Objective Evaluation of Performance Stress in Musicians With Focal Hand Dystonia: A Case Series

Five musicians suffering from focal dystonia participated in a pilot study that examined the feasibility of an experimental protocol designed to assess musicians' motor performance under stress. Electrocardiography, free cortisol levels, and subjective assessments were used to monitor alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. As measures of motor outcome, temporal variability of finger movements and muscular cocontraction of the wrist flexor and extensor were assessed. Findings suggest that the specific experimental design could be successfully applied. Several methodological issues such as carryover effects, the use of free cortisol, the inclusion of a double baseline, and the classification of dystonic patients into stress responders and nonresponders are analyzed and discussed.     

Linking mind,body and language: free association revisited

Psychoanalysis differs from other theories because of the great significance it attributes to a man's unconscious. Psychoanalysis differs fundamentally from other therapeutic methods in its use of free association and the significance and power it gives to this method when investigating unconscious phenomena. The present article begins with a brief review of the history of free association and its use as a method. After that, I discuss the relationship between free association and memory, neuropsychoanalysis and semiotics. Free association is linked with implicit memory and seen as a way of remembering; unconscious experiences are given a verbal form with the help of free association. The psychoanalytical setting and transference together constitute a psychic space, in which it becomes possible for the patient to get into touch with his or her bodily, psychic and verbal experiences and material simultaneously. The author sees free association specifically as a form of mental processing which is typical to psychoanalysis; it is a core process where the experiences of mind, body and language and their expressions link together. Free association is simultaneously the result of a memory activity and creative activity and, above all, a combination or synthesis of these two processes.     

Reply to Nadler: Spinoza and the metaphysics of suicide

Steven Nadler has argued that Spinoza can, should, and does allow for the possibility of suicide committed as a free and rational action. Given that the conatus is a striving for perfection, Nadler argues, there are cases in which reason guides a person to end her life based on the principle of preferring the lesser evil. If so, Spinoza’s disparaging statements about suicide are intended to apply only to some cases, whereas in others (such as the case of Seneca) he would grant that suicide is dictated by reason. Here, I object to Nadler’s interpretation by showing that it conflicts with Spinoza’s metaphysical psychology. Even given Nadler’s interpretation of the conatus doctrine, the possibility that reason could guide a person to commit suicide is incompatible with the conatus of the mind. Spinoza holds that the mind cannot contain an adequate idea ‘that excludes the existence of our body’ (E3p10). Yet, as I argue, in order for reason to guide a person voluntarily to end her life, she would need to have an adequate idea representing her death – an idea that excludes the existence of her body. For this reason, Spinoza's system rules out the possibility of rational suicide.     

PASTORAL COUNSEL FOR THE ANXIOUS NATURALIST: DANIEL DENNETT'S FREEDOM EVOLVES

Abstract: Daniel Dennett's Freedom Evolves is a rhetorically powerful but philosophically unconvincing attempt to show that a deterministic and ontologically reductionist, but epistemologically pluralist, outlook may peacefully coexist with a robust acceptance of human freedom and moral responsibility. The key to understanding the harmony rests in recognizing that freedom is not a metaphysical or physical condition but is instead a product of deeply embedded social practices. I argue that Dennett's project rests on an unargued and implausible deflationary stance toward basic metaphysics.     

COMPATIBILISM EVOLVES?: ON SOME VARIETIES OF DENNETT WORTH WANTING

Abstract: I examine the extent to which Dennett's account in Freedom Evolves might be construed as revisionist about free will or should instead be understood as a more traditional kind of compatibilism. I also consider Dennett's views about philosophical work on free agency and its relationship to scientific inquiry, and I argue that extant philosophical work is more relevant to scientific inquiry than Dennett's remarks may suggest.     

The Free will Revolution (Continued)

I seek to reply to the thoughtful and penetrating comments by William Rowe, Alfred Mele, Carl Ginet, and Ishtiyaque Haji. In the process, I hope that my overall approach to free will and moral responsibility is thrown into clearer relief. I make some suggestions as to future directions of research in these areas. I thank Michael McKenna for his thoughtful comments, his generous introduction, and all his hard work in putting this together. Also, I wish to thank J. Angelo Corlett for his very pleasantly surprising decision to do this volume, and for his outstanding work in editing this wonderful journal from its inception.     

友谊的结构研究——一项对大学生友谊内隐观的调查研究

本文对大学生友谊概念的表征进行了初步的探究。研究者依据激活扩散模型,采用字词联想法来搜集数据。采用“友谊”一词为刺激,让269名大学生被试进行自由联想,选出前80个联想频率在4.0%以上的高频词语(概念)作为分析单位,做成卡片另请100名大学生进行分类,然后根据它们之间的关系亲疏程度实施系统聚类分析。结果发现,友谊概念在大学生群体的心目中是从以下4个方面来表征的:①关心与支持;②分享与交流;③共同活动与联系;④矛盾及冲突。     

形声字的语义透明度和结构类型对义符语音激活进程的影响

采用启动命名任务考察形声字的语义透明度和结构类型对义符语音激活进程的影响。结果发现,透明汉字和不透明汉字的义符语音在SOA=50 ms时都出现了激活;在SOA=100 ms时,透明汉字的义符语音激活仍然显著,不透明汉字的义符语音激活消退了;到SOA=300 ms时,两类汉字的义符语音激活完全消退。左形右声结构汉字的义符语音在SOA=50 ms和SOA=100 ms时都出现了激活,右形左声结构汉字的义符语音只在SOA=50 ms时出现了微弱的激活。     

散打运动员视觉信息加工的眼动研究*

散打比赛是一种对抗性很强的运动项目,要求运动员能够精确判断,及时地作出反应动作。这就需要运动员时刻保持高度的注意力,快速、准确地搜索相关信息,灵活地应对赛场上的情况。本研究以专家-新手范式对24名不同水平的散打运动员进行眼动实验研究,探讨高水平运动员与初学者之间的眼动差异,为初学者制定科学训练计划提供参考依据。结果表明：与新手组被试相比,专家组被试更加重视对比赛中得分部位的注视,从而为其准确预判提供了认知保证。