An Examination of the Effects of Stress Management Training for Japanese College Students of Social Work

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a stress-management program for college students of social work on their perception of mental stress and stress-coping strategies. Students in a stress-management group received progressive muscle training, cognitive-behavioral skills training, and assertion training for 14 weeks. Their life events, stress symptoms, and stress-coping skills (active and passive coping skills), evaluated on the first and last days of program, were compared with those of a control group. The effect of the participants' trait anxiety on those variables was also examined. Because the stress-management program in the present study focused on coping strategies, it was expected that the students' coping skills would change. The results showed that passive coping skills of students in the stress-management group had decreased after the program.     

Temporal landmarks: proximity prevails

Subjects in conditioning experiments time their conditioned responses relative to the onsets of the conditioned stimuli (CSs). These onsets are temporal landmarks, by reference to which subjects may estimate the location of the unconditioned stimulus (US) in time. In a serial compound conditioning paradigm, a long duration CS comes on first, followed later by a second shorter CS, creating both a long-range and a short-range predictor of the US. We ask whether displacing the short-range predictor relative to the long-range predictor causes subjects to strike a compromise between the different temporal locations predicted by the two CSs. In three experiments with pigeons, we varied the training conditions so as to favor or militate against this outcome. However, in all conditions, there was no compromise; after the onset of the displaced short-range CS, the timing of conditioned responding was governed by it alone. This result contrasts with the compromises that are seen when the feeding time predicted by a CS is put in conflict with the time predicted by the circadian clock, and with the similar compromises sometimes seen when a nearby spatial landmark is displaced relative to a larger spatial context. Electronic Publication     

Exact distributions of intraclass correlation and Cronbach's alpha with Gaussian data and general covariance

Intraclass correlation and Cronbach's alpha are widely used to describe reliability of tests and measurements. Even with Gaussian data, exact distributions are known only for compound symmetric covariance (equal variances and equal correlations). Recently, large sample Gaussian approximations were derived for the distribution functions. New exact results allow calculating the exact distribution function and other properties of intraclass correlation and Cronbach's alpha, for Gaussian data with any covariance pattern, not just compound symmetry. Probabilities are computed in terms of the distribution function of a weighted sum of independent chi-square random variables. NewF approximations for the distribution functions of intraclass correlation and Cronbach's alpha are much simpler and faster to compute than the exact forms. Assuming the covariance matrix is known, the approximations typically provide sufficient accuracy, even with as few as ten observations. Either the exact or approximate distributions may be used to create confidence intervals around an estimate of reliability. Monte Carlo simulations led to a number of conclusions. Correctly assuming that the covariance matrix is compound symmetric leads to accurate confidence intervals, as was expected from previously known results. However, assuming and estimating a general covariance matrix produces somewhat optimistically narrow confidence intervals with 10 observations. Increasing sample size to 100 gives essentially unbiased coverage. Incorrectly assuming compound symmetry leads to pessimistically large confidence intervals, with pessimism increasing with sample size. In contrast, incorrectly assuming general covariance introduces only a modest optimistic bias in small samples. Hence the new methods seem preferable for creating confidence intervals, except when compound symmetry definitely holds. An earlier version of this paper was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.S. in Biostatistics, and also summarized in a presentation at the meetings of the Eastern North American Region of the International Biometric Society in March, 2001. Kistner's work was supported in part by NIEHS training grant ES07018-24 and NCI program project grant P01 CA47 982-04. She gratefully acknowledges the inspiration of A. Calandra's “Scoring formulas and probability considerations” (Psychometrika, 6, 1–9). Muller's work supported in part by NCI program project grant P01 CA47 982-04.     

工作记忆表征精度加工需求对注意引导的影响

采用注意捕获范式, 通过行为和事件相关脑电位(ERP)实验, 探讨工作记忆表征精度加工需求对注意引导的影响, 行为结果发现, 在低精度加工需求条件下, 只有一个工作记忆表征引导注意, 且处于高激活状态的工作记忆表征产生的注意捕获大于低激活状态; 而在高精度加工需求条件下, 有两个工作记忆表征引导注意, 且处于高、低激活状态的工作记忆表征产生的注意捕获没有差异。ERP结果显示, 高精度加工需求条件下诱发的NSW和LPC大于低精度加工需求条件; 在高精度加工需求条件下, 干扰项与记忆项匹配比不匹配时, 诱发更大的N2和更小的N2pc, 而在低精度加工需求条件下, 干扰项与记忆项匹配和不匹配时诱发的N2、N2pc没有差异。研究表明, 工作记忆表征精度加工需求影响注意引导的机制可能是高精度加工需求下, 工作记忆表征消耗的认知资源增加, 搜索目标获得的资源减少, 干扰项捕获的注意增加。     

定向遗忘的编码加工机制

有目的的遗忘(定向遗忘)需要耗费认知努力吗?有研究发现, 定向遗忘可能是被动衰减的结果, 即F项目(需要遗忘的项目)未获得有效复述是选择性复述了R项目(需要记住的项目)造成的, 这一加工过程不需要认知努力; 但也有研究表明, 定向遗忘过程可能是遗忘线索诱发的对记忆加工的主动抑制, 需要耗费认知努力, 脑认知研究中发现的前额叶ERPs成分为这一机制提供了证据。还有一种观点认为, 定向遗忘编码过程可能同时包含主动抑制与被动衰减, 但是尚不清楚两种加工机制相互作用的方式。为进一步澄清定向遗忘编码阶段的认知机制, 未来研究需要将非认知因素纳入考察, 并关注不同人群的定向遗忘特征, 在此基础上尝试解决理论争议。     

A sorting‐to‐matching method to teach compound matching to sample

Individuals with developmental disabilities may fail to attend to multiple features in compound stimuli (e.g., arrays of pictures, letters within words) with detrimental effects on learning. Participants were 5 children with autism spectrum disorder who had low to intermediate accuracy scores (35% to 84%) on a computer‐presented compound matching task. Sample stimuli were pairs of icons (e.g., chair–tree), the correct comparison was identical to the sample, and each incorrect comparison had one icon in common with the sample (e.g., chair–sun, airplane–tree). A 5‐step tabletop sorting‐to‐matching training procedure was used to teach compound matching. The first step was sorting 3 single pictures; subsequent steps gradually changed the task to compound matching. If progress stalled, tasks were modified temporarily to prompt observing behavior. After tabletop training, participants were retested on the compound matching task; accuracy improved to at least 95% for all children. This procedure illustrates one way to improve attending to multiple features of compound stimuli.     

Move2Love and Vibrancy: Community Dance/Fitness

The Move2Love program demonstrates the feasibility of establishing community-based programs involving dance and exercise to support physical and social well-being in older women. The social fitness program has been running continuously for 23 years. It currently involves 125 to 175 women between the ages of 54 and 94 in weekly rhythmic training sessions. In addition to meeting the initial goals of addiction avoidance in an at-risk population, this program has contributed to the well-being of participants, both by lowering disease burden, and by increasing physical, social, and psychological fitness. This article describes the program and explores the reasons that it has continued to work for over two decades. It also demonstrates the value experienced by participants in their own words. The Move2Love program could serve as a feasibility pilot for other communities wishing to create sustainable, salutary activity programming to enhance the well-being of senior women.     

参杞合剂对PG内皮细胞黏附及黏附分子表达的影响

参杞合剂(SQ)是以传统中药参杞片为基础,辅以黄芪、当归、莪术、白花蛇舌草煎制而成,据报道其在小鼠体内、外有抗瘤、抑瘤之功效。但其是否对人类肿瘤也有同样功效尚不可知。本实验通过研究参杞合剂对人高转移肺癌细胞(PG)生长调控的作用及其表面黏附分子(CD44、CD54)表达的影响,初步探讨其对人类肿瘤作用的相关机制,为今后开发抗肿瘤新药提供理论依据。     

个体解决5项系列问题复合模型的实验研究

研究运用4种任务类型,对4个年级160名被试的五项系列问题的传递性推理进行研究,发现解决不同任务类型的传递性推理能力有随年龄而明显增强的趋势,使用的心理模型遵循空间模型、空间-语义模型、语义模型和枢纽项模型的发展顺序,儿童表现出了复合模型,复合模型具有明显的阶段特征。     

中央执行注意资源在消极和积极特征捆绑中的作用

鉴于以往研究未明确视觉工作记忆中特征捆绑是否需要注意资源,以及未考察积极加工条件下的特征捆绑等问题,本研究运用双任务干扰范式,通过两个实验分别在消极加工和积极加工条件下考察了联结客体的特征加工和特征捆绑,以及中央执行注意资源在特征捆绑中的作用。结果表明：联结客体的特征加工不但存在双重存储机制,还存在双重操作机制,这一结果拓展了Wheeler和Treisman（2002）的特征捆绑理论;联结客体的特征捆绑可分为消极特征捆绑和积极特征捆绑两种类型,消极特征捆绑不需要中央执行注意资源的参与,而积极特征捆绑则需要中央执行注意资源的参与。