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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Use of a course on self-control behavior techniques to increase adherence to prescribed frequency for self-monitoring blood glucose.

A 12-week behavioral change program consisting of a course on Self-Control Behavior Techniques, which used a self-study format and included self-management techniques, was developed and implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of the course and the behavioral change techniques in helping people with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus to increase adherence to the prescribed frequency for self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG). A two-group pretest-posttest experimental design was used (treatment n = 11, control n = 14). The treatment group achieved significantly higher posttest scores for the course. However, the control group achieved a significantly higher goal-adherence rate. The course was effective in teaching the knowledge and skills necessary for learning the techniques; the educational approach was an effective method for learning; and the application of the techniques resulted in an increase in frequency of SMBG but did not result in achievement of adherence to the goal for frequency of SMBG.

Adult↗

Effects of d-amphetamine on behavioral control in stimulant abusers: the role of prepotent response tendencies.

The present study examined the effects of d-amphetamine on the ability to execute and inhibit behavior in a context where preliminary information signaled the likelihood that a response should be executed or suppressed. Eight adults (5 men and 3 women) with a history of stimulant abuse performed a cued go no-go task that required quick responses to go targets and suppression of responses to no-go targets. Performance was tested under four oral doses of d-amphetamine, 0 (placebo), 5, 10 and 20 mg, administered double-blind and in mixed order. d-Amphetamine produced a dose-dependent increase in inhibitory failures following invalid go cues and had no effect on inhibitory failures following valid no-go cues. d-Amphetamine had little effect on response execution as measured by reaction time. Subjective and physiological effects of d-amphetamine were also observed. The findings demonstrate that stimulant effects on fundamental aspects of behavioral control can be mediated by environmental cues that alter response tendencies. Identification of environmental conditions in which stimulants are likely to disinhibit behavior could provide insight into mechanisms that underlie the association between long-term stimulant use and poor impulse control.

Adult↗

Some effects of desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline on the schedule-controlled behavior of pigeons and rats.

The effects of desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline on schedule-controlled behavior of pigeons and rats were examined. Pigeons responded under either a multiple (mult) fixed-interval (FI) 600-sec, fixed-ratio (FR) 30-response schedule of food presentation or a mult FI 200-sec, FI 200-sec schedule, in which responding during one component was punished with electric shock. Rats responded under a mult FI 300-sec, FR 30-response schedule of food presentation. Under the mult FI, FR schedules, desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline decreased overall rates of FI and FR responding in both species. Overall rates of responding were decreased to similar extents under both the FI and FR components of the schedule. In the pigeon, but not in the rat, the effects of desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline on responding under the FI component of the mult FI, FR schedule depended on the control-rate of responding, i.e. desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline increased more or decreased less the low rates of FI responding at the beginning of the FI compared to the higher rates of FI responding at the end of the FI. In contrast, in the rat desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline did not differentially affect the low rates of responding at the beginning of the FI compared to the higher rates of responding at the end of the FI. Correspondingly, in the pigeon, but not in the rat, desmethylimipramine and amitriptyline decreased the fixed-interval quarter-life at relatively low doses. In the pigeon neither desmethylimipramine nor amitriptyline differentially affected the overall rate of punished as compared to unpunished responding.

Amitriptyline↗

Contextual determinants of temporal control: Behavioral contrast in a free-operant psychophysical procedure.

The question of how temporal control of responding might be influenced by contingency changes in other contexts was investigated. Each of three pigeons first was exposed to a two-component multiple schedule in which a two-key free-operant psychophysical procedure operated in one component and a variable-interval schedule operated in the other component. The variable-interval schedule then was changed to extinction while the free-operant psychophysical procedure remained unchanged. Finally, the variable-interval schedule was reintroduced. Response rates on the left key and the estimated temporal threshold under the free-operant psychophysical procedure increased for each pigeon when the alternate component schedule was changed to extinction and then decreased again when the variable-interval schedule was reintroduced. The results suggest one way that temporal control is affected by its context, and may be interpreted through the direct effects of overall reinforcement rate on temporal control mechanisms or the disruptive effects of alternative sources of reinforcement on temporally controlled behavior.

Animals↗

Self-control behavior in hyperactive and nonhyperactive children.

This study was aimed at evaluating the self-control behaviors of hyperactive (HA) and nonhyperactive ( NHA ) first-grade pupils under conditions of repeated failure on a previously learned concept formation task. Subjects were divided into HA and NHA groups on the basis of their scores on the Conners (1969) Teacher Rating Scale. During the training stage of the experiment the children learned a concept formation task under a schedule of contingent positive reinforcement. In the test stage they performed the same task but under a negative noncontingent reinforcement schedule. The results revealed no differences in initial rate of learning the task between the groups. After the introduction of the negative noncontingent reinforcement schedule, however, the HA group showed a marked decrease in the use of effective problem-solving strategies. The HA children's performance on the concept formation task was accompanied by the emission of negative self-evaluations and solution-irrelevant statements. The NHA group used significantly more statements showing useful goal-directed cognitive mediations than the HA children. The results suggested that HA children may have deficits in self-control skills.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

The role of social norms and friends' influences on unhealthy weight-control behaviors among adolescent girls.

Dieting is common among adolescent girls and may place them at risk of using unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCBs), such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diet pills, or fasting. Research has suggested that social factors, including friends and broader cultural norms, may be associated with UWCBs. The present study examines the relationship between the school-wide prevalence of current weight loss efforts among adolescent girls, friends' dieting behavior, and UWCBs, and investigates differences in these associations across weight categories. Survey data were collected in 31 middle and high schools in ethnically and socio-economically diverse communities in Minnesota, USA. The response rate was 81.5%. Rates of UWCBs were compared across the spectrum of prevalence of trying to lose weight and friends' involvement with dieting, using chi(2) analysis and multivariate logistic regression, controlling for demographic factors and clustering by school. Girls with higher body mass index (BMI) were more likely to engage in UWCBs than those of lower BMI. Multivariate models indicated that friends' dieting behavior was significantly associated with UWCBs for average weight girls (OR = 1.57, CI = 1.40-1.77) and moderately overweight girls (OR = 1.47, CI = 1.19-1.82). The school-wide prevalence of trying to lose weight was significantly, albeit modestly, related to UWCBs for average weight girls (15th-85th percentile; OR = 1.17, CI = 1.01-1.36), and marginally associated for modestly overweight girls (85th-95th percentile; OR = 1.21, CI = .97-1.50), even after controlling for friends' dieting behaviors. The social influences examined here were not associated with UWCBs among underweight ( < 15th percentile) or overweight ( > 95th percentile) girls. Findings suggest that social norms, particularly from within one's peer group, but also at the larger school level may influence UWCBs, particularly for average weight girls. Implications for school-based interventions to reduce UWCBs are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Schedules of electric shock presentation in the behavioral control of imprinted ducklings.

The behavioral effects of various schedules of electric shock presentation were investigated during and after the imprinting of Peking ducklings to moving stimuli. The behavior of following a moving imprinted stimulus was differentially controlled by a multiple schedule of punishment and avoidance that respectively suppressed and maintained following behavior. Pole-pecking, reinforced by presentations of the imprinted stimulus, was suppressed by response-produced shock (punishment); various schedules of response-independent shock and delayed punishment had an overall minimal effect. The delivery of response-independent shock in the presence of one of two stimuli, both during and after imprinting, resulted in a marked reduction in choice of the stimulus paired with shock. The experiments provide no support for a differentiation of imprinting from learning on the basis of the behavioral effects of aversive stimuli. Instead, as is the case with other organisms, the schedule under which shock is delivered to imprinted ducklings appears to be an important determinant of the temporal patterning of subsequent behavior.

Animals↗

Desire for thinness among high school cheerleaders: relationship to disordered eating and weight control behaviors.

The eating disorders of anorexia nervosa and bulimia are increasing in frequency among adolescent females. These increases have been linked to the cultural ideal in American society of thinness. Attempting to control weight is one behavioral manifestation of the desire for thinness. One particular group of adolescents, female cheerleaders, often experience pressure to attain and maintain weight that is lower than other adolescents of the same height. This study examined cheerleaders' desire for thinness in relationship to disordered eating and weight control behaviors. A Desire for Thinness Scale and selected scales from three eating disorders instruments were administered to 751 high school cheerleaders from the Midwest. Cheerleaders who scored in the upper third on the Desire for Thinness Scale were compared with those who scored in the lower third. Cheerleaders who expressed a strong desire for thinness had significantly higher scores (p less than .0001) on 7 of 8 eating disorders scales. The greater the desire for thinness, the more likely the tendency to report disordered eating and weight control behaviors associated with bulimia. Implications from this study include an awareness of how a cultural ideal of thinness may indirectly increase disordered eating and weight control behaviors by making weight loss a salient goal. A proactive approach to modifying negative aspects of the cultural emphasis on thinness is proposed.

Adolescent↗

The effects of levo-alpha-acetylmethadol and its metabolites on schedule-controlled behavior in the pigeon.

The effects of orally administered levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) on the schedule-controlled behavior of the pigeon were compared with those of methadone. Both LAAM and methadone decreased rates of responding under a multiple fixed-interval 5-min, fixed-ratio 30-response schedule of food presentation. Although LAAM had a longer duration of action than methadone, both drugs were similar in the onset and potency of their behavioral effects. The chronic administration of either LAAM or methadone produced tolerance to the respective behavioral effects of each drug. In one set of experiments, the behavioral effects of intramuscularly administered LAAM were compared with those of its active metabolites, levo-alpha-noracetylmethadol and levo-alpha-dinoracetylmethadol. All three drugs decreased rates of responding under both components of the multiple schedule. The onset of these rate-decreasing effects was rapid and the order of potency for the production of these rate-decreases was levo-alpha-noracetylmethadol greater than levo-alpha-dinoracetylmethadol greater than or equal to LAAM. The rate-decreasing effects of LAAM and its metabolites were typical narcotic effects as defined by their reversal by naloxone.

Animals↗

Attributional style and self-control behavior in depressed and nondepressed children and their parents.

Do the reformulated model of learned helplessness and the self-control model apply to clinically depressed children? Are the related cognitive patterns specific to depression? Are the cognitive deficits associated with depression learned from one's parents? To address these questions this investigation examined three groups of children (ages 8-12) and their parents: nonclinic (n = 25), nondepressed clinic (n = 22), and depressed clinic (n = 15). Children were diagnosed depressed on the basis of Kiddie-SADS interview data. Depressed clinic children self-reported more depression, had a more depressive attributional style, and had more self-control problems. There were more depressed mothers in the clinic than in the nonclinic sample. Depressed clinic children had more depressed mothers than did nondepressed clinic children. There were no differences among the three groups of parents in their cognitive patterns. No relationship was found between the attributional style and self-control behavior of children and their parents.

Adult↗

Association brain systems as apparatus of behavior control involving dominanta and conditioning.

The author's major conception concerning the associative brain systems (thalamoparietal and thalamofrontal) as the behavior control system are presented. The participation of association systems in performance of higher brain functions, due to the entrance of the whole information spectrum of biological and signal significance and the presence of neuronal plastic mechanisms, ensures the mechanism for retrieving the whole behavior programs from long-term memory, the ability of short-term storing of behavior programs, and estimation of their adequacy on the ground of dominanta and conditioning mechanisms.

Animals↗

[SN-FORTH/MSX: a state notation system for controlling behavioral experiments with a low-priced computer].

A software system, SN-FORTH/MSX, has been developed to control behavioral experiments with a low-priced personal computer, MSX. Designed on the model of state notation, SN-FORTH/MSX enables researchers to program easily a wide variety of behavioral procedures including complex processes that are hard to describe with conventional programming languages such as BASIC and C. Since the real-time monitor of this system has a capability of parallel processing of multiple state-sets, several independent experiments can be simultaneously conducted with a single computer. Users can observe and modify the working of real-time monitor in each instant with a set of run-time commands supplied in the system.

Behavior↗

Effects of SKF 38393 and quinpirole on aggressive, motor and schedule-controlled behaviors in mice.

The respective roles of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in mediating motor functions, aggressive behaviors and reinforcement processes have not been specified. The present experiments examined conditioned and unconditioned behaviors of mice under different demands and reinforcing contingencies. We compared the behavioral effects of the D2 agonist quinpirole and the D1 partial agonist SKF 38393 on motor activities, aggressive behaviors and schedule-controlled responses in male mice that were either pair-housed with a female for 4 weeks or singly-housed. Singly-housed mice were found to be more active than pair-housed mice both when alone in the home cage and in the presence of a male intruder. However, the effects of both quinpirole and SKF 38393 were substantially similar for both singly- and pair-housed mice. Quinpirole decreased motor activity, aggressive behavior, and schedule-controlled responding. In contrast, SKF 38393 decreased schedule-controlled responding at doses that did not affect either motor or aggressive behaviors. The relative behavioral specificity of SKF 38393 suggests that D1 activation alters the temporal patterning of behavior, while D2 activation appears to cause a more general suppression of behavior in mice.

Journal Article↗

Pyrazoloquinoline benzodiazepine receptor ligands: effects on schedule-controlled behavior in dogs.

The effects of diazepam and the pyrazoloquinoline benzodiazepine receptor ligands CGS8216, CGS9896, and CGS9895 on schedule-controlled responding were studied in dogs. Responding was maintained under a multiple fixed-interval (FI) 5-min fixed-ratio (FR) 30 response schedule of food presentation. Diazepam (PO) produced dose-related decreases in response rates under FR component. Under the FI, rates first increased and then decreased with increasing doses of diazepam. Diazepam also produced a dose-related disruption of the temporal pattern of responding under the FI as measured by decreases in quarter-life values. CGS8216 IV produced dose-related decreases in response rates under both components. The highest oral dose of CGS8216 also decreased rates in both components. CGS8216 was approximately 100 times more potent by the IV route as compared to the oral route. CGS9896 IV had no significant effect on responding under either component of the multiple schedule. However, with increasing doses of CGS9896 PO, response rates under both components first decreased and then returned to control values. CGS9895 PO was without significant effect on responding. When CGS8216 was administered concomitantly with graded doses of diazepam, the former drug blocked the rate-decreasing effects of diazepam under the FR component, but not the rate-increasing effects of diazepam under the FI. The present results demonstrate that although these three pyrazoloquinolines are benzodiazepine receptor ligands, they do not exhibit diazepam-like effects on schedule-controlled behavior.

Animals↗