@article{RodriguesUlrichMusseletal.2017, author = {Rodrigues, Johannes and Ulrich, Natalie and Mussel, Patrick and Carlo, Gustavo and Hewig, Johannes}, title = {Measuring prosocial tendencies in Germany: sources of validity and reliablity of the revised prosocial tendency measure}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02119}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-159351}, pages = {2119}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The prosocial tendencies measure (PTM; Carlo and Randall, 2002) is a widely used measurement for prosocial tendencies in English speaking participants. This instrument distinguishes between six different types of prosocial tendencies that partly share some common basis, but also can be opposed to each other. To examine these constructs in Germany, a study with 1067 participants was conducted. The study investigated the structure of this German version of the PTM-R via exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlations with similar constructs in subsamples as well as via measurement invariance test concerning the original English version. The German translation showed a similar factor structure to the English version in exploratory factor analysis and in confirmatory factor analysis. Measurement invariance was found between the English and German language versions of the PTM and support for the proposed six-factor structure (altruistic, anonymous, compliant, dire, emotional and public prosocial behavior) was also found in confirmatory factor analysis. Furthermore, the expected interrelations of these factors of prosocial behavior tendencies were obtained. Finally, correlations of the prosocial behavior tendencies with validating constructs and behaviors were found. Thus, the findings stress the importance of seeing prosocial behavior not as a single dimension construct, but as a factored construct which now can also be assessed in German speaking participants.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerRichterKarageorgosetal.2017, author = {M{\"u}ller, Bettina and Richter, Tobias and Karageorgos, Panagiotis and Krawietz, Sabine and Ennemoser, Marco}, title = {Effects of a syllable-based reading intervention in poor-reading fourth graders}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {1635}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01635}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-158841}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In transparent orthographies, persistent reading fluency difficulties are a major cause of poor reading skills in primary school. The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of a syllable-based reading intervention on word reading fluency and reading comprehension among German-speaking poor readers in Grade 4. The 16-session intervention was based on analyzing the syllabic structure of words to strengthen the mental representations of syllables and words that consist of these syllables. The training materials were designed using the 500 most frequent syllables typically read by fourth graders. The 75 poor readers were randomly allocated to the treatment or the control group. Results indicate a significant and strong effect on the fluency of recognizing single words, whereas text-level reading comprehension was not significantly improved by the training. The specific treatment effect provides evidence that a short syllable-based approach works even in older poor readers at the end of primary school.}, language = {en} } @article{MuenchowMengelkampBannert2017, author = {M{\"u}nchow, Hannes and Mengelkamp, Christoph and Bannert, Maria}, title = {The better you feel the better you learn: do warm colours and rounded shapes enhance learning outcome in multimedia learning?}, series = {Education Research International}, volume = {2017}, journal = {Education Research International}, doi = {10.1155/2017/2148139}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-158566}, pages = {2148139}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to examine whether fostering positive activating affect during multimedia learning enhances learning outcome. University students were randomly assigned to either a multimedia learning environment designed to induce positive activating affect through the use of "warm" colours and rounded shapes () or an affectively neutral environment that used achromatic colours and sharp edges (). Participants learned about the topic of functional neuroanatomy for 20 minutes and had to answer several questions for comprehension and transfer afterwards. Affective states as well as achievement goal orientations were investigated before and after the learning phase using questionnaires. The results show that participants in the affectively positive environment were superior in comprehension as well as transfer when initial affect was strong. Preexperimental positive affect was therefore a predictor of comprehension and a moderator for transfer. Goal orientations did not influence these effects. The findings support the idea that positive affect, induced through the design of the particular multimedia learning environment, can facilitate performance if initial affective states are taken into account.}, language = {en} } @article{SteinbornHuestegge2017, author = {Steinborn, Michael B. and Huestegge, Lynn}, title = {Phone conversation while processing information: chronometric analysis of load effects in everyday-media multitasking}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {896}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00896}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-158253}, year = {2017}, abstract = {This is a pilot study that examined the effect of cell-phone conversation on cognition using a continuous multitasking paradigm. Current theorizing argues that phone conversation affects behavior (e.g., driving) by interfering at a level of cognitive processes (not peripheral activity) and by implying an attentional-failure account. Within the framework of an intermittent spare-utilized capacity threading model, we examined the effect of aspects of (secondary-task) phone conversation on (primary-task) continuous arithmetic performance, asking whether phone use makes components of automatic and controlled information-processing (i.e., easy vs. hard mental arithmetic) run more slowly, or alternatively, makes processing run less reliably albeit with the same processing speed. The results can be summarized as follows: While neither expecting a text message nor expecting an impending phone call had any detrimental effects on performance, active phone conversation was clearly detrimental to primary-task performance. Crucially, the decrement imposed by secondary-task (conversation) was not due to a constant slowdown but is better be characterized by an occasional breakdown of information processing, which differentially affected automatic and controlled components of primary-task processing. In conclusion, these findings support the notion that phone conversation makes individuals not constantly slower but more vulnerable to commit attention failure, and in this way, hampers stability of (primary-task) information processing.}, language = {en} } @article{PieczykolanHuestegge2017, author = {Pieczykolan, Aleks and Huestegge, Lynn}, title = {Cross-modal Action Complexity: Action- and Rule-related Memory Retrieval in Dual-response Control}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {529}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00529}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-157794}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Normally, we do not act within a single effector system only, but rather coordinate actions across several output modules (cross-modal action). Such cross-modal action demands can vary substantially with respect to their complexity in terms of the number of task-relevant response combinations and to-be-retrieved stimulus-response (S-R) mapping rules. In the present study, we study the impact of these two types of cross-modal action complexity on dual-response costs (i.e., performance differences between single- and dual-action demands). In Experiment 1, we combined a manual and an oculomotor task, each involving four response alternatives. Crucially, one (unconstrained) condition involved all 16 possible combinations of response alternatives, whereas a constrained condition involved only a subset of possible response combinations. The results revealed that preparing for a larger number of response combinations yielded a significant, but moderate increase in dual-response costs. In Experiment 2, we utilized one common lateralized auditory (e.g., left) stimulus to trigger incompatible response compounds (e.g., left saccade and right key press or vice versa). While one condition only involved one set of task-relevant S-R rules, another condition involved two sets of task-relevant rules (coded by stimulus type: noise/tone), while the number of task-relevant response combinations was the same in both conditions. Here, an increase in the number of to-be-retrieved S-R rules was associated with a substantial increase in dual-response costs that were also modulated on a trial-by-trial basis when switching between rules. Taken together, the results shed further light on the dependency of cross-modal action control on both action- and rule-related memory retrieval processes.}, language = {en} } @article{KaethnerHalderHintermuelleretal.2017, author = {K{\"a}thner, Ivo and Halder, Sebastian and Hinterm{\"u}ller, Christoph and Espinosa, Arnau and Guger, Christoph and Miralles, Felip and Vargiu, Eloisa and Dauwalder, Stefan and Rafael-Palou, Xavier and Sol{\`a}, Marc and Daly, Jean M. and Armstrong, Elaine and Martin, Suzanne and K{\"u}bler, Andrea}, title = {A Multifunctional Brain-Computer Interface Intended for Home Use: An Evaluation with Healthy Participants and Potential End Users with Dry and Gel-Based Electrodes}, series = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, number = {286}, doi = {10.3389/fnins.2017.00286}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-157925}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Current brain-computer interface (BCIs) software is often tailored to the needs of scientists and technicians and therefore complex to allow for versatile use. To facilitate home use of BCIs a multifunctional P300 BCI with a graphical user interface intended for non-expert set-up and control was designed and implemented. The system includes applications for spelling, web access, entertainment, artistic expression and environmental control. In addition to new software, it also includes new hardware for the recording of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The EEG system consists of a small and wireless amplifier attached to a cap that can be equipped with gel-based or dry contact electrodes. The system was systematically evaluated with a healthy sample, and targeted end users of BCI technology, i.e., people with a varying degree of motor impairment tested the BCI in a series of individual case studies. Usability was assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. Feedback of users was gathered with structured questionnaires. Two groups of healthy participants completed an experimental protocol with the gel-based and the dry contact electrodes (N = 10 each). The results demonstrated that all healthy participants gained control over the system and achieved satisfactory to high accuracies with both gel-based and dry electrodes (average error rates of 6 and 13\%). Average satisfaction ratings were high, but certain aspects of the system such as the wearing comfort of the dry electrodes and design of the cap, and speed (in both groups) were criticized by some participants. Six potential end users tested the system during supervised sessions. The achieved accuracies varied greatly from no control to high control with accuracies comparable to that of healthy volunteers. Satisfaction ratings of the two end-users that gained control of the system were lower as compared to healthy participants. The advantages and disadvantages of the BCI and its applications are discussed and suggestions are presented for improvements to pave the way for user friendly BCIs intended to be used as assistive technology by persons with severe paralysis.}, language = {en} } @article{ErlbeckMochtyKuebleretal.2017, author = {Erlbeck, Helena and Mochty, Ursula and K{\"u}bler, Andrea and Real, Ruben G. L.}, title = {Circadian course of the P300 ERP in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - implications for brain-computer interfaces (BCI)}, series = {BMC Neurology}, volume = {17}, journal = {BMC Neurology}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1186/s12883-016-0782-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-157423}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Background: Accidents or neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can lead to progressing, extensive, and complete paralysis leaving patients aware but unable to communicate (locked-in state). Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) based on electroencephalography represent an important approach to establish communication with these patients. The most common BCI for communication rely on the P300, a positive deflection arising in response to rare events. To foster broader application of BCIs for restoring lost function, also for end-users with impaired vision, we explored whether there were specific time windows during the day in which a P300 driven BCI should be preferably applied. Methods: The present study investigated the influence of time of the day and modality (visual vs. auditory) on P300 amplitude and latency. A sample of 14 patients (end-users) with ALS and 14 healthy age matched volunteers participated in the study and P300 event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded at four different times (10, 12 am, 2, \& 4 pm) during the day. Results: Results indicated no differences in P300 amplitudes or latencies between groups (ALS patients v. healthy participants) or time of measurement. In the auditory condition, latencies were shorter and amplitudes smaller as compared to the visual condition. Conclusion: Our findings suggest applicability of EEG/BCI sessions in patients with ALS throughout normal waking hours. Future studies using actual BCI systems are needed to generalize these findings with regard to BCI effectiveness/efficiency and other times of day.}, language = {en} } @article{KozlikNeumannLozo2015, author = {Kozlik, Julia and Neumann, Roland and Lozo, Ljubica}, title = {Contrasting motivational orientation and evaluative coding accounts: on the need to differentiate the effectors of approach/avoidance responses}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {563}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00563}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143192}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Several emotion theorists suggest that valenced stimuli automatically trigger motivational orientations and thereby facilitate corresponding behavior. Positive stimuli were thought to activate approach motivational circuits which in turn primed approach-related behavioral tendencies whereas negative stimuli were supposed to activate avoidance motivational circuits so that avoidance-related behavioral tendencies were primed (motivational orientation account). However, recent research suggests that typically observed affective stimulus response compatibility phenomena might be entirely explained in terms of theories accounting for mechanisms of general action control instead of assuming motivational orientations to mediate the effects (evaluative coding account). In what follows, we explore to what extent this notion is applicable. We present literature suggesting that evaluative coding mechanisms indeed influence a wide variety of affective stimulus response compatibility phenomena. However, the evaluative coding account does not seem to be sufficient to explain affective S-R compatibility effects. Instead, several studies provide clear evidence in favor of the motivational orientation account that seems to operate independently of evaluative coding mechanisms. Implications for theoretical developments and future research designs are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{TopolinskiZuernSchneider2015, author = {Topolinski, Sascha and Z{\"u}rn, Michael and Schneider, Iris K.}, title = {What's in and what's out in branding? A novel articulation effect for brand names}, series = {Frontiers in Psychology}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in Psychology}, number = {585}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00585}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143036}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The present approach exploits the biomechanical connection between articulation and ingestion-related mouth movements to introduce a novel psychological principle of brand name design. We constructed brand names for diverse products with consonantal stricture spots either from the front to the rear of the mouth, thus inwards (e.g., BODIKA), or from the rear to the front, thus outwards (e.g., KODIBA). These muscle dynamics resemble the oral kinematics during either ingestion (inwards), which feels positive, or expectoration (outwards), which feels negative. In 7 experiments (total N = 1261), participants liked products with inward names more than products with outward names (Experiment 1), reported higher purchase intentions (Experiment 2), and higher willingness-to-pay (Experiments 3a-3c, 4, 5), with the price gain amounting to 4-13\% of the average estimated product value. These effects occurred across English and German language, under silent reading, for both edible and non-edible products, and even in the presence of a much stronger price determinant, namely fair-trade production (Experiment 5).}, language = {en} } @article{SchererFallerFriedrichetal.2015, author = {Scherer, Reinhold and Faller, Josef and Friedrich, Elisabeth V. C. and Opisso, Eloy and Costa, Ursula and K{\"u}bler, Andrea and M{\"u}ller-Putz, Gernot R.}, title = {Individually Adapted Imagery Improves Brain-Computer Interface Performance in End-Users with Disability}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {10}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0123727}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143021}, pages = {e0123727}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) translate oscillatory electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns into action. Different mental activities modulate spontaneous EEG rhythms in various ways. Non-stationarity and inherent variability of EEG signals, however, make reliable recognition of modulated EEG patterns challenging. Able-bodied individuals who use a BCI for the first time achieve - on average - binary classification performance of about 75\%. Performance in users with central nervous system (CNS) tissue damage is typically lower. User training generally enhances reliability of EEG pattern generation and thus also robustness of pattern recognition. In this study, we investigated the impact of mental tasks on binary classification performance in BCI users with central nervous system (CNS) tissue damage such as persons with stroke or spinal cord injury (SCI). Motor imagery (MI), that is the kinesthetic imagination of movement (e.g. squeezing a rubber ball with the right hand), is the "gold standard" and mainly used to modulate EEG patterns. Based on our recent results in able-bodied users, we hypothesized that pair- wise combination of "brain-teaser" (e.g. mental subtraction and mental word association) and "dynamic imagery" (e. g. hand and feet MI) tasks significantly increases classification performance of induced EEG patterns in the selected end-user group. Within- day (How stable is the classification within a day?) and between-day (How well does a model trained on day one perform on unseen data of day two?) analysis of variability of mental task pair classification in nine individuals confirmed the hypothesis. We found that the use of the classical MI task pair hand vs. feed leads to significantly lower classification accuracy - in average up to 15\% less - in most users with stroke or SCI. User-specific selection of task pairs was again essential to enhance performance. We expect that the gained evidence will significantly contribute to make imagery-based BCI technology become accessible to a larger population of users including individuals with special needs due to CNS damage.}, language = {en} }