Simvastatin Blocks Reinstatement of Cocaine-induced Conditioned Place Preference in Male Mice with Brain Lipidome Remodeling / 神经科学通报·英文版

Drug-associated reward memories are conducive to intense craving and often trigger relapse. Simvastatin has been shown to regulate lipids that are involved in memory formation but its influence on other cognitive processes is elusive. Here, we used a mass spectrometry-based lipidomic method to evaluate the impact of simvastatin on the mouse brain in a cocaine-induced reinstatement paradigm. We found that simvastatin blocked the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) without affecting CPP acquisition. Specifically, only simvastatin administered during extinction prevented cocaine-primed reinstatement. Global lipidome analysis showed that the nucleus accumbens was the region with the greatest degree of change caused by simvastatin. The metabolism of fatty-acids, phospholipids, and triacylglycerol was profoundly affected. Simvastatin reversed most of the effects on phospholipids induced by cocaine. The correlation matrix showed that cocaine and simvastatin significantly reshaped the lipid metabolic pathways in specific brain regions. Furthermore, simvastatin almost reversed all changes in the fatty acyl profile and unsaturation caused by cocaine. In summary, pre-extinction treatment with simvastatin facilitates cocaine extinction and prevents cocaine relapse with brain lipidome remodeling.

Adaptação do instrumental de avaliação social em transplante hepático / Adaptation of the instruments of social assessment in liver transplantation

Introdução: O fator social interfere na realização de um transplante hepático, podendo contraindicá-lo momentaneamente. Para a análise e intervenção na realidade social do sujeito/paciente, o assistente social utiliza um instrumental que, devido ao seu valor, necessita de implementações, dado o movimento social. Objetivo: Adaptar o instrumental de avaliação social utilizado na Unidade de Transplante de Fígado. Método: Estudo quanti-qualitativo, pesquisa de campo com amostra intencional (assistentes sociais de Unidade de Transplante, com experiência no uso de instrumental de avaliação), análise de dados na perspectiva dialética e observação participante. Resultados: Todos os assistentes sociais utilizavam e três apontaram sugestões de melhorias, sendo os itens meios de comunicação e renda familiar os de maior destaque para alterações. As sugestões específicas para determinada unidade e as que alterariam o score do sistema de avaliação não foram implementadas. A partir da observação participante, outras alterações e informações foram incluídas para melhorar e ampliar o instrumental de acordo com a necessidade observada no cotidiano profissional. Conclusão: As alterações realizadas na adaptação favorecem a abordagem das variáveis sociais no momento da avaliação e contribui para o registro das intervenções sociais. Além disso, avança na visão totalitária do sujeito e da realidade social.

Introduction: The social factor interferes with the performance of a liver transplant and may contraindicate it momentarily. For the analysis and intervention in the social reality of the subject / patient, the social worker uses a tool that, due to its importance, needs implementations, due to the social movement. Objective: To adapt the social assessment tool used in the Liver Transplant Unit. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative approach study, field research with intentional sample (Transplant Unit social workers experienced in using assessment tools), data analysis was performed from a dialectical perspective and participant observation. Results: All social workers used it, and three pointed to suggestions for improvement, with media and household income being the most prominent items for change. Specific suggestions for a particular unit and those that would change the rating system score were not implemented. From participant observation, other changes and information were included to improve and expand the tool according to the need observed in the professional routine. Conclusion: Changes in adaptation favor the approach of social variables at the time of assessment and contribute to the registration of social interventions. Moreover, it advances in the totalitarian view of the subject and social reality.

Spectral Modification by Operant Conditioning of Cortical Theta Suppression in Rats

OBJECTIVE: Brain activity is known to be voluntarily controllable by neurofeedback, a kind of electroencephalographic (EEG) operant conditioning. Although its efficacy in clinical effects has been reported, it is yet to be uncovered whether or how a specific band activity is controllable. Here, we examined EEG spectral profiles along with conditioning training of a specific brain activity, theta band (4–8 Hz) amplitude, in rats. METHODS: During training, the experimental group received electrical stimulation to the medial forebrain bundle contingent to suppression of theta activity, while the control group received stimulation non-contingent to its own band activity. RESULTS: In the experimental group, theta activity gradually decreased within the training session, while there was an increase of theta activity in the control group. There was a significant difference in theta activity during the sessions between the two groups. The spectral theta peak, originally located at 7 Hz, shifted further towards higher frequencies in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that an operant conditioning technique could train rats to control their specific EEG activity indirectly, and it may be used as an animal model for studying how neuronal systems work in human neurofeedback.

Reinforcement omission effects in rats with bilateral lesions in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area

Reinforcement omission effects (ROEs) are characterized by higher response rates after reinforcement omission than after reinforcement delivery. This pattern of behavior is interpreted in terms of motivational and attentional processes. Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and medial prefrontal cortex are involved in ROE modulation. Also, the literature has demonstrated a role of other areas such as substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in processes related to surprising events, such as prediction error and presentation or omission of an event (exteroceptive stimulus and reinforcement). Since these structures send projections to areas related to ROE modulation such as the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex, the objective of the present study was to determine whether the SNc and VTA also integrate the circuit involved in ROE modulation. Rats were trained on a fixed-interval 12 s with limited-hold 6 s signaled schedule of reinforcement (Pre-lesion training). After acquisition of stable performance, the rats received bilateral neurotoxic lesions of the SNc (Experiment 1) and VTA (Experiment 2). Following postoperative recovery, the rats were submitted to two refresher sessions (Post-lesion training). Subsequently, the training was changed from a 100 to a 50% schedule of reinforcement (Post-lesion testing). In both experiments, the results showed that there was no difference in performance between sham rats and rats with bilateral lesions of the SNc or the VTA.

Internet of Things-Based Behavioral Intervention for Older Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of Internet of Things (IoT)-based behavioral intervention for reducing depressive symptom of older adults with major depressive disorder. METHODS: A 12-week randomized cross-over controlled study was conducted at community mental health center. We recruited 39 participants with major depressive disorder aged 60 years or older. As a multidomain intervention, four evidence-based therapeutic factors (physical activity, healthy diet, social activity, and emotional regulation) were approached. To maintain motivation of participants, we applied contingency management using IoT device based on operant conditioning theory. RESULTS: The primary outcome was change of depressive symptom measured by Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Mixed-effect model compared the effectiveness of intervention and usual care management (intervention by time and period interaction, p=0.017). And during the study period consisting of a total of visit 8, significant group difference was shown in post hoc test at visit 4 (MADRS score of intervention group : MADRS score of control group=7.7±3.4 : 21.1±11.5, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Community-implementable IoT-based behavioral intervention resulted in greater reduction of depressive symptom of elderly with major depressive disorder.

Basal Forebrain Cholinergic-induced Activation of Cholecystokinin Inhibitory Neurons in the Basolateral Amygdala

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) receives dense projections from cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. Acetylcholine can contributes to amygdala-dependent behaviors: formation and extinction of fear memory and appetitive instrumental learning. However, the cholinergic mechanism at the circuit level has not been defined yet. We demonstrated that cholinergic-induced di-synaptic inhibition of BLA pyramidal neurons exhibits a retrograde form of short-term synaptic inhibition, depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition (DSI). Activation of nicotinic receptors was sufficient to evoke action potentials in cholecystokinin (CCK)-positive inhibitory neurons, which strongly inhibit pyramidal neurons through their perisomatic synapses. Our cell type-specific monosynaptic retrograde tracing also revealed that CCK neurons are innervated by basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Therefore, our data indicated that CCK inhibitory neurons mediate the cholinergic-induced di-synaptic inhibition of BLA pyramidal neurons.

Dimensions and Psychometric Properties of the Social and Emotional Competencies Questionnaire (SEC-Q) in youth and adolescents / Dimensiones y Propiedades Psicométricas del Cuestionario de Competencias Sociales y Emocionales (SEC-Q) en jóvenes y adolescentes

Abstract Many intervention programs are conducted in different countries in order to promote social and emotional learning. Nevertheless, the number of instruments to evaluate these competencies is still low, and core social and emotional competencies are rarely included in a single questionnaire and measured as a single construct. Thus, this study was conducted to design and validate the Social and Emotional Competencies Questionnaire. This instrumental study was conducted with 643 university students and a representative sample of 2,139 adolescents. The results show that the questionnaire has good psychometric properties and includes four components: self-awareness, self-management and motivation, social-awareness and prosocial behavior, and decision-making. These competencies are positively related to perceived emotional intelligence and negatively related to alexithymia. This questionnaire can be useful in evaluating social and emotional competencies in different settings. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of social and emotional learning programs.

Resumen En diferentes países se llevan a cabo numerosos programas de intervención para promover el aprendizaje socio-emocional. Sin embargo, las principales competencias sociales y emocionales raramente se incluyen en un solo cuestionario o se miden como un único constructo. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio fue diseñar y validar el Cuestionario de Competencias Socio-Emocionales. Este estudio instrumental se realizó con 643 estudiantes universitarios y con una muestra representativa de 2139 adolescentes. Los resultados mostraron que el cuestionario tiene muy buenas propiedades psicométricas e incluye cuatro componentes: autoconciencia, autogestión, conciencia social y conducta prosocial, y toma de decisiones. Estas competencias están relacionadas positivamente con la inteligencia emocional percibida y negativamente con la alexitimia. Este cuestionario puede ser útil para evaluar las competencias socio-emocionales en diferentes contextos. También puede usarse para evaluar la efectividad de los programas de aprendizaje socio-emocional.

Dysfunctional Social Reinforcement Processing in Disruptive Behavior Disorders: An Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

OBJECTIVE: Prior functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) work has revealed that children/adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) show dysfunctional reward/non-reward processing of non-social reinforcements in the context of instrumental learning tasks. Neural responsiveness to social reinforcements during instrumental learning, despite the importance of this for socialization, has not yet been previously investigated. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy children/adolescents and 19 children/adolescents with DBDs performed the fMRI social/non-social reinforcement learning task. Participants responded to random fractal image stimuli and received social and non-social rewards/non-rewards according to their accuracy. RESULTS: Children/adolescents with DBDs showed significantly reduced responses within the caudate and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) to non-social (financial) rewards and social non-rewards (the distress of others). Connectivity analyses revealed that children/adolescents with DBDs have decreased positive functional connectivity between the ventral striatum (VST) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) seeds and the lateral frontal cortex in response to reward relative to non-reward, irrespective of its sociality. In addition, they showed decreased positive connectivity between the vmPFC seed and the amygdala in response to non-reward relative to reward. CONCLUSION: These data indicate compromised reinforcement processing of both non-social rewards and social non-rewards in children/adolescents with DBDs within core regions for instrumental learning and reinforcement-based decision-making (caudate and PCC). In addition, children/adolescents with DBDs show dysfunctional interactions between the VST, vmPFC, and lateral frontal cortex in response to rewarded instrumental actions potentially reflecting disruptions in attention to rewarded stimuli.

Repeated Failure in Reward Pursuit Alters Innate Drosophila Larval Behaviors / 神经科学通报·英文版

Animals always seek rewards and the related neural basis has been well studied. However, what happens when animals fail to get a reward is largely unknown, although this is commonly seen in behaviors such as predation. Here, we set up a behavioral model of repeated failure in reward pursuit (RFRP) in Drosophila larvae. In this model, the larvae were repeatedly prevented from reaching attractants such as yeast and butyl acetate, before finally abandoning further attempts. After giving up, they usually showed a decreased locomotor speed and impaired performance in light avoidance and sugar preference, which were named as phenotypes of RFRP states. In larvae that had developed RFRP phenotypes, the octopamine concentration was greatly elevated, while tβh mutants devoid of octopamine were less likely to develop RFRP phenotypes, and octopamine feeding efficiently restored such defects. By down-regulating tβh in different groups of neurons and imaging neuronal activity, neurons that regulated the development of RFRP states and the behavioral exhibition of RFRP phenotypes were mapped to a small subgroup of non-glutamatergic and glutamatergic octopaminergic neurons in the central larval brain. Our results establish a model for investigating the effect of depriving an expected reward in Drosophila and provide a simplified framework for the associated neural basis.

Sucrose reward promotes rats' motivation for cocaine / 生理学报

Caloric diet, such as fat and sugar intake, has rewarding effects, and has been indicated to affect the responses to addictive substances in animal experiments. However, the possible association between sucrose reward and the motivation for addictive drugs remains to be elucidated. Thus, we carried out behavioral tests after sucrose self-administration training to determine the effects of sucrose experience on rats' motivation for cocaine, locomotor sensitivity to cocaine, basal locomotor activity, anxiety level, and associative learning ability. The sucrose-experienced (sucrose) group exhibited higher lever press, cocaine infusion and break point, as well as upshift of cocaine dose-response curve in cocaine self-administration test, as compared with the control (chow) group. Additionally, despite similar locomotor activity in open field test and comparable score in cocaine-induced conditioned place preference, the sucrose group showed higher cocaine-induced locomotor sensitivity as compared with the chow group. The anxiety level and the performance in vocal-cue induced fear memory were similar between these two groups in elevated plus maze and fear conditioning tests, respectively. Taken together, our work indicates that sucrose experience promotes the rats' motivation for cocaine.

Tecnologias digitais como instrumentos mediadores da aprendizagem dos nativos digitais / Digital technologies as mediating tools of digital natives' learning / Tecnologías Digitales como herramientas mediadoras de aprendizaje de los nativos digitales

Neste artigo, temos como objetivo discutir a utilização das Tecnologias Digitais da Informação e Comunicação - TDIC - como instrumentos mediadores da aprendizagem dos nativos digitais, levando em consideração as mudanças nas interações sociais na sociedade contemporânea que contribuem para a constituição da subjetividade desses jovens. Apoiamo-nos, para tanto, em autores como Buckingham (2009, 2010), Delors (1998), Franco (2013), Koutropoulos (2011), Palfrey e Gasser (2011), Rossato (2014) e Vygotsky (1930, 1934/2001), entre outros, para fundamentar este estudo bibliográfico. As TDIC são instrumentos mediadores da aprendizagem, principalmente no que diz respeito ao conhecer e ao fazer, e, também, para acessar a cultura tecnopopular, embora tal potencialidade seja pouco utilizada na escola.

In this article, we aim to discuss the use of Digital Information and Communication Technologies-DICT- asmediating tools of digital natives' learning, taking into account the changes in social interactions in contemporary society that contribute to the constitution of these youngsters' subjectivity. We rely, therefore, on authors such as Buckingham (2009, 2010), Delors (1998), Franco (2013), Koutropoulos (2011), Palfrey e Gasser (2011), Rossato (2014), and Vygotsky (1930, 1934/2001), among others, to support this bibliographical study.The DICT are mediating-tools of learning, especially related to learn how to know and learn how to do, as well as to access the technopopular culture, although this potential is not widely used at school.

En este artículo, nos proponemos analizar el uso de lãs Tecnologías Digitales de La Información y laComunicación - TDIC - como herramientas mediadoras de aprendizaje de los nativos digitales, teniendo em cuenta los câmbios em lãs interacciones sociales em la sociedad contemporánea que contribuyen a La constitución de La subjetividad en estos jóvenes. Nos basamos en autores como Buckingham (2009, 2010), Delors e cols. (1998), Franco (2013), Koutropoulos (2011), Palfrey y Gasser (2011), Rossato (2014) y Vygotsky (1930, 1934/2001), entre otros, para apoyar este estudio bibliográfico. Las TDIC son herramientas mediadoras de aprendizaje, especialmente com respecto al saber y al hacer, y, también para accesar la cultura tecnopopular, aunque este potencial este subutilizado em la escuela.

Assessing restricted stimulus control in typically developing preschool children and bees (Melipona quadrifasciata)

This study established a simple simultaneous discrimination between a pair of two-element compound visual stimuli in children (Experiment 1) and bees (Melipona quadrifasciata, Experiment 2). The contingencies required discriminative control by the compound and the question was whether the accurate stimulus control reached at this level would hold for each individual element of the compound. After baseline reached stability, probe trials assessed stimulus control by each single element of both S+ and S-. Average data showed that children (Exp. 1) tended to show stimulus control by a single element of the S+ compound. In Experiment 2 three of four bees showed stimulus control by both elements of S+ and did not respond or responded only infrequently to the elements of the S-. The children's decline in discrimination accuracy in probe trials, along with its maintenance during the baseline, replicated previous findings showing the development of restricted stimulus control (RSC). The precise stimulus control shown by the bees indicated that all elements correlated with reinforcement acquired stimulus control over their behavior; this confirms the extensive literature on visual discriminative learning in bees, but due to the small number of subjects it is premature to say that bees do not develop RSC...

A wireless telemetry study on the electrical activity in nucleus accumbens of heroin-induced place preference rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the electrical activity property changes in nucleus accumbens (NAc) of heroin-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) rats during different stages of heroin dependence and to explore NAc's roles in the formation of drug dependence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recording electrodes were bilaterally embedded into the NAcs of rats with the aid of stereotaxic apparatus, followed by establishment of heroin-dependent rat model. The NAc electrical activity during 3 different stages of heroin dependence, including heroin pre-exposure, immediate post-exposure and heroin withdrawal, were respectively recorded using EEG wireless telemetry techniques. The frequency distribution (ranging from 0.5 to 30 Hz) and the amplitude of NAc electrical activity were analyzed and measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Heroin-dependent rat models were successfully established and their withdrawal symptoms were evident. All rats showed a conditioned place preference (CPP) for the white box after 5-10 days of heroin-exposure, and displayed a maximum withdrawal symptoms on 2d after heroin- withdrawal. During all statges of heroin-dependence, the NAc electrical activity contained the highest proportion of delta rhythm and the lowest proportion of alpha2 rhythm. The discharge frequence band was similar across different stages. There was a significantly increased ratio of low-frequency discharges (delta rhythm) and decreased ratio of high-frequency discharges (beta rhythm) in NAc of rats during the immediate post- heroin exposure stage when compared with that during pre-exposure and heroin withdrawal stages. During the withdrawal stage, the ratio of at rhythm was significantly lower than during pre- and post-heroin exposure stages (P < 0.01). Further, the mean discharge amplitude in NAcs during immediate post-exposure and withdrawal stages was significantly increased relative to pre-exposure stage. However, the mean discharge amplitude during heroin withdrawal stage was significantly lower than during immediate post-exposure stage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The electrical activity properties in rat NAcs showed a significant change during different stages of heroin-dependence, which suggested that neuronal activities in NAcs might contribute to the modulation of drug-dependence.</p>

Push-in Head Restraining Apparatus for Intracranial Self Stimulation Tasks in Rats

Head restraining is an experimental technique that firmly secures the animal's head to a fixation apparatus for the precise control and sensing of behaviors. However, procedural and surgical difficulties and limitations have been obstructing the use of the technique in neurophysiological and behavioral experiments. Here, we propose a novel design of the head-restraining apparatus which is easy to develop and convenient for practical use. Head restraining procedure can be completed by sliding the head mounter, which is molded by dental cement during implantation surgery, into the port, which serves as matching guide rails for the mounter, of the fixation bar. So neither skull-attached plates nor screws for fixation are needed. We performed intracranial self stimulation experiment in rats using the newly designed device. Rats were habituated to acclimatize the head-restraint environment and trained to discriminate two spatially distinguished cues using a customized push-pull lever as an operandum. Direct electrical stimulation into the medial forebrain bundle served as reward. We confirmed that head restraining was stable throughout experiments and rats were able to learn to manipulate the lever after successful habituation. Our experimental framework might help precise control or sensing of behavior under head fixed rats using direct electrical brain stimulation as a reward.

The use of operant instrumental conditioning with positive reinforcement for collection of saliva from marmosets (callithrix jacchus) for research purposes

In order to improve the welfare of captive wild animals used in research, it is necessary to apply methods that minimize the stress to which the animals are constantly subjected. Stress produces physiological changes that may interfere with the results of laboratory experiments, and voluntary cooperation through learning may minimize the anxiety experienced by laboratory animals. It is therefore important to develop non-invasive methods for the collection of biological samples and the performance of laboratory exams. The aim of this study was to train common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) for the collection of saliva samples. Instrumental operant conditioning with positive reinforcement (reward) was applied to 24 adult marmosets of both genders. All animals were satisfactorily conditioned for the rapid and effective collection of saliva samples.

Para que haja uma melhora no bem-estar de animais silvestres utilizados em pesquisa é necessário o emprego de técnicas que reduzam os efeitos estressantes, aos quais os animais são constantemente submetidos. Sabemos que o estresse pode ocasionar alterações fisiológicas podendo alterar os resultados de um experimento e que a cooperação voluntária obtida através do aprendizado pode minimizar sensações de ansiedade vivida por animais mantidos em laboratório. Sendo assim, a busca de métodos não-invasivos para a coleta de material biológico e exames laboratoriais é de grande importância. O objetivo do presente estudo foi condicionar um grupo de primatas Callithrix jacchus para coletas de saliva com finalidade de pesquisa. Para tanto utilizamos a técnica do condicionamento operante com auxílio instrumental e reforço positivo (recompensa) em 24 saguis adultos, de ambos os sexos. Segundo as condições deste estudo, o condicionamento para coleta de saliva foi realizado de forma satisfatória, rápida e eficiente demonstrando que a utilização do método de condicionamento instrumental com recompensa nesta espécie pode ser efetuado com sucesso.

Study on effects of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP on dopamine of reward circuitry in conditioned place preference rats and comparison / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study and compare the effect of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP on dopamine neurotransmitter and D2 receptor of reward circuitry in various cerebral areas of conditioned place preference model rats and the comparison of their effects.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The CPP model was established by injecting morphine in rats with increasing doses for 10 days. The initial dose of 10 mg x kg(-1), and the final dose of 100 mg x kg(-1), with 10 mg x kg(-1) increased each day. At 48 h after the final training, CPP was adopted to detect the successful establishment of the model. On the same day (12 d), they were orally administered with 2, 1, 0.5 g x kg(-1) C. yanhusuo (containing 0.153, 0.077 and 0.038 mg L-THP) and L-THP (3.76, 1.88, 0.94 mg x kg(-1)) for six days. On 18 d, CPP test was performed again. Next day, HPLC was adopted to determine the content of dopamine neurotransmitters of reward circuitry in VTA-NAc-PFC; Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were adopted to detect the expression of D2 receptors.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the physiological saline treatment group, C. yanhusuo (2, 1 g x kg(-1)) and L-THP (3.76, 1.88 mg x kg(-1)) groups showed that rats stayed in a notably shorter period in white boxes (morphine-accompanied boxes) (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and revealed a remarkably lower dopamine content in VTA, NAc and PFC and the significant increase in the expression of D2 receptor (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The down-regulation of the increased dopamine content in reward nervous circuitry and the up-regulation of the expression of D2 receptor may be one of mechanisms of C. yanhusuo and L-THP in accelerating the recession of morphine's CPP effect Regarding the inhibition of morphine's CPP effect and the effect on dopamine system, the effect of C. yanhusuo traditional Chinese medicine containing one-fold L-THP monomer is equal to that of the independent application of around 24-fold L-THP monomer.</p>

Technique of Functional and Motility Test: How to Perform Biofeedback for Constipation and Fecal Incontinence

Biofeedback therapy is an instrument-based learning process centered on operant conditioning. The goal of biofeedback therapy in defecatory disorders is to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, retrain rectal sensation and coordinate pelvic floor muscles during evacuation. Biofeedback therapy, in a broader sense, includes education, counseling, and diaphragmatic muscle training as well as exercise, sensory, and coordination training. For dyssynergic defecation, biofeedback therapy is a well-known and useful treatment option that had response rates of approximately 70-80% in randomized controlled trials. Biofeedback therapy for dyssynergic defecation consists of improving the abdominal push effort together with biofeedback technique-guided pelvic floor relaxation followed by simulated defecation and/or sensory training. For fecal incontinence, the results of a randomized controlled trial, which had a response rate of 76%, indicated that biofeedback therapy is useful in selected patients who fail to respond to conservative treatment and that training to enhance rectal discrimination of sensation may be helpful in reducing fecal incontinence. The focus of biofeedback therapy for fecal incontinence is on exercising external sphincter contractions under instant feedback, either alone or synchronously with rectal distension and/or sensory training. Biofeedback therapy is a safe treatment that may produce durable improvement beyond the active treatment period; however, a well-designed study to establish a standard protocol for biofeedback therapy is needed. This review discusses the technique of biofeedback therapy to achieve the goal and clinical outcomes for constipation and fecal incontinence.

Role of the amygdala in the reinforcement omission effect

The reinforcement omission effect (ROE) has been attributed to both motivational and attentional consequences of surprising reinforcement omission. Recent evidence suggests that the basolateral complex of the amygdala is involved in motivational components related to reinforcement value, whereas the central nucleus of the amygdala is involved in the processing of the attentional consequences of surprise. This study was designed to verify whether the mechanisms involved in the ROE depend on the integrity of either the basolateral amygdala complex or central nucleus of the amygdala. The ROE was evaluated in rats with lesions of either the central nucleus or basolateral complex of the amygdala and trained on a fixed-interval schedule procedure (Experiment 1) and fixed-interval with limited hold signaled schedule procedure (Experiment 2). The results of Experiment 1 showed that sham-operated rats and rats with lesions of either the central nucleus or basolateral area displayed the ROE. In contrast, in Experiment 2, subjects with lesions of the central nucleus or basolateral complex of the amygdala exhibited a smaller ROE compared with sham-operated subjects. Thus, the effects of selective lesions of amygdala subregions on the ROE in rats depended on the training procedure. Furthermore, the absence of differences between the lesioned groups in either experiment did not allow the dissociation of attentional or motivational components of the ROE with functions of specific areas of the amygdala. Thus, results did not show a functional double-dissociation between the central nucleus and basolateral area in the ROE.

Discriminated conditioned suppression in rats

This experiment evaluated the effects of superimposing the Estes-Skinner Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) procedure on one of two components of a multiple schedule. The question was whether CER conditioning occurred under contextual control. The procedure had four experimental phases: (1) baseline of operant responding under a two-component multiple schedule (mult VI 30 VI 30), one component correlated with the house light on and the other correlated with the house light off (light/dark components), (2) introduction of tone-shock pairings during the light component only, (3) return to baseline contingencies, and (4) reintroduction of the tone (but not shock) in the light component. Three Wistar rats showed robust suppression of responding in the light component, and the suppression also partially generalized to the dark component. The suppression was stronger during the pre-aversive stimulus than during the intervals immediately before and after its presentation. Responding partially recovered under baseline contingencies, but response rates remained lower in the light component than in the dark component. Thus, under the present experimental conditions, the context in which CER conditioning occurred (i.e., the house light-illuminated chamber) also produced conditioned suppression, and contextual control of suppressed responding generalized to another context, one that shared some but not all elements of the first context (i.e., the same chamber not illuminated by a house light). These results have direct implications for our understanding of emotional conditioning produced in the laboratory and for analysis of related phenomena addressed in the clinic.

Study on acting mechanism of anti-morphine conditioned place preference between aqueous extract of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP and comparison of their effects / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the acting mechanism of anti-morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) between aqueous extract of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP and compare their effects.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The CPP model was established by injecting morphine in rats with a increasing dose for 10 days, with the initial dose of 10 g x kg(-1) and the final dose of 100 g x kg(-1), 10 mg x kg(-1) was increased each day, thus 100 mg x kg(-1) was injected by d 10. Having been treated with differential doses (2, 1 and 0.5 g x kg(-1)) of C. yanhusuo (containing L-THP: 0.153, 0.077 and 0.038 mg x kg(-1) respectively) and L-THP (3.76, 1.88 and 0.94 mg x kg(-1)) for six days, the CPP effect in rats was detected. Both colorimetry and immunohistochemistry methods were adopted to detect the content of glutamate neurotransmitter in each brain region and the expression of NR2B in VTA-NAc-PFC neuroanatomical circuit.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the physiological saline treatment group, C. yanhusuo (2, 1 g x kg(-1)) and L-THP (3.76 and 1.88 mg x kg(-1)) groups showed a notably shorter retention period of rats in white boxes (morphine-accompanied boxes) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and remarkably lower glutamic acid content in VTA, NAc and PFC and NR2B expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both C. yanhusuo and L-THP can substantially inhibit the effect of morphine CPP, reduce the increasing glutamic acid content in VTA-NAc-PFC neuroanatomical circuit and down-regulated NR2B expression, which may be one of mechanisms on reducing the effect of morphine CPP. C. yanhusuo preparations containing L-THP (1 x ) showed 24-fold effect of L-THP monomer of single application in terms of the behaviouristics of inhibitory effect on CPP as well as the similarity in terms of transmitter glutamic acid of in VTA-NAc-PFC neuroanatomical circuit and pharmacological mechanism of NR2B.</p>