Perceptual and Motor Skills

The purpose was to investigate the effects of 3-D form features on the object-categorization process. 30 subjects [17 male and 13 female undergraduate industrial design students whose mean age was 20.7 yr. (SD = 1.5)] were asked to classify 32 3-D prismatic images according to their similarity. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analyses indicated that the classification process was strongly related to the prisms' compounded features. The attention-weighting of each individual form feature was calculated by regression analysis which further indicated that each feature had a different effect on the categorizing process.

When two novel conditioned stimuli precede an unconditioned stimulus (US), the interval between the two conditioned stimuli (CS₁ and CS₂) influences the magnitude of the CS-US associability of each CS. As the interval between CS₁ and CS₂ increases, the associability of CS₁ with the US decreases due to interference by CS₂ and the associability of CS₂ increases, given its temporal proximity to the US. Because hypothermia has been reported to increase the interval at which conditioned taste aversions can be formed, its influence was examined on the above relationship, i.e., how interference from CS₂ affects the associability of CS₁ with the US. Rats received a conditioned taste aversion procedure where CS₁ and CS₂ were presented either one after the other or separated by an 80-min. delay. For all subjects, the US or pseudo-US was presented immediately after CS₂. When hypothermia was interpolated between the two flavor stimuli that were spaced 80 min. apart, CS₂-interference with the CS₁-US association was greatly attenuated. We propose that hypothermia modifies internal timing mechanisms such that the externally timed 80-min. CS₁-CS₂ interval was perceived as much shorter for rats made hypothermic. As a result of this perceived shortened inter-CS interval, CS₂ produced less interference for the CS₁-US association than would be expected for such a relatively long delay between CS₁ and CS₂.

The seasonality of suicides in the USA increased from the 1970s to the 1990s. A significant proportion of suicide variation due to the seasonal component has been reported. Noted increments in seasonal rhythms in the latter part of the 1980s and 1990s seem to support those of Warren, et al. but contradict the conclusions of diminishing drawn by Hakko, et al., Rhimer, et al., and Yip, et al.

This work evaluated the association of age and dream reports. The verbal reports of 148 dreams of elderly people (M age = 75.8 yr.) were compared with 151 dreams of a group of young people (M age = 22.0). The dreams were analyzed according to the Jungian vision (which looks at the dream as a text produced by the dreamer's unconscious while sleeping), using processing techniques derived from textual analysis. Significant differences were found between the number of words denoting emotion, with the young people reporting more explicit statements regarding emotional states. Significant differences were found also in use of verb tenses. When older people explicitly expressed an emotional state in a dream text, they shifted between present and past tense more frequently than young people. A significant prevalence in the semantic field of visual sense was evident as younger subjects used more sentences referring to sight than the elderly participants.

24 adults ages 60+ yr. transcribed 60 words and 30 sentences spoken by native speakers of English, Taiwanese, and Spanish to assess whether familiarity with the nonnative English speakers' accents improved transcription scores. The accuracy of listeners' transcription scores on the first half of the stimulus items was compared with accuracy of listeners' scores on the second half. Analysis indicated accuracy of transcriptions declined on words but improved for sentences, so familiarity and length of the stimuli may influence listeners' accurate transcribing of accented speech.

Reading from a visual display terminal (VDT) has increased enormously with widespread computer use. Whether such reading affects higher cognitive processes requires study so the effect of display medium (LCD screen vs paper) and luminance contrast (1:3, 1:7, 1:11) on concept-formation performance and EEG responses was investigated. 96 men and 24 women participated in two concept-formation tasks (rule learning vs attribute and rule learning). Concept-formation performance and EEG responses were similar for stimuli displayed on paper or LCD screen. The concern that the screen may be detrimental to conception-formation performance was not confirmed; however, luminance contrast significantly affected time to complete a concept-formation task and EEG response. The middle contrast (1:7) had the smallest mean EEG power, so this contrast might be appropriate for cognitive performance. Participants' performance was significantly faster and EEG power lower for the rule-learning task than for an attribute and rule-learning task.

The present study examined the role of personal relevance of sensory pain-related words in selective attentional processing measured with a modified Stroop task administered to 30 patients with chronic low back pain. A related aim of this study was to introduce the application of multilevel analysis to test the influence of personal relevance on selective attentional processing in this sample. Patients completed the modified Stroop task, as well as a set of self-report measures aimed to assess Fear of Pain, Trait Anxiety, Catastrophizing, Pain Vigilance, and Pain Intensity. The modified Stroop task comprised 33 sensory pain-related words for which the personal relevance towards current concerns was rated afterwards by each participant on a 7-point Likert-type scale. The multilevel analyses did not support the hypothesis that personal relevance of sensory pain-related words interacted with Fear of Pain scores of patients in accounting for reaction times in naming the color of sensory pain-related words. None of the other self-report measures accounted for reaction times in isolation or in interaction with personal relevance. The modified Stroop task does not appear to be a robust measure of selective attentional processing in patients with chronic low back pain. The usefulness of other paradigms, such as the visual dotprobe task, should be explored in examining selective attentional processing in this population.

A 6-item measure of computer anxiety was devised and showed good reliability and validity in both American and English samples so it could be useful in survey research when a brief measure of computer anxiety is needed.

The purpose of the present study was two-fold, (1) to examine the psychological elements of flow state experienced by top athletes during competition and (2) to explore the psychological states leading to flow experience. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 29 Japanese athletes regarding experiences in which they felt they were able to display 100% of their abilities and which they fully enjoyed. Interview contents were classified by the main investigator and independently by an external examiner. Analysis indicated that 92.6% of elements agreed with Csikszentmihalyi's model of flow. Three categories in Jackson's nomenclature (1996), unambiguous feedback, concentration on the task at hand, and autotelic experience, reported at a higher rate in the present study, may be the basic characteristics of flow state. The psychological states leading up to flow state were placed into six categories: relaxed, self-confident, highly motivated, completely focused, lack of negative thoughts and feelings, and extremely positive. Relaxed, self-confident, and highly motivated were reported by most of the athletes, suggesting they are primary elements for an optimal experience.

Understanding the control of movement requires an awareness of how tasks constrain movements. The present study investigated the effects of two types of task constraints—spatial accuracy (effector size) and target location—on reaching kinematics. 15 right-handed healthy young adults (7 men, 8 women) whose mean age was 23.6 yr. (SD = 3.9 yr.) performed the ringing task under six conditions, formed by the crossing of effector size (larger vs smaller size) and target location (left, right, or a central position). Significant main effects of effector size and target location were found for peak velocity and movement time. There was a significant interaction for the percentage of time to peak velocity. The findings suggested that task constraints may modulate movement performance in specific ways. Effects of effector size might be a consequence of feedforward and feedback control, and location effects might be influenced by both biomechanical and neurological factors.

Based on tenets of cognitive behavioral and social cognitive theory, the association of change in body-esteem factors and attendance in a newly initiated, 12-wk. cardiovascular exercise program was estimated in women (age range = 21 to 60 years, M = 41.4, SD = 12.2). For the group given the exercise program (n = 48), there were significant positive changes on the Weight Control and Physical Condition scores of the Body Esteem Scale at 12 weeks, but not on Sexual Attractiveness scores. For the no-exercise control group (n = 30), no significant changes were found on any of the Body Esteem Scale subscales. For the exercise group, regression analyses indicated between 8% and 9% of the variance in exercise session attendance was accounted for by the changes in scores on each of the three subscales. Entering age into multiple regression equations did not increase the explained variances in attendance. The fit of the findings within behavioral theory, implications for change in exercise behavior, and the need for replication and extension were discussed.

Sleep disturbances may contribute to cognitive and psychomotor impairments. 50 HIV-positive and 50 HIV-negative adults were assessed on cognitive performance and sleep hygiene. The HIV-positive group performed more poorly on cognitive measures; however, no group differences were found for the sleep variables. In the HIV-positive group, indicators of sleep disturbance were correlated to various measures of cognitive functioning and depression.

This study assessed the effectiveness of an activity-based intervention program and a direct instruction program for preschool children with disabilities. Two groups of preschool students (average age = 4.1 yr.), classified as having developmental delays or at risk for such delays, were selected. They were provided 15 weeks of physical education through activity-based intervention and 15 weeks of physical education by direct instruction. Instruction was provided three times a week for 30-min. each session. In the fall semester the morning group received physical education through activity-based intervention, while the afternoon group received physical education through direct instruction. In the spring semester delivery of instruction was reversed for each group. The curriculum and activities provided to each group were identical with only the instructional delivery format altered. Two sets of pre- and post-tests using the Test of Gross Motor Development were administered before and after each 15-wk. instructional period. Group improvement in skills was compared between instructional methods. Significant improvement in both locomotor and object control skills through the activity-based intervention was found compared to direct instruction. Activity-based intervention was shown to be easily adapted to a naturalistic educational setting befitting that of preschool education.

There are many technologies with which users must read text from small-screen electronic devices. So, understanding the constraints and optimization of humans' use of these devices is important. In the present study, the optimal ways to display Chinese text on a single-line display were explored. 64 Chinese-speaking Taiwanese undergraduates participated in a 4 × 2 mixed design in which the presentation mode was a between-subjects factor and the text difficulty was a within-subjects factor. Four presentation modes in which two presentation formats, i.e., leading and rapid serial visual presentation, combined with two text layouts, i.e., convention and Interword spacing, were investigated. Chinese texts of High Difficulty and Low Difficulty were compared. The results showed that the leading format with Interword spacing resulted in greater reading efficiency and faster preferred reading speed than other presentation modes. Although the reading efficiency and preferred reading speed for Low Difficulty materials were significantly greater than for High Difficulty materials, the interaction between the presentation mode and text difficulty was not significant. The applications for presenting moving Chinese text on a single-line display are briefly discussed.

Self-reflexion is the conscious process of taking the position of an observer in relation to one's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Building on the work of Lefebvre, Lefebvre, and Adams-Webber, we used a formal algebraic model of self-reflexion to derive several predictions regarding the frequencies with which individuals would rate themselves and others positively on bipolar scales anchored by adjective terms. The current results from 108 participants (41 men, 67 women; M age = 20.2 yr.) confirmed two predictions derived from the model. Three other predictions, however, were not supported even though the observed frequencies were close to the predicted values. Although not as promising as results reported by Lefebvre, et al., these mixed findings were interpreted as encouraging support for the validity of Lefebvre's algebraic model of self-reflexion. Differences between the current methods and those from previous investigations were also examined, and methodological implications for further studies were discussed.

8 preschoolers with specific language impairment (age range = 44–58 mo.) and 8 language-matched, typically developing toddlers (22–29 mo.) participated in a verb comprehension task to investigate sensitivity to auxiliary is in four contexts—grammatical (Who is pushing?), omitted (Who pushing?), ungrammatical (Who in pushing?), and nonsense (Who id pushing?). Analysis yielded a significant interaction: children with specific language impairment had the lowest comprehension in the ungrammatical context and typically developing children had the highest. Perhaps children with specific language impairment, but not younger typically developing children, were sensitive to grammatical co-occurrences. One explanation is that knowledge of morphosyntax exceeded production for children with specific language impairment. Moreover, typically developing children may have ignored morpheme anomalies, perhaps benefitting from other input cues or flexible sentence processing.

This study aimed to examine the potential of the Theory of Planned Behavior to predict moral behavior in primary school physical education classes. Primary school children (N = 611) completed a questionnaire including the Theory of Planned Behavior variables. Also, 21 teachers filled in an adapted version of Horrocks' Prosocial Play Behavior Inventory which assesses five moral behavior facets. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that attitudes toward moral behavior and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of intention towards moral behavior (54%). Intention and perceived behavioral control predicted teacher-reported moral behavior (41%). The present results indicated that the theory provides a valuable framework for study of primary school children's moral behavior.

Two experiments tested the adequacy of behavioral criteria to fractionate reaction time (RT) into independent premotor (cognitive) and motor components. Healthy participants performed an omitted stimulus reaction time task in which they responded to the termination of a train of lateralized visual, auditory or tactile stimuli. Exp. 1 with 48 participants (24 men) showed premotor RT was independent of motor RT in each sensory modality and did not differ as a function of side of presentation or sex. Repeated tests administered in Exp. 2 (N = 12) also showed no significant association between the behaviorally fractionated measures. These results are comparable to those obtained using muscle potential to fractionate RT and suggest behaviorally fractionated premotor and motor RT could be a reliable, useful tool in the assessment of cognitive and motor processing in different sensory modalities of healthy people or those with brain injury, disease, or drug-induced disturbances.

This study examined the validity of the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (Competitiveness: 13 items, Win Orientation: 6 items, and Goal Orientation: 6 items) in a sample of 195 wheelchair basketball athletes from the USA. Following evidence for sample-specific validity, the measurement model that underlies the questionnaire was examined. A short-form with 15 items for three factors of Competitiveness (7 items), Win Orientation (5 items) and Goal Orientation (3 items) fit the data (χ²/ df ratio = 2.21, NNFI = .892, CFI = .991, RCFI = .935, SRMR = .058, RMSEA = .071). To evaluate the findings further, we cross-validated the short-form by sex. Structural equation modeling indicated there were similar measurement properties and factor structures for the men and women, indicating similar conceptualization of sport orientations. Meaningful comparisons across sex may be undertaken, since both men and women who are wheelchair basketball athletes perceive the three short-form SOQ factors similarly.

To investigate the cognitive functioning of children and adolescents with Schizophrenia Spectrum disorders and Psychosis Not Otherwise Specified, 22 child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients and day-hospital patients at a state psychiatric hospital with Schizophrenia Spectrum disorders, 30 with Psychosis Not Otherwise Specified, and 130 with other psychiatric disorders, ages 8 to 17 years, were administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–III for psychological assessment at admission. The Performance IQs of the ADHD and the Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder groups were significantly higher than those of the Schizophrenia Spectrum and the Psychosis Not Otherwise Specified groups, and the Full Scale IQs of the Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder group were significantly higher than those of the Schizophrenia Spectrum group and the Psychosis Not Otherwise Specified group. The Coding scores of the ADHD group were significantly higher than those of the Schizophrenia Spectrum, the Psychosis Not Otherwise Specified, and the Bipolar Disorder groups. There was a significant negative correlation between age and Digit Span for the Schizophrenia Spectrum disorders group.

The effects of specific versus variable practice on retention and transfer was investigated. 30 participants were randomly assigned to one of three practice conditions. The variable speed group practiced on a pursuit rotor task at three different speeds (60, 45, 30 rpm) which were randomly distributed but equal in number for 30 10-sec. trials on Day 1. The Specific Practice group performed all 30 10-sec. trials at 45 rpm on Day 1. On Day 2, all groups performed 15 trials at the 45-rpm retention speed and 15 trials at the 75-rpm transfer speed. The Control group only performed on Day 2. Analysis showed the Specific Practice group had significantly higher scores on Day 1. On Day 2, the Specific Practice group had significantly higher retention scores and the Variable Practice group had higher transfer scores. Continuous motor skills might be practiced differently depending on the environmental context in which the skill may be used.

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in physical activity patterns of high school graduates in Texas who completed physical education class credit during high school and those who did not but who were varsity athletes. A questionnaire was designed and tested for reliability prior to being administered to 201 college students. Analysis indicated that participants who completed high school physical education class credit do not currently participate in regular physical activity as mucn as those who were not required to complete such credit. Conversely, athletes who did not participate in physical education reported currently engaging in more cardiovascular exercise and team sports than the physical education students during high school.

More than 5,000 passengers on Tokyo subway trains were injured with toxic chemicals including the nerve gas “sarin” on March 20, 1995. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of sarin exposure on insomnia in a cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire concerning sleep-related items was distributed to victims of sarin exposure in October and November, 2003. Questionnaires were completed by 161 of the 163 participants (98.8%), who were selected from 1,500 subjects. Among them, the authors selected 75 women 30 to 69 years of age. Control participants were collected from inhabitants living in Maebachi City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. For the younger exposed group (under 50 yr. of age), percentages of poor sleep, difficulty falling asleep, intermittent awakening, early morning awakening, a feeling of light overnight sleep, and insomnia were significantly higher than those for the control group. In contrast, the older exposed group (ages 50 to 69 years) had significantly higher prevalence of poor sleep, a feeling of light overnight sleep, and early morning awakening for the exposed group when compared with the control group. The high prevalence of insomnia and insomnia-related factors for victims especially under 50 years of age suggests a need for research on sleep quality after sarin exposure. Although posttraumatic stress disorder is assumed to be a psychological effect of exposure to a toxic substance, a cause-and-effect relationship has not been established.

The purpose of the study was to investigate saccadic latency and percentage of express saccades involved in predictable tasks between skilled and novice ball players. Participants performed four different tasks, including time and direction unpredictable task, time predictable task, direction predictable task, and time and direction predictable task at the visual angles of 10 and 20°. Skilled ball players had shorter mean saccadic latency than novice players on direction and time and direction predictable tasks. The percentage of express saccades of skilled ball players was higher than that of novice players on the latter. Saccadic latency was shorter in the 10° condition in time and direction unpredictable task and time predictable task than for 20°. These results suggested that predictive ability might be one of the general characters distinguishing skilled ball athletes from novices in visuomotor performance. The prediction might reduce the mean difference in the saccadic latency at various visual angles.

The possible relationships of migraine to left-handedness and left-eyedness, as well as sex and aura-related differences, were examined. 146 migraine patients (M age = 32.1 yr., SD = 9.5) and 141 controls (M age = 30.0 yr., SD=9.3) participated. Hand preference was assessed by the modified version of the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Ocular dominance was measured by means of the near-far alignment test. Migraine diagnoses were made on the basis of criteria provided from the International Headache Society. In the overall sample and in women, left-handedness and left-eyedness were not significantly correlated with migraine. In men, the incidence of left-handedness and left-eyedness were significantly higher in patients than in controls. The presence of aura in patients with migraine was significantly associated with the incidence of left-eyedness and crossed hand-eye dominance, but not handedness, for the total sample and women. These results suggest that there may be a tendency towards anomalous dominance, especially left-eyedness, in migraine patients particularly those with aura.

The purpose of the present research was to explore the relationship between the sensory difference in hues in the hue circle of the HSB color space and their included angles in identification tasks. In the experiment, the two colors were presented separately, and the test subjects judged whether the two colors were the same or different. Five hues, called Standard Stimulus Hues and the most saturated colors in the hue circle of the HSB color space, were discussed. These are hue 0°, hue 72°, hue 216°, and hue 288° in the HSB color space. The Just Identifiable Angle refers to the included angle between a specific standard hue and the hue which cannot be identified separately and which is the furthest from the standard hue in the hue circle of the HSB color space. Analysis gave a significant main effect of standard hue. The Just Identifiable Angles for hue 72° and hue 288° did not differ significantly, but their Just Identifiable Angles were discernibly lower than those for the other three hues. The Just Identifiable Angle of hue 144° was significantly lower than those for hue 0° and hue 216°. In addition, the Just Identifiable Angle for hue 0° was noticeably larger than the one for hue 216°, so the final outcome might show that the Just Identifiable angles of the standard hues are not equal.

The purpose of this study was to examine mountaineers' (expert, less-experienced, nonparticipant) risk perception in 19 outdoor-adventure sports related to their sex and sports experience. A total of 299 experienced mountaineers (90 women, 209 men), 321 less-experienced mountaineers (110 women, 211 men) and 193 volunteers nonparticipants in sport (95 women and 98 men) took part. Data were collected with items on a Likert-type 5-point scale. Test-retest over 15 days ranged from .64–86. A two-way variance analysis of sex × group showed that men's mean risk perception was lower than that of women for orienteering, mountain biking, rowing, surfing, sailing, nordic skiing, tour skiing, snowboarding, parachuting, and cliff jumping. Also, experienced mountaineers' mean risk perception was lower than that of those less experienced.

The primary purpose of this research was to examine the validity of the hierarchical physical self-perceptions model developed by Fox and Corbin (1989) within a population of physically disabled individuals. The secondary purpose was to compare the physical self-perceptions of those who were physically active and physically inactive. 97 adults with physical disabilities completed a self-esteem scale and the Physical Self-perception Profile, Japanese short version to assess General Physical Self-worth and its subdomains of Perceived Sports Competence, Physical Condition, Attractive Body, and Physical Strength. Path analysis showed adequate fit of the data to the hierarchical physical self-perception model. In general, physical self-perceptions were rated more favorably by physically active participants.