A new procedure for estimating the dichotic ear advantage is applied for the first time in conjunction with the single-response requirement. Most subjects showed unusually large right-ear advantages, making the present methodology interesting for the study of hemispheric asymmetry. (Editor)

Author states that Csikszentmihalyi's flow model seems to be contradictory in distinguishing play as an activity undertaken for the individual's enjoyment of the process itself and play as an extrinsically motivated, goal-oriented activity. (RW)

In reply to Barnett's article, Csikszentmihalyi states that the individual's intrapsychic needs and response to external stimuli are interwoven and cannot be separated into two distinct motivating factors. (RW)

Investigates how the inhibition and latency-reduction effects interact with each other and how they change with changes in the intensity of the startle-eliciting stimulus. (Author/RK)

Three converging procedures were used to determine whether pictures presented in a rapid sequence at rates comparable to eye fixations are understood and then quickly forgotten. (Editor)

Evidence for the hypothesis that the appearance of visually presented words is stored in "literal copy" form is critically evaluated and shown to be inconclusive. An experiment in which students were required to retain information about zero, one, or two visual properties of words is reported. (Editor)

Subjects worked on a problem, engaged in an intervening activity, and then resumed work on the problem. Different intervening activities represented various mechanisms that produce incubation (e.g., set breaking, facilitation by analogy, review of the problem's elements). These various treatment groups were compared to a control group that worked…

The effects of vocalized tests on paired-associate learning were compared with those of silent tests and of blank trials by using six conditions, each repeating a pattern of six cycles including one study trial. (Editor/RK)

To test the hypothesis that meaning of a sentence is represented in an abstract format rather than one mediated by words or images, 96 spoken sentences were immediately followed by a word or drawing probe. It was concluded that sentence or probe meaning is represented in an abstract conceptual format. (CHK)

To hold student interest, distance learning instructors need to think and present ideas visually. Presentations should be limited to three or four key points that would benefit from visual depiction. Visual aids used for presentation may be image-related, concept-related, or arbitrary graphics. Sophistication of visual aid is not as important as…

In two experiments, an adult presented 2-year-olds with an unfamiliar solid object, either rigid or flexible, and performed an action that emphasized the object's shape or material. Children were then asked to choose an object that matched the one shown. As hypothesized, the adult's action information alone directed children to attend to relevant…

Irritability and activity, components of temperament, were rated for 114 fullterm and 163 preterm infants during five-second application of a cold disc on the thigh and five seconds following. For fullterm infants and preterm females, irritability increased and activity decreased across five trials. Females were more irritable during stimulation,…

Examined infants' use of configural and physical knowledge in segregating three-dimensional adjacent displays. Found that infants do use configural knowledge: they expect similar parts to belong to same unit and dissimilar parts to belong to distinct units. Also found that physical knowledge, such as impenetrability and support, influences their…

Describes two variants of the form-priming paradigm (direct and mediated form priming) and summarizes the results obtained with each. With both variants, participants are presented with a target, to which a response is required, preceded by a prime. (28 references) (Author/CK)