Mood as a mediator of place dependent memory.

Converging evidence from 3 studies suggests that how well information transfers from one environment to another depends on how similar the environments feel rather than on how similar they look. Thus, even when target events are encoded and retrieved in the same physical setting, memory performance suffers if the attending affective states differ. Conversely, a change in environment produces no performance decrement if, whether by chance (Experiments 1 and 2) or by design (Experiment 3), the mood at encoding matches the mood at retrieval. These observations imply that place dependent effects are mediated by alterations in affect or mood, and that data that appear on the surface to demonstrate place dependent memory may, at a deeper level, denote the presence of mood dependent memory. Discussion focuses on prospects for future research aimed at clarifying the relations among moods, places, and memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlation, conflict, and choice.

Examined the degree to which individuals adapt their decision processes to the degree of interattribute correlation and conflict characterizing a decision problem. On the basis of an effort–accuracy framework for adaptive decision making, it was predicted that the more negatively correlated the attribute structure, the more people will use strategies that process much of the relevant information and make trade-offs. A computer simulation study supported these predictions, and 2 experiments using process-tracing techniques to monitor information acquisition indicated that individuals did indeed respond to interattribute correlation by shifting their processing strategies in ways that are adaptive according to the effort–accuracy framework. In particular, they faced conflict rather than avoided it and generally processed more information, were less selective, and showed more alternative-based processing in negatively correlated environments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of thermodynamic models on the predictions of free volume diffusion theory for concentrated polymer solutions

Three thermodynamic models were used to demonstrate the effects of model choice on solvent–polymer binary diffusion coefficients predicted by free volume theory. Poly(vinyl acetate) and four solvents were used as typical solutions for these calculations. Thermodynamic models affect the predictions the most at high solvent weight fractions and for solutions which exhibit positive enthalpic interactions. For solutions dilute in solvent where Henry's law might describe phase equilibria, diffusion coefficients can be estimated without reference to thermodynamic data.     

Psychiatric comorbidity in women with binge eating disorder: Prevalence rates from a non-treatment-seeking sample.

This study provides estimates of comorbid psychiatric disorders in women with binge eating disorder (BED). Sixty-one BED and 60 control participants, who were recruited from the community, completed the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) Axis I and Axis II disorders and self-report measures of eating and general psychiatric symptomatology. Regarding psychiatric diagnoses, women with BED had higher lifetime prevalence rates for major depression. any Axis I disorder, and any Axis II disorder relative to controls. BED women also evidenced greater eating and psychiatric symptomatology than did controls. Results suggest that the prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders in BED may be lower than previously indicated by clinical studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parental perceptions of child behavior problems, parenting self-esteem, and mothers' reported stress in younger and older hyperactive and normal children.

40 parents of younger and older hyperactives (Hs; aged 5 yrs 1 mo and 8 yrs 4 mo, respectively) and 51 parents of age-matched normal controls completed measures of hyperactivity and child behavior, parenting self-esteem (PSE), and parenting stress. PSE was lower in parents of Hs than in parents of controls. Self-esteem related to skill/knowledge as a parent was age related, with parents of older Hs reporting the lowest levels; self-esteem related to valuing/comfort in the parenting role was not related to the child's age. Mothers of Hs, especially younger ones, reported markedly higher levels of stress associated with both child characteristics and their own feelings, such as depression, self-blame, and social isolation. Consistent inverse relationships were found between PSE and perceptions of child problems, whereas ratings of child disturbance and maternal stress were positively correlated. Findings are discussed in terms of the social contexts surrounding hyperactivity and the need for multidimensional assessments and interventions in families of Hs. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A theory of visual information acquisition and visual memory with special application to intensity-duration trade-offs.

Describes a theory of memory for visual material in which the visual system acts as a linear filter operating on a stimulus to produce a function, a(t), relating some sensory response to t (the time since stimulus onset). Stimulus information is acquired at a rate proportional to the product of the magnitude by which a(t) exceeds some threshold, and the amount of as-yet-unacquired information. Recall performance is assumed to equal the proportion of acquired information. The theory accounts for data from 2 digit-recall experiments in which stimulus temporal waveform was manipulated. The authors comment on the theory's account of the relation between 2 perceptual events: the phenomenological experience of the stimulus, and the memory representation that accrues from stimulus presentation. It is asserted that these 2 events, although influenced by different variables, can be viewed as resulting from 2 characteristics of the same sensory-response function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Combined effects of nicotine and mecamylamine in attenuating smoking satisfaction.

Separate and combined effects of nicotine (NIC) and the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (MEC) were studied. 12 smokers rated test cigarettes after administration of MEC vs placebo capsules and NIC vs non-NIC preload. Smoking withdrawal symptoms, task performance, and cardiovascular activity were also measured. MEC attenuated smoking satisfaction, liking, and airway sensations. The NIC preload similarly reduced the enjoyable aspects of subsequent test cigarettes, and this action of the preload was not prevented by MEC. In contrast, MEC blocked NIC-related increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Conversely, NIC counteracted MEC's effects on tapping speed and orthostatic blood pressure response. Although each drug offset potential side effects of the other, they acted in unison to attenuate smoking satisfaction and should be evaluated in combination for smoking cessation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical knowledge exhibited by clients and nonclients.

Two studies were conducted to explore the relation between (a) experience in counseling and psychotherapy and (b) ethical knowledge. In Study 1, 77 college students reported their experience as clients in a variety of settings and then completed a questionnaire concerning their knowledge of ethical issues. The hypothesis that clients (subjects who had counseling experience) would demonstrate ethical knowledge superior to that of nonclients (those with no such experience) was not supported. Ethical knowledge did not differ as a function of counseling experience, the setting in which counseling was received, or the number of sessions. However, though overall ethical knowledge was high across groups, knowledge with respect to each ethical issue was incomplete. In Study 2, following the same procedure, we compared 17 current psychotherapy clients at a Veterans Administration medical center with 15 nonclients, patients in the hypertension clinic who had never received psychological services. These clients demonstrated superior ethical knowledge on specific issues (.008?ps?