1
|
Peléšková Š, Polák J, Janovcová M, Chomik A, Sedláčková K, Frynta D, Landová E. Human emotional evaluation of ancestral and modern threats: fear, disgust, and anger. Front Psychol 2024; 14:1321053. [PMID: 38239483 PMCID: PMC10794497 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1321053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Animal and human ancestors developed complex physiological and behavioral response systems to cope with two types of threats: immediate physical harm from predators or conspecifics, triggering fear, and the risk of infections from parasites and pathogens leading to the evolution of the behavioral immune system with disgust as the key emotion. Integration of the evolutionary concepts of the fear module and behavioral immune systems has been infrequent, despite the significant survival advantages of disgust in various contexts. Studies comparing attention to ancestral and modern threats accompanied by fear have yielded ambiguous results and what qualifies as salient modern disgusting stimuli remains unclear. We do not know whether disgust or the behavioral immune system, as inherent aspects of human psychology, have adapted to safeguard us from pandemic risks or poisoning by modern toxic substances. Methods To test these effects, we have developed a survey comprised of 60 short vignettes describing threats evoking fear and disgust belonging to one of the three main categories of threats: (1) ancestral (phylogenetic), (2) modern (ontogenetic), and (3) pandemics of airborne disease. Each vignette was evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale based on fear, disgust, and anger. In total, 660 respondents completed the survey. The data were analysed using a factor analysis and general linear model with the respondent as a random factor. Results The results show that the strongest fear is triggered by modern threats (electricity, car accidents), while the highest disgust is evoked by ancient threats (body waste products, worms, etc.). Interestingly, disgust does not respond to modern threat stimuli such as toxic substances or radioactivity as these evoke mainly fear and anger. Finally, a distinct response pattern was found for pandemic threats, in which both fear (e.g., of disease and death) and disgust (e.g., of used face masks) are employed. Discussion Our study offers valuable insights into the emotional responses to ancestral and modern threats and their adaptation to pandemic challenges. Ancestral threats are not always more powerful stimuli than adequate threats of the modern type, but they function specifically. Thus, snakes and heights as fear-inducing ancestral threats form separate factors in a multivariate analysis, whereas all ancestral disgust stimuli group together. The threat of a pandemic forms a specific category and people process it emotionally and cognitively. These insights contribute to our understanding of human psychology and behavior in an ever-changing world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Šárka Peléšková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jakub Polák
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Economy and Management, Ambis University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Markéta Janovcová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Aleksandra Chomik
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Eva Landová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shoeibi A, Ghassemi N, Khodatars M, Moridian P, Khosravi A, Zare A, Gorriz JM, Chale-Chale AH, Khadem A, Rajendra Acharya U. Automatic diagnosis of schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in rs-fMRI modality using convolutional autoencoder model and interval type-2 fuzzy regression. Cogn Neurodyn 2023; 17:1501-1523. [PMID: 37974583 PMCID: PMC10640504 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-022-09897-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, many people worldwide suffer from brain disorders, and their health is in danger. So far, numerous methods have been proposed for the diagnosis of Schizophrenia (SZ) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among which functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) modalities are known as a popular method among physicians. This paper presents an SZ and ADHD intelligent detection method of resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) modality using a new deep learning method. The University of California Los Angeles dataset, which contains the rs-fMRI modalities of SZ and ADHD patients, has been used for experiments. The FMRIB software library toolbox first performed preprocessing on rs-fMRI data. Then, a convolutional Autoencoder model with the proposed number of layers is used to extract features from rs-fMRI data. In the classification step, a new fuzzy method called interval type-2 fuzzy regression (IT2FR) is introduced and then optimized by genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, and gray wolf optimization (GWO) techniques. Also, the results of IT2FR methods are compared with multilayer perceptron, k-nearest neighbors, support vector machine, random forest, and decision tree, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system methods. The experiment results show that the IT2FR method with the GWO optimization algorithm has achieved satisfactory results compared to other classifier methods. Finally, the proposed classification technique was able to provide 72.71% accuracy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afshin Shoeibi
- FPGA Lab, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Navid Ghassemi
- Computer Engineering Department, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Marjane Khodatars
- Department of Medical Engineering, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Parisa Moridian
- Faculty of Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Khosravi
- Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Assef Zare
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Gonabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Juan M. Gorriz
- Department of Signal Theory, Networking and Communications, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Ali Khadem
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - U. Rajendra Acharya
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, 599489 Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kiss BL, Birkás B, Zilahi L, Zsidó AN. The role of fear, disgust, and relevant experience in the assessment of stimuli associated with blood-injury-injection phobia. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11839. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
|
4
|
The Early-Life «Programming» of Anxiety-Driven Behaviours in Adulthood as a Product of Predator-Driven Evolution. Evol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-022-09571-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
5
|
The Molecular Genetics of Dissociative Symptomatology: A Transdiagnostic Literature Review. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050843. [PMID: 35627228 PMCID: PMC9141026 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissociative disorders are a common and frequently undiagnosed group of psychiatric disorders, characterized by disruptions in the normal integration of awareness, personality, emotion and behavior. The available evidence suggests that these disorders arise from an interaction between genetic vulnerability and stress, particularly traumatic stress, but the attention paid to the underlying genetic diatheses has been sparse. In this paper, the existing literature on the molecular genetics of dissociative disorders, as well as of clinically significant dissociative symptoms not reaching the threshold of a disorder, is reviewed comprehensively across clinical and non-clinical samples. Association studies suggest a link between dissociative symptoms and genes related to serotonergic, dopaminergic and peptidergic transmission, neural plasticity and cortisol receptor sensitivity, particularly following exposure to childhood trauma. Genome-wide association studies have identified loci of interest related to second messenger signaling and synaptic integration. Though these findings are inconsistent, they suggest biologically plausible mechanisms through which traumatic stress can lead to pathological dissociation. However, methodological concerns related to phenotype definition, study power, and correction for the confounding factors limit the value of these findings, and they require replication and extension in studies with better design.
Collapse
|
6
|
Review of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei and Implications for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Postexertional Malaise (PEM). Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020132. [PMID: 35203896 PMCID: PMC8870178 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS and Gulf War Illness (GWI) share features of post-exertional malaise (PEM), exertional exhaustion, or postexertional symptom exacerbation. In a two-day model of PEM, submaximal exercise induced significant changes in activation of the dorsal midbrain during a high cognitive load working memory task (Washington 2020) (Baraniuk this issue). Controls had no net change. However, ME/CFS had increased activity after exercise, while GWI had significantly reduced activity indicating differential responses to exercise and pathological mechanisms. These data plus findings of the midbrain and brainstem atrophy in GWI inspired a review of the anatomy and physiology of the dorsal midbrain and isthmus nuclei in order to infer dysfunctional mechanisms that may contribute to disease pathogenesis and postexertional malaise. The nuclei of the ascending arousal network were addressed. Midbrain and isthmus nuclei participate in threat assessment, awareness, attention, mood, cognition, pain, tenderness, sleep, thermoregulation, light and sound sensitivity, orthostatic symptoms, and autonomic dysfunction and are likely to contribute to the symptoms of postexertional malaise in ME/CFS and GWI.
Collapse
|
7
|
Stip E, Nguyen J, Bertulies-Esposito B, Tempier A, Bedard MJ, Paradis A, Javaid SF. Classical Koro and Koro-Like Symptoms: Illustration from Canada. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSEXUAL HEALTH 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/26318318211028845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Koro syndrome has been colorfully described as a pathological distortion of one’s body image of the genital organ. In Koro, body image dysphoria is characterized by severe anxiety related to the delusional idea that one’s genitals will shrink and retract into one’s abdomen, eventually leading to death. This syndrome was first reported in South East Asia, where endemics have been described, but it has also sporadically occurred globally. We present a systematic literature review on Koro syndrome and report 7 cases from Canada. A search review with PubMed and Google Scholar resulted in 504 entries. Sixty-seven manuscripts were eventually selected following a thorough elimination process. The resultant literature underscored the cultural diversity that underlay the reported cases. Various aspects of Koro have been examined (eg, etiological, clinical, diagnostic, and cultural aspects). It has stimulated substantial scholarly debate, discussions, correspondences, and arguments from anthropological, psychiatric, psychological, and biological perspectives. In our series, it seems that Koro could have been misattributed here. The primary concern was not with penile retraction of the cases. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a series of cases is documented from North America where the syndrome is often ignored. We highlight the potential differences between the classical Koro syndrome and a collection of beliefs related to the perception or delusion of penile retraction in other codable psychiatric disorders, Koro-like syndrome. Understanding Koro syndrome beyond geographic boundaries is in line with our collected case reports of Koro from outside Asia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adrien Tempier
- Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal Centre de Recherche, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Andreanne Paradis
- Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal Centre de Recherche, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zsido AN, Csokasi K, Vincze O, Coelho CM. The emergency reaction questionnaire - First steps towards a new method. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2020; 49:101684. [PMID: 32501418 PMCID: PMC7243776 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
During emergencies, people are more or less capable of performing adequately. Knowledge about human behavior while facing emergencies has become more significant nowadays. This knowledge can help improving our already present defensive responses and natural coping mechanisms when facing imminent dangers, natural disasters, and catastrophes. A new method is here offered to explore the core points of this topic. The Emergency Reaction Questionnaire (ERQ), is proposed for predicting one's reaction and behaviour in an emergency. First, a large item pool was created based on interviews with people facing emergencies on a weekly basis and related literature. The factor structure, reliability and validity were assessed on a large sample of lay people (N = 1115, 440 males) and specific groups of firefighters and people doing extreme sports (N = 85, all males). Participants were Caucasian with an age range of 18-70. We also used measures of anxiety, depression, and sensation seeking, behavioral inhibition and activation and coping in stressful situations. The ERQ was proved to be reliable and consistent in time and having sound psychometric properties both on the community and special samples. Results show that psychometric properties are satisfying; the test has excellent validity ratings. Consequently, the ERQ can be used in future research effectively and facilitate a better understanding of how people react in a highly dangerous situation. Future directions in the utilization of the new method are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andras N Zsido
- Institute of Psychology, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | | | - Orsolya Vincze
- Institute of Psychology, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Carlos M Coelho
- School pf Psychology, ISMAI University Institute of Maia, Portugal
- School of Health of Porto Polytechnic, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Lab, Center for Rehabilitation Research, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Biran I, Admon R, Gazit T, Fahoum F. Interaction of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Network Analysis of a Single Case. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1010. [PMID: 32670129 PMCID: PMC7326076 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this case study, we present a 21 years old female with long-standing Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) who, following a sexual assault, also developed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), leading to a change in her seizure semiology. The new seizures seemed to be a re-enactment of the sexual assault and accordingly were at first thought to be Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES). Nevertheless, electroencephalography (EEG) recording at the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) revealed ictal epileptic brain activity during these new attacks. In order to further explore the nature of the relation between epileptic seizures and PTSD symptomatology, a functional MRI (fMRI) scan was conducted focusing on neural response to threat (fearful faces). The results indicated that the response to threat elicited bilateral amygdala activation, as well as enhanced amygdala connectivity with the insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), all central nodes of the fear circuitry. Accordingly, we suggest that this unique presentation of "pseudo" PNES might stem from the anatomical proximity of the epileptic network in this patient (temporal-insular-frontal) to the fear circuitry, allowing abnormal epileptic activity to "exploit" or activate the fear circuit or vice versa. We further propose that the traumatic experience may have changed the patient's ictal semiology by modifying the course of the spread of the ictal activity toward the PTSD network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iftah Biran
- Neurological Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Israel Neuropsychoanalysis Society, Kadima, Israel
| | - Roee Admon
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tomer Gazit
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Firas Fahoum
- Neurological Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Polák J, Rádlová S, Janovcová M, Flegr J, Landová E, Frynta D. Scary and nasty beasts: Self‐reported fear and disgust of common phobic animals. Br J Psychol 2020; 111:297-321. [DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Polák
- National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Silvie Rádlová
- National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Janovcová
- National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic
| | - Eva Landová
- National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Frynta
- National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Clarke T, Jamieson JD, Malone P, Rayhan RU, Washington S, VanMeter JW, Baraniuk JN. Connectivity differences between Gulf War Illness (GWI) phenotypes during a test of attention. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226481. [PMID: 31891592 PMCID: PMC6938369 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
One quarter of veterans returning from the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War have developed Gulf War Illness (GWI) with chronic pain, fatigue, cognitive and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Exertion leads to characteristic, delayed onset exacerbations that are not relieved by sleep. We have modeled exertional exhaustion by comparing magnetic resonance images from before and after submaximal exercise. One third of the 27 GWI participants had brain stem atrophy and developed postural tachycardia after exercise (START: Stress Test Activated Reversible Tachycardia). The remainder activated basal ganglia and anterior insulae during a cognitive task (STOPP: Stress Test Originated Phantom Perception). Here, the role of attention in cognitive dysfunction was assessed by seed region correlations during a simple 0-back stimulus matching task (“see a letter, push a button”) performed before exercise. Analysis was analogous to resting state, but different from psychophysiological interactions (PPI). The patterns of correlations between nodes in task and default networks were significantly different for START (n = 9), STOPP (n = 18) and control (n = 8) subjects. Edges shared by the 3 groups may represent co-activation caused by the 0-back task. Controls had a task network of right dorsolateral and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, posterior insulae and frontal eye fields (dorsal attention network). START had a large task module centered on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex with direct links to basal ganglia, anterior insulae, and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex nodes, and through dorsal attention network (intraparietal sulci and frontal eye fields) nodes to a default module. STOPP had 2 task submodules of basal ganglia–anterior insulae, and dorsolateral prefrontal executive control regions. Dorsal attention and posterior insulae nodes were embedded in the default module and were distant from the task networks. These three unique connectivity patterns during an attention task support the concept of Gulf War Disease with recognizable, objective patterns of cognitive dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Clarke
- Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Jessie D. Jamieson
- Department of Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Patrick Malone
- Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Rakib U. Rayhan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Stuart Washington
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - John W. VanMeter
- Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - James N. Baraniuk
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wei YT, Yan XK, Han YD, Zhang YF. Effect of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture on resting-state electroencephalographic signals in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder. JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE AND TUINA SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11726-018-1066-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
13
|
Liordos V, Kontsiotis VJ, Kokoris S, Pimenidou M. The two faces of Janus, or the dual mode of public attitudes towards snakes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 621:670-678. [PMID: 29197286 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 11/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Snakes are controversial animals, therefore a better understanding of public attitudes is critical for their effective protection and future survival. The attitudes towards snakes of 951 adults in Greece were investigated in personal interviews. Factor analysis revealed a dual mode of attitudes: respondents were highly intolerant of snakes, while they supported their conservation at the same time. Respondents had high knowledge about the behavior of snakes, medium knowledge of their biology and were strongly affected by folklore. Structural models revealed that tolerance was a positive mediator of conservation. Knowledge about snake behavior and biology was positively correlated with attitudes towards snakes. Moralistic and naturalistic attitudes were positively, and dominionistic attitudes negatively, correlated with snake tolerance and conservation attitudes. Younger, more educated people were more snake-tolerant than older, less educated people. Females were less snake-tolerant and more conservation-oriented than males. These findings increased the understanding of human attitudes towards snakes and helped identify factors critical for their conservation. As such they could be used to design environmental education programs incorporating both information-based and experiential activities that will improve attitudes, behaviors and, eventually, the chances for the survival of these uncharismatic animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasilios Liordos
- Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 172, 66100 Drama, Greece.
| | - Vasileios J Kontsiotis
- Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 172, 66100 Drama, Greece
| | - Spyridon Kokoris
- Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 172, 66100 Drama, Greece
| | - Michaela Pimenidou
- Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 172, 66100 Drama, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Osorio I, Markert M. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: The daunting mimicker. Epilepsy Behav 2017; 66:133-134. [PMID: 27965102 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I Osorio
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
| | - M Markert
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Halonen JD, Zoladz PR, Park CR, Diamond DM. Behavioral and Neurobiological Assessments of Predator-Based Fear Conditioning and Extinction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.4236/jbbs.2016.68033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
16
|
Santos M, D'Amico D, Dierssen M. From neural to genetic substrates of panic disorder: Insights from human and mouse studies. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 759:127-41. [PMID: 25818748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an ancestral emotion, an intrinsic defensive response present in every organism. Although fear is an evolutionarily advantageous emotion, under certain pathologies such as panic disorder it might become exaggerated and non-adaptive. Clinical and preclinical work pinpoints that changes in cognitive processes, such as perception and interpretation of environmental stimuli that rely on brain regions responsible for high-level function, are essential for the development of fear-related disorders. This review focuses on the involvement of cognitive function to fear circuitry disorders. Moreover, we address how animal models are contributing to understand the involvement of human candidate genes to pathological fear and helping achieve progress in this field. Multidisciplinary approaches that integrate human genetic findings with state of the art genetic mouse models will allow to elucidate the mechanisms underlying pathology and to develop new strategies for therapeutic targeting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Santos
- Cellular & Systems Neurobiology, Systems Biology Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Davide D'Amico
- Cellular & Systems Neurobiology, Systems Biology Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; ZeClinics SL, E-08001 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Cellular & Systems Neurobiology, Systems Biology Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kiser DP, Rivero O, Lesch KP. Annual research review: The (epi)genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders in the era of whole-genome sequencing--unveiling the dark matter. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2015; 56:278-95. [PMID: 25677560 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND SCOPE Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are defined by a wide variety of behavioural phenotypes, psychopathology and clinically informed categorical classifications. Diagnostic entities include intellectual disability (ID), the autism spectrum (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aetiopathogenesis of these conditions and disorders involves an interaction between both genetic and environmental risk factors on the developmental trajectory. Despite their remarkable genetic heterogeneity and complexity of pathophysiological mechanisms, NDDs display an overlap in their phenotypic features, a considerable degree of comorbidity as well as sharing of genetic and environmental risk factors. This review aims to provide an overview of the genetics and epigenetic of NDDs. FINDINGS Recent evidence suggests a critical role of defined and tightly regulated neurodevelopmental programs running out of control in NDDs, most notably neuronal proliferation and migration, synapse formation and remodelling, as well as neural network configuration resulting in compromised systems connectivity and function. Moreover, the machinery of epigenetic programming, interacting with genetic liability, impacts many of those processes and pathways, thus modifying vulnerability of, and resilience to, NDDs. Consequently, the categorically defined entities of ID, ADHD and ASD are increasingly viewed as disorders on a multidimensional continuum of molecular and cellular deficiencies in neurodevelopment. As such, this range of NDDs displays a broad phenotypic diversity, which may be explained by a combination and interplay of underlying loss- and potential gain-of-function traits. CONCLUSION In this overview, we discuss a backbone continuum concept of NDDs by summarizing pertinent findings in genetics and epigenetics. We also provide an appraisal of the genetic overlap versus differences, with a focus on genome-wide screening approaches for (epi)genetic variation. Finally, we conclude with insights from evolutionary psychobiology suggesting positive selection for discrete NDD-associated traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominik P Kiser
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lycium barbarum polysaccharide improves traumatic cognition via reversing imbalance of apoptosis/regeneration in hippocampal neurons after stress. Life Sci 2015; 121:124-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2014.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
|
19
|
Folger R, Johnson M, Letwin C. Evolving Concepts of Evolution: The Case of Shame and Guilt. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
20
|
Temme SJ, Bell RZ, Pahumi R, Murphy GG. Comparison of inbred mouse substrains reveals segregation of maladaptive fear phenotypes. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:282. [PMID: 25191238 PMCID: PMC4139001 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maladaptive fear, such as fear that is persistent or easily generalized to a nonthreatening stimuli, is associated with anxiety-related disorders in humans. In the laboratory, maladaptive fear can be modeled in rodents using Pavlovian fear conditioning. Recently, an inbred mouse strain known as 129S1/SvImJ, or 129S1 has been reported as exhibiting impairments in fear extinction and enhanced fear generalization. With a long-term goal of identifying segregating genetic markers of maladaptive fear, we used Pavlovian fear conditioning to characterize a closely related substrain designated as 129S6/SvEvTac, or 129S6. Here we report that, like 129S1 animals, 129S6 mice exhibit appropriate levels of fear upon conditioning, but are unable to extinguish fear memories once they are consolidated. Importantly, the maladaptive fear phenotype in this inbred stain can be segregated by sub-strain when probed using conditioning protocols designed to assess generalized fear. We find that unlike the 129S1 substrain, mice from the 129S6 sub-strain do not generalize conditioned fear to previously novel contexts and can learn to discriminate between two similar contexts when trained using a discrimination protocol. These results suggest that at least two forms of maladaptive fear (deficits in fear extinction and fear generalization) can be can be functionally segregated, further suggesting that the underlying neurobiology is heritable. Given the observation that two closely related sub-strains can exhibit different constellations of maladaptive fear suggests that these findings could be exploited to facilitate the identification of candidate genes for anxiety-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J Temme
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ryan Z Bell
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Reciton Pahumi
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Geoffrey G Murphy
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bloom T, Friedman H. Classifying dogs' (Canis familiaris) facial expressions from photographs. Behav Processes 2013; 96:1-10. [PMID: 23485925 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2013.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Revised: 01/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Humans accurately read other humans' emotional facial expressions. Little research was found examining human ability to read dogs' expressions. Cross-species research extended facial expression research to chimpanzees, and there is much research on dogs' auditory signaling to humans. To explore humans' ability to identify dogs' facial displays, photographs of a dog's face were taken under behaviorally defined conditions expected to elicit specific emotions. Dog experts consistently rated these photographs. The photographs rated as best by experts were used as stimuli for people experienced and inexperienced with dogs. Both groups were able to read the dog's emotions. Paradoxically, experienced people were less accurate reading aggressiveness. Experienced people were better identifying behaviorally defined situations. Research using behaviorally anchored, standardized photographs is recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Bloom
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, State Correctional Institute, Forest, Psychology Department, 1 Woodland Drive, P.O. Box 307, Marienville, PA 16239, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Roy D, Hazarika S, Bhattacharya A, Das S, Nath K, Saddichha S. Koro: culture bound or mass hysteria? Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2011; 45:683. [PMID: 21561239 DOI: 10.3109/00048674.2011.580720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Debjit Roy
- Department of Psychiatry, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, Assam, India
| | - Susmita Hazarika
- Department of Psychiatry, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, Assam, India
| | - Arnab Bhattacharya
- Department of Psychiatry, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, Assam, India
| | - Shyamanta Das
- Department of Psychiatry, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, Assam, India
| | - Kamal Nath
- Department of Psychiatry, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, Assam, India
| | - Sahoo Saddichha
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
do Prado-Lima PAS, Perrenoud MF, Kristensen CH, Cammarota M, Izquierdo I. Topiramate diminishes fear memory consolidation and extinguishes conditioned fear in rats. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2011; 36:250-5. [PMID: 21392483 PMCID: PMC3120893 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.100115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Topiramate has been recognized as a drug that can induce memory and cognitive impairment. Using the one-trial inhibitory avoidance task, we sought to verify the effect of topiramate on consolidation and extinction of aversive memory. Our hypothesis was that topiramate inhibits the consolidation and enhances the extinction of this fear memory. METHODS In experiment 1, which occured immediately or 3 hours after training, topiramate was administered to rats, and consolidation of memory was verified 18 days after the conditioning session. In experiment 2, which occured 18-22 days after the training session, rats were submitted to the extinction protocol. Rats received topiramate 14 days before or during the extinction protocol. RESULTS Topiramate blocked fear memory retention (p < 0.01) and enhanced fear memory extinction (p < 0.001) only when administered during the extinction protocol. LIMITATIONS This experimental design did not allow us to determine whether topiramate also blocked the reconsolidation of fear memory. CONCLUSION Topira mate diminishes fear memory consolidation and promotes extinction of inhibitory avoidance memory.
Collapse
|
24
|
Wood JJ, Gadow KD. Exploring the nature and function of anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2850.2010.01220.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
25
|
Guttmann-Steinmetz S, Gadow KD, DeVincent CJ, Crowell J. Anxiety symptoms in boys with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or chronic multiple tic disorder and community controls. J Autism Dev Disord 2010; 40:1006-16. [PMID: 20143146 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-0950-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We compared symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and separation anxiety disorder (SAD) in 5 groups of boys with neurobehavioral syndromes: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) plus autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD plus chronic multiple tic disorder (CMTD), ASD only, ADHD only, and community Controls. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using parent and teacher versions of a DSM-IV-referenced rating scale. All three groups of boys with co-morbid ADHD evidenced more severe anxiety than Controls. Group differences in anxiety varied as a function of symptom, disorder, informant, and co-morbidity supporting the notion that co-morbid neurobehavioral syndromes differentially impact clinical features of co-occurring anxiety symptoms. Findings also suggest that GAD and SAD are phenomenologically unique, even in children with ASD. Implications for nosology are discussed.
Collapse
|
26
|
Boyer P, Bergstrom B. Threat-detection in child development: an evolutionary perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2010; 35:1034-41. [PMID: 20832423 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Revised: 08/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Evidence for developmental aspects of fear-targets and anxiety suggests a complex but stable pattern whereby specific kinds of fears emerge at different periods of development. This developmental schedule seems appropriate to dangers encountered repeatedly during human evolution. Also consistent with evolutionary perspective, the threat-detection systems are domain-specific, comprising different kinds of cues to do with predation, intraspecific violence, contamination-contagion and status loss. Proper evolutionary models may also be relevant to outstanding issues in the domain, notably the connections between typical development and pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Boyer
- Departments of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, United States.
| | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Braquehais MD, Sher L. Posttraumatic stress disorder in war veterans: a discussion of the Neuroevolutionary Time-depth Principle. J Affect Disord 2010; 125:1-9. [PMID: 19733913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2009] [Revised: 08/12/2009] [Accepted: 08/18/2009] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Trauma is a universal phenomenon. Violence is a type of trauma and war is one of the ways in which violence is expressed. The "Neuroevolutionary Time-depth Principle" of innate fears, based on prevalence data, suggests that high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after combat exposure can be due to the fact that this fear-stress response appeared as a reaction to inter-group male-to-male and intra-group killings after the rising of population densities in the Neolithic period. MATERIAL AND METHODS Studies of PTSD prevalence available in MEDLINE, Institute for Scientific Information Databases (Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Arts and Humanities Citation Index), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were identified and reviewed. RESULTS Prevalence data of PTSD deeply vary from one country to another, even in groups exposed to similar stressors. Moreover, war is not a uniform and unchanged phenomenon and not all war stressors are similar because some of them are known to lead to PTSD more than others. DISCUSSION We argue that psychosocial narratives deeply influence our biological response to trauma and violence, shaping the genotypical response to trauma. Great differences in prevalence may be in part due to this fact. We also suggest that personal preconceptions and socio-cultural interests may also be playing a critical role in the theories developed to explain the nature of our response to violence. CONCLUSION A comprehensive model for war-related PTSD should integrate both genotypical and phenotypical findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Dolores Braquehais
- Department of Psychiatry, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Paseo Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Gadow KD, DeVincent CJ, Olvet DM, Pisarevskaya V, Hatchwell E. Association of DRD4 polymorphism with severity of oppositional defiant disorder, separation anxiety disorder and repetitive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder. Eur J Neurosci 2010; 32:1058-65. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07382.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
|
29
|
Braquehais MD, Oquendo MA, Baca-García E, Sher L. Is impulsivity a link between childhood abuse and suicide? Compr Psychiatry 2010; 51:121-9. [PMID: 20152291 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2009.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2009] [Revised: 04/27/2009] [Accepted: 05/19/2009] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood abuse and neglect are known to affect psychological states through behavioral, emotional, and cognitive pathways. They increase the risk of having psychiatric diseases in adulthood and have been considered risk factors for suicidal behavior in all diagnostic categories. Early, prolonged, and severe trauma is also known to increase impulsivity, diminishing the capacity of the brain to inhibit negative actions and to control and modulate emotions. Many neurobiological studies hold that childhood maltreatment may lead to a persistent failure of the inhibitory processes ruled mainly by the frontal cortex over a fear-motivated hyperresponsive limbic system. Multiple neurotransmitters and hormones are involved in the stress response, but, to our knowledge, the two major biological consequences of the chronic exposure to trauma are the hypofunction of the serotonergic system and changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. Some of these findings overlap with the neurobiological features of impulsivity and of suicidal behavior. Impulsivity has also been said to be both a consequence of trauma and a risk factor for the development of a pathological response to trauma. Thus, we suggest that impulsivity could be one of the links between childhood trauma and suicidal behavior. Prevention of childhood abuse could significantly reduce suicidal behavior in adolescents and adults, in part, through a decrease in the frequency of impulsive behaviors in the future.
Collapse
|
30
|
Gericke GS. Common chromosomal fragile sites (CFS) may be involved in normal and traumatic cognitive stress memory consolidation and altered nervous system immunity. Med Hypotheses 2010; 74:911-8. [PMID: 20138440 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2009] [Revised: 05/22/2009] [Accepted: 05/26/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Previous reports of specific patterns of increased fragility at common chromosomal fragile sites (CFS) found in association with certain neurobehavioural disorders did not attract attention at the time due to a shift towards molecular approaches to delineate neuropsychiatric disorder candidate genes. Links with miRNA, altered methylation and the origin of copy number variation indicate that CFS region characteristics may be part of chromatinomic mechanisms that are increasingly linked with neuroplasticity and memory. Current reports of large-scale double-stranded DNA breaks in differentiating neurons and evidence of ongoing DNA demethylation of specific gene promoters in adult hippocampus may shed new light on the dynamic epigenetic changes that are increasingly appreciated as contributing to long-term memory consolidation. The expression of immune recombination activating genes in key stress-induced memory regions suggests the adoption by the brain of this ancient pattern recognition and memory system to establish a structural basis for long-term memory through controlled chromosomal breakage at highly specific genomic regions. It is furthermore considered that these mechanisms for management of epigenetic information related to stress memory could be linked, in some instances, with the transfer of the somatically acquired information to the germline. Here, rearranged sequences can be subjected to further selection and possible eventual retrotranscription to become part of the more stable coding machinery if proven to be crucial for survival and reproduction. While linkage of cognitive memory with stress and fear circuitry and memory establishment through structural DNA modification is proposed as a normal process, inappropriate activation of immune-like genomic rearrangement processes through traumatic stress memory may have the potential to lead to undesirable activation of neuro-inflammatory processes. These theories could have a significant impact on the interpretation of risks posed by heredity and the environment and the search for neuropsychiatric candidate genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G S Gericke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Brooklyn Square, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Community Stress Treatment Centers: A Novel Concept of Civilian “Front Line”Treatment for Anxiety and Acute Stress Reaction of Civilians under Continuous Rocket Attacks during the Second Lebanon War. Prehosp Disaster Med 2010. [DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x00022718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
32
|
Loizzo J. Optimizing learning and quality of life throughout the lifespan: a global framework for research and application. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009; 1172:186-98. [PMID: 19743554 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1393.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
This overview surveys the new optimism about the aging mind/brain, focusing on the potential for self-regulation practices to advance research in stress-protection and optimal health. It reviews recent findings and offers a research framework. The review links the age-related biology of stress and regeneration to the variability of mind/brain function found under a range of conditions from trauma to enrichment. The framework maps this variation along a biphasic continuum from atrophic dysfunction to peak performance. It adopts the concept of allostatic load as a measure of the wear-and-tear caused by stress, and environmental enrichment as a measure of the use-dependent enhancement caused by positive reinforcement. It frames the dissociation, aversive affect and stereotyped reactions linked with stress as cognitive, affective and behavioral forms of allostatic drag; and the association, positive affect, and creative responses in enrichment as forms of allostatic lift. It views the human mind/brain as a heterarchy of higher intelligence systems that shift between a conservative, egocentric mode heightening self-preservation and memory and a generative, altruistic mode heightening self-correction and learning. Cultural practices like meditation and psychotherapy work by teaching the self-regulation of shifts from the conservative to the generative mode. This involves a systems shift from allostatic drag to allostatic lift, minimizing wear-and-tear and optimizing plasticity and learning. For cultural practices to speed research and application, a universal typology is needed. This framework includes a typology aligning current brain models of stress and learning with traditional Indo-Tibetan models of meditative stress-cessation and learning enrichment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Loizzo
- Weill Cornell Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Columbia University Center for Buddhist Studies, New York, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Bracha HS, Maser JD. Anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder in the context of human brain evolution: A role for theory in DSM-V? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2850.2008.00113.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
34
|
Baptista T, Aldana E, Angeles F, Beaulieu S. Evolution theory: an overview of its applications in psychiatry. Psychopathology 2008; 41:17-27. [PMID: 17952017 DOI: 10.1159/000109951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES (1) Describe the concept, mechanisms and outcome of evolution; (2) review the current topics in research and clinical psychiatry where evolutionary concepts are explicitly applied. METHODS The authors reviewed relevant textbooks of evolution, evolutionary psychiatry/psychology and articles in scientific journals, and discussed these topics in a college course at McGill University School of Medicine, Montreal, Canada. RESULTS (1) Most natural scientists agree that evolution has occurred in all living beings. However, the mechanisms and outcomes of evolution are controversial. (2) In the first three quarters of the 20th century, several authors provided theories about human psychology based on ethological concepts. The so-called evolutionary psychology/psychiatry developed more recently, and it explores the adaptive/nonadaptive features of psychopathology and mental disorders. In the 1990 s a concept of mental disorder (as a harmful dysfunction) based on evolutionary theory has been developed. CONCLUSIONS Evolution is a pivotal concept in biology with relevant applications in psychiatry. We suggest encouraging the interaction between psychiatric educators and researchers in evolutionary psychiatry and biology in order to improve the education of psychiatric residents in this subject.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Trino Baptista
- Department of Physiology, Los Andes University Medical School, Mérida, Venezuela.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Devine MJ, Duncan JS. Development of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in response to auditory hallucinations. Seizure 2007; 16:717-21. [PMID: 17689271 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2007.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2007] [Accepted: 06/13/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures can co-exist with epileptic seizures. Differentiating between the two is central to appropriate management. We report the case of a patient with established focal epilepsy who developed psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in direct response to second-person auditory hallucinations. To our knowledge, this is the first description of such an occurrence. These non-epileptic seizures improved with treatment of the underlying psychosis. The relationship between epilepsy and psychosis is outlined, and the possible causes and nosology of these psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Devine
- National Society for Epilepsy, Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks SL9 0RJ, United Kingdom.
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Leckman JF, Rauch SL, Mataix-Cols D. Symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: implications for the DSM-V. CNS Spectr 2007; 12:376-87, 400. [PMID: 17514082 DOI: 10.1017/s1092852900021179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of definitive etiological markers of vulnerability or a unitary profile of pathophysiology for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom dimensions seem to offer a fruitful point of orientation. The complex clinical presentation of OCD can be summarized using a few consistent and temporally stable symptom dimensions. These can be understood as a spectrum of potentially overlapping features that are likely to be continuous with "normal" worries and extend beyond the traditional nosological boundaries of OCD. Although the understanding of the dimensional structure of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) is still imperfect, this quantitative approach to phenotypic traits has the potential to advance our understanding of OCD and may aid in the identification of more robust endophenotypes. Preliminary data suggest that these dimensional phenotypes may be useful in studies of the natural history, genetics, neurobiology, and treatment outcome of OCD. A dimensional approach is not mutually exclusive of other methods to parse the larger spectrum of disorders related to OCD. Thus far, age-of-onset of OCS and the individual's "tic-related" status seem to be particularly useful categorical distinctions. Finally, existing assessment methods are inadequate and new dimensional scales are needed to take full advantage of a dimensional approach in clinical and population-based studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James F Leckman
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-7900, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Cantor C, Price J. Traumatic entrapment, appeasement and complex post-traumatic stress disorder: evolutionary perspectives of hostage reactions, domestic abuse and the Stockholm syndrome. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2007; 41:377-84. [PMID: 17464728 DOI: 10.1080/00048670701261178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary theory and cross-species comparisons are explored to shed new insights into behavioural responses to traumatic entrapment, examining their relationships to the Stockholm syndrome (a specific response to traumatic entrapment) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A selective literature review is undertaken examining responses to traumatic entrapment (including hostage, domestic abuse and similar situations) and the Stockholm syndrome, before examining mammalian, reptilian and other defensive responses to relevant threats. Chimpanzees, the closest relatives of humans, are closely examined from this perspective and commonalities in behavioural responses are highlighted. The neurobiological basis of defensive behaviours underlying PTSD is explored with reference to the triune brain model. Victims of protracted traumatic entrapment under certain circumstances may display the Stockholm syndrome, which involves paradoxically positive relationships with their oppressors that may persist beyond release. Similar responses are observed in many mammalian species, especially primates. Ethological concepts including dominance hierarchies, reverted escape, de-escalation and conditional reconciliation appear relevant and are illustrated. These phenomena are commonly encountered in victims of severe abuse and understanding these concepts may assist clinical management. Appeasement is the mammalian defence most relevant to the survival challenge presented by traumatic entrapment and appears to be the foundation of complex PTSD. Evolutionary perspectives have considerable potential to bridge and integrate neurobiology and the social sciences with respect to traumatic stress responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Cantor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, PO Box 1216, Noosa Heads, Qld 4567, Australia.
| | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
Zusammenfassung. Erst in den letzten Jahren wird auch in der Forschung vermehrtes Augenmerk auf die Überschneidung von Tic- und Zwangsstörungen gerichtet. Während in Übersichtsarbeiten zum gemeinsamen Auftreten von Tic- und Zwangsstörungen die zahlreichen Befunde zu Phänomenologie, begleitender Psychopathologie, Epidemiologie und daraus resultierenden Therapieimplikationen breiten Raum einnehmen, sind die Untersuchungsergebnisse hinsichtlich ätiologischer und pathophysiologischer Gemeinsamkeiten in entsprechenden Arbeiten unterrepräsentiert. Daher wird mit dieser Arbeit ein Überblick über den aktuellen neurobiologischen Forschungsstand zu den Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschieden von Tic- und Zwangsstörungen gegeben.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veit Roessner
- Universität Göttingen, Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie
| | - Aribert Rothenberger
- Universität Göttingen, Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie/Psychotherapie
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Bracha HS, Burkle FM. Utility of fear severity and individual resilience scoring as a surge capacity, triage management tool during large-scale, bio-event disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med 2007; 21:290-6; discussion 297-8. [PMID: 17297897 DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x00003897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Threats of bioterrorism and emerging infectious disease pandemics may result in fear-related consequences. If left undetected and untreated, fear-based signs and symptoms may be extremely debilitating and lead to chronic problems with a risk of permanent damage to the brain's locus coeruleus and stress response circuits. The triage management of susceptible, exposed, and infectious victims seeking care must be sensitive and specific enough to identify individuals with excessive levels of fear in order to address the nuances of fear-based symptoms at the initial point of contact. These acute conditions, which include hyper-vigilant fear, are managed best by timely and effective information, rapid evaluation, and possibly medications that uniquely address the locus-coeruleus-driven noradrenalin over-activation. It is recommended that a Fear and Resilience (FR) Checklist be included as an essential triage tool to identify those most at risk. The use of this checklist facilitates an enhanced capacity to respond to limitations brought about by surge capacity requirements. Whereas the utility of such a checklist is evident, predictive validity studies will be required. In addition to identifying individuals who are emotionally, medically, and socially hypo-resilient, the FR Checklist simultaneously identifies individuals who are hyper-resilient and can be asked to volunteer, and thus, rapidly expand the surge capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Stefan Bracha
- National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Pacific Islands Division, Department of Veterans Affairs, Pacific Islands Health Care System, Spark M. Matsunaga Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
|
41
|
Bracha HS, Bienvenu OJ, Eaton WW. Testing the Paleolithic-human-warfare hypothesis of blood-injection phobia in the Baltimore ECA Follow-up Study--towards a more etiologically-based conceptualization for DSM-V. J Affect Disord 2007; 97:1-4. [PMID: 16860872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2006.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2005] [Accepted: 06/15/2006] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The research agenda for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) has emphasized the need for a more etiologically-based classification system, especially for stress-induced and fear-circuitry disorders. Testable hypotheses based on threats to survival during particular segments of the human era of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA) may be useful in developing a brain-evolution-based classification for the wide spectrum of disorders ranging from disorders which are mostly overconsolidationally such as PTSD, to fear-circuitry disorders which are mostly innate such as specific phobias. The recently presented Paleolithic-human-warfare hypothesis posits that blood-injection phobia can be traced to a "survival (fitness) enhancing" trait, which evolved in some females of reproductive-age during the millennia of intergroup warfare in the Paleolithic EEA. The study presented here tests the key a priori prediction of this hypothesis-that current blood-injection phobia will have higher prevalence in reproductive-age women than in post-menopausal women. METHOD The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (version III-R), which included a section on blood and injection phobia, was administered to 1920 subjects in the Baltimore ECA Follow-up Study. RESULTS Data on BII phobia was available on 1724 subjects (1078 women and 646 males). The prevalence of current blood-injection phobia was 3.3% in women aged 27-49 and 1.1% in women over age 50 (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.20-7.73). [The corresponding figures for males were 0.8% and 0.7% (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.20-7.14)]. CONCLUSIONS This epidemiological study provides one source of support for the Paleolithic-human-warfare (Paleolithic-threat) hypothesis regarding the evolutionary (distal) etiology of bloodletting-related phobia, and may contribute to a more brain-evolution-based re-conceptualization and classification of this fear circuitry-related trait for the DSM-V. In addition, the finding reported here may also stimulate new research directions on more proximal mechanisms which can lead to the development of evidence-based psychopharmacological preventive interventions for this common and sometimes disabling fear-circuitry disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Stefan Bracha
- National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Pacific Islands Division Department of Veterans Affairs, Pacific Islands Health Care System, Spark M. Matsunaga Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96813-2830, United States.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
|
43
|
Bracha HS, Lenze SM, Tsang Mui Chung M. A surgical treatment for anxiety-triggered palmar hyperhidrosis is not unlike treating tearfulness in major depression by severing the nerves to the lacrimal glands. Br J Dermatol 2006; 155:1299-300. [PMID: 17107409 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07547.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|