Behavioral Responses Research Articles

Predictive factors of stress response of nursing student repeaters under the background of abolishing the final supplementary examination in China

BackgroundAcademic pressure and frustration stimulation are significant stressors in college students, and response to the prolonged stimuli would cause adverse mental and physical outcomes. However, more is needed to know about the stress response and its predictors among undergraduate nursing students retaking failed course under the background of the abolition of the Final Supplementary Examination in China. This study aimed to investigate the stress response and its predictive factors of nursing student repeaters who are retaking at least one failed course.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing convenience sampling to recruit 120 nursing student repeaters from four 4-year undergraduate medical universities in China between September 2020 and May 2021. Data collection instruments included a general information questionnaire, a stress response questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson resilience scale, a self-control scale, and a academic self-efficacy questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression.ResultsThe average scores of the total stress response, emotional response, physical response, and behavioral response were 58.07 ± 26.72, 86.97 ± 17.12, 57.69 ± 9.75, 67.16 ± 9.22, respectively. Stress response was predicted by psychological resilience, self-control ability, academic self-efficacy and the number of retaking courses.ConclusionsThe stress response among nursing student repeaters is relatively active. Higher psychological resilience, self-control ability, and academic self-efficacy predict lower levels of stress response. In order to help nursing students with failing and repeating course release their psychological stress and maintain well-being, nursing educators could adopt self-control promotion strategies and emphasize the cultivation of psychological resilience and academic self-efficacy as parts of health promotion programs for this particular student group.

Adaptation of farmland mammalian specialist to urban life: Escape behavior of European hare along the urban-rural gradient

The European hare Lepus europaeus is an iconic but rapidly declining farmland specialist with recently confirmed populations in urban areas. However, their behavioral responses and adaptability to urbanization and life in human-dominated areas are fully unexplored. Here, using infrared cameras, we explored escape behavior (measured as the flight initiation distance) using 965 hare observations in urban and farmland areas in the Czech Republic and Austria (Central Europe) and its association with habitat type, distance to the city center, patch size, season, hare age and initial behavior. We found that European hares adjusted their escape behavior to habitat type and escaped significantly earlier in farmland (rural) habitats than in urban habitats. However, escape distances of hares did not differ between farmland types with different degree of habitat heterogeneity. We also revealed that urban hares escaped earlier when located further from the city center or in a larger study patch. Moreover, adult hares escaped earlier than subadults and foraging individuals escaped earlier than resting hares but both only in rural areas. Our results support high behavioral adaptability of European hares to human-dominated urban areas.

Sex-specific cardiac remodeling in aged rats after adolescent chronic stress: associations with endocrine and metabolic factors

BackgroundCardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. Rates of cardiovascular disease vary both across the lifespan and between sexes. While multiple factors, including adverse life experiences, impact the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, the potential interactions of biological sex and stress history on the aged heart are unknown. To this end, we examined sex- and stress-specific impacts on left ventricular hypertrophy (VH) after aging. We hypothesized that early-life chronic stress exposure impacts behavioral and physiologic responses that predict cardiac remodeling in a sex-specific manner.MethodsHistological analysis was conducted on hearts of male and female rats previously exposed to chronic variable stress during the late adolescent period (postnatal days 43–62). These animals were challenged with a forced swim test and a glucose tolerance test before aging to 15 months and again being challenged. Predictive analyses were then used to isolate factors that relate to cardiac remodeling among these groups.ResultsEarly-life chronic stress impacted cardiac remodeling in a sex-specific manner. Among rats with a history of chronic stress, females had increased concentric VH. However, there were few associations within the female groups among individual behavioral and physiologic parameters and cardiac remodeling. While males as a group did not have VH after chronic stress, they exhibited multiple individual associations with cardiac susceptibility. Passive coping in young males and active coping in aged males related to VH in a stress history-dependent manner. Moreover, baseline corticosterone positively correlated with VH in unstressed males, while chronically-stressed males had positive correlations between VH and visceral adiposity.ConclusionsThese results indicate that females as a group are uniquely susceptible to the effects of early-life stress on cardiac remodeling later in life. Conversely, males have more individual differences in vulnerability, where susceptibility to cardiac remodeling relates to endocrine, metabolic, and behavioral measures depending on stress history. These results ultimately support a framework for assessing cardiovascular risk based on biological sex and prior adverse experiences.

Behavioural Responses of Beef Cattle to Hot Conditions.

Cattle are increasingly exposed to hot temperatures as a result of climate change, and a better understanding of behavioural responses could be beneficial for the diagnosis of heat loads. The changes in the positioning of key body parts, feeding behaviour, body maintenance, and respiratory dynamics were assessed in 24 Black Angus steers individually exposed to hot conditions and fed a finisher diet based on cereal grain or a substituted diet (8% of the grain replaced by an isoenergetic amount of lucerne hay). Increased respiration rate during the heat load period, compared to the recovery period, was associated with increased stepping, especially by left limbs. Cattle also reduced eating, grooming, and scratching during the heat load period. The lowered head, backward ear, vertical or raised tail, and increased respiration rate and panting persisted in cattle during the heat load period. Cattle on the cereal grain diet stood for longer and were more likely to hold their ears backward and tail vertical than those on the substituted diet. We conclude that these behaviours could be used to detect animals that are most affected and that changing from a cereal-based diet to a substituted diet containing a higher amount of fibre, such as lucerne hay, can reduce hyperthermic behavioural responses to a heat load.

The restraint stress-induced antinociceptive effects decreased by antagonism of both orexin receptors within the CA1 region of the hippocampus

Studies have indicated that stress-related symptoms can lead to hormonal and neural changes, affecting the pain threshold and nociceptive behaviors. The precise role of orexin receptors (OX1r and OX2r) in stress-induced analgesia (SIA) remains an inquiry yet to be comprehensively elucidated. The current investigation aimed to assess the impact of acute immobilization restraint stress on pain-related behavioral responses after administering antagonists targeting OX1r and OX2r in a rat model using the tail-flick test. After a period of five to seven days post-stereotaxic surgery in CA1, the baseline tail-flick latency (TFL) was recorded for each animal. Subsequently, rats were unilaterally administered varying doses of the OX1r antagonist (SB334867; 1, 3, 10, and 30 nmol), the OX2r antagonist (TCS OX2 29; 1, 3, 10, and 30 nmol), or a vehicle (0.5 μl solution containing 12% DMSO) through an implanted cannula. Following a 5-min interval, the animals were subjected to a restraint stress (RS) lasting for 3 h. The tail-flick test was conducted after the stress exposure, and the TFLs were assessed at 60-min intervals. The findings of this study revealed that RS elicits antinociceptive responses in the tail-flick test. Microinjection of OX1r and OX2r antagonists into the CA1 attenuated RS-induced analgesia during the tail-flick test. Furthermore, the results underscored the preeminent role of OX2 receptors in modulating SIA. In conclusion, the orexin system localized within the hippocampal CA1 region may, in part, contribute to the manifestation of SIA in the context of acute pain.

Sensory processing in typically developing toddlers with and without sleep problems

This study investigates the sensory processing of typically developing toddlers with and without sleep problems. The research group consisted of typically developing toddlers with sleep problems (n = 110, mean age=18.35 ± 3.4 months), while the control group included typically developing toddlers without sleep problems (n = 110, mean age=18.67 ± 3.5 months) and their mothers. Toddlers were assigned to the research and control groups based on their sleep problems, as determined by the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. The sensory processing of the toddlers was evaluated using the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile 2. Sensory patterns and sensory processing sub-parameters of the research and control groups were compared. The sensory processing of the research group showed atypical behavioral responses in low registration (low awareness or indifferent attitude to sensory stimuli), sensory sensitivity (distracted or irritable attitude, intensely stimulated by sensory stimuli), and sensory avoiding (intentional avoidance of sensory stimuli or attitudes that produce out-of-norm responses) patterns compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Behavioral responses were similar in the sensory seeking (disturbing or dangerous attitude to the environment in search of sensory stimuli) pattern (p > 0.309). Statistically significant differences were observed in all sub-parameters of sensory processing compared to the control group. Our findings indicate that toddlers with sleep problems are at risk for sensory processing issues. Toddlers with sleep problems exhibit atypical sensory responses related to sensory sensitivity, low registration, and sensory avoiding. It should be considered that toddlers with sleep problems may show sensitivity to different sensory stimuli, avoidance or may not be able to recognize sensory stimuli. These findings suggest that the inclusion of sensory profile assessments in interdisciplinary care for toddlers with sleep problems may contribute to parent-infant well-being.

The division of parental leave: Empirical evidence and policy design

We study several key aspects of the design of parental leave systems. First, we estimate parents’ willingness to pay for parental leave using Danish administrative data on the division of leave from almost 190,000 births combined with sharp variation in economic incentives created by the parental leave benefit system. We find evidence of both strong behavioral responses with significant bunching at kink points and a willingness to pay for a gender-traditional allocation of leave, where fathers take little or no leave. Second, we provide a menu of counterfactual policy simulations showing substantial interaction effects between earmarked leave, replacement rates and the duration of leave benefits. Relevant for the implementation of a recent EU directive, a higher replacement rate significantly increases the behavioral response of fathers to earmarked leave. Finally, we discuss the welfare effects of different policies aimed at increasing the parental leave of fathers.

Three odorant-binding proteins of small hive beetles, Aethina tumida, participate in the response of bee colony volatiles

Aethina tumida (small hive beetle, SHB) is a rapidly spreading invasive parasite of bee colonies. The olfactory system plays a key role in insect behavior, and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are involved in the first step of the olfactory signal transduction pathway and the detection of host volatiles. However, the olfactory mechanism of OBPs in SHB-localized bee colonies is unclear. In this study, electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral bioassay showed that only three compounds (2-heptanone, ocimene, and ethyl palmitate) from bee colonies triggered high electrophysiological and behavioral responses. Three antenna-specific OBP genes (OBP6, OBP11, and OBP19) were identified, and they were significantly expressed on adult days 6–7. Furthermore, by combining RNA interference (RNAi) with EAG, olfactometer bioassay, competitive fluorescence binding assays, and molecular docking, we found that these three OBP genes were involved in the recognition of 2-heptanone and ethyl palmitate, and AtumOBP6 is also involved in the recognition of ocimene. These data indicate that AtumOBP6, AtumOBP11, and AtumOBP19 play an important role in the olfactory response to bee colony volatiles. Our results provide new insights into the functions of the OBP families in A. tumida and help to explore more potential target genes for environmentally friendly pest control strategies.

Between Scylla and Charybdis: assessing the multidimensional aspects of pain behaviors in rats using a double avoidance place preference paradigm.

Although the behavioral response to pain is complex and involves supraspinal processes, assessment of pain symptoms in animal models still mainly relies on reflex-based nociceptive tests, which do not account for the affective-motivational nor cognitive components of pain. We introduce a double avoidance place preference paradigm, an integrated testing procedure in freely moving rats that relies on the conflict between the avoidance of a dark compartment in which a thermal ramp is activated, and the escape towards an aversive brightly lit compartment. We were able to differentiate the first nociceptive threshold from the temperature of definitive escape from the dark compartment, conveying information on the adaptive behavior of animals. Measures were repeated after an hour to evaluate the adaptive learning response upon reexposure. In naive animals, there was a significant decrease in the time spent in the dark compartment at all stages of the testing paradigm upon reexposure, leading to a final escape before the flood had reached nociceptive values. This adaptive behavior was blunted by anxiolytic treatment. In animals exhibiting hyperalgesia following intraplantar complete Freund adjuvant injection, escape thresholds were significantly higher than that of control animals, hinting at a maladaptive affective-motivational response to noxious stimulation. However, in cuff animals, we failed to reveal any hot nociceptive hypersensitivity, but animals exhibited a strong adaptive response to cold simulation upon reexposure. Overall, the proposed paradigm allows for an integrated cortical response leading to a proactive avoidance behavior, while fully complying with ethical standards in animal experimentation.

Behavioral plasticity.

Behavioral plasticity allows animals to modulate their behavior based on experience and environmental conditions. Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits experience-dependent changes in its behavioral responses to various modalities of sensory cues, including odorants, salts, temperature, and mechanical stimulations. Most of these forms of behavioral plasticity, such as adaptation, habituation, associative learning, and imprinting, are shared with other animals. The C. elegans nervous system is considerably tractable for experimental studies-its function can be characterized and manipulated with molecular genetic methods, its activity can be visualized and analyzed with imaging approaches, and the connectivity of its relatively small number of neurons are well described. Therefore, C. elegans provides an opportunity to study molecular, neuronal, and circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral plasticity that are either conserved in other animals or unique to this species. These findings reveal insights into how the nervous system interacts with the environmental cues to generate behavioral changes with adaptive values.

Bioaccumulation and behavioral response patterns of crucian carp (Carassius carassius) after carbamazepine exposure and elimination

The antiepileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ) has been widely detected in freshwater, yet its toxic actions in fish at multiple endpoints and the subsequent recovery patterns of the impacted are less discussed. This study investigated the bioaccumulation, physiological and behavioral changes of crucian carp (Carassius carassius) following CBZ exposure (G1 = 6.15 μg/L, G2 = 61.5 μg/L, G3 = 615 μg/L, G4 = 6150 μg/L) and subsequent recovery. Our results showed that CBZ was more likely to accumulate in the liver and brain than in the gills. A concentration-dependent phenomenon was observed; however, the residual CBZ decreased to similar levels after recovery. The behavioral indicators (i.e. feeding, social and spontaneous swimming) were significantly inhibited after 7-days of CBZ exposure, and only recovered at low concentration treatment (G1) after 7-days recovery in CBZ-free water. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the liver and gills were induced after CBZ exposure and returned to normal levels after 7-days of recovery. In contrast, the inhibition of catalase (CAT) activity caused by CBZ exposure persisted in the high concentration treatment (G4) after recovery. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that changes in feeding behavior were closely related to the variation of CBZ concentrations in tissues, and the persistence of abnormal swimming and social behavior was closely related to gill CAT activity. These findings contribute to explore the toxic mechanisms of CBZ and highlight the recovery process and connections between various endpoints.

Behavioural response to boat noise weakens the strength of a trophic link in coral reefs

In oceans, the noise generated by human activities has reached phenomenal proportions, with considerable harmful effects on marine life. Measuring this impact to achieve a sustainable balance for highly vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, is a critical environmental policy objective. Here, we demonstrate that anthropogenic noise alters the interactions of a coral reef fish with its environment and how this behavioural response to noise impairs foraging. In situ observations on the Moorea reef revealed that the damselfish Dascyllus emamo reacts to boat passage by moving closer to its coral bommie, considerably reducing the volume of water available to search for prey. Using boat noise playback experiments in microcosms, we studied D. emamo's behaviour and modeled its functional response (FR), which is the relationship between resource use and resource density, when feeding on juvenile shrimps. Similar to field observations, noise reduced D. emamo's spatial occupancy, accompanied by a lower FR, indicating a reduction in predation independent of prey density. Overall, noise-induced behavioural changes are likely to influence predator-prey interaction dynamics and ultimately the fitness of both protagonists. While there is an urgent need to assess the effect of anthropogenic noise on coral reefs, the ecological framework of the FR approach combined with behavioural metrics provides an essential tool for evaluating the cascading effects of noise on nested ecological interactions at the community level.

Behavioral dysregulation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, GIFT) post-Streptococcus agalactia infection: Role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis

In the aquatic farming industry, understanding the factors affecting fish behavior is crucial, particularly in response to infections that compromise welfare and productivity. Swimming performance is a key life history trait critical to their ecology. This study explores the swimming behavior imbalance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, GIFT) post-infection with Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), a common pathogen responsible for significant losses in aquaculture. We focused on how the microbiota-gut-brain axis influences the behavioral response of tilapia to GBS infection. Behavioral changes were quantified by measuring collision times and swimming speeds, which decreased significantly following infection. This behavioral downturn is mediated by alterations in the microbiota-gut-brain axis, evidenced by increased levels of monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in the brain and intestinal tissues. The study utilized pharmacological agents, the 5-HT1A receptor agonist (8-OH-DPAT) and antagonist (WAY-100635), to investigate their efficacy in mitigating these behavioral and biochemical changes. Both agents partially restored normal behavior by adjusting neurotransmitter concentrations disrupted by GBS infection. Additionally, a notable increase in the relative abundance of Streptococcus within the gut microbiota of infected fish highlights the potential role of specific bacterial populations in influencing host behavior. This research provides novel insights into the complex interactions between pathogen-induced gut microbiota changes and Nile tilapia's behavioral outcomes, highlighting potential avenues for improving fish health management through microbiota-targeted interventions.

Effects of Phasic Activation of Locus Ceruleus on Cortical Neural Activity and Auditory Discrimination Behavior.

Although the locus ceruleus (LC) is recognized as a crucial modulator for attention and perception by releasing norepinephrine into various cortical regions, the impact of LC-noradrenergic (LC-NE) modulation on auditory discrimination behavior remains elusive. In this study, we firstly recorded local field potential and single-unit activity in multiple cortical regions associated with auditory-motor processing, including the auditory cortex, posterior parietal cortex, secondary motor cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), in response to optogenetic activation (40 Hz and 0.5 s) of the LC-NE neurons in awake mice (male). We found that phasic LC stimulation induced a persistent high gamma oscillation (50-80 Hz) in the OFC. Phasic activation of LC-NE neurons also resulted in a corresponding increase in norepinephrine levels in the OFC, accompanied by a pupillary dilation response. Furthermore, when mice were performing a go/no-go auditory discrimination task, we optogeneticaly activated the neural projections from LC to OFC and revealed a shortened latency in behavioral responses to sound stimuli and an increased false alarm rate. These impulsive behavioral responses may be associated with the gamma neural activity in the OFC. These findings have broadened our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in the role of LC in auditory-motor processing.

Associations between Dental Anxiety Levels, Self-Reported Oral Health, Previous Unpleasant Dental Experiences, and Behavioural Reactions in Dental Settings: An Adult E-Survey.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental anxiety, its association with self-reported oral health, and sociodemographic factors in adults that are critical for improving oral health and well-being. Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted via social media, with 1551 adults (76.5% women, 23.5% men) participating nationwide. Data collected included demographic data, Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) scores, and associations between dental anxiety, negative experiences, and self-reported oral health. The analysis included psychophysiological, behavioural, and emotional responses and avoidance of dental visits, using descriptive and generalised linear regression models. Results: This study found that the mean score of the MDAS was 9.70 ± 5.11 out of 25, 19.1% of the participants reported no dental anxiety, and 7.8% suffered from dental phobia. Gender, age, and socioeconomic status had no significant effect on the prevalence of anxiety. Although more than half of the participants reported negative dental experiences, particularly in childhood, anxiety levels were unaffected. However, those who rated their oral health as excellent or very good had lower anxiety scores (p = 0.008, p = 0.024). Among the dental procedures, oral surgery (58.7%) and prosthetic (restorative) dental treatments (15.2%) caused the most anxiety. Avoidance behaviour correlated with increased anxiety (p ≤ 0.001), as did postponing dental visits until severe pain occurred (p = 0.011). Conclusions: These results emphasise the significant prevalence of dental anxiety in adults, particularly for surgical procedures and drilling, posing challenges in patient management. Tailored strategies are essential to reduce anxiety, improve patient well-being, and optimise dental service delivery and treatment efficacy.

Sensory Profiles Predict Symptoms of Central Sensitization in Low Back Pain: A Predictive Model Research Study.

Background: Acute low back pain has a high prevalence, and when persisting into chronicity, it results in enormous socio-economic consequences. Sensory preferences may be key factors in predicting central sensitization as the main mechanism of nociplastic pain and chronicity. Objectives: Build a model to predict central sensitization symptoms using sensory profiles based on the PROGRESS framework. Methods: A Prognostic Model Research study was carried out to predict central sensitization symptoms at 12 weeks, using baseline sensory profiles, based on 114 patients with acute low back pain. Independent variables were sensory profiles, state and trait anxiety, age, duration, pain severity, depressive symptoms, and pain catastrophizing. Results: This model, based on continuous data, significantly predicts central sensitization symptoms at 12 weeks. It contains two significantly contributing variables: sensory profile Sensory Sensitive (unstandardized B-value = 0.42; p = 0.01) and trait anxiety (unstandardized B-value = 0.53; p ≤ 0.001). The model has a predictive value of R2 = 0.38. Conclusions: This model significantly predicts central sensitization symptoms based on sensory profile Sensory Sensitive and trait anxiety. This model may be a useful tool to intervene in a bottom-up and top-down approaches to prevent chronicity in clinical practice, including individual sensory preferences and behavioral responses to sensory stimulation in rehabilitation strategies.

Intergenerational effects of maternal childhood maltreatment on newborns' stress regulation: The role of maternal depressive symptoms

BackgroundMaternal childhood maltreatment (CM) has been repeatedly associated with negative offspring's emotional outcomes. The dysregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis has emerged as the main underlying physiological mechanism. ObjectiveTo explore the association between maternal CM and newborns' physiological and neurobehavioral stress responses, considering the role of perinatal maternal depression and bonding. Participants and setting150 healthy women were followed throughout pregnancy. 79 mother-infant dyads were included in the final analyses. Maternal CM was evaluated using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and depressive symptoms by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at each trimester. At 7 weeks postpartum, the EPDS and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire were administered. Newborns' behavioral responses were assessed using “States Organization” (SO) and “States Regulation” (SR) subdomains of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Newborns' salivary samples were collected before and after the NBAS to study cortisol reactivity. MethodsA cross-lagged panel model was employed. ResultsInfants born to mothers with higher CM presented more optimal scores on SO (β (0.635) = 0.216, p 〈001) and SR (ß (0.273) = 0.195, p = .006), and a higher cortisol reactivity after NBAS handling (β(0.019) = 0.217, p = .009). Moreover, newborns of mothers with higher CM and postpartum depressive symptoms exhibited a poorer performance on SR (ß (0.156 = −0.288,p = .002). Analyses revealed non-significant relationships between mother-infant bonding, newborns' cortisol reactivity and SO. ConclusionsNewborns from mothers with greater CM present higher cortisol reactivity and more optimal behavioral responses, which may reflect a prenatal HPA axis sensitization. However, those exposed to maternal postnatal depressive symptoms present poorer stress recovery.

Acute rimonabant treatment prevents anhedonia and memory loss in rats submitted to mild restraint stress

Stress-related disorders are becoming increasingly common and are often associated with cognitive impairments. Within this context, the endocannabinoid (ECB) system, particularly the type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor, seems to play a decisive role in restoring body homeostasis. There is consistent evidence in the literature that disrupted CB1-mediated neurotransmission can ultimately contribute to stress-related diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the participation of CB1 receptors in the integrity of stress-induced peripheral and behavioral responses. For this purpose, male adult Wistar rats underwent physical restraint (1 h/day, for 7 days), followed by a single administration of rimonabant (CB1 receptor antagonist, 3 mg/Kg, intraperitonial) at the end of stress protocol. Animals were then subjected to evaluation of neuroendocrine responses, behavioral tests and quantification of Iba-1 (microglial) immunoreactivity in the parvocellular subdivisions of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). No effects of restraint stress or rimonabant administration were detected on body mass variation. However, stress significantly increased adrenal relative mass and corticosterone secretion, and reduced thymus relative size. The stress effects on adrenal size and corticosterone plasma levels were absent in rimonabant-treated rats, but the thymus size was further reduced in the restraint-rimonabant group. Restraint stress also induced anhedonia, a depression-like behavior, and reduced object recognition index, indicating memory recovery impairment. Treatment with the CB1 antagonist significantly reversed stress-induced anhedonia and memory deficit. In the PVN, restraint stress reduced the number of Iba-1 positive cells in the medial parvocellular region of vehicle- but not rimonabant-treated animals. Taken together, these results indicate that the acute inhibition of the CB1-mediated endogenous pathway restores stress-induced depression-like behaviors and memory loss, suggesting a role for endocannabinoids in the neuro-immune-endocrine interplay at both peripheral and hypothalamic levels.

Evaluation of the Behavioral Effect of Psychostimulants in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often accompanied by comorbid conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and epilepsy. In this context, patients are often treated with psychostimulants in an attempt to control behavioral symptoms. This study aims to understand the behavioral effects of psychostimulants in children with ASD and investigate if interictal epileptiform discharges on electroencephalogram (EEG) can act as a modifying factor in this behavior. Sixty-eight patients with ASD who were being accompanied in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João and had previously done an EEG assessment answered a questionnaire regarding their behavioral response to psychostimulants. In total, 47.4% of patients reported improved agitation, 56.1% enhanced concentration, and 8.8% improved sleep. Conversely, 28.1% experienced worsened agitation, 15.8% worsened concentration, and 17.5% worsened sleep. The remaining reported no alterations. The age of diagnosis correlated significantly with improved agitation, with a higher diagnosis age being associated with a higher probability of improvement. Extended-release methylphenidate and genetic variations were significantly associated with worsening of agitation. Regarding speech, 86% exhibited no changes, while 14% showed alterations, mostly, 87.5%, characterized as negative. For other behavioral alterations, 45.6% reported negative changes, 3.5% reported positive changes, and 50.9% reported no additional alterations. Female gender was significantly associated with other negative behavioral changes. A significant correlation was found between treatment duration and the probability of improvement in agitation, concentration, and other behavioral changes.

Unveiling the Instagram effect: Decoding factors influencing visiting intentions of superstar Spanish museums

This study employs the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) paradigms to delve into the intricate variables that shape Instagram users' intentions to visit renowned Spanish museums, known as the Golden Triangle of Art. Leveraging a comprehensive analysis using partial least squares, this research scrutinizes the visiting intentions of Instagram users and synthesizes insights from a diverse sample of 956 respondents. The findings of this study yield remarkable contributions: (1) presenting an exceptional framework for advancing research in the realm of visiting intentions within the S-O-R and TAM paradigms; (2) bridging a critical research gap by exploring the influence of social networks on visiting intentions; and (3) illuminating the vital role of cognitive and affective reactions in translating information attributes into tangible behavioural responses. This research offers insights for academia, practitioners, and museum stakeholders alike, shaping the understanding of digital platforms’ impact on cultural tourism.