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Copyright of Mexican Journal of Behavioral Analysis / Revista Mexicana de Análisis de la Conducta is the property of Sociedad Mexicana de Analisis de la Conducta and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The pandemic, the abrupt suspension of the state of alert, the war in Ukraine and the socio-economic crisis it has created, have taken a heavy toll on all of us, and we are still feeling the negative effects! Rapid changes in the situation, the risk of illness and loss of life, experiencing illness or loss of loved ones, isolation, lack of access to cultural activities, online or hybrid schooling, anxiety and depression have had and continue to have a negative impact on the development of children and adults alike. In such a context, the motivation for learning activity of young schoolchildren has often decreased as has their ability to concentrate and perform academically. The quality of teaching-learning-assessment has decreased and teachers' performance has also changed substantially. Conflicts between children, parents and teachers have multiplied and school seems to have become a torment for everyone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mode of administration (i.e., active vs passive) could influence the modulatory action that drugs of abuse exert on memory consolidation. Similarly, drug conditioned stimuli modulate memory consolidation and, therefore, acquisition and extinction of this conditioned response could also be influenced by mode of drug administration. Exploring these questions in male Sprague–Dawley rats, Study 1 assessed memory modulation by post-training 0, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg heroin injected subcutaneously in operant chambers (i.e., drug conditioned context). Study 2 asked a similar question but in rats trained to self-administer 0.05 mg/kg/infusion heroin intravenously, as well as in rats that received identical amounts of intravenous heroin but passively, using a yoked design. The period of heroin exposure was followed by repeated drug-free confinement in the conditioned context, and by sessions during which responses on the active lever had no scheduled consequences. Study 2 also included a cue-induced reinstatement session during which lever responses reactivated a light cue previously paired with intravenous heroin infusions. The post-training effects of injected/self-administered/yoked heroin, extinction and reinstatement sessions on memory consolidation were tested using the object location memory task. It was found that post-sample heroin enhanced memory in injected and yoked, but not self-administering, rats. However, post-sample exposure to the heroin cues (i.e., context or/and light cue) modulated memory equally in all groups. Taken together, these data support the conclusion that mode of administration impacts the cognitive consequences of exposure to drugs but not of environmental stimuli linked to their reinforcing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose is to analyze existing studies related to the field of demoralization through bibliometrics. Methodology: Relevant literature on demoralization was searched from PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and CINAHL Complete. Bibliometric analysis was performed using GraphPad Prisma 8.2.1, VOSviewer 1.6.18 and R software. Research publication trends, author-country collaboration, research hotspots and future trends were explored by generating network relationship maps. Results: A total of 1,035 publications related to the field of demoralization were identified. The earliest relevant studies have been published since 1974, and the studies have grown faster since 2000. Psyche-oncology and Psychother Psychosom had the highest number of publications (n = 25). The United States, Italy and Australia have made outstanding contributions to the field and there was an active collaboration among leading scholars. Major research hotspots include the multiple ways of assessing demoralization, the specificity of various demographics and psychological disorders in different disease contexts, and the association and distinction of diverse clinical psychological abnormalities. The impact of COVID-19 on demoralization and subsequent interventions and psychological care may become a future research direction. Conclusion: There has been a significant increase in research in the field of demoralization after 2000. The United States provided the most publications. There is overall active collaboration between authors, countries, and institutions. In future research, more attention will be paid to the effects of COVID-19 on demoralization and intervention care for this psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reward predictive cues can selectively motivate instrumental behaviors that predict the same rewarding outcomes, an effect known as specific Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT). This selective effect is thought to be mediated by a representation of the sensory specific properties of an outcome, that has become associated with both the Pavlovian cue and the instrumental response during initial learning. Specific satiety is a common method of outcome devaluation that reduces an outcome's value but might also lead to the habituation of the outcome's sensory properties. Previous research has demonstrated that specific PIT is insensitive to changes in specific outcome value following taste aversion devaluation, as well as general satiety manipulations, and therefore specific satiety should not disrupt specific PIT by reducing outcome value. The present rodent experiments used a specific satiety devaluation procedure immediately prior to a specific PIT test to show that habituation of these outcome specific sensory representations can disrupt its efficacy as a stimulus and abolish the specific PIT effect. Experiment 1 employed a two-lever choice test to show that a non-devalued stimulus supports specific PIT, whereas a devalued stimulus abolished the specific PIT effect. Experiment 2 replicated this procedure while controlling for response competition by using a single-lever test to confirm that a devalued stimulus abolishes the specific PIT effect. These findings demonstrate that specific satiety can disrupt the ability of an outcome specific representation to support specific PIT. Given previous findings that specific PIT is insensitive to changes in outcome value by general satiety and taste aversion devaluation, this suggests that specific satiety devaluation might disrupt the use of sensory specific outcome representations to guide behavior via a mechanism that is independent of the outcome's current value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turn to evidence-based interventions is significant for Psychology in general and for Educational Psychology in particular. Although there is a great deal of published evidence for program validation, there is currently no protocol for the evaluation of educational psychology evidence-based intervention programs and there is no General Register of such programs to act as a central information depository. This article has four objectives: (1) To assess the significance of the turn to Evidence-Based Programs in the context of today's Knowledge Society and Research and Development, Transfer and Innovation (R&Di) activities; (2) To provide a Classification of Programs based on the degree of specialization required for appropriate professional use in line with the requirements of the Code of Ethics in Psychology; (3) To tentatively propose a Protocol for the Registration of Evidence-Based Educational Psychology Programs; and (4) Finally, to identify some implications of the protocol. We conclude that there is a need for a General Register of validated programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory is an independent memory process that occurs following retrieval, which is essential for the sustained capacity of an associative drug stimulus to precipitate heroin-seeking. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) mediates the reconsolidation of drug memory. In the present study, we utilized a rat model of drug craving and relapse to verify the hypothesis that the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory requires ERK in an instrumental heroin-seeking behavior, focusing on the BLA brain region, which is crucial for synaptic plasticity and memory processes. We found that bilateral intra-BLA infusions of U0126 (1 µg/0.5 µl), an ERK inhibitor, immediately after retrieving heroin-associated memory significantly reduced cue-induced and drug-induced reinstatement and spontaneous recovery of heroin-seeking compared to the vehicle. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect was related to the characteristic of reconsolidation. Conversely, no effect was observed on the heroin-seeking behavior when the intra-BLA infusion of U0126 was administered 6 h after the heroin-associated memory retrieval or without memory retrieval. Together, these data suggest that disrupting the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory via an ERK inhibitor may serve as a promising option for treating relapse in opiate addicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bullying is a serious concern worldwide and may compromise development for all involved. Growing evidence suggests that bullying may be viewed as a goal‐oriented strategy to achieve prestige and power or as a form of proactive aggression serving personal goals. The current paper reports a meta‐analysis of studies examining social goals‐bullying associations in youth. In addition to reporting an overall weighted‐average effect size, we compared the relative strength of associations of specific goals (status/dominance vs. antisocial/prosocial) with bullying, and examined goal type (situation‐specific vs. global), gender, and age as potential moderators. A thorough literature search identified 45 eligible effect sizes from 16 independent samples (14 sources). On average, bullying behavior was related significantly to social goal setting. Specifically, youth who displayed more bullying behavior were more likely to endorse status/power goals (r =.16, 95% CI [.11,.21]) and antisocial goals (r =.27, 95% CI [.04,.48]) and to disregard prosocial goals (r = −.10, 95% CI [−.19, −.02]) than their peers who displayed less bullying behavior. None of the included moderators related to differences in the weighted average effect size. The findings support conceptualization of bullying as instrumental behavior aimed at achieving personal goals. They also advance the understanding of motivations for bullying by indicating that, for example, goals for status/power among peers and goals of antisocial nature (e.g., revenge goals) are both related to the risk of bullying. Implications for basic research and bullying interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the role of beliefs about the malleability of well‐being in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, online positive psychology intervention targeting 267 German‐speaking adults (83% women, mean age = 43.16 years). The participants of the experimental group ("three good things" intervention) and placebo control group ("early memories") reported their levels of happiness before and immediately after the 1‐week intervention, as well as 2, 4, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Furthermore, the researchers recorded how participants completed the exercises and to what extent they liked the exercises. This study also assesses the participants' beliefs surrounding two different aspects of malleability (well‐being is modifiable in general, and one knows how to change their well‐being). Although both aspects of malleability were strongly intercorrelated, beliefs about how to change one's well‐being seemed particularly relevant in the context of positive psychology interventions: Those who reported a stronger belief about how to change their well‐being liked the intervention better and more often completed the activity as instructed. Further, they reported greater increases in well‐being as compared with the control group. We conclude that beliefs about the malleability of well‐being might represent an important moderating variable in the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that university students present higher levels of psychological distress compared with non‐student age‐matched youth. These levels are higher among healthcare students, and even higher during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Therefore, cost‐effective large‐scale interventions are needed in order to prevent further development of psychological distress during this period, and more generally. The aim of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of an 8‐week Internet‐based positive psychology intervention for healthcare students in Tunisia. A two‐armed randomized controlled trial was conducted among a sample of 366 health care students (183 in the experimental group and 183 in the control group), with a majority of women (94%). The average age was 20.74 years (±1.64). The participants completed the following online questionnaires at three time‐points (before the program, immediately after, and three months later): stress, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, optimism, hope, study engagement, and well‐being. Repeated‐measures ANOVAs revealed significant positive effects of the intervention on all the measured variables for the experimental group. The results showed a significant improvement immediately after the intervention compared to the control group, which was maintained three months later. This program may thus be considered as a promising means of improving students' mental health and study engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural oscillations, or brain rhythms, fluctuate in a manner reflecting ongoing behavior. Whether these fluctuations are instrumental or epiphenomenal to the behavior remains elusive. Attempts to experimentally manipulate neural oscillations exogenously using noninvasive brain stimulation have shown some promise, but difficulty with tailoring stimulation parameters to individuals has hindered progress in this field. We demonstrate here using electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback in a brain‐computer interface that human participants (n = 44) learned over multiple sessions across a 6‐day period to self‐regulate their Beta rhythm (13–20 Hz), either up or down, over the right inferior frontal cortex. Training to downregulate Beta was more effective than training to upregulate Beta. The modulation was evident only during neurofeedback task performance but did not lead to offline alteration of Beta rhythm characteristics at rest, nor to changes in subsequent cognitive behavior. Likewise, a control group (n = 38) who underwent training to up or downregulate the Alpha rhythm (8–12 Hz) did not exhibit behavioral changes. Although the right frontal Beta rhythm has been repeatedly implicated as a key component of the brain's inhibitory control system, the present data suggest that its manipulation offline prior to cognitive task performance does not result in behavioral change in healthy individuals. Whether this form of neurofeedback training could serve as a useful therapeutic target for disorders with dysfunctional inhibitory control as their basis remains to be tested in a context where performance is abnormally poor and neural dynamics are different. Using a non‐invasive brain‐computer interface, volitional self‐regulation of the right frontal Beta rhythm was achieved in the absence of exogenous brain stimulation. However, this modulation had no impact on behavior in healthy individuals. Whether this form of neurofeedback training could serve as a useful therapeutic target for disorders with dysfunctional inhibitory control as their basis remains to be tested in a context where performance is abnormally poor and neural dynamics are different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Social Sciences Research / Sosyal Bilimler Arastirmalari Dergisi is the property of ODU Journal of Social Sciences Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents the role of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and ventral pallidum (VP) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway in reward-related behaviors. It discusses the function and mechanism of chemogenetic stimulation, Optogenetic stimulation, and its effect on dopamine neurons of the brain.

Background: Violent offenders with psychopathic tendencies are characterized by instrumental, i.e., planned, callous, and unemotional (aggressive) behavior and have been shown to exhibit abnormal aversive processing. However, the consequences of abnormal aversive processing for instrumental action and associated neural mechanisms are unclear. Materials and methods: Here we address this issue by using eventrelated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 15 violent offenders with high psychopathic tendencies and 18 matched controls during the performance of an aversive Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer paradigm. This paradigm allowed us to assess the degree to which aversive Pavlovian cues affect instrumental action and associated neural signaling. Results: Psychopathic tendency scores were associated with an attenuation of aversive Pavlovian inhibition of instrumental action. Moreover, exploratory analyses revealed an anomalous positive association between aversive inhibition of action and aversive inhibition of BOLD signal in the caudate nucleus of violent offenders with psychopathic tendencies. In addition, psychopathic tendency also correlated positively with amygdala reactivity during aversive versus neutral cues in Pavlovian training. Conclusion: These findings strengthen the hypothesis that psychopathic tendencies in violent offenders are related to abnormal impact of aversive processing on instrumental behavior. The neural effects raise the possibility that this reflects deficient transfer of aversive Pavlovian inhibitory biases onto neural systems that implement instrumental action, including the caudate nucleus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is known to make important contributions to flexible, reward-motivated behavior. However, it remains unclear if the dmPFC is involved in regulating the expression of Pavlovian incentive motivation, the process through which reward-paired cues promote instrumental reward-seeking behavior, which is modeled in rats using the Pavlovian-instrumental transfer (PIT) task. The current study examined this question using a bidirectional chemogenetic strategy in which inhibitory (hM4Di) or excitatory (hM3Dq) designer G-protein coupled receptors were virally expressed in dmPFC neurons, allowing us to later stimulate or inhibit this region by administering CNO prior to PIT testing. We found that dmPFC inhibition did not alter the tendency for a reward-paired cue to instigate instrumental reward-seeking behavior, whereas dmPFC stimulation disrupted the expression of this motivational influence. Neither treatment altered cueelicited anticipatory activity at the reward-delivery port, indicating that dmPFC stimulation did not lead to more widespread motor suppression. A reporteronly control experiment indicated that our CNO treatment did not have non-specific behavioral effects. Thus, the dmPFC does not mediate the expression of Pavlovian incentive motivation but instead has the capacity to exert pronounced inhibitory control over this process, suggesting that it is involved in adaptively regulating cue-motivated behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by uncontrollable repetitive actions thought to rely on abnormalities within fundamental instrumental learning systems. We investigated cognitive and computational mechanisms underlying Pavlovian biases on instrumental behavior in both clinical OCD patients and healthy controls using a Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) task. PIT is typically evidenced by increased responding in the presence of a positive (previously rewarded) Pavlovian cue, and reduced responding in the presence of a negative cue. Thirty OCD patients and thirty-one healthy controls completed the Pavlovian Instrumental Transfer test, which included instrumental training, Pavlovian training for positive, negative and neutral cues, and a PIT phase in which participants performed the instrumental task in the presence of the Pavlovian cues. Modified Rescorla-Wagner models were fitted to trial-by-trial data of participants to estimate underlying computational mechanism and quantify individual differences during training and transfer stages. Bayesian hierarchical methods were used to estimate free parameters and compare the models. Behavioral and computational results indicated a weaker Pavlovian influence on instrumental behavior in OCD patients than in HC, especially for negative Pavlovian cues. Our results contrast with the increased PIT effects reported for another set of disorders characterized by compulsivity, substance use disorders, in which PIT is enhanced. A possible reason for the reduced PIT in OCD may be impairment in using the contextual information provided by the cues to appropriately adjust behavior, especially when inhibiting responding when a negative cue is present. This study provides deeper insight into our understanding of deficits in OCD from the perspective of Pavlovian influences on instrumental behavior and may have implications for OCD treatment modalities focused on reducing compulsive behaviors. Author summary: One of the salient symptoms of OCD is compulsive behavior that is difficult to control or suppress. Neuropsychological studies indicate that people with OCD tend to engage in habitual behaviors rather than flexibly adjusting behaviors according to their goals. Behavior can also be affected by cues learned via a separate Pavlovian system that are associated with reward or punishment. Positive Pavlovian cues previously associated with reward typically increase vigorous active engagement whereas negative Pavlovian cues previously associated with punishment typically decrease engagement. In this study, behavioral experiments and computational modeling were used to investigate the effect of Pavlovian cues on instrumental behavior in both clinical OCD patients and healthy controls. People with OCD were less affected by the Pavlovian cues than healthy controls when performing a previously learned instrumental task, especially when negative cues associated with punishment were present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal nutritional programming by energy-dense foods leads to the transgenerational heritance of addiction-like behavior. Exposure to energy-dense foods also activates systemic and central inflammation in the offspring. This study aimed to characterize pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles in blood and their correlation to the transgenerational heritance of the addiction-like behavior in rats. F1 offspring of male Wistar diagnosed with addiction-like behavior were mated with virgin females to generate the F2 and the F3 offspring, respectively. Diagnosis of addiction-like behavior was performed by the operant training schedule (FR1, FR5 and PR) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles in blood were measured by multiplex platform. Multiple linear models between behavior, fetal programming by diet and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles were performed. We found that the addiction-like behavior found in the F1 male offspring exposed to energy-dense food (cafeteria, CAF) diet during fetal programing is transgenerational inherited to the F2 and F3 generations. Blood from addiction-like behavior subjects of F2 and F3 generations exposed to CAF diet during maternal programming showed decrease in the anti-inflammatory IL-10 in the plasma. Conversely, decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory MCP-1 was identified in non-addiction-like subjects. No changes were found in plasmatic TNF-α levels in the F2 and F3 offspring of non-addiction-like and addiction-like subjects. Finally, biological modeling between IL-10 or MCP-1 plasma levels and prenatal diet exposure on operant training responses confirmed an association of decreased IL-10 levels on addiction-like behavior in the F2 and F3 generations. Globally, we identified decreased anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine in the blood of F2 and F3 offspring subjects diagnosed with addiction-like behavior for food rewards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The odor span task (OST) is frequently used to assess memory capacity in rodents. Odor stimuli are presented in a large arena and choices of session-novel odors produce food reward. The procedure can be described as an incrementing non-matching-to-sample contingency because on each trial one new stimulus is presented along with one or more previously presented (non-reinforced) comparison odors. An automated version of this task has recently been developed in which odors are presented with an olfactometer in an operant chamber using a successive conditional discrimination procedure. The present study compared the acquisition of matching- vs. non-matching-to-sample versions of the task with six rats tested under each procedure. All six rats trained on the non-matching variation showed rapid acquisition of the discrimination with high rates of responding to odor stimuli when they were session-novel and low rates of responding to subsequent presentations of those odors. However, only three of the six rats trained on the matching variation met acquisition criteria, and two of the three that did acquire the task required extensive training to do so. These results support findings from the OST that rats can differentiate between stimuli that are session-novel and those previously encountered, but also that a matching contingency is more difficult to learn than a non-matching arrangement. These findings parallel differences observed between acquisition of simple matching- and non-matching-to-sample tasks, but accounts such as novelty preference or the oddity preference effect may not be sufficient to explain the present results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conditioned fear can substantially reduce the likelihood that an individual will engage in reward‐related behavior––a phenomenon coined conditioned suppression. Despite the unmistakable relevance of conditioned suppression for excessive fears and their adverse consequences, the phenomenon has primarily been observed in animal models and is not yet well understood. Here, we aimed to develop a conditioned suppression paradigm that enables a robust quantification of the effect of Pavlovian fear on subsequent reward‐related behavior in humans and assess its potential relation to physiological measures of fear. In phase 1, an instrumental response was incentivized with monetary rewards. In phase 2, one of two conditioned stimuli (CS+) was reinforced with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US, i.e., electric stimulus). During Pavlovian fear learning we assessed differential skin conductance (SCR) and fear‐ potentiated startle responses (FPS). Lastly, we tested the effect of the fear conditioned CS+ on the response rate of the instrumental response in a transfer phase. Despite strong Pavlovian fear conditioning, as indicated by large effect sizes in differential SCR and FPS, we did not find any evidence for conditioned suppression: that is, there was no significant reduction of instrumental responding in the presence of the CS+ compared to a new control stimulus. This lack of conditioned suppression is in line with previous studies that reported difficulties inducing conditioned suppression and points toward a general challenge in investigating conditioned suppression in humans. Implications and directions for future research on the highly relevant behavioral effects of fear and anxiety are discussed. In humans, little is known about the effect of fear conditioned cues on formally unrelated instrumental behavior, so called aversive Pavlovian‐to‐Instrumental (PIT). Here, we aimed to investigate one form of aversive PIT, conditioned suppression, but found no evidence for suppression after fear conditioning or for a link between physiological measures of fear and conditioned suppression. We complement previous research indicating that conditioned suppression is not a robust effect after Pavlovian fear conditioning in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mechanism known as Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) describes a phenomenon by which the values of environmental cues acquired through Pavlovian conditioning can motivate instrumental behavior. PIT may be one basic mechanism of action control that can characterize mental disorders on a dimensional level beyond current classification systems. Therefore, we review human PIT studies investigating subclinical and clinical mental syndromes. The literature prevails an inhomogeneous picture concerning PIT. While enhanced PIT effects seem to be present in non-substance-related disorders, overweight people, and most studies with AUD patients, no altered PIT effects were reported in tobacco use disorder and obesity. Regarding AUD and relapsing alcohol-dependent patients, there is mixed evidence of enhanced or no PIT effects. Additionally, there is evidence for aberrant corticostriatal activation and genetic risk, e.g., in association with high-risk alcohol consumption and relapse after alcohol detoxification. In patients with anorexia nervosa, stronger PIT effects elicited by low caloric stimuli were associated with increased disease severity. In patients with depression, enhanced aversive PIT effects and a loss of action-specificity associated with poorer treatment outcomes were reported. Schizophrenic patients showed disrupted specific but intact general PIT effects. Patients with chronic back pain showed reduced PIT effects. We provide possible reasons to understand heterogeneity in PIT effects within and across mental disorders. Further, we strengthen the importance of reliable experimental tasks and provide test-retest data of a PIT task showing moderate to good reliability. Finally, we point toward stress as a possible underlying factor that may explain stronger PIT effects in mental disorders, as there is some evidence that stress per se interacts with the impact of environmental cues on behavior by selectively increasing cue-triggered wanting. To conclude, we discuss the results of the literature review in the light of Research Domain Criteria, suggesting future studies that comprehensively assess PIT across psychopathological dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Positively conditioned Pavlovian cues tend to promote approach and negative cues promote withdrawal in a Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) paradigm, and the strength of this PIT effect was associated with the subsequent relapse risk in alcohol-dependent (AD) patients. When investigating the effect of alcohol-related background cues, instrumental approach behavior was inhibited in subsequent abstainers but not relapsers. An automatic approach bias towards alcohol can be modified using a cognitive bias modification (CBM) intervention, which has previously been shown to reduce the relapse risk in AD patients. Here we examined the effects of such CBM training on PIT effects and explored its effect on the relapse risk in detoxified AD patients. Methods:N = 81 recently detoxified AD patients performed non-drug-related and drug-related PIT tasks before and after CBM versus placebo training. In addition, an alcohol approach/avoidance task (aAAT) was performed before and after the training to assess the alcohol approach bias. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Results: A stronger alcohol approach bias as well as a stronger non-drug-related PIT effect predicted relapse status in AD patients. No significant difference regarding relapse status or the number of heavy drinking days was found when comparing the CBM training group versus the placebo group. Moreover, there was no significant modulation effect of CBM training on any PIT effect or the aAAT. Conclusion: A higher alcohol approach bias in the aAAT and a stronger non-drug-related PIT effect both predicted relapse in AD patients, while treatment outcome was not associated with the drug-related PIT effect. Unlike expected, CBM training did not significantly interact with the non-drug-related or the drug-related PIT effects or the alcohol approach bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is a multi-component Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI) with the goal of improving daily happiness and classroom behavior in a sample at-risk high-school students. PPIs have increasingly been used in school settings to enhance student well-being, student success, and to increase positive affect. The current study utilized a multiple baseline design, across five adolescents, to examine whether a manualized PPI implemented in individual school-based counseling sessions with at-risk high-school students, would lead to increased happiness, improved classroom behavior, and life satisfaction, measured through a Daily Happiness survey, the Direct Behavior Rating (DBR), General Happiness Scale, Brief Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale, and the Student Life Satisfaction Scale. Results demonstrated high variability in the data and an overall null effect of the intervention on the two dependent variables of daily happiness and classroom behavior. Limitations included individual impacts of outside factors on student reports and behavior. Due to the small scale of the study and lack of observed intervention effects, more research is needed to draw conclusions about the application of the intervention. However, social validity data revealed that school-based mental health professionals may still consider this intervention to teach students strategies to improve life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examine different intrapreneurial behavioral components in order to build an intrapreneurship intervention. • We draw on interviews with 94 employees and a quasi-experimental research design of 190 employees in existing teams. • Our analyses show that intrapreneurial behavior in the intervention group is higher immediately after the intervention and three months later, compared to the control group. • Our theorizing demonstrates the positive contribution of using positive psychology interventions to develop intrapreneurship in employees. Intrapreneurial behavior is more and more valued in today's society. However, actually instigating this behavior in individuals is challenging. Drawing upon the theory of planned behavior, we investigate which behavioral components in employees help develop positive intrapreneurial norms, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, intentions and behavior. This work comprises two studies: a first qualitative study with 94 employees to determine twenty intrapreneurial behavioral components. Then, we create and test an intervention in a second study in ten existing teams with 90 employees undergoing a one-month intervention and 100 in a control group. Our results show that our intervention group indeed becomes better in intrapreneurial attitudes, perceived behavioral control, intention, and behavior, compared to the control group, immediately and three months after the intervention. This while contextual turbulence causes a decrease in the intrapreneurial behavior of the control group. To our knowledge, this paper is the first to create an intrapreneurship intervention, and to investigate behavioral components of intrapreneurial behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resurgence is an increase in an extinguished operant response resulting from a worsening of conditions (e.g., extinction) for a more recently reinforced alternative behavior. Previous research has shown that exposure to cycles of alternative reinforcement available versus unavailable (i.e., on/off alternative reinforcement) across sessions can reduce subsequent resurgence. Most previous assessments of the procedure have examined target operant responding during only single-session resurgence tests, and it remains unclear if exposure to relatively few cycles of on/off alternative reinforcement can maintain low rates of target behavior across extended exposure to extinction. This experiment with rats examined the effects of 4 or 8 cycles of on/off alternative reinforcement on subsequent resurgence during a 10-session extinction test. The results show that exposure to 4 cycles of on/off alternative reinforcement is as effective as 8 cycles in producing low rates of target behavior during treatment and across extended extinction. This result is consistent with extant theories of resurgence and suggests that on/off alternative reinforcement could have translational utility following relatively few cycles of exposure. • Treatment with 4 and 8 on/off alternative reinforcement cycles similarly reduced target behavior • 4 and 8 cycles of on/off alternative reinforcement both reduced resurgence in extended extinction • On/off alternative reinforcement may have translational utility following relatively few cycles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-concordance theory and the goal-striving reasons framework both measure the quality of people’s reasons for their goal pursuits. Both have provided substantial evidence for their predictive power for people’s well-being. However, it remains unclear which of the two goal-reason models is the better predictor for different forms of well-being. The paper analyses the distinct relationships of the two models in relation to hedonic well-being (Subjective Well-Being, Life Satisfaction, Affect Balance) and indicators of eudaimonic well-being (Basic Need Satisfaction, Purpose and Self-Acceptance). The findings are based on a cross-sectional, correlative research design based (N = 124). Using multiple regression analyses the results show that the goal-striving reasons framework is overall more strongly associated with hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. However, the differences for hedonic well-being as well as for self-acceptance and purpose are much larger than they are for the three basic needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Here, self-concordance achieves nearly similar correlations to the goal-striving reasons framework. The findings have implications for theory and practice as they highlight the theoretical differences between the two goal-reasons models but also help to decide which Positive Psychology Interventions are most suitable to increase which form of well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a severe and dose-limiting side effect of cancer treatment that affects millions of cancer survivors throughout the world and current treatment options are extremely limited by their side effects. Cannabinoids are highly effective in suppressing pain symptoms of chemotherapy-induced and other peripheral neuropathies but their widespread use is limited by central nervous system (CNS)-mediated side effects. Here, we tested one compound from a series of recently developed synthetic peripherally restricted cannabinoids (PRCBs) in a rat model of cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy. Results show that local or systemic administration of 4-{2-[-(1E)-1[(4-propylnaphthalen-1-yl)methylidene]-1H-inden-3-yl]ethyl}morpholine (PrNMI) dose-dependently suppressed CIPN mechanical and cold allodynia. Orally administered PrNMI also dose-dependently suppressed CIPN allodynia symptoms in both male and female rats without any CNS side effects. Co-administration with selective cannabinoid receptor subtype blockers revealed that PrNMI's anti-allodynic effects are mediated by CB1 receptor (CB1R) activation. Expression of CB2Rs was reduced in dorsal root ganglia from CIPN rats, whereas expression of CB1Rs and various endocannabinoid synthesizing and metabolizing enzymes was unaffected. Daily PrNMI treatment of CIPN rats for two weeks showed a lack of appreciable tolerance to PrNMI's anti-allodynic effects. In an operant task which reflects cerebral processing of pain, PrNMI also dose-dependently suppressed CIPN pain behaviors. Our results demonstrate that PRCBs exemplified by PrNMI may represent a viable option for the treatment of CIPN pain symptoms.

Changes in working patterns mean that the youngest generations in the work force, millennials and generation Z, are facing more organisational and job changes than previous generations. Specifically, millennials, defined as the generation born between 1982 and 1999 (Twenge, Campbell, Hoffman & Lance, 2010), experience between two and three times as many job and organisational moves as previous generations (Lyons, Schweitzer & Ng, 2015), with 60 per cent of millennials reporting that they are open to a different job opportunity (Gallup, 2016). Research suggests that key resources such as optimism and self-efficacy are important elements of career adaptability (Haenggli & Hirschi, 2020). The field of positive psychology, which was first introduced to the academic community in 2000 (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000), aims to better understand and foster valued subjective experiences, such as wellbeing, resilience and optimism. More recently, positive psychology has integrated with coaching psychology to create a new approach to coaching, positive psychology coaching, which can be defined as 'evidence-based coaching practice informed by the theories and research of positive psychology for the enhancement of resilience, achievement and wellbeing' (Green & Palmer, 2019, p.10). With job and career changes becoming increasingly likely for the millennial generation, there is an opportunity to look at how positive psychology coaching can be used to support the experience of individuals within this generation, helping them to enhance outcomes. There has been some research conducted within this field, with one study suggesting that positive psychology coaching can be beneficial in boosting career confidence in potential career changers (Archer & Yates, 2017), however, the existing research is limited, and doesn't specifically focus on the millennial generation. One positive psychology intervention that could be particularly relevant for this population is the Best Possible Self (BPS) intervention (King, 2001). This intervention encourages individuals to imagine a best possible future self, before then writing about what they imagined. Previous research has shown that the BPS intervention is linked to increased positive affect, increased optimism and increased levels of self-concordant motivation (Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2006), and there is also evidence to suggest that mental stimulation can support psychological adjustment to change (Rivkin & Taylor, 1999). This study endeavours to contribute to the research by understanding how a positive psychology intervention (specifically, the BPS intervention (King, 2001)) is experienced by millennials who are considering a career change, before considering the implications of this for career coaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Principals are pivotal for creating schools that meet the needs of all students. However, the exodus of principals has been on the rise especially in the last two years as the pandemic accelerated turnover rates. Principals are experiencing greater levels of workload, stress, and burnout often without the tools for maintaining mental health. While many strategies for self-care are widely discussed—consistent exercise routine, eating healthy, and adequate sleep—many are not easily adaptable for principals who often experience time constraints and inconsistent schedules. The field of positive psychology has shown that interventions focused on human strengths and enhancing positive emotions can significantly boost well-being. The most promising aspect of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) is the ease with which these strategies can be integrated into the busy demands of the principalship. This article provides evidence for PPIs as potential strategies to emotionally and mentally support principals from individual and organizational approaches. Specifically, this article describes several PPI recommendations for principals to practice and begin building upon positive experiences in their daily lives such as savoring and cultivating sacred moments. The article also provides recommendations for school districts to consider such as cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused coaching; positive principal supervisor interventions; and systematic spaces to address principals' complaints. While these recommendations are not comprehensive, we believe they serve as a starting point for principals to move beyond surviving and toward thriving in their careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports on tool use in nonforaging contexts have led researchers to reconsider the proximate drivers of instrumental object manipulation. In this study, we explore the physiological and behavioral correlates of two stone‐directed and seemingly playful actions, the repetitive tapping and rubbing of stones onto the genital and inguinal area, respectively, that may have been co‐opted into self‐directed tool‐assisted masturbation in long‐tailed macaques (i.e., "Sex Toy" hypothesis). We predicted that genital and inguinal stone‐tapping and rubbing would be more closely temporally associated with physiological responses (e.g., estrus in females, penile erection in males) and behavior patterns (e.g., sexual mounts and other mating interactions) that are sexually motivated than other stone‐directed play. We also predicted that the stones selected to perform genital and inguinal stone‐tapping and rubbing actions would be less variable in number, size, and texture than the stones typically used during other stone‐directed playful actions. Overall, our data partly supported the "Sex Toy" hypothesis indicating that stone‐directed tapping and rubbing onto the genital and inguinal area are sexually motivated behaviors. Our research suggests that instrumental behaviors of questionably adaptive value may be maintained over evolutionary time through pleasurable/self‐rewarding mechanisms, such as those underlying playful and sexual activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, various intervention programs have been developed to enhance the quality of life of young athletes. This is particularly important for those who live in residences of professional clubs, far from their families. In this regard, we designed a positive psychology intervention program called "DÉPORVIDA", aimed at enhancing character strengths. To assess the efficacy of this 8-week intervention, we tested 28 young soccer players from a Spanish professional club. The intervention program used a strength-based approach from the values in action (VIA) model, and was conducted by club employees with formal academic education. Data were analysed using a set of 2 × 2 (intervention × time) mixed design ANOVAs. Results revealed different trends for the intervention and the control groups participants for seasonal performance satisfaction and percentage of time feeling happy/unhappy, highlighting consistent changes in the desired direction. Overall, the results indicate that the DÉPORVIDA program is a useful tool to promote positive development in young athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ideal Free Distribution suggests the relative allocation of the number of organisms foraging across two or more resource sites will match the relative density of reinforcement patches in those resource sites. This initial project sought to develop a new method of foraging research for dogs by using a commercially available treat dispenser in basic behavioral research. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Ideal Free Distribution equation could describe the behavior of the domesticated dog in a daycare setting. Toward this end, we recorded dog behavior in a free operant arrangement on various variable‐time schedules of reinforcement. Results indicated matching occurred in the dog sample, which corresponded with the Ideal Free Distribution equation, with a slight visual appearance toward undermatching, consistent with extant literature on group foraging. Furthermore, there was a lack of bias in the current sample of foraging dogs. Implications and future directions involve extending foraging research in the domesticated dog. That the study occurred in a local dog daycare specifically highlights how practical concerns in animal welfare and/or training can be addressed in rigorous ways with strong conceptual foundations in the experimental analysis of behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte is the property of Revista Virtual Universidad Catolica del Norte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Comportamentalia is the property of Instituto de Psicologia y Educacion de la Universidad Veracruzana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a prevalent, devastating, and heterogeneous psychiatric disorder. Treatment success is highly variable within this patient group. A cognitive neuroscientific approach to BPD might contribute to precision psychiatry by identifying neurocognitive factors that predict who will benefit from a specific treatment. Here, we build on observations that BPD is accompanied by the enhanced impact of the aversive effect on behavior and abnormal neural signaling in the amygdala. We assessed whether BPD is accompanied by abnormal aversive regulation of instrumental behavior and associated neural signaling, in a manner that is predictive of symptom reduction after therapy. We tested a clinical sample of 15 female patients with BPD, awaiting dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and 16 matched healthy controls using fMRI and an aversive Pavlovian-toinstrumental transfer (PIT) task that assesses how instrumental behaviors are influenced by aversive Pavlovian stimuli. Patients were assessed 1 year after the start of DBT to quantify changes in BPD symptom severity. At baseline, behavioral aversive PIT and associated neural signaling did not differ between groups. However, the BOLD signal in the amygdala measured during aversive PIT was associated with symptom reduction at 1-year follow-up: higher PITrelated aversive amygdala signaling before treatment was associated with reduced clinical improvement at follow-up. Thus, within the evaluated group of BPD patients, the BOLD signal in the amygdala before treatment was related to clinical symptom reduction 1 year after the start of treatment. The results suggest that less PIT-related responsiveness of the amygdala increases the chances of treatment success. We note that the relatively small sample size is a limitation of this study and that replication is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most institutions in higher education have emphasized success in knowledge while overlooking Students' wellbeing. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the implementation of a 5-week positive psychology group intervention to a sample of 69 students that were assigned to the intervention (N = 34) and the control group (N = 35). Pre and post measures were taken assessing positive and negative emotions, resilience, happiness, optimism, and self-esteem. In particular, Modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were administered to the participants. A mixed measures design was employed with the condition experimental vs. control group as the between-participants factor and time, namely, baseline vs. postintervention as the within-participants factor. Except for optimism, compared with students in the control group, students in the experimental group showed no significant differences at baseline and experienced a significant increase in positive emotions and resilience in the post-test. On the contrary, the control group demonstrated no significant difference at post-test. Additionally, the students of the intervention group reported significantly higher levels in all measures in comparison with the students of the control group, except resilience, at post-test. However, when the interaction of design and time was considered, the increase in positive emotions solely emerged as a significant result of the intervention. The implementation of a positive psychology group intervention program can be effective in helping students experiencing positive emotions. More research is needed in order to refine and improve the application of such a program in a university setting, in regard to long term intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dopamine has been implicated in the reinforcing effects of smoking. However, there remains a need for a better understanding of the effects of dopamine D1-like receptor agonists on nicotine intake and the role of sex differences in the effects of dopaminergic drugs on behavior. This work studied the effects of D1-like receptor stimulation and blockade on operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity in male and female rats. The effects of the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (0.003, 0.01, 0.03 mg/kg) and the D1-like receptor agonist A77636 (0.1, 0.3, 1 mg/kg) on responding for nicotine and food, and locomotor activity were investigated. The effects of SCH 23390 were investigated 15 min and 24 h after treatment, and the effects of the long-acting drug A77636 were investigated 15 min, 24 h, and 48 h after treatment. Operant responding for nicotine and food and locomotor activity were decreased immediately after treatment with SCH 23390. Treatment with SCH 23390 did not have any long-term effects. Operant responding for nicotine was still decreased 48 h after treatment with A77636, and food responding was decreased up to 24 h after treatment. Treatment with A77636 only decreased locomotor activity at the 48 h time point. There were no sex differences in the effects of SCH 23390 or A77636. In conclusion, the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH 23390 reduces nicotine intake and causes sedation in rats. Stimulation of D1-like receptors with A77636 decreases nicotine intake at time points that the drug does not cause sedation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated behavior is integral to the survival of individuals, continuously directing actions toward rewards or away from punishments. The orchestration of motivated behavior depends on interactions among different brain circuits, primarily within the dopaminergic system, that subserve the analysis of factors such as the effort necessary for obtaining the reward and the desirability of the reward. Impairments in motivated behavior accompany a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, decreasing the patients’ quality of life. Despite its importance, motivation is often overlooked as a parameter in neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we review motivational impairments in rodent models of schizophrenia, depression, and Parkinson’s disease, focusing on studies investigating effort-related behavior in operant conditioning tasks and on pharmacological interventions targeting the dopaminergic system. Similar motivational disturbances accompany these conditions, suggesting that treatments aimed at ameliorating motivation levels may be beneficial for various neuropsychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the relationship among childhood trauma, acceptance, positive reappraisal and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among college students. Methods: Research participants were selected by random cluster sampling. 1,028 college students (62.6% female, 30.5% only-children) from 8 universities were investigated using manuscript-pencil survey versions of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire-Chinese version (CERQ-C) and Post traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Results: Traumatic childhood experience significantly negatively predicts post traumatic growth in college students. Exposure to traumatic experiences in childhood can directly negatively predict post-traumatic growth and indirectly positively predict post traumatic growth via acceptance. Conclusion: Acceptance plays a mediating role between childhood traumatic experience and post traumatic growth. The mediating effect of acceptance is moderated by the positive reappraisal. When individuals have a lower level of positive reappraisal, the mediating effect between traumatic experience and post traumatic growth is significant. Several clinical implications for clinical psychology and psychological intervention are highlighted. Starting with changing individual cognition and helping individuals adopt positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies can help individuals actively reevaluate traumatic experience, so as to gain better and faster counseling results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tests the hypothesis that psychopathy is more associated with instrumental homicides than mixed and reactive homicides, and explores relationships between Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) facet/item scores and different forms of homicide: instrumental (n = 130), mixed (n = 103), and reactive (n = 219) homicides. Instrumental homicides scored higher on facet 2 (p <.01) but scored lower on facet 4 (p <.1) compared to reactive homicides, whereas no facet scores differed between mixed and reactive homicides. Among the items of facet 2 (affective), remorselessness (item 6), and callousness (item 8) were predictive of instrumental homicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that brief 2-min positive psychology interventions (PPIs) increase well-being during COVID-19 lockdowns. The present study extended this to assess the effectiveness over two-weeks. Participants (n = 150) were randomly allocated to one of three PPIs; nostalgia, gratitude, best possible self (BPS), or control. The interventions were slightly adapted for the lockdown and were completed three times, every seven days over two-weeks. Well-being measures were completed immediately after the first intervention (T1), after the next two interventions (T2−T3) and at one-week follow-up (T4) (but no baseline measure of well-being was taken). At T1, participants in the nostalgia, gratitude, and BPS intervention had higher self-esteem than those in the control intervention. At T1 and T2, participants in the gratitude and BPS intervention reported higher social connectedness than participants in the nostalgia and control intervention. Then at follow-up (T4), participants in the nostalgia, gratitude, and BPS intervention had lower fear of COVID-19 than those in the control intervention. Overall, the results show the benefits of nostalgia, gratitude and optimism, compared to the control, during lockdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of multicomponent positive psychology interventions (MPPIs) on adolescents' mental health has been studied with the use of standard procedures throughout the scientific literature. However, little is known about the potential mechanisms underlying the network structure of mental health following the dual‐factor model after an MPPI. We relied on network analysis to explore the reorganization of the connections between mental health indicators after a school‐based MPPI. Adolescents from two high schools in Spain were randomly allocated to the 6‐week intervention group (n = 85) or to the control group (n = 135). Network analysis showed that the relations between the two differentiated network dimensions of mental health (i.e. well‐being and psychological distress) changed after the intervention. Unlike control participants, emotional well‐being was negatively associated with depression and stress, while psychological well‐being was positively related to stress after the intervention. The present study supports the viability of the network approach in analyzing the connections between mental health indicators as defined by the dual‐factor model and the contribution of MPPIs to change the complex pattern of relations between the dimensions of well‐being and psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Price equation is a mathematical expression of selectionist and non-selectionist pressures on biological, cultural, and behavioral change. We use it here to specify instrumental and noninstrumental behaviors as they arise within the context of the Pavlovian autoshaping procedure, for rats trained under reward certainty and reward uncertainty. The point of departure for this endeavor is that some portion of autoshaped behavior referred to as goal-tracking appears instrumental—a function of resource attainment (the individual approaches the location where the unconditioned stimulus is to be delivered). By contrast, some other portion of autoshaped behavior referred to as sign-tracking is noninstrumental—irrelevant to making contact with the to-be-delivered unconditioned stimulus. A Price equation model is proposed that unifies our understanding of Pavlovian autoshaping behavior by isolating operant and respondent influences on goal-tracking (instrumental) and sign-tracking (noninstrumental) behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Alongside a pathological, excessive, motivation for substances of abuse, substance use disorder (SUD) patients often show a dramatic loss of interest for naturally rewarding activities, such as positive peer social interaction and food intake. Yet, pre-clinical evidence of the latter SUD features remains scarce and inconsistent. Objectives: In the current study, we investigated the effect of non-rewarding and rewarding doses of morphine upon social behaviour, motivation for and intake of palatable food, in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Methods: First, the rewarding effects of two relatively low morphine doses (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) were assessed using a newly established single substance administration/conditioning trial conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Then, morphine (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) effects upon social behaviour, motivation for and intake of palatable food were examined by the three-chamber (3-CH), an operant behaviour and a palatable food preference test, respectively. Results: Morphine (2.5 mg/kg) induced CPP in both male and female mice, whereas morphine (1.25 mg/kg) induced CPP only in female mice. Both morphine doses (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) reduced sociability, motivation for and intake of palatable food in male and female mice, independently of cognitive function or locomotor activity. Conclusions: Female mice were more sensitive than male mice to the rewarding effects of morphine. Moreover, both a non-rewarding and a rewarding dose of morphine impaired the interest for naturally rewarding activities, indicating that brain reward systems might be more sensitive to the deleterious than to the rewarding effects of substances of abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ISO 11843 part 7 (ISO 11843‐7) can provide a standard deviation (SD) of area measurements of a target peak through the stochastic behaviors of instrumental noises. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that ISO 11843‐7 can be applied to assess repeatability in an isocratic liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) system without repetitive measurements. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the peak area of ergosterol picolinyl ester, which was used as an example, on a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) chromatogram was determined by ISO 11843‐7. The RSD by ISO 11843‐7 (N = 1) was within a 95% confidence band of the RSD by repetitive measurements (N = 6). Moreover, the effects of digital smoothing, such as moving average, were also examined on the repeatability assessment in LC–MS/MS by ISO 11843‐7. From the results of the comparisons of the RSDs obtained by ISO 11843‐7 and the repetitive measurements, it was shown that suitable RSDs of the peak area were obtained from the smoothed MRM chromatograms by the moving average for narrow data point windows (e.g., one‐sixth of the peak width). In conclusion, the utility of repeatability assessment based on ISO 11843‐7 has been expanded for the validation of an LC–MS/MS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI) are widely applied to improving wellbeing and helping individuals flourish. At the same time, Lifestyle Medicine (LM) offers an opportunity to boost PPI and psychological research, by expanding its capacity beyond psychology, to include the body and social environment. However, little is known about the relationship between LM and positive psychology flourishing models. Flourishing is as a stage of optimal human functioning that goes beyond moderate wellbeing. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to, (1) identify which of the six LM pillars (sleep, physical exercise, eating well, alcohol intake, social engagement, stress management) best-predicted flourishing; (2) examine the relationship between the number of LM pillars used by individuals and flourishing; and (3) determine the odds of using LM pillars by flourishers. A total of 1,112 participants, mostly female professionals (73%), aged 40-59 (77%), based in Ireland, completed an online survey. Regression analysis showed that all six LM pillars predicted flourishing as measured by the PERMA Profiler (including the Physical Health component) and the Mental Health Continuum (MHC). Moreover, the chi-square and odds ratio analysis showed that those who flourished were three times more likely to use 3-6 LM pillars than those who were moderately well; and nine times more likely than languishers. The results are discussed in the context of their contribution to enhancing the population's health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the brain circuits that control behavior is challenging, since in addition to their structural complexity there are continuous feedback interactions between actions and sensed inputs from the environment. It is therefore important to identify mathematical principles that can be used to develop testable hypotheses. In this study, we use ideas and concepts from systems biology to study the dopamine system, which controls learning, motivation, and movement. Using data from neuronal recordings in behavioral experiments, we developed a mathematical model for dopamine responses and the effect of dopamine on movement. We show that the dopamine system shares core functional analogies with bacterial chemotaxis. Just as chemotaxis robustly climbs chemical attractant gradients, the dopamine circuit performs 'reward-taxis' where the attractant is the expected value of reward. The reward-taxis mechanism provides a simple explanation for scale-invariant dopaminergic responses and for matching in free operant settings, and makes testable quantitative predictions. We propose that reward-taxis is a simple and robust navigation strategy that complements other, more goal-directed navigation mechanisms. Author summary: Research on certain circuits in simple organisms, such as bacterial chemotaxis, has enabled the formulation of mathematical design principles, leading to ever more precise experimental tests, catalyzing quantitative understanding. It would be important to map these principles to the far more complex case of a vertebrate behavioral circuit. Here, we provide such a mapping for the midbrain dopamine system, a key regulator of learning, motivation, and movement. We demonstrate a mathematical analogy between the regulation of dopamine and movement by rewards and the well-characterized bacterial chemotaxis system. We use the analogy to quantitively explain previously puzzling observations on the dopamine circuit, as well as classic empirical observations on operant behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Control over the tendency to make or withhold responses guided by contextual Pavlovian information plays a key role in understanding impulsivity and hyperactivity. Here we set out to assess (1) the understudied relation between contextual Pavlovian inhibitory control and hyperactivity/impulsivity in adults with ADHD and (2) whether this inhibition can be enhanced by mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Methods: Within the framework of a randomized controlled trial 50 Adult ADHD patients were assessed before and after 8 weeks of treatment as usual (TAU) with (n = 24) or without (n = 26) MBCT. We employed a well-established behavioral Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer task that quantifies Pavlovian inhibitory control over instrumental behavior. Results: Task results revealed (1) less aversive Pavlovian inhibition in ADHD patients with clinically relevant hyperactivity/impulsivity than in those without; and (2) enhanced Pavlovian inhibition across all ADHD patients after TAU+MBCT compared with TAU. Conclusion: These findings offer new insights in the neurocognitive mechanisms of hyperactivity/impulsivity in ADHD and its treatment: We reveal a role for Pavlovian inhibitory mechanisms in understanding hyperactive/impulsive behaviors in ADHD and point toward MBCT as an intervention that might influence these mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]