo predict the complex anxiety-performance dynamics, Cheng and associates (Cheng, Hardy, & Markland, 2009, 2011; Cheng, Hardy, & Woodman, 2011) proposed a three-dimensional model of anxiety that highlighted the adaptive potential of anxiety, and was supported with regard to cross-cultural factorial validity and predictive validity in the context of sports performance. In particular, this anxiety model included a regulatory dimension (reflected by perceived control) in addition to the conventional intensity-oriented dimensions of cognitive and physiological anxiety.DesignTo further examine the characteristics of the hypothesized adaptive potential of the regulatory dimension of anxiety, a series of three studies were conducted to investigate the relationship mainly between the regulatory dimension and three psychological variables proposed to be related to performance and stress, namely, perfectionism, self-talk and coping strategy.MethodChinese sports participants and dancers completed self-report measures. Hierarchical multiple regression was adopted for data analysis.ResultsThe findings showed that the regulatory dimension of anxiety was positively predicted by relatively adaptive dimensions of perfectionism (personal standards) and self-talk (motivational and instructional self-talk), and positively predicted approach coping.ConclusionsOverall, these data support the hypothesized characteristics of the adaptive potential underlying the regulatory dimension of anxiety. Future research and applied implications are suggested.     

词频、可预测性及合理性对目标词首次注视位置的影响

采用三项实验分别考察了目标词的词频、可预测性和合理性对读者眼动模式的影响。结果显示:(1)词频、可预测性和合理性对目标词语的凝视时间和总注视时间都有显著影响,但在首次注视时间上主效应不显著;(2)词频和可预测性不影响目标词的跳读率和再注视概率,而合理性对目标词的再注视概率产生显著的影响;(3)远注视点眼跳倾向于将首次注视位置着落于目标词的开端部位,而近注视点眼跳倾向于将首次注视着落于目标词的中央部位;词频、可预测性和合理性均不影响首次注视位置。     

Interaction and representational integration: evidence from speech errors

We examine the mechanisms that support interaction between lexical, phonological and phonetic processes during language production. Studies of the phonetics of speech errors have provided evidence that partially activated lexical and phonological representations influence phonetic processing. We examine how these interactive effects are modulated by lexical frequency. Previous research has demonstrated that during lexical access, the processing of high frequency words is facilitated; in contrast, during phonetic encoding, the properties of low frequency words are enhanced. These contrasting effects provide the opportunity to distinguish two theoretical perspectives on how interaction between processing levels can be increased. A theory in which cascading activation is used to increase interaction predicts that the facilitation of high frequency words will enhance their influence on the phonetic properties of speech errors. Alternatively, if interaction is increased by integrating levels of representation, the phonetics of speech errors will reflect the retrieval of enhanced phonetic properties for low frequency words. Utilizing a novel statistical analysis method, we show that in experimentally induced speech errors low lexical frequency targets and outcomes exhibit enhanced phonetic processing. We sketch an interactive model of lexical, phonological and phonetic processing that accounts for the conflicting effects of lexical frequency on lexical access and phonetic processing.     

Effects of pair collaboration and word-frequency in recognition memory: a study with the remember-know procedure

The present study investigated the effects of pair collaboration and word-frequency on recognition memory, using the "remember-know" procedure. The aim was to test the predictions of the information-exchange hypothesis (Clark, Hori, Putnam & Martin, 2000), which states that collaborative facilitation occurs when participants are able to share their recollective memories with other members of the group. Results showed that recognition performance was significantly better in the collaborative than in the individual condition, and better for low-frequency than for high-frequency words. The advantage of collaborating dyads was produced by an increase of correct hits, coupled with a significant reduction of false alarms. Furthermore, the analysis of the "remember" (R) and "know" (K) responses indicated that the effects of both pair collaboration and word-frequency were larger on recollection than on familiarity processes. It is concluded that, in a collaborative condition, arguments based on the retrieval of the contextual details associated with the target words are more effective than those based on familiarity in increasing the proportions of correct hits. In addition, it is proposed that collaboration may lead to a reduction of the probability to accept new items on the basis of familiarity (K) responses.