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Influence of amphetamine-induced changes in the behavior of adult "aunts" on development and long term behavioral patterns of rats.

Infant rats of the Wistar strain were kept either with their mother or with both the mother and the "aunt"--an adult virgin female during the suckling period. One group of aunts was injected regularly with amphetamine in the dose of 3 mg/kg b.w. (the AA group), another group with saline (the SA group). Control (CO) pups were reared by their mother only. Both acute and long term consequences of aunt-rearing on behavioral development and growth rate were observed. On Days 25 and 28 the SA pups displayed an increased exploratory activity level and more contacts with the litter-mate in the test of paired interactions when compared with both the AA and CO groups. The lowest frequency of exploratory, of manipulatory and social activities were recorded for the AA pups. In adulthood, both the aunt-reared groups of male rats exhibited higher activity level in a novel environment than the CO males. However, while in the CO and the SA males the activity level tended to habituate over the repeated tests, in the AA it persisted on a high level. The difference among females was not significant. Growth rate was retarded in the AA male and female rats.

Amphetamine↗

Attributional and behavioral changes following two behavior management interventions with hyperactive boys: a follow-up study.

In a 6-month follow-up study of 2 interventions with hyperactive boys, different patterns of improvement were observed for an intervention which focused on self-control and 1 which employed contingent social reinforcement. Of the 2 manipulations, self-control methods produced significantly stronger long-term benefits in terms of the child's increased perception of personal control over academic outcomes; social reinforcement, on the other hand, produced significantly stronger long-term benefits in terms of teacher ratings of hyperactivity or impulsivity (Conners Teacher Rating Scale). Both interventions produced stable changes in terms of decreased behavioral impulsivity as measured by qualitative error scores on the Porteus Mazes.

Achievement↗

Cross-species investigations of prenatal experience, hatching behavior, and postnatal behavioral laterality.

Turning biases have been reported in some mammalian species, but less is known about such biases in nonmammalians. This study investigated turning biases in domestic chicks, bobwhite and Japanese quail, leopard geckos, and snapping turtles. Domestic chicks (white leghorn and bantam) and bobwhite quail demonstrate strong group laterality. Japanese quail chicks, snapping turtles, and leopard geckos demonstrate no significant group bias. Results are discussed with regard to differences in embryonic experience, hatching behavior, and postnatal environment.

Animals↗

Effects of cyclophosphamide treatment of newborn mice on the development of swimming and reflex behavior and on adult behavioral performance.

Cyclophosphamide (CP), an antineoplastic agent, was administered subcutaneously to Swiss-Webster mice on the day of birth and the mice were later tested for developmental or adult behavioral abnormalities. The CP dosages of 20, 30, or 45 mg/kg of body weight retarded maturation of swimming ability and 45 mg/kg retarded maturation of the righting reflex. At 7 weeks of age mice treated neonatally with 30 or 45 mg/kg of CP had reduced locomotor activity and were more emotionally reactive than controls in an open field. Mice treated with 30 but not 20 mg/kg of CP tended to avoid shock less than controls and those treated with 20 mg/kg fell more frequently when crossing a rotating rod for food. Rotorod performance was improved by treatment with 45 but not 30 mg/kg of CP. All dosages examined decreased body weight gains but only 30 or 45 mg/kg resulted in gross body malformations. The results indicate that CP can functionally impair the development of mice and that some of these impairments are independent of gross body malformations.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Phylogenetics of social behavior in Australian gall-forming thrips: evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequence, adult morphology and behavior, and gall morphology.

Six species of Australian gall-forming thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) on Acacia exhibit soldier castes, individuals with reduced wings and enlarged forelegs that defend their gall against interspecific invaders. We used data from two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase I and 16S rDNA), adult morphology and behavior, and gall morphology to infer a phylogeny for Acacia gall-forming thrips with and without soldiers, and we used this phylogeny to evaluate hypotheses concerning soldier evolution. Phylogenies inferred from each data set analyzed separately yielded large numbers of most-parsimonious trees and weak support for most nodes. However, when analyzed together the data sets complemented and reinforced one another in such a way as to yield a well-resolved phylogeny. Our phylogeny implies that soldiers originated once or twice early in the history of this clade, that soldiers were lost once or twice, and that soldiers evolved from winged dispersers rather than from nonsoldier within-gall reproductive offspring of foundresses. The phylogeny also provides evidence for long-term morphological stasis, an ancient split between eastern and western gall thrips species, and a high degree of conservatism in host-plant affiliations.

Acacia↗

Stress-related eating and drinking behavior and body mass index and predictors of this behavior.

BACKGROUND: Earlier studies on stress and obesity have not considered coping in situations involving stress. This study examines the associations between stress-related eating and drinking and obesity and the factors predicting this behavior. Predictive factors include risk factors for adult obesity, longitudinal socioeconomic status, and perceived social support. METHODS: A longitudinal, population-based study of 2,359 men and 2,791 women born in 1966 in Northern Finland was conducted. RESULTS: The body mass index at 31 years was highest among stress-driven eaters and drinkers, especially among women. Stress-driven eaters tended to eat sausages, hamburgers and pizza, and chocolate more frequently than other people. Stress-driven eaters consumed more alcohol than other people. The best predictors of stress-related eating and drinking among men age 31 years were being single or divorced, a long history of unemployment, an academic degree, and a low level of occupational education. Among women, the best predictor was a lack of emotional support. CONCLUSION: Programs aimed at preventing and treating obesity should cover the way in which people deal with emotions, ways of achieving greater emotional support, and strategies for handling stress caused by unemployment or work.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Behavioral teratogenicity of valproic acid: selective effects on behavior after prenatal exposure to rats.

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 0, 150 or 200 mg/kg valproic acid by gavage (VPA) on days 7-18 of gestation. These doses produced no maternal toxicity, reproductive effects or effects on offspring growth and survival. Maternal plasma VPA peak levels averaged 99 and 134 micrograms/ml 1 h after the last treatment, values approximating human therapeutic levels. VPA offspring tested after weaning exhibited reduced open-field central, but not peripheral, activity and reduced hole-board horizontal, but not vertical, activity. No activity differences were found in a figure-8 test or a preweaning activity test. The VPA offspring also showed lengthened straight channel swimming times, increased swimming maze errors, but only among the females, while producing no differences in maze times. VPA offspring exhibited reduced spontaneous alternation frequency and reduced startle responding to both auditory and tactile (air-puff) stimuli. The effects of VPA were dose dependent in some cases (straight channel swimming and water maze errors), or the effect was seen only in the high-dose group (open-field, hole-board, spontaneous alternation, startle). The conclusion was reached that prenatal VPA is behaviorally teratogenic in rats at relevant maternal blood concentrations and at non-malforming doses.

Animals↗

Behavioral microanalysis of spatial delayed alternation performance: rehearsal through overt behavior, and effects of scopolamine and chlordiazepoxide.

Rats were trained in an operant spatial delayed alternation task utilizing retention intervals from 2 to 32 s. In addition to response accuracy, operations of the levers during the retention intervals were recorded and analyzed. Animals were tested following the administration of the muscarinic antagonists scopolamine hydrobromide and methylbromide, and the benzodiazepine receptor agonist chlordiazepoxide. In vehicle-treated animals, the relative number of correct responses and correct rehearsal operations (operation of the forthcoming correct lever during retention intervals) varied with the length of the retention intervals, and these measures were correlated. The response rate for rehearsal operations increased with the length of the retention intervals. It is speculated that the delay-dependent increase in response rate reflects an effect of delayed reward that was also associated with a delay-dependent increase in the tendency to alternate between levers. The effects of delay on the accuracy of rehearsal operations may have contributed to the delay-dependent correct responding. Scopolamine hydrobromide (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) and methylbromide (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) impaired correct responding, but did not seem to interfere with the relative number of correct rehearsal operations. As only the presentation of the panel light indicated trial onset, it is speculated that the cholinergic receptor blockade resulted in an increase in the probability of a repositioning response that was triggered by light onset. Chlordiazepoxide (1, 3, 5, 10 mg/kg) did not affect behavioral performance. These results suggest that in tasks that allow the development of rehearsal operations, delay-dependent response accuracy does not represent a sufficient condition for conclusions on task demands on memory.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Neuroimaging and behavior: probing brain behavior relationships in the 21st century.

Functional neuroimaging over the past decade has provided a new way to examine brain behavior relationships. Current noninvasive neuroimaging techniques, which can examine structure and function, have begun to clarify the networks involved in cognitive processes and how these are affected in aging and disease. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has demonstrated the interaction between medial temporal and prefrontal regions in episodic memory. The anatomical correlates of various components of spatial attention and working memory have emerged from elegant event-related fMRI designs. Distinct neural networks for different emotions are being mapped out, and the role of the anterior cingulate in depressed mood has been documented. This review highlights key recent studies that have illuminated the neural substrates of these important cognitive and affective processes.

Behavior↗

Estradiol and progesterone influence a serotonin mediated behavioral syndrome (myoclonus) in female guinea pigs: comparison with steroid effects on reproductive behavior.

L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP)-induced myoclonus was used as a behavioral index of central serotonergic activity. Estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P) influenced the induction of myoclonus by L-5-HTP. When L-5-HTP was injected 46 h after EB, myoclonus was enhanced. P blocked this effect on EB when 100 or 125 mg/kg L-5-HTP (but not 80 mg/kg) was given 6 h after P in EB-primed animals. When L-5-HTP was given 3 or 11-15 h after P in EB-primed animals, there was no inhibitory effect of P on myoclonus. In fact, at the lowest dose (80 mg/kg), L-5-HTP increased myoclonus when given 3 h after P in EB-primed animals. The inhibitory effects of P in EB-primed females on myoclonus were temporally correlated with the display of lordosis, suggesting that the neural progestin receptor mechanisms that have been proposed to mediate P effects on lordosis are also involved in the inhibitory effects of P on myoclonus.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

Interhemispheric nigrothalamic projections and behavioral recovery following turning behavior induced by unilateral peripheral sensory and motor restriction.

We investigated the relationship between unilateral peripheral lesions plus partial sensory deprivation and interhemispheric nigrothalamic projections. Sensory-motor asymmetries were induced in rats by unilateral ligature of sensory and motor nerves of the forelimbs and hind limbs and partial sensory deprivation (cutting the vibrissae unilaterally and suturing one eyelid). This operation resulted in spontaneous turning which was partially compensated for within the first 5 postoperative days. Sixteen days after the surgery, animals were implanted with horseradish peroxidase in the ventrobasal thalamus of one hemisphere. Brains were processed by the tetramethylbenzidine procedure. Microscopical analysis revealed interhemispheric nigrothalamic projections from the substantia nigra situated ipsilateral but not contralateral to the denervated limbs. The results are interpreted in terms of a reorganization (sprouting) of interhemispheric nigrothalamic projections in response to unilateral peripheral lesions. The lesion-induced behavioral asymmetry and its partial compensation may be one of the determinants of the observed neuronal plasticity.

Animals↗

Stress-induced inhibition of sexual behavior: corticosterone inhibits courtship behaviors of a male amphibian (Taricha granulosa).

When male rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) are exposed to presumptive stressors, the incidence of courtship decreases and plasma corticosterone concentration increases. When sexually active males are injected intraperitoneally with corticosterone (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 micrograms), the incidence of courtship decreases rapidly and in proportion to the dose of corticosterone. Intracerebroventricular infusion of synthetic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) elevates plasma corticosterone levels and suppresses courtship. When male newts receive an injection of metyrapone, a drug that interferes with corticosterone synthesis, the inhibitory effects of stress or CRF infusion on courtship are reduced. These results support the hypothesis that, in this amphibian, elevated levels of corticosterone associated with exposure to stressful stimuli inhibit sexual behaviors.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Behavioral sensitization, behavioral tolerance, and increased [3H]WIN 35,428 binding in rabbit caudate nucleus after repeated injections of cocaine.

This study examined whether changes in the behavioral response to repeated intravenous injections of cocaine hydrochloride (4 mg/kg, twice daily for 22 days) might be related to alterations in the dopamine (DA) transporter as measured by the binding of the potent cocaine analog [3H]WIN 35,428 to membranes derived from fresh caudate tissue. Rabbits demonstrated both tolerance and sensitization. Tolerance occurred for cocaine elicited convulsions, whereas sensitization occurred to the ability of cocaine to elicit motor activity, facial twitches, and head bobbing. Cocaine-exposed animals demonstrated a significant 17% increase in the Bmax of specific [3H]WIN 35,428 binding to caudate membranes with no change in Kd. The increase in Bmax was observed at 42 but not 96 h after the last chronic cocaine administration. There was no change in [3H]WIN 35,428 binding at 42 h after a single injection of cocaine. We suggest that the upregulation of the dopamine transporter in the caudate nucleus reflected the mechanisms involved in tolerance rather than sensitization.

Animals↗

Relationships between neuropsychological measures of executive function and behavioral measures of ADHD symptoms and comorbid behavior.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between executive functions (EFs), as measured by neuropsychological tests, and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid behavior, as rated by parents and teachers. As intelligence and language ability are important covariates they were also assessed. METHOD: The sample consisted of 43 children aged 7-11 years who were referred for neuropsychological assessment at a tertiary clinical facility. Most of the children had the diagnosis of ADHD combined or inattentive type. Different aspects of EFs were assessed. RESULTS: EFs were not significantly related to symptoms of ADHD, but only to comorbid symptoms of depression and autistic symptomatology. Language ability rather than EFs best predicted teacher ratings of inattention. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study do not support the EF theory of ADHD. The importance of screening for comorbid language disorders in children referred for ADHD is emphasized.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

Environment-behavior relations, behavior therapy and the process of persuasion and attitude change.

The phenomena described by the cognitive dissonance literature, especially to explain attitude change, have important relevance to understanding certain aspects of therapy. Contrary to popular beliefs, these phenomena can be described in behavior-analytic terms. To do so requires an analysis of learning histories that select and maintain consistency in what individuals say and do. An understanding of the environmental variables that produce consistency can then be applied to the kinds of attitude change and stability found in the cognitive dissonance literature that have therapeutic importance.

Attitude↗