A Neuro-Cognitive Theory of Deductive Relational Reasoning with Mental Models and Visual Images

Abstract

Many neuro-imaging studies have provided evidence that the parietal cortex plays a key role in reasoning based on mental models, which are supposed to be of abstract spatial nature. However, these studies have also shown concurrent activation in vision-related cortical areas which have often been interpreted as evidence for the role of visual mental imagery in reasoning. The aim of the paper is to resolve the inconsistencies in the previous literature on reasoning and imagery and to develop a neurally and cognitively plausible theory of human relational reasoning. The main assumption is that visual brain areas are only involved if the problem information is easy to visualize and when this information must be processed and maintained in visual working memory. A regular reasoning process, however, does not involve visual images but more abstract spatial representations—spatial mental models—held in parietal cortices. Only these spatial representations are crucial for the genuine reasoning processes.     

Learning to Reach to Locations Encoded from Imaging Displays

We examined the use of hand gestures while people solved spatial reasoning problem in which they had to infer motion from static diagrams (mental animation problems). In Experiment 1, participants were asked to think aloud while solving mental animation problems. They gestured on more than 90% of problems, and most gestures expressed information about the component motions that was not stated in words. Two further experiments examined whether the gestures functioned in the mechanical inference process, or whether they merely served functions of expressing or communicating the results of this process. In these experiments, we examined the effects of instructions to think aloud, restricting participants' hand motions, and secondary tasks on mental animation performance. Although participants who were instructed to think aloud gestured more than control groups, some gestures occurred even in control conditions. A concurrent spatial tapping task impaired performance on mechanical reasoning, whereas a simple tapping task and restricting hand motions did not. These results indicate that gestures are a natural way of expressing the results of mental animation processes and suggest that spatial working memory and premotor representations are involved in mental animation. They provide no direct evidence that gestures are functional in the thought process itself, but do not rule out a role for overt gestures in this type of spatial thinking.     

基于XML的产品主模型技术研究

多学科设计优化方法是近年来发展的一种设计复杂系统的新方法。它充分考虑各个学科之间的相互影响和耦合作用,以获得系统的整体最优解。产品主模型技术是多学科设计优化的关键技术之一,能较好地解决应用模型之间的数据交换和通信。文章介绍了产品主模型的概念及其特点,对产品主模型技术及其实施过程进行了深入研究。回顾了可扩展标记语言的产生和发展历史,并对其特性进行了较详细介绍;研究了基于可扩展标记语言技术实现系统集成的技术路线;最后,提出了基于可扩展标记语言技术和产品主模型技术的卫星总体方案多学科设计优化集成框架。     

The Psychological Validity of Qualitative Spatial Reasoning in One Dimension

One of the central questions of spatial reasoning research is whether the underlying processes are inherently visual, spatial, or logical. We applied the dual task interference paradigm to spatial reasoning problems in one dimension, using Allen's interval calculus, in order to make progress towards resolving this argument. Our results indicate that spatial reasoning with interval relations is largely based on the construction and inspection of qualitative spatial representations, or mental models, while no evidence for logical proofs of derivations or the involvement of visual representations and processes was found.     

Effects of Mental and Manual Rotation Training on Mental and Manual Rotation Performance

Previous research has shown that training can improve mental rotation performance and has found connections between mental and manual rotation. Here we examine how practice in mental or manual (virtual) rotation, affects performance on mental and manual rotation tasks, compared to a control condition. Experiment 1 examined improvement on a mental rotation task following practice in mental or manual rotation. Both mental and manual rotation practice led to more efficient posttest performance. Experiment 2 examined improvement on a manual rotation task. Practice in manual but not mental rotation led to improved performance. Analyses of the manual rotation trajectories revealed no evidence of strategy differences. These results suggest that manual rotation may require additional processes outside of those needed for mental rotation. In terms of training effects, manual rotation training improved both manual and mental rotation performance, whereas mental rotation only significant improved mental rotation performance.     

The cognitive adequacy of Allen's interval calculus for qualitative spatial representation and reasoning

Qualitative spatial reasoning (QSR) is often claimed to be cognitively more plausible than conventional numerical approaches to spatial reasoning, because it copes with the indeterminacy of spatial data and allows inferences based on incomplete spatial knowledge. The paper reports experimental results concerning the cognitive adequacy of an important approach used in QSR, namely the spatial interpretation of the interval calculus introduced by Allen (1983). Knauff, Rauh and Schlieder (1995) distinguished between the conceptual and inferential cognitive adequacy of Allen's interval calculus. The former refers to the thirteen base relations as a representational system and the latter to the compositions of these relations as a tool for reasoning. The results of two memory experiments on conceptual adequacy show that people use ordinal information similar to the interval relations when representing and remembering spatial arrangements. Furthermore, symmetry transformations on the interval relations were found to be responsible for most of the errors, whereas conceptualneighborhood theory did not appear to correspond to cognitively relevant concepts. Inferential adequacy was investigated by two reasoning experiments and the results show that in inference tasks where the number of possible interval relations for the composition is more than one, subjects ignore numerous possibilities and interindividually prefer the same relations. Reorientations and transpositions operating on the relations seem to be important for reasoning performance as well, whereas conceptual neighborhood did not appear to affect the difficulty of reasoning tasks based on the interval relations.     

卫星线阵立体影像的倾斜仿射变换核线模型

核线约束是构建摄影测量立体模型的重要条件。由于卫星线阵影像的多中心投影特性，难以建立其严格的核线模型。文章从上下视差最小的同名核线特征出发，在仿射变换模型基础上引入核线倾角变化参数，提出一种新的倾斜仿射变换核线模型。通过“无误差”的虚拟同名点仿真试验表明，文章提出的模型受影像范围及地表高差影响较小，在影像区块6 000像元×6 000像元、地表高差1 000m情况下，对于不同形式卫星立体影像的模型误差均小于1个像元。进一步使用实际匹配同名点平差，实验表明：对于SPOT-5、“资源三号”和“高分七号”等卫星影像，文章模型误差相对于匹配观测误差可忽略，实际核线精度在整景影像范围内优于0.8像元，所生成核线影像能够满足后续密集匹配要求。新模型的精确性和普适性相比现有同类模型显著提升，可实际应用于卫星摄影测量处理。     

Revisiting Perspective-Taking: Can People Maintain Imagined Perspectives?

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to examine whether people can adopt and maintain imagined perspectives in the absence of target information. The task used entailed providing information about an imagined perspective in advance of target information to examine whether this would facilitate perspective-taking performance and reduce or eliminate alignment effects that are commonly reported in the literature. The three experiments employed different types of spatial environments: an environment learned from navigating a computer screen (Experiment 1), and an immersive environment that was either remote (Experiment 2) or immediate (Experiment 3) at the time of retrieval. Across the three experiments, results showed that information about an imagined perspective can be utilized ahead of target information. Furthermore, they suggested that alignment effects can be reduced as a result of processing information about perspective ahead of target information, but only when reasoning about specific nonimmediate spatial relations (Experiments 1 and 2). Results are discussed in connection with previous findings on spatial updating and the organizational structure of spatial memory.     

Theoretical prediction of thermal diffusion coefficients for ternary hydrocarbon mixtures based on the irreversible thermodynamics theory

An accurate thermodiffusion model is of paramount importance to the petroleum industry for the prediction of the compositional variation in hydrocarbon reservoirs. Several theoretical models have been developed. Kempers and Firoozabadi models are the latest two models, which are not only applicable for binary mixtures but also for multi-component mixtures. In this paper, we applied the Firoozabadi model to a ternary hydrocarbon mixture of n-Dodecane, n-Butane and Methane with different mass fraction. It reveals that the accuracy of the thermal diffusion coefficients for a specific mixture of interest relies on the accuracy of the thermodynamic properties from equations of state, corresponding Fick's diffusion coefficients, and the thermal diffusion modeling.     

Landmarks on the move: Producing and understanding references to moving landmarks

There is a general agreement that landmarks in route directions should be perceptually salient and stable objects. Yet, other attributes, such as (animated) motion, can also attract visual attention and make entities salient. In the present study, we investigate if and when speakers refer to moving entities in route directions and how listeners evaluate such instructions. We asked speakers to watch short videos of different crossroads with and without moving landmarks and give directions to listeners, who in turn had to choose a street on which to continue (Experiment 1) or choose the instruction they most preferred among three route directions (Experiment 2). Results reveal that speakers mentioned moving entities, especially when the trajectory was informative for the place where a turn should be taken (Experiment 1). Listeners had no problem understanding instructions with moving landmarks (Experiment 1). Yet, participants chose instructions with stable landmarks more often (Experiment 2). These results are discussed in relation to automatic route directions generation.     

广义Weibull分布参数的收缩估计

在右删失样本下,研究了双参数广义Weibull分布参数的极大似然估计。针 对在小样本或高度删失样本下参数估计效果差的问题,引入了收缩估计方法,将先验信息与 样本信息相结合,用于改善参数估计。分别在单参数和双参数含有先验信息两种情形下,给 出了分布参数的收缩估计。以定数截尾样本为例,利用Monte\|Carlo方法对收缩估计与极 大似然估计进行了比较,模拟结果表明在一定的条件下,收缩估计具有更优的统计性质。数 值算例表明,在小样本或高度截尾样本下,双参数广义Weibull分布参数的收缩估计具有较 好的效果。
     

一种INS辅助GNSS高动态弱信号标量跟踪方法

为提高恶劣电磁环境下的高动态卫星导航接收机的干扰抑制能力,提出一种低成本INS自适应辅助标量跟踪环路方法。该方法以INS辅助二阶锁频环(IFLL2)算法为核心,采用INS/GNSS紧组合结果提高外部辅助跟踪环路的多普勒频率估计精度,以降低动态应力对跟踪环路的影响。建立了INS辅助锁相环和锁频环性能分析模型,基于该模型可知IFLL2对本地振荡器的抖动噪声抑制能力更强,可更多地降低跟踪环路带宽,故其性能优于INS辅助锁相环(IPLL)的性能。高动态仿真试验结果表明高动态环境下独立式三阶锁相环可跟踪载噪比为28dB Hz的GPS L1 C/A卫星信号,INS辅助最优带宽二阶锁频环算法可跟踪载噪比为19dB Hz的卫星信号,基于本算法的接收机的干扰抑制能力提高了9dB,与理论分析结果相当。     

高斯过程元模型建模方法及在火箭弹气动分析中应用

为解决复杂系统多学科优化中高精度仿真模型计算时间过长问题,提出高斯过程元模型建模方法。首先介绍了高斯过程元模型建模方法,提出高斯过程元模型建模步骤。算例分析证明,高斯过程元模型优于2种已有元模型。高斯过程元模型能够理论上统一常用的元模型建模方法,在元模型建模领域具有良好的应用前景。     

太阳电池月尘遮蔽模型分析及试验研究

扬起的月尘颗粒沉积在月球探测器的太阳电池表面,可导致其性能下降。文章基于层叠遮挡理论,建立了一种月尘遮蔽光线透射的理论模型,利用该模型开展了模拟月尘颗粒形状与粒径对遮蔽效果影响的分析和计算,并与NASA的同类模型进行了对比分析。分析结果显示:2种模型给出的相对透过率随沉积月尘面密度的变化趋势相同,均呈指数型衰减关系;在随月尘形状、粒径、透过率的变化方面,2种模型存在差异。利用月尘沉积与吸附试验装置实施了模拟月尘沉积试验,验证了所建立模型的正确性,其预测准确度优于NASA模型。     

基于有向图模型的卫星任务指令生成算法

面向任务的卫星操控模式具有操作简便、星载资源使用效率高的优点,正在取代指令序列注入成为遥感卫星运控的新模式。文章提出一种基于有向图模型的遥感卫星任务指令序列生成算法,具有线性存储复杂度和计算复杂度,适合存储资源和计算资源受限的星载计算机应用。此算法已在某遥感卫星应用,测试试验表明,采用3个面向任务的高级指令即可生成52种指令序列,任务上行注入效率提升了5倍。本文方法根据有效载荷的使用约束条件,配置有向图模型参数,即可满足各种类型卫星使用。     

顾氏不动点解法——数独题通用解法

“数独”意为“每个数字只能出现一次”，起源于中国的古代的九宫格。通过运用严格逻辑推理方法，顾氏不动点解法找到两条或两条以上不同的逻辑路径的交点，即数独题目的关键点，找到一种解决“数独”问题的通用方法。     

Prioritized Spatial Updating in the Intrinsic Frame of Reference

In order to maintain valid situation awareness, people need to update the spatial representations of their surroundings as objects, including themselves, move. The present study investigates the properties of spatial updating in the intrinsic frame of reference, where spatial relations are represented with respect to an external object (other than the viewer self) with an intrinsic reference direction. Three experiments were conducted using a task of direction pointing. It was found that given a relatively stable intrinsic reference direction, responses to a small number of salient objects were faster than responses to non-salient objects (Experiment 1 and Experiment 3). The salience effect disappeared when the intrinsic reference direction was no longer stable (Experiment 2). Furthermore, all three experiments revealed a type of orientation dependence similar to that found in egocentric spatial updating. Our results indicate that spatial updating in the intrinsic reference system can be easy only if a fixed reference direction is maintained and the number of objects that need to be tracked is limited.     

超声电喷推力器的驻波特性

为研究超声电喷推力器(UAET)驻波尺寸特性的相关变化规律，建立发射极液面的液体振动数值模型，并开展驻波尺寸测量试验对数值模型进行验证。对比驻波间距的测量值与计算值发现，两者在变化趋势上可认为一致，且计算误差在6.55%以内。在此基础上，利用数值模型对不同波源频率、振幅下的驻波相关参数进行计算。实验结果表明，随波源频率升高，驻波间距、高度以及半径均下降，其影响机制在于频率主要对波纹形成时间产生影响；而振幅的升高对间距几乎不产生影响，仅会导致驻波高度和半径升高，其影响机制在于振幅对波纹形成应力产生影响。     

Orientational versus esthetical urban street morphology parameterization in Space Syntax

Current topological and geometrical distances in Space Syntax are based on the premise that each change of direction along a path is a mental cost because one loses orientation. This paper proposes to extend the analysis to the case in which esthetic and variety, rather than orientation, are the key elements of street selection. It is widely recognized that most people are attracted to curvy paths rather than straight ones; therefore, when one is not worried about losing orientation in her walk, or when the preferred path is well recognizable even when it requires changes of direction, we should adopt another criterion to weigh distances: morphoahestetic and networkvariety criteria are shown as potential parameterization for Space Syntax distances.