Target selection patterns in rape

Both theoretical and empirical studies of decision making in target selection have shown that this process is highly dependent on the physical environment. However, research specifically investigating decision making in sex offenders' target selection is scarce. The aims of the current study were to (1) identify target selection patterns in a mixed sample of 78 Canadian and Portuguese adult rapists, (2) investigate how geographical decision making influences target selection patterns, and (3) test the influence of the type of environment on target selection patterns. The results indicate that Canadian and Portuguese rapists exhibit different target selection patterns but that their geographical decision making is congruent and consistent with the environment within which they operate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interactions of space and language: Insights from the neglect syndrome

The current article speculates about the interrelations between space and language from the perspective of the neglect syndrome. Various conflicting findings are reviewed and the effect of cultural factors is strongly emphasised. Current scientific literature describes relationships between space and language; however, the available data render it difficult to conclude whether it is the primacy of spatial representations or the complex two‐way interaction between linguistic and spatial representations that determines the nature of cognitive processing. It is hoped that studying the neglect syndrome will provide a solution to this problem. Finally, directions for future research are provided that requires bridging the gap between cognitive theorising and neuroscientific approaches.     

Does exercise-induced muscle damage impair subsequent motor skill learning?

Motor skill learning is a fundamental aspect of human behavior based on the calibration of internal models via sensory information such as proprioception. Some conditions, as exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), disrupt proprioceptive information, and may cause learning impairment. Such possible relation between EIMD and motor skill learning has not yet been investigated and it is the aim of this study. For this purpose, thirty male university students (19.3 ± 1.8 years) were equally assigned to two groups: EIMD and CON group. The EIMD group received a treatment to induce muscle damage consisting of a weight lifting protocol directed to the agonist muscles related to the task prior to the pretest and to the learning sessions. EIMD was verified and compared between groups and along the process (0–168 h) by means of the degree of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), perceived total quality recovery and maximal isometric strength (MIS). To investigate motor skill learning, both groups practiced a dart throwing task for four sessions with 150 trials in each session. Recovery status and DOMS were recovered at 96 h in the EIMD group, and MIS was not recovered throughout 168 h. In contrast, muscle damage parameters were not altered across 168 h in the CON group. Accuracy and consistency were compared within and between groups in a pretest posttest design. The EIMD group showed less accurate and consistent results on the long term (delayed posttest). Results confirmed our hypothesis that EIMD, a common condition in sports and in rehab practices, may hinder motor skill learning, possibly due to neurological aspects such as proprioceptive information, its relation to central nervous system reorganization and internal model consolidation.     

附加点作用下两点距离的触觉辨别

在被动触觉的距离知觉实验中,被试的右手保持不动,将各种三点型式的刺激轻轻接触食指腹侧或以一定速度通过其表面,要求被试判定外侧两点的直线距离并在一根量尺上复现出来．结果发现：（１）当刺激快速通过皮肤表面时,外侧两点距离表现出低估,其知觉距离显著地小于刺激静止或慢速运动条件下的知觉距离;（２）当中间附加点偏离外侧两点间想象连线较大时,外侧两点的知觉距离显著地小于中间附加点偏离较小时的知觉距离,偏离较大的中间附加点似乎将外侧两点拉近了,缩短了其知觉距离,出现知觉亲和现象．这种现象与刺激是否运动无关．     

Working memory capacity predicts search accuracy for novel as well as repeated targets

Visual search behaviour is guided by mental representations of targets that direct attention toward relevant features in the environment. Electrophysiological data suggests these target templates are maintained by visual working memory during search for novel targets and rapidly transfer to long term memory with target repetition. If this account is correct, an individual’s working memory capacity should be more predictive of search performance for novel targets than repeated targets. Across six experiments, we tested this hypothesis using both single (Experiments 5 and 6) and multiple (Experiments 1–4) target search tasks with three different types of stimuli (real world objects, letters, and triple conjunction shapes). Each target set was repeated for six consecutive trials. In addition, we estimated visual working memory capacity using a change detection working memory task. Overall, working memory capacity did not predict response time or efficiency in the visual search task. However, working memory capacity was equally predictive of search accuracy for both novel and repeated targets. These results suggest that working memory requirements do not substantially differ between novel and repeated target search, and working memory capacity may continue to play an important role in the encoding or maintenance of target representations after they are presumed to be in long term memory.     

Effects of racial prejudice and race of target on aggression

Three studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between prejudice and physical aggression using the competitive reaction time paradigm. In Study 1, high and low prejudiced subjects competed against either a black or white opponent. The race of the opponent did not differentially affect the aggressive behavior of either high or low prejudiced subjects. In Study 2, high prejudiced subjects were confronted with a competitor who behaved in a nonaggressive fashion. Under these conditions, the high prejudiced subjects attacked the black target more than the white target. In Study 3, high prejudiced subjects competed against an opponent who communicated nonaggressive intentions. The subjects behaved in a nonaggressive manner toward both the black and the white target. It was proposed that prejudice facilitates indiscriminate aggression in the presence of a clear threat and selective aggression in the presence of ambiguous threat.     

词长对中文阅读眼跳目标选择的影响：眼动证据

英文阅读研究发现词长对眼跳目标选择有重要影响,阅读等词长的句子时,长词的偏好眼跳长度比短词更长。但是中文文本没有词间空格,读者难以从副中央凹获取词长信息,所以基于英文阅读得出的结果是否适用于中文阅读尚不清楚。本研究采用等词长句子阅读范式,使用全部由单字词或双字词组成的句子或由各种词长的词汇组成的混合句作为实验材料,考察词长对中文阅读眼跳目标选择的影响。结果发现,中文阅读中的眼跳长度会随词长变化而变化,双字词句的眼跳入长度和眼跳出长度均显著长于单字词句,支持了基于词中心的眼跳长度假设;同时,实验也发现混合句中的双字词的眼跳长度和双字词句中双字词的眼跳长度没有显著差异,支持了基于加工情况的眼跳目标选择策略;综合二者,说明中文阅读中,读者眼跳目标选择可能建立在副中央凹对词长信息加工的基础之上。     

Offensive and defensive bite-target topographies in attacks by lactating rats

The attacks by resident lactating Wistar rats on sexually naive conspecifics of both sexes were examined. Male and female intruders were equally attacked in terms of frequency and number of bites, but the topographies of biting seen in these encounters were different. Similarly to male-male agonistic interactions, females were attacked in a fashion which avoided bites to the head and snout (“offensive” attack), whereas males were frequently bitten on such vulnerable regions (“defensive” attack). This dichotomy in bite pattern suggests that different motivations and functions underlay maternal aggression in these situations. The defensive attack on males may be a deterrent to infanticide since only male intruders counterattack lactating females and kill their pups. The attack on females may be concerned with resource competition.     

殊化信任与泛化信任在人际信任行为路径模型中的作用

该研究探讨不同社会情景下,泛化信任、殊化信任以及可信任性知觉等对信任行为起作用的理论模型。223名工人被试平均年龄24岁。用结构方程模型中的路径分析验证该模型,结果表明,各种拟合指标十分理想。三种交往情景下的人际信任路径模型之间的异同主要表现在：（1）殊化信任在所有情景下对信任行为都有直接而显著的作用;（2）泛化信任则只在与熟人和陌生人交往时才起作用;（3）与目标人物的关系越疏远,对他们作出信任行为时所需要的心理资源也越多。