Retrieval practice may not benefit mathematical word-problem solving.

The retrieval practice effect refers to the fact that one or even multiple retrievals of memory content during the same period are more effective than repeated studying to promote future memory retention. It is effective for numerous declarative knowledge learning materials. However, studies have demonstrated that retrieval practice does not benefit problem-solving skill learning. This study used worked examples from math word problem tasks as learning materials, considering the retrieval difficulty as the main factor. Experiment 1 explored the effect of retrieval practice on acquiring problem-solving skills under different initial testing difficulties. Experiment 2 manipulated the difficulty of materials as a variable to ascertain the effect of retrieval practice on problem-solving skills under different material difficulty levels. Experiment 3 introduced feedback variables to facilitate the generation of the retrieval practice effect and examined the effects of various difficulty feedback levels on problem-solving skills learning. Results showed that, compared with restudying examples (SSSS), the example-problem pairs (STST) did not promote delayed test performance. As for the retrieval practice effect, as no differences or advantages were found in the repeated study group on the immediate test, the retrieval practice group generally outperformed the repeated study group on the delayed test. However, across the three experiments, we found no evidence of retrieval practice affecting results during an enhanced delayed test. Therefore, there may be no retrieval practice effect on acquiring problem-solving skills from worked examples.

Role of Alexithymia in Predicting Internet Novel Addiction through Boredom Proneness.

With the development of the internet, people's pursuit of reading entertainment has enriched internet novels, but the relevant influencing factors are still unclear. Therefore, we recruited 344 Chinese college students and employed a questionnaire survey to explore the relationship between alexithymia, boredom proneness, and internet novel addiction. The results showed that (1) there was no significant difference between female and male college students in terms of alexithymia and boredom proneness, whereas male college students had a higher total score of internet novel addiction than females. (2) There were significant positive correlations between alexithymia, boredom proneness, and internet novel addiction. (3) Boredom proneness played a partial mediating role in the impact of alexithymia on the internet novel addiction. Taken together, alexithymia may directly and indirectly predict internet novel addiction through boredom proneness.

Relationships among inferiority feelings, fear of negative evaluation, and social anxiety in Chinese junior high school students.

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the relationship between feelings of inferiority and social anxiety in Chinese junior high school students. In addition, it examined the potential mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation in this relationship. Methods: A survey was administered to a sample of 734 Chinese junior high school students. The Feelings of Inadequacy Scale, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and Social Avoidance Distress Scale were used. Results: First, there were significant positive correlations between all subscales for the inferiority feelings, social anxiety, and fear of negative evaluation. Furthermore, fear of negative evaluation mediated the predictive effects of four inferiority subscales (i.e., self-esteem, academic ability, appearance, and physical ability) for social anxiety. However, the total score for the sense of inferiority and social confidence subscale lacked this mediating effect. Conclusion: The inferiority feelings of self-esteem, academic ability, appearance, and physical ability may directly and indirectly predict social anxiety through fear of negative evaluation.

N170 changes reflect competition between faces and identifiable characters during early visual processing.

According to the neuronal recycling hypothesis, brain circuits can gain new functions through cultural learning, which are distinct from their evolutionarily established functions, creating competition between processes such as facial and identifiable character processing. In the present study, event-related potential (ERP) recording was used to examine electrophysiological correlates of identification levels of Chinese characters as well as the competition between facial and Chinese character processing after the characters were learnt. Twenty volunteers performed a lateralized face detection task, and N170 responses were recorded when the participants viewed only Chinese characters (identifiable or unidentifiable in Xiaozhuan font), or Chinese characters and faces concurrently. Viewing identifiable Chinese characters bilaterally elicited larger N170 amplitudes than viewing unidentifiable ones. N170 amplitudes in response to faces bilaterally declined when identifiable Chinese characters and faces were viewed concurrently as compared to viewing unidentifiable Chinese characters and faces concurrently. These results indicate that the N170 component is modulated by the observer's identification level of Chinese characters, and that identifiable Chinese characters compete with faces during early visual processing.