Suggested reading

The problem of mystical/meditational experience is discussed from the point of view of the neural network theory, considering also the approach to (sub) quantum physics by Bohm and Hiley. It has been argued that the appearance of global uniform neural patterns, i.e. those with coherent activities of constitutive neurons, function as the basis of mystical unity. Various processes occurring as the result of the collective dynamics of a complex neural system are compared and correlated with mystical phenomenology on the one hand, and with quantum processes or neurophysiological effects on the other. Awareness may be a quantum phenomenon, so some speculations about neural‐quantum interactions and analogies are presented. The contact with the symmetric subquantum “sea”, in which the brain is embedded, may provide the background for the most radical experiences. Special attention is devoted to implicit versus explicit mental and transcendental processes, and to their multi‐level parallelism. Evolution towards transcendental consciousness brings an alternative lifestyle for the future.     

Representations of Complexity: How Nature Appears in Our Theories

In science we study processes in the material world. The way these processes operate can be discovered by conducting experiments that activate them, and findings from such experiments can lead to functional complexity theories of how the material processes work. The results of a good functional theory will agree with experimental measurements, but the theory may not incorporate in its algorithmic workings a representation of the material processes themselves. Nevertheless, the algorithmic operation of a good functional theory may be said to make contact with material reality by incorporating the emergent computations the material processes carry out. These points are illustrated in the experimental analysis of behavior by considering an evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics, the algorithmic operation of which does not correspond to material features of the physical world, but the functional output of which agrees quantitatively and qualitatively with findings from a large body of research with live organisms.     

The use of artificial neural networks and multiple linear regression in modelling work–health relationships: Translating theory into analytical practice

Although psychological theory acknowledges the existence of complex systems and the importance of nonlinear effects, linear statistical models have been traditionally used to examine relationships between environmental stimuli and outcomes. The way we analyse these relationships does not seem to reflect the way we conceptualize them. The present study investigated the application of connectionism (artificial neural networks) to modelling the relationships between work characteristics and employee health by comparing it with a more conventional statistical linear approach (multiple linear regression) on a sample of 1003 individuals in employment. Comparisons of performance metrics indicated differences in model fit, with neural networks to some extent outperforming the linear regression models, such that R ² for worn-out and job satisfaction were significantly higher in the neural networks. Most importantly, comparisons revealed that the predictors in the two approaches differed in their relative importance for predicting outcomes. The improvement is attributed to the ability of the neural networks to model complex nonlinear relationships. Being unconstrained by assumptions of linearity, they can provide a better approximation of such psychosocial phenomena. Nonlinear approaches are often better fitted for purpose, as they conform to the need for correspondence between theory, method, and data.     

略论邹衍对鲁学与齐学的融通

鲁国与齐国由于地理环境、经济发展状况以及统治政策的不同,造成了鲁学与齐学在诸多方面存在差异。但是到了战国中后期,阴阳家邹衍对鲁学与齐学进行了兼采,形成了独具特色的阴阳五行学说。特别是其五德终始说,既对稷下的学术著作《黄帝四经》、《管子》有所借鉴,又对鲁学的主体儒学的仁义思想、经世致用理论有所吸收,进而使鲁学与齐学达到了初步的融通。     

《孟姜女传说》与齐鲁文化——兼谈其中的主要文化素

《孟姜女传说》是中国四大民间传说之一。2006年山东淄博将其申报为国家级非物质文化遗产后,就其真正的归属地问题却产生了争议。通过文献考索与田野调查,我们认为：齐鲁,特别是淄博泰山齐长城遗址及周围地区是孟姜女传说的发源地。秦始皇之所以进入《孟姜女传说》,其直接因素是他修了＂万里长城＂,而深层原因是他的齐鲁文化情结。＂文化素＂是波亚托斯提出的概念,指的是通过符号感觉到或认识到的文化单位。从＂礼义＂、＂歌哭＂等文化素分析来看,齐鲁文化是《孟姜女传说》最核心的精神内核,齐鲁是它的文化出生地及传播的中心地带。     

ERP的神经机制：诱发模型还是相位重排模型?

ERP的神经机制问题一直存在争议。诱发模型认为, ERP产生于触发事件诱发的确定性响应电位, 该诱发电位与背景脑电振荡相互独立。相位重排模型认为, 触发事件并不会诱发出一个独立于脑电信号的诱发电位, ERP产生于背景脑电节律振荡的部分相位重排。已有研究提供了各种实验证据以支持诱发模型或/和相位重排模型, 同时也引发了相关学者的诸多质疑。实验记录方式、数据处理及分析方法等方面的提高有利于进一步澄清ERP的神经机制。     

Neural Mechanisms in Dyslexia

ABSTRACT— Within the last two decades, evidence from many laboratories has converged to indicate the cognitive basis for dyslexia: Dyslexia is a disorder within the language system and, more specifically, within a particular subcomponent of that system, phonological processing. Converging evidence from a number of laboratories using functional brain imaging indicates that there is a disruption of left-hemisphere posterior neural systems in child and adult dyslexic readers when they perform reading tasks. The discovery of a disruption in the neural systems serving reading has significant implications for the acceptance of dyslexia as a valid disorder—a necessary condition for its identification and treatment. Brain-imaging findings provide, for the first time, convincing, irrefutable evidence that what has been considered a hidden disability is "real," and these findings have practical implications for the provision of accommodations, a critical component of management for older children and young adults attending postsecondary and graduate programs. The utilization of advances in neuroscience to inform educational policy and practices provides an exciting example of translational science being used for the public good.     

脑内移植发展的回顾和展望

脑内移植是神经系统疾病的一种新的治疗措施。它适应临床实践的需要而产生,历经脑内组织移植和脑内干细胞移植两个重要发展阶段,其中脑内干细胞移植的研究主要有神经干细胞移植、胚胎干细胞移植、骨髓和脐血间充质干细胞移植。脑内干细胞移植是目前国内外医学研究的热点,具有广阔的临床应用前景,但也存在许多有待解决的问题,还需要经过一个艰难曲折的探索过程,最终使之成为治疗神经系统疾病的有效方法。它的产生和发展遵循着认识论和辩证法的客观规律,体现了科学认识的实践性、深刻性和创造性。     

基于人格特征的即时通讯软件用户分类模型

根据即时通讯(instantmessaging,IM)软件工具使用行为的差异将用户划分为两类,使用“大五人格问卷”获取了该两类IM用户的人格特征测量数据。统计分析结果表明,上述两类用户在“适应性”和“社交性”因子上的得分存在显著差异,而在“开放性”、“利他性”和“道德感”三个因子上的得分差异不显著。据此,以用户在“适应性”与“社交性”因子上的得分为输入和用户的分类类别为输出,构建了IM用户基于人格特征的BP神经网络分类模型。对模型的拟合度检验表明,该模型可利用人格测量数据对IM用户进行有效分类。