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- Title
- Contrast Effects as a Function of Differential Preadaptation.
- Creator
- Henke, Peter G., Adamson, Robert E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which preadaptation to differential brightness magnitude affects responses to a constant postadaptation stimulus. Twenty-four male albino rats, one hundred and tweny days old, were divided into four groups and differentially preadapted in Skinner-boxes to 236.90, 77.25, 22.87, and 1.27 apparent foot-candles for 10 minutes, without access to a bar. Immediately following this period the Ss were allowed to respond under continuous...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which preadaptation to differential brightness magnitude affects responses to a constant postadaptation stimulus. Twenty-four male albino rats, one hundred and tweny days old, were divided into four groups and differentially preadapted in Skinner-boxes to 236.90, 77.25, 22.87, and 1.27 apparent foot-candles for 10 minutes, without access to a bar. Immediately following this period the Ss were allowed to respond under continuous reinforcement to a postadaptation stimulus of 236.90 apparent foot-candles. Measurement in terms of bar pressing indicated that the four groups extinguished differentially over six days. The control group, for whom the discrepancy bwtween preadaptation magnitude and postadaptation stimulus remained zero, was found most resistant to extiction during this period. Additionally, increases in the discrepancy between the pre- and postadaptation magnitudes led to experimental groups. The implications of these data for the proposition of stimulus definitions in terms of behaviorally effective magnitudes were discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1967
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012588
- Subject Headings
- Adaptability (Psychology), Extinction (Psychology), Psychophysiology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Contrast Effects: Shifts in Work Load.
- Creator
- Gunn, Diana H., Adamson, Robert E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
The observation of contrast effects (CE) in response to differential relnforcenent has subsequently elicited a diversity of experimental results and theoretical interpretations. Adaptation Level (AL ) concepts have provided a mechanism for integrating such data within a psychophysical frame-of-reference approach. The application of this approach to the somewhat neglected area of response-produced stimuli associated with effort, suggests that proprioceptive stimuli may be effectively evaluated...
Show moreThe observation of contrast effects (CE) in response to differential relnforcenent has subsequently elicited a diversity of experimental results and theoretical interpretations. Adaptation Level (AL ) concepts have provided a mechanism for integrating such data within a psychophysical frame-of-reference approach. The application of this approach to the somewhat neglected area of response-produced stimuli associated with effort, suggests that proprioceptive stimuli may be effectively evaluated in a simllar manner. Following shifts in the amount of effort required to produce a constant reward magnitude, performance measures demonstrated positive and negative contrast effects (PCE; NCE) in relation to an appropriate control performance. Data analysis suggested that the combined effects of greater effort and shift conditions tended to increase resistance to extinction. The findings are not consistent Kith traditional (e. g., Hull, Spence) concepts with regard to CE and the influence of effort on performance. It is suggested that such effects are more consistent with a contextual, or frame-of- reference, viewpoint.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1967
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012587
- Subject Headings
- Performance, Reinforcement (Psychology), Reward (Psychology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effects of Non-reinforced Test Trials on Transposition.
- Creator
- Royal, Jackson W., Adamson, Robert E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Ten male albino rats were trained In a brightness discrimination problem where they were reQuired to choose a sttmulus value of 0.053 ft/cd over one of 0.012 ft/cd. Pairs were matched accordlng to the number of trials requtred to reach a criterion of 18/20 correct responses then randomly assigned to one of two grouos for testing In transposition. Both groups were tested on the orlgtnally positive stimulus and a brighter one: 1.25 ft/cd for Group 8-C and 5.38 ft/cd for Group 8-D. By testing...
Show moreTen male albino rats were trained In a brightness discrimination problem where they were reQuired to choose a sttmulus value of 0.053 ft/cd over one of 0.012 ft/cd. Pairs were matched accordlng to the number of trials requtred to reach a criterion of 18/20 correct responses then randomly assigned to one of two grouos for testing In transposition. Both groups were tested on the orlgtnally positive stimulus and a brighter one: 1.25 ft/cd for Group 8-C and 5.38 ft/cd for Group 8-D. By testing for transposttlon wtth non-reinforced trials, contrary to the usual method, a tendency toward converging measures of transposltton was achteved. Transposition for Group 8-D, In the situation most dissimilar to training, was greater than for 8-C. These results were discussed from relational or Gestalt, Spence model, and Adaptation Level positions and It was shown that the results are contrary to traditional Gestalt predictions. It was oredlcted that, according to underlying assumptions of the Spence model, with continued non-reinforced trials, per cent of transposition for both groups would decrease until a chance level of responding was reached. That this did not occur cannot be explained by the Spence model. Because the variability was too great with such a small N, these results did not reach the .05 level of probability.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1968
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012596
- Subject Headings
- Transfer of training, Discrimination learning, Extinction (Psychology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Squirrel Monkeys, Discrimination Learning and Sequential Testing: The Redundancy, Relative Position and Complexity of Random Shapes.
- Creator
- McNab, Levie J., Michels, Kenneth M., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
This study was a partial replication of one previously reported by Nash and Michels (1966). The purpose was to investigate perceptual form discrimination behavior of young squirrel monkeys as affected by contextual variables of the stimulus. The variables examined were Redundancy, Position and, of the form itself, Complexity. In addition, a sequential method of testing and recording was compared with the conventional 50-trial block procedure. Two 17 month old monkeys were tested on eight...
Show moreThis study was a partial replication of one previously reported by Nash and Michels (1966). The purpose was to investigate perceptual form discrimination behavior of young squirrel monkeys as affected by contextual variables of the stimulus. The variables examined were Redundancy, Position and, of the form itself, Complexity. In addition, a sequential method of testing and recording was compared with the conventional 50-trial block procedure. Two 17 month old monkeys were tested on eight twochoice problems in a Purdue General Test Apparatus. The problems each consisted of two slides on which pairs of random shapes were presented. The shapes within each pair of slides were held constant on the parameters investigated. One slide was designated as the positive stimulus and presented in either the right or left position in random order. The number of correct responses for the 50-trial blocks, as examined by an analysis of variance, failed to reach statistical significance for any of the variables investigated. However, graphic inspection of the data suggests general agreement with the findings of Nash and Michels (1966). In comparing the two methods of testing, the sequential test of performance (STOP) was equally as effective as the conventional method and could have provided a substantial savings in test time. Comparison of scores obtained by the two procedures shows good correlation. Although no strong conclusions can be drawn from the data, they do lead to the speculation that there is a relationship between effect and extent of redundancy, and that failure of S to make a correct response in the test situation may be the result of cue sampling rather than a failure to discriminate.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1968
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012593
- Subject Headings
- Form perception, Visual discrimination, Monkeys--Behavior
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCIES OF TWO PROCEDURES FOR THE EXTINCTION OF DISCRIMINATED AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING.
- Creator
- JACKSON, MASON CALVIN, JR., Florida Atlantic University, Otten, Cynthia S., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Eighteen rats were used to study two procedures for the extinction of discriminated avoidance. One group (OE) was placed on extinction defined by presenting shocks as programmed but independently of the S's responses, while the other group (CE) was placed on classical extinction defined by the removal of all shocks. The two procedures were compared in terms of rate of decline and terminal level of extinction performance. In addition, the two groups were placed on a discrimination reversal...
Show moreEighteen rats were used to study two procedures for the extinction of discriminated avoidance. One group (OE) was placed on extinction defined by presenting shocks as programmed but independently of the S's responses, while the other group (CE) was placed on classical extinction defined by the removal of all shocks. The two procedures were compared in terms of rate of decline and terminal level of extinction performance. In addition, the two groups were placed on a discrimination reversal task in order to assess each procedure's effects on a new learning problem. The CE group reached a lower level of extinction performance in a fewer number of blocks than the OE Ss. Furthermore, the CE Ss were inferior to the OE Ss in terms of discrimination reversal performance as well. An interpretation of the results in terms of the removal and reinstatement of cues was offered although an alternative explanation relating to a change in the motivational states of the two groups during extinction was also presented. The interpretation in terms of the presence or absence of cues seemed to account for more of the present findings than the traditional one advocating changes in motivational levels resulting from the two divergent extinction operations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1971
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13433
- Subject Headings
- Extinction (Psychology), Discrimination learning, Avoidance (Psychology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE EFFECTS OF PROGESTERONE, TESTOSTERONE, AND DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE ON THE MALE AND FEMALE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF THE FEMALE RAT.
- Creator
- KAPLAN, PETER L., Florida Atlantic University, Singer, Jay J., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Twenty-six 75-day-old, ovariectomized Long-Evans female rats were randomly divided into two groups of ten and one group of six animals. The ten Group I Ss received, in consecutive treatment periods, 2 mg progesterone (P-2) daily, 2 mg testosterone propiorate (TP-2) daily, TP-2 daily plus P-2 every fourth day, and P-2 every fourth day. The ten Group II Ss received, in consecutive treatment periods, P-2 every fourth day, and 4 mg dihydrotestosterone (DHT-4) daily plus P-2 every fourth day. Both...
Show moreTwenty-six 75-day-old, ovariectomized Long-Evans female rats were randomly divided into two groups of ten and one group of six animals. The ten Group I Ss received, in consecutive treatment periods, 2 mg progesterone (P-2) daily, 2 mg testosterone propiorate (TP-2) daily, TP-2 daily plus P-2 every fourth day, and P-2 every fourth day. The ten Group II Ss received, in consecutive treatment periods, P-2 every fourth day, and 4 mg dihydrotestosterone (DHT-4) daily plus P-2 every fourth day. Both Groups I and II were tested for female sexual behavior. A significant increase in the lordosis response was observed only in Group I Ss after receiving TP-2 plus P-2 every fourth day. Group III Ss were tested for male sexual behavior after receiving DHT-4 daily. Male sexual behavior increased significantly after DHT-4 treatments. It was concluded that progesterone exerts a facilitatory effect on female sexual behavior only when the Ss have been previously primed with an aromatizable androgen and that dihydrotestosterone is capable of inducing male sexual behavior in female rats.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1973
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13576
- Subject Headings
- Sexual behavior in animals, Hormones, Sex
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RELOCATION PROGRAMS FOR MIGRANT AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.
- Creator
- THOMSON, LINDA M., Florida Atlantic University, Cataldo, Everett, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
This paper reports on a project to compile educational and acculturational programs for migrant workers who were to be relocated in West Palm Beach through a family rehabilitation program, Rural New Town, Inc. The programs were developed under contract and represent the first compilation of migrant educational materials. Materials from every source were combined and through strict attention to the particular needs of the migrant population a comprehensive plan was created to direct the...
Show moreThis paper reports on a project to compile educational and acculturational programs for migrant workers who were to be relocated in West Palm Beach through a family rehabilitation program, Rural New Town, Inc. The programs were developed under contract and represent the first compilation of migrant educational materials. Materials from every source were combined and through strict attention to the particular needs of the migrant population a comprehensive plan was created to direct the migrant and the administrator in the acculturation/education process.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1974
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13673
- Subject Headings
- Migrant agricultural laborers--Florida--Palm Beach County, Migrant agricultural laborers--United States
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- SEX DIFFERENCES IN AROUSAL REDUCTION DURING AN INTERPERSONAL VERBAL CONFLICT.
- Creator
- COLOMBO, JACK., Florida Atlantic University, O'Donovan, Denis, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in arousal reduction between males and females as a function of the sex of target and type of verbal counterresponse, during an interpersonal conflict. The independent variables were the sex of subject, sex of target and type of counterresponse. The dependent variable was the arousal reduction score. Twenty undergraduate males and twenty undergraduate females were used. Sex differences in arousal reduction for subjects counterresponding...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to investigate differences in arousal reduction between males and females as a function of the sex of target and type of verbal counterresponse, during an interpersonal conflict. The independent variables were the sex of subject, sex of target and type of counterresponse. The dependent variable was the arousal reduction score. Twenty undergraduate males and twenty undergraduate females were used. Sex differences in arousal reduction for subjects counterresponding to verbal aggression were found for sex of subject, sex of target and type of counterresponse. Male subjects showed significant arousal reduction only for the disagree counterresponse and females showed arousal reduction only for the agreed counterresponse. Significant arousal reduction occurred only when the subject disagreed with a male target and agreed with a female target.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1975
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13719
- Subject Headings
- Psychology, Experimental
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN THE TIMING OF ORGANIZATION IN CHILDREN'S RECALL.
- Creator
- HIBEL, JANET, Florida Atlantic University, Bjorklund, David F., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
In the present experiment possible developmental differences in the timing of organization in children's free recall were examined. It was hypothesized that children who organize information at input would show a smaller decrement in recall as a result of delayed testing with related than with unrelated materials. If the categorical similarity among items is discovered at input, the resulting organizational scheme(s) would make the individual items more resistant to forgetting over time....
Show moreIn the present experiment possible developmental differences in the timing of organization in children's free recall were examined. It was hypothesized that children who organize information at input would show a smaller decrement in recall as a result of delayed testing with related than with unrelated materials. If the categorical similarity among items is discovered at input, the resulting organizational scheme(s) would make the individual items more resistant to forgetting over time. However, since no organizational scheme could be imposed upon unrelated items, many items would be lost as a result of delayed testing. This pattern of data was predicted only for junior high students and not for second and third graders. However, contrary to expectation, both the younger and older groups of subjects showed this pattern, indicating that children of both age groups organize categorically related information at input. The possibility of a semantic facilitative effect for the younger subjects was discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1978
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13934
- Subject Headings
- Recollection (Psychology), Memory in children
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- PERCEPTUAL SEGREGATION AND THE CATEGORY EFFECT.
- Creator
- ROSENTHAL, ALAN., Florida Atlantic University, Hock, Howard S., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
A category effect of alphanumeric characters in a visual search paradigm was examined to see whether the effect could be accounted for by the number of memory comparisons or by an early stage of perceptual processing. In Experiments 1 and 2, subjects searched for targets in either a within-category or between-category condition. The two experiments differed by the point in the trials where "catch trials" were presented. Experiment 3 used new configurations based on Gestalt principles which...
Show moreA category effect of alphanumeric characters in a visual search paradigm was examined to see whether the effect could be accounted for by the number of memory comparisons or by an early stage of perceptual processing. In Experiments 1 and 2, subjects searched for targets in either a within-category or between-category condition. The two experiments differed by the point in the trials where "catch trials" were presented. Experiment 3 used new configurations based on Gestalt principles which had been shown to influence target detection times at an early level of perceptual processing. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 favored a perceptual explanation mediating the effect. In Experiment 3, the critical interaction of category and Gestalt factors which would have demonstrated a competition in perceptually parsing the display fell short of significance.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1980
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14036
- Subject Headings
- Human information processing, Perception
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- REVERSAL OF FORELIMB PLACING DEFICITS WITH CORTICAL SPREADING DEPRESSION.
- Creator
- Kehoe, Priscilla, Florida Atlantic University, Wolgin, David L., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Rats with lesions of the ventromedial aspect of the internal capsule in the vicinty of the entopeduncular nucleus (EP) showed a loss of forelimb placing (chin, contact and visual) in the contralateral limb. Spreading depression induced by instillation of KCl (25%) to the cortex contralateral to the lesion brought back placing in the affected limb and abolished placing in the normal limb. Within 24 hours the pre-spreading depression state returned and the impaired limb no longer placed while...
Show moreRats with lesions of the ventromedial aspect of the internal capsule in the vicinty of the entopeduncular nucleus (EP) showed a loss of forelimb placing (chin, contact and visual) in the contralateral limb. Spreading depression induced by instillation of KCl (25%) to the cortex contralateral to the lesion brought back placing in the affected limb and abolished placing in the normal limb. Within 24 hours the pre-spreading depression state returned and the impaired limb no longer placed while the normal limb recovered function. In contrast, KCl on the ipsilateral cortex did not reinstate placing. These results suggest that the loss of placing following lesions of the EP are due to tonic inhibition from the cortex contralateral to the lesion. Sensory summation was evident during the early recovery period when placing was accomplished only if two kinds of stimuli were provided simultaneously. Forelimb placing recovered to its pre-lesion state.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1981
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14078
- Subject Headings
- Rats--Physiology, Neural circuitry
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- EVOKED POTENTIAL CORRELATES OF STIMULUS NOVELTY.
- Creator
- JASIUKAITIS, PAUL ALEXANDER, Florida Atlantic University, Nash, Allan J., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Sokolov's (1963) hypothesis of selective extinction of the orienting response accounts for the phenomenon of dishabituation by a discrepancy between immediate sensory input and a stored template of a habituated stimulus. The "oddball" stimulus procedure often used to elicit the P300 evoked potential waveform bears resemblance to a habituation-dishabituation paradigm. In the present experiment subjects were habituated to a 70 dB tone burst which was then occasionally replaced by 50, 60, 80 or...
Show moreSokolov's (1963) hypothesis of selective extinction of the orienting response accounts for the phenomenon of dishabituation by a discrepancy between immediate sensory input and a stored template of a habituated stimulus. The "oddball" stimulus procedure often used to elicit the P300 evoked potential waveform bears resemblance to a habituation-dishabituation paradigm. In the present experiment subjects were habituated to a 70 dB tone burst which was then occasionally replaced by 50, 60, 80 or 90 dB stimuli. According to a selective extinction model of the P300, equal absolute amounts of stimulus change should evoke equal amplitude waveforms. While the decreased intensity stimuli did evoke a P300, the largest P300s were associated with an intensity increase. The N200 component was seen to be largest with intensity decrease. It is suggested that the N200 is the evoked potential correlate of discrepancy detection which can be obscured by an intensity-driven P300.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1982
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14125
- Subject Headings
- Evoked potentials (Electrophysiology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- IS EARLY SEX TYPING DUE TO CHILDREN'S ATTEMPTS TO MATCH THEIR BEHAVIOR TO SEX ROLE STEREOTYPES?.
- Creator
- WHITE, ADAM JASON, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
To test the hypothesis that children know that certain toys are appropriate for their own sex before they indicate preferences for these toys, 128 boys and girls, aged two through five, were shown pictures of masculine, faninine, and neutral toys. First, subjects indicated their personal preferences (preference test). Second, subjects indicated which itans were more appropriate for their sex (stereotype test). There was no evidence for the hypothesis. In fact, children--especially boys-...
Show moreTo test the hypothesis that children know that certain toys are appropriate for their own sex before they indicate preferences for these toys, 128 boys and girls, aged two through five, were shown pictures of masculine, faninine, and neutral toys. First, subjects indicated their personal preferences (preference test). Second, subjects indicated which itans were more appropriate for their sex (stereotype test). There was no evidence for the hypothesis. In fact, children--especially boys--displayed considerable sex-typed behavior in their toy preferences at an earlier age than they expressed awareness of which toys are appropriate for their own sex. This suggested that early sex-typed preferences result from something other than children's attempts to emulate same-sex stereotypes. A second hypothesis was that boys would show greater rejection of cross-sex toys than girls. This hypothesis also was rejected. Boys and girls showed equal rejection of cross-sex toys, but boys more frequently chose same-sex toys than girls did.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1983
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14185
- Subject Headings
- Sex role in children, Toys
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE ROLE OF ASSOCIATIVITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC ORGANIZATION IN CHILDREN'S MEMORY.
- Creator
- JACOBS, JOHN WILLIAM, Florida Atlantic University, Bjorklund, David F., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Cognitive theorists hypothesize two types of cognitive processes (e.g., automatic and effortful) which may influence human information processing. This thesis investigates age differences in when children use intralist associative relationships (thought to be automatic in nature) to identify other (categorical) relations. Use of conceptual/ categorical relations to organize recall is thought to be effortful in nature. Sixty children each from grades 3, 5, 7, and 9 were presented orally with...
Show moreCognitive theorists hypothesize two types of cognitive processes (e.g., automatic and effortful) which may influence human information processing. This thesis investigates age differences in when children use intralist associative relationships (thought to be automatic in nature) to identify other (categorical) relations. Use of conceptual/ categorical relations to organize recall is thought to be effortful in nature. Sixty children each from grades 3, 5, 7, and 9 were presented orally with lists of 20 words under free-recall instructions. Results provide support for the position that recall memory of young children is mediated primarily by associative rather than conceptual relationships. Also, partial support was obtained for the three stage model of the development of organization proposed by Bjorklund and Zeman (1982). However, the model's prediction of when children will optimally use associative relationships to identify categorized relations was inaccurate. These results indicate that older childrens' recall can be facilitated by automatic cognitive processes resulting in higher levels of clustering (organization) and recall.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1984
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14187
- Subject Headings
- Memory in children, Association of ideas, Cognition in children
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Postnatal development of brainstem gustatory pathways: Development of protein P-38 immunoreactivity and myelination of chorda tympani axons.
- Creator
- Kachele, Diane L., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Previous studies conducted in this lab have shown that morphological changes occur in postsynaptic elements of brainstem gustatory relays during rat's postnatal life. Dendritic length and mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity increase in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) and in the caudal parabrachial nucleus (PBN). These increases are well-related to certain aspects of neurophysiological development in the NST and PBN. Other factors are known to contribute to the...
Show morePrevious studies conducted in this lab have shown that morphological changes occur in postsynaptic elements of brainstem gustatory relays during rat's postnatal life. Dendritic length and mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity increase in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) and in the caudal parabrachial nucleus (PBN). These increases are well-related to certain aspects of neurophysiological development in the NST and PBN. Other factors are known to contribute to the development of neurophysiological responses, such as synapse formation and myelination of axons. The present study examined developmental increases in protein P-38 immunoreactivity. Protein P-38 ("Synaptophysin") is a specific integral membrane protein found in small, clear synaptic vesicles. In addition, the time-course for myelination of central chorda tympani (CT) axons was investigated. Results demonstrate that P-38 immunoreactivity increases in the NST and PBN in a temporally-sequential manner during postnatal development. Reliable increases in P-38 immunoreactivity are observed between postnatal days 1 and 10 (P1-P10) in the rostral NST, whereas density of reaction products in the PBN increases from P11-P31. The time-course for myelination of chorda tympani (CT) axons within the medulla does not differ from the time-course for myelination of CT axons in the periphery. These studies confirm that both pre- and postsynaptic constituents of brainstem gustatory relays develop in a temporally-sequential manner. Relationships between these neurological changes and the ontogeny of adult-like taste-guided responses are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1989
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11932
- Subject Headings
- Psychology, Psychobiology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Maintenance versus emergence in social judgment: The case of rape.
- Creator
- Selz, Karen A., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
The principles of action identification theory are used to form a foundation for a dynamic approach to social interaction that may capture both stability and change in social judgments. Attributions of blame in an ambiguous rape case were explored through the presentation of transcribed interviews with either an alleged rapist (Larry) or his alleged victim (Jane), under either an induced high or low level of action identification, followed by one of two courtroom "closing arguments,"...
Show moreThe principles of action identification theory are used to form a foundation for a dynamic approach to social interaction that may capture both stability and change in social judgments. Attributions of blame in an ambiguous rape case were explored through the presentation of transcribed interviews with either an alleged rapist (Larry) or his alleged victim (Jane), under either an induced high or low level of action identification, followed by one of two courtroom "closing arguments," attributing primary responsibility for the incident to either Larry or Jane. Responsibility judgments and personality trait ratings were obtained from each subject on both Larry and Jane. Action identification questionnaires for the Larry and Jane perspectives were administered to each participant. As predicted, compared to the high level subjects, subjects in the low level identity condition were more malleable in their judgments of either target. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1989
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14540
- Subject Headings
- Psychology, Social
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Children's perceptions of the consequences of aggression toward victimized peers.
- Creator
- Williard, Jean Carlisle, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
In Study 1, fourth--through seventh-grade children (mean age = 11.5 years) were asked to estimate the likelihood that various outcomes would occur following hypothetical acts of aggression by themselves toward victimized and nonvictimized peers. Subjects were also asked to indicate how much they valued the occurrence of the outcomes. When the targets of the aggression were victimized peers, children were more likely to anticipate tangible rewards, more likely to expect signs of victim...
Show moreIn Study 1, fourth--through seventh-grade children (mean age = 11.5 years) were asked to estimate the likelihood that various outcomes would occur following hypothetical acts of aggression by themselves toward victimized and nonvictimized peers. Subjects were also asked to indicate how much they valued the occurrence of the outcomes. When the targets of the aggression were victimized peers, children were more likely to anticipate tangible rewards, more likely to expect signs of victim suffering, and less likely to anticipate retaliation than when aggressing against nonvictimized peers. Also, children placed greater value on securing tangible rewards but were less concerned by the thought of hurting or by the thought of their target retaliating when attacking a victimized peer than attacking a nonvictimized peer. This pattern was stronger for boys than for girls. Study 2 was designed to see what evaluative reactions fourth--through seventh-grade children (mean age = 11.3 years) would expect from themselves, from peers, and from teachers for aggression against victimized and nonvictimized peers. When contemplating aggressing against a victimized peer, children expected less disapproval from self and peers. A second purpose of Study 2 was to determine whether children were more likely to display hostile attributional bias toward victimized peers than toward nonvictimized peers. As predicted, hostile attributional bias was greater toward victimized peers than toward nonvictimized peers. Implications for theories of aggression, future areas of research, and for intervention with victimized children are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1990
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12259
- Subject Headings
- Psychology, Developmental, Psychology, Personality
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effects of giftedness and achievement on the training and transfer of a strategy for solving analogies.
- Creator
- Muir-Broaddus, Jacqueline E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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This research explored group differences according to giftedness and achievement in the acquisition and generalization of a strategy for solving analogies. A distinction was made between proximal and distal transfer, with the latter expected to differentiate between gifted and nongifted cognition. Underachievement in gifted children was expected to reflect either strategy deficits, or the absence of performance differences in a theoretically important cognitive skill (generalization) between...
Show moreThis research explored group differences according to giftedness and achievement in the acquisition and generalization of a strategy for solving analogies. A distinction was made between proximal and distal transfer, with the latter expected to differentiate between gifted and nongifted cognition. Underachievement in gifted children was expected to reflect either strategy deficits, or the absence of performance differences in a theoretically important cognitive skill (generalization) between the so-called "underachieving" gifted and other bright but nongifted children. 162 seventh and eighth graders were selected according to intelligence and achievement scores, academic program, and teacher opinion, and assigned to one of four groups: high achieving gifted, underachieving gifted, high achieving nongifted, and average achieving nongifted. Each child was seen individually for two sessions, and solved a total of five sets of ten multiple-choice analogies. The first session included two baseline trials (one verbal and one figural set), followed by training in the use of a strategy. The second session included a proximal transfer trial (same analogy type as used at training), and a distal transfer trial (analogies from the never-trained domain). All analogies were solved orally, and strategy use was determined from audio-recordings. The results showed that the high achieving gifted children were more spontaneously, frequently, and successfully strategic than the other three groups, as well as most accurate following the decision not to use a strategy. They were also the only group to show performance increases at distal transfer. In terms of gifted underachievement, there was evidence to support both hypotheses. The underachieving gifted children showed qualitative deficits in strategic functioning as compared to their high achieving gifted counterparts, and also tended to "look" like the high achieving nongifted group in their patterns of performance. These results were discussed in terms of the likelihood of subgroups of underachieving gifted children, and their implications for education and the identification of giftedness.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1990
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12258
- Subject Headings
- Education, Educational Psychology, Education, Special, Psychology, Developmental, Psychology, Experimental
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Converging evidence of the development of efficient inhibition.
- Creator
- Harnishfeger, Katherine Kipp, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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Four experiments were conducted to examine developmental differences in inhibitory processing. Experiment 1 demonstrated increasing inhibitory efficiency with age in a Stroop-type task. First graders did not show a significant inhibition effect, which was shown by all older groups. With age, greater proportional decrements in response latency were found for Stroop tasks with an inhibition component than for a standard Stroop task. Experiment 2 contrasted cued-recall performance on an...
Show moreFour experiments were conducted to examine developmental differences in inhibitory processing. Experiment 1 demonstrated increasing inhibitory efficiency with age in a Stroop-type task. First graders did not show a significant inhibition effect, which was shown by all older groups. With age, greater proportional decrements in response latency were found for Stroop tasks with an inhibition component than for a standard Stroop task. Experiment 2 contrasted cued-recall performance on an unrelated list with performance on a list of scrambled high-associate pairs. Kindergartners, second and fourth graders recalled less than adults, and more of their total output during recall was composed of inappropriate intrusions. Examination of interitem response latencies revealed that kindergartners' processing did not differentiate between inappropriate intrusions and correct responses, whereas older subjects distinguished between correct responses and all errors. In Experiment 3, subjects were read lists of words, were told to forget some of the words, and then were unexpectedly asked to recall the to-be-forgotten words. Adults and fifth graders who were told to forget were able to inhibit the pre-cue items, although the words were available in a recognition task. First graders were not able to inhibit activations of pre-cue items, and they did not show the standard directed-forgetting patterns of performance. Patterns of inhibition for third grade children fell between that of first and fifth graders. In Experiment 4, an intentional/incidental contrast was added to the directed-forgetting paradigm. This experiment replicated earlier work, finding directed-forgetting effects for both incidentally and intentionally learned words. Developmental changes in performance replicated those of Experiment 3. Latencies between consecutively recalled words were also examined. Subjects who were not told to forget words showed a processing advantage, in terms of faster latencies, for primacy items. When subjects were given the forget cue, their processing was slightly quicker for second list half items. In general, results were consistent with the inefficient inhibition hypothesis, suggesting that inhibitory processing becomes more efficient over the elementary school years. Implications for the limited mental resources model, and the inefficient inhibition hypothesis, were discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1991
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12274
- Subject Headings
- Psychology, Developmental
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Self-evaluation of social ability: An action identification analysis.
- Creator
- Kingree, Jeffrey Brooks, Florida Atlantic University, Vallacher, Robin R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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A critical discrepancy in the self-evaluation literature concerns whether self-uncertainty leads to accurate or biased self-evaluations. After discussing the prior research which has rendered this discrepancy, I propose an experiment to reach a resolution to the discrepancy. Principles of action identification theory are used in proposing that the link between self-uncertainty and self-evaluation is moderated by the amount of evaluative threat inherent to the situation in which the self...
Show moreA critical discrepancy in the self-evaluation literature concerns whether self-uncertainty leads to accurate or biased self-evaluations. After discussing the prior research which has rendered this discrepancy, I propose an experiment to reach a resolution to the discrepancy. Principles of action identification theory are used in proposing that the link between self-uncertainty and self-evaluation is moderated by the amount of evaluative threat inherent to the situation in which the self-evaluation is taking place. The experiment established that subjects who are induced to identify their actions in low level terms are more likely to exhibit biases when pursuing self-evaluations of their social ability, with the biases manifested in these subjects' preferences to be evaluated in non-diagnostic ways. The implications of this general finding and suggestions for further research are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1991
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14728
- Subject Headings
- Intentionalism, Self, Social psychology
- Format
- Document (PDF)