Atypical antipsychotic clozapine reversed deficit on prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex produced by microinjection of DOI into the inferior colliculus in rats.

Dysfunctions of the serotonergic system have been suggested to be important in the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in an operational measure of sensorimotor gating: prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle. PPI is the normal reduction in the startle response caused by a low intensity non-startling stimulus (prepulse) which is presented shortly before the startle stimulus (pulse). The hallucinogen 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), a 5-hydroxytryptamine(HT)2 receptor agonist disrupted PPI in rats. The inferior colliculus (IC) is a critical nucleus of the auditory pathway mediating acoustic PPI. The activation of the IC by the acoustic prepulse reduces startle magnitude. The present study investigated the role of serotonergic transmission in the IC on the expression of acoustic PPI. For that we investigated whether 5-HT2A receptor activation or blockade would affect this response. Unilateral microinjection of DOI (10µg/0.3µl) into the IC disrupted PPI, while microinjection of the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ritanserin (4µg/0.3µl), into this structure did not alter PPI. We also examined the ability of the atypical antipsychotic clozapine (5.0mg/kg; I.P.) to reverse the disruption of PPI produced by unilateral microinjections of DOI into the IC of rats. Pretreatment with clozapine blocked DOI-induced disruption of PPI. Altogether, these results suggest that serotonin-mediated mechanisms of the IC are involved in the expression of PPI in rodents and that this response is sensitive to atypical antipsychotic clozapine.

Canção como recurso de trabalho para psicólogos: um levantamento de artigos publicados / Song as a psychologist's work resource: a review of published articles

É crescente a utilização da música como um instrumento para auxiliar intervenções no processo saúde-doença, por proporcionar interferências no comportamento humano de forma geral. Este trabalho analisou artigos, publicados nas bases de dados SciELO e BVS, acerca do uso de canções, por parte de psicólogos brasileiros, em intervenções frente a algum público-alvo específico. A partir dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foram recuperados nove trabalhos, na íntegra, para discussão. Os resultados das pesquisas revelaram escassez de publicações sobre o tema específico no terreno da Psicologia. Também foi verificado que canções, atreladas a outras formas de expressão (dança, teatro, rodas de discussão, etc.), podem propiciar identificações, catarse, evocação de memórias, compartilhamento de experiências e histórias de vida e influenciar comportamentos, favorecendo processos de resiliência e reabilitação psicossocial. Aponta-se para a necessidade de maiores estudos na área

There is a growing use of music as a tool to aid interventions in the health-disease process, since it interferes in human behavior in general. This study analyzed articles published on the databases SciELO and VHL (Virtual Health Library), related to the use of songs, by Brazilian psychologists, in interventions to some specific target audience. Nine publications were full retrieved for discussion according to the inclusion exclusion criteria. Research results revealed scarceness of publications on this particular topic in the field of Psychology. It was also found that songs linked to other forms of expression (dance, drama, discussion groups, etc.), can provide identification, catharsis, evoking memories, sharing experiences and life stories and influence behavior, favoring resilience processes and psychosocial rehabilitation. The results points the need of further investigations in the area