Cognitive Processing最新文献

The occurrence of spontaneous switches between different interpretations of unchanging, ambiguous stimuli reflects the dynamic nature of unconscious perceptual processing. These perceptual alternations are explained by reciprocal inhibition, where one perception is suppressed while another emerges. The temporal patterns of these shifts vary between people but remain consistent within individuals, potentially reflecting underlying neural and psychological factors. Cognitive flexibility, the ability to switch tasks by inhibiting irrelevant information, may be related to perceptual flexibility. The present study (n = 48) explored the relationship between perceptual dynamics in the Necker Cube and higher-order cognitive processes. Switching rates and perspective durations were correlated with performance on computerized tasks (Stroop Test, Simon Task, and Task Switching Tests) and self-reported scales (Cognitive Flexibility Test, Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, and Big Five Personality Traits Questionnaire). Results revealed correlations between perceptual dynamics, reaction times, and Cognitive Impulsiveness, suggesting links between perceptual alternation, cognitive processes, and personality traits. Future research should investigate the common mechanisms underlying these processes and investigate causality and temporal dynamics.

Linguistics needs to embrace all the way down a key feature of language: its diversity. In this paper, we build on recent experimental findings and theoretical discussions about the neuroscience and the cognitive science of linguistic variation, but also on proposals by theoretical biology, to advance some future directions for a more solid neurocognitive approach to language diversity. We argue that the cognitive foundations and the neuroscience of human language will be better understood if we pursue a unitary explanation of four key dimensions of linguistic variation: the different functions performed by language, the diversity of sociolinguistic phenomena, the typological differences between human languages, and the diverse developmental paths to language. Succeeding in the cognitive and neurobiological examination and explanation of these four dimensions will not only result in a more comprehensive understanding of how our brain processes language, but also of how language evolved and the core properties of human language(s).

In this study we introduce a new gaze-contingent visual foraging task in which participants searched through an environment by looking at trees displayed on a computer screen. If the looked-at tree contained a fruit item, the item became visible and was collected. In each trial, the participant's task was to forage for a defined number of fruit items. In two experiments, fruit items were either randomly distributed about the trees (dispersed condition) or organised in one large patch (patchy condition). In the second experiment, we addressed the role of memory for foraging by including a condition that did not require memorising which trees had already been visited by changing their appearance (tree fading). Foraging performance was superior in the patchy as compared to the dispersed condition and benefited from tree-fading. In addition, with further analyses on search behaviour, these results suggest (1) that participants were sensitive to the distribution of resources, (2) that they adapted their search/foraging strategy accordingly, and (3) that foraging behaviour is in line with predictions derived from foraging theories, specifically area-restricted search, developed for large scale spatial foraging. We therefore argue that the visual search task presented shares characteristics and cognitive mechanisms involved in successful large-scale search and foraging behaviour and can therefore be successfully employed to study these mechanisms.

Cognitive disabilities significantly impact individuals' ability to navigate daily life, creating challenges in communication, memory, and task performance. This research proposes an AI-enhanced framework integrating neural network technologies and advanced natural language processing algorithms to support individuals with cognitive disabilities. The framework aims to enhance language understanding, memory retention, and overall task efficiency. Its validity is demonstrated through experiments and performance analysis using real-world datasets, showing marked improvements in language comprehension, memory recall, and task execution. Key factors influencing the model's effectiveness include the severity of cognitive impairments, individual cognitive profiles, and the adaptability of AI algorithms. The transformative potential of AI-driven interventions is highlighted, offering personalized, scalable solutions to meet diverse needs. This study contributes to ongoing discussions on leveraging technology to promote independence, inclusion, and quality of life for individuals with cognitive disabilities, laying the groundwork for future advancements in cognitive augmentation and assistive technologies.

Political leaders are often regarded as the most qualified individuals to address modern societal challenges, owing to the knowledge they acquire through their experience in dealing with complex issues, governance and management, and working towards making impactful decisions. To understand the influence of prior knowledge on decision-making, we conducted a comparative analysis of complex decision-making performance in a politically themed computer-simulated microworld involving incumbent elected officials and a general population sample, each contrasted with a random-response baseline produced with randomly generated decisions. Participants were tasked to govern a country for re-election while maintaining financial stability. The pattern of results suggests that decision-making faces a 'wall of complexity' whether one is an elected official or a citizen. Although elected officials generally reported having greater political knowledge, their performance was still relatively poor. The elected officials and general population subgroups performed at the same level and only slightly better than chance. Addressing the societal challenges of our time requires elected officials to possess more than domain-specific prior knowledge.

It is known that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exhibit impairments in shifting attention. However, previous studies have primarily focused on school-aged children and adults with ASD. It remains unclear whether attentional shifting impairments emerge at an early age. Additionally, it is uncertain which specific process-engagement or disengagement-is affected in individuals with ASD. This study investigated the time course of attentional shifting in preschool-aged children with ASD using a Posner cue-target paradigm. The cue-target onset asynchrony was systematically manipulated to reveal both the early facilitation effect of attentional capture (i.e., engagement) and the later inhibitory aftereffect, commonly referred to as inhibition of return (IOR). Results showed an early facilitation effect in both ASD and typically developing (TD) children, indicating that ASD children engaged attention to salient spatial locations. In contrast to TD children, no reliable IOR effect was observed in ASD children, suggesting difficulties in disengaging attention. These findings indicate a selective impairment in attentional disengagement among preschool-aged children with ASD and support the need for early intervention programs focusing on attentional shifting.

Face masks can impact processing a narrative in sign language, affecting several metacognitive dimensions of understanding (i.e., perceived effort, confidence and feeling of understanding). However, to what extent this is modulated by sign language proficiency remains an open question. Thirty deaf adults were administered a narrative in Italian Sign Language (LIS), signed in three different visual conditions: no mask, transparent mask, opaque mask. In addition, they completed a Sentence Reproduction Task in LIS (LIS-SRT) to measure their sign language proficiency. Results showed that some of the error types in the LIS-SRT have significant correlations with performance in the comprehension task, revealing external validity for this sentence repetition test. Crucially, while sign language proficiency did not modulate the impact of face-masks on narrative comprehension, the metacognitive outcomes were clearly influenced by the interaction between LIS proficiency and visual conditions. Skilled signers experienced less effort and higher levels of confidence and feeling of understanding, whereas these subjective experiences were greatly impacted by visual conditions in less proficient signers. We discuss these findings in reference to cognitive load, thus also extending the construct of "listening effort" to sign languages. In addition, we relate differences in cognitive load in skilled vs. less proficient signers to the ability to extract and process at the same time multiple types of linguistic elements from the flow of signs (multilinear processing of sign language).

The objective was to examine differences in the gait-specific cognitive representation structures between individuals after total knee- (TKA) and after total hip-joint arthroplasty (THA). The cognitive representation structure was compared between three groups: 1. three months after TKA (n = 12), 2. three months after THA (n = 12), and 3. healthy control group (CG) (n = 12) using the structural dimensional analysis of mental representation (SDA-M). Additionally, perceived joint function was rated by either the KOOS, JR. or HOOS, JR. Mean distribution of perceived joint function was not significantly different between the TKA (60.35 ± 11.2) and THA group (68.01 ± 13.8) (t = - 1.425; p = .173). In the cognitive representation structure, the THA group exhibited functional differences from the TKA group and control group, both of which showed a functional structure. Three months after hip joint replacement the gait-specific cognitive representation structure seems to reflect joint function-specific deviations. Therefore, focussing on functional recovery of cognitive gait representation may facilitate gait rehabilitation in individuals after hip replacement.

As technological interfaces are relatively new cultural tools, regular interaction can lead to new psychological phenomena, like the baby duck syndrome, where users favor old interfaces over updates. This syndrome is seen as a cognitive bias in human-computer interaction. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 on an Airbnb app (old vs. new versions), and Study 2 on a self-developed website (blue vs. purple design). Subjects completed sequential five usability tasks in two blocks with the resting between. Experimental groups engaged with different interface versions, while control groups used the same one. After completing tasks, subjects filled questionnaires about interface interaction. Study 1 showed significantly higher preference for the old Airbnb version, though scores varied by group. Study 2 revealed a trend of reduced scores in experimental groups on second assessment, not seen in controls. Version-based rating differences were insignificant. Overall, Studies 1 and 2 indicated baby duck syndrome is challenging to study in labs, suggesting it emerges when users are genuinely engaged with the interface. This article has both theoretical and experimental significance for studying the emergence of psychological phenomena in human-digital interaction. As a practical application, the obtained results can be useful for correct development updates for interfaces.