The Yale Children''s Inventory—A screening tool for attention deficits and related disorders. Normative data for boys

Norwegian populated-based normative data on the Yale Children's Inventory (YCI) were provided for boys. All parents of boys aged 8 through 11 years in the county of Hammerfest received the YCI, and 77% responded. Mean scores on the YCI scales attention, activity, tractability, and fine motor were significantly lower in the Norwegian sample compared to the US normative data. Factor analysis of the 40 scale items yielded factors that corresponded generally well to the YCI scale constructs derived from US samples. We conclude that the scale constructs of the YCI seem to be transferable across these two cultures, but that restandardization is warranted. Further research is needed to establish cut-off values for clinical screening purposes. The Yale Children's Inventory has the potential to become a valuable screening tool for behavioral problems at school-age.     

Male Partners' Role in Latinas' Amniocentesis Decisions

There has been relatively little research on men's experiences with fetal diagnosis or their role in their female partners' decisions about whether to be tested. This issue may be of particular salience in the delivery of genetic services to Latino groups, where it is often assumed that lower rates of genetic service utilization are linked to men's refusal to allow their wives to be tested. Here we present data from a multimethod study on the use of amniocentesis by Mexican-origin women in Southern California. We focus on the role male partners played in the women's amniocentesis decisions. Contrary to expectation, we found that women made the majority of the decisions about amniocentesis, although their partners' presence at the genetic consultation where the amniocentesis was offered proved an important predictive factor in amniocentesis uptake.     

两种参照作用下的视觉定位

本实验采用多点视觉定位作业,研究视觉定位中的两种参照对定位成绩的影响。实验采用一些附加线条与三个刺激形成有特征的刺激图和无特征的刺激图,并与没有附加线条的情况进行了比较。有特征的刺激图是指这些附加的线条与刺激点构成一定的特征,如一个字母或图形等;无特征的刺激图指刺激点不能与附加线条构成有规律的特征。结果发现,当有附加线条的图形呈现时,被试的定位误差大于控制组,表现出一级参照对视觉定位的干扰作用,而且在呈现时间为100ms、200ms、300ms时,都是如此。在有特征组内,不同的特征对定位精确性的影响依赖于时间因素。     

Implementation of the Sound Partners Reading Program

Eleven first grade and 10 second grade students, all with reading and behavioral difficulties, received one-on-one tutoring using the Sound Partners reading program (Vadasy & Pool, l997). Students received 30 min of tutoring each day for 5 months. Students were assessed on Letter-Word Identification, Passage Comprehension, and Word Attack subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson-Revised (WJ-R): Tests of Achievement. An informal measure (rapid letter naming) was also used. Results indicated that gains of approximately 1 standard deviation (or greater) were noted for subtests of the WJ-R for first-grade students; second graders showed relatively stable performance from pre- to posttest assessments. Similar performance was noted on the informal measure across grades. Program satisfaction data showed that overall the tutors, teachers, and students were pleased with the program. Discussion focuses on the implications for future investigations.     

孕产妇意向对新生儿疾病筛查可及性的影响评价

采用问卷调查的方法对244名孕产妇进行了意向调查,通过了解需方对新生儿疾病筛查的认知、满意度等,对其可及性的作用,寻找潜在的促进和阻碍新生儿疾病筛查开展的种种影响因素,为我国今后更好地开展疾病筛查提供借鉴.     

睡眠学习的ERP研究

夜间用脑电监测被试睡眠状态,并反复播放英语单词和中文对译词,第二天用词汇决定任务检查学习效果,并记录ERP,结果发现：（1）与未学过的英—中词对相比,被试对学过的词对中中文词的反应时明显缩短;（2）学过的词对中中文词引发的N600的波幅比未学过的明显降低。以上结果表明睡眠学习效果在内隐记忆测验中明显。另外发现被试几乎不能在播放学过的英语词时说出中文对译词,与未学过的词对相比没有显著差别,提示睡眠学习效果在外显记忆测验中不明显。以上结果表明,在本实验条件下,间接测验比直接测验更敏感。     

Consenting to uncertainty: challenges for informed consent to disease screening—a case study

This paper uses chronic beryllium disease as a case study to explore some of the challenges for decision-making and some of the problems for obtaining meaningful informed consent when the interpretation of screening results is complicated by their probabilistic nature and is clouded by empirical uncertainty. Although avoidance of further beryllium exposure might seem prudent for any individual whose test results suggest heightened disease risk, we will argue that such a clinical precautionary approach is likely to be a mistake. Instead, advice on the interpretation of screening results must focus not on risk per se, but on avoidable risk, and must be carefully tailored to the individual. These points are of importance for individual decision-making, for informed consent, and for occupational health.

Emotional Reaction to Fragile X Premutation Carrier Tests Among Infertile Women

Female fragile X premutation carriers are at ∼10-fold increased risk of premature ovarian failure (follicle stimulating hormone >40 mIU/mL, amenorrhea, age <40). A milder degree of premature ovarian aging (diminished ovarian reserve, where follicle stimulating hormone levels are typically 10–20 mIU/mL) results in infertility. Approximately 10% of fertility clinic patients have this diagnosis. A cohort of 20 women diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve provided a blood specimen (confidential results), and completed structured questionnaires that assessed emotional reactions to potentially being a premutation carrier (pretest questionnaire, n = 20) and the posttest known carrier status (3 month follow-up questionnaire, n = 18 non-carriers). Responses were measured using 9-point scales, and analyzed with Fisher exact and Wilcoxon exact tests. While most participants did not view fragile X premutations as a serious medical condition, perceptions of seriousness were positively correlated with anger and regret about not knowing sooner of the potential association of these premutations with infertility. Overall, when women (pretest) imagined themselves as carriers, their self-esteem and Health Orientation Scale responses were unchanged with the exception of feeling more afraid (p = 0.004). Despite strongly wishing for negative test results, they were glad to know there might be a medical explanation for their infertility. Financial Support: This work was financially supported by a University of Virginia School of Medicine Research & Development Award.     

材料呈现方式对不同音乐训练经验的汉语儿童英语言语记忆的影响

选取受过音乐训练和未受过音乐训练的汉语儿童为被试,在同一呈现速率条件下以歌曲、韵律和朗读三种方式呈现一段英文材料,从单词、句子和篇章三个层面探讨音乐训练经验和材料呈现方式对第二语言言语记忆的影响。结果发现：1）音乐组的记忆成绩高于非音乐组;2）相比于朗读材料,儿童对于歌曲和韵律材料的记忆效果更好;3）在单词和句子层面,音乐组和非音乐组的差异主要体现在歌曲材料上,而篇章层面没有类似发现。该结果表明音乐训练和材料呈现方式均能影响儿童的第二语言言语记忆,并且音乐训练效应对材料呈现方式表现出选择性     

Cognitive Lie Detection: Response Time and Consistency of Answers as Cues to Deception

Purpose  The purpose of this study was to test a new cognitive lie detection method, time restricted integrity confirmation (Tri-Con), which uses response time and inconsistencies across answers as cues to deception. Design/methodology/approach   Data were obtained from two samples of students enrolled in psychology classes (n = 96 for Experiment 1, n = 99 for Experiment 2). The experimental task required students to lie or tell the truth to questions probing biodata under time restriction. The foci of questions (such as Academics or Employment History) were chosen because of their relevance to participants’ lives. Findings  Tri-Con was able to distinguish between truth tellers and liars after controlling for individual differences. In one experiment, liar-truth teller classification accuracies reached 89%. Mean response times and answer consistency can be used to distinguish those who lie from those who tell the truth. Implications  Research on cognitive-based lie detectors, such as Tri-Con, hold the potential for developing reliable and valid methods of screening out employees likely to engage in misconduct and providing deceptive answers to screening questions. A cognitive lie detector would constitute a paradigm shift away from the polygraph, and could be used in tandem with integrity tests. Originality/value   This study was a preliminary test of a cognitive lie detection method based on a model of cognitive events (the Activation-Decision-Construction model) when people answer questions deceptively. It constitutes a step in translating laboratory-based cognitive research into applied technologies for the real world detection of lying, including lying that occurs during pre-employment screening. Received and reviewed by former editor, George Neuman.