Conserved evolutionary history for quick detection of threatening faces.

Humans quickly recognize threats such as snakes and threatening faces, suggesting that human ancestors evolved specialized visual systems to detect biologically relevant threat stimuli. Although non-human primates also detect snakes quickly, it is unclear whether primates share the efficient visual systems to process the threatening faces of their conspecifics. Primates may not necessarily process conspecific threats by facial expressions, because threats from conspecifics in natural situations are often accompanied by other cues such as threatening actions (or attacks) and vocal calls.

Selective transport of microplastics and mesoplastics by drifting in coastal waters.

The quantity and size distributions of small plastic fragments in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan were investigated using field surveys and a numerical particle-tracking model. The model was used to interpret the distributions of small plastic fragments and the possible transport processes in coastal waters. Of note, the size and quantity of mesoplastics (approximately >5mm) gradually increased close to the coast irrespective of the existence of river mouths, which probably act as a major source of anthropogenic marine debris.

Spiders do not evoke greater early posterior negativity in the event-related potential as snakes.

It has been long believed that both snakes and spiders are archetypal fear stimuli for humans. Furthermore, snakes have been assumed as stronger threat cues for nonhuman primates. However, it is still unclear whether spiders hold a special status in human perception.

Distinct aging effects for two types of inhibition in older adults: a near-infrared spectroscopy study on the Simon task and the flanker task.

The present study examined age-related changes in inhibitory processes among older and younger adults in the flanker and Simon tasks in terms of behavioral performance and prefrontal brain activity by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The flanker task requires a quick identification of a central target in the presence of surrounding distracters, whereas the Simon task requires an individual to respond with left and right key presses to nonspatial features of the stimulus presented in the left and right locations. The reaction times of two age groups were longer under incongruent conditions than under congruent conditions in both tasks, indicating that the flanker effect (interference suppression) and the Simon effect (response suppression) were evident.

Apology isn't good enough: an apology suppresses an approach motivation but not the physiological and psychological anger.

Although studies have emphasized the multiple components of anger, little is known about the physiological and psychological mechanisms of the approach motivational component and the negative emotional component of anger. In the present study, participants wrote brief opinions about social problems (e.g.

Early somatosensory event-related potentials reveal attentional bias for internal stimuli in social anxiety.

The present study used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to investigate allocation of attentional resources to internal and external stimuli in individuals with social anxiety. High and low socially anxious individuals were presented with depictions of various facial expressions or household objects, followed by an internal (vibration presented to the finger) or external probe (the letter "E"). Participants were told that the vibration signals physiological changes and were asked to detect both probes.

The role of intention to conceal in the P300-based concealed information test.

The present study examined whether intention to conceal knowledge affects P300 amplitude and detection accuracy in the concealed information test. Eighteen university students were told to choose one card from five and to hide it. In the conceal condition, participants made an effort to leave their chosen card undetected by suppressing their brain response to it.