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- P-ISSN1226-9654
- E-ISSN2733-466X
- KCI
ISSN : 1226-9654
Vol.27 No.3
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the inference complexity and the representational similarity on understanding of the syntactically complex sentences. More specifically, the current experiments tested whether the processes of the syntactic complexity share resources with the other general cognitive processes such as reasoning and similarity processes. The current experiments also focused on the generality of the representational similarity effect and clarifying the locus and nature of the representational similarity by testing whether the representational similarity interact with the demands of conscious reasoning processing or the demands of syntactic complexity. To do so, Korean and English monolinguals were performed the self-paced reading tasks with sentences varying syntactic complexity, representational similarity and the complexity of the inference processing. In both of the Korean and English experiments, representational similarity and the syntactic complexity showed a significant interaction while the inference complexity did not interact with other variables. The results of the Korean and English experiments suggested that processes of the representational similarity and syntactic complexity come first and share resources while they do not share resources with reasoning processing demands.
Abstract
The field of neuroaesthetics has developed rapidly for last ten years or so, since the advent of an influential theoretical model of artistic appreciation and multiple primary research papers in 2004. This review responds to the growing interest in neuroaesthetics in and outside Korea, and seeks for a better understanding of accumulated research outcomes. For that, this review discusses major findings from several early neuroaesthetics works and moves on to the new tendencies of recent neuroaesthetics as follows; 1) classification of the sub-processes of art appreciation and more careful experimental design by introducing control tasks, by focusing on artistic expression more than portrayed objects, by exploring the neural substrates of moderating factors of aesthetic experience such as learning and expertise, by considering the contextual effect modulating aesthetic experience, and by examining what DMN does for art appreciation. Tendencies such as 2) extension to the other types of art including dance and architecture, and 3) usage of various research methods will also be discussed. Next, this review considers some potential limitations of neuroaesthetics in terms of the narrow definition of ‘beauty’ and the tendency of relying on subjective experiences. Based on these, this review seeks for an updated research direction of neuroaesthetics.
Abstract
In this study we examined the effect of Hangul print size on reading speed of young and older adults in a computer environment. The accuracy of sentence reading was measured under the 7 conditions of print sizes, 0.25∼16 times as great as a regular print size for the Internet. The reading speed curve was drawn by applying the curve fitting method to the reading accuracy data. The critical print size(CPS) and the maximum reading speed of young and older adults were compared. The CPS, the smallest print size that can be read with the maximum speed, is at least required for the effective reading performance. The results showed that the reading speed of young and older adults started increasing at the print size of visual angle 0.13° and went up rapidly on line with the print size. The maximum reading speed was reached at the CPS and maintained until the print size of 8.32°. The CPS of older adults, 0.52°, was greater than that of young adults, 0.41°. The maximum reading speed(wpm) were 296 for young adults and 208 for older adults, showing the overall slowdown of reading speed by aging. Our results suggest that the critical print sizes which induce the most effective reading performance are different between young and older adults, and that it is necessary to use a suitable print size for each age group to maximize the reading performance.
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that testosterone may have an effect on the responsiveness of brain reward systems. This notion is based on the organizational effect of prenatal testosterone on developing fetal brain that may permanently influence later behavior. Likewise, the organizational effect of prenatal testosterone may also have effect on neuronal and behavioral responses to reward stimuli later in life. Furthermore, the surge of gonadal steroids at puberty influence reorganization in the brain areas (e.g., striatum, ventral striatum including nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex) that are involved in reward, punishment, motivation, and self-regulation. We reviewed the studies that examined the relationship between sex hormones and addiction. First, testosterone and addiction share common neurophysiology and behavioral similarity. In terms of neurophysiology, testosterone have reinforcing effect by acting on mesolimbic dopamine system that regulate the use of addictive drugs (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, other psychoactive drugs) and other addictive behaviors (e.g., pathological gambling and game addiction). In terms of behavior, high impulsiveness, risk taking, aggression, novelty seeking and sensation seeking associated with high level of testosterone are predictors of addiction. Second, the activation of mesolimbic reward system in response to reward stimuli is moderated by the levels of prenatal and circulating testosterone. Third, 2D:4D ratio and testosterone-dependent behaviors were associated with dopamine receptor genes, particularly with DRD4. These findings implicate that prenatal testosterone may preprogram the sensitivity of brain reward system, and its responsiveness may modulated by the level of circulating testosterone.
Abstract
For cognitive control of behavioral adjustments in feedback learning, various processings are required, including evaluating the saliency (i.e., relevance to the task) and hedonic value of feedback information for future response selection. In this study, brain regions involved in processing feedback saliency were investigated by comparing activations for positive feedback (following correct responses) and negative feedback (following errors) for early and late phases of learning. A conditional associative learning task was used in which stimulus-response association rules were learned by trial and error, based on the feedback. Since there were four available responses to choose among for each stimulus, only positive feedback (i.e., reward) was relevant to behavioral adjustment during the early learning phase of learning, but negative feedback (e.g., penalty) became more relavant as learning progressed. fMRI data obtained from normal adults (n = 29) were analyzed to identify brain regions where responses to each feedback varied across the four consecutive runs. Activation for reward decreased as learning progressed, whereas activation for penalty increased in the following areas: anterior insula, dmPFC and anterior cingulate region, inferior PFC, inferior parietal cortex, and cerebellum. We interpret these results as reflecting the decreased saliency of positive feedback and increased saliency of negative feedback, between early and late phases of the learning task. In contrast, for two areas associated with processing of hedonic value, the ventral striatum and vmPFC, activations (positive > negative feedback) did not vary across the four consecutive runs. These observations suggest that the saliency of feedback for learning is processed in a network separate from that for the hedonic value of feedback.
Abstract
We examined whether there exist implicit associations of preferences from perspectives of nonself people toward various social categories (“implicit meta-attitude”). Using Korean undergraduate participants we measured implicit associations about the attitudes that members of specific outgroups (Black or White racial groups) are expected to have towards their ingroup or an outgroup and compared these measures with each other. To measure implicit associations, we used a modified Implicit Association Test in Study 1, and a modified Brief Implicit Association Test in Study 2. In Study 1, we measured the implicit associations that participants themselves have, or a typical Black or White person would have, toward Black or White racial groups. In Study 2 we measured all these three kinds of associations from same participants as well as their explicit counterparts. Supporting our prediction, implicit associations from the perspectives of a Black or a White person were comparatively more favorable to the respective ingroup; the association measured from the self’s perspective fell between these two. Relationships with explicit attitudes did not show a consistent pattern. We demonstrated that implicit associations from perspectives of social categories one does not belong to can be mentally represented and measured.
Abstract
Approximate number sense (ANS) refers to the ability to approximately estimate and operate upon large numerosity. There have been reports on the correlation between ANS acuity and mathematical achievement supporting the hypothesis that ANS serves as a basic foundation for formal mathematical achievement. However, previous developmental studies mainly focused on ‘Number Concept’ and ‘Arithmetic’ scores and did not differentiate between different domains of mathematics. Therefore, the current study investigated whether the relationship between ANS acuity and math ability differs by the domain of mathematics. In addition, we aimed to test the argument raised by some researchers stating that the relationship between ANS acuity and mathematical achievement is entirely mediated by cognitive control ability. Second graders were tested twice on their ANS acuity and math achievement with a 3-month interval. A number comparison task using a pair of dot arrays was used to measure ANS acuity. ANS acuity was significantly correlated with ‘Number Concept & Arithmetic’ at both testing periods. ‘Geometry’ was significantly correlated with ANS acuity in the second testing session but not in the first. On the other hand, ANS measured under high requirement for cognitive control did not correlate with any measure of math achievement. These results demonstrate that the correlation between ANS and math achievement can be generalized to mathematical domains including ‘Number Concept’, ‘Arithmetic’ and ‘Geometry’. Furthermore, the relationship between ANS acuity and mathematical achievement does not seem to be mediated by cognitive control ability in any domain of mathematics.
Abstract
Using the simultaneous-sequential presentation search paradigm, we investigated how different types of load manipulation would tap into attentional resources and the concrete mechanism by which search would be performed. Search display perceptual load was manipulated by set-size and target-distractor similarity. The benefit of sequential presentation was larger when the load was increased by number of search items than when target-distractor discrimination was made more demanding. Considering that the load effect could be result from both perceptual load and statistical decision noise, the current results are explained by suggesting that set-size will determine whether the search process will be serial or parallel, regardless of perceptual difficulty. Factors that can set the limit of attentional resources are also discussed.
Abstract
This study examined post-error behavior in adult ADHD tendencies based on self-monitoring deficit, and relationship between characteristics of post-error behavior and adults ADHD symptoms. We have measured general performance(response time, ommission and commission errors) and post-error slowing based on response time and accuracy while accomplishing a continuous performance test(CPT), also we newly suggested that the goal recovery performance indices. Next, we have compared performance of participants between post-error behavior and executive function indices to examine whether the post-error behavior indices could be useful or not. As results, in general performance in a CPT, there was only a significant difference in a mean of response time index. In contrast, in the post-error performance indices, there were significant difference in the post-error slowing and the recovery of goal performance indices. Normal controls showed more slow response time as a correct trial after error than ADHD tendencies, and more slow response time during the recovery. Interestingly ADHD tendencies showed more short recovery time than normal controls. Next, There were significant negative correlations in nearly all indices between the post-error behavior indices and CAARS-K scale indices. There were significant correlations between the post-error behavior indices and change blindness(CB) and inhibition of return(IOR) indices, especially, many indices showed significant correlations with the amount of IOR. In addition, the result of a discriminant analysis showed that indices from the post-error behavior have significant discrimination function and discriminant loading. Taken together, the result of the present study may be useful in understanding the characteristic of the post-error behavior and symptom of self-monitoring process in adults with ADHD tendency. Finally, these mean that the post-error behavior can have high possibility of utilizing in the more sensitive neuropsychological task.
Abstract
The physical space around an observer can be divided into the peripersonal space that immediately surrounds the observer and the peripersonal space that cannot be reached by the observer’s hands and other body parts. Actions are mostly executed in the peripersonal space, in which visual processing integrates with somatic perception and enhances visual representations of objects. Recent studies have provided evidence that similar multimodal integration takes place in the extrapersonal space as well if tool-use enables an observer to act towards objects there. Here, we tested if action capability can improve visual sensitivity in the extrapersonal space. Participants performed a task in a distant screen of a computer by using a keyboard. The effect of action capability on visual sensitivity was measured in terms of contrast threshold. Experiment 1 compared threshold changes in one group of participants, who manipulated the movement of a target ball with those in the other group of participants, who did not have a chance to manipulate the ball movement. The improvement in visual sensitivity was greater in the action group than in the observation group. Experiment 2 allowed individual participants to manipulate the movement of a target ball in a part of the screen but not in another part of the screen. Participants showed greater improvement in visual sensitivity only in the screen area in which they were capable of moving the ball. These findings suggest that action capability activates actor-centered coordinate systems in parietal cortex, which in turn enhance visual representations of the extrapersonal space.
Abstract
Two Experiments using a primed lexical decision task investigated what types of linguistic information elicits lexical inhibition during visual word recognition of Korean. We measured participants’ reaction times for this task and three prime-target conditions were used: 1) orthographically related 2) phonologically related and 3) control condition. We attempted to examine how lexical competition occurs when prime words had phonological change and whether the inhibition is modulated by word frequency of prime words (Experiment 1), and investigate whether the lexical competition is modulated by lexical status of the prime stimuli (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, we showed that the reaction times were slower in the phonologically related condition as compared to the control condition, whereas they were faster in the orthographically related condition relative to the control condition. Moreover, this tendency was more noticeable in the low frequency prime condition relative to the high frequency prime condition. However, neither the inhibitory effect by the phonologically related prime nor the facilitative effect of the orthographically related prime were observed in Experiment 2 in which nonword primes were used, suggesting that the inhibitory priming effect is generated due to lexical competition between the prime and the target within a lexical level, not via a pre-lexical level in Korean visual word recognition.
Abstract
Zimbardo and Boyd(1999) suggested the time perspective theory for explaining mental representation. This theory assumes that time is the primary dimension of mental representation. This study was conducted to examine the implicit categorical representation of time perspective using implicit association test(the time persepctive-IAT) sensitive to implicit processing. The results suggested that the time perspective of past, present and future could be major components of mental representation. The time perspective-IAT scores showed that the present were evaluated more positive than the past and the fatalism was more strongly associated with the future than the present. But the effect size of the time perspective-IAT scores were small. These results were discussed by using optimal balanced representation perspective.