MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'The Behavioral and Brain Sciences' source. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:40:09 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221071&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105353%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McKay RT, Dennett DC From an evolutionary standpoint, a default presumption is that true beliefs are adaptive and misbeliefs maladaptive. But if humans are biologically engineered to appraise the world accurately and to form true beliefs, how are we to explain the routine exceptions to this rule? How can we account for mistaken beliefs, bizarre delusions, and instances of self-deception? We explore this question in some detail. We begin by articulating a distinction between two general types of misbelief: those resulting from a breakdown in the normal functioning of the belief formation system (e.g., delusions) and those arising in the normal course of that system's operations (e.g., beliefs based on incomplete or inaccurate information). The former are instances of biological... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221071 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221070&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105354%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ackerman JM, Shapiro JR, Maner JK Positive and negative misbeliefs both may have evolved to serve important adaptive functions. Here, we focus on the role of negative misbeliefs in promoting adaptive outcomes within the contexts of romantic relationships and intergroup interactions. Believing bad things can paradoxically encourage romantic fidelity, personal safety, competitive success, and group solidarity, among other positive outcomes. PMID: 20105354 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221070 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221069&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ainslie G The radical evolutionary step that divides human decision-making from that of nonhumans is the ability to excite the reward process for its own sake, in imagination. Combined with hyperbolic over-valuation of the present, this ability is a potential threat to both the individual's long term survival and the natural selection of high intelligence. Human belief is intrinsically "unfounded" or under-founded, which may or may not be adaptive. PMID: 20105355 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221069 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221068&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105356%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bertamini M, Casati R Naive physics beliefs can be systematically mistaken. They provide a useful test-bed because they are common, and also because their existence must rely on some adaptive advantage, within a given context. In the second part of the commentary we also ask questions about when a whole family of misbeliefs should be considered together as a single phenomenon. PMID: 20105356 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221068 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221067&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105357%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boyer P A large amount of research in cognitive psychology is focused on memory distortions, understood as deviations from various (largely implicit) standards. Many alleged distortions actually suggest a highly functional system that balances the cost of acquiring new information with the benefit of relevant, contextually appropriate decision-making. In this sense many memories may be examples of functionally adaptive misbelief. PMID: 20105357 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221067 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221066&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105358%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brown JD Most people hold overly (though not excessively) positive self-views of themselves, their ability to shape environmental events, and their future. These positive illusions are generally (though not always) beneficial, promoting achievement, psychological adjustment, and physical well-being. Social processes conspire to produce these illusions, suggesting that affiliation patterns may have evolved to nurture and sustain them. PMID: 20105358 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221066 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221065&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105359%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bulbulia J, Sosis R McKay & Dennett (M&D) observe that beliefs need not be true in order to evolve. We connect this insight with Schelling's work on cooperative commitment to suggest that some beliefs - ideologies - are best approached as social goals. We explain why a social-interactive perspective is important to explaining the dynamics of belief formation and revision among situated partners. PMID: 20105359 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221065 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221064&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105360%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cokely ET, Feltz A Although it makes some progress, McKay & Dennett's (M&D's) proposal is limited because (1) the argument for adaptive misbelief is not new, (2) arguments overextend the evidence provided, and (3) the alleged sufficient conditions are not as prohibitive as suggested. We offer alternative perspectives and evidence, including individual differences research, indicating that adaptive misbeliefs are likely much more widespread than implied. PMID: 20105360 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221064 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221063&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105361%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dunning D Focusing on the individual's internal cognitive architecture, McKay & Dennett (M&D) provide an incomplete analysis because they neglect the crucial role played by the external environment in producing misbeliefs and determining whether those misbeliefs are adaptive. In some environments, positive illusions are not adaptive. Further, misbeliefs often arise because the environment commonly fails to provide crucial information needed to form accurate judgments. PMID: 20105361 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221063 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221062&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105362%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Coltheart M Beliefs may be true or false, and grounded or ungrounded. McKay & Dennett (M&D) treat these properties of belief as independent. What, then, do they mean by misbelief? They state that misbeliefs are "simply false beliefs." So would they consider a very well-grounded belief that is false a misbelief? And why can't beliefs that are very poorly grounded be considered delusions, even when they are true? PMID: 20105362 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221062 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221061&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105363%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dweck CS In this commentary, I question the idea that positive illusions are evolved misbeliefs on the grounds that positive illusions are often maladaptive, are not universal, and may be by-products of existing mechanisms. Further, because different beliefs are adaptive in different situations and cultures, it makes sense to build in a readiness to form beliefs rather than the beliefs themselves. PMID: 20105363 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221061 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221060&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105364%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Flanagan O McKay & Dennett (M&D) argue that positive illusions are a plausible candidate for a class of evolutionarily "selected for" misbeliefs. I argue (Flanagan 1991; 2007) that the class of alleged positive illusions is a hodge-podge, and that some of its members are best understood as positive attitudes, hopes, and the like, not as beliefs at all. PMID: 20105364 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221060 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221059&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105365%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Frankish K This commentary highlights the distinction between belief and pragmatic acceptance, and asks whether the positive illusions discussed in section 13 of the target article may be judicious pragmatic acceptances rather than adaptive misbeliefs. I discuss the characteristics of pragmatic acceptance and make suggestions about how to determine whether positive illusions are attitudes of this type. PMID: 20105365 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221059 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221058&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105366%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gjersoe NL, Hood BM We propose another positive illusion - overconfidence in the generalisability of one's theory - that fits with McKay & Dennett's (M&D's) criteria for adaptive misbeliefs. This illusion is pervasive in adult reasoning but we focus on its prevalence in children's developing theories. It is a strongly held conviction arising from normal functioning of the doxastic system that confers adaptive advantage on the individual. PMID: 20105366 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221058 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221057&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105367%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Haselton MG, Buss DM We argue that many evolved biases produced through selective forces described by error management theory are likely to entail misbeliefs. We illustrate our argument with the male sexual overperception bias. A misbelief could create motivational impetus for courtship, overcome the inhibiting effects of anxiety about rejection, and in some cases transform an initially sexually uninterested woman into an interested one. PMID: 20105367 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221057 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221056&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105368%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Johnson DD I take up the challenge of why false beliefs are better than "cautious action policies" (target article, sect. 9) in navigating adaptive problems with asymmetric errors. I then suggest that there are interactions between supernatural beliefs, self-deception, and positive illusions, rendering elements of all such misbeliefs adaptive. Finally, I argue that supernatural beliefs cannot be rejected as adaptive simply because recent experiments are inconclusive. The great costs of religion betray its even greater adaptive benefits - we just have not yet nailed down exactly what they are. PMID: 20105368 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221056 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221055&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105369%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Konecni VJ Rather than being a genuine adaptation, "positive illusions" are examples of doxastically uncommitted policies implemented at both the individual and societal levels. Even when they are genuine misbeliefs, most positive illusions are not evolved but ephemeral - a phenomenon limited to a particular social and economic moment. They are essentially a consumer response to messages from the pop-psychology industry in the recently terminated era of easy credit. PMID: 20105369 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221055 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221054&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105370%26dopt%3DAbstract Benign folie à deux: The social construction of positive illusions. Behav Brain Sci. 2009 Dec;32(6):525-6 Authors: Krebs DL, Denton K McKay & Dennett (M&D) have done an admirable job of distinguishing among various forms of misbelief and evaluating the idea that they stem from evolved mental mechanisms. We argue that a complete account of misbeliefs must attend to the role that others play in creating and maintaining positive illusions. PMID: 20105370 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221054 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221053&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kruger J, Chan S, Roese N We question a central premise upon which the target article is based. Namely, we point out that the evidence for "positive illusions" is in fact quite mixed. As such, the question of whether positive illusions are adaptive from an evolutionary standpoint may be premature in light of the fact that their very existence may be an illusion. PMID: 20105371 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221053 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221052&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105372%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Langdon R In their pursuit of adaptively biased misbelief-making systems, McKay & Dennett (M&D) describe a putative doxastic shear-pin system which enables misbeliefs to form in situations of extreme psychological stress. Rather than discussing their argument, I consider how this shear-pin system might combine with both pathological belief-making ("culpable" breakdowns caused by neuropathy) and normal belief-making to explain a spectrum of delusions. PMID: 20105372 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221052 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221051&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105373%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liddle JR, Shackelford TK McKay & Dennett's (M&D's) description of beliefs, and misbeliefs in particular, is a commendable contribution to the literature; but we argue that referring to beliefs as adaptive or maladaptive can cause conceptual confusion. "Adaptive" is inconsistently defined in the article, which adds to confusion and renders it difficult to evaluate the claims, particularly the possibility of "adaptive misbelief." PMID: 20105373 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221051 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221050&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105374%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marcus GF The mere fact that a particular aspect of mind could offer an adaptive advantage is not enough to show that that property was in fact shaped by that adaptive advantage. Although it is possible that the tendency towards positive illusion is an evolved misbelief, it it also possible that positive illusions could be a by-product of a broader, flawed cognitive mechanism that itself was shaped by accidents of evolutionary inertia. PMID: 20105374 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221050 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221049&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105375%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Millikan RG I highlight and amplify three central points that McKay & Dennett (M&D) make about the origin of failures to perform biologically proper functions. I question whether even positive illusions meet criteria for evolved misbelief. PMID: 20105375 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221049 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221048&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105376%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mishara AL, Corlett P In their target article, McKay & Dennett (M&D) conclude that only "positive illusions" are adaptive misbeliefs. Relying on overly strict conceptual schisms (deficit vs. motivational, functional vs. organic, perception vs. belief), they prematurely discount delusions as biologically adaptive. In contrast to their view that "motivation" plays a psychological but not a biological function in a two-factor model of the forming and maintenance of delusions, we propose a single impairment in prediction-error-driven (i.e., motivational) learning in three stages in which delusions play a biologically adaptive role. PMID: 20105376 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221048 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221047&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105377%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Norenzayan A, Shariff AF, Gervais WM Inducing religious thoughts increases prosocial behavior among strangers in anonymous contexts. These effects can be explained both by behavioral priming processes as well as by reputational mechanisms. We examine whether belief in moralizing supernatural agents supplies a case for what McKay & Dennett (M&D) call evolved misbelief, concluding that they might be more persuasively seen as an example of culturally evolved misbelief. PMID: 20105377 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221047 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221046&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105378%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Randolph-Seng B McKay & Dennett (M&D) identify positive illusions as fulfilling the criteria for an adaptive misbelief, but could there be other types of beliefs that may qualify as adaptive misbeliefs? My commentary addresses this and other questions through identifying belief in free will as a potential candidate as an adaptive misbelief. PMID: 20105378 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221046 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221045&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105379%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schloss JP, Murray MJ McKay & Dennett (M&D) convincingly argue against many proposals for adaptively functioning misbelief, but the conclusion that true beliefs are generally adaptive does not follow. Adaptive misbeliefs may be few in kind but many in number; maladaptive misbeliefs may routinely elude selective pruning; reproductively neutral misbeliefs may abound; and adaptively grounded beliefs may reliably covary with but not truthfully represent reality. PMID: 20105379 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221045 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221044&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105380%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sperber D Most human beliefs are acquired through communication, and so are most misbeliefs. Just like the misbeliefs discussed by McKay & Dennett (M&D), culturally transmitted misbeliefs tend to result from limitations rather than malfunctions of the mechanisms that produce them, and few if any can be argued to be adaptations. However, the mechanisms involved, the contents, and the hypothetical adaptive value tend to be specific to the cultural case. PMID: 20105380 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221044 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221043&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105381%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sutton J McKay & Dennett (M&D) suggest that some positive illusions are adaptive. But there is a bidirectional link between memory and positive illusions: Biased autobiographical memories filter incoming information, and self-enhancing information is preferentially attended and used to update memory. Extending M&D's approach, I ask if certain false memories might be adaptive, defending a broad view of the psychosocial functions of remembering. PMID: 20105381 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221043 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221042&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105382%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Talmont-Kaminski K McKay & Dennett (M&D) look for adaptive misbeliefs that result from the normal, though fallible, functioning of human cognition. Their account can be substantially improved by the addition of two elements: (1) significance of a belief's testability for its functionality, and (2) an account of reason appropriate to understanding systemic misbelief. Together, these points show why religion probably is an adaptive misbelief. PMID: 20105382 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221042 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221041&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105383%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wereha TJ, Racine TP Belief in evolved belief systems stems from using a population-genetic model of evolution that misconstrues the developmental relationship between genes and behaviour, confuses notions of "adapted" and "adaptive," and ignores the fundamental role of language in the development of human beliefs. We suggest that theories about the evolution of belief would be better grounded in a developmental model of evolution. PMID: 20105383 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221041 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221040&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105384%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wilks Y Nothing in McKay & Dennett's (M&D's) target article deals with the issue of how the adaptivity, or some other aspect, of beliefs might become a biological adaptation; which is to say, how the functions discussed might be coded in such a way in the brain that their development was also coded in gametes or sex transmission cells. PMID: 20105384 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221040 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221039&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105385%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wilson DS, Lynn SJ It is a foundational prediction of evolutionary theory that human beliefs accurately approximate reality only insofar as accurate beliefs enhance fitness. Otherwise, adaptive misbeliefs will prevail. Unlike McKay & Dennett (M&D), we think that adaptive belief systems rely heavily upon misbeliefs. However, the case for positive illusions as an example of adaptive misbelief is weak. PMID: 20105385 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221039 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221038&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105386%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zawidzki TW I argue that adaptive, self-directed misbeliefs are likely more prevalent and important than McKay & Dennett (M&D) claim. Humans often falsely interpret their own behavior in terms of culturally afforded categories. Despite their falsity, such self-interpretations are often adaptive because of our disposition to behave consistently with them. This makes us easier to interpret by similarly enculturated interactants. PMID: 20105386 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221038 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3221037&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20105387%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McKay RT, Dennett DC The commentaries raise a host of challenging issues and reflect a broad range of views. Some commentators doubt that there is any convincing evidence for adaptive misbelief, and remain (in our view, unduly) wedded to our "default presumption" that misbelief is maladaptive. Others think that the evidence for adaptive misbelief is so obvious, and so widespread, that the label "default presumption" is disingenuous. We try to chart a careful course between these opposing perspectives. PMID: 20105387 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3221037 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3221037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895524&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825228%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zayas V, Tabak JA, Günaydýn G, Robertson JM According to socio-relational theory, men and women encountered different ecologies in their evolutionary past, and, as a result of different ancestral selection pressures, they developed different patterns of emotional expressivity that have persisted across cultures and large human evolutionary time scales. We question these assumptions, and propose that social-cognitive models of individual differences more parsimoniously account for sex differences in emotional expressivity. PMID: 19825228 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895524 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895523&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825229%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wiefel A, Schepker R In addition to the socio-relational framework of expressive behaviors (SRFB), we recommend integrating theoretical and empirical findings based on attachment theory. We advocate a dynamic interpretation of early caregiver-child interaction. The consequences of models from developmental psychology for the occurrence of psychopathology are demonstrated from a clinical perspective. PMID: 19825229 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895523 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895522&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825230%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vermeulen N Vigil suggests that expressed emotions are inherently learned and triggered in social contexts. A strict reading of this account is not consistent with the findings that individuals, even those who are congenitally blind, do express emotions in the absence of an audience. Rather, grounded cognition suggests that facial expressions might also be an embodied support used to represent emotional information. PMID: 19825230 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895522 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895521&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825231%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Swain JE Parent-infant emotional expressions vary according to parent and infant gender. Such parent-infant interactions critically affect infant development. Neuroimaging research is exploring emotion-related brain function that varies according to gender, and regulates parenting thoughts and behaviors in the early postpartum. Through specific brain functions, parenting serves to program the infant brain for the next generation of sex-specific emotional expression. PMID: 19825231 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895521 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895520&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825232%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Madison G A sex difference in the tendency to outbreed (female exogamy) is a premise for the target article's proposed framework, which receives some support by being shared with chimpanzees but not with more distantly related primates. Further empirical support is provided, and it is suggested that recognition of sex differences might improve effective fairness, taking sexual assault as a case in point. PMID: 19825232 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895520 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895519&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825233%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lyons M In this commentary, the idea of reciprocity potential indicators is tied in with ultimate accounts on sex differences in social sensitivity. It is proposed that, rather than crying, smiling is a more likely cooperative signal. The possibility of coevolution and polymorphism in perceptual and signalling systems are also discussed briefly, with a reference to Theory of Mind and Machiavellianism. PMID: 19825233 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895519 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895518&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825234%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lozano GA Vigil summarizes sex-related differences in emotivity, and presents a psychological model based on the restrictive assumption that responses to stimuli are dichotomous. The model uses for support the concept of intrasexual selection, but ignores intersexual selection. An alternative hypothesis might be that emotivity signals age: maturity in men and youth in women. Integration requires considering all evolutionary biology, not just agreeable concepts. PMID: 19825234 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895518 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895517&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825235%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lobue V, Deloache JS One facet of Vigil's socio-relational framework of expressive behaviors (SRFB) suggests that females are more sensitive to facial expressions than are males, and should detect facial expressions more quickly. A re-examination of recent research with children demonstrates that girls do detect various facial expressions more quickly than do boys. Although this provides support for SRFB, further examination of SRFB in children would lend important support this evolutionary-based theory. PMID: 19825235 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895517 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895516&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825236%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Li NP, Balliet D Humor and social dilemmas are two disparate areas that have been linked to emotions. However, they tend to have been studied apart from considerations of emotion and emotional expression. We provide an overview of how such areas might be illuminated by Vigil's socio-relational framework, and how capacity and trustworthiness are communicated in humor and social dilemmas. PMID: 19825236 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895516 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895515&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825237%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Izard CE, Finlon KJ, Grossman SR Vigil's socio-relational framework of sex differences in emotion-expressive behavior has a number of interesting aspects, especially the principal concepts of reciprocity potential and perceived attractiveness and trustworthiness. These are attractive and potentially heuristic ideas. However, some of his arguments and claims are not well grounded in research on early development. Three- to five-year-old children did not show the sex differences in emotion-expressive behavior discussed in the target article. Our data suggest that Vigil may have underestimated the roles of epigenetic and cultural factors in shaping emotion-expressive behavior. PMID: 19825237 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895515 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895514&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825238%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ferber SG Biofeedback mechanisms (a) between individuals, (b) between the individual and the society structures which shape individual cognitions, and (c) within the individual genetic biochemical circulation, may explain the diversity of trustworthiness potential and the option of mutual trust for every individual in any given society. PMID: 19825238 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895514 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895513&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825239%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fugate JM, Gouzoules H, Barrett LF In this commentary, we review evidence that production-based (perceiver-independent) measures reveal few consistent sex differences in emotion. Further, sex differences in perceiver-based measures can be attributed to retrospective or dispositional biases. We end by discussing an alternative view that women might appear to be more emotional because they are more facile with emotion language. PMID: 19825239 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895513 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895512&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825240%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fischer AH Vigil's socio-relational framework of sex differences in emotional expressiveness emphasizes general sex differences in emotional responding, but largely ignores the social context in which emotions are expressed. There is much empirical evidence showing that sex differences in emotion displays are flexible and a function of specific social roles and demands, rather than a reflection of evolutionary-based social adjustments. PMID: 19825240 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895512 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895511&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825241%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Basso F, Oullier O We suggest that the framework proposed by Vigil is useful in laboratory contexts but might come up short for in vivo social interactions. Emotions result from cost-benefits trade-offs but are not solely generated at the individual level to establish emotional social spheres. In organizational contexts, emotion expression can be a constitutive part of a professional activity, and observed sex differences might vanish. PMID: 19825241 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895511 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895510&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825242%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vigil JM This response shows how the socio-relational framework of expressive behaviors may be used to understand and predict social psychological processes, beyond sex differences in the expression of emotion. I use this opportunity to elaborate on several key concepts on the epigenesis of evolved social behaviors that were not fully addressed in the target article. These are: evidence of a natural history of masculine and feminine specialization (sect. R1); phenotypic plasticity and range of reactivity of social behaviors (sect. R2); exploitive and protective functions of social behaviors (sect. R3); and the role of cognition in some affective responses (sect. R4). I conclude by highlighting (in sect. R5) future directions for psychological research from a socio-relational b... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895510 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895509&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825243%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Provine RR Laughing, humor, and tickling, but not tearing and crying, involve the give-and-take that provides value and a basis for exchange in the psychosexual marketplace. PMID: 19825243 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895509 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895508&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825244%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Todorov A The two-dimensional model of social relations outlined in the target article has striking convergence with empirically derived dimensional models of interpersonal perception, inter-group perception, and face evaluation. All these models posit two-dimensional structures related to perceptions of valence/affiliation and power/status. Although these models are parsimonious, they may be insufficient to account for behaviors in specific contexts. PMID: 19825244 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895508 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895507&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825245%26dopt%3DAbstract We present evidence that smiling is positively associated with positive affect in women and negatively associated with negative affect in men. In line with Vigil's model, we propose that, in women, smiling signals warmth (trustworthiness cues), which attracts fewer and more intimate relationships, whereas in men, smiling signals confidence and lack of self-doubt (capacity cues), which attracts numerous, less-intimate relationships. PMID: 19825245 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895507 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895506&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825246%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vigil JM Despite a staggering body of research demonstrating sex differences in expressed emotion, very few theoretical models (evolutionary or non-evolutionary) offer a critical examination of the adaptive nature of such differences. From the perspective of a socio-relational framework, emotive behaviors evolved to promote the attraction and aversion of different types of relationships by advertising the two most parsimonious properties of reciprocity potential, or perceived attractiveness as a prospective social partner. These are the individual's (a) perceived capacity or ability to provide expedient resources, or to inflict immediate harm onto others, and their (b) perceived trustworthiness or probability of actually reciprocating altruism (Vigil 2007). Depending on the un... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895506 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895505&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19825247%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Buss DM Emotion expression serves functions in exploitative resource-acquisition strategies that may not include relationship reciprocity. These include rendering victims more exploitable and signaling one's status as non-exploitable. A comprehensive theory of emotion expressions must explain their role in adaptations for exploitation, as well as evolved defenses against those pursuing a strategy of exploitation. PMID: 19825247 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895505 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721007&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691876%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boden JM Archer examines sex differences in aggression, and argues that these differences may be better explained by sexual selection theory than by social role theory. This commentary examines sex differences in the developmental antecedents of aggression and violence, and presents a preliminary framework for examining whether the observed sex differences amongst these developmental antecedents can also be accounted for by sexual selection theory. PMID: 19691876 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721007 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721006&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691877%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dickins TE, Sergeant MJ We add to Archer's review with mention of sexual orientation differences in aggression and empathy, which suggest a biological basis for the mediating role of empathy. We also note that Archer's view of sex differences will illuminate discussion of conduct disorder, which can only be of help to researchers in this field. PMID: 19691877 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721006 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721005&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691878%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Eagly AH, Wood W Our social role/biosocial theory provides a more adequate account of aggression sex differences than does Archer's sexual selection theory. In our theory, these sex differences arise flexibly from sociocultural and ecological forces in interaction with humans' biology, as defined by female and male physical attributes and reproductive activities. Our comments elaborate our theory's explanations for the varied phenomena that Archer presents. PMID: 19691878 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721005 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721004&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691879%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sell A At the heart of the debate between social role theorists and evolutionary psychologists is whether natural selection has designed the minds of the sexes differently to some interesting extent. In this commentary I describe the standards of evidence for both the positive and negative claims. In my opinion, Archer has met the standard for designed sex differences in intrasexual conflict. PMID: 19691879 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721004 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721003&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691880%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tremblay RE, Côté SM As Archer argues, recent developmental data on human physical aggression support the sexual selection hypothesis. However, sex differences are largely due to males on a chronic trajectory of aggression. Maternal characteristics of these males suggest that, in societies with low levels of physical violence, females with a history of behavior problems largely contribute to maintenance of physical aggression sex differences. PMID: 19691880 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721003 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721002&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691881%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gaulin SJ With respect to aggressiveness it is not enough to say that humans are "like other mammals." We resemble only those species where males have higher maximum reproductive rates than females. In such species males evolve a set of hormonally mediated competitive traits via sexual selection. Because humans match the predictions of this general evolutionary model, attempts to (re)explain men's aggressiveness in sociological terms are superfluous and misleading. PMID: 19691881 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721002 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721001&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691882%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schredl M Dream research shows sex differences in dream aggression that fit very well with the findings for waking-life aggressive behaviour. Dream studies are a valuable tool for investigating variables underlying the sex difference in aggression. One might argue that studying dream aggression might be even more promising because aggression in dreams is not socially labelled, as being aggressive in waking life is. PMID: 19691882 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721001 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2721000&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691883%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cashdan E The target article claims that evolutionary theory predicts the emergence of sex differences in aggression in early childhood, and that there will be no sex difference in anger. It also finds an absence of sex differences in spousal abuse in Western societies. All three are puzzling from an evolutionary perspective and warrant further discussion. PMID: 19691883 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2721000 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2721000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720999&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691884%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pound N, Daly M, Wilson M An evolutionary psychological perspective drawing on sexual selection theory can better explain sex differences in aggression and violence than can social constructionist theories. Moreover, there is accumulating evidence that, in accordance with predictions derived from sexual selection theory, men modulate their willingness to engage in risky and violent confrontations in response to cues to fitness variance and future prospects. PMID: 19691884 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720999 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720998&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691885%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Buss DM Human psychology contains adaptations to deploy aggression as one solution to many distinct adaptive problems. These include expropriating resources, defending against incursions, establishing encroachment-deterring reputations, inflicting costs on rivals, ascending dominance hierarchies, dissuading partner defection, eliminating fitness-draining offspring, and obtaining new mates. Aggression is not a singular strategy. Comprehensive theories must identify the "design features" of multiple adaptations for aggression. PMID: 19691885 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720998 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720997&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691886%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: van den Berghe PL Nothing is gained by opposing "sexual selection" and "social roles," or by proclaiming the supremacy of one over the other. Instead, we should develop a unitary model of gene-culture coevolution, allowing for the complex interaction of both, and varying importance of each, all within our double, species-specific, adaptive, evolutionary track. PMID: 19691886 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720997 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720996&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691887%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Terburg D, Peper JS, Morgan B, van Honk J The relation between testosterone levels and aggressive behavior is well established. From an evolutionary viewpoint, testosterone can explain at least part of the sex differences found in aggressive behavior. This explanation, however, is mediated by factors such as prenatal testosterone levels and basal levels of cortisol. Especially regarding sex differences in aggression during adolescence, these mediators have great influence. Based on developmental brain structure research we argue that sex differences in aggression have a pre-pubertal origin and are maintained during adolescence. Evidence of prenatal, adolescent, and adult levels of testosterone in relation to aggression taken together, support Archer's argument for sexual selec... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720996 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720995&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691888%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kempenaers B, Forstmeier W Quantitative genetic studies of human aggressive behavior only partly support the claim of social role theory that individual differences in aggressive behavior are learnt rather than innate. As to its heritable component, future studies on the genetic architecture of aggressive behavior across different contexts could shed more light on the evolutionary origins of male-female versus male-male aggression. PMID: 19691888 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720995 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720994&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691889%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kaighobadi F, Shackelford TK Archer's argument regarding sex differences in partner violence rests on a general account of between-sex differences in reproductive strategies and in social roles. However, men's partner-directed violence often is predicted by perceived risk of female infidelity. We hypothesize that men's partner-directed violence is produced by psychological mechanisms evolved to solve the adaptive problem of paternity uncertainty. PMID: 19691889 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720994 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720993&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691890%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Johnson DD, van Vugt M Human aggression has two important dimensions: within-group aggression and between-group aggression. Archer offers an excellent treatment of the former only. A full explanation of sex differences in aggression will fail without accounting for our history of inter-group aggression, which has deep evolutionary roots and specific psychological adaptations. The causes and consequences of inter-group aggression are dramatically different for males and females. PMID: 19691890 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720993 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720992&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691891%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Finkel EJ, Slotter EB According to I3 Theory, individuals enact aggressive behaviors when (a) instigating triggers are severe, (b) impelling forces are strong, and/or (c) inhibiting forces are weak. Archer's analysis of human sex differences in aggression could be bolstered by a careful analysis of male-female discrepancies in reactivity (or exposure) to instigating triggers, proneness toward impelling forces, and/or proneness toward inhibiting forces. PMID: 19691891 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720992 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720991&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691892%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Figueredo AJ, Gladden PR, Brumbach BH We agree that sexual selection is a more comprehensive explanation for sex differences in direct aggression than social role theory, which is an unparsimonious and vestigial remnant of human exceptionalism. Nevertheless, Archer misses several opportunities to put the theoretical predictions made by himself and by others into direct competition in a way that would further the interests of strong inference. PMID: 19691892 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720991 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720990&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691893%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Corr PJ, Perkins AM We draw a distinction between defensive and predatory forms of aggression, and how these forms relate to basic neuropsychological systems, especially the Fight-Flight-Freeze-System (FFFS; putatively related to defensive aggression), and the Behavioural Approach System (BAS; putatively related to predatory aggression). These systems may help further to account for proximal brain processes and personality influences in the context of sex differences. PMID: 19691893 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720990 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720989&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691894%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Campbell A Supporting a mediating role for fear in inhibiting female aggression, a recent study shows that aversion to "risky" impulsivity completely mediates the sex difference in direct aggression but not in angry acts where dangerous retaliation is unlikely. A more inclusive use of the term "sexual selection" to encompass reproductive advantage would recognise females' crucial role in nurturing and protecting offspring. PMID: 19691894 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720989 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720988&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691895%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Browne KR Sex differences in aggressive and risk-taking behaviors have practical implications for sexual integration of military combat units. The social-role theory implies that female soldiers will adapt to their role and display the same aggressive and risk-taking propensities as their male comrades. If sex differences reflect evolved propensities, however, adoption of the soldier's role is unlikely to eliminate those differences. PMID: 19691895 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720988 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720987&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691896%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Benenson JF Archer presents a traditional view of intrasexual competition. Knowledge of a species' social structure provides a more complete picture. Human males compete against individuals with whom they may cooperate later in inter-group aggression. By contrast, females compete against individuals for a mate's continued support. Females' aggression may aim at eliminating the competition, whereas males simply may attempt to dominate others. PMID: 19691896 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720987 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720986&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691897%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Behme C Archer provides seemingly compelling evidence for his claim that sexual selection explains sex differences in human aggression better than social role theory. I challenge Archer's interpretation of some of this evidence. I argue that the same evidence could be used to support the claim that what has been selected for is the ability to curb aggression and discuss implications for Archer's theory. PMID: 19691897 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720986 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720985&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691898%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bailey DH, Oxford JK, Geary DC We agree with Archer that human sex differences in aggression are well explained by sexual selection, but note that "social learning" explanations of human behaviors are not logically mutually exclusive from "evolutionary" explanations and therefore should not be framed as such. We discuss why this type of framing hinders the development of both social learning and evolutionary theories of human behavior. PMID: 19691898 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720985 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720984&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691899%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Archer J I argue that the magnitude and nature of sex differences in aggression, their development, causation, and variability, can be better explained by sexual selection than by the alternative biosocial version of social role theory. Thus, sex differences in physical aggression increase with the degree of risk, occur early in life, peak in young adulthood, and are likely to be mediated by greater male impulsiveness, and greater female fear of physical danger. Male variability in physical aggression is consistent with an alternative life history perspective, and context-dependent variability with responses to reproductive competition, although some variability follows the internal and external influences of social roles. Other sex differences, in variance in reproductive out... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720984 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720983&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691900%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Archer J My response is organized into three sections. The first revisits the theme of the target article, the explanatory power of sexual selection versus social role theory. The second considers the range and scope of sexual selection, and its application to human sex differences. Two topics are examined in more detail: (1) the paternity uncertainty theory of partner violence; (2) evolution of inter-group aggression. Section 4 covers ultimate and proximal explanations and their integration within an ethological approach. I consider the development of sex differences in aggression, and their causal mechanisms, within this framework. PMID: 19691900 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720983 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720982&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691905%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pellegrini AD Archer recognizes that sexual selection theory is sensitive to the effects of ecologies on sex differences, yet he does not explain the impact of such variation. For example, to what degree are there sex differences in aggression in polygynous and monogamous societies? I demonstrate how differences in mating perceptions affect the traditional dichotomy that males compete for and females choose mates. PMID: 19691905 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720982 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720981&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691912%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sefcek JA, Sacco DF Social roles theorists claim that differences between the sexes are of limited consequence. Such misperceptions lead to misunderstanding the important role of sexual selection in explaining phenotypic differences both between species and within humans. Countering these claims, we explain how sexual dimorphism in humans affect expressions of artistic display and patterns of male and female aggression across the ovulatory cycle. PMID: 19691912 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720981 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2720980&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19691913%26dopt%3DAbstract We present data on historical changes in violent crime contradicting that perspective, and discuss recent evidence showing how an evolutionary perspective predicts sex similarities and differences responding in a flexible and functional manner to adaptively relevant triggers across different domains. PMID: 19691913 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2720980 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2720980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2525642&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19386144%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carruthers P Four different accounts of the relationship between third-person mindreading and first-person metacognition are compared and evaluated. While three of them endorse the existence of introspection for propositional attitudes, the fourth (defended here) claims that our knowledge of our own attitudes results from turning our mindreading capacities upon ourselves. Section 1 of this target article introduces the four accounts. Section 2 develops the "mindreading is prior" model in more detail, showing how it predicts introspection for perceptual and quasi-perceptual (e.g., imagistic) mental events while claiming that metacognitive access to our own attitudes always results from swift unconscious self-interpretation. This section also considers the model's relationship t... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2525642 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2525642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2525641&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19386174%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mitchell CJ, De Houwer J, Lovibond PF The past 50 years have seen an accumulation of evidence suggesting that associative learning depends on high-level cognitive processes that give rise to propositional knowledge. Yet, many learning theorists maintain a belief in a learning mechanism in which links between mental representations are formed automatically. We characterize and highlight the differences between the propositional and link approaches, and review the relevant empirical evidence. We conclude that learning is the consequence of propositional reasoning processes that cooperate with the unconscious processes involved in memory retrieval and perception. We argue that this new conceptual framework allows many of the important recent advances in associative learning resea... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2525641 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2525641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2184283&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19210806%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Del Giudice M This target article presents an integrated evolutionary model of the development of attachment and human reproductive strategies. It is argued that sex differences in attachment emerge in middle childhood, have adaptive significance in both children and adults, and are part of sex-specific life history strategies. Early psychosocial stress and insecure attachment act as cues of environmental risk, and tend to switch development towards reproductive strategies favoring current reproduction and higher mating effort. However, due to sex differences in life history trade-offs between mating and parenting, insecure males tend to adopt avoidant strategies, whereas insecure females tend to adopt anxious/ambivalent strategies, which maximize investment from kin and mates... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2184283 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2184283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2184282&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19210833%26dopt%3DAbstract Précis of bayesian rationality: the probabilistic approach to human reasoning. Behav Brain Sci. 2009 Feb;32(1):69-84; discussion 85-120 Authors: Oaksford M, Chater N According to Aristotle, humans are the rational animal. The borderline between rationality and irrationality is fundamental to many aspects of human life including the law, mental health, and language interpretation. But what is it to be rational? One answer, deeply embedded in the Western intellectual tradition since ancient Greece, is that rationality concerns reasoning according to the rules of logic--the formal theory that specifies the inferential connections that hold with certainty between propositions. Piaget viewed logical reasoning as defining the end-point of cognitive development; and contemporary ... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2184282 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2184282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041321&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077327%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rips LJ, Bloomfield A, Asmuth J Many experiments with infants suggest that they possess quantitative abilities, and many experimentalists believe that these abilities set the stage for later mathematics: natural numbers and arithmetic. However, the connection between these early and later skills is far from obvious. We evaluate two possible routes to mathematics and argue that neither is sufficient: (1) We first sketch what we think is the most likely model for infant abilities in this domain, and we examine proposals for extrapolating the natural number concept from these beginnings. Proposals for arriving at natural number by (empirical) induction presuppose the mathematical concepts they seek to explain. Moreover, standard experimental tests for children's understanding of ... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041321 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041320&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077328%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Andres M, Di Luca S, Pesenti M Rips et al. claim that the principles underlying the structure of natural numbers cannot be inferred from interactions with the physical world. However, in their target article they failed to consider an important source of interaction: finger counting. Here, we show that finger counting satisfies all the conditions required for allowing the concept of numbers to emerge from sensorimotor experience through a bottom-up process. PMID: 19077328 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041320 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041319&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077329%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barner D Though there are holes in the theory of how children move through stages of numerical competence, the current approach offers the most promising avenue for characterizing changes in competence as children confront new mathematical concepts. Like the science of mathematics, children's discovery of number is rooted in intuitions about sets, and not purely in analytic truths. PMID: 19077329 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041319 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041318&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077330%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barth H The current consensus among most researchers is that natural number is not built solely upon a foundation of mental magnitudes. On their way to the conclusion that magnitudes do not form any part of that foundation, Rips et al. pass rather quickly by theories suggesting that mental magnitudes might play some role. These theories deserve a closer look. PMID: 19077330 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041318 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041317&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077331%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carey S The contrast Rips et al. draw between "bottom-up" and "top-down" approaches to understanding the origin of the capacity for representing natural number is a false dichotomy. Its plausibility depends upon the sketchiness of the authors' own proposal. At least some of the proposals they characterize as bottom-up are worked-out versions of the very top-down position they advocate. Finally, they deny that the structures that these putative bottom-up proposals consider to be sources of natural number are even precursors of concepts of natural number. This denial depends upon an idiosyncratic, and mistaken, idea of what a precursor is. PMID: 19077331 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041317 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041316&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077332%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chiang WC Rips et al.'s analyses have boosted the plausibility of proposals that the human mind embodies some critical properties of natural numbers. I suggest that such proposals can be further evaluated by infant studies, neuropsychological data, and evolution-based considerations, and additionally, that Rips et al.'s model may need to be modified in order to more completely reflect infants' quantitative abilities. PMID: 19077332 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041316 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041315&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077333%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kadosh RC, Walsh V In their target article, Rips et al. have presented the view that there is no necessary dependency between natural numbers and internal magnitude. However, they do not give enough weight to neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies. We provide evidence demonstrating that the acquisition of natural numbers depends on magnitude representation and that natural numbers develop from a general magnitude mechanism in the parietal lobes. PMID: 19077333 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041315 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041314&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077334%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Decock L Rips et al. argue that the construction of math schemas roughly similar to the Dedekind/Peano axioms may be necessary for arriving at arithmetical skills. However, they neglect the neo-Fregean alternative axiomatization of arithmetic, based on Hume's principle. Frege arithmetic is arguably a more plausible start for a top-down approach in the psychological study of mathematical cognition than Peano arithmetic. PMID: 19077334 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041314 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041313&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077335%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cowan R The philosophy of mathematics may not be helpful to the psychology of number development because they differ in their purposes. PMID: 19077335 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041313 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041312&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077336%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: De Cruz H The failure of current bootstrapping accounts to explain the emergence of the concept of natural numbers does not entail that no link exists between intuitive and formal number concepts. The epidemiology of representations allows us to explain similarities between intuitive and formal number concepts without requiring that the latter are directly constructed from the former. PMID: 19077336 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041312 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041311&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077337%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fias W, Verguts T Rips et al.'s arguments for rejecting basic number representations as a precursor of the natural number system are exclusively based on analog number coding. We argue that these arguments do not apply to place coding, a type of basic number representation that is not considered by Rips et al. PMID: 19077337 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041311 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041310&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077338%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fischer MH, Mills RA The reliable covariation between numerosity and spatial extent is considered as a strong constraint for inferring the successor principle in numerical cognition. We suggest that children can derive a general number concept from the (experientially) infinite succession of spatial positions during object manipulation. PMID: 19077338 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041310 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041309&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077339%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gardiner MF Studies by Gardiner and colleagues connecting musical pitch and arithmetic learning support Rips et al.'s proposal that natural number concepts are constructed on a base of innate abilities. Our evidence suggests that innate ability concerning sequence ("Basic Sequencing Capability" or BSC) is fundamental. Mathematical engagement relating number to BSC does not develop automatically, but, rather, should be encouraged through teaching. PMID: 19077339 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041309 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041308&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077340%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gelman R The meaning and function of counting are subservient to the arithmetic principles of ordering, addition, and subtraction for positive cardinal values. Beginning language learners can take advantage of their nonverbal knowledge of counting and arithmetic principles to acquire sufficient knowledge of their initial verbal instantiations and move onto a relevant learning path to assimilate input for more advanced, abstract understandings. PMID: 19077340 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041308 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041307&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077341%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gordon P I ask whether it is necessary that principles of number be mentally represented and point to the role of language in determining cultural variation. Some cultures possess extensive counting systems that are finite. I suggest that learning number principles is similar to learning conservation and, as such, might be derived from learning about the empirical properties of objects and other individuals in combinations. PMID: 19077341 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041307 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041306&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077342%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Halberda J, Feigenson L Rips et al. consider whether representations of individual objects or analog magnitudes are building blocks for the concept natural number. We argue for a third core capacity - the ability to bind representations of individuals into sets. However, even with this addition to the list of starting materials, we agree that a significant acquisition story is needed to capture natural number. PMID: 19077342 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041306 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041305&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077343%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hintzman DL According to the recursive reminding hypothesis, repetition interacts with episodic memory to produce memory representations that encode - and recursively embed - experiences of reminding. These representations provide the rememberer with a basis for differentiating among the first time something happens, the second time it happens, and so on. I argue that such representations could mediate children's understanding of natural number. PMID: 19077343 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041305 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041304&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077344%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hodes HT I catalog several concepts associated with finite cardinals, and then invoke them to interpret and evaluate several passages in Rips et al.'s target article. Like the literature it discusses, the article seems overly quick to ascribe the possession of certain concepts to children (and of set-theoretic concepts to non-mathematicians). PMID: 19077344 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041304 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041303&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077345%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lakoff G Rips et al. appear to discuss, and then dismiss with counterexamples, the brain-based theory of mathematical cognition given in Lakoff and Núñez (2000). Instead, they present another theory of their own that they correctly dismiss. Our theory is based on neural learning. Rips et al. misrepresent our theory as being directly about real-world experience and mappings directly from that experience. PMID: 19077345 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041303 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041302&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077346%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Le Corre M According to Rips et al., numerical cognition develops out of two independent sets of cognitive primitives - one that supports enumeration, and one that supports arithmetic and the concepts of natural numbers. I argue against this proposal because it incorrectly predicts that natural number concepts could develop without prior knowledge of enumeration. PMID: 19077346 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041302 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041301&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077347%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lourenco SF, Levine SC The proposal of Rips et al. is motivated by discontinuity and input claims. The discontinuity claim is that no continuity exists between early (nonverbal) numerical representations and natural number. The input claim is that particular experiences (e.g., cardinality-related talk and object-based activities) do not aid in natural number construction. We discuss reasons to doubt both claims in their strongest forms. PMID: 19077347 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041301 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041300&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077348%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martins-Mourao A, Karmiloff-Smith A In this commentary, we outline an epistemological continuum between earlier and later number concepts, showing how empirical findings support the view that specific and general underpinnings to number develop in parallel in children; and we raise the question, based on cross-syndrome comparisons in infancy, as to whether exact or approximate number abilities underlie these later skills. PMID: 19077348 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041300 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041299&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077349%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morris BJ, Masnick AM We argue that number principles may be learnable instead of innate, by suggesting that children acquire probabilistically true number concepts rather than algorithms. We also suggest that non-propositional representational formats (e.g., mental models) may implicitly provide information that supports the induction of numerical principles. Given probabilistically true number concepts, the problem of the acquisition of mathematical principles is eliminated. PMID: 19077349 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041299 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041298&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077350%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mix KS Rips et al. raise important questions about the relation between infant quantification and achievement of natural number concepts. However, they may be oversimplifying the interactions that characterize actual development in real time. Though they propose a worthwhile agenda for future research, its explanatory power will be limited if it does not address developmental issues with greater sensitivity. PMID: 19077350 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041298 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041297&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077351%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Muldoon K, Lewis C, Freeman N We see no grounds for insisting that, because the concept natural number is abstract, its foundations must be innate. It is possible to specify domain general learning processes that feed into more abstract concepts of numerical infinity. By neglecting the messiness of children's slow acquisition of arithmetical concepts, Rips et al. present an idealized, unnecessarily insular, view of number development. PMID: 19077351 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041297 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041296&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077352%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Noël MP, Grégoire J, Meert G, Seron X Rips et al.'s proposition cannot account for the facts that (1) a historical look at the word number systems suggests that the concept of natural numbers has been progressively elaborated; (2) people from cultures without an elaborate counting system do not master the concept of natural numbers; (3) children take time to master natural numbers; and (4) the competing advantage of the postulated math schema in the natural selection process is not obvious. PMID: 19077352 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041296 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041295&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077353%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Núñez RE Early quantitative skills cannot be directly extended to provide the richness, precision, and sophistication of the concept of natural number. These skills must interact with top-down mathematical schemas, which can be explained by bodily grounded everyday mechanisms for abstraction and imagination (e.g., conceptual metaphor, blending) that are both biologically plausible and culturally shaped (established beyond the child's mind). PMID: 19077353 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041295 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041294&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077354%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pietroski P, Lidz J The conceptual building blocks suggested by developmental psychologists may yet play a role in how the human learner arrives at an understanding of natural number. The proposal of Rips et al. faces a challenge, yet to be met, faced by all developmental proposals: to describe the logical space in which learners ever acquire new concepts. PMID: 19077354 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041294 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041293&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Read D How children learn number concepts reflects the conceptual and logical distinction between counting numbers, based on a same-size concept for collections of objects, and natural numbers, constructed as an algebra defined by the Peano axioms for arithmetic. Cross-cultural research illustrates the cultural specificity of counting number systems, and hence the cultural context must be taken into account. PMID: 19077355 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041293 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041292&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077356%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sarnecka BW Rips et al.'s critique is misplaced when it faults the induction model for not explaining the acquisition of meta-numerical knowledge: This is something the model was never meant to explain. More importantly, the critique underestimates what children know, and what they have achieved, when they learn the cardinal meanings of the number words "one" through "nine." PMID: 19077356 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041292 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041291&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077357%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Smith L I support Rips et al.'s critique of psychology through (1) a complementary argument about the normative, modal, constitutive nature of mathematical principles. I add two reservations about their analysis of mathematical induction, arguing (2) for constructivism against their logicism as to its interpretation and formation in childhood (Smith 2002), and (3) for Piaget's account of reasons in rule learning. PMID: 19077357 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041291 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041290&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077358%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sophian C Infants' knowledge need not have the same structure as the mature knowledge that develops from it. Fundamental to an understanding of number are concepts of equivalence and less-than and greater-than relations. These concepts, together with the concept of unit, are posited to be the starting points for the development of numerical knowledge. PMID: 19077358 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041290 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041289&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077359%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rips LJ, Bloomfield A, Asmuth J Traditional theories of how children learn the positive integers start from infants' abilities in detecting the quantity of physical objects. Our target article examined this view and found no plausible accounts of such development. Most of our commentators appear to agree that no adequate developmental theory is presently available, but they attempt to hold onto a role for early enumeration. Although some defend the traditional theories, others introduce new basic quantitative abilities, new methods of transformation, or new types of end states. A survey of these proposals, however, shows that they do not succeed in bridging the gap to knowledge of the integers. We suggest that a better theory depends on starting with primitives that are inhere... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041289 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041288&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077360%26dopt%3DAbstract Précis of semantic cognition: a parallel distributed processing approach. Behav Brain Sci. 2008 Dec;31(6):689-714; discussion 714-49 Authors: Rogers TT, McClelland JL In this précis of our recent book, Semantic Cognition: A Parallel Distributed Processing Approach (Rogers & McClelland 2004), we present a parallel distributed processing theory of the acquisition, representation, and use of human semantic knowledge. The theory proposes that semantic abilities arise from the flow of activation among simple, neuron-like processing units, as governed by the strengths of interconnecting weights; and that acquisition of new semantic information involves the gradual adjustment of weights in the system in response to experience. These simple ideas explain a wide range of e... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041288 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041287&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077361%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Borsboom D, Visser I We argue that neural networks for semantic cognition, as proposed by Rogers & McClelland (R&M), do not acquire semantics and therefore cannot be the basis for a theory of semantic cognition. The reason is that the neural networks simply perform statistical categorization procedures, and these do not require any semantics for their successful operation. We conclude that this has severe consequences for the semantic cognition views of R&M. PMID: 19077361 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041287 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041286&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077362%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe evidence that certain inductive phenomena are associated with IQ, that different inductive phenomena emerge at different ages, and that the effects of causal knowledge on induction are decreased under conditions of memory load. On the basis of this evidence we argue that there is more to inductive reasoning than semantic cognition. PMID: 19077362 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041286 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041285&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077363%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hampton JA Three issues are raised in this commentary. First, the mapping of semantic information into the different layers could be done in a more realistic way by using the Context layer to represent situational contexts. Second, a way to differentiate category membership information from other property information needs to be considered. Finally, the issue of modal knowledge is raised. PMID: 19077363 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041285 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041284&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077364%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kemp C, Tenenbaum JB Rogers & McClelland (R&M) criticize models that rely on structured representations such as categories, taxonomic hierarchies, and schemata, but we suggest that structured models can account for many of the phenomena that they describe. Structured approaches and parallel distributed processing (PDP) approaches operate at different levels of analysis, and may ultimately be compatible, but structured models seem more likely to offer immediate insight into many of the issues that R&M discuss. PMID: 19077364 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041284 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041283&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077365%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kropff E, Treves A The parallel distributed processing (PDP) perspective brings forward the important point that all semantic phenomena are based on analog underlying mechanisms, involving the weighted summation of multiple inputs by individual neurons. It falls short of indicating, however, how the essentially discrete nature of semantic processing may emerge at the cognitive level. Bridging this gap probably requires attractor networks. PMID: 19077365 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041283 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041282&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077366%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Macdonald AW This commentary challenges Rogers & McClelland (R&M) to use their model to account for delusional belief formation and maintenance. The gradual development of delusions and the nature of disconnectivity in Capgras delusions are used to illustrate the role of emotional salience in delusions. It is not clear how this kind of emotional saliency can be represented within the current architecture. PMID: 19077366 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041282 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041281&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077367%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Majid A, Huettig F Coherent covariation appears to be a powerful explanatory factor accounting for a range of phenomena in semantic cognition. But its role in accounting for the crosslinguistic facts is less clear. Variation in naming, within the same semantic domain, raises vexing questions about the necessary parameters needed to account for the basic facts underlying categorization. PMID: 19077367 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041281 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041280&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077368%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mandler JM Rogers & McClelland (R&M) present a powerful account of semantic (conceptual) learning. Their model admirably handles many characteristics of early concept formation, but it also needs to address attentional biases, and distinguish direct input from error-driven learning, and fast versus slow learning. Not distinguishing implicit and explicit knowledge means that the authors also cannot explain why some coherently varying information becomes accessible and other information does not. PMID: 19077368 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041280 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041279&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077369%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marcus GF, Keil FC Rogers & McClelland's (R&M's) précis represents an important effort to address key issues in concepts and categorization, but few of the simulations deliver what is promised. We argue that the models are seriously underconstrained, importantly incomplete, and psychologically implausible; more broadly, R&M dwell too heavily on the apparent successes without comparable concern for limitations already noted in the literature. PMID: 19077369 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041279 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041278&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077370%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Opfer JE, Doumas LA Analogical inferences are an important consequence of the way semantic knowledge is represented, that is, with relations as explicit structures that can take arguments. We review evidence that this feature of semantic cognition successfully predicts how quickly and broadly children's concepts change with experience and show that Rogers & McClelland's (R&M's) parallel distributed processing (PDP) model fails to simulate these cognitive changes due to its handling of relational information. PMID: 19077370 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041278 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041277&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Quinn PC This commentary considers the issues of what should be taken as evidence for semantic categorization in infants and why infants display a surprising asymmetry in the categorization of humans versus nonhuman animals. It is argued that perceptual knowledge should be viewed as a potent source of information for semantic categorization, and that the asymmetrical categorization behavior arises as a consequence of the frequency and similarity structure of experience. PMID: 19077371 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041277 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041276&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077372%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Quinlan P Rogers & McClelland (R&M) have provided an impressive outline of the capabilities of a class of multi-layered perceptrons that mimic many aspects of human knowledge acquisition. Despite this success, in the literature several basic issues are raised and concerns are expressed. Indeed, the problems are so acute that a different way of thinking is called for. In this commentary it is suggested that rational models approach provides a promising alternative. PMID: 19077372 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041276 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041275&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077373%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Robbins SE In proposing that their model can operate in the concrete, perceptual world, Rogers & McClelland (R&M) have not done justice to the complexities of the ecological sphere and its invariance laws. The structure of concrete events forces a different framework, both for retrieval of events and concepts defined across events, than that upon which the proposed model, rooted in essence in the verbal learning tradition, implicitly rests. PMID: 19077373 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041275 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041274&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077374%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rakison DH, Lupyan G We agree with many theoretical points presented by Rogers & McClelland (R&M), especially the role of domain-general learning of coherent covariation. Nonetheless, we argue that in failing to be informed by key aspects of development, including the role of labels on categorization and the emergence of constraints on learning, their model fails to capture important features of the ontogeny of knowledge. PMID: 19077374 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041274 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041273&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077375%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Snedeker J Any theory of semantic cognition is also a theory of concepts. There are two ways to construe the models presented by Rogers & McClelland (R&M) in Semantic Cognition. If we construe the input and output representations as concepts, then the models capture knowledge acquisition within a stable set of concepts. If we construe the hidden-layer representations as concepts, the models provide a simulation of conceptual change. PMID: 19077375 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041273 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041272&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077376%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ter Meulen AG Logically, weighting is transitive, but similarity is not, so clustering cannot be either. Entailments must help a child to review attribute lists more efficiently. Children's understanding of exceptions to generic claims precedes their ability to articulate explanations. So agency, as enabling constraint, may show coherent covariation with attributes, as mere extensional, observable effect of intensional entailments. PMID: 19077376 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041272 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041271&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19077377%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rogers TT, McClelland JL The commentaries reflect three core themes that pertain not just to our theory, but to the enterprise of connectionist modeling more generally. The first concerns the relationship between a cognitive theory and an implemented computer model. Specifically, how does one determine, when a model departs from the theory it exemplifies, whether the departure is a useful simplification or a critical flaw? We argue that the answer to this question depends partially upon the model's intended function, and we suggest that connectionist models have important functions beyond the commonly accepted goals of fitting data and making predictions. The second theme concerns perceived in-principle limitations of the connectionist approach to cognition, and the specific c... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041271 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2041271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845591&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826669%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Christiansen MH, Chater N It is widely assumed that human learning and the structure of human languages are intimately related. This relationship is frequently suggested to derive from a language-specific biological endowment, which encodes universal, but communicatively arbitrary, principles of language structure (a Universal Grammar or UG). How might such a UG have evolved? We argue that UG could not have arisen either by biological adaptation or non-adaptationist genetic processes, resulting in a logical problem of language evolution. Specifically, as the processes of language change are much more rapid than processes of genetic change, language constitutes a "moving target" both over time and across different human populations, and, hence, cannot provide a stable environme... The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845591 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845590&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826670%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Aronoff M, Meir I, Padden C, Sandler W Sign languages provide direct evidence for the relation between human languages and the body that engenders them. We discuss the use of the hands to create symbols and the role of the body in sign language verb systems, especially in two quite recently developed sign languages, Israeli Sign Language and Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language. PMID: 18826670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845590 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845589&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826671%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barrett HC, Frankenhuis WE, Wilke A We agree that much of language evolution is likely to be adaptation of languages to properties of the brain. However, the attempt to rule out the existence of language-specific adaptations a priori is misguided. In particular, the claim that adaptation to "moving targets" cannot occur is false. Instead, the details of gene-culture coevolution in language are an empirical matter. PMID: 18826671 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845589 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845588&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826672%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Behme C Christiansen & Chater (C&C) argue persuasively that Universal Grammar (UG) could not have arisen through evolutionary processes. I provide additional suggestions to strengthen the argument against UG evolution. Further, I suggest that C&C's solution to the logical problem of language evolution faces several problems. Widening the focus to mechanisms of general cognition and inclusion of animal communication research might overcome these problems. PMID: 18826672 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845588 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845587&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826673%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Blackmore S Christiansen & Chater's (C&C's) arguments share with memetics the ideas that language is an evolving organism and that brain capacities shape language by influencing the fitness of memes, although memetics also claims that memes in turn shape brains. Their rejection of meme theory is based on falsely claiming that memes must be consciously selected by sighted watchmakers. PMID: 18826673 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845587 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845586&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826674%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brooks PJ, Ragir S Languages emerge in response to the negotiation of shared meaning in social groups, where transparency of grammar is necessitated by demands of communication with relative strangers needing to consult on a wide range of topics (Ragir 2002). This communal exchange is automated and stabilized through activity-dependent fine-tuning of information-specific neural connections during postnatal growth and social development. PMID: 18826674 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845586 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845585&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826675%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Caldwell CA Christiansen & Chater's (C&C's) argument rests on an assumption that convergent cultural evolution can produce similar (complex) behaviours in isolated populations. In this commentary, I describe how experiments recently carried out by Caldwell and colleagues can contribute to the understanding of such phenomena. PMID: 18826675 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845585 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845584&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826676%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Catania AC Evolutionary contingencies select organisms based on what they can do; brains and other evolved structures serve their behavior. Arguments that brains drive language structure get the direction wrong; with functional issues unacknowledged, interactions between central structures and periphery are overlooked. Evidence supports a peripherally driven central organization. If language modules develop like other brain compartments, then environmental consistencies can engender both structural and functional language units (e.g., the different phonemic, semantic, and grammatical structures of different languages). PMID: 18826676 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845584 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845583&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826677%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Corballis MC Recognising that signed languages are true languages adds to the variety of forms that languages can take. Such recognition also allows one to differentiate those aspects of language that depend on the medium (voiced or signed) from those that depend on more cognitive aspects. At least some aspects of language, such as symbolic representation, time markers, and generativity, may derive from the communication of the products of mental time travel, and from the sharing of remembered past and planned future episodes. PMID: 18826677 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845583 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845582&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826678%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dessalles JL Selection through iterated learning explains no more than other non-functional accounts, such as Universal Grammar (UG), why language is so well designed for communicative efficiency. It does not predict several distinctive features of language, such as central embedding, large lexicons, or the lack of iconicity, which seem to serve communication purposes at the expense of learnability. PMID: 18826678 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845582 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845581&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826679%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: de Ruiter JP, Levinson SC Universal Grammar (UG) is indeed evolutionarily implausible. But if languages are just "adapted" to a large primate brain, it is hard to see why other primates do not have complex languages. The answer is that humans have evolved a specialized and uniquely human cognitive architecture, whose main function is to compute mappings between arbitrary signals and communicative intentions. This underlies the development of language in the human species. PMID: 18826679 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845581 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845580&cid=s_36932_168_f&fid=36932&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18826680%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Enfield NJ Language is shaped by its environment, which includes not only the brain, but also the public context in which speech acts are effected. To fully account for why language has the shape it has, we need to examine the constraints imposed by language use as a sequentially organized joint activity, and as the very conduit for linguistic diffusion and change. PMID: 18826680 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Behavioral and Brain Sciences) The Behavioral and Brain Sciences journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845580 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1845580