Signal combination in vibration perception

While the brain’s integration of auditory and visual inputs has been extensively investigated, the mechanisms underlying the combination of somatosensory signals remain less explored. Here, we investigated vibrotactile summation across fingers using psychophysical and electrophysiological methods. In Experiment 1, discrimination thresholds for 26 Hz vibrations were measured using a two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) task. Thresholds exhibited a 'dipper' pattern when plotted against pedestal intensity. Detection thresholds decreased by approximately 1dB when all ten fingers were stimulated ('dekadactyl' condition) compared to when each alternate finger was stimulated ('pentadactyl' condition), suggesting a process of probability summation. When a target stimulus was presented to five digits and a pedestal stimulus to the remaining digits ('dichodactyl' condition) thresholds increased, consistent with suppression between digit representations. In Experiment 2, steady-state somatosensory evoked potential (SSSEP) signals showed approximately a 1.4-fold amplitude increase in dekadactyl compared to pentadactyl conditions, indicating a summation effect. Conversely, SSSEP amplitudes decreased when targets and masks were presented at different frequencies, providing additional evidence of suppression. These results are consistent with a model featuring inhibition between digits and reveal that the weight of suppression is intermediate between that observed in binocular vision and binaural hearing

How consistent are UK university rankings of subjects and their shifts? An exploration using a robust ranking aggregation method

Rankings are ubiquitous, also within higher education settings. Guides are produced and they contain rankings for each subject provider. University rankings influence student choice of where to study. Moreover, league table rankings may be used by institutions to inform policy. As such, it is important to ensure these rankings are reliable. In this research, we applied a novel robust ranking algorithmic (RRA) method, commonly used in biosciences, to determine university rankings and compared this against the rankings from well-used university league tables (Guardian / Complete university guide). Although there was some correspondence between the RRA method rankings and the university league tables, there were also inconsistencies. Indeed, the median rank shift was 18 ranks for the Guardian University Guide and 11 ranks for the Complete University Guide. These findings were similar regardless of whether the focus was all institutions or those in the Russell Group. Additionally, there was little correspondence in ranking changes across years between the RRA and either well-used league table. Based on this, we argue that it is important to consider the reliability of university league tables when they are used in decision making, either by students or university staff

Virtual Reality Offerings for and by Marginalized Populations: A Scoping Review on Equity and Intersectionality

Virtual reality (VR) programs can support multiple aspects of well-being and have been developed by marginalized groups for these purposes, but there is still a systemic power imbalance. Marginalized groups have a place in digital well-being and can lead efforts directed towards resources that they desire. To better support these efforts and mobilize knowledge amongst marginalized stakeholders, we performed a scoping review of VR’s use for wellbeing. Taking an equity lens that considers the experiences of intersectional marginalization, we aimed to identify VR programs, their targets, outcomes, and equity-related facilitators and barriers. In May 2023, we conducted a comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, PsychInfo, Embase, and Web of Science databases and grey literature for virtual reality and marginalized populations. Eligible research articles since the inception of the databases were those that met our predefined criteria of VR, marginalized populations, and well-being. We included 38 studies and charted preregistered variables using narrative synthesis and descriptive statistics. The populations represented in the included studies were often intersectionally marginalized and observed that VR offered diverse support, such as social support and affirmation, mental and emotional well-being, education and support for disability and physical health, and cultural connections. Overall, most studies reported positive findings, though several noted no effect on at least some outcomes. VR’s flexibility created informal, flexible spaces, with support from peers, and contributed to mental and social well-being. Several factors could challenge marginalized groups’ ability to follow and create pathways to VR well-being programs, such as the lack of free programs, data and program ownership, and intersectional data analyses. This area reflects a growing literature topic, with half of the studies published in 2022 or 2023. Which also means, currently, many studies have limitations like small sample sizes and are lacking mixed-methods or practical significance analyses. Moving forward, researchers could apply more open-access and inclusivity practices in their design and recruitment to widen equitable access to marginalized stakeholders. However, many marginalized populations created VR programs and benefited from them, contributing to a rebalancing of power over wellbeing

The association between racism and psychosis: An umbrella review

Elevated rates of psychosis are consistently identified in people from racialised backgrounds, with growing evidence from the systematic review literature that suggests a role for racial/ethnic discrimination. We synthesised current systematic review evidence on the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and psychosis. We conducted an umbrella review, systematically searching Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, ProQuest Central and Google Scholar (up to 19 July 2024) for systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in peer-reviewed journals exploring the effect of racial/ethnic discrimination on psychosis. 2898 citations were de-duplicated and screened, included reviews were assessed for risk of bias using AMSTAR-2 and extracted data analysed narratively following a pre-registered protocol (CRD42023400656). Seven reviews (reporting 23 primary studies representing 40,300 participants) met inclusion criteria, five of which explicitly reported on the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and psychosis. All observed evidence of a positive relationship between the two, including meta-analyses for psychotic symptoms (adjusted OR=1.77, 95%CI 1.26, 2.49) and psychotic experiences (pooled OR=1.94, 95%CI 1.42, 2.67). We observed more robust evidence for psychotic outcomes in non-clinical populations. Despite this, results were driven by cross-sectional studies (87%), and were hindered by high heterogeneity and low (n=2) or critically low (n=5) AMSTAR-2 review quality scores. The available systematic review evidence supports a role for racial/ethnic discrimination in developing psychosis, but high-quality studies are needed to determine the temporal and mechanistic causal pathways through which this occurs. The current findings add to knowledge on the widespread presence and deleterious impacts of racism on health and inform potential public health interventions that reduce exposure to, and the impact of, racial/ethnic discrimination

Simpson's Gender-Equality Paradox

Several cross-country examinations have found larger gender differences in Western countries. More recently, it has been argued, from an evolutionary standpoint, that equality may paradoxically increase gender differences, because it provides more freedom for men and women to pursue innate preferences. However, this paradox has primarily been examined with this cross-country methodology, opening up for other cultural differences to drive the results. For instance, measures developed in Protestant and Germanic-speaking countries, may not work the same in other cultural clusters of countries, and may not have the same statistical qualities there (e.g., in terms of reliability). Here, we reanalyze the results from multiple studies on the gender-equality paradox with country-level data available. We find that gender differences co-vary more strongly with cultural regions and data quality than gender equality, and that any variable higher in the West appears to achieve similar correlations as gender equality. Also, controlling for cultural regions consistently and strongly attenuates the association with gender equality, including to become statistically non-significant, or to switch direction. In other words, the baseline associations differ between and within cultural clusters (a Simpson’s paradox), suggesting there is no simple causal relation between gender equality and expressed gender differences. Similarly, controlling for data quality indicators strongly attenuates the paradox. Finally, we show that, with and without controls, there is no consistent paradoxical association across many of the largest cross-cultural studies on gender differences, including newly analyzed data. The same is true for other country development variables considered in the gender-equality paradox literature

It Takes a Village: Advancing Attachment Theory and Recovering the Roots of Human Health with the Circle of Seven Essential Needs

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (AT) remains a popular way to understand infant, child, adolescent, and even adult and family dysfunction. However, attachment theory, which has not changed significantly since its inception, is a reductive theory that ignores a wider range of human needs and has caused significant hardship and trauma. The limitations of this model, particularly when applied outside the Eurocentric and ethnocentric frames of mainstream psychology, are well known. In this article, we suggest it is time to replace the reductive theory of needs that underpins AT with a comprehensive theory, one that could help us develop a less ideological, healthier, and more empirically informed approach to socialization and social care; one that might help us answer Abraham Maslow’s Eupsychian question which is how to build a society capable of actuating the full potential of all its citizens

Assessing diversity and representativeness of big team science in psychology [Stage 1 RR Protocol]

Psychological science has a persistent diversity problem: samples, authors, and journal editors are predominantly from the Global North. Big team science, characterized by collaborative projects involving researchers worldwide, has emerged as a potential solution to these diversity and generalizability concerns. Despite its widespread adoption and claims of increased generalizability, the actual impact of big team science on improving diversity and representation in psychological studies remains unknown. Here, we plan to systematically examine the diversity and representativeness of big team science by comparing big team science to (1) traditional psychological studies and (2) its target population (the world population or a specific population). Specifically, we will compare these two reference datasets to the demographics of participants and authors affiliations from big team science. In addition, we will examine how socioeconomic/cultural factors might contribute to the presence of researchers and participants in big team science and traditional psychological studies in a country/region

With or without a system: How category-specific and system-wide cognitive biases shape word order

There are certain recurrent features of language that characterise the way whole language systems are structured, and others that target specific categories of items within those wider systems. For example, languages tend to exhibit harmonic (i.e. consistent) ordering between heads and dependents, making it a kind of system-wide regularity. While this tendency is generally robust, some categories of linguistic items deviate from this trend. We examine one such case of non-harmony, namely the order of the noun with respect to two dependents -- adjectives and genitives. Using two silent gesture experiments, this study tests the hypothesis that category-specific cognitive biases favour postnominal adjective order and prenominal genitive order. Further, we show that the influence of these biases is revealed in contexts where no conventionalised system is in place. When a system is in place, participants learn that system, and category-specific biases do not impact their learning. Our results suggest that different types of linguistic contexts reveal the influence of separate types of cognitive biases, such that some are active during learning and others are active during language creation

A systematic review and meta-analysis of employer discrimination toward people living with psychosis

Background and Hypothesis Employment discrimination against people living with psychosis is well established, with implications for their quality of life. However, a meta-analysis of studies exploring this link has not yet been conducted. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to quantify employer attitudes and potential discrimination towards people living with psychosis. Study Design A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining employer attitudes and hiring practices towards individuals with psychosis was conducted. Electronic databases were searched from inception to July 15, 2024. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed on six studies meeting our inclusion criteria. Study Results Studies included in the systematic review consistently found that employers view individuals with psychosis as less employable compared to those with other health conditions or no disabilities. Meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant medium to large pooled effect size (Hedges g) of 0.57 (95% CI [0.21 to 0.94], p = 0.010), indicating statistically significant discrimination. Subgroup analysis estimated that 76.00% (95% CI [62.90% to 89.09%], p <0.001) of employers expressed negative attitudes towards hiring individuals with psychosis. Conclusions This first meta-analysis on the topic reveals statistically significant (p = 0.010) employer discrimination towards individuals with psychosis, contributing to poor employment outcomes. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address misconceptions and promote inclusive hiring practices. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating strategies to reduce workplace stigma and improve employment outcomes for people living with psychosis, potentially through adaptations of evidence-based supported employment models such as Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

Do Mindsets Really Matter? A Closer Look at Social Media Perceptions and Well-Being

Building on the idea that subjective evaluations of social media use (SMU) may shape well- being effects, this study investigated how two “social media mindsets”—agency (perceived control over SMU) and valence (perceived effects of SMU)—relate to self-reported and logged SMU, and four well-being indicators (depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction) in a South African sample of young adults (N = 1,858; M = 21.01). Agency mindsets were negatively correlated with SMU and positively with well-being, while valence mindsets were associated with higher SMU but not to well-being. Logged SMU showed weaker associations with mindsets and well-being than self-reported SMU, suggesting differences between perceived and actual behaviour. The findings replicate, extend, and in some cases contradict prior research, emphasizing how users’ sense of control is more important for well-being than SMU duration or perceptions of its effects, and that more work is needed to understand whether the “mindsets” concept is fruitful