High population levels lead Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) to unrecorded feeding and oviposition behaviors on Eucalyptus urograndis plants / Altos níveis populacionais levam Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) a diferentes comportamentos de alimentação e oviposição em plantas de Eucalyptus urograndis

The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, 1964 (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), an insect pest originating in Australia and which feeds only on Eucalyptus L'Hér. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) plants, has spread to several countries. The populations of this insect commonly reach high populations on Eucalyptus plants since its entry into Brazil, and also indicated an unrecorded behavioral. The objectives of this study were to describe a peculiar adaptation in the feeding habit of G. brimblecombei and to register the new habit. The oviposition and feeding by G. brimblecombei, commonly, on the leaves of Eucalyptus, started to occur, also, on lignified twigs. This suggests a not yet recorded adaptation of this insect to reduce insect × plant intraspecific competition.

O psilídeo de concha, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, 1964 (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), um inseto praga originário da Austrália e que se alimenta apenas de plantas de Eucalyptus L'Hér. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae), se espalhou por vários países. Esse inseto, geralmente, atinge grandes populações em plantas de Eucalyptus desde sua entrada no Brasil e, também, indicou um comportamento diferente. Os objetivos deste estudo foram descrever uma adaptação peculiar no hábito alimentar de G. brimblecombei e registrar o novo hábito. A oviposição e alimentação por G. brimblecombei, geralmente, nas folhas de Eucalyptus, passaram a ocorrer, também, em ramos lignificados. Isso sugere uma adaptação diferente desse inseto para reduzir a competição intraespecífica inseto × planta.

A dynamical method to objectively assess infantile nystagmus based on eye tracking. A pilot study

Purpose The purpose of this research is to propose a new method for the easy, inexpensive and objective quantification of nystagmus using eye-tracking records collected during a simple reading task that could be implantable in clinical practice to assess patients with nystagmus. Methods This is a prospective, observational pilot study. Eye movements of 4 nystagmus patients and 9 healthy children during a reading task (a paragraph with 82 words) on a 15′’ monitor were collected and compared. Data are time series indicating the gaze position on the screen. Two quantifiers were proposed: IndS (based on the speed of movements) and IndF (based on the variation of the gaze trajectory). Results The indices proposed reflect differences in the behavior of eye movements between the two groups. Nystagmus patients present higher values of IndS - indicating smaller number of slow movements (16% of movements with speeds <0.33 1/s for nystagmus and 85% for the control group, with p = 0.01) - and higher values of IndF - indicating higher gaze fluctuation (p = 0.01). Differences were not related with reading speed as show the mean and standard deviation: the nystagmus group required 115±45 s to complete the task and the control group 151±85 s; p = 0.73. Conclusions The proposed indices provide a new method that allows an objective assessment of nystagmus, with potential use in clinical and research practice to improve the follow-up of patients by monitoring the nystagmus over time or treatment. (AU)

Misguided model of human behavior: Comment on C. H. Burt: "Challenging the utility of polygenic scores for social science ".

This commentary emphasizes two problem areas mentioned by Burt. First, that within-family designs do not eradicate stratification confounds. Second, that the linear/additive model of genetic causes of form and variation is not supported by recent progress in molecular biology. It concludes with an appeal for a (biologically and psychologically) more realistic model of such causes.

Bridge-building between communities: Imagining the future of biomedical autism research.

A paradigm shift in research culture is required to ease perceived tensions between autistic people and the biomedical research community. As a group of autistic and non-autistic scientists and stakeholders, we contend that through participatory research, we can reject a deficit-based conceptualization of autism while building a shared vision for a neurodiversity-affirmative biomedical research paradigm.

[A review of studies on visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders].

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. With the rapid development of computer vision, visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of ASD has got more and more attention. This paper reviews the research on visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of ASD. First, the core symptoms and clinical diagnostic criteria of ASD are introduced briefly. Secondly, according to clinical diagnostic criteria, the interaction scenes are classified and introduced. Then, the existing relevant datasets are discussed. Finally, we analyze and compare the advantages and disadvantages of visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis methods for ASD in different interactive scenarios. The challenges in this research field are summarized and the prospects of related research are presented to promote the clinical application of visual behavior analysis in ASD diagnosis.

Analysis of the role of motivating operations in the therapeutic verbal interaction / Análisis del rol de las operaciones motivadoras en la interacción verbal terapéutica

El concepto de operación motivadora (OM) ayuda a suplir los problemas de la noción tradicional de motivación en el estudio del proceso terapéutico. En este trabajo, se analizó el rol de tres tipos de verbalizaciones del terapeuta con una función de OM y se comprobó su relación con el comportamiento verbal de los clientes. Para tal propósito, se observaron grabaciones de 40 sesiones de terapia pertenecientes a 9 casos diferentes. El Sistema ACOVEO fue el sistema de categorías empleado para identificar las categorías OM con información clínica, OM con consecuencias y OM con emparejamiento. El SISC-CVC fue aquel utilizado para identificar las verbalizaciones de las clientes codificadas como Acuerdo y Desacuerdo. Se llevaron a cabo análisis secuenciales para comprobar la relación entre las diferentes OMs entre ellas y con el acuerdo del cliente. Los resultados mostraron que las diferentes OMs fueron emitidas en bloque y que cuando la categoría OM con información clínica se emitía con OM con consecuencias o con OM con emparejamiento se encontraba una mayor asociación con la categoría de Acuerdo (r = 2.47; r = 1.86) que con la de Desacuerdo (r = -.53; r = -.36). Estos resultados destacan la importancia de la emisión de OMs que asocian de manera directa el comportamiento del cliente con eventos con un componente elicitador, ofreciendo estrategias más eficaces para los terapeutas.(AU)

The concept of motivating operation(MO) helps to overcome both theoretical and practical problems of the traditional notion of motivation in the study of the therapeutic process. In this research, the role of three types of therapists’ verbalizations with an MO functionwas analyzed, in addition to their association with clients’ verbal behavior. For this purpose, recordings of 40 clinical sessions belonging to 9 different cases were ob-served. The ACOVEO System was the observational category system used to identify the therapists’ verbal MOs coded as MO with clinical information, MO with consequences, andMO with pairings. The SISC-CVC was the one used to identify clients’ verbalizations coded as Agreementand Disagreement. Se-quential analyses were performed to test the relation between the three dif-ferent types of MOs with themselves, as well as with clients’ concurrence. Results showed that the different MOs were emitted in chunks and when MO with clinical information was uttered either with MO with consequences or MO with pairingsthere was a greater association with Agreement(r = 2.47; r = 1.86) rather than with Disagreement (r = -.53;r = -.36). These findings high-light the importance of the emission of MOs that associate directly events with an eliciting component with clients’ behavior, giving more efficacious strategies to the therapists.(AU)

Am I a bully? Relationship between aggressive behaviors and self-admission of being a bully in primary school children / ¿Soy un acosador? Relación entre las conductas agresivas y la autoadmisión de ser acosador en niños de primaria

La presente investigación se centra en la percepción de ser agresor en niños de primaria que acosan, y su relación con el sexo, la etapa educativa y el tipo de conducta agresiva. Nuestro objetivo fue comprender mejor la relación entre las conductas agresivas y la percepción de ser agresor. Se hipotetizó que los comportamientos agresivos estarían relacionados con la percepción de ser agresor. Un total de 4646 estudiantes de 7 a 12 años participaron en este estudio correlacional. Se administró el cuestionario EBIPQ para evaluar la agresividad, mientras que la percepción de ser agresor se evaluó con una pregunta directa. Un 14.9 % de los participantes se consideraron acosadores, y un 4.4 % acosadores frecuentes, según sus respuestas en el EBIPQ. Un 21.4 % de los acosadores y un 32 % de los acosadores frecuentes admitieron haber acosado. La percepción de ser agresor fue independiente del sexo y la etapa educativa. Por otra parte, algunas conductas agresivas se asociaron más que otras a la percepción de ser agresor. Los resultados sugieren una dificultad para considerarse acosador, especialmente en ciertas conductas agresivas. Finamente, se discute la necesidad de profundizar en los factores que influyen en la percepción de ser acosador.(AU)

The present research focuses on the self-admission of being a bully in primary school children who bully, and studies it in relation to sex, educational stage and type of bullying behavior. Our objective was to un-derstand better the relationship between aggressive behaviors and bullying self-admission. We hypothesized aggressive behaviors would be related to bullying self-admission. A total of 4646 primary school students aged from 7 to 12 years participated in this correlational study. The EBIPQ question-naire was administered to evaluate children’s aggressive behaviors, whereas bullying self-admission was evaluated through a direct question. From the total of participants, 14.9 % were considered bullies, and 4.4 % frequent bullies, according to their responses to the EBIPQ. Among bullies, 21.4 % admitted having bullied others, and this percentage increased to 32 % for frequent bullies. Self-admission of being a bully was independent of sex and educational stage. On the other hand, some aggressive behaviors were more associated than others to self-admission ofbeing a bully. Results suggest reluctance in children to consider themselves as bullies, especially in some types of aggressive behaviors. Finally, we discuss the need to study further the factors influencing the self-admission of being a bully.(AU)

El Cerebro en Pañales. ¿Puede Estar un Cerebro en un Cuerpo Equivocado? / The Brain in Diapers. Can a Brain be in the Wrong Body?

En este trabajo se intenta analizar críticamente el libro de Antonio Guillamón Fernández Identidad de género. Una aproximación psicobiológica (2021). Para ello se contextualiza su publicación dentro de la oleada “cerebrocentrista” contemporánea y se discute el marco teórico que subyace a la presentación del material empírico que se realiza en sus capítulos. Se sugiere, desde un punto de vista constructivista, que el libro asume una ontología monista y un enfoque reduccionista que lastran la interpretación de dicho material empírico, el cual podría interpretarse mejor incluyendo procesos psicosociales de identificación que, a su vez, dependen de fenómenos históricos y culturales concretos.(AU)

The aim of this paper is to critically analyze Antonio Guillamón Fernández’s book Gender identity. A psychobiological approach (2021). In order to do so, the book is contextualized within the current “brain-centric” deluge, and I also discuss the theoretical framework underlying the presentation of empirical material. From a constructivist point of view, I suggest that Guillamón assumes a monistic ontology and a reductionist approach that block the interpretation of this empirical material, which could be better understood by including psychosocial identification processes that, in turn, depend on specific historical and cultural phenomena.(AU)

Behavioral public policy in practice: Misconceptions and opportunities.

I greatly respect the authors of the target article. However, in contrast to the target article's assertion, practitioners of behavioral public policy are indeed involved in developing and promoting systemic solutions. Its "i-frame"/"s-frame" distinction is incoherent, unhelpful, and obscures promising future directions for behavioral public policy. Its content and presentation undermine its stated goals and encourage sweeping dismissals of the field.

Behavioral market design.

When it comes to behavioral change, economic design and behavioral science are complements, not substitutes. Chater & Loewenstein give examples from policy design. In this commentary, I use examples, often from my own research, to show how behavioral insights inform the design of the rules that govern market transactions.

Nudging is being framed.

I make three points. First, the i-frame and s-frame are not helpful frameworks for thinking about behavioral public policy. Second, the authors ignore the role of politics: Policies (and the s-frame) require laws and regulations. Third, the research on retirement savings, which is all about the system, undercuts their claims.

Where next for behavioral public policy?

Our target article distinguishes between policy approaches that seek to address societal problems through intervention at the level of the individual (adopting the "i-frame") and those that seek to change the system within which those individuals live (adopting the "s-frame"). We stress also that a long-standing tactic of corporations opposing systemic change is to promote the i-frame perspective, presumably hoping that i-frame interventions will be largely ineffective and more importantly will be seen by the public and some policy makers as a genuine alternative to systemic change. We worry that the i-frame focus of much of behavioral science has inadvertently reinforced this unhelpful focus on the individual. In this response to commentators, we identify common themes, build on the many constructive suggestions to extend our approach, and reply to concerns. We argue, along with several commentators, that a key role of behavioral public policy is to clarify how to build support for systemic reforms for which there is a broad consensus in the policy community, but which are opposed by powerful special interests.

When nudges have societal-level impact.

Individual-level research in behavioral science can have massive impact and create system-level changes, as several recent mandates and other policy actions have shown. Although not every nudge creates long-term behavior change, defaults and other forms of choice architecture can not only change individual behavior but also reduce inequities and lead to changes in public policy and norms.

Impresiones sobre el impacto de la COVID-19 en la salud mental de la infancia y adolescencia en Navarra / Impressions about the impact of the COVID-19 in childhood mental health and adolescence in Navarra

La pandemia causada por la COVID-19, así como las medidas sanitarias y sociales que ha sido preciso tomar, han generado un impacto a todos los niveles, incluyendo el sanitario, el educativo, el económico, el social... Esta situación de crisis ha afectado particularmente a los sectores más vulnerables de la sociedad, como es el de la población infanto-juvenil. Considerando, de acuerdo a la definición de la propia Organización Mundial de la Salud, que no hay salud sin salud mental, corresponde a los servicios públicos de Salud Mental evaluar y reflexionar sobre el impacto que una circunstancia tan extraordinaria como la vivida ha tenido en el ajuste de la población. El presente artículo recoge las impresiones y vivencias de algunas de las personas que, en la en la red pública de la Comunidad Foral de Navarra, nos dedicamos a la atención de la salud mental de los menores hasta 17 años.(AU)

Comparing two picture naming tasks in primary progressive aphasia: Insights from behavioural and neural results.

Picture naming tests are widely used to evaluate language impairments in neurodegenerative diseases, especially in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). The available tests differ for many factors affecting the performance, e.g. format of stimuli and their psycholinguistic properties. We aim to identify the most appropriate naming test to be used on PPA according to the clinical and research demands. We investigated the behavioural characteristics, i.e. proportion of correct responses and error type, and their neural correlates in two Italian naming tests, CaGi naming (CaGi) and naming subtest of the Screening for Aphasia in NeuroDegeneration battery (SAND), administered to 52 PPA patients who underwent an FDG-PET scan. We analysed the effectiveness of the tests in distinguishing PPA versus controls and among PPA variants, considering the psycholinguistic variables affecting performance. We explored the brain metabolic correlates of behavioural performance in the tests. SAND, differently from CaGi, has time limits for the response and its items are less frequent and acquired later. SAND and CaGi differed in terms of number of correct responses and error profile, suggesting a higher difficulty to name SAND items compared to CaGi. Semantic errors predominated in CaGi, while anomic and semantic errors were equally frequent in SAND. Both tests distinguished PPA from controls, but SAND outperformed CaGi in discriminating among PPA variants. FDG-PET imaging revealed a shared metabolic involvement of temporal areas associated with lexico-semantic processing, encompassing anterior fusiform, temporal pole, and extending to posterior fusiform in sv-PPA. Concluding, a picture naming test with response time limit and items which are less frequent and acquired later in life, as SAND, may be effective at highlighting subtle distinctions between PPA variants, improving the diagnosis. Conversely, a naming test without time limit for the response, as CaGi, may be useful for a better characterization of the nature of the naming impairment at the behavioural level, eliciting more naming errors than anomia, possibly helping in the development of rehabilitation protocols.

Conceptual Foundations of Sustainability.

Threats to the health of our environment are numerous. Much research in science and engineering is devoted to documenting, understanding, and attempting to mitigate the harm itself. The root challenge for sustainability, however, is human behavior. As such, changes to human behaviors and the internal processes that drive them are also essential. Critical to understanding sustainability-related behaviors is the individual's conceptualization of the natural world and its components and processes. The papers in this topiCS issue address these conceptualizations by drawing from anthropological, linguistic, educational, philosophical, and social cognitive perspectives as well as traditional psychological approaches to the study of concepts and their development in children. They engage with many domains bearing on environmental sustainability including climate change, biodiversity, land and water conservation, resource use, and design of the built environment. They coalesce around four broad themes: (a) What people know (or believe) about nature broadly and about specific aspects of nature, and how they acquire and use this knowledge; (b) how knowledge is expressed and shared via language; (c) how knowledge and beliefs interact with affective, social, and motivational influences to yield attitudes and behaviors; and (d) how members of different cultures and speakers of different languages differ in these ways. The papers also point to lessons for advancing sustainability via public policy and public messaging, education, conservation and nature management, and design of the built environment.

Humans decompose tasks by trading off utility and computational cost.

Human behavior emerges from planning over elaborate decompositions of tasks into goals, subgoals, and low-level actions. How are these decompositions created and used? Here, we propose and evaluate a normative framework for task decomposition based on the simple idea that people decompose tasks to reduce the overall cost of planning while maintaining task performance. Analyzing 11,117 distinct graph-structured planning tasks, we find that our framework justifies several existing heuristics for task decomposition and makes predictions that can be distinguished from two alternative normative accounts. We report a behavioral study of task decomposition (N = 806) that uses 30 randomly sampled graphs, a larger and more diverse set than that of any previous behavioral study on this topic. We find that human responses are more consistent with our framework for task decomposition than alternative normative accounts and are most consistent with a heuristic-betweenness centrality-that is justified by our approach. Taken together, our results suggest the computational cost of planning is a key principle guiding the intelligent structuring of goal-directed behavior.