bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Single Trial of Heart-Rate Biofeedback on the Arterial Blood Pressure, Ventilation Volume, and Oxygen Consumption during Ramp Bicycling Exercise
Authors: Inoue Yumiko , Sadamoto Tomoko
Published: August 2011

We examined whether the heart rate attenuation resulting from a single trial of biofeedback during exercise occurs without any changes in oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilation volume (VE), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) although these variables are essential determinants for the heart-rate response during exercise. 35 subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer under two conditions while they exercised only (Control) or were trying to decrease the heart-rate response as low as possible by monitoring their own heart-rate responses as Single trial of biofeedback signals. 17 subjects could attenuate their heart rate (Can group), and their heart-rate reduction during Single trial of biofeedback was 5 ± 1 bpm. The remaining subjects were unable to reduce heart rate (Cannot group). The heart-rate attenuation during Single trial of biofeedback in the Can group occurred independently of changes in VO2 and MAP but was accompanied by a significant decrease in VE and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). However, there was a similar decrease in VE in the Cannot group. These findings suggested that the heart-rate attenuation during Single trial of biofeedback was not induced by the metabolic demand of VO2 and the regulations of MAP and VE during exercise. Other mechanisms, which are probably related to the reduction of RPE, might play an important role in the heart-rate attenuation during a Single trial of biofeedback.
Predicting Performance in Ski and Swim Championships: Effectiveness of Mood, Perceived Exertion, and Dispositional Optimism
Authors: Norlander Torsten , Archer Trevor
Published: August 2011

Two studies were performed with young athletes to Investigate the utility of three psychological tests regarding the prediction of sport performance: the Profile of Mood States, Ratings of Perceived Exertion, and Dispositional Optimism. In Study 1, young male and female cross-country skiers and ski-marksmen in final preparation for the Junior National Swedish Championships were tested. Measured 5 wk. before both competitions, the higher the optimism (LOT), the better performance. In Study 2, which tested young swimmers in preparation for the Senior National Swedish Championships, competitors who had the highest scores on optimism performed less well during the competitions. The results are interpreted to indicate that optimism presents an important factor for predicting achievement in sports.
The Body-Image Questionnaire: An Extension
Authors: Koleck Michele , Bruchon-Schweitzer Marilou , Cousson-Gélie Florence , Gilliard Jerome , Quintard Bruno
Published: August 2011

The 19-item Body-Image Questionnaire, developed by our team and first published in this journal in 1987 by Bruchon-Schweitzer, was administered to 1,222 male and female French subjects. A principal component analysis of their responses yielded an axis we interpreted as a general Body Satisfaction dimension. The four-factor structure observed in 1987 was not replicated. Body Satisfaction was associated with sex, health, and with current and future emotional adjustment.
Relationship between Body Image and Percent Body Fat among British School Children
Authors: Duncan Michael J. , Woodfield Lorayne A. , O'Neill Stephen J. , Al-Nakeeb Yahya
Published: August 2011

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between body image and percent body fat in British school children. A total of 223 11- to 14-yr.-old children from central England took part in the study. Body image was measured using a self-report questionnaire, and percent body fat was measured using skinfold indices. Analysis indicated that body image and adiposity were significantly ( p <.01) related for the whole sample, for boys and girls and for White children, Black children, and Asian children. An analysis of variance further indicated significant differences in body image and adiposity between boys and girls, with boys having a more positive body image and a lower percent body fat. Differences ( p <.05) were also evident between Black and Asian children, with Black children having a more positive body image and lower percent body fat. No differences were evident between Black and White children or Asian and White children.
Effect of Traditional Judo Training on Aggressiveness among Young Boys
Authors: Reynes Eric , Lorant Jean
Published: August 2011

This study assessed the effect of one year of traditional judo training on aggressiveness among young boys. 27 primary school pupils and 28 judo students were asked to complete the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire at two times 1 year apart. Analysis showed that judoka were more aggressive (had higher scores on Total Aggression, Verbal Aggression, and Anger) than the control group after one year of training, even if variations in aggressiveness were not significant. So, results do not support the view that judo training leads to Jess aggressiveness in a sample of children this young.
Sleeping Pattern of Kindergartners and Nursery School Children: Function of Daytime Nap
Authors: Fukuda Kazuhiko , Sakashita Yukine
Published: August 2011

With a questionnaire answered by parents this study investigated the sleeping pattern of children attending kindergartens or nursery schools and the function of an afternoon nap. Sleeping pattern was investigated by a questionnaire with 441 young children (229 boys and 212 girls) attending kindergartens or nursery schools at the ages of 3 to 6 years old. Nighttime sleep did not show any significant change, while daytime naps decreased drastically and almost disappeared by the age of 6. Nursery school children went to bed later at night, so nighttime sleep was shorter than that of kindergartners. They also reported having more ‘difficulty to fall asleep’, more frequent ‘staying-up at late night’, less ‘not getting enough sleep’, worse ‘mood at rising’, and more ‘unwillingness to go to their schools’. To investigate whether afternoon naps, which are routine at Japanese nursery schools, can compensate for sleep insufficiency on the previous night and whether they have the effect of delaying the onset of the subsequent nighttime sleep, we compared sleep duration on the previous night and the sleep onset time between the days with and without an afternoon nap. The afternoon nap appeared to cause delayed sleep onset but was nor a result of sleep deficiency.
Slow Movement Execution in Event-Related Potentials (P300)
Authors: Naruse Kumi , Sakuma Haruo , Hisai Takane
Published: August 2011

We examined whether slow movement execution has an effect on cognitive and information processing by measuring the P300 component. 8 subjects performed a continuous slow forearm rotational movement using 2 task speeds, Slow (a 30–50% decrease from the subject's Preferred speed) and Very Slow (a 60–80% decrease). The mean coefficient of variation for rotation speed under Very Slow was higher than that under Slow, showing that the subjects found it difficult to perform the Very Slow task smoothly. The EEG score of alpha-1 (8–10 Hz) under Slow Condition was increased significantly more than under the Preferred Condition; however, the increase under Very Slow was small when compared with Preferred. After performing the task, P300 latency under Very Slow increased significantly as compared to that at pretask. Further, P300 amplitude decreased under both speed conditions when compared to that at pretask, and a significant decrease was seen under the Slow Condition at Fz, whereas the decrease under the Very Slow Condition was small. These differences indicated that a more complicated neural composition and an increase in subjects' attention might have been involved when the task was performed under the Very Slow Condition. We concluded that slow movement execution may have an influence on cognitive function and may depend on the percentage of decrease from the Preferred speed of the individual.
Comparison of Gait Patterns between Young and Elderly Women: An Examination of Coordination
Authors: Byrne Jennifer E. , Stergiou Nicholas , Blanke Daniel , Houser Jeremy J. , Kurz Max J. , Hageman Patricia A.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated intralimb coordination during walking in young and elderly women using the theoretical model of dynamical systems. 20 women, 10 Young ( M age = 24.6 yr., SD = 3.2 yr.) and 10 Elderly ( M age = 73.7 yr., SD = 4.9 yr.), were videotaped during free speed gait and gait perturbed by an ankle weight. Two parameters, one describing the phasing relationship between segments (mean absolute relative phase) and the other the variability of this relationship (deviation in phase), were calculated from the kinematics. Two-way analysis of variance (age and weight) with repeated measures on weight indicated that during the braking period the weight increased the mean absolute relative phase between the shank and the thigh and decreased it between the foot and the shank. The Elderly women had significant smaller values for the mean absolute relative phase between the shank and the thigh during the braking period. For the same period, deviation in phase increased for the segmental relationship between the shank and the thigh. The findings suggest that changes in intralimb coordination take place with asymmetrical weighting and the aging process. These changes are most clearly present during the braking period.
Influence of Reference Frames on Asymmetries in Troxler's Effect
Authors: Barrett John J. , Chatterjee Anjan , Mennemeier Mark S. , Fuhr Patti S. , Novack Thomas A
Published: August 2011

In 1804, Troxler discovered that, when an observer fixates on a point in central vision and attends to a peripheral stationary stimulus, the peripheral stimulus eventually fades from awareness. This phenomenon is known as Troxler's effect and is allegedly influenced by spatial attention. Asymmetries in Troxler's effect along horizontal and vertical meridian were a recent discovery. However, viewer- and environment-centered reference frames were aligned in prior studies, making it impossible to assess whether asymmetries correspond to viewer-versus environment-centered coordinate systems. This study was undertaken to (a) replicate the asymmetries in the upright condition among 39 participants without health issues and (b) use the asymmetrics to test contrasting predictions made by viewer- and environment-centered coordinate systems when they are decoupled using an experimental head-tilt condition. The horizontal and vertical asymmetries were replicated and consistent with a viewer-centered rather than an environment-centered reference frame.
Object-Recognition Tasks: Comparing Paper Versions to Computerized Laboratory Methods
Authors: Guyette Jody , Koch Christopher
Published: August 2011

This study attempts to generalize Biederman's 1987 findings regarding Recognition by Components theory, which were obtained using a computer administered object-recognition task, to an analog or paper task that is consistent with typical assessment or testing procedures. Three versions of an object-recognition task were developed after the Structure of Intellect-Learning Abilities Test by Meeker, Meeker, and Roid. One version contained randomly fragmented objects, one contained objects with vertices present, and the third contained objects with midsegments. 30 participants were administered each of the three versions in a counterbalanced order. The results are consistent with those of Biederman. Objects with missing vertices were more difficult to recognize than objects with missing midsegments. There was no difference between randomly fragmented objects and those with vertices present. Implications for object-recognition research and test-item development are discussed. In particular, it is suggested that perceptual theories should be used in developing test items to gain greater control in creating items of appropriate difficulty and to increase the validity of the overall instrument.
Color Naming by Boys and Girls
Authors: Machen V.
Published: August 2011

The present study describes a field experiment conducted to test the hypothesis that color naming varies for 56 adolescent boys and 39 girls. No standard color chart such as Munsell, Pantone, or Crayola was used. Instead, subjects identified 15 computer-generated color samples assigned a score based on the scale devised by Rich in 1977 of four color descriptor categories. Findings differed from those of most previous studies, in which women aged over 16 years showed a more elaborate color vocabulary than men. Among the 14- to 16-yr.-old subjects, there was no significant difference in color naming.
Age, Sex, and Body Mass Index in Performance of Selected Locomotor and Fitness Tasks by Children in Grades K-2
Authors: Butterfield Stephen A. , Lehnhard Robert A. , Coladarci Theodore
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of 3 predictor variables (age, sex, and body mass index) to performance of 7 fundamental movement skills (locomotor; run, gallop, hop, leap, jump, skip, and slide) and 4 fitness tasks (grip strength, step test, sit and reach, and timed sit-ups) by 65 children in Grades K-2 ( M =6 yr.). A multiple regression analysis indicated that running, leaping, and skipping improved with age. No sex differences were observed on any of the seven skills. In terms of the four fitness tasks, age was positively associated with timed sit-ups and grip strength and inversely associated with step-test performance. Sex was associated with step-test and sit and reach performance (girls performed better on both). Finally, body mass index was related to increased grip strength and fewer timed sit-ups.
Verbal versus Olfactory Cues: Affect in Elicited Memories
Authors: Bonfigli Luisa , Kodilja Renata , Zanuttini Lucia
Published: August 2011

Verbal processing has a reduced role for olfactory stimuli. It is difficult to provide a label for an odor experience. Odor perception can retrieve memories of life events with personal meaning and elicit affective experiences. Odors that have emotionally loaded content could produce older memories. Common odors with well-known names have been used. In Exp. 1 the names were shown, and the subjects were asked to imagine the corresponding odors; subsequently those odorants were presented. In Exp. 2 at first the odorants were presented and subsequently their names, printed one each per white card. The subjects were requested to provide written free associations. At the end of each session they scored a semantic differential. The hypothesis that emotionally loaded associations are more frequent when evoked by odorants seems confirmed, supported also by some reliable differences between the profiles for olfactory verbal stimuli. The evaluation of olfactory stimuli did not differ from one experiment to the other; verbal stimuli, on the contrary, are differently evaluated if the corresponding odorants were presented before or after their labels.
Relationship between Training Volume and Mood States in Competitive Swimmers during a 24-Week Season
Authors: Pierce Edgar F.
Published: August 2011

Mood states have been shown to be sensitive to periods of overtraining among endurance athletes. To examine the relationship between training volume and specific mood states, the Profile of Mood States was administered biweekly to 12 male and 17 female collegiate swimmers over the course of a competitive season. Pearson correlations were estimates of the relationship between mean subscores and training volume. Mean training volume for the comparison periods ranged from 3,868 to 12,500 meters/day. Mean ratings of both Anger and Vigor were significantly negatively correlated with training volume (−.58 and −.54, respectively). In addition, Fatigue was significantly correlated with training volume ( r = .53), but the mean subscores for Tension, Depression, Confusion, and Global Mood were not significantly correlated with training volume. Results support previous research reporting mood disturbances with increased training volumes but do not support suggestions of an increased tendency towards higher scores on depression.
Development of an Apparatus to Estimate Coordinated Exertion of Force
Authors: Nagasawa Yoshinori , Demura Shinichi
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to develop a practical apparatus for estimation of the coordinated exertion of force and to develop methods for display, test duration, and sampling interval. A total of 84 healthy male college students were required to match their grip strength to a changing demand value appearing on the display of a personal computer (using two descriptions in the form of a bar chart and wave form). The variables were the maximal difference and the total sum of the differences between demanded and produced grip strength over time. In estimating coordinated exertion of force, an actual force (kgf) scale was more effective than a relative force (%) scale. Reliability tests indicated that a 30-sec. test was effective. Both bar chart and wave form displays were effective.
Arguments against the Cognitive Dysmetria Hypothesis of Schizophrenia
Authors: St. Kaprinis George , Fountoulakis Kostas N. , Kaprinis Stergios G.
Published: August 2011

Recently, the ‘cognitive dysmetria’ theory for schizophrenia has been formulated. According to this theory. a primary neurocognitive dysfunction is the core of schizophrenia and underlies symptom formation, The suggested perceptual fragmentation of external stimuli and inability to connect such perceptions with internal schemata is suggested to lead to positive symptoms, while defensive self-restriction and the exhaustion of the mental apparatus lead to negative symptomatology. Objections to this theory include observations (i) that patients with dominant positive symptoms, e.g., delusions, hallucinations, manifest better neurocognitive function and (ii) that typically antipsychotics significantly reduce positive symptoms and thus improve both the clinical picture and the functioning (to the extent it is reduced with positive symptoms) of the patients, yet have little or no effect on negative, e.g., loss of volition, emotional blunting, and neurocognitive symptomatology, e.g., attentional and memory deficit. The literature suggests that neurocognitive symptoms group independently of other symptomatology. It is suggested that there is currently more evidence against than in favor of the ‘cognitive dysmetria’ theory.
Self-Rating Inventory for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Review of the Psychometric Properties of a New Brief Dutch Screening Instrument
Authors: Hovens J. E. , Bramsen I. , Van Der Ploeg H. M.
Published: August 2011

The Self-rating Inventory for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of 22 items was developed for use with populations without identified traumatic experiences. The inventory has been used extensively in survey research in The Netherlands. This paper examines the psychometric properties. In four different groups (trauma and psychiatric patients, elderly Dutch subjects, former peacekeepers, and medical students) internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and discriminant validity, and sensitivity and specificity are analyzed. The inventory showed good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and discriminant validity, and high sensitivity and specificity. It appears to be valuable for survey research on posttraumatic stress in nonselected populations. As a screening device, high sensitivity for PTSD symptoms is evident even when the traumatic event has not been defined.
Volitional Lifestyle in Healthy Elderly: Its Relevance to Rest-Activity Cycle, Nocturnal Sleep, and Daytime Napping
Authors: Shirota Ai , Nittono Hiroshi , Shirakawa Syuichiro , Tanaka Hideki , Hayashi Mitsuo , Hori Tadao
Published: August 2011

Sleep-related problems are prevalent among the aged. The present study examined the influence of a mentally active or “volitional” lifestyle on the rest-activity cycle, nocturnal sleep, and daytime napping in the healthy elderly. 14 aged individuals with a High Volitional lifestyle ( M = 74.1 yr. old) and 14 with a Low Volitional lifestyle ( M = 73.0 yr. old) were screened by questionnaires including the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale scale and the Self-confidence scale. Their activity levels were monitored by a wrist actigraph system for 14 consecutive days. They were also asked to record daily sleep logs. The total times of nocturnal sleep and daytime napping did not differ between the groups. However, the acrophases of circadian (τ = 24 hr.) and circasemidian (τ= 12 hr.) activity cycles were more advanced in the Low Volitional group. In addition, the High Volitional group took a daytime nap with a better timing than did the Low Volitional group: the former started a nap during the phase in which their activity level was going down, whereas the latter when their activity level was going up. These results suggest that high volitional lifestyle may be related to better rest-activity cycle in the healthy elderly.
Spatiotemporal Variations of Alpha and Sigma Band EEG in the Waking-Sleeping Transition Period
Authors: Morikawa Toshio , Hayashi Mitsuo , Hori Tadao
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study is to evaluate the spatiotemporal variation of alpha and sigma band EEGs during the waking-sleeping transition or hypnagogic period. Power and coherence from 7 EEG channels (Fp1, F7, Fz. C3, Pz, T5, O1) were studied using EEG records of the period of 5 min. before the onset of Stage 1 to 24 min. after the onset of Stage 1. The EEG spectra were computed for 4 frequency bands (alpha 1: 8.0–9,0 Hz, alpha 2: 9.5–11.0 Hz, alpha 3: 11.5–12.5 Hz, and sigma: 13.0–15.0 Hz). The power of alpha 1 and 2 bands initially started to decrease before the onset of Stage 1. Principal component analysis of the coherence yielded Generalized and Localized Components in each band. The Generalized Component was widespread across scalp areas, while the Localized Component was a restricted local area. The Generalized Components of alpha 1 and 2 bands reached stable levels of NREM sleep about 1 min. after the onset of Stage 1. The component of sigma band reached a stable level of NREM sleep about 0.6 min. before the onset of Stage 2, while the component of alpha 3 band reached a stable level of NREM sleep about 3.4 min. after the onset of Stage 2. These results suggest that the alpha-sigma band EEG structures during the waking-sleeping transition period may not be uniform across EEG bands and that the hypnagogic EEG changes may start before the onset of Stage 1 and continue for several minutes after the onset of Stage 2.
Nightmare Frequency, Nightmare Distress, and Anxiety
Authors: Nguyen Tammy T. , Madrid Samara , Marquez Hazel , Hicks Robert A.
Published: August 2011

Using the self-reports of 300 university students, we replicated and extended the results of a 1971 study of Hersen by demonstrating a significant relationship between both nightmare frequency and nightmare distress with two dimensions of anxiety. Our results are not consistent with the 1990 findings of Wood and Bootzin who concluded that both nightmare frequency and nightmare distress were not correlated with anxiety.
Assessment of Fine Motor Skill in Musicians and Nonmusicians: Differences in Timing versus Sequence Accuracy in a Bimanual Fingering Task
Authors: Kincaid Anthony E. , Duncan Scott , Scott Samuel A.
Published: August 2011

While professional musicians are generally considered to possess better control of finger movements than nonmusicians, relatively few reports have experimentally addressed the nature of this discrepancy in fine motor skills. For example, it is unknown whether musicians perform with greater skill than control subjects in all aspects of different types of fine motor activities. More specifically, it is not known whether musicians perform better than control subjects on a fine motor task that is similar, but not identical, to the playing of their primary instrument. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of finger placement and accuracy of timing in professional musicians and nonmusicians using a simple, rhythmical, bilateral fingering pattern and the technology that allowed separate assessment of these two parameters. Professional musicians (other than pianists) and nonmusicians were given identical, detailed and explicit instructions but not allowed physically to practice the finger pattern. After verbally repeating the correct pattern for the investigator, subjects performed the task on an electric keyboard with both hands simultaneously. Each subject's performance was then converted to a numerical score. While musicians clearly demonstrated better accuracy in timing, no significant difference was found between the groups in their finger placement scores. These findings were not correlated with subjects' age, sex, limb dominance, or primary instrument (for the professional musicians). This study indicates that professional musicians perform better in timing accuracy but not spatial accuracy while executing a simple, novel, bimanual motor sequence.
Inexperienced Sport Climbers Might Perceive and Utilize New Opportunities for Action by Merely Observing a Model
Authors: Boschker Marc S. J. , Bakker Frank C.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether observing an expert climber would enable inexperienced climbers to perceive and accomplish new possibilities for action and whether this would facilitate their climbing performance. The focus was on what information is obtained during observation of a motor action. Three groups of inexperienced male participants ( N=24) observed either a video model of an expert method of climbing, a video model of a novice method of climbing, or the climbing wall on video without a model. Participants subsequently climbed the wall. This procedure of observation followed by climbing was repeated five times. Analysis showed participants perceived and subsequently utilized information from the videotapes and that this resulted in faster and more fluent climbing (as assessed by the geometric entropy of the body center of gravity). The results are discussed in terms of perceiving and accomplishing opportunities For action or affordances.
Achievement Motives, Cognitive and Social Competence, and Achievement Goals in the Classroom
Authors: Tanaka Ayumi , Okuno Takuhiro , Yamauchi Hirotsugu
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the interrelations of approach and avoidance achievement motives (Motive to Achieve Success and Motive to Avoid Failure), two types of competence (Cognitive and Social competence), achievement goals (Mastery, Performance-approach, Performance-avoidance, and Work Avoidance goals), of 131 eighth and ninth grade students from a Japanese junior high school. Multiple regression analysis indicated positive relations between Mastery goals and the Motive to Achieve Success and Cognitive Competence. Performance-approach goals and both the Motive to Achieve Success and the Motive to Avoid Failure, and Performance-avoidance Goals and both the Motive to Achieve Success and the Motive to Avoid Failure. Negative relations were found between Work Avoidance goals and the Motive to Achieve Success and Cognitive Competence. Several interactions between achievement motives and competence on achievement goals were also found. The different antecedents of four achievement goals were discussed.
Correlation between Tests of Attention and Performance on Grooved and Purdue Pegboards in Normal Subjects
Authors: Strenge Hans , Niederberger Uwe , Seelhorst Ulrike
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the relation between tests of manual dexterity and attentional functions with 49 normal, right-handed medical students (26 women, 23 men, ages 19–30 years) who were assessed with a Purdue Pegboard Test, Grooved Pegboard Test, and a Test for Attentional Performance, comprising measures of tonic and phasic alertness and divided attention. Weak to moderately high partial correlations controlling for finger size were obtained between pegboard test performance of the left hand and phasic alertness ( r = .31–.5O). Purdue Pegboard Assembly subtest scores were weakly correlated with divided attention ( r = −.39). These findings suggest that attention is an important determinant of performance for manual dexterity tests of the nondominant hand.
Enhancement of Images of Possible Memories of Others during Exposure to Circumcerebral Magnetic Fields: Correlations with Ambient Geomagnetic Activity
Authors: Persinger M. A. , Cook C. M. , Tiller S. G.
Published: August 2011

On the basis of results from a special subject who reported information at a distance during exposure to weak, circumcerebral magnetic fields rotating within the horizontal plane. we designed an experiment to discern if the subjective narratives of normal people exposed to these fields could be similar to the comments of emotionally related individuals who were concurrently generating shared memories about a randomly selected stimulus. Blind matching of the comments indicated that the proportions of 44 students who accurately paired the narratives of the field-exposed subject and the comments of the stimulus person as congruent were statistically significant for 5 of the 7 pairs whose narratives were of sufficient length for analysis. The ratings for congruence of the pairs of verbal behaviors for the 7 pairs of subjects were negatively correlated ( rho = −.72) with the geomagnetic activity during the 24-hr. interval within which the experiences were conducted. The results suggested consciousness might also be an insulator to myriad stimuli which might be accessible when brain activity is modified by circumcerebral magnetic fields with temporal configurations in the order of 20 msec.
Transient and Sustained Effects of an Auditory Accessory Stimulus in a Visual Go/No Go Task
Authors: Nakano Yoshiki
Published: August 2011

The present study examined the facilitation effects of an auditory accessory stimulus that was irrelevant to a visual reaction time (RT) task as a function of stimulus onset asynchrony between the accessory stimulus and the visual target stimulus. Results of the present experiment showed that the auditory accessory stimulus caused two variations of RT, short term and long-term, that were distinguished on the basis of stimulus onset asynchrony. This finding suggested that effects of an accessory stimulus consisted of two qualitatively different facilitations. The Transient Facilitation appeared instantly after the onset of the accessory stimulus and then soon decayed, and the Sustained Facilitation increased and decreased more gradually than the former.
Predicting Handwriting Performance of Early Elementary Students with the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration
Authors: Marr Deborah , Cermak Sharon
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine use of the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration in predicting handwriting performance of early elementary students and the contribution of sex. An additional purpose was to examine whether successful completion of the first nine figures or the oblique cross from the test predicted handwriting. 101 children were tested at the beginning of their kindergarten year and again in the middle of the first-grade year on the Scale of Children's Readiness In Printing (SCRIPT). The VMI kindergarten scores did not significantly predict first-grade SCRIPT scores for the sample as a whole. When boys and girls were considered separately, VMI scores predicted handwriting SCRIPT scores for girls, but accounted for only 10% of the variance. Successful performance on the first nine VMI figures was significantly associated with handwriting for girls but not boys, while the oblique cross did not significantly predict handwriting performance. These results do not provide clear support, for administration of the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration during kindergarten as a tool to identify children at risk for handwriting difficulties.
Recognition of Emotion from Inverted Schematic Drawings of Faces
Authors: Fallshore Marte , Bartholow Jeanice
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated whether facial expressions of emotion are recognized holistically, i.e., all at once as an entire unit, as faces are or featurally as other nonface stimuli. Evidence for holistic processing of faces comes from a reliable decrement in recognition performance when faces are presented inverted rather than upright. If emotion is recognized holistically, then recognition of facial expressions of emotion should be impaired by inversion. To test this, participants were shown schematic drawings of faces showing one of six emotions (surprise, sadness, anger, happiness, disgust, and fear) in either an upright or inverted orientation and were asked to indicate the emotion depicted. Participants were more accurate in the upright than in the inverted orientation, providing evidence in support of holistic recognition of facial emotion. Because recognition of facial expressions of emotion is important in social relationships, this research may have implications for treatment of some social disorders.
Comparison of Two Creativity Style Measures
Authors: Houtz John C. , Selby Edwin , Esquivel Giselle B. , Okoye Ruth A. , Peters Kristen M. , Treffinger Donald J.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between two measures of creativity style for a sample of beginning teachers. 116 student teachers enrolled in an undergraduate teacher-education program in a medium-sized, metropolitan university completed the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory and the Basadur Creative Problem Solving Profile measures. A preference for an Innovator style (higher scores on Kirton's inventory) was correlated with the Generator profile on the Basadur profile ( r = .36, p <.01). The KAI Efficiency scores, suggesting a preference for broad, global ideas as opposed to narrow, specific ones, was correlated with the Basadur Conceptualizer scores ( r = .26, p < .01). Implications are discussed for teachers who must adapt to newer instructional and assessment methods designed to foster students' higher-level thinking skills.
Semantic Priming Effect of Metaphor Constituent Terms
Authors: Nakamoto Keiko
Published: August 2011

Camac and Glucksberg reported there was no priming effect between constituent terms of a metaphor and argued that there was no prior similarity or association between the constituents. However, their study had several limitations. An important one was that they neglected the asymmetry of metaphor constituent terms. The purpose of this study is to replicate their experiment under the condition in which one of the constituents preceded the other. The experiment was conducted with Japanese participants using Japanese metaphoric sentences as stimuli. The results showed that the decision was facilitated if the vehicle served as prime and the topic served as target. In contrast, if the topic preceded the vehicle, no priming effect was found. These results are discussed in terms of the class inclusion model proposed earlier by Glucksberg and Keysar.
Body Image and Eating Attitudes among Adolescent Chinese Girls in Hong Kong
Authors: Fung Maria S. C. , Yuen Mantak
Published: August 2011

The study investigated the relation between body image and eating attitudes among adolescent girls in Hong Kong. A sample of 358 senior secondary school girls completed the measures assessing body-part satisfaction and behaviors associated with eating. Analysis indicated that even though only 4.8% of the girls were overweight, 85.16% desired to weigh less. These Chinese teenage girts were concerned about their weight, and the desire for slimness was widespread. Correlations indicated that higher Body Mass Index was associated with lower satisfaction with weight. Lower scores on weight satisfaction were associated with higher scores on attitudes of dieting and food preoccupation.
Rats' Preferences for an Analgesic Compared to Water: An Alternative to “Killing the Rat So it Does Not Suffer”
Authors: Persinger M. A.
Published: August 2011

A common policy in research institutions is to kill rats when they display chronic disabilities or recurrent injuries. These guidelines appear to be derived from an oxymoron that “it's better for a rat to be killed so it does not suffer pain” and from untested assumptions that rats cannot control “pain.” In a two-bottle paradigm. 10 rats with history of brain damage following status epilepticus from a single systemic injection of lithium and pilocarpine were given options to consume freely either tap water or 1 mg/cc of acetaminophen in tap water. During periods of fresh lesions due to persistent gnawing or acute injuries associated with tonic-clonic convulsions, the rats consumed 3 to 10 times the fluid from the bottles containing acetaminophen (equivalent to 5 to 10 extra-strength Tylenol tablets per day for a 70-kg person) relative to periods when no lesions or old lesions were present. These results suggest that rats with chronic injuries sufficient to be terminated according to Animal Care guidelines may be capable of reducing the aversive physiological conditions associated with tissue damage by selecting analgesic treatments.
An Oceanside Field Experiment on Background Music Effects on the Restaurant Tab
Authors: Lammers H. Bruce
Published: August 2011

Amount of purchase in a restaurant was larger when background music was soft than when loud, confirming prior research. Type of music (soft rock of classical) did not matter.
Visual Information Processing under Time Pressure in High and Low Level Soccer Players
Authors: Zhongfan Lu , Inomata Kimihiro
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated differences in information processing rate of high and low level soccer players under three time-pressure conditions: High (0.5 sec.), Medium (1 sec.), and Low (2 sec.). No significant difference was found under Low time pressure, but under Medium time pressure the higher skilled group processed more visual information than the lower skilled group ( p < .05).
Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Energy Expenditure during Light to Moderate Activity
Authors: Goss Fredric , Robertson Robert , DaSilva Sergio , Suminski Richard , Kang Jie , Metz Kenneth
Published: August 2011

The object of this investigation was to establish a group-normalized perceptual response, using the Borg 15-category rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, that is consistent with the Surgeon General's recommendations for physical activity intensity. This normalized response is defined as a range of RPEs corresponding to a target physiological outcome during exercise common to a specified group of individuals. 24 college-age students (12 men; 12 women) underwent a progressive exercise test administered on a semi-recumbent leg cycle machine to estimate VO2 peak and 12 6-min. exercise trials on a combined arm and leg exercise machine. Three trials were conducted per day, and at least 24 hr. separated testing sessions. RPEs between 7 and 10 were consistently estimated during trials categorized as light to moderately intense (35 to 53% VO2 peak). These exercise intensities resulted in an energy expenditure of between 5.38 ( SD = 1.37) to 7.56 ( SD=0.60) and 3.58 ( SD= 0.58) to 5.30 ( SD=0.97) kcal · min.−1 for these men and women, respectively. RPEs corresponding to 7: extremely light to 10: very light or light are sufficient in healthy young college students to achieve the target activity with respect to exercise intensity. Therefore, this group-normalized perceptual response, i.e., RPE = 7 to 10, may be expressed as a prescriptive reference enabling college-age individuals to produce an exercise intensity designed to promote health and studied longitudinally to assess the effects long term.
Suicide in Murderers in England and Wales
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In England and Wales, the suicide rate of murderers was positively associated with the male suicide rare in the general population, and both of these rates were positively associated with the unemployment rate.
Sensory Perception during Sleep and Meditation: Common Features and Differences
Authors: Naveen K. V. , Telles Shirley
Published: August 2011

Sleep and mediation are both physiological conditions in which peripheral sensory input is voluntarily reduced, but sensory perception of internally generated information continues. However, the two conditions differ in the level of awareness retained.
Children's Use of Advanced Information in Spatially Compatible and Incompatible Assignments
Authors: Dornier Lanie A. , Meaney Karen S.
Published: August 2011

Research on adult populations has shown individuals are faster at processing information, i.e., have faster reaction times, from compatible as compared to incompatible assignments. Additionally, research has shown that reaction times decrease when advanced information, i.e., a precue, is provided to the subject. The present study examined whether children would exhibit results similar to those of adults. Subjects were 18 fourth graders ( M age 9 yr.) who responded to compatible and incompatible assignments across four precue intervals (0-no precue, 1500, 3000, and 4500 msec.) Analysis of the data indicated that similar to adults, children had faster reaction times to compatible (667 msec., SD=176) than to incompatible assignments (798 ·msec., SD=218). Results also indicated that as the precue interval increased, reaction times decreased (885, 711, 679, and 660 msec. for the 0-no precue, 1500-, 3000-, and 4500-msec intervals, respectively). These findings suggest that children exhibit typical compatibility effects and are capable of processing advanced information to enhance motor performance.
Age and Understanding Speakers with Spanish or Taiwanese Accents
Authors: Burda Angela N. , Hageman Carlin F. , Scherz Julie A. , Edwards Harold T.
Published: August 2011

This pilot study concerned the intelligibility of accented speech for listeners of different ages. 72 native speakers of English, representing three age groups (20–39, 40–59, 60 and older) listened to words and sentences produced by native speakers of English, Taiwanese, and Spanish. Listeners transcribed words and sentences. Listeners also rated speakers' comprehensibility, i.e., listeners' perceptions of difficulty in understanding utterances, and accentedness, i.e., how strong a speaker's foreign accent is perceived to be. On intelligibility measures, older adults had significantly greater difficulty in understanding individuals with accented speech than the other two age groups. Listeners, regardless of age, were more likely to provide correct responses if they perceived the speaker easier to understand. Ratings of comprehensibility were highly correlated with ratings of accentedness.
An Information Theory Analysis of Duration of Lifeguards' Scanning
Authors: Harrell W. Andrew , Boisvert Jennifer A.
Published: August 2011

Observers recorded the duration of scanning by six lifeguards in three indoor swimming pools. Duration of scanning was significantly predicted by the absolute numbers of child swimmers (< 17 years) in the pools and when numbers of child swimmers were represented in terms of bits of information. Duration of scanning increased as a linear function of both numbers of children and child bits of information. These results are interpreted in terms of the Hick-Hyman law of information theory. Lifeguards appear to simplify the task of information processing and decision-making by concentrating on children as a more at-risk group of swimmers. Duration of scanning was not significantly related to changes in number of adult swimmers.
Automatic-Controlled Information Processing and Error Detection in a Simulated Pharmacy-Verification Task
Authors: Reilley Sean , Grasha Anthony F. , Matthews Gerald , Schafer John
Published: August 2011

The relationships between attentional variables and information-processing demands of pharmacy dispensing tasks that contribute to difficulties in cognitive performance are not well-known. In the present study, a psychological approach to medical dispensing errors, the cognitive-systems performance model of Grasha, was employed to evaluate the contributions of individual differences in attention and alterations in visual task information on simulated pharmacy-verification performance, perceived workload, and self-reported stress. 73 college-age volunteers completed a pretest battery containing psychological measures of automatic and controlled information processing, and one-week later spent 265 min. completing the end visual-inspection process for 200 simulated prescriptions, 27% of which contained artificially inserted errors. Evidence suggesting that both automatic and controlled processes underlie performance of a simulated pharmacy-verification task was obtained. Individual differences in controlled information processing were mildly predictive of detection accuracy, while contrary to expectations, automatic processing scores did not produce significant relationships. Detection associated with experimental alterations in font size (12-pt. vs 6-pt.) of critical prescription label information was partially in line with expectations from the cognitive-systems performance model, while additional visual enhancements via a magnification/illumination device yielded mixed results. Finally, reports of perceived workload (NASA Task Load Index) and specific patterns of self-reported stress (Dundee Stress State Questionnaire) were consistent with a three-tier behavioral framework offered recently by Matthews, Davies, Westerman, and Stammers for predicting behaviors along the automatic-controlled continuum.
Reliability of a Computerized Assessment of Psychomotor Performance and its Sensitivity to Alcohol-Induced Impairment
Authors: Fillmore Mark T.
Published: August 2011

Two experiments examined a new computerized pursuit rotor task that measured psychomotor performance. Exp. 1 examined the acquisition and reliability of performance of 25 adults who performed the task on two sessions separated by a 2-wk. interval. Exp. 2 was a placebo-controlled test of task sensitivity to the performance-impairing effects of a 0.65 g/kg dose of alcohol. Exp. 1 showed that participants' performance was reliable over time. Exp. 2 showed that alcohol-impaired performance compared with placebo. The task could be useful for evaluating performance-impairing effects of other CNS depressant drugs, as well as complementing assessment batteries for research and instruction in studies of motor learning and human performance.
Writing Errors by Normal Subjects
Authors: Moretti Rita , Torre Paola , Antonello Rodolfo M. , Fabbro Franco , Cazzato Giuseppe , Bava Antonio
Published: August 2011

Writing is a complex process requiring visual memory, attention, phonological and semantic operations, and motor performance. For that reason, it can easily be disturbed by interfering with attention, memory, by interfering subvocalization, and so on. With 16 female third-year students (23.4 ± 0.8 yr.) from the University of Trieste, we investigated the production of errors in three experimental conditions (control, articulatory suppression, and tapping). In the articulatory suppression condition, the participants produced significantly more linguistic impairments (such as agrammatism, unrelated substitutions, sentence omissions, and semantically deviant sentences), which are similar to linguistic impairments found in aphasia. On the tapping condition there were more perseverations, deletions, and substitutions of both letters and words. These data suggest that writing is not an automatic skill. Only after many years of experience and practice of processing information (through cortical to subcortical channels) can writing be considered an automatic skill. Limited experimental conditions can disrupt the writing system of normal subjects, probably interfering with the cortical to subcortical loops, and link normality to pathology.