The Emotional Attentional Blink as a Measure of Patriotism.

This study aims to explore whether the implicit processing of emotional symbols related to patriotic feeling may exert some effects on attention. Here, we have conducted an experiment using two interrelated tasks. First, we use flags with different meanings to participants for measuring the strength of the emotional attentional blink (EAB) within a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm. Then, we use a "congruency judgments" subjective test, where we confront participants to judge the affinity between pairs of politician leaders and flags of different sign for community participants, while recording two physiological measures (Heart Rate Variance and Galvanic Skin Response) to evaluate the variations elicited by that confrontation. Results on the EAB task show a significant emotion induced blindness for emotional stimuli representing Catalan and Spanish patriotism (α = .05), while the effect does not appear for the stimulus representing neutral patriotism. The interaction "Flags x Patriotism" was significant, F(1, 51) = 4.62; p = .036; ηp2 = .083. Results on the second task show that measures derived from electrophysiological records are sensitive to patriotic feeling, both being complementary. In addition, by using measures of congruence, the "Leaders x Flags" interaction was significant, F(3.682, 125.204) = 53.55; p < .001; ηp2 = .612. Finally, a multiple linear regression model for each emotional inductor was verified for the Catalan case, using the EAB effect as criteria, R2Adjusted = .79; p < .001. Some theoretical and methodological aspects derived of this exploratory study are discussed.

The emotional attentional blink as a measure of patriotism

This study aims to explore whether the implicit processing of emotional symbols related to patriotic feeling may exert some effects on attention. Here, we have conducted an experiment using two interrelated tasks. First, we use flags with different meanings to participants for measuring the strength of the emotional attentional blink (EAB) within a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm. Then, we use a "congruency judgments" subjective test, where we confront participants to judge the affinity between pairs of politician leaders and flags of different sign for community participants, while recording two physiological measures (Heart Rate Variance and Galvanic Skin Response) to evaluate the variations elicited by that confrontation. Results on the EAB task show a significant emotion induced blindness for emotional stimuli representing Catalan and Spanish patriotism (alfa = .05), while the effect does not appear for the stimulus representing neutral patriotism. The interaction "Flags X Patriotism" was significant, F(1, 51) = 4.62; p = .036; ηp2 = .083. Results on the second task show that measures derived from electrophysiological records are sensitive to patriotic feeling, both being complementary. In addition, by using measures of congruence, the "Leaders X Flags" interaction was significant, F(3.682, 125.204) = 53.55; p < .001; ηp2 = .612. Finally, a multiple linear regression model for each emotional inductor was verified for the Catalan case, using the EAB effect as criteria, R2Adjusted = .79; p < .001. Some theoretical and methodological aspects derived of this exploratory study are discussed

No disponible

Evidence for a role of corrective eye movements during gaze fixation in saccade planning.

In a three-dimensional (3D) world most saccades are made towards visual targets that are located at different distances. We previously demonstrated that gaze shifts within 3D space consist of two stages: a target saccade followed by a corrective saccade during gaze fixation that directs the eyes to the physical target location. We proposed that, by accurately positioning the eyes on the visual object, the visual system maintains an orderly representation of the visual world. In this study we used a double saccade experiment to assess the function of corrective saccades in humans. We found that, when a corrective eye movement occurred during fixation on the first target point, the direction of the second saccade towards the next target point was accurate. When a corrective saccade was absent, a directional error of the second target saccade was observed. This finding, which cannot be explained by current models of eye movement control, supports the idea of a two-step model in saccade programming. We suggest that the motor system sends a corollary discharge when programming a corrective saccade for maintaining an orderly representation of the visual world. In conclusion, our results indicate that corrective saccades have a role in programming target saccades within 3D space.

The use of programming languages and computer software in psychological science / O uso de linguagens de programação e softwares na ciência psicológica / El uso de los lenguajes de programación y los programas informáticos en la ciencia psicológica

In the present paper, we review some programming languages and computer software used to investigate basic psychological processes. In the first section, we address the principles and logical structure of the most common programming languages (e.g. C, C++, Java, Matlab, R, Python), and in the second section we present some of their applications to psychological research. Finally, we discuss the importance of computer programming as a tool in the field of psychology and its relationship with technological innovation.(AU).

No presente artigo foram revisadas algumas linguagens de programação esoftwares usados na investigação dos processos psicológicos básicos. Na primeira seção, foram abordados os princípios e a estrutura lógica das linguagens mais comuns de programação (e.g. C, C++, Java, Matlab, R e Python), e na segunda seção foram apresentadas algumas de suas aplicações na pesquisa psicológica. Ao final, são discutidas a importância da programação como uma ferramenta no campo da psicologia e sua relação com a inovação tecnológica. (AU).

En el presente artículo revisamos algunos de los lenguajes de programación y programas informáticos utilizados en la investigación de los procesos psicológicos básicos. En la primera sección, abordamos los principios y la estructura lógica de los lenguajes más comunes de programación (e.g., C, C++, Java, Matlab, R, y Python), y en la segunda sección, presentamos algunas de sus aplicaciones en la investigación psicológica. Al final, discutimos la importancia de la programación como una herramienta en el campo de la psicología y su relación con la innovación tecnológica.(AU).

The use of programming languages and computer software in psychological science / O uso de linguagens de programação e softwares na ciência psicológica / El uso de los lenguajes de programación y los programas informáticos en la ciencia psicológica

In the present paper, we review some programming languages and computer software used to investigate basic psychological processes. In the first section, we address the principles and logical structure of the most common programming languages (e.g. C, C++, Java, Matlab, R, Python), and in the second section we present some of their applications to psychological research. Finally, we discuss the importance of computer programming as a tool in the field of psychology and its relationship with technological innovation.

No presente artigo foram revisadas algumas linguagens de programação esoftwares usados na investigação dos processos psicológicos básicos. Na primeira seção, foram abordados os princípios e a estrutura lógica das linguagens mais comuns de programação (e.g. C, C++, Java, Matlab, R e Python), e na segunda seção foram apresentadas algumas de suas aplicações na pesquisa psicológica. Ao final, são discutidas a importância da programação como uma ferramenta no campo da psicologia e sua relação com a inovação tecnológica.

En el presente artículo revisamos algunos de los lenguajes de programación y programas informáticos utilizados en la investigación de los procesos psicológicos básicos. En la primera sección, abordamos los principios y la estructura lógica de los lenguajes más comunes de programación (e.g., C, C++, Java, Matlab, R, y Python), y en la segunda sección, presentamos algunas de sus aplicaciones en la investigación psicológica. Al final, discutimos la importancia de la programación como una herramienta en el campo de la psicología y su relación con la innovación tecnológica.

Comparison of dynamic visual acuity between water polo players and sedentary students.

In this study, we examined differences in dynamic visual acuity between elite and subelite water polo players and sedentary students. To measure dynamic visual acuity binocularly, we asked participants to indicate the orientation of a broken ring, similar to the Landolt C, which increased in size as it moved across a computer screen. Two different speeds, three possible trajectories, and two different levels of contrast were evaluated. There were statistically significant differences between elite players and sedentary students for each combination of speed, contrast, and trajectory. Elite players achieved better dynamic visual acuity scores, and results also improved for some combinations of speed, contrast, and trajectory. Comparison between elite and subelite groups failed to reveal any

Una tarea para evaluar la agudeza visual dinámica y una valoración de la estabilidad de sus mediciones / No disponible

Apenas existen instrumentos de medición adecuados de la capacidad paradiscriminar estímulos en movimiento, cuya aplicación resulte fácil y cuyasvaloraciones sean estables a través del tiempo. También se constata laausencia de un paradigma de evaluación que se muestre sensible anteaquellos factores que, en estudios previos, han sido relacionados con lavisión dinámica. En consecuencia, nos proponemos como objetivo diseñaruna tarea que permita la valoración de la agudeza visual dinámica (AVD),definida como la capacidad de discriminar detalles en condiciones demovimiento relativo entre sujeto y objeto. Para ello, hemos realizado dosestudios psicofísicos. El primero muestra que la AVD resulta modulada portres factores: velocidad, contraste y trayectoria del estímulo móvil,interaccionando significativamente los dos primeros. En el segundo estudio,hemos averiguado la correlación entre la AVD obtenida por los sujetos entres momentos separados, al menos, una semana (t1 y t2) y entre, al menos,dos semanas (t2 y t3). Estas oscilaron entre 0,78-0,92, para una velocidad de14,1º/seg. y entre 0,72-0,85 para una velocidad de 1,4º/seg. Finalmente,comparamos las valoraciones de AVD en esos tres momentos, noencontrando diferencias significativas en el factor temporal. Concluimosque, nuestra tarea constituye una herramienta objetiva, y de fácil aplicacióntanto clínica como experimental, muy útil para valorar la AVD(AU)

[On the metric of visual space]. / Acerca da métrica da percepção do espaço visual.

The major aim of this overview was the visual perception of egocentric (distance from an observer to a target) and exocentric distance (distance between two targets). We considered different issues concerning the relationship between perceived distance and physical distance, giving special attention to the theories, to the cues regarding distance, how perceived distances are measured, and the types of visual environments where the measuring of distances occurred. We concluded that the perceived distance does not reflect a simple transformation of its physical counterpart; rather, the mapping between perceived distance and physical distance depends substantially on the type of visual environments where distances are measured, and, on the cue combination available in these environments.

Acerca da métrica da percepcão do espaco visual / On the metric of visual space

Nesta revisão, analisamos diferentes aspectos relacionados à métrica da percepcão visual. Atencão especial foi dada à mensuracão de distância egocêntrica (distância de um observador a um objeto) e à mensuracão de distância exocêntrica (distância entre dois objetos, ou partes de um objeto). Além disso, foram, brevemente, consideradas as teorias, a natureza dos indícios de distância, os tipos de indicadores de distância percebida, e os ambientes nos quais as distâncias são mensuradas. Concluímos que, a relacão entre distância percebida e distância real não reflete uma simples transformacão de sua contraparte física; em vez disso, esta relacão depende substancialmente do ambiente no qual as distâncias são estimadas bem como da combinacão de indícios de distância presente neste ambiente.

Interação entre os mecanismos cromático e acromático na cromoestereopsia / Interaction between the chromatic mecanism and the achromatic mecanism

Com o objetivo de esclarecer se o mecanismo acromático é independente do cromático ou, pelo contrário, existem interações entre ambos, realizamos dois experimentos. No primeiro, estudamos a profundidade, induzida pela cromoestereopsia de pares de tiras isoluminantes e anisocromáticas inseridas em fundo acromático, que variou em luminância em relação às partes cromáticas. No segundo experimento, utilizamos quatro pares de tiras cromáticas inseridas em fundo de grade de onda quadrada. Nestes fundos, as listras podiam ser isso ou anisoluminantes e isso ou anisocromáticas. Os resultados demonstraram que: 1) a profundidade percebida variava em função da variação da luminância, mudando o sinal da profundidade quando se invertia o sinal da diferença em luminância entre fundo e figura; 2) é possível a cromoestereopsia em baixa luminância; 3) evidenciou-se uma fraca interação entre a variação de contraste cromático e a de contraste de luminância; 4) a interação destes dois mecanismos deve ocorrer em nível pré-retiniano; 5) as respostas dos dois mecanismos são separáveis (AU)

Consumo atencional en la estimación de la profundidad retrovisual / Resources of attention in the assesment of depth perception trough a rear-view mirror

Con el fin de detectar factores de riesgo en la conducción de vehículos, realizamos dos experimentos en los que se evalúa la precisión de los conductores en la estimación de distancias. Ambos experimentos comparan la precisión en dos situaciones: visión directa (frontal) y visión indirecta (retrovisual). El primer experimento se realizó en el laboratorio mediante el test de Howard-Dolman y el segundo en campo abierto. Los resultados muestran que no hay diferencias significativas en cuanto a la precisión en la estimación en ambas situaciones. Tampoco se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas debidas al sexo. Sin embargo, en ambos experimentos se puso de manifiesto un mayor consumo atencional en la condición retrovisual encontramos que en la de visión directa. En la estimación de distancias retrovisual encontramos que los sujetos necesitan más tiempo, hacen más correcciones, juzgan que realizan un mayor esfuerzo cognitivo y tienen menos confianza en sus juicios de estimación de distancias en profundidad. (AU)

With the objective of detecting risk factors in driving we carried out two experiments regarding the precision of car drivers when calculating depth. Both experiments compare precision in two situations: a) direct vision, b) indirect vision. The firt experiment was carried out in the laboratory and the second in the field. The results showed that there are no significant differences of precision in both situations. Neither was there any difference between the sexes. In both experiments we noted a higher level of attention in rear view vision than in frontal vision. In the rear-view situation we found that the subjects needed time, more corrections, more cognitive effort and had less confidence in judgement (AU)