Sensory attenuation of action outcomes of varying amplitude and valence

Stimuli caused by self-initiated actions are perceived as less intense than those caused externally; this effect is called sensory attenuation (SA). In two experiments, we aimed to assess the impact of the amplitude of outcomes and its affective valence on SA and explicit ratings of sense of agency. This allowed us to test the predictions of the available SA frameworks and better understand the link between SA, affect, and agency. The results indicated that SA can be reversed, and such sensory amplification is driven by low-amplitude and positive-valence outcomes. We also show that intentional action influences the perceived valence of outcomes, and that modulations of explicit sense of agency are divergent from those of SA. Our study shows that valence influences the processing of the amplitude of intentional action outcomes and suggests that none of the currently available frameworks give full justice to SA’s variability.     

The effect of a simulated hearing loss on performance of an auditory memory task in driving

Hearing loss has been shown to exacerbate the effect of auditory distraction on driving performance in older drivers. This study controlled for the potentially confounding factor of age-related cognitive decrements, by applying a simulated hearing loss in young, normally hearing individuals. Participants drove a simulated road whilst completing auditory tasks under simulated hearing loss or normal hearing conditions. Measures of vehicle control, eye movements and auditory task performance were recorded. Results showed that performing the auditory tasks whilst driving resulted in more stable lateral vehicle control and a reduction in gaze dispersion around the road centre. These trends were not exacerbated by simulated hearing loss, suggesting no effect of hearing loss on vehicle control or eye movement patterns during auditory task engagement. However, a small effect of simulated hearing loss on the performance of the most complex auditory task was observed during driving, suggesting that the use of sound-based in-vehicle systems may be problematic for hearing impaired individuals. Further research incorporating a wider variety of driving scenarios and auditory tasks is required in order to confirm the findings of this study.     

Exposure to rf electromagnetic energy decreases aggressive behavior

It was predicted from the dopamine-opiate system hypothesis that aggression induced by light tail pressure would be modified by exposure of the animals to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy. In a series of three experiments, it was found that there was a substantial decrease in aggressive behavior during exposure to EM energy at incident power densities as low as 50 μW/cm². This is consistent with previously published reports that indicate the dopamine and opiate systems of the brain are influenced by exposure to low-intensity EM energy. It would appear that EM energy exposure could be used as a probe in the study of aggression and in relating it to brain chemistry. Since this energy has become ubiquitous in the environment, and quite uneven in distribution, there may be implications for understanding aggressive behavior from a clinical standpoint as well as from the standpoint of necessary controls in experiments.     

Affective-Evaluative Learning in Humans: A Form of Associative Learning or Only an Artifact?

The status of evaluative conditioning (EC) as a distinct form of associative learning was called in question by Field and Davey (1997, 1998, 1999), who argued that in the typical visual EC paradigm, nonassociative visual concept learning is responsible for the evaluative changes observed. Especially, the use of only within-subject control conditions instead of independent control groups was criticized. The present three experiments show (a) that EC effects can be demonstrated within another sensory modality than visual perception and (b) that EC effects are demonstrable in a between-subject design (including a successful replication attempt). A further result was that these EC effects do not require participants' conscious awareness. The data provide no support for an artifactual account of EC but suggest an interpretation of EC as a form of associative learning.     

Stimulus factors in the isolation-induced aggression of Bobwhite quail and Khaki Campbell ducklings

Two studies examined the relative abilities of conspecific-derived visual and tactile stimulation to modulate the occurrence of isolation-induced aggression in Bobwhite quail and Khaki Campbell ducklings. In Experiment 1, subjects were permitted visual stimulation from conspecifics but were deprived of conspecific tactile stimulation. In both species, these subjects subsequently showed significantly less aggression towards conspecifics than birds that had been deprived of both visual and tactile stimulation from conspecifics. In Experiment 2, one group of subjects was permitted conspecific tactile stimulation but was deprived of conspecific visual stimulation. Again for both species, these subjects subsequently exhibited significantly less aggressive behavior towards conspecifics than did subjects that had been both visually and tactually de-prived. In sum, the present research suggests that both tactile and visual stimulation from a conspecific are individually sufficient to reduce isolation-induced aggression in these precocial buds.     

The behavioral complications of pallidal stimulation: a case report

We report a case of recurrent manic episodes associated with chronic deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting globus pallidus (GP) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Cardinal PD symptoms and dyskinesia improved with DBS, and neuropsychological testing found improvements in visuospatial measures associated with left DBS and in verbal memory with right DBS when compared to the patient's preoperative baseline. Under conditions of right, left, and bilateral DBS, the patient experienced bouts of mania and hypomania lasting several days at a time. Positron emission tomography (PET) with (15)O-labeled water was performed after his first manic episode under four conditions: no stimulation, right DBS, left DBS, and bilateral DBS. Although no manic switch occurred during the course of the PET study, all three DBS conditions were associated with decreases in regional flow in the left parahippocampus and hippocampus and right mid-cingulate gyrus. Increases in flow in left inferior frontal area, bilateral insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and cuneus were common to all DBS conditions. GP stimulation in PD may be associated with behavioral and cognitive effects. Distributed blood flow changes observed with pallidal DBS support a role for the pallidum in cognition and affective regulation.     

Increased regional cerebral glucose metabolism and semantic memory performance in Alzheimer's disease: A pilot double blind transdermal nicotine positron emission tomography study

Nicotinic receptor dysfunction and impaired semantic memory occur early in Alzheimer's disease patients (AD). Previous research implied that nicotine's ability to enhance alertness, arousal, and cognition in a number of nonclinical populations was a function of its ability to stimulate CNS nicotinic cholinergic receptors. In this study it was hypothesized that transdermal administration of nicotine would increase both regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCMRglc) and semantic memory (as assessed by verbal fluency). Two mild AD and two elderly controls underwent positron emission tomography scanning during a double blind nicotinic agonist verbal fluency challenge procedure. rCMRglc increases occurred in both AD patients, but not controls. In the two AD patients, verbal fluency scores increased by an average of 17%. One elderly control's verbal fluency increased, and the other decreased. These findings suggest that nicotine's effect on metabolism and verbal fluency is due to its ability to stimulate the cholinergic system.     

Behavioral and dimensional contrast in rats.

Rats pressed a nose key for brain stimulation reinforcement presented on a fixed-interval schedule. Stimuli were drawn at random from a continuum of 12 white noise intensities in the range 62-95 decibels, spaced in 3 decibel steps. Experiment 1 varied the number of stimuli and the reinforcement contingencies associated with them. In Condition I (baseline) all stimuli signaled reinforcement; in Conditions II and III stimuli from one half of the continuum signaled reinforcement and those from the other half, extinction. However, in Condition II the 6 stimuli from the middle of the continuum were omitted. Experiment 2 held constant the number of stimuli and varied their spacing. In Condition I, each of 6 sounds signaled reinforcement. In Conditions II and II, three stimuli from one half of the continuum signaled reinforcement and three from the other half, extinction. However, in Condition II the stimuli were near the extremes of the continuum (Stimuli 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 12). Condition III replaced Stimulus 3 with Stimulus 6 and Stimulus 10 with Stimulus 7. Behavioral contrast was seen in an increase over baseline in response rate to the stimuli associated with the constant schedule component when the variable component was changed to extinction. Dimensional contrast was seen in a further elevation of rate to intermediate positive stimulus values when stimuli were added to the border region between positive and negative values.     

Heritage space,multiple temporalities,and the reproduction of Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Village

This paper investigates the everyday experiences of long-term residents during the urban heritage revitalization process of Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Village (GOCV) as China's first overseas Chinese village. Drawing upon insights from the recent theories of multiple temporalities, this paper argues that the everyday sensory experiences of long-term residents during the urban heritage revitalization process can be understood through three interconnected temporal modes (past, present, and future). These modes reflect the sociopolitical context of different periods and influence the everyday rhythms and practices of community residents. Specifically, regarding the past, patriotic fervor, a shared identity, and the experience of living collectively have created a “happy home for returned overseas Chinese”. In terms of the present, the market-oriented reform and commodification of housing has had a profound impact on the built forms and meaning systems of the neighborhood, leading to long-term residents' nostalgia for the past and resistance to present changes in the everyday rhythms. Lastly, based on an envisioned future, long-term residents carry out specific preservation practices to maintain and enhance their place identity. This article explores the approaches to enrich the urban heritage research by illuminating the importance of temporality for understanding the spatial (re)production of living urban heritage.     

腹内侧前额叶在内隐认知重评中的因果作用

情绪调节对维持个体心理健康、适应社会生活十分重要, 然而以往研究主要关注外显情绪调节, 目前我们对内隐情绪调节的认知神经机制的了解还非常有限。为揭示内隐情绪调节的核心脑区, 本研究使用句子整理任务启动内隐认知重评, 并采用经颅直流电刺激(transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS)激活内侧前额叶特别是腹内侧前额叶(ventromedial prefrontal cortex, vmPFC), 考察该脑区在内隐情绪调节中的因果作用。结果表明, vmPFC被激活的被试组(实验组, n = 40)在内隐认知重评启动条件下比tDCS伪刺激组(对照组, n = 40), 在观看负性图片时报告了更少的负性情绪, 同时负性图片诱发的晚正成分(late positive potential, LPP)波幅更低(LPP是情绪体验强度的客观指标)。同时, 实验组比对照组在观看负性图片时表现出更低的枕区P1波幅(P1为早期视觉注意程度的客观指标)。以上结果说明, 激活以vmPFC为代表的内侧前额叶不但能增强内隐情绪调节的效果, 还能减少被试对负性刺激的早期注意分配。本研究是采用tDCS技术考察启动引起的内隐情绪调节的首次尝试, 研究结果不但表明了以vmPFC为代表的内侧前额叶在内隐认知重评中的关键作用, 还为临床应用研究指出了增强内隐情绪调节能力的神经调控潜在靶点。