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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Person perception in children with conduct disorders.

In his object-relations theory, O. Kernberg discerns different levels of personality organization. From a structural point of view these are described with respect to the object-relations. So, according to Kernberg, the antisocial personality is more primitively organized (so-called borderline) than most patients with neurotic disorders, as manifested by his object-relations. We hypothesize that this also applies to children with conduct disorders in comparison with emotionally disturbed children. In this explorative study, we investigated whether suppositions concerning the object/self representations (i.e. the internal object-relations) of children with conduct disorders can be tested using a research method from empirical psychology. We chose the method of the free (written) description of persons, which in the psychology of social cognitions is used to study person perception. The results indicate that person perception (i.e. the conscious part of the object/self representations) in children with conduct disorders differs characteristically from that in a normal age- and intelligence-matched control group.

Acting Out↗
PubMed1996

Visual memory for novel shapes: implicit coding without attention.

Implicit memory for novel shapes was explored with a negative priming paradigm. The results show that representations of shapes, formed in a single trial and without attention, can last without decrement across 200 intervening trials and with temporal delays of up to a month. No explicit memory of the shapes was available, either immediately or after a delay. There were consistent individual differences in the amount of negative priming shown, and some participants showed only facilitation. There was a trend toward increased facilitation across time, as if the memory of the shape survived longer than an "action tag" attached to it, which specified whether it should be attended or ignored. The results demonstrate a surprising combination of plasticity and permanence in the visual system and suggest that the roles of both attention and repetition may be to ensure voluntary retrievability rather than to form a lasting memory.

Attention↗
PubMed1992

A world between realities: an exploration of therapeutic group culture and transitional phenomena in a long-term psychotherapy group.

In long-term, open-ended psychotherapy groups in which there are inevitable, yet potentially disruptive changes in membership, therapeutic group culture can become particularly important in sustaining a group's sense of cohesion. This article focuses on how transitional phenomena, as defined by D. W. Winnicott, and representational play serve as vehicles for establishing therapeutic group culture in a preadolescent girls' group. Applications of both transitional phenomena and therapeutic group culture to group stage development, as outlined by Garland, Jones, and Kolodny (1970), will also be explored.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Regressive transferences--a manifestation of primitive personality organization.

Regressive transferences are but one manifestation of dynamic infantile and frequently unconscious fantasies seen in patients with a primitive personality organization. Such transference relationships may vary from an apparent profound unrelatedness to intense symbiotic dependencies. These transferences are primarily preoedipal and may include grandiose, persecuting, somatizing and dehumanized object experiences as well as narcissistic idealizing and denigrating selfobject formations. Three types of regressive transferences in patients with primitive personalities are described: primitive libidinal, transference automatism, and somatization. All three demonstrate symbolically meaningful but primarily unconscious primitive transference reenactments. Regressive transferences not only represent impulses seeking gratification but are also restitutive attempts for earlier losses and lack of self-cohesion. Patients with a primitive personality organization often have suffered early deprivations that bring about the formation of unstable internal representations. This makes acceptance of ambivalence and mourning difficult due to fear of ego dissolution caused by the aggression toward the self and others. Identification and exploration of shared intersubjective phenomena may facilitate conscious reconstruction and eventual interpretation of these regressive transferences.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The problem of mental representation in self and object theory.

The concept of mental representation has come to mean too many things. Some authors use representational terms to include both subjective experience and nonphenomenal, abstract, explanatory concepts. The reconciliation between the representational and structural frames of reference cannot be achieved by a conceptual stuffing of representations into the system ego as a container. The mediation of mental activities by substructures of the mind is a highly complicated problem with considerable clinical significance. It is useful to distinguish representational concepts which have circumscribed functional capacities from representational systems which parallel the ego in scope. It is not yet possible to claim that we have adequately reconciled our views of memory with representational terms. Just as the alluring prospect of inventing an infinite series of "instincts" misled biologists in the past, so must we now avoid an infinite series of representations to which we assign any problematic mental task for explanation. We lack information from object relations theory about what there is in the mind which is not a mental representation. The clinical advantage of representational language and models over the structural hypothesis of compromise formation remains unsettled. There is in principle no conceptual obstacle to the integration in one frame of reference of both representational and structural concepts. This requires clear understanding of the representational structure as the result of compromise formation, as well as an important influence on compromise formation. We could then better study our heritage of shared experience without confusing the precipitates of our experience with the structure of our minds.

Child Development↗
PubMed1988

Fantasy or structural defect? The borderline dilemma as viewed from analysis of an experience of nonhumanness.

The experience of nonhumanness, a crucial aspect of the phenomenal self of borderline states, is studied in two cases to test assumptions concerning the application of the classic ego-psychological or object-relations and self-psychological models. Are these experiences to be seen as fantasy and treated as manifest content, with dynamically active unconscious conflict and meaning, requiring interpretation, or as a developmental arrest in which structural disturbances are ameliorated through clarifying and empathic interventions? The first case is of a patient with a neurotic depression and hysterical and obsessional character traits, treated in a classic psychoanalysis. Even though dyadic oral and anal fantasies were strongly in evidence, the ego was well integrated. The second case is of a severe borderline patient who showed depressive panic and agoraphobia. Her major ego disturbances, poorly integrated and differentiated self- and object representations, and primitive defenses prevented effective psychoanalytically oriented treatment. Interventions were used to consolidate self-representations, internalize tension-regulating structures, promote adaptive ego functions and reality testing. These clarifications were necessary to move the patient to where she could tolerate facing unconscious dynamic conflicts. Only at that point could repression be lifted, memory emerge, and interpretation be utilized.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

After the analysis: analyst as both old and new object.

In the course of followup study of satisfactorily analyzed former patients, there are observed two sets of phenomena: (1) recurrence of the analytic transference neurosis, and (2) rapid recovery from this transference neurosis. These phenomena are telescoped repetitions of the analysis and reflect the ongoing mental representation of the analyst as a displacement from the objects of the past, organized into the transference neurosis. The spontaneous and rapid recovery from the transference neurosis in followup study repeats the "cure" of the analysis and the new ongoing representation of the analyst as a nonconflicted object. This new image of the analyst is based on both the resolution of the transference neurosis and new displacements from positive experiences with significant figures from the past.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1975

Awe and premature efaculation: a case study.

The analysis of a man suffering from premature ejaculation is described. As is typical of a large group of men who ejaculate prematurely, he was passive and masochistic in his marriage and obsessive-compulsive in his character. Analysis of his affect of awe led first to a deeper understnding of his self-representations and object relationships, and later, with the discovery of the specific unconscious fantasies associated with the feeling of awe, to the alleviation of his symptom of premature ejaculation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of Kleinian contributions to psychoanalysis II. Freudian and Kleinian conceptions of early mental development.

This paper discusses and compares Freudian and Kleinian conceptions of the development of early mental life from the vertices of the genetic hypothesis (and reconstruction), the infantile neurosis, the conception of the evolution of the infant, the issue of reality, and the oedipus complex. In so doing, some of the newer findings of infant development are considered. We can now correlate Kleinian conceptions of early infantile reconstruction in light of these new developments; this paper seeks further to demonstrate that the classical notion of primary narcissism, which is laterally known as the conception of the self-object representation, is incompatible with notions of infantile psychology and therefore leaves the classical conception of early mental life in an ambiguous state. An attempt is made to redress this by reconciling the classical and Kleinian notions via a "dual-tract" theory.

Child Development↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychodynamics of patient with endogenous eczema and bronchial asthma].

A casuistic of a psychoanalysis with a patient about 290 hours shows the early disturbance of the relationships of this patient. The fusion between the "bad" and the "good" aspect of the object representation "mother" has not been established. The Patient has the following unconscious conflict: he wishes to be spoiled and he fear to be fixed. He tries to resolve this conflict by flight or somatisation in form of an atopic dermatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A knowledge-based system for diagnosis of mastitis problems at the herd level. 1. Concepts.

Much specialized knowledge is involved in the diagnosis of a mastitis problem at the herd level. Because of their problem-solving capacities, knowledge-based systems can be very useful to support the diagnosis of mastitis problems in the herd. Conditional causal models with multiple layers are used as a representation scheme for the development of a knowledge-based system for diagnosing mastitis problems. Construction of models requires extensive cooperation between the knowledge engineer and the domain expert. The first layer consists of three overview models: the general overview conditional causal model, the contagious overview conditional causal model, and the environmental overview conditional causal model, giving a causal description of the pathways through which mastitis problems can occur. The conditional causal model for primary udder defense and the conditional causal model for host defense are attached to the overview models at the second layer, and the conditional causal model for deep primary udder defense is attached to the conditional causal model for the primary udder defense at the third layer. Based on quantitative user input, the system determines the qualitative values of the nodes that are used for reasoning. The developed models showed that conditional causal models are a good method for modeling the mechanisms involved in a mastitis problem. The system needs to be extended in order to be useful in practical circumstances.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Manual microdissection of defined cells and RNA extraction for gene expression analysis of esophageal carcinoma progress].

OBJECTIVES: To isolate cells of interest from heterogeneous tissue blocks to obtain accurate representations of molecular alterations acquired by neoplastic cells so as to meet the demands of further study on gene expression patterns of the esophageal carcinoma (EC) evolution. METHODS: Blocks of EC were stored at -70 degrees C as close as possible to the time of surgical resection. The tissue block was embedded in OCT and frozen sections of 35 microns in thickness were cut in a cryostat under strict RNAse-free conditions. Individual frozen sections were mounted on plain glass slides and 30-gauge needle attached to a 1 ml syringe was used to microdissect defined cells in the sections. The procured cells were used for total RNA extraction. RESULTS: An optimized protocol of manual microdissection was developed successfully whereby regions with an area as small as 1/25 mm2 could be accurately dissected. The RNA recovered from procured cells was of high quality suitable for subsequent applications of molecular analysis as assessed of 18S and 28S rRNAs by electrophoresis on agarose gel. CONCLUSIONS: It is believed that manual microdissection is capable to procure defined cell populations from complex primary tissues, thus allowing investigation of tissue-, cell-, and function-specific gene expression patterns. The technique is simple, easy to perform, versatile, and of particular usefulness when laser capture microdissection (LCM) is practically unavailable.

Cell Separation↗
PubMed2001

Exercise increases metabolic capacity in the motor cortex and striatum, but not in the hippocampus.

Acute bouts of exercise have been shown to produce transient increases in regional cerebral glucose utilization, oxygen uptake, and cerebral blood flow in motor cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not chronic exercise will cause long-term metabolic plasticity in brain structures activated during physical activity. The activity of cytochrome oxidase (COX), is coupled to the production of ATP, and reflects long-term plasticity in metabolic capacity. The present study examined whether or not 6 months of voluntary exercise would increase COX activity in the striatum, sensorimotor cortex, and three hippocampal subfields. Five-month-old, female Long-Evans hooded rats were randomly assigned to a control or exercise condition. Exercising rats had running wheels attached to their home cages. After the training period, fresh brains were rapidly frozen and sectioned with a cryostat. COX activity was measured using COX histochemical methods and optical densitometry. Rats in the exercise condition had significantly higher optical density in the hindlimb and forelimb motor cortices (18%, P<0.01) and dorsolateral caudate putamen (17%, P<0.01), but not in the ventrolateral caudate putamen or any subfield of the hippocampus. Although exercise is believed to increase neuronal activity in the hippocampus, motor cortex and striatum, only limb representations in the motor cortex and striatum increase bioenergetic capacity after regular exercise.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Modelling hydrodynamics and sediment flux within a macrotidal estuary: problems and solutions.

A model of estuarine circulation and sediment transport is described. The model uses a 2-D longitudinal and vertical grid to predict the distribution of tidal elevation, current velocity, density and sediment concentration. It has been developed for relatively narrow estuaries that have a large tidal range and potentially high river flow. The advantage over simple 1-D and depth-averaging 2-D models is that it can give reasonable representation of both gravitational circulation and the vertical distribution of suspended sediment concentrations, thereby providing better estimates of the bottom stress and sediment flux, particularly in the deep channel. The model has been developed as a management tool to provide some of the advantages of a full 3-D model, but with smaller development and running costs. It can be used to predict concentrations of contaminants in estuaries that have a significant load of suspended cohesive sediment, and can differentiate between dissolved contaminants and those that are attached to suspended sediments. It is a potentially useful tool for predicting the distribution of relatively short-lived contaminants that are affected by sediment concentration, such as bacteria and some radionuclides.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2005

Transfer of spatial behaviour controlled by a landmark array with a distinctive shape.

In two experiments, rats swam to a submerged platform in one corner of a rectangular or kite-shaped array created by four identical landmarks attached to the walls of a circular pool. After training in the rectangular array, rats expressed a preference for the corner in the kite-shaped array that was geometrically equivalent to where the platform was located previously. After training in either array, the removal of two landmarks from the rectangular array, or the landmark at the apex of the kite-shaped array, did not affect the control over searching exerted by the remaining landmarks. The results imply that rats use local rather than global spatial representations when searching for a hidden goal with reference to an array of landmarks.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Object relations and referential activity in physically abused adolescents.

This study compared the object relations and language functions of 15 physically abused and 15 nonabused adolescents. The adolescents provided a 5-minute narrative about their mothers, which was scored for referential activity and object relations. As predicted, the abused adolescents tended to have lower levels of affect tone, indicating more malevolent relationship paradigms. Contrary to what was predicted, however, there were no significant differences between groups on overall measures of referential activity and object relations. Further, the abused adolescents tended to have higher levels of two elements of referential activity (concreteness, imagery), indicating increased verbal ability to express emotional experience. While predicted correlations were found between object relations and referential activity for the nonabused group, the abused group showed higher symbolizing and verbalizing capacity, associated with more malevolent representations of relationships. The findings do not support the view that physically abused adolescents experience developmental lags, instead suggesting that they organize and use emotional and symbolizing processes differently from nonabused adolescents. The implications for treatment are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The effects of social cognition and object representation on psychotherapy continuation.

This study investigates the extent to which the number of psychotherapy sessions attended is predicted by the Rorschach Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (MOA; Urist, 1977), Holt primary (A1) and secondary (A2) process aggression variables (Holt, 1977), and ratings of Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) narratives using Westen's (1995) eight Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (SCORS) variables (complexity of representation of people, affective quality of representations, emotional investment in relationships, emotional investment in values and moral standards, understanding of social causality, experience and management of aggressive impulses, self-esteem, identity and coherence of self). Seventy-six patients with a DSM-IV Axis II diagnosis participated in this study. Two separate stepwise regression analyses (one for Rorschach variables, N = 76, and one for the SCORS ([TAT]) variables, n = 63) indicated that the Rorschach MOA PATH score (sum of scale points 5, 6, and 7; positive), as well as two individual SCORS variables (in order of relative magnitude, affective quality of representations, negative, and emotional investment in relationships, positive), were predictive of the number of psychotherapy sessions attended by patients. The conceptual nature and clinical utility of these variables are discussed in relation to the termination and continuation of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alterations in the thickness of motor cortical subregions after motor-skill learning and exercise.

Behavioral manipulations such as housing in an enriched environment have been shown to increase brain weight and visual cortical thickness. The present study was designed to test whether skill learning or repetitive movements can alter the thickness of the motor cortex. One group of 6-mo-old Long-Evans female rats learned motor skills on an obstacle course that increased in difficulty over training and required balance and coordination. A second group ran voluntarily in exercise wheels attached to their home cage but had little opportunity for skill learning. The third group was handled daily but received no opportunity for learning or exercise. Each condition lasted 26-29 d. The skill-learning and exercise conditions had greater heart weight, and the exercise condition had greater adrenal gland weights than controls. The thickness of the motor cortex was measured in four coronal planes between -2.33 mm to -0.3 mm from bregma. Regions of interest that corresponded to published maps of forelimb and hind-limb representations were analyzed together. Rats in the skill-learning condition had significantly thicker medial cortical areas in the two anterior planes (-0.8 and -0.3 mm from bregma). These regions correspond to previously mapped hind-limb representations. The exercise group had greater thickness of the medial region at -0.8 mm from bregma. Cortical thickness in all conditions varied significantly along the medial to lateral axis. For both treatments, the effects were restricted to medial and anterior regions of interest rather than posterior or lateral regions of interest. The results indicate that robust exercise, in addition to skill learning, is capable of altering the thickness of the motor cortex, but that the effects are restricted rather than distributed within the regions studied.

Animals↗