Social Interaction Behavior Research Articles

Can memantine treat autism? Answers from preclinical and clinical studies.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represents a clinical challenge due to its diverse behavioral symptoms and complex neuro-pathophysiology. Finding effective treatments that target the fundamental mechanisms of ASD remains a top priority. This narrative review presents the potential of the NMDA-receptor blocker memantine in managing ASD symptoms. Preclinical studies indicate that memantine could abrogate excitotoxicity, GABA/glutamate imbalance, reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage, and neuroinflammation, offering hope for managing core deficits associated with ASD like impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors. However, clinical trials yield conflicting results, with some showing slight improvements in symptom severity and cognitive function, while others demonstrate limited efficacy. Further exploration of memantine's neurobiological mechanisms and refinement of treatment approaches are crucial for comprehensively tackling ASD complexities. Drawing from both animal models and clinical data, this review examines memantine's impact on core ASD symptoms, cognitive function, and potential mechanisms of action. Lastly, it identifies research gaps and proposes avenues for future investigations to enhance our understanding and utilization of memantine in ASD management.

Clinical Spectrum and Associated Features of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Experience in A Tertiary Level Hospital

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a heterogeneous and complex presentation of clinical symptoms related to social communicative and interactive behavior. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the clinical features and associated condition of autism spectrum disorder in Bangladeshi children. Method: A cross-sectional study was done in Out-patient department of Paediatric Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from January 2023 to June 2023 Children age 3 to 10 years who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and met the diagnostic criteria (DSM-V) of ASD were enrolled in this study. In all confirmed cases, clinical features and co-occurring condition were evaluated. Data was collected by a structured questionnaire supplied by department of Pediatric Neurology. Informed written consent was taken from all legal guardians. Results: A total of 75 children of 3-10 years were included. Mean age was 4.27±1.99 with male predominance. Among the associated features; pointing, social interaction, response to call and eye contact were absent in 94.67 %, 97.33%, 92% and 86.67% cases respectively. In this study more than three fourth of studied children were presented with speech delay (80%) and more than half of the children presented with speech regression. ADHD (46.67%), bruxism (25.33%) constipation (22.67%), epilepsy (5.33%), febrile seizure (9.33%) and gratification syndrome (12%) were mostly observed in ASD children. Conclusion: In our study, more than one-third of studied children had ADHD and sleep disturbance followed by bruxism, epilepsy, febrile seizure, gratification syndrome and constipation as other associated features. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2025; 43: 53-58

What are the levels and interactions of neuroligin-1, neuroligin-3, and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Several genes, including synaptic proteins and environmental risk factors, play a role in the etiology of autism. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between neuroligin-1 (NLGN-1) and neuroligin-3 (NLGN-3) levels, which are neuronal cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-8) levels with disease severity and symptom clusters and with each other in children with ASD. Eighty children diagnosed with autism who met the inclusion criteria and sixty-five typically developing children matched for age and sex were included in the study. The children were evaluated psychiatrically through a semi-structured interview, DSM-5 criteria, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). IL-6, IL-8, NLGN-1, and NLGN-3 levels were analyzed in peripheral serum samples using human ELISA kits. IL-8 and NLGN-3 levels were higher in the autism group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). IL-6 was positively related to CARS and SCQ total scores (p = 0.021, p = 0.040, respectively). IL-8, and NLGN-3 were positively associated with the all subtests of the SCQ and the SCQ total score (all p values <0.001). NLGN-1, NLGN-3, and inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-8) levels were positively correlated (all p values <0.001). Neuroligins play a central role in the brain's ability to process information and maybe a key target in the pathogenesis of ASD. Further research is needed to determine whether, to what extent and how neuronal CAMs and immunity modulate each other and whether this contributes to ASD pathogenesis. Future studies should also be expanded to investigate the influence of variables such as oxidative stress, metalloproteases responsible for ectodomain shedding, or epigenetic regulation.

Efficacy and Safety of Altibrain® as an Adjunctive Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Open Label Trial Targeting Core Symptoms.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Altibrain® in combination with standard Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) treatment compared to standard ASD treatment alone in individuals diagnosed with ASD. A randomized, open-label trial was conducted involving 120 participants aged 3 to 17 years, randomly assigned to either the Standard ASD Treatment group or the Altibrain® + Standard ASD Treatment group. Sixty patients were randomly allocated to each Standard ASD Treatment group or the Altibrain® + Standard ASD Treatment group. participant allocation was done by computer-generated randomization. Participants had confirmed ASD diagnoses based on DSM-IV or ICD-11 criteria and demonstrated moderate to severe core ASD symptoms. Informed consent was obtained from caregivers. A total number of 120 subjects were included, consisting of 71 male and 49 female patients. Participants received either standard ASD treatment alone or Altibrain® in addition to standard ASD treatment orally once daily for 24 weeks. A total of 7 study visits/24 weeks to analyze the intervention efficacy of the Standard ASD Treatment group or the Altibrain ® + Standard ASD Treatment group. Primary outcomes included changes in core ASD symptoms measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and safety assessments. Secondary outcomes included alterations in social communication skills, reduction in repetitive behaviors, overall functional improvements, and safety and tolerability of Altibrain®. Altibrain® significantly improved qualitative deficits in social interaction and repetitive behaviors compared to standard ASD treatment alone (p < 0.0001). The Altibrain® + Standard ASD Treatment group demonstrated significant improvements in social functioning, social awareness, cognition, communication, and motivation compared to the Standard ASD Treatment group (p < 0.0001). Additionally, Altibrain® showed superior efficacy in reducing hyperactivity/noncompliance, inappropriate speech, irritability, lethargy/ social withdrawal, stereotypic behavior, and aberrant behavior compared to standard treatment alone (p < 0.0001). Additionally, Altibrain® exhibited a favorable safety profile as per the 4-week post-treatment safety follow-up. Further research is warranted to confirm and expand upon these results, including longer-term studies with larger cohorts and investigations into underlying mechanisms. Overall, Altibrain® holds promise as a valuable therapeutic option for individuals with ASD and their families. Limitations of the study include neuroimaging and biomarkers analysis.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИ АКТИВНОГО ВЕЩЕСТВА И ЕГО МЕТАБОЛИТОВ НА ДЕТЕЙ С РАССТРОЙСТВАМИ АУТИСТИЧЕСКОГО СПЕКТРА: КЛИНИЧЕСКИЙ АСПЕКТ

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Investigating new therapeutic strategies, such as the use of biologically active substances, is an important step to improve the quality of life of children with ASD. Materials and methods. The study assessed the effects of sulforaphane, a metabolite of broccoli seed extract, on children with ASD. The study was conducted between November 2023 and August 2024 and included double-blind treatment for 15 weeks, followed by an open-label phase. Participants were randomly assigned to groups receiving either sulforaphane or placebo. Different scales and tests were used to assess participants' behavioural and cognitive characteristics. Results. Participants exposed to the fever effect showed significant changes in xCT, HSP70 and TsOG-2 gene expression. Overall, however, improvements in clinical presentation were modest and did not always reach statistical significance. Conclusions. The study results suggest the potential of sulforaphane as a component of therapy for children with ASD, especially when accounting for individual genetic profiles. However, larger and longer studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this approach.

Integrating 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and Metabolomics Analysis to Reveal the Mechanism of L-Proline in Preventing Autism-like Behavior in Mice.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive stereotyped behavior. Effective interventions for the core autistic symptoms are currently limited. This study employed a valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse model of ASD to assess the preventative effects of L-proline supplementation on ASD-like behaviors. The method of 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analyses were conducted to investigate the modulation of gut microbiota and gut metabolites by L-proline. The results indicated that L-proline supplementation significantly prevented ASD-like behavioral disorders, including alleviating social communication deficits and reducing repetitive behavior in the ASD mice. The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that L-proline regulated the composition and structure of gut microbiota. L-Proline supplementation enhances the abundance of the Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level and the Akkermansia at the genus level, while concurrently reducing the abundance of the Patescibacteria at the phylum level, as well as the Ileibacterium, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 at the genus level in the VPA-induced mouse model for ASD. Additionally, the untargeted metabolomics results indicated that L-proline also modified the gut metabolite profiles. Functional analysis of the gut microbiota and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differential metabolites between the L-proline-supplemented and VPA groups corroborated that L-proline decreased pathways related to nucleotide metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and pyruvate metabolism, while increasing pathways involved in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis. The integrative metabolomic and microbiome analyses showed strong connections between the gut metabolites and gut microbiota affected by L-proline. These findings suggest that the modulatory effects of L-proline on gut microbiota and its metabolites may play a crucial role in preventing autism in mice. These findings suggest that dietary L-proline may represent a viable, effective option for preventing the physiological and behavioral deficits associated with ASD in mice.

Sociodemographic Differences Impact the Perceived Importance of Social Communication and Interaction Behaviors.

The evaluation of social communication and interaction (SC/I) behaviors is foundational to the autism identification process. However, this type of evaluation is made difficult by the fact that SC/I is a construct in which perceptions and expectations are largely influenced by norms and attitudes of different sociodemographic groups. While there are many factors that influence differences in SC/I behaviors across sociodemographic groups, one factor that may be especially important is the perceived value of these behaviors. The purpose of this study is to investigate which sociodemographic factors influence the perceived importance of SC/I behaviors among caregivers of children and adolescents. Caregivers (n = 398) living in the United States completed the Social Communication and Interaction Perceptions Scale (SCIPS). Linear mixed-effect models were used to investigate the relationship between the perceived importance of SC/I behaviors and seven sociodemographic factors as well as determine if this relationship was moderated by SC/I behavior type (i.e., foundational vs. advanced behaviors). Several different sociodemographic factors (i.e., caregiver race/ethnicity, caregiver gender, household income, child disability status, child age, child gender) were associated with caregiver ratings of the perceived importance of SC/I behaviors. This relation was, in some instances (i.e., caregiver race/ethnicity, caregiver gender, child disability status), moderated by whether the SC/I behaviors were foundational or advanced. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the values of caregivers regarding perceived SC/I importance during the autism identification process.

Effects of Cannabidiol Isolated or in Association With Risperidone in an Animal Model of Autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication, social interaction, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, with no specific drug therapy available. Studies have found that cannabidiol (CBD) can improve hyperactive and cognitive symptoms in children with ASD. However, little is known about the effect of CBD in combination with other medications, such as risperidone (RISP). This study aimed to evaluate the behavioral and biochemical effects of CBD in animals using a valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD animal model. VPA was administered in pregnant Wistar rats on Day 12.5 of gestation to induce the ASD model. From the 10th to the 16th postnatal day (PND), the neurodevelopment of the animals was assessed through eye-opening, olfactory discrimination, and negative geotaxis behavioral tests. From PNDs 9 to 54, the animals were weighed. They were treated for 21 days with CBD alone (100mg/kg, by gavage, twice a day) or in combination with RISP (0.1mg/kg, by gavage, once a day). At PND 55, the animals were evaluated in social interaction and locomotor activity experiments. Finally, after behavioral assessment, the animals were euthanized, the brain was isolated, and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated in the hippocampus and cortex posterior. Animals exposed to VPA showed neurodevelopmental delays in opening their eyes, difficulties in turning around their axis, and took longer time to find the original nest when compared to control animals. They also exhibited impaired sociability and reduced exploratory activity, which indicates model impairments. Interestingly, animals exposed to VPA treated with CBD+RISP significantly improved sociability parameters, whereas isolated CBD did not affect this parameter. In the biochemical analysis, a significant decrease in the hippocampal sulfhydryl content was noted in the CT+CBD group and an increase in the VPA+CBD group. In conclusion, these results suggest that CBD, in combination with RISP, may be an interesting pharmacological approach to reducing ASD-related symptoms. Summary: Besides the increased prevalence of ASD cases in recent years, there are no medications to improve the central symptoms of autism. Numerous studies discuss CBD as an important medication for improving ASD symptoms; however, it is not known how CBD interacts with commonly used drugs in ASD individuals, such as RISP. This study demonstrated that CBD therapy, only when combined with RISP, improved sociability in a VPA-induced ASD animal model.

DEPLOYING TELEWELLNESS PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY: BARRIERS, FACILITATORS, AND POTENTIAL

Abstract ‘Telewellness’ programs use technology (e.g., video conferencing software) to facilitate remote participation in exercise classes. These programs hold great potential to expand access to physical and mental health benefits of group exercise classes for older adults, especially those with mobility disabilities. We translated the Tai Chi for Health Institute’s in-person, evidence-based tai chi program, Tai Chi for Arthritis, to be a virtual experience (via Zoom) that is both socially engaging and inclusive of people with a mobility disabilities. The ‘Tele Tai Chi’ clinical trial (NCT04696887) explored to what extent this program may increase social interaction and positive health behaviors among older adults with long-term mobility disabilities; data analysis is in progress. The next phase of this project is focused on delivering our Tele Tai Chi program in real world, community-based settings (e.g., senior centers, senior living communities). This session will present findings from interviews with subject matter experts (e.g., senior center coordinators, administrators from Area Agencies on Aging, tai chi instructors) on perceived barriers to delivering Telewellness classes (e.g., safety, staffing, demands, technical support), as well as potential facilitators to address them. We will also discuss the need for different models of Telewellness (e.g., hybrid classes with attendees both in-person and online) that align with the community’s unique characteristics, preferences, and support needs.

NGHIÊN CỨU SỰ ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA TRÒ CHƠI ĐIỆN TỬ ĐẾN HÀNH VI CỦA TRẺ VỊ THÀNH NIÊN DÙNG KẾT HỢP VỚI KĨ THUẬT DATA MINING

The paper investigates and analyzes data regarding the effects of video games on adolescents’ learning, skill development, and social interaction to understand the current situation and propose corresponding solutions for this age group. It examines four factors (learning, social interaction, skill development, and personal behavior) by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Theory of Reasoned Action to clarify their relationship with video gaming. Additionally, the survey data is analyzed using data mining techniques (data visualization) to analyze the survey results more deeply. The findings indicate that the investigated factors are closely correlated, with the impact on learning being considered the most significant influence.

Post-COVID-19 Sojourn Choices: Exploring the Distribution and Preferences of Chinese Digital Nomads Based on the Lifestyle Migration Theory

With the advancement of digital technologies and the gradual waning of the pandemic’s impact, digital nomads have attracted significant attention from academia and industry as an emerging social group. Existing studies regarding the distribution and destination selection preferences of digital nomads remain lacking. This study aims to investigate the distribution patterns and destination selection preferences of Chinese digital nomads, guided by the lifestyle migration theory. Specifically, we address the following research questions: Where do Chinese digital nomads choose to sojourn post-pandemic, and what factors influence their destination preferences? Using a qualitative approach based on grounded theory, we analyze text data from China’s largest video-based social platform to uncover key factors shaping digital nomads’ choices. The findings reveal that Chinese digital nomads consider five key dimensions when selecting a destination: basic living conditions, social environment, work opportunities, travel experience, and local integrated environment. Notably, compared to traditional migrant groups, digital nomads demonstrate stronger online and sharing behaviors in work and social interactions. Additionally, “travel” is identified as a new category. This study makes a theoretical contribution by expanding the application of lifestyle migration theory to digital nomadism, offering new insights into contemporary migration behaviors. It also provides practical guidance for travel destination planning and management to better accommodate the preferences of this emerging group.

The Effects of Music Lessons on Social Skills Development for Children with Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Children with ASD often struggle with social skills, which can significantly impact their ability to form relationships and function effectively in social settings. Recent research has increasingly highlighted music lessons as a promising intervention to improve social skills in children with ASD, as they provide a structured and engaging environment for social interaction and learning. This review synthesizes findings from existing studies published between 2010 and 2024, focusing on three key aspects: the effectiveness of various musical pedagogical approaches, the critical role of specially trained music educators in implementing these interventions, and the measurable outcomes in social skill development. The research shows that organized music education consistently leads to improvements in social communication, peer interaction, and the ability to recognize emotions in children with ASD. The results are talked about in terms of what they mean for educational practices and therapeutic interventions. Suggestions are also made for future studies that will help build more evidence for music-based interventions in autism spectrum disorders. This thorough literature review looks at the growing role of music education in helping kids with ASD learn how to get along with others.

Optimizing Autism Spectrum Disorder Identification with Dimensionality Reduction Technique and K-Medoid

This research addresses the challenges of diagnosing and treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using dimensionality reduction techniques and machine learning approaches. Challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviours characterize ASD. The dimension reduction used in this research aims to identify what features influence autism cases. Several dimension data reduction techniques used in this research include PCA, Isomap, t-SNE, LLE, and factor analysis, using metrics such as Purity, silhouette score, and the Fowlkes-Mallows index. The machine learning approach applied in this study is k-medoid. By employing this method, our goal is to pinpoint the unique characteristics of autism that may facilitate the detection and diagnosis process. The data used in this research is a dataset collected for autism screening in adults. This dataset contains 20 features: ten behavioural features (AQ-10-Adult) and ten individual characteristics. The results indicate that Factor Analysis outperforms other methods based on purity metrics. However, due to data structure issues, the t-SNE method cannot be evaluated using purity metrics. PCA and LLE consistently provide stable silhouette scores across different values. The Fowlkes-Mallows index results closely align, but t-SNE tends to yield lower values. The choice of algorithm requires careful consideration of preferred metrics and data characteristics. Factor analysis is adequate for Purity, while PCA and LLE consistently perform well. This research aims to improve the accuracy of ASD identification, thereby enhancing diagnostic and treatment precision.

Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Treatment on ASD Symptoms in Children: A Pilot Study.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders marked by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. People with ASD may exhibit repetitive behaviors, unique ways of learning, and different ways of interacting with the world. The term "spectrum" reflects the wide variability in how ASD manifests in individuals, including differences in abilities, symptoms, and support needs, and conditions characterized by difficulties in social interactions, communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology, with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid. Previous studies with transcranial magnetic stimulation have shown promising results, suggesting nervous system susceptibility to electromagnetic fields, with evidence indicating that extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) treatment may modulate inflammatory responses through multiple pathways, including the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α, and the enhancement of anti-inflammatory mediators. This pilot study included 20 children (ages 2-13) with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD. A 15-week protocol involved ELF-EMF treatments using the SEQEX device, with specific day and night programs. Assessment was conducted through standardized pre- and post-treatment tests: Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-4, Expressive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test-4, and Conner's 3GI. Statistically significant improvements were observed in receptive language (PPVT-4: from 74.07 to 90.40, p = 0.002) and expressive language (EOWPVT-4: from 84.17 to 90.50, p = 0.041). Notable reductions, with statistical significance, were found in externalizing problems across both age groups (1.5-5 years: p = 0.028; 6-18 years: p = 0.027), with particular improvement in attention and behavioral problems. The results were observed over a short period of 15 weeks, therefore excluding the possibility of coincidental age-related gains, that would typically occur during a normal developmental timeframe. Parent evaluations showed significant reduction in ASD symptoms, particularly in the 1.5-5 years group (p = 0.046). ELF-EMF treatment demonstrated a high safety profile and efficacy in mitigating ASD-related symptoms. The observed improvements suggest both direct effects on central and autonomic nervous systems and indirect effects through inflammatory response modulation. Further studies are needed to confirm these promising results through broader demographics and randomized control designs.

Applications of machine learning in the nursing of autistic children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Caring for children with ASD presents a unique set of challenges that require specialized care and constant monitoring [1]. Advances in machine learning (ML), a subset of artificial intelligence, have opened new avenues in healthcare, particularly in the personalized care and treatment of individuals with ASD. This article explores the application of ML in the nursing care of autistic children, focusing on its potential to improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall quality of life [2].

Construction of an animal model of autism based on interaction between cerebellar histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical changes in adult male albino rat

ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impaired social interaction, language deficit, and stereotype behavior. This study was designed to construct an autistic animal model on the basis of histological and immunohistochemical changes in the rat cerebellum. Methods Twelve pregnant female rats were divided into a control group and a valproic acid (VPA) treated group (injected intraperitoneally on embryonic day 12 with 600 mg/kg body weight of VPA). Neurobehavioral tests were conducted on the offspring of both groups. The cerebellum was studied by light and electron microscopy as well as GFAP and caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining. Results The VPA-treated group showed signs of neuronal degeneration, such as congested blood vessels, vacuolations, irregularly shrunken with dark small heterochromatic nuclei and numerous apoptotic blebs in the Purkinje and granule cells with vacuolated cerebellar glomeruli. The myelinated nerve fibers showed rarefaction and loss of their neurofilaments. GFAP and caspase-3 immune expression were significantly altered in the VPA-treated group. Conclusion The VPA rat model can serve as an excellent model of autism at the structural level, which may be used as a validated model in preclinical studies to evaluate novel drugs.

Maternal exposure to buprenorphine, but not methadone, during pregnancy reduces social play behavior across two generations of offspring.

The prevalence of newborns exposed to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as methadone or buprenorphine, during pregnancy is increasing. The opioid system plays a crucial role in regulating and shaping social behavior, and children prenatally exposed to opioids face an increased risk of developing behavioral problems. However, the impact of prenatal exposure to MOUD on offspring's social behavior during adolescence and adulthood, as well as potential intergenerational effects, remains largely unexplored. Our study employed a translationally relevant animal model to investigate how maternal (F0) exposure to MOUD during pregnancy affects social behavior in young and adult rats across the first (F1) and second (F2) generation of offspring. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with an osmotic minipump delivering methadone (10mg/kg/day), buprenorphine (1mg/kg/day), or sterile water, prior to mating with drug-naïve males. Adult F1 females were mated with treatment-matched F1 males to generate F2 offspring. We assessed social play behavior in juvenile offspring, and social interaction behavior in a three-chamber social interaction test in young adults of the F1 and F2 generations. Maternal exposure to buprenorphine, but not methadone, during pregnancy reduced social play behavior in both F1 and F2 offspring, expressed by a reduced number of pounces and pins, which are the two most characteristic parameters of social play in rats. Adult social interactions were unaffected by prenatal MOUD exposure across both generations. Maternal exposure to buprenorphine during pregnancy may have adverse effects on social play behavior across two generations of offspring.

Research on the relationship between virtual social interaction and the degree of loneliness based on algorithm matching technologies: A quantitative analysis on the SOUL APP-A virtual social software for strangers.

This study examines the relationship between virtual social interaction and people's social behaviors and psychology using algorithm matching technologies and questionnaire surveys. The focus is on interpersonal communication on virtual social platforms. The findings indicate that engaging in virtual social networking is often accompanied by a high level of loneliness. Users who experience social anxiety in the real world tend to feel more lonely, and this loneliness is exacerbated by presenting an unreal version of oneself and having distrust in virtual social networking. Users with higher anxiety and loneliness levels are more likely to use the algorithm matching function of virtual social networking, engage in false self-presentation, and have less trust in the platform. Since the inherent flaws of virtual social networking cannot be eliminated solely through algorithm matching, a potential solution is to introduce more offline to online social functions for strangers. This exploration of actual matching on social platforms may help reduce users' loneliness.

Reciprocating the Future: Exploring Natural Human Behaviors in Humanoid Social Robot Interaction

Reciprocating the Future: Exploring Natural Human Behaviors in Humanoid Social Robot Interaction

Data-driven analysis identifies novel modulation of social behavior in female mice witnessing chronic social defeat stress

BackgroundChronic social defeat stress is a widely used depression model in male mice. Several proposed adaptations extend this model to females with variable, often marginal effects. We examine if the widely used male-defined metrics of stress are suboptimal in females witnessing defeat. MethodsUsing a data-driven method we comprehensively classified social interaction behavior in 761 male and female mice after chronic social witness/defeat stress, examining social modulation of behavior and associations with conventional metrics (i.e., social interaction (SI) ratio). ResultsSocial stress induces distinct behavioral adaptation patterns in defeated males and witness females. SI ratio leads to underpowered analyses in witness females with limited utility to differentiate susceptibility/resilience. Data-driven analyses reveal changes in social adaptation in witness females that are captured in attenuated velocity change from no target to target tests (ΔVelocity). We explore the utility of this metric in four female social stress models and in male witnesses. Combining SI ratio and ΔVelocity optimally differentiates susceptibility/resilience in witness females and reveals resilient-specific adaptation in a resilience-associated neural circuit in female mice. ConclusionsWe demonstrate that chronic witness stress induces behavioral changes in females that are qualitatively distinct from those observed in defeated males and not adequately sampled by standard male-defined metrics. We identify modulation of locomotion as a robust and easily implementable metric for rigorous research in witness female mice. Overall, our findings highlight the need to critically evaluate sex differences in behavior and implement sex-based considerations in preclinical model design.