Working memory deficits in transgenic rats overexpressing human adenosine A2A receptors in the brain

Adenosine receptors in the central nervous system have been implicated in the modulation of different behavioural patterns and cognitive functions although the specific role of A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) subtype in learning and memory is still unclear. In the present work we establish a novel transgenic rat strain, TGR(NSEhA2A), overexpressing adenosine A(2A)Rs mainly in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampal formation, and the cerebellum. Thereafter, we explore the relevance of this A(2A)Rs overexpression for learning and memory function. Animals were behaviourally assessed in several learning and memory tasks (6-arms radial tunnel maze, T-maze, object recognition, and several Morris water maze paradigms) and other tests for spontaneous motor activity (open field, hexagonal tunnel maze) and anxiety (plus maze) as modification of these behaviours may interfere with the assessment of cognitive function. Neither motor performance and emotional/anxious-like behaviours were altered by overexpression of A(2A)Rs. TGR(NSEhA2A) showed normal hippocampal-dependent learning of spatial reference memory. However, they presented working memory deficits as detected by performance of constant errors in the blind arms of the 6 arm radial tunnel maze, reduced recognition of a novel object and a lack of learning improvement over four trials on the same day which was not observed over consecutive days in a repeated acquisition paradigm in the Morris water maze. Given the interdependence between adenosinic and dopaminergic function, the present results render the novel TGR(NSEhA2A) as a putative animal model for the working memory deficits and cognitive disruptions related to overstimulation of cortical A(2A)Rs or to dopaminergic prefrontal dysfunction as seen in schizophrenic or Parkinson's disease patients.     

Tötungsdelinquenten im Normalvollzug unter besonderer Berücksichtigung psychiatrisch unauffälliger Mörder

We collected data on 121 cases of homicide and manslaughter in the normal penitentiary system and counted the cases of perpetrators with, and without, psychiatric diagnosis. About 30% of the sample consisted in perpetrators without any psychiatric diagnosis; in contrast, about 40% were diagnosed as personality disorder; some few cases (7%) were classified as alcoholism or polytoxicomania, respectively; and the rest (23%) were cases of both personality disorder and alcoholism/polytoxicomania. Perpetrators without psychiatric diagnosis differed in systematic ways from perpetrators with psychiatric diagnosis. The former committed their offenses more on victims in partnership and family, while perpetrators with psychiatric diagnosis frequently offended strangers. Perpetrators lacking a diagnosis used poison, and striking to dead, relatively more frequently while homicide and manslaughter by stabbing, shooting, or some combination thereof were committed mainly by perpetrators with psychiatric diagnosis. Diagnosed perpetrators had more frequently been previously convicted (nearly 70%). In sum we found a considerable percentage of perpetrators who lacked a psychiatric diagnosis. We argue that this group can properly be distinguished from perpetrators who have some psychiatric diagnosis.     

Draining the pond: why Singer’s defense of the duty to aid the world’s poor is self-defeating

Philosophical Studies - Peter Singer’s defense of the duty to aid the world’s poor by the pond analogy is self-defeating. It cannot be both true that you ought to save the drowning...     

Effects of personality, rearing styles and social values on adolescents’ socialisation process

This study was designed to investigate the relationships of the socialisation process with the Big-Five personality traits, empathy, parent-rearing styles and social values. The main aim was to detect which variables predict better socialisation outcomes. A socialisation battery for adolescents (BAS-3), the Big-Five Questionnaire (BFQ), Bryant’s Index of Empathy (IECA), the Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran-My memories of upbringing (EMBU) and a Social Values Inventory (SVI) were applied to 832 Spanish adolescents. Also, 134 parent couples agreed to fill out the version of the socialisation battery for adolescents’ parents (BAS-2). Results show that personality dispositions, parent-rearing styles and social values were related to socialisation reported by children. Patterns of relationships showed that different variables account for different socialisation outcomes. However, when these variables were related to the socialisation outcomes reported by parents, relationships were considerably lower. The implications of the present study are discussed.