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

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

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

Spectral Modification by Operant Conditioning of Cortical Theta Suppression in Rats

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

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

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

Time in the central area of the elevated plus-maze correlates with impulsivity-related measures during an operant task / El tiempo en el área central del laberinto en cruz elevado correlaciona con medidas relacionadas a impulsividad durante una tarea operante

Impulsivity-related measures have been obtained using operantconditioning tasks. Although it has been suggested that impulsivity indices can also be obtained using the elevated plus-maze (EPM), an anxiety-related animal test, no studies have examined the relationship between anxiety-related variables in EPM and impulsivity-related indices obtained during operant conditioning. Correlations between EPM measures and performance in a 60-s fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement (FI 60-s) were established in this study. Seventeen female rats were exposed to the EPM before starting training in the FI 60-s schedule. A positive correlation was found between the percentage of time spent in the central area of the EPM and both the FI efficiency index and the inter-response times. In addition, these three measures were positively correlated within Factor 1 of a factor analysis. No correlations were observed between open-arms measures in EPM and operant performance. These results suggest that time in the central area of the EPM may be a useful index of impulsivity in rodents without a pre-determined trait of impulsivity.

Medidas relacionadas a impulsividad se han obtenido mediante tareas de condicionamiento operante. Aunque se ha sugerido que índices de impulsividad pueden ser también obtenidos usando el laberinto en cruz elevado (LCE), una prueba animal relacionada con ansiedad, ningún estudio ha examinado la relación entre las variables de ansiedad en el LCE e índices de impulsividad obtenidos durante condicionamiento operante. En este estudio se establecieron correlaciones entre medidas del LCE y el desempeño en un programa de reforzamiento de intervalo fijo 60-s (IF 60-s). Diecisiete ratas hembras fueron expuestas la LCE antes de iniciar el entrenamiento en el programa de IF 60-s. Se encontró una correlación positiva entre el porcentaje de tiempo de permanencia en el área central del LCE y tanto el índice de eficiencia como los tiempos entre respuestas en IF. Adicionalmente, estas tres medidas correlacionaron de forma positiva dentro del Factor 1 del análisis factorial. No se observaron correlaciones entre las medidas de los brazos abiertos del LCE y la ejecución operante. Los resultados sugieren que el tiempo en el área central del LCE podría ser un índice útil de impulsividad en roedores sin un perfil predeterminado de impulsividad.

Diagnostic Efficiency of Personality Disorder Screening Tool ; The Korean Version of Self-Report Standardized Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale : Preliminary Validation Study / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate acceptability and usefulness of the Korean version of Self-report Standardized Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS-SR) as an instrument for screening patients with a personality disorder. METHODS: The Korean version of the SAPAS-SR was administered to a non-random sample of 186 psychiatric patients (155 patients with a personality disorder and 31 patients with no personality disorder). The International Classification of Diseases 10th version Personality Assessment Schedule was used as a gold standard in diagnosis of personality disorder. Receiver-operant-characteristics and validity indicators were determined. In addition, the SAPAS-SR was administered to 22 healthy men to examine the test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The area under the curve for the SAPAS-SR was 0.69 (95% confidence interval 0.59-0.79). The SAPAS-SR score of 4 or more correctly classified 67.2% of patients with a personality disorder. Sensitivity (0.67) and specificity (0.68) were slightly lower compared with the original English version. CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary evidence of the usefulness of the Korean version of the SAPAS-SR as a self-administered instrument for screening personality disorders in the clinical population.

Seguimento de instruções não correspondentes em crianças de diferentes idades / Non-correspondent instructions following in children with different ages

A manutenção de desempenhos controlados por instruções não correspondentes pode ser atribuída a diferentes variáveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito de uma história experimental de apresentação de instruções correspondentes sobre o comportamento subsequente de seguir instruções não correspondentes, em um procedimento de operante livre. Doze crianças (3 a 8 anos) participaram de um jogo de caça ao tesouro. As primeiras pistas do jogo (correspondentes) indicavam corretamente onde encontrar mais pistas; sem sinalização de alteração de condição, pistas não correspondentes passaram a ser apresentadas. Os participantes mantiveram-se seguindo instruções (correspondentes ou não). Gradualmente, porém, passaram a dispensar mais tempo buscando pistas em locais não indicados pelas instruções não correspondentes. Discutem-se possíveis variáveis relacionadas à manutenção do desempenho instruído

The maintenance of behavior controlled by non-correspondent instructions can be explained by a wide range of variables. The aim of the study was to verify the effect of an experimental history of correspondent instructions presentation on subsequent non-correspondent instructions-following behavior in a free-operant procedure. Twelve children from 3 to 8 years old participated in a game format task (a treasure hunt). First clues presented were correspondent (correspondently indicating where new clues were hidden); without signaling, non-correspondent instructions were presented. All participants kept following instructions (correspondent or not); however, they gradually spent more time searching for clues at places not described by non-correspondent instructions. Variables that possibly affected the maintenance of instruction-following behavior were discussed

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

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

Lesions of the orbitofrontal cortex do not affect the reinforcement omission effect in rats

The reinforcement omission effect (ROE), reflected by response rates that are higher after reinforcement omission than after reinforcement delivery, has been attributed to both motivational and attentional consequences of the surprising reinforcement omission. These processes depend on the operation of separate amygdala areas and their connections with other brain systems. The interaction between the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex has been suggested to be important in the modulation of motivational processes. The present study sought to verify whether the mechanisms involved in the ROE depend on the integrity of the orbitofrontal cortex. Prior to acquisition training, rats received bilateral excitotoxic lesions of the orbitofrontal cortex or sham lesions. Following postoperative recovery, the rats were trained on a fixed-interval 12 s limited-hold 6 s signaled schedule of reinforcement. After the acquisition of stable performance, the training was changed from a 100% to 50% schedule of reinforcement. The results showed that rats in both groups exhibited the ROE, with no differences in performance between groups following nonreinforcement. These data do not support the hypothesis that the orbitofrontal cortex is included in the neural substrates related to ROE modulation. The results also showed no difference in response rates between groups in the periods that preceded and followed nonreinforcement. These findings confirm previous studies that showed that the ROE is not related to the facilitation of behavior induced by nonreinforcement...

Burrhus Frederic Skinner

Skinner was the most influential American psychologist, behaviourist, author, inventor, and social philosopher. He is regarded as father of operant conditioning. He is famous for his research on schedules of reinforcement by using animals in Skinner box.

Maintaining Reduced Noise Levels in a Resource-Constrained Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by Operant Conditioning.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of operant conditioning in sustaining reduced noise levels in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Design: Quasi-experimental study on quality of care. Setting: Level III NICU of a teaching hospital in south India. Participants: 26 staff employed in the NICU. (7 Doctors, 13 Nursing staff and 6 Nursing assistants). Intervention: Operant conditioning of staff activity for 6 months. This method involves positive and negative reinforcement to condition the staff to modify noise generating activities. Main outcome measures: Comparing noise levels in decibel: A weighted [dB (A)] before conditioning with levels at 18 and 24 months after conditioning. Decibel: A weighted accounts for noise that is audible to human ears. Results: Operant conditioning for 6 months sustains the reduced noise levels to within 62 dB (A) in ventilator room (95% CI: 60.4 – 62.2) and isolation room (95% CI: 55.8 – 61.5). In the pre-term room, noise can be maintained within 52 dB (A) (95 % CI: 50.8 – 52.6). This effect is statistically significant in all the rooms at 18 months (P = 0.001). At 24 months post conditioning there is a significant rebound of noise levels by 8.6, 6.7 and 9.9 dB (A) in the ventilator, isolation and pre-term room, respectively (P=0.001). Conclusion: Operant conditioning for 6 months was effective in sustaining reduced noise levels. At 18 months post conditioning, the noise levels were maintained within 62 dB (A), 60 dB (A) and 52 dB (A) in the ventilator, isolation and pre-term room, respectively. Conditioning needs to be repeated at 12 months in the ventilator room and at 18 months in the other rooms.

Role of the amygdala in the reinforcement omission effect

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

Procedimento alternativo para produção de correspondência / Alternative procedure for production of correspondence

As relações entre classes de operantes verbais e não-verbais foram estudadas em uma área denominada de correspondência: dizer-fazer; fazer-dizer. O presente estudo verificou: (1) se manipulações sucessivas de reforçadores e punições contingentes a classes de operantes dependentes e independentes (classes dizer/fazer) influenciam umas às outras; (2) os efeitos da apresentação dos reforçadores e da punição de classes de operantes independentes e (3) se reforçando e punindo classes de operantes dependentes, ocorre correspondência entre essas classes de operantes. No experimento I participaram oito universitárias, expostas a cinco fases experimentais. Os resultados do experimento I demonstraram que contingências de reforçamento foram efetivas para promover correspondência entre classes de operantes independentes para seis das oito participantes. As duas outras participantes não fizeram correspondência em todas as fases. No experimento II participaram nove universitárias, expostas a três fases experimentais. Os resultados mostraram que as contingências de reforçamento de punição durante a fase 2 foram efetivas para promover correspondência entre classes de operantes dependentes. Neste experimento foram manipuladas duas variáveis ao mesmo tempo. Para resolver este problema foi delineado o experimento III, no qual participaram oito universitários expostos a três fases experimentais. Os resultados demonstraram que as contingências de reforçamento e punição durante a Fase 2 foram efetivas para promover correspondência entre classes de operantes dependentes. No experimento III foi demonstrado que a variável controladora foi a relação de dependência funcional. O conjunto de experimentos possibilitou verificar que quando se organizam as contingências de dependência entre classes operantes, aumenta-se a possibilidade de ocorrer correspondência entre Fazer e Dizer.

The relations between verbal and non-verbal operant classes have been studied by an area called "say-do; do-say correspondence". The present study verified (1) if successive manipulations of reinforcers and punishments contingent to dependent and independent operants (say/do classes), influence each other; (2) the effects of the application of reinforcers and punishment on independent operant classes and (3) if when reinforcing and punishing dependent operant classes occurs correspondence between these operant classes. In experiment I eight female university students participated, being exposed to five experimental phases. The results of experiment I showed that contingencies of reinforcement were effective to promote correspondence between independent operant classes for six of the eight participants. The two other participants did not show correspondence in all phases. In experiment II nine female university students participated, being exposed to three experimental phases. The results showed that the contingencies of reinforcement and punishment during phase 2 were effective in promoting correspondence between dependent operant classes. In this experiment two variables were manipulated at the same time. To solve this problem experiment III was designed. In experiment III, eight university students participated, being exposed to three experimental phases. The results showed that the contingencies of reinforcement and punishment during phase 2 were effective in promoting correspondence between dependent operant classes. Experiment III was designed to identify which variable controlled participants' behavior. The results showed that the controlling variable was the relation of functional dependence. Together, these experiments made possible to verify that when dependency contingencies between operant classes are organized, the probability of correspondence between say and do occurs.

Psychosocial correlates of peripheral vegetative activity and coordination / Aspectos psicossociais relacionados à atividade vegetativa periférica e coordenação

O presente estudo examinou a relação entre aspectos psicossociais e padrões de reação fisiológica (frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial, condução cutânea e medidas respiratórias) para quatro tipos de contingências operantes (recompensa, extinção, punição e evitação) registrados durante um teste de computador em uma amostra de 32 calouros universitários holandeses. Práticas educativas parentais (cuidado, controle e proteção), variáveis familiares, sociodemográficas e o significado emocional foram utilizados como preditores de reações fisiológicas. Como medidas de coordenação vegetativa foram comparados os coeficientes entre medidas fisiológicas com máxima correlação. Os resultados confirmam a relevância de práticas educativas parentais no desenvolvimento da ativação autônoma do adulto, em especial o papel do cuidado. Dentre os preditores sociodemográficos, a renda familiar foi o mais relevante. As atitudes dos sujeitos em relação às emoções positivas e negativas também aparecem relacionadas a índices fisiológicos de coordenação cardiovascular. Os sujeitos classificam-se em dois tipos de coordenação vegetativos ligados a características psicossociais

The present study examines psychosocial correlates of physiological reaction patterns (heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, and respiratory measures) to four types of operant contingencies (reward, extinction, punishment, and avoidance) recorded during a computer test to a sample of 32 Dutch university freshmen. Child-rearing factors (Warmth, Control, and Protection), family and demographic variables, and affective meanings of emotions were used as predictors of physiological reactions. As measures of vegetative coordination, maximum cross-correlation coefficients between physiological measures were used and compared. Results support the relevance of child-rearing practices in the development of adult autonomic activation, in particular the role of parental Warmth. Among socio-demographic predictors, family income was most relevant. Subjects´ attitudes towards negative and positive emotions also appear related to physiological indices of cardiovascular coordination. Subjects fell into two vegetative coordination types linked to psychosocial characteristics

Medidas operantes de limiar auditivo em crianças com surdez pré-lingual, usuárias de implante coclear / Operant measures of auditory threshold in prelingually deaf children with cochlear implant

Limiares auditivos de crianças surdas pré-linguais usuárias de implante coclear foram avaliados com estimulação elétrica em um dos eletrodos mediais. A avaliação empregou um procedimento operante do tipo go/no go para ensinar uma discriminação simples, evidenciada por uma resposta motora, entre presença e ausência do estímulo auditivo. Estabelecida a linha de base, a manipulação na intensidade do estímulo foi implementada de acordo com o método psicofísico de escada modificado, começando por uma seqüência descendente. Os sete participantes do estudo mostraram perda da precisão no responder sob controle do estímulo quando a intensidade diminuía além de um certo valor e a precisão era recuperada quando a intensidade era novamente aumentada, o que permitiu a identificação de limiares individuais. Os resultados sugerem que o método psicofísico combinado com o procedimento operante pode ser uma alternativa viável para avaliar limiar auditivo de pessoas sem linguagem em situação clínica de regulagem do implante coclear.

Auditory thresholds of prelingually deaf children who received cochlear implants were evaluated for the electrical stimulation to one of the medial electrodes. A go/no go operant procedure was used to teach a simple discrimination, indicated by a motor response, between the presence versus the absence of an auditory stimulus. Simple discrimination was used as a baseline upon which the electrical stimulus's intensity was manipulated in a decreasing sequence followed by an increasing sequence, according to a modified psychophysical staircase method. The accuracy of responding in the presence of the electrical stimulus was reduced for all seven participants when the stimulus intensity decreased bellow a certain value and was recovered when the stimulus intensity was increased to the previous level. The experimental design allowed reliable identification of individual thresholds. The results suggest that the psychophysical paradigm in combination with the operant procedure might be useful for the evaluation of the auditory threshold for purposes of cochlear implant fitting in clinical settings.

Learning processes and the neural analysis of conditioning

Classical and operant conditioning principles, such as the behavioral discrepancy-derived assumption that reinforcement always selects antecedent stimulus and response relations, have been studied at the neural level, mainly by observing the strengthening of neuronal responses or synaptic connections. A review of the literature on the neural basis of behavior provided extensive scientific data that indicate a synthesis between the two conditioning processes based mainly on stimulus control in learning tasks. The resulting analysis revealed the following aspects. Dopamine acts as a behavioral discrepancy signal in the midbrain pathway of positive reinforcement, leading toward the nucleus accumbens. Dopamine modulates both types of conditioning in the Aplysia mollusk and in mammals. In vivo and in vitro mollusk preparations show convergence of both types of conditioning in the same motor neuron. Frontal cortical neurons are involved in behavioral discrimination in reversal and extinction procedures, and these neurons preferentially deliver glutamate through conditioned stimulus or discriminative stimulus pathways. Discriminative neural responses can reliably precede operant movements and can also be common to stimuli that share complex symbolic relations. The present article discusses convergent and divergent points between conditioning paradigms at the neural level of analysis to advance our knowledge on reinforcement

Contraste conductual en operantes relacionales con participantes humanos / Behavioral contrast in relational operants with human participants / Contraste comportamental em operantes relacionais com participantes humanos

El contraste conductual es un fenómeno característico de los programas múltiples con operantes típicas de la clase presión de palanca o picoteo de la tecla, documentado ampliamente en animales. Recientemente, se han desarrollado procedimientos como los de discriminación condicional que podrían ser aplicables al estudio del contraste con operantes relacionales. Esta investigación tuvo como propósito determinar si el contraste conductual se presenta cuando se trabaja con este tipo de operantes; seis estudiantes de bachillerato, quienes participaron voluntariamente y no recibieron más paga que la dispuesta por las contingencias del programa, se expusieron a un programa múltiple de 100 ensayos por componente, al cabo de los cuales se realizó una prueba con relaciones derivadas y sin refuerzo asociado a cada elección. Analizando la razón de elección por componente del Experimento 1, se encontró contraste positivo en los tres participantes y en la prueba relacional se evidenció transferencia de las preferencias en los participantes 1 y 2; en el Experimento 2 se encontró inducción negativa en los tres participantes y en la prueba de trasferencia se evidenció inducción negativa en menor grado. Se concluye de este experimento, que el cambio en las contingencias se puede colocar bajo control contextual a la manera de un marco relacional.

Behavioral contrast is a phenomenon which characterizes multiple programs with common operants such as lever pressures or key pecks. It must be pointed out that behavioral contrast is widely documented in animals. Recently, different procedures have been developed which might be applied to the study of behavioral contrast with relational operants (i.e., conditional discrimination). The purpose of this research was to determine whether behavioral contrast takes place when working with this type of operants. Six high school students, who volunteered to participate and did not receive any other payment than the one arranged by the contingencies of the reinforcement schedule were exposed to a multiple program of 100 trials per component. After this procedure, a test consisting of derivative relations without reinforcement associated to each choice was carried out. When analyzing the reason for choice by component in Experiment 1, a positive contrast in the three participants was found and in the relational test, transference of preference was evidenced in participants 1 and 2. In Experiment 2, negative induction was found in the three participants and in the transference test, a lower degree of negative induction was evidenced. The conclusion drawn from this experiment is that change in the contingencies can be placed under contextual control in the manner of a relational framework.

O contraste comportamental é um fenômeno característico dos diversos programas com operantes típicas da classe de pressão de alavanca ou golpe da tecla, amplamente documentados em animais. Recentemente, têm sido desenvolvidos alguns procedimentos, como discriminação condicional, que poderiam usar-se no estudo do contraste com operantes relacionais. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar se o contraste de comportamento ocorre quando se trabalha com este tipo de operante. Seis estudantes do ensino médio que participaram de forma voluntária e não receberam mais remuneração do que o previsto pelas contingências do programa, expostos a um programa múltiplo de 100 testes por componente. Depois foi aplicado um teste com relações derivadas e sem reforço associado a cada escolha. Ao analisar a relação da escolha por componente no Experimento 1, se achou contraste positivo nos três participantes; no teste relacional achou-se transferência das preferência nos participantes 1 e 2. No Experimento 2 foi encontrada indução negativa nos três participantes; no teste de transferência mostrou indução negativa em menor grau. Conclui-se desta experiência que a mudança nas contingências pode ter-se sob controle contextual na forma de um quadro relacional.

Operant serial feature-positive conditional discrimination with composite features and different topography responses

In a serial feature-positive conditional discrimination procedure the properties of a target stimulus A are defined by the presence or not of a feature stimulus X preceding it. In the present experiment, composite features preceded targets associated with two different topography operant responses (right and left bar pressing); matching and non-matching-to-sample arrangements were also used. Five water-deprived Wistar rats were trained in 6 different trials: X-R arrow right Ar and X-L arrow right Al, in which X and A were same modality visual stimuli and the reinforcement was contingent to pressing either the right (r) or left (l) bar that had the light on during the feature (matching-to-sample); Y-R arrow right Bl and Y-L arrow right Br, in which Y and B were same modality auditory stimuli and the reinforcement was contingent to pressing the bar that had the light off during the feature (non-matching-to-sample); A- and B- alone. After 100 training sessions, the animals were submitted to transfer tests with the targets used plus a new one (auditory click). Average percentages of stimuli with a response were measured. Acquisition occurred completely only for Y-L arrow right Br+; however, complex associations were established along training. Transfer was not complete during the tests since concurrent effects of extinction and response generalization also occurred. Results suggest the use of both simple conditioning and configurational strategies, favoring the most recent theories of conditional discrimination learning. The implications of the use of complex arrangements for discussing these theories are considered.

O conceito de audiência e os múltiplos controles do comportamento verbal / The concept of audience and verbal behavior’s multiple control

A análise skinneriana do comportamento verbal envolveu a produção de um sistema classificatório das relações entre respostas e ambiente que seriam sua unidade de análise - os operantes verbais. A partir da caracterização da relação de controle denominada audiência feita por Skinner no livro Verbal Behavior (1957), foram identificados dois aspectos básicos necessários para a compreensão desse conceito: a) a consideração de audiência como um outro operante verbal e b) a consideração de audiência como uma relação de controle adicional (estimulação condicional ou operação estabelecedora) para outras relações - mando tato, ecóico, intraverbal e textual. Procura-se, em cada um dos casos, destacar possíveis implicações que o reconhecimento da relação especificada pode acarretar em termos de elaboração conceitual e a importância do reconhecimento dessas relações.

The Skinnerian analysis of verbal behavior involved the production of a classificatory scheme of the relations between responses and environment that would be its unit of analysis - the verbal operants. From the characterization of the control relation called audience by Skinner in Verbal Behavior (1957), two basic aspects, necessary to comprehend this concept, were identified: a) the consideration of audience as another verbal operant and b) the consideration of audience as a relation of additional control (conditional stimulation or establishing operation) for other relations ¬- mand , tact, echoic, intraverbal and textual. In both situations, it is intended to enlighten the possible implications that the recognition of the specified relation could mean in terms of conceptual elaboration and the importance to recognize theses relations.

Effect of propofol on affective state as assessed by conditioned place preference / 中华麻醉学杂志

ve It was suggested that propofol induces a subjective feeling of well-being at subanesthetic doses and during recovery from anesthesia. Whether propofol produces a pleasant affective state remains to be determined. In the current study the effect of subanesthetic and anesthetic does of propofol on affective state in mice was assessed by conditioned place preference. Methods The place conditioning apparatus consisting of two compartments (white and black) with a removable partition between them was made according to Reid. Animals were placed in the apparatus and allowed to move freely between the white and black compartments for 15 min. The animals which preferred to spend more time in the black compartment were chosen. Forty-eight male kunming mice weighing 20-25mg were divided into 4 groups(n=12): control group and 3 propofol groups (50,75, 100mg?kg-1).The place conditioning lasted 8 days before test. During conditioning phase the partition between the two compartments was in place. In propofol groups animals received propofol on one day and were placed in the white compartment for 50 min and on the alternate day the animals received emulsion (the vehicle of propofol) and were placed in the black compartment. In control group the animals received only emulsion and were placed in white and black compartment alternately. During test the partition between the two compartments was removed. Animals were placed in the white compartment for 10 min then propofol or emulsion was given intraperitoneally(IP). 5 min later the animals were placed back in the apparatus and stayed for 15 min. The time spent by the animal in the white compartment was recorded. The expression of c-fos gene in different brain areas was measured by immuno-histochemical technique. Results In propofol groups there was a tendency of place preference but only in propofol 75mg?kg-1 group the time spent by mice in the white compartment( 214?72) s was significantly longer than that in control group (121?49)s (P

Operant-Behavior Tests in Rats Prenatally Exposed to Low Level Methylmercury / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To establish the computer controlled operant behavior test system for rats,and to explore the effects of prenatal exposure to low level methylmercury on the ability of learning and memory in rats Methods The Wistar rats were perorally perfused by 0,0.01,0.05,2.00 mg/(kg?d) methylmercury chloride(MMC) during the period from the 6th day to the 9th day after conception respectively.In every dose group,8 offspring aged 10 weeks were randomly selected to be tested by operant behavior test system.The operant performance was measured in automated nocturnal 15 hour session(16∶00~7∶00).The trial pragram Differential Reinforcement of High (DRH) rate and of low (DRL) rate was carried out by a double blind method.The DRH tests required observed animals to press levers frequently,while the DRL test required the subjects to respect a blocking interval after a reinforcement for pressing lever again. Results The performances scores of 3 exposure groups at doses of 0.01,0.05 and 2.00 mg/(kg?d) methylmercury were significantly lower than that of the control group( P