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At least 1,189 records · Page 66Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Temperament, character, and attachment patterns in borderline personality disorder.

The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of the association between temperamental vulnerability, character deficits, and Borderline personality disorder (BPD), controlling for the effects of attachment patterns. A total of 44 BPD patients were compared with 98 non-BPD patients with other cluster B Personality Disorder (PD) diagnoses, 39 patients with any cluster A or cluster C PD diagnoses, 70 patients with no PD diagnosis, and 206 nonclinical patients. All patients were administered the Temperament and Character Inventory, the Parental Bonding Instrument, and the Attachment Style Questionnaire. Multivariate and univariate tests showed that BPD patients differed significantly from all control groups on Novelty Seeking and Cooperativeness. These differences remained significant when controlling for the effect of attachment.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Seeing is believing: what do boys do when they find a real gun?

OBJECTIVES: To determine how boys behave when they find a handgun in a presumably safe environment and to compare parental expectations of their child's interest in real guns with this observed behavior. METHODS: A convenience sample of 8- to 12-year-old boys was recruited from families that completed a survey on firearm ownership, storage practices, and parental perceptions. Parents were asked to rate their child's interest in real guns on a scale from 1 to 5: 1-2 = low interest, 3 = moderate interest, and 4-5 = high interest. Parents of an eligible child were asked to bring to the exercise 1 of their son's playmates and/or a sibling in the same age range. After informed parental consent was obtained, each pair or trio of boys was placed in a room with a 1-way mirror and observed for up to 15 minutes. Two water pistols and an actual.380 caliber handgun were concealed in separate drawers. The handgun contained a radio transmitter that activated a light whenever the trigger was depressed with sufficient force to discharge the firearm. After the exercise, each boy was asked whether he thought that the pistol was real or a toy. Before leaving, each child was counseled about safe behavior around guns. RESULTS: Twenty-nine groups of boys (n = 64) took part in the study. The mean age of participants was 9.8 years. Twenty-one of the groups (72%) discovered the handgun (n = 48 boys); 16 groups (76%) handled it (n = 30 boys). One or more members in 10 of the groups (48%) pulled the trigger (n = 16 boys). Approximately half of the 48 boys who found the gun thought that it was a toy or were unsure whether it was real. Parental estimates of their child's interest in guns did not predict actual behavior on finding the handgun. Boys who were believed to have a low interest in real guns were as likely to handle the handgun or pull the trigger as boys who were perceived to have a moderate or high interest in guns. More than 90% of the boys who handled the gun or pulled the trigger reported that they had previously received some sort of gun safety instruction. CONCLUSION: Many 8- to 12-year-old boys will handle a handgun if they find one. Guns that are kept in homes should be stored in a manner that renders them inaccessible to children.guns, weapons, firearms, children, childhood behavior, injury prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Cardiac deceleration as an indicator of correct performance.

A within-subjects experiment involving 10 subjects was performed to examine the relationship between the accuracy of judgment of position and cardiac deceleration. The results supported the hypothesis that accurate (correct) performance is accompanied by greater cardiac deceleration than inaccurate performance for those subjects (9 out of 10) who exhibited cardiac deceleration to stimulus onset. The data indicated, however, that the relationship varied with time. Part of this variability appears related to the initial exploratory behavior in which subjects engaged and later reported during the post-experiment interview.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Transition from novelty to familiarity preference depending on recognition performance by 4-yr.-olds.

Preference seems to depend exclusively on individual tastes; however, preferential behavior may be determined by memory, as past studies have shown that preferences for objects depended on whether objects had been previously experienced. Infants and young children prefer novel stimuli, while adults prefer familiar stimuli. To investigate the relationship between memory and preference directly, a preference task and a recognition task were administered to the same subjects. The subjects were 4-yr.-olds because Uehara observed a change in preference for novelty and familiarity in 4-yr.-olds, depending on their recognition performance. The results were similar to those of Uehara. The children who had lower scores in the recognition task preferred the novel stimuli in the preference task, and the children who had higher scores preferred the familiar. Developmental changes within children, from low scores on recognition coupled with novelty preference to high scores on recognition coupled with familiarity preference, were observed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Driving to learn: a new concept for training children with profound cognitive disabilities in a powered wheelchair.

Analysis of the case studies of two preschool children with profound cognitive disabilities indicates that training in a powered wheelchair can increase wakefulness and alertness, stimulate a limited use of the arms and hands, and promote the understanding of very simple cause-and-effect relationships. The enhanced activity level had a positive influence on the children's ability to react to external stimuli and invitations to interact. These effects in turn promoted the development of initiative and exploratory behavior. Because of their profound cognitive disabilities, neither of the children was able to reach the normative training goal-to be able to drive purposefully and safely. In this paper the target group is defined according to criteria for the prescription of powered wheelchairs and the resulting new concept of 'driving to learn' is described and discussed from different aspects.

Auditory Perceptual Disorders↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Avoidance mechanisms during self stimulation].

Increased negative discordance of the dominating mode of the pressing duration histogram (PDH), which correlates with the growth of fixed bursts of stimulation is accompanied by a progressive decrease in the reinforcing properties of self-stimulation (SS), avoidance of the pedal and at the same time by a change of behavioral grooming reactions in the intervals between SS for search and consummatory reactions. Hunger considerably shortens the preferable duration of pressing or leads to the appearance of an additional mode on the PDH. With the change of the dominating PDH mode from positive discordance to a negative one, brain stimulation acquires aversive properties which are apparently due to the activation of the mechanisms of specific motivations.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Incentive downshifts evoke search repertoires in rats.

Negative incentive contrast effects (NCEs) have typically been attributed to frustration or the decremental generalization of learned associations. The purpose of these experiments was to clarify the relation of NCEs to the repertoires of functional search behaviors evoked by incentive downshifts. Rats shifted from 32% to 4% sucrose-solution decreased consummatory responses but increased nose-down locomotion, orientation, location entries, and sampling of alternatives relative to unshifted controls. These changes in behavior were terminated or failed to occur under incentive upshifts. Furthermore, reward downshifts did not produce avoidance of the location of the shifted incentive. Increased search occurred whether or not alternative reward locations were available. Together the evidence suggests that NCEs are related to evoked search modes supporting a repertoire of functional behaviors related to finding food.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of cholinergic drugs on serotonin metabolism and emotional reactions in rats].

The effects of physostigmine and m-cholinolytics on emotional reactivity, aggressiveness, exploratory behavior, along with simultaneous influence on the endogenous serotonin metabolism, enhanced by 1-tryptophan serotonin metabolism in the brain, were studied. Upon blocking the peripheral effects with methylatropine-physostigmine exerted a tranquillizing action on emotional reactions without producing any significant changes in the serotonin metabolism. Physostigmine acted as an antagonist to the traquillizing effect of 1-tryptophan, facilitating the catabolism of serotonin. M-cholinolytics--atropine and benactyzine exercised a tranquillizing action on emotional reactions, increasing the serotonin level in the forebrain and diencephalon.

Aggression↗
PubMed1999

CAREN--Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment.

The CAREN project concerns the development of a virtual reality environment in which the agility of healthy subjects and patients can be tested in a variety of reproducible conditions. CAREN is made by customizing hardware and developing software to enable measurements of motion of a subject in detail as a response to a perturbation from the computer driven motion platform. After feeding the data in a human body model simulation, joint moments of force and muscle activation can be calculated. From the time patterns of these responses, inferences can be made concerning the motor programs the subjects launch. Any primary problem in a motor program, resulting in functional failure or inadequacy, can be identified down to the joint and muscle group. Secondary adaptations of patients to a limitation in the periphery (such as lack of muscle force) can be separated from the primary ones. Inadequacy of complete motor programs in children with movement disorders can be classified, recorded and related to progress that may occur. Especially the understanding of compensation strategies in patients may lead to a better therapeutic attitude. CAREN offers not only a test environment with means of almost unlimited exploratory behaviors for patients, but constitutes also a strong tool for motor control research.

Computer Graphics↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical relevance of attachment theory for the psychotherapy of small children and their parents].

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the relevance of the attachment theory has gained increasing significance for psychotherapeutic practice. Due to the lack of empirical proof, the only feasible approach, for the time being, are conceptional deliberations, which, however, offer useful ideas for the practical work. Based on an case record obtained from the psychotherapeutic treatment of a 4-month-old suckling and his parents, this article attempts to discuss the incorporation of attachment-theoretical concepts into infant-parent psychotherapy. Infant-parent psychotherapy constitutes a treatment method which, on the initiative of Mechthild Papousek, founder of the "Munich interdisciplinary intervention Program", has enjoyed larger-scale dissemination and deals with regulatory disturbances in infancy. Irrespective of core symptoms and their etiology, regulatory disturbances often lead to impaired mother-child interactions and formation of secure attachment organization of the child. The observation of essential, attachment-relevant contents, such es, for instance, the child's attachment and exploratory behavior an the maternal sensitivity to signals emanating from the child gives rise to novel viewpoints regarding therapeutic interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Regarding the inadvisability of administering postoperative analgesics in the drinking water of rats (Rattus norvegicus).

The feasibility of administering the pain reliever acetaminophen to rats via their water bottles was examined in this study. Two different preparations of acetaminophen were used, a cherry-flavored suspension and an alcohol-containing solution. Both preparations of acetaminophen were diluted to 6 mg/ml by using normal drinking water. When healthy unmanipulated rats were exposed to either of the acetaminophen preparations for the first time, the animals showed a dramatic reduction in fluid intake. A marked reduction in food intake also was associated with the cherry-flavored preparation. These reductions appear to be an expression of the well-characterized neophobic response that can be demonstrated by rodents when they encounter a novel taste. This neophobic behavior suggests that administering pain relievers to rats via their drinking water is counterproductive as a means of providing pain relief.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2000

Cigar and marijuana use: their relationship in teens.

There is evidence of a substantial increase in teen use of both cigars and marijuana over the last decade. The theoretical concept of sensation seeking suggests a conceptual relationship between teen use of the substances. The hypothesis was that a relationship existed between the use of cigars and marijuana. Data for this study were gathered during the evaluation in a local school district of a teen tobacco-use reduction program. Questionnaire data and focus group results supported the study hypothesis and provided the direction for peer tobacco education to include an emphasis on this significant relationship. Identified associations between use of different substances supplies cues for the school nurse and other health providers to pursue specific areas of substance use practices when assessing students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Hypocretin increases impulse flow in the septohippocampal GABAergic pathway: implications for arousal via a mechanism of hippocampal disinhibition.

Hypocretins (Hcrts), or orexins, are a recently described set of hypothalamic peptides that have been implicated in feeding, neuroendocrine regulation, sleep-wakefulness, and disorders of sleep, such as narcolepsy. Hcrt-containing neurons, which are located exclusively in the lateral hypothalamic area, provide a dense innervation to the medial septum/diagonal band of Broca (MSDB), a sleep-associated brain region that has been suggested to show intense axonal degeneration in canine narcoleptics. The MSDB, via its cholinergic and GABAergic projections to the hippocampus, controls the hippocampal theta rhythm and associated learning and memory functions that occur during exploratory behavior and rapid eye movement sleep. Neurons of the MSDB express the Hcrt receptor 2, which is mutated in canine narcoleptics, but lack the Hcrt receptor 1 mRNA. In the present study, we investigated the electrophysiological effects of Hcrt2 on MSDB neurons from rat brain slices. We report that Hcrt2 produces a reversible, reproducible, concentration-dependent and direct postsynaptic excitation of GABA-type neurons of the MSDB with an EC50 of 207 nm. This effect is sodium dependent but not potassium or chloride dependent and is attenuated by blockers of the Na+-Ca+ exchanger. Hcrt2 also increases impulse-dependent release of GABA within the MSDB. Using recordings from retrogradely labeled septohippocampal neurons, we found that Hcrt2-excited MSDB neurons project to the hippocampus and have a GABAergic physiological signature. Double-immunolabeling studies confirmed the presence of Hcrt receptor-2 immunoreactivity in septohippocampal GABAergic neurons, as well as the presence of Hcrt fibers adjacent to these neurons. Based on these results, we speculate that Hcrt2-induced activation of septohippocampal GABAergic neurons will, by engaging disinhibitory mechanisms in the hippocampus, promote generation of the hippocampal theta rhythm and associated behaviors.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effects of intracerebral iloprost injections on motor activity and chemically-induced seizures in rats.

The effects of iloprost, a chemically stable analog of prostacyclin, on motor activity, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)- and strychnine (ST)-induced seizures were studied in rats. Depression on motor activity was observed after a 500 ng/icv dose. Thus, both spontaneous locomotor activity and exploratory behavior were significantly reduced. While iloprost was ineffective against ST-induced seizures, it produced dose-dependent inhibition of PTZ-induced seizures. ED50 (95% confidence limits) value of iloprost for the suppression of clonic convulsions induced by PTZ was 224.96 (100.43-504.00) ng/icv. Anticonvulsive effect of iloprost was significantly potentiated by clonazepam pretreatment. In this case ED50 of iloprost was 39.40 (23.88-65.01) ng/icv. Unilateral iloprost injections into substantia nigra pars reticulata in a relatively lower dose range (0.5-2.0 ng/ic) also dose-dependently inhibited PTZ-induced seizures. In comparison to other prostanoids iloprost seems to have more potent and selective anticonvulsive activity against PTZ-induced seizures without marked motor depressant action in rats. It is further suggested that antiseizure effect of iloprost might be mediated by GABAergic inhibitory mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of repeated treatment with reboxetine on the central alpha 1-adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors.

Reboxetine (REB) is a member of a new class of antidepressant drugs, which selectively inhibit the neuronal reuptake of noradrenaline. It is devoid of any affinity for neurotransmitter receptors nor does it inhibit monoamine oxidases A or B. Since our earlier studies have shown that antidepressant drugs administered repeatedly increase the responsiveness of alpha1-adrenergic receptors and induce the up-regulation of postsynaptic dopamine D2/D3 receptors in the rat brain, we designed the present experiments to determine whether repeated administration of REB evokes similar effects. The experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats. REB was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg (or 30 mg/kg in some cases) once or repeatedly (twice daily for 14 days). The obtained results show that REB administered repeatedly increased exploratory behavior induced by phenylephrine and potentiated the hyperlocomotion induced by D-amphetamine. These behavioral effects indicate the hyperresponsiveness of alpha1-adrenergic receptors. Biochemical studies did not show any changes in the binding parameters of [3H]prazosin (Bmax, or Kd), but the ability of the alpha1-adrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine, to compete for these sites was significantly increased upon repeated administration of REB. Locomotor activity induced by quinpirole was not changed, although there was a potentiation of 7-OH-DPAT-induced locomotor hyperactivity in rats receiving repeated administration of REB. At the same time no significant changes in the binding of [3H]quinpirole and [3H]7-OH-DPAT, or at the level of mRNA coding for dopamine D2 receptors in the rat brain were observed. Enhanced responsiveness to 7-OH-DPAT observed in the behavioral studies might, therefore, result from alterations at the postreceptor level. The above results indicate that repeated administration of REB induces the adaptive changes in the alpha1-adrenergic receptors, especially it enhances their functional responsiveness. However, the question whether this functional responsiveness is important for the clinical antidepressant efficacy, remains to be elucidated.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[On curiosity].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Behavior↗