The role of executive control in resolving grammatical number conflict in sentence comprehension

In sentences with a complex subject noun phrase, like “The key to the cabinets is lost”, the grammatical number of the head noun (key) may be the same or different from the modifier noun phrase (cabinets). When the number is the same, comprehension is usually easier than when it is different. Grammatical number computation may occur while processing the modifier noun (integration phase) or while processing the verb (checking phase). We investigated at which phase number conflict and plausibility of the modifier noun as subject for the verb affect processing, and we imposed a gaze-contingent tone discrimination task in either phase to test whether number computation involves executive control. At both phases, gaze durations were longer when a concurrent tone task was present. Additionally, at the integration phase, gaze durations were longer under number conflict, and this effect was enhanced by the presence of a tone task, whereas no effects of plausibility of the modifier were observed. The finding that the effect of number match was larger under load shows that computation of the grammatical number of the complex noun phrase requires executive control in the integration phase, but not in the checking phase

Beyond asking : exploring the use of automatic price evaluations to implicitly estimate consumers’ willingness-to-pay

Explicit consumers responses are often adverse for the validity of procedures used to estimate consumers' willingness-to-pay (WTP). This paper investigates if price evaluations occur automatically and to what extent these automatic processes can be used to implicitly estimate consumers' WTP. An adapted version of the task-rule congruency (TRC) paradigm was used in two studies. Results of the first study provided evidence for the notion that prices are automatically evaluated. However, the used procedure had limitations that restricted its utility as an implicit WTP estimate. The procedure was adjusted, and an additional study was conducted. The results of the second study also indicated that prices were evaluated automatically. Additionally, the procedure used during the second study allowed to explore to what extent the observed TRC effects could be used to implicitly estimate consumers' WTP. Taken together, these studies provided evidence for the notion that prices are evaluated automatically. Furthermore, the procedure has the potential to be further developed into an implicit estimate of consumers' WTP

Executive control is shared between sentence processing and digit maintenance: evidence from a strictly timed dual-task paradigm

We investigated whether the comprehension of syntactically difficult sentences taxes the executive control component of working memory more than the comprehension of their easier counterparts. To that end, we tested the effect of sharing executive control between sentence comprehension and the maintenance of a digit load in two dual-task experiments with strictly controlled timing (Barrouillet, Bernardin, & Camos, 2004). Recall was worse after participants had processed one (Experiment 2) or two (Experiment 1) difficult sentences than after they had processed one or two easy sentences, respectively. This finding suggests that sentence processing and the maintenance of a digit load share executive control. Processing syntactically difficult sentences seems to occupy executive control for a longer time than processing their easy counterparts, thereby blocking refreshments of the memory traces of the digits so that these traces decay more and recall is worse. There was no effect of the size of the digit load on sentence processing performance (Experiment 2), suggesting that sentence processing completely occupied executive control until processing was complete

Advances in Archaeological Geophysics: Case Studies from Historical Archaeology

This dissertation presents advanced methods in data processing, statistical analyses, integration, and visualization of archaeogeophysical data to increase the accuracy of archaeological remote sensing interpretation and predictions. Three case studies are presented from an experimental controlled archaeological test site and two nineteenth century historic military archaeology sites at Paint Rock, Texas and Alcatraz Island, California. I demonstrate the ability of the Geonics EM-63 time-domain electromagnetic-induction metal detector to detect and localize historical metal artifacts at an experimental site and Paint Rock. Moreover, point pattern analysis spatial autocorrelation statistics were used to detect statistically significant patterns that spatially compacted the amplitude response of the data to improve the localization of artifacts of archaeological significance. The archaeological data was used to determine the spatial and temporal extent of the military camp at Paint Rock and conforms well to the historic record. A virtual ground-truthing was conducted at Alcatraz Island, where the results of a quantitative attribute analysis of ground-penetrating radar data was tested against the georectification of historic maps in order to determine the location, extent, and integrity of historic military features without excavation. These studies increased the information content of archaeogeophysical data via feedback with statistics, quantitative attributes, controlled experiments, excavation, and georectification modeling in order to increase the predictive capabilities of the methods to answer the most questions with the least amount of costly excavations

Preliminary Results of Magnetic Gradiometry and Photogrammetric Imagery from La Playa, Sonora, Mexico (SON F:10:3)

Covering an area of nearly ten square kilometers, La Playa (SON F:10:3) is one of the most important archaeological sites in northwest Mexico. While La Playa has been best known for its Early Agricultural occupation, this research, funded through National Geographic, targets the poorly understood origins of the Trincheras Tradition. This poster presents initial results of magnetic gradiometry and photogrammetric imagery collected from the site in April 2017 as part of the ongoing binational project Proyecto La Playa. Along with magnetic gradiometry data collection, several unmanned aerial vehicle flights with a Trimble UX5 captured photogrammetric images of the site. This data has yielded the possible presence of irrigation canals, pithouses, and thermal features. With erosion damaging much of La Playa, this research documents at-risk features for future excavation

Drones and Butterflies : A Low-Cost UAV System for Rapid Detection and Identification of Unconventional Minefields

Aerially-deployed plastic landmines in post-conflict nations present unique detection and disposal challenges. Their small size, randomized distribution during deployment, and low-metal content make these mines more difficult to identify using traditional methods of electromagnetic mine detection. Perhaps the most notorious of these mines is the Sovietera PFM-1 “butterfly mine,” widely used during the decade-long Soviet-Afghan conflict between 1979 and 1989. Predominantly used by the Soviet forces to block otherwise inaccessible mountain passages, many PFM-1 minefields remain in place due to the high associated costs of access and demining. While the total number of deployed PFM-1 mines in Afghanistan is poorly documented, PFM-1 landmines make up a considerable percentage of the estimated 10 million landmines remaining in place across Afghanistan. Their detection and disposal presents a unique logistical challenge for largely the same reasons that their deployment was rationalized in inaccessible and sparsely populated areas of the country

Automated UAS Aeromagnetic Surveys to Detect MBRL Unexploded Ordnance

Unguided Multiple Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) systems are limited-accuracy, high-impact artillery systems meant to deliver barrages of explosive warheads across a wide area of attack. High rates of failure of MBRL rockets on impact and their wide area of ballistic dispersion result in a long-term unexploded ordnance (UXO) concern across large areas where these systems have been deployed. We field tested a newly-developed UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)-based aeromagnetic platform to remotely detect and identify unexploded 122 mm rockets of the widely-used BM-21 MBRL. We developed an algorithm that allows near real-time analysis, mapping, and interpretations of magnetic datasets in the field and, as a result, rapid identification of anomalies associated with both surfaced and buried MBRL items of UXO. We tested a number of sensor configurations and calibrated the system for optimal signal-to-noise data acquisition over varying site types and in varying environmental conditions. The use of automated surveying allowed us to significantly constrain the search area for UXO removal or in-place destruction. The results of our field trials conclusively demonstrated that implementation of this geophysical system significantly reduces labor and time costs associated with technical assessment of UXO-contaminated sites in post-conflict regions