Differential effects of cannabinoid receptor agonist on social discrimination and contextual fear in amygdala and hippocampus

We examined whether the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN; 5 μg/side) microinjected into the hippocampus or the amygdala would differentially affect memory processes in a neutral vs. an aversive task. In the aversive contextual fear task, WIN into the basolateral amygdala impaired fear acquisition/consolidation, but not retrieval. In the ventral subiculum (vSub), WIN impaired fear retrieval. In the neutral social discrimination task, WIN into the vSub impaired both acquisition/consolidation and retrieval, whereas in the medial amygdala WIN impaired acquisition. The results suggest that cannabinoid signaling differentially affects memory in a task-, region-, and memory stage-dependent manner.     

Retention and extinction of delay eyeblink conditioning are modulated by central cannabinoids

Rats administered the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 or the antagonist SR141716A exhibit marked deficits during acquisition of delay eyeblink conditioning, as noted by Steinmetz and Freeman in an earlier study. However, the effects of these drugs on retention and extinction of eyeblink conditioning have not been assessed. The present study examined the effects of WIN55,212-2 and SR141716A on retention and extinction of delay eyeblink conditioning in rats. Rats were given acquisition training for five daily sessions followed by one session of retention training with subcutaneous administration of 3 mg/kg of WIN55,212-2 or 5 mg/kg of SR141716A and an additional session with the vehicle. Two sessions of extinction training were then given with WIN55,212-2, SR141716A, or vehicle. Retention and extinction were impaired by WIN55,212-2, whereas SR141716A produced no deficits. The extinction deficit in rats given WIN55,212-2 was observed only during the first session, suggesting a specific impairment in short-term plasticity mechanisms. The current results and previous findings indicate that the cannabinoid system modulates cerebellar contributions to acquisition, retention, and extinction of eyeblink conditioning.     

Central cannabinoid receptors modulate acquisition of eyeblink conditioning

Delay eyeblink conditioning is established by paired presentations of a conditioned stimulus (CS) such as a tone or light, and an unconditioned stimulus (US) that elicits the blink reflex. Conditioned stimulus information is projected from the basilar pontine nuclei to the cerebellar interpositus nucleus and cortex. The cerebellar cortex, particularly the molecular layer, contains a high density of cannabinoid receptors (CB1R). The CB1Rs are located on the axon terminals of parallel fibers, stellate cells, and basket cells where they inhibit neurotransmitter release. The present study examined the effects of a CB1R agonist WIN55,212-2 and antagonist SR141716A on the acquisition of delay eyeblink conditioning in rats. Rats were given subcutaneous administration of 1, 2, or 3 mg/kg of WIN55,212-2 or 1, 3, or 5 mg/kg of SR141716A before each day of acquisition training (10 sessions). Dose-dependent impairments in acquisition were found for WIN55,212-2 and SR141716A, with no effects on spontaneous or nonassociative blinking. However, the magnitude of impairment was greater for WIN55,212-2 than SR141716A. Dose-dependent impairments in conditioned blink response (CR) amplitude and timing were found with WIN55,212-2 but not with SR141716A. The findings support the hypothesis that CB1Rs in the cerebellar cortex play an important role in plasticity mechanisms underlying eyeblink conditioning.     

AN EVALUATION OF ORIENTATION AND ASSESSMENT EFFECTIVENESS IN THE WORK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Work Incentive (WIN) Orientation and Assessment Program which was designed to (a) assess enrollee attitudes and abilities, and (b) provide enrollee pre-employment test orientation. A sample of 155 WIN enrollees was divided into two groups; the experimental group received two weeks of orientation and assessment. Results were obtained by using two criteria: First, the number of terminations prior to completing the EDP was examined for each group, and second, the total number of referrals to each of three major components was examined. Findings revealed a significantly lower number of terminations among the experimental group, but did not yield any difference in the number of referrals per component. It is suggested that further studies of this type include a more refined measure of enrollee success and satisfaction in various WIN components.     

Activation of CB1 specifically located on GABAergic interneurons inhibits LTD in the lateral amygdala

Previously, we found that in the lateral amygdala (LA) of the mouse, WIN55,212-2 decreases both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission via activation of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), yet produces an overall reduction of neuronal excitability. This suggests that the effects on excitatory transmission override those on inhibitory transmission. Here we show that CB1 activation by WIN55,212-2 and Delta(9)-THC inhibits long-term depression (LTD) of basal synaptic transmission in the LA, induced by low-frequency stimulation (LFS; 900 pulses/1 Hz). The CB1 agonist WIN55,212-2 blocked LTD via G(i/o) proteins, activation of inwardly rectifying K+ channels (K(ir)s), inhibition of the adenylate cyclase-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, and PKA-dependent inhibition of voltage-gated N-type Ca2+ channels (N-type VGCCs). Interestingly, WIN55,212-2 effects on LTD were abolished in CB1 knock-out mice (CB1-KO), and in conditional mutants lacking CB1 expression only in GABAergic interneurons, but were still present in mutants lacking CB1 in principal forebrain neurons. LTD induction per se was unaffected by the CB1 antagonist SR141716A and was normally expressed in CB1-KO as well as in both conditional CB1 mutants. Our data demonstrate that activation of CB1 specifically located on GABAergic interneurons inhibits LTD in the LA. These findings suggest that CB1 expressed on either glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons play a differential role in the control of synaptic transmission and plasticity.     

神经症患者的人格特征与父母教养方式的关系

本文采用父母教养方式评价量表 (EMBU)和艾森克人格问卷 (EPQ)对 40名住院神经症患者进行了测查 ,结果发现艾森克人格问卷所测查的四种人格维度 E(内、外向 )、L (掩饰或社会性幼稚水平 )、N(神经质 )和 P(精神质或倔强、讲求实际 )得分分别与不良的父母教养方式如严厉惩罚、过度干涉和过分保护、拒绝与否认以及偏爱被试等因子分呈显著的相关关系。     

Psychological correlates of perception of sexual intent in women

In a sample of 183 men and 186 women, the authors assessed (a) the relative contributions of gender and level of nonverbal social cues to the perception of a female actor's sexual intent during a videotaped social interaction with a man and (b) the association between those variables and personality traits implicated in faulty sexual-information processing. The authors assessed those variables while the participants viewed 1 of 3 film segments depicting a female-male interaction. The authors experimentally manipulated eye contact, touch, physical proximity, and female clothing. At all levels of those nonverbal cues, the men perceived more sexual intent in the female actor than did the women. The perception of the female actor's sexual intent increased as the nonverbal cues in the film segments were magnified: Both actors displayed more eye contact, touch, and physical proximity, and the female actor wore more revealing clothing. Relative to the women, the men demonstrated greater sexual preoccupation and reduced sociosexual effectiveness, variables associated with inferring greater sexual intent in the female actor.     

Psychological Correlates of Perception of Sexual Intent in Women

Abstract

In a sample of 183 men and 186 women, the authors assessed (a) the relative contributions of gender and level of nonverbal social cues to the perception of a female actor's sexual intent during a videotaped social interaction with a man and (b) the association between those variables and personality traits implicated in faulty sexual-information processing. The authors assessed those variables while the participants viewed 1 of 3 film segments depicting a female-male interaction. The authors experimentally manipulated eye contact, touch, physical proximity, and female clothing. At all levels of those nonverbal cues, the men perceived more sexual intent in the female actor than did the women. The perception of the female actor's sexual intent increased as the nonverbal cues in the film segments were magnified: Both actors displayed more eye contact, touch, and physical proximity, and the female actor wore more revealing clothing. Relative to the women, the men demonstrated greater sexual preoccupation and reduced sociosexual effectiveness, variables associated with inferring greater sexual intent in the female actor.     

Social variables influence female sexual behavior in the musk shrew (Suncus murinus)

The role of social variables in the mediation of sexual behavior was examined in the female musk shrew (Suncus murinus). Two social variables were manipulated: amount of reproductive experience and exposure to male-related chemical cues. Virgin females took significantly longer to achieve receptivity than did sexually experienced females. In addition, exposure to soiled bedding taken from a male's cage for 24-hr prior to testing reduced receptivity latencies in all females. Even a brief (30 min) exposure to male-related cues was effective in facilitating receptivity in virgins. The converse was noted for female aggressive behavior. Virgin females attacked more frequently than experienced females, and preexposure to male-related cues reduced aggressiveness. These findings suggest that social variables play an important role in female sexual behavior in this primitive eutherian mammal.     

Causal patterns related to post high school employment satisfaction

A linear recursive path model was developed and evaluated using a combined male and female sample, and separate male and female samples in an attempt to identify causal relationships of in-school student characteristics to satisfaction in post high school employment. The statistical methodology used was Path Analysis. A total of ten student characteristic variables were used in the model. The findings indicate that overall job satisfaction is related to variables which are associated with the affective domain. These variables are: Occupational Values-Interest and Satisfaction and Salary, and Vocational Maturity. Overall, employment satisfaction was twice as predictable for the female sample as it was for the combined sample and it was not at all predictable for the male sample.     

Consistent occupational preferences,vocational maturity,and academic achievement

This study explored the differences in vocational maturity, academic aptitude, and achievement variables among female sorority students who made congruent, incongruent, and undecided occupational choices. The variables were operationally defined by the Career Maturity Inventory, the American College Test Battery, and a self-report questionnaire. Congruent, incongruent, and undecided current occupational choice groups were defined operationally using the Self-Directed Search. The analysis of variance revealed the main effect of groups to be significant for two variables. The findings suggest that students in the congruent female group tend to be more vocationally mature than students in the incongruent and undecided groups.     

Welfare Isn't Working

Welfare and work appear to be two opposing entities. The purpose of this article is to share with the reader what happens when a job service office and a county social service department join forces. Although disillusioned with prevailing attitudes regarding welfare recipients, the two WIN counselors present to the reader possible avenues for change.     

Parental Relationship and Value Orientation as Factors in Academic Achievement

The study applies a theory of group functioning to the family structure and identifies 2 variables hypothesized to bear a functional relationship to achievement—perceived strength of the parent-child relationship and perceived parental valuing of achievement. Grades earned in school provide the criterion. In the examination of these variables, the findings for males and females are contrasted. The resulting data reveal marked differences in male and female achievement orientations. In general, the findings for females conform to the predictions made, while those for males do not. Several interesting interactions are reported in which levels of intelligence are found in special combination with the other independent variables studied. The relationships identified are regarded as evidence particularly relevant to female achievement motivation.     

Gender bias on the Thematic Apperception Test

Thirty male and 30 female college students generated stories to a set of nine Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) cards with either male or female stimulus characters. The Fine scoring system was factor analyzed to produce seven factor clusters plus three outcome variables. Multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed a main effect for type of card. The female TAT cards elicited significantly more responses on the General Concerns scale than did the male TAT cards. A main effect for subject gender showed the females gave more responses than males on the Interpersonal Relations scale. No differences were found on the outcome variables.     

Gender Bias on the Thematic Apperception Test

Thirty male and 30 female college students generated stories to a set of nine Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) cards with either male or female stimulus characters. The Fine scoring system was factor analyzed to produce seven factor clusters plus three outcome variables. Multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed a main effect for type of card. The female TAT cards elicited significantly more responses on the General Concerns scale than did the male TAT cards. A main effect for subject gender showed the females gave more responses than males on the Interpersonal Relations scale. No differences were found on the outcome variables.     

Sex-role perceptions among black female athletes and nonathletes

This study compared sex-role perceptions of Black female college athletes and nonathletes, and examined the relationship between sex-role perceptions and socioeconomic, demographic, familial, and psychological variables. The study replicated, in part, similar research by Snyder and Kivlin, who found differences in sex-role perceptions between athletes and nonathletes. Statistical treatment of data included chi-square technique, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Interpretation of data indicated no significant differences in sex-role perceptions between Black female athletes and nonathletes. Independent variables influencing sex-role perceptions to a significant degree included age and body weight for both subgroups, with lesser influence derived from parental education level and psychological variables. Athletes' perception of their ability and the age they began their training influenced sex-role perceptions significantly. Athletic experiences for Black females appears distinct from that of White females, as perceived by the athlete and community, and this distinction influences sex-role perceptions of female athletes.This article is a revision of a paper presented at the meeting of the Mid-South Sociological Society, Shreveport, La., October 1981.     

Job Evaluation and Gender: The Case of University Faculty

This study examined the effects of students' and professors' sex on student evaluations of professors' teaching effectiveness. Ratings of over four hundred faculty made by over nine thousand students were analyzed. After controlling for a large number of variables, the main results showed that (a) male faculty were given significantly higher evaluations on global teacher effectiveness and academic competence than female faculty; (b) when controlling for extraneous variables, female faculty were not found to be rated as more sensitive to student needs than male faculty; and (c) when making overall, global judgments of faculty performance, students seem to place more weight on academic competence for male faculty than for female faculty.     

A model of contemporary feminine role change and family size

Through a review of existing theory and research a model was constructed which traces the restricting effect female employment has on family size through a discussion of intervening psychological variables. The model presents four psychological changes that are associated with paid employment of middle-class women in the United States: (1) increased self-orientation, (2) increased feelings of personal efficacy, (3) the increased belief that the spouse holds expectations for female autonomy, and (4) the increased belief that female employment outside the home is socially acceptable. It is suggested that these variables act to restrict family size through their effects on desired family size, perceived desired family size of the husband, expected family size, commitment to employment, and occupational satisfaction.