2-Deoxy-d-Galactose Effects on Passive Avoidance Memorization in the Rat

2-Deoxy-d-galactose (do-gal) hinders glycoprotein fucosylation. This compound was intracerebroventricularly administered to male adult Wistar rats in order to assess whether it could exert amnesic effects on a passive avoidance response (PAR) to be learned in the light–dark box apparatus. Three experiments were performed. In the first, do-gal was administered immediately after the acquisition trials at three dosages (2, 4, and 8 μmol). It was found that only the 4-μmol dosage was followed by PAR disruption. In the second, do-gal was administered at the adequate dosage (4 μmol) either 30 min before the acquisition trial or 30 min before retrieval testing. It was found that only the preretrieval administration was followed by PAR impairment. In the third, do-gal (4 μmol) was administered in postacquisition, at increasing postacquisition delays (0.25, 1.5, 4, and 6 h). It was found that there was PAR disruption only after do-gal administration at the shortest (0.25 h) delay. The results confirm that in the rat, glycoprotein fucosylation is involved in some of the phases of memory trace processing, and they are discussed in relation to other findings in the rat and the chick.     

Free will fallibilism and the “two-standpoints” account of freedom

Synthese - In this paper I propose a form of free will fallibilism. Unlike the free will realist who is fully persuaded that we have sufficient evidence of freedom to justify holding individuals...     

Illusory 3-D rotation induced by dynamic image shading

Observers' perceptions of the three-dimensional structure of smoothly curved surfaces defined by patterns of image shading were investigated under varying conditions of illumination. In five experiments, observers judged the global orientation and the motion of the simulated surfaces from both static and dynamic patterns of image shading. We found that perceptual performance was more accurate with static than with dynamic displays. Dynamic displays evoked systematic biases in perceptual performance when the surface and the illumination source were simulated as rotating in opposite directions. In these conditions, the surface was incorrectly perceived as rotating in the same direction as the illumination source. Conversely, the orientation of the simulated surfaces was perceived correctly when the frames making up the apparent-motion sequences of the dynamic displays were presented as static images. In Experiment 6, moreover, the results obtained with the computer-generated displays were replicated with solid objects.     

Predictive validity of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version for general and violent recidivism

Several authors have expressed concern regarding the use of youth psychopathy assessments in determinations of risk for general and violent offending. The Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) was completed with 182 male adolescent offenders in this prospective study (average 14.5 month follow-up) of general and violent recidivism. Both a two-factor and three-factor model of the PCL:YV significantly predicted general and violent recidivism at a predictive accuracy ranging from 68 to 63%. However, regression analyses indicated these associations were explained primarily by behavioral psychopathic symptoms, rather than interpersonal or affective traits. Implications for the use of psychopathy assessments for risk during adolescence are discussed.     

Female juvenile delinquency, motherhood, and the intergenerational transmission of aggression and antisocial behavior

The current study explored the intergenerational transmission of aggression and antisocial behavior by examining mothers' juvenile delinquency, their pregnancies, and its impact on their children's aggressive behavior. The sample consisted of the first 181 biological mothers recruited as part of the Vancouver Longitudinal Study on the Psychosocial Development of Children (British Columbia, Canada). Results indicated that mothers who were juvenile delinquents were more likely to experience social adversity, to use substances during pregnancy and to offend in adulthood. Furthermore, mothers who reported juvenile delinquency had children who were more physically aggressive and had an earlier onset of physical aggression. This pattern of association held when controlling for sociodemographics, social adversities, prenatal substance exposure, and criminal involvement in adulthood. The study findings highlighted the importance of understanding the role and impact of female delinquency and motherhood on the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior.     

Tie my hands, tie my eyes

Previous studies have demonstrated that motor abilities allow us not only to execute our own actions and to predict their consequences, but also to predict others' actions and their consequences. But just how deeply are motor abilities implicated in action observation? If an observer is prevented from acting while witnessing others' actions, will this impact on their making sense of others' behavior? We recorded proactive eye movements while participants observed an actor grasping objects. The participants' hands were either freely resting on the table or tied behind their back. Proactivity of gaze behavior was dramatically impaired when participants observed others' actions with their hands tied. Since we don't literally perceive actions with our hands, the effect may be explained by the hypothesis that effective observation of action depends not only on motor abilities but on being in a position to exercise them. This suggests, for the first time, that actions are observed best when we are actually in the position to perform them.     

Scripts,Tricks and Capability Theory: Using an Empirical Window Into the Logic of Achievement to Illustrate How a Critical Addition to Capability Theory Might Work to Guide Action

Capability theory improves our understanding of well being because it takes account of the “conversion” problem: income/wealth/commodities. (IWCs) need to be made effectively available to really increase well being. However, just as IWCs need to be converted into functionings in order to be effective in bringing additional possibilities to a person, our institutions, abilities and environments need to be converted as well to allow them to be used effectively in the same pursuit. Freedom of the press and speech, education and certainly economic independence as well as the democratic political processes themselves are as inert as IWCs without some additional conversion to enable them to do what we have set them up to do. The moniker “conversion factor” is the name of the problem rather than the source of a solution. This paper will explore the possibility that the needed theoretical addition to capability theory might be found by understanding how the elements of the capabilities equation change over time. Using education as an example of a conversion factor, the paper will explore how an addition to the theory might help create effective policy alternatives.     

Disparity and shading cues cooperate for surface interpolation

In two experiments, we tested whether disparity and shading cues cooperated for surface interpolation. Observers adjusted a probe dot to/lie on a surface specified either by a sparse disparity field, a continuous stereo shading or monocular shading gradient, or both cues. Observers' adjustments were very consistent with disparity information but their adjustments were much more variable with shading information. However, observers significantly improved their precision when both cues were present, relative to when only disparity information was present. These results cannot be explained by assuming that separate modules analyze disparity and shading information, even if observers optimally combined these cues. Rather, we attribute this improvement to a process through which the shading gradient constrains the disparity field in regions where disparities cannot be directly measured. This cooperative process may be based on the natural covariation existing between these cues produced by the retinal projection of smooth surfaces.     

Aversive memory reactivation engages in the amygdala only some neurotransmitters involved in consolidation

Consolidation refers to item stabilization in long-term memory. Retrieval renders a consolidated memory sensitive, and a "reconsolidation" process has been hypothesized to keep the original memory persistent. Some authors could not detect this phenomenon. Here we show that retrieved contextual fear memory is vulnerable to amnesic treatments and that the amygdala is critically involved. Cholinergic and histaminergic systems seem to modulate only consolidation, whereas cannabinoids are involved in both consolidation and reactivation. The lability of retrieved memory affords opportunities to treat disorders such as phobias, post-traumatic stress, or chronic pain, and these results help searching for appropriate therapeutic targets.