Gender differences in the pathway of childhood trauma, impulsivity and adult eating behaviour: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The current cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between childhood trauma, impulsivity, binge eating symptoms, and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of males and females. We also aimed to investigate the indirect association of childhood trauma with binge eating through impulsivity while controlling for BMI.Method: Participants were 410 young adults (mean age = 20.9 years, range 18-24; female = 73.9%) who completed online measures of childhood trauma, impulsivity, binge eating symptoms, and self-reported height and weight. Mediation models were tested using multi-group structural equation modelling.Results: Childhood trauma and impulsivity were associated with an increased risk of binge eating symptoms in females but not males, corroborating previous studies. There was a significant difference in the binge eating symptoms index between sexes, but not regarding the index of childhood trauma and impulsivity. Additionally, adverse childhood experiences were associated with impulsivity and the association of childhood trauma with binge eating was mediated by impulsivity in the female sample.Conclusions: Our results suggest sex-dependent patterns and risk factors that may impact binge eating symptoms. The implications of our results suggest that impulsivity might be a vulnerability factor for binge eating, especially for females.

How are overweight and obesity associated with reinforcement learning deficits? A systematic review.

Reinforcement learning (RL) refers to the ability to learn stimulus-response or response-outcome associations relevant to the acquisition of behavioral repertoire and adaptation to the environment. Research data from correlational and case-control studies have shown that obesity is associated with impairments in RL. The aim of the present study was to systematically review how obesity and overweight are associated with RL performance. More specifically, the relationship between high body mass index (BMI) and task performance was explored through the analysis of specific RL processes associated with different physiological, computational, and behavioral manifestations. Our systematic analyses indicate that obesity might be associated with impairments in the use of aversive outcomes to change ongoing behavior, as revealed by results involving instrumental negative reinforcement and extinction/reversal learning, but further research needs to be conducted to confirm this association. Hypotheses regarding how obesity might be associated with altered RL were discussed.

Switching to online: Testing the validity of supervised remote testing for online reinforcement learning experiments.

Online experiments are an alternative for researchers interested in conducting behavioral research outside the laboratory. However, an online assessment might become a challenge when long and complex experiments need to be conducted in a specific order or with supervision from a researcher. The aim of this study was to test the computational validity and the feasibility of a remote and synchronous reinforcement learning (RL) experiment conducted during the social-distancing measures imposed by the pandemic. An additional feature of this study was to describe how a behavioral experiment originally created to be conducted in-person was transformed into an online supervised remote experiment. Open-source software was used to collect data, conduct statistical analysis, and do computational modeling. Python codes were created to replicate computational models that simulate the effect of working memory (WM) load over RL performance. Our behavioral results indicated that we were able to replicate remotely and with a modified behavioral task the effects of working memory (WM) load over RL performance observed in previous studies with in-person assessments. Our computational analyses using Python code also captured the effects of WM load over RL as expected, which suggests that the algorithms and optimization methods were reliable in their ability to reproduce behavior. The behavioral and computational validation shown in this study and the detailed description of the supervised remote testing may be useful for researchers interested in conducting long and complex experiments online.

Conscious and pre-conscious attentional bias to food images in patients subjected to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Attentional bias (AB) to food after bariatric surgery might be a cognitive marker for weight regain. The visual probe task (VPT) is commonly used to capture AB at automatic, pre-conscious, and conscious orientation of attention. The aim of this study was to investigate how the preoperative BMI of patients submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) impacts AB to food. We assessed patients who had preoperative BMI>50 (n = 28) or preoperative BMI<50 (n = 31) months after the RYGB procedure. Participants underwent clinical, psychological, and VPT evaluations. In VPT, pairs of food and matching non-food images were shown for 100 ms, 500 ms or 2000 ms and AB for food was assessed for each exposure time. A significant AB to food was observed at 2000 ms for all patients in this study, suggesting that the overall sample were consciously orienting their attention toward food cues after surgery, a finding that might be relevant for understanding weight control. When groups with preoperative BMI higher and lower than 50 kg/m2 were compared, a significant difference on AB to food stimuli at 500 ms was observed, controlling for excess weight lost since surgery and postoperative time. Subjects with preoperative BMI>50 had a positive and reliable AB to food while subjects with preoperative BMI<50 had a negative AB. This suggests that food stimuli have a higher incentive salience even after surgery for those with BMI>50, which might explain why subjects with higher preoperative weight have higher risks for weight regain. These results may indicate that RYGB can impact incentive salience for food cues in a differential manner, increasing conscious AB in all patients and decreasing pre-conscious AB only in those with BMI<50 kg/m2.

Parsing the link between reinforcement sensitivity theory and eating behavior: A systematic review.

The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) is a widely studied psychobiological model of personality. RST factors seem to influence eating behavior, but how these personality traits are associated with distinct features of eating behavior is still unclear. In the present systematic review, we analyzed the relationship between RST personality factors and eating behavior using a parsing approach in which BMI-related results, self-reported results, and behavioral results were distinguished. Our analysis revealed that reward and punishment sensitivity seem to correlate and influence distinct features of eating behavior. The association between BMI and RST factors was uncertain, but nonlinear associations between reward sensitivity and weight need further testing. Reward sensitivity was linked to most eating behavior phenotypes (e.g., emotional eating and restrained eating), but only punishment sensitivity was primarily correlated with eating pathology. Reward sensitivity was the main factor linked with reactivity to food stimuli on many behavioral measures. The neurobiological personality factors of RST offer parsimonious concepts to understand eating behavior outcomes and the differential relationships observed are useful to translational research.

Statistical process control charts for better analysis of sequential data in psychology: The case of illusion of control experiments.

Illusion of control (IOC) is a bias in the judgment of personal success with implications to learning theories and health policies; some important questions in the investigation of IOC may be related to traditional measures in the field, namely self-assessment using Likert scales about the sense of control. Statistical process control (SPC) and Shewhart charts are methods developed to monitor and control industrial processes, never applied in psychological studies before. The present two studies investigated the use of the technique of Shewhart charts in the analysis of IOC. The purpose was to explore the use of SPC and Shewhart charts in the analysis of data sequences from psychological experiments; the objective was to analyze the results of reaction time (RT) data sequences plotted in SPC charts, in comparison with self-assessment judgments from an IOC task. Participants were 63 undergraduate students (Study 1) and 103 mine workers (Study 2) instructed to try to control a traffic light on a computer by pressing or not the keyboard. Higher probabilities of the successful outcome generated judgments of illusion and shifts (due to cognitive activity) in the charts of RT; lower probabilities resulted in null illusion and RT presented a random and stable profile. Patterns for different groups emerged in Shewhart charts. SPC can contribute to the analysis of the behavior of sequences of data in psychological studies, so that the charts indicate changes and patterns not detected by traditional ANOVA and other linear models.

Devolução dos resultados de pesquisa em psicologia para os respectivos participantes / Return of results from brazilian researches in psychology to research participants / Devolución de resultados de investigadores en psicología brasileños para los encuestados

A devolução de resultados para participantes é um dever ético em pesquisa. Objetivou-se identificar as práticas adotadas pelas(os) pesquisadoras(es) brasileiras(os) em psicologia para devolução dos resultados de pesquisa para as(os) respectivas(os) participantes. Realizou-se uma pesquisa online, da qual participaram 68 pesquisadoras(es) brasileiros em psicologia. As(os) participantes tinham entre 32 e 73 anos (M = 49,8; DP = 11,5), 62% eram mulheres, com tempo médio de formação desde o doutorado de 14,3 anos (DP = 9,6). 43% das(os) participantes respondeu que frequentemente realizava alguma prática de devolução, presencial ou coletiva, por meio de cursos de extensão, capacitações e palestras. Praticar a devolução de resultados de pesquisa em psicologia pode motivar a colaboração em pesquisas, além de fazer cumprir um direito dos participantes.

Although the return of results to participants is an important ethical issue in research, little is known on how Brazilian researchers in Psychology perform these practices. The objective of this article was to identify practices adopted by Brazilian researchers in Psychology to return research results to their respective participants. For this online cross-sectional study, we created a specific questionnaire, which was answered by 68 researchers in Psychology who were leaders of research groups listed in CNPq's Research Groups Directory, for at least 1 year. Participants ranged from 32 to 73 years old (M = 49,8; SD= 11,5), 62% were women, and, in average, they have been working after doctorate for 14,3 years (SD = 9,6). 43% of participants reported frequently performing some form of devolution of results, mainly collective face-to-face practices, such as extension courses, trainings, or lectures. We conclude on the necessity of return of results practices in Psychology. When sharing results with people who were involved in researches, besides conforming with ethical principles, researchers may motivate participants to continue collaborating with research development.

Devolver resultados a los participantes es un deber ético en la investigación. El objetivo fue identificar las prácticas adoptadas por los investigadores brasileños en Psicología para transmitir los resultados de la investigación a los respectivos encuestados. Se realizó una encuesta en línea, en la que participaron 68 investigadores en Psicología brasileños. Los participantes tenían entre 32 y 73 años (M = 49,8; DT = 11,5), el 62% eran mujeres, con un tiempo promedio desde el término del doctorado de 14,3 años (DT = 9,6). El 43% de los participantes respondieron que frecuentemente realizaban alguna práctica de retorno. Las devoluciones presenciales y colectivas a través de cursos de extensión, capacitación y conferencias fueron las principales prácticas indicadas. Se concluye que es necesaria una mayor discusión sobre las prácticas de devolución en Psicología. Al compartir los resultados de la investigación con los involucrados en ella, además de cumplir con un deber ético, es posible motivar a los participantes a continuar colaborando con el desarrollo de investigaciones.

Comparative Analysis of Psychology Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic in Brics Nations.

The BRICS Forum, an independent international organization encouraging commercial, political, and cultural cooperation between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was formed in 2011, and these countries have a significant influence on their regional affairs. These nations were hit by COVID-19 at different times, and all adopted home quarantine to reduce the spread of the virus. We present a comparative analysis of actions of psychology and potential outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in BRICS nations regarding five aspects: psychology in health policies, social roles of psychology, socioeconomic context, actions for the general population, and health professionals during stage 1 of the pandemic, and possible actions in stage 2. Various types of actions were taken by psychologists in BRICS, with different levels of coordinated cooperation with respective governmental and non-governmental organizations, multiple and parallel efforts from different scientific societies, and professional regulatory agencies. Scientific societies have had an important role in coordinating some of these efforts, especially because they congregate the psychologists from different parts of these countries, improving communication and access to key information. The aim of these actions varies from improving situational skills and competences to increase the accessibility of psychological services and provide psychoeducation and telepsychology. We will consider the social importance of these actions within these countries as a global opportunity for psychology to stage in a complex context involving human health. The way psychology in BRICS will face this challenging situation is likely to produce important regional influence, stimulate scientific contribution, and increase the accessibility of psychology.

Teoria da Sensibilidade ao Reforçamento: Pressupostos, Procedimentos e Medidas / Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory: Assumptions, Procedures, and Measures

Resumo A Teoria da Sensibilidade ao Reforçamento (RST) é um modelo psicobiológico de personalidade derivado de estudos experimentais com humanos e não humanos. Na RST, duas dimensões de personalidade influenciam a reatividade ao ambiente: sensibilidade à recompensa (SR) e sensibilidade à punição (SP). O pressuposto central da teoria é de que há uma relação entre personalidade (SR e SP) e aprendizagem por condicionamento. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar aos pesquisadores brasileiros a história, as hipóteses centrais e os procedimentos experimentais da RST e discutir as medidas utilizadas para testar os pressupostos da teoria. A RST é um modelo promissor para o estudo da personalidade dentro da psicologia experimental, psiquiatria e neurociências.

Abstract The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) is a biological model of personality derived from experimental studies with humans and nonhumans. In RST, two personality dimensions influence reactivity to the environment: sensitivity to reward (SR) and sensitivity to punishment (SP). The central assumption of the theory is that there is a relationship between personality (SR and SP) and conditioning learning. This article aims to introduce Brazilian researchers to the history, central hypotheses, and experimental procedures of RST and discuss the measures used to test the theoretical assumptions. RST is a promising model for the study of personality within experimental psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience.

Emotional eating: associations among impulsivity, depression, sex, and weight status in young adults / Alimentação emocional: associações entre impulsividade, depressão, sexo e peso corporal em jovens adultos / Alimentación emocional: asociaciones entre impulsividad, depresión, sexo y peso corporal en jovenes adultos

Emotional Eating (EE) is defined as eating under the influence of negative emotions, and is associated with Eating Disorders, impulsivity, depression and weight gain. However, previous literature is not clear regarding how these variables explain EE. The present study aimed to identify predictors of EE and its relationship to impulsivity, depression, eating style, and weight status in young adults. Sex differences in eating style were examined, and differences in EE between obese/overweight and normal/underweight individuals were tested. Two-hundred college students completed online questionnaires assessing all variables. Low inhibitory control, depression symptoms, female sex, and higher body mass index significantly predicted scores on EE. Obese/overweight and female participants presented increased EE. Correlation analysis evidenced positive associations between EE, Uncontrolled Eating, body mass, and low inhibitory control. Results indicate that EE is related to psychological factors such as impulsivity and depression, and biological factors, such as sex and body mass.

Alimentação Emocional (AE) é definida como comer sob influência de emoções negativas e está associada a transtornos alimentares, impulsividade, depressão e ganho de peso. Entretanto, a literatura não é clara sobre como essas variáveis explicam AE. Este estudo buscou identificar preditores da AE e sua relação com impulsividade, depressão, estilo alimentar e peso corporal em jovens adultos. Foram examinadas diferenças entre sexo no estilo alimentar e diferenças na AE entre indivíduos obesos/com sobrepeso e normais/abaixo do peso. Duzentos estudantes universitários preencheram questionários online avaliando todas variáveis. Baixo controle inibitório, sintomas de depressão, sexo feminino e maior índice de massa corporal predisseram AE. Indivíduos obesos/com excesso de peso e do sexo feminino apresentaram aumento da AE. Foram evidenciadas correlações positivas entre Descontrole Alimentar, peso corporal e baixo controle inibitório. Os resultados indicam que a AE está relacionada a fatores psicológicos, como impulsividade e depressão, e biológicos, como sexo e massa corporal.

Alimentación emocional (AE) se define como comer bajo la influencia de emociones negativas y se asocia con trastornos alimentarios, impulsividad, depresión y aumento de peso. Sin embargo, la literatura no es clara acerca de cómo estas variables explican AE. Este estudio buscó identificar predictores de AE y su relación con impulsividad, depresión, estilo de alimentación y peso corporal en jovenes adultos. Se examinaron diferencias entre sexo en el estilo de alimentación y diferencias en AE entre sujetos obesos/con sobrepeso y normales/con bajo peso. Doscientos estudiantes universitarios completaron cuestionarios en línea evaluando todas variables. Bajo control inhibitorio, síntomas de depresión, género femenino y índice de masa corporal más alto predijeron AE. Personas obesas/con sobrepeso y mujeres mostraron aumento de AE. Se evidenciaron correlaciones positivas entre comida no controlada, peso corporal y bajo control inhibitorio. AE está relacionada con factores psicológicos, como impulsividad y depresión, y biológicos, como género y masa corporal.

O eixo intestino-cérebro e sintomas depressivos: uma revisão sistemática dos ensaios clínicos randomizados com probióticos / The gut-brain axis and depressive symptoms: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials with probiotics

RESUMO Objetivo: Reconhece-se atualmente a relevância do eixo intestino-cérebro para a compreensão de comportamentos e doenças mentais ou psiquiátricas. O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar os efeitos do consumo de probióticos sobre sintomas depressivos e depressão maior. Métodos: O presente estudo constitui uma revisão de ensaios clínicos randomizados duplos-cegos ou triplos-cegos, placebo-controlados, publicados entre 2010 e 2020. Foi realizada busca por artigos nas bases de dados PubMed, ScienceDirect e Google Scholar. Resultados: Oito artigos compuseram a amostra do presente estudo. Os resultados entre estudos são controversos e indicam que a relação de causalidade entre o consumo de probióticos e o alívio de sintomas depressivos ainda não foi estabelecida. Conclusões: Mais ensaios clínicos randomizados duplos-cegos ou triplos-cegos, placebo-controlados, que controlem potenciais fatores de confusão (p. ex.: dieta, uso de antibióticos), são necessários para verificar consistentemente a relação causal entre o consumo de probióticos e o alívio de sintomas depressivos.

ABSTRACT Objective: Currently, the gut-brain axis has been highlighted as an important aspect for understanding behavior and mental illnesses. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of probiotic consumption on depressive symptoms and major depression. Methods: A review of randomized, double or triple blind and placebo-controlled trials, published between 2010 and 2020, was performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. Results: Eight articles were selected to compose the sample. Findings between studies are controversial, and indicate that a causal relation between probiotic consumption and relieve of depressive symptoms is not yet established. Conclusion: More randomized, double or triple blind, placebo-controlled trials are necessary to consistently verify the causal relation between probiotic consumption and relieve of depressive symptoms.

Aplicação da escala SAM na seleção de imagens de alimentos saudáveis e não saudáveis para utilização em tarefas experimentais / SAM scale application in selecting healthy and non-healthy food images for use in experimental tasks

O modelo dimensional das emoções tem sido utilizado em investigações no âmbito da psicologia experimental. Este estudo utilizou a pontuação nas dimensões da escala SAM (Self Assesment Manikin) para emparelhar estímulos considerando o valor afetivo. O objetivo foi realizar um levantamento das dimensões afetivas em um conjunto de 122 imagens relacionadas com alimentos para utilização em tarefas experimentais entre adultos, com o intuito de permitir o emparelhamento de estímulos nas dimensões afetivas, em conjuntos de imagens de alimentos saudáveis (SD), não saudáveis (NS) e objetos comuns do dia a dia (OB). Participaram como juízes 87 estudantes universitários, 43 (49,4%) do sexo feminino e 44 (50,6%) do sexo masculino. O controle emocional dos estímulos contribui para aumentar a validade ecológica dos estudos através do melhor controle dos estímulos que possuem relevância afetiva. Este trabalho propiciou a criação de um banco de imagens relacionadas a alimentos saudáveis e não saudáveis e um conjunto de imagens de objetos para comparação ou pareamento. O material desenvolvido possibilita a manipulação e controle de estímulos com relevância emocional em estudos relacionados ao comportamento alimentar em humanos.

The dimensional model of emotions has been previously used for research in experimental psychology. In the current study, the score in the dimensions of SAM scale (Self-Assessment Manikin) was used to pair the stimuli in level of arousal elicited. The objective was to survey the affective dimensions of a set of 122 images related to food for its use in experimental tasks among adults, in order to allow pairing of stimuli in the emotional dimensions, in sets of health food images (SD) unhealthy (NS) and common objects of everyday life (OB). Participants were 87 college students of both genders, 43 (49.4%) were female and 44 (50.6%) were male. The criterion used allowed the choice of 12 pairs of SD-OB images and 12 NS-B pairs, matched in the arousal scale. Emotional control of the stimuli is relevant to increase the ecological validity of the studies through better control of stimuli with emotional relevance. This work led to the creation of a bank of images related to healthy and unhealthy foods, as well as a set of pictures of objects pictures. The material developed enables the manipulation and control of stimuli with emotional significance in studies related to eating behavior.

Genetically predicted gene expression of prefrontal DRD4 gene and the differential susceptibility to childhood emotional eating in response to positive environment.

Genetic differential susceptibility states that individuals may vary both by exhibiting poor responses when exposed to adverse environments, and disproportionally benefiting from positive settings. The dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) may be particularly implicated in these effects, including disturbed eating behaviors that might lead to obesity. Here, we explore differential susceptibility to positive environments according to the predicted genetically regulated gene expression of prefrontal cortex DRD4 gene. Using MAVAN as the discovery cohort (Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment) and GUSTO as the replication cohort (Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes), we analyzed the interaction between a) a Positive postnatal environmental score, that accounts for positive outcomes in the postnatal period and b) the genetically regulated gene expression of prefrontal DRD4, computed using a machine learning prediction method (PrediXcan). The outcome measures were the pro-intake domains (Emotional over-eating, Food Responsiveness, Food Enjoyment and Desire to Drink) from the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire at 48 months of age (MAVAN) and 60 months of age (GUSTO). The interaction between the positive environment and the predicted prefrontal DRD4 gene expression was significant for emotional over-eating in MAVAN (ß = -0.403, p < 0.02), in which the high gene expression group had more or less emotional eating according to the exposure to lower or higher positive environment respectively, showing evidence of differential susceptibility criteria. In the replication cohort, a similar result was found with the pro-intake domain Desire to drink (ß = -0.583, p < 0.05). These results provide further evidence for the genetic differential susceptibility, accounting for the benefit of positive environments.

Persistence of repeated self-reported illusion of control as a product of action and outcome association in productive and preventive scenarios.

Individuals interpret themselves as causal agents when executing an action to achieve an outcome, even when action and outcome are independent. How can illusion of control be managed? Once established, does it decay? This study aimed to analyze the effects of valence, probability of the outcome [p(O)] and probability of the actions performed by the participant [p(A)], on the magnitude of judgments of control and corresponding associative measures (including Rescorla-Wagner's, Probabilistic Contrast, and Cheng's Power Probabilistic Contrast models). A traffic light was presented on a computer screen to 81 participants who tried to control the green or red lights by pressing the spacebar, after instructions describing a productive or a preventive scenario. There were 4 blocks of 50 trials under all of 4 different p(O)s in random order (0.10, 0.30, 0.70, and 0.90). Judgments were assessed in a bidimensional scale. The 2 × 4 × 4 mixed experimental design was analyzed through General Linear Models, including factor group (between-subject valence), and block and p(O) (within subjects). There was a small effect of group and a large and direct effect of p(O) on judgments. Illusion was reported by 66% of the sample and was positive in the productive group. The oscillation of p(O) produced stronger illusions; decreasing p(O)s produced nil or negative illusions. Only Rescorla-Wagner's could model causality properly. The reasons why p(A) and the other models could not generate significant results are discussed. The results help to comprehend the importance of keeping moderate illusions in productive and preventive scenarios.

Self-reported confidence and anxiety over endodontic procedures in undergraduate students-Quantitative and qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The current literature shows a growing interest to assess the feelings and perceptions of students associated with the performance of elective endodontic procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the students' anxiety and self-perceptions related to performing such treatments. METHODS: Forty-five students participated in the research (G1 = 22 beginners students; G2 = 23 senior students). Demographic data, STAI-State and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pre-operative anxiety were completed before the appointment with patient. The STAI-Trait; NRS for post-operative anxiety; previous experiences in endodontics; and level of confidence in each stage of endodontic treatments were collected after appointment. Focal groups for qualitative data collection were performed on separate occasion. RESULTS: Both groups showed higher scores in STAI-State than for STAI-Trait scale. G1 showed higher levels of anxiety in the pre-operative, compared with post-operative moment in the NRS scale. G2 reported feeling more confidence to insert intracanal medication and to restore teeth between appointments than G1. In both focus groups, participants reported insecurity in performing endodontic procedures due to difficulty in visualisation and to anatomic complexities. G1 reported that all the confidence they had was based in pre-clinical experience, and G2 mentioned concern about the end of graduation. CONCLUSION: The participants' anxiety diminishes as they gain more experience in performing endodontic procedures. However, as they approach the end of the course anxiety levels increase. Greater availability of elective courses in endodontics could be a valuable alternative to provide students with more exposure to and experience with these procedures.

Experiences during the execution of emergency endodontic treatment and levels of anxiety in dental students.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the experience of dental students and assess their anxiety levels when performing emergency endodontic treatments. METHODS: Undergraduate students completed the STAI-Trait/State and a questionnaire to assess their confidence level to perform each step of an emergency endodontic procedure. They also answered a numerical scale (NRS) for anxiety before and after emergency care. Ten randomly selected students from the same sample further participated in a focus group aimed at obtaining qualitative data on their perception of endodontic treatments' conduction and the learning process necessary to perform them. RESULTS: A total of 23 students joined the study. The majority of the participants reported feeling "confident" when performing local anaesthesia (57.6%), rubber dam placement (57.6%) and coronal sealing (72.7%). However, a small number reported feeling "little confident" to perform access cavity (15.2%) or pulpotomy/pulpectomy (24.2%). Students who scored above the 3rd quartile of STAI-Trait/State were classified as "highly anxious," and comprised 26.1% of the sample. The values of NRS scale were higher in the preoperative when compared with the post-operative assessment. All students classified as "highly anxious" reported low confidence in performing "access cavity" and "pulpotomy/pulpectomy." CONCLUSION: Both quantitative and qualitative analysis showed different anxiety levels in dental students. It can possibly contribute to a reduction in confidence prior to emergency endodontic procedures. The current findings suggest it might be important to rearrange activities in order to allow for more practical classes in Endodontics.

Técnicas persuasivas de comunicação em comerciais de alimentos para o telespectador brasileiro / Communication persuasive techniques in food commercials for the Brazilian audience / Técnicas persuasivas de comunicación en anuncios de alimentos para el telespectador brasileño

O telespectador é exposto a grande quantidade de mensagens que buscam persuadi-lo a escolher um determinado produto. A elevada proporção de propagandas de alimentos não saudáveis pode influenciar hábitos alimentares e contribuir para a obesidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar técnicas persuasivas de comunicação em propagandas de alimentos não saudáveis veiculadas na televisão. Uma amostra de 19 comerciais foi analisada em busca das técnicas persuasivas referidas na literatura. As técnicas mais frequentes foram conveniência, qualidade, sabor, valorização social e diversão. Também foram identificadas elevação do humor, oferta premiada, personagens animados e saudável, frequentes nos resultados de estudos nacionais e internacionais. Os resultados reforçam a pertinência do estudo psicológico das técnicas persuasivas, contribuindo para programas voltados a indivíduos que enfrentam problemas de saúde como obesidade, diabetes ou hipertensão. Podem, também, colaborar para ações preventivas para educar e conscientizar a população para a importância de escolhas mais conscientes e, possivelmente, saudáveis.

Television audience is exposed to a large amount of messages aiming at persuasion to choose a particular product. The high proportion of unhealthy food advertisements can influence eating habits and contribute to obesity. The objective of this study was to identify communication persuasive techniques in advertisements for unhealthy foods on open television. Persuasive techniques reported in the literature were searched in 19 advertisements from Brazilian TV. The most frequent techniques found were convenience, quality, taste, social value, and fun. Mood elevation, award-winning offer, animated characters, and health appeal were also observed, consistent with results of previous studies. These results reinforce the pertinence of the psychological study of persuasive techniques. Identification of such techniques can contribute to programs aimed at individuals facing health problems such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension. They can also support preventive actions to educate the population about the importance of more conscious and, possibly, healthy choices.

El espectador se expone a una gran cantidad de mensajes que buscan persuadirle a elegir un determinado producto. La elevada proporción de propagandas de alimentos no saludables puede influir en los hábitos alimentarios y contribuir a la obesidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar técnicas persuasivas de comunicación en propagandas de alimentos no saludables vehiculados en la televisión abierta en Brasil. Una muestra de 19 anuncios fue analizada en busca de las técnicas persuasivas referidas en la literatura. Las técnicas más frecuentes fueron conveniencia, calidad, sabor, valorización social y diversión. También se identificaron elevación del humor, oferta premiada, personajes animados y saludables, frecuentes en los resultados de estudios nacionales e internacionales. Los resultados refuerzan la pertinencia del estudio psicológico de las técnicas persuasivas, contribuyendo a programas dirigidos a individuos que enfrentan problemas de salud como obesidad, diabetes o hipertensión. Pueden también colaborar para acciones preventivas para educar y concientizar al público para la importancia de elecciones más conscientes y, posiblemente, saludables.

Genetic and environmental risk factors for developmental dyslexia in children: systematic review of the last decade.

Despite advances in the characterization of developmental dyslexia (DD), several questions regarding the interplay between DD-susceptibility genes and environmental risk factors remain open. This systematic review aimed at answering the following questions: What has been the impact of new resources on the knowledge about DD? Which questions remain open? What is the investigative agenda for the short term? Forty-six studies were analyzed. Despite the growing literature on DD candidate genes, most studies have not been replicated. We found large effects on causative genes and smaller environmental contributions, involving maternal smoking during pregnancy, SES and the DYX1C1-1259C/G marker. Implications are discussed.

Attentional bias toward infant faces - Review of the adaptive and clinical relevance.

Human survival depends on care received early in life. Infants need to capture adults' attention to have their basic needs met. Therefore, infant stimuli are prioritized by the attention system in adults, resulting in an attentional bias toward infant faces. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on behavioral measures of attentional bias toward infant faces. PubMed, PsycINFO, and ISI Web of Knowledge databases were used. The review suggests the existence of a measurable attentional bias toward infant faces and a positive correlation between attentional bias toward infant distress and the quality of mother-infant relationship. Depressive symptoms and breastfeeding modulate this behavior in women. Parental status and sex also influence the attentional prioritization of infant faces. Evidence indicates that differences in attentional bias are associated with clinical symptoms and variations in maternal behavior, reinforcing the potential use of attentional bias as a behavioral marker of clinical outcomes.

Attentional bias to unhealthy food in individuals with severe obesity and binge eating.

Attentional bias is an implicit cognition relevant to development and maintenance of obesity, but little is known of how binge eating modulates attentional bias in severe obesity. This study investigated attentional bias towards unhealthy foods at different stages of attentional processing in a clinical sample, comparing obese patients (Body Mass Index, BMI>35 kg/m2) with and without binge eating behaviors. Participants were separated into two groups according to their score on the Binge Eating Scale (BES): no binge eating (NB; score ≤17; n = 23) and binge eating (BE; score > 17; n = 19). Participants performed a computerized visual probe task designed to evaluate attentional bias in different stages of attentional process; matching pairs of unhealthy food and matching non-food pictures concealed a target for 100, 500 or 2000 ms. Reduced reaction times to targets following food-related images are indicative of attentional bias towards food images. BE group exhibited a greater bias towards food than NB. Both groups showed positive attentional bias to food in the initial orientation stage (100 ms), whereas bias was close to zero in the maintenance of attention stage (2000 ms), suggesting ambivalent approach-avoidance responses to food stimuli. Only the BE group showed a bias towards food images when displayed for 500 ms, indicating disengaging from food-related stimuli was faster in NB group. Although both groups were ambivalent about attending to food cues, slower attentional disengagement from unhealthy food might be a cognitive marker of binge eating behavior in severe obesity.