Learning of a hippocampal-dependent conditioning task changes the binding properties of AMPA receptors in rabbit hippocampus.

The N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) subtypes of glutamate receptors have been shown to play critical roles in various forms of synaptic plasticity (i.e., learning and memory, long-term potentiation). We previously demonstrated that the binding of [3H]AMPA to the AMPA subtype of glutamate receptors was selectively increased in hippocampus following classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response in a delay paradigm. We report here that the same effect was observed in a variant of this learning paradigm that requires the participation of the hippocampus, i.e., trace conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane. The binding of [3H]TCP (N-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclo-hexyl]-3,4-piperidine) to the NMDA receptor remained unchanged in all the experimental groups tested. Paired presentations of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli resulted in an increased binding of [3H]AMPA, an agonist of the AMPA receptors, in several hippocampal subfields while the binding of an antagonist, [3H]CNQX (6-nitro-7-cyanoquinoxaline-2,3-dione), was decreased. The results suggest that the learning-induced changes in binding of the ligands to the AMPA receptor reflect changes in affinity of the receptor rather than in the number of sites. These results support the hypothesis that changes in hippocampal glutamate receptors are a corollary of synaptic plasticity in certain forms of learning.     

Personal Intervention Preferences for Alleviating Mild Depression

The findings of a study to identify personal preferences for alleviating mild depression are presented. Preferences were classified into four treatment modalities: affective, behavioral, cognitive, and eclectic. The affective category received significantly more preferences than did the other three. Preferences were found to be related to sex and occupational level, but not to age.     

Testing causal models of the relationship between childhood gender atypical behaviour and parent–child relationship

An association between childhood gender atypical behaviour (GAB) and a negative parent–child relationship has been demonstrated in several studies, yet the causal relationship of this association is not fully understood. In the present study, different models of causation between childhood GAB and parent–child relationships were tested. Direction of causation modelling was applied to twin data from a population‐based sample (n= 2,565) of Finnish 33‐ to 43‐year‐old twins. Participants completed retrospective self‐report questionnaires. Five different models of causation were then fitted to the data: GAB → parent–child relationship, parent–child relationship → GAB, reciprocal causation, a bivariate genetic model, and a model assuming no correlation. It was found that a model in which GAB and quality of mother–child, and father–child relationship reciprocally affect each other best fitted the data. The findings are discussed in light of how we should understand, including causality, the association between GAB and parent–child relationship.     

Using a calendar in event dating

Three experiments examined Thompson's reconstructive account for estimating the temporal location of an event. Thompson's day‐of‐week (DOW) model suggests that people know the DOW because diary studies have consistently produced dating errors at 7‐day intervals (e.g. 0, 7, 14, 21, etc.). This study determined whether this DOW effect was produced by a calendar. It also examined whether time estimations were primarily reconstructed. A calendar improved both date and DOW estimates, but neither estimate depended on the use of a calendar. In addition, both date and DOW estimates were primarily reconstructed, but a large portion of DOW estimates were reproduced. Therefore, the argument was made that theories explaining memory for temporal location should account for both reproductive and reconstructive processes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fear of the drunk driver: Analysis of an emergent social problem

This paper analyzes public perceptions of drunk driving with respect to risk of being victimized, seriousness of the offense, and fear of being victimized. This is based on a state‐wide survey of Louisiana driver's license holders. Compared to other crimes, even murder and rape, it was found that drunk driving ranked highest in its fear invoking quality. An argument is made that this phenomenon should be interpreted from a theoretical standpoint viewing the crimi‐nalization process as a form of collective behavior. Implications for understanding fear of crime as a function of perceived risk and seriousness are discussed, and the implications of the findings for understanding of further legislation and policy action against drunk driving is examined.     

Bias and precision of some classical ANOVA effect sizes when assumptions are violated

Previous simulation research has focused on evaluating the impact of analytic assumption violations on statistics related to the F test and associated p _CALCULATED values. The present article evaluated the bias of classical estimates of practical significance (i.e., effect size sample estimators $ {\widehat{\eta}^2} $ , $ {\widehat{\varepsilon}^2} $ , and $ {\widehat{\omega}^2} $ ) in a one-way between-subjects univariate ANOVA when assumptions are violated. The simulation conditions modeled were selected on the basis of prior empirical research. Estimated (1) sampling error bias and (2) precision computed for each of the three effect size estimates for the 5,000 samples drawn for each of the 270 (5 parameter Cohen's d values × 3 group size ratios × 3 population distribution shapes × 3 variance ratios × 2 total ns) conditions were modeled for each of the k = 2, 3, and 4 group analyses. Our results corroborate the limited previous related research and suggest that $ {\widehat{\eta}^2} $ should not be used as an ANOVA effect size estimator, even though $ {\widehat{\eta}^2} $ is the only available choice in the menus in most commonly available software.     

let your life speak: assessing the effectiveness of a program to explore meaning,purpose, and calling with college students

Typical career planning courses assist students with the self‐assessment process, career exploration, and decision making. Although this assistance is helpful, college students are increasingly concerned with issues of meaning and calling (P. Braun, 2005). The authors describe and test the effectiveness of the Let Your Life Speak course, a program to help students articulate their framework of life meaning and increase their sense of vocational calling. Results indicate an increase in sense of vocational calling, greater confidence in ability to achieve goals, and a deepened framework of life meaning. Moreover, 96% reported they would recommend the course to others.     

Book reviews

BERNARD RIMLAND:Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behaviour. Methuen. London. 1965. 36/-     

Thoughts on autism with special reference to a paper by melanie klein

The article begins with a brief exploration of the various aspects of adolescent's psychic qualities as these are described in Greek mythology. It is argued that myths are an integral part of the way that adolescence is perceived and myths play an important role in adolescents' psychic and external world, as well as in their mythological thinking. Connections are made with the attraction towards the creation of myths about adolescence in ancient and contemporary societies. Three clinical vignettes from adolescents' psychoanalytic psychotherapy are presented in an effort to support the idea of the value and importance of mythology in adolescence in the clinical practice. Through the clinical material, we try to explore how psychic and developmental disturbances, which might lead to psychopathology, are reflected in family and personal myths and also in the mythological thinking of adolescents.     

“Discredited” Versus “Discreditable”: Understanding How Shared and Unique Stigma Mechanisms Affect Psychological and Physical Health Disparities

One of the few studies to examine judgments of personal control in a contingency situation found that participants did not overestimate their control on a task where actual control was possible. However, that study used a design that confounded control and reinforcement. In this study, control (none, medium, high) and reinforcement (low, high) were independently manipulated. College students (N = 100) participated in a computer task in which they pressed or did not press the space bar, after which a target or nontarget screen appeared. Participants rated their control over the appearance of the target screen. Support was found for the idea that in some situations of actual control, illusions of control are found: high-control participants with high reinforcement overestimated their control. Results also indicated that underestimators, accurate estimators, and overestimators used different information when estimating their levels of control. Causes and implications are discussed.