scholarly journals Staying informed without a cost: No effect of positive news media on stress reactivity, memory and affect in young adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Longpré ◽  
Claudia Sauvageau ◽  
Rebecca Cernik ◽  
Audrey-Ann Journault ◽  
Marie-France Marin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Bayes Factors ◽  
Memory Recall ◽  
Stress Hormone ◽  
Negative News ◽  
The One ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Laboratory Stressor

We read, see and hear news from various media sources every day. A large majority of these news are negative. A previous study from our laboratory showed that reading negative news is associated with both increased stress reactivity (measured via the stress hormone cortisol) and recall of these negative news segments in women. The present study investigated the effects of positive news on cortisol stress reactivity, memory and affect employing a methodology highly similar to the one used previously by our team using negative news. Sixty-two healthy participants aged between 18 and 35 years (81% women) were randomly exposed to either positive or neutral news segments, followed by a laboratory stressor. We assessed participants’ affect three times during the procedure and measured cortisol in saliva eight times (at 10-minute intervals). Twenty-four hours later, participants were contacted by phone to assess their recall of the news segments. Results showed that exposure to positive news, relative to neutral news, did not modulate participants’ cortisol levels in response to the laboratory stressor. Positive news had no impact on memory recall of the news and did not change participants' positive or negative affect. Bayes factors suggested that these nonsignificant results are not attributable to low statistical power. Contrary to negative news, positive and neutral news do not modulate stress reactivity, memory and affect. These results suggest that people can stay informed without physiological and psychological costs when the news to which they are exposed adopt a positive or neutral approach.

scholarly journals Staying informed without a cost: No effect of positive news media on stress reactivity, memory and affect in young adults

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0259094
Author(s):  
Charlotte Longpré ◽  
Claudia Sauvageau ◽  
Rebecca Cernik ◽  
Audrey-Ann Journault ◽  
Marie-France Marin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
News Media ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Bayes Factors ◽  
Memory Recall ◽  
Stress Hormone ◽  
Negative News ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Laboratory Stressor

Introduction We read, see and hear news from various media sources every day. A large majority of the news is negative. A previous study from our laboratory showed that reading negative news is associated with both increased stress reactivity (measured via the stress hormone cortisol) and recall of the negative news segments in women. Objectives The present study investigated the effects of positive news on cortisol stress reactivity, memory and affect using a methodology highly similar to the study on negative news that was previously used by our team. Methods Sixty-two healthy participants aged between 18 and 35 years (81% women) were randomly exposed to either positive or neutral news segments, followed by a laboratory stressor. We assessed participants’ affect three times during the procedure and measured cortisol in saliva eight times (at 10-minute intervals). Twenty-four hours later, participants were contacted by phone to assess their recall of the news segments. Results Results showed that exposure to positive news, relative to neutral news, did not modulate participants’ cortisol levels in response to the laboratory stressor. Positive news had no impact on memory recall of the news and did not change participants’ positive or negative affect. Bayes factors suggested that these nonsignificant results are not attributable to low statistical power. Conclusion Contrary to negative news, positive and neutral news do not modulate stress reactivity, memory and affect. These results suggest that people can stay informed without physiological and psychological costs when the news to which they are exposed adopt a positive or neutral approach.

scholarly journals Social engineers and myth-busters: A comparative research on Lithuanian, Norwegian and Serbian language experts

2020 ◽  
pp. 292-344
Author(s):  
Vuk Vukotić
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Language Ideologies ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Online News ◽  
The Other ◽  
Striking Similarity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
The One

This article compares the language ideologies of language experts (both academic and non-academic) in online news media in Lithuania, Norway and Serbia. The results will reveal that language is understood in diametrically opposed ways amongst Lithuanian and Serbian academic experts on the one, and Norwegian academic experts on the other hand. Lithuanian and Serbian academic experts are influenced by modernist ideas of language as a single, homogenous entity, whose borders ideally match the borders of an ethnic group. Norwegian academic experts function in the public sphere as those who try to deconstruct the modernist notion of language by employing an understanding of language as a cognitive tool that performs communicative and other functions. On the other hand, non-academic experts in all the three countries exhibit a striking similarity in their language ideologies, as the great majority expresses modernist ideals of language.

How Free: Computing Personal Liberty

1983 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 73-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillel Steiner
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
History Textbooks ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Personal Liberty ◽  
The One

Judgments about the extent to which an individual is free are easily among the more intractable of the various raw materials which present themselves for philosophical processing. On the one hand, few of us have any qualms about making statements to the effect that Blue is more free than Red. Explicitly or otherwise, such claims are the commonplaces of most history textbooks and of much that passes before us in the news media. And yet, good evidence for the presence of a philosophical puzzle here is to be found in the familiar hesitation we experience when we first reflect on the grounds for such claims. Is it really the case that the average Russian is less free than an Englishman in a dole queue? Are we quite certain that a dirt farmer in the Appalachians enjoys greater personal liberty than the inmate of a well-appointed modern prison? Were citizens of classical Athens more free, or less free, than their counterparts in today's welfare states?

Similarities and Differences between Performers and Observers in Processing Auditory Action Consequences: Evidence from Simultaneous EEG Acquisition

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Marta Ghio ◽  
Sophie Egan ◽  
Christian Bellebaum
Keyword(s):  
Social Environment ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
External Source ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The One ◽  
Physically Identical ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Predictive Mechanisms

In our social environment, we easily distinguish stimuli caused by our own actions (e.g., water splashing when I fill my glass) from stimuli that have an external source (e.g., water splashing in a fountain). Accumulating evidence suggests that processing the auditory consequences of self-performed actions elicits N1 and P2 ERPs of reduced amplitude compared to physically identical but externally generated sounds, with such reductions being ascribed to neural predictive mechanisms. It is unexplored, however, whether the sensory processing of action outcomes is similarly modulated by action observation (e.g., water splashing when I observe you filling my glass). We tested 40 healthy participants by applying a methodological approach for the simultaneous EEG recording of two persons: An observer observed button presses executed by a performer in real time. For the performers, we replicated previous findings of a reduced N1 amplitude for self- versus externally generated sounds. This pattern differed significantly from the one in observers, whose N1 for sounds generated by observed button presses was not attenuated. In turn, the P2 amplitude was reduced for processing action- versus externally generated sounds for both performers and observers. These findings show that both action performance and observation affect the processing of action-generated sounds. There are, however, important differences between the two in the timing of the effects, probably related to differences in the predictability of the actions and thus also the associated stimuli. We discuss how these differences might contribute to recognizing the stimulus as caused by self versus others.

scholarly journals Differential Effects of Poor Recall and Memory Disjointedness on Trauma Symptoms

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1032-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Sachschal ◽  
Elizabeth Woodward ◽  
Julia M. Wichelmann ◽  
Katharina Haag ◽  
Anke Ehlers
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Memory Recall ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Trauma Symptoms ◽  
Intrusive Memories ◽  
Processing Styles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Poor Memory ◽  
Film Group

Clinical theories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that trauma memories are disorganized. In the present study, we examined how trauma-film exposure affects two aspects of memory disorganization, poor memory recall and memory disjointedness, and their relationship to PTSD-like symptoms. In Session 1, 90 healthy participants were exposed to a trauma ( n = 60) or a neutral film ( n = 30). Cognitive processing styles, memory characteristics, and intrusive memories of the film were assessed. The trauma-film group reported greater memory disjointedness of the worst moments of the film but better memory recall of the film than the neutral-film group. In the trauma-film group, cognitive processing and memory disjointedness were related to intrusive memories and PTSD-like symptoms in the week after film exposure. Memory disjointedness but not poor memory recall mediated the relationship between cognitive processing and intrusions. The findings suggest that different aspects of memory disorganization need to be distinguished to explain PTSD symptoms.

Motivational Perspectives on Chronic Pain

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Interpersonal Processes ◽  
Goal Systems ◽  
Broad Array ◽  
The One ◽  
Theory Research

This edited volume is the first to present a cohesive account of adaptation to chronic pain from a motivational perspective. Across the 15 chapters, scholars from diverse domains of psychology explore the multileveled and bidirectional nature of pain and motivation, drawing from a broad array of constructs, including self-regulation, goal systems, cognitive control, attention, conflict, interpersonal processes, coping, conditioning, and stress reactivity. Also addressed is the relation between pain and psychopathology, the nature of pain-affect dynamics, and the neural mechanisms underlying the pain experience. Applied considerations are presented in chapters on Motivational Interviewing, ACT, Internet-based methods, and related clinical topics. Our volume provides an up-to-date compendium of cutting-edge research and interventions that collectively illustrate the utility of viewing chronic pain as neither a “disease” nor an imposed lifestyle, but as the emergent and potentially flexible product of a complex transactional system that is bounded by sociocultural factors, on the one hand, and by biogenetic and neural moderating forces on the other. The chapters capture the vibrancy of current theory, research, and practice while pointing toward unexplored new directions. Students and seasoned pain researchers will find within the motivation-centered framework a host of intriguing ideas to complement extant formulations. And those engaged in treating/training persons with chronic pain will discover the unique, integrative value of motivational models.

scholarly journals A Public Health Approach to Negative News Media: The 3-to-1 Solution

2020 ◽  
pp. 089011712091422
Author(s):  
Tyler J. VanderWeele ◽  
Arthur C. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Population Health ◽  
News Media ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Media Reporting ◽  
The Past ◽  
Negative News ◽  
Health And Well Being

There is clear evidence that the prevalence of negative media reporting has increased substantially over the past years. There is evidence that this negative reporting adversely affects social interactions, and thereby also health and well-being outcomes. Given the wide reach of negative media reporting and the contagion of such reporting and the resulting interactions, the effects on health are arguably substantial. Moreover, there is little incentive at present for media outlets to change practices. A commitment of news outlets to report one positive story for every 3 negative stories, and of news consumers to restrict attention to outlets that do, could dramatically alter practices and, consequently, population health.

How Free: Computing Personal Liberty

1983 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 73-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillel Steiner
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
History Textbooks ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Personal Liberty ◽  
The One

Judgments about the extent to which an individual is free are easily among the more intractable of the various raw materials which present themselves for philosophical processing. On the one hand, few of us have any qualms about making statements to the effect that Blue is more free than Red. Explicitly or otherwise, such claims are the commonplaces of most history textbooks and of much that passes before us in the news media. And yet, good evidence for the presence of a philosophical puzzle here is to be found in the familiar hesitation we experience when we first reflect on the grounds for such claims. Is it really the case that the average Russian is less free than an Englishman in a dole queue? Are we quite certain that a dirt farmer in the Appalachians enjoys greater personal liberty than the inmate of a well-appointed modern prison? Were citizens of classical Athens more free, or less free, than their counterparts in today's welfare states?

scholarly journals One-week test-retest reliability of nine binocular tests and saccades used in concussion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Long ◽  
Tibor Schuster ◽  
Russell Steele ◽  
Suzanne Leclerc ◽  
Ian Shrier
Keyword(s):  
Binocular Vision ◽  
Visual Function ◽  
Ocular Motility ◽  
List Type ◽  
Limits Of Agreement ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Motor Test ◽  
The One ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Healthy Participants

AbstractBackgroundTests of binocular vision (BVTs) and ocular motility are used in concussion assessment and management.PurposeTo determine the one-week test-retest reliability of 9 binocular vision tests (BVTs) and a test of saccades proposed for use in concussion management.Study DesignProspective test-retest.MethodsWe examined the one-week test-retest reliability of 9 BVTs in healthy participants: 3D vision (gross stereoscopic acuity), phoria at 30cm and 3m, ability of eyes to move/fixate in-sync (positive and negative fusional vergence at 30cm and 3m, near point of convergence and near point of convergence – break [i.e. double vision]) and 1 ocular motor test, saccades.ResultsWe tested 10 males and 10 females without concussion and a mean age of 25.5 (4.1) years. The intraclass correlations suggest good reliability for phoria 3m (0.88) and gross stereoscopic acuity (0.86), and moderate reliability for phoria 30cm (0.69), near point of convergence (0.54), positive fusional vergence (0.54) and negative fusional vergence (0.66) at 30cm, and near point of convergence - break (0.64). There was poor reliability for saccades (0.34), and both positive and negative fusional vergence (0.49 and 0.43, respectively) at 3m. Limits of agreement (LoA) were best for saccade (±34%) and worst for phoria 30 cm (±121%) and ranged from ±58% to ±70% for 7 of the 8 other tests. The LoA for phoria at 3m were uninformative because measurements for 18 of 20 participants were identical.ConclusionWe found test-retest reliability of the BVTs and saccades ranging from poor to good in healthy participants, with the majority being moderate.Clinical RelevanceFor these vision tests to be clinically useful, the effect of concussion must have a moderate to large effect on the scores of most of the tests.What is known about the subjectConcussions may affect some parts of visual function1-week test-retest reliability for most visual tests is under-studiedWhat this study adds to existing knowledgeWe provide intra-class coefficients and limits of agreement for 10 different visual function tests commonly conducted by clinicians in patients with concussion.

The “Mnemonic Time-Travel Effect”

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 437-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Mieth ◽  
Raoul Bell ◽  
Axel Buchner
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Time Travel ◽  
Original Study ◽  
Memory Test ◽  
Forward Motion ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The One ◽  
Sufficient Statistical Power

Abstract. This registered report aims at replicating the so-called “mnemonic time-travel” effect. Aksentijevic, Brandt, Tsakanikos, and Thorpe (2019) reported that memory was improved when their participants experienced backward motion before a memory test in comparison to when they experienced forward motion or no motion. This finding was interpreted as suggesting that backward motion brought individuals back to the moment of encoding. In the original study, the mnemonic time-travel effect was robustly found with various types of backward motion (real, simulated, and imagined). Such a spectacular finding calls for a preregistered replication. To determine the robustness of the effect, we performed a close replication of Experiment 4 of Aksentijevic et al. in which the mnemonic time-travel effect was most pronounced. Despite sufficient statistical power to detect an even considerably smaller effect than the one reported by Aksentijevic et al., we found no significant differences among the different motion conditions. The present results thus disconfirm the idea that experiencing backward motion improves memory which suggests that the empirical robustness of the mnemonic time travel effect should be further scrutinized before any conclusions about mnemonic space and time can be drawn.

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