Gender and individual differences in cueing effects: Visuospatial attention and object likability.

An arrow marker appearing in a field of view shifts the observer's attention in its indicated direction. On the other hand, the gaze of another individual not only shifts the observer's attention but also increases the likability of objects in the direction of their gaze. These effects occur even when the arrow markers or gaze cues are presented for very short periods so that the observer is unaware of them.

Final Sampling Bias in Haptic Judgments: How Final Touch Affects Decision-Making.

When people make a choice between multiple items, they usually evaluate each item one after the other repeatedly. The effect of the order and number of evaluating items on one's choices is essential to understanding the decision-making process. Previous studies have shown that when people choose a favorable item from two items, they tend to choose the item that they evaluated last.

Subliminal gaze cues increase preference levels for items in the gaze direction.

Another individual's gaze automatically shifts an observer's attention to a location. This reflexive response occurs even when the gaze is presented subliminally over a short period. Another's gaze also increases the preference level for items in the gaze direction; however, it was previously unclear if this effect occurs when the gaze is presented subliminally.

Taken last, selected first: the sampling bias is also present in the haptic domain.

When people are presented with a pair of images and asked to identify which one is more attractive, their eye gaze shifts gradually toward the image that they eventually choose. This study examined whether this sampling bias also occurs in other sensory modalities by observing participants' behavior in a haptic preference task. The results indicated that the participants tended to sample the chosen item just prior to making their decision when they were instructed to identify their most preferred item (i.

Application of near-infrared spectroscopy to measuring of attractiveness of opposite-sex faces.

Brain imaging technology employing near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has great potential in various applications to daily life, by virtue of offering handy equipment and an easy measurement method. In this paper, we propose a novel application of NIRS to evaluation of feeling. As compared with an electroencephalogram, the NIRS offers easier attachment of probes on the scalp, because it does not require any paste.

Exponential-exponential cosine fitting of blood pressure decay induced by a long-acting calcium blocker, amlodipine, using home blood pressure measurement.

Blood pressure (BP) decay data obtained from homeBP measurements in six patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension treated with a calcium blocker, amlodipine, were fitted to an exponential-exponential cosine function to determine the characteristic BP-lowering effects of amlodipine. An exponential-exponential cosine function fitted the morning and night systolic BP (sBP) decay data better than a simple exponential function. From the coefficients of the equation, the estimated BP lowering, time constant for BP decay and BP oscillation induced by amlodipine for morning and night sBP were approximately 23 and 25 mmHg, 10 and 6 days, and 12 and 12 mmHg, respectively.

Three-dimensional tuning profile of motor cortical activity during arm movements.

The neural firing activity in the primary motor cortex was modulated to the direction of hand movement. In contradiction to previous reports, a recent study found a non-uniform distribution of preferred directions of neurons while monkeys made center-out reaching movements in a horizontal plane. To re-examine the distribution of preferred directions in three-dimensional space, we recorded the activity of 117 arm-related neurons in the primary motor cortex and electromyographic signals of shoulder and upper arm muscles of a monkey while it performed center-out reaching movements towards 26 target points placed on a sphere-shaped workspace.