PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Conditioning, Operant”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

EEG operant conditioning (biofeedback) and traumatic brain injury.

A review is presented of the currently sparse literature about EEG operant conditioning or biofeedback as a treatment to reduce symptomology and patient complaints following a traumatic brain injury. The paper also evaluates the general use of quantitative EEG (QEEG) to assess traumatic brain injury and to facilitate EEG biofeedback treatment. The use of an age matched reference normative QEEG database and QEEG discriminant function are presented as a method to evaluate the nature or neurological basis of a patient's complaints as well as to individualize an efficient and optimal feedback protocol and to help evaluate the efficacy of the biofeedback therapy. Univariate and multivariate statistical issues are discussed, different classes of experimental designs are described and then a "double blind" research study is proposed in an effort to encourage future research in the area of EEG biofeedback for the treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury.

Analysis of Variance↗

A comparison of lenient and strict operant conditioning programmes in refeeding patients with anorexia nervosa.

The present paper compares a lenient and a strict operant conditioning programme in refeeding patients with anorexia nervosa. Sixty-five consecutive in-patients participated in the study. We found no significant difference in the rate of weight-gain between the two treatments. There were, however, a number of practical advantages in using the more lenient programme: it was more economical of nursing time, and patients were more accessible to psychotherapy. The programme was also more acceptable to the patients.

Adolescent↗

Learning by operant conditioning as a nonlinear self-organized process.

Responses of individuals have been rewarded in fixed ratio operant conditioning experiments throughout the last 5 years. The long numerical series of performance rates so obtained have been analyzed by using Fourier spectra, obtaining 1/f noise, and wavelet techniques for the analysis of local variability. These techniques reveal that the evolution of data in each individual is nonlinear but it fluctuates showing self-organized patterns in successive time scales, which leads to a long term logarithmic growth. Based on these observations a model has been developed. It can simulate with a great accuracy the rate of response exhibited by our subjects in all time scales.

Conditioning, Operant↗

Analysis of glucose and lactate in hippocampal dialysates of rats during the operant conditioned reflex using microdialysis.

Changes of extracellular glucose and lactate in hippocampus for freely moving rats during the operant conditioned reflex were examined simultaneously. Samples of the dialysate were assayed for both glucose and lactate using in vivo microdialysis and a microbore flow injection analysis-immobilized enzyme reactor-electrochemical detection (FIA-IMER-ECD) system. Microdialysis samplings were conducted in a Skinner box where lights were delivered as conditioned stimuli (CS) paired with foot shocks as unconditioned stimuli (US). In the treatment group the concentration of glucose and lactate showed no fluctuations during the whole process. However, in the control group in which the rats were exposed to many foot shocks, lactate levels decreased by 19% below baseline during the behavioral session and glucose showed a delayed decrease (by 18%). Compared with glucose, lactate can immediately indicate the dynamic changes in brain.

Animals↗

Operantly conditioned plasticity in spinal cord.

Recent work has shown that the monosynaptic pathway of the SSR can be operantly conditioned, and that a significant part of the plasticity responsible for the behavioral change resides in the spinal cord. The most likely sites of this activity-driven plasticity are the synapse of the Ia afferent neuron on the motoneuron and/or the motoneuron itself. Because the SSR pathway is the simplest and most accessible stimulus-response pathway in the vertebrate CNS, it may provide a valuable experimental model for elucidating activity-driven CNS changes responsible for learning.

Animals↗

Extraversion and reinforcement in verbal operant conditioning.

The present investigation was designed to study the relationship between extraversion and modes of reinforcement in verbal operant conditioning. A 4 X 3 randomized block design was replicated ten times. Eighty graduate and post-graduate male students were individually subjected to the standard Taffel conditioning procedure. When the numbers of conditioned responses produced by introverts and extraverts were compared, it was found that: (1) under negative reinforcement ('bad' and electric shock), with both the female and male experimenters, and under positive reinforcement ('good') with the male experimenter, the introverts' score was the higher of the two; (2) under positive reinforcement ('good') with the female experimenter, the extraverts' score was higher than that of the introverts.

Adult↗

Impulsivity/sociability and reinforcement in verbal operant conditioning.

The present investigation was designed to study the relationship between impulsivity/sociability and modes of reinforcement in verbal operant conditioning. Two 2x3 randomized block designs, one each for impulsivity and sociability, were replicated ten times. One hundred and twenty undergraduate female students (60 for impulsivity and 60 for sociability) were individually subjected to Taffel's verbal conditioning procedure. When the conditioning scores of high and low scorers on the impulsivity and sociability scales were compared, it was found that under rewarding conditions ('good' and 'buzzer' in respect of sociability and 'good' in respect of impulsivity) the high scorers' score and under punishing conditions ('electric shock') the low scorers' score was the higher of the two. The study also revealed that the high scorers (on the impulsivity scale) conditioned more under rewarding conditions while the low scorers (both on the impulsivity and sociability scales) conditioned more under punishing ones.

Adolescent↗

The development of an operant conditioning training program for new world primates at the Bronx Zoo.

This article describes the development of an operant conditioning training program for 17 species of New World primates at the Bronx Zoo. To apply less invasive techniques to husbandry protocols, the study introduced behaviors-hand feeding, syringe feeding, targeting, scale and crate training, and transponder reading-for formal training to 86 callitrichids and small-bodied cebids housed in 26 social groups. Individual responses to training varied greatly, but general patterns were noted among species. With the exception of lion tamarins, tamarins responded more rapidly than marmosets, Bolivian gray titi monkeys, and pale-headed saki monkeys in approaching trainers and learning behaviors. Marmosets, in comparison to most tamarins, had longer attention spans. This meant that fewer, lengthier sessions were productive whereas shorter, more frequent sessions were most successful for tamarins. Among the cebids, pale-headed saki monkeys needed relatively few sessions to perform basic and advanced behaviors whereas Bolivian gray titi monkeys were less responsive and progressed at a deliberate pace. Marked changes in the animals' behavior during daily husbandry procedures, their voluntary participation in training activities, and the disappearance of aggressive threats toward care staff indicated that training reduced stress and improved the welfare of the animals. During daily training displays, zoo visitors experienced interactive animals while learning the importance of low-stress animal husbandry.

Animal Husbandry↗

Motoneuron properties after operantly conditioned increase in primate H-reflex.

1. Monkeys can increase (HRup conditioning mode) or decrease (HRdown conditioning mode) the triceps surae (TS) H-reflex in response to an operant conditioning task. This conditioning modifies the spinal cord. To define this spinal cord plasticity and its role in the behavioral change (H-reflex increase or decrease), we have recorded intracellularly from TS motoneurons in conditioned animals. The present report describes data from HRup animals and compares them with data from previously studied naive (NV; i.e., unconditioned) animals. 2. Thirteen monkeys (Macaca nemestrina, male, 3.8-7.1 kg) were exposed to the HRup conditioning mode, in which reward occurred when H-reflex size in one leg (i.e., the trained leg) was above a criterion value. Conditioning was successful (i.e., increase of > or = 20%) in 12 of the 13 animals. At the end of conditioning, H-reflex size in the trained leg averaged 188% of its initial value, whereas size in the control leg averaged 134% of its initial value. 3. Intracellular recordings were obtained from 136 TS motoneurons on trained (UT + motoneurons) and control (UC + motoneurons) sides of the successful animals. Measurements included axonal conduction velocity, input resistance, time constant, electrotonic length, rheobase, firing threshold to current injection, afterhyperpolarization duration and amplitude, and composite homonymous and heteronymous excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) size and shape. Results were compared with intracellular data from NV animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The influence of operational conditions in sequencing batch reactors on removal of nitrogen and organics from municipal landfill leachate.

The removal of nitrogen and organics from municipal landfill leachate in sequencing batch reactors (SBR) was investigated in the present study. The influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT), sludge age, manner of leachate dosage (short filling period of SBR and filling during the reaction period), and operational conditions with and without a mixing phase in the SBR cycle was explored. Four series were performed. In each series, the HRT used in the four SBRs was 12, 6, 3 and 2 days, respectively. Series 1 and 2 were characterized by a short leachate filling period, whereas series 3 and 4 were characterized by filling during the 4 h duration of the reaction in the SBR cycle. In series 1-3 SBR reactors worked with mixing and aeration phases, whereas in series 4 they worked only with an aeration phase. The effectiveness of the removal of organics increased with the extension of the HRT of leachate, particularly under operational conditions with the mixing and aeration phases in the SBR cycle. At 12 days HRT, the SBRs with the mixing and aeration phases in the cycle (series 1-3) showed better results than those with only an aeration phase (series 4). However, at 2 days HRT the operational conditions in SBR reactors with leachate filling over the reaction period (series 3 and 4) were more suitable. The highest efficiency of ammonium removal was obtained in series 1 with a short leachate filling period. In this series, at an HRT of 3-12 days, the ammonium concentration in the effluent did not exceed 1 mg NNH4 L(-1). Nitrogen removal proceeded mainly in the aeration phase as a result of ammonium losses and, to a lesser extent, dissimilative nitrate reduction over the mixing phase. The highest percentage of nitrogen removal as a result of ammonium losses was observed in series with a short filling period and long sludge age (series 1) and also in series without a mixing phase and filling over the aeration phase (series 4), whereas the highest nitrogen consumption for biomass production occurred in series 3 with filling during the reaction period and mixing phase of the cycle.

Biomass↗

The compensatory role of the parvocellular division of the red nucleus in operantly conditioned rats.

To assess the role of the parvocellular division of the red nucleus in motor control, rats were operantly conditioned to walk on a rotating bar and their red nuclei were lesioned with the fiber sparing agent, quinolinic acid. Since both parvocellular and magnocellular divisions of the red nucleus overlap in the rat, they both became involved in this lesion. To differentiate between them, two paradigms were used. (1) Prior to the lesion, the magnocellular division was dysfunctioned by transecting its spinal output, namely, the rubrospinal tract, in the dorso-lateral funiculus (DLF) of the spinal cord. After compensation for this transection had occurred in a few days, the red nucleus was lesioned with quinolinic acid. Rats again compensated rapidly, suggesting that the remaining red nuclear outflow systems, such as the rubro-olivary tract, play no detectable role in the control of on-going movements. (2) In the second paradigm, the red nucleus was lesioned without a preceding DLF transection. This lesion involved both the rubro-bulbar and rubro-spinal projections. Rats did not compensate, or did so very slowly. For compensation to occur, therefore, rubro-bulbar projections need to be intact. This suggests that such projections, that include the rubro-olivary tract, play a role in the compensation for DLF transections.

Animals↗

Phenobarbitone and the relationship between extraversion and reinforcement in verbal operant conditioning.

The present investigation was designed to study the relationship between phenobarbitone, extraversion and modes of reinforcement in verbal operant conditioning. A factorial design involving three treatments (placebo and two doses, 30 and 100 mg, of phenobarbitone), two levels of extraversion (extraverts and introverts) and two reinforcement conditions ('good' and 'electric shock') with repeated measures on the first factor, was used. Sixty postgraduate female students were individually subjected to Taffel's verbal conditioning procedure. The results support the following conclusions: (1) under the placebo condition, the extraverted subjects condition better with the rewarding reinforcer ('good') while the introverted subjects condition better with the punishing reinforcer ('electric shock'); (2) under the influence of the smaller dose of the drug, as compared with the placebo, the conditioning scores of extraverted subjects increase with the punishing reinforcer but decrease with the rewarding reinforcer, while the conditioning scores of the introverted subjects decrease with the punishing reinforcer, under the influence of the larger dose of the drug, but remain uninfluenced with the rewarding reinforcer.

Adult↗

[Action of essential oils of chamomile, cinnamon, absinthium, mace and origanum on operant conditioning behavior of the rat].

The Chamomile, Cinnamon, Absinthium, Mace, Origanum essential oils have been experimented on rat's operant conditioning behaviour. At the highest doses all the oils caused a depressive effect (probably due to toxicity) while at the lowest doses they caused weak or doubtful effects. Only the Origanum oil caused a depressive effect which clearly seems related to a direct action on the CNS.

Animals↗

Operating conditions for ocular surgery under general anaesthesia: an eccentric problem.

PURPOSE: To describe and examine the observation that eccentric eye positions may develop under certain general anaesthetic conditions and negatively impact upon operating conditions during ocular surgery. METHODS: A case series description with historical review followed by a 2-week prospective observational survey examining the general anaesthetic techniques utilized during ocular surgery and the associated development of an eccentric eye position. RESULTS: A total of 52 cases were studied, of which four developed eccentric eye positions. 50% of patients received effective muscle relaxation. Without muscle relaxants, the incidence of eccentric eye positioning was 18%. CONCLUSIONS: Eccentric ocular positions are likely to occur in light planes of general anaesthesia. In the case of ocular surgery, this phenomenon may create surgical difficulty and increase the risk of complication and patient morbidity. Arguments for the planned use of balanced general anaesthesia with non-depolarizing muscle relaxants are presented.

Anesthesia, General↗

Effects of chronic consumption of metanil yellow by developing and adult rats on brain regional levels of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, on acetylcholine esterase activity and on operant conditioning.

Metanil yellow is the principal non-permitted food colour used extensively in India. The effects of long-term consumption of metanil yellow on the developing and adult brain were studied using Wistar rats. Regional levels of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE), and operant conditioning with food reward were assessed in rats fed, metanil yellow and in controls. In the treated rats the amine levels in the hypothalamus, striatum and brain stem were significantly affected, and the changes were not generally reversible even after withdrawal of metanil yellow in developing rats. The striatum showed an early reduction of AChE activity, whereas the hippocampus showed a delayed but persistent effect of reduced AChE activity. Treated rats also took more sessions to learn the operant conditioning behaviour. These effects on these major neurotransmitter systems and on learning, indicate that chronic consumption of metanil yellow can predispose both the developing and the adult central nervous system (CNS) of the rat to neurotoxicity.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Synchrony between cortical neurons during operant conditioning.

One hundred twenty five pairs of neurons were recorded simultaneously from precentral cortex of Macaca mulatta monkeys during an operant conditioning task. At the end of 5-min behavioral periods, a cross-correlation histogram was generated to look for relationships between the firing of the two cortical neurons. Eighty four (67%) unit pairs showed a significant coincidence of firing within 1 ms of each other. This relationship occurred regardless of whether the units' firing rate fluctuations were correlated or not. These data imply that in the majority of cases, the two units are probably more related than previously reported.

Animals↗

Operant conditioning of H-reflex can correct a locomotor abnormality after spinal cord injury in rats.

This study asked whether operant conditioning of the H-reflex can modify locomotion in spinal cord-injured rats. Midthoracic transection of the right lateral column of the spinal cord produced a persistent asymmetry in the muscle activity underlying treadmill locomotion. The rats were then either exposed or not exposed to an H-reflex up-conditioning protocol that greatly increased right soleus motoneuron response to primary afferent input, and locomotion was reevaluated. H-reflex up-conditioning increased the right soleus burst and corrected the locomotor asymmetry. In contrast, the locomotor asymmetry persisted in the control rats. These results suggest that appropriately selected reflex conditioning protocols might improve function in people with partial spinal cord injuries. Such protocols might be especially useful when significant regeneration becomes possible and precise methods for reeducating the regenerated spinal cord neurons and synapses are needed for restoring effective function.

Animals↗