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PubMed2004

Gabapentin maintenance decreases smoked cocaine-related subjective effects, but not self-administration by humans.

Data from research with laboratory animals indicate that cocaine self-administration can be reduced by lambda-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists. Yet, the effectiveness of GABA agonists to decrease human cocaine self-administration has not been investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of gabapentin, a GABA agonist, on cocaine-related behaviors, including self-administration, in human research participants under controlled laboratory conditions. During this 48-day double-blind, crossover design study, the effects of gabapentin (0, 600, and 1200 mg/d) maintenance on response to cocaine (0, 12, 25, and 50 mg) were investigated in seven cocaine abusers. Active cocaine significantly increased choice to self-administer cocaine, subjective-effect ratings (e.g., "Good Drug Effect"), blood pressure and heart rate (HR). Gabapentin did not reduce cocaine choice or cardiovascular measures, but it did decrease some subjective effects of cocaine (e.g., "Good Drug Effect" and "Anxious"). These data suggest that the cocaine-gabapentin combination was well-tolerated, and because some cocaine-related subjective effects were reduced by maintenance on relatively low gabapentin doses, future studies should test higher gabapentin doses.

Acetates↗
PubMed2002

Attractive properties of sexual pheromones in mice: innate or learned?

It is generally assumed that chemical signals (sexual pheromones) constitute the primary stimulus for sexual attraction in many mammals. However, it is unclear whether these pheromones are volatile or nonvolatile and which sensory systems are involved in their detection (vomeronasal and/or olfactory). Moreover, it has been demonstrated that experience influences the behavioral response to sexual pheromones and the sensory systems implicated. In order to clarify this issue, the attractive properties of volatile and nonvolatile components of the male-soiled bedding have been analyzed in female mice that had no previous experience with adult male-derived chemical signals (chemically naïve females) using two-choice preference tests. The results indicate that some nonvolatile male-derived substances exert an innate attraction to females, but volatiles derived from male-soiled bedding do not attract chemically nai;ve females. Therefore, the primary attractive sexual pheromone includes a nonvolatile compound (e.g. major urinary proteins, MUPs). On the other hand, male-derived volatiles become attractive to females because of repeated exposure to male-soiled bedding. This represents a Pavlovian-like associative learning in which previously neutral volatiles (very likely odorants) acquire attractive properties by association with the nonvolatile, innately attractive pheromone(s). These findings indicate that not only the sexual but also the 'chemical' experience (previous experience with sexual pheromones) has to be taken into account to interpret the role of chemicals as releaser or primer pheromones. The sensory systems involved in the detection of these stimuli and the neural basis of the odor-pheromone association are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Do violations of the axioms of expected utility theory threaten decision analysis?

Research demonstrates that people violate the independence principle of expected utility theory, raising the question of whether expected utility theory is normative for medical decision making. The author provides three arguments that violations of the independence principle are less problematic than they might first appear. First, the independence principle follows from other more fundamental axioms whose appeal may be more readily apparent than that of the independence principle. Second, the axioms need not be descriptive to be normative, and they need not be attractive to all decision makers for expected utility theory to be useful for some. Finally, by providing a metaphor of decision analysis as a conversation between the actual decision maker and a model decision maker, the author argues that expected utility theory need not be purely normative for decision analysis to be useful. In short, violations of the independence principle do not necessarily represent direct violations of the axioms of expected utility theory; behavioral violations of the axioms of expected utility theory do not necessarily imply that decision analysis is not normative; and full normativeness is not necessary for decision analysis to generate valuable insights.

Bias↗
PubMed1985

Spatial-frequency masking and Birdsall's theorem.

We measured the masking of a spatial 4-cycle/deg sinusoid in the presence of both random and sinusoidal masks. Subjects used a variety of detection strategies, depending on psychophysical technique and familiarity with the mask. Some strategies produce Weber's-law behavior and appear formally equivalent to identification tasks; we hypothesize that these exemplify the operation of Birdsall's theorem. Other strategies produce power-law behavior and are more like the simpler detection task. Our results suggest that criterion change (commonly uncontrolled in masking studies) can produce an unacceptably large bias in the results.

Attention↗
PubMed2003

Effects of hippocampal cholinergic deafferentation on learning strategy selection in a visible platform version of the water maze.

Recent evidence has suggested that the relative levels of acetylcholine (ACh) between brain structures may be an important factor in the choice of behavioral strategy in settings in which either hippocampal or dorsal striatal brain systems can be employed both effectively and independently (McIntyre and Gold. 1999. Soc Neurosci Abs 25:1388). The current investigation used the neurotoxin 192 IgG-saporin to deplete the hippocampus of ACh selectively, while leaving ACh in other brain regions, including dorsal striatum, intact. Rats were then trained on a version of the Morris water maze, in which behavioral strategies attributed to the hippocampus and dorsal striatum are placed in direct competition. It was predicted that rats with hippocampal ACh depletion would display a cue bias. Contrary to this prediction, depleting hippocampal ACh did not bias against and, in fact, promoted use of a hippocampal place strategy in this task, as indicated by choice in competition tests and performance on hidden platform training trials. These data add to a growing literature demonstrating that the septohippocampal cholinergic system is not required for accurate spatial learning and suggest a complex role for basal forebrain projections in processing information about the spatial environment.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1992

Corticotropin-releasing factor induces a place aversion independent of its neuroendocrine role.

The purpose of the present experiment was to test the hypothesis that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a polypeptide of 41 amino acids, when administered either intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) or subcutaneously (s.c.), has aversive properties in the conditioned place-preference paradigm. Five doses of CRF (0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5 micrograms) were tested. i.c.v. CRF induced a specific dose-dependent reduction of the amount of time spent in the environment previously paired with the administration of CRF. Furthermore, this CRF-induced place aversion was prevented by pretreatment with alpha-helical-CRF(9-41), a specific CRF antagonist, administered i.c.v. In order to test whether the aversive effects induced by i.c.v. CRF could result from the stimulation of the HPA axis accompanying i.c.v. CRF injection, the reinforcing properties of s.c. CRF were studied using the same dose range. Only the higher s.c. dose was effective in producing a place aversion suggesting that the aversive effects of CRF could not be due solely to the stimulation of the pituitary-adrenocortical system, measured by plasmatic levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone, because the lower doses consistently activate the pituitary-adrenocortical system without producing any behavioral changes. Altogether, these data indicate that the non-neurosecretory CRF neurons may mediate the aversive state occurring during stress.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Sexual partner preference, hypothalamic morphology and aromatase in rams.

The male-oriented ram is a unique and valuable animal model for the study of hormonal, developmental and genetic contributions to sexual partner preference. Unlike most other mammalian models that are in use currently, variations in sexual attraction occur spontaneously in domestic ram populations. It is estimated that as many as 8-10% of rams exhibit a sexual partner preference for other males, classifying them as male-oriented rams. Studies have failed to identify any compelling social factors that can predict or explain the variations in sexual partner preferences of rams. Nor is there consensus on the endocrine and sensory responsiveness of male-oriented rams to other rams. However, a number of studies have reported differences in brain structure and function between male-oriented and female-oriented rams, suggesting that sexual partner preferences are neurologically hard-wired. Recently, we identified a sexually dimorphic nucleus (oSDN) in the sheep preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus. The oSDN is larger in female-oriented rams than in male-oriented rams and similar in size in male-oriented rams and ewes. In addition, mRNA levels for aromatase in the oSDN were higher in males than in females and were higher in female-oriented rams than in male-oriented rams. These results suggest a relationship between steroid hormones, specifically estrogens and oSDN morphology. In this review, we provide an overview of sexual behavior in rams and discuss the multiple factors that may contribute to the development and adult expression of same-sex partner preferences in rams.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effects of prenatal stress on sexual partner preference in mice.

Three-month old, male Swiss Webster mice were born to either control dams or dams who had been prenatally stressed with light, heat, noise and handling during the last week of gestation. As adults, male offspring were tested on sexual partner preference and sexual behavior (mounting, intromissions and lordosis) with a sexually experienced male stimulus animal and a stimulus estrous female. In comparison to males born to control dams, prenatally stressed males showed a sexual partner preference for the sexually active male as demonstrated by a negative partner preference score, more and longer visits to the male's compartment, fewer and shorter visits to the female's compartment and longer latencies to and lower frequencies of mounts and intromissions of females. In addition, stressed males showed a greater frequency of lordosis and a higher lordosis quotient than did control males. This study is the first to investigate the effects of prenatal stress alone, without hormonal manipulation, on sexual partner preference using both a partner preference paradigm and measures of sexual behavior such as mounting, intromissions and lordosis. These findings support the suggestion that prenatal stress alone is enough to significantly affect sexual partner preference in male mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The role of ethnicity in elder care.

This article has attempted to illustrate (1) how the concept of ethnicity is related to elder care, whether that care is given at home, in a hospital, or in a nursing home; (2) some of the issues inherent in the assessment of ethnicity; and (3) some of the ways to incorporate the symbols of ethnic identity into an elder's plan of care. Essential to the assessment process are examination of perceived biases and expectations of care from both an elder's and a nurse's perspective. Incorporation of assessed ethnicity involves interpretation of an elder's behavior, rituals, and symbols--for example, preferred foods and language--and mutual planning of care that meets the priorities of the elder's ethnic beliefs.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Discriminating the relation between relations: the role of entropy in abstract conceptualization by baboons (Papio papio) and humans (Homo sapiens).

Two baboons (Papio papio) successfully learned relational matching-to-sample: They picked the choice display that involved the same relation among 16 pictures (same or different) as the sample display, although the sample display shared no pictures with the choice displays. The baboons generalized relational matching behavior to sample displays created from novel pictures. Further experiments varying the number of sample pictures and the mixture of same and different sample pictures suggested that entropy plays a key role in the baboons' conceptual behavior. Two humans (Homo sapiens) were similarly trained and tested; their behavior was both similar to and different from the baboons' behavior. The results suggest that animals other than humans and chimpanzees can discriminate the relation between relations. They further suggest that entropy detection may underlie same-different conceptualization, but that additional processes may participate in human conceptualization.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The Play Activity Questionnaire: a parent report measure of children's play preferences.

Three studies describe the development and validation of the Play Activity Questionnaire (PQ), a parent report measure of children's play preferences. In Study 1, the 15-item PQ was completed by parents of 239 6- to 8-year-old children, and exploratory factor analysis revealed four play factors: Active and Adventurous, Athletic, Rough-and-Tumble, and Quiet. In Study 2, the factor structure was replicated with PQ data on 203 children of a broader age range (4 to 12 years). The play factors accounted for 65.7% of the variance. Boys' scores exceeded girls' scores on the Athletic and Rough-and-Tumble play factors. Girls' scores exceeded boys' scores on the Quiet play factor. Sex differences were not observed on the Active and Adventurous play factor. Interparent agreement was moderately high, and PQ factor scores were unrelated to social class or nationality. Individual factor scores showed moderate to high stability over 5 months. Validity of the play factors was examined in Study 3 by relating factor scores to measures of activity level, aggression, and sex-typed play. Play factor scores were associated with several of these measures, suggesting that the PQ is a valid measure of children's play behavior with potential applications in the fields of developmental psychopathology and psychoneuroendocrinology, and in studies of normal play and sex-role development.

Child↗
PubMed2006

Can lemurs learn to deceive? A study in the black lemur (Eulemur macaco).

Deceptive behavior in primates has been the focus of a number of studies. Nevertheless, such abilities have never been demonstrated in prosimians. The authors' goal was to analyze possible deception in lemurs according to a paradigm used with simians. Three black lemurs were trained to communicate about the location of a hidden reward with a cooperative trainer. Afterward, when a 2nd trainer and lemurs competed to gain access to the reward, each subject differentially adapted its learned behavior to the context. Their performances with the cooperative trainer remained stable while they showed various behavioral adjustments when faced to the competitive trainer: 1 subject refused to participate, another preferentially withheld information, and the 3rd sometimes pointed deceptively to obtain the reward.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Acute marijuana effects on human risk taking.

Previous studies have established a relationship between marijuana use and risky behavior in natural settings. A limited number of laboratory investigations of marijuana effects on human risk taking have been conducted. The present study was designed to examine the acute effects of smoked marijuana on human risk taking, and to identify behavioral mechanisms that may be involved in drug-induced changes in the probability of risky behavior. Using a laboratory measure of risk taking designed to address acute drug effects, 10 adults were administered placebo cigarettes and three doses of active marijuana cigarettes (half placebo and half 1.77%; 1.77%; and 3.58% Delta9-THC) in a within-subject repeated-measures experimental design. The risk-taking task presented subjects with a choice between two response options operationally defined as risky and nonrisky. Data analyses examined cardiovascular and subjective effects, response rates, distribution of choices between the risky and nonrisky option, and first-order transition probabilities of trial-by-trial data. The 3.58% THC dose increased selection of the risky response option, and uniquely shifted response probabilities following both winning and losing outcomes following selection of the risky option. Acute marijuana administration thereby produced measurable changes in risky decision making under laboratory conditions. Consistent with previous risk-taking studies, shifts in trial-by-trial response probabilities at the highest dose suggested a change in sensitivity to both reinforced and losing risky outcomes. Altered sensitivity to consequences may be a mechanism in drug-induced changes in risk taking. Possible neurobiological sites of action related to THC are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Sunburn reduction through parental role modeling and sunscreen vigilance.

OBJECTIVES: To identify characteristics associated with child sunburn experience and sun protection practices, including parent and child demographics, phenotype, and sun-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. STUDY DESIGN: A nationally representative telephone survey conducted in 1999 with 651 parents of children 5 to 12 years of age to collect data relating to the sun-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the parent and child. RESULTS: Nearly half of parents (49%) and children (44%) were sunburnt during the previous summer. Parents who reported that they had been sunburnt were more likely to have children who had been sunburnt (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 2.0, 4.2). Conversely, parents with a high level of sun protection behavior were less likely to report being sunburnt (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4, 0.9), and their children were more likely to have a high level of sun protection behavior (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 2.0, 4.6) and sunscreen vigilance (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.7, 4.5). High sunscreen vigilance was associated with a 60% reduction in child sunburning. CONCLUSIONS: The sunburn experience and sun protection practices of children (5-12 years of age) are closely linked to a number of modifiable attitudes and behaviors of their parents. Therefore the inclusion of parents and care givers in interventions targeting children may increase program efficacy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Housing accommodation preferences of people with psychiatric disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: The study sought to identify the types of housing preferred by people with psychiatric disabilities seeking accommodations through a community mental health service in Sydney, Australia. METHODS: Housing options available in the mental health service's catchment area were identified, and the extent of demands on residents' behavior that was associated with each option was assessed using an established measure. Clients examined descriptions of each housing option and rank-ordered the options based on their preferences. Clients' current levels of functioning and symptoms were also assessed. RESULTS: Clients most preferred environments that ensured living alone in settings of low behavioral demand. Living in one's own home was the most preferred option, followed by living in government-subsidized housing, For-profit boarding houses were preferred over psychiatric group homes, and homelessness, long-term hospitalization, and crisis accommodations were least preferred. Shelter, privacy, food, and safety were highly valued housing attributes. Demographic characteristics, level of functioning, and severity of psychiatric symptoms did not predict accommodation preferences. CONCLUSION: Consumers' resistance to psychiatric group housing with high levels of behavioral demand is unrelated to consumer characteristics and should be considered in planning suitable accommodations for persons with psychiatric disabilities.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Woman to woman. Complementary therapy use in menopause.

Many women are turning to herbal, homeopathic, dietary, and other complementary therapies for relief of stressful aspects of menopause. Several questions related to complementary therapy use are not, however, well addressed in current research literature. Why do women seek out complementary therapies? Which therapies do they choose and why? What is the nature of their experiences using complementary therapies? In this qualitative study, 19 Caucasian women, who identified themselves as using or having used complementary therapies during menopause were interviewed in one of four focus groups. Findings revealed a wide variety of therapies, such as vitamin, mineral, and herbal preparations and lifestyle and behavioral initiatives, used to address distressing aspects of menopause. Also identified was lack of family and professional support for women who are seeking complements or alternatives to conventional treatment.

Adult↗