Parental reflective functioning and theory of mind acquisition: A developmental perspective

This study investigated theory of mind (ToM) development in 83 children aged 3–5 years and its associations with parental reflective functioning (PRF), using a multidimensional and developmental approach. Results showed that ToM dimensions (i.e., affective, belief-desire, and cognitive) gradually increased with age. All dimensions of PRF (i.e., prementalizing modes, certainty about mental states, and interest and curiosity in mental states) were associated with ToM dimensions, with different dimensions being differentially related to ToM, including age-related effects.     

依恋的神经生理机制

在动物社会依恋的神经生物学研究基础上,研究者对人类依恋的神经生理机制进行了初步探讨,一致的结论是无论婴儿还是成人,不安全依恋个体的心率、皮质醇水平高于安全依恋的个体。而在依恋系统激活时婴儿和成人的脑电活动和大脑的功能定位研究却发现了不一致：较之安全依恋婴儿,不安全依恋婴儿的左侧前额大脑区域显示了较少的活动;成人依恋类型的脑机制研究并无定论。所有这些研究多为相关研究,今后有待于在神经生物水平上对依恋的基本理论问题如内部工作模式的意识和无意识性、母婴依恋与成人依恋的关系（特别是一般依恋表征和特殊依恋表征）以及母婴依恋对婴幼儿大脑发育的影响等问题展开深入研究     

Family Empowerment as a Mediator between Family-Centered Systems of Care and Changes in Child Functioning: Identifying an Important Mechanism of Change

We investigated the associations among perceived fidelity to family-centered systems of care, family empowerment, and improvements in children's problem behaviors. Participants included 79 families, interviewed at two time points across a one-year period. Paired samples t-tests indicated that problem behaviors decreased significantly across a one-year period. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that both fidelity to family-centered systems of care and family empowerment independently predicted positive change in children's problem behavior over a one-year period. However, when family empowerment is entered first in the regression, the relationship between fidelity to family-centered systems of care and change in children's problem behavior drops out, indicating that family empowerment mediates the relationship between family-centered care and positive changes in problem behaviors. Consistent with other literature on help-giving practices, family empowerment appears to be an important mechanism of change within the system of care philosophy of service delivery. Implications for practice and staff training are discussed.     

语义启动效应的脑机制研究综述

文章主要介绍了语义启动的过程及其脑机制的研究进展。启动效应是内隐记忆的研究焦点,而语义启动是通过刺激的语义特征来研究启动效应的。语义启动的脑机制研究一般是通过脑损伤、脑成像和ERPs等方法实现的。研究表明,大脑的广泛区域都参与着语义启动过程,尤其是脑前区和大脑的左半球。     

植物状态的残存脑功能和意识研究

综述了有关植物状态患者对外加刺激脑反应的功能成像研究文献,着重讨论了研究发现的非典型激活的临床价值以及植物状态患者是否存在意识的功能脑成像证据。     

应激对记忆影响的脑科学研究及其教育启示

大量脑科学的研究揭示,应激对与海马相关的陈述性记忆的调节主要通过应激激素,尤其是糖皮质激素的分泌而发生作用,而影响的方向取决于一些调节变量,包括糖皮质激素升高的水平以及记忆的不同阶段等。研究发现基底外侧杏仁核是糖皮质激素对记忆不同阶段产生差异性影响的关键部位。因此,在教育过程中,既要科学地认识应激对记忆的消极影响,又要有效利用应激对记忆产生的调节作用,来提高学生的学习效率。     

甲状腺激素在脑发育中的作用及临床意义

甲状腺激素在神经系统尤其是脑的发育和成熟过程中起着决定性的作用。甲状腺激素过多或过少直接关系到脑的发育和功能状况。有关甲状腺激素作用的分子机制的研究已经取得了重要的进步。研究发现发育脑中的甲状腺激素通过调控特异基因的表达来发挥作用。母体甲状腺激素主要影响妊娠前20周胎儿的神经发育。     

Depression Following Traumatic Brain Injury: The Validity of the CES-D as a Brief Screening Device

The validity, reliability, and factor structure of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was examined with 253 patients seen for neuropsychological evaluation following traumatic brain injury (TBI). All patients completed the CES-D; 31 also completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and 17 completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-II (MMPI-II). The CES-D demonstrated good concurrent, construct validity, significantly correlating with the BDI (r = .673, p < .0001) and the MMPI-II (Depression Scale T score r = .536, p = .027). The CES-D also demonstrated good internal consistency (coefficient alpha = .8195) and split-half reliability (Spearman–Brown r = .8284). Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation resulted in a four-factor solution that accounted for 56.01% of the variance. The factor structure differed from the originally reported factor structure, and indicated that somatic difficulties were strongly associated with dysphoric affect in TBI patients. The CES-D is a valid and reliable screening instrument for use with TBI patients.     

揭示大脑奥秘的新途径:还原论与整合论的有机融合

脑科学研究经历了简单的整合论,到简单的还原论,发展到成熟的还原论,以及成熟的整合论,最终认知神经科学的延生标志着还原论与整合论的有机融合进入新阶段.认知神经科学强调多学科、多层次、多水平的交叉,研究的层次包括分子、突触、神经元、网络、脑区、系统、全脑及整体行为乃至环境、社会等.     

Why is working memory related to intelligence? Different contributions from storage and processing

Domain-specific contributions of working memory (WM), short-term memory (STM), and executive functioning (EF) to individual differences in intelligence were analysed using a latent variable approach. A sample of 345 participants completed a battery of 24 tests tapping the constructs of interests as comprehensively as possible. Visuospatial and verbal STM and WM tasks were administered along with three subcomponents of EF, namely inhibition, planning, and shifting. Intelligence was assessed by non-verbal/abstract/fluid intelligence (Gf) and verbal/crystallised intelligence (Gc) standardised tests. Structural equation modelling results show that EF is the main predictor of Gf, whereas verbal STM is the main predictor of Gc. Storage and processing providing different contributions to the prediction of Gf and Gc supports the view that both short-term storage and executive functioning account for the relationship between WM and intelligence. This main conclusion stresses the importance of acknowledging core cognitive constructs as being hierarchical systems with general and domain-specific mechanisms.