Adolescent-specific patterns of behavior and neural activity during social reinforcement learning

Humans are sophisticated social beings. Social cues from others are exceptionally salient, particularly during adolescence. Understanding how adolescents interpret and learn from variable social signals can provide insight into the observed shift in social sensitivity during this period. The present study tested 120 participants between the ages of 8 and 25 years on a social reinforcement learning task where the probability of receiving positive social feedback was parametrically manipulated. Seventy-eight of these participants completed the task during fMRI scanning. Modeling trial-by-trial learning, children and adults showed higher positive learning rates than did adolescents, suggesting that adolescents demonstrated less differentiation in their reaction times for peers who provided more positive feedback. Forming expectations about receiving positive social reinforcement correlated with neural activity within the medial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum across age. Adolescents, unlike children and adults, showed greater insular activity during positive prediction error learning and increased activity in the supplementary motor cortex and the putamen when receiving positive social feedback regardless of the expected outcome, suggesting that peer approval may motivate adolescents toward action. While different amounts of positive social reinforcement enhanced learning in children and adults, all positive social reinforcement equally motivated adolescents. Together, these findings indicate that sensitivity to peer approval during adolescence goes beyond simple reinforcement theory accounts and suggest possible explanations for how peers may motivate adolescent behavior.     

Psychological Intervention in a Case of Bulimia Nervosa: A Case Report

This paper presents a case report detailing the use of an enhanced form of enhanced cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and other techniques that were employed when faced with impediments in adhering to manualized CBT-E. Ms. S, 22 years old unmarried female pursuing MBBS final year, belonging to upper middle socioeconomic status and urban domicile was provided with 28 weekly sessions of psychotherapy to simultaneously address the patient’s symptoms and try to effect change across multiple domains. A single case design was adopted. Therapy was conducted over 9 months. A total of 28 sessions were taken, with the frequency of two sessions/week initially, and then moving onto one session/week. Pre and Post assessments using Binge Eating Scale, BDI-II, height and weight measurements and frequency of binging episodes using visual analogue scale were done. On measures of pre and post assessment there was 87 % improvement in Binging Episodes, 82 % improvement on Binge Eating Scale and client had 3 kg weight gain with reduction in depression as assessed on BDI-II. The gains were maintained at 1 month follow up. The use and deviations from CBT E, therapy process, role of family and challenges to intervention will be discussed in this case report.     

Associations Between Mixed-Gender Friendships,Gender Reference Group Identity and Substance Use in College Students

We investigated the associations between same-gender friendship, gender reference group identity, and substance use in college students (54 % male, M age?=?19.23, SD?=?1.23) from the northeastern United States using an online survey. Male students reported greater weekly marijuana, but not alcohol use than female students. Regression analyses revealed that having a greater proportion of same-gender friendships was associated with greater weekly alcohol use for male students and lesser weekly alcohol and marijuana use for female students. Gender reference group identity was negatively associated with weekly marijuana use for male and female students. For female students, gender reference group identity mediated the association between proportion of same-gender friendships and weekly marijuana use. Our study highlights the importance of considering the social context (e.g., the gender of friends) and individual variables relating to gender (e.g. gender reference group identity) in substance use research. Our findings fit within social constructionist models of social development that suggest participation in gendered contexts (e.g., same-gender or other-gender-peer contexts) over time cue gender-typed behaviors such as using marijuana.     

A systematic review of internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol misuse: study characteristics,program content and outcomes

ABSTRACT

Alcohol misuse is a common, disabling and costly issue worldwide. Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) has the potential to reduce the harms of alcohol misuse, particularly for individuals who are unable or unwilling to access face-to-face therapy. A systematic review was conducted using Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases for all relevant articles published from 1980 to January 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if (i) an ICBT intervention targeting alcohol misuse was delivered; (ii) participants were aged 18 years or older; and (iii) primary outcomes were quantity of drinking. A qualitative analysis was conducted on the content of the ICBT programs. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies included participants from the general population, while studies conducted within clinic settings with diagnosed individuals were rare. The programs were similar in terms of included modules. Small effects were seen in studies on self-guided ICBT, while therapist-guided ICBT rendered small to large effects. The current review indicates that ICBT has a significant effect in reducing alcohol consumption. Larger studies evaluating ICBT compared to active control groups especially within clinic settings are warranted.     

Exploring Subjective Representationalism

Representationalism is, roughly, the view that experiencing is to be analyzed wholly in terms of representing. But what sorts of properties are represented in experience? According to a prominent form of representationalism, objective representationalism, experiences represent only objective (i.e. suitably mind‐independent) properties. I explore subjective representationalism, the view that experiences represent at least some subjective (i.e. suitably mind‐dependent) properties. Subjective representationalists, but not objective representationalists, can accommodate cases of illusion‐free phenomenal inversion. Moreover, subjective representationalism captures the so‐called transparency of experience, as it is standardly articulated, just as well as objective representationalism.     

Learned irrelevance and retrospective correlation learning

In 1973 Mackintosh reported an interference effect that he called learned irrelevance in which exposure to uncorrelated (CS/US) presentation of the unconditional stimulus (US) and the conditioned stimulus (CS) interfered with future Pavlovian conditioning. It has been argued that there is no specific interference effect in learned irrelevance; rather the interference is the sum of independent CS and US exposure effects (CS + US). We review previous research on this question and report two new experiments. We conclude that learned irrelevance is a consequence of a contingency learning and a specific learned irrelevance mechanism. Moreover even the “independent exposure controls”, used in previous experiments to support the CS and US exposure account, provide support for the correlation learning process.     

Surface electromyography-based biofeedback and knee rehabilitation: A review of the literature

The number of total knee arthroplasties (TKA) performed yearly is rapidly increasing. Additionally, upwards of 50% of patients who receive TKA never achieve a full functional recovery. This suggests considerable room for improvement. This need for improvement expands beyond TKA as similar effects are noted across knee injuries. Electromyography-based biofeedback (EMGBF) involves the delivery of feedback based on the activity of targeted muscle. By providing feedback contingent on changes in muscle amplitude, EMGBF may be an effective tool for strengthening quadricep muscles. This review aims to evaluate the utility of sEMGBF during physical therapy for various knee injuries. All studies were evaluated for the effectiveness of sEMGBF at improving muscle strength, range of motion, and reducing pain. Most studies reviewed found that including sEMGBF in physical therapy produced greater clinical benefits for patients than exercise alone. Further research is necessary to determine the best practice for including EMGBF in physical therapy.