bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Literacy and Hemispheric Specialization for Language: Dichotic Listening in Young Functionally Illiterate Men
Authors: Tzavaras A. , Phocas C. , Kaprinis G. , Karavatos A.
Published: August 2011

The functional cerebral organization of young men who were defined as illiterate was studied by testing their dichotic listening for language stimuli. These functionally illiterate men showed greater right ear advantage for language stimuli than 50 educated subjects, a pattern already observed with completely illiterate persons of both sexes. This finding is consistent with the view that mastering written codes for language might be one of the most relevant parameters in hemispheric specialization when language is studied.
A Test of Magill's Closed-to-Open Continuum for Skill Development
Authors: Hautala Robert M. , Conn James H.
Published: August 2011

Magills arrangement of Gentile's 2 × 2 matrix of skills classification into a closed-to-open-skill learning continuum was investigated. 63 volunteer university students were assigned to three experimental groups who performed different learning sequences on the Bachman Ladder for four practice sessions, climbing the unsupported Bachman Ladder (Task 4) in the final scored session. Following practice sessions, a five-trial, scored, Task 4 “retention” session was performed. Analysis of variance of retention trials indicated no difference between the practice groups regardless of practice sequence. Comparison of five selected trials from the Task 4 practice session and the five Task 4 retention performances, using a 4 × 2 analysis of variance with repeated measures, indicated significant group and time effects but no interaction. While Magill's arrangement of related activities into closed-to-open-skill learning continuums is supported, the specific arrangement of the lead-up skills does not appear critical. The question of task specificity for any learning continuum is raised, and further issues for research are proposed.
Including Neither-Type in the Morningness-Eveningness Dimension Decreases the Robustness of the Model
Authors: Almirall Helena
Published: August 2011

The present paper is a study of axillary temperature and performance during the waking part of the day and the relationship of these two variables to Morningness-Eveningness preferences. A reduced scale of the Home and Östberg questionnaire was adapted and standardized for the Spanish population, and 3 groups of subjects were formed (Morning-types: 3 men, 2 women; Neither-type: 3 men, 6 women; Evening-types: 1 man, 4 women). Three different tasks were tested, auditory reaction time (to measure alertness and speed), index finger tapping (motor skill), and verbal memory (information processing). The subjects were tested hourly in 13 sessions spread out over the day. Morningness-Eveningness preference groups did not differ in temperature and performance. Neither-type subjects did not present values intermediate between those of the Morning- and Evening-types.
Priming Effect in a Color Discrimination Task
Authors: Marangolo Paola , Di Pace Enrico , Pizzamiglio Luigi
Published: August 2011

Two experiments were run to test whether the automatic coding of colors generates priming effects. Subjects were tachistoscopically presented a series of prime-target sequences. The prime stimulus could be either a red, green, or black circular dot, followed by a red or green annular ring (target). The role of automatic and conscious mechanisms was investigated in Exp. 1 by manipulating the predictive validity of the prime stimuli (80%, 50%, 20%), keeping constant the value of stimulus-onset asynchrony (350 msec.). Analysis showed priming effects even in the low predictive condition, where no conscious expectations could be activated. In Exp. 2, three different values of stimulus-onset asynchrony were used, 150, 350, and 2100 msec. Priming effects were obtained in the short and medium stimulus-onset asynchrony condition but not in the long one. Over-all, the data of both experiments produce converging evidence which indicates that the automatic elaboration of colored stimuli may produce priming effects.
Using Age-Adjusted Rates in Ecological Studies of Suicide and Homicide
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

The use of age-adjusted suicide rates changed significantly the size of 35% of the correlations between social variables and the suicide rates over the states of America but changed only 5% of the correlations for homicide rates.
Familial Heart Valve Disorder is Not Related to Autonomy, Social Interaction Style, or Family Dynamics
Authors: Rubin Deborah , Day H. D.
Published: August 2011

38 women diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) did not differ from 38 non-MVP participants on measures of autonomy and interpersonal relationship patterns.
Intelligence and Motor Skill Acquisition by Discrimination Learning
Authors: Sparrow W. A. , Shinkfield Alison J. , Lambe Nadine
Published: August 2011

This experiment investigated the relation between intelligence and acquisition of motor skill using predictions from Zeaman and House's 1963 attention theory. 20 undergraduate students and 20 subjects of low IQ (WAIS—R Full Scale IQ range 50 to 73, M = 60) made linear positioning movements of long and short amplitude to the left and right of a central starting position. Four conditions (right-long, right-short, left-long, left-short) were created by specifying the corresponding target area on the positioning apparatus. One or both of the paired cues were varied, i.e., left, right, long, or short, while the dimensions of direction and amplitude remained unchanged across conditions. A shift from one condition to the next followed a criterion response of four consecutive movements to the target area. Results supported the hypothesis that subjects of low IQ would require more trials to criterion than subjects of normal IQ across all conditions of direction and extent. There was qualified support for the hypothesised interaction between intelligence and cue shifts. The practical implications and theoretical significance of these findings are discussed.
The Anatomy of Nikyo (Aikido's Second Teaching)
Authors: Eckert Jordan W. , Lee Ta-Kwong
Published: August 2011

Nikyo is the second teaching of Aikido ( ni-two, kyo-teaching, in Japanese). It is a joint-lock technique that results in extreme pain. It allows one to control an opponent by destroying his will to continue fighting. Nikyo is accomplished by flexing and adducting an opponent's wrist producing an instantaneous sharp pain that causes him to fall to his knees involuntarily to alleviate the pressure. The exact etiology of the pain elicited by this technique has been obscure to many practitioners. The usual explanations have been nerve compression, joint capsular stretch, tendon/muscle strain, or partial ligamentous disruption. Studies of a cadaver's wrist have shown that Nikyo forcibly compresses the pisiform bone against the ulna, two bones that do not normally articulate. The intense pain thereby produced results from stimulation of the periosteal nerves in these bony surfaces.
Pavlovian Conditioning of the Tickle Response of Human Subjects: Temporal and Delay Conditioning
Authors: Newman Bobby , O'Grady Mairead A. , Ryan Carolyn S. , Hemmes Nancy S.
Published: August 2011

Previous studies of the human response to a tickle have demonstrated that subjects will respond to a gesture that signals the onset of a tickle in the same way as to a tickle. Researchers have described this anticipatory response as an “expectation.” In the current study, we investigated, from the Pavlovian framework, the response to a verbal stimulus preceding the tickle stimulus. We exposed subjects to experimental phases which included the Neutral Stimulus Alone, 100% Pairing of the Neutral and Unconditioned Stimuli (tickle strokes to the foot), Random Presentation, Partial (75%) Reinforcement, and Temporal Conditioning. Pavlovian conditioning was observed in all phases, suggesting a parsimonious explanation for the expectation effect described by others.
The Role of Vision in Sound Localization
Authors: Lovelace Eugene A. , Anderson Donna M.
Published: August 2011

Three experiments examined the role of vision in locating a brief sound (2-sec. speech noise) from an unseen source in the horizontal left front quadrant. The head could be freely moved. Subjects could point to the sound location more accurately with eyes open. However, since in a second study the accuracy of pointing a finger was poorer than for aiming one's eyes at the sound, the effect in the first study may reflect using vision to calibrate the hand location. A third study showed no difference in accuracy of aiming one's eyes at a sound when eyes were open versus closed during presentation of sound. More accurate auditory localization with eyes open than closed was not supported.
Relationship between Body Image and Percent Body Fat among College Male Varsity Athletes and Nonathletes
Authors: Huddy D. Craig , Nieman David C. , Johnson Robert L.
Published: August 2011

Three groups of students from a large midwestern university (15 varsity swimmers, 15 varsity football players, and 15 nonathletes) were administered a 20-item questionnaire concerned with body image and subsequently underwent skinfold measurements to assess percent body fat. Scores obtained were correlated to estimate the relationship between body image and adiposity. For the groups combined ( N = 45) the relationship was significant and inverse ( r = − 0.51). For the nonathletic group a significant value − 0.76 was found; for the two groups of athletes there was no relationship ( rs = 0.002 and − 0.059 for football players and swimmers, respectively). We conclude that body image as measured in this study is inversely related to percent body fat among college men, especially among students not engaged in varsity sports.
Acoustic Analysis of Diplophonia: A Follow-up Report
Authors: Terrio Lee , Schreibweiss-Merin Diane
Published: August 2011

Additional information on the physiology of the diplophonic speech produced by an adult female is provided. Direct endoscopic examination of the subject's laryngeal mechanism showed her diplophonia was produced by exerting differential tension on her vocal folds. The ventricular folds were not directly involved.
Vividness of Imagery and Creativity
Authors: Campos Alfredo , González María Angeles
Published: August 2011

We evaluated the extent to which vividness of imagery is correlated with creativity in a sample of 1361 university students from different disciplines and assessed which sensory modalities of vividness of imagery best predicted creativity. Vividness of imagery was generally poorly correlated with creativity and, for all subjects combined, explained only about 2% of total variance in creativity. Promising directions for research are mentioned.
Assessment of Critical Thinking Courses
Authors: Langer Philip , Chiszar David
Published: August 2011

Courses in critical thinking at the college level taken by groups of about 20 appeared to be differentially effective with respect to gains in performance on a standardized test of evaluative thinking.
A Subjective Index of American Social, Economic, and Political Threat, War and Personal Violence
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

The McCann-Stewin threat index for the United States for the years 1933 to 1986 was not as strongly associated with the nation's suicide and homicide rates as was the military participation ratio.
Geophysical Variables and Behavior: LXXIV. Man-Made Fluid Injections into the Crust and Reports of Luminous Phenomena (UFO Reports)—Is the Strain Field an Aseismically Propagating Hydrological Pulse?
Authors: Persinger M. A. , Derr J. S.
Published: August 2011

According to the tectonic strain theory, both earthquakes and most reports of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) or odd luminous phenomena are generated by local transient changes in regional crustal stress. Because the injection (or containment) of fluids or their percolation into the upper crust can trigger earthquakes, we predicted that reports of these anomalous luminous phenomena should display temporal lags and spatial diffusion around these sites. The hypothesis was supported around the five test sites of Derby, Colorado; Attica, New York; Rangely, Colorado; Sanford (Amarillo), Texas; and Hanford, Washington. The results support the hypothesis that luminous phenomena, often described by the contemporary label of UFOs, are associated with natural hydroseismicity and can be initiated by man-made activity.
Lifestyle Exercise Inventory: Preliminary Development
Authors: Cardinal Bradley J. , Cardinal Marita K.
Published: August 2011

Drawing from the Theoretical Pattern of Physical Activity Model of Blair, Kohl, and Gordon, a Lifestyle Exercise Inventory was developed. The internal consistency (.69, n = 178), test-retest reliability (.77), and criterion validity (−.27, .29, .32, and .32) of the measure are reported for 178 women.
Supervisors' Upward Influence Tactics in Same-Sex and Cross-Sex Dyads
Authors: Lamude Kevin G.
Published: August 2011

The paper describes 162 male and female superiors' self-reported tactics in successful influence attempts with their male and female managers. Analysis indicated that female supervisors used inspirational appeals and allurement tactics with female and male managers. Male supervisors used pressure, allurement, and rationality tactics with female managers. Contrary to gender-role expectancy, male superiors used inspirational appeals, ingratiation, and liking tactics with male managers. These results were discussed in terms of expectancy theory, which suggests that people develop normative expectations about appropriateness of influence behavior that differ for men and women.
Reflections on the Rorschach and the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory
Authors: Watson Robert A. , Pantle Mark L.
Published: August 2011

Although no significant relationships were found between presence of Rorschach reflection responses and scores on Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory Scales 5 and 6 of 26 boys and 30 girls who were psychiatric inpatients, significant differences within the reflection group were found for diagnosis on Scale 5.
Economic Status of African-Americans and Suicide Rates
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

From 1967 to 1986, the relative income and unemployment rates of African-Americans was not related to their absolute or relative suicide rates.
Scores on Field Independence and Performance in Snooker
Authors: McMorris Terry , Francis Myles , MacDonald Andrew , Priday Kevin
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the scores on the Group Embedded Figures Test, a measure of field dependence, for 25 male intermediate-level snooker players with scores of 25 intermediate-level sportsmen engaged in soccer, rugby, field hockey, and tennis and to examine the relation between scores on field dependence and performance on a snooker decision-making test. All the snooker players also took a test of decision making in snooker. The snooker players scored significantly more field independent than the sports-science majors on the Group Embedded Figures Test. A Pearson correlation of 0.78 was obtained between scores on the Group Embedded Figures Test and the decision-making test. As there may be an association between scores on field dependence and decision making in snooker, further research should examine sports like lawn bowls and pool where decisions are made in a static environment.
Physical Exertion and Immediate Mental Performance of Sixth-Grade Children
Authors: McNaughten Dennis , Gabbard Carl
Published: August 2011

The intent of this investigation was to examine the potential influence of varying durations of physical exertion at different times of the day on immediate mathematical performance by 120 sixth-grade boys and girls. Subjects were assigned to two control and two treatment groups (Solomon Four-group Design), with treated subjects administered physical exertion (paced walking at controlled moderate intensity) for durations of 20, 30, and 40 min. at three different times of the school day [8:30 a.m., 11:50 a.m. (before lunch), 2:20 p.m.] over 3 weeks. After each exertion session, subjects were immediately administered a 90-sec. mathematical computation test. Analysis indicated no significant differences in mathematical performance at any duration in the morning, but scores were significantly higher at 11:50 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. at 30- and 40-min. durations in comparison to the 20-min. duration. There were no differences by gender of subject.
Effects of Foreperiod on Response Latency of Different Movement Patterns
Authors: Yuanhui Ma , Kasai Tatsuya
Published: August 2011

In an analysis of the influence of the preparatory process on motor output by measuring the EMG latencies of synergic muscles for elbow flexion and forearm supination the optimum foreperiod was between 2.0 and 2.2 sec., and a specific effect on movement pattern was not observed. However, reduction in EMG-RTs was larger in forearm supination than in elbow flexion. Those results reconfirmed previous reports.
Handshaking, Personality, and Psychopathology in Psychiatric Patients, a Reliability and Correlational Study
Authors: åström Jan , Thorell Lars-Håkan , Holmlund Ulla , D'Elia Giacomo
Published: August 2011

A study of 29 psychiatric inpatients was performed to investigate the relation of handshaking variables (anatomical and physiological variables) with demographic data, personality traits, psychosocial functioning, and clinical diagnoses. Two psychologists rated patients' handshaking independently of each other according to four variables on an ordinal scale of five steps. The interrater reliability was satisfactory. Analysis showed that the handshaking procedure may in fact give some information about the personality make-up of the patients, most clearly through the relationship between low temperature and humidity of the palmar skin and social introversion, depression, and tendency towards symptom enhancement mainly in women. The handshaking procedure did not seem informative about psychosocial functioning and clinical diagnoses.
Effect of Fading Knowledge of Results on Acquisition, Retention, and Transfer of a Simple Motor Task
Authors: Dunham Paul , Mueller Rebecca
Published: August 2011

45 subjects employing procedures for continuous, intermittent, or faded knowledge of results exhibited for drawing a 7.5-cm line no significant difference in acquisition, retention, or transfer to a 5-cm line.
Reliability of Global Impressions for Assessing Methylphenidate Effects in Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Mayes Susan Dickerson , Bixler Edward O.
Published: August 2011

Agreement between raters using global impressions to assess methylphenidate response was analyzed for children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) undergoing double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover methylphenidate trials. Caregivers were more likely to disagree than agree when asked to rate the children as “better, same, or worse” during each day of the trial. Over-all agreement was 42.9%, only 9.6% above what would be expected based on chance alone. Further, none of the interrater reliability coefficients (Cohen's kappa) for the individual children were statistically significant.
Colour and Spatial Performance
Authors: Weddel Heino , Pfendler Claudius
Published: August 2011

An experiment was conducted to examine the influence of colour on spatial performance as measured with traditional tests for 29 adults. Spatial performance was significantly higher when testing material with highly saturated colours was used in comparison to colours of low saturation and achromatic shades.
Effects of Ethyl Alcohol on Hemispheric Specialization of Language and on Hand Movements
Authors: Clarici Andrea , Fabbro Franco , Bava Antonio
Published: August 2011

Hemispheric specialization for linguistic functions was assessed by means of a dual-task (verbal-manual) paradigm and a dichotic listening test in 16 right-handed men after the administration of a moderate dose of ethyl alcohol. No statistical evidence supporting the hypothesis that moderate doses of alcohol affect motor or perceptive aspects of hemispheric specialization was found.
Relationship between Children's and Parents' Stereotyping of Physical Activities
Authors: Pellett Tracy L. , Ignico Arlene A.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine age and gender differences in perceptions of gender-typed physical activities and to investigate the relationship between children's and parents' perceptions. Participants included 357 students in Grades K, 2, 4, and 6 and their parents ( n = 455) from two elementary schools in Utah. The Physical Activity Stereotyping Index was used to assess both children's and parents' perceptions. Boys scored higher (more stereotypical in perceptions) on the Index than girls. Students in Kindergarten and Grade 2 scored significantly higher than those in Grades 4 and 6, while all adult (parents) groups were less stereotypical in their beliefs than all student groups. Significant correlations were obtained for spouses' scores ( r = .44, p < .001) and for parents' and their children's scores ( r = .24, p < .02).
Self-Perceived Creativity and Vividness of Mental Imagery
Authors: Campos Alfredo , González María Angeles
Published: August 2011

We report the joint influence or creativity factors on mental imagery among 1361 university students of Fine Arts, Mathematics, and Geography and History. Creativity accounted for 1% of the variance in imagery among Fine Arts students, 4% among Mathematics students, 2% among Geography and History students, and 3% in the whole sample.
Moral Reasoning and Personality Components in Gifted and Average Students
Authors: Chovan William , Freeman Nancy L.
Published: August 2011

101 students, gifted and of average ability in Grades 5, 8, and 10, completed the Defining Issues Test and the Offer Self-image Questionnaire. Significant differences occurred between groups of gifted and average ability on the Defining Issues Test, between the average and gifted girls, and between the boys and girls on Offer's Social Relationships subscale. A regression analysis indicated that the Social Relationships subscale and being gifted were predictors of Rest's p index.
Effects of Dysphoria and Loneliness on Social Perceptual Skills
Authors: Segrin Chris
Published: August 2011

Numerous studies indicate that depression (or dysphoria) and loneliness are associated with deficits in social skills. The purpose of this study was to assess whether these deficits in social skills include social perceptual skills. 251 subjects observed four target persons. For each person they completed a measure of rejection, an evaluative adjective checklist, and a rating of social skills. Analyses indicated no relationship between scores on either dysphoria or loneliness and self-rated social perceptual skills. A multiple correspondence analysis indicated that dysphoric and lonely subjects were equally discriminating in their perceptions and evaluations of others relative to their nondistressed peers. In fact, loneliness and dysphoria were positively associated with some social perceptual skills. Subjects showed a strong preference to be accepting of those targets who they felt were socially skilled. Implications of these findings and suggestions for research are discussed.
Sheldon's Theory of Personality in Young Children
Authors: Lester David , Kaminsky Seth , McGovern Mary
Published: August 2011

Ratings by 2 start or the personalities or 50 children at a daycare center were not associated with the children's ectomorphy scores.
Taste and Odor: Reactivity in Depressive Disorders, a Multidisciplinary Approach
Authors: Steiner Jacob E. , Lidar-Lifschitz Dan , Perl Eliezer
Published: August 2011

Depressive patients often complain about dullness of taste of previously liked food items as well as of persistent bad taste. Taste and smell experience can be reflected by cognitive (psychophysical) indicators and also by reflectory (facial expressive) responses. In the present study 21 depressed, hospitalized patients and 16 control subjects were exposed to food-related gustatory and olfactory stimuli. Psychophysical and videotaped facial reactions were recorded from both groups. Analysis indicated that cognitive estimates of taste hedonics were similar for depressed and control groups; the former responded to sweet taste with a shorter-lasting facial reaction, involving markedly fewer facial features expressing enjoyment, than did controls. Aversive tastes, in contrast, triggered comparable facial expressive features of disgust in both groups. Facial reactions of depressed patients to acceptable and aversive olfactory stimuli were all significantly shorter and more muted than those of controls. Facial reflexes triggered by chemical cues are known to be controlled primarily by brainstem structures. Present findings suggest a possible influence of the profound anhedonia of severe depression on subcortical processes.
Context Familiarity and Delayed Conditioned Taste Aversion in Young-Adult and Old-Age Rats
Authors: Hinderliter Charles F. , Misanin James R.
Published: August 2011

Familiarity with a conditioning context different from the home-cage environment was examined in immediate and delayed (3-hr.) conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning for young-adult (90—120 days) and old-age (680—750 days) female Wistar albino rats. Context familiarity increased CTA for young adults at the 3-hr. delay. Old-age rats showed no aversion at 3-hr. delays. Results suggest that home-cage cues may be used in mediating long-delay CTA and that the role of these cues may differ with age.
Educational Kinesiology with Learning Disabled Children: An Efficacy Study
Authors: Cammisa Kathryne M.
Published: August 2011

Educational Kinesiology is a treatment using specific movements to access different parts of the brain in maximizing learning potential. It has been recommended for use with learning disabled children; however, studies validating its effects are limited. The school records of 25 students each with a diagnosis of specific learning disability were examined for pre- and posttest scores on academic and perceptual motor skill measures following an Educational Kinesiology program. Analysis indicated significant improvement in perceptual motor skills following the Educational Kinesiology program. The change in academic skills was not significant. Educational Kinesiology is recommended as a treatment to improve perceptual motor function of learning disabled children. Other variables affecting this study as well as clinical and research implications are discussed.
Effect of Hashish on Vigilance Performance
Authors: Bahri Toufik , Amir Taha
Published: August 2011

A group of 11 hashish users were compared with 11 controls on a visual sustained attention (vigilance) task. Analysis indicated that hashish use affected subjects' sensitivity. Subjects who used hashish responded in an indiscriminate manner, making more false alarms (8.7) than controls (2.6). The importance of vigilance in the assessment of adverse effects of hashish is discussed.
Apparent Depth Threshold for the Benussi Effect
Authors: Brigner Willard L. , Deni James R.
Published: August 2011

Using the single staircase psychophysical method, the apparent depth threshold for the Benussi effect was determined for 5 observers. The threshold occurred at an eccentricity of 2 r/3, where r equals the radius of the larger circle expressed in millimeters.
Intellectual and Psychosocial Status of Remedial Students
Authors: Reed Tamzon , Makarem Karen , Wadsworth Terresa , Shaughnessy Michael F.
Published: August 2011

The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test and Measures of Psychosocial Development were given to assess 49 remedial and 33 average college students. Significant differences were found between the two groups on intellectual and developmental variables. The results are discussed and concerns for staff noted.
Relative Frequency of Positive and Negative Affect in Déjà Connu Experiences of Impression Formation
Authors: Pellegrini Robert J. , Caldwell Randy T. , Faber Bonnie L. , Tutko Thomas A.
Published: August 2011

College students, 250 women and 250 men, were surveyed concerning their experience in the typical situation in which they encounter someone who reminds them of someone else. 94% of the respondents indicated having positive and favorable feelings about the remembered other, while only 6% of the sample reported negative and unfavorable feelings about the remembered person in such circumstances. Alternative interpretations of the data are considered, with attention focused on implications for the study of interpersonal attitudes in contemporary society.
Sample-Size Formulae for Parameter Estimation
Authors: Streiner David L.
Published: August 2011

Formulae are presented for calculating sample-size requirements when the purpose of the study is to estimate the magnitude of a parameter rather than to test an hypothesis. Formulae are given for the mean, a proportion, and correlation, for the slope, intercept, value of Ȳ, and Y for a given value of X in multiple regression, and for the odds and risk ratios.
Gaze Orientation in Perception of Reversible Figures
Authors: Ruggieri Vezio , Fernandez Mila Ferreira
Published: August 2011

We hypothesized that during perception of reversible figures the direction of gaze toward a specific perceptual focal point plays a determining role in the identification of the images, i.e., when subjects are asked by the experimenter to perceive one of the two images, a displacement of the eyes toward a specific spatial area of the figure occurs. For each image we think there is a particular point of the figure which acts as perceptual organizer. The stimuli were the Hill and Boring, Ehrenstein, Rubin, and Schroeder reversible figures. Subjects were 47 undergraduate psychology students (32 women and 15 men). The number of ocular movements toward a different spatial direction were calculated for each suggested image of the reversing figure. Analysis showed that, perceiving reversing figures, specific ocular displacements were present for each suggested image.
Intelligibility of Speech in Children with down Syndrome in Natural Settings: Parents' Perspective
Authors: Kumin Libby
Published: August 2011

Data collected from 937 parent questionnaires regarding intelligibility of speech in children with Down syndrome were analyzed. Intelligibility was a widespread problem. Parents reported evidence of difficulties classified as oral motor skills, motor programming skills, and specific speech skills. Children experienced greater difficulty with sentences and in conversation than with single words. Intelligibility problems were more frequent when the child was conversing with unfamiliar adults. The implications of these findings for clinical assessment and remediation are discussed.
Differential Sensitivity to Static Visual Cues in the Control of Postural Equilibrium in Man
Authors: Crémeux Jacques , Mesure Serge
Published: August 2011

Decreasing the visual sampling rate by reducing the stroboscopic frequency affected the postural performance of human subjects. At low strobe frequencies of up to 2 flashes/sec., at which only static visual cues were available, no decrease in subjects' mean postural sway was previously observed as compared to their equilibrium behavior without vision. In this experiment, to test the hypothesis that there may be a differential sensitivity to static visual cues in the control of postural equilibrium, we examined the possible effects of subjects' sex and previous sports training on this sensitivity. The static postural equilibrium abilities of 70 subjects of both sexes were tested in a sharpened Romberg position. Performance was measured with accelerometers within a vertical cylinder under normal illumination, 2-Hz stroboscopic light, and darkness. Comparisons between the average postural performances under 2-Hz strobe light and darkness showed no significant differences between conditions. Analysis of subjects' individual scores showed that 27% of the sample performed significantly better under the strobe light than in darkness, 57% produced similar performances under both conditions, and 16% performed better in darkness. Although significant differences existed between the postural performances of men and women and between trained and untrained subjects, no differences were observed in the differential sensitivity to static visual cues depending on subjects' sex or on previous physical training.
Effects of Pedestrians' Visibility and Signs on Motorists' Yielding
Authors: Harrell W. Andrew
Published: August 2011

A field experiment was carried out in which a pedestrian attempted to evoke motorists' stopping at a marked crosswalk during the daytime. Previous research suggested that reflective clothing worn by pedestrians at night might increase the ability of motorists to see pedestrians and to take precautionary measures when driving. In the present study, the effects of a pedestrian wearing bright versus drab clothing on motorists' behavior were assessed. Motorists were more likely to stop for a brightly clothed pedestrian. In addition, the brightly clothed pedestrian did not have to wait as long before eliciting a stop. One explanation is that the bright clothing worn by the pedestrian made more salient the motorist's legal duty to stop for the pedestrian in a crosswalk. The presence of a warning sign located 48 meters before the crosswalk had no significant effect on motorists' yielding under daytime conditions.
Effects of Social Loafing on Word Recognition
Authors: Pratarelli Marc E. , McIntyre Jeff A.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated performance on a lexical decision task as a function of whether subjects were tested individually or in a group session. The social loafing construct was examined as a possible explanation for reduced performance when subjects were not individually tested. Two groups of 44 subjects were tested using a computer-based version of a lexical decision task in which target words and nonwords were responded to as fast as possible. The main effect of group versus individual administration was significant. While both groups showed significant graphemic priming and a significant effect between words and nonwords, there was no significant interaction between group and priming condition. These results suggest that the negative effects of social loafing are strictly additive and do not appear to interact with automatic processes recruited during word recognition.
Retest Effect on Cognitive Performance on the Raven-38 Matrices in France and in the Congo
Authors: Nkaya Henri Nsika , Huteau Michel , Bonnet Jean-Pierre
Published: August 2011

Raven's Standard Matrices were administered three times to students in their sixth year of schooling in France and in the Congo. When self-paced, 63 French and 88 Congolese students progressed moderately from Tests 1 to 2 and made no progress from Sessions 2 to 3. When timed, the French and Congolese subjects progressed rapidly from Sessions 1 to 2 (with a sharper progression by the French subjects) but only the Congolese progressed from Sessions 2 to 3. A simple retest procedure emerges as a poor candidate for correcting biases based on imbalances in familiarity with problem situations and the test situation in cross-cultural comparisons. It is suggested that dynamic evaluation procedures could reduce these biases.
Relative Efficacy of Video versus Food-Pellet Reward of Joystick Tasks
Authors: Andrews Michael W. , Rosenblum Leonard A.
Published: August 2011

We suggest that the data reported by Washburn and Hopkins in their comment on our demonstration of the efficacy of live-video reward of joystick tasks supports, rather than impeaches, our earlier findings.
Olfactory Deficits in down Subjects: A Link with Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Zucco Gesualdo M. , Negrin Nila Saviolo
Published: August 2011

Two groups of subjects, 14 young (ages 20 to 31 years) and 14 adults (ages 32 to 54 years), both groups with Down Syndrome, were examined on a matching and naming olfactory task. On the former, subjects were required to recognize among four a previously sniffed odour, while on the latter they had to label an odour by choosing among four alternatives provided by the examiner. Analysis indicated that the adults with Down Syndrome scored worse than the young group on both tasks and that the impairment of the two groups was more pronounced on the matching task. On considering the similarity between the neurodegenerative brain pathology exhibited by Alzheimer patients and Down subjects and a recent observation that the former show pathological changes also in the olfactory epithelium (neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles), these two olfactory tasks could represent a useful noninvasive diagnostic method.
Matching Preschool Children's and Teachers' Cognitive Styles
Authors: Saracho Olivia N. , Spodek Bernard
Published: August 2011

The study examined the significance of matching the cognitive styles of 3-, 4-, and 5-yr.-old preschool children and their teachers. 150 female teachers and their children were administered several instruments to measure cognitive style, intelligence, and the teachers' assessment of their classroom children. They included the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Articulation of the Body-concept Scale, and Teachers' Ranking Form. Analysis indicated that teachers assessed their matched and mismatched children's relative standing on a standardized test differently by age. For 3-yr.-olds, field-dependent teachers underestimated their mismatched children more than their other children, while field-independent teachers underestimated their matched children more. Teachers of 4-yr.-old children overestimated all children. For 5-yr.-olds, field-dependent teachers assessed their mismatched children more negatively than their matched children, while field-independent teachers assessed their mismatched children more positively than the field-dependent teachers.
Attitudes of Women over 50 toward Apparel and Media
Authors: Belleau Bonnie D. , Broussard Lori , Summers Teresa A. , Didier Jacqueline
Published: August 2011

This study was designed to measure attitudes of women over 50 years of age concerning apparel and media. A factor analysis of survey responses indicated that the items fell into five meaningful clusters and provided some insight into how respondents felt about apparel and media. Apparel was important to respondents, particularly for feelings of well-being, in social and economic success and making a favorable first impression, and when purchasing new apparel styles and colors. Many of the clothing images promoted by media depicting younger people did not appeal to these women over the age of 50. There was also dissatisfaction with types and fit of available apparel.
Contracting and Chaining to Improve the Performance of a College Golf Team: Improvement and Deterioration
Authors: Simek Thomas C. , O'Brien Richard M. , Figlerski Lesli B.
Published: August 2011

Recent work with operant procedures in sports has shown that feedback, reinforcement, and chaining can be effective techniques in improving performance. In many cases, however, a problem remains in getting the participants to practice the appropriate responses. In the present study, 14 college golfers were put on successive contingency contracts over three weeks to go through the Total Golf chaining-mastery program of Simek and O'Brien. Rewards consisted of activities such as spots on the starting team and the opportunity to play better courses as well as tangible rewards such as new golf balls. After the first two weeks of training, through 19 steps backward from the green, the mean of three posttraining rounds for these 14 golfers was 3.4 strokes lower than the mean of their three rounds at baseline. At this point, the coach did not follow through with the rewards promised in the second contract. Having been placed on extinction, only three of the 14 players followed through on the third contract. In this return to baseline-like condition an average increase of over two strokes for the team as a whole was noted. The number of steps of the chain mastered in practice and the difference between mean scores at baseline and the last measurement period correlated 86, indicating that 74% of the improvement in golf scores was accounted for by performance on the mastery chain.
Psychological Status, Syndromatic Measures, and Compliance with Nasal CPAP Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Authors: Edinger Jack D. , Carwile Sandra , Miller Patricia , Hope Victor , Mayti Cindy
Published: August 2011

38 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea were asked to complete 2 weeks of rating symptoms, physical examination, diagnostic polysomnography, and MMPI testing prior to being placed on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Six months later, 26 (72.2%) of the 36 subjects available for follow-up showed continued compliance. A regression analysis conducted with those 28 subjects who completed all pretreatment measures showed that continued therapy was predicted by such pretreatment measures as patients' body mass index, ratings of daytime sleepiness and nocturnal sleep quality, and MMPI Depression and Hypochondriasis scale scores ( R2 = 0.63). Eventual compilers had a higher Body Mass Index, reported less daytime sleepiness and better nocturnal sleep quality, and scored lower on the MMPI D and Hs scales prior to treatment than did the noncompliers. A linear discriminant function analysis with analog cross-validation showed these five predictors would identify approximately 80% of eventual noncompliers and 97% of those who display compliance. It was concluded that subjective report and personality measures may be useful in predicting long-term use. Additional studies are needed to assess the clinical significance of the noted MMPI scale elevations among sleep apnea patients in general and among those patients who display eventual noncompliance.
Cycle Exercising in Time with Music
Authors: Mertesdorf Frank L.
Published: August 2011

Different forms of exercise with a cycle ergometer in time with music were studied in comparison: exercise in time with a rhythm or with music at constant and movement-controlled music tempos, with simultaneous arm and leg work, and with leg work alone. For this pilot study an exercise cycle with arm levers movable forward and backward for additional arm work was equipped with a mechanically brak-able flywheel. At a movement-controlled music tempo synthesizer music was synchronized with the movement rhythm by electrical pulses generated during each pedal rotation. A point approximately 8° to 15° before the horizontal pedal position during leg stretching was preferred as the onset of the beats during movement-controlled tempo. The subjects preferred pedalling rates between about 70 and 90 revolutions • min.−1, two-thirds with movement-controlled and one-third with preset music tempo. At a comparable work-load, rhythm was rared as more boring than musical accompaniment, but there were no significant differences between the ratings of discomfort, strain, or boredom for the two forms of musical accompaniment and no interaction with the preference for them.
Finding a Link between Selective Auditory Attention and Reading Problems in Young Children: A Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Taub Claire F. , Fine Elaine , Cherry Rochelle S.
Published: August 2011

Data from 3 boys indicate that a selective auditory attention task may be useful in identifying prereading children who are at risk for learning disabilities.
Subjective and Myographic Responses in Arm and Leg Cycle Exercising
Authors: Mertesdorf Frank L.
Published: August 2011

A study was performed to explore possible psychological benefits of additional arm work during cycle exercising. For this, the subjective and physiological responses of 12 healthy young males were studied during arm and leg exercise on a cycle ergometer with movable arm levers (at 2 distances of the handgrips from the body) and during leg exercise with the grips fixed. After warming up, the subjects kept for 20 min. a constant work load leading to heart rates of about 150 to 160 beats • min.−1. Neither the EMG data nor the ratings of discomfort showed a substantial relief by arm work, but the subjects had different preferences for arm and leg exercise and just leg work, accompanied by differences in discomfort and physiological responses.
Assessment of Secondary Traumatization with an Emotional Stroop Task
Authors: Motta Robert W. , Suozzi John M , Joseph Jamie M.
Published: August 2011

Scores on an emotional Stroop task discriminated secondary traumatization effects in 9 adult children of veterans while standard trauma measures did not.
Commonly Reported Problems in Middle-School Children
Authors: Vara Vidyavathi , Kelly I. W.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the relationship between common problems reported and gender for 139 middle-school children (Grades 7, 8, and 9) in Saskatchewan. Students were asked to describe in writing “a problem that has bothered you during the previous month.” For boys, the order of reported problems in terms of frequency was parents, school, friends, and siblings. For girls, the order differed, with friend-related problems reported most often, then parents, siblings, and school-related problems reported least often. These findings are consistent with those found in the same age groups of middle-school children in the United States.
Perceptual Accuracy as Measured by the Rorschach: Are American Norms Applicable for Cross-Cultural Assessment?
Authors: Rodriguez-Sutil Carlos , Ortiz Pilar , Canovas Catalina P , Garcia M. C. Moreno , Scott Ralph
Published: August 2011

Cross-cultural applications of Rorschach's test assume that American norms may be applied, but this assumption has little empirical basis. In fact, several such investigations have indicated that culture-specific norms must be employed on key variables employed to assess subjects' perceprual accuracy. The current study compared responses of 19 Spanish children who scored low on a reading measure and were considered by their teachers to experience significant reading problems with 19 peers who scored significantly higher on that reading measure and who experienced no apparent reading problems. Perceprual accuracy of both groups, as measured by the F + and X + percents, was virtually identical. Results are discussed in the context of other research which has questioned the cross-cultural applicability of American norms with respect to perceptual accuracy.
Dream Length and Creativity: An opposite Finding
Authors: Schredl Michael
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated the relation between dream length and verbal creativity for 52 subjects who were given a verbal creativity test and also kept a dream diary over a 2-wk. period. Subjects with high verbal creativity scores reported significantly shorter dreams. This may indicate that other factors influence the dream report's length, including visual memory.
Women but Not Men Exhibit a Positive Correlation between Complex Partial Epileptic-Like Signs and Tactile-Visual Cross-Modal Matching: Implications for Hemispheric Intercalation
Authors: Chellew Guylaine , Persinger M. A.
Published: August 2011

16 right-handed men and 19 women were asked to feel various sized wooden cubes with the dominant hand for 2 sec. (without visual feedback) and then to select this cube from a random visual arrangement of cubes (tactile-visual matching) after a brief delay. The accuracy for men and women for this task did not differ significantly; however, the accuracy was significantly correlated ( rho = 0.61) with a history of complex partial epileptic-like signs for the women but not for the men. The results support the hypothesis that elevated scores for complex partial epileptic-like signs in right-handed women enhance their capacity to associate different perceptual domains of the same stimuli because there is elevated activity within the (multimodal) hippo-campal-amygdaloid system (sensory-limbic hyperconnectionism) and the correlative enhanced intercalation between the right and left temporoparietal lobes.