工作记忆负荷对反馈加工过程的影响:来自脑电研究的证据

个体对行为后反馈结果的加工在学习和环境适应方面有重要意义,工作记忆负荷(working memory load,WM load)如何影响反馈加工过程尚不清楚。采用双任务范式,设置基线、低WM load、高WM load三种条件,结合ERP技术对这一问题进行探究。发现RewP (reward positivity,奖赏正波)对效价敏感,而不受WM load条件影响;Theta震荡的正、负反馈差异波在高WMload条件下比在低WM load条件下小。结果支持等级强化学习-前扣带回理论(HRL-ACC, hierarchical reinforcement learning theory of anterior cingulate cortex)对于RewP和theta震荡的观点:RewP反映了反馈效价评估功能, theta震荡反映了认知控制功能,并且WM load选择性影响了ACC的认知控制功能而不是反馈效价评估功能。     

幼儿社会行为各维度的内部及相互关系的研究

本研究采用随机抽样法对12个小、中、大班共435名幼儿的社会行为各维度内部及相互关系进行了研究.结果表明,幼儿积极行为内部和消极行为内部均存在着非常显著的正相关;幼儿积极行为和消极行为间则存在着显著的负相关,但两者间的关系并非必然和绝对,幼儿积极和消极行为间存在着四种主要关系类型;在不同活动中,幼儿积极行为与消极行为间的关系不同.     

上级反馈对员工行为的影响

采用2×2(反馈方式、反馈对象)两因素组间实验设计,选取303名被试考察了上级反馈对员工积极整合行为倾向、冲突行为倾向和中立行为倾向的影响,以及个人主义-集体主义倾向对这种影响的调节作用。结果表明,Singelis、Triandis等人有关个人主义、集体主义的理论框架基本适合中国被试,个体的个人主义、集体主义倾向对反馈的效果起到一定的调节作用。领导的反馈方式、反馈针对的对象对员工的行为主效应都显著,上级的表扬会增加员工的中立行为倾向,针对个人的反馈会引起较强的冲突行为倾向。     

背外侧前额叶对主动遗忘负性社会反馈的作用：针对抑郁症的TMS研究

抑郁症患者的负性心境可能源于其抑制功能障碍。患者在主动遗忘负性材料时无法有效调用背外侧前额叶(the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, DLPFC)等负责抑制控制的额叶脑网络。同时, 患者对社会信息的加工比对非社会信息的加工存在更明显的认知神经障碍, 很难主动遗忘对自己不利的社会反馈信息。为了提高抑郁症患者对负性社会反馈的主动遗忘能力, 本研究采用经颅磁刺激技术(transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS), 考察抑郁症患者在左侧(n = 32)或右侧DLPFC (n = 30)被激活后其记忆控制能力的改变。结果表明, 当患者的DLPFC被TMS激活时, 他们对社会拒绝的回忆正确率与健康对照组(n = 31)无差异, 且TMS激活右侧DLPFC还改善了患者对他人的社会态度。本研究是采用TMS提高抑郁症患者主动遗忘能力的首次尝试, 研究结果不但支持了DLPFC与记忆控制功能的因果关系, 还为临床治疗抑郁症、创伤后应激障碍、药物成瘾等患者的记忆控制缺陷提供了明确的神经靶点。     

Effects of speed feedback signs and law enforcement on driver speed

This study analyzes the effects of implementing three speed management strategies, namely speed feedback signs, periodic law enforcement, and speed feedback sign supported with periodic law enforcement on driver speed behavior and compliance. To analyze the effectiveness of each strategy, nine locations in Pima County, Arizona, were studied in a cross-sectional framework. For each study site, the driver’s speed, date, time, and vehicle’s length were collected at a location prior to the speed management zone as the baseline, at the speed management zone, and downstream of the speed management zone. The general effect showed that all the strategies were effective in reducing average speed and the proportion of drivers exceeding the speed limit. In addition, the results of the robust heteroscedastic ANOVA test showed that among all the strategies, the speed feedback sign supported with periodic law enforcement was the most effective one. Moreover, it was shown that by supporting the speed feedback sign with periodic law enforcement, the reduction in average speed and proportion of drivers exceeding the speed limit would last, even after passing the speed management strategy. In other words, the existence of periodic law enforcement could potentially modify drivers’ behaviors and increase the spatial effectiveness of speed feedback signs. Comparing the behavior of truck and passenger car drivers also revealed similar results. That is, both truck and passenger car drivers tend to slow down after observing the speed management strategy. The experimental evidence indicates positive benefits for reducing excessive speeding behaviors at the sites.     

化危为机：青少年学校转折期的过渡

从生命历程的角度看, 学校过渡是青少年成长过程中的重要发展转折点, 对个体的发展轨迹具有重要影响。先前研究多基于缺陷的视角, 将学校过渡视为充满挑战和风险的危机时期, 并发现青少年在这一时期伴随着各种消极的发展结果。但从青少年积极发展的视角来看, 学校过渡可能是青少年获得适应性的、健康发展的重要机遇, 也是发展可塑性表现最为充分的时期。如果青少年的内部和外部资源能够很好的融合, 他们就有可能获得积极的学校过渡。     

走进大自然：自然体验及其积极效应

自然体验是指个体通过各种感官感知自然或与源于自然界的刺激互动。学者通常使用问卷测量法、自然指标法或实验操纵法来量化操纵人们的自然体验,发现接触自然可以在心理、生理和行为等方面产生积极效应。且这些积极效应会受到物理环境、个体以及社会因素的影响。未来应突破“城市——自然”二元对立思想并加强积极效应的纵深研究;拓展研究群体;促进相关研究成果的实际应用。     

Does Partisan Bias Modulate Neural Processing of Political Information? An Analysis of the Neural Correlates of Corruption and Positive Messages

Daily worldwide newspapers print articles exposing government corruption. Yet these messages do not lead to a loss of votes for the corrupt parties. Sympathizers’ partisan bias, which respectively minimizes and maximizes corruption and positive messages of their own parties respectively, is widely considered the main cause of the loss of effectiveness of political communications. Despite the well-established existence of such bias when processing political information, little is known as to its psychological origin. Through the use of neuroscience (fMRI), this study explores the underlying brain mechanisms of negative (corruption) and positive political messages related to a conservative and a socialist Spanish political party, as well as the differences between their sympathizers. The findings reveal that negative (vs. positive) political messages exert the greatest neuroimaging impact on the electorate, as shown in aversive, risk, and disappointment-related brain regions. Interestingly, we show that there exists a main partisan bias against opposite parties (and not a positive bias toward one’s own party) that stems from a higher risk, ambiguity, and disbelief provoked by both positive and negative information about rival parties. Furthermore, this bias was more pronounced among conservative supporters. The current findings provide valuable insights for political parties to improve their communication campaigns.     

How do we judge our confidence? Differential effects of meta-memory feedback on eyewitness accuracy and confidence

According to the cue–belief model, we assess confidence in our memories using self-credibility cues that reflect beliefs about our memory faculties. We tested the influence of meta-memory feedback on self-credibility cues in the context of eyewitness testimony, when feedback was provided prior to “testifying” via a memory questionnaire (Experiment 1) and after an initial memory questionnaire but before participants had to retake it (Experiment 2). Participants received feedback (good score, bad score, or none) on a fictitious scale purported to predict eyewitness memory ability. Those given good score feedback before testifying were more confident (but no more accurate) than those given bad score feedback. Feedback also affected confidence (good increased and bad decreased) and accuracy (good increased) after testifying but only on leading questions. These differential effects of meta-memory feedback on confidence for normal and leading questions are not explained by the cue–belief model. Implications for our confidence judgments are discussed.