Differences in values between short-term and long-term therapists.

We empirically examined S. H. Budman and A. S. Gurman's (see record 1984-04498-001) theoretical proposals concerning major differences in the value systems of long- vs. short-term therapists. Ss were 222 randomly selected licensed psychologists who indicated their preferred approach (short-term or long-term). Values were assessed with a scale designed for the study. Overall, results indicate that therapists who prefer a short-term approach are more likely to endorse the proposed values of the short-term therapist than are therapists who prefer a long-term approach. This finding held even after the authors controlled for the significant contributions of theoretical orientation and therapeutic practice variables. Specifically, short-term (vs. long-term) therapists believed more that psychological change could occur outside of therapy and that setting time limits would intensify the therapeutic work. Implications for the practice of brief therapy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reconstructive memory bias in recall of neuropsychological symptomatology

Several hypotheses have been advanced in recent years to understand difficulties in agrammatic patients. Some of them are of a structural kind, as the deficiency is said to lie in some of the linguistic system components. Others are of a functional type, as it is stated that the problem of these patients lies in the loss of processing capacity. Using the existence of a syntactic type of structure in Spanish, that active sentences do not follow the canonical S-V-O order, we will try to prove in this article whether agrammatic patients' problems are due to memory span loss or to one of the syntactic process mechanisms. To this end, the performances of three groups of patients are contrasted. Agrammatic, anomic, and normal Spanish speakers are given several tasks of sentence-picture matching and tests of memory span. Results show that agrammatic patients have specific difficulties processing certain syntactical structures; however, their memory deficiencies are not more pronounced than in other patients. It can be concluded, therefore, that the deficiencies of agrammatic patients are of a structural character rather than due to memory span loss.     

Speech Sounds Perception Test: A rational response strategy can invalidate the test results.

The Speech Sounds Perception Test (a component of both the Adult and Midrange versions of Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery) is structured such that correct responses can be determined rationally. If a patient identifies and responds according to that structure, the validity of the test is compromised. Posttest interview is suggested as a simple and immediately applicable solution. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Investigation of WAIS effectiveness in discriminating between temporal and generalized seizure patients.

W. Millberg et al (see record 1980-04482-001) reported that a pattern of WAIS subtests could be used to accurately differentiate between groups of temporal lobe and generalized seizure patients. The discriminative power of the index (Vocabulary plus Information/2 minus Similarities) was thought to reflect specific deficits of the 2 seizure groups in abstract categorization and verbal memory. The present study is a replication and extension of their research. A control group (21 Ss; mean age 31 yrs) was included, and each S was given tests of abstract reasoning and verbal memory to determine the presence of hypothesized deficits for the seizure groups (61 Ss; mean age 31.2 yrs). Discriminant function analysis with the index resulted in a hit rate considerably below the near 80% reported by Millberg et al. One-way ANOVA on the abstract reasoning and verbal memory scores revealed a significant difference between the 3 groups only for abstract reasoning, with the temporal and generalized patients significantly poorer than the controls but not significantly different from each other. Explanations for the differences between the studies and clinical implications are discussed. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Wizard of Oz support throughout an iterative design process

The Wizard of Oz prototyping approach, widely used in human-computer interaction research, is particularly useful in exploring user interfaces for pervasive, ubiquitous, or mixed-reality systems that combine complex sensing and intelligent control logic. The vast design space for such nontraditional interfaces provides many possibilities for user interaction through one or more modalities and often requires challenging hardware and software implementations. The WOz method helps designers avoid getting locked into a particular design or working under an incorrect set of assumptions about user preferences, because it lets them explore and evaluate designs before investing the considerable development time needed to build a complete prototype.     

The localization of sympathetic and vagal neurones innervating the carotid sinus in the rabbit

The distribution of neurones innervating the carotid sinus of the rabbit was determined by inserting chips of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the adventitial layer of the carotid sinus. Labelled neurones were found in the superior cervical ganglion, along the cervical sympathetic trunk and in the nodose ganglion (mean counts of 1876, 139 and 232, respectively). No labelled neurones were located in the middle cervical ganglion or the stellate ganglion. Within the superior cervical ganglion, the fraction of labelled neurones found in equal longitudinal quadrants of the ganglion were, from rostral to caudal, 2%, 12%, 42% and 44%. Thus the majority of neurones were located in the caudal region of the superior cervical ganglion. The primary pathway for sympathetic fibres innervating the carotid sinus was shown to be in branches of the external carotid nerve. The greatest number of labelled neurones in the nodose ganglion were located in the most rostral quadrants of the ganglion.     

The time course of plasma enzyme changes accompanying skeletal muscle stimulation

30 min electrical stimulation of hind limb skeletal muscle in nembutal anaesthetised dogs was accompanied by increases in arterial haematocrit, plasma GOT and plasma LDH, which were almost completed within the first 10 min of stimulation. This fast response indicated that a rapid change in either the entry and/or clearance of enzyme from the plasma must have occurred.     

Integrating perceptual and symbolic information in VR

The problem of integrating symbolic and perceptual information becomes more difficult in a fully immersive virtual reality, in which the computer must draw and render the whole visible apparatus in real time. The authors believe that virtual environments should convey the widest possible range of perceptual and symbolic information. They discuss virtual reality as a user interface. To explore the possibilities they create two virtual athletic venues     

Inotropic and chronotropic responses of the in vivo denervated dog myocardium to dobutamine

The inotropic and chronotropic responses to dobutamine (DBA) and isoprenaline (5ISO) were examined in eight chloralose anaesthetised dogs. Following acute cardiac denervation, heart rate (HR) and contractility (dP/dtmax), measured at a fixed paced atrial rate, were recorded during intravenous infusion of incremental doses of DBA and ISO. Both DBA and ISO elicited increases in HR and dP/dtmax. The increases in dP/dtmax for a one beat per minute increase in HR was 102.0 +/- 10.6 mm Hg/s (1 mm Hg (0 degree C) = 133.322 Pa), during DBA infusion, and 61.5 +/- 8.4 mm Hg/s during ISO infusion. It appeared that the relatively greater inotropic effect of DBA in comparison with ISO was the result of an augmentation of its inotropic activity. DBA infusion was accompanied by a significant increase in mean aortic pressure at all doses examined. An increase in afterload may account for part of the increased inotropic responses to DBA.