Pion-Nucleon Scattering in Kadyshevsky Formalism: II Baryon Exchange Sector

In this paper, which is the second part in a series of two, we construct tree level baryon exchange and resonance amplitudes for $\pi N$ / $MB$-scattering in the framework of the Kadyshevsky formalism. We use this formalism to formally implement absolute pair suppression, where we make use of the method of Takahashi and Umezawa. The resulting amplitudes are Lorentz invariant and causal. We continue studying the frame dependence of the Kadyshevsky integral equation using the method of Gross and Jackiw. The invariant amplitudes, including those for meson exchange, are linked to the phase-shifts using the partial wave basis.Comment: 49 page

The Neurally Controlled Animat: Biological Brains Acting with Simulated Bodies

The brain is perhaps the most advanced and robust computation system known. We are creating a method to study how information is processed and encoded in living cultured neuronal networks by interfacing them to a computer-generated animal, the Neurally-Controlled Animat, within a virtual world. Cortical neurons from rats are dissociated and cultured on a surface containing a grid of electrodes (multi-electrode arrays, or MEAs) capable of both recording and stimulating neural activity. Distributed patterns of neural activity are used to control the behavior of the Animat in a simulated environment. The computer acts as its sensory system providing electrical feedback to the network about the Animat's movement within its environment. Changes in the Animat's behavior due to interaction with its surroundings are studied in concert with the biological processes (e.g., neural plasticity) that produced those changes, to understand how information is processed and encoded within a living neural network. Thus, we have created a hybrid real-time processing engine and control system that consists of living, electronic, and simulated components. Eventually this approach may be applied to controlling robotic devices, or lead to better real-time silicon-based information processing and control algorithms that are fault tolerant and can repair themselves

'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!': Effects of Streaks on Confidence and Betting in a Binary Choice Task.

This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bdm.1844/abstract.Human choice under uncertainty is influenced by erroneous beliefs about randomness. In simple binary choice tasks, such as red/black predictions in roulette, long outcome runs (e.g. red, red, red) typically increase the tendency to predict the other outcome (i.e. black), an effect labeled the "gambler's fallacy." In these settings, participants may also attend to streaks in their predictive performance. Winning and losing streaks are thought to affect decision confidence, although prior work indicates conflicting directions. Over three laboratory experiments involving red/black predictions in a sequential roulette task, we sought to identify the effects of outcome runs and winning/losing streaks upon color predictions, decision confidence and betting behavior. Experiments 1 (n = 40) and 3 (n = 40) obtained trial-by-trial confidence ratings, with a win/no win payoff and a no loss/loss payoff, respectively. Experiment 2 (n = 39) obtained a trial-by-trial bet amount on an equivalent scale. In each experiment, the gambler's fallacy was observed on choice behavior after color runs and, in experiment 2, on betting behavior after color runs. Feedback streaks exerted no reliable influence on confidence ratings, in either payoff condition. Betting behavior, on the other hand, increased as a function of losing streaks. The increase in betting on losing streaks is interpreted as a manifestation of loss chasing; these data help clarify the psychological mechanisms underlying loss chasing and caution against the use of betting measures ("post-decision wagering") as a straightforward index of decision confidence. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Pion-Nucleon Scattering in Kadyshevsky Formalism: I Meson Exchange Sector

In a series of two papers we present the theoretical results of $\pi N$/meson-baryon scattering in the Kadyshevsky formalism. In this paper the results are given for meson exchange diagrams. On the formal side we show, by means of an example, how general couplings, i.e. couplings containing multiple derivatives and/or higher spin fields, should be treated. We do this by introducing and applying the Takahashi-Umezawa and the Gross-Jackiw method. For practical purposes we introduce the $\bar{P}$ method. We also show how the Takashashi-Umezawa method can be derived using the theory of Bogoliubov and collaborators and the Gross-Jackiw method is also used to study the $n$-dependence of the Kadyshevsky integral equation. Last but not least we present the second quantization procedure of the quasi particle in Kadyshevsky formalism.Comment: 29 page

Decision-making during gambling: an integration of cognitive and psychobiological approaches

Gambling is a widespread form of entertainment that may afford unique insights into the interaction between cognition and emotion in human decision-making. It is also a behaviour that can become harmful, and potentially addictive, in a minority of individuals. This article considers the status of two dominant approaches to gambling behaviour. The cognitive approach has identified a number of erroneous beliefs held by gamblers, which cause them to over-estimate their chances of winning. The psychobiological approach has examined case-control differences between groups of pathological gamblers and healthy controls, and has identified dysregulation of brain areas linked to reward and emotion, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and striatum, as well as alterations in dopamine neurotransmission. In integrating these two approaches, recent data are discussed that reveal anomalous recruitment of the brain reward system (including the vmPFC and ventral striatum) during two common cognitive distortions in gambling games: the near-miss effect and the effect of personal control. In games of chance, near-misses and the presence of control have no objective influence on the likelihood of winning. These manipulations appear to harness a reward system that evolved to learn skill-oriented behaviours, and by modulating activity in this system, these cognitive distortions may promote continued, and potentially excessive, gambling