Shakespeare sonnet reading: An empirical study of emotional responses

2021 ◽  
pp. 096394702110546
Author(s):  
Orsolya Papp-Zipernovszky ◽  
Anne Mangen ◽  
Arthur Jacobs ◽  
Jana Lüdtke

The present study combines literary theory and cognitive psychology to empirically explore some cognitive and emotional facets of poetry reading, exemplified by the reading of three Shakespeare sonnets. Specifically, predictions generated combining quantitative textual analysis according to the Neurocognitive Poetics model with qualitative textual analysis based on the Foregrounding assessment Matrix of sonnets no. 27, 60 and 66 are empirically tested by analyzing 45 subjects’ ratings of the three sonnets. Reflecting the differences in foregrounding potential of the three sonnets found in the textual analysis, we expected to find different reader responses, accordingly. Our dependent variables are well-established categories of emotional evaluation (e.g. valence and arousal) and cognitive, affective and aesthetic aspects of readers’ responses (e.g. liking and understanding) as well as less common ones (e.g. wonder, delight and mental images). The statistical analyses suggest that the type of foregrounding is more important than the number of foregrounded elements. This finding motivated further qualitative exploration of reader responses to open questions regarding mental images and perceived feelings. Comparing the free recall data about the feelings perceived in the sonnets with the ratings data about Valence and Arousal indicated that only the former one reflects a clear distinction between all three sonnets, whereas the readers’ overall evaluations did not sustain this variety of feelings. Multi-method, interdisciplinary research of this kind contributes to improving our understanding of the potentially unique mechanisms involved in poetry reception, and to forming more precise hypotheses for future experimental studies using, for example, eye tracking.

Author(s):  
Ina Grau ◽  
Jörg Doll

Abstract. Employing one correlational and two experimental studies, this paper examines the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant) on a person’s experience of equity in intimate relationships. While one experimental study employed a priming technique to stimulate the different attachment styles, the other involved vignettes describing fictitious characters with typical attachment styles. As the specific hypotheses about the single equity components have been developed on the basis of the attachment theory, the equity ratio itself and the four equity components (own outcome, own input, partner’s outcome, partner’s input) are analyzed as dependent variables. While partners with a secure attachment style tend to describe their relationship as equitable (i.e., they give and take extensively), partners who feel anxious about their relationship generally see themselves as being in an inequitable, disadvantaged position (i.e., they receive little from their partner). The hypothesis that avoidant partners would feel advantaged as they were less committed was only supported by the correlational study. Against expectations, the results of both experiments indicate that avoidant partners generally see themselves (or see avoidant vignettes) as being treated equitably, but that there is less emotional exchange than is the case with secure partners. Avoidant partners give and take less than secure ones.


2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 923-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
EFRAT SHIMSHONI

Experimental studies of the transitions from a primary quantum Hall (QH) liquid at filling factor ν=1/k (with k an odd integer) to the insulator have indicated a "quantized Hall insulator" (QHI) behavior: while the longitudinal resistivity diverges with decreasing temperature and current bias, the Hall resistivity remains quantized at the value kh/e2. We review the experimental results and the theoretical studies addressing this phenomenon. In particular, we discuss a theoretical approach which employs a model of the insulator as a random network of weakly coupled puddles of QH liquid at fixed ν. This model is proved to exhibit a robust quantization of the Hall resistivity, provided the electron transport on the network is incoherent. Subsequent theoretical studies have focused on the controversy whether the assumption of incoherence is necessary. The emergent conclusion is that in the quantum coherent transport regime, quantum interference destroys the QHI as a consequence of localization. Once the localization length becomes much shorter than the dephasing length, the Hall resistivity diverges. We conclude by mentioning some recent experimental observations and open questions.


Author(s):  
Bálint Mészáros ◽  
Gábor Erdős ◽  
Beáta Szabó ◽  
Éva Schád ◽  
Ágnes Tantos ◽  
...  

Abstract Membraneless organelles (MOs) are dynamic liquid condensates that host a variety of specific cellular processes, such as ribosome biogenesis or RNA degradation. MOs form through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), a process that relies on multivalent weak interactions of the constituent proteins and other macromolecules. Since the first discoveries of certain proteins being able to drive LLPS, it emerged as a general mechanism for the effective organization of cellular space that is exploited in all kingdoms of life. While numerous experimental studies report novel cases, the computational identification of LLPS drivers is lagging behind, and many open questions remain about the sequence determinants, composition, regulation and biological relevance of the resulting condensates. Our limited ability to overcome these issues is largely due to the lack of a dedicated LLPS database. Therefore, here we introduce PhaSePro (https://phasepro.elte.hu), an openly accessible, comprehensive, manually curated database of experimentally validated LLPS driver proteins/protein regions. It not only provides a wealth of information on such systems, but improves the standardization of data by introducing novel LLPS-specific controlled vocabularies. PhaSePro can be accessed through an appealing, user-friendly interface and thus has definite potential to become the central resource in this dynamically developing field.


Psicologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-178
Author(s):  
Vladimir Kosonogov

In the last twenty years, a great number of studies on subjective emotional evaluation of affective pictures have been published. However, it is well-known that the order of presentation may entail sequential effects, which is the perception of a previous stimulus that may influence the next stimulus's perception. Our study examines whether the order of picture presentation influences the subjective evaluation of their affective valence and arousal. The results showed some influence of the order of presentation on affective valence: unpleasant pictures at the end were less unpleasant than unpleasant pictures at the beginning, and the neutral picture, when presented after unpleasant pictures, was more pleasant than when presented after pleasant pictures. No effect of presentation order on arousal was found. These findings suggest that several picture presentation orders should be used in future experiments on emotions to avoid possible effects of the order on affective valence.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-48
Author(s):  
Laura Elise Seebauer ◽  
Eva Naumann ◽  
Anneke Jacobs ◽  
Myriam Thier ◽  
Gitta A. Jacob

Objective:Guided imagery exercises can have a powerful impact on distressing mental images. Clinically, it is usually recommended to experience these exercises as intensely as possible. However, patients sometimes object to the related instructions. In this study, we tested whether typical clinical instructions aiming at increasing intensity led to a stronger effect of the exercise.Methods:Sixty-four healthy participants watched a trauma movie clip. Then they were pseudo-randomized into one of two strategies (intense, less intense) or a waiting control condition. Dependent variables were self-reported emotional intensity and psychophysiology measures.Results:Participants in the intense ImRS strategy did not experience the exercise as more intense than those in the less intense ImRS strategy on any outcome measure. Both ImRS strategies showed increased sympathetic activation compared to a decrease of activation in the waiting control group.Conclusions:Our results suggest that emotional intensity in guided imagery exercises may not depend very much on the therapist’s instructions.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve M. J. Janssen ◽  
Michele Anne

Studies examining the influences of alcohol intoxication have reported mixed findings on whether it impairs eyewitness memory. Although the studies in this Special Issue investigated different questions and tested different variables, the findings of these studies collectively provide insight into mechanisms and methodological issues that may explain the ambiguous findings of alcohol intoxication and eyewitness memory. In this commentary, we first describe the experimental studies of this Special Issue. We then discuss four mechanisms that could underlie those mixed findings (alcohol myopia, disinhibition, hypervigilance, meta-cognitive processes at retrieval). Last, we address methodological issues that may have contributed to those ambiguous findings (i.e., alcohol intoxication levels, automatic processing of stimuli, sensitivity of dependent variables, and possible interactions with arousal), and provide suggestions for future research to address these issues.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Kuchuk ◽  
P. Borowicz ◽  
M. Wzorek ◽  
M. Borysiewicz ◽  
R. Ratajczak ◽  
...  

The fabrication of low-resistance and thermal stable ohmic contacts is important for realization of reliable SiC devices. For then-type SiC, Ni-based metallization is most commonly used for Schottky and ohmic contacts. Many experimental studies have been performed in order to understand the mechanism of ohmic contact formation and different models were proposed to explain the Schottky to ohmic transition for Ni/SiC contacts. In the present review, we summarize the last key results on the matter and post open questions concerning the unclear issues of ohmic contacts ton-type SiC. Analysis of the literature data and our own experimental observations have led to the conclusion that the annealing at high temperature leads to the preferential orientation of silicide at the heterointerface (0001)SiC//(013)δ-Ni2Si. Moreover, we may conclude that onlyδ-Ni2Si grains play a key role in determining electrical transport properties at the contact/SiC interface. Finally, we show that the diffusion barriers with free diffusion path microstructure can improve thermal stability of metal-SiC ohmic contacts for high-temperature electronics.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rija Falimanalina Andriamifidy ◽  
Nils Benjamin Tjaden ◽  
Carl Beierkuhnlein ◽  
Stephanie Margarete Thomas

Abstract Mosquito-borne diseases are on the rise globally. Besides invasion processes and the increasing connectivity between distant regions through the trade of goods and human mobility, climate change is seen as an important driver for changing the likelihood of occurrence of vectors and diseases, respectively. Ectothermic insects respond directly to thermal conditions and thus we can expect them to follow climatic trends. However, a variety of species and different stages in their life cycles need to be considered. Here, we review the current literature in this field and disentangle the state of knowledge and the challenges and open questions for future research. The integration of diurnal temperature ranges in prospective experimental studies will strongly improve the knowledge of mosquitoes’ ecology and mosquito-borne disease transmission for temperate regions in particular. In addition, invasive mosquitoes are known to rapidly adapt to the climatic conditions, but the underlying processes are not yet fully understood.


Author(s):  
Jonas F. Eichinger ◽  
Lea J. Haeusel ◽  
Daniel Paukner ◽  
Roland C. Aydin ◽  
Jay D. Humphrey ◽  
...  

AbstractThere is substantial evidence that growth and remodeling of load bearing soft biological tissues is to a large extent controlled by mechanical factors. Mechanical homeostasis, which describes the natural tendency of such tissues to establish, maintain, or restore a preferred mechanical state, is thought to be one mechanism by which such control is achieved across multiple scales. Yet, many questions remain regarding what promotes or prevents homeostasis. Tissue equivalents, such as collagen gels seeded with living cells, have become an important tool to address these open questions under well-defined, though limited, conditions. This article briefly reviews the current state of research in this area. It summarizes, categorizes, and compares experimental observations from the literature that focus on the development of tension in tissue equivalents. It focuses primarily on uniaxial and biaxial experimental studies, which are well-suited for quantifying interactions between mechanics and biology. The article concludes with a brief discussion of key questions for future research in this field.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
Sandeep Ameta ◽  
Yoshiya J. Matsubara ◽  
Nayan Chakraborty ◽  
Sandeep Krishna ◽  
Shashi Thutupalli

Understanding the emergence of life from (primitive) abiotic components has arguably been one of the deepest and yet one of the most elusive scientific questions. Notwithstanding the lack of a clear definition for a living system, it is widely argued that heredity (involving self-reproduction) along with compartmentalization and metabolism are key features that contrast living systems from their non-living counterparts. A minimal living system may be viewed as “a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution”. It has been proposed that autocatalytic sets of chemical reactions (ACSs) could serve as a mechanism to establish chemical compositional identity, heritable self-reproduction, and evolution in a minimal chemical system. Following years of theoretical work, autocatalytic chemical systems have been constructed experimentally using a wide variety of substrates, and most studies, thus far, have focused on the demonstration of chemical self-reproduction under specific conditions. While several recent experimental studies have raised the possibility of carrying out some aspects of experimental evolution using autocatalytic reaction networks, there remain many open challenges. In this review, we start by evaluating theoretical studies of ACSs specifically with a view to establish the conditions required for such chemical systems to exhibit self-reproduction and Darwinian evolution. Then, we follow with an extensive overview of experimental ACS systems and use the theoretically established conditions to critically evaluate these empirical systems for their potential to exhibit Darwinian evolution. We identify various technical and conceptual challenges limiting experimental progress and, finally, conclude with some remarks about open questions.


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