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Biomedical subjects

F D Rose

Publications and source records attributed to F D Rose.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Maternal hypothyroxinemia and brain development: II. Biochemical, metabolic and behavioural correlates.

Using a rat model, we have investigated the influence of maternal hypothyroxinemia throughout pregnancy on brain development in young and adult progeny. Although no consistent change was observed in whole brain total protein concentration, the subcellular distribution of protein was adversely affected. Isolation of glycoprotein from developing brain by concanavalin A-affinity chromatography and subsequent resolution by gel electrophoresis revealed the selective compromise of particular glycoprotein species. Furthermore, both control and experimental progeny expressed unique glycoprotein species which either persisted over the period studied or were transient. Calcineurin, a regulator of neurite elongation, was compromised in young progeny, as were a number of lysosomal enzymes (beta-D-glucosidase and aryl sulphatase). In adult progeny, the content of cerebroside sulphate (a major myelin galactolipid) was reduced in midbrain and paleocortex, and brain region-specific compromise was observed for acetylcholine metabolic enzymes. These changes were associated with alterations in behavioural output. We conclude that the availability of maternal thyroxine to the fetus may be a critical determinant for normal brain development and function.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Ethnic differences in the experience of pain.

Investigations of ethnic differences in pain experience have been largely confined to the hospital or laboratory. Such studies are limited by the potentially confounding effects of the expectation of pain in the former and of little or no pain in the latter. The present investigation overcomes some of these methodological problems by studying ethnic differences in pain experience following ear-piercing. Afro-West Indian, Anglo-Saxon and Asian subjects (n = 84) completed a pain questionnaire and two rating scales after ear-piercing. Half the subjects were told the study was about pain and half that it was concerned with sensation. There were highly significant ethnic differences in pain ratings. The pain condition produced higher ratings than the sensation condition but there were no significant sex differences. The results are discussed in the context of subjects' ratings of their parents' attitudes to minor injury and their own ability to cope with pain. It is argued that investigation of the bases of ethnic differences in pain experience is important in order to develop maximally efficient pain control regimes for all sections of the populations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Environmental enrichment and recovery from a complex Go/No-Go reversal deficit in rats following large unilateral neocortical lesions.

Postoperative environmental enrichment in brain-lesioned rats has been found to enhance performance in tasks in which a range of sensory cues can be utilized but not in tasks in which information from one particular sensory modality is essential to goal attainment. This has generally been construed as evidence of a role for environmental enrichment in facilitating compensation for sensory loss but not recovery of lost function per se. However, most published investigations have adopted an experimental design which fails to empirically separate the processes of recovery and compensation. The present investigation, by employing a unisensory task and using unilateral cortical lesions, thus markedly reducing the functional value of compensatory mechanisms in the mediation of postoperative behaviour, seeks to distinguish the contributions of these processes. The results show a sizeable hemidecorticate deficit on a visual operant Go/No-go reversal task but fail to provide clear evidence of any facilitation of functional recovery as a result of postoperative environmental enrichment.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Transfer of effects from environmentally enriched and impoverished female rats to future offspring.

The effects of environmental enrichment on both brain and behaviour have been the subject of systematic investigation for more than two decades. However, scant attention has been paid to the possible effects on offspring of environmental enrichment of the parental generation. Experiments are described which demonstrate that manipulation of the environments of female rats even prior to pregnancy can significantly modify the behaviour of future offspring. The importance of the investigation of the mechanisms mediating this inter generation transfer is discussed in the context of recent interest in clinical applications of environmental enrichment research.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Environmental enrichment and recovery from contralateral sensory neglect in rats with large unilateral neocortical lesions.

Previous investigations of the potential value of postoperative environmental enrichment in enhancing functional recovery in brain-lesioned rats have yielded contradictory results. The present study sought to resolve some of the contradictions by drawing a clear distinction between the contribution of environmental enrichment to the processes of compensation for sensory loss and recovery per se. By using unilateral lesions, thus avoiding total loss in any sensory modality, and examining a behavioural deficit not anyway thought to be, primarily, a consequence of sensory loss, it was hoped to arrive at an experimental test in which reinstatement of preoperative performance would necessarily reflect recovery rather than compensation. Recovery from the effects of large unilateral neocortical removals on performance on the 'bracelets' test, recently proposed by Schallert and Whishaw, Behavioural Neuroscience, 1984, 98: 518-540, as a model of simultaneous extinction in humans, was investigated. Lesions significantly impaired bracelet removal from the contralateral paw and a degree of recovery from this impairment was observed. However, recovery was not enhanced by postoperative environmental enrichment. The reasons for this were discussed and possible explanations of the recovery that did occur were considered. Implications for Schallert and Whishaw's model were also discussed. It was concluded that the present results were consistent with the view that any restorative value that postoperative environmental enrichment may have lies in facilitating compensation rather than recovery.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Differential reinforcement effects in rats reared in enriched and impoverished environments.

Comparison of the effects of environmental enrichment (EC) and impoverishment (IC) on learning in the rat is hindered by difficulty in distinguishing, experimentally, EC/IC differences in learning capacity per se from differences in performance-related variables such as sensory or motor ability, activity and motivation. Experiments are described which analyse EC/IC performance differences in a simple lever-press training procedure. In particular the hypothesis that EC and IC rats may be differentially reinforced by the same response-contingent events is examined. The data firmly support this hypothesis and possible explanations of the differential reinforcement effect are examined.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Doppler shift radar monitoring of activity of rats in a behavioural test situation.

The present study investigates the use of an activity monitoring system based upon Doppler shift radar for monitoring general activity of rats in a standard open field test situation. Significant positive correlations were found between the radar activity counts and the conventional lines crossed measure of activity. On the basis of these correlations it is suggested that this method of activity monitoring might be used in conjunction with other behavioural test situations. Further potential benefits of this activity monitoring system are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Learning in surgical and functional hemidecorticate rats: a preliminary study of compensation.

A case is made for the conjoint use of surgical and functional hemidecorticate preparations in the investigation of compensation. Direct comparison of the effects of surgical and functional hemidecortication in rats in an active runway avoidance learning situation is reported. Trials to successively higher avoidance criteria, total avoidance responses, longest runs of consecutive avoidance responses, response latencies and running times are compared. None of these measures reveal differences between the two types of hemidecorticate preparation, although compared with a normal group both hemidecorticate groups show a deficit. The implications of this finding in terms of the compensation issue are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of virtual reality technology in the assessment and training of inexperienced powered wheelchair users.

PURPOSE: The current paper provides quantitative and qualitative data concerning the application of two virtual environments to the assessment and training of inexperienced powered wheelchair users, both in terms of the ability to control the chair accurately without hitting objects in the environment (manoeuvrability) and in terms of being able to find ones way around a complex environment without becoming lost (route-finding). METHOD: Six novice powered wheelchair users participated in the project, completing either the manoeuvrability or route finding components of the study. Performance measures were taken in real life pre and post training and throughout virtual reality sessions. Participants also completed a questionnaire regarding the aesthetics of the virtual environments and aspects of the powered wheelchair simulation. RESULTS: The participants rated the aesthetics of the virtual environments positively and engaged well with the virtual system. However, they found the manoeuvrability tasks considerably more difficult in virtual reality (VR) than in real life. Some difficulties with controlling the simulated wheelchair were apparent. Some improvements on virtual and real life manoeuvrability tasks and route finding were noted following conventional and virtual training. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that the two virtual environments represent a potentially useful means of assessing and training novice powered wheelchair users. The virtual environments however must become less challenging if they are to represent a motivating and effective means of improving performance. Further development of the way in which wheelchair movement is controlled and simulated represents a key element in this multi stage project.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An evaluation of the efficacy of training people with learning disabilities in a virtual environment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of using a virtual kitchen for vocational training of people with learning disabilities. METHOD: Twenty four catering students with learning disabilities participated in the study. Half the students were currently being trained in the kitchen on which the virtual kitchen was modelled but the remaining students were unfamiliar with this kitchen. Students were first pre-tested on four food preparation tasks and identification of 12 hazards in their own training kitchens. They were subsequently trained on one food preparation task and three hazards in their own training kitchens, one food preparation task and three hazards in the virtual kitchen, and one food preparation task and three hazards in specially designed workbooks. They were then retested in their own training kitchens on all the food preparation tasks and all the hazards. RESULTS: Virtual training was found to be as beneficial as real training and more beneficial than workbook and no training in the food preparation tasks. However, virtual, real and workbook training were found to be equally beneficial in the hazard identification task. Students who were unfamiliar with the kitchen on which the virtual kitchen was modelled benefited from virtual training to the same extent as students who were familiar with the kitchen. CONCLUSIONS: Vocational students with learning disabilities were able to use the virtual environment and were motivated to learn using this training method. Depending on the task being trained, virtual training had a more beneficial effect on real task performance than workbook training, even when the virtual kitchen was not modelled on the real training kitchen.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An exploratory investigation into the usability and usefulness of training people with learning disabilities in a virtual environment.

PURPOSE: Two studies sought to answer the following questions. Are people with learning disabilities capable of using a virtual environment? Are they motivated to learn using this training method? Do they show any benefit from using a virtual environment? Does any benefit transfer to improved real world performance? METHOD: In the first study, 30 students with learning disabilities were sequentially allocated to an active or a passive experimental group. Active participants explored a virtual bungalow searching for a toy car. Passive participants watched the exploration undertaken by the preceding active participant and searched for the toy car. All participants then performed spatial and object recognition tests of their knowledge of the virtual environment. In the second study, the errors of 45 participants on a real steadiness tester task were noted before they were randomly allocated to three groups-a real training group, a virtual training group and a no training group. After training, the participants performed a second test trial on the real steadiness tester. RESULTS: The students were capable of using a virtual environment and were motivated to use this training method. Active exploration of a virtual environment was found to enhance their memory of the spatial layout of the bungalow but not their memory of the virtual objects. In the second study, virtual training was found to transfer to real task performance. CONCLUSIONS: These two laboratory-based studies provide answers to four important questions concerning virtual training of people with learning disabilities. Hopefully, the findings will encourage this training aid to be used more widely.

Achievement↗