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PubMed1995

Automation of the social interaction test by a video-tracking system: behavioural effects of repeated phencyclidine treatment.

The social interaction test is a valuable behavioural model for testing anxiolytic and neuroleptic drugs. The test quantifies the level of social behaviour between pairs of rats and it is usually based on manual analysis of behaviour. Advances in computer technology have made it possible to track the movements of pairs of rats in an arena, and the present paper describes the automation of the social interaction test by the commercial video-tracking programme, the EthoVision system. The ability of the automated system to correctly measure the social behaviour of rats is demonstrated by determining a dose-response relationship in the social interaction test for phencyclidine, a psychotomimetic drug that reduces social behaviour between pairs of rats. These data are subsequently analysed by the manual and automated data-acquisition methods and the results are compared. The study shows that the automated data-acquisition method best describes the behavioural effects of phencyclidine in the social interaction test by the locomotor activity of the rats, how much time the rats spend in different sections of the testing arena, and the level of social behaviour. Correlation analysis of the results from the manual and automated data-acquisition methods shows that the social behaviour measured by the automated system corresponds correctly to the social behaviour measured by the manual analysis. The present study has shown that the automated data-acquisition method can quantify locomotor activity, how rats use a testing arena and the level of social behaviour between rats in the social interaction test. The system cannot distinguish between social and aggressive behaviours, and therefore the rats should be tested in an unfamiliar arena to reduce territorial behaviour. Taking this limitation into consideration, the social interaction test can be automated by this computer-based video-tracking system and can be used as a routine test for quantifying the effects of drugs on the social behaviour of rats.

Aggression↗
PubMed1999

Neuropeptides and sexual behaviour.

Many neuropeptides are involved in the control of sexual behaviour at the central level. Among these, the most studied are adrenocorticotropin, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, oxytocin and opioid peptides. This attempt to review old and new neuropharmacological, biochemical and psychobiological studies in this field, shows that all these neuropeptides apparently facilitate sexual behaviour, except for opioid peptides, which inhibit sexual performance, in most of the species studied so far (rats, mice, monkeys and humans). However, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, corticotropin releasing factor, neuropeptide Y, galanin, cholecystokinin, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide may be also involved in the control of sexual behaviour. Apparently, corticotropin releasing factor, neuropeptide Y and cholecystokinin inhibit, while substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide facilitate, sexual behaviour. In contrast, gonadotropin-releasing hormone has been reported to exert a facilitative, inhibitory or no effect at all on sexual behaviour. Galanin was also shown either to facilitate or inhibit sexual behaviour. The above-mentioned putative role of the neuropeptides in sexual behaviour derives mainly from studies done in rats. In these studies, neuropeptides, their antisera or drugs that act as agonists or antagonists of neuropeptide receptors, were tested for their effect on sexual behaviour after systemic, intracerebroventricular, or intracerebral administration. The latter were infused into brain areas relevant for sexual behaviour, such as the medial preoptic area, and the ventromedial and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. The above studies show that little information is available on the mechanisms by which neuropeptides influence sexual behaviour. Also unclear is whether the above neuropeptides influence the anticipatory phase (sexual arousal and/or motivation) or the consummatory phase (performance) of sexual behaviour, except for opioid peptides. New information about the role of neuropeptides may come from the application of molecular biology and genetic manipulation techniques to the study of sexual behaviour. Of these, FOS protein determination, antisense oligonucleotides aimed at the neutralisation of neuropeptide and/or neuropeptide receptor mRNAs in specific brain areas, and gene ablation seem the most promising. Although still in the early stages, it is likely that these methodologies will provide new insights into the role of neuropeptides in the control of sexual behaviour.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

The effect of parity and environmental restriction on behavioural and physiological responses of pre-parturient pigs.

There is increasing evidence that restriction of pre-parturient behaviour in pigs is stress-inducing, characterised by an elevation in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity in gilts. To determine whether pigs adapt to behavioural restriction, through modification of nest-building behaviour, we studied pre-parturient pigs in either farrowing crates (no bedding, n=7) or straw-bedded pens (n=7) in their first (gilts) and second (sows) parity, with physiological measurements being taken in the second parity. Observations and blood sampling were carried out during the pre-parturient phase. Crated pigs changed posture more often than penned pigs (F(1,12)=7.06, P<0.05), with the number of posture changes reducing across parities in both environments. The reduction in posture changing was more apparent in the crated sows which may indicate that attempted nest-building behaviour of sows with prior experience of farrowing crates is less fragmented. The crated pigs spent a greater proportion of time sitting across both parities (F(1,12)=9.4, P<0.01), and spent less time manipulating available substrates (F(1,12)=10.67, P<0.05). There was a tendency for penned pigs to spend a greater proportion of time standing (F(1,12)=3.77, P=0.076) with peak nesting behaviour occurring earlier in relation to parturition than in crated pigs. In addition penned sows performed more floor-directed behaviour than penned gilts, and at an earlier stage in relation to parturition. However, crated sows also performed peak nest-building earlier than crated gilts. Plasma cortisol profiles indicated elevated HPA activity in crated sows during the pre-parturient period (F(42,303)=1.43, P<0.05) suggesting increased physiological stress, however, the difference between crated and penned sows was less than that previously seen in gilts. The increased range of pre-parturient behaviours seen in the penned sows suggests that experience may result in an 'improvement' in their nest-building behaviour: earlier preparation of the nest site and then subsequent manipulation of substrates. The crated sows appeared to show some behavioural adaptation to the crate environment; earlier peak in floor directed behaviour and total substrate directed behaviour, reduced posture changing. In conclusion the nest-building behaviour of pigs is modified over parities with adaptation to the behavioural restrictions imposed by the farrowing crate. However, this adaptation, through prior experience, does not completely reduce the elevation in HPA activity previously reported in pre-parturient crated gilts.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Behavioural response to humans and the productivity of commercial dairy cows.

This study examined the relationships between the attitude and the behaviour of the stockperson towards cows and the behavioural response to humans and the milk production of cows at 31 commercial dairy farms over one lactation. The attitude of the stockperson was measured on the basis of the stockperson's opinion of the cow's behaviour and how the stockperson evaluated his own behaviour. The behaviour of the stockperson was measured by recording the nature and frequency of the tactile interactions and some visual and auditory interactions directed towards the cows. The behavioural response of cows to humans was assessed by observing their approach behaviour to an unfamiliar experimenter in a standard test and production records were collected for the entire lactation at each farm. Correlation and regression analyses using farm averages were used to examine relationships between human and cow variables. Several cow behaviour variables, indicative of fear of humans, were moderately (P<0.05) to highly (P<0.01) correlated with milk yield and composition and regression analysis indicated that fear of humans accounted for 19% of the variation in milk yield between farms. The results suggest that at farms where milk yield was low, cows showed less approach to the experimenter in the standard fear test than at farms where milk yield was higher. A composite attitude score, based on the responses of stockpeople to questions about patting and talking to cows, ease of movement of cows and cows recognising unfamiliar stockpeople, was moderately (P<0.05) to highly (P<0.01) correlated with the behaviour of the stockperson. While a number of stockperson behaviour variables were correlated (P<0.05) with milk yield, the former variables were generally poorly correlated with cow behaviour. Therefore these preliminary findings provide evidence that, as seen in the pig industry, sequential relationships may exist between the attitude and behaviour of the stockperson and the behaviour and productivity of commercial dairy cows. Research is required to further examine these relationships because of the possible implications on cow productivity and welfare.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Antinociception by tricyclic antidepressants in the rat formalin test: differential effects on different behaviours following systemic and spinal administration.

The present study (1) examined analgesic effects of systemically and spinally administered antidepressants (ADs) on phase 2 flinching and biting/licking behaviours in the rat formalin test, a model considered to be of greater relevance to clinical pain than acute threshold tests, and (2) determined whether motor or anti-inflammatory effects contributed to such actions. Systemic administration of amitriptyline (3-20 mg/kg) produced a dose-related enhancement of flinching behaviours, while at the same time suppressing biting/licking behaviours. Imipramine (except for 20 mg/kg), nortriptyline, desipramine and fluoxetine had no significant effect on flinching behaviours, while producing a dose-related suppression of biting/licking behaviours. When administered spinally, either by acute lumbar puncture or via chronically implanted intrathecal cannulas, amitriptyline similarly augmented flinching behaviours. When given by lumbar puncture, amitriptyline suppressed biting/licking behaviours, but when intrathecal cannulas were used, this behaviour was not expressed in the formalin group. Other ADs also suppressed biting/licking behaviours without affecting flinching when given by lumbar puncture. Effects on paw volume were determined at the end of behavioural testing. Systemic administration of all ADs produced a dose-related reduction in paw volume. Spinal administration of nortriptyline by lumbar puncture also reduced paw volume, but for other agents, the reduction was not significant. Motor effects were noted qualitatively throughout these experiments, and considered in relation to nociceptive behaviours. These results indicate (a) a marked dissociation between the effects of systemic ADs on flinching and biting/licking behaviours in the formalin test, (b) spinal efficacy of ADs that essentially reproduces effects seen with systemic administration when given by lumbar puncture, (c) a lack of causality between anti-inflammatory effects of ADs and their analgesic properties in the formalin test, and (d) a contribution of motor effects to analgesic actions at higher doses affecting biting/licking but not flinching behaviours.

Amitriptyline↗
PubMed2001

Challenging behaviour in community services.

The implementation of community care in the UK has led to the requirement that services should be able to meet the needs of adults with intellectual disability (ID) and additional needs in terms of challenging behaviour. However, the extent to which people with challenging behaviour are present in the community and the extent to which community services can support them effectively still requires significant research. The present study examines the prevalence of challenging behaviour amongst adults with ID residing in three London boroughs and the issues which arise from service delivery to this client group. All service providers and general practitioners in the area were contacted and asked to identify any individuals with ID and challenging behaviour. All responses were screened, and then key staff were interviewed for information on a range of demographic factors and on the Checklist of Challenging Behaviour. The reliability of the instrument was also assessed. Four hundred and forty-eight individuals were identified from a total borough population of 670 000. There was consistency in the types of behaviour which were frequently identified across the three boroughs. There were significant levels of self-injury as well as a range of behaviours of the 'hard to engage' type. Most individuals had more then one challenging behaviour and some individuals with seriously aggressive behaviour used local community services. Twenty-five per cent of the sample lived at home with their families and 50% were in community residential services. The boroughs differed in their ability to manage those with challenging behaviour in that one borough had many more people placed out-of-borough. Significant numbers of individuals with challenging behaviour were living in the community. The range and number of behaviours suggest that staff need to be very skilled in supporting such individuals, and that effective planning and support are essential if people with challenging behaviour are to be maintained in community settings.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

Mental disorder in adults with intellectual disability. 2: The rate of behaviour disorders among a community-based population aged between 16 and 64 years.

Despite the difficulty of defining behaviour disorder, most previous studies have reported a high rate of behaviour disorders in people with intellectual disability (ID). The aim of the present study was to establish the overall rate and types of behaviour disorders in a population-based sample of adults with ID. The other aim was to explore the possible risk factors that are associated with the overall rate as well as different types of behaviour disorders. One hundred and one adults with ID aged between 16 and 64 years were randomly selected from a sample of 246 such adults, i.e. those who were known to the Vale of Glamorgan Social Services Department in South Wales, UK. Thirteen behaviour disorders were rated according to the Disability Assessment Schedule. Background data on subjects were also collected, and were subsequently analysed to assess the relationship between different risk factors and behaviour disorders. Sixty-one subjects (60.4%) had at least one behaviour disorder of any severity or frequency. Twenty-three per cent of subjects showed aggression, 24% self-injurious behaviour, 36% temper tantrum, 26% overactivity, 29% screaming, 38% attention-seeking behaviour, 20% objectionable habits, 18% night-time disturbance and 12% of subjects showed destructiveness. Statistically significant associations were seen between the rate of overall behaviour disorder and the use of psychotropic medication, and between family and group home residence. The rate of aggression was significantly associated with the use of psychotropic medication. The rate of self-injurious behaviour was significantly associated with the severity of ID, female gender and poor communication abilities. The rate of temper tantrum was significantly associated with the use of psychotropic medication. Twenty-four subjects showed severe or frequent aggression, destructiveness, self-injury or temper tantrum, and 11 individuals showed real challenging behaviours. Severe behaviour problems were significantly associated with female gender, severity of ID, the presence of a history of epilepsy and attendance at day activities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Socioeconomic status and health behaviour patterns through adolescence: results from a prospective cohort study in Norway.

BACKGROUND: In this paper, we investigate cross-sectional and prospective relationships between various socioeconomic indicators and different health behaviours among boys and girls at ages 13-21, and whether socioeconomic status (SES) is related to changes in health behaviour over time. METHODS: The study is based on a 10-year, two-generation prospective cohort study of health and lifestyle factors among a sample of Norwegian adolescents and their parents. Data presented here were collected at the ages of 13 (baseline), 15, 18 and 21. Parental and adolescent reports of socioeconomic factors were assessed along with a number of health-enhancing and health-compromising behaviours, both as single behaviours and as part of health behaviour indices. RESULTS: Relatively few significant relationships are observed between parental occupation and adolescents' reported health behaviour when the latter is analysed as single behaviours. A significant, but weak, social gradient in health-enhancing behaviour is observed when measuring health behaviour as composite indices rather than single forms of behaviour. This is apparent both when applying parental SES variables or adolescents' own educational aspirations as proxy measures of their socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: Future investigations of the presence of a social gradient in adolescent health behaviour should focus on composite measures of health behaviour. Further research is needed on potential mediating mechanisms behind the SES-health behaviour relationships in youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Repetitive and stereotyped behaviours in pervasive developmental disorders.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive and stereotyped behaviours are a heterogeneous group of behaviours present in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite their core significance in PDD, it is not clear whether there are distinct groups of these behaviours with different specificity to autism. METHODS: A two-factor model of the repetitive behaviours, namely sensory/motor (lower-order) and cognitive rigidity (higher-order), was conceptualised. The model's goodness of fit to the data was examined in a clinic population of children with PDD, with and without mental retardation, and of those with only mental retardation (MR). RESULTS: Subjects with PDD had higher rates of all repetitive behaviours compared to those with MR only. The existence of two independent 'lower-order' and 'higher-order' sub-groups of the repetitive behaviours was confirmed only in the MR group. The lower-order behaviours appear to be associated more with global developmental problems, whereas the higher-order behaviours were significantly associated with ruminations in the PDD group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there may be two distinct sub-groups of repetitive behaviours whereby the sensory and motor repetitive behaviours are generally associated with lower developmental age and less specific to the autistic syndrome whereas the 'higher-order' behaviours may be a more 'autism specific' feature. The co-occurrence of the lower- and higher-order behaviours in PDD might reflect the end result of diffuse altered neural networks in these disorders thus being a specific feature of PDD. There is a need for more systematic studies of these behaviours not only in autistic disorders but also in other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Social behaviour and illness information interact to influence the peer acceptance of children with chronic illness.

OBJECTIVES: Social behaviour was investigated as a contributor to the peer acceptance of children with chronic illness. We predicted that children with illness would receive less acceptance than children without illness, and that prosocial behaviour would improve acceptance, while aggressive behaviour would hamper it. Based upon attribution and cognitive bias theories, we also predicted that prosocial behaviour would be more beneficial and aggressive behaviour less damaging to the acceptance of children with illness compared to healthy children. DESIGN: A 3 (social behaviour: prosocial, aggressive, no information) x 2 (physical status: chronically ill, healthy) within-subjects analogue design was used. METHODS: Preadolescents (N = 149) indicated social acceptance of hypothetical children portrayed in vignettes as either chronically ill or healthy with prosocial, aggressive, or no social behaviour. A 13-item social intentions scale gauged acceptance. RESULTS: The hypotheses were supported. Although children described as ill received lower acceptance ratings than healthy children, prosocial/ill children were more accepted than aggressive/ill children. Social behaviour interacted with physical status to affect acceptance. CONCLUSIONS: Social behaviour influences the peer acceptance of hypothetical children with chronic illness. Prosocial behaviour enhances acceptance of children described with illness, while aggressive behaviour hampers it. Additionally, prosocial behaviour is more beneficial, and aggressive behaviour is less damaging for children described as ill versus healthy. The potential processes by which peers judge acceptance of children with illness are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Quantification of behaviour in social colonies of rhesus monkey.

It is necessary to use experimental animals with behavioural, physiological and disease susceptibility pattern similar to man so that the results have a clinical predictive value. For such studies the non-human primate is the animal of choice. Rhesus monkey is a good choice for this purpose but information about its behaviour is fragmentary. In order to obtain a quantitative baseline data for psychopharmacological studies, a protocol has been developed to score various social and solitary behaviours in adult male and female rhesus monkeys. The study was conducted on rhesus monkeys in a social colony of one male and seven female living in a semi-restricted environment. The behavioural patterns were quantitated so as to compare effect on various components of behaviour. Aggressiveness and vigilance were prominent in the male while social affiliative behaviour was dominant in the female. Other behavioural responses were of similar magnitude in both sexes. It is however necessary to have data with some standard CNS active agents on these behavioural protocol. Therefore, initially the behavioural effects of amphetamine and haloperidol were studied. Significant effects observed following d-amphetamine (1-4 mg/kg, im); it induced dose dependent suppression of social behaviour (approach, contact, grooming), feeding, hypervigilance, stereotypy and oral hyperkinesia. On the other hand haloperidol (0.01-0.04 mg/kg, im) produced decrease in social and solitary behaviour and marked cataleptic posture. It is possible to quantitate drug effects on various aspects of behaviour of the rhesus monkey and to develop neuropsychitric models with the help of this protocol for use in study of drug effects on behaviour.

Aggression↗
PubMed2001

Behavioural disorders in childhood: a Singapore perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Behaviour disturbances in preadolescent children are common, ranging from mild disturbances to full disorders meeting official nosological criterion. The objective of this paper was to review behavioural disorders occurring in the preadolescent child using up-to-date published data supplemented by available local published data on the subject. METHODS: Recent reviews of the various psychological disorders in childhood that have a significant behavioural component were identified through a MEDLINE search (from 1990). Information from these reviews was supplemented with relevant local studies cited on MEDLINE from 1990. Information on common behavioural disturbances facing parents locally was obtained from questions submitted to the author over a 3-year period by a local parenting magazine. A search was also conducted on the DOW JONES publications archives for relevant information from the local news media. RESULTS: The perception of a problem may arise from the child, family, school, community or society's perspective. Behavioural problems can be conceptualised to exist in the following broad categories: Behaviour problems/disorders related to daily physiological activities; disruptive behavioural problems and disorders; pervasive developmental disorders and disorders of social behaviour; behaviour problems related to emotional disorders; and behaviour problems associated with other mental conditions in children. Family, behavioural and multisystemic interventions are the commonest non-drug interventions. Drug use is on the increase, especially in disruptive, affective and anxiety disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural disorders in children are common. They are often under-recognised and under-treated. Improved recognition demands that a good assessment is being carried out and a heightened index of suspicion for the commoner behavioural disorders. Adopting an evidence-based medicine approach and utilising recent advances in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy may improve outcome.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Toxocara in the mouse: a model for parasite-altered host behaviour?

The objective of this paper is to critically evaluate the significance of parasite-altered host behaviour in the Toxocara mouse model particularly in the light of the Manipulation Hypothesis. Murine behaviours were examined in both outbred and inbred strains of mice infected with different doses of Toxocara canis ova. Behaviours investigated included activity, exploration, response to novelty, anxiety, learning, memory and social behaviour. Subsequent modifications to the behaviour of infected mice were investigated with respect to dose administered and larval accumulation in the brain. There was substantial variation in the number of larvae recovered from brains of individual mice, which received similar doses of Toxocara ova. Furthermore, the numbers of larvae recovered at different doses differed significantly between an outbred and inbred strain of mouse. Alterations in infected host behaviour occurred and were related to the number of larvae recovered from the brain. For social behaviour in outbred mice, a high infection in the brain reduced levels of aggressive behaviour and increased levels of flight and defensive behaviours. In contrast, outbred mice with a low infection in the brain displayed a greater level of risk behaviour in respect of predator odour and the light/dark box compared to control or high infection mice. Post-infection, outbred mice were more immobile whereas inbred mice showed reduced immobility and increased digging and climbing. Impaired learning ability was observed in outbred mice with moderate and high levels of infection in the brain compared to control and low infection mice. Toxocara infection has an impact upon a diverse range of murine behaviours with little evidence for a specific and hence an adaptive alteration. Many of the effects on murine host behaviour by Toxocara are likely to be pathological side effects of infection rather than as a consequence of adaptive host-manipulation. Observed changes in murine behaviour may be relevant to human toxocariasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Addiction-risk behaviours and suicide attempts in adolescents.

Data on single and multiple addiction-risk behaviours and suicidal behaviour were obtained from a large sample of Dutch secondary school students aged 16 to 19 years. Although the prevalence of hard drugs was the lowest of all addiction-risk behaviours, there was a markedly high report of suicidal behaviours in youngsters who used these drugs: one out of each five boys and one out of each three girls. The most "suicidal" combination of two addiction-risk behaviours reported by girls was that of sedatives and hard drugs: more than half of the girls who reported both these behaviours also reported a suicide attempt. In boys, 27% of those who reported sedatives and cigarettes also reported a suicide attempt. The number of addiction-risk behaviours reported by the adolescents showed an almost linear increasing relation with the percentage of suicide attempters. The results suggest that suicidal behaviour and addiction-risk behaviours both should be regarded as part of a complex interaction of multiple behavioural problems. Prevention programmes and intervention strategies should focus on multiple rather than single targets, and screening procedures to detect adolescents at-risk for suicidal behaviour should focus on patterns of multiple risk factors rather than on single behaviours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Automated behavioural analysis in animal pain studies.

The assessment of the effectiveness of analgesics is strongly based on observational data from behavioural tests. These tests are interesting and give a quantification of the effect of the drugs on the whole animal but their use is subject to several difficulties: (i) many results are difficult to analyse as they only correspond to the evaluation of a reflex response; (ii) the tests dealing with more integrated responses are also more difficult to use and closely depend on the experimenter's subjectivity. If automation is widely used in a lot of research fields, this is not the case in behavioural pharmacology. Yet, it can contribute to optimize the tests. The use of signal processing devices allows the automated (and thus objective) measurement of behavioural reactions to nociceptive stimulation (amplitude of a reflex, vocal emission intensity). Mechanical devices based on a computer-driven dynamic force detector allows the recording of some pain behaviours. Video image analysis allows the quantification of more complex behaviours (nociception-induced specific motor behaviours) as well as meaningful information during the same experimentation (exploratory behaviour, total motor activity, feeding behaviour). Moreover, these methods make it possible to obtain a more objective measurement, to reduce animal-experimenter interactions, to ease system use, and to improve effectiveness. The prospects to work in this field are multiple: continuation of the attempts at an automation of the behaviours specifically induced by chronic pain; development of real animal pain monitoring based on analysis of specific and non-specific behavioural modifications induced by pain. In this context, the automation of the behavioural analysis is likely to make possible real ethical progress thanks to an increase in the test's effectiveness and a real taking into account of animal's pain. Nevertheless, there are some limits due to characteristics of the behavioural expression of nociception and technological problems.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Differential effects of excitotoxic basolateral and corticomedial lesions of the amygdala on the behavioural and endocrine responses to either sexual or aggression-promoting stimuli in the male rat.

The effects of discrete excitotoxic lesions of the basolateral (BL) and corticomedial (CM) amygdaloid areas on both male rat sexual behaviour and inter-male agonistic behaviour were investigated. The effects of the same lesions on the hormonal responses (luteinising hormone (LH) following sexual behaviour, corticosterone following aggressive interactions) which accompany these behavioural responses were measured. Basolateral lesions had no effect on male sexual behaviour but significantly reduced the level of aggressive inter-male behaviour. However, the increase in plasma corticosterone concentration which occurs after such an interaction was not affected by basolateral lesions. In contrast, corticomedial lesions did not affect inter-male offence but severely affected copulatory behaviour, including a significant decrease in the males' investigation of the receptive female. However, the increase in plasma LH concentrations induced by the presence of a receptive female was not affected by the CM lesion. These results demonstrate a dissociation between the two amygdaloid regions with respect to the contributions made to the two social behaviours under study. This anatomical division may reflect differential amygdaloid sensory control of these behaviours. A further dissociation between amygdaloid contribution to behavioural and hormonal responses was also revealed. Neither hormonal response showed a parallel decline with the relevant behavioural response, suggesting that neither the basolateral nor corticomedial amygdaloid complex is responsible for coordinating behavioural and endocrine responses to a specific stimulus.

Agonistic Behavior↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Emotional dysfunction hypothesis in adolescent with problem behaviour: an exploratory study].

INTRODUCTION: Problem behaviour in adolescents today has become a real public health problem, because of the potentially heavy consequences on their mental integrity. Although a number of studies have pointed out the importance of emotional functioning in this phenomenon, its characteristics have not been clearly defined. In the field of pathological emotional functioning, the aim of the study was to explore the differences in emotion variables, verbal emotion expression ability and behaviour, and notably behaviour inhibition ability. We hypothesised that we would observe significant differences between adolescents who exhibit problem behaviour and those who do not, in the three fields of subjective emotional experience, emotion verbalization, and behavioural reaction. METHOD: The sample for this investigation consisted in 40 high-school students--divided into two groups of 20 subjects: The first group: Problem Behaviour (PB), mean age: 15.2 +/- 1.2, sex ratio (M/F): 14/6, and the second group: No Problem Behaviour (NPB) mean age: l4.6 +/- 1.5, sex ratio (M/F): 13/6. Subjects were included into the PB group by completing a short questionnaire assessing problem behaviour (including verbal and behavioural violence, multiple exclusions of more than one day, substance use, and other risk-taking behaviour). To explore the emotional reactivity to stimuli, we provoked emotions using films excerpts with three situations: anger, joy and sadness. We assessed the subjective experience of emotion using the Differential Emotion Scale (DES, Izard, 1972), the verbal emotion expression by quantitative discourse analysis, and motor activity using the number of movements during stimuli exposure. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (repeated ANOVAs) showed significant differences (p<0.0001) in subjective emotional intensity, motor activity (p<0.0001), and verbal emotion expression ability (p<0.0001) between the two groups. Adolescents with problem behaviour presented lower subjective emotional experience intensity, greater motor activity and reported less emotional words to describe their feelings. DISCUSSION: Our results show an emotional dysfunction in adolescents with problem behaviour. These results are consistent with previous investigations, supporting the importance of emotional processing in the ability of people to cope with environment. This dysfunction may be linked to a pathology in the ability to "feel" the emotions. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The effects of neonatal lesions in the amygdala or ventral hippocampus on social behaviour later in life.

Disruption of normal social behaviour is seen in psychiatric neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia or autism. In a rat model of neurodevelopmental disorders we investigated the social behavioural changes after damage of limbic brain areas, at two early stages of life. The effects of ibotenic acid lesions made on day 7 or 21 of life in the amygdala (AM) ((baso)lateral/medical) or ventral hippocampal area on social play behaviour, social behaviour unrelated to social play behaviour early in life, and social behaviour in adulthood were assessed. Lesions of the AM, but not lesions of the ventral hippocampal area, resulted in decreased social play behaviour, and no differences were found between lesions made on day 7 or 21 of life. Social behaviour unrelated to social play behaviour early in life and in adulthood was decreased in animals lesioned in the AM on day 7 but not in animals lesioned on day 21 of life. This effect was particularly present in animals with an additional lesion in the medial nuclei of the AM. Lesions in the ventral hippocampal area did not affect social behaviour. It is concluded that the AM is an important structure for social play behaviour. The effects on social behaviour that are dependent on the day of lesioning (day 7 vs. 21) are an indication of a neurodevelopmental deficit of structures connected to the (medial part) of the AM.

Aging↗