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PubMed1981

Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on avoidance conditioning in high- and low-avoidance rat strains.

Two lines of rats selected for high- and low-avoidance performance consumed a nutritious liquid diet containing 35% ethanol-derived calories through days 5--18 of gestation. Control dams were pair-fed an identical liquid diet except for isocaloric substitution of sucrose for ethanol or ad libitum laboratory chow and water. Subsequently, the offspring of the low-avoider dams fed ethanol were found to be impaired ona two-way shock-avoidance conditioning when compared to the pair-fed and ad libitum controls from the same line. In contrast, the offspring of the high-avoider dams fed ethanol displayed similar levels of avoidance, responding to their controls. These results demonstrate that the effects on avoidance conditioning of in utero ethanol exposure are dependent upon the line of rat studied.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Differential effects of intraventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine on behavior of rats in approach and avoidance procedures: Reversal of avoidance decrements by diazepam.

The administration of 6-hydroxdopamine (6-HD) and pargyline to rats produced similar selective decreases in responding during the conditioned stimulus (CS) on a discriminated avoidance test where the unconditioned stimulus (US) was shock and on an analogous conditioned approach test where the US was water. Approach behavior during the CS generally recovered, however, while avoidance decrements in the same rats remained for the duration of testing. This suggested that 6-HD-induced avoidance decrement was a result of two independent but interacting processes: (1) a decrease in conditioned behavior as reflected by the similar decrease in responding on both tests; and (2) a hyper-reaction to aversive stimuli that resulted in a tendency to selectively suppress avoidance behavior after the animal received shock. In support of this hypothesis, it was found that 6-HD-induced avoidance decrements could be reversed (1) by treatment with diazpam, a drug that releases suppressed responses; or (2) by delaying avoidance testing until conditioned responding had recovered, thus minimizing the interaction of the two processes.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

[Behavioral effects of febarbamate (MS-543): evaluation by ambulatory activity, active avoidance and passive avoidance in mice].

Febarbamate (MS-543: 100 and 10000 mg/kg, p.o.) neither produced significant change in the mouse's ambulatory activity after the single administration nor modified the ambulation-increasing effects of the following drugs: methamphetamine (2 mg/kg, s.c.), apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) and scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.). MS-543 (100 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) scarcely affected the established active avoidance response in mice under a discrete shuttle avoidance situation. However, MS-543 (1000 mg/kg, p.o.) tended to enhance the decrease in response and/or avoidance rates induced by chlorpromazine (2 mg/kg, s.c.) and physostigmine (0.2 mg/kg, s.c.). Finally, the disruption of the step-through passive avoidance response induced by pre-training administration of scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) in a one trial task was reduced when MS-543 was administered before the scopolamine administration. However, the post-training administration of MS-543 was without effect on the scopolamine-induced disruption of the avoidance. Furthermore, no significant effect of MS-543 was observed in the multi-trial passive avoidance task. The present results suggest that MS-543 activates cholinergic function and possesses a slight sedative action.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Is avoidant personality disorder more than just social avoidance?

Although social avoidance is a defining feature of avoidant personality disorder (APD), some theorists posit that APD is characterized by a broader pattern of avoidance that extends beyond social situations. This paper describes a series of four studies that examined the different types of nonsocial avoidance hypothesized to characterize APD in three undergraduate student samples and a clinical sample of adults with APD. Overall, the findings revealed low to moderate associations between APD and emotional and novelty avoidance, as well as avoidance of various nonsocial events. The results provide support for contemporary models of APD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Peer conflict avoidance: associations with loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance.

Failure to resolve peer conflict is associated with children's reports of loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance. Although these relationships are well established, researchers have not examined the association between the avoidance of peer conflict and various adjustment characteristics. The current study examined the association between avoidance of conflict and measures of loneliness, social anxiety, and social avoidance for 59 pupils in Grade 4 (31 boys and 28 girls) and 47 in Grade 8 (22 boys and 25 girls). Volunteers indicated that conflict avoidance based on autonomy, e.g., independence issues, and interpersonal issues, e.g., closeness and cohesion, was associated with scores on loneliness for boys and girls, respectively. Conflict avoidance for emotional and physical well-being and fear of punishment was associated with increased reports of loneliness and social anxiety for children in Grade 4.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Two-way avoidance and acute shock stress induced alterations of regional noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic activity in Roman high- and low-avoidance rats.

Various brain regions of male RHA/Verh and RLA/Verh rats were dissected out and deep-frozen immediately after 30 min in a shuttle box involving a) no shock (control), b) 40 inescapable shocks or c) 40 avoidable shocks. The RHA/Verh rats used in the "c" category exhibited about 80-85% learned avoidance. 5-HT, 5-HIAA, NA, MHPG-SO4, DA, DOPAC and HVA levels were subsequently measured in selected regions. NA levels were considerably reduced in the hypothalamus and pons/medulla of both selected lines of rats after acute shock stress, supporting the results of numerous studies which have indicated that NA turnover is nonspecifically increased by all types of stress, at least in those regions. An increase in cortical MHPG-SO4 and a reduction in hypothalamic 5-HT seen after avoidance learning also occurred after shock stress in RHA/Verh rats. Whereas RLA/Verh rats showed an increased metabolism of 5-HT in the hypothalamus and pons/medulla after shock stress, RHA/Verh rats showed the opposite response in the hypothalamus after the same treatment. A reduction in 5-HT metabolism was also evident in RHA/Verh rats, after avoidance learning, in the cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus. These results indicated, pending further studies regarding, for example, possible genetic differences in tryptophan uptake and utilization, that 5-HT probably plays at least a modulatory role in the reaction to stress, and in avoidance behavior. That role may be either active or passive, depending upon the emotional status of the subjects. In regard to the DA responses measured in striatum and hypothalamus of the two rat lines, some divergent inter-treatment tendencies, as well as some similarities, were seen in DA metabolism in both regions, but almost none of the differences were significant.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

A rapidly acquired one-way conditioned avoidance procedure in rats as a primary screening test for antipsychotics: influence of shock intensity on avoidance performance.

Antipsychotics selectively disrupt relatively weak responses maintained by conditioned stimuli compared with stronger responses maintained by unconditioned stimuli. The present study describes an easily taught and rapidly acquired (within one 15-trial session) one-way conditioned avoidance procedure for rats suitable for screening of drugs for potential antipsychotic activity. This was achieved by using an easily acquired response (running, part of the species-specific defense reaction repertoire), a clearly discriminated conditioned stimulus and determination of the appropriate strength of the unconditioned stimulus (i.e. shock level) for this procedure. Behavior acquired under these described conditions resulted in stable performance over long retest periods. By using either a low or high intensity of shock level under which the animals were trained and tested, the difference between the dose of haloperidol and chlorpromazine able to disrupt avoidance and that which disrupted escape response rates was increased. This effect was also observed for morphine, which inhibited both avoidance and escape responses at similar dose levels only under low shock conditions. At a high shock condition morphine more selectively inhibited avoidance responding. Diazepam did not affect avoidance behavior under the conditions described here.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Avoidance and rheotropic responses in phycomyces. Evidence for an 'avoidance gas" mechanism.

If a mature sporangiophore is placed next to a barrier that is moving in a clockwise direction, it grows both away from the barrier and into the wind; the wind is generated by the moving barrier itself. When the barrier is moving in a counterclockwise direction, the sporangiophore grows towards both the barrier and the wind. The net direction of growth appears to be the vector sum of the rheotropic response and the avoidance aiming error and does not involve the classic stationary-barrier avoidance response. Our experiments all support the suggestion that the avoidance response, the rheotropic response and the variety of reported wind responses can be explained by the presence of a self-emitted, growth-simulating avoidance gas. We present data that suggest that it is the direction of the net flux (mass transfer) of this gas that determines both the direction and the magnitude of the sporangiophore growth. We further suggest that the region of the cell wall showing maximum mass transfer will show a minimum growth rate, i.e., the direction of growth will always be in the direction of maximum transfer. If water is the avoidance gas, then it would follow that the total hydration of the cell wall in an aqueous salt solution should result in cell wall softening; cell wall softening has been correlated directly to cell wall growth. Using the Instron technique, we now show that submerging the entire sporangiophore in an aqueous salt solution for 4 min causes an increase in cell wall extensibility.

Air Movements↗

PubMed2005

Avoiding versus seeking: the relationship of information seeking to avoidance, blunting, coping, dissonance, and related concepts.

QUESTION: How have theorists and empirical researchers treated the human tendency to avoid discomforting information? DATA SOURCES: A historical review (1890-2004) of theory literature in communication and information studies, coupled with searches of recent studies on uptake of genetic testing and on coping strategies of cancer patients, was performed. STUDY SELECTION: The authors' review of the recent literature included searches of the MEDLINE, PsychInfo, and CINAHL databases between 1992 and summer of 2004 and selective, manual searches of earlier literature. Search strategies included the following subject headings and key words: MeSH headings: Genetic Screening/psychology, Decision Making, Neoplasms/diagnosis/genetics/psychology; CINAHL headings: Genetic Screening, Genetic Counseling, Anxiety, Decision Making, Decision Making/Patient; additional key words: avoidance, worry, monitoring, blunting, cancer. The "Related Articles" function in MEDLINE was used to perform additional "citation pearl" searching. MAIN RESULTS: The assumption that individuals actively seek information underlies much of psychological theory and communication practice, as well as most models of the information-seeking process. However, much research has also noted that sometimes people avoid information, if paying attention to it will cause mental discomfort or dissonance. Cancer information in general and genetic screening for cancer in particular are discussed as examples to illustrate this pattern. CONCLUSION: That some patients avoid knowledge of imminent disease makes avoidance behavior an important area for social and psychological research, particularly with regard to genetic testing.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1985

Unlike beta-endorphin, dynorphin 1-13 does not cause retrograde amnesia for shuttle avoidance or inhibitory avoidance learning in rats.

Posttraining administration of the opioid peptides, beta-endorphin or the enkephalins, is known to cause retrograde amnesia for a variety of tasks in rats. The present paper studies the effect of the posttraining administration of dynorphin 1-13 on retention of a step-down inhibitory avoidance task and of a shuttle avoidance task. For the purpose of comparison, the effect of human beta-endorphin was also studied. In confirmation of previous results, beta-endorphin (1.0 or 10.0 micrograms/kg, IP) caused retrograde amnesia for the two tasks. Dynorphin 1-13 had no effect at doses between 0.008-125.0 micrograms/kg IP or 1.25-125.0 ng/rat ICV in the inhibitory avoidance task, or at doses of 5.0, 25.0, or 125.0 micrograms/kg in the shuttle avoidance paradigm. These findings suggest that, in contrast to beta-endorphin, dynorphin 1-13 may not be involved in memory regulation at the posttraining period in rats.

Amnesia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The acquisition of passive avoidance, active avoidance, and spatial navigation tasks by animals prenatally exposed to cocaine.

Pregnant Long-Evans rats were administered cocaine orally (60 mg/kg) on gestational days 14-21. One control group was administered the vehicle and another left untreated. Cocaine treatment produced some maternal lethality, and the weight gain of the surviving dams was reduced approximately 15%. Offspring of mothers treated with cocaine did not differ from those of untreated mothers in their numbers, birth weight, or growth. Weanling offspring were tested in a passive avoidance task, and adult offspring were tested for two-way active avoidance and in a spatial navigation task. Although a few animals in the cocaine group showed poor retention of passive avoidance, the group differences were not statistically significant. The adult animals showed normal performance in both the active avoidance and spatial navigation tasks.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1997

Approach and avoidance motivation in psychopathic criminal offenders during passive avoidance.

The authors evaluated competing theories that attribute psychopathic individuals' poor passive avoidance to a strong activating system, a weak inhibitory system, or poor modulation of behavioral activation when inhibitory cues appear. In Study 1, the continuous motor task involved a reward phase to elicit the activating system followed by a passive avoidance phase. Study 2 tested the generality of the theories by using an active avoidance phase to elicit the activating system. Heart rate and response speed results from Study 1 best supported the strong activating system and poor response modulation models in low-anxiety psychopathic offenders. Study 2 results did not clearly support any of the models. Further research is needed to determine if excessive activation by reward and poor response modulation are associated with passive avoidance deficits and other characteristics of low-anxiety psychopathic offenders.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Approach-avoidance motivation in personality: approach and avoidance temperaments and goals.

The present research examined the role of approach and avoidance motivation in models of personality. Specifically, it examined the hypothesis that approach and avoidance temperaments represent the foundation of several basic dimensions espoused in the trait adjective, affective disposition, and motivational system approaches to personality. Factor analytic support for the hypothesis was obtained in Studies 1, 2, and 6; measures of extraversion, positive emotionality, and behavioral activation system loaded together on 1 factor (Approach Temperament) and measures of neuroticism, negative emotionality, and behavioral inhibition system loaded on another factor (Avoidance Temperament). This 2-factor structure was shown to be independent of response biases. In Studies 3-7, approach and avoidance temperaments were shown to be systematically linked to achievement goals (both nomothetic and idiographic). The findings are discussed in terms of an integrative approach to personality.

Achievement↗

PubMed1987

Introduction of new indices into continuous avoidance test--a trial to detect the effects of sodium chloride and mannitol on avoidance behavior.

A personal computer was introduced in conditioned lever-press avoidance experiment in Sidman situation. Experimental data were analyzed with both classic indices such as response rate and shock rate and new indices introduced in this experiment. New indices include sum of squares of shock-shock intervals, mean of shock-response time and number of shock-response time less then 5 sec. Results obtained in diazepam-treated mice were consistent with those reported previously by the classic method. In mannitol-treated mice, significant changes of the avoidance behavior could be detected by both the classic index and our new indices. By the new indices other than classic indices, the effect of administration with sodium chloride on the avoidance behavior could be detected, whereas the classic indices could not detect the effect. Though the meanings of these indices i physiological and toxicological aspects should be appreciated in future study, the experimental system reported in this paper might be applicable in the toxicological research to detect the effect of administration with various substances on the avoidance behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

New spatial cognition tests for mice: passive place avoidance on stable and active place avoidance on rotating arenas.

Dry arenas are a convenient tool for assessing the spatial navigation abilities of rodents. In this paper, mice must avoid a punished sector of a dry arena from which they are expelled by a puff of compressed air. The position of the punished sector is defined relative to the coordinate system of the room. In a stable environment the mice can use both extramaze and intramaze landmarks to orient themselves accurately. However, when the shock area is defined by extramaze landmarks, continuous rotation of the arena at 1 rpm makes it impossible to solve the avoidance task using arena-based cues or idiothesis. The avoidance can only be solved by paying attention to extramaze cues. Our protocol tested spatial abilities on stable and rotating arenas. The acquisition of the task was manifested under both conditions by a significant improvement of performance within the first session (short-term memory component) and at the beginning of the 24-h delayed second session (long-term memory component).

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Biochemical parameters of dopaminergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in the CNS of Roman high-avoidance and Roman low-avoidance rats.

The dopaminergic (DAergic) and GABAergic pathways in the central nervous system (CNS) are involved in the control of emotions, in the reactivity to stressful stimuli, and in the positive and negative reinforcing properties of psychotropic drugs. In the present review, we summarize the differences in a range of neurochemical markers of GABA- and DA-mediated neurotransmission in the CNS of Roman high-avoidance (RHA/Verh) and Roman low-avoidance (RLA/Verh) rats, two psychogenetically selected lines that differ in what may be considered to be level of emotionality. The stimulatory effect of GABA on 36Cl- uptake was less pronounced in the cerebral cortex of RLA/Verh rats compared to RHA/Verh rats. In addition, the binding affinity of [35S]TBPS, a selective ligand of the convulsant site located in the chloride channel of GABAA receptors, was significantly lower in the hippocampus of RLA/Verh rats than in their high-avoidance counterparts. On the other hand, the density of D1 DA receptors labeled with [3H]SCH 23390 was lower in the nucleus accumbens of RLA/Verh rats compared to RHA/Verh rats. Brain microdialysis studies demonstrated that tail-pinch stress and subconvulsant doses of the anxiogenic compound pentylenetetrazol increased the extracellular concentrations of DA in the prefrontal cortex of hypoemotive RHA/Verh rats but not in their hyperemotive RLA/Verh counterparts. These line-dependent differences in GABAergic and DAergic neurotransmission may contribute to the distinct emotionality and responsiveness to centrally active drugs of RHA/Verh and RLA/Verh rats.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1999

Plasma ACTH levels during early, two-way avoidance acquisition in high- and low-avoidance rats (Hatano strains).

Having successfully bred for high- and low-avoidance rats (HAA and LAA, respectively) on a shuttlebox task, we performed three experiments designed to identify factors which might be related to the phenotypic differences seen in avoidance behavior. In experiment 1, shuttlebox behavior was measured to determine whether the phenotypic difference was activity related. In terms of intertrial responses, there was no difference between HAA and LAA rats in locomotor activity during the conditioning process. Experiment 2 compared adrenal weights of HAA and LAA rats at 11 weeks of age. The observation that the adrenal glands were heavier in HAA than in LAA rats suggested that these strains might differ in aspects of endocrine response. In experiment 3, plasma levels of ACTH and corticosterone were determined during early escape/avoidance acquisition in the shuttlebox. Plasma levels of ACTH after the shuttlebox testing were higher in HAA than in LAA rats. There was no difference between the two strains in plasma levels of corticosterone after testing, possibly due to a ceiling effect. These results suggest that the phenotypic differences in the acquisition of avoidance behavior of HAA and LAA rats may be related to different endocrine responses, rather than to locomotor activity.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed1989

Genetic analysis of an avoidance-avoidance response in Mus domesticus.

Latency to leave a lighted platform and enter a novel chamber in which other mice had received shock was measured in 2592 mice from eight inbred strains and all 56 F1 crosses. An analysis of the diallel matrix indicated a clear genetic architecture, although genetic effects accounted for only 10% of the total phenotypic variance. Dominance favoring a slight delay in chamber entry suggested a selective advantage in spending a longer time on some elements in the behavioral chain involved in avoidance-avoidance responses. Inbred strains showed greater litter variance than F1 hybrids, suggesting greater developmental buffering of heterozygotes. Both the genetic architecture and the strain rankings differ from those typically found in open field and similar tests of locomotor activity. The results illustrate the problem of interpreting behavior genetic results in terms of proportions of total phenotypic variance and difficulties in generalizing to ancestral or other populations in an attempt to interpret genetic results in an evolutionary context when reliability is low.

Animals↗