Behavioral interference and C/EBPbeta expression in the insular-cortex reveal a prolonged time period for taste memory consolidation

Memory consolidation is defined as the time window during which the memory trace is susceptible to behavioral, electrical, or pharmacological interventions. Here, we presented rats with two novel tastes at consecutive time intervals. Clear interference was evident when a novel taste formed the second taste input whereby, surprisingly, the time window for interference was found to last more than 10 h. In addition, we detected an increase of C/EBPbeta protein expression in the gustatory cortex 18 h after novel taste learning. This modulation was attenuated by a subsequent novel taste. Our findings reveal temporal constraints and a lingering nature of taste memory consolidation.     

Implicit partisanship: taking sides for no reason

After spending 45 s studying the names of 4 members of a hypothetical group, subjects showed both implicit liking and implicit identification with the group. These effects of studying names were much larger than the mere exposure (R. B. Zajonc, 1968) effects of either 6 (Experiment 2) or 10 (Experiment 3) extra exposures to each name. This implicit partisanship effect differs from the minimal group effect (H. Tajfel, 1970) because its procedure involves no membership in the target group. It also differs from the mere exposure effect because the target stimuli are presented once as members of a group rather than multiple times as unrelated individuals. A plausible (but not established) interpretation is that the attitude and identification effects are consequences of mere categorization.     

The classification of neuropsychological deficit

The study involves classification of neuropsychiatric patients on the basis of neuropsychological and intelligence test performance. One hundred twenty-five hospitalized male neuropsychiatric patients with various diagnoses were administered the Halstead-Reitan and Luria-Nebraska neuropsychological test batteries, as well as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. A cluster analysis was performed for each of those three procedures utilizing Ward's method. It was found in all cases that clusters were determined on the basis of level rather than pattern of performance. Relationships were found between cluster membership and age, education, and presence or absence of structural brain damage but were not found for diagnoses of schizophrenia or alcoholism. Schizophrenic and alcoholic patients were found in all clusters in the case of all three test procedures. Differences in clustering among the three test procedures were noted, with the WAIS being relatively more sensitive to educational differences while the Halstead-Reitan was more sensitive to age differences. The clinical utility of classifying patients on the basis of neuropsychological and cognitive test performance was discussed.Acknowledgement is made to the Veterans Administration for support of this research.     

Why Study Philosophy?

A few years ago,Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert came to Yale to give a lecture.He described an experiment in which psychologists studied how one's mood could affect what one perceived.The scientists needed to get people in a good mood,or a bad mood,so as to test the differences.Gilbert explained that to get some of the Subjects in a good mood,they had them read a piece of paper on which were written expressions like this:"I see," or "I understand," or "now I get it." And to get a different group of subjects into a bad mood,they had them read a piece of paper on which were written expressions like this:"I don't understand," or "I'm lost," or "I just don't get it."     

Abdominal exercise intensities on firm and compliant surfaces

Muscle activities at 15 sites were compared within a group of healthy young adults to evaluate their relative intensities during six abdominal exercises: partial and full sit-ups on a firm surface (floor) and on an exercise ball that was either stabilized or unstabilized. The most strenuous abdominal exercise overall (i.e., whole body workout) was the full sit-up on a firm surface which included significant muscle activities in the lower extremities. Exercise intensity was also high in the full and partial sit-ups when performed on a ball. The partial sit-up on the floor was the least strenuous of the six exercises. The greatest effect on the abdominal muscles was observed in the partial sit-up on a ball (stabilized and unstabilized). Results suggest that, although abdominal exercises on a ball may be gentler on the hip and lower back, overall exercise intensity is not necessarily lower than that on the floor. Moreover, partial sit-ups, both on the floor and on a ball, also required greater neck muscle activities than full sit-ups. In deciding what type of sit-up to do, exercise surface and different muscular activities between the partial and full sit-ups should be considered.     

Self-objectification and depressive symptoms: Does their association vary among Asian American and White American men and women?

Objectification Theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) posits that viewing one's body as an object – i.e., self-objectification – increases depressive symptomatology. Though a handful of studies to date have found self-objectification and depressive symptoms correlated among White American women, few studies have examined whether this finding generalizes to other social groups. We examine whether self-objectification and depressive symptoms are associated among Asian Americans and White Americans in a college sample of women and men (N = 169). Self-objectification and depressive symptoms were positively associated among White American women but not among White American men or Asian American men or women. These data suggest the parameters of Objectification Theory are circumscribed by both race/ethnicity and gender and self-objectification may put White women, in particular, at risk for depressive symptoms.     

How Perceptions Impact Recovery from Concussion in Childhood and Adolescence: a Systematic Review

Neuropsychology Review - Perceptions about the causes and consequences of concussion, and individual representations and interpretations of these factors, can influence the post-concussive recovery...