视知觉压力在基本心理能力老化中的作用

信息降格说认为, 感觉功能老化使认知系统难以获得良好的信息输入, 并必须牺牲有限的认知资源获得更好的刺激信息, 使能用于认知加工的资源不足, 造成认知老化。为探讨感觉功能对基本心理能力老化的作用, 该研究采用2(年龄组：年轻、老年组)×4(视知觉压力水平：高、中、低、无噪音)的混合设计, 考察年轻、老年组在相同视知觉压力下基本心理能力的年龄差异。结果发现和无噪音条件相比, 相同视知觉压力下基本心理能力(数字能力、归纳推理能力)的年龄差异减小, 甚至消失, 一定程度上支持信息降格说。视觉功能衰退可能是影响基本心理能力老化的重要因素, 但这种作用受认知资源的调节。     

Proper Semantics for Substructural Logics,from a Stalker Theoretic Point of View

We study filters in residuated structures that are associated with congruence relations (which we call -filters), and develop a semantical theory for general substructural logics based on the notion of primeness for those filters. We first generalize Stone’s sheaf representation theorem to general substructural logics and then define the primeness of -filters as being “points” (or stalkers) of the space, the spectrum, on which the representing sheaf is defined. Prime FL-filters will turn out to coincide with truth sets under various well known semantics for certain substructural logics. We also investigate which structural rules are needed to interpret each connective in terms of prime -filters in the same way as in Kripke or Routley-Meyer semantics. We may consider that the set of the structural rules that each connective needs in this sense reflects the difficulty of giving the meaning of the connective. A surprising discovery is that connectives , ⅋ of linear logic are linearly ordered in terms of the difficulty in this sense. Presented by Wojciech Buszkowski     

Working memory and arithmetic calculation in children: the contributory roles of processing speed, short-term memory, and reading

The cognitive underpinnings of arithmetic calculation in children are noted to involve working memory; however, cognitive processes related to arithmetic calculation and working memory suggest that this relationship is more complex than stated previously. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relative contributions of processing speed, short-term memory, working memory, and reading to arithmetic calculation in children. Results suggested four important findings. First, processing speed emerged as a significant contributor of arithmetic calculation only in relation to age-related differences in the general sample. Second, processing speed and short-term memory did not eliminate the contribution of working memory to arithmetic calculation. Third, individual working memory components--verbal working memory and visual-spatial working memory--each contributed unique variance to arithmetic calculation in the presence of all other variables. Fourth, a full model indicated that chronological age remained a significant contributor to arithmetic calculation in the presence of significant contributions from all other variables. Results are discussed in terms of directions for future research on working memory in arithmetic calculation.     

A FORMAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE SPACETIME MANIFOLD

The spacetime manifold, the stage on which physics is played, is constructed ab initio in a formal program that resembles the logicist reconstruction of mathematics. Zermelo’s set theory extended by urelemente serves as a framework, to which physically interpretable proper axioms are added. From this basis, a topology and subsequently a Hausdorff manifold are readily constructed which bear the properties of the known spacetime manifold. The present approach takes worldlines rather than spacetime points to be primitive, having them represented by urelemente. Thereby it is demonstrated that an important part of physics is formally reducible to set theory.     

METANEXUS 2007: THE CHALLENGE AHEAD

This essay is William Grassie's valedictory remarks at the Metanexus Institute's 2007 Annual Conference. Grassie asks what is wrong with religion, what is wrong with science, and why the constructive engagement of the two holds the key to setting things right. He cites Sir John Templeton and others to make his case and proposes a new curriculum for general science education that uses the history of nature as a mnemonic and context for promoting better science literacy and the incorporation of science into our cultural traditions.     

Inverse zombies, anesthesia awareness, and the hard problem of unconsciousness

Philosophical (p-) zombies are constructs that possess all of the behavioral features and responses of a sentient human being, yet are not conscious. P-zombies are intimately linked to the hard problem of consciousness and have been invoked as arguments against physicalist approaches. But what if we were to invert the characteristics of p-zombies? Such an inverse (i-) zombie would possess all of the behavioral features and responses of an insensate being, yet would nonetheless be conscious. While p-zombies are logically possible but naturally improbable, an approximation of i-zombies actually exists: individuals experiencing what is referred to as "anesthesia awareness." Patients under general anesthesia may be intubated (preventing speech), paralyzed (preventing movement), and narcotized (minimizing response to nociceptive stimuli). Thus, they appear--and typically are--unconscious. In 1-2 cases/1000, however, patients may be aware of intraoperative events, sometimes without any objective indices. Furthermore, a much higher percentage of patients (22% in a recent study) may have the subjective experience of dreaming during general anesthesia. P-zombies confront us with the hard problem of consciousness--how do we explain the presence of qualia? I-zombies present a more practical problem--how do we detect the presence of qualia? The current investigation compares p-zombies to i-zombies and explores the "hard problem" of unconsciousness with a focus on anesthesia awareness.     

关于医学人文教学几个问题的认识

文化素质教育与人文教育有联系,但也有区别;对人文精神的理解,存在东方与西方、传统与现在的差异;人文精神的核心是人是一切的根本,人的生命、思想、理想应当受到关爱和尊重;人文精神或人文主义包括理念层次和实践层次;人文精神是一种普世价值而主要不是意识形态;人文知识不等于人文素养,医学人文教育的目标是提升学生对生命的尊重与关爱;医学人文教育应当渗透到医学专业教育之中。     

北京大学生多元自尊的解析

该研究试图考察北京大学生的整体自尊、多元自尊的特点,探讨整体自尊的结构,考察它与抑郁等消极情绪的关系。研究采用华人多元自尊量表、华人整体自尊量表,在北京地区18所高校中,随机选取300名大学生施测。结果显示:1)多元自尊存在性别差异和年级差异;2)在北京大学生的多元自尊中,个人独立与能力自尊、人际关系与人缘自尊以及家世背景与经济自尊是自尊结构中的主要维度,能够有效预测整体自尊;3)整体自尊与焦虑、抑郁、以及消极情绪的强度与频率都存在显著的负相关。     

儿童句法意识与阅读能力发展的关系

文章总结了近几十年来关于句法意识与阅读能力发展关系的研究。首先概括了句法意识的含义及其研究方法,包括口头完形填空、句子判断和句子纠正、错误模仿、分析句法一致性效应和句法启动等,然后总结了70年代以来关于句法意识与阅读能力发展关系的理论及其实验证据,最后提出了有待进一步研究的问题