Simple use of BIC to Assess Model Selection Uncertainty: An Illustration using Mediation and Moderation Models

Abstract

The Bayesian information criterion (BIC) has been used sometimes in SEM, even adopting a frequentist approach. Using simple mediation and moderation models as examples, we form posterior probability distribution via using BIC, which we call the BIC posterior, to assess model selection uncertainty of a finite number of models. This is simple but rarely used. The posterior probability distribution can be used to form a credibility set of models and to incorporate prior probabilities for model comparisons and selections. This was validated by a large scale simulation and results showed that the approximation via the BIC posterior is very good except when both the sample sizes and magnitude of parameters are small. We applied the BIC posterior to a real data set, and it has the advantages of flexibility in incorporating prior, addressing overfitting problems, and giving a full picture of posterior distribution to assess model selection uncertainty.     

Dynamics of frontal alpha asymmetry in mother-infant dyads: Insights from the Still Face Paradigm

The parent-infant dynamic has a foundational role in emotion regulation development. Electroencephalography (EEG) hyperscanning from mother-infant dyads can provide an unprecedented window into inter-brain dynamics during the parent-infant exchange. This potential depends on the feasibility of hyperscanning with dyads in emotionally taxing contexts. We sought to demonstrate feasibility of hyperscanning from 10 mother-infant dyads during the Still Face Procedure (SFP). We measured frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) to elucidate ongoing regulatory dynamics and considered maternal caregiving quality as a window into dyads’ history. Results showed dyads exhibited a rightward shift in FAA over the course of SFP, indicating growing negative emotionality and desire to withdraw. Results also showed growing variability in FAA for infants over the course of SFP, indicating less active emotional control as stress ensued. Variability was especially low for mothers during periods when asked to be emotionally unavailable, suggesting active control to match the task demands. Dyads with a more responsive mother exhibited higher (more left) FAA relative to dyads with a less responsive mother, which might reflect a more positive emotional experience overall. We raise important methodological and theoretical questions that hyperscanning during SFP can address, such as the developmental origins of trait-like self-regulatory dispositions.     

The long‐term effects of institutional rearing,foster care intervention and disruptions in care on brain electrical activity in adolescence

Exposure to early psychosocial deprivation as a result of institutional care disrupts typical brain development. The Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP) is the first longitudinal study to investigate the neurodevelopment of institutionalized infants randomized to a foster care (FCG) intervention versus care as usual (CAUG). Here, we present findings from a follow‐up assessment of brain electrical activity as indexed by resting EEG at age 16 years. In addition, we examined the effects of disruption of foster care placement (e.g. the number of moves among foster care placements) on brain electrical activity. Resting‐state EEG was collected from 48 CAUG, 46 FCG and 48 never institutionalized (NIG) control participants. Absolute (µV²) and relative (proportion) power were computed from eyes closed, resting EEG data for theta, alpha and beta frequency bands. The CAUG displayed higher relative theta and lower relative alpha power compared to the FCG at 16 years of age. The FCG showed brain activity comparable to the NIG. The results further showed that disruptions following the original foster care placement had an adverse effect on brain electrical activity. Within the foster care group, there were no effects of age of placement on EEG power. Placement of children who have experienced early institutional rearing into stable foster care settings ensure long‐term improvement in brain functioning.     

6-12岁儿童脑电α波的发展特点

本研究以228名6～12岁儿童为研究对象,采用脑电波超慢涨落分析技术(简称ET),对其12导联脑电波(EEG)进行了记录和分析,重点探讨了α波(8～13Hz)的发展特点.结果表明:①随着年龄的增长,不同频率的α波成分表现出不同的年龄特点.②α波不同成分的比率没有明显的性别差异.③儿童α波的优势成分随年龄变化而改变.④不同年龄被试α波的平均频率存在显著差异,随着年龄的增长,6～12岁儿童α波的平均频率呈明显的上升趋势,但男女之间没有显著的性别差异.     

基于伪装原理研究无意识视觉运动加工的方法

研究提出一种新的连续闪烁抑制(CFS)范式, 利用透明度混合(alpha blending)原理, 使目标刺激的颜色与相应位置的掩蔽刺激的颜色时刻保持一致。研究随机招募了8名被试, 向其优势眼呈现Mondrian图像序列, 非优势眼呈现固定速率运动的多个正方形。结果表明目标为多运动点动态刺激时, 该范式依然具备掩蔽作用, 且当目标刺激与相应位置的掩蔽刺激的颜色完全一致时, 掩蔽效果最好, 证明这种新范式比传统CFS范式对动态刺激的掩蔽作用更好。相比以往修改CFS掩蔽刺激的思路, 该范式为研究无意识视觉运动加工提供了新方法, 且适用性更广。     

RUPTURES IN THE ANALYTIC SETTING AND DISTURBANCES IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL FIELD OF DREAMS

This paper explores some implications of Bleger's (1967, 2013) concept of the analytic situation, which he views as comprising the analytic setting and the analytic process. The author discusses Bleger's idea of the analytic setting as the depositary for projected painful aspects in either the analyst or patient or both—affects that are then rendered as nonprocess. In contrast, the contents of the analytic process are subject to an incessant process of transformation (Green 2005). The author goes on to enumerate various components of the analytic setting: the nonhuman, object relational, and the analyst's “person” (including mental functioning). An extended clinical vignette is offered as an illustration.     

寻找自我:基于认知神经的观点

默认网络相关研究表明,生物进化的社会适应性建构了自我的认知神经基础,与James的自我结构相对应:主我位于后部扣带回,精神自我位于内侧前额叶,身体自我位于顶下小叶和脑岛; 并且与内侧前额叶、顶下小叶和后部扣带回之间的信息传递相关。个体在基线水平的大脑活动表明,自我是通过后部扣带回接收并调节全脑(包括表征客我的脑区)信息流,随时准备将外界满足需要有利于个体生存的资源纳入其中的神经系统。对于探讨“认识自我”这个古老的哲学问题与现代认知神经科学之间的关系有重要意义。     

Brain electrical activity from encoding to retrieval while maintaining and manipulating information in working memory

ABSTRACT

Differences between working memory maintenance (Mt) and manipulation (Mp) have been studied, mostly in the absence of stimuli (delay period); encoding and retrieval phases have been less explored. The present study assessed differences between Mt and Mp, by means of event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related synchronisation (ERS) and desynchronisation (ERD) for theta, alpha and beta bands at: encoding, delay period and retrieval; using a delayed-match to sample task (DMST). Twenty-six young volunteers solved two DMST conditions (one for Mt and one for Mp). Higher behavioural accuracy for Mt than for Mp was observed. At encoding, higher amplitude for Mt at posterior regions to N1, P2 and P3 components were observed. In the delay period, differences in ERP components and frontal theta ERD were observed. Meanwhile, at retrieval, P3 amplitude and latency, as well as the theta band were modulated by both process (Mt or Mp) and type of trial (target or non-target stimuli). These findings mainly suggest different attentional implications at encoding, differences at the delay period related with task difficulty, and differential retrieval for Mt or Mp dependent on the process which the information comes from, suggesting that Mt and Mp differ at the very beginning of the processing.     

On robusiness of the normal-theory based asymptotic distributions of three reliability coefficient estimates

This paper studies the asymptotic distributions of three reliability coefficient estimates: Sample coefficient alpha, the reliability estimate of a composite score following a factor analysis, and the estimate of the maximal reliability of a linear combination of item scores following a factor analysis. Results indicate that the asymptotic distribution for each of the coefficient estimates, obtained based on a normal sampling distribution, is still valid within a large class of nonnormal distributions. Therefore, a formula for calculating the standard error of the sample coefficient alpha, recently obtained by van Zyl, Neudecker and Nel, applies to other reliability coefficients and can still be used even with skewed and kurtotic data such as are typical in the social and behavioral sciences.This research was supported by grants DA01070 and DA00017 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and a University of North Texas faculty research grant. We would like to thank the Associate Editor and two reviewers for suggestions that helped to improve the paper.     

Tibialis posterior muscle pain effects on hip,knee and ankle gait mechanics

BackgroundTibialis posterior (TP) dysfunction is a common painful complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which can lead to the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch. Different theories have been developed to explain the causality of tibialis posterior dysfunction. In all these theories, pain is a central factor, and yet, it is uncertain to what extent pain causes the observed biomechanical alterations in the patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of experimental tibialis posterior muscle pain on gait mechanics in healthy subjects.MethodsTwelve healthy subjects were recruited for this randomized crossover study. Experimental pain was induced by ultrasound-guided injection of 1 mL hypertonic saline into the upper part of the right tibialis posterior muscle with the use of isotonic saline as non-pain-inducing control. Subsequently, kinematic data during three self-paced over ground walking for each condition were collected. Ground reaction forces and external moments were measured from force plates installed in the floor. Painful areas were evaluated using body charts and pain intensity scoring via a verbal numerical rating scale.FindingsDecreased hip internal rotation was observed during the pain condition at the end of the stance phase. There were no changes in gait velocity and duration of stand phase between the pain and no pain conditions. Reduced external joint moment was found for external knee rotation and for external hip rotation.InterpretationThe study has demonstrated that induced pain in the TP muscle evokes kinematic alteration in the hip and the knee joints, but not in the ankle, which suggest an underlying early stage joint compensatory mechanism. These findings suggest the need to include those joints in current physical evaluations of tibialis posterior dysfunction.