Behavioral control by the response–reinforcer correlation

Using a discrete‐trials procedure, two experiments examined the effects of response–reinforcer correlations on responding while controlling molecular variables that operated at the moment of reinforcer delivery (e.g., response–reinforcer temporal contiguity, interresponse times preceding reinforcement). Each trial consisted of three successive components: Response, Timeout, and Reinforcement, with the duration of each component held constant. The correlation between the number of responses in the Response component and reinforcer deliveries in the Reinforcement component was varied. In the Positive‐correlation condition, a larger number of responses in the Response component programmed a higher reinforcement rate (Experiment 1) or a shorter time to reinforcement (Experiment 2) in the Reinforcement component. Although programmed in this way, the actual reinforcer delivery was dependent on, and occurred immediately after, a response in the Reinforcement component. In the Zero‐correlation condition, the programmed rates of reinforcement (Experiment 1) or the times to reinforcement (Experiment 2) in the Reinforcement component of each trial were yoked to those in the preceding Positive‐correlation condition. Responding in the Response component was higher in the Positive‐ than in the Zero‐correlation condition, without systematic changes in molecular variables. The results suggest that the response–reinforcer correlation can be a controlling variable of behavior.     

The Fear of Understanding Schizophrenia and Iatrogenic Myths

Empirically, psychotherapy with a competent therapist is the optimal, but rarely offered treatment, for schizophrenia. Medication or ECT produces less disturbing, lifelong cripples. Within 25 years one-third spontaneously recover completely (unless they stay on medication), and another third socially recover. Nazi Germany sterilized and annihilated patients without decreasing mental disorders in the next generation. Schizophrenia is a terror syndrome. The therapist must create a therapeutic alliance by creating hope and tolerating not understanding. Hallucinations are waking dreams. Delusions are transferences, defenses against pseudohomosexuality, family-specific meanings, or attempts to make sense out of strange experiences.     

Ethical and Professional Challenges Posed by Patients with Genetic Concerns: A Report of Focus Group Discussions with Genetic Counselors, Physicians, and Nurses

Ninety-seven physicians, nurses, and genetic counselors from four regions within the United States participated in focus groups to identify the types of ethical and professional challenges that arise when their patients have genetic concerns. Responses were taped and transcribed and then analyzed using the Hill et al. (1997, Counsel Psychol 25:517–522) Consensual Qualitative Research method of analysis. Sixteen major ethical and professional domains and 63 subcategories were identified. Major domains are informed consent; withholding information; facing uncertainty; resource allocation; value conflicts; directiveness/nondirectiveness; determining the primary patient; professional identity issues; emotional responses; diversity issues; confidentiality; attaining/maintaining proficiency; professional misconduct; discrimination; colleague error; and documentation. Implications for practitioners who deal with genetic issues and recommendations for additional research are given.     

Talent Development as a Multidimensional, Multiplicative, and Dynamic Process

Recent empirical research has challenged the common belief in the existence of talent, suggesting that exceptional performance is entirely the product of nurture rather than nature. However, this research has been based on a simple conception of what talent entails. Rather than involving a unidimensional, additive, and static genetic process, talent may instead emerge from a multidimensional, multiplicative, and dynamic process. This latter possibility is described in a two-part model that combines multidimensional and multiplicative inheritance with dynamic development. The first part of the model handles domain specificity, profile heterogeneity, the distribution of individual differences, familial heritability, and domain complexity. The second part explicates early- versus late-bloomers, early signs of talent, talent loss, and shifts in the domain of talent. The resulting model has crucial implications for how best to gauge the impact of nature in the development of talent.     

Knowledge About Genetics Among African Americans

Although knowledge about genetic concepts is important for individuals to be active participants in medical technologies that use genetic science, limited information is available on knowledge about basic genetic concepts and terminology in African Americans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge about general genetic concepts and medical genetics terminology among African Americans and to identify factors having independent associations with knowledge. Participants were 109 adult African Americans enrolled in a study on attitudes about race, genetics, and smoking. The majority of respondents were knowledgeable about general genetic concepts, but were less knowledgeable about medical genetics terminology. Education was the only factor independently associated with knowledge about sporadic disorders in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Respondents with at least some college education were most likely to be knowledgeable about sporadic disorders (OR=2.70, 95% CI=1.10, 6.67, p=.03). The results of this study suggest that genetics education targeted to African Americans may need to focus on increasing understanding about technical concepts related to genetics.     

影响感觉寻求人格特质的生物遗传因素

综述了感觉寻求人格特质的生物遗传机制的相关研究。主要从3个方面对该问题进行了探讨：（1）单胺类物质与感觉寻求人格特质的关系;（2）激素对感觉寻求人格特质的影响;（3）感觉寻求人格特质的生物遗传性     

神经心理学手段及其在行为遗传学研究中的应用

神经心理学的检测手段包括神经心理学测验和仪器检查。行为遗传学是一门在多学科基础上发展形成的的交叉学科。近年来,应用神经心理学手段进行行为遗传学研究,已经取得了一些可喜的进展。     

解偶联蛋白2基因启动子-866G／A多态性与2型糖尿病的相关性研究

研究解偶联蛋白-2基因启动子常见-866G／A基因多态性（UCP2—866G／A）与2型糖尿病发病相关性。用多聚酶链反应-限制内切酶长度多态性技术检测了76例非糖尿病对照（NDM）和115例糖尿病患者（DM）的UCP2—866G／A基因型分布,并分析各基因型与胰岛功能、代谢参数的差异性。结果DM的AA基因型分布显著高于NDM（32．2％vs15．8％,χ^2=6．526,P〈0．038）。在NDM组GG型携带者空腹C肽（FCP）水平高于AA和GG组（两两比较分别为t=2．99,P=0．005和t=2．229,P=0．03）;在DM各基因型之间FCP和餐后2小时C肽（2hCP）情况与NDM对照相似,各基因型混和餐刺激后2hCP差异更加明显。结论为UCP2—866G／A基因多态性与大连地区2型糖尿病发病相关,该基因多态性主要影响胰岛β细胞分泌功能。     

Archetypes and the ‘Impoverished Genome’ argument: updates from evolutionary genetics

Throughout his career, Jung felt the psyche had ‘ancestral layers’ that contained elements of an individual’s species history, and clinical experience has shown that this idea can be an aid to psychological healing and emotional well-being. Thus, some later thinkers have attempted to link such theoretical constructs to the genome, as Jung had little knowledge of genetics in his day. But in the early 2000s, genome studies suggested that the genome might contain too little content to be capable of encoding symbolic information. This opinion gave rise to an oft-repeated ‘impoverished genome’ argument, i.e. that the genome could not provide a significant contribution to the collective unconscious, prompting theorists to propose other sources for it, or to argue that it doesn’t exist. Today, however, developments in evolutionary neurogenetics calls the impoverished genome argument into question for a number of independent reasons. These developments re-open the idea that the genome may be worth reconsidering as the biological substrate for the collective unconscious.     

儿童虐待与问题行为：基因与环境的作用

当前预防虐待之所以成为儿童保护的重要内容,不仅是法理上的儿童权益保护,也因虐待关联的基因与环境作用对人发展的长期影响。儿童虐待与问题行为关系复杂,已有研究显示,虐待特征、受害者特点是其关联因素,但其内在机制并不清楚。随着分子遗传学的兴起,MAOA、COMT、5-HTT等基因为解释儿童虐待与问题行为的机制提供新视角,重要候选基因可能调节这一关系。未来研究可从动物模型和纵向追踪角度去探究儿童虐待与问题行为关系的易感期、保护因子,完善儿童虐待与个体发展关系的研究图谱。