[Brazilian norms for the Affective Norms for English Words]. / Normas brasileiras para o Affective Norms for English Words.

INTRODUCTION: The present study translated and adapted the Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) to Brazilian Portuguese (ANEW-Br) and collected emotionality measures for a set of 1,046 words in Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: A sample of 755 male and female undergraduate students used the valence and arousal scales of the Self-Assessment Manikin to judge the emotionality of 1,046 words in Brazilian Portuguese. RESULTS: Valence values ranged from 1.16 to 8.80, while arousal values ranged from 2.22 to 7.67. Further analyses indicated that both valence and arousal measures were reliable and suggested that the method used was appropriate for the collection of emotionality measures. CONCLUSION: The availability of Brazilian norms for the ANEW represents a methodological advancement for Brazilian investigators in the development of future studies about the effects of emotion on human cognition.

Normas brasileiras para o Affective Norms for English Words / Brazilian norms for the Affective Norms for English Words

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo realizou a tradução e adaptação do Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) para o português brasileiro (ANEW-Br) e obteve medidas de emocionalidade para um conjunto de 1.046 palavras em português. MÉTODO: Uma amostra de 755 universitários de ambos os sexos utilizou as escalas de valência e alerta do Self-Assessment Manikin para julgar a emocionalidade de 1.046 palavras em português. RESULTADOS: Os valores de valência ficaram no intervalo de 1,16 a 8,80, enquanto que os valores de alerta ficaram no intervalo de 2,22 a 7,67. Análises adicionais indicaram que as medidas de valência e alerta se mostraram fidedignas, além de sugerir adequação do método utilizado para coleta das medidas de emocionalidade. CONCLUSÃO: A disponibilização das normas brasileiras para o ANEW representa um avanço metodológico para pesquisadores brasileiros no desenvolvimento de futuros estudos sobre os efeitos da emoção na cognição humana (AU)

INTRODUCTION: The present study translated and adapted the Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) to Brazilian Portuguese (ANEW-Br) and collected emotionality measures for a set of 1,046 words in Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: A sample of 755 male and female undergraduate students used the valence and arousal scales of the Self-Assessment Manikin to judge the emotionality of 1,046 words in Brazilian Portuguese. RESULTS: Valence values ranged from 1.16 to 8.80, while arousal values ranged from 2.22 to 7.67. Further analyses indicated that both valence and arousal measures were reliable and suggested that the method used was appropriate for the collection of emotionality measures. CONCLUSION: The availability of Brazilian norms for the ANEW represents a methodological advancement for Brazilian investigators in the development of future studies about the effects of emotion on human cognition (AU)

Social instigation and aggressive behavior in mice: role of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors in the prefrontal cortex.

RATIONALE: Social instigation is used in rodents to induce high levels of aggression, a pattern of behavior with certain parallels to that of violent individuals. This procedure consists of a brief exposure to a provocative stimulus male, before direct confrontation with an intruder. Studies using 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor agonists show an effective reduction in aggressive behavior. An important site of action for these drugs is the ventral orbitofrontal cortex (VO PFC), an area of the brain which is particularly relevant in the inhibitory control of aggressive and impulsive behavior. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study are to assess the anti-aggressive effects of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B agonist receptors [8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT) and CP-93,129] in the VO PFC of socially provoked male mice. To confirm the specificity of the receptor, 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B antagonist receptors (WAY-100,635 and SB-224,289) were microinjected into the same area, in order to reverse the agonist effects. RESULTS: 8-OH-DPAT (0.56 and 1.0 microg) reduced the frequency of attack bites. The lowest dose of CP-93,129 (0.1 microg) also decreased the number of attack bites and lateral threats. 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor agonists differed in their effects on non-aggressive activities, the former decreasing rearing and grooming, and the latter, increasing these acts. Specific participation of the 1A and 1B receptors was verified by reversal of anti-aggressive effects using selective antagonists WAY-100,635 (10.0 microg) and SB-224,289 (1.0 microg). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in aggressiveness observed with microinjections of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor agonists into the VO PFC of socially provoked mice, supports the hypothesis that activation of these receptors modulates high levels of aggression in a behaviorally specific manner.

Neuropsychological aspects of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures / Aspectos neuropsicológicos de crises não-epilépticas psicogênicas

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) may be defined as paroxysmal changes in behavior that are similar to epileptic seizures but are not associated with quantifiable alterations in the electrical activity of the brain. At the Epilepsy Surgery Program (ESP) of the São Lucas Hospital at PUCRS (HSL-PUCRS), we studied 52 individuals (37 females and 15 males) with a diagnosis of PNES, associated (57 percent) or not (23 percent) with refractory epileptic seizures. We found emotional abuse (100 percent), physical abuse (80 percent), emotional neglect (80 percent), physical negligence (70 percent) and sexual abuse (30 percent), mood (40 percent) and anxiety disorders (50 percent), as the main psychological components in such population. Although the medical and psychosocial impact of PNES can be estimated as significant, the absence of specialized services for its treatment is striking. Multiple diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the participation of a specialized multidisciplinary team – where neuropsychology functions as a link between the mental processes/psychopathologies and the brain – are required to ensure proper management of such cases.

Crises não-epilépticas psicogênicas podem ser definidas como episódios de alterações paroxísticas no comportamento, similares a crises epilépticas, porém não associadas a alterações quantificáveis da atividade elétrica cerebral. No Programa de Cirurgia de Epilepsia do Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS estudamos 52 indivíduos (37 mulheres e 15 homens) com o diagnóstico de CNEP, associadas (57 por cento) ou não (23 por cento) a epilepsia refratária. Aspectos psicológicos nesta população incluíram abuso emocional (100 por cento), abuso físico (80 por cento), negligência física (70 por cento), abuso sexual (30 por cento), desordens de humor (40 por cento) e ansiedade (50 por cento). O impacto médico e psicossocial deste diagnóstico é elevado, fazendo contraponto a carência de serviços especializados em seu tratamento. Múltiplos procedimentos diagnósticos e terapêuticos e a participação de um time multiprofissional – onde a neuropsicologia representa o elo natural entre a psicopatologia e o cérebro – são necessários para o melhor atendimento a estes pacientes.