概率分布等值法及其应用

在项目反应理论框架下,根据已有文献提出了开发新的测验等值准则的方法,即许多准则都可以看成是通过对锚题上作答反应概率分布进行变换而导出。据此揭示了两个著名的等值准则——Haebara方法和Stocking-Lord方法之间的联系,并且导出了一个新的等值准则——余弦等值准则。为了讨论余弦准则的行为表现,开展了一系列Monte-Carlo模拟研究。模拟结果表明,余弦准则在多级评分模型GPCM上表现比Haebara方法和Stocking--Lord方法都好,而对GRM和2PLM,其表现不如Haebara,但可以和Stocking-Lord方法相提并论。这一发现提醒我们等值准则的选用是否恰当,不仅与等值系数所落的范围有关,而且还与项目反应函数（IRF）有更密切的关系     

Relational learning in children with deafness and cochlear implants

This four-experiment series sought to evaluate the potential of children with neurosensory deafness and cochlear implants to exhibit auditory-visual and visual-visual stimulus equivalence relations within a matching-to-sample format. Twelve children who became deaf prior to acquiring language (prelingual) and four who became deaf afterwards (postlingual) were studied. All children learned auditory-visual conditional discriminations and nearly all showed emergent equivalence relations. Naming tests, conducted with a subset of the children, showed no consistent relationship to the equivalence-test outcomes. This study makes several contributions to the literature on stimulus equivalence. First, it demonstrates that both pre- and postlingually deaf children can acquire auditory-visual equivalence relations after cochlear implantation, thus demonstrating symbolic functioning. Second, it directs attention to a population that may be especially interesting for researchers seeking to analyze the relationship between speaker and listener repertoires. Third, it demonstrates the feasibility of conducting experimental studies of stimulus control processes within the limitations of a hospital, which these children must visit routinely for the maintenance of their cochlear implants.     

不同时间的睡眠剥夺对执行功能的影响

睡眠剥夺在日常生活工作中广泛存在,执行功能指需要很多认知过程参与,以使操作优化的机制.目前有关睡眠剥夺对认知功能的影响关注于对执行功能的影响,但是尚没有不同时间睡眠剥夺后执行功能情况的研究,并且研究缺乏系统.本研究应用卡片分类测验、词汇流畅性测验究了32名青年男性在不同睡眠剥夺条件下(睡眠剥夺21h、睡眠剥夺45h、睡眠剥夺69h、正常对照组)的执行功能情况.结果表明:睡眠剥夺后执行功能下降,同剥夺时间有一定关系,45h后下降显著.     

How to test the threat-simulation theory

Malcolm-Smith, Solms, Turnbull and Tredoux [Malcolm-Smith, S., Solms, M.,Turnbull, O., & Tredoux, C. (2008). Threat in dreams: An adaptation? Consciousness and Cognition, 17, 1281-1291.] have made an attempt to test the Threat-Simulation Theory (TST), a theory offering an evolutionary psychological explanation for the function of dreaming [Revonsuo, A. (2000a). The reinterpretation of dreams: An evolutionary hypothesis of the function of dreaming. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 23(6), 877-901]. Malcolm-Smith et al. argue that empirical evidence from their own study as well as from some other studies in the literature does not support the main predictions of the TST: that threatening events are frequent and overrepresented in dreams, that exposure to real threats activates the threat-simulation system, and that dream threats contain realistic rehearsals of threat avoidance responses. Other studies, including our own, have come up with results and conclusions that are in conflict with those of Malcolm-Smith et al. In this commentary, we provide an analysis of the sources of these disagreements, and their implications to the TST. Much of the disagreement seems to stem from differing interpretations of the theory and, consequently, of differing methods to test it.     

Understanding Executive Control in Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Lab and in the Real World

In this paper, we review the most recent and often conflicting findings on conventional measures of executive control in autism spectrum disorders. We discuss the obstacles to accurate measurement of executive control, such as: its prolonged developmental trajectory; lack of consensus on its definition and whether it is a unitary construct; the inherent complexity of executive control; and the difficulty measuring executive-control functions in laboratory or clinical settings. We review the potential of an ecological-validity framework to address some of these problems, and describe new tests claiming verisimilitude, or close resemblance to “real life” demands. We also review the concept of veridicality, which allows for the measurement of the ecological validity of any task, and discuss the few studies addressing ecological validity in individuals with autism. Our review suggests that a multi-source approach emphasizing veridicality may provide the most comprehensive assessment of executive control in autism.     

Errorless Learning in the Rehabilitation of Memory Impairment: A Critical Review

This review considers the origins of the errorless learning (EL) concept, its application in memory rehabilitation, the evidence for its effectiveness, and the theoretical basis for the observed findings. The evidence suggests that EL offers valuable benefits for at least some people with memory impairments when teaching certain types of tasks. However, the benefits are not evident for all groups, some findings are equivocal, and there are some limitations associated with this approach. We discuss methodological issues impacting on these mixed findings, consider which theoretical explanations might account for the findings regarding benefits and limitations of EL, and comment on the implications for rehabilitation practitioners of the current state of evidence in this area.     

身体活动对老年认知功能的影响

如何促进老年人的认知功能, 延缓认知老化, 是老年心理学的关键课题之一。大量研究表明不同的身体活动类型、活动强度、活动量以及生命早期的身体活动可能对老年人认知功能的各个方面有积极的影响, 包括执行功能、注意力、认知速度、记忆力等。此外, 选择性提高假说、心血管功能假说以及认知-锻炼模型用来解释这一影响机制。这些发现对维护老年人认知功能, 提高老年人的生命质量, 有效延缓衰老有着重要的意义。     

Functional analysis and treatment of hair twirling in a young child.

A young child participated in a functional analysis and treatment of hair twirling, a frequently occurring precursor to hair pulling. The functional analysis showed that hair twirling occurred mostly when the child was alone at bedtime. Noncontingent application of mittens decreased hair twirling to near‐zero levels in two settings (home and day care).     

对语言神经机制的新认识

本文针对语言神经机制的研究现状,分析了失语症和裂脑人研究的成果,并且较为详细地介绍了最近十年脑功能成像得到的有关语言神经活动的新成就,在此基础上,提出了一种动态分布式竞争的解释理论,用来解释语言神经活动现象和规律,并进一步借以说明言语意识的产生机制。     

Heart rate variability during sympatho-excitatory challenges: Comparison between spontaneous and metronomic breathing

Respiration influences heart rate variability, leading to the suggestion that respiration should be controlled to assess autonomic function by using heart rate variability. Clearly, control of respiration is advantageous or even essential in several experimental circumstances. However, control of respiration, by itself, produces a small, but significant, increase in mean heart rate and a decrease in respiratory synchronous variation in heart rate. We tested whether, in some experimental situations, it may be possible to arrive at similar interpretation about autonomic function with and without using control of respiratory rate. heart rate spectral powers from nine subjects were compared between spontaneous and metronomic breathing during two sympatho-excitatory stresses, lower body negative pressure (LBNP) and head up tilt (HUT). The normalized spectral powers in supine and HUT during spontaneous breathing were: 0.43 and 0.75 in very low (VLF) and 0.28 and 0.09 in high frequency (HF) regions. The powers during metronomic breathing were: 0.36 and 0.82 (VLF) and 0.36 and 0.09 (HF). The powers in supine and LBNP during spontaneous breathing were: 0.43 and 0.81 (VLF) and 0.28 and 0.06 (HF). The powers during metronomic breathing were: 0.36 and 0.80 (VLF) and 0.36 and 0.07 (HF). All p values were <0.05. Therefore, changes in heart rate spectral powers during HUT and LBNP were similar during metronomic breathing and spontaneous breathing. These results suggest that in experimental designs such as in our study, using metronomic breathing may not provide any additional insight into autonomic function than that can be obtained during spontaneous breathing.