Effects of music on vocal stereotypy in children with autism

We examined the effects of manipulating the intensity (i.e., volume) of music on engagement in vocal stereotypy in 2 children with autism. Noncontingent access to music decreased immediate engagement in vocal stereotypy for each participant, but it produced only marginal effects on subsequent engagement in the behavior (i.e., after withdrawal). Manipulating the intensity of music did not produce differential effects on immediate engagement in vocal stereotypy. The implications of the results and applications for future research are discussed.     

Positive effects of low intensity recorded maternal voice on physiologic reactions in premature infants

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of low intensity recorded maternal voice on the physiologic reactions of healthy premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).MethodsPhysiologic responses of 20 healthy preterm infants in the NICU of Shariati Hospital, Tehran, were obtained during a 15 min intervention including three 5 min periods (no-sound control, audio recorded playback of mother’s voice, no-sound post-voice). The intervention was presented three times a day for three consecutive days. During each intervention, oxygen saturation (%, OSPR), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR) were recorded at 1 min intervals over the 15 min and then averaged over each 5 min period, resulting in 3 averages for each variable for each intervention.ResultsRepeated Measures Analysis of Variance were employed to examine each variable separately. Over the three days, comparison of oxygen saturation over each of the three periods (before, during voice, after) revealed an increase in oxygen saturation during the voice period, compared to the pre-voice period, which persisted over the post-voice period; there were no differences between the voice and post-voice periods. Analyses of the HR and RR data showed a decrease in both variables during the voice period compared to the pre-voice period which persisted over the post-voice period. Again, there were no differences between the voice and post-voice periods.ConclusionExposure to low intensity recorded maternal voice has positive effects on the preterm infants ‘physiologic responses.     

The effect of positive affect on conflict resolution: Modulated by approach-motivational intensity

The motivational dimensional model of affect proposes that the influence of positive affect on cognitive processing is modulated by approach-motivational intensity. The present research extended this model by examining the influence of positive affect varying in approach-motivational intensity on conflict resolution—the ability to resolve interference from task-irrelevant distractors in order to focus on the target. The global–local task (Experiment 1) and letter-Flanker task (Experiment 2) were used to measure conflict resolution. Additionally, the 4:2 mapping design that assigns two kinds of task-relevant stimuli to one response key and two more to another response key was used in these two tasks to dissociate stimulus and response conflict. Results showed that positive affect varying in approach motivation had opposite influences on conflict resolution. The opposite influences are primarily reflected in low approach-motivated positive affect impairing, while high approach-motivated positive affect facilitating the resolution of response conflict. Conversely, the stimulus conflict was slightly influenced. These findings highlight the utility of distinguishing stimulus and response conflict in future research.     

合作还是冲突?组合代言中代言人关系类型对广告效果的影响

在营销实践中,多位代言人同时出现在一则广告中的组合代言广告日益增多,却很少有研究关注。本文探究了组合代言中代言人关系类型(合作型组合代言vs.冲突型组合代言)对广告效果的影响。研究发现,相对于合作型组合代言,冲突型组合代言会产生更好的广告效果;这种作用是通过消费者感知到的广告生动性所中介的;消费者的情感强度可以调节这种作用,对于情感强度较高的消费者,冲突型组合代言能产生更好的广告效果,而对于情感强度较低的消费者没有显著影响;此外,代言人之间的差异程度也可以起到调节作用,即当消费者对组合代言中代言人们的评价相差较小时,冲突型组合代言能提升广告效果,当对代言人们的评价相差较大时,则没有显著的促进作用。文章还对这些发现的理论贡献、营销启示和未来研究方向进行了讨论。     

“GOING TO THE DOGS”: CANID ETHOLOGY AND THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION

Abstract. Theological reflection often treats animals in the very broadest terms and establishes a dramatic difference between humans and animals. Empirical observations, however, describe animals and their relationship to humans in more nuanced ways. Marc Bekoff's science, which integrates ethology and ecology, generates a view of the complex social behaviors of animals and entails observations about difference. Dialogue with Bekoff's sensitive awareness of animal behavior is the occasion to construct a theology of nature that is better informed about diversity among animals and differences within and among species.     

Age-related differences in emotion matching are limited to low intensity expressions

Multi-label tasks confound age differences in perceptual and cognitive processes. We examined age differences in emotion perception with a technique that did not require verbal labels. Participants matched the emotion expressed by a target to two comparison stimuli, one neutral and one emotional. Angry, disgusted, fearful, happy, and sad facial expressions of varying intensity were used. Although older adults took longer to respond than younger adults, younger adults only outmatched older adults for the lowest intensity disgust and fear expressions. Some participants also completed an identity matching task in which target stimuli were matched on personal identity instead of emotion. Although irrelevant to the judgment, expressed emotion still created interference. All participants were less accurate when the apparent difference in expressive intensity of the matched stimuli was large, suggesting that salient emotion cues increased difficulty of identity matching. Age differences in emotion perception were limited to very low intensity expressions.     

Increasing access to low‐intensity interventions for childhood anxiety: A pilot study of a guided self‐help program for Scandinavian parents

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for child anxiety. However, access to treatment is limited. It has been suggested that low‐intensity formats of parent‐delivered CBT may improve access to treatment. Our aim was to develop and pilot‐test the acceptability and effect of a low‐intensity therapist‐guided parent‐delivered group program for anxious children (age 7–12 years) adjusted to the Scandinavian culture. The program required 1.5 hours of therapist‐time per family. Mothers, fathers and children reported on revised child anxiety and depression scale (RCADS) at referral, pre‐ and post‐treatment. Mothers and fathers also gave a qualitative account of their experiences. Thirty‐one families were enrolled and only one family dropped out. Mean age of the children was 9 years. Intent‐to‐treat analyses revealed significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms from pre‐ to post‐treatment for all informants. Large effect sizes were found for child anxiety symptoms as reported by mothers and fathers, and for child depressive symptoms as reported by mothers. Medium to large effect sizes was found for the self‐reported anxiety symptoms by the children, and for depressive symptoms reported by both children and fathers. More than 93% of the parents would recommend the program. Results suggest that our program may provide a new approach to improve access to treatment for anxious children in Scandinavia; however, further research must be conducted before firm conclusions can be drawn.     

The effects of different intensity levels of background noise on dichotic listening to consonant-vowel syllables

It has previously been shown that the right ear advantage in dichotic listening to consonant-vowel syllables is affected if a background noise is presented at the same time as the dichotic stimuli. What is not known is, however, if there is also an effect of varying the intensity level of the background noise. We therefore presented conversation or traffic noise background noise simultaneously with the dichotic syllable stimuli to healthy adult subjects. The intensity of the background noises varied between 50-65 dB in steps of 5 dB. The results showed that the right ear correct reports decreased, while left ear correct reports increased as a consequence of increasing background noise intensity. The effects were also stronger for the right ear, and for the traffic background noise condition, particularly at the two highest intensity levels. The results are discussed in terms of alertness and attentional mechanisms.     

我国非瓣膜病房颤抗凝的现状与思考

心房纤颤增加缺血性脑中风4倍～5倍,抗凝治疗可减少60％的缺血性脑中风,但是同时会增加出血的风险,尤其是脑出血。我国是脑中风,特别是出血性脑中风的高发国家,所以对于房颤抗凝的临床决策往往偏保守,造成我国房颤患者抗凝比例很低。本文就如何在我国房颤患者中进行抗凝提出意见。