Risk-taking behavior and response inhibition of commuter motorcyclists with different levels of impulsivity

The purposes of this study were to identify the relationships between the risk-taking behavior, response inhibition, and risky motorcycle riding behavior of commuter motorcyclists with different levels of impulsivity, and to examine how these behaviors contribute to motorcycle accidents. A total of 255 Chinese commuter motorcyclists were recruited for this study. Their levels of impulsivity were classified according to the Chinese Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11th. Their risk-taking behavior was assessed by the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and their response inhibition was assessed by the Chinese version of the Stroop test Victoria version. The Chinese Motorcycle Rider Driving Violation Scale was used to assess risky motorcycle riding behaviors. Results showed that impulsivity was associated with risk-taking behavior and risky motorcycle riding. Highly impulsive motorcyclists carry out more risk-taking behaviors and are less able to inhibit responses than those with low impulsivity. Motorcyclists with medium impulsivity (OR, 4.74; 95% CI, 1.91–11.39) and those with high impulsivity (OR, 4.91; 95% CI, 2.34–10.24) were about 5 times more likely to be actively involved in motorcycle accidents than those with low impulsivity. Postlicense motorcycle riding experience and risky motorcycle riding behavior were two significant predictors of motorcycle traffic accidents after controlling for other sociodemographic variables. These results can facilitate the development of interventions, including the training and testing of motorcyclists, public education, and mass media messages about traffic risk.     

Termination in family therapy—developing a structural approach

Termination is a neglected topic within the major schools of family therapy that draw upon systemic frameworks. This paper attempts to develop a conceptual framework for understanding termination as a process which, if handled correctly, may have a surprising degree of therapeutic potential. Termination is therefore seen not just as a passive process of ending therapy, but as a potentially empowering process which can help clients from slipping back into old ways of functioning. Follow-up sessions can therefore be reconceptualized as integral steps in an active termination process which can be extended over a number of months. The precipitate ending of sessions may be justifiable from a theoretical point.of view within certain models, but within a structural framework (which places such a strong emphasis on joining) the effects of rapid termination may not only be counter-productive but may reflect underlying problems that reflect the needs of the therapist rather than the needs of the family that is in therapy.     

Use of a raster framebuffer in vision research

For the study of human and animal vision, the video framebuffer is the only technology that is capable of displaying two-dimensional images with precise control of contrast, luminance, and display timing. The video framebuffer also allows precise control of color. However, this device is not designed for precise psychophysical displays, and techniques must be developed to use them in this role. In this paper, we describe a number of basic methods used in our lab. In order to be concrete, we use an Adage RDS-3000 raster display system (Adage, 1982) as an example, since that is the device we have actually used. The Adage is hosted by a PDP-11/73 under the Venix operating system. The principles generalize to other machines. Where it clarifies the issues, we have shown the syntax of the software routines involved.     

Limbic stimulation-induced hypersexuality

Postictal sexual drive levels induced by limbic discharges were studied in eight adult male cats. Although sexual drive was exclusively dependent upon the presence or absence of testosterone, the level or degree of drive was dependent on the relative amounts of circulating testosterone and catecholamines in addition to the bioelectric state of the testosterone-binding cells. The limbic discharge was thought to induce postictal hypersexuality by its propagated discharge, suppressing the association neocortex and simultaneously activating the sexual hormone-binding cells of the diencephalon. The dissociation of the neocortex from the diencephalon was considered as a functional postictal diaschisis. These postictal physiologic changes were thought to account for the irrational automatic behavior and memory loss characteristic of patients with psychomotor seizures.     

Dextrorphan effects on cocaine and brainstem perturbation

Dextrorphan is a noncompetitive blocker of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Since NMDA blockers are known to reduce the locomotor stimulatory and toxic effects of cocaine, it was speculated that dextrorphan would attenuate cocaine-induced behavioral excitatory motor activity associated with and without mechanical perturbation of the brainstem. Technique: Motor activity was recorded following dextrorphan and/or cocaine challenge in 25 SHR rats. Ten were naive subjects. Mini-osmotic pumps delivering cocaine (2.5 mg/0.49 ul/hr) were placed in 15 subjects, and infusion was halted after the third infusion day. On the fifth day either a dextrorphan (25 mg/kg, subcutaneous) or a dextrorphan and cocaine (40 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) challenge was done. Ten rats had bipolar electrode implants in the bilateral brainstem. Five were treated with DC current lesions in each of 12 days over a 3-week period. The effects of brainstem lesions on escape behavior were also evaluated in those five subjects. Results: In the naive subjects, dextrorphan reduced motor activity (P=.0001), whereas combined cocaine and dextrorphan increased motor activity (P=0.04). In lesioned subjects, dextrorphan decreased motor activity (P=0.0001). In electrode implant subjects, combined dextrorphan and cocaine challenge decreased the motor activity (P=0.04). Hyperactivity in the electrode implant group was greater than in the lesioned subjects. Midbrain electrolytic lesions attenuated escape behavior. A variety of behaviors were produced by brainstem lesions. Conclusions: Dextrorphan and brainstem lesions reduced motor hyperactivity and escape behavior. In electrode implant subjects dextrorphan counteracted the expected cocaine excitatory motor effects. Dextrorphan did not activate nor facilitate seizures.     

Mesothalamic discharge in a chronic pain,allergy and fluid retention syndrome (case report)

A 32-year-old woman was bedridden for a year because of chronic pain and headaches. She had insomnia, depression, suicidal thoughts and a severe chemical allergy. She had been on steroid therapy for two years and became Cushingoid with striae in the arm pits, groins and abdomen. However, she had no hypertension, nor the buffalo fat and hirsutism. She was very edematous, with a weight gain from 112 to 180 lbs. The fluid retention did not conform to the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone. Studies revealed abnormal scalp EEG discharges and high-voltage seizure discharges in the posterior thalamus. Electrothalamic stimulation suppressed the thalamic discharges and relieved the patient’s pelvic pain and headaches. After one month of several thalamic stimulations per day, she was able to get out of bed and ambulate. In addition, the patient no longer was edematous and was tolerating perfumes and floor detergents. Steroids were progressively reduced without complications of withdrawal. She went from a completely steroid dependent state to independent during the first 1-1/2 yrs of thalamic stimulation. With continued thalamic stimulation she has done well for 8-1/2 yrs, weighs 112 lbs, keeps house and drives a car. It’s speculated the illness is a chronic pain multiple system syndrome predominantly due to mesothalamic discharges and body infirmities. The mesothalamic discharge implicated neural networks, which represent biologic systems, i.e. pain, sleep, fluid retention, etc. Therapeutic stimulation attenuates the discharges and the neural networks return to their normal set points of homeostasis.     

Aspirations and opportunity structures: 13-year-olds in areas with restricted opportunities

Some of the ways in which the occupational and educational aspirations and expectations of 13-year-olds are influenced by local opportunity structures are examined. The educational and occupational aspirations of 13-year-olds in contrasting local labour markets are explored, along with the ways in which their plans may be affected by living in an area with restricted opportunities. It is argued that differences in aspirations and expectations are largely explained by the socio-economic location of families rather than by the structure of the local labour market. However, 13-year-olds have an awareness of the limited nature of local job opportunities, and many realise that migration may be necessary if they are to fulfil their aspirations.     

Skills,spills and the nature of mindful action

Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences -