bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prodromes, coping strategies and course of illness in bipolar affective disorder – a naturalistic study
Authors: LAM D. , WONG G. , SHAM P.
Published: October 2003

Background. Psychosocial interventions for bipolar patients often include teaching patients to recognize prodromal symptoms and tackle them early. This prospective study set out to investigate which bipolar prodromal symptoms were reported frequently and reliably over a period of 18 months. Furthermore, we have also investigated which types of coping strategies were related to good outcome.

Method. Forty bipolar patients were interviewed for their bipolar prodromal symptoms and their coping strategies at recruitment and 18 months later. Patients were also assessed as to whether they had experienced relapses.

Results. Bipolar patients were able to report bipolar prodromal symptoms reliably. Mania prodromal symptoms tended to be behavioural symptoms. A quarter of patients reported difficulties in detecting depression prodromes, which tended to be more diverse and consisted of a mix of behavioural, cognitive and somatic symptoms. Significantly fewer patients who reported the use of behavioural coping strategies to curb excessive behaviour during the mania prodromal stage experienced a manic episode. Similarly, significantly fewer patients who reported the use of behavioural coping strategies experienced depression relapses. How well patients coped with mania prodromes predicted bipolar episodes significantly when the mood levels at baseline were controlled. Ratings of how well subjects coped with mania prodromal symptoms also predicted manic symptoms significantly at T2 when manic symptom at T1 was controlled.

Conclusion. Our study suggests that bipolar patients are able to report prodromal symptoms reliably. It is advisable to teach patients to monitor their moods systematically and to promote good coping strategies.
Sex differences in genetic and environmental risk factors for irrational fears and phobias
Authors: KENDLER K. S. , JACOBSON K. C. , MYERS J. , PRESCOTT C. A.
Published: October 2003

Background. For irrational fears and their associated phobias, epidemiological studies suggest sex differences in prevalence and twin studies report significant genetic effects. How does sex impact on the familial transmission of liability to fears and phobias?

Methods. In personal interviews with over 3000 complete pairs (of whom 1058 were opposite-sex dizygotic pairs), ascertained from a population-based registry, we assessed the lifetime prevalence of five phobias and their associated irrational fears analysed using a multiple threshold model. Twin resemblance was assessed by polychoric correlations and biometrical model-fitting incorporating sex-specific effects.

Results. For agoraphobia, situational and blood/injury fear/phobia, the best fit model suggested equal heritability in males and females and genetic correlations between the sexes of less than +0·50. For animal fear/phobias by contrast, the best fit model suggested equal heritability in males and females and a genetic correlation of unity. No evidence was found for an impact of family environment on liability to these fears or phobias. For social phobias, twin resemblance in males was explained by genetic factors and in females by familial–environmental factors.

Conclusion. The impact of sex on genetic risk may differ meaningfully across phobia subtypes. Sex-specific genetic risk factors may exist for agoraphobia, social, situational and blood-injury phobias but not for animal fear/phobia. These results should be interpreted in the context of the limited power of twin studies, even with large sample sizes, to resolve sex-specific genetic effects.
Early detection of isolated memory deficits in the elderly: the need for more sensitive neuropsychological tests
Authors: DE JAGER C. A. , MILWAIN E. , BUDGE M.
Published: October 2003

Background. Early detection of cognitive decline in the elderly is important because this may precede progression to Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to see whether sensitive neuropsychological tests could identify pre-clinical cognitive deficits and to characterize the cognitive profile of a subgroup with poor memory.

Methods. A neuropsychological test battery was administered to a community-dwelling sample of 155 elderly volunteers who were screened with CAMCOG at enrolment (mean age 74·7 years). The battery included tests of episodic memory, semantic and working memory, language and processing speed.

Results. Episodic memory test z scores below 1 S.D. from the cohort mean identified 25 subjects with ‘non-robust’ memory performance. This group was compared to the remaining ‘robust memory’ group with a General Linear Model controlling for age, IQ, education and gender. Test performance was significantly different in all tests for episodic and semantic memory, but not in tests for working memory, processing speed and language. CANTAB paired associates learning and spatial recognition tests identified the highest percentages of those in the ‘non-robust memory’ group. Processing speed partialled out the age effect on memory performance for the whole cohort, but the ‘non-robust memory’ group's performance was not associated with age or processing speed.

Conclusions. Sensitive neuropsychological tests can detect performance below the norm in elderly people whose performance on MMSE and CAMCOG tests is well within the normal range. Age-related decline in memory performance in a cohort of the elderly may be largely due to inclusion within the cohort of individuals with undetected pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease or isolated memory impairment.
Elasticity and confabulation in schizophrenic delusions
Authors: SIMPSON JANE , DONE D. JOHN
Published: October 2003

Background. This experiment examines two aspects of delusional cognition that have been reported clinically but not investigated empirically. These are the incorporation of potentially conflicting information into the recall of delusion-related scripts and the type and amount of material produced additional to that presented for recall, referred to here as confabulation.

Methods. Three groups of patients – deluded schizophrenics, non-deluded schizophrenics and matched non-psychiatric controls – were asked to recall two 15-item scripts, which comprised 10 typical and five atypical components. It was hypothesized that deluded subjects whose delusion was relevant to one of the scripts would recall more of the atypical components of the script and would also be less likely to make script-atypical confabulations in the recall of this particular script.

Results. Recall was assessed for the amount and type of content remembered and the amount and type of confabulation. The results did not support the hypothesis that atypical items would be incorporated into the recall of delusion-relevant material. However, deluded subjects did retain their schema boundaries in the recall of script items relevant to their own delusion but were less able to adhere to a script framework in the recall of material unrelated to their delusion.

Conclusions. These results are discussed within a schema specific account of delusions, which conceptualizes the delusion as an overused schema whose preferential use leads to a failure to develop other scripts but whose own contents remain well-defined.
Neuroticism, major depression and gender: a population-based twin study
Authors: FANOUS A. , GARDNER C. O. , PRESCOTT C. A. , CANCRO R. , KENDLER K. S.
Published: October 2003

Background. A portion of the genetic risk factors for the personality trait neuroticism (N) may also increase risk for major depression (MD). Females have both higher levels of N and higher rates of MD than males, suggesting that these traits may be more genetically correlated in females.

Methods. Structured interviews, including a lifetime assessment for MD by DSM-III-R criteria, were administered to 863 male–male MZ (monozygotic), 649 male–male DZ (dizygotic), 506 female–female MZ, 345 female–female DZ, and 1408 opposite-sex twin pairs. N was assessed using the short-form of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. A sex-limited Cholesky model was fitted which allowed us to decompose into additive genetic, common environmental, and individual-specific environmental components two main classes of correlations: within-sex between-variable and between-sex within-variable.

Results. Our best-fitting model contained only additive genetic and individual-specific environmental factors for both N and MD. The within-sex genetic correlations between N and MD were estimated at +0·68 in men and +0·49 in women. This model fitted only slightly better than one in which the N–MD within-sex genetic correlation was constrained to be equal across the sexes, and estimated at +0·55. There may be sex-specific genes influencing both N and MD.

Conclusion. Our best-fitting model failed to establish a significant sex difference in the genetic correlation between N and MD. These results, as well as evidence for sex-specific genetic factors for both traits, have implications for the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of the affective disorders, and molecular genetic approaches to the study of these traits.
Implicit memory for words presented in short texts is preserved in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: CAMUS J.-F. , NICOLAS S. , WENISCH E. , MORRONE I. , BLANCHARD F. , BAKCHINE S.
Published: October 2003

Background. The level of efficiency of implicit memory in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear as previous studies using stem completion tasks have led to contradictory results.

Method. The present study used target words embedded in significant short texts that subjects were required to read aloud (i.e. to enhance semantic processing). Texts were presented in two perceptual situations: ‘simple’ (blank spaces delimitating words) and ‘complex’ (spaces were filled by ‘8’s). In the completion phase, patients had to write the first word that came to mind in order to complete a three-letter stem. The recognition phase explored explicit memory performance. The performance of 24 Alzheimer patients was compared to a matched sample of healthy controls.

Results. Reading times differed between groups and were shorter for healthy controls. Recognition was dramatically lower in patients, thus confirming the alteration of explicit memory in this pathology. However, a significant priming effect (e.g. the tendency to complete the stem with the aid of a previously explored word) was present in both groups and did not differ between patients and healthy controls.

Conclusions. The absence of a correlation between priming and recognition scores suggests that this result cannot be explained by an explicit memory bias. Moreover, as the priming level was identical whatever the perceptual aspect of the text, we suggest that the priming effect is not only mediated by perceptual processes but also by lexical and conceptual processes, which to some extent are preserved during the light and moderate stages of this disease.
Remission and recurrence of depression in the maintenance era: long-term outcome in a Cambridge cohort
Authors: KENNEDY N. , ABBOTT R. , PAYKEL E. S.
Published: October 2003

Background. Long-term studies of severe depression have described high rates of non-recovery, recurrence, chronic incapacity and mortality. A more recent cohort was followed-up to ascertain whether the course had improved given developments in pharmacological and psychological treatments in the last 15 years.

Method. Subjects from a cohort of 70 mainly severe recurrent depressives originally recruited to a shorter follow-up study from 1990–1992 were followed-up after 8–11 years. Data included longitudinal information on course of depression and other psychiatric disorders, pharmacological and psychological treatment and social functioning during follow-up.

Results. Sixty-nine (99%) subjects were successfully followed-up, with 61 of 66 living subjects interviewed and detailed follow-up data obtained in total on 65. Sixty (92%) of 65 subjects recovered during follow-up, with two-thirds subsequently suffering a recurrence. Eleven (17%) suffered from an episode of chronic depression of at least 2 years duration during follow-up. Social function at follow-up was good and there were high levels of pharmacological and psychological treatment. Greater severity of illness was the most consistent predictor of poor outcome. Times to recovery and recurrence and recovery and recurrence rates were very similar to older studies.

Conclusions. The long-term outcome of depression still shows high recurrence rates and does not appear to have changed in the last 20 years.
Behavioural factors associated with symptom outcomes in a primary care-based depression prevention intervention trial
Authors: LUDMAN E. , KATON W. , BUSH T. , RUTTER C. , LIN E. , SIMON G. , VON KORFF M. , WALKER E.
Published: October 2003

Background. A randomized trial of a primary care-based intervention to prevent depression relapse resulted in improved adherence to long-term antidepressant medication and depression outcomes. We evaluated the effects of this intervention on behavioural processes and identified process predictors of improved depressive symptoms.

Method. Patients at high risk for depression recurrence or relapse following successful acute phase treatment (N=386) were randomly assigned to receive a low intensity 12-month intervention or continued usual care. The intervention combined education about depression, shared decision-making regarding use of maintenance pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioural strategies to promote self-management. Baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12-month interviews assessed patients' self-care practices, self-efficacy for managing depression and depressive symptoms.

Results. Intervention patients had significantly greater self-efficacy for managing depression (P<0·01) and were more likely to keep track of depressive symptoms (P<0·0001), monitor early warning signs (P<0·0001), and plan for coping with high risk situations (P<0·0001) at all time points compared to usual care control patients. Self-efficacy for managing depression (P<0·0001), keeping track of depressive symptoms (P=0·05), monitoring for early warning signs (P=0·01), engaging in pleasant activities (P<0·0001) and engaging in social activities (P<0·0001) positively predicted improvements in depression symptom scores.

Conclusions. A brief intervention designed to target cognitive-behavioural factors and promote adherence to pharmacotherapy in order to prevent depression relapse was highly successful in changing several behaviours related to controlling depression. Improvements in self-efficacy and several self-management behaviours that were targets of the intervention were significantly related to improvements in depression outcome.
Infimus gradus libertatis? Descartes on indifference and divine freedom
Authors: KAUFMAN DAN
Published: October 2003

Descartes held the doctrine that the eternal truths are freely created by God. He seems to have thought that a proper understanding of God's freedom entails such a doctrine concerning the eternal truths. In this paper, I examine Descartes' account of divine freedom. I argue that Descartes' statements about indifference, namely that indifference is the lowest grade of freedom and that indifference is the essence of God's freedom are not incompatible. I also show how Descartes arrived at his doctrine of the creation of the eternal truths by consideration of the nature of God's freedom.
Rejoinder to William Lane Craig
Authors: MYERS DAVID B.
Published: October 2003

While I may have misunderstood certain points in Craig's Molinist theodicy, a careful reading of my article will show that Craig is incorrect in his claim that I have failed to evaluate his proposal on the basis of its asserted standard: plausibility. The heart of my argument is that Craig's theodicy is implausible because it fails to provide a credible explanation of the culpability of all non-believers. In this rejoinder I try to show (1) why an evidentialist exoneration of reflective disbelievers (in Christ) also applies, contra Craig, to the unevangelized; and (2) that an evidentialist account of reflective disbelief is more plausible than Craig's sinful-resistance account.
Boston, Symphony Hall: Harbison's ‘Requiem’ and Carter's ‘Boston Concerto’
Authors: Lister Rodney
Published: October 2003

Any Bostonian who cared about newer music, particularly newer American music, had long been resigned to the unhappy knowledge that nothing of any particular interest was ever likely to be going on at Symphony Hall. It was a shock, therefore, when it became apparent this fall that there were quite a few things happening in the current season of the Boston Symphony which one would very much want to hear. This new and happy state of things can almost certainly be directly attributed to the Music Director Designate, James Levine. Levine's commitment to newer American music was made manifest by the one program that he conducted this season, which included, along with the Brahms First Symphony, Roger Sessions's Piano Concerto and John Harbison's Third Symphony. Works have been commissioned to celebrate Levine's first season as Music Director, 2004–2005, from Milton Babbitt, Yehudi Wyner, and Harbison, among others. This re-connexion of the orchestra to one of the proudest features of its history under Serge Koussevitzky is cause for celebration. This spring's concerts by the Boston Symphony have included two new works of more than passing interest.
Two wall mosaic inscriptions from the Umayyad market place in Bet Shean/Baysān
Authors: KHAMIS ELIAS
Published: October 2003

This article reports the discovery by the Hebrew University Expedition to Bet Shean of two unique wall mosaics with Arabic inscriptions under the ruins of the entrance gate to the Umayyad market in the south-eastern part of the excavated city centre. This gate consisted of two stone piers; on the front of each of these was a rectangular decorated stone frame and a mosaic inscription in square Kufic script executed in gilded tesserae on a deep blue background. The first inscription contains four lines of prayer, including the Basmallah and the testimony of al-Shahāda. The lower part of the inscription was not found and it is suggested that the three missing lines contained the quranic verse (IX, 33), most frequently quoted in the Umayyad period. The second inscription consists of seven lines, again starting with the Basmallah formula, and followed by the order given by the Caliph Hishām b. ‘Abd al-Malik (reigned 105–125 A.H./724–743 C.E.) to the governor of jund al-Urdunn Ishāq b. Qabisa to erect this building. The market structure is believed to have been completed in the year 120 A.H./738 C.E. It collapsed eleven years later in the earthquake of 749.
Wu Zhen's poetic inscriptions on paintings
Authors: WANG TZI-CHENG
Published: October 2003

Research to date on the Yuan Dynasty painter Wu Zhen (1280–1354) has concentrated on his paintings, but his poetic inscriptions on paintings have been relatively neglected, even though they are of a high standard. This article seeks to redress the balance by focusing on Wu Zhen's poetic inscriptions on paintings by his own hand and those of past masters, and argues that inscriptions and colophons are an essential key to understanding Chinese literati art. It examines the literary functions of Wu Zhen's poetic inscriptions, and includes an exploration of the depiction of objects, the narrative, discursive and symbolic aspects, the lyrical qualities, and the expansion of time, space and vision of the paintings, as well as the relationship between the two media, in order to appreciate their wholeness.
A review of mentation in REM and NREM sleep: “Covert” REM sleep as a possible reconciliation of two opposing models
Authors: Nielsen Tore A.
Published: October 2003

Numerous studies have replicated the finding of mentation in both rapid eye movement (REM) and nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. However, two different theoretical models have been proposed to account for this finding: (1) a one-generator model, in which mentation is generated by a single set of processes regardless of physiological differences between REM and NREM sleep; and (2) a two-generator model, in which qualitatively different generators produce cognitive activity in the two states. First, research is reviewed demonstrating conclusively that mentation can occur in NREM sleep; global estimates show an average mentation recall rate of about 50% from NREM sleep – a value that has increased substantially over the years. Second, nine different types of research on REM and NREM cognitive activity are examined for evidence supporting or refuting the two models. The evidence largely, but not completely, favors the two-generator model. Finally, in a preliminary attempt to reconcile the two models, an alternative model is proposed that assumes the existence of covert REM sleep processes during NREM sleep. Such covert activity may be responsible for much of the dreamlike cognitive activity occurring in NREM sleep.
Internally-generated activity, non-episodic memory, and emotional salience in sleep
Authors: Bednar James A.
Published: October 2003

(1) Substituting (as Solms does) forebrain for brainstem in the search for a dream “controller” is counterproductive, since a distributed system need have no single controller. (2) Evidence against episodic memory consolidation does not show that REM sleep has no role in other types of memory, contra Vertes & Eastman. (3) A generalization of Revonsuo's “threat simulation” model in reverse is more plausible and is empirically testable.

[Hobson et al.; Solms; Revonsuo; Vertes & Eastman]
The case against memory consolidation in REM sleep: Balderdash!
Authors: Fishbein William
Published: October 2003

Unfortunately, some researchers think a good scientific theory is one that has been repeatedly confirmed, and a bad theory is one that has not received consistent confirmation. However, confirmation of a theory depends on the extent to which a hypothesis exposes itself to disconfirmation. One confirmation of a highly specific, falsifiable experiment can have a far greater impact than the disconfirmation of twenty experiments that are virtually unfalsifiable. This commentary (1) counteracts misleading biases regarding the REM sleep/memory consolidation theory, and (2) demonstrates how chaotic cerebral activation during sleep is an essential component of long-term memory storage processes.

[Vertes & Eastman]
hreat simulation, dreams, and domain-specificity
Authors: Shackelford Todd K. , Weekes-Shackelford Viviana A.
Published: October 2003

According to Revonsuo, dreams are the output of a evolved “threat simulation mechanism.” The author marshals a diverse and comprehensive array of empirical and theoretical support for this hypothesis. We propose that the hypothesized threat simulation mechanism might be more domain-specific in design than the author implies. To illustrate, we discuss the possible sex-differentiated design of the hypothesized threat simulation mechanism.

[Revonsuo]
Evolutionary psychology can ill afford adaptionist and mentalist credulity
Authors: Thompson Nicholas S.
Published: October 2003

The idea that dreams function as fright-simulations rests on the adaptionist notion that anything that has form has function, and psychological argument relies on the mentalist assumption that dream reports are accurate reports of experienced events. Neither assumption seems adequately supported by the evidence presented.

[Revonsuo]
The roles played by external input and synaptic modulations in the dynamics of neuronal systems
Authors: Banerjee Arunava
Published: October 2003

The framework within which Tsuda proposes his solution for transitory dynamics between attractor states is flawed from a neurological perspective. We present a more genuine framework and discuss the roles that external input and synaptic modulations play in the evolution of the dynamics of neuronal systems. Chaotic itinerancy, it is argued, is not necessary for transitory dynamics.
Is category specificity in the world or in the mind?
Authors: Barrett H. Clark
Published: October 2003

HIT produces category-specific deficits without category- specific mechanisms by assuming that differences in properties of objects are transparently converted into differences in representational format. A complete model would specify the mechanisms that accomplish this. Such category-specific mechanisms may have evolved because assumptions about the properties of some kinds of objects (e.g., living things) are invalid for others (e.g., artifacts).
Good intentions and bad words
Authors: Keil Frank C.
Published: October 2003

Bloom makes a strong case that word meaning acquisition does not require a dedicated word learning system. This conclusion, however, does not argue against a dedicated language acquisition system for syntax, morphology, and aspects of semantics. Critical questions are raised as to why word meaning should be so different from other aspects of language in the course of acquisition.
On the origins of complexity
Authors: Hesse Bruce E. , Novak Gary
Published: October 2003

Darwin's theory of natural selection is as applicable to the analysis of the behavior of organisms as it is to their origins. Skinner's theoretical writings have guided operant psychologists in this area. The behavioral account of selection by Donahoe and Palmer (1994) is positively compared to the points on operant selection made by Hull et al. The “general account of selection” was found to be useful.
Anomalous processing in schizophrenia suggests adaptive event-action coding requires multiple executive brain mechanisms
Authors: Oades Robert D. , Kreul Katja
Published: October 2003

The integration of perceived events with appropriate action usually requires more flexibility to result in adaptive responses than Hommel et al. report in their selective review. The need for hierarchies of function that can intervene and the existence of diverse mediating brain mechanisms can be illustrated by the non-adaptive expression in psychiatric illness of negative priming, blocking, and affective responses.
Chaos and neural coding: Is the binding problem a pseudo-problem?
Authors: Raffone Antonino , van Leeuwen Cees
Published: October 2003

Tsuda's article suggests several plausible concepts of neurodynamic representation and processing, with a thoughtful discussion of their neurobiological grounding and formal properties. However, Tsuda's theory leads to a holistic view of brain functions and to the controversial conclusion that the “binding problem” is a pseudo-problem. By contrast, we stress the role of chaotic patterns in solving the binding problem, in terms of flexible temporal coding of visual scenes through graded and intermittent synchrony.
Nothing left in store . . . but how do we measure attentional capacity?
Authors: Morra Sergio
Published: October 2003

I compare the concepts of “activation” and “storage” as foundations of short-term memory, and suggest that an attention-based view of STM does not need to posit specialized short-term stores. In particular, no compelling evidence supports the hypothesis of time-limited stores. Identifying sources of activation, examining the role of activated procedural knowledge, and studying working memory development are central issues in modelling capacity-limited focal attention.
Clothing a model of embodiment
Authors: Pelphrey Kevin A. , Reznick J. Steven
Published: October 2003

By delineating the parametric variations that affect infant performance in the standard A-not-B search task, the Thelen et al. model provides an important contribution to the field of infant development. We discuss several broad issues pertinent to interpreting the model. We note that the phenomenon modeled by Thelen et al. is not necessarily the one originally described by Piaget. We describe data on infant self-correction that are not addressed by the Thelen et al. model. Finally, we suggest that psychological constructs such as representation and knowledge structures are valuable to our understanding of the A-not-B phenomenon in particular and psychological development in general.
Extending Bayesian concept learning to deal with representational complexity and adaptation
Authors: Lee Michael D.
Published: October 2003

While Tenenbaum and Griffiths impressively consolidate and extend Shepard's research in the areas of stimulus representation and generalization, there is a need for complexity measures to be developed to control the flexibility of their “hypothesis space” approach to representation. It may also be possible to extend their concept learning model to consider the fundamental issue of representational adaptation. [Tenenbaum & Griffiths]
Plus ça change . . . : Jost, Piaget, and the dynamics of embodiment
Authors: Staddon J. E. R. , Machado A. , Lourenço O.
Published: October 2003

The “A-not-B” error is consistent with an old memory principle, Jost's Law. Quantitative properties of the effect can be explained by a dynamic model for habituation that is also consistent with Jost. Piaget was well aware of the resemblance between adult memory errors and the “A-not-B” effect and, contrary to their assertions, Thelen et al.'s analysis of the object concept is much the same as his, though couched in different language.
Probabilistic functionalism: A unifying paradigm for the cognitive sciences
Authors: Movellan Javier R. , Nelson Jonathan D.
Published: October 2003

The probabilistic analysis of functional questions is maturing into a rigorous and coherent research paradigm that may unify the cognitive sciences, from the study of single neurons in the brain to the study of high level cognitive processes and distributed cognition. Endless debates about undecidable structural issues (modularity vs. interactivity, serial vs. parallel processing, iconic vs. propositional representations, symbolic vs. connectionist models) may be put aside in favor of a rigorous understanding of the problems solved by organisms in their natural environments. [Shepard; Tenenbaum & Griffiths]
The sensorimotor contingency of multisensory localization correlates with the conscious percept of spatial unity
Authors: Roberson Gwendolyn E. , Wallace Mark T. , Schirillo James A.
Published: October 2003

Two cross-modal experiments provide partial support for O'Regan & Noë's (O&N's) claim that sensorimotor contingencies mediate perception. Differences in locating a target sound accompanied by a spatially disparate neutral light correlate with whether the two stimuli were perceived as spatially unified. This correlation suggests that internal representations are necessary for conscious perception, which may also mediate sensorimotor contingencies.
Individual psychology, market scaffolding, and behavioral tests
Authors: Zizzo Daniel John
Published: October 2003

Hertwig and Ortmann (H&O) rightly criticize the usage of deception. However, stationary replication may often have no ecological validity. Many economic experiments are not interactive; when they are, there is not much specifically validating H&O's psychological views on script enactment. Incentives in specific market structures may scaffold even zero rational decision-making, but this says very little about individual psychology.
Metatheory of storage capacity limits
Authors: Cowan Nelson
Published: October 2003

Commentators expressed a wide variety of views on whether there is a basic capacity limit of 3 to 5 chunks and, among those who believe in it, about why it occurs. In this response, I conclude that the capacity limit is real and that the concept is strengthened by additional evidence offered by a number of commentators. I consider various arguments why the limit occurs and try to organize these arguments into a conceptual framework or “metatheory” of storage capacity limits meant to be useful in future research to settle the issue. I suggest that principles of memory representation determine what parts of the representation will be most prominent but that limits of attention (or of a memory store that includes only items that have been most recently attended) determine the 3- to 5-chunk capacity limit.
Universal internalization or pluralistic micro-theories?
Authors: Hecht Heiko
Published: October 2003

In my response I revisit the question whether internalization should be conceived as representation or as instantiation. Shepard's ingenuity lies partly in allowing both interpretations. The down side of this facile generality of internalization is its immunity to falsification. I describe evidence from 3-D apparent motion studies that speak against geodesic paths in cases of underspecified percepts. I further reflect on the applicability of internalization to normal, well-specified perception, on the superiority of Gestalt principles, as well as on the evolutionary and developmental implications of the concept. The commentaries to the target article reveal an astonishing lack of agreement. This not only indicates that a satisfactory unifying theory explaining perception in the face of poorly specified stimuli does not exist. It also suggests that for the time being we have to be pluralistic and should treat internalization as a source of inspiration rather than as an irrefutable theory.
Learning to cooperate: Reciprocity and self-control
Authors: Danielson Peter
Published: October 2003

Using a simple learning agent, we show that learning self-control in the primrose path experiment does parallel learning cooperation in the prisoner's dilemma. But Rachlin's claim that “there is no essential difference between self-control and altruism” is too strong. Only iterated prisoner's dilemmas played against reciprocators are reduced to self-control problems. There is more to cooperation than self-control and even altruism in a strong sense.
The primacy of ecological realism
Authors: Mace William M.
Published: October 2003

Whether or not the correspondence of dorsal stream functions to Gibsonian ecological psychology and the ventral stream functions to “constructivism” hold up, the overall goal of capturing a pragmatic realism should not be forgotten.
Two theories of perception: Internal consistency, separability and interaction between processing modes
Authors: Phillips James G. , Meehan James W. , Triggs Tom J.
Published: October 2003

Comparisons are drawn between two theories of visual perception and two modes of information processing. Characteristics delineating dorsal and ventral visual systems lack internal consistency, probably because they are not completely separable. Mechanism is inherent when distinguishing these systems, and becomes more apparent with different processing domains. What is lacking is a more explicit means of linking these theories.
Motion, space, and mental imagery
Authors: Nijhawan Romi , Khurana Beena
Published: October 2003

In the imagery debate, a key question concerns the inherent spatial nature of mental images. What do we mean by spatial representation? We explore a new idea that suggests that motion is instrumental in the coding of visual space. How is the imagery debate informed by the representation of space being determined by visual motion?
Associative learning: A generalisation too far
Authors: Redington Martin
Published: October 2003

I argue that Perruchet & Vinter's claim that representations are conscious, and processes unconscious, gives too much ground to the cognitive unconscious; and that the boundary between conscious and unconscious mental phenomena is unlikely to fall neatly along these lines. I also propose that in the absence of more detailed models that demonstrably provide a reasonable account of the data, claims that associative mechanisms may underlie all cognition are premature.
Decisions to follow a rule
Authors: Weirich Paul
Published: October 2003

Rachlin favors following patterns over making decisions case by case. However, his accounts of self-control and altruism do not establish the rationality of making decisions according to patterns. The best arguments for using patterns as a standard of evaluation appeal to savings in cognitive costs and compensation for irrational dispositions. What the arguments show depends on how they are elaborated and refined.
Reading-related skills of kindergartners from diverse linguistic backgrounds
Authors: CHIAPPE PENNY , SIEGEL LINDA S. , GOTTARDO ALEXANDRA
Published: October 2003

This study examined whether measures used to identify children at risk for reading failure are appropriate for children from different language backgrounds. Tasks assessing literacy and phonological and language processing at the beginning and end of kindergarten were administered to 540 native English speakers (NS), 59 bilingual children (BL), and 60 children whose initial exposure to English was when they began school (ESL). Although the BL and ESL children performed more poorly than the NS children on most measures of phonological and linguistic processing, the acquisition of basic literacy skills for children with different language backgrounds developed in a similar manner. Furthermore, planned contrasts between the language groups did not explain the variance in the children's literacy performance in May. Instead, alphabetic knowledge and phonological processing were important contributors to early reading skill. Therefore, children learning English may acquire literacy skills in English in a similar manner to NS children, although their alphabetic knowledge may precede and facilitate the acquisition of phonological awareness in English.
Communicative competence and personality dimensions in first and second language learners
Authors: VERHOEVEN LUDO , VERMEER ANNE
Published: October 2003

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relations between communicative competence and five dimensions of personality in 241 first and second language–learning children in The Netherlands. To determine the underlying communicative competence of the first and second language learners of Dutch, a broad array of linguistic measures and teacher judgments were collected. Observational scales referring to the Big Five personality factors were used to characterize the children's personalities. The results showed that three basic components underlie both the monolingual and bilingual children's communicative competence: organizational competence, involving lexical, syntactic, discourse, and functional abilities; pragmatic competence, involving sociocultural routines and illocutionary force; and strategic competence, involving the planning and monitoring of communicative behavior. The relations between the different dimensions of personality and the components of communicative competence revealed the following patterns to characterize first language learners: conscientiousness and emotional stability correlated with basic organizational skills; openness to experience correlated with pragmatic competence; and a broad range of personality characteristics with the acquisition of communicative strategies. In contrast, primarily openness to experience and, to a lesser extent, conscientiousness and extraversion were found to be related to the buildup of basic organizational skills, the acquisition of pragmatic skills, and the development of monitoring strategies in second language learners.
Developing phonological awareness: Is there a bilingual advantage?
Authors: BIALYSTOK ELLEN , MAJUMDER SHILPI , MARTIN MICHELLE M.
Published: October 2003

Three studies are reported that examine the development of phonological awareness in monolingual and bilingual children between kindergarten and Grade 2. In the first study, monolingual and bilingual children performed equally well on a complex task requiring phoneme substitution. The second study replicated these results and demonstrated a significant role for the language of literacy instruction. The third study extended the research by including two groups of bilingual children and a range of phonological awareness and reading tasks. Spanish–English bilinguals performed better than English-speaking monolinguals on a phoneme segmentation task, but Chinese–English bilinguals performed worse. Other measures of phonological awareness did not differ among the three groups. The results are discussed in terms of a limit on the effect that bilingualism exerts on metalinguistic development.
Putting Monetary Policy in its Political Place
Authors: Rose Richard
Published: October 2003

Even though a central bank has formal independence, the success of its actions are part of an interdependent system of policies in which elected governments have a role too. In the making of monetary policy, economists have technical expertise but politicians claim electoral legitimacy. This paper examines monetary policy from the perspective of elected officeholders who must balance non-economic pressures, both domestic and international, against concerns of central bankers with monetary constraint. It emphasizes divisions within national governments about how that balance should be struck, and differences in political priorities for economic policymaking between countries and across time. It concludes with a POP (Politically Optimal Policy), having flexibility between multiple and shifting policy goals rather than fixing on a single target, monetary or non-monetary.
Ageing in India: drifting intergenerational relations, challenges and options
Authors: KUMARI BHAT ANITHA , DHRUVARAJAN RAJ
Published: October 2003

India, like many other developing countries in the world, is presently witnessing rapid ageing of its population. Almost eight out of 10 older people in India live in rural areas. Urbanisation, modernisation and globalisation have led to changes in economic structure, erosion of societal values and the weakening of social institutions such as the joint family. In this changing economic and social milieu, the younger generation is searching for new identities encompassing economic independence and redefined social roles within, as well as outside, the family. The changing economic structure has reduced the dependence of rural families on land, which had provided strength to bonds between generations. The traditional sense of duty and obligation of the younger generation towards their older generation is being eroded. The older generation is caught between the decline in traditional values on the one hand and the absence of an adequate social security system, on the other. This paper explores the nature and extent of the social and economic pressures that are impinging on intergenerational relationships and discusses the implications for policy towards improving the wellbeing of India’s senior citizens.
A critical review of research on the mental health status of older African-Americans
Authors: MILLS TERRY L. , EDWARDS CARLA D. A.
Published: October 2003

This paper summarises current research on the mental health status of older African-Americans with a specific focus on late-life depression, one of the most common forms of mental disorder among older persons. Social gerontologists have brought to the forefront the need to consider the impact of historical eras, cohort location, and lifecourse development when studying various dimensions of the ageing process. Unfortunately, this type of theorising is still in its infancy, and has not been widely applied to the general population and all dimensions of health, let alone investigations into the mental health status of older African-Americans. Virtually none of the empirical studies we reviewed adequately address the historical, biographical, or structural factors related to the mental health status of older African-Americans. We suggest that to understand contemporary manifestations of racial presumptions, there must be an appreciation of the historical antecedents. African-Americans live with the corrosive effects of a legacy of slavery that presumed black inferiority. The identification of salient factors of risk and resilience among this population is critical to developing effective intervention and mental health maintenance programmes. By emphasising the socio-historical influences on the mental health of older African-Americans, we can develop a greater understanding of this population's mental health needs; thus paving the way for improved mental health services and a reduction in mental health disparities.
‘Japanese music’ can be popular
Authors: De Ferranti Hugh
Published: October 2003

Traditional genres, modern popular music, ‘classical’ concert music and other styles of music-making in Japan can be viewed as diverse elements framed within a musical culture. Bourdieu's concept of habitus, and Williams' of dominant, residual and emergent traditions, are helpful in formulating an inclusive approach, in contrast to the prevailing demarcation between traditional and popular music research. Koizumi Fumio first challenged the disciplinary separation of research on historical ‘Japanese music’ and modern hybrid music around 1980, and the influence of his work is reflected in a small number of subsequent writings. In Japanese popular music, evidence for musical habitus and residual traits of past practice can be sought not only in characteristics typical of musicological analysis; modal, harmonic and rhythmic structures; but also in aspects of the music's organisation, presentation, conceptualisation and reception. Among these are vocal tone and production techniques, technical and evaluative discourse, and contextual features such as staging, performer-audience interaction, the agency of individual musicians, the structure of corporate music-production, and the use of songs as vehicles for subjectivity. Such an inclusive approach to new and old musical practices in Japan enables demonstration of ways in which popular music is both part of Japanese musical culture and an authentic vehicle for contemporary Japanese identity.
The rhyming slang of the junkie
Authors: Lillo Antonio
Published: October 2003

A report on, and a glossary of, imaginative usage in the world of
drug-taking.
Communication in Internet message boards
Authors: Lewin Beverly A. , Donner Yonatan
Published: October 2003

A quantitative analysis of usage in Computer-Mediated Conversation (CMC).

While commentators as ‘early’ as 1984 were predicting that the “organizational, social, and personal effects of computers will be deeply felt”, they could only speculate on the strength of its impact. As this account was being written, at the end of 2001, the effects of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) were fast overtaking our poor ability to measure them. There are many ways to communicate through computers: Usenet newsgroups, mailing lists, and message boards, which allow users to discuss specific topics with each other. (The term CMC allows for the possibility that some methods of communication, e.g., “chat rooms”, will not meet the definition of ‘mail’. The most popular method of CMC is e-mail. For those who have internet access, CMC is often their preferred choice of indirect (i.e., non face-to-face) communication, thanks to its speed, efficiency, and flexibility. Perhaps for these reasons, e-mail has already overtaken the telephone as the primary means of business communication.
Symposium on Amartya Sen's philosophy: 3 Sen and consequentialism
Authors: Scanlon T. M.
Published: October 2003

It is a particular pleasure to be able to participate in this symposium in honor of Amartya Sen. We agree on a wide range of topics, but I will focus here on an area of relative disagreement. Sen is much more attracted to consequentialism than I am, and the main topic of my paper will be the particular version of consequentialism that he has articulated and the reasons why he is drawn to this view.