Concurrent statistical learning of ignored and attended sound sequences: An MEG study

In an auditory environment, humans are frequently exposed to overlapping sound sequences such as those made by human voices and musical instruments, and we can acquire information embedded in these sequences via attentional and nonattentional accesses. Whether the knowledge acquired by attentional accesses interacts with that acquired by nonattentional accesses is unknown, however. The present study examined how the statistical learning of two overlapping sound sequences is reflected in neurophysiological and behavioural responses, and how the learning effects are modulated by attention to each sequence. Statistical learning in this experimental paradigm was reflected in a neuromagnetic response predominantly in the right hemisphere, and the learning effects were not retained when attention to the tone streams was switched during the learning session. These results suggest that attentional and nonattentional learning scarcely interact with each other, and that there may be a specific system for nonattentional learning, which is independent of attentional learning

Impurity Effects on Quantum Depinning of Commensurate Charge Density Waves

We investigate quantum depinning of the one-dimensional (1D) commensurate charge-density wave (CDW) in the presence of one impurity theoretically. Quantum tunneling rate below but close to the threshold field is calculated at absolute zero temperature by use of the phase Hamiltonian within the WKB approximation. We show that the impurity can induce localized fluctuation and enhance the quantum depinning. The electric field dependence of the tunneling rate in the presence of the impurity is different from that in its absence.Comment: 14 pages with 13 figures. Submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

A precursory ULF signature for the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan

ULF emission data at Lunping (epicentral distance, 120 km) have been analysed for the Chi-Chi earthquake (with magnitude 7.6 and depth of 11 km) in Taiwan which occurred on 21 September 1999. Simple intensity analyses have not yielded any significant results but we have found, based on the analysis of polarization (the ratio of vertical magnetic field component <i>Z</i> to the horizontal component <i>G</i>), that the polarization (<i>Z</i>/<i>G</i>) showed a significant enhancement for two months before the earthquake. This kind of temporal evolution of polarization seems to be very similar to previous results, so that it is highly likely that this phenomenon may be associated with the Chi-Chi earthquake. Also, the comparison of the results of polarization analyses, by changing the signal threshold, has given us an approximate intensity of the seismogenic emission of the order of the monthly mean value

Local Inhomogeneity Effects on Nucleation Process in a High External Bias

Quantum nucleation processes in the presence of local moderate inhomogeneities are studied theoretically at high biases. The quantum nucleation rate Gamma is calculated for one-dimensional systems in a form Gamma = A e^(-B/hbar) by using the `bounce' method. The bias-dependence of the exponent B is shown to be changed by inhomogeneities. This change is explained by the reduction of the effective spatial dimension of the system. By studying the system-size dependence of the prefactor A, the condition for the appearance of inhomogeneity effects is evaluated. Nucleation rates in thermal activation regimes are also calculated, and compared with quantum tunneling regimes. For higher-dimensional systems, it is shown that the local approximation of inhomogeneity does not hold, and that spatial profiles of inhomogeneity become important.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Anomalous ULF Emissions and Their Possible Association with the Strong Earthquakes in Sumatra, Indonesia, during 2007-2012

Eleven strong Sumatran earthquakes, with their epicenter less than 550 km away from the Kototabang (KTB) geomagnetic station (2007-2012), were studied to examine the occurrence of anomalous ultra-low frequency emissions (ULF-EM). Anomalous ULF signals, possibly associated with the earthquake's precursors, were determined by the Welch ratio SZ/SH at 0.06 Hz at the KTB station. These ULF anomalies were then compared with geomagnetic data observed from two reference stations in Darwin and Davao, to prevent misinterpretation of global geomagnetic disturbances as precursors. This study aims to analyze the relationship between earthquake magnitude and hypocenter radius, and seismic index against lead time during ULF-EM anomalies. We used the polarization ratio Welch method in terms of power spectrum density to evaluate the geomagnetic data by overlapping windows and applying fast Fourier transform (FFT). The results showed anomalous variations in onset and lead time, determined using the standard deviation controlling the SZ/SH power pattern. Our positive correlation between lead time of ULF emission and earthquake magnitude as well as between lead time and seismic index. It shows a negative correlation between hypocenter distances to KTB station against lead time