Behavioral effects of ionizing radiations.

The effects of high-energy radiation on pre- and neonatal development, the adult nervous system, learning and performance, and sensory functions are described. Though the number of available studies are few, there is evidence to suggest that: (1) the adult nervous system is relatively radioresistant; (2) learning functions are relatively unaffected by lethal or sublethal dosages of radiation; (3) hearing acuity and thresholds to dark adaptation increase as a result of radiation; and (4) the fetal nervous system is relatively radiosensitive. There is a need for more studies assessing the behavioral effects of radiation. 70-item bibliography. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Replicate, again and again.

In their recent analysis of the Wisconsin early intervention study, R. Sommer and B. A. Sommer (see record 1984-10654-001) deplored the absence of a replication requirement for publication in American Psychological Association journals. The present author discusses the absence of a replication requirement for publication in many psychological journals and its effects on the usefulness and quality of reported findings. The debate on this issue is traced since the 1950's, with emphasis on the 1-paragraph publication suggestion offered by H. Schlosberg (1951). It is recommended that the American Psychological Association Publication Committee or a similar ad hoc body examine the publication policy pertaining to replications. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral effects of ionizing radiations: 1955-61.

A review of the rapidly increasing literature. The conclusions included: (a) Mammals irradiated pre- or neonatally show relatively permanent deficits in several behavioral domains, such as learning, motor functions, mating, etc. (b) Some investigators report that even small doses affect neural functions and consequently CR acquisition while other find no effects even with large doses. (c) Radiation, however, may be an UCS in avoidance conditioning. Also, several motivational variables are affected. (d) Except for vision where the results are equivocal the data on sensory functions are scant. (e) There is little evidence for long-term human changes. (f) It is emphasized that radiation may be a potentially useful tool in several areas. (195 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A tribute to Lashley.

Comments that D. Bruce's (see record 1994-24098-001) summary of K. S. Lashley's (1951) paper on the problem of serial order in behavior omitted some of the important figures of the Zeitgeist that contributed to the neglect of this publication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concomitant eyeblink and heart rate classical conditioning in young, middle-aged, and elderly human subjects.

Pavlovian heart rate (HR) and eyeblink (EB) conditioning were assessed in 4 groups of Ss who differed in age: young?=?19–33 yrs, young middle-aged?=?35–48 yrs, old middle-aged?=?50–63 yrs, and old?=?66–78 yrs. A 100-msec corneal airpuff was the unconditioned stimulus/stimuli (UCS) and a 600-msec tone was the CS. A nonassociative control group received explicitly unpaired tone and airpuff presentations. All Ss were studied for 2 100-trial sessions separated by approximately 7 days. An impairment in acquisition of both the EB and HR responses occurred in the old and middle-age Ss, but all age groups showed significantly greater conditioning than did the control group. Slight increases in performance resulted from a 2nd session of training. These findings suggest and age-related impairment in a general associative process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interest in psychology at the high school level.

Comments on the apparent low interest in psychology among bright high school students as being attributed to the absence of contact with psychologists or psychology as a science in the usual high school curriculum. The author reports that during the past three years at the annual Southern Appalachian Science Fair sponsored by the local Scripps-Howard newspaper and the University of Tennessee, exhibits and studies dealing with psychology have received their due share, if not more, of the awards. This interest in psychology is noteworthy on several accounts. These are expounded upon. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Post-script to "Behavioral Effects of Ionizing Radiations: 1955-61."

A reply to Garcia and Buchwald's elaboration on the stimulus characteristics of radiation. (a) Whether radiation should be considered as an unconscious stimulus is a semantic problem. (b) The arousal properties of radiation which have been previously postulated were, however, experimentally demonstrated during the period that the review paper was in press. (c) To account for the diverse Soviet conditioning data in terms of the short-term arousal phenomenon is much too simplified an explanation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)