Acquisition of discrimination learning of patterns identical in configuration in macaques (Macaca mulatta and M. fuscata)

The acquisition of discrimination of five pairs of pattern cues in a Wisconsin General Testing Apparatus by 223 naive macaque monkeys was compared. The pairs of discriminanda were identical in configuration but varied slightly in either the size of the cue or the size of the background plaque; thus, the degree of separation of the cue from the fringe of the plaque, the response site, was slightly different for each pair of discriminanda. These small differences in cue-response separation had marked effects on the rate of acquisition of the discriminations. Even an increment of separation as small as 0.5 cm resulted in a remarkable retardation of the acquisition. This retardation was due entirely to prolonged performance at the chance level, and not to a slow rate of improvement from the chance to a criterion level. The finding indicates that the difficulty in the acquisition learning on pattern tasks depends largely on the difficulty of attending to the pattern cues at small cue-response separations.     

Integration of Test Results with Clinical Observations A Diagnostic Case Study

In this study, we aimed to investigate the application of an externally rated measure of interpersonal representations (Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale [SCORS]; Westen, 1995) to dream narratives. A total of 80 student participants enrolled at a private university in the New York City metropolitan area completed a Dream Log and affect adjective checklist (Wellman, 2002) based on a recalled dream at both 1 month and 3 months following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Using the dreams provided in this study we examined the interrater reliability of SCORS ratings, the relationship of SCORS variables to an independently rated measure of dream distortion, and the relationship of SCORS variables to participants' own ratings of dream affect. Results indicated that dreams were reliably rated using the SCORS, 3 cognitive SCORS variables were significantly related to dream distortion, and affective SCORS variables were meaningfully related to participants' own ratings of affect in their dreams. Findings from this study provide support for the application of SCORS ratings to dream narratives. We discuss implications for further research and clinical application.     

An Introductory Lecture on Personality Assessment

The role of personality assessment is minimized in many introductory psychology presentations for a variety of reasons. Personality assessment is an area of great breadth and is understandably formidable to those whose training has been outside this area of specialization.

The following lecture was designed to digest at least some parts of the area of personality assessment in as non-technical language as possible for use of instructors introducing its basic concepts.     

Psychological stress and blood glucose regulation in type I diabetic patients

Fifteen Type I diabetic patients self-monitored daily mean blood glucose levels (BGL), psychological stress, diet, exercise, and insulin injections for a period of 8 weeks. Separate multiple-regression analyses were conducted for each subject to assess the predictability of BGL from stress reports, independent of the effects of diet, exercise, and insulin self-administration. Considerable individual variability in findings was evident, with stress predicting BGL in a statistically significant manner in 7 of the 15 subjects. Stress had a significant effect on BGL independent of diet, exercise, and insulin administration for each of these 7 subjects. Discussion focused on the problems of measuring the key self-management behaviors influencing BGL and on the possibility that a subgroup of diabetic patients may be BGL stress responders.