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At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Alcohol outcome expectancies, attitudes toward drinking and the theory of planned behavior.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated whether alcohol outcome expectancies are empirically distinguishable from attitudes toward drinking. Specifically, the contribution of expectancies and attitudes to the Theory of Planned Behavior was assessed. METHOD: Undergraduates (N = 316; 170 male), of legal drinking age, who drank at least once a month participated. Intentions to drink "too much" and self-report excessive consumption episodes served as criterion measures, and attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and alcohol outcome expectancies were employed as predictor variables. Stepwise regression analyses were performed separately for men and women. RESULTS: The Theory of Planned Behavior appeared to be a valid framework for predicting excessive alcohol consumption among undergraduates. The predictive power of the model, however, was enhanced through the inclusion of gender-specific alcohol outcome expectancies. Specifically, in addition to attitudes and perceived behavioral control, women's expectancies for sociability enhanced the prediction of intentions to drink "too much." Expectancies for sexual functioning (male) and assertiveness (female) improved the prediction of excessive consumption, over and above intentions and perceived behavioral control. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol outcome expectancies, unlike attitudes, are proximal predictors of excessive alcohol consumption among undergraduates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Examination and prediction of elementary school teachers' intentions to teach HIV/AIDS education.

Although studies have looked at school teachers' beliefs and attitudes toward AIDS and students with HIV/AIDS, none have specifically addressed teachers' intentions and attitudes toward teaching HIV/AIDS education. This study examines and predicts elementary school teachers' intentions to teach their students about HIV/AIDS. The postulates of the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior provided the framework for the examination of teachers' beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding AIDS education. A sample of 198 elementary school teachers employed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts completed self-administered questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict intentions to teach HIV/AIDS, and to identify the determinants of intentions. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, the variables of the theory of planned behavior, explained 64% of the variance in teachers' intentions; perceived behavioral control contributed the greatest weight to the prediction. Significant variance was additionally explained by three variables external to the theory of planned behavior: in-service training, grade taught, and past HIV/AIDS teaching behavior.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Stress-level cortisol treatment impairs inhibitory control of behavior in monkeys.

Most studies of cortisol-induced cognitive impairments have focused on hippocampal-dependent memory. This study investigates a different aspect of cognition in a randomized placebo-controlled experiment with monkeys that were treated with cortisol according to a protocol that simulates a prolonged stress response. Young adult and older adult monkeys were assigned randomly to placebo or chronic treatment with cortisol in a 2 x 2 factorial design (n = 8 monkeys per condition). Inhibitory control of behavior was assessed with a test shown previously in primates to reflect prefrontal cortical dysfunction. Failure to inhibit a specific goal-directed response was evident more often in older adults. Treatment with cortisol increased this propensity in both older and young adult monkeys. Age-related differences in response inhibition were consistent across blocks of repeated test trials, but the treatment effects were clearly expressed only after prolonged exposure to cortisol. Aspects of performance that did not require inhibition were not altered by age or treatment with cortisol, which concurs with effects on response inhibition rather than nonspecific changes in behavior. These findings lend support to related reports that cortisol-induced disruptions in prefrontal dopamine neurotransmission may contribute to deficits in response inhibition and play a role in cognitive impairments associated with endogenous hypercortisolism in humans.

Adrenocortical Hyperfunction↗
PubMed1987

Localization and synthesis of monoamines in regions of Limax CNS controlling feeding behavior.

Localization and synthesis of dopamine and serotonin in the cerebral and buccal ganglia of Limax maximus were studied. A combination of fluorescence histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and microchemical analysis showed that both amines were localized to particular cell groups and fiber tracts within and between the two sets of ganglia. Since these ganglia control feeding behavior, which is readily modified by associative learning, these studies have direct bearing on analysis of both motor control and learning mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Micturition and defensive behaviors are controlled by distinct neural networks within the dorsal periaqueductal gray and deep gray layer of the superior colliculus of the rat.

Electrical stimulation of the dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG) or the deep gray layer of the superior colliculus (DGSC) of rats placed in an open-field elicited either a display of tense immobility, accompanied by exophthalmus and/or defecation and micturition, or running and jumping responses. Threshold curves of each response were obtained for each structure by the logistic fitting of accumulated response frequencies. DPAG and DGSC threshold curves were compared by likelihood-ratio coincidence tests. The output of micturition was significantly higher following the stimulation of DPAG (P < 0.0005). In contrast, no differences were found for the remaining responses. These data support previous studies in anaesthetized cats suggesting the critical involvement of DPAG in the control of micturition. Furthermore, they also suggest that topographically distinct neural networks within the DPAG and DGSC control micturition and the other defensive behaviors.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Nutrient intake of obese children in a family-based behavioral weight control program.

The caloric and nutrient intakes, weight, percent overweight and growth of obese and lean children aged 8-12 were compared at baseline and after the obese children participated in a six month family-based behavioral weight control program. At baseline there were no significant differences in the caloric, fat, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, and riboflavin intakes, or height percentiles of the obese and lean children. After six months the obese children significantly decreased their calorie, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake, while the lean children significantly increased their protein intake. The percent overweight of the obese children decreased significantly (-18.3 percent), with no changes in percent overweight of the lean children (-0.1 percent). Both the obese (+4.3 cm) and lean (+3.8 cm) children grew significantly over six months, with no significant changes in height percentiles. At baseline and six months both groups exceeded at least two-thirds of the RDA for all nutrients studied.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

Schedule-controlled operant behavior of rats following oral administration of perchloroethylene: time course and relationship to blood and brain solvent levels.

Previous studies have indicated that human exposure to perchloroethylene (PCE) produces subtle behavioral changes and other neurological effects at concentration at or below the current occupational exposure limit. Since comparable effects in animals may be reflected by changes in schedule-controlled operant behavior, the ability of orally administered PCE to alter fixed-ratio (FR) responding for a food reward was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Furthermore, since behavioral effects of solvents are likely to be more closely related to blood or target tissue (i.e, brain) concentrations than administered dose, the relationship between the pharmacokinetic distribution of PCE and its effects on operant responding was also evaluated. Rats trained to lever-press for evaporated milk on an FR-40 reinforcement schedule were gavaged with 160 or 480 mg/kg PCE and immediately placed in an operant test cage for 90 min. Separate animals gavaged with equivalent doses of PCE were used to determine profiles of blood and brain concentrations versus time. Perchloroethylene produced changes in responding that varied not only with dose but also among animals receiving the same dose. Changes in the response rates of rats receiving 160 mg/kg PCE were either not readily apparent, restricted to the first 5 min of the operant session, or attributable to gavage stress and the dosing vehicle. However, 480 mg/kg produced either an immediate suppression of responding for 15-30 min before a rapid recovery to control rates or a complete elimination of lever-pressing for the majority of the operant session. Although the two doses of PCE produced markedly different effects on operant behavior during the first 30 min of exposure, differences in brain concentrations of PCE were minimal. Furthermore, the majority of animals receiving 480 mg/kg PCE fully recovered from response suppression while blood and brain levels of the solvent continued to rise. Thus, relationships between blood and brain PCE levels and performance impairment were not discernible over the monitored time course. Since the rapid onset of response suppression suggests that the precipitating event occurs within the first few minutes of exposure, it is possible that altered responding is related to the rate of increase in blood or brain concentrations rather than the absolute solvent concentrations themselves. The relationship between the pharmacokinetic distribution of solvents and their effects on the central nervous system is obviously complex and may involve acute neuronal adaptation as well as the dynamics of solvent distribution among the various body compartments.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The ontogenetic dynamics of hemispheric asymmetry in controlling the behavior of rats of either sex].

Dynamics of behavioural control in the open field was studied in Wistar rats of different sexes in the course of postnatal ontogenesis. Ethological analysis of behaviour in the open field was used combined with the temporary inactivation of the hemisphere cortex by means of spreading depression. Two main types of the ontogenetic dynamics of asymmetry were established. The first one was characterized by the right-left-right pattern of asymmetry, the second one by the left-right-left pattern. The first type of asymmetry dynamics prevailed in females, the second type was dominant in males. During different periods of ontogenesis, asymmetry of hemisphere control over the same behavioural acts in rats of opposite sexes could be both counterphasic and synphasic. The first type of the asymmetry dynamics is supposed to be connected with hemisphere control of avoidance behaviour, whereas the second one seems to be involved in exploratory behaviour. In males the open field behaviour is more determined by the exploration component, whereas in females avoidance component prevails.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

The effect of repeated methyl iso-butyl ketone vapor exposure on schedule-controlled operant behavior in rats.

Methyl iso-butyl ketone (MiBK), a commercial solvent, was selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) for testing under the Multi-Substance Rule for the Testing of Neurotoxicity (US EPA, 1993) using schedule-controlled operant behavior (SCOB) to determine if subchronic exposure to MiBK vapor had the potential to alter behavior as an indicator of neurotoxicity. Food-restricted and ad libitum-fed Sprague-Dawley male rats were exposed to 0, 250, 750, or 1500 ppm MiBK for 6 h/day, 5 d/wk for 13 weeks. SCOB testing of food-restricted animals, using a multiple fixed ratio (FR)/fixed interval (FI) schedule (FR20:FI120), was conducted prior to each exposure to maintain the operant behavior; the data from Weeks -1, 4, 8, and 13 were evaluated for evidence of neurotoxicity. SCOB testing was also evaluated for two weeks following the cessation of exposures. Ad libitum-fed animals were included to assess systemic effects using routine indicators such as changes in body weight, food consumption, and organ weight. No significant differences were seen in fixed-ratio run rate, FR pause duration, fixed-interval response rate, and index of curvature values at any concentration. Animals exposed to 750 and 1500 ppm MiBK exhibited clinical signs associated with transient reduced activity levels, but only during exposure. No signs of reduced activity were observed immediately after exposure for either group. No other treatment-related abnormalities were observed during exposure. Food-restricted animals did not demonstrate any increased or decreased sensitivity to the CNS depressive effects of MiBK relative to the ad libitum-fed animals. No treatment-related body weight differences were observed within either the food-restricted groups or the ad libitum-fed groups, although body weights of the former were clearly depressed compared with those of the latter. Relative and absolute liver, and relative kidney weights were significantly greater for the 750 and 1500 ppm ad libitum-fed animals. No differences in kidney weight were observed for food-restricted animals, but absolute and/or relative liver weights were significantly higher for all the treated food-restricted groups. The results of this study indicate that repetitive exposures to high concentrations of MiBK vapors do not result in adverse effects on operant behavior in the rat.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Microcomputer control of behavior and the acquisition of digital and analog data.

Advances in technology and decreasing costs are enabling microcomputers to displace more traditional devices in the scientific laboratory. The availability of various approaches to software-system development for the use of microcomputers in the on-line control of experiments has contributed to the trend. This report describes a software system developed to control conditioned behavior during schedules of reinforcement while simultaneously accumulating behavioral data and physiological (analog) data using a hardware system base on the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I microcomputer. The software utilizes a high-level interpretive language (Microsoft BASIC), assembly language and compiled BASIC to attain an acceptable execution speed and ease of programming.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A novel neuropeptide precursor gene is expressed in the terrestrial snail central nervous system by a group of neurons that control mating behavior.

We report the isolation of a cDNA clone encoding a neuropeptide precursor named preproGFAD from the central nervous system (CNS) of the snail Helix lucorum. Analysis of the expression of this gene shows that it is neurospecific and expressed in several groups of CNS neurons. Most notable is the expression of preproGFAD gene in the right mesocerebrum, where the neurons controlling mating behavior are located. The expression in this particular region is observed in adult animals but not in juvenile ones. The preprohormone is 108 amino acids long and contains a hydrophobic leader peptide and eight Lys-Arg recognition sites for endoproteolysis. The post-translational processing of the prohormone may lead to the generation of seven tetrapeptides, Gly-Phe-Ala-Asp-COOH (GFAD). This peptide has the same sequence as two previously isolated peptides from a related snail, Achatina fulica. The first of them (achatin-I) contains D-Phe; the second (achatin-II) is its L-Phe-containing stereoisomer. Injection of synthetic D-GFAD in nanomolar concentrations into intact animals caused an increase of the heartbeat rate and opening of the genital atrium. In preparations containing CNS with intact innervation of reproductive organs, bath application of D-GFAD caused extensive movements of the penis but not of other reproductive organs. Intracellular activation of individual neurons expressing the preproGFAD gene also elicited penis movements. D-GFAD also suppressed activity of neurons modulating feeding behavior. Our data therefore indicate that the preproGFAD gene encodes the precursor of a neuropeptide that participates in the regulation of male mating behavior.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Validation studies of a multifactor cognitive-behavioral Anger Control Inventory.

Two studies are reported on a new Anger Control Inventory based on a cognitive-behavioral person-situation interaction model. In Study 1, the inventory responses of 118 clinical subjects and 190 normal subjects were correlated with an anger problem criterion based on observable signs. Factor analyses were conducted to clarify the construct base of the inventory. In Study 2, comparisons were made between the inventory responses of 100 spouse batterers and 96 normal subjects. Significant differences between the pretreatment and posttreatment scores of 65 batterers given treatment in anger control were obtained on the inventory scales, which were found to be correlated with the problem criterion and discriminating between the clinical and normal groups. The construct validity and clinical utility of the Anger Control Inventory are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

A TRS-80-based system for the control of behavioral experiments.

A TRS-80-based system is described for controlling and recording events from operant chambers. The system features a TRS-80 microprocessor with 32 K RAM, a floppy disk drive, an LVB optical interface, a printer, and a user-oriented program (Operant Protocol System, OPS). The LVB interface system is capable of up to 128 independent input/output operations for each of up to 8 boxes. The system uses assembly language routines for real-time control and event recording of up to 8 boxes simultaneously. BASIC is used to obtain user input and deliver data output in an interactive fashion. Advantages include dependable hardware, extensively documented and tested software, relative inexpensiveness, and standard-deviation-based variable schedules.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The critical role of nucleus accumbens dopamine systems in the mediation of fixed interval schedule-controlled operant behavior.

Microinjections of the irreversible dopamine antagonist EEDQ (N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline), into nucleus accumbens but not into dorsal striatum, markedly decreased response rates on a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement. These preferential effects in nucleus accumbens could be prevented by selectively activating either D1 or D2 receptors. These data demonstrate a critical role for mesolimbic dopamine systems in the mediation of fixed interval schedule-controlled operant behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Psychosocial correlates of physical activity in white and African-American girls.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relative utility of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in explaining intentions and physical activity behavior in white and African-American eighth-grade girls. METHODS: One-thousand-thirty white and 1.114 African-American eighth-grade girls (mean age 13.6 +/- 0.7 years) from 31 middle schools in South Carolina completed a 3-day physical activity recall and a questionnaire assessing attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, and intentions related to regular participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). RESULTS: Among Whites, 17% of the variance in intentions was contributed by subjective norms and attitude, with intentions accounting for 8% of the variance in MVPA. The addition of perceived behavioral control and self-efficacy to the TRA significantly improved the prediction of intentions and MVPA accounting for 40% and 10% of the variance, respectively. Among African-Americans, subjective norms and attitude accounted for 13% of the variance in intentions, with intentions accounting for only 3% of the variance in MVPA. The addition of perceived behavioral control and self-efficacy to the TRA significantly improved the prediction of intentions and MVPA accounting for 28% and 5% of the variance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results provided limited empirical support for the TPB among white adolescent girls; however, our findings suggest that the planned behavior framework has limited utility among African-American adolescent girls. The relatively weak link between intentions and MVPA observed in both population groups suggest that constructs external to the TPB may be more important mediators of physical activity behavior in adolescent girls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The evolution of neural circuits controlling feeding behavior in frogs.

Our approach to understanding motor systems is a phylogenetic, 'outside-in' approach, the goal of which is to identify behavioral transitions during phylogenesis and elucidate their neurological basis. In this paper, we review the results of recent behavioral, biomechanical and neurological studies on frog feeding behavior. These studies show that highly protrusible tongues have evolved numerous times independently among frogs, and that the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of feeding behavior have been transformed repeatedly during frog evolution. Many of the independent lineages possess unique biomechanical mechanisms for protracting their tongues and unique neural mechanisms for coordinating feeding behavior. In frogs, there has been considerable evolution at the interface between reticular central pattern generators (CPGs) associated with feeding and sensory feedback circuits that modulate feeding motor output. In particular, the roles of hypoglossal and glossopharyngeal sensory feedback appear to have been relatively plastic in their evolution. Prey-type dependence of hypoglossal sensory feedback in Rana suggests that the interaction between descending visual control and sensory feedback also may be evolutionarily plastic. Comparative studies have found that motor systems sometimes evolve conservatively across morphological and behavioral transitions (i.e., the shoulder in birds) or, alternatively, they may be subject to considerably more evolutionary change than is reflected in morphological characteristics (i.e., feeding in cichlids). We hypothesize that the CPG circuits for feeding behavior in the reticular formation may evolve conservatively because they are highly integrated, multifunctional networks which cannot be optimized for one function without compromising others. In contrast, the interfaces between the CPG, sensory feedback and descending control should be less constrained. When changes in motor patterns occur during evolution, it is likely that sensory feedback or descending control may be involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Locomotor behavior and control in human and non-human primates: comparisons with cats and dogs.

For many years the cat has been the accepted mammalian model for investigations on the neural control of locomotion. The results from such studies, and also similar studies on dogs, have been assumed to represent the typical mammalian condition. The primary purpose of this review is to evaluate this assumption relative to human and non-human primates. A second purpose is to acquaint investigators of mammalian locomotor behavior and control with the large amount of data available on this topic for non-human primates. The analysis shows that non-human primates are different from carnivores in footfall patterns, gaits, gait transitions, relative stride length, limb angular excursions, weight support, mechanisms of propulsion, spinal vs. supraspinal control of stepping, and possible EMG patterns. Humans exhibit more similarities with other primates than with cats or dogs, but also appear to be unique in many ways. Thus, it is clear that extrapolations of results based on cat or dog experiments may not be applicable to non-human or human primates. Furthermore, although non-human primates unquestionably make a better experimental model than cats or dogs for understanding human locomotor control mechanisms, exactly how much better remains to be determined.

Animals↗