Reducción de las conductas autolesivas y autoestimulatorias disfuncionales en los trastornos del espectro del autismo a través de la terapia ocupacional / Reduction of dysfunctional self-injurious and self-stimulatory behaviors in autism disorders spectrum through occupational therapy

Las conductas auto estimulatorias y auto lesivas son muy frecuentes en los trastornos del neurodesarrollo, siendo una fuente de ansiedad y sufrimiento importante tanto para las personas que las presentan como para sus familias. En ocasiones estas conductas son tan intensas y frecuentes que llegan a ser un peligro para la salud del sujeto. Se realiza una revisión bibliográfica sobre las diferentes vías de atención de estas conductas desarrolladas hasta el momento, y se expone la metodología aplicada en nuestra clínica, presentando datos recopilados sobre el efecto de la terapia sobre las conductas auto lesivas y auto estimulatorias en 20 casos, como punto de partida para próximas investigaciones. Se destaca el modelo de integración sensorial que complementa el tratamiento farmacológico y el cognitivo conductual, ya que considera relevante las necesidades sensoriales y entrena la capacidad de auto regulación funcional.

Self-stimulatory and self-injurious behaviors are very frequent in neurodevelopmental disorders, being a source of anxiety and suffering for persons who have that behavior and their families. Sometimes these behaviors are so intense and frequent that it becomes a self-integrity risk. A bibliographic review was conducted on the different approaches that have been developed until today; in addition, this article explains the methodology applied in our clinic, with a data collection on the effect of therapy on self-injurious and self-stimulatory behaviors in 20 cases, as a starting point for future research. The sensory integration model that complements pharmacological and behavioral cognitive treatment is highlighted, since it considers sensory needs relevant and trains the capacity for functional self-regulation.

[Reduction of dysfunctional self-injurious and self-stimulatory behaviors in autism disorders spectrum through occupational therapy]. / Reducción de las conductas autolesivas y autoestimulatorias disfuncionales en los trastornos del espectro del autismo a través de la terapia ocupacional.

Self-stimulatory and self-injurious behaviors are very frequent in neurodevelopmental disorders, being a source of anxiety and suffering for persons who have that behavior and their families. Sometimes these behaviors are so intense and frequent that it becomes a selfintegrity risk. A bibliographic review was conducted on the different approaches that have been developed until today; in addition, this article explains the methodology applied in our clinic, with a data collection on the effect of therapy on self-injurious and self-stimulatory behaviors in 20 cases, as a starting point for future research. The sensory integration model that complements pharmacological and behavioral cognitive treatment is highlighted, since it considers sensory needs relevant and trains the capacity for functional self-regulation.

Las conductas auto estimulatorias y auto lesivas son muy frecuentes en los trastornos del neurodesarrollo, siendo una fuente de ansiedad y sufrimiento importante tanto para las personas que las presentan como para sus familias. En ocasiones estas conductas son tan intensas y frecuentes que llegan a ser un peligro para la salud del sujeto. Se realiza una revisión bibliográfica sobre las diferentes vías de atención de estas conductas desarrolladas hasta el momento, y se expone la metodología aplicada en nuestra clínica, presentando datos recopilados sobre el efecto de la terapia sobre las conductas auto lesivas y auto estimulatorias en 20 casos, como punto de partida para próximas investigaciones. Se destaca el modelo de integración sensorial que complementa el tratamiento farmacológico y el cognitivo conductual, ya que considera relevante las necesidades sensoriales y entrena la capacidad de auto regulación funcional.

Activation of Glutamatergic Fibers in the Anterior NAc Shell Modulates Reward Activity in the aNAcSh, the Lateral Hypothalamus, and Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Transiently Stops Feeding.

Although the release of mesoaccumbal dopamine is certainly involved in rewarding responses, recent studies point to the importance of the interaction between it and glutamate. One important component of this network is the anterior nucleus accumbens shell (aNAcSh), which sends GABAergic projections into the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and receives extensive glutamatergic inputs from, among others, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The effects of glutamatergic activation of aNAcSh on the ingestion of rewarding stimuli as well as its effect in the LH and mPFC are not well understood. Therefore, we studied behaving mice that express a light-gated channel (ChR2) in glutamatergic fibers in their aNAcSh while recording from neurons in the aNAcSh, or mPFC or LH. In Thy1-ChR2, but not wild-type, mice activation of aNAcSh fibers transiently stopped the mice licking for sucrose or an empty sipper. Stimulation of aNAcSh fibers both activated and inhibited single-unit responses aNAcSh, mPFC, and LH, in a manner that maintains firing rate homeostasis. One population of licking-inhibited pMSNs in the aNAcSh was also activated by optical stimulation, suggesting their relevance in the cessation of feeding. A rewarding aspect of stimulation of glutamatergic inputs was found when the Thy1-ChR2 mice learned to nose-poke to self-stimulate these inputs, indicating that bulky stimulation of these fibers are rewarding in the sense of wanting. Stimulation of excitatory afferents evoked both monosynaptic and polysynaptic responses distributed in the three recorded areas. In summary, we found that activation of glutamatergic aNAcSh fibers is both rewarding and transiently inhibits feeding. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We have established that the activation of glutamatergic fibers in the anterior nucleus accumbens shell (aNAcSh) transiently stops feeding and yet, because mice self-stimulate, is rewarding in the sense of wanting. Moreover, we have characterized single-unit responses of distributed components of a hedonic network (comprising the aNAcSh, medial prefrontal cortex, and lateral hypothalamus) recruited by activation of glutamatergic aNAcSh afferents that are involved in encoding a positive valence signal important for the wanting of a reward and that transiently stops ongoing consummatory actions, such as licking.

Colapso de Eros nas adicções sexuais / The breakdown of Eros in the sexual addictions

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar uma modalidade particular de adicção, a compulsão sexual, e definir essa patologia examinando os fatores implicados em sua gênese. Nas adicções sexuais, o recurso à passagem ao ato monopoliza o campo de respostas possíveis para a descarga da força pulsional. Sucede-se, então, a repetição, a automação de um circuito que reduz as possibilidades de encaminhamento criativo para a sexualidade. O gozo sexual, buscado numerosas vezes por dia, de forma imperativa e irremediável, diz respeito a um processo situado "além do princípio de prazer". Buscamos analisar o que estaria na base desse imperativo destrutivo e mortífero de obtenção de prazer sexual.

The aim of this paper is to analyze a particular mode of addiction, the sexual compulsion, and define this pathology by examining the factors involved in its genesis. In sexual addictions, the recourse to acting out monopolizes the field of possible answers for the discharge of the drive force. It follows then the repetition, the automation of a circuit that reduces the possibilities of a creative path towards sexuality. Sexual enjoyment searched many times a day in such imperative and irremediable way is related to a process situated "beyond the pleasure principle". We try to analyze what could be the basis of such destructive and deadly imperative to obtain sexual pleasure.

Colapso de Eros nas adicções sexuais / The breakdown of Eros in the sexual addictions

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar uma modalidade particular de adicção, a compulsão sexual, e definir essa patologia examinando os fatores implicados em sua gênese. Nas adicções sexuais, o recurso à passagem ao ato monopoliza o campo de respostas possíveis para a descarga da força pulsional. Sucede-se, então, a repetição, a automação de um circuito que reduz as possibilidades de encaminhamento criativo para a sexualidade. O gozo sexual, buscado numerosas vezes por dia, de forma imperativa e irremediável, diz respeito a um processo situado "além do princípio de prazer". Buscamos analisar o que estaria na base desse imperativo destrutivo e mortífero de obtenção de prazer sexual.(AU)

The aim of this paper is to analyze a particular mode of addiction, the sexual compulsion, and define this pathology by examining the factors involved in its genesis. In sexual addictions, the recourse to acting out monopolizes the field of possible answers for the discharge of the drive force. It follows then the repetition, the automation of a circuit that reduces the possibilities of a creative path towards sexuality. Sexual enjoyment searched many times a day in such imperative and irremediable way is related to a process situated "beyond the pleasure principle". We try to analyze what could be the basis of such destructive and deadly imperative to obtain sexual pleasure.(AU)

[Non-epileptic motor paroxysmal phenomena in wakefulness in childhood]. / Fenómenos paroxísticos no epilépticos motores en vigilia en la infancia.

Paroxysmal events in childhood are a challenge for pediatric neurologists, given its highly heterogeneous clinical manifestations, often difficult to distinguish between phenomena of epileptic seizure or not. The non-epileptic paroxysmal episodes are neurological phenomena, with motor, sensory symptoms, and/or sensory impairments, with or without involvement of consciousness, epileptic phenomena unrelated, so no electroencephalographic correlative expression between or during episodes. From the clinical point of view can be classified into four groups: motor phenomena, syncope, migraine (and associated conditions) and acute psychiatric symptoms. In this paper we analyze paroxysmal motor phenomena in awake children, dividing them according to their clinical manifestations: extrapyramidal episodes (paroxysmal kinesiogenic, non kinesiogenic and not related to exercise dyskinesias, Dopa responsive dystonia) and similar symptoms of dystonia (Sandifer syndrome); manifestations of startle (hyperekplexia); episodic eye and head movements (benign paroxysmal tonic upward gaze nistagmus deviation); episodic ataxia (familial episodic ataxias, paroxysmal benign vertigo); stereotyped and phenomena of self-gratification; and myoclonic events (benign myoclonus of early infancy). The detection of these syndromes will, in many cases, allow an adequate genetic counseling, initiate a specific treatment and avoid unnecessary additional studies. Molecular studies have demonstrated a real relationship between epileptic and non-epileptic basis of many of these entities and surely the identification of the molecular basis and understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms in many of them allow us, in the near future will benefit our patients.

TITLE: Fenomenos paroxisticos no epilepticos motores en vigilia en la infancia.Los eventos paroxisticos en la infancia son un desafio para los neuropediatras por sus manifestaciones clinicas altamente heterogeneas, muchas veces dificiles de diferenciar entre fenomenos de origen epileptico o no epileptico. Los fenomenos paroxisticos no epilepticos son fenomenos neurologicos, episodicos, con sintomas motores, sensitivos o sensoriales, con o sin afectacion de la conciencia, no relacionados a fenomenos epilepticos, por lo cual no tienen correlato de expresion electroencefalografica entre o durante los episodios. Desde el punto de vista clinico, podemos clasificarlos en cuatro grandes grupos: fenomenos motores, sincopes, migraña (y condiciones asociadas) y cuadros psiquiatricos agudos. En este trabajo se analizan los fenomenos paroxisticos motores en vigilia, dividiendolos de acuerdo a sus manifestaciones clinicas en: episodios extrapiramidales (discinesias paroxisticas cinesiogenicas, no cinesiogenicas y relacionadas con el ejercicio, distonia sensible a levodopa) y cuadros simil distonia (sindrome de Sandifer); manifestaciones de sobresalto (hiperecplexia); movimientos episodicos oculares y cefalicos (desviacion tonica paroxistica de la mirada hacia arriba); ataxia episodica (ataxias episodicas autosomicas familiares y vertigo paroxistico benigno); estereotipias y fenomenos de autogratificacion; y eventos mioclonicos (mioclonias benignas de la infancia temprana). La deteccion de estos sindromes permitira, en muchos casos, realizar un asesoramiento genetico adecuado, instaurar un tratamiento especifico y evitar estudios complementarios innecesarios. Los estudios moleculares han demostrado una relacion entre las bases epilepticas y no epilepticas en muchas de estas entidades. Seguramente la identificacion de los aspectos moleculares y la comprension de los mecanismos fisiopatologicos de muchas de ellas permitiran en un futuro no muy lejano tratamientos especificos que beneficiaran a los pacientes.

Mejoras cognitivas y perceptivo-motrices en personas mayores participantes en un programa de estimulación integral cognitivo-motriz / Cognitive and perceptual-motor improvements in ederly participating in a cognitive - motor integrated stimulation program

Este artículo tiene como objetivo mostrar los efectos cognitivos y perceptivo-motrices obtenidos tras la aplicación de un programa de estimulación cognitiva a través de la motricidad para personas mayores llamado "Memoria en Movimiento". Se trata de una investigación cuasi-experimental en la que participaron 234 personas mayores con una media de edad de 69.92±7.23 distribuidas en grupo experimental inactivo físicamente y grupo control praticantes de Tai-chi y Gimnasia. La evaluación se realizó antes de la aplicación del programa y tras su finalización. Se utilizaron el Mini Examen Cognoscitivo, el Test de Dígitos - Total, Directo e Inverso -, una Prueba de Memoria Motriz y una Prueba de Orientación Espacial - Total, 1 y 2 -. Se constató una mejoría significativa (p0.05) del grupo experimental en todas las mediciones de estudio excepto en Dígitos Directo y Orientación Espacial 2. El grupo control consigue mejoras significativas (p0.05) exclusivamente en Orientación Espacial Total y Espacial 1 y deterioro significativo (p0.05) en Memoria Motriz. El programa "Memoria en Movimiento" mejora la atención, la memoria, la conciencia corporal y la estructuración espacial de las personas mayores mediante tareas cognitivas con implicación motriz integral.

Autofala e esporte: estímulo discriminativo do ambiente natural na melhora de rendimento / Self-talk and sports: discriminative stimulus of natural environment to improve performance

Estar concentrado é um aspecto importante para o bom desempenho no esporte. A concentração é a capacidade de colocar a atenção no que é relevante para a tarefa realizada, isto é, isolar estímulos discriminativos que exerçam controle sobre o desempenho. Este estudo utilizou a prática encoberta em forma de imaginação e autofalas para colocar o comportamento do atleta sob controle dos estímulos da corrida, a fim de melhorar a concentração e conseqüentemente a velocidade de cinco corredores barreiristas. O objetivo foi verificar se a utilização de autofalas que especificam contingências presentes de velocidade pode melhorar o desempenho. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental de linha de base múltipla entre sujeitos, durante 14 dias, com introdução do tratamento em dias diferentes para cada atleta, o que permitiu verificar o efeito das variáveis estudadas. Os resultados mostram que quatro entre cinco corredores melhoraram a velocidade em tiros de 60 metros com barreiras, após a utilização do tratamento. Discutem-se os resultados em base à correspondência entre falar e fazer, o efeito da regra instruída sobre o desempenho motor

A key point for a good performance in sports is to be concentrated. The concentration is the ability to put the attention into what is relevant to the task, that is, to isolate relevant cues in the athletic environment that exert stimulus control over skilled athletic behavior. This study used a covered practice and self-talks to bring the athlete behavior under stimulus control appropriate of the run, to increase concentration and consequently the speed on 60 meters hurdles to five elite runners. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a specific self-talk on speed performance. A multiple-baseline design across people was employed. Results have shown that four of five runners improved their speed performance on 60 meters hurdles after treatment. The results are discussed in terms of correspondence between verbal and nonverbal behavior, specifically, the effects of rules on motor performance

Teoria da percepção no behaviorismo radical / Radical behaviorism's theory of perception

A percepção é explicada por Skinner através do conceito de comportamento perceptivo - um comportamento complexo que se inter-relaciona com muitos outros. O estudo da percepção na teoria skinneriana pode ser dividido em duas etapas: estudo do comportamento perceptivo como precorrente e estudo dos precorrentes do comportamento perceptivo. No primeiro caso, a investigação passa pelo processo de resolução de problemas, no qual o comportamento perceptivo desempenha um papel fundamental modificando o ambiente, o que permite a emissäo do comportamento discriminativo e a soluçäo do problema. No segundo caso, a investigaçäo trata com uma série de outros comportamentos, tais como, propósito, atenção, e consciência, que modificam a probabilidade de emissão do comportamento perceptivo. A análise das relações entre o comportamento perceptivo e demais comportamentos culmina no esboço de uma teoria da percepçäo no behaviorismo radical, que é mais convincente do que explicaçöes mentalistas que fazem uso da "teoria da cópia"

Técnica baseada na função de coerência para avaliar o grau de sincronismo no EEG durante estimulação sensorial / A coherence-based technique for evaluating the degree of synchronism in the EEG during sensory stimulation

The coherence between the stimulation signal and the EEG has been used in the detection of evoked responses to rhythmic stimulation. Such detection is based on the knowledge of the sampling distribution of coherence estimate under the null hypothesis of lack of evoked response (zero coherence). In this work, the technique is extended for quantifying the degree of activation due to sensory stimulation. With this aim the sampling distribution for the non-zero response is investigated for evaluating the performance of the detector as well as obtaining the confidence limits of coherence estimate. The latter are obtained using an approximation to the probability density function of the estimate, since the closed-form inverse for the cumulative density function, and hence the critical values for non-zero coherence, cannot easily be found. The theoretical results are verified in Monte Carlo simulations and the techniques is further applied to the EEG signals from 14 subjects during t]rhythmic photic stimulation. The results indicate inter-hemispheric symmetry at homoloque posterior regions in the stimulation frequency of 6 Hz and also its harmonics for most of the subjects. As expected, such symmetry is more pronounced at occipital regions. Further, in 28 per cent of the subjects, the strength of the responses in 12 Hz depends on either such frequency is the stimulation frequency or the second harmonic of it. This difference may be due the fact that the stimulation frequency is lower or higher the subjects' alpha rhythm and need to be further investigated.

Salud y violencia intrafamiliar: manual de normas y procedimientos para la atención / Health and family violence: manual of standars and procedures for care

El presente documento constituye un instrumento capaz de proporcionar insumos básicos sobre el tratamiento y la prevención de la violencia intrafamiliar dirigida al personal de salud, especialmente en los niveles I y II de complejidad, con la perspectiva de enriquecer la práctica institucional en le marco del Plan de Acción Estratégico de Salud (PES) y de la multisectorial necesaria para el abordaje de la problemática

Evaluación de los costos en 2 métodos inductores del parto / Cost evaluation of 2 induced labor methods

Se evaluaron de forma comparativa los costos de 2 métodos inductores del parto: el de venoclisis con oxitocina y el de autoestimulación del pezón, en 2 grupos de gestantes (80) ingresadas en el Hospital Ginecoobstétrico Docente Este de Santiago de Cuba, durante el primer semestre de 1993. Se calcularon las siguientes variables: consumo de medicamentos y gastos de material, promedio de estadía, calidad. Se aplica un formulario para la recogida de estas variables. A los datos se les aplicó el porcentaje y el chi cuadrado. Se representan los datos en tablas. El autoestímulo del pezón resultó ser el más económico por el ahorro de material gastable y medicamentos; pero la estadía hospitalaria y los resultados perinatales en cuanto al tipo de parto y estado del recién nacido fueron similares con ambos métodos

Masturbation mimicking abdominal pain or seizures in young girls.

Five girls, 7 to 27 months of age, had masturbatory posturing that did not involve rubbing of the genitalia or copulatory movements. This activity was mistakenly attributed to abdominal pain or seizures, and prompted unnecessary diagnostic tests. The posturing began at 3 to 14 months and consisted of "leaning episodes" in which the suprapubic region was applied to a firm edge or the parent's knee in one patient, stiffening of the lower extremities in a standing or sitting position in the second patient, and stiffening of the lower extremities while lying on their sides or supine in three infant patients. The posturing was often accompanied by irregular breathing, facial flushing, and diaphoresis, and lasted less than a minute to hours at a time. Management consisted of convincing the parents of the harmless nature of the activity, which then lessened the reinforcing effect of their responses. The posturing subsided, in time, without medical or surgical treatment.

Electrical hypothalamic stimulation in rats induces hyperthermia if and only if they learn to self-stimulate.

Handling and exposure to a novel environment has been shown to produce an emotional fever in rats. Electrical stimulation of lateral hypothalamus sites produced a rise of intracranial temperature not different from this emotional fever. Once the rats learned to self-stimulate, the same electrical stimulation produced a rise of the intracranial temperature significantly higher than the emotional fever. During the autoshaping for self-stimulation a significant relationship was found between the rise of the intracranial temperature and time expressed as successive days of self-stimulation training, or between the rise of intracranial temperature and the increasing frequency of operant responses. This seems to indicate that when the rats learned to self-stimulate, an initially nonsense signal, without specific thermal effect, was transformed into a neural or neurochemical code producing a new or modified effect which was a significantly higher fever.

[Blocking of the alpha rhythm induced by sensory self-stimulation]. / Bloqueo del ritmo alfa producido por la autoadministración de un estímulo sensorial.

In a series of experiments in animals and in man several authors have shown that sensory stimulation induces low voltage fast activity in the EEG. The problem to be studied in this work is related to the EEG changes produced by self-stimulation. A group of human subjects were instructed to be self-stimulated with clicks and flashes of light randomly applied by themselves. When the subjects were with the eyes closed and in resting state, alpha rhythm was predominantly recorded in the EEG. However, during acoustic or visual stimulation a low voltage fast activity was predominantly observed in the EEG. In self-administration of the stimulus a low voltage fast activity was recorded in the EEG several seconds before the stimulus application. These results suggest that the activation of a complex neuronal mechanism involved in the volitive response, as well as anxiety and attentive states of the subject occurring before the actual stimulation to select the moment at which the stimulus has to be applied, can be responsible for the blocking of the alpha rhythm previously to the flashes of light and clicks presentation.

Bloqueo del ritmo alfa producido por la autoadministracion de un estimulo sensorial / Blocking of the alpha rhythm induced by sensory self stimulation

La estimulación sensorial produce reacción de bloqueo del ritmo alfa del EEG, respuesta que se habitúa con la repetición de la hetroestimulación. La autoestimulación sensorial produce potenciales evocados de menor amplitud que los generados por la estimulación aplicada por el investigador al sujeto experimental. En el presente trabajo se trata de demostrar que la autoadminstración de estímulos sensoriales produce reacción de bloqueo del ritmo alfa desde antes de la presentación del estímulo. A un grupo de voluntarios universitarios se les registró el EEG ininterrumpidamente, centro-occipital, y se les instruyó para que se autoadministraran estímulos acústicos ("clicks") y fóticos ("flashes of Light") durante el tiempo y momento que quisieran una vez iniciado el experimento. El EEG presentaba ritmo alfa dominante, el cual desaparecía durante la estimulación sensorial. La administración de cualesquiera de los dos estímulos producía reacción de bloqueo del ritmo alfa desde antes de la presentación del estímulo. Esta respuesta producida por la autoestimulación no se habituaba como consecuencia de la repetición del estímulo. Estos resultados sugieren que la auto-administración del estímulo implica para el sujeto experimental cierto grado de ansiedad y estado de atención de alguna consideración para escoger el momento de autoaplicarse el estímulo, además de los procesos neuronales que implica la realización del movimiento voluntario correspondiente, todo lo cual genera cambios importantes en el EEG, como es el bloqueo del Ritmo Alfa

Bloqueo del ritmo alfa producido por la autoadministracion de un estimulo sensorial / Blocking of the alpha rhythm induced by sensory self stimulation

La estimulación sensorial produce reacción de bloqueo del ritmo alfa del EEG, respuesta que se habitúa con la repetición de la hetroestimulación. La autoestimulación sensorial produce potenciales evocados de menor amplitud que los generados por la estimulación aplicada por el investigador al sujeto experimental. En el presente trabajo se trata de demostrar que la autoadminstración de estímulos sensoriales produce reacción de bloqueo del ritmo alfa desde antes de la presentación del estímulo. A un grupo de voluntarios universitarios se les registró el EEG ininterrumpidamente, centro-occipital, y se les instruyó para que se autoadministraran estímulos acústicos ("clicks") y fóticos ("flashes of Light") durante el tiempo y momento que quisieran una vez iniciado el experimento. El EEG presentaba ritmo alfa dominante, el cual desaparecía durante la estimulación sensorial. La administración de cualesquiera de los dos estímulos producía reacción de bloqueo del ritmo alfa desde antes de la presentación del estímulo. Esta respuesta producida por la autoestimulación no se habituaba como consecuencia de la repetición del estímulo. Estos resultados sugieren que la auto-administración del estímulo implica para el sujeto experimental cierto grado de ansiedad y estado de atención de alguna consideración para escoger el momento de autoaplicarse el estímulo, además de los procesos neuronales que implica la realización del movimiento voluntario correspondiente, todo lo cual genera cambios importantes en el EEG, como es el bloqueo del Ritmo Alfa (AU)

Prefrontal cortex lesions attenuate substantia nigra self-stimulation: a reward summation analysis.

A curve-shift paradigm was used to assess the effects of lesions of the prefrontal cortex on self-stimulation from electrode sites in the substantia nigra. Combined lesions of the medial and sulcal cortical regions severely attenuated substantia nigra self-stimulation. These results are discussed in the context of the frontal cortex and the substantia nigra as belonging to a reinforcement system that is largely independent of the medial forebrain bundle system.

Analgesia produced by vaginal self-stimulation in women is independent of heart rate acceleration.

In the present study, the analgesia produced by vaginal stimulation (VS) in women was found to be dissociated from heart rate. The VS-produced analgesia was not accompanied by an acceleration of heart rate. Heart rate acceleration produced by exercise did not result in analgesia. The independence of VS-produced analgesia from this index of autonomic activity is consistent with recent findings in rats.

Participación de la dopamina en la motivación / Participation of the dopamine in the motivation

Numerosos experimentos que involucran la estimulación o la lesión de vías dopaminérgicas indican que el fenómeno de la autoestimulación intracerebral depende de la activación de dichas vías. Esta indicación se ha visto reforzada por el hecho de que la aplicación sistémica de fármacos que bloquean o incrementan las acciones sinápticas de la dopamina inducen un decremento y una mejoría, respectivamente, de la conducta de autoestimulación. Sin embargo, estos datos no permiten afirmar que la autoestimulación intracerebral sea debida a la estimulación directa de fibras dopaminérgicas; se decir, esta conducta podría ser debida a la estimulación directa de axones que contienen otros neurotrasnmisores, y que la actividad dopaminérgica represente un eslabón secundario en dicho proceso conductual. Recientemente, estas posibilidades han sido sometidas a pruebas experimentales. Se ha encontrado, en estudios electrofisiológicos, que las características funcionales de las fibras que son directamente activadas durante la autoestimulación difieren de las fibras dopaminérgicas. Por otra parte, se han hecho correlaciones entre la densidad relativa de dopamina de las zonas de autoestimulaciones y las características de ésta (umbrales y frecuencia de respuesta), no existiendo ninguna correlación significativa entre ellas . Estos datos sugieren fuertemente que en la autoestimulación intracerebral no se activan directamente células dopaminérgicas, sino que estas son activadas indirectamente (transinápticamentes)