Effect of auditory deprivation on visual resolving power.

Conducted 2 experiments in which changes in the critical flicker fusion (CFF) were determined during and after auditory deprivation (silence). In Exp I, 36 male undergraduates were exposed to 1 wk of auditory deprivation, measurements of the CFF being taken at daily intervals and at Days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after the termination of the experimental condition. Results show that the experimental group exhibited a significant progressive improvement in visual resolving power as a function of auditory deprivation and, following its termination, a gradual decline towards the pre-experimental baseline. On the other hand, 2 control conditions, a group of confined Ss, and a non-confined group showed no systematic changes in the CFF. In Exp II with 6 new Ss, the period of auditory deprivation was extended to 14 days. Results again reveal a progressive improvement on the CFF during the 1st wk of silence followed by an asymptotic performance during the 2nd wk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personal resilience, cognitive appraisals, and coping: an integrative model of adjustment to abortion

We hypothesized that the effects of personality (self-esteem, control, and optimism) on postabortion adaptation (distress, well-being, and decision satisfaction) would be fully mediated by preabortion cognitive appraisals (stress appraisals and self-efficacy appraisals) and postabortion coping. We further proposed that the effects of preabortion appraisals on adaptation would be fully mediated by postabortion coping. Results of a longitudinal study of 527 women who had first-trimester abortions supported our hypotheses. Women with more resilient personalities appraised their abortion as less stressful and had higher self-efficacy for coping with the abortion. More positive appraisals predicted greater acceptance/reframing coping and lesser avoidance/denial, venting, support seeking, and religious coping. Acceptance-reframing predicted better adjustment on all measures, whereas avoidance-denial and venting related to poorer adjustment on all measures. Greater support seeking was associated with reduced distress, and greater religious coping was associated with less decision satisfaction.     

Temporal changes in cutaneous sensitivity during prolonged visual deprivation.

Conducted 2 experiments with a total of 62 male undergraduates and 60 controls in which various measures of cutaneous sensitivity were administered at intervals of 0, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days of visual deprivation (darkness). Relative to controls results reveal no significant differences in performance on the 2-point threshold and on measures of pressure and pain sensitivity, although on the last 2 measures a definite trend toward an improvement was observed after the 3rd day. However, results on the tactual fusion threshold reveal a linear improvement in performance as a function of increasing duration of visual deprivation, a facilitatory effect which was already present, to a statistically significant degree, at the 1st test period of 12 hr. Results of a 3rd experiment, also with 32 experimental ss and 30 controls, indicate that this improvement on the tactual fusion task 1st appeared somewhere between 4 and 12 hr. Of deprivation. Various hypotheses are offered to account for these differential results and findings are related to D. P. Schultz's sensoristatic theory. (french summary) (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship between perceptual deprivation tolerance and adequacy of defenses as measured by the Rorschach.

Administered, preexperimentally, the Buhler-Lefever standardization of the Rorschach to 18 undegraduates who succcessfully endured 1 wk. of perceptual deprivation and to 13 undergraduates who were unable to do so. An index of control based on the effectiveness of defense in controlling defense demand was derived for each S. Results reveal that the group with a high-control index was composed largely of successful Ss whereas the group with a low-control index consisted largely of isolation quitters. It is concluded that the index of control, derived from the Rorschach, may serve as an excellent predictor of isolation tolerance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral and physiological changes during prolonged immobilization plus perceptual deprivation.

Ss were 30 male undergraduates. 12 Ss who successfully completed 1 wk. of immobilization plus perceptual deprivation (IPD group) showed a greater slowing of occipital EEG activity, and a poorer performance on a battery of intellectual and perceptual-motor tests than did Ss exposed to a similar duration of either immobilization (1 group) or a recumbent control condition (RC group). During the 1-wk period, the IPD group also showed a significant increase in urinary excretion of noradrenaline, but not of adrenaline, relative to the I and RC group. No significant differences were observed on behavioral measures of subjective stress and mood. (27 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Urinary excretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline during prolonged perceptual deprivation.

Ss who successfully completed 1 wk. of perceptual isolation showed no significant changes in urinary excretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline relative to controls. They also showed no changes on a behavioral measure of subjective stress and mood. Isolation "quitters," i.e., those who failed to complete the prescribed period, also showed no change in noradrenaline. Their urinary excretion of adrenaline, however, increased, but only in Ss who terminated isolation late in the 1-wk period. Perhaps the most important characteristic of the isolation quitters was the presence of a significantly lower base-line level of adrenaline, relative to that of the successful experimental Ss, not only prior to isolation but also many mo. after its termination. No such difference was found for noradrenaline. These results seem to suggest that isolation quitters may be biochemically or "constitutionally" different from volunteers who can successfully complete a prolonged period of perceptual isolation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Letter to The Editor: Canadian Psychologist.

Comments on (1) Anonymous Review of "Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions" by A. W. Pressey and J. P. Zubek (see record 2007-02140-023) and (2) Editorial Policy with Respect to Publishing of Unsigned Book Reviews in the Canadian Psychologist. In the January 1971 issue of the Canadian Psychologist (pages (87-89) there appeared an unsigned review of my co-edited book entitled "Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions". May I state, at the outset, that I was most disturbed by its overall nature which was characterized not only by unwarranted ridicule, some obvious biases, and several gross misinterpretations but also by an almost complete failure to understand the purpose and scope of this book. Even more serious is the reviewer's suggestion or implication that the use of this book might conceivably have a detrimental effect on our beginning university students by providing them with a superficial or even a distorted impression of the nature of "Canadian psychology". Largely because of this allegation, I feel compelled to reply to the review. Furthermore, I also feel compelled to raise a somewhat related issue, viz., the nature of the editorial policy of the Canadian Psychologist regarding book reviews, particularly the publishing of unsigned reviews. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Applying inexpensive AI techniques to computer games

Groo (Generic Robot, Object-Oriented) and tt14m (Trash-Talking 14-year-old Moron) are two systems that use simple and computationally inexpensive artificial intelligence mechanisms to produce engaging character behavior for computer games, while remaining within the performance constraints of modern game development. Groo engages in intelligent tactical behavior in a first-person-shooter death-match game using a fairly simple and static behavior network, while tt14m uses simple text processing to attempt engagement in the social aspects of the game "Counter-Strike".