Evaluation of human consciousness level by means of “automated fluctuation analysis” of high frequency electroencephalogram fitted by double Lorentzians

Since Berger’s discovery of the electroencephalogram (EEG), its analysis has been generally restricted to the visual range (upmost 100Hz) and has ignored higher frequency components. One reason should be that there are no reliable methods to distinguish the brain potentials from muscle activity. We have introduced fluctuation analysis, which is popular method especially in the field of basic physiology to clinical electrophysiology. In our previous study, it was declared that power spectral density (PSD) of human high frequency EEG was composed of double Lorentzians and vanished into white level within 1kHz. Then the purpose of this study is to elucidate the “Automated Fluctuation Analysis,” which enables us to evaluate these higher frequency components and its physiological meaning especially focused on conscious level from wakefulness to sleep stage 1. Seventy-four scalp recording EEGs in twenty normal subjects were studied. In short, “Automated Fluctuation Analysis” is made of three steps: amplification of EEG signal, A/D conversion and Fast Fourier Transform by signal processor and extraction of Lorentzian parameters. PSD of high frequency EEG was displayed on log-log graph and the algorithm fit to the following Lorentzian formula were mathematically based on Brown & Dennis. S(f)=S1/ [1+(f/fc₁)²] + S2/ [1+(f/fc₂)²], where S(f) is PSD (μ V²/Hz) at each frequency (f;Hz), S1 and S2 are the plateau level or zero-frequency power of the initial and second Lorentz, and fc₁ and fc₂ are the corner or half-power frequency of the initial and second Lorentz, respectively. As results, during wakefulness the PSD of high frequency EEG activity was composed of double Lorentzian fluctuations and the power distribution of S1 value in topographical display was frontal dominant. This pattern of S1 value disappeared and S2 value became lower during sleepiness and the second Lorentz disappeared during sleep.     

Media Multitasking Effects on Cognitive vs. Attitudinal Outcomes: A Meta‐Analysis

Despite the recent proliferation of research on media multitasking, a comprehensive meta‐analytic review of its effects has not been available. Based on a review of 49 media multitasking studies, this meta‐analysis showed that multitasking has negative effects on cognitive outcomes, whereas it has positive effects on attitudinal (or persuasion‐related) outcomes. Moderator analyses suggested that the negative effects of multitasking on cognitive outcomes varied by (a) user control, (b) task relevance, and (c) task contiguity. Specifically, multitasking had greater effects (a) when media users had less control over the media, (b) for tasks that were unrelated, and (c) for tasks that were physically distant. Implications for future multitasking research are further discussed.     

Position of compression garment around the knee affects healthy adults’ knee joint position sense acuity

Athletes use compression garments (CGs) to improve sport performance, accelerate rehabilitation from knee injuries or to enhance joint position sense (JPS). The position of CGs around the knee may affect knee JPS but the data is inconsistent. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of CG position on healthy adults’ knee joint position sense acuity. In a counterbalanced, single-blinded study, 16 healthy young adults (8 female, age: 25.5 y) performed an active knee joint position-matching task with and without (CON) a below-knee (BK), above-knee (AK), or whole-knee (WK) CG in a randomized order on the dominant (CompDom) or the non-dominant leg (CompNon-Dom). We also determined the magnitude of tissue compression by measuring anatomical thigh and calf cross sectional area (CSA) in standing using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Subjects had less absolute repositioning error (magnitude of error) in BK compared with CON condition. On the other hand, the analysis of the direction of error (constant error) revealed that in each condition subjects tended to underestimate the target position (AK, BK and CON: 75%; WK: 94%). In WK condition there was a significantly larger negative error (−2.7 ± 3.4) as compared with CON (−1.6 ± 3.7) condition. There also was less variable error, in WK compared to BK and CON conditions, indicating less variability in their position sense using a WK CG, regardless of the underestimation. CG reduced thigh CSA by 4.5 cm² or 3% and calf CSA by Δ1.3 cm² or 1%. The position of CG relative to the knee modifies knee JPS. The findings helps us better understand how the application of a WK CG may support athletic activities.     

Psychometric Evaluation of an Alternate Scoring for the Remote Associates Test

The Remote Associates Test (RAT; Mednick, 1962; Mednick & Mednick, 1967) is a commonly employed test of creative convergent thinking. The RAT is scored with a dichotomous scoring, scoring correct answers as 1 and all other answers as 0. Based on recent research into the information processing underlying RAT performance, we argued that the dichotomous scoring may lead to a loss of potentially relevant information. Thus, we proposed an alternate scoring based on semantic similarity between the answer given by the participant and the correct solution using Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA; Landauer & Dumais, 1997). We evaluate the psychometric properties of the alternate LSA scoring and found evidence of construct validity for the LSA scoring which was comparable to findings for the standard scoring, but not better as we would have expected. Thus, our expectations that LSA-based scoring of the RAT counteracts potential information loss were not met. However, LSA based scorings appear to be a promising alternative for hardly solvable RAT items. We conducted additional analyses comparing different RAT item types with regard to their validity as well as evaluating the information uniquely contained in the LSA scoring. Implications of all finding for existing research using RAT items are discussed.     

A Meta‐Analysis of the ELM's Argument Quality × Processing Type Predictions

One of the key dual‐process model predictions is that audiences will be more persuaded by strong persuasive arguments than weak and that this difference in persuasiveness will be larger when they are processing centrally rather than peripherally. A series of meta‐analyses were conducted (k = 134) to assess this claim and explore moderators. The data were generally consistent with the hypothesized interaction. The effects tended to be smaller when pre‐post designs were used rather than post‐test only. Assessments of the strength of the inductions did not tend to be associated with the size of the effects associated with those inductions.     

Upon Further Reflection: View from the Other Side of “Windows on the 21st Century”

Three points discussed in Glenn (1993) are reviewed in the context of current events: the discipline of behavior analysis as a cultural system, the importance of that discipline in the training and regulation of behavior analytic practitioners, and Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) as a cultural subsystem that links to all the other parts and therefore links the other parts to one another. Noting similarities between behavior analysis and biology, I consider the growth of biological sciences as a model for behavior analysis. Of particular importance for biology has been the role of basic biological sciences in the practice of medicine and the resulting feedback loops that have developed among its basic sciences, applied sciences, and medical practice. I suggest that behavior analysis explicitly follow this model and that ABAI has a critical role to play in leading the field to developing the feedback loops that have integrated the biological sciences and medicine.     

高校教师组织承诺问卷的编制

本研究采用访谈法和问卷调查法对高校教师的组织承诺进行研究,并编制了符合我国高校实际情况的高校教师组织承诺问卷。探索性因素分析的结果表明,高校教师组织承诺是一个四因素的结构,具体包括:情感承诺、规范承诺、价值承诺和投入承诺。内部一致性分析及验证性因素分析的结果表明,高校教师组织承诺问卷具有较好的信度与效度。     

Habermas and Dummett: Beyond Dogmatism and Scepticism

In this article I suggest a way of overcoming the traditional dichotomy between analytic and continental philosophy by pointing at some similarities between apparently disparate philosophical approaches, viz. those of Michael Dummett and Jürgen Habermas. The comparison revolves around the so-called 'paradox of analysis', which poses a dilemma concerning philosophical propositions: these are allegedly shown to be either trivial or unsecured. Both Dummett and Habermas offer ways out of the dilemma, through recognition of the intersection of analysis with life. A transcendentally characterized conception of language is conceived by both as the only way to overcome the haunting objective m subjective distinction. Thus they offer fresh insights into the nature of meaning and truth, and the place these occupy within philosophical systems. Both philosophers take the notions of justification and procedural rationality to be primary in the order of philosophical explanation. Meaning is not conceived in terms of representation and truth conditions, but in terms of validity claims. Truth is not viewed as independent and static, but as historically conditioned and constantly unfolding. As a result, even the statements of logic, and certainly those of philosophy, find a place between the alleged emptiness of analyticity and the robust empirical character of science. This common ground represents, I believe, one of the new faces of post-analytic m and hence also post-continental m philosophy. Parts of it are shared by other contemporary philosophers, such as Derrida and Brandom. What marks this new Weltanschauung is the way it surpasses the current eliminativist trends in philosophy.     

The Longitudinal Association of Marital Confidence,Time Spent Together,and Marital Satisfaction

Using three waves of dyadic data collected at 18‐month intervals from a community‐based sample of 610 newly married heterosexual couples (1 220 individuals), we examined the relationship between marital confidence, time spent together, and marital satisfaction using a modified actor‐partner interdependence model. Results indicate that after controlling for marital satisfaction and time spent together at Time 1, marital confidence around the time of marriage was associated with marital satisfaction approximately 3 years later. In addition, marital confidence was associated with how much time husbands and wives spent together at Time 2, which was related to marital satisfaction at Time 3. Tests of the mediating paths from marital confidence to marital satisfaction trended toward significance. The results suggest the importance of assessing for relationship confidence when working with couples in the early stages of their relationship.