Abstract domains of knowledge may have social origins. However, whether abstract concepts (ACs) also differentially affect communicative interaction and conversation has not been explored. Here, we studied ACs’ functions by collecting in an Italian English sample, ratings for concrete concept (CC) ACs related to three main dimensions: communicative/pragmatic [i.e., Openness Negotiation (ON), Ea...

The present study examines the effect of language experience on vocal emotion perception in a second language. Native speakers of French with varying levels of self-reported English ability were asked to identify emotions from vocal expressions produced by American actors in a forced-choice task, and to rate their pleasantness, power, alertness and intensity on continuous scales. Stimuli includ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a brief olfactory test based on pleasantness rating of olfactory and trigeminal stimulants. DESIGN Criterion standard. SETTING University hospital. PARTICIPANTS A total of 60 participants (48 healthy and 12 with olfactory loss) aged 16 to 81 years. INTERVENTIONS The new test of odor pleasantness (TOP) based on classification of odorants and trigeminal stimulants in...

We investigated emotional disturbances in 36 schizophrenia patients, 48 of their first-degree relatives, and 56 controls to determine if abnormal affective startle modulation could be associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia. Both patients and relatives had a pattern of startle modulation indistinguishable from controls, with potentiated startle amplitude while viewing negative valence sl...

This study compared subject performance and preference using a compression-limiting hearing aid set to linear amplification (program 1) and wide dynamic range compression (WDRC, program 2). The frequency responses of the hearing aid were matched to a 65 dB SPL signal and maximum output to a 90 dB SPL signal. Twenty subjects with moderate to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss were test...

Love and affection is expressed through a range of physically intimate gestures, including caresses. Recent studies suggest that posterior temporal lobe areas typically associated with visual processing of social cues also respond to interpersonal touch. Here, we asked whether these areas are selective to caress-like skin stroking. We collected functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 23...