Harmonic Resolution, Neural Resonance, and Positive Affect

A connectionist model of harmonic resolution, based on affective principles, is proposed. The connectionist model consists of a note-recognition layer; and a chord-recognition layer; the chord- recognition layer feeds back to the note-recognition layer to produce a resonance loop. Affect is measured by the degree of mutual maintenance of competing units. This measure is derived from the aesthetic principle of unity in diversity. The affective measure permits the rules of harmony to be understood on aesthetic grounds, rather than as a loose collection of observed regularities. It is also shown how the model is broadly consistent with the rules of common harmonic practice and, in addition, is capable of making predictions about dynamic and adaptive effects. Simulations are performed on two types of resolution: the resolution of a nonharmonic note and cadential resolution. The former set of simulations includes the anchoring of nonharmonic notes, the asymmetry of nonharmonic resolution, and the nonharmonic support mechanisms of emphasis and the suspension. The last set includes voice leading in the cadence, the dominant seventh, the French sixth, and a longer cadence. The paper concludes with a discussion of how some expectation-based effects could be included in a modified model that retains the same affective measure.

Affective Response Patterns of the Injured Athlete: An Exploratory Analysis

This study examined the affective response pattern of severely injured athletes. Five athletes from an NCAA Division I university athletic program were followed within 24 hours of injury for 4 weeks. On two nonconsecutive days a week at the same time and place, the athletes completed the Profile of Mood States and indicated their perceived percent rehabilitation. In addition, at the first meeting the athletes were given the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and a demographic data sheet. At the final meeting the athletes completed an open-ended questionnaire designed to explore affective, cognitive, and behavioral reflections about rehabilitation. ANOVA indicated that affect significantly changed (p<.05) across the 4 week period. Post hoc analyses indicated that this change fits a two-stage process: Stage 1, Times 1−2; Stage 2, Times 3−8, with the two stages being significantly different from each other. The correlation between perceived rehabilitation and total mood disturbance was r=−.69, p<.0001. Correlations for each affective measure and perceived rehabilitation indicated that affective patterns of the rehabilitating athlete were highly related to the perception of rehabilitation, with negative affect diminishing and positive affect increasing as perceived rehabilitation increased.

The Issues in Disability Scale A New Cognitive & Affective Measure of Attitudes Toward People with Physical Disabilities

The Issues in Disability Scale (IDS) is a new instrument developed to measure both the cognitive and affective components of attitudes toward persons with physical disabilities. The IDS builds upon previous research, while avoiding many of the problems criticized in earlier measures. The method by which tile instrument was constructed is presented, along with preliminary data supporting both the reliability and the validity of the scale.