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PubMed1979

An ethological view of human adolescence.

In modern times the essential "normality" of adolescence has been acknowledged. With its pan-cultural and functional perspective, ethology is in a position to elaborate a description of normal human adolescence. Ethologists attempt to elucidate four interrelated aspects of a given behavior: its survival function, evolution, development, and elicitation by internal and external factors. The basic research strategy is two-fold: to identify biologically based, or evolved, behaviors (chiefly by controlling for the effects of experience and seeing if a core of evolved behavior remains); and to discover their functions by isolating the necessary and sufficient ecological conditions for their evolution. Applying this evolutionary analysis to human adolescence, we find that two developments seem to be basic: reproductive maturation and gaining independence from parents. The remainder of the article is an interpretation of various behavioral, morphological, and cultural data in accordance with these two developmental functions. Puberty seems to be timed so as to promote these functions most effectively. Pubertal changes parallel somatic growth and are delayed by poor nutrition, disease, and psychological stress--patterns consistent with functional considerations. The influence of natural selection on the sequencing of pubertal events is also emphasized. The role of pubertal hormones in altering behavior as well as morphology is illustrated. The adolescent gains independence from his parents by means of maturation and sex differentiation. Males become specialized for vigorous exertion, and females for work near the settlement--although considerable overlap in morphological and behavioral tendencies exists between the sexes. Various examples of sex differentiation demonstrates how morphological, behavioral, and cultural factors complement each other. Adolescent initiation rites help channel boys and girls into appropriate adult roles, teach respect for one's culture, and favor the fittest individuals. Hopi rites of passage are described as an example. Reproductive maturation likewise involves adaptive morphological and behavioral changes that are reinforced by cultural mores. Males rely on intimidation more than females, in order to dominate other males and attract females; contrariwise, females employ an endearment strategy more than males do. Many sex differences in human reproductive behavior can be explained with reference to man's parental behavior pattern. These include the male's greater aggressiveness, the preponderance of polygyny over polyandry, and differences in the antecedents of jealousy. Lastly, the need for an ethological understanding of adolescence is underscored as promising to offer a useful perspective on the problems of U.S. youth.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1976

Neurotoxicity and behavioral effects of thiram in rats.

Eight of 24 female rats fed 66.9 mg/kg-day of thiram developed neurotoxicity. The neurotoxic effects were characterized by ataxia and paralysis of the hind legs. There were demyelination, degeneration of the axis cylinders, and presence of macrophages in the nerve bundle of the sciatic nerve. Degeneration in the ventral horn of the lower lumbar region of the spinal cord was evidenced by chromatolysis of motorneurons, pyknosis, and satellitosis. During a second experiment, 4 of 24 females fed 65.8 mg/kg--day also developed ataxia and paralysis. An additional 9 females showed clasping of the hind feet when picked up by the tail. Nerve conduction could not be measured for one severely ataxic rat and the electromyogram indicated a loss of motor unit function. Histopathology of this rat, along with the others, suggests the peripheral nerve as the primary site of the lesion. Thiram also caused behavioral changes in apparently normal rats. The walking pattern of the hind legs was altered with decreases in stride width and the angle between contralateral steps. These rats required significantly more shock-motivations and cleared a lower height in a jump/climb ability test. An open-field study indicated that thiram caused hyperactivity in the nonataxic rats of both sexes. Three of 24 rats fed 95.8 mg/kg-day of ferbam also developed ataxia or paralysis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An epidemiological review of the mortality of bereavement.

Epidemiological literature revealing excess mortality in the newly widowed is reviewed. The risk varies by age and sex. Younger persons and men are at higher risk. There are manifold specific causes of death characterized by conditions manifest in middle and late life. Cause specificity also varies by sex. Methodological problems in this literature are mitigated by application of varied methodology and replication of basic findings. Socioeconomic status and "social" stress are not well controlled as independent variables. Nevertheless, they probably do not explain the large relative risk of mortality among the bereaved. Pathogenetic mechanisms resulting from a loss are probably twofold: physiologic changes associated with the loss response and behavioral changes that comprise health maintenance or chronic disease management. Because of its important as a health problems, as a fundamental human reaction, and as a research strategy for the basic psychosomatic hypothesis, bereavement is a prime target of investigation.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Persons, situations, and time: a genetic view of behavioral change in children.

Twin children participating in a longitudinal study were observed at 9, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months of age in two settings: unstructured free play and relatively structured test taking. Behaviors relating to adaptability to the two settings were rated and the scores analyzed for evidence of continuity both across settings and across ages. Age-to-age correlations for the adaptability scores for each setting yielded a simplex pattern of low-moderate order. Correlations of individuals' scores across settings were also of low-moderate order. Within-pair correlations indicated that identical twins were more similar that same-sex fraternal twins in both settings, but correlations were consistently stronger in the playroom setting. Analysis of variance was performed to test for within-pair concordance in the direction and degree of change. Identical pairs remained significantly more similar in adaptability from one setting to another even when change in adaptability occurred. Similar results were found for change across ages; however, these differences were significant only in the playroom setting. Results suggest that situation variables contribute to the low stabilities frequently reported for personality dimensions but that the direction and degree of behavioral change are genetically conditioned.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2026

School-based sexual violence prevention: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Sexual violence profoundly affects the health and development of children, adolescents, and young adults, representing a persistent challenge to public policy. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of school-based interventions aimed at prevention. METHODS: Eighteen randomized controlled trials published between 2012 and 2024 were retrieved from four major databases. The programs were implemented in primary, secondary, and higher education settings and targeted children, adolescents, and young adults. RESULTS: The results revealed improvements in knowledge and attitude, particularly regarding consent and awareness, whereas evidence supporting behavioral changes was less frequent and often limited. Methodological limitations, such as short follow-up periods and participant attrition, restricted the assessment of long-term outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the importance of multicomponent, participatory, and culturally sensitive approaches, along with the integration of digital tools and continuous evaluation systems, to strengthen the role of schools as safe and transformative spaces in the prevention of sexual violence. IMPLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS: This systematic review suggests that school-based interventions hold significant potential for the prevention of sexual violence. It identifies promising strategies and reinforces the importance of culturally sensitive, sustained, evidence-based approaches to ensure learning environments that are safe, protective, and promotive of gender equity.

Humans↗

PubMed1977

Levodopa, parkinsonism, and recent memory.

Much controversy has existed concerning behavioral changes attributed to L-dopa treatment in parkinsonian patients. Disagreement existed pertaining to the question of whether improved functioning was temporally limited. The present study proposed to research the shorter and longer range effects of L-dopa onmemory. It was hypothesized that equated nonparkinsonian individuals would perform better than parkinsonian patients on all memory measures, and that shorter range L-dopa would perform better than longer range L-dopa patients. It was also hypothesized that the greater the functional deficiency, and the greater the symptom severity, the poorer memory functioning would be. Level of dosage was hypothesized to have no differential effect on memory functioning. Three groups of 20 subjects were tested. The short term (20 parkinsonian patients on L-dopa for 22 months or less) and the long term (20 parkinsonian patients on L-dopa for 40 months or more) patients were chosen from the neurological clinic at St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, N.Y. Testability was assessed by the neurologis and by WAIS Vocabulary performance. The third group consisted of spouses of the patients. All groups were equated with regard to sex, age, education, and where applicable, length of illness, functional status, and symptom severity. The instruments used to measure memory consisted of the Guild Memory Test, the Memory Span for Objects, the Knox Cube, and the Tactile Memory Test. WAIS Vocabulary scaled score was used as a covariate in an analysis of covariance on each of the nine memory subtests. Statistically significant differences were obtained at the .01 level among groups on all measures. Orthogonal comparisons resulted in significant differences at the .01 level between parkinsonian patients and nonparkinsonian subjects on all measures. Short term and long term L-dopa patients differed significantly on six of the nine measures, notably those testing verbal types of memory. Significant correlations were obtained between functional deficiency and eight measures; however, symptom severity correlated with only one measure. None of the memory measures correlated significantly with level of dosage. The major conclusion was reached that all of the initial improvement shown following L-dopa initiation is not sustained permanently; the elevated level of memory functioning appears to be temporally limited.

Humans↗

PubMed1976

Early behavioral differences: gender or circumcision?

In human studies, the possible long-term effects on behavior of early physical insult or pharmacological agents have received little attention. We present both circumstantial and direct evidence that circumcision of male infants leads to behavioral changes. In some American studies using circumcised infants, reported gender differences may instead be the result of the altered behavior of circumcised males. We suggest that circumcision requires more study in its own right, and that it requires description if not control in all neonatal and infancy studies.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1992

The why, when and whether of condom use among female and male drug users.

Eight focus groups consisting of all male, all female and mixed male and female drug users were conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of beliefs and behavior regarding the use of family planning services and contraceptives, particularly condom use in an effort to reduce the perinatal transmission of HIV. While participants often supported the use of condoms because of STDs and AIDS, their unplanned pregnancies and STD histories indicated in-consistent use, depending on the partner and the circumstances. The vast majority of both men and women did not like to use condoms because it interfered with the spontaneity and pleasure of sexual relations, though women seemed more willing to use condoms than their partners. Participants varied in their knowledge about the benefits of using a condom, in how and when to put it on, in the associations they made between condom use and trust and commitment, in the type of partner and conditions under which they would use condoms and in their willingness to consider condom use as an integral part of their lives. Issues of trust, commitment and condom use did not seem to have been resolved in the drug using community, particularly among younger people who appeared to have more difficulty in negotiating condom use. Promoting the use of condoms needs to be considered as part of a larger, multifaceted behavior change effort.

Condoms↗

PubMed1976

Hormones and regional brain blood flow.

Acute effects of the hormones, estradiol-17beta and alphaMSH, and of neonatal pretreatment with alphaMSH on the flow of blood to regions of the brains of conscious adult rats have been determined with an indicator distribution technique. As previously reported, flows were reduced in most areas within 10 min after intravenous administration of alphaMSH; only the occipital cortex was spared. Though these effects were transitroy for most areas, perfusion of pons and medulla, cerebellum, hippocampus and parietal cortex was still low by 20 min. However, pretreatment with alphaMSH during infancy led to persistent behavioral changes which were not accompanied by flow differences. Assuming that flow changes reflect functional changes, the rapid responses to alphaMSH suggest an explanation for the effects of this hormone on visual learning and on the determination of subsequent learning behavior. By contrast, estradiol, within 10 min after injection, increased flow to most regions of the brain, especially the frontal cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia and cerebellum; females were more affected than males. Flow changes were greater than those elicited by more obvious behavior-modifying drugs. Compared to alphaMSH, the flow data for estradiol suggest a physiologic basis for a behavioral effect which is likely to be different yet, perhaps, equally profound.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Changes in spontaneous behavior in the dog following oral administration of L-deprenyl.

An open-field activity test was developed for studying the effect of a single oral dose (range of 0.1-5 mg/kg) of L-deprenyl on spontaneous behavior in the dog. A computer program was used to quantify observations of locomotor activity, directed sniffing, urination, grooming, inactivity, jumping, rearing, and vocalization during a 10-min baseline and posttreatment session. Three dose-dependent behavioral changes were observed: an overall decrease in directed sniffing, an increase in total locomotor activity in females, and a decrease in frequency of urination in males. These effects were only seen at the dose levels of 2 mg/kg or higher. Computer-assisted tracings of behavioral patterns showed increased stereotypical behavior and decreased exploratory behavior at the high-dose levels. These behavioral effects are most likely due to either increased levels of phenylethylamine resulting from inhibition of monoamine oxidase B and/or the production of amphetamines as a result of the metabolism of L-deprenyl.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of medial preoptic--anterior hypothalamic lesions on bisexual behavior of the male rat.

The effects of bilateral radiofrequency lesions in various parts of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and anterior hypothalamus (AH) on masculine and hormone induced feminine sexual behavior was studied in male rats. Anatomical as well as statistical analysis of the extent and location of the lesions and the consequent behavioral changes indicated that different parts of the mPOA-AH continuum are involved in masculine and feminine sexual behavior in different ways. Bilateral destruction at the transition of the mPOA and AH resulted in a large reduction of masculine sexual activity while lesions concentrated in the AH slightly facilitated feminine sexual behavior in males. These results are consistent with the notion that the mPOA-AH continuum is divided into anatomically and functionally different parts.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Changes in sexual behavior among women in studies evaluating the dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV prevention.

BACKGROUND: Access to novel HIV prevention technologies often raise concerns of risk compensation. This analysis examined changes in the sexual behaviors of MTN 020/ASPIRE participants, a placebo controlled randomized control trial, who subsequently enrolled in MTN-025/HOPE, an open-label extension using the dapivirine vaginal ring. METHODS: Both studies enrolled healthy, sexually active, HIV-negative women from Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Longitudinal data on participants' sexual behaviors, specifically sex with a nonprimary partner (past 3 months), and use of male or female condoms at the last vaginal sex act were compared between ASPIRE and HOPE. Conditional and mixed ordinal logistic regression models evaluated associations between study and sexual behaviors at enrollment, and quarterly over the first 12 months. RESULTS: Of the 2629 individuals enrolled in ASPIRE, 1456 (55%) participated in HOPE. At enrollment, the proportion of participants who reported sex with a nonprimary partner and condom use at last vaginal sex act did not differ by study. Across all quarterly follow-up visits, sex with a nonprimary partner was more common in HOPE (13.9-18.7%) than ASPIRE (10.7-12.6%); adjusted OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.24-1.75, P < 0.001. There was no difference in condom use at the last vaginal act across all quarterly follow-up visits between ASPIRE (36.5-42.7%) and HOPE (43.6-46.7%); adjusted OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.94-1.18. CONCLUSION: More women reported sex with nonprimary partners in HOPE, with little change in condom use over time between the two studies. Understanding behavior changes during PrEP use allows for tailored, holistic reproductive health programming.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Menstrual cycle and ovarian hormone effects on plasma and platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activities in the rhesus monkey.

Dopamine-B-hydroxylase (DBH) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) in plasma and platelets were studied in six female rhesus monkeys during three complete menstrual cycles. The same monoamine enzymes of seven bilaterally ovariectomized females were compared with a group of controls. A difference was found in platelet MAO between a mid-menstrual-cycle peak and a perimenstrual trough in these animals, while plasma MAO was unchanged. DBH showed an inverted cyclical variation to that demonstrated by platelet MAO. The ovariectomized females showed significant differences from the controls, confirming the effects of the ovarian sex steroid hormones on platelet MAO and plasma DBH. The variation in these peripheral enzymes may be reflective of changes in brain monoamine systems, which may play some role in the behavioral changes observed during the menstrual cycle in primates.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The birthday: lifeline or deadline?

This study of deaths from natural causes examined adult mortality around the birthday for two samples, totalling 2,745,149 people. Women are more likely to die in the week following their birthdays than in any other week of the year. In addition, the frequency of female deaths dips below normal just before the birthday. The results do not seem to be due to seasonal fluctuations, misreporting on the death certificate, deferment of life-threatening surgery, or behavioral changes associated with the birthday. At present, the best available explanation of these findings is that females are able to prolong life briefly until they have reached a positive, symbolically meaningful occasion. Thus, the birthday seems to function as a 'lifeline' for some females. In contrast, male mortality peaks shortly before the birthday, suggesting that the birthday functions as a 'deadline' for males.

Death↗

PubMed2025

Complimentary vertebrate Wac models exhibit phenotypes relevant to DeSanto-Shinawi Syndrome.

Monogenic syndromes are associated with neurodevelopmental changes that result in cognitive impairments, neurobehavioral phenotypes including autism and seizures. Limited studies and resources are available to make meaningful headway into the underlying molecular mechanisms that result in these symptoms. One such example is DeSanto-Shinawi Syndrome (DESSH), a rare disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the WAC gene. Individuals with DESSH syndrome exhibit a recognizable craniofacial gestalt, developmental delay/intellectual disability, neurobehavioral symptoms that include autism, ADHD, behavioral difficulties and seizures. However, no thorough studies from a vertebrate model exist to understand how these changes occur. To overcome this, we developed both murine and zebrafish Wac/wac deletion mutants and studied whether their phenotypes recapitulate those described in individuals with DESSH syndrome. We first show that the two Wac models exhibit craniofacial and behavioral changes, reminiscent of abnormalities found in DESSH syndrome. In addition, each model revealed impacts to GABAergic neurons and further studies showed that the mouse mutants are susceptible to seizures, changes in brain volumes that are different between sexes and relevant behaviors. Finally, we uncovered transcriptional impacts of Wac loss of function in mice that will pave the way for future molecular studies into DESSH. These studies present two new animals that begin to uncover some biological underpinnings of DESSH syndrome and elucidate the biology of Wac.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1979

Psychotropic drugs as behavioral teratogens.

Three psychotropic drugs were administered to pregnant rats and were then evaluated for their behavioral and reproductive effects in the offspring. Control rats received either saline or vitamin A. Prochlorperazine had the most disruptive effects on reproduction and growth, but had the least effect on behavior. Propoxyphene had no apparent effects on reproduction or growth, but produced a variety of behavioral changes. Fenfluramine was intermediate in its effects on reproduction and growth and had behavioral effects that were revealed in tests of preweaning development. The data suggest that systematic tests of behavior add important information to evaluations of reproductive toxicity that cannot, at present, be obtained by other means.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Adolescent pregnancy: an interpersonal skill training approach to prevention.

The research literature reports numerous negative consequences of adolescent pregnancy. Unfortunately, contemporary approaches to preventing teenage pregnancies have been largely unsuccessful. Recent evidence, however, suggests that interpersonal communication skill training may represent an important step in helping adolescents deal with their sexual and contraceptive behavior. This describes a pilot study of an interpersonal skill training model for sexually active inner-city teenagers. Results show that this training model is a feasible and attractive approach to modifying the youths' communication patterns. Findings indicate that such training is a fruitful direction for future pregnancy prevention research with the adolescent target population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Rehabilitation experiences of women ex-addicts in methadone treatment.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 female "hard-core" heroin addicts on a methadone maintenance treatment program 1 year or longer to learn what the rehabilitation process is like for women and how their life-styles had changed since being in treatment. The paper describes the adjustments and special difficulties experienced by women through patients' own accounts. Behavioral changes were verified by clinic records and staff. Cessation of criminal behaviors, regulation of daily living patterns on methadone, increased social productivity, and adoption of new social values were noted. Persisting problems include loneliness, motivational difficulties, and an incomplete transition to ordinary society.

Adult↗