Prominence vs. aboutness in sequencing: A functional distinction within the left inferior frontal gyrus

Prior research on the neural bases of syntactic comprehension suggests that activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus (lIFG) correlates with the processing of word order variations. However, there are inconsistencies with respect to the specific subregion within the IFG that is implicated by these findings: the pars opercularis or the pars triangularis. Here, we examined the hypothesis that the dissociation between pars opercularis and pars triangularis activation may reflect functional differences between clause-medial and clause-initial word order permutations, respectively. To this end, we directly compared clause-medial and clause-initial object-before-subject orders in German in a within-participants, event-related fMRI design. Our results showed increased activation for object-initial sentences in a bilateral network of frontal, temporal and subcortical regions. Within the lIFG, posterior and inferior subregions showed only a main effect of word order, whereas more anterior and superior subregions showed effects of word order and sentence type, with higher activation for sentences with an argument in the clause-initial position. These findings are interpreted as evidence for a functional gradation of sequence processing within the left IFG: posterior subportions correlate with argument prominence-based (local) aspects of sequencing, while anterior subportions correlate with aboutness-based aspects of sequencing, which are crucial in linking the current sentence to the wider discourse. This proposal appears compatible with more general hypotheses about information processing gradients in prefrontal cortex (Koechlin & Summerfield, 2007).     

Dissociating the representation of action- and sound-related concepts in middle temporal cortex

Modality-specific models of conceptual memory propose close links between concepts and the sensory-motor systems. Neuroimaging studies found, in different subject groups, that action-related and sound-related concepts activated different parts of posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG), suggesting a modality-specific representation of conceptual features. However, as these different parts of pMTG are close to each other, it is possible that the observed anatomical difference is merely related to interindividual variability. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we now investigated within the same participant group a possible conceptual feature-specific organization in pMTG. Participants performed lexical decisions on sound-related (e.g., telephone) and action-related (hammer) words. Sound words elicited higher activity in anterior pMTG adjacent to auditory association cortex, but action-related words did so in posterior pMTG close to motion sensitive areas. These results confirm distinct conceptual representations of sound and action in pMTG, just adjacent to the respective modality-specific cortices.     

时空隐喻研究的新问题:时间表征的左右方向性

传统的时空隐喻研究主要通过启动范式来研究空间中的前后轴线和上下轴线与时间表征的关系;而近年来,研究者们通过综合运用排序法、判断法、比较法和线索范式,证明了个体会用左右轴线来表征时间.由于传统的理论无法很好地解释时间表征的左右方向性,研究者们倾向于用具身理论(embodiment theory)来解释这一现象.为了深化对空间轴线和时间表征之间的关系的认识,需要统一研究方法、整合不同理论并在神经机制层面上开展新的研究.     

不同线索化条件下返回抑制时程年老化研究

采用线索-靶子范式,比较了单线索和双线索条件下年轻人和老年人返回抑制时间进程的发展趋势。实验1采用单线索化程序和觉察任务,SOA分为9种水平;实验2采用双线索化程序和觉察任务,SOA分为10种水平。结果显示：线索化阶段的注意分配和年龄对返回抑制的时程发展产生影响。（1）在单线索条件下,老年人返回抑制的出现时间比年轻人晚约200ms,消失的时间比年轻人早约1000ms。（2）在双线索条件下,老年人返回抑制的出现时间比年轻人晚约100ms,消失的时间比年轻人早约500ms。     

SPACE,TIME, AND CAUSALITY

The characters of space, time, and causality are issues that are constrained by physics but that require also acts of metaphysical decision. Relativity theory is consistent both with the idea of an a temporal block universe and with a temporal universe of true becoming. Science's account of causal properties is patchy and does not imply the closure of the universe to other forms of causal influence. Intrinsic unpredictabilities offer opportunities for metaphysical conjecture concerning the form that such additional causal principles might take. Different theological understandings of how God relates to time afford legitimate criteria for differing metaphysical decisions about the nature of temporality.     

Brain Mechanisms for Interpreting the Actions of Others From Biological-Motion Cues

ABSTRACT— Humans are an intensely social species. Our social abilities depend upon specialized brain systems for rapidly recognizing the faces of others, for interpreting the actions of others through an analysis of biological-motion cues, and for determining the emotional states of others via inspection of facial expression. Recent work has implicated the superior temporal sulcus (STS) region as an important component of the social brain. Functional neuroimaging studies have provided clues about how this region is involved in the visual analysis and interpretation of other people's actions. STS activity is modulated by the context within which the actions of biological entities are observed. Such a contextual influence is consistent with a broader tradition within social psychology emphasizing the powerful influences of situational and contextual factors on behavior and perception. The STS region also shows promise as a region of importance in the investigation of both typical and impaired social-cognitive development. Future work should aim to inform us better of the development of interrelationships between the STS region and other regions of the social brain, including the amygdala and the fusiform gyrus.     

心理隐喻的变迁与心理治疗模式的转换

心理治疗模式的转换始终伴随着心理隐喻的变迁,每一种心理治疗模式都蕴涵着一个独特的心理隐喻,支撑着研究领域的共同理解。揭示这些治疗模式内蕴的心理隐喻,梳理心理隐喻的变迁轨迹,有助于我们更好地理解心理治疗模式的转换规律,展望心理治疗的发展前景。     

个体心理模式对慢性疾病预后的探讨

21世纪,慢性疾病逐渐成为威胁人类健康的重要原因。然而其预后一直不理想,对慢性疾病患者的心理模式进行了分析,结合工作实际,提出慢性疾病患者如何看待疾病和自身———有意识的或无意识的———在很大程度上决定了疾病的预后。     

高血压防治模式探讨

高血压是一种严重危害人体健康的生活方式病,也是一种心身疾病。它的危害性较之烈性传染病有过之而无不及。但高血压防治仍停留在“专家模式”一头热的困局上,临床指南与临床实践有较大差距。高血压知晓率、治疗率和控制率均低。造成“三低”的原因有:(1)对高血压这种慢性、流行性疾病的危害性认识不足;(2)健康观念存在误区;(3)迷信一劳永逸的治疗方法;(4)人群防治知识缺乏、素质低下。高血压防治是一个科学的综合管理过程,只有从健康教育入手,全面提高人群高血压防治知识水平,才能开创高血压防治的新局面。健康追求不应只是个人行为,还必须是群体行为和社会行为。人群有了健康观念、健康心态和健康智慧,高血压的防治才能取得真正的成效。     

积极心理治疗模式的特色及启示

。积极心理治疗是以积极心理学思想为理论指导的一种心理疗法。作为心理治疗中的一个新生事物,它从人发展的可能性和能力出发,以解决冲突为核心,关注积极的人格特质,在治疗中借助讲故事的形式提供跨文化的观点。这一较符合人性特点的心理治疗模式,扩展了人们对心理治疗性质的认识,推进了心理治疗的本土化发展。