bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Straight-Forward Information Change Alcohol-Related Expectancies?
Authors: Gustafson Roland
Published: September 2011

In an experimental setting 40 male subjects were asked about their aggressive expectancies in relation to alcohol. They then drank either an alcohol or a placebo drink while exposed to an attractive film and written material designed to alter their beliefs. Results indicate that increases in aggression are expected when drinking and that such beliefs are stable and not influenced by short and trustworthy information.
EMG Biofeedback Training, Relaxation Training, and Placebo for the Relief of Chronic Back Pain
Authors: Stuckey Sandra J. , Jacobs Alfred , Goldfarb Jack
Published: September 2011

24 patients with chronic low back pain were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: (a) EMG biofeedback, (b) relaxation training, and (c) a placebo condition. Patients were seen for eight sessions and were evaluated before Session 1 and after Session 8. Eight analyses of covariance which were adjusted for age and pretest scores were computed on the final scores to find which variables could detect significant difference between treatments. Age was included as a covariate because the differences in age between conditions were significant. Four variables with significant and nearly significant differences were chosen for analysis. The second set of analyses identified the nature of the differences among the three conditions. These included a priori planned comparisons among conditions, and paired t tests. Relaxation-trained subjects were significantly superior to subjects in the placebo condition, in decreasing pain during the function test, increasing relaxation, and decreasing Upper Trapezius EMG. They were superior to EMG Biofeedback training in increasing reported activity. Both Relaxation and EMG trained subjects were able to reduce Upper Trapezius EMG by Session 8 Relaxation-trained subjects showed significant change on eight of the 14 possible comparisons for each treatment condition. EMG biofeedback training showed significant favorable results in only one condition; the placebo condition showed no significant results. Relaxation training gave better results in reducing EMG and pain, and in increasing relaxation and activity than either EMG biofeedback alone or a placebo condition.
An Experimental Test of Inhibition and Consolidation Theories of Spaced Practice Effects
Authors: Dietrich Joan M. , Payne R. B.
Published: September 2011

The relative merits of inhibition and consolidation theories of spaced-practice effects were examined in terms of the fidelity with which the theories were able to forecast the decremental consequences of massed practice following differentially spaced practice on a rotary pursuit task. In accordance with inhibition theory and contrary to consolidation theory, the longer the intertrial interval during the spaced-practice sequence, the more rapidly performance declined during the massed-practice sequence. Additional evidence supporting inhibition theory and negating consolidation theory was reviewed.
Cognitive Distortions during Progressive Exercise
Authors: Salmela John H. , Ndoye Ousseynou D.
Published: September 2011

Nideffer's theory of attention and interpersonal style is based upon Easterbrook's 1959 postulates that psychological stress has predictable and sequential effects on attention, i.e., loss of attentional flexibility, attentional narrowing, and interiorization. These effects have not yet been demonstrated within a context for physical activity using exercise as the stressor. In the present study, subjects were required to react to a verbal five-choice reaction-time task while pedalling to exhaustion upon a bicycle. It was hypothesized that choice RTs and the number of omitted responses would increase predictably with the addition of the progressive exercise. There were distortions in reactions to progressive exercise. Initially, there was facilitation of performance by exercise for the conditions of rest, and exercise-induced heart rates of 115 beats per minute (bpm) with no differential effects across the attentional field. Between 115 and 145 bpm, there were universal decrements in performance, with differential and progressive effects of exercise on performance beyond 145 bpm in the peripheral fields. At 165 and 180 bpm, peripheral reactions became progressively slower with concomitant increases in the accuracy of signal detection. Both the progressive differential decrease in choice RT to the peripheral stimuli as well as the increase in errors with progressive exercise tended to support the relationship between attention and performance that Easterbrook proposed, but within an exercise context.
Perceived Physical Ability and Relation of Attitude to Behavior
Authors: Godin Gaston , Valois Pierre , Shephard Roy J.
Published: September 2011

The mediating effect of perceived physical ability on the relationship of attitudes with behavior has been investigated in 130 subjects. Perceived Physical Ability was measured using the scale of Ryckman, Robbins, Thornton, and Cantrell, and attitudes were defined according to Ajzen and Fishbein. Two months later, all subjects reported their exercise behavior. Attitudes were significantly correlated 0.445 with exercise behavior, but Perceived Physical Ability did not influence the relation of attitude to behavior. Although this does not invalidate previous findings concerning the mediating influence of some personality factors, it does support the point of view that methodological considerations need to be included in the attitude-behavior controversy.
Effect of Stimulus Pulse Duration and Interstimulus Interval on Cross-Modal Matching of Auditory and Lingual Vibrotactile Stimuli
Authors: Fucci Donald , Harris Daniel , Petrosino Linda
Published: September 2011

Cross-modal matching functions for eight intensity levels of a 1000-Hz auditory stimulus and a 250-Hz lingual vibrotactile stimulus were obtained for two groups of subjects. Group 1 adjusted the vibrotactile stimulus to match the auditory stimulus, and Group 2 adjusted the auditory stimulus to match the vibrotactile stimulus. Stimulus-pulse durations and interstimulus intervals were varied over six experimental conditions for both groups. The variations in stimulus-pulse durations and interstimulus intervals had no appreciable effect on mean matching-function exponents for the two groups. A possible regression effect consistent with data from other psychophysical scaling studies was noted for matching functions of the two stimuli.
Lingual Vibrotactile and Auditory Cross-Modal Matching: Frequency Effects
Authors: Harris Daniel , Fucci Donald , Petrosino Linda
Published: September 2011

5 subjects matched pairs of auditory and vibrotactile stimuli on intensity, making judgments of suprathreshold magnitudes. Slope values for the 100-Hz cross-modal lingual vibrotactile stimulus-standard frequency condition were steeper than those for 250- or 400-Hz conditions. Slope values became steeper at about 25- to 30-dB SL, so frequency seems an important parameter to control in such research.
Cognitive Styles of French Canadian Athletes
Authors: Drouin Denis , Talbot Serge , Goulet Claude
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess field-dependence/independence of 192 French Canadian athletes involved in a university athletic program. Field-dependence refers to one who is strongly influenced by his immediate environment, while a field-independent is individually oriented and much less influenced by environment. Analysis of variance showed that for these athletes there were no significant differences for the embedded figures test scores on age, sex, level of competition, and sports. The highest mean score of 13.86 was obtained by athletes older than 18 yr. of age.
Relative Size and Spatial Separation: Effects on the Parallel-Lines Illusion
Authors: Schiano Diane J.
Published: September 2011

The parallel-lines illusion provides a prototypical example of visual-size assimilation, where the size of a test element is phenomenally skewed towards (or “averaged with”) that of a context element. Most assimilation theories predict that distortion should decrease with spatial separation between context and test lengths. However, there is some disagreement about the nature of the function relating sizes of context and test elements and magnitude of assimilation. The present study tests the limits of assimilation in the parallel-lines configurations by observing the effects of a wide range of context/test size ratios, repeated over two disparate levels of spatial separation. The results replicate and extend 1979 findings by Brigell and Uhlarik, confirming that assimilation rises to a peak at midrange size ratios, only to decrease continuously as the ratios become more extreme. The functions were nonmonotonic and similar in shape for both levels of spatial separation, with an over-all decrease in distortion for configurations with the larger separation.
Tactile Detection Threshold Determined with Single Sinusoidal Mechanical Pulses in the Monkey Skin
Authors: Pertovaara Antti , Linnankoski Ilkka
Published: September 2011

Tactile detection thresholds for single sinusoidal mechanical pulses increased with decreases in the frequency of the stimulus pulse (from 150 to 20 Hz) in a monkey's skin. The results correspond with those of similar electrophysiological studies.
Children's Appreciation and Understanding of Humorous Cartoon Drawings
Authors: Czwartkowski Leona , Whissell Cynthia
Published: September 2011

116 children from grades junior kindergarten through three (ages 4–9 yr.) rated the funniness of five cartoon drawings depicting each of three types of humor (aggressive, body, and incongruous) and also explained why the cartoons were supposed to be funny. Understanding of funniness was not a function of age, but appreciation (rating) was. Appreciation increased significantly with age and types of humor were differentially rated (incongruous and body humor were rated higher than aggressive humor). Several interactions of type of humor with sex of subjects and grade were also significant. Ratings of all three types of humor were weakly correlated with personality adjustments as evaluated by the subjects' teachers on a standard instrument. The independence of the two response variables (understanding, appreciation) is noted.
Effects of Auditory Masking by White Noise on Variability of Fundamental Frequency during Highly Similar Productions of Spontaneous Speech
Authors: Loren Catherine A. , Colcord Roger D. , Rastatter Michael P.
Published: September 2011

Six adults (3 men, 3 women) produced highly similar spontaneous speech utterances during quiet and 90-dB SPL white noise. Although subjects' fundamental frequency (fo) was significantly increased when speaking in noise, their fo variability (coefficients of variation) throughout the utterance was not affected by the auditory disruption. This indicated that their ability to vary fo for linguistic stressing was preserved under short-term disturbed auditory feedback. These findings further supported the hypothesis that fo is under open-loop regulation.
Hemispheric Lateralisation for Verbal Analysis: Do Children with Reading Problems Differ from Controls?
Authors: Grogan Sarah
Published: September 2011

Specialisation for verbal-sequential analysis in ‘dyslexics’, poor readers and matched adequate readers was investigated. Groups did not differ on degree of right-ear advantage on the dichotic digits task, suggesting that the poor readers processed digits in the left hemisphere in a similar way to children who read normally. Th results cast doubt on theories that ‘dyslexia’ is related to incomplete lateralisation for verbal analysis.
Self-other Agreement in Personality Ratings by Committed and Uncommitted Work Partners
Authors: Mellor Steven
Published: September 2011

110 patrol officers in work partnerships completed ratings for self and partner. Items were personality traits most frequently used by officers to describe themselves during informal interviews. Officers committed to continuing the partnership showed higher self-other agreement than officers not committed to continuing the partnership. Results supported the hypothesis that ratings from committed others yield greater agreement than do ratings from uncommitted others.
Real and Virtual Features in Texture Perception
Authors: Taylor Steven
Published: September 2011

The texton theory of preattentive texture perception was recently adopted over a prior model based on the global computation of dipole statistics. It is shown here that the dipole model remains a necessary adjunct unless the texton theory is modified to distinguish real from virtual features of texture perception.
Construct Validity of Kolb's Learning Style Inventory, Using Factor Analysis and Guttman's Smallest Space Analysis
Authors: Katz Noomi
Published: September 2011

The Learning Style Inventory developed by David Kolb assesses learners' preferences for specific phases of a model of an experiential learning cycle. A Hebrew version of Kolb's inventory was administered to 739 undergraduate students from nine major study areas, after investigating the instrument's cross-cultural equivalence. In accordance with hypothesized underlying structure, two-factor solutions corresponding to the experiential model's two dimensions, clearly emerged in the factor analysis. While the over-all circular structure of the model is presented strongly using Guttman's SSA procedure, both findings provide construct validity for the inventory and support the generalizability to a different culture of the learning process proposed by Kolb.
Two-Pulse Temporal Integration Functions in the Fovea and Peripheral Retina
Authors: Gottlieb Michael D. , Kietzman Mitchell L.
Published: September 2011

The temporal integration of luminous energy was compared in the fovea and at 7° eccentricity using two-pulse stimuli and two methodologies The two-pulse stimuli consisted of two 1-msec. light pulses separated by intervals of darkness ranging from 1 to 400 msec; they were provided by a glow modulator tube transilluminating a 21.8' opal glass target. In Exp. 1 (equal-performance design), integration functions were generated using a forced-choice staircase procedure to estimate threshold luminance. The data for two Os showed that the critical duration (CD), and thus the period of complete integration, was briefer in the fovea than at 7°. Beyond the CD, integration continued to differ for the two retinal locations. In the fovea, two-pulse stimuli beyond CD evidenced partial integration and at the longest stimulus durations no integration or inhibition. In contrast, at 7° stimuli beyond CD appeared to evidence probability summation. In Exp. 2 (equal-energy design), integration functions were generated by measuring the detectability of two-pulse stimuli of different durations but equal in total luminous energy. A signal-detection procedure yielded measures of both response frequency and signal detectability, P(A). The data for two Os showed that for both measures CD was briefer in the fovea than at 7°. Also, in the fovea, long two-pulse stimuli appeared to show no integration or inhibition. Both experiments then showed a foveal-peripheral difference in two-pulse measures of visual temporal integration, with the fovea evidencing less integration. In addition, the forced-choice and signal-detection procedures showed that these loci differences in integration were independent of the Os' response criterion.
Reactions to Blindness: A Four-Year Follow-up Study
Authors: Fitzgerald Roy G. , Ebert John N. , Chambers Margaret
Published: September 2011

A previously studied group of newly blind adults was followed up after four years. There was only a slight increase in the acquisition of blind skills, while there was a surprising continuing pervasiveness of depression and poor health. A number of variables from the original study and from the follow-up data predicted outcome measures. Significant predictors of depression and distress were poor health, being married, being nonProtestant in this predominately Protestant London population, and lacking ability to be more independent. Higher social class and an absence of a family history of blindness predicted greater distress. Earlier acceptance of blindness, early learning of blind skills, and better preillness adjustment predicted better coping and greater use of blind skills at follow-up. The extent of the depression and poor health are discussed, and recommendations are made for caregivers.
Hemispheric Asymmetries for Complex Visual Patterns
Authors: Duda Peter D. , Adams Jeffrey O.
Published: September 2011

Three tachistoscopic studies examined the laterality of spatial-form perception in normal adults using randomly generated eight-point and 12-point patterns (Vanderplas & Garvin, 1959) as the lateralized stimuli. In the first study of recognition accuracy, 36 subjects were tested in a partial replication of Fontenot. No laterality effects were found, and over-all recognition was better for the more complex 12-point patterns. In a second similar study with 20 subjects, the lateralized stimulus was followed by a central masking pattern. A left-hemisphere superiority for recognition and better over-all recognition for more complex patterns was obtained. These data do not support Fontenot's report of right-hemisphere superiority in complex visuospatial processing. Given these diverse findings, a reaction time study using mental rotation was conducted using the same patterns to determine whether latency would reflect accuracy of recognition. Twenty-six subjects judged whether a rotated lateralized test pattern was the same or different from a central target pattern. Measures of both latency and accuracy were separately assessed. No main effect of visual field was obtained on either measure. These studies suggest that the nature of hemispheric involvement in spatial form perception is far from resolved.
Inferred Brain Hemispheric Preference and Behavior of Learning Disabled Students
Authors: Bender William N.
Published: September 2011

Correlations between teachers' ratings of behavior and a paper-and-pencil score for brain hemispheric preferences were generated for 38 learning disabled and 38 nonlearning disabled children in Grades 3 to 6, to identify previously described relationships for nonhandicapped children. Also, the children were compared on scores for brain hemispheric preference. Only one correlation between the teachers' ratings of behavior and hemispheric preference was noted for each group. Also, F tests indicated no difference in hemispheric preferences between the groups.
Multiple Memory Systems: Evidence from Stroke
Authors: Cushman Laura , Caplan Bruce
Published: September 2011

In this report, we describe the “fractionation of memory systems” in a 62-yr.-old woman following a left anterior stroke. Despite the presence of a significant, persistent declarative memory (verbal learning) deficit, this patient exhibited relatively intact procedural learning. The latter was manifested over a 4-day period by improved performance on a maze task executed under “mirror-tracing” conditions. By the final set of trials, the patient's performance approximated that of a normal control subject with respect to speed, although not errors. The selective preservation of particular learning abilities in brain-damaged patients has implications for rehabilitative interventions.
Preliminary Findings Suggesting Cyclic Changes in Visual Contrast Sensitivity during the Menstrual Cycle
Authors: Johnson Nancy , Petersik J. Timothy
Published: September 2011

Visual contrast thresholds to both stationary and moving gratings of three spatial frequencies (2, 4, and 16 cyc/deg) were measured over a 32-day period in two women displaying normal menstrual cycles and in two noncycling control subjects. The time-series data of each subject in each condition were Fourier analyzed and the resulting amplitude spectra showed differences between the two sets of subjects. The spectra of the control subjects were relatively flat, whereas those of the experimental subjects showed a number of peaks at several harmonics (periods). Conservative significance tests suggested that the peaks in the spectra of the cycling women were larger than might be expected by chance. The data also suggested that changes in sensitivity were greatest for 4-cyc/deg gratings, those nearest the peak of the normal contrast sensitivity function.
Verbal, Perceptual and Intellectual Factors Associated with Reading Achievement in Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Dorman Casey
Published: September 2011

31 adolescents with cerebral palsy were administered measures of verbal production, speech perception, nonverbal auditory perception, visuospatial perception and verbal intelligence as well as measures of reading recognition and reading comprehension. Nonverbal auditory perception and verbal intelligence were most highly correlated with both reading measures despite the fact that most subjects were most severely impaired in visuospatial perception.
Cognitive Orientation toward Positive Values in Advanced Participants of the TM and TM-Sidhi Program
Authors: Gelderloos Paul , Goddard Phil H. , Ahlstrom Henry H. B. , Jacoby Rita
Published: September 2011

The results of two studies, with 15 and 10 college students practicing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi program (ages: M = 28 yr.; M = 29 yr.), and 10 and 9 controls (ages: M = 22.9 yr.; M = 26.2 yr.), respectively, indicate that advanced participants of the TM and TM-Sidhi program may have a cognitive set oriented toward more positive values. Subjects in the TM-TM-Sidhi program exhibited a better recall of positively valued words than the control group in a long-term memory task (45 min.), and they needed fewer exposures to recognize positive than negative words at lower absolute thresholds than the controls in a tachistoscopic experiment. They appraised “significant others” more favorably than the control group on LaForge's Interpersonal Checklist, while self-appraisal was high in both groups. A third study of 11 college students, M age of 22.3 yr., yielded an inverse relationship between differential recognition thresholds for positive and negative affect terms on a tachistoscopic task and the reported experienced intensity of the corresponding affects. This suggests that enhanced perception of certain affect terms may be a function of more frequent experiences of those affects.
Use of Self-Generated and others' Cues in Immediate and Delayed Recall
Authors: Wall Harriet M. , Routowicz Ann
Published: September 2011

63 college students formed three groups. For mnemonic aids, they were instructed either to create stories to link lists of words or were given stories which were created by others. Compared to controls, there were no differences for immediate recall. Delayed recall showed that both using a story and generating it oneself produced superior performance.
Personality and Reports of Hallucination and Imagery in a Normal Population
Authors: Jakes S. , Hemsley D. R.
Published: September 2011

The present report is of the relationships between personality measures, hallucinatory experiences, and hypnogogic/hypnopompic imagery in the normal population. ‘Psychoticism’ was significantly related to reports of hallucinatory experiences, and a measure of hallucinatory predisposition was significantly associated with strong hypnogogic/hypnopompic imagery.
Effects of Running on Moods: A Time Series Study
Authors: Dyer John B. , Crouch Joyce G.
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the mood variation in runners of differing ability and commitment to running and the time at which they ran. The subjects, 32 male and 27 female undergraduates of a state university, were in one of three groups based on ability and commitment to running. A time-series design was utilized whereby each group completed four Profile of Mood State questionnaires over a 6-hr. period that centered on the time of day at which subjects ran. All subjects completed a 12-item Commitment to Running scale. Both groups of runners had significantly more positive POMS mood profiles than nonrunners. Mood changes over time suggest that the activity of running may improve one's mood and that moderate levels of running result in positive mood profiles comparable to those of advanced runners.
Corticosterone Response Underlying Tolerance to Stress Induced by a Gaseous (Nitrous Oxide) Environment
Authors: Fischer Gloria J. , Gilman Sara C. , Blank Cheryl
Published: September 2011

Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) was demonstrated in tats following a single pairing between ingestion of a novel saccharin solution (CS) and 60 min. inhalation of an 80% N2O2:20% N2O gas mixture (UCS). CTA from a single novel CS-N2O UCS pairing was achieved by methodological improvements including: an inhalation chamber for small animals that achieved complete gas diffusion, an increased UCS duration (60 min. of inhalation) and a decreased CS-UCS interval (1 min.). The increased N2O UCS inhalation probably contributed to CTA, since no duration less than 60 min. of N2O inhalation produced significantly greater plasma corticosterone elevation than 60 min. of Na:O2 inhalation. The hypothesis that CTA is stress-induced was supported, in that plasma corticosterone levels were elevated by N2O inhalation and adrenal catecholamines (CA) were depleted. Further, after 4 N2O pretreatments, which produced partial behavioral tolerance to N2O treatment, plasma corticosterone elevation abated somewhat. However, corticosterone level also was raised by N2:O2 treatment. As a result, abatement of corticosterone elevation cannot account for behavioral tolerance to N2O-induced CTA, though it may be a contributor. Since adrenal CA were depleted by N2O inhalation, this response also might abate and underlie or contribute to behavioral tolerance.
Relationship of Specific and Nonspecific Variables to Successful Basketball Performance among High School Players
Authors: Brooks Mark A. , Boleach Larry W. , Mayhew J. L.
Published: September 2011

To determine the predictive potential of selected cognitive and psychomotor variables to estimate basketball performance, 50 male high school players from 3 schools in the same conference were evaluated. One team won the Iowa state championship; the second team had a 12 and 10 record while the third team had a 4 and 16 record. The 3 coaches rated each player's ability from 1 to 10. Multiple regression analysis to predict coaches' rating of ability from vertical jump, hand reaction time, weight, and playing experience gave an R of .76. However, discriminant analysis to classify players on the 3 teams indicated as important knowledge about basketball, dribbling, shooting accuracy, and height. The canonical correlation for the 4 variables and team membership was .64. Using the 4 variables, 60% of the players could be correctly classified to their teams.
Sensitivity to Nonverbal Communication among Male Learning Disabled Adolescents
Authors: Creasey Gary L. , Jarvis Patricia A.
Published: September 2011

9 white male learning disabled adolescents were administered the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity to assess their sensitivity to nonverbal communication. Analysis indicated these adolescents were poorer at decoding nonverbal cues than the nondisabled standardization sample. They also had difficulties in interpreting nonverbal messages, regardless of the mode in which they were presented. The relationship of learning disabled adolescents' sensitivity to nonverbal communication and social skills should be studied.
Effects of Mode of Presentation on Comprehension of below Average, Average and above Average Readers
Authors: Ganschow Leonore , Weber Donald B.
Published: September 2011

300 subjects in Grades 4, 5, and 6 were randomly blocked into three conditions (reading only, listening only, or reading and listening) according to reading level (above average, average, and below average). The subjects were presented a 1500-word social studies passage and required to answer 25 multiple-choice questions concerning that passage. A 3 (grade) by 3 (reading level) by 3 (exposure condition) analysis of variance showed better performance by above average readers, poorest by those below average. Reading and listening and reading only gave higher scores.
Visual Hemispheric Asymmetry and Right-Left Confusion
Authors: Manga Dionisio , Ballesteros Soledad
Published: September 2011

From 357 university students two groups of 8 women each were selected, one group with high right-left confusion and the other without such confusion according to self-reports. Reaction times to stimuli tachistoscopically presented in visual hemifields were recorded to estimate the relationship between perceptual asymmetry and right-left confusion. A significant difference between hemifields and an interaction of hemifield by group appeared, whereas asymmetry in the highly confused group was not so related. According to a model of cerebral functioning in the formation of the body image, these results suggest subjects with high right-left confusion have greater hemispheric bilateralization.
The Horizontal-Vertical Illusion: Independence of Line Bisection and a Comparison Line
Authors: McBride Sharon A. , Risser Judith M. , Slotnick Burton M.
Published: September 2011

Undergraduate students in social science and architecture did not differ in their accuracy of adjusting the vertical lines of L and inverted-T figures to be equal to a 1-in. horizontal line (the adjustment task) or in producing a 1-in. long line in the vertical or horizontal plane on a blank sheet of paper (the production task). In the adjustment task vertical lines were made significantly shorter than the horizontal comparison line and the shortening of the vertical line was significantly greater for the inverted-T than for the L-figure. In the production task lines drawn in the horizontal plane did not differ significantly from 1 inch but those drawn in the vertical plane were significantly shorter than 1 inch. Further, the magnitude of this error was equal to that obtained with the inverted-T figure. These results demonstrate that, while line bisection (the bisection of the horizontal by the vertical in the inverted-T figure) contributes to the horizontal-vertical illusion, the illusion clearly exists in the absence of a comparison line and can be accounted for as an overestimation of the vertical line.
Comparison of Semantic Differential Scale Sets for Describing Infants' Cries
Authors: Brennan Mike , Kirkland John
Published: September 2011

The present study examined the relationships between the scale sets reported by Brennan and Kirkland in 1983, Mehrabian and Russell in 1974, and Zeskind and Lester in 1978. A combined factor analysis of listeners' ratings on 10 short cry sounds confirmed the factor structures reported earlier. The eight Zeskind and Lester scale items as well as the Mehrabian and Russell pleasure/displeasure factor-scale items loaded on a single factor, named Affect, which is a subset of the Brennan and Kirkland scale set. The results suggest listeners' feelings of arousal cannot be accounted for solely in terms of the unpleasant/arousing qualities of cry sounds or attributed to either the potency or the perceived importance of the cries.
Skill Level and Efficacy of Effector Visual Feedback in Ball Catching
Authors: Diggles Virginia A. , Grabiner Mark D. , Garhammer John
Published: September 2011

The importance of visual feedback of the catching arm in a one-handed catching task and the interaction of that feedback with skill level was investigated. 10 male and 10 female subjects were separated into skilled or unskilled groups based on previous experience. Seated subjects attempted to catch 20 balls projected from a ball-projection machine aimed near the right shoulder. During half of these trials, the subject's vision of the catching arm was prevented by a screen which still permitted viewing of the critical portion of the ball's trajectory. All trials were recorded on video to identify the catching errors as errors of position or grasping. Skilled subjects made fewer errors than unskilled subjects. Occluding vision of the catching arm resulted in more errors, specifically more position errors. This finding was true for both skilled and unskilled subjects, indicating that both groups process information, visual and proprioceptive, in a qualitatively similar fashion in this task.
Direct Evaluation of Distances within the Alphabet
Authors: Masin S. C. , Mazzoni G. , Vallortigara G.
Published: September 2011

Alphabetical and numerical ratings produce discrepant psychophysical functions. The hypothesis that the discrepancy could be due to a difference in spacing of consecutive letters as compared with the corresponding consecutive numbers, was tested by asking observers direct numerical evaluations of distances between the ends of different subsets of the alphabet. The distances were correctly evaluated if the subsets contained the A. If the subsets contained the Z, the size of the subsets near the Z was very slightly overestimated, while the same size near the A was underestimated by about 1 letter. Subsets inside the alphabet with nine or more letters were underestimated by 1 or 2 letters. Five-letter subsets inside the alphabet were estimated correctly when they were near the ends of the alphabet, and were overestimated by 1 or 2 letters when they were in the middle of the alphabet. The results obtained with the sets containing the A support the idea that the distances between consecutive representational letters and corresponding representational numbers ate the same. A similar result was found by Masin, et al., by asking observers to report partitions of the alphabet. An explanation of the discrepancy between alphabetical and numerical ratings in terms of a difference in subjective distances seems implausible.
Headaches, Performance in High School, and Handedness
Authors: Kilty T. , Charney N. , Leviton A.
Published: September 2011

Students who had headaches or who had missed high school because of headaches were no more likely than their peers to have low scores on the Gates-MacGinitie tests of Vocabulary and Comprehension. This does not support the hypothesis that children with severe headaches are more likely than their peers to have trouble with school work. Students who identified themselves as ambidextrous were at approximately 50% greater risk than right-handers and left-handers of experiencing headaches. This can be viewed as providing some support for the Geschwind-Behan hypotheses that migraine and handedness are not independent phenomena.
Geophysical Variables and Behavior: XLIV. Days of Subjective Precognitive Experiences and the Days before the Actual Events Display Correlated Geomagnetic Activity
Authors: Lewicki Douglas R. , Schaut George H. , Persinger Michael A.
Published: September 2011

Precognitive experiences concerning consequent events have been hypothesized to be alterations in temporal perception. All such experiences ( n = 156) that contained the days, months and years for the experience and the event were included from a published data base. Only 40 cases met the methodological criterion of having a temporal discrepancy between the experience and the event of equal to or more than 4 days. For two subsamples (discrepancies of 4–14 days and 15 to 2,000 days), both parametric and non-parametric analyses showed intermediate strength (0.50) correlations between the global geomagnetic activity on the day of the experience and the activity that would occur during the two days before the actual event.
Reaction Times, Using Fine and Gross Motor Movements of Moderately and Severely Mentally Handicapped Adults to Auditory and Visual Stimuli
Authors: Kelly Robert L. , Barton Joel R. , Abernathy Lida
Published: September 2011

This experiment investigated the reaction times, when using fine and gross motor movements, of 24 moderately and severely mentally handicapped adults to light and sound stimuli. Unlike results of prior studies of normal and mildly mentally handicapped subjects, there were no significant differences among variables.
Manet Happy Returns, Chevreul, or the Paradigm Change to Perceptual Art
Authors: Keehn Nancy Luxmore
Published: September 2011

The year 1986 marked the bicentenary of the birth of Michel Eugene Chevreul. By coincidence the Courtauld Institute Gallery in London mounted an exhibition showing the construction of works by Edouard Manet. The present article shows parallels between the works of Manet and the ideas of Chevreul. No implication of any direct influence is intended.
Psychometric Characteristics and Dimensionality of a Persian Version of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
Authors: Shapurian Reza , Hojat Mohammadreza , Nayerahmadi Habib
Published: September 2011

The Rosenberg Self-esteem scale was translated into Persian and 12 Iranian bilingual judges confirmed the soundness of translation. The psychometric properties of the Persian version of Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale were studied in two samples of Iranian college students separately. Sample I consisted of 232 Iranian students in American universities, and Sample II comprised 305 Iranian students in Iranian universities. Criterion measures of loneliness, depression, anxiety, neuroticism, psychoticism, misanthropy, locus of control, tendency to dissimulate, and measures of relationship with parents, peers, and academic achievement were obtained. Item-total score correlations and alpha reliabilities supported the internal consistency of the scale. Test-retest reliabilities indicated the stability of the scores, and correlations between scores of the scale, and criterion measures supported the concurrent validity of the Rosenberg scale. Factor analysis of the Rosenberg scores confirmed the unidimensionality of the scale.
Effect of “Aerobics” on Self-Concepts of College Women
Authors: Plummer Olena K. , Koh Young O.
Published: September 2011

The purpose of the 10-wk. study was to assess the effect of “aerobics” on self-concepts of college women. 116 college women enrolled in aerobics classes and 177 in 7 nonphysical education classes were given the Tennessee Self-concept Scale in a pretest-posttest design. Using analysis of covariance, with the pretest score as a covariant, significant differences were noted in mean self-concepts between the control group and the aerobics group. The aerobics group scored higher on 7 of the 9 subscales and on the total positive or global self-concept score. No significant difference in mean scores was found for the self-criticism and moral-ethical subscales.
The Eating Attitudes Test: Development of an Adapted Language Form for Children
Authors: Vacc Nicholas A. , Rhyne Martha
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the comparability of scores generated by two forms of the Eating Attitudes Test, the original form for adults and an adapted language form for children. Analysis of data indicated that the adapted language from of the test can be used effectively.
Aerodynamic Control in Apraxia at Three Intraoral Pressure Levels
Authors: Marquardt Thomas P. , Nichols Joseph
Published: September 2011

Five neurologically normal and five apractic subjects were required to develop and maintain target intraoral pressure levels during 5-sec. trials. The apractic subjects showed increased latencies in gaining the target and reduced maintenance time and increased variability in attempts to stay at target. Results suggest that physiologically based assessment tasks provide sensitive indices of the degree of oral apraxia in patients with left-hemisphere brain damage.
Neuropsychometric Correlates of the Mini-Mental State Examination: Preliminary Data
Authors: Horton Arthur MacNeill , Slone Donald G. , Shapiro Solomon
Published: September 2011

The present study investigated the neuropsychometric correlates of the Mini-Mental State Examination. 12 consecutive neurological referrals were administered the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Wechsler Memory Scale, and the WAIS—R. Pearson product-moment correlations suggest moderate association between scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination and Wechsler Memory Scale but less robust relationships between scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination and WAIS—R Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance IQs.
Psychophysical Methods and Life-Span Changes in Visual Illusions
Authors: Pressey Alexander W.
Published: September 2011

Research designed to establish the relationship between chronological age and visual distortion has produced reliable but contradictory findings. It is proposed that the contradictions cannot be resolved by better experimental techniques; that laws do not exist in nature independently of the observer, and that psychological scientists must include the observer and the measuring device as integral components of their enterprise.
Recognition Memory for Faces with and without Spectacles
Authors: Mc Kelvie Stuart J.
Published: September 2011

23 students were tested for memory on 40 faces, half of which were bespectacled. 20 phtographs were shown for 1 sec., then mixed with the 20 others for testing. Recognition was poorer for faces with than without glasses, and women generally performed relatively better on females' faces.
Comparison of Barron-Welsh Art Scores of Artists and Nonartists and between Dancers of Two Training Styles
Authors: Predock-Linnell Jennifer
Published: September 2011

The Barron-Welsh Revised Art Scale was administered to 144 female and 68 male university undergraduates in art, music, dance, and general studies to test whether experience and training in the arts would be associated with choices consistent with openness to perceptual experience. It was hypothesized that training in modern and jazz dance, which is stylistically less classical and formal, would be associated with greater sensitivity to experience than would training in ballet and flamenco, more formalized dance styles. No differences between art students and nonart students or among dancers with various training experiences were observed.
Application of Multidimensional Rating Techniques to Crt-Generated Display Formats
Authors: Gertman David I. , Blackman Harold S.
Published: September 2011

This report contains results from a study conducted at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory where 18 certified plant operators rated each of three safety parameter display formats against a 155-item MDRS representing six cognitive dimensions. Each of the displays contained information regarding the status of nine distinct plant parameters which fluctuated as a function of plant conditions. The displays were integral with a plant simulator, and operators observed the displays perform dynamically. Preliminary findings suggest that, while all dimensions were internally consistent as measured by Cronbach's alpha, that only two, content integration and cognitive processing, discriminated among formats.
The Type I/Type II Perceptual Dichotomy: A Reanalysis for the Illusions of Extent
Authors: Jaeger Ted
Published: September 2011

The categorization of geometrical illusions of extent as Type I or Type II phenomena based on variation in magnitude with age is critically examined. Methodological shortcomings and the failure of contemporary findings to show matching age trends for components of a single illusion are presented as factors undermining the usefulness of this perceptual dichotomy. Finally, it is shown that a new Type I/Type II dichotomy based on changes in perceived size rather than amount of illusion indicates a developmental commonality among most of the illusions of extent.
Perceived Consequences of Drinking Caffeinated Beverages
Authors: Page Randy M.
Published: September 2011

A survey of 238 college students indicated that those who prefer to drink caffeine containing drinks maintain different perceptions about the negative and positive consequences of drinking caffeinated drinks from those who do not prefer to drink caffeinated drinks. 154 of the students reported that the last soft drink they consumed was caffeinated.
Behavioral Effects of Microwave Reinforcement Schedules and Variations in Microwave Intensity on Albino Rats
Authors: Vitulli William F. , Lambert J. Ken , Brown Stella W. , Quinn Joseph M.
Published: September 2011

The objective of this exploratory investigation was to determine the interactive effects of fixed-ratio scheduling of microwave reinforcement in tandem with changes in microwave intensity. Nine albino rats were conditioned to regulate their thermal environment with microwave radiation while living in a Skinner (operant conditioning) Box in which the ambient temperature was about 27.13°F at the beginning of the session. Each rat obtained a 6-sec. exposure of microwave radiation on a fixed-ratio schedule of MW reinforcement, the values of which varied from FR-1 to FR-30. Intensities of MW radiation were 62.5 W, 125 W, 250 W, and 437.5 W. Sessions lasted for 8 to 9 hr. over an approximate 13-mo. period. The effects of the intensity of microwave reinforcement varied as a function of the ratio value of the schedule used. Continuous reinforcement (FR-1) produced the lowest over-all rates, whereas FR-15, and FR-25 produced the highest over-all rates. Relatively higher thermal-behavior rates occurred under 62.5 W than under any of the other MW intensities for FR-1, FR-15, and FR-25, whereas FR-10 and FR-30 ratios produced intermediate rates of thermal responding which were constant for all values of MW intensity. These data are explained in terms of interactive effects between the “local” satiation or deprivation properties of the MW intensity and the ratio requirements of the schedule of MW reinforcement.
Effect of Monocular Occlusion on Rotary Pursuit Performance
Authors: Bross Michael , Milton Jennifer
Published: September 2011

An experiment was conducted comparing a monocularly occluded to a control group ( n = 8 per group) on a rotary pursuit task over a 24-hr. period. The results show that, notwithstanding a practice effect, the monocular group exhibited a significant depression-enhancement effect previously reported only for measures of temporal visual acuity. Evidently this effect generalizes to more complex tasks.
Effects of Eye Color on Set Shots in Basketball Pig Contests
Authors: Beer John , Fleming Paula
Published: September 2011

Light-eyed individuals generally perform better at self-paced activities while dark-eyed individuals perform better at reactive activities. Multiple regression indicated the 27 dark-eyed students in Grades 5 and 6 won more of 20 PIG set-shot basketball contests than did 50 light-eyed students.
The Self-Deception of the Self-Destructive
Authors: Lee Dorothy E.
Published: September 2011

317 college students as respondents were measured for suicide proneness and self-destructive behaviors and were also asked questions about self-attitudes, value for life, beliefs about suicide and self-destruction, religiosity and dogmatism. Those who score high on suicide proneness and self-destructiveness do not tend to be the same people, and they differ from one another. Correlations and factor analyses suggest the Suicide Prone are aware of their tendencies and are influenced by their value for life and beliefs about suicide and self-destruction. The Self-destructive are tied to negative self-evaluations, are less aware of their self-destructive tendencies, and score significantly higher than the Suicide Prone on dogmatism. Belief structure of the highly dogmatic person may allow those who are self-destructive to deny negative self-attitudes and to be unaware of self-destructive behaviors which are inconsistent with their beliefs.