Amphibian spatial cognition, medial pallium and other supporting telencephalic structures.

Vertebrate hippocampal formation is central to conversations on the comparative analysis of spatial cognition, especially in light of variation found in different vertebrate classes. Assuming the medial pallium (MP) of extant amphibians resembles the hippocampal formation (HF) of ancestral stem tetrapods, we propose that the HF of modern amniotes began with a MP characterized by a relatively undifferentiated cytoarchitecture, more direct thalamic/olfactory sensory inputs, and a more generalized role in associative learning-memory processes. As such, hippocampal evolution in amniotes, especially mammals, can be seen as progressing toward a cytoarchitecture with well-defined subdivisions, regional connectivity, and a functional specialization supporting map-like representations of space. We then summarize a growing literature on amphibian spatial cognition and its underlying brain organization. Emphasizing the MP/HF, we highlight that further research into amphibian spatial cognition would provide novel insight into the role of the HF in spatial memory processes, and their supporting neural mechanisms. A more complete reconstruction of hippocampal evolution would benefit from additional research on non-mammalian vertebrates, with amphibians being of particular interest.

On the transfer of spatial learning between geometrically different shaped environments in the terrestrial toad, Rhinella arenarum.

When trained in a rectangular arena, some research has suggested that rats are guided by local features rather than overall boundary geometry. We explored this hypothesis using the terrestrial toad, Rhinella arenarum, as a comparative contrast. In two experiments, toads were trained to find a water-reward goal location in either a featureless rectangular arena (Experiment 1) or in a rectangular arena with a removable colored feature panel covering one short wall (Experiment 2). After learning to successfully locate the water reward, probe trials were carried out by changing the shape of the arena into a kite form with two 90°-angled corners, and in the case of Experiment 2, also shifting the location of the color panel. The results of Experiment 1 indicated that the toads, in contrast to rats, relied primarily on overall shape or boundary geometry to encode the location of a goal. Under the probe conditions of the altered environmental geometry in Experiment 2, the toads seemed to preferentially choose a corner that was generally correct relative to the feature panel experienced during training. Together, the data of the current study suggest that toads and rats differ in the strategies they employ to represent spatial information available in a rectangular arena. Further, the results support the hypothesis that amphibians and mammals engage different neural mechanisms, perhaps related to different evolutionary selective pressures, for the representation of environmental geometry used for navigation.

Consideraciones sobre la violencia presentes en "De guerra y de muerte. Temas de actualidad" (1915) y "¿Por qué la guerra?" (1933 [1932]) de Sigmund Freud / Considerations about the violence present in "Of war and death. Current issues" (1915) and " Why the war?" (1933 [1932]) by Sigmund Freu

Este artículo se propone precisar el modo en que el psicoanálisis entiende a la violencia y realizar una aproximación sobre su posible tratamiento, a partir de tomar en consideración dos textos de Freud: "De guerra y de muerte. Temas de actualidad" (1915) y "¿Por qué la guerra?" (1933 [1932]). En los mismos, se trata el problema de qué hacer con las tendencias destructivas del ser humano, que representan un obstáculo para la organización cultural constituida a partir de su renuncia. La formulación del concepto de pulsión de muerte introduce diferencias en los planteos que se realizan al respecto en ambos textos, ya que confiere a la renuncia de lo pulsional el estatuto de una paradoja. Nos convocan a profundizar en el tema los resultados de la investigación "La urgencia en Salud Mental en el Hospital Público en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires", que ubican a la violencia entre los modos de presentación más frecuentes en la atención de este tipo de consultas. Así, comenzaremos a enmarcar teóricamente el tema planteado en el plan de beca de Doctorado: "Intervenciones desde la clínica de la urgencia en situaciones de violencia. Consideraciones y abordaje de la problemática de la violencia familiar: perspectiva psicoanalítica

This article proposes to specify the way in which psychoanalysis understands violence and to make an approximation about its possible treatment, starting from taking into consideration two texts of Freud: "Of war and death. Current issues" (1915) and "Why the war?" (1933 [1932]). In them, the problem arises of what to do with the destructive tendencies of the human being, which represent an obstacle to the cultural organization constituted from its renunciation. The formulation of the concept of the death drive introduces differences in the statements made in this respect in both texts, since it confers to the renunciation of the drive the status of a paradox. We are called to delve into the topic by the results of the research "Urgency in Mental Health in the Public Hospital in the City of Buenos Aires", which places violence among the most frequent modes of presentation in the attention of this type of consultations. Thus, we will begin to frame theoretically the theme raised in the Doctorate scholarship plan: "Interventions from the clinic of the urgency in situations of violence. Considerations and approach to the problem of family violence: psychoanalytic perspective

Local geometric properties do not support reorientation in hippocampus-engaged homing pigeons.

It is generally accepted that the geometry of an environment is a reliable source of information for spatial navigation used by most vertebrate species. However, there is a continuing debate on which geometrical properties of space are the ones that matter for reorientation. In this study, pigeons were trained to find a food reward hidden in 2 opposite corners in a rectangular arena. The animals were then tested in a kite-shaped environment similar to Pearce, Good, Jones, and McGregor (2004). We found that pigeons, unlike rats, were not able to identify the correct corner in the kite arena even though elements clearly preserved the correct long wall-short wall geometric configuration and the local aspect of the trained goal. This behavioral study was followed by a c-Fos, IEG analysis of brain activation that contrasted pigeons exposed to the trained, familiar rectangular environment with pigeons that were exposed to an unfamiliar, trapezoid arena. The hippocampal formation (HF) displayed greater c-Fos expression in the animals exposed to the familiar, training arena, which further supports the conclusion that pigeons do not substantially rely on local geometric features for reorientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Slope-based and geometric encoding of a goal location by the terrestrial toad (Rhinella arenarum).

The current study was designed to test for the ability of terrestrial toads, Rhinella arenarum, to use slope as source of spatial information to locate a goal, and investigate the relative importance of slope and geometric information for goal localization. Toads were trained to locate a single, water-reward goal location in a corner of a rectangular arena placed on an incline. Once the toads learned the task, 3 types of probe trials were carried out to determine the relative use of slope and geometric information for goal localization. The probe trials revealed that the toads were able to independently use slope, and as previously reported, geometry to locate the goal. However, the boundary geometry of the experimental arena was found to be preferentially used by the toads when geometric and slope information were set in conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record

Telencephalic Neuronal Activation Associated with Spatial Memory in the Terrestrial Toad Rhinella arenarum: Participation of the Medial Pallium during Navigation by Geometry.

Amphibians are central to discussions of vertebrate evolution because they represent the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life, a transition with profound consequences for the selective pressures shaping brain evolution. Spatial navigation is one class of behavior that has attracted the interest of comparative neurobiologists because of the relevance of the medial pallium/hippocampus, yet, surprisingly, in this regard amphibians have been sparsely investigated. In the current study, we trained toads to locate a water goal relying on the boundary geometry of a test environment (Geometry-Only) or boundary geometry coupled with a prominent, visual feature cue (Geometry-Feature). Once learning had been achieved, the animals were given one last training session and their telencephali were processed for c-Fos activation. Compared to control toads exposed to the test environment for the first time, geometry-only toads were found to have increased neuronal labeling in the medial pallium, the presumptive hippocampal homologue, while geometry-feature toads were found to have increased neuronal labeling in the medial, dorsal, and lateral pallia. The data indicate medial pallial participation in guiding navigation by environmental geometry and lateral, and to a lesser extent dorsal, pallial participation in guiding navigation by a prominent visual feature. As such, participation of the medial pallium/hippocampus in spatial cognition appears to be a conserved feature of terrestrial vertebrates even if their life history is still tied to water, a brain-behavior feature seemingly at least as ancient as the evolutionary transition to life on land.

Goal orientation by geometric and feature cues: spatial learning in the terrestrial toad Rhinella arenarum.

Although of crucial importance in vertebrate evolution, amphibians are rarely considered in studies of comparative cognition. Using water as reward, we studied whether the terrestrial toad, Rhinella arenarum, is also capable of encoding geometric and feature information to navigate to a goal location. Experimental toads, partially dehydrated, were trained in either a white rectangular box (Geometry-only, Experiment 1) or in the same box with a removable colored panel (Geometry-Feature, Experiment 2) covering one wall. Four water containers were used, but only one (Geometry-Feature), or two in geometrically equivalent corners (Geometry-only), had water accessible to the trained animals. After learning to successfully locate the water reward, probe trials were carried out by changing the shape of the arena or the location of the feature cue. Probe tests revealed that, under the experimental conditions used, toads can use both geometry and feature to locate a goal location, but geometry is more potent as a navigational cue. The results generally agree with findings from other vertebrates and support the idea that at the behavioral-level geometric orientation is a conserved feature shared by all vertebrates.

“Hospital, dispositivos, urgencias” / “Hospital, device, emergency”

En nuestra práctica, el término dispositivo constituye una expresión de uso cotidiano. Sin embargo, existen al menos dos sentidos en que este término es empleado dentro del campo “psi”: Para referirse a los dispositivos de atención institucional vinculados a la práctica hospitalaria, y para designar al dispositivo creado por Freud o dispositivo analítico. A partir de esta distinción, nos proponemos establecer los principales puntos de encuentro y desencuentro entre ambos modos de concebir el dispositivo. Para pensar su articulación, tomaremos al dispositivo asistencial de guardia, diseñado desde sus orígenes para la atención de la urgencia.

In our practice, the term device is an everyday expression. However, there are at least two senses in which this term is used in the "psi" field: To refer to devices connected to institutional care and hospital practice, and to refer to the device created by Freud or analytical device. From this distinction, we propose to establish the main points of agreement and disagreement between the two ways of conceiving the device. To think its articulation, we will take the emergency care device, designed from the beginning to treat emergencies.

Análisis de la demanda e intervenciones en la urgencia: Investigación en el hospital central de San Isidro / The emergencies at a Mental Health Service of a General Hospital: data-analysis and possible interventions. Mental Health Service at the San Isidro. General Hospital, Buenos Aires province

El objetivo de esta trabajo es el de desarrollar la problemática de la urgencia en la clínica lo que nos ha conducido a investigar para trazar un perfil de la población que acude a las consultas de urgencia con perturbaciones psíquicas en un hospital general del conurbano bonaerense con la finalidad de establecer el tipo de patología y características de la población consultante que permitan en un futuro trazar estrategias para la prevención y promoción de la salud mental.