Emptying the backlog

[From Martin Lewitt 4/27 1341 MDT]
I've been saving these articles because I thought that they might become peripherally relevant to discussions of PCT here on the list. Rather than continue to hold onto them, I am dumping them as possible matters of general interest.

Multitasking Splits the Brain
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/04/multitasking-splits-the-brain.html?etoc

While controlled variables may result in conflicts, does the case where different ones may be being pursued similataneously present special problems.

Markets, Religion, Community Size, and the Evolution of Fairness and Punishment
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/327/5972/1480

Certain controlled social variables may have a biological basis and implications for organization of mass societies.

Clever Crows, Complex Cognition?
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/04/clever-crows-complex-cognition.html?etoc

How would a PCT informed design of these experiments be different? Is the only controlled variable of relevance getting food?

regards,
     Martin L