Representational momentum and the human face : an empirical note

Recent evidence suggests that observers may anticipate the future emotional state of an actor when viewing dynamic expressions of emotion, consistent with the notion of representational momentum. The current paper presents data that conflicts with these previous studies, finding instead that memory for the final frame of an emotional video tends to be shifted back in the direction of the first frame. While simple methodological issues may explain this difference (e.g., the use of morph sequences in previous studies versus naturalistic expressions here) a more theoretically interesting possibility is also considered. Specifically, recent studies of ensemble representations have shown that observes can rapidly extract the average expression from a display of up to 20 faces. It is suggested that the need to predict versus the need to maintain a stable estimate of the current state often compete when we interact with dynamic stimuli. Our memory for the final expression on an emotional face may be particularly sensitive to task demands and response timing, thus coming to reflect different solutions to this anticipation-averaging conflict depending on the precise experimental scenario.peer-reviewe

The vanishing of Tor_1^R(R^+,k) implies that R is regular

Let (R,m,k) be an excellent local ring of positive prime characteristic. We show that if Tor_1^R(R^+,k) = 0 then R is regular. This improves a result of Schoutens, in which the additional hypothesis that R was an isolated singularity was required for the proof.Comment: 3 pages, to appear in Proceedings of the AM

The Gettier Problem

In this chapter, we will explore the luck at issue in Gettier-styled counterexamples and the subsequent problem it poses to any viable reductive analysis of knowledge. In the 1st section, we will consider the specific species of luck that is at issue in Gettier counterexamples, then, in the next section, I will briefly sketch a diagnosis of the Gettier Problem and try to explain why the relevant species of luck has proven to be extremely difficult to avoid. And finally, I will consider a prominent objection to the proposed diagnosis of the Problem

Changing institutional research strategies

University research strategies make statements about research ambitions, but rarely speak directly about scholarly communications. At the same time, communication of all sorts has become central to a university, whether to support recruitment, present a public profile, or to respond to events. This chapter seeks to explore the relationship between institutional research strategies and scholarly communications, and to see how each may have affected the other and how they might do so in the future. It describes the purpose and structure of an institutional research strategy, and how these are changing. It highlights the linkages between strategy, implementation plans, and policies, where the latter encourage desired behaviours. In the context of scholarly communications, the research strategy is the public document in which an institution states its commitment to such forms of communication: that discovering new knowledge and sharing that discovery in meaningful ways are at the heart of the institution. The discussion then moves to the changing nature of scholarly communications, including the Open agenda, and questions how scholarly communications fits into the wider spectrum of institutional communications. The chapter concludes that there has probably been little direct connection between research strategies and approaches to scholarly communications, but that this is changing. Both institutions and individual researchers wish to demonstrate the quality, relevance and accessibility of their research, in order to be attractive to collaborators, funders, and employers. Successful institutions will ensure that strategy and scholarly communications activities are mutually supportive, to the benefit of their researchers and the organisation