Do Audiences Judge the Morality of Characters Relativistically? How Interdependence Affects Perceptions of Characters’ Temporal Moral Descent

In two pre-registered studies, we leveraged recent advances to disposition theory to examine whether character judgments are relative. We used a Pilot Study to develop a moral continuum of behaviors for a hypothetical television series. We referenced our established moral continuum to create behavioral sequences that represented two characters descending into immorality. We manipulated whether one or both characters were present in the narrative. The simultaneous presence of both characters polarized participants’ moral evaluations of character behavior, categorization of the characters as heroic/villainous, and character liking. Our findings substantiate the systematic effects that character interdependence has on disposition formation. An improved understanding of narrative context can specify when between- and within-character comparisons occur and what effects character interdependence has on disposition theory’s processes. We discuss how narrative schemas, character schemas, and character networks can serve as the elements for explicating the role of narrative context in disposition theory.

Dorsomedial striatal activity tracks completion of behavioral sequences

For proper execution of goal-directed behaviors, individuals require both a general representation of the goal and an ability to monitor their own progress toward that goal. Here, we examine how dorsomedial striatum (DMS), a region pivotal for forming associations among stimuli, actions, and outcomes, encodes the execution of goal-directed action sequences that require self-monitoring of behavior. We trained rats to complete a sequence of at least 5 consecutive lever presses (without visiting the reward port) to obtain a reward and recorded the activity of individual cells in DMS while rats performed the task. We found that the pattern of DMS activity gradually changed during the execution of the sequence, permitting accurate decoding of sequence progress from neural activity at a population level. Moreover, this sequence-related activity was blunted on trials where rats did not complete a sufficient number of presses. Overall, these data suggest a link between DMS activity and the execution of behavioral sequences that require monitoring of ongoing behavior.

Multiple time-scales of decision making in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are crucial for memory-guided decision-making. Neural activity in the hippocampus exhibits place-cell sequences at multiple timescales, including slow behavioral sequences (~seconds) and fast theta sequences (~100-200 ms) within theta oscillation cycles. How prefrontal ensembles interact with hippocampal sequences to support decision-making is unclear. Here, we examined simultaneous hippocampal and prefrontal ensemble activity in rats during learning of a spatial working-memory decision task. We found clear theta sequences in prefrontal cortex, nested within its behavioral sequences. In both regions, behavioral sequences maintained representations of current choices during navigation. In contrast, hippocampal theta sequences encoded alternatives for deliberation, and were coordinated with prefrontal theta sequences that predicted upcoming choices. During error trials, these representations were preserved to guide ongoing behavior, whereas replay sequences during inter-trial periods were impaired prior to navigation. These results establish cooperative interaction between hippocampal and prefrontal sequences at multiple timescales for memory-guided decision-making.

Artificial Intelligent Based Video Analysis on the Teaching Interaction Patterns in Classroom Environment

Recently, the development of technology has enriched the form of classroom interaction. Exploring the characteristics of current classroom teaching interaction forms can clarify the deficiencies of teaching interactions, thereby improving teaching. Based on the existing classroom teaching interactive coding system, this paper adopted ITIAS coding system, and took classroom with interactive whiteboard, interactive television or mobile terminals as research scene, selected 20 classroom videos of teaching cases in this environment as research objects. Computer vision, one of the artificial intelligent technologies was applied for video analysis from four aspects: the classroom teaching atmosphere, the teacher-student interaction, the student-student interaction, the interaction between human and technology. Through cluster analysis, three clusters of sample’s behavioral sequences were found. According to the analysis on the behavioral sequences and the behavioral transition diagram of each cluster, three classroom teaching interaction patterns were identified, including immediate interaction pattern, waiting interaction pattern and shallow interaction pattern.

Toothbrushing Performance and Oral Cleanliness after Brushing in 12-Year-Old Children

Objectives: Nationwide prevention programs in Germany aim to promote oral health. The group prevention program starts in kindergarten and ends when the children are about 12 y old. While in a recent study, toothbrushing behavior of 12-y-old children was analyzed, the present study’s objective was to examine the children’s ability to achieve oral cleanliness and to analyze how toothbrushing behavior and compliance with the toothbrushing recommendations taught in the group prevention programs predict oral cleanliness. Methods: Twelve-year-old randomly selected children ( N = 174) were asked to brush their teeth to the best of their abilities, and simultaneously a video was recorded for behavioral analyses. Plaque levels were measured before and immediately after toothbrushing. In addition, dental status and gingival bleeding were assessed. Results: After brushing to the best of their abilities, there was plaque on 50% (±24.72%) of all measured sites at the gingival margin (Marginal Plaque Index). Regression analyses revealed approximately 22% of the variance of marginal plaque on the outer surfaces to be explained by the time brushed by circular movements (β = −0.41; P < 0.001) and the number of sextants brushed for at least 7.5 s (β = −0.171; P < 0.05). Circular movements explained most additional variance (Δ R2 = 0.113; P < 0.001). With respect to inner surfaces, none of the behavioral aspects explained any variance of oral cleanliness. Conclusion: Despite regular group prevention measures, 12-y-old children show limited skills to clean their teeth adequately. Furthermore, none of the recommended behaviors relates to oral cleanliness after toothbrushing at inner surfaces. As a consequence, it is necessary to explore further which behavioral sequences effectively improve oral cleanliness. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This study illustrates that children’s compliance to toothbrushing recommendations is not necessarily related to toothbrushing effectiveness. Clinicians should therefore assess the effectivity of recommendations individually and provide individual guidance for improvement.

Multiple time-scales of decision making in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex

ABSTRACTThe prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are crucial for memory-guided decision-making. Neural activity in the hippocampus exhibits place-cell sequences at multiple timescales, including slow behavioral sequences (∼seconds) and fast theta sequences (∼100-200 ms) within theta oscillation cycles. How prefrontal ensembles interact with hippocampal sequences to support decision-making is unclear. Here, we examined simultaneous hippocampal and prefrontal ensemble activity during learning of a spatial working-memory decision task. We found clear theta sequences in prefrontal cortex, nested within its behavioral sequences. In both regions, behavioral sequences maintained representations of current goals during navigation. In contrast, hippocampal theta sequences encoded alternatives for deliberation, and were coordinated with prefrontal theta sequences that predicted upcoming choices. During error trials, these representations were preserved to guide ongoing behavior, whereas replay sequences during inter-trial periods were impaired prior to navigation. These results establish cooperative interaction between hippocampal and prefrontal sequences at multiple timescales for memory-guided decision making.