The interplay between automatic and controlled processes: experimental contributions to dual-process theories of cognition

Since its beginnings, psychological science has frequently used dichotomous categories to describe behavior and mental phenomena. The most traditional dual models have impactfully equipped both the scientific and folkloristic psychological vocabularies of such dichotomies (e.g., conscious vs. unconscious, logic vs. creative, rational vs. emotional). However, while offering an affordable account of how the human cognitive system works, these models appear too simplistic. Substantially, they are grounded upon the findings obtained in decades of results in almost all the psychological fields, from perception to social processes, which have been later merged into a broad systemic theory of human cognition. However, this dual-system theory, which proposed to unify all cognitive dualities into System 1 (automatic, unconscious, fast, effortless, intuitive, and so on) and System 2 (controlled, conscious, slow, effortful, rational, and so on) entities, lacks a systematic investigation of its basic assumptions: for instance, that the features are aligned within and complementary between the two systems. These properties are essential for the tenets of the theory since a systemic theory should postulate the interdependence and interrelation of the elements constituting a system. In this view, the central thread linking all the experimental contributions in the present work is that the dual-system theory should resist when investigating cognitive performance either at low- and at high-level of complexity (complexity defined as the variety of mechanisms implicated in the phenomena of interest). Through seven studies conducted in three research lines, addressing temporal attention, task-switching, and decision-making, the interaction between automatic and controlled features in each process has shown to be the rule rather than the exception. Thus, the results presented in this work support the idea that the dual-system theory current formulation has a weak explanatory power, suggesting that decomposition approaches aimed at disentangling the contribution of qualitatively and quantitatively different mechanisms in each cognitive process are needed to advance or put aside dual-process theories

Archaeoacoustic analysis of Cybele\u2019s temple, Imperial Roman Palace of Felix Romuliana, Serbia. An interpretation using a method complementary to archaeology.

Archaeoacoustic and physical phenomena research at ancient sites has developed beyond the initial stage. Our research group uses a practical standard (SBSA) complementing the field of archaeology. Studying archaeoacoustics and natural phenomena over the last four years, has enables us to offer an explanation as to some of the enigmas of ancient archaeological sites that were not possible to explain with other methods. Following our experience, we applied the same method to look at an interesting question about the orientation of Cybele\u2019s Temple situated within the Imperial Roman Palace Felix Romuliana, South-East Serbia. This temple and its fixtures are the only place within the palace that is not oriented along the east-west axis of the complex as was the Roman tradition (Decumanus). Historians also made reference to mysterious rituals, so we used archaeoacoustical methods to better understand why this ought be. We found that the temple\u2019s orientation followed the direction of some infrasound and low frequency vibrations most likely originating from an underground flow of water. These frequencies would have increased the effect of rituals by enhancing the psyche of the participants due to the influence of these low vibrations on human brain waves. This suggests the builders of this temple had some sort of knowledge of this effect

Anodal tDCS over the right parietal but not frontal cortex enhances the ability to overcome task set inhibition during task switching

Switching between tasks requires individuals to inhibit mental representations of the previous task demands and to activate representations of the new task demands. The inhibition of the executed task remains active for a while so that when the inhibited task set must be re-activated shortly after, the need to overcome residual task set inhibition leads to behavioral costs. In a sham-controlled balanced-order within-subjects experimental design we investigated whether applying right anodal/left cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal or parietal cortex modulated the ability to overcome persistent task inhibition during task switching. Results showed that right anodal/left cathodal tDCS over the parietal cortex improves performance selectively when switching back to a recently inhibited task that requires previous inhibition to be overcome. Right Anodal/left cathodal tDCS over the prefrontal cortex improves performance during task switching in general, either when re-engaging in a inhibited task or when engaging in a non-inhibited task. Results suggest a different contribution of prefrontal and parietal regions to task switching, with parietal cortex being selectively involved in overcoming persistent task inhibition and prefrontal cortex being more generally involved in the control of task set during task switching

Waveform-level time-domain simulation comparison study of three shipboard power system architectures

Detailed waveform-level modeling and simulation of three alternative shipboard power system architectures is presented herein. The three system architectures are based on conventional 60Hz medium-voltage ac (MVAC), higherfrequency 240Hz medium-voltage ac (HFAC) and mediumvoltage dc (MVDC) technologies. To support the quantitative assessment and comparison of these three different power system architectures, each technology was modeled using a common representative, notional baseline ship. The baseline ship represents a multi-mission destroyer fitted with an 80MW next generation integrated power system (NGIPS). Modeling of each power system architecture is set forth along with simulation studies for three fault scenarios. Each of the three power system architectures was implemented within the MATLAB/ Simulink environment. Continuity of service was evaluated for each architecture along with a fault scenario using an operability metric. After a brief description of the three power system architectures and the operability metric, quantitative results are presented.Center for Electromechanic

KINETIC STUDIES OF HETEROGENEOUS WATER REACTORS. Quarterly Progress Report for Period Ending September 30, 1963

Additional measurements were made of steam-void fraction, temperatures, and pressures in the KEWB capsule experiment. Analysis of data indicated that friction in the volume transducer piston was large during most of the transients. The dynamic piston friction was reduced to negligible magnitudes. A method for calculating the transient heat flux from the fuel disc was formulated. Boiling stability experiments were begun with a 2-ft-long rod bundle, consisting of a square array of 18 stainless-steel rods 0.25-in. dia, spaced on 0.312-in. centers. The rods are electrically heated in a natural-circulation loop, at one atmosphere pressure. A survey was began on theories and data on hydrodynamic instabilities in natural-circulation boiling systems. Preparation of apparatus for measurement of flow-void transfer functions in a SPERT IA channel was essentially completed. (M.C.G.

A Case of Reversed Robin Hood Syndrome: A Prognostic Indicator for an Urgent Therapy

Abstract Introduction In acute stroke, the diagnosis of reversed Robin Hood syndrome (RRHS) by transcranial Doppler (TCD) helps to identify patients at high risk for neurological deterioration. Report A patient with left intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection and concomitant inadequate collateral circulation suffered from recurrent ipsilateral ischaemic symptoms, not prevented by the best medical treatment. TCD showed an RRHS. Stenting of ICA could restore an adequate flow with disappearance of the RRHS and prevention of further episodes. Discussion An invasive emergency treatment should be considered in those stroke patients in which TCD detects an inadequate haemodynamic status

Amplification-free detection of circulating microRNA biomarkers from body fluids based on fluorogenic oligonucleotide-templated reaction between engineered peptide nucleic acid probes: application to prostate cancer diagnosis

Highly abundant in cells, microRNAs (or miRs) play a key role as regulators of gene expression. A proportion of them are also detectable in biofluids making them ideal noninvasive biomarkers for pathologies in which miR levels are aberrantly expressed, such as cancer. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are engineered uncharged oligonucleotide analogues capable of hybridizing to complementary nucleic acids with high affinity and high specificity. Herein, novel PNA-based fluorogenic biosensors have been designed and synthesized that target miR biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa). The sensing strategy is based on oligonucleotide-templated reactions where the only miR of interest serves as a matrix to catalyze an otherwise highly unfavorable fluorogenic reaction. Validated in vitro using synthetic RNAs, these newly developed biosensors were then shown to detect endogenous concentrations of miR in human blood samples without the need for any amplification step and with minimal sample processing. This low-cost, quantitative, and versatile sensing technology has been technically validated using gold-standard RT-qPCR. Compared to RT-qPCR however, this enzyme-free, isothermal blood test is amenable to incorporation into low-cost portable devices and could therefore be suitable for widespread public screening

Persisting inhibition biases efficient rule inference under uncertainty

IntroductionTask set inhibition supports optimal switching among tasks by actively suppressing the interference from recently executed competing task sets. It is typically studied in cued task-switching paradigms where there is no uncertainty about the task set or rule to prepare for on each trial. While inhibition has been shown to influence the speed and the accuracy of task execution, affecting task set retrieval, preparation, or implementation in conditions of task set switching, it remains uninvestigated whether it also affects rule selection under uncertainty.MethodsWe implemented an ad-hoc four-rule card sorting task and categorized the rules selected by participants after a rule shift according to the recency of their last usage. We included a measure of working memory capacity (WMC) to control for its involvement in the rule selection process.ResultsParticipants exhibited a reduced preference for recently abandoned rules than less recently abandoned ones. Furthermore, we found that such a preference was not associated with WMC.DiscussionThe results suggest that decision-making processes underlying rule inference and selection may be influenced by task-set inhibition, configuring as a conflict adjustment mechanism to the sequential history of rules application

Cone-setting in spruce is regulated by conserved elements of the age-dependent flowering pathway

Reproductive phase change is well characterized in angiosperm model species, but less studied in gymnosperms. We utilize the early cone-setting acrocona mutant to study reproductive phase change in the conifer Picea abies (Norway spruce), a gymnosperm. The acrocona mutant frequently initiates cone-like structures, called transition shoots, in positions where wild-type P. abies always produces vegetative shoots. We collect acrocona and wild-type samples, and RNA-sequence their messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) fractions. We establish gene expression patterns and then use allele-specific transcript assembly to identify mutations in acrocona. We genotype a segregating population of inbred acrocona trees. A member of the SQUAMOSA BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) gene family, PaSPL1, is active in reproductive meristems, whereas two putative negative regulators of PaSPL1, miRNA156 and the conifer specific miRNA529, are upregulated in vegetative and transition shoot meristems. We identify a mutation in a putative miRNA156/529 binding site of the acrocona PaSPL1 allele and show that the mutation renders the acrocona allele tolerant to these miRNAs. We show co-segregation between the early cone-setting phenotype and trees homozygous for the acrocona mutation. In conclusion, we demonstrate evolutionary conservation of the age-dependent flowering pathway and involvement of this pathway in regulating reproductive phase change in the conifer P. abies