Sequential priming in the detection of the facial expression: New approach in the study of emotional detection

The effective detection of those facial expressions that alert us to a possible threat is adaptive. Hence the reason that studies on face sampling have involved analysing how this process occurs, with evidence to show that the eyes focus mainly on the upper side of the face; nevertheless, no clear determination has been made of the relationship between the efficacy in detection (speed and accuracy) and the way in which emotions are visually tracked on the face. A sequential priming task was therefore held in which the four quadrants of the face were displayed consecutively, for 50 ms each one, and in a different order (24 sequences). The results reveal a quicker response when the priming sequence begins in the upper part, continues downward to the right-hand side of the face, and then follows an anti-clockwise direction. The results are discussed in the light of studies using the Eye-Tracking technique.

Taking Priming to Task

The current research examined potential moderators of gender and racial stereotype priming in sequential priming paradigms. Results from five experiments suggest that stereotype priming effects are more consistent in tasks that elicit both semantic priming and response competition (i.e., response priming paradigms) rather than tasks that evoke semantic priming alone (i.e., semantic priming paradigms). Recommendations for future stereotype priming research and the implication of these results for the proper interpretation of stereotype priming effects are discussed.

Priming atencional en patrones visuales jerárquicos: Efectos del nivel atendido, tamaño absoluto y congruencia estimular

<p>Previous studies on the visual processing of hierarchical stimuli showed that responses to targets presented either in the local or in the global level were faster when the target was presented at the same hierarchical level as the previous trial (sequential priming effect). In the present work, a new attentional priming paradigm was developed in order to explore this sequential effect by means of a within-trial design. For this purpose, two experiments were conducted manipulating attention (selective vs divided), congruency and stimulus size. Results suggested that the main factor underlying the sequential priming effect was the hierarchical level attended, at least in a selective attention task (Experiment 1). In addition, the stimulus size modulated the sequential priming effect in a divided attention task (Experiment 2). Interestingly, the sequential priming effect was only reliable when incongruent stimuli were presented.</p><p>Keywords: Priming, selective attention, divided attention, hierarchical stimuli, global/local processing.</p>

Efficacy of Long-Term Decitabine Treatment Combined with Sequential Priming Regimen for Acute Myelocytic Leukemia

Introduction The Sequential priming regimen has been used for newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients with acute myeloid leukemia unfit for intensive chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the rate of CR is not hopeful. Hypomethylating agent, decitabine is active in eldly patients with AML. Long-term decitabine combined with sequential priming regimen treats these patients, its efficacy and side effects and optimal dose are unknown. Methods A total of 14 inpatients with AML during the period from February 2013 through May 2014 were enrolled in this study, including 8 men and 6 women. The subjects had a median age of 56 years (range, 25–71 years), with 10 cases at ages of over 50 years. Of all participants, transformation of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) into AML occurred in 6 cases; 8 cases received treatment for the first time, 5 cases had refractory AML, and 1 case had relapsed AML. Normal chromosome was detected in 9 cases, and chromosomal abnormality +8, t(1;9), -y,t(8;21), t(8;21),mar and complex chromosomal abnormality occurred in one case each; 6 cases (42.9%) had gene mutations, including NPM1/DNMT3, CEBPA, FLT3-ITD/NPM1/DNMT3, FLT3-ITD/NPM1, DEK/CAN and U2AF1, of one case for each mutation. There were 12 cases with concomitant diseases. There were 5 cases with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 4 and 7 cases with an ECOG score of 3. The chemotherapy regimen was decitabine at a dose of 20 mg/m2 on days 1 to 6 or 8, and the IAG priming regimen was used in 5 cases, CAG regimen in 5 cases, and HAG regimen in one case. There were 5 cases undergoing a half cycle of the induction therapy (7 days) and 9 cases undergoing a whole cycle of the induction therapy (14 days). A cycle of therapy achieved complete response in 12 cases (85.7%) and no response in 2 cases, including one recurrent case with FLT3-ITD mutation following autologous stem cell transplantation and a refractory case with DEK/CAN mutation. Results A half cycle ofinduction therapy resulted in completed remission in 4 out of 5 cases, and the whole cycle of therapy resulted in 8 out of 9 cases. All 8 cases receiving therapy for the first time achieved complete remission, and 3 out of 5 refractory cases achieved complete remission. The median time for nonerythroid cell (NEC) count of < 0.5 × 105/L and platelet blood cell (PBC) count of < 20 × 109/L was 12 (range, 0–37) and 18 (range, 0–37) days, respectively. During the half cycle of induction therapy, the median time for NEC count of < 0.5 × 105/L and platelet blood cell (PBC) count of < 20 × 109/L was 17 (range, 6–37) and 18 (range, 7–38) days, respectively, whereas being 11 (range, 0–30) and 12 (range, 0–28) days during the whole cycle of induction therapy, respectively. There were 6 cases with side effects, including 4 cases achieving complete remission. Post-chemotherapy complications included infections, bleeding, and liver function impairment. Of the 10 cases complicated with infections at the first diagnosis, 2 cases developed aggravated pulmonary infection and 4 cases developed new infections at the stage of bone marrow suppression, including one case with infection at the perianal region, one case with infection at pharynx, one case with influenza A, and one case with skin infection. No therapy-induced death was observed. Conclusions Long-term decitabine treatment in combination with sequential priming regimen is effective for the AML patients undergoing treatment for the first time and recurrent and refractory AML, which is comparable to the standard "7 + 3" remission-induction therapy. In addition, it may improve the prognosis of AML patients with chromosomal abnormality and gene mutations, particularly for patients with DNMT3 and FLT3-ITD mutations. Further multi-center, prospective clinical trials are required to evaluate the efficacy of the new regimen for AML and optimize the treatment regimen. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Whites Are Granted the American Identity More Swiftly than Asians

The present research strives to identify one possible mechanism accounting for the American = White effect. In three experiments, a sequential priming task was used to examine the influence of Asian or White faces on the categorization of American or foreign landmarks. Process dissociation analyses revealed a stronger automatic tendency to respond “American” after White faces than after Asian faces when executive control failed (Experiments 1–3). This effect was not moderated by a manipulation of processing time (Experiment 2); it was, however, eradicated after completion of a training phase counteracting the American = White linkage (Experiment 3). The findings suggest that the pervasive propensity to equate American with White operates as an automatic accessibility bias.