SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Social Behavior”

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 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

The amygdala, social behavior, and danger detection.

The amygdala is a distinctive portion of the anterior temporal lobe that has been implicated in a variety of functions including expression of fear, modulation of memory, and mediation of social communication. While work on the rodent amygdala often deals with emotion, much of the research in nonhuman primates and in man deals with its role in the perception of social signals, such as facial expressions, and the maintenance of social position, such as in primate dominance hierarchies. We have established a program of research that has as its major goal the definition of neural systems that underlie species-typical social communication. A first phase of the program was launched on the premise that the amygdala is essential for species-typical social behavior. We sought to examine in more detail the impairments of social behavior that followed discrete, bilateral lesions of the amygdala. We found, however, that mature rhesus monkeys with bilateral lesions of the amygdala not only were capable of species-typical social behavior, but actually engaged in more affiliative social interactions. The lesioned animals also demonstrated a striking lack of fear of normally fear-inducing stimuli such as replicas of snakes. In a second, ongoing series of studies in the infant rhesus monkey, we are examining whether the amygdala is essential for gaining social knowledge during development. Infant animals that receive bilateral lesions of the amygdala at two weeks of age and are raised by their biological mothers demonstrate all expected social behaviors for their ages. These animals, like the adults, demonstrate a lack of fear of objects such as snakes. However, unlike the adults, they demonstrate more fear when placed into novel social situations. The results from these studies are most consistent with the conclusion that the amygdala is not necessary for species-typical social behavior or for gaining social knowledge during development. We hypothesize that the amygdala is a critical component of a system that evaluates the environment for potential dangers. As such, it has a modulatory role on social behavior-that is, it typically inhibits social interaction with novel conspecifics while they are evaluated as potential adversaries. This perspective predicts that hyperactivity of the amygdala would be associated with increased fear or anxiety and may contribute to disorders such as social phobia.

Affect↗

PubMed2005

The vertebrate social behavior network: evolutionary themes and variations.

Based on a wide variety of data, it is now clear that birds and teleost (bony) fish possess a core "social behavior network" within the basal forebrain and midbrain that is homologous to the social behavior network of mammals. The nodes of this network are reciprocally connected, contain receptors for sex steroid hormones, and are involved in multiple forms of social behavior. Other hodological features and neuropeptide distributions are likewise very similar across taxa. This evolutionary conservation represents a boon for experiments on phenotypic behavioral variation, as the extraordinary social diversity of teleost fish and songbirds can now be used to generate broadly relevant insights into issues of brain function that are not particularly tractable in other vertebrate groups. Two such lines of research are presented here, each of which addresses functional variation within the network as it relates to divergent patterns of social behavior. In the first set of experiments, we have used a sexually polymorphic fish to demonstrate that natural selection can operate independently on hypothalamic neuroendocrine functions that are relevant for (1) gonadal regulation and (2) sex-typical behavioral modulation. In the second set of experiments, we have exploited the diversity of avian social organizations and ecologies to isolate species-typical group size as a quasi-independent variable. These experiments have shown that specific areas and peptidergic components of the social behavior network possess functional properties that evolve in parallel with divergence and convergence in sociality.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

[Diagnosing the social behavior of autistic children].

This article describes a new assessment of the social behaviour of autistic children. The relevance of clinical and developmental diagnostic criteria for the social interaction with autistic children will be illustrated. A practical example stresses that new developmental psychology studies on autistic children's reciprocal interaction, analyse the social behavior in the "social context". Aspects of the social context--the social situation and the background knowledge--are used to demonstrate the construction of observation units. Those units will structure and help to control the social interaction of the examiner and the child. One observation unit consists of the interactional situation, the interactional style and the interaction behavior. The construction of several observational units as quasi-natural situations and the audio-visual record of the social behavior in those situations permit the collection of qualitative deviations in the social behavior of autistic children. Identification, differential diagnosis and therapy-orientated assessment can be based on those informations.

Attention↗

PubMed1978

Heterosexual, autosexual and social behavior of adult male rhesus monkeys with medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic lesions.

Bilateral radiofrequency lesions were made in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic (MP-AH) area of 6 adult male rhesus monkeys; 5 sham-lesioned subjects served as controls. Behavioral analysis consisted of observations on copulatory behavior, yawning, masturbation and some aspects of social behavior. MP-AH lesions reduced or completely eliminated the display of manual contacts of the partner, mounts, intromissions and ejaculations without interfering with masturbation. Yawning, a sexually dimorphic behavior, was not affected either, Measure of several social behaviors indicated no evidence of social withdrawal or other aberrance of social interactions, which might have led to the decline in heterosexual behavior. The results with regard to copulatory behavior were consistent with the effects of MP-AH lesions in rats, cats and dogs. In rhesus monkeys it appears as though the MP-AH region is specifically involved in the mediation of heterosexual copulation and is not vital to the performance of other forms of male sexual activity such as masturbation. Also the MP-AH is not critical for the display of all sexually dimorphic behaviors. The types of behavioral change in MP-AH lesioned subjects differed to some extent from those following castration, indicating that the effects of the lesions cannot be explained as basically that of functional castration.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Initial sociometric impressions of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and comparison boys: predictions from social behaviors and from nonbehavioral variables.

This study systematically compared the influence of naturalistic social behaviors and nonbehavioral variables on the development of peer status in 49 previously unfamiliar boys, aged 6-12 years, who attended a summer research program. Twenty-five boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 24 comparison boys participated. Physical attractiveness, motor competence, intelligence, and academic achievement constituted the nonbehavioral variables; social behaviors included noncompliance, aggression, prosocial actions, and isolation, measured by live observations of classroom and playground interactions. As early as the first day of interaction, ADHD and comparison boys displayed clear differences in social behaviors, and the ADHD youngsters were overwhelmingly rejected. Whereas prosocial behavior independently predicted friendship ratings during the first week, the magnitude of prediction was small. In contrast, the boys' aggression (or noncompliance) strongly predicted negative nominations, even with nonbehavioral factors, group status (ADHD versus comparison), and other social behaviors controlled statistically. Implications for understanding and remediating negative peer reputations are discussed.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

PubMed2004

Social behavior profile in young males with fragile X syndrome: characteristics and specificity.

The present study characterizes distinctive and specific features of social behavior impairment, termed social behavior profile (SBP), in young males with fragile X syndrome (FraX). Fourteen males with FraX and autism (FraX+Aut), ages 3-8 years, were compared with either 41 FraX boys without autism (Aut), 7 age-matched males with developmental language delay and autism (DLD+Aut), or with 11 boys with non-selected (for language delay) idiopathic autism (IA), on several standardized instruments assessing social behavior and autistic features (i.e., autism diagnostic interview-revised, ADI-R). We found that FraX+Aut subjects displayed more impairment in overall cognition, problem/aberrant behavior, and adaptive behavior than the rest of the FraX cohort, even when individuals with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) were included in the latter. Compared to both DLD+Aut and IA, FraX+Aut males were less impaired in ADI-R reciprocal social interaction (RECS) domain. However, boys with FraX+Aut were in general comparable to DLD+Aut subjects in problem/aberrant and adaptive behaviors. Based on the contrast between FraX+Aut and non-autistic FraX and DLD+Aut, we were able to identify measures (e.g., child behavior checklist (CBCL) withdrawn subscale) that better define social interaction impairment in FraX. Comparisons with DLD+Aut and IA led to the conclusion that communication impairment (COMM) and stereotypic behavior contribute relatively more to the diagnosis of autism in FraX+Aut. In agreement with recent studies, our data suggest that FraX+Aut, and more generally SBP, is a distinctive subphenotype among boys with FraX, which may share some pathophysiological mechanisms with IA.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Neuropeptides and social behavior of rats tested in dyadic encounters.

The effects of various neuropeptides on social behavior was studied in a test procedure in which 7-day isolated animals were tested together with non-isolated partners in dyadic encounters. The short-term isolation procedure increased the frequency and duration of social activities of the rats, but hardly affected non-social explorative behaviors of the animals. Systemic injection of certain neuropeptides, i.c. prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and the ACTH 4-9 analog ORG 2766, reversed the isolation-induced increase in social activity, similarly as previously observed with antidepressant drugs. Subcutaneous treatment with beta-endorphin, alpha-endorphin and des-Tyr-gamma-endorphin increased social interactions in 7-day isolated animals. beta-Endorphin enhanced social behavior of non-isolated rats as well, whereas gamma-MSH decreased the social interactions of these animals. Both peptides affected especially social contact behavior. The potent action of beta-endorphin suggests that this peptide and opioid systems may play a physiological role in social behavior. It is proposed that a possible functional antagonism between ACTH-like peptides, especially gamma-MSH, and beta-endorphin may operate in social behavior. The action of the peptides may be rather specific for social behavior, since none of the neuropeptides affected non-social explorative behaviors of the rats during the social interaction test.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed2004

The development of social behavior following neonatal amygdala lesions in rhesus monkeys.

We examined the role of the amygdala in the development of nonhuman primate social behavior. Twenty-four rhesus monkeys received bilateral ibotenic acid lesions of either the amygdala or the hippocampus or received a sham surgical procedure at 2 weeks of age. Subjects were reared with their mothers and were provided daily access to social rearing cohorts. The subjects were weaned at 6 months of age and then observed while paired with familiar conspecifics at 6 and 9 months of age and with unfamiliar conspecifics at 1 year of age. The subjects were also observed during daily cohort socialization periods. Neither amygdala nor hippocampus lesions altered fundamental aspects of social behavior development. All subjects, regardless of lesion condition, developed a species-typical repertoire of social behavior and displayed interest in conspecifics during social encounters. The amygdala lesions, however, clearly affected behaviors related to fear processing. The amygdala-lesioned subjects produced more fear behaviors during social encounters than did control or hippocampus-lesioned subjects. Although the heightened fear response of the amygdala-lesioned subjects was consistent across different testing paradigms and was observed with both familiar and novel partners, it did not preclude social interactions. In fact, the amygdala-lesioned subjects displayed particular social behaviors, such as following, cooing, grunting, presenting to be groomed, and presenting to be mounted more frequently than either control or hippocampus-lesioned subjects. These findings are consistent with the view that the amygdala is not needed to develop fundamental aspects of social behavior and may be more related to the detection and avoidance of environmental dangers.

Amygdala↗

PubMed1978

[Social behavior and psychosis induction in manic-depressives].

The social behavior of manic-depressives shows a specific structure of identity, whose consequences for the onset and course of manic-depressive psychosis are investigated. Besides in interactional conduct, group behavior, orientation in values etc. we are mainly interested in the behavior of manic-depressives in social roles. From the point of view of role theory the social behavior especially of monopolar depressives could be described as hypernomic, as it shows an extreme conformity with norms. Situations of opposing or competitive role demands, opposing norms and values therefore are very difficult for manic-depressives to handle. The preponderance of their role identities results in an atrophy of ego-identity and in an increasing dependence on their social roles. This explains why not only the loss but even the endangering of their social roles may result in psychotic states that here are interpreted as crisis of identity.

Bipolar Disorder↗

PubMed1996

Introduction to the special section on structural analysis of social behavior.

The structural analysis of social behavior (SASB) model dissects interpersonal and intrapsychic events into 3 underlying dimensions: (a) focus (on other, on self with other, and on self with self): (b) affiliation (love vs. hate); and (c), interdependence (enmeshment or dominance-submission vs. differentiation or emancipate-separate). Accompanied by predictive principles (similarity, opposition, complementarity, introjection, antithesis), the model can operationalize important aspects of a wide range of psychological events. Questionnaires, coding systems, and software permit the SASB model to be applied in a wide array of clinical and research contexts. It has been used by people of divergent theoretical persuasions including the interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, client-centered, psychoanalytic, expressive, family, and group approaches. In this article, the model and its predictive principles are reviewed, along with examples of research, clinical, and theoretical applications. The articles in this section provided examples of especially creative and appropriate uses.

Ego↗

PubMed2003

Parasite manipulation of the proximate mechanisms that mediate social behavior in vertebrates.

Paul MacLean was instrumental in establishing the brain regions that mediate the expression of social behaviors in vertebrates. Pathogens can exploit these central mechanisms to alter host social behaviors, including aggressive, reproductive, and parental behaviors. Although some behavioral changes after infection are mediated by the host (e.g., sickness behaviors), other behavioral modifications are mediated by the pathogen to facilitate transmission. The goal of this review is to provide examples of parasite-mediated changes in social behavior and to illustrate that parasites affect host behavior by infecting neurons, causing central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, and altering neurotransmitter and hormonal communication. Secondarily, a comparative approach will be used to demonstrate that the effects of parasites on social behavior are retained across several classes of vertebrates possibly because parasites affect the phylogenetically primitive structures of the limbic system and related neurochemical systems.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Social behavior of students who are seriously emotionally disturbed. A quantitative analysis of intervention studies.

The social behavior of students who are seriously emotionally disturbed sets them apart from their normative classroom peers. This article provides a quantitative analysis of intervention studies dealing with the social behavior of seriously emotionally disturbed students. Social behavior was broadly defined as including social skills deficits, behavior under inadequate stimulus control, and inappropriate behavior in the classroom. Of the 28 studies located, 11 dealt with some aspect of social skills and 17 with inappropriate classroom behavior. Each study was analyzed with respect to (a) the age, gender, and classification of the subjects; (b) the setting, referral source, and therapist; (c) the dependent and independent variables; (d) type of evaluation design used; (e) reliability of the dependent and independent variable; (f) social validation; (g) programmed generalization, maintenance, and follow-up; (h) measurement of collateral behaviors; (i) functional analysis of the target behavior; and (j) efficacy rating of the results on a 3-point scale. The results are presented and discussed in terms of current status and implications for future research.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Children with autism display more social behaviors after repeated imitation sessions.

Based on earlier studies, an adult's imitations of the behaviors of children with autism lead to increased social behavior in the children. The present study explored the effects of repeated sessions of imitation. Twenty children were recruited from a school for children with autism to attend three sessions during which an adult either imitated all of the children's behaviors or simply played with the child. During the second session the children in the imitation group spent a greater proportion of time showing distal social behaviors toward the adult including: (1) looking; (2) vocalizing; (3) smiling; and (4) engaging in reciprocal play. During the third session, the children in the imitation group spent a greater proportion of time showing proximal social behaviors toward the adult including: (1) being close to the adult; (2) sitting next to the adult; and (3) touching the adult. These data suggest the potential usefulness of adult imitative behavior as an early intervention.

Attention↗

PubMed1985

Situational influences on social behaviors of depression-prone individuals.

Depressed (N = 20) and nondepressed outpatients (N = 20) and normal controls (N = 20) rated the frequency with which they used various interpersonal behaviors in different social roles and emotional circumstances. The results indicated considerable situational specificity in subjects' reports of how they actually behave; the three subject groups displayed similar patterns. Most notable were findings that subjects report relatively frequent use of sadness displays when stressed by intimates, but not when similar stresses are imposed by strangers. In the latter case, social withdrawal is reported as a relatively frequent response. The results are discussed as contradicting an invariant, trait-like interpersonal style among depressed individuals.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The relative effects of classwide peer tutoring and peer coaching on the positive social behaviors of children with ADHD.

This study investigates the effects of Classwide Peer Tutoring (CWPT) and peer coaching on the peer social behaviors of children with ADHD. A single-subject, multiple-baseline design is used with three elementary-school students in Grades 3 and 4. Following a baseline period, CWPT is implemented in each student's classroom. During the second intervention phase, CWPT is continued and peer coaching is added. Peer social behaviors are observed in both academic and social settings, with a primary focus on intervention effects on the latter setting. Results suggest that students participating in CWPT are actively and positively engaged with their peers while carrying out the CWPT program in the academic setting. However, when only CWPT is implemented, increases in positive peer social behaviors are not observed in social settings. The addition of peer coaching results in enhanced social behaviors during recess and lunch.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

PubMed1990

Primate social behavior--anxiety or depression?

A review of primate social behavior in different species is presented, with particular emphasis on the talapoin monkey and the concept of dominance and how this may be related to physiological function. Social behavior in nonhuman primates can be used to study both anxiety and depression, depending on the precise social setting employed and the way in which the animals are manipulated, for example by drugs. Studies relevant to anxiety and depression are described, and indicate that the behavior of dominant animals is more susceptible to drugs that are known to manipulate levels of anxiety, whereas subordinate animals appear more susceptible to treatment with antidepressant drugs.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Recovery from psychosis in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: symptoms and neurocognitive rate-limiters for the development of social behavior skills.

Neurocognitive deficits are believed to be important predictors of functional outcome in chronic psychotic disorders, but few supporting studies have utilized prospective designs and adequate control. The aim of this study was to estimate the relative influence of symptoms and neurocognitive deficits on the development of social behavior skills in a cohort of individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder recovering from acute symptom exacerbations. Forty-six individuals were recruited upon discharge from an inpatient unit and completed assessments of symptoms, neurocognitive function, and social behavior at 3-month intervals for 1 year. Correlational analyses and random regression models were used to model social behavioral capacities longitudinally. Social behavior improved modestly (10% improvements in ratings) over the follow-up period for the group as a whole. Disorganized and negative symptoms, as well as neurocognitive deficits in short-term and working memory predicted changes in social behavior over time. Individuals with better working memory function showed significantly greater abilities to recover social behavior skills, whereas those with working memory deficits showed no functional improvement over time. Both symptoms and neurocognitive deficits are important determinants of functional outcome in schizophrenia. It is proposed that clinicians should consider neurocognitive thresholds for treatment response when developing rehabilitation plans.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The relation between social behavior and negative affect in psychosis-prone individuals: an experience sampling investigation.

Daily social behavior and negative affect were examined in a sample of individuals with a wide spectrum of psychosis-proneness scores. Using the experience sampling method, participants were signaled five times per day for a 1-week period to provide naturalistic reports of location, activity, and social behavior. Little evidence was found for a direct association between psychosis-proneness and specific behavioral profiles, but individuals with higher scores of psychosis-proneness reported spending more time doing nothing or waiting. However, the levels of anxious and depressed moods experienced in certain social and environmental contexts were also predicted by psychosis-proneness scores. The present results indicate that psychosis-proneness was associated with an increase in anxiety when individuals were with friends and an increase in depressed mood in daily task situations such as working or studying. By contrast, psychosis-proneness predicted a decrease in depressed and anxious moods in other situations when the individual was not likely to be confronted by social contact with less known individuals, and lower anxious and depressed moods when in secure environments (in one's own home, home of family or friends). The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of understanding the expression of psychosis vulnerability and the potential reinforcement of maladaptive social behavior through operant conditioning mechanisms.

Affect↗