Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “MENTAL PROCESSES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,585 records · Page 88Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

An action video game modifies visual processing.

In a recent paper, Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier show that playing an action video game markedly improved subjects performance on a range of visual skills related to detecting objects in briefly flashed displays. This is noteworthy as previous studies on perceptual learning, which have commonly focused on well-controlled and rather abstract tasks, found little transfer of learning to novel stimuli, let alone to different tasks. The data suggest that video game playing modifies visual processing on different levels: some effects are compatible with increased attentional resources, whereas others point to changes in preattentive processing.

Association Learning↗
PubMed2003

Two-level hierarchy with sparsely and temporally coded patterns and its possible functional role in information processing.

We study the stability of two types of mixed states in an oscillator neural network model. Patterns to be stored are represented by complex variables whose amplitudes are either 0 (silent state) or 1 (firing state) and whose phases represent the timing of firing. The mixed states are defined in terms of a certain type of average over some specified number s of memory patterns. We define two types of such mixed states, each of which corresponds to a different type of restriction placed on this set of s memory patterns. The stability of each type is investigated both theoretically and numerically. We find that only one type of a mixed state, which consists of temporally correlated patterns, is stable. Finally, we discuss a possible functional role of such mixed states in information processing.

Mental Processes↗
PubMed2000

Idiosyncratic orientation strategies influence self-controlled whole-body rotations in the dark.

The present experiment examined the influence of spatial orientation strategies on human subjects' accuracy in a self-controlled whole-body rotation task in the dark. Subjects were seated on a robotic chair and had to perform 360 degrees rotations with or without the presentation of a space-fixed target. Performance was compared between subjects who preferably used an "egocentric" or an "allocentric" strategy. Results suggest that orientation strategies might be tightly linked to sensory integration processes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The quest for universals in temporal processing in music.

Music perception and performance rely heavily on temporal processing: for instance, each event must be situated in time in relation to surrounding events, and events must be grouped together in order to overcome memory constraints. The temporal structure of music varies considerably from one culture to another, and so it has often been supposed that the specific implementation of perceptual and cognitive temporal processes will differ as a function of an individual's cultural exposure and experience. In this paper we examine the alternative position that some temporal processes may be universal, in the sense that they function in a similar manner irrespective of an individual's cultural exposure and experience. We first review rhythm perception and production studies carried out with adult musicians, adult nonmusicians, children, and infants in order to identify temporal processes that appear to function in a similar fashion irrespective of age, acculturation, and musical training. This review leads to the identification of five temporal processes that we submit as candidates for the status of "temporal universals." For each process, we select the simplest and most representative experimental paradigm that has been used to date. This leads to a research proposal for future intercultural studies that could test the universal nature of these processes.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Analysis of eyeblink activity during self-referent information processing in mild depression.

This study was designed to assess characteristics of self-referent information processing in mildly depressed persons using the eyeblink response measured in a discrete-trial paradigm. 7 mildly depressed and 9 nondepressed subjects (classified by scores on Beck's inventory) performed a self-reference task for positive and negative trait adjectives. The eyeblink was suppressed before and during presentation of stimuli and a burst pattern of the eyeblink was observed just after exposure. The pattern of the eyeblink burst after trait adjectives could be interpreted to reflect cognitive effort, cognitive load, or amount of attentional resource. Present results suggested that depressed individuals should have less cognitive load or allocate less attentional resource to negative stimuli than to positive ones during self-referent information processing.

Blinking↗
PubMed1993

Wave-function and the concept of a nano-mental element of representation.

Scientific endeavour has often tried to localize superior cerebral functions either in areas like the ones described by Broca as being those connected with language in the left hemisphere, or in the huge array of the hundred billion of interconnected neurons. But in this last case the coined description of the "grandmother" neuron, tends to show humorously that hopes have fallen short of their target. Along the same lines, the specific timing of electric neural activity is known to take place around a few milliseconds, which seems to be insufficient to account for the high potential speed necessary to sustain the very massive and complex process which is involved in mental activity. It is therefore necessary to go down to a much smaller scale to explain the considerable speed of usual mental processes. That is the reason why we have proposed the Nano-Mental Element of Representation (NMER) as a possible candidate for describing these specific nano-indexes of mind. At that level (10(-10) to 10(-9) meter), these mental processes can be associated with, or take the probabilistic aspect of, a wave function. This concept enables us to bring down the problems of temporal scaling to the quantum level and, therefore, make the extremely fast behavioral or sensory answers accessible to our appropriate level of observation.

Brain↗
PubMed1995

Sensations and brain processes.

A hypothesis on the physiological conditions of consciousness is presented. It is assumed that the occurrence of states of consciousness causally depends on the formation of complex representational structures. Cortical neural networks that exhibit a high representational activity develop higher-order, self-referential representations as a result of self-organizing processes. The occurrence of such states is identical with the appearance of states of consciousness. The underlying physiological processes can be identified. It is assumed that neural assemblies instantiate mental representations; hence consciousness depends on the rate at which large active assemblies are generated. The formation of assemblies involves the activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel complex which controls different forms of synaptic plasticity including rapid changes of the connection strengths. The various causes of unconsciousness (e.g., anaesthetics or brain stem lesions) have a common denominator: they directly or indirectly inhibit the formation of assemblies.

Animals↗