Psychological Bulletin

Hicks, Leslie H.; Birren, James E.

doi: 10.1037/h0033064pmid: 4322220

Reviews research on psychomotor slowing in aged and brain-damaged Ss and attempts to identify brain mechanisms related to this slowing. Behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neurophysiological evidence indicate that the basal ganglia with their complex neural connections are importantly involved in the speed of initiating and executing movements. It is suggested that damage or dysfunction of the basal ganglia may be a basis for the psychomotor slowness observed in human and animal Ss. (174 ref.)

Levine, Marvin

doi: 10.1037/h0032951pmid: 5496759

Discusses the common assumption in hypothesis models of discrimination learning that an S samples a single hypothesis and that this hypothesis dictates his response. An alternative assumption, termed subset-sampling, is that an S samples several hypotheses at a time. The S may then either take 1, a working hypothesis, as the basis for his response, or make the response consistent with the majority of the hypotheses in his subset. Data that favor the subset-sampling assumption are: (a) methods for measuring the size of the hypothesis universe show that the S is evaluating and correctly rejecting several hypotheses per trial; (b) during the criterion run of correct responses, latencies decrease until the S holds only the correct hypothesis. After this point the latencies are constant; (c) in experiments with 2 relevant and redundant cues, Ss occasionally learn both solutions; and (d) some stimulus sequences produce a preponderance of response to 1 side in excess of that predicted by the single-hypothesis assumption. (19 ref.)

Over, Ray

doi: 10.1037/h0032943pmid: 5496760

Discusses recent experiments which indicate that the magnitude of a figural aftereffect is dependent on decision processes in addition to stimulus variables. The influence of judgment time, expectation, and instructional criterion on figural aftereffect is examined. It is suggested that the lack of attention paid to these variables may be responsible for the discrepant findings that have been characteristic of research in the area. (32 ref.)

Fehr, Fred S.; Stern, John A.

doi: 10.1037/h0032958pmid: 5496761

Considers that while there are a number of current reviews of the literature which emphasize the important relationships between CNS system variables and emotion, less attention has been given to the possible relevance of peripheral autonomic variables for a more comprehensive understanding of emotional behavior. Findings which are relevant to current concepts of the physiology of emotions are examined within the traditional and familiar framework of the James-Lange theory of emotion. This theory generated a number of hypotheses regarding peripheral autonomic functioning, and a great deal of research has accumulated relevant to them. Commonly reiterated and controversial aspects of the theory are reviewed in terms of current research findings of physiological functioning, studies involving the artificial induction of autonomic responses, differential patterns of physiological response, and feedback to the CNS autonomic activity. (106 ref.)

Money, John

doi: 10.1037/h0033067pmid: 5496762

Proposes that the classification of homosexuality as hereditary or constitutional vs. acquired is outmoded. It is suggested that the differentiation should be between chronic, obligative, or essential vs. transient, facultative, or optional. Cytogenetics and statistical genetics do not elucidate etiology, but new research on fetal hormonal differentiation of sexual morphology, and especially of sexually dimorphic hypothalamic differentiation offers promising leads. The sum total of the sex-differential effects of assignment and rearing on gender identity differentiation is known, through observations of hermaphrodites, to be profound. Postpubertally, homosexuality does not correlate with hormonal measures presently available or with assessments of neuroperceptual sex differences in erotic arousal. It is concluded that sexual dimorphism of brain functioning in gender identity is the end product of sequential events of critical periods, with pre- and postnatal effects interacting, and the end product being extremely durable. (76 ref.)

O'Connell, Daniel C.

doi: 10.1037/h0032952pmid: N/A

Discusses research on the facilitation of recall through the introduction of linguistic structure (bound morphemes, functors, syntax) into nonsense strings. This effect is well-established, but delicate, being influenced by the wordlike character of the nonsense stems, string length, stage of learning, rate and mode of presentation and response mode. It is suggested that future research must be based more firmly on both psycholinguistic and verbal learning methodology. (43 ref.)