Adult age differences in temporal and item memory.

Three experiments tested whether the relationship between age differences in temporal and item memory depends on the degree to which the item memory measure relies on memory for context. The authors predicted a stronger relationship of temporal memory to free recall than to recognition memory. Results showed that age differences in temporal memory could be eliminated after controlling for free recall but not recognition memory performance. Under some conditions recognition memory accounted for a significant portion of age-related variance in temporal memory. These results challenge past research that has interpreted age differences in temporal and item memory as independent and suggest that a generalized decline in context memory may underlie reduced performance in older adults on all types of memory tests. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is the best always preferred?

Comments on G. S. Howard's (see record 1991-17124-001) article on narrative, constructive realism, and scientific "storytelling." According to Howard, the theory that best complies with the rules of scientific storytelling will be more widely endorsed. Howard referred to 3 reasons underlying the preference for a new story: (1) Research decreases a theory's predictive accuracy, (2) new theoretical developments decrease its external validity, or (3) a more powerful theory is developed that tells a more compelling story. As psychology, theories will be evaluated as literary products, and nonepistemic criteria will affect preferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attentional processes in time perception: Effects of mental workload and event structure.

The role of attention in timing was evaluated in 2 experiments. In Experiment 1, participants reproduced the durations of melodies with either a coherent or an incoherent structure. Participants were tested under control (timing only) and detection (timing plus target detection) workload conditions. Reproductions were shorter and more inaccurate under detection conditions, and incoherent event structure extended the effect to a wider range of durations. In Experiment 2, participants reproduced the durations of auditory prose passages that represented 3 levels of mental workload and 3 levels of event structure. Both increases in workload and the degradation of structure led to inaccurate reproductions. The results point to the central role of attention in temporal experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of various forms of relaxation training on physiological and self-report measures of relaxation.

Examined the relative effectiveness of 4 types of relaxation training using electromyograph (EMG) and self-report measures of relaxation as dependent measures. Ss were 50 undergraduates. The experimental groups were (a) classic Jacobson-Wolpe instructions, (b) EMG feedback, (c) EMG feedback plus Jacobson-Wolpe instructions, and (d) EMG feedback plus a monetary reward. These groups were compared with each other and a no-treatment control group over 3 baseline and 12 training periods. All groups reported increased relaxation, but EMG measures showed that in speed of learning and depth of relaxation the EMG groups were superior to the Jacobson-Wolpe group, and the control group did not master relaxation at all. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological separation and the sexual abuse victim.

Discusses evidence from studies of women reporting incestual relationships in their backgrounds that indicates that far-reaching and pervasive impacts in adulthood are associated with these childhood events. The double-bind pattern seen in many incestuous families is described in terms of typical participant relationships; primary, secondary, and tertiary negative injunctions toward the victim; and the failure of separation/individuation that results. This pattern may have as much or greater impact than the presence of sexual contact without a double-bind situation. Based on this assumption, the most effective treatment involves a focus on communication patterns and separation/individuation. A review of the clinical charts of women who terminated with an incest treatment group after 3–22 mo indicates that the vast majority of these Ss were successful in conquering these issues. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpretation and knowledge discovery from the multilayer perceptron network: Opening the black box

This paper interprets the outputs from the multilayer perceptron (MLP) network by finding the input data features at the input layer of the network which activate the hidden layer feature detectors. This leads directly to the deduction of the significant data inputs, the inputs that the network actually uses to perform the input/output mapping for a classification task, and the discovery of the most significant of these data inputs. The analysis presents a method for providing explanations for the network outputs and for representing the knowledge learned by the network in the form of significant input data relationships. During network development the explanation facilities and data relationships can be used for network validation and verification, and after development, for rule induction and data mining where this method provides a potential tool for knowledge discovery in databases (KDD).     

Pavlovian conditioning of sexual arousal: First- and second-order effects.

Four experiments examined the conditioning of sexual arousal in 81 male Long-Evans hooded rats. In each case, the unconditioned response (UCR) was unconsummated arousal after exposure to a female. There was evidence of a substantial conditioned effect, as shown by decreases in the time to complete copulation during postconditioning conditioned stimulus/stimuli (CS) tests. It was also possible to establish a 2nd-order conditioned response (CR), which retained its strength even after extinction of the 1st-order response. Results confirm the power of Pavlovian contingencies in sexual responding. The locus and mode of action of this CR and its function are discussed. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)