Stereotypy Research Articles

THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF CHILDHOOD FEARS IN THE FORMATION OF BEHAVIORAL STEREOTYPES IN ADULTS

The article is devoted to studying the important issue in psychology and psychiatry - the influence of childhood fears on adult life. It is examined from various perspectives and aspects. The research is conducted using various methods, including systemic analysis, comparative method, modeling, and classification, to gain a deeper understanding of this problem.The paper analyzes the contemporary scientific understanding of behavioral stereotypes from psychological and psychophysiological perspectives. Various determinants of the appearance of stereotypes in adult behavior and their interrelation are considered. It is crucial to identify and analyze the role of childhood fears in shaping stereotypes that determine adult behavior.After a thorough theoretical analysis and synthesis of information from professional sources, a conceptual model of the influence of childhood fears on adult behavior patterns is constructed in the paper. This model represents an important step towards further understanding and researching this complex issue.The application of the obtained results can have practical significance for psychologists, educators, teachers, and students in pedagogical, psychological, and social specialties. Understanding the influence of childhood fears on adult personality development is a key element in developing effective psychological support and intervention methods.Therefore, this article has both theoretical and practical significance and can serve as a stimulus for further research in this area.

Гендер как социокультурный феномен

The aim of the article is to define the content of the concepts of gender and gender culture as socio-cultural phenomena. The method of comparative critical analysis of alternative interpretations of these constructs is used, on the basis of which an integral approach to understanding gender and gender culture is formulated. It is noted that the former characterizes the sociocultural functions of sexes and the system of interpersonal rela-tions between men and women. It includes images that reflect physiological and social differences between the sexes, social and cultural norms of behavior, as well as the system of social interactions between their rep-resentatives. The gender culture of society is defined as the system of organization of intersex relations that has developed in the social structure, including the balance of interpersonal interactions, gender standards of masculinity and femininity; norms in the sphere of communication (legal, moral, religious, etc.), stereotypes of behavior of representatives of different sexes. Gender culture of an individual is the consciousness and self-consciousness of the individual in the context of belonging to the male or female sex. In addition, the gender consciousness of an individual is the subject's perception of gender and the relationship between men and women. Gender self-awareness of an individual is gender self-identity, that is, who an individual imagines himself to be, and on the basis of which an individual’s gender behavior is formed. The concepts of gender and gender culture as sociocultural phenomena are methodological tools for studying the specifics and dynamics of specific gender cultures emerging in certain sociocultural public systems.

Nomo1 deficiency causes autism-like behavior in zebrafish.

Patients with neuropsychiatric disorders often exhibit a combination of clinical symptoms such as autism, epilepsy, or schizophrenia, complicating diagnosis and development of therapeutic strategies. Functional studies of novel genes associated with co-morbidities can provide clues to understand the pathogenic mechanisms and interventions. NOMO1 is one of the candidate genes located at 16p13.11, a hotspot of neuropsychiatric diseases. Here, we generate nomo1-/- zebrafish to get further insight into the function of NOMO1. Nomo1 mutants show abnormal brain and neuronal development and activation of apoptosis and inflammation-related pathways in the brain. Adult Nomo1-deficient zebrafish exhibit multiple neuropsychiatric behaviors such as hyperactive locomotor activity, social deficits, and repetitive stereotypic behaviors. The Habenular nucleus and the pineal gland in the telencephalon are affected, and the melatonin level of nomo1-/- is reduced. Melatonin treatment restores locomotor activity, reduces repetitive stereotypic behaviors, and rescues the noninfectious brain inflammatory responses caused by nomo1 deficiency. These results suggest melatonin supplementation as a potential therapeutic regimen for neuropsychiatric disorders caused by NOMO1 deficiency.

Studies of the acoustic activity of white whales (in captive conditions and the possibility of their signals using to control behavior of fish in fishing process

The purpose of the work: identification of acoustic activity of belugas in conditions of aviary keeping and justification of the possibility of using their signals in fishing.The material of research was digital audio recordings of hydroacoustic signals of belugas collected from 2016 to 2018.Methods used: analysis of hydroacoustic data, visualization of the daily acoustic activity of belugas in different seasons, identification of stereotypes of acoustic behavior and characteristic signals in captive conditions and during fish hunting. Novelty: for the first time a substantiation for the possibility of using signals of one of the species of toothed whales — belugas registered in the captive conditions, to influence on the behavior of hydrobionts and solve practical problems of fishing and fish protection is given.Results: the highest acoustic activity of white whales is observed during the day and noticeably decreases at night with increase and decrease in the morning and evening hours. Maximum acoustic activity precedes the feeding of dolphins.The most common tones are those containing the fundamental frequency and harmonics. Characteristic features of the sounds are high variability of duration from 0.25 to 2.5 s, pronounced frequency components in the 500–2500 Hz spectrum zones, amplitude and frequency modulation, sound pressure levels of the signal up to 500 Pa /1 m.Acoustic activity of belugas during fish hunting and in the period preceding feeding in captive conditions, stereotypical. Typical are low-frequency frequency-modulated calls and whistles in the hearing range of fish, as well as a curtain of air bubbles and body and tail slaps. Possible ways of using beluga whale signals to increase the efficiency of fishing are proposed.Practical significance: the results of the study open up the possibility of using the signals of belugas to remotely control the movement of fish, create artificial concentrations and deterrent of hydrobionts in the intended areas.

Sociocultural characteristics of consumer behavior among Japanese youth: From traditional paradigm to modern trends

This article analyzes a range of sociocultural aspects that influence the formation, development and dynamics of consumer behavior among youth in contemporary Japanese society. The authors note that, while the modern context (technology, media) influences the consumer behavior of Japanese youth, traditional values and orientations continue to have an impact on it. The theoretical and methodological foundation of the research is a comprehensive methodology based on Edward T. Hall’s theory of high-context and low-context cultures, which is applied to characterize the stage of decision-making in the purchase of various products. Additionally, a sociocultural approach was employed, allowing the analysis of consumer behavior aspects such as values, value orientations, behavioral stereotypes, motivations. This approach enabled a more in-depth understanding of the target audience’s needs and preferences, which, in the future, will facilitate the development of effective marketing strategies aligned with the cultural and social norms of consumers. To conduct a more detailed analysis of the brand communications effectiveness with the youth segment of the market, four international companies were selected, representing various approaches to interacting with the target audience: UNIQLO, Comme des Garçons (CDG), ZARA, and Louis Vuitton (LV). These brands were chosen based on their popularity among Japanese consumers according to one of the largest ranking websites, ranking.net. The authors then focused their attention on a thorough analysis of a vast amount of empirical data obtained from various sources, including data from diverse resources, including the report from the World Values Survey Association and news media. They analyzed social networking services (SNS) accounts and official websites of the aforementioned international trading companies. A distinctive feature of this study is the use of in-depth structured interviews with representatives of the Japanese youth, with a total of 11 participants, which allowed for the refinement of the research on certain aspects and the visualization of consumers’ attitudes towards the selected companies in the form of perception maps and word clouds.

Stereotypic Behaviour in Elephants

Abstract Stereotypic behaviour is undesirable in zoos, especially when it occurs in large sentient mammals such as elephants because there is evidence that it is often linked to poor welfare conditions and suboptimal management. Elephant managers make great efforts to prevent, or at least reduce, the performance of stereotypic behaviours and this is perceived as beneficial for individual animals. Some studies of stereotypic behaviours in mammals have found links with central nervous system dysfunction while others have suggested that stereotypies reduce stress in captive environments and function as a coping mechanism. Although repetitive behaviours are common in mammals, only some of these behaviours are strictly speaking stereotypic in nature, that is to say, they have no obvious purpose. This case study examines the nature of stereotypic behaviours and other repetitive behaviours in elephants, their aetiology and changes in elephant management that might result in a reduction in stereotypic behaviours and a consequent welfare gain. Information © The Author 2024

The Pathogenesis and Differences in molecule of Autism

With the deepening of the understanding of autism, the scope of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to expand. The prevalence rate of ASD has arrived over 1% around the world. Language and social communication issues, as well as recurrent stereotyped interests and behaviors, are the main signs of autism. To find out the pathogenesis of autism, scientists have found a lot, which show that autism is a complex disorder resulting from many factors, but many questions remain unanswered. Numerous theses have been written about the causes and symptoms of autism, but frequently only a few of these perspectives have received attention. This review is to sum up the causative factors of autism, including genes and environmental, and lists how autism different from normal people in terms of genes, proteins, and cells. This review will introduce these factors with some examples.

Deficiency of FRMD5 results in neurodevelopmental dysfunction and autistic-like behavior in mice.

The pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is causally linked to postsynaptic scaffolding proteins, as evidenced by numerous large-scale genomic studies [1, 2] and in vitro and in vivo neurobiological studies of mutations in animal models [3, 4]. However, due to the distinct phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity observed in ASD patients, individual mutation genes account for only a small proportion (<2%) of cases [1, 5]. Recently, a human genetic study revealed a correlation between de novo variants in FERM domain-containing-5 (FRMD5) and neurodevelopmental abnormalities [6]. In this study, we demonstrate that deficiency of the scaffolding protein FRMD5 leads to neurodevelopmental dysfunction and ASD-like behavior in mice. FRMD5 deficiency results in morphological abnormalities in neurons and synaptic dysfunction in mice. Frmd5-deficient mice display learning and memory dysfunction, impaired social function, and increased repetitive stereotyped behavior. Mechanistically, tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics revealed that FRMD5 deletion affects the distribution of synaptic proteins involved in the pathological process of ASD. Collectively, our findings delineate the critical role of FRMD5 in neurodevelopment and ASD pathophysiology, suggesting potential therapeutic implications for the treatment of ASD.

The Impact of an Autistic Character Media Portrayal on Autistic Stereotypes : MEDIA PORTRAYAL.

Research has demonstrated that neurotypical college students view their autistic peers more negatively than their neurotypical peers and endorse stereotypes related to autism. One way to improve attitudes towards autistic individuals is to induce vicarious intergroup contact through the media in which seeing the lived experiences of an autistic character may reduce stereotypes via social learning. The current study sought to examine whether exposure to an autistic character in a television show would impact the stereotypes that neurotypical college students have about autism. College student participants (n = 147) viewed one of three short video clips depicting an autistic character who spoke about her experiences with ASD (i.e., informational condition), behaved in a relatable manner to neurotypical students (i.e., relatable condition), or engaged in stereotypical autistic behaviors (i.e., stereotypical condition). Results indicated that stereotypes about autistic people were less negative for participants who watched the informational clip than the relatable clip, and liking for the character mediated this relationship. Our findings suggest that a short video featuring a likeable autistic person may reduce stereotypes about autism.

Behavior of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cubs post-den emergence at the Detroit Zoo.

In the wild, female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) with cubs may spend extended periods of time within the den following initial emergence. As a result, studying behavioral development of cubs at the denning site has been difficult and unreliable. Although care staff at zoological institutions have easier access to animals, every effort is made to minimize intrusions to maternal groups, which presents research limitations. Detroit Zoological Society staff used audio-equipped cameras installed in behind-the-scenes spaces to conduct approximately 9 weeks of monitoring on two female polar bear cubs of the same litter, one of whom (Laerke) was hand-reared while the other (Astra) was mother-reared. Monitoring spanned ages 14-24 weeks and consisted of 12, 5-min focal observations per observation day timed to evenly cover the entire 24-h day. Using generalized linear mixed models, we examined relationships between behavior and time of day, hour, and age. We also conducted descriptive analyses and used these to draw comparisons between the two cubs where appropriate. Despite different rearing environments, both cubs had highly comparable patterns of inactive, locomotory, and independent play behaviors. Astra generally decreased time spent nursing and in proximity to Suka as she aged. Data presented here represent a continuation of previous neonatal observations conducted on Astra, adding to the minimal body of knowledge currently available on first year polar bear cub development. We also report successful mitigation of stereotypic behavior in Laerke. Further studies of captive maternal groups can provide insight into this critical developmental stage, supporting both captive-based breeding efforts and in situ conservation efforts.

Do housing-induced changes in brain activity cause stereotypic behaviours in laboratory mice?

Abnormal repetitive stereotypic behaviours (SBs) (e.g. pacing, body-rocking) are common in animals with poor welfare (e.g. socially isolated/in barren housing). But how (or even whether) poor housing alters animals’ brains to induce SBs remains uncertain. To date, there is little evidence for environmental effects on the brain that also correlate with individual SB performance. Using female mice from two strains (SB-prone DBA/2s; SB-resistant C57/BL/6s), displaying two forms of SB (route-tracing; bar-mouthing), we investigated how housing (conventional laboratory conditions vs. well-resourced ‘enriched’ cages) affects long-term neuronal activity as assessed via cytochrome oxidase histochemistry in 13 regions of interest (across cortex, striatum, basal ganglia and thalamus). Conventional housing reduced activity in the cortex and striatum. However, DBA mice had no cortical or striatal differences from C57 mice (just greater basal ganglia output activity, independent of housing). Neural correlates for individual levels of bar-mouthing (positive correlations in the substantia nigra and thalamus) were also independent of housing; while route-tracing levels had no clear neural correlates at all. Thus conventional laboratory housing can suppress cortico-striatal activity, but such changes are unrelated to SB (since not mirrored by congruent individual and strain differences). Furthermore, the neural correlates of SB at individual and strain levels seem to reflect underlying predispositions, not housing-mediated changes. To aid further work, hypothesis-generating model fit analyses highlighted this unexplained housing effect, and also suggested several regions of interest across cortex, striatum, thalamus and substantia nigra for future investigation (ideally with improved power to reduce risks of Type II error).

Air-stepping in the neonatal mouse: a powerful tool for analyzing early stages of rhythmic limb movement development.

There is a lack of experimental methods in genetically tractable mouse models to analyze the developmental period at which newborns mature weight-bearing locomotion. To overcome this deficit, we introduce methods to study l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA)-induced air-stepping in mice at postnatal day (P)7 and P10. Air-stepping is a stereotypic rhythmic behavior that resembles mouse walking overground locomotion but without constraints imposed by weight bearing, postural adjustments, or sensory feedback. We propose that air-stepping represents the functional organization of early spinal circuits coordinating limb movements. After subcutaneous injection of l-DOPA (0.5 mg/g), we recorded air-stepping movements in all four limbs and electromyographic (EMG) activity from ankle flexor (tibialis anterior, TA) and extensor (lateral gastrocnemius, LG) muscles. Using DeepLabCut pose estimation, we analyzed rhythmicity and limb coordination. We demonstrate steady rhythmic stepping of similar duration from P7 to P10 but with some fine-tuning of interlimb coordination with age. Hindlimb joints undergo a greater range of flexion at older ages, indicating maturation of flexion-extension cycles as the animal starts to walk. EMG recordings of TA and LG show alternation but with more focused activation particularly in the LG from P7 to P10. We discuss similarities to neonatal rat l-DOPA-induced air-stepping and infant assisted walking. We conclude that limb coordination and muscle activations recorded with this method represent basic spinal cord circuitry for limb control in neonates and pave the way for future investigations on the development of rhythmic limb control in genetic or disease models with correctly or erroneously developing motor circuitry.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We present novel methods to study neonatal air-stepping in newborn mice. These methods allow analyses at the onset of limb coordination during the period in which altricial species like rats, mice, and humans "learn" to walk. The methods will be useful to test a large variety of mutations that serve as models of motor disease in newborns or that are used to probe for specific circuit mechanisms that generate coordinated limb motor output.

The role of parents in predicting gender‐stereotypic attitudes towards HEED occupations and gender‐stereotypic interest in these careers

AbstractThis study examined adolescents’ gender‐stereotypic attitudes towards HEED (Health care, Early Education, Domestic) occupations and gender‐stereotypic interest in HEED careers and the role of parental gender‐stereotypic attitudes, role model behaviour and socialization values. We used questionnaire data from 501 White Dutch families. Our results showed that adolescents’ gender‐stereotypic attitudes towards HEED predicted their stereotypic interest in these careers. Further, parental gender‐stereotypic attitudes, stereotypical role model behaviour and socializing values of self‐expression predicted adolescents’ gender‐stereotypic attitudes towards HEED. From these parental characteristics, only a stereotypic division of household tasks predicted boys’ lower interest in HEED careers. In conclusion, reducing gender‐stereotypic attitudes and, for boys, encouraging self‐expression seems important in fostering more male representation in HEED occupations and deserves more attention from policymakers, educators and parents.

Mapping Gilles de la Tourette syndrome through the distress and relief associated with tic-related behaviors: an fMRI study

Personal distress associated with tic urges or inhibition and relief associated with tic production are defining features of the personal experience in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). These affective phenomena have not been studied using fMRI, hindering our understanding of GTS pathophysiology and possible treatments. Here, we present a novel cross-sectional fMRI study designed to map tic-related phenomenology using distress and relief as predicting variables. We adopted a mental imagery approach and dissected the brain activity associated with different phases of tic behaviors, premonitory urges, and the ensuing tic execution or inhibition: these were compared with the mental simulation of “relaxed situations” and pre-determined stereotyped motor behaviors. We then explored whether the ensuing brain patterns correlated with the distress or relief perceived for the different phases of the tasks. Patients experienced a higher level of distress during the imagery of tic-triggering scenarios and no relief during tic inhibition. On the other hand, patients experienced significant relief during tic imagery. Distress during tic-triggering scenarios and relief during tic imagery were significantly correlated. The distress perceived during urges correlated with increased activation in cortical sensorimotor areas, suggesting a motor alarm. Conversely, relief during tic execution was positively associated with the activity of a subcortical network. The activity of the putamen was associated with both distress during urges and relief during tic execution. These findings highlight the importance of assessing the affective component of tic-related phenomenology. Subcortical structures may be causally involved in the affective component of tic pathophysiology, with the putamen playing a central role in both tic urge and generation. We believe that our results can be readily translated into clinical practice for the development of personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

The Gluten-Casein-Free Diet in Children with Autism: A Clinical Results of the Ophthalmic and Behavioral Manifestations

Aim: To evaluate the ophthalmic and behavioral effects of a gluten-free casein-free diet (GCFD) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: The study was conducted from November 2020 to January 2023. We designed an 8-week clinical trial of GCFD on corneal reflex, pupil size, body mass index (BMI), weight, Autistic Disorder Index, Communication, Social interaction, and Stereotype Behavior. Results: A total of thirty participants completed the trial. GCFD reduced BMI [%95 CI -4.8895 to -2.1305 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001)], weight [%95 CI -8.5153 to -0.0647 (P = 0.0467)], Autistic Disorder Index [%95 CI -28.0359 to -16.2841 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001)], Communication [%95 CI -3.3325 to -1.6675 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001)], Social Interaction [%95 CI -4.3190 to -2.4010 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001)], and Stereotype Behavior [%95 CI -2.3939 to -0.2461 (P =0.01)] significantly. GCFD also reduced left [%95 CI -2.2421 to -1.6779 (P &amp;lt;0.0001)] and right pupil size [%95 CI -2.2999 to -1.7201 (P &amp;lt;0.0001)] significantly. Conversely, corneal reflex was significantly increased [95% CI 0.2159 to 2.1241 (P = 0.01)]. No differences were observed for IPD. Conclusion: This study suggested that the GCFD can effectively control ASD behaviors as well as regulate autonomic functions related to ophthalmic markers such as pupil size and corneal reflex, but more research is needed.

Long-term Intracerebroventricular Administration of Ouabain Causes Motor Impairments in C57Bl/6 Mice

Introduction. Cardiac glycosides are natural ligands of Na+/K+-ATPase, which regulate its activity and signaling. Intracerebroventricular administration of ouabain has been previously shown to induce hyperlocomotion in C57Bl/6 mice via a decrease in the rate of dopamine reuptake from the synaptic cleft.&#x0D; Materials and methods. This study involved forty C57BL/6 mice. 1.5 μL of 50 μM ouabain was administered daily into the left lateral cerebral ventricle over the course of 4 days. On day 5, open field, beam balance, and ladder rung walking tests were performed to assess the locomotor activity and motor impairments in the mice. We evaluated changes in the activation of signaling cascades, ratios of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins, and the amount of α1 and α3 isoforms of the Na+/K+-ATPase α-subunit in brain tissue using Western blotting. Na+/K+-ATPase activity was evaluated in the crude synaptosomal fractions of the brain tissues.&#x0D; Results. We observed hyperlocomotion and stereotypic behavior during the open field test 24 hours after the last injection of ouabain. On day 5, the completion time and the number of errors made in the beam balance and ladder rung walking tests increased in the mice that received ouabain. Akt kinase activity decreased in the striatum, whereas the ratio of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins and the number of Na+/K+-ATPase α-subunits did not change. Na+/K+-ATPase activity increased in the striatum and decreased in the brainstem.&#x0D; Conclusions. Long-term exposure to ouabain causes motor impairments mediated by changes in the activation of signaling cascades in dopaminergic neurons.

Analysis of Media Image of Autism Patients in Social Media

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with unclear pathogenesis, characterized mainly by social disorders and repetitive stereotypical behaviors, often accompanied by ADHD, sleep disorders, or gastrointestinal problems. In recent years, the incidence rate of autism worldwide has increased at an alarming rate. The general public lacks a comprehensive understanding of the autism population, resulting in biases, discrimination, and stigmatization. Social media has played an important role in accurately presenting and shaping the image of autism for the public, greatly affecting the social situation of patients. In the study, content analysis is used in the study to get the data. 32 previous papers are selected from CNKI and foreign websites to analyse in this study. The time span for selecting samples is from 2009 to 2022 and the samples are mainly about stigmatization, stereotypes, and media image of autism. Through the analyse, media images on autism generally exhibit negatively and are generally one-sided, mostly drifting between the polarization of "genius" and "idiot".

Automatic detection of stereotypical behaviors of captive wild animals based on surveillance videos of zoos and animal reserves

The timely detection of the depressive and stereotypical behaviors often observed in captive wild animals and the subsequent intervention can contribute to improving their living environment in enclosures, which is crucial for safeguarding animal welfare, enhancing animal husbandry practices, regulating human–animal relationships. Several studies have analyzed factors that influence animal stereotypical behaviors and identified preventive measures via regular animal observations. An automatic detection method based on video technology can yield long-term automatic recordings of motion trajectories of animals after a professionally trained automatic detection software is integrated into the human–machine interaction operation interface of animal management. As an initial exploration of this research paradigm, we propose a novel method for automatically tracking and recognizing the stereotypical behavior of animals in surveillance videos based on the periodic analysis of motion trajectories. First, we introduced a Siamese relation network to track the motion trajectories of animals. This network accurately tracked animals and distinguished different individuals in complex environments. Second, an autocorrelation function was used to analyze the periodicity of the motion trajectory, which was divided into several periodic curves. Finally, a cross-correlation function was introduced to determine the linear correlation between the two variables of the periodic curves. This function distinguished the three types of motion trajectories. The success rate and precision of the animal-tracking method adopted in this study were 67.4% and 90.4%, respectively, which were superior to those of common Siamese tracking networks. The average prediction error of the cycle time was 0.095 s. Therefore, the proposed method can accurately track the motion trajectories of animals and identify their stereotypical behaviors. Furthermore, this study provides data to facilitate the scientific management of animals and improve animal welfare. The codes and datasets used in the study are available at https://github.com/yinyinzixuan/animal-stereotypical-behavior.git.

Prefrontal signals precede striatal signals for biased credit assignment in motivational learning biases

Actions are biased by the outcomes they can produce: Humans are more likely to show action under reward prospect, but hold back under punishment prospect. Such motivational biases derive not only from biased response selection, but also from biased learning: humans tend to attribute rewards to their own actions, but are reluctant to attribute punishments to having held back. The neural origin of these biases is unclear. Specifically, it remains open whether motivational biases arise primarily from the architecture of subcortical regions or also reflect cortical influences, the latter being typically associated with increased behavioral flexibility and control beyond stereotyped behaviors. Simultaneous EEG-fMRI allowed us to track which regions encoded biased prediction errors in which order. Biased prediction errors occurred in cortical regions (dorsal anterior and posterior cingulate cortices) before subcortical regions (striatum). These results highlight that biased learning is not a mere feature of the basal ganglia, but arises through prefrontal cortical contributions, revealing motivational biases to be a potentially flexible, sophisticated mechanism.

Frontal allographic agraphia in a patient with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

ABSTRACT We report a patient with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia who developed agraphia, irritability, perseverative and stereotyped behavior, and dietary changes. MRI revealed bilateral frontal convexity atrophy. Neuropsychological examination showed fluent aphasia with perseverative allographic agraphia, mild semantic impairment, and dysexecutive syndrome. Allographic agraphia featured unidirectional conversion from hiragana (cursive form of Japanese phonograms) and kanji (Japanese morphograms) to katakana (square form of Japanese phonograms), as opposed to mutual (bidirectional) conversion between hiragana and katakana in parieto-occipital gyri lesions. Furthermore, all letters of the word were converted and this whole-word conversion may be characteristic of perseverative behavior in frontotemporal dementia.