Measuring Big-Five personality dimensions with the implicit association test – Implicit personality traits or self-esteem?

We examined whether the implicit association test (IAT) could serve as an implicit measure of the dimensions of the Five-Factor Model of Personality. In the first study (N = 84) IAT-effects of the Big-Five (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism and Openness) were found and the IAT showed good internal consistencies and convergent validity with an explicit Big-Five questionnaire (NEO-FFI-30). In a second study (N = 50), conducted to determine the overlap of the personality-IATs with implicit self-esteem, the Extraversion and the Neuroticism-IAT were shown to correlate with a self-esteem-IAT only moderately.     

The role of visual experience on the representation and updating of novel haptic scenes

We investigated the role of visual experience on the spatial representation and updating of haptic scenes by comparing recognition performance across sighted, congenitally and late blind participants. We first established that spatial updating occurs in sighted individuals to haptic scenes of novel objects. All participants were required to recognise a previously learned haptic scene of novel objects presented across the same or different orientation as learning whilst they either remained in the same position to moved to a new position relative to the scene. Scene rotation incurred a cost in recognition performance in all groups. However, overall haptic scene recognition performance was worse in the congenitally blind group. Moreover, unlike the late blind or sighted groups, the congenitally blind group were unable to compensate for the cost in scene rotation with observer motion. Our results suggest that vision plays an important role in representing and updating spatial information encoded through touch and have important implications for the role of vision in the development of neuronal areas involved in spatial cognition.     

Top-down predictions in the cognitive brain

The human brain is not a passive organ simply waiting to be activated by external stimuli. Instead, we propose that the brain continuously employs memory of past experiences to interpret sensory information and predict the immediately relevant future. The basic elements of this proposal include analogical mapping, associative representations and the generation of predictions. This review concentrates on visual recognition as the model system for developing and testing ideas about the role and mechanisms of top-down predictions in the brain. We cover relevant behavioral, computational and neural aspects, explore links to emotion and action preparation, and consider clinical implications for schizophrenia and dyslexia. We then discuss the extension of the general principles of this proposal to other cognitive domains.     

Faulty assumptions: A comment on Blanton, Jaccard, Gonzales, and Christie (2006)

Blanton, Jaccard, Gonzales, and Christie [Blanton, H., Jaccard, J., Gonzales, P., Christie, C. (2006). Decoding the Implicit Association Test: implications for criterion prediction. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42, 192-212.] assert that the Implicit Association Test (IAT) imposes a model that portrays relative preferences as the additive difference between single attitudes. This assertion is misplaced because relative preferences do not necessarily reduce to component attitudes. BJGC also assume that the IAT conditions represent two indicators of the same construct. This assumption is incorrect, and is the cause of their poor-fitting models. The IAT, like other experimental paradigms, contrasts performance between interdependent conditions, and cannot be reduced to component parts. This is true whether calculating a simple difference between conditions, or using the IAT D score. D—an individual effect size that is monotonically related to Cohen’s d—codifies the interdependency between IAT conditions. When their unjustified psychometric assumptions are replaced with plausible assumptions, the models fit their data very well, and basis for their poor-fitting models becomes clear.     

急性生理应激对大鼠的行为及脑神经颗粒素磷酸化水平的影响

突触特异性蛋白质在应激所致行为效应的中枢机制中的可能角色日益受到关注。神经颗粒素（Neurogranin,NG）是一种新发现的突触特异性蛋白质,主要分布在前额叶、杏仁核和海马区域,参与突触结构和功能可塑性机制,可能涉及到应激所致行为效应中枢机制。但是,关于NG、应激和行为之间的关系国内外尚缺乏系统的研究报道。本研究主要是探讨急性生理应激对大鼠行为和NG的作用,以及NG的变化与应激性行为效应之间的相互关系。以急性强迫性冷水游泳应激,建立生理应激动物模型。将40只雄性SD大鼠随机分为游泳应激组1（SS1,接受游泳应激和行为测试）、游泳应激组2（SS2,接受游泳应激而不接受行为测试）、正常对照组1（C1,接受行为测试）和正常对照组（C2,不给予任何处理）（n=10）。以旷场行为和高架十字迷宫任务来评定大鼠应激后的行为变化,Western blotting方法测定海马和前脑皮层中的NG含量和磷酸化水平。结果表明：应激后SS1组的呆滞行为增加,与C1组比较,差异有显著性, P<0.01; SS1组海马的NG含量和NG磷酸化水平增高,与C1和C2组相比,差异有显著性,均为P<0.05; SS1组皮层的NG含量增高,与C1和C2组相比,差异有显著性,均为P<0.01;SS1组皮层的NG磷酸化水平增高,与C1组相比,差异具有显著性,P<0.01;前脑皮层的NG磷酸化水平与呆滞行为之间的相关达显著水平。提示该应激源能诱发动物明显的恐惧反应,呆滞行为是反映急性生理应激导致行为障碍的敏感的行为学指标,海马和前脑皮层均是对急性生理应激反应敏感的脑区。NG的磷酸化水平可能是反映急性生理应激所致行为障碍的一项新的生物学指标     

文本阅读中预期推理激活与编码的语境条件研究

本研究通过三个实验考察了语义联系和因果制约对文本阅读中预期推理激活和编码的贡献。结果表明,预期语境与预期事件间的语义联系不能使预期推理在文本阅读过程中得到激活和编码,语境与预期事件间的强因果关系是文本阅读过程中预期推理激活与编码的必要条件;提示阅读过程中的预期是因果预期而非联想预期。结果为建构主义推理观提供了实验依据。     

Differential involvement of left prefrontal cortex in inductive and deductive reasoning

While inductive and deductive reasoning are considered distinct logical and psychological processes, little is known about their respective neural basis. To address this issue we scanned 16 subjects with fMRI, using an event-related design, while they engaged in inductive and deductive reasoning tasks. Both types of reasoning were characterized by activation of left lateral prefrontal and bilateral dorsal frontal, parietal, and occipital cortices. Neural responses unique to each type of reasoning determined from the Reasoning Type (deduction and induction) by Task (reasoning and baseline) interaction indicated greater involvement of left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 44) in deduction than induction, while left dorsolateral (BA 8/9) prefrontal gyrus showed greater activity during induction than deduction. This pattern suggests a dissociation within prefrontal cortex for deductive and inductive reasoning.     

The order-restricted association model: Two estimation algorithms and issues in testing

This paper presents a row-column (RC) association model in which the estimated row and column scores are forced to be in agreement with an a priori specified ordering. Two efficient algorithms for finding the order-restricted maximum likelihood (ML) estimates are proposed and their reliability under different degrees of association is investigated by a simulation study. We propose testing order-restricted RC models using a parametric bootstrap procedure, which turns out to yield reliablep values, except for situations in which the association between the two variables is very weak. The use of order-restricted RC models is illustrated by means of an empirical example. Francisca Galindo performed this research as a part of her PhD. dissertation project at Tilburg University.     

Magnetic stimulation studies of foveal representation

The right and left visual fields each project to the contralateral cerebral hemispheres, but the extent of the functional overlap of the two hemifields along the vertical meridian is still under debate. After presenting the spatial, temporal, and functional specifications of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), we show that TMS is particularly suitable to study the question of foveal representation as it allows one to study the effects of selective disruption of left or right hemisphere functions on the processing of centrally presented stimuli. Future strategies for the use of TMS in further tests of visual word recognition are suggested.     

Hot and Cool Aspects of Cognitive Control in Children with ADHD: Decision-Making and Inhibition

This study investigated hot and cool aspects of cognitive control in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study aimed to: (1) replicate the postulated response inhibition deficit of children with ADHD; (2) explore whether children with ADHD choose disadvantageously in a decision-making task and to explore the mechanisms underlying the expected response pattern; and (3) study whether performance on a combination of hot and cool executive control measures has predictive value for an ADHD diagnosis. The sample consisted of 20 children with ADHD and 22 normal developing children (NC, 8 to 12 years) matched on age, FSIQ, and gender. Two paradigms have been applied: (1) the stop signal paradigm, and (2) the adapted children's version of the IOWA Gambling task. There were no group differences for both paradigms. Both groups chose in a reward-oriented manner and seemed to develop the ability to take future consequences into account in making decisions. Moreover, feedback resulted in direct behavioral changes. Children with ADHD did not have a specific response inhibition deficit or a decision-making deficit.