Content effects in problem categorization and problem solving.

In many domains, the content of a problem (i.e., its surface cover story) provides useful clues as to the type of problem it is and to its solution. Five experiments examined this role of problem content on the problem solution and categorization of algebra word problems with experienced participants. In the first experiment, when problem content was atypical for the the problem's deep structure, people were worse at solving the problem. Differences were also detected in the problem solution where the problem's content was highly correlated with its deep structure versus problems where content was neutral to their deep structure. In the other experiments, problem categorization and determination of information relevance depended on how closely the problem's content matched its deep structure. These results suggest that content may be influential even for experienced problem solvers. The discussion examines the implications for problem schema access and application. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The assessment of compositional changes in Nimonic PE16 by convergent beam electron diffraction

Lattice parameter changes can be detected by the use of a previously established technique which is based upon computer simulation of HOLZ patterns. This simulation technique is then applied to two precipitation phenomena in Nimonic PE16. Firstly, the growth of gamma prime, γ, precipitates from a solid solution is monitored via the decrease in lattice parameter of the parent phase, and secondly the lattice parameter of coarsened, overaged γ is measured for precipitates sited both at grain boundaries and within grains. The variations thus detected between intergranular and intragranular precipitates are attributed to changes in the Ti/Al ratio due to preferential γ coarsening at the grain boundary. The very subtle compositional changes inferred (～1 at. % Ti) would have been very difficult to establish by chemical analysis, but can be easily measured by convergent beam electron diffraction.     

An examination of the roles played by meaning of feedback and attention to feedback in the "Valins effect."

Assessed meaning and attention in mediating the cognitive effects of false autonomic feedback, first reported by S. Valins (1966). In the context of a study of the physiological correlates of selective attention, 43 undergraduates were instructed either to attend to or ignore pulsed sounds that were described either as veridical heart rate feedback or as electronic "bleeps." These auditory stimuli were presented in parallel with slides illustrating skin diseases. Consistent with previous findings, slides associated with acceleration of the pulsed sounds were subsequently rated as significantly more unpleasant than those associated with no change in the speed of these sounds. However, this effect was not contingent on the apparent meaning of these sounds (heart rate vs bleeps) but was contingent on the degree of attention paid to the sounds. The "Valins effect" was obtained only when Ss attended to the sounds. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Creativity, masculinity, femininity, and three models of psychological androgyny.

Five empirically derived indices of creative self-concept correlated positively with several indices of psychological masculinity in 85 female and 105 male undergraduates and somewhat negatively with indices of psychological femininity among males and females. Among the measures used were the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and Adjective Check List. Production on the Alternate Uses Test correlated positively with masculinity and negatively with femininity in a subset of 50 males explicitly instructed to "be creative." As a reflection of this positive association between masculinity and creativity indices, Ss defined as masculine or androgynous, using conventional median-split methods, obtained significantly higher creativity indices than conventionally defined feminine or unclassifiable Ss. Results are discussed in terms of (a) the applicability of balance, additive, and multiplicative models of androgyny to the study of creativity; (b) the factorial complexity of several currently used masculinity and femininity scales; and (c) possible conflicts between sex-role expectations and the self-concepts of creative females and apparent congruencies between sex-role expectations and the self-concepts of creative males. (85 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implications of payment of fees for psychotherapy.

Considers the question of how the payment of fees by clients for psychotherapy and related psychological services influences therapeutic outcomes. Psychoanalytic theory and cognitive dissonance theory suggest that clients who pay for psychotherapy will benefit more than those who pay nothing. This question and related issues are discussed with reference to observations and experimental studies that have explored how fees influence psychotherapy. Presently, sufficient evidence does not exist either to support or refute most of the hypotheses that have been generated, including the one that clients who pay a fee benefit more than those who pay nothing. Explanations for this void in the research literature and suggestions for expanding the understanding of this domain are provided. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fluid intelligence performance in the elderly: Intraindividual variability and conditions of assessment.

Reports on 2 studies that examined intra-individual variability (plasticity) in performance on measures of fluid intelligence (figural relations, induction), varying either practice (retesting) or testing time (standard vs power) conditions. Ss were 70 community residents (55 females, 15 males; ages 60–84 yrs). Substantial improvement in level of correct performance (with no evidence for changes in test validity) was obtained for both retest and power conditions. Error patterns, however, differed for the 2 conditions, with a high proportion of commission errors occurring under power conditions. Results are interpreted as contributing to the positions (a) that older persons continue to show learning capacity and (b) that studying the range of performance under varying conditions is critical to an understanding of intellectual aging. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual differences in stimulus intensity modulation and its relationship to two styles of depression in older adults.

Research comparing depressive persons with and without manic symptoms shows striking parallels with differences between augmenters and reducers on the Kinesthetic Aftereffect (KAE) task (A. Petrie, 1967). Twenty-three community-dwelling older adults identified by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (S. R. Hathaway & J. C. McKinley, 1951) as depressive without manic symptoms were compared with 24 older adults with manic symptoms on the KAE, the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1985), and Strelau (J. Strelau, 1983) Temperament Inventory. As hypothesized, augmentation was related to depression without manic symptoms, and reduction was related to depression with manic symptoms. Stepwise discriminant analyses indicated that the KAE is a potent discriminator between the 2 types of depression. Three characteristics of Strelau's "strength of nervous system"—excitation, and inhibition and mobility—discriminate significantly between the 2 groups as well as NEO extraversion and conscientiousness. Results suggest that older depressive persons with and without manic symptoms may benefit from different therapeutic interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physical attractiveness and subjective well-being.

Three studies were conducted to determine whether physical attractiveness (PAT) is related to subjective well-being (SWB). In the first study (N?=?221), unselected students were photographed and videotaped. In the second study (N?=?131), participants were selected on the basis of extremes in PAT, and in the third study (N?=?155), participants were preselected for extreme scores on SWB. Correlations between SWB and PAT varied from .03 to .33. In Study 1 the mean correlation between PAT and SWB was .13. When appearance enhancers (hair, clothing, and jewelry) were covered or removed in Studies 2 and 3, the correlation between PAT and SWB dropped, suggesting that part of the SWB–PAT relation might be due to happier people doing more to enhance their beauty. The impact of PAT on SWB may be mitigated by the fact that others agree on a target's PAT at only modest levels. It was found that self-perceptions of PAT were correlated with both one's objective PAT and one's SWB. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evidence for the Participation of Singlet Oxygen in the Vat–dye Photosensitized Degradation of Cellulose

A study has been made of the vat–dye photosensitized degradation of cellulose. Whilst the part played by the dyes in direct hydrogen abstraction from a cellulose substrate cannot be overlooked, it is apparent that the role played by singlet oxygen is important. The ability of a dye to produce singlet oxygen has been studied by measuring the amount of tetraphenylcyclopentadienone the dye can photo–oxidize. It would appear that the singlet oxygen is initially formed in its high energy g state by energy transfer from the triplet state of the dye to ground state molecular oxygen. Luminescence spectroscopy has been employed in order to gain information about the excited state energies of the dye molecules, and an electron spin resonance study of the dyes in rigid media has been carried out in order to obtain information about the triplet state.     

Clinical effects of longitudinal division of the corpus callosum in normal dogs

Longitudinal division of the corpus callosum was performed in six normal beagles to determine surgical morbidity. The corpus callosum was divided sagittally on the midline and the effect on neurological function was determined. Five of six dogs were clinically normal within 14 days or less after surgery. One dog had persistent but improving clinical signs consistent with a forebrain disturbance at 30 days after surgery. Overall, minimal morbidity and no mortality was associated with this surgical procedure. Further study is indicated to determine the efficacy of this surgical treatment for seizure control in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.