Avoidant Research Articles

Medical Psychiatric Challenges in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Eating Disorders

This paper examines the intricate relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and eating disorders (EDs), focusing on their diagnostic criteria, comorbidity, shared characteristics, and the profound medical and psychiatric complications that arise from these conditions. OCD is characterized by intrusive obsessions and compulsions that significantly impact daily functioning, while EDs, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder, involve severe disturbances in eating behaviors and body image. These disorders often co-occur, with up to 41% of individuals with EDs also suffering from OCD. The shared symptoms, such as obsessions, compulsions, avoidance behaviors, and perfectionism, highlight the complex interplay between OCD and EDs, complicating diagnosis and treatment. The medical complications associated with this comorbidity are severe and varied, affecting multiple organ systems. Gastrointestinal issues, proctological problems, oral health deterioration, cardiological dysfunction, electrolyte imbalances, kidney disorders, and hormonal dysregulation are common. Additionally, sleep disorders are prevalent, further exacerbating both psychiatric and physical health outcomes. Effective treatment requires a holistic approach that addresses the unique needs of each individual, with integrated care involving specialists across medical and mental health fields. This comprehensive approach is crucial to mitigating the devastating impact of OCD and EDs, improving overall well-being and quality of life for affected individuals.

Optimization of PID Control of a Snake Robot’s Winding Crawling Motion

This paper explores the application of PID control to the winding crawling motion of a snack robot. Snack robots, mimicking the movement of real life limbless reptile, are designed with ultiple connected segments equipped with actuators and sensors, enabling them to navigate complex environments. The study aims to optimize the ground crawling behavior and obstacle avoidance f the snake-like robot using MATLAB simulation software. Initially, the robot’s joints were modeled in SolidWorks, and their degrees of freedom were programmed in MATLAB’s Simulink to enable controlled rotation. The PID control system was added to manage the robot’s motion, ensuring smooth and accurate crawling.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: effects on physical activity, sleep and heart rate variability

Abstract Background We have devised a novel psychological intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF-CBT), that targets symptom preoccupation and avoidance behaviour. AF-CBT significantly improved cardiac anxiety and quality of life (QoL) in a randomized trial. To what extent this may be attributed to changes in physiological parameters is yet to be determined. Purpose A) to assess changes in objective and subjective measures of physical activity and sleep. B) to evaluate potential treatment effects on heart rate variability (HRV). Methods Patients with paroxysmal AF on optimal medical therapy (65.4±8.3 years, 58% women) and European Heart Rhythm Association Symptom Score ≥2b were randomized to a 10-week therapist-led online AF-CBT (n=65) or a control group (n=62), with the primary outcome of Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-life (AFEQT). A Patch-Holter with an integrated accelerometer was applied for five days at baseline, post-treatment, and at three months follow-up. Each recording was divided into day and night (sleep time) based on posture, heart rate, and activity. HRV was analysed in both time and frequency domains, excluding AF episodes and aberrant beats. Results AFEQT increased from 62.4±14.3 to 83.7± 13.8 points in the AF-CBT group at the 3-month follow-up with a relative difference of 15.0 points. At baseline, the participants walked 8040±2600 steps/day and slept 8.0 ± 1.1 hours. AF-CBT did not increase physical activity, and there were no significant changes in objective sleep duration. The Insomnia Severity Score went from subclinical (12.2±6.7) to near normal values (8.1±5.6), which was significant as compared to controls (p=0.032). AF burden increased from 5.3% to 7.3% in the AF-CBT group and 5.0% to 9.2% in the control group, with no difference between the groups (p=0.59). We did not observe any change in heart rate or HRV indices at rest during the day or at night. Conclusion AF-CBT did not mediate its effects on QoL by improving objective physiological variables. Thus, our findings underline the importance of subjective, psychological, and behavioural aspects and indicate that AF-CBT might fill a void beyond medical and lifestyle interventions in comprehensive AF care.

Can you bear with me? A comparison study of multifaceted discrepancy–brand avoidance relationships between China and the USA

PurposeBrand information is ubiquitous online and offline; consumers exhibit brand avoidance tendencies towards brand stimuli when there is a discrepancy between a brand image/personality and one’s self-concept. Given the multifaceted culturally constituted self-domains and self-importance, this research investigates how cultural variation affects reactions to self-brand discrepancy, considering two types of narcissist orientations.Design/methodology/approachUsing national culture as proxy for cultural orientation, sample data were collected through surveys administered to 410 participants (210 in China and 200 in the USA). A multi-group structural equation model was adopted to examine the conceptual model and proposed hypotheses. The follow-up qualitative study was conducted to allow further discussion of the quantitative results.FindingsThe results show that self-brand discrepancy can only be converted into brand avoidance tendency through the activation of cognitive dissonance for both Americans and Chinese. Specifically, for Chinese consumers only (ideal) social identity self-brand discrepancies can activate avoidance behaviour. In addition, grandiose and vulnerable narcissism orientations co-exist for both Chinese and Americans, these negatively moderate the relationship between social self-brand discrepancies and cognitive dissonance. For US consumers, idealised identity discrepancies mitigate dissonance; only those with a vulnerable narcissistic orientation would act on avoidance when experiencing dissonance.Originality/valueBy incorporating cultural variations in the investigations of self-brand discrepancy, this paper advances existing knowledge on dissonance and coping mechanisms. In addition, by bringing narcissistic orientations to the fore, it allows for a deeper understanding of how these cultural variations operate. In addition, our research provides important guidelines for brand practitioners to better leverage their marketing campaigns in offline and online contexts and to reduce brand avoidance tendencies across the international marketplace.

Determinants of Tax Avoidance Intentions in Tourism SMEs: The Mediating Role of Coercive Power, Digital Transformation, and the Moderating Effect of CSR

Tax compliance and avoidance are critical issues for governments and businesses worldwide, especially as businesses often use legal methods to minimize taxes, which can impact public revenue and equity within the tax system. This study focuses on understanding the factors influencing tax avoidance behaviors among SMEs in Greece’s tourism sector, a sector that has received limited research attention. To this end, a quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, using a structured questionnaire to explore potential factors influencing tax avoidance behavior. Data were collected from 534 SME managers and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the impact of key factors and their interrelationships, including coercive power, digital transformation, tax knowledge, firm performance, and perceived fairness, on tax avoidance. In addition, corporate social responsibility (CSR) was included as a moderator variable, while coercive power and digital transformation were assessed as mediators. Furthermore, Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) was conducted to explore the differences between small and medium enterprises, as well as different ownership structures. The results indicate that all key determinants, except perceived fairness, are significantly and positively related to tax avoidance intention. Additionally, it was revealed that coercive power increases tax avoidance through firm performance and tax knowledge, while digital transformation mediates the influence of firm performance on tax avoidance by curtailing avoidance intentions. While CSR mitigates the negative influence of coercive power, digital transformation has a dual role: that of promoting transparency and strategic efforts to reduce the tax burden. These findings have important policy implications, as policymakers seek to promote digital adoption and enhance CSR engagement while formulating specific regulatory strategies to reduce tax avoidance among SMEs.

Modeling the predictors of health information avoidance behavior: Implications from the stimulus organism response (S-O-R) theory

The study aimed at modeling the factors that influence health information avoidance behavior, as well as measuring and validating the stimulus organism response (S-O-R) theory. A seven-factor (information overload, information sources exposure, risk perception, health information anxiety, cognitive dissonance, sadness, and health information avoidance) measurement model was used to estimate the health information avoidance behavior using the structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings show that risk perception had a significant positive influence on sadness (β = 0.492, CR = 7.445, p < 0.05), information overload exerts a significant positive impact on cognitive dissonance (β = 0.174, CR = 2.192, p < 0.05) and sadness significantly influence health information avoidance (β = 0.174, CR = 2.342, p < 0.05). Information overload exhibits a positive, but statistically non-significant influence on health information anxiety (β = 0.83, CR = 1.094, p > 0.05). The findings of SEM demonstrate acceptable model fit indices: χ2 = 1.493, DF = 732; p = 0.000; IFI = 0.931; and TLI = 0.925, CFI = 0.930, SRMR = 0.045, RMSEA = 0.044. The study concludes that risk perception, sadness, and information overload are the main predictors of health information avoidance behavior. Other factors such as health information anxiety, exposure to different information sources, and cognitive dissonance had a non-significant impact on information avoidance behavior. The findings hold significant global relevance, potentially contributing to improved information-seeking behavior research. Our study also contributes to the advancement of the S-O-R (Stimulus-Organism-Response) framework

The effects of sport-specific training on individuals action strategies while avoiding a virtual player approaching on a 45° angle while completing a secondary task.

Sports provide varying scenarios where athletes must interact with and avoid opposing players in dynamic environments. As such, sport-specific training can improve one's ability to integrate visual information which may result in improved collision avoidance behaviours. However, improved visuomotor capabilities are highly task dependent (i.e., athletes must be tested in sport-specific settings). The current study examined whether sport-specific training influenced individuals' collision avoidance behaviours during a sport-specific task in virtual reality. Untrained young adults (N = 21, 22.9±1.9 yrs, 11 males) and specifically trained athletes (N = 18, 20±1.5 yrs, 7 males) were immersed in a virtual environment and were instructed to walk along a 7.5m path towards a goal located along the midline. Two virtual players positioned 2.83m to the left and right of the midline approached participants on a 45° angle at one of three speeds: 0.8x, 1.0x, or 1.2x each participant's average walking speed. Participants were instructed to walk to a goal without colliding with the virtual players while performing a secondary task; reporting whether a shape changed above either of the virtual players' heads. Results revealed that athletes had a higher percentage of correct responses on the secondary task compared to untrained young adults. However, there was no group differences in the average time to first avoidance or average minimum clearance, but athletes were more variable in their avoidance behaviours. Findings from this study demonstrate that athletes may be more adaptive in their behaviours and may perform better on attentionally demanding tasks in dynamic environments.

Implementing acceptance and commitment therapy for adherence to antiretroviral therapy: a randomized study

The objective of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of ACT in optimizing adherence to ART. A quantitative study was conducted with a Solomon experimental design and follow-up. The sample comprised 84 seropositive patients randomly selected and distributed into four groups, two experimental and two controls. Symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), level of treatment adherence (Questionnaire for Adherence to Treatment for HIV / AIDS) and experiential avoidance (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire) were measured. An ACT-based group intervention protocol was applied to the experimental groups, consisting of eight sessions. The results showed negative correlation between adherence and experiential avoidance, anxiety and depression. They also showed positive effects of ACT-based intervention on adherence to ART, with increase in adherence in the experimental groups and statistical difference in adherence in comparison with the control groups, according to the ANOVA test. It is concluded conclude that ACT is effective in optimising adherence to ART, allowing for behavioural changes that promote adaptation to diagnosis and treatment and reducing the presence of avoidance behaviours and emotional involvement.

Revealing the hidden: The effect of advertisement disclosure on heavy and light Instagram users’ influencer avoidance

ABSTRACT The existing literature on influencer marketing lacks precise elucidation regarding the circumstances and motivations underlying consumer’s inclination towards avoidance of influencers, despite its prevalence. This study examines the effect of disclosure type (control: no disclosure, sponsorship disclosure and non-sponsorship disclosure) in Instagram-based influencer advertising on influencer avoidance through ad recognition, influencer credibility as serial variables and Instagram usage intensity as a moderating variable among a sample of 165 students. The results indicated that heavy-intensity Instagram users were able to detect undisclosed information (no disclosure), recognize the advertisement, and penalize the influencer for concealing the truth by reducing its credibility and avoiding her/him. This nuanced exploration provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of influencer marketing and offers a more precise clarification of the factors influencing consumer avoidance behavior.

Avoidance of hot air blast in Rattus norvegicus.

The hegemonic use of electric shock as an aversive stimulus limits what is known about the generality of avoidance behavior and related phenomena. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using the hot air blast (HAB) instead of electric shock as an aversive stimulus in avoidance conditioning. Four male Wistar rats were exposed to a discrete-trial procedure. In the first phase, the emission of a lever-press response during a trial was positively reinforced. In the second phase, the same contingency was employed, but an escapable HAB was presented at the end of a trial when no response was emitted. In the third phase, positive reinforcement was suspended and a discrete-trial avoidance procedure was employed. In the fourth phase, HAB presentation was completely suspended. As a result, all subjects learned the avoidance response and showed a marked reduction in its frequency during HAB suspension. These results offer evidence indicating that avoidance behavior is controlled by the HAB, thereby advancing the understanding of the generality of this stimulus as being aversive.

Do attitudes toward air pollution influence climate change perception? Evidence from online customers in China

Abstract The perception of climate change as an abstract and distant concept hinders climate action. Previous studies suggest that individuals may conflate climate change and local air pollution due to misconceptions, as these environmental issues share similar emission sources and mitigation strategies. However, it remains uncertain whether leveraging the public's high perception of air pollution can lead to increased climate change awareness and supportive behaviors. In this study, we surveyed 1,236 Chinese online customers to explore the influence of air pollution perception on climate change perception and willingness to pay (WTP) for supporting climate actions. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results revealed that higher air pollution perception, which is connected to an individual's living environment and health status, is significantly associated with higher climate change perception. Despite this link, higher climate change perception does not necessarily translate to higher WTP for climate actions. However, air pollution perception can indirectly increase WTP for climate actions by fostering avoidance behavior intentions. For practical implications, our findings suggest that an emphasis on the co-benefits of climate change mitigation efforts for improving air quality may help lead to greater policy support and understanding. Additionally, promoting individual behavioral changes requires connecting these issues to personal experiences and highlighting tangible benefits such as improved health and well-being.

Widespread hyperexcitability of nociceptor somata outlasts enhanced avoidance behavior after incision injury.

Nociceptors with somata in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) readily switch from an electrically silent state to a hyperactive state of tonic, nonaccommodating, low-frequency, irregular discharge of action potentials (APs). Spontaneous activity (SA) during this state is present in vivo in rats months after spinal cord injury (SCI) and has been causally linked to SCI pain. Intrinsically generated SA and, more generally, ongoing activity (OA) are induced by various neuropathic conditions in rats, mice, and humans and are retained in nociceptor somata after dissociation and culturing, providing a powerful tool for investigating its mechanisms and functions. The present study shows that long-lasting hyperexcitability that can generate OA during modest depolarization in probable nociceptors dissociated from DRGs of male and female rats is induced by plantar incision injury. OA occurred when the soma was artificially depolarized to a level within the normal range of membrane potentials where large, transient depolarizing spontaneous fluctuations (DSFs) can approach AP threshold. This hyperexcitability persisted for at least 3 weeks, whereas behavioral indicators of affective pain-hind paw guarding and increased avoidance of a noxious substrate in an operant conflict test-persisted for 1 week or less. The most consistent electrophysiological alteration associated with OA was enhancement of DSFs. An unexpected discovery after plantar incisions was hyperexcitability in neurons from thoracic DRGs that innervate dermatomes distant from the injured tissue. Potential in vivo functions of widespread, low-frequency nociceptor OA consistent with these and other findings are to contribute to hyperalgesic priming and to drive anxiety-related hypervigilance.

Avoidance and attraction responses of kittiwakes to three offshore wind farms in the North Sea

AbstractSeabird collision risk is a key concern in relation to the environmental impacts associated with offshore wind farms (OWFs). Understanding how species respond both to the wind farm itself, and individual turbines within the wind farm, is key to enabling better quantification and management of collision risk. Collision risk is of particular concern for the black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla, where modelling predicts unsustainable population level impacts. In this study 20 adult breeding kittiwakes, were tracked with GPS from Whinnyfold, Scotland (57°23′07″N, 001°52′11″W) during the breeding season in 2021. An Avoidance-Attraction Index (AAI) was estimated at several bands within macro- and meso-scales (0–4 km from outer boundary and 0–400 m from turbines, respectively), and the Avoidance Rate (AR; used in environmental impact assessments) at macro-scale to estimate avoidance behaviour to three operational OWFs within their foraging range. One offshore wind farm and its buffer zone (0–4 km from outer boundary) was visited more frequently by the majority of tracked individuals (19/20 birds), despite being twice as far as the closest OWF (17.3 and 31.9 km respectively), whilst 10 or less individuals used the remaining two OWFs. At the most frequented OWF we found macro-scale attraction to the closest band (0–1 km) trending towards avoidance in the furthest band (3–4 km). At the meso-scale we found avoidance of areas below the rotor height range (RHR, a.k.a. rotor swept area/zone) up to 120 m from individual turbines, which decreased to 60 m when within the RHR. Our results indicate that kittiwakes may be slightly attracted to the area around OWFs or aggregate here due to displacement but avoid individual turbines. Increased productivity in the OWF area may potentially be drawing birds into the general area, with aversion to individual turbines being responsible for meso-scale observations.

Benefits and challenges of reviewing across knowledge systems: ‘Gourmet omnivore’ pigs foraging in the wild

Abstract Evidence‐based conservation can benefit substantially from multiple knowledge sources and different knowledge systems. While traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and collaborative research are increasingly acknowledged, detailed cross‐knowledge system reviews are scarce and their methodology underdeveloped. We have two objectives: to prepare such a review and to discuss the benefits and challenges of such reviews. We review pig keeping in forests and marshes, a historically widespread but nowadays almost extinct practice in Europe, but one with high potential for organic farming, conservation and restoration. We focus on what, when and how free‐ranging pigs forage in the wild. We review five knowledge sources: living and archived TEK, pig and wild boar scientific literature, and the authors' observations of foraging. Unexpectedly, given the amount of available information, archived TEK differed considerably from living TEK of svinjars (Serbian: traditional pig keepers), and scientific knowledge on pig and boar foraging from TEK. Svinjars deeply understood the consumption and avoidance behaviour of pigs towards 98 and 56 plant taxa, and 42 and 17 animal taxa, respectively. Our review showed that pigs are gourmet omnivores, optimizing and switching between foraging on earthworms, acorns, grasses and corn. Discrepancies between knowledge sources were rare, for example on the consumption of woody roots, earthworms, mushrooms and snakes/lizards. Sources were also complementary, filling each other's knowledge gaps. Topics where the cross‐knowledge system review was most fruitful were acorn foraging, browsing, earthworm and mushroom consumption. Differences in the contributions of the knowledge sources to the enriched picture resulted from the diverging interests and methodologies of the knowledge generators. We identified and discussed both the benefits (different approaches of knowledge generation; expanded time scales; complementarity; novel cause–effect explanations; identification of knowledge gaps; and biases) and the challenges (how to identify relevant publications and knowledgeable TEK holders; how to collate knowledge and verify its reliability; and how to conduct a culturally respectful synthesis) of cross‐knowledge system reviewing. Synthesis and applications. Cross‐knowledge system reviews help overcome limitations in ecological understanding and may provide a shared understanding among collaborating partners, build trust and foster acceptance of each other's knowledge as legitimate. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Ecotoxicity of bioinsecticide spinosad to soil organisms: Commercial formulation versus active ingredient

Spintor® (SPIT®) is a commercial formulation of a bioinsecticide with the active ingredient Spinosad (SPIN). Despite the efforts of regulatory agencies, there still is a lack of information regarding short- and long-term exposures to soil-dwellers, as well as effects at environmentally relevant concentrations. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of SPIT® and SPIN, on the oligochaete Eisenia fetida, and the arthropod Folsomia candida. For this, natural soil was spiked with environmentally relevant concentrations (0.00–1.49 mg of the active ingredient·kg−1 of dry soil) to assess avoidance behaviour in E. fetida and reproduction effects on both species. Further, in E. fetida adults exposed for 2- and 28-day biomarkers of oxidative stress, energetic reserves, neurotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated. A significant reduction in juvenile production for F. candida was observed for SPIT® at ≥0.66 mg kg−1 and SPIN at ≥0.13 mg kg−1, and although no effect was observed on E. fetida reproduction, the oligochaeta revealed a tendency to avoid soil spiked with SPIT® at 0.44, 0.66 and 1.49 mg kg−1. The sub-individual responses of E. fetida demonstrate genotoxicity upon exposure to SPIT® and SPIN for 2 days. The 2-day exposures of SPIT® and SPIN seem to induce defence mechanisms, and in general, SPIN exerted higher effects than SPIT® on the oligochaetes. Overall, the pro-oxidant performance and energy metabolism pathways were disrupted in both exposures to SPIT® and SPIN. The results suggest that spinosyns-based products can have an impact on soil arthropods F. candida and oligochaete's health, possibly affecting their essential functions in terrestrial ecosystems.

A Qualitative Exploration on Psychological Stressors and Coping Mechanisms in Medical Laboratory Personnel

Healthcare professionals, particularly those working in high-stress environments like hospitals, are frequently exposed to significant psychological challenges. This study explores the psychological stressors and coping mechanisms of medical laboratory personnel at the People's Hospital of Keyouqianqi, Inner Mongolia, China. Using a qualitative research design, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, focusing on their experiences of stress and the strategies they use to manage it. The findings reveal that the most significant stressors include high workloads, time pressure, the responsibility for diagnostic accuracy, and interpersonal conflicts within the workplace. Additionally, personal and social stressors, such as balancing work with family responsibilities, further compounded their stress levels. Participants employed a variety of coping mechanisms, both problem-focused and emotion-focused, with effective strategies including building strong professional relationships, engaging in physical activities, and practicing mindfulness. However, some participants resorted to ineffective coping strategies, such as avoidance behaviors and unhealthy habits, which often exacerbated their stress. This study highlights the complex interplay between individual coping strategies and the cultural and institutional context in which these professionals operate. The findings have important implications for practice and policy, offering insights into how healthcare institutions can better support the mental health and well-being of their staff.

Addiction to analgesics in patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache

Patients with medication-overuse headache (MOH) and chronic migraine (CM) have varying degrees of addiction to painkillers (PK), which complicates treatment and leads to relapses. Development of addiction to PK is associated with various clinical and psychological characteristics and disorders in patients with MOH.Objective: to investigate the relationship between PK addiction and individual clinical and psychological characteristics in patients with CM and MOH.Material and methods. The study included 156 patients with CM and MOH (61 men and 95 women, mean age 34.1±8.9 years). Clinical and psychological characteristics were assessed in all patients using a clinical interview, tests and headache diaries. The relationship between PK addiction (according to the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire – LDQ) and clinical and psychological characteristics (duration of migraine and CM, frequency and intensity of headaches, duration of MOH, frequency of PK use, number of PK doses, personal and situational anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing, beliefs about the body and health, coping strategies for stressful situations, daily activities during headache, insomnia) was investigated using regression analysis.Results. All patients had misconceptions and wrong behavior regarding PK. The majority (59%) of patients had moderate degree of PK addiction according to the LDQ. Twenty six percent of patients had other forms of addictive behavior (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, overeating, excessive use of sleeping pills), and 52.6% of patients had relatives with addictive behavior. There was a statistically significantly positive correlation (R≥0.45; p<0.05) between PK addiction and smoking, alcohol consumption, use of sleeping pills, body mass index (BMI), frequency of PK use, attitudes towards pain, body and health (pain catastrophizing, hopelessness about pain, intolerance of body sensations, overestimation of symptom severity, catastrophizing in the interpretation of body symptoms), depression, personal anxiety and avoidance (maladaptive coping behavior). Adequate treatment of CM and MOH was provided in only 7.7% of patients.Conclusion: A positive association was found between PK addiction and smoking, alcohol consumption, use of sleeping pills, BMI, frequency of PK usage, attitudes towards pain, body and health, depression, personal anxiety and avoidance behavior.

Neural decoding and feature selection methods for closed-loop control of avoidance behavior.

Many psychiatric disorders involve excessive avoidant or defensive behavior, such as avoidance in anxiety and trauma disorders or defensive rituals in obsessive-compulsive disorders. Developing algorithms to predict these behaviors from local field potentials (LFPs) could serve as the foundational technology for closed-loop control of such disorders. A significant challenge is identifying the LFP features that encode these defensive behaviors.&#xD;Approach. We analyzed LFP signals from the infralimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala of rats undergoing tone-shock conditioning and extinction, standard for investigating defensive behaviors. We utilized a comprehensive set of neuro-markers across spectral, temporal, and connectivity domains, employing SHapley Additive exPlanations for feature importance evaluation within Light Gradient-Boosting Machine models. Our goal was to decode three commonly studied avoidance/defensive behaviors: freezing, bar-press suppression, and motion (accelerometry), examining the impact of different features on decoding performance.&#xD;Main results. Band power and band power ratio between channels emerged as optimal features across sessions. High-gamma (80-150 Hz) power, power ratios, and inter-regional correlations were more informative than other bands that are more classically linked to defensive behaviors. Focusing on highly informative features enhanced performance. Across 4 recording sessions with 16 subjects, we achieved an average coefficient of determination of 0.5357 and 0.3476, and Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.7579 and 0.6092 for accelerometry jerk and bar press rate, respectively. Utilizing only the most informative features revealed differential encoding between accelerometry and bar press rate, with the former primarily through local spectral power and the latter via inter-regional connectivity. Our methodology demonstrated remarkably low training/inference time and memory usage, requiring <310 ms for training, <0.051 ms for inference, and 16.6 kB of memory, using a single core of AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX CPU.&#xD;Significance. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of accurately decoding defensive behaviors with minimal latency, using LFP features from neural circuits strongly linked to these behaviors. This methodology holds promise for real-time decoding to identify physiological targets in closed-loop psychiatric neuromodulation.&#xD;&#xD.

Paths Not Taken: On Negative Wayfaring in Ladakh

For Buddhist laity in Ladakh, familiar paths and places are delineated by both movement and avoidance. Negative forms of engagement with the landscape operate as active means of place-making: curtailed movement, avoidance, and the redirection of non-human movement all work to disentangle self and landscape, protecting against dangers often embodied in spirits. These processes invert the normal logic of wayfaring and dwelling, relying on curtailed movement as a means of protection against the threats inherent in the landscape. Avoidance behaviour contributes to the management of the porous and shifting boundaries through which threatening forces routinely flow, particularly after nightfall.

Compressed sensing based approach identifies modular neural circuitry driving learned pathogen avoidance.

An animal's survival hinges on its ability to integrate past information to modify future behavior. The nematode C. elegans adapts its behavior based on prior experiences with pathogen exposure, transitioning from attraction to avoidance of the pathogen. A systematic screen for the neural circuits that integrate the information of previous pathogen exposure to modify behavior has not been feasible because of the lack of tools for neuron type specific perturbations. We overcame this challenge using methods based on compressed sensing to efficiently determine the roles of individual neuron types in learned avoidance behavior. Our screen revealed that distinct sets of neurons drive exit from lawns of pathogenic bacteria and prevent lawn re-entry. Using calcium imaging of freely behaving animals and optogenetic perturbations, we determined the neural dynamics that regulate one key behavioral transition after infection: stalled re-entry into bacterial lawns. We find that key neuron types govern pathogen lawn specific stalling but allow the animal to enter nonpathogenic E. coli lawns. Our study shows that learned pathogen avoidance requires coordinated transitions in discrete neural circuits and reveals the modular structure of this complex adaptive behavioral response to infection.