启动刺激含有多个靶子条件下的负启动效应

采用数字命名任务,在通常的负启动范式基础上增加启动刺激靶子数目．进行了两个实验。实验一发现,当启动刺激靶子个数为1个和2个时。出现负启动效应;当启动刺激靶子个数为3个和4个时。则不出现负启动效应。这提示靶子所获注意资源数量的作用。实验二发现．当启动刺激有2个和3个靶子时．如果未被选择来反应的靶子成为探测刺激的靶子,其反应时与控制组无显著差异。即不出现负启动。这表明在启动刺激中未被选择来反应的靶子与干扰项所受到的加工是有差别的。     

Psychosocial Impact of Predictive Testing for Illness on Children and Families: Challenges for a New Millennium

Predictive testing for adult- and child-onset diseases is becoming widely available. The identification of individuals prone to develop certain illnesses is often medically advantageous in that it may afford opportunities to engage in risk reduction behaviors to detect or delay disease onset. However, sometimes the knowledge gained from these tests can be ambiguous, generate distress, and potentially affect several generations of family members. Overall, these factors create a challenging set of circumstances for persons considering genetic and other forms of predictive testing, particularly parents and children. In this article, we (1) address conceptual issues involved in determining the impact of predictive testing on child and family well-being, (2) review empirical data on this topic, and (3) provide a case example to illustrate these findings. Recommendations are made for additional psychological research on child- and family-focused outcomes associated with participation in testing, highlighting their clinical implications.     

An Opportunity for Genetic Counseling Intervention: Depression in Parents of Individuals with Proteus Syndrome

Depression is common, affecting 2–5% of the general population. Parental depression can confound adjustment to, and caring for, a child with a genetic condition. As part of a study on psychosocial issues of parents caring for children with Proteus syndrome, 31 parents (20 mothers and 11 fathers) completed a depression screening tool, the Beck Depression Inventory. Approximately 23% (4/20 mothers and 3/11 fathers) scored positive on the tool. Pessimism, sense of failure, general lack of satisfaction, sense of punishment, self-dislike, social withdrawal, indecisiveness, work inhibition, somatic preoccupation, and loss of libido were reported more frequently by the group of parents with positive screen results than those with normal results. These data suggest that symptoms of depression may be prevailing among parents of individuals with Proteus syndrome. Because effective interventions for depression are readily available, genetic counselors working with families affected with rare, overgrowth disorders should specifically assess parents for physical and affective symptoms of depression and refer them for appropriate clinical treatment.     

Reviews

Books reviewed: Science and Theology: An Introduction, by JohnPolkinghorne Genesis, Genes, and God: Values and Their Origins in Naturaland Human History, by Holmes Rolston, III Playing God? Genetic Determinism and Human Freedom, by Ted Peters Green Space, Green Time: The Way of Science, by Connie Barlow Reconstructing Nature: The Engagement of Science and Religion , by John Brooke and GeoffreyCantor Whatever Happened to the Soul? Scientific and Theological Portraits ofHuman Nature, Edited by Warren S. Brown, Nancey Murphy, and H.Newton Malony The Turn of the Millennium: An Agenda for Christian Religion in an Age of Science, by Jeffrey G. Sobosan God without the Supernatural: A Defense of Scientific Theism, by Peter Forrest Religion and Creation, by Keith Ward     

The strategic nature of changing your mind

In two experiments, we studied how people’s strategy choices emerge through an initial and then a more considered evaluation of available strategies. The experiments employed a computer-based paradigm where participants solved multiplication problems using mental and calculator solutions. In addition to recording responses and solution times, we gathered data on mouse cursor movements. Participants’ motor behavior was revealing; although people rapidly initiated movement to the calculator box or the answer input box, they frequently changed their minds and went to the other box. Movement initiation direction depended on problem difficulty and calculator responsiveness. Ultimate strategy selection also depended on these factors, but was further influenced by movement initiation direction. We conclude that strategy selection is iterative, as revealed by these differences between early cursor movement and eventual strategy implementation. After rapidly initiating movement favoring one strategy, people carefully evaluate the applicability of that strategy in the current context.     

The nature (and nurture) of personality disorders

Personality disorders have a long history in the literature but a short scientific history. The point prevalence of personality disorders is 10%, but the lifetime prevalence is probably 30–40%. Genetic factors contribute to around 40–50% of the variation in the development of personality disorders. The effect of shared environment is very small or non‐existent. Some researchers have tried to promote gene‐environment interaction. However, in reality, the studies investigated gene‐situation interaction, as the “environment” may in reality be partly of a genetic nature. Thus, we are dealing with an unknown part of gene‐gene interaction. Gene‐experience (not gene‐environment) correlations are the rule in human life. Personality disorders co‐occur (are comorbid) with symptom disorders (Axis I) and correlate with common personality dimensions. Possibly, the concept of personality disorder could merge with dysfunctional personality types. But it is likely that the concept will survive on its own.     

代谢综合征与遗传

代谢综合征是指一组与糖尿病和心血管疾病发病风险增加相关联的症候群。不同学术组织对于代谢综合征的定义有所不同,但其基本要素主要包括胰岛素抵抗、异常葡萄糖代谢、高血压、致动脉粥样硬化的脂代谢紊乱、肥胖等。家系研究以及双生子研究显示遗传因素在代谢综合征中各个组分中都扮演着不同程度的重要角色。在代谢综合征患者中有一部分是由于单基因突变所导致的特殊类型的代谢综合征,这些患者的共同特点包括脂质萎缩以及严重的胰岛素抵抗等。导致这些特殊类型代谢综合征发生的单基因突变包括AKT2R274H,PPARs家族的PPARγF388L基因突变、PPARγArg397Cys基因突变、PPARγP467L与PPARγV290M基因突变,核纤层蛋白A／C基因的lamin A G602S突变、LMNA R482W突变等。此外,由于对代谢综合征的定义和理解不同,在代谢综合征的遗传学研究中造成了很大困难。     

条件推理的类比转换运用

该文通过2个实验研究旨在探究将演绎推理和类比推理结合在一起的四卡条件推理的类比转换运用的特点。结果表明：1）假设检验的条件推理过程在特定的实验条件下,表现出推理过程转换的心理加工特点;2）改善问题的陈述形式,使之和样例问题一样,能够降低推理过程转换的难度,促进推理过程转换的成绩;3）2个样例归纳的图式促进同形问题的解答,却对推理转换过程有抑制作用。     

5～6岁幼儿加法策略选择及执行特点

以220名5～6岁幼儿为被试,采用个别测查法,考察了幼儿策略选择和策略执行的发展特点.结果表明: (1)5～6岁幼儿能运用多种策略解决加法算术题,包括5种基本加法类型与3种数数亚类型. (2)幼儿主要选择支持性策略. (3)5～6岁幼儿策略执行呈多样性特点,各策略的执行正确率与速度不相同. (4)题目难度对幼儿的策略选择与执行存在影响.     

LGM模型中缺失数据处理方法的比较:ML方法与Diggle-Kenward选择模型

追踪研究中缺失数据十分常见。本文通过Monte Carlo模拟研究,考察基于不同前提假设的Diggle-Kenward选择模型和ML方法对增长参数估计精度的差异,并考虑样本量、缺失比例、目标变量分布形态以及不同缺失机制的影响。结果表明:(1)缺失机制对基于MAR的ML方法有较大的影响,在MNAR缺失机制下,基于MAR的ML方法对LGM模型中截距均值和斜率均值的估计不具有稳健性。(2)DiggleKenward选择模型更容易受到目标变量分布偏态程度的影响,样本量与偏态程度存在交互作用,样本量较大时,偏态程度的影响会减弱。而ML方法仅在MNAR机制下轻微受到偏态程度的影响。