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PubMed1988

Behavioral reduction of overt hallucinatory behavior in a chronic schizophrenic.

A 60-year-old chronically schizophrenic man who displayed verbally aggressive hallucinatory outbursts in a nursing home was placed on a contingent exercise program to decrease the hallucinations. Baseline demonstrated a daily average of 4.66 episodes per day. A 20-week intervention decreased these episodes to 0.34 per day. This 92% decrease was accomplished by contingently walking the subject in a hallway until he was quiet. Psychotropic medication increased during baseline had no effect on the target behavior. This mildly aversive program indicates that overt hallucinatory behavior seems to have at least a partial environmental base.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1976

Electrophysiological and behavioral effects of transcortical polarizing current: comparison with the behaviorally determined characteristics of learning.

Passage of polarizing current through the cerebral cortex, with the anode at the surface (Anp), produces neurophysiological changes which may be related to those which occur during learning. This relationship was evaluated at the visual cortex of unanesthetized, Sprague-Dawley rats, under a number of experimental conditions, with chronic light flash (LF)-evoked electrocortical response recording and LF-shock avoidance. During experimental treatments electrophysiologically studied animals received either 30 paired presentations of Anp and LF or parametrically equal, unpaired presentations; behaviorally studied animals received either these treatments or 30 presentations of LF alone. Each LF presentation contained 15 LF at the rate of one/sec. Anp presentations consisted of a 15-sec rise of current from 0 to 9 muA/sq.mm, 15 sec of steady 9 muA/sq.mm, and a 15-sec period of current decrease from 9 back to 0 muA/sq.mm. Each presentation was separated from the next by a randomized interval of 45-120 sec. Paired Anp and LF produced large waves (50 muV or greater) in the late negative phase of the evoked response. These waves appeared towards the end of pairings, were evident in recordings made 48 h after pairings and again diminished, but rapidly reappeared when pairings were reintroduced. Anpp and LF pairings also produced a 55% decrease in the number of trials needed to reach criterion on the LF-shock avoidance task as compared to the performance of the group treated with LF alone. Unpaired Anp and LF had no discernable electrophysiological or behavioral effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Vomeronasal and olfactory pathways to the amygdala controlling male hamster sexual behavior: autoradiographic and behavioral analyses.

Previous studies suggest that the rostral corticomedial amygdala (CMA), particularly the medial nucleus, is an important site where vomeronasal and olfactory stimuli critical to male hamster copulatory behavior are processed. To test the possibility that mating deficits seen after lesions of the rostrally-placed medial nucleus may be due to the interruption of chemosensory afferents to more caudal areas, we injected tritiated amino acids into the accessory and main olfactory bulbs of male hamsters in which we had first produced bilateral electrolytic lesions or sham lesions in either the rostral CMA or basolateral amygdala, and then observed mating behavior. Autoradiographic analysis of "vomeronasal' projections from the accessory olfactory bulb and "olfactory' projections from the main bulb, revealed that rostral CMA lesions which damaged the medial nucleus and extended to the ventral surface of the brain (ventral lesions) interrupted vomeronasal input to the more caudally-placed posteromedial cortical nucleus, but spared olfactory inputs to adjacent caudal areas of the amygdala and piriform lobe. In contrast, lesions which damaged a major portion of the medial nucleus but left its ventral surface intact (dorsal lesions) spared both vomeronasal and olfactory inputs to more caudal areas. Animals with both dorsal and ventral lesions failed to mate postoperatively, whereas animals bearing sham lesions of basolateral amygdaloid lesions, which, like dorsal lesions, spared caudally-directed chemosensory afferents, continued to mate normally. We conclude that mating deficits seen after rostral CMA lesions are due primarily to destruction of the medial nucleus.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1995

Toluene induces behavioral activation without affecting striatal dopamine metabolism in the rat: behavioral and microdialysis studies.

We examined the effects of toluene on the release of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in rat striatum using microdialysis. Intraperitoneal injection of 800 mg/kg toluene significantly increased motor activity in rats, as did methamphetamine (MAP) (1 mg/kg). However, 800 mg/kg toluene did not affect the extracellular levels of DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. This is in contrast to MAP, which significantly increased extracellular DA and decreased the extracellular levels of its metabolites. These results suggest that toluene-induced behavioral augmentation may not be associated with alterations in DA or serotonin neurochemistry such as are associated with MAP-induced behavioral augmentation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Somatic and behavioral ontogeny in three rat strains: preliminary observations of dopamine-mediated behaviors and brain D-1 receptors.

1. The acquisition of developmental milestones and maturational motor reflexes were compared in three rat strains (culled to 8 pups/litter), F344, Buff and SD. 2. Open field behavior on postnatal day 21 was scored for locomotor activity, rears and center entries. 3. F344 rats, which model ADHD, were the slowest of the three strains in acquiring a number of developmental milestones and in gaining weight; but they were intermediate in their scores for locomotor activity and rearing during open field testing at postnatal day 21. 4. Preliminary autoradiographic data using the D-1 specific ligand [3H]SCH 23390 are included which suggest that D-1 receptors, which display age-dependent changes in concentration and distribution, are relevant to day 21 open field behavior. 5. F344 rats demonstrate developmental "dysmaturation" which is consistent with that observed in children with ADHD in that somatic growth is disproportionately delayed in comparison to neurological and motor maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Effect of various behavioral training and testing procedures on brain beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity and the possible role of beta-endorphin in behavioral regulation.

Beta-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity is reduced in the rat diencephalon after the animals are exposed for the first time to any of the following behavioral situations: 50 tones (habituation), 50 tone-footshock shuttle avoidance trials, one step-down inhibitory avoidance trial, simple exposure to the avoidance apparatus with no footshocks, or inescapable shock. The effect is not observed when animals are exposed to any of these situations for a second time. The reduction of brain beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity is attributable to release and subsequent metabolism of the substance, and correlates with the novelty inherent in the diverse training or test situations. The role of beta-endorphin in behavior is discussed in the light of these and previous results which showed that it causes both retrograde amnesia and a facilitation of retrieval. The substance would appear to serve an adaptive function when animals are exposed to a new experience, by inducing a temporary forgetting of the experience together with (or leading to) a state of alertness or preparedness for what may happen next.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1983

Addictive behaviors and life problems before and after behavioral treatment of problem drinkers.

The broader impact of a behavioral self-control training intervention focusing on the reduction of alcohol consumption was examined in a sample of 93 problem drinkers (55 male). Individual life problems were assessed via the method of goal attainment scaling before and after treatment and at 3-6 months, 12 months and 24 months following termination. Alcohol and drug use, smoking and weight were also evaluated. At intake, women were more likely than men to be unmarried, married to a problem drinking spouse, or taking psychoactive prescription medication but less likely to be using illicit drugs, smoking or gambling . For both men and women negative emotional states and family discord headed the list of current life problems. Although intervention focused primarily on drinking behavior, the majority of other life problems also showed improvement at all follow-up points. Remission of life problems was associated with decreased alcohol consumption. Body weight tended to increase slightly after treatment but typically returned to or below baseline by later follow-ups. Overall rates of drug use and smoking showed little change; however, smoking cessation was associated with successful control or cessation of alcohol use and relapse to smoking coincided with unremitted drinking. Implications for treatment are considered.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Posterior neocortical (visual cortex) lesions in the rat impair matching-to-place navigation in a swimming pool: a reevaluation of cortical contributions to spatial behavior using a new assessment of spatial versus non-spatial behavior.

In the face of contradictory findings on the role of visual cortex contributions to spatial behavior, the present study evaluated the ability of rats with primary visual cortex (Area 17) lesions to learn spatial problems in a swimming pool. Because the solution to any spatial learning problem consists of acquiring at least two primary elements of a task, task procedures and spatial learning, the study, in addition to assessing spatial ability on a place task, used two training/testing methods to identify the nature of the spatial impairment associated with visual cortex lesions. Non-spatial training consisted of learning to find a platform in the dark and spatial training consisted of a series of matching-to-place problems. The results confirmed that although rats with visual cortex lesions were impaired on place learning, the deficit was partially ameliorated by non-spatial training given following the lesion, and completely ameliorated by non-spatial training given before the lesion. Nevertheless, all visual cortex groups failed to show a quadrant preference on a probe trial and displayed a profound impairment in matching-to-place learning. This definitive demonstration that appropriate testing methods can reveal a failure in spatial behavior following visual cortex lesions is consistent with the idea that primary visual cortex is required in spatial navigation.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Sequential behavior in the rat: a new model using food-reinforced instrumental behavior.

Sequential behavior, probably reflecting procedural learning, has intensively been investigated in humans. This work has mainly been done using so-called serial reaction time tasks. In such tasks, subjects have to respond rapidly to simple visual stimuli appearing at one of four locations by pressing a corresponding response key. Unknown to the subjects, these stimuli can follow a specific repeating sequence. Learning of such a sequence is typically inferred from faster reaction times to sequence as compared to random blocks of stimuli. In contrast to human subjects, the analysis of sequential behavior has received considerably less attention in rodents, possibly due to the lack of analogous animal models there. In order to establish such a model, a method was developed in rats to investigate serial reactions under conditions of random or sequential stimulus presentation. Operant testing chambers were used which consisted of four nose-poke holes with cue lights. These holes were arranged in a square fashion with a pellet receptacle in the center. The task of the rat was to rapidly respond to an illuminated hole by poking into it in order to obtain food. The stimulus locations varied permanently, and these changes pursued either a random or serial order. In three experiments with differing methodological details, responding under such conditions was analyzed with sequences consisting of 6, 12 or 13 positions. Evidence was obtained that rats can improve their performance under sequence as compared to random conditions, for example, with respect to the percentage of reinforcements obtained, or with respect to reaction times. Furthermore, methodological factors, like response requirements, were addressed which may critically affect experimental outcome. Together, this new kind of instrumental task might be useful to analyze sequential performance in the rat, and the brain mechanisms by which it is mediated.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

The Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey: a brief measure of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

This article describes details of the development and psychometric characteristics of a brief self-report inventory for assessing attitudes and behaviors symptomatic of eating disorders that is currently in use in a longitudinal study of over 700 families with 11-year-old or 17-year-old twin girls. The Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey (MEBS), formerly the Minnesota Eating Disorder Inventory, is a 30-item measure developed for use with children as young as 10 years as well as adults. An examination of the MEBS's psychometric properties in a large, community sample of girls, women, and men demonstrated good factor congruence, internal consistency reliability, three-year stability, as well as evidence of concurrent and criterion validity. This questionnaire has promise as a screening and assessment measure for eating disturbance in cross-sectional and longitudinal research involving individuals of a wide range of ages.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk behavior, perceptions of HIV risk, and risk-reduction behavior among a small group of rural African American women who use drugs.

HIV/AIDS is a health crisis for African Americans. African American women are exposed to HIV primarily through sexual behavior, which is an increased risk for women who use drugs. The study design was a mixed method consisting of an ethnography with ongoing participant observation and in-depth interviews and a questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire component was to explore drug use, sexual behavior, health history, and perceptions. The questionnaire was administered at months 6 and 18. Data for this report were derived from the first questionnaire with 30 respondents. The majority of respondents (82.7%) used polysubstances consisting of cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. Between 33% and 50% exchanged sex for drugs or money, with less than half ever using condoms. About 37% perceived that they had no risk of acquiring HIV, whereas 52% perceived a 25% chance. The pattern of HIV testing in which 33% of the women were tested 10 times or more was unexpected because of the low perception of risk. The principal conclusion was that there is great need to intervene with prevention efforts targeting rural women who use drugs in an attempt to curb increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Circling behavior and [14C]2-deoxyglucose mapping in rats: possible implications for autistic repetitive behaviors.

Repetitive behaviors (such as circling) are one of the defining features of autism. The substantia nigra (SN) is involved in circling. We used unilateral SN pars reticulata (SNR) infusions of the GABA agonist muscimol to induce circling and deoxyglucose autoradiography mapping in adult and postnatal day (PN) 15 male and female rats to determine its substrates. In adults, muscimol infusions in posterior SNR induced a higher circling rate than in anterior SNR, after which males displayed faster circling than females. In contrast, PN15 female rats circled faster than PN15 male rats. Autoradiograms demonstrated age- and sex-specific alterations of deoxyglucose uptake in the SN pars compacta (SNC) associated with highest circling rates. The data suggest that there is a close relationship of the GABAergic SNR and dopaminergic SNC in the induction of circling; there is a topographic organization of the SNR in terms of circling behavior and associated deoxyglucose uptake, which is dependent on age and sex.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of behavioral and cognitive impulsivity: development and validation of the Lifetime History of Impulsive Behaviors Interview.

The construction and initial psychometric evaluation of an interview assessment of clinically significant impulsivity (Lifetime History of Impulsive Behaviors; LHIB) is presented. Personality-disordered and control subjects participated by completing self-report measures of depression, anxiety and social desirability, along with self-report and laboratory analogue measures of impulsivity, and finally the LHIB. The LHIB demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Supporting concurrent construct validity, scores on the LHIB correlated with other self-report measures of impulsivity. Diagnostic group differences were obtained and the LHIB evidenced concurrent validity in its ability to classify subjects by scores. No relationship was obtained between the LHIB and laboratory analogue measures. While evidence of discriminant validity was mixed, these data suggest that the LHIB may be a useful instrument for the assessment of impulsive behavior.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Different behavioral functions of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and ventrolateral striatum: a microdialysis and behavioral investigation.

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the behavioral functions of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and ventrolateral striatum. In the first experiment, dialysis probes were implanted in the nucleus accumbens or ventrolateral striatum of rats previously trained to respond on fixed interval lever pressing schedules for food reinforcement. During the dialysis test session, both schedule- and site-dependent effects on dopamine release were observed. Overall, lever pressing on a fixed interval 30-s schedule produced a greater increase in extracellular dopamine than did responding on a fixed interval 120-s schedule. The fixed interval 30-s schedule was also accompanied by a higher rate of lever pressing. Rats with nucleus accumbens probe placements showed significantly higher increases in dopamine release than rats with ventrolateral striatal placements. An additional dialysis experiment showed that baseline levels of dopamine were suppressed by 1.0 microM tetrodotoxin to a similar extent in the nucleus accumbens and ventrolateral striatum. In the third experiment, 6-hydroxydopamine was injected locally into either the nucleus accumbens or the ventrolateral striatum in order to deplete dopamine. Nucleus accumbens dopamine depletions produced only a minor decrease in operant responding, whereas rats with ventrolateral striatal dopamine depletions showed low levels of responding that differed from both the control group and from the group that had accumbens dopamine depletions. Thus, these results are somewhat paradoxical, in that the structure that showed the greatest increase in dopamine release (i.e. the nucleus accumbens) was also the terminal region at which dopamine depletions had very little effect on operant responding. Ventrolateral striatal dopamine appears to be largely permissive over lever pressing, in that normal levels of dopamine in the ventrolateral striatum are critical for responding, although dopamine levels do not fluctuate much during behavioral sessions.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A system of assessment for adaptive behavior, social skills, behavioral function, medication side-effects, and psychiatric disorders.

A reliable and valid assessment is necessary for the effective delivery of services to those with mental retardation (MR). With constraints placed on financial and human resources, assessment must be comprehensive, yet cost-effective. We describe a method of assessment that operates within these constraints using informant-based measures that assess adaptive and maladaptive behavior, psychiatric disorders, behavior function, and medication side-effects.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reliability of the Child Behavior Checklist for the assessment of behavioral problems of children and youth with mild mental retardation.

The assessment of psychopathology in persons with mental retardation requires reliable and valid instruments. In the present study, the reliability of the Child Behavior Checklist was determined, using data of 42 children and youth with mild mental retardation, with ages from 10 to 18 years. Kappa coefficients and intra-class correlations were computed to determine the reliability at item level and syndrome level. At item level, mean kappa's for inter-rater and test-retest reliability were 0.267 and 0.52, respectively. At syndrome level, mean intra-class correlations for inter-rater and test-retest reliability were 0.493 and 0.775, respectively. These results suggest that the Child Behavior Checklist may not always represent a reliable checklist for the assessment of psychopathology among children and youth with mild mental retardation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Modeling emotion and behavior in animated personas to facilitate human behavior change: the case of the HEART-SENSE game.

The goal of this research is to determine whether a computer based training game (HEART-SENSE) can improve recognition of heart attack symptoms and shift behavioral issues so as to reduce pre-hospitalization delay in seeking treatment. Since treatment delay correlates with adverse outcomes, this research could reduce myocardial infarction mortality and morbidity. In Phase I we created and evaluated a prototype virtual village in which users encounter and help convince synthetic personas to deal appropriately with a variety of heart attack scenarios and delay issues. Innovations made here are: (1) a design for a generic simulator package for promoting health behavior shifts, and (2) algorithms for animated pedagogical agents to reason about how their emotional state ties to patient condition and user progress. Initial results show that users of the game exhibit a significant shift in intention to call 9-1-1 and avoid delay, that multi-media versions of the game foster vividness and memory retention as well as a better understanding of both symptoms and of the need to manage time during a heart attack event. Also, results provide insight into areas where emotive pedagogical agents help and hinder user performance. Finally, we conclude with next steps that will help improve the game and the field of pedagogical agents and tools for simulated worlds for healthcare education and promotion.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

Behavioral and emotional problems in young preschoolers: cross-cultural testing of the validity of the Child Behavior Checklist/2-3.

The cross-cultural validity of the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 2-3 (CBCL/2-3) was tested in three Dutch samples of children referred to mental health services, from the general population, and from a twin study. Six scales were derived from factor analyses and labeled Oppositional, Aggressive, and Overactive, which constituted a broadband Externalizing grouping; Withdrawn/Depressed and Anxious, which constituted a broadband Internalizing grouping; and Sleep Problems. Internal consistencies of the scales, their test-retest reliabilities, interparent agreement, discriminative power, predictive relations with problem ratings 2 years later, and relations to other instruments designed to measure general development and behavior problems were adequate, and highly comparable to psychometric properties in American samples. It was concluded that across languages and cultures behavioral/emotional problems of young preschoolers may be adequately assessed with the CBCL/2-3.

Chi-Square Distribution↗