Stronger effects of self-generated than cue-induced expectations when verifying predictions in data graphs

Expectations can come in different forms when analyzing and presenting data. Prior studies have documented stronger effects (behavioral and electrophysiological) of self-generated predictions as compared to cues. While participants presumably cannot help but use their own predictions, they might sometimes ignore cues (of low validity). In two experiments we compared the impact of cues (verbal and visual) and self-generated predictions on the performance of participants checking their current prediction against a presented data graph (linear upward or downward trend). Different from prior studies, the setup allowed for within-experiment comparison of different cue formats and ensured that cues could not be ignored. Nevertheless we found that self-generated predictions had a stronger impact than cues. Verbal cues had a stronger effect than visual cues without verbalization. Responses to graphs with a linear upward trend were faster and were influenced more strongly by predictions, than the response to graphs with a downward trend.     

Medial frontal event-related potentials and reward prediction: do responses matter?

Medial frontal event-related potentials (ERPs) following rewarding feedback index outcome evaluation. The majority of studies examining the feedback related medial frontal negativity (MFN) employ active tasks during which participants’ responses impact their feedback, however, the MFN has been elicited during passive tasks. Many of the studies examining the MFN show enhanced effects when an error in reward prediction occurs (i.e. expected rewards are not delivered). To clarify the roles of reward prediction error and active responding in producing the MFN, the current study employed a reward prediction design with active and passive task blocks. Following the presentation of a reward predictor, participants (active task) or the computer (passive task) indicated whether participants would receive the outcome associated with a stimulus presented on the left or right of the reward predictor. The MFN was largest when the trial outcome was worse than predicted and this effect was enhanced when the participant, rather than the computer, made the choice. These results show that both reward prediction error and active choice impact the neural system of outcome monitoring with the largest MFN when the individual’s decision led to the negative outcome.     

反馈负波及其近10年理论解释

个体决策后的反馈对随后的结果监控和行为调整起着至关重要的作用。事件相关脑电位研究发现, 反馈负波(feedback-related negativity, FRN)是与决策后反馈加工过程紧密相关的脑电成分。近10年来关于FRN的理论解释, 在最初经典的强化学习理论和情绪动机假说的基础上又提出了反应-结果的预测模型、奖赏正波理论以及积极情绪启动模型。未来的研究应该立足于大样本, 采用互补的研究手段和多样的分析技术来探讨FRN的心理意义; 同时考虑将FRN作为奖赏加工的脑电指标, 研究社会互动情境下的人类行为。     

人机交互中认知负荷变化预测模型的构建

设计模拟的人机交互实验, 分析持续作业过程中认知负荷在评估指标上的变化; 采用Elman神经网络和BP神经网络二种建模方法, 探索人机交互过程中认知负荷变化预测建模的构建方法。结果显示：持续作业中认知负荷在主任务反应时、主任务正确率、注视时间、注视次数4个评估指标上变化显著; 在心理努力、任务主观难度2个评估指标上变化不显著; Elman神经网络和BP神经网络两种预测模型可以对不同作业时间段认知负荷在评估指标上发生的变化进行预测; 再结合认知负荷的综合评估模型, 可实现对不同作业时间段个体认知负荷水平等级进行分析。     

5·12汶川地震灾区居民的心理和谐状况及与政府满意度的关系

本研究采用心理和谐的框架,分析5·12汶川地震受灾地区居民的社会心理状况与居民对中央及地方两级政府救灾措施的满意度之间关系。一般受灾地区、重灾区和极重灾区的9个县市1385名居民参加问卷调查。层次回归分析的结果发表明,地震灾区居民对地方政府的满意程度对其心理和谐的影响力更大;地方政府满意度在中央政府满意度和心理和谐之间起部分中介作用。最后指出该研究对各级政府开展抗震救灾和灾后重建工作的启示意义     

Prereaders’ eye movements during shared storybook reading are language-mediated but not predictive

When viewing a visual scene, eye movements are often language-mediated: people look at objects as those objects are named. Eye movements can even reflect predictive language processing, moving to an object before it is named. Children are also capable of making language-mediated eye movements, even predictive ones, and prediction may be involved in language learning. The present study explored whether eye movements are language-mediated in a more naturalistic task – shared storybook reading. Research has shown that children fixate illustrations during shared storybook reading, ignoring text. The present study used high-precision eye-tracking to replicate this finding. Further, prereader participants showed increased likelihood of fixating relevant storybook illustrations as words were read aloud, indicating that their eye movements were language mediated like the adult participants. Language-mediated eye movements to illustrations were reactive, not predictive, in both participant groups.     

Using virtual environments to assess visual perception judgements in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Visual perception is an exceedingly critical concern in the daily lives of older people, particularly for determining traffic behaviors. In this study, two simulation experiments were conducted to determine the difference in visual perception judgement ability between healthy older individuals and patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in simulated environments. The first experiment conducted in this study manipulated the sizes of different depth cues, reference objects, and vehicle size, and also requested participants to determine the distances between objects in different images to determine differences in depth perception between different groups. The second experiment simulates the participant in predicting the time to reach the front target in the driving state. In the experiment, different distances and different speeds are used to understand whether the participants of different groups will have differences in the time prediction. The results of the first experiment demonstrated that patients with PD exhibited significant depth perception degeneration in judging object distances. The second experiment revealed that when vehicles were traveling at high speeds, participants considerably underestimated vehicle speed. The results of this study demonstrate that patients with PD experience a degree of degeneration in terms of depth perception and perception of dynamic distance prediction. This result can assist patients with PD in understanding their visual perception degeneration and improving traffic awareness.     

儿童心理危机的干预策略

地震突发性强,危害严重,往往使儿童产生思维不清、意志失控、情感紊乱等心理危机,如果不及时进行心理疏导,儿童可能长期沉浸在痛苦中难以自拔,身心健康受到影响,最终酿成精神疾病,影响其一生。通过概括疏理7种常用儿童心理危机干预策略,以期为灾后儿童心理危机提供参考