Interhemispheric interaction in word‐ and color‐matching of Kanji color words1

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility that a shift toward a within‐hemisphere advantage would emerge when two stimulus items receive, respectively, different processing (vs. when they receive similar processing). Using right‐handed participants, we briefly presented two Kanji color‐word items as either within‐field or across‐fields. Viewers had to match the two items in terms of ink color (a color‐matching task) or word meaning (a name‐matching task). Each Kanji color word was presented with the same (congruent) or different (incongruent) ink color relative to the word meaning. Our results were twofold. First, a within‐field advantage appeared in the relatively easier color‐matching task, whereas an across‐field advantage tended to occur in the relatively harder name‐matching task. Second, in the word‐matching task an across‐field advantage appeared when both Kanji color words appeared in similar processing manners (both congruent or both incongruent), whereas a within‐field advantage occurred when processing of two Kanji items differed (one congruent and one incongruent). These results suggested that a shift toward a within‐hemisphere advantage occurs when two items are processed in respectively different ways.     

Comparison of chemosensory, auditory and visual event-related potential amplitudes

To enhance understanding of neuropsychological processing underlying chemosensory event-related potentials (CSERPs), the objective of the present study was to compare CSERPs with auditory (AERPs) and visual event-related potentials (VERPs), and to approach the question of similarities in neuropsychological processing by means of correlation and cluster analyses. A multisensory ERP protocol was used, in which olfactory/chemosomatosensory (pyridine), auditory (1000-Hz tone) and visual (white circle) stimuli were presented in a pseudo-randomized sequence to 18 young, healthy adults. The results show (1) a morphological relation between P2 and P3 components that is different for the chemosensory than for the auditory and visual modalities, (2) a relatively weak association between the chemosensory and auditory/visual modalities for P3 in terms of both correlation and cluster, and (3) a P2/P3 cluster for the chemosensory but not auditory or visual modality. This supports the claim that the chemosensory P2 and P3 components reflect similar neuropsychological processes.     

The Neural Basis of Selective Attention: Cortical Sources and Targets of Attentional Modulation

ABSTRACT— Selective attention is an intrinsic component of perceptual representation in a visual system that is hierarchically organized. Modulatory signals originate in brain regions that represent behavioral goals; these signals specify which perceptual objects are to be represented by sensory neurons that are subject to contextual modulation. Attention can be deployed to spatial locations, features, or objects, and corresponding modulatory signals must be targeted within these domains. Open questions include how nonspatial perceptual domains are modulated by attention and how abstract goals are transformed into targeted modulatory signals.     

The Level of Detail in Infants' Word Learning

ABSTRACT— This article summarizes recent findings on infant word learning and recognition. Infants initially store very detailed representations of words, including details that are not truly necessary for word recognition. As they are exposed to more varied productions of words, they develop more sophisticated knowledge about which details are important, and streamline their representations, allowing them to better recognize words across different contexts, speakers, and environments.     

出声阅读和默读之间的差异

阅读有两种基本模式：默读和出声阅读。文章从三个方面总结了两种阅读模式差异的研究成果：(1)不同阅读模式下阅读的行为差异; (2)不同阅读模式下阅读的认知机制差异; (3)不同阅读模式下阅读的脑机制差异。在此基础上, 文章提出了未来研究需要解决的问题：(1)出声阅读向默读转变的具体阶段; (2)两种阅读模式发展过程中眼动行为的差异; (3)语音和背景音乐对两种阅读模式下阅读的影响; (4)两种阅读模式下儿童的脑机制差异等。     

视觉加工的双侧视野优势及其脑机制

等量的视觉任务呈现在双侧视野比仅仅呈现在单侧视野能够获得更好的任务表现, 这被称为双侧视野优势(bilateral field advantage BFA)。BFA产生于两个紧密连接的机制：枕叶视皮层内的竞争性相互作用及背侧额顶叶网络自上而下的注意调控。前者主要发生在V1–V4等与视网膜存在拓扑映射关系的视皮层区, 后者则主要涉及两侧的顶内沟、右侧楔前叶及额眼区。未来的研究可以进一步采用三维立体视觉材料探讨BFA, 考察它与其它视野效应间交互的脑机制, 同时也可尝试解决背侧额顶叶网络的各脑区在系统的功能连接方面尚存的争议。     

任务维度和任务无关维度干扰信息的同质性影响视觉搜索的神经机制

在三个实验中, 我们利用功能性磁共振成像(functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI)技术考察了在简单特征搜索任务和客体内联合搜索任务中任务维度干扰项的同质性(或称一致性, homogeneity)和任务无关维度干扰信息的同质性对视觉搜索行为的影响及其神经机制。主要探讨了三个问题：(1) 任务维度干扰信息的同质性与目标存在性之间交互作用的神经机制; (2) 任务维度干扰信息的同质性与任务无关维度干扰信息的同质性之间的交互作用及其神经机制; (3) 上述神经机制在不同类型的视觉搜索(特征搜索和联合搜索)中的异同。     

视觉系统中类别信息加工区的特异性

近年来, 神经成像的研究结果显示, 在人类的腹侧视觉皮层内可能存在与特定类别刺激加工一一对应的类别信息加工区。但是, 类别信息加工区是否具有特异性仍然存在争议。文章总结了相关研究领域对这一颇具争议的问题的研究结果, 同时指出了末来研究可能深入的方向。这些方向包括：进一步探讨不同抽象水平的类别信息加工区域的特异性问题、检验类别信息加工区的拓扑分布观点、回答不同类别信息加工区之间的信息如何交流的问题、揭示类别信息加工区的学习机制。     

主语优先现象及其认知机制

主语优先是言语加工中的一种语序效应, 它具体表现为三个方面：论元歧义句的理解过程中, 首论元倾向于被解释为主语; 非歧义句的理解过程中, 首论元为宾语时的加工难于首论元为主语时的加工; 关系从句的理解过程中, 主语的提取比宾语的提取更容易。本文对主语优先现象主要进行了以下方面的论述：① 结合印欧语系和非印欧语系中的各种类型的语言, 详细分析了主语优先现象及其普遍性与特殊性; ② 主语优先现象的理论解释：基于工作记忆的理论、句法关联理论、突出性特征理论和基于频率的理论; ③ 与主语优先现象有关的脑电成分及其所体现的认知加工过程。最后, 结合已有的研究, 指出了主语优先现象未来的研究方向。     

Graspability and object processing in infants

This review pursues the idea that a dual visual system approach is fruitful for interpreting work on infant cognition. We provide examples from the visual perception and cognition literature demonstrating that the potential graspability of stimuli typically used in infant studies influence how these stimuli are processed by the infant brain. Specifically, we argue that small, local, familiar and moving stimuli are more likely to be processed by the dorsal (how or action) stream of visual processing. In contrast, larger, stationary objects are likely to be processed by the ventral (what or perception) stream. This analysis clarifies apparently conflicting results in the literature.